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 50

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 50

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).

St. Thomas' hall, located at Holly Springs, in Marshall county, in January, 1844, by the Rev. Dr. Francis L. Hawkes, former rector of St. Thomas church, New York city, with an able and learned corps of teachers, it achieved a high reputation, and attracted a large number of pupils. One of the best schools ever in the state. The necessary grounds and buildings were donated by the citizens of the county. The first faculty were Dr. Hawkes, president and professor of English literature; John Q. Bradford, A. M., professor of Latin and Greek; Claudius W. Sears, of the United States Military academy, afterward brig- adier-general of the Confederate States of America, and for over twenty-four years professor of mathematics in the University of Mississippi, professor of mathematics; Thomas K. Wharton, professor of French and drawing. In January, 1845, the insti- tution suffered a serious and for a time apparently irremediable loss in the departure of Dr. Hawkes for New Orleans, where he was made president of the University of Louisiana. However, a rally was made, and the hall was reopened in October, under the auspices of the Protestant Episcopal church, probably the first appearance of that body in the educational work of the state. The Rev. David C. Page, rector of Christ church, was principal. On the 4th of July, 1846, there was a grand celebration, one feature of which

326

BIOGRAPHICAL AND HISTORICAL

was a parade of the student military company, Ed. C. Walthall, ensign. In 1847 Prof. Henry Whitehorne was teacher of ancient languages, a Mr. Wright being professor of math- ematics. In 1857 Professor Whitehorne was elected to the chair of Greek in the university. In 1849 the institution was reorganized as a military school; the Rev. J. H. Ingraham, LL. D., president and professor of English; C. W. Sears, commandant and professor of math- ematics; William A. Clark, A. M., professor of Latin and Greek. At this period the average annual attendance was about seventy-five. This excellent school continued until the Civil war. During that calamitous period the buildings were destroyed, and the institution has not been revived.

The Wesleyan Female college, located in Jackson, was in operation in 1843. Mrs. Louisa C. W. Judd was principal. It had considerable success. The faculty for the year 1845-6 was as follows: Mrs. Judd, Col. Guilford D. Mitchell, Misses A. and M. Mitchell, M. L. Julienne, professor of French; Mr. Stribey, of music. In the year following Colonel Mitchell established an independent school, and Mrs. Judd reorganized her faculty thus: C. M. Murch, music; Julienne, modern languages; Mrs. J. H. Kimberly, ornamental work; Miss Hannah Merrill, primary. In 1847 the school seems to have been suspended, and the prem- ises occupied for school purposes by the Rev. Amos Cleaver, an Episcopalian clergyman who had opened a high grade female school in the year 1846. About 1850 a company bought the property, and Mr. A. R. Green opened a fine female academy there, which was maintained until the outbreak of the war.

The Oakland institute, a school for girls, was established at Jackson in 1844, by Mr. and Mrs. Oakley. It had a prosperous career of near twenty years, continuing until the Civil war.

The Lexington Male and Female academy, at Lexington, in Holmes county, was incor- porated in 1844. The male department was under Mr. G. Zelotes Adams, a graduate of Washington college, Connecticut, who had already taught seven years South.

The Houston academy, located at Houston, Chickasaw county, was incorporated in 1844. A lot was procured and a schoolbuilding erected. The building was destroyed by fire; and the lot, being deemed ineligible, was abandoned. A more desirable one was obtained, upon which was built a two-story structure at a cost of $5,000. By authority of an act of the legislature passed in 1884, the county authorities conveyed the property to the town of Hous- ton; which, in turn, leased it for twenty-five years to Prof. H. B. Abernathy, for the uses of the Mississippi Normal college (q.v.).

The Decatur academy, located at Decatur, in Newton county, was incorporated in 1844.

Mount Sylvan academy, for boys, located at Mount Sylvan, in Lafayette county, was established in 1845, under the Rev. S. G. Burney, D. D., and the Rev. Robert Morris, D. D. Col. James Brown was its chief benefactor, by his donations of more than $1,200; Hon. Jacob Thompson made valuable donations of books and public documents, and many others were generous. In 1846, the pupils numbered fifty-five. This school continued for a number of years one of the best. Quite a number of youths there received the education which afterward enabled them to assume prominent positions in church and state. Doctor Burney, later, held for a number of years the chair of English in the university, and is now at the head of the theological school of Cumberland university.

The Chulahoma Female institute, located at Chulahoma, in Marshall county, was in operation in 1845, under the management of Mr. and Mrs. Howze, Mr. D. Brewer professor of music. Long a prosperous and useful school.

