USA > North Carolina > Edgecombe County > History of Edgecombe County, North Carolina > Part 35
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).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44
The county commissioners ordered an election on May 7, 1883, to determine whether the people of No. 1 Township wanted or did not want graded schools. The rate of taxation as a method
381
EDUCATION
of showing the expense of the schools was placed at thirty-three and one third cents on the $100.00 worth of property and twenty cents on the pole. The tax was to be levied if a majority of the qualified voters voted for the schools.
When the election came off it was shown, however, that although the school question was defeated, the property owners were de- cidedly in favor of schools. Only a few of them voted against it. Race prejudice defeated the bill. Aaron Bridgers, negro repre- sentative from Edgecombe, introduced a bill in the House of Representatives authorizing the establishing of two schools for No. 1 Township-one for whites and one for colored. The ma- jority of the white people expressed themselves as being in favor of the education of the ignorant, but not at the costly experiment which the passage of the bill would enforce. As the matter stood, the white people of No. 1 Township paid for school purposes $3,000, while the colored paid $1,000. It would be unjust, it was argued, to tax the whites more and to give the negroes the same amount or more for education as the bill proposed. The whites wanted a graded school and to that end hoped that Bridgers would amend his bill to conform to a just method of taxation, whereby the school would be supported by a poll tax rather than by property taxation.
The colored people, however, were obdurate, and if they could not get what they desired, determined to prevent the whites from attaining their program. When the school bill was defeated it was reported that a man from Massachusetts, residing at the time in Tarboro, said to one of the colored citizens, "You have cut your own throats." "Well," replied the negro, "the white folks are busted." The votes for schools were 205, while 517 were polled against the graded schools. The bill introduced in the Legislature, however, with amendments was passed. The voters in the county voted again upon the levying of taxes not to (xceed one-third of one cent on property and one dollar on the pooll.
In the meantime graded schools in Rocky Mount were erected and in a flourishing condition. The people were wide awake and gave the community as much of the benefits of education as their means afforded. In 1883 the school had 260 children it attend- ance and received forty additions before the session was over.1 ,
1 Rocky Mount school collapsed in 1887 for lack of funds. At that time Rocky Mount High School was erected under Prof Wilcox.
.
382
HISTORY OF EDGECOMBE COUNTY
The same year the school at Battleboro was improved under Dr. W. H. Whitehead, W. D. Stokes, and J. R. Stewart. Additional funds were raised, boundaries for new districts were laid and school discipline was greatly improved. George Howard, N. M. . Lawrence, C. J. Austin, J. B. Cofield, T. H. Gatlin, E. C. Farrar, and R. C. Brown constituted a board of trustees for the whites, and John C. Dancy, H. C. Cherry, Victor E. Howard, Benjamin Norfleet, Edward Zoella, Henry S. Spragins, and W. H. Knight for the colored. A building was erected on Hendrick's Creek for the white children and one in Princeville for the colored. In about eight years the white school was moved on the west side of the town common and an addition was added to accommodate the increase of pupils.
In 1887 the school fund was insufficient for the support of the schools and a law was passed to tax all liquors, as required by the county commissioners, to supply the insufficiency. At this time there were 800 children in attendance at Tarboro, and almost 8,000 in the county. In 1888 the average per capita expenditure was only $1.19, less than in 1860. In addition to having nine cents less on the child, the county labored under the disadvantage of two races to instruct in separate schools. The separation of the races was a necessity, but more expensive.
In 1891 the county commissioners ordered an election on the question of an additional tax for the maintenance of the public schools. A letter was received by W. S. Clark from Raleigh in- forming the people that the tax was voted and the school shown that permanent assistance from the Peabody Fund could be ob- tained.1 The school election was held in July with poor pros- pects for success. However, when the day was over the rally proved effective. Princeville alone seemed passive and at six o'clock only fifty-one votes had been made, and eighteen more were needed to make a majority. When these people heard of the precincts being carried, enthusiasm caught them, and in less than an hour twenty-two more votes were cast. The following is the vote polled and registered :
Registered
Cast
Precinct No. 1.
215
122
Precinct No. 2
283
145
Precinct No. 3.
