USA > New Jersey > Monmouth County > Shrewsbury > A history of Seventh Day Baptists in West Virginia : including the Woodbridgetown and Salemville churches in Pennsylvania and the Shrewsbury church in New Jersey > Part 30
USA > Pennsylvania > Bedford County > Salemville > A history of Seventh Day Baptists in West Virginia : including the Woodbridgetown and Salemville churches in Pennsylvania and the Shrewsbury church in New Jersey > Part 30
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The school was finally merged into the Ritchie Sabbath School.
RITCHIE.
The Ritchie Sabbath School was organised soon after the organisation of the Ritchie Church in 1870. The active pro- moters of the new organisation were Asa F. Randolph. Wib liam F. Ehret, William Jett, and Levi B. Stalnaker.
The first superintendent was Levi B. Stalnaker. He was succeeded, in turn, first by William F. Ehret, and then by William Jett. The following is an incomplete list of the super-
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intendents since that time :- Alva F. Randolph, Orpheus S. Mills, Ellsworth F. Randolph, Luther Brissey, Calphurnia F. Randolph Meathrell, Clyde Ehret, Elva Sutton, and Erlow Sutton.
The present enrollment is upwards of sixty.
GREENBRIER.
The Greenbrier Sabbath School was organised, probably, about the year 1867, by Preston F. Randolph.
Among the superintendents have been the following :- Rev. Lewis F. Randolph, Ethelbert J. Davis, Judson F. Ran- dolph, John F. Randolph, Festus P. Ford, Riley G. Davis, Mrs. Marcus E. Martin, Fenton R. Clark, Milton Clark, Fenton Williams, Lewis B. Stuttler, Frank W. Williams.
The leading spirits in the organisation of the school included Rev. Jacob Davis, Jesse Clark, Lewis F. Randolph, Judson F. Randolph, and others.
At the present time the enrollment numbers about thirty.
ROANOKE.
The Roanoke Sabbath School was organised April 14, 1872, soon after the organisation of the Roanoke Church.
The superintedents have been as follows :- John J. Hevener, Mansfield M. Hevener, Festus Kelley, Ina Hevener, B. Wilson Bee, Ahva J. C. Bond, and Samuel D. Bond.
At the organisation of the school, the enrollment numbered twenty. At the present time, it is upwards of thirty.
CONINGS (BEAR FORK).
The Conings (Bear Fork) Sabbath School was organised about the time of the organisation of the Conings (Bear Fork) Church in 1881.
The more prominent members were, John Leeson, Mary Ann Leeson, Thomas Leeson, Nancy Ellen Leeson, William H. Flesher, Eliza Jane Flesher, Rebecca Ann Flesher, J. L. Flesher, Sigourney Flesher, Jabez Spurgeon, Christina Spur- geon, Charles Spurgeon, A. J. Lasure and wife, Joshua C. Spurgeon, and Emily Spurgeon.
The first superintendent was John Leeson. Other superintendents have been William H. Flesher and Joshua C. Spurgeon.
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SABBATH SCHOOLS
At the time of organisation the enrollment numbered about twenty. The largest enrollment was twenty-five.
The Sabbath School was conducted through the summer season only. Some three or four years ago, it was discon- tinued altogether.
SALEMVILLE.
This Sabbath School was organised in March, 1887. Among those active in establishing it were, Rev. George B. Kagarise, George C. Long, Amos D. Wolfe, Charles F. Shriner, and others.
The first superintendent was Wilson Kagarise. The fol- lowing have likewise served in that capacity :- John Wolfe, Sr., Noah B. Blough, Abraham W. Walter, Amos D. Wolfe, George E. Negley, Charles C. Wolfe, George C. Long, and Jerome Kagarise.
In the earliest history of the school, its membership num- bered about eighty. The present enrollment is about forty- five.
WEST UNION.
The West Union Sabbath School was organised April 20, 1889. Gamble S. Davis, Festus P. Ford, Lillie M. Ford, Septimius A. Ford, Emma Davis, Samuel L. Ford, and Laura A. Ford, were the leading members.