327

MEMOIRS OF MISSISSIPPI.

The Seneca institute, for girls, located at Brandon, Rankin county, was opened in 1845, under Mr. Robert Anderson, a graduate of South Carolina college. Philip L. Bode, pro- fessor of music. A good school.

The Natchez institute was opened in 1845. It originated with Alvarez Fisk, who donated to the city property valued at $13,000, on condition that it would establish a school for the gratuitous education of the youth within its limits. The condition was agreed to, and an annual tax ordered of $6,000, which was increased $542.60 by private subscriptions and by the literary fund. Although Franklin academy was established in 1845, yet inasmuch as it was supported by the sixteenth section fund, the Natchez institute may fairly claim the credit of being the first free school established on individual and municipal liberality. It was successful from the beginning. The principal, Mr. Joshua Pearl, A. M., of Yale college, was a ripe scholar and a laborious and experienced teacher. Much of the permanent success achieved must be attributed to his skillful initiative. He was assisted by two male and five female teachers. The attendance of the first term was: Males, two hundred and twelve; females, one hundred and ninety-six. The total of the second year was six hundred; the third year opened with five hundred in attendance. A board of visitors visited the school regularly, examined the teachers, and established by-laws. Many of the children had been nuisances in the streets, but were made orderly, studious and ambitious. Latin, Greek and the higher mathematics were taught from the first. We may not follow this fine school through its long but not very eventful career. It is happy in having but little history. It is still in existence and flourishing.

The Vicksburg institute, similar to that at Natchez, and yet in existence, was founded in the same year.

The Salem High school, on Leaf river, in Greene county, was established in 1845 by a class of citizens known as North Carolina Scotch Presbyterians. Prominent among them was the Rev. James H. Thomson. No endowment. The school was supported by annual contributions from the trustees and by the tuition fees. A log house, 30x50 feet, was built, and later three others were added, with a small framed building for a musicroom. Incor- porated in 1850. The first session began in October, 1846; David Moore, A. M., a graduate of Lafayette college, principal; Mrs. S. D. Pierce, female department; Mary Stewart, music; R. S. Shannon, primary. In 1852 W. E. Hall succeeded Mr. Moore. He was followed by Lewis Tice, M. D., of Union college, New York, and he by E. W. Larkin, A. M. The assist- ants at various periods were Angus R. Fairley, John R. Fairley, E. F. Griffin, Miss Godfrey, Miss Black, Miss Shannon, Miss Mary E. Connelly and Mrs. Mary Hall. The apparatus was good, and the library contained about five hundred volumes. The average attendance was about one hundred, of whom about two-thirds were from a distance. About one-fourth took courses which may be considered as of collegiate grade. Suspended in 1862, and never revived.

The college in Jackson was organized by Dr. Thomas C. Thornton immediately after his resignation from Centenary college. It was opened on January 1, 1845. Doctor Thornton was president and professor of history, political economy, intellectual and moral philosophy; Rev. Norman W. Camp, A. M., professor of ancient languages and rhetoric; J. M. Pugh, A. M., professor of mathematics and civil engineering; James B. C. Thornton, M. D., pro- fessor of natural history, experimental philosophy and chemistry and medicine; Louis Julienne, teacher of French; Daniel Mayes, Esq., professor of law. The college was kept in the old Eagle hotel, on the site now occupied by the residence of Joseph Brown, Esq. The plan was to make it a college of higher grade than the state had yet seen, and to get it

828

BIOGRAPHICAL AND HISTORICAL

taken under the patronage of the state and of the city. It was incorporated in 1846, but the effort to procure subsidies for it failed. After two years it was abandoned, having gradu- ated four students.

The common schools. In 1846 was passed the first statute in Mississippi contemplating the establishment of a uniform system of free schools, supported by license fees and taxa- tion. Through a faulty construction of the statute, however, as well as a narrow interpreta- tion of it, the enterprise did not get well under way. While efforts were made to put the system into operation, and with some success in a few localities, yet as a whole the under- taking proved a failure. Numerous local acts were passed inaugurating various schemes. There was neither unity of plan nor perseverance in effort. The schools of Hinds county flourished, and presented some semblance of the present system; but in all other parts of the state the movement was more or less crippled, and in many completely paralyzed, by the want of a uniform and vigorous policy.

Milton academy, about three miles west of (present) Vaiden, in Carroll county, was established in 1846 by the Rev. W. H. Harris, who conducted it very successfully until his death in 1855. He was followed by the Rev. S. S. Brown. In 1859 Mr. Brown sold to Prof. J. Smith Colmery, who converted it into a female school, under the name of the Milton Female seminary, and as such conducted it until 1875, when it was abandoned. Some of Mississippi's best men were educated at Milton academy.