137
73
1 Amount was $1,541.22.
AUTO BUS CARRYING CHILDREN TO SCHOOL
CONSOLIDATED SCHOOL. SHOWING EARLY MEANS OF TRANSPORTING SCHOOL CHILDREN
383
EDUCATION
In 1888 the school committee, by a vote of two to one, elected W. P. Mapson principal of the colored free school in No. 1 Township, notwithstanding the fact that a petition from parents and others representing over 240 children that he be not appointed. Mapson, however, made a good leader in spite of his rancorous nature. The negro schools grew to be efficient and did much good. These schools were well organized in 1899. A teachers' organization was established under the leadership of John R. Barlow, president, and George H. Porter, secretary, and Mrs. C. M. Eppes, treasurer.
In 1883 the beginning of improvements in the teaching staff . was made by county commissioners. F. S. Wilkinson was au- thorized as County Superintendent of Public Instruction to hold a teachers' institute for both white and colored. The one for whites opened Monday, July 3, 1888, with only two in attendance. The work of this organization increased, however, and the Board of Education appropriated $100 annually out of the school fund for its maintenance. Prof. Logan D. Howell, of Tarboro, as- sisted by Edwin A. Alderman took considerable interest in hold- ing teachers' institutes. The system of schools in the county, however, suffered from 1897 to 1899. Mr. Wilkinson, who had labored to build up the schools and its teachers, was turned out of the superintendency when the fusion party came into power. R. M. Davis succeeded him, and afterwards became a man of recognized worth and competency.
Under Mr. Davis the county schools adopted medical inspection for all white schools. The county appropriated $10.00 for each school, and inspection was carried out in connection with a "health day program." All physical defects discovered, together with data of names and places were kept by the State Board of Health in Raleigh in order to keep a record until proper attention could be given.
Within recent years a movement of school consolidation and compulsory aducation has made remarkable progress. The theory of consolidation is based on the idea for better schools. This could only be accomplished by eliminating two or three small schools and erecting a large school in their place. The same num- ber of teachers were employed with the same expense as formerly. The chief objection to this idea was the inconvenience for children
384
HISTORY OF EDGECOMBE COUNTY
who might be located several miles from the school This objection was met by the introduction of conveyances for carrying children living long distances.
The chief problem existing in Edgecombe resulting from com- pulsory education was the factory situation. One-fourth of the children in the county lived in the manufacturing districts. This fact alone hastened compulsory education. When the law went into effect the city schools were heartity taxed to enforce the letter and spirit of the law. The school board, however, managed the situation effectively and with credibility. Modern and well equipped school buildings have been erected in various parts of the county. Almost every district has a large building, and many have State High Schools and receive State aid. The school at Leggetts is one of the few schools in the State which furnish trans- portation for its pupils to and from their homes.
In 1910 high schools were located at Macclesfield under H. C. Miller; Tarboro, under H. M. Davis; Whitakers, under J. J. Singletary. The school at Whitakers was operated by Edgecombe and Nash counties. In 1910 Edgecombe turned over the school to Nash and established a high school at Battlesboro. Farm life courses were introduced into nearly all the rural high schools. These courses proved effective from the beginning, and were greatly encouraged by supporters of county schools.
The spirit of education is well demonstrated in the county by its support for all movements to enlighten the people. The moon- light school received support when it was inaugurated about 1916. Paul Jones proved a leading spirit in the elimination of illiteracy. About five moonlight schools were established in Edgecombe. The county also established canning clubs and domestic depart- ments in its system of education. Canning demonstrations were successfully given in the county and modern devices for keeping vegetables and fruits were introduced.
Among the additional improvements was the establishment of libraries in the various schools. Conetoe schools established a nice library with a goodly number of volumes worth $100.00. In 1908 the county, according to the school law, was entitled to six original libraries and six supplemental libraries from each biennial appro- priation of $7,500.00. By 1909 most all townships had libraries. The High School at Macclesfield added several books to its original
!
A CANNING CLUB DEMONSTRATION IN EDGECOMBE
ยท
-
.