Festus P. Ford was the first and only superintendent during the four years and a half of the existence of the school.
The membership in the beginning was about eighteen. The largest enrollment was thirty.
The school was discontinued in September, 1893.
COPEN.
The Copen Sabbath School was organised and maintained during some two or three consecutive summers, about the time of the organisation of the Copen Church in 1887.
The officers were: Albert Shock, superintendent; Wil- liam L. Wildman, assistant superintendent; Uriah C. Shock, secretary; and Waitman T. W. Davis, chorister. Albert Shock, William L. Wildman, and Iva Virginia Shock, were among those who served as teachers.
The average membership was about nineteen. The school was discontinued in 1889.
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SEVENTH DAY BAPTISTS IN WEST VIRGINIA
BLACK LICK.
The Black Lick Sabbath School was organised in the year 1891, with the Trough School House as the place of meeting. The chief promoters were Sylvanus Davis, Mrs. Sarah E. Cottrille, and her daughter Gertrude Cottrille. The enrollment at first numbered twenty-one.
The first superintendent was Gertrude Cottrille. Others who occupied that office were Alfred N. Meek, Sylvanus Davis, Mrs. Marcus E. Martin, Nancy J. Davis, and Samuel A. Ford.
This school was open during six months of the year, only. In the late fall and winter months, the weather was too severe for regular attendance. The school has not been open since 1899. At the time the school was discontinued, the average attendance was twenty-two.
XXV.
WEST UNION ACADEMY.
T
HE first formal meeting of the Sev- enth Day Baptists of which we have any record, for the purpose of considering the educational inter- ests of this association, was held at New Salem, Virginia, December 4, 1850.
Previous to this time, Dr. Ethel- bert Bond, John S. Davis, and Samuel Preston F. Randolph, all brothers-in-law, and all living at West Union, the county seat of Doddridge County, some thirteen miles west of New Salem, had purchased, jointly, at a cost of three hundred dollars ($300.0), a house and lot in West Union for school purposes ;1 and Rev. Azor Estee, at that time labouring as a missionary among the churches in Virginia, had secured the services of Stephen Thomas West Potter of Scott, New York, as a teacher. The minutes of the meeting referred to above, are as follows :-
"A council of the Seventh Day Baptist friends convened for the purpose of consulting the religious and educational interests of the denomination. The meeting being opened by prayer, and the objects thereof stated, Lodowick H. Davis was called to the chair and Wil- liam F. Randolph appointed secretary.
I. This property was purchased of Henry M. Miller, who had used it for a pri- vate school himself. The deed for it was not executed, however, until January 18, 1856, when he and his wife, Elizabeth, made the deed directly to John S. Davis, Lodo- wick H. Davis, Samuel Preston F. Randolph, Joseph Jeffrey, and David D. Davis, as trustees of the West Union Academy. Two hundred and fifty dollars ($250,00) was finally made the purchase price, instead of three hundred dollars ($300.00) as origi- nally agreed. The property is designated as " lot No. 4 on the north side of Wood Street " in the town of West Union. The adjoining lot, No. 5, was deeded to Joseph Jeffrey as president of the board of directors of the West Union Academy, by Nathan Davis and Jane, his wife, under date of October 21, 1853.
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SEVENTH DAY BAPTISTS IN WEST VIRGINIA
"I. RESOLVED, That we approve the course pursued by Elder Azor Estee in obtaining a teacher for the purpose of starting a high school at West Union; that we feel encouraged by his success in engaging Mr. Potter, of New York, and the progress made thus far in organising the school.
"2. RESOLVED, That we will use our best exertions and influ- ence, and our wealth as far as may be consistent, for the erection of an academy at West Union, which we deem indispensably necessary for the advancement of education in western Virginia.
"3. RESOLVED, That A. Estee, Lodowick H. Davis, Isaac F. Randolph, John Maxson, John L. F. Randolph, and Jepthah F. Ran- dolph be a committee to draft and mature as far as practicable a gen- eral plan of operation for carrying forward the enterprise, and that it be their duty to inquire of the present proprietors of the school prop- erty at West Union and others what their wishes are with regard to erecting a more extensive building. Also to prepare and circulate a subscription for obtaining funds for that purpose, and use their- best endeavours to secure united and efficient action in the matter, and report their progress to the next meeting.