Morey's school, established in Carroll county, about three miles north of Carrollton, is interesting as a forerunner, by some forty years, of a style of school now quite common in the state under the name of Normal schools. He advertised it the Practical school, on a time and money-saving plan!

The Planters' academy, in the southern part of Attala county, was at work in 1846, and gained some reputation.

The Pleasant Grove Female academy, in Marshall county, was in operation in 1846, under Miss Mary C. McCollum.

The Central academy, in Marshall county, about eight miles southwestof Holly Springs, was flourishing in 1846 and 1847. The female school was under Mrs. M. A. Holliday, and the male school under Mr. Elden.

The Pontotoc Male academy was incorporated in 1846.

The Black Hawk Male and Female seminary, located at Black Hawk, in Carroll county, was organized and incorporated in 1846, Mr. D. A. Bland and Miss A. Nixon in charge. The male and female schools were situated in different parts of the village. The buildings were comfortable. In January, 1847, Mr. Tripp and Miss Kingsbury were in charge; Prof. George Wear, music; Mrs. Wear, art. In 1848 Miss Kingsbury was in charge, with a lady assistant. From 1849 to 1853, inclusive, the Rev. Benjamin Holt, a Methodist minister, was principal, assisted by Miss Harriet Magruder. In 1850 the institution was enlarged, and the female department incorporated under the name of the Eudocia Female college. In 1853 Mr. Holt was succeeded by Mr. James Gillespie, and he, in turn, by Dr. W. S. Young, from Vicksburg, who remained until June, 1856. Meanwhile the male department was, in 1850 and 1851, taught by Dr. William Bennett, from North Carolina. He was succeeded by the Rev. S. S. Brown, from Ohio, who remained until the summer of 1855. Mr. Gillespie, and, after him, Mr. Robert R. L. Harris taught for a few months; and then came, in June, 1856, Mr. William H. Johnson. At this time it was determined to reduce the scale of the school. Mr. Johnson purchased the property, and consolidated the two branches. He conducted the consolidated school until the outbreak of the Civil war. He joined the Confederate army, and the school

329

MEMOIRS OF MISSISSIPPI.

was taught, during most of the war period, by a Mr. Akin. On the termination of hostilities Mr. Johnson resumed the control, and remained until the summer of 1867. Mr. C. T. Adams, from Virginia, took charge in the fall of 1868, but leaving before the year was out, he was followed by the Rev. Charles B. Galloway, A. B. of the University of Mississippi, and now a bishop of the Methodist Episcopal Church South, assisted by Miss Patty Cross and Miss McCrosky. About September, 1869, a Mr. Combs took charge; followed in 1872 by Rev. Thomas A. S. Adams, afterward president of the Centenary college. At this time it was brought into the connectional relations of the Methodist Church South, and so remained until the end. In 1875 it was reincorporated under the name of the Yazoo District High school. In 1875-6 a Mr. Carter was in charge; and in 1876-7 Miss Alice Kittrell. Then came Edward W. Tarrant until 1883; at which time it passed into the hands of Mr. John P. Marshall. After him came, in quick succession, Mr. William H. Johnson, again, in 1885; Miss Sallie Morgan and a Mr. Shivers, in 1886; Mr. B. P. Patterson, in 1887; and in 1888 Mr. Leland B. Abell, LL.B. of the University of Mississippi, under whom it remained until destroyed by fire 1890. The curriculum was high; and the last two or three years of its existence was under the name of the Winona District High school.

The Franklin Female college, located at Holly Springs, in Marshall county, was founded in 1846, by the Rev. S. G. Starks, an eminent Methodist minister. For a number of years it was under the patronage of the denomination. Its faculty was the best, and its attendance amounted to three hundred pupils, coming from Louisiana and south Mississippi. There was a valuable apparatus, and a well selected library. Mr. Starks was succeeded in 1857 by the Rev. David J. Allen, and he, in 1859, by the Rev. J. E. Douglass. In 1862, when the wounded from the battle of Corinth were brought to Holly Springs, the school was suspended and the buildings used for hospitals. After the war closed, they were used by the United States soldiery for barracks. In 1869 they were thoroughly refitted, and leased by Capt. William Clark, a finished scholar and eminent teacher, associated with the Rev. H. H. Paine, a Presbyterian minister. In 1870, Mr. Paine retired. In 1878, Mr. Clark fell a victim to the great epidemic of yellow fever, and was succeeded by his widow, Mrs. Mary B. Clark, daughter of the celebrated lawyer, Roger Barton. Under her, the college maintained its high reputation. She died in 1888, and was followed by her sister, Mrs. F. A. Tyler, and daughter, Mrs. R. H. Tunstall, ladies well qualified for the position. Since the war, the pupils have ranged from seventy-five to one hundred and fifty, from one half to three-fourths in the collegiate course. The first class to graduate was that of 1850, and its alumnae embrace many of the most accomplished ladies of the state. Of late years, the patronage is mainly from Mississippi, although pupils still come occasionally from Louisiana, Arkansas, Tennessee, Alabama, and Texas. Incorporated in 1873.