385
EDUCATION
library, including an unabridged dictionary with holder. The grounds were also improved and cultivated as a school garden. A betterment association was organized with sixty members. The private schools in the county were less affected and much freer from controversy than the common schools. During the throes of reconstruction the private schools experienced growth and pros- perity. Oakland Female Seminary at Logsboro 1 was erected during this period. Miss Covinna Whitaker was principal for several years. In 1869 a movement began to revive the Tarboro Female Academy, which had been abandoned. The county at this time was sending approximately $25,000.00 away each year for the education of its daughters. As a result of educational propa- ganda the Tarboro Female Academy was established. Prof. D. G. Gilespie was principal in 1890. Benjamin F. Havens also taught here. Mr. Havens was one of the best prepared teachers in Edge- combe. He studied two years in Germany after finishing his edu- cation in this country. In 1899 he received a recommendation from Prof. Martin Krause, the noted teacher of Leipsic. He had charge of the music department, and was assisted by Mrs. Harry Smith.
In 1891 several new schools were established, while some had been abandoned. This year marked the decline of the private schools, since the common and graded schools had proved a suc- cess. The following is a table of private schools in 1891, 1899, 1904:
No. En-
Name
Location Principal rolled
1891
Wilkinson's Institute . Tarboro Mrs. A. W. Hughes ... 65 Miss Bullock's School .. . Rocky Mount .. . Miss M. E. Bullock ... 104 Miss Barren's School ..... Near Elm City. .. Miss Mattie Barren .. 33 Tarboro Female Academy. Tarboro D. G. Gilespie. 70 Battlesboro Male and Fe-
male Institute Battlesboro W. S. Wilkinson 74
J. F. Howard School. Conetoe Miss Rosa Gregory 49
Tarboro Male Academy ... Tarboro F. S. Wilkinson . . . .. 39 Perry's Academy .Tarboro Rev. J. W. Perry (Epis.) 109
1 Logsboro is now known as Leggetta.
25
.
386
HISTORY OF EDGECOMBE COUNTY
Name
Location
Principal
No. En- rolled
1899
Eagles Academy Crisp
J. F. Webb. 60
Hill Academy Hill
W. A. Bridgers 30
Heartease Academy
Heartease
Miss Mary Beatty 24
University School
Rocky Mount
125
Whitakers Academy Whitakers
Rev. A. J. Moore 35
Tarboro Female Academy. Tarboro
Prof. Dock Brown . .. 36
Tarboro Male Academy ... Tarboro
F. T. Wilkinson
36
1904
Grace School . Lawrence
. Mrs. M. H. Hicks.
South Atlantic Academy .. Crisp
F. J. Webb
Tarboro Male Academy ... Tarboro
F. S. Wilkinson
TYPICAL PRIMITIVE BAPTIST CHURCH
CHAPTER XII
BAPTISTS
Among the most interesting, and also influential, forces in the history of Edgecombe is that of its churches. The chief means of social intercourse was through the gathering of Christian congre- gations. Due to the scarcity of books and libraries in the isolation of the county from the outside world, religious ideas became the principal subject for intellectual development. The earliest of denominations of which we have record was that of the Baptists.
It was not until about 1714 that the Baptists were known in this section, although, according to Morgan Edwards, there were individual Baptists in the colony of North Carolina as early as 1695. Those first settling in Edgecombe County for several years were General Baptists. Many writers have assumed that the North Carolina Baptists were immigrants direct from Virginia, but recent investigation also indicates that the Baptist forefathers found their way from New England as well. Many of the General Baptists settling in the county were of those who had at one time belonged to, but had become dissatisfied with, the Established Church. They withdrew and began to seek after something more in accord with their idea of the doctrine of the New Testament. They also carried many quaint and crude ideas concerning church government and theological subjects; but in their humble and sincere manner they established themselves in bodies, worshiping God according to the dictates of their own consciences.
This group of Baptists were Arminian in their view toward the relation of man's will to that of God. The old records show much carelessness in receiving members in their churches. Burkitt and Reed, in their "History of the Kehukee Association," said : "Their custom was to baptize all persons who were willing, whether they had had an experience of grace or not, so in consequence of this practice they had many members and several ministers in their churches who were baptized before they were converted." It was doubtless this practice that opened a way for a division of opinion, and permitted a more rigid conception to arise in their ecclesi- astical affairs, which caused so much confusion prior to 1752.