Wildmarth hall, at Natchez, was established by Mrs. A. F. W. Speer, in the fall of 1846. A select school, limited at first to twenty-five pupils, and enlarging gradually, and always full. Patronized largely by Louisianians. The Rev. S. W. Speer taught for his wife the classes in mental and moral philosophy, sciences and astronomy ; Mons. F. Prou, professor of modern languages; T. Crouch, professor of music; Misses Maria H. Weldin, C. B. Arming- ton, and Eliza A. Dodson, assistants, composing the faculty for 1848-9. In 1852, the insti- tution seems to have been enlarged. It was incorporated as Wildmarth Female college, Rev. Mr. Speer being principal.

The Brandon college was established by Dr. Thomas C. Thornton, and Professor Pugh in 1847, after the failure of the college in Jackson. They took the old academy, with the two commodious buildings erected in 1838, and reorganized it into a college, obtaining a .

330

BIOGRAPHICAL AND HISTORICAL

charter in 1849. In 1851, it was abandoned under the circumstances explained in the notice of Madison college. Eight students had graduated; among them Miss Veturia J. Finley, probably the first young lady in this state to complete the entire collegiate course prescribed for young men. When Dr. Thornton left the school was taken in charge by W. H. Potter, of Mystic, Conn., who conducted it until 1855 as an academy. Afterward it changed hands frequently. In 1865, it was taken in hand by Miss Frank A. Johnson, who has held it until now. In February, 1867, it was incorporated under the name of the Brandon Female col- lege, and for a period was the only institution of high grade in the state under the manage- ment of ladies alone. Under Miss Johnson it has been a successful and most useful school. The attendance has ranged from sixty-five to eighty-five per annum. It is now one of the separate district schools, having been adopted as such by the town.

The Crystal Springs academy, in Copiah county, was opened in 1847: John P. Mapes, principal; Livingston Mims in the male department; Mrs. Asenath Evans in the female department; Prof. E. A. Haug music.

The Marshall Female institute, located in Marshall county near the Tennessee line, was established in 1848, under the auspices of the Methodist church. The Rev. Joseph E. Doug- lass was president, assisted by his wife, Prof. John J. Steger and Miss Anna Boley. This was a very celebrated, useful and prosperons school for many years. From 1852 to 1856 the matriculations averaged about two hundred. The course of study was high. In 1856 the building was burned by an incendiary, and President Douglass entered the itinerancy, being succeeded by Dr. Speer; but he returned the following year, the house having been rebuilt. In 1859 Professor Watkins was made president. In 1863 Mrs. Douglass became principal, and in 1868 Miss Margaret Johnson. Various influences have caused it to decline from its former proud position. It was made a district high school of the church under a Professor Johnson from Virginia. In 1874 it was destroyed by fire.

The Columbus Female institute was incorporated and established in 1848. There were four collegiate classes in addition to the usual preparatory ones, with a full curriculum of ancient and modern languages, mathematics, sciences, philosophy, art and music. A frame building was erected at a cost of $3,330; about $9,000 was realized from the sale of perpet- nal scholarships, and devoted to the further improvement of the property. In 1860 the building was destroyed by fire. The sum of $32,465 was then raised in cash, bonds and subscriptions, for the purpose of rebuilding. A large brick dormitory was commenced, which, however, was not completed (until the state did so later). Only the interior of the first story was finished for the present. In 1862 the school was suspended for about six months, as the building was used as a hospital. There were on resumption in 1863 one hundred and thirty- seven pupils. In 1872 a scheme was agitated to make the institution a female department of the university, but it came to nothing. In 1875 another plan to make it a part of the Frank- lin academy, thus bringing it into the public school system, but neither did that result in anything. Finally, in 1884, it was donated to the state, and formed the basis for the present establishment of the industrial institute and college.