887
388
HISTORY OF EDGECOMBE COUNTY
The first church that existed within Edgecombe County was organized by one William Sojourner, who is said to have been a most excellent man and a pious, useful minister. Very little is known of his early life. He removed with many of his friends from Berkeley, Virginia, in 1745, and settled on Kehukee Creek, near Halifax County.1 In this same year he established Kehukee Church, which has had a thriving existence to the present day. Sojourner and his followers were "General Baptists," and main- tained a strict adherence to principles of baptism by immersion, and the various churches which sprang up under the ministration of these pious people claimed that one "particular faith."
There was a small number of Baptists at this time in the county who held different views from those of the General Baptists. This element also grew out of the Church of England. These had found it against their conception to conform to its polity and doctrine, and withdrew. Because they were Calvanistic in their views of theology-claiming that the atonement of Christ was particular in its application to God's elect-they received the name "Particular Baptists."
Thus there were two divisions among the Baptists from the beginning. The General Baptists, who were in a majority and baptized without requiring an experience of grace; and the "Par- ticulars," who claimed that a person should not be baptized with- out an experience of divine power, and that God's people were an "elect" or "chosen" people. The latter view was supported by the activities of Jonathan Thomas, a nonconformist preacher of Edgecombe County, who preached vehemently against the mode of baptism practiced by the Pedo Baptists.2 Jonathan Thomas, his father, and John, his brother, were all preaching in the county when Joseph Parker organized the second Baptist Church of the colony in Meherrin, near Murfreesboro, 1729. Jonathan Thomas, Lemuel Burkett, Jeremiah Dargon, and others traveled from county to county, preaching in homes, public places, in the forest, under bush-arbors, wherever the people could be gathered. The Calvanistic faith owes much to these earnest preachers for its present existence in the county. Thus, while the General Bap- tists were locating new places for preaching the gospel under the
1 Halifax was created in 1758.
" These people advocated and practiced infant baptism.
--
389
BAPTISTS
leadership of Elders Paul Palmer and Joseph Parker, two famous preachers from London, the Particulars, under the leadership of a few faithful men, were also doing a service essential to the preservation of their faith, now held so preciously by the "Old School Baptists." For many years these two factions of the Bap- tists waged doctrinal controversy with intense bitterness. Like the Jews and Samaritans of olden times, they had no dealings with each other.
Neither group of churches was organized for cooperation in church work. Every congregation was left to work out its own destiny. The elders, as tradition holds, were not accustomed to meet in an association or convention, but met in a yearly meeting, where matters of consequence were determined. This was the . condition of the churches when, in 1755, the Philadelphia Associa- tion of Pennsylvania sent Vanhorn and Miller, two ministers of that association, to travel in the southern colonies and to preach the gospel at the various churches. The Philadelphia Association at this time belonged to the Particular order. Mr. Gano,1 another minister from the Philadelphia Association, had preceded Vanhorn and Miller on a preaching tour in Edgecombe County, visiting the believers of the Particular faith. He, on his return to Philadelphia, reported the unsatisfactory condition of these people to the association, who appointed Miller and Vanhorn for the purpose of bringing over the General Baptists to the Particular doctrine.
The reception of Mr. Gano and others by these people is very interesting. On his arrival, Mr. Gano requested an interview with the Baptist ministers of the county. The request was refused. At the same time a meeting was appointed among the ministers to consult what to do. Mr. Gano, hearing of this meeting, went, attended it, and addressed the people in words to this effect: "I have desired a visit from you, which, as a brother and a stranger, I had a right to expect, but as you have refused, I give up my claim and am come to pay you a visit." With that he ascended into the pulpit and read for his text the following words : "Jesus I know, and Paul I know, but who are you ?" He preached from this passage of Scripture with such effect that he made many
1 Mr. Gano was a descendant of a French Huguenot refugee of 1688. He was born in Hopewell, Hunterdon County, New Jersey, July 22, 1727.
390
HISTORY OF EDGECOMBE COUNTY
afraid of him, and others were ashamed of their indifference. Many were convinced of errors touching upon faith and conver- sion, and submitted themselves for examination. One minister went to be examined as to his doctrines, and intimated to the people before going that he should return triumphant. Mr. Gano gave him a hearing, and then turned to his companion and said, "I profess, brother, this will not do; this man has the one thing needful to seek." Upon this statement, the person examined hastened home, and, upon being asked how he succeeded, replied : "The Lord have mercy upon you, for this northern minister has put a mene teckel upon me."