The following academies not elsewhere mentioned, for they are now getting too numer- ous to describe in detail, were incorporated about this period:

1848-Enterprise academy, Clarke county; Raymond Female institution, Hinds county ; Pleasant Hill Male and Female academy, Jasper county; Canton Male academy, Madison county; the Female institute, Noxubee county.

1850 .- Pearl River Female academy, Madison county; Polkville Male and Female academy, Smith county: Almucha academy (the second), Lauderdale county; Kemper college Kemper county.

Very Truly Prahan'a Lowry

331

MEMOIRS OF MISSISSIPPI.

1852 .- Collegiate High School of Odd Fellows, Columbus; Coldwater Baptist Female seminary (Chulahoma), Marshall county; Mary Washington Female college (Baptist), Pon- totoc; Mississippi Female college, Hernando; Greenwood Female institute, Jasper county; Maple Spring Male academy, Tippah county; Masonic and Odd Fellows' high school (Banks- ton), Choctaw county; Pleasant Ridge Male and Female academy, Tippah county ; Middleton Female seminary, Carroll county; Southern Scientific institute, Claiborne county; Simpson Male and Female seminary, Simpson county; Yalobusha Baptist Female institute, Yalobusha county; Choctaw Collegiate institute (Baptist), Choctaw county; College of St. Andrew (Episcopalian), Jackson, Hinds county; Canton Female institute, Madison county; Presby- terian Female Collegiate institute, Pontotoc; Crawfordville Male and Female institute, Lowndes county.

1854 .- Good Hope academy, Leake county; Westminster academy, Tippah county; Hill City Collegiate institute, Vicksburg; Central Mississippi Female college, Lexington; Monroe Female institute, Aberdeen; Octograde seminary, Yalobusha county; Union seminary, De Soto county.

The Chickasaw school fund originated in the sale by the state of the lands donated by congress for common-school purposes to the inhabitants of that portion of the state which was ceded by the Chickasaw Indians. This sale was made in 1848. The state appropriated the money to general uses and acknowledged itself debtor therefor. The amount of the fund is now about $816,617, on which is paid semi-annually to the counties entitled interest at six per cent. per annum.

The Liberty Female institute, at Liberty, in Amite county, was opened in July, 1849; Rev. A. B. Lawrence and his wife, formerly of Vicksburg, principals. They were assisted by able teachers.

Chalmers institute, located at Holly Springs, was founded in 1850 by the Rev. Samuel Mckinney. It was possessed of the property of the old university of Holly Springs, and was regarded as the successor of that institution. In 1873 it was incorporated. Meanwhile it had been in operation since its foundation as a male school. In 1854 it was under charge of Messrs. Hackleton, Hoole, Pike and Hume, and they established a military feature. From 1855 to 1861 it was presided over by Rev. S. I. Reid, A. Enloe, Henry Paine, William M. Walkup and Rev. W. C. Young (now of Center college, Kentucky). During the war its work was interrupted. Exercises were resumed in 1865. In 1869 the military feature was revived. In 1879 the school was suspended. The following gentlemen had been connected with it since the war: Rev. S. I. Reid, William M. Walkup, Col. George M. Edgar, W. A. Ander- son, A. S. Marye, John Creighton and William M. Rogers.

The Mississippi Female college, located at Hernando, De Soto county, was established, under the name of the De Soto Female seminary, in 1850, by subscriptions of the citizens of the county. It was incorporated under the general laws of the state. A brick building was erected in 1850-51, at a cost of $6,500. The Rev. William Cary Crane, an Episcopalian clergyman, was elected president in the fall of 1850, and the school opened successfully in the spring following. In 1852 a charter was granted by the legislature, under the name above. In 1856 President Crane was succeeded by Prof. James C. Dockery, former pro- fessor of French at the University of Alabama. In the spring of 1858 he was followed, pro tem. by Dr. H. M. Jeter, and early in 1859 Rev. Champ C. Connor was made president. The college had been successful, and enlargements were about to be made; but in the winter of 1859-60, a fire destroyed the buildings. In 1861 a handsome new brick building was completed, but the Civil war interrupted. In 1865 Mrs. Mary Pope kept a successful school U

332

BIOGRAPHICAL AND HISTORICAL

in the building, followed in 1866 by Mrs. Emma Holcombe, who, in turn, was succeeded in 1869 by Mrs. M. P. Southworth, of Memphis, as a lessee, until 1874. The property was then sold for debts growing out of the rebuilding, and passed into private hands. Since that time it has been constantly used for school purposes.

Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.

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 50

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