When Vanhorn and Miller arrived, many in the county still en- tertained doubts and many more of the General Church seemed to be afraid of them, as they were styled by most people, "New Lights." However, some of the churches received them. The preaching and conversation of these two men had power and proved a blessing to the people. Through their instrumentality several were awakened, many of the members of the churches were convinced of their error and were instructed in the doctrine of the Particular faith. Thus in the progress of time and through the efforts of these two ministers the difference between the two divisions was gradually removed, and the Particulars to a great degree absorbed the Generals. As a compromise the name Regular Baptists was given the two "sects." There were still a few indi- vidual members who believed and baptised as before. Some of the churches were organized anew and established upon the prin- ciples of predestination. The churches thus newly organized adopted the Baptist faith published in London in 1689, contain- ing thirty-two articles defying Arminianism, upon which the Philadelphia and the Charleston Associations were founded. To make the organization effective, these churches drew up a church covenant, in which they solemnly agreed to endeavor to maintain the discipline of the church. The covenant was as follows:
"For as much as Almighty God, by his Grace, has been pleased to call us (whose names are underneath subscribed) out of dark- ness into His marvelous light, and all of us have been regularly baptised upon a profession of our faith in Christ Jesus, and have given ourselves to the Lord, and to one another in a gospel way, to be governed and guided by a proper discipline agreeable to the
391
BAPTISTS
word of God: We do, therefore, in the name of our Lord Jesus and by His assistance covenant and agree to keep up the discipline of the church we are members of, in the most brotherly affection toward each other, while we endeavor punctually to observe the following rules, viz: first, In brotherly love to pray for each other, to watch over one another and if need be in the most tender and affectionate way reprove one another. We also agree with God's assistance to pray in our families, attend our church meetings, observe the Lord's day to keep it Holy, and not absent ourselves from the communion of the Lord's Supper without a lawful ex- cuse; to be ready to communicate to the defraying of the church expenses, and for the support of the ministry; not irregularly to depart from the fellowship of the church, nor remove to distant churches without a regular dismission. These things we do covenant and agree to observe and keep sacred in the name and by the assistance of the Holy Trinity."
This covenant of the Kehukee Baptist Association was the first form of discipline or written instruction that appears among the Baptists in Edgecombe County. It was signed by the ministers of Edgecombe and Halifax counties, the principal ones being Jonathan Thomas, John Thomas, John Moore, John Burgess, William Burgess, Charley Daniel, William Wallace, John Me- glarre, James Abington, Thomas Pope, and Henry Abbott.
This reformation among and union of the churches in the county may be very easily attributed to the two faithful preachers, Vanhorn and Miller, who labored here more than a year. They returned North and left the work under the jurisdiction of the native ministers, some of whom had been converted under their preaching. Many others caught their spirit and imitated their examples, and carried on the unfinished labors with a laudable zeal, so that before 1765 practically all the ministers had em- braced the Particular principles.1
Tradition tells that Elder Palmer died before the reformation took place; and Elder Joseph Parker, so far as can be ascertained, was never convinced of his errors or turned away from them. All
1 The principles which these men advocated were Calvanistic. The higher forms of Calvanigm were brought from the Philadelphia Association by Miller and Van Horn.
392
HISTORY OF EDGECOMBE COUNTY
the other ministers at this time belonging to the General Order were brought over to embrace the Calvanistic doctrine except Elders Winfield and William Parker.
These reformed churches, although only four in number, entered into an association compact in 1765, and first convened at Kehukee Church. The principal ministers representing the churches in Edgecombe were Elders Jonathan Thomas and John Thomas. Elder Jonathan Thomas died a few years after the association was organized. He was the son of John Thomas, likewise of Edgecombe County. He had a brother by the name of John who also became a preacher of the Baptist denomination, as was their father. Jonathan at first was received into this church and baptized by a minister of the "Free Will" order.1 But sometime afterwards he embraced the Calvanistic doctrine and became one of the most prominent preachers of the Regular Baptist Society. He was ordained December, 1758. Being a man of talents, very affable in his address and a very able orator, he was received and revered by all men of character with whom he was acquainted. He retained the general esteem of all the churches in his county, and wherever he visited once he was heartily welcomed the second time. He was very orthodox in his belief and had a peculiar faculty, as indicated in his writings, in reconciling apparent con- tradictions in the Scriptures.
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.