"Adjourned to meet again at this place on [the] First Day [of the week] after the fourth Sabbath in this month.
"By consultation afterwards the adjourned meeting was postponed until January 13, 1851."
At the meeting of the council held at New Salem, January 13, 1851, the committee appointed at the previous meeting reported in favour of building an academy at West Union and presented a plan for accomplishing the object. The report was adopted by the council, and William F. Randolph and John S. Davis were appointed a committee to secure a charter from the General Assembly of Virginia.
On February 16, following, the committee previously appointed made further report. The committee on a charter was urged to proceed with its work with all practicable speed.
John S. Davis, Rev. Azor Estee, Lodowick H. Davis, and Jepthah F. Randolph were appointed a committee "to use further effort in raising funds to carry forward the enterprise."
Three days later, February 19, William F. Randolph, of the committee on charter, forwarded to Richmond, the capital of the state of Virginia, a copy of the draft of charter which had been presented to the council and adopted by that body January 13, 1851. Apparently it reached Richmond too late for consideration before the adjournment of the General Assembly, for on December 26, 1851, it was copied a second
THE WEST UNION ACADEMY : AS ORIGINALLY BUILT. ( After a pencil sketch by Franklin F. Randolph).
345
WEST UNION ACADEMY
time and forwarded to Richmond. It provided that the capital stock should be divided into shares of fifteen dollars each with a minimum aggregate of one thousand dollars, ($1,000.00), and a maximum aggregate of twenty thousand dollars ($20,000.00). On the 16th of the next April, the following charter was passed :-
"AN ACT TO INCORPORATE THE WEST UNION ACADEMY IN THE COUNTY OF DODDRIDGE.
"Passed April 16th, 1852.
"I. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY, That for the pur- pose of establishing a seminary of learning in the town of West Union in the County of Doddridge, it shall be lawful to open books for receiving subscriptions to the amount of twenty thousand dollars, in shares of fifteen dollars each; the said books to be opened at West Union, under the direction of William F. Randolph, Ethelbert Bond, John S. Davis, Ezekiel Bee, Joseph Jeffrey, Abel P. Bond, and Eliona Davis, or any four of them, and at such other places and at the direc- tion of such other persons as the said commissioners or any four of them may appoint.
"2. Whenever seventy shares of the said stock shall be subscribed, - the subscribers, their executors, administrators, and assigns shall be and are hereby incorporated into a company by the name and style of 'The West Union Academy;' by which name they shall have perpetual succession, may sue and be sued, contract and be contracted with, and have, use, and alter a common seal, with power to purchase, take, and hold lands, tenements, goods, chattels, and moneys for the use and benefit of such academy.
"3. A general meeting of the stockholders for the election of a board of trustees shall be held in the town of West Union as soon after the subscription of the said forty shares as shall be convenient, at such time and place as the said trustees or a majority of them may appoint, and annually thereafter.
"4. Two weeks notice at least shall be given of all general meet- ings of the stockholders, and notice to be given in such manner as the trustees may appoint; and to constitute a quorum, a majority of the shares subscribed must be represented, but a less number may adjourn from day to day until a quorum. be obtained. And in all such general meetings each stockholder may in person or by proxy give the following vote on the stock held by him, to wit: One vote for each share of said stock not exceeding six; one vote for every two shares of said stock over six and not exceeding twelve; and one vote for every four shares over twelve and not exceeding twenty-four; and one vote for every ten shares exceeding twenty-four.
"5. The affairs of said corporation shall be managed by a board of trustees consisting of five persons, to be elected by the stockholders in general meeting, and to continue in office one year, or until their
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SEVENTH DAY BAPTISTS IN WEST VIRGINIA
successors be appointed, any three of which trustees shall be a quorum for the transaction of business.
"6. The trustees or a majority of them shall choose by a ballot, a president, secretary, and treasurer, and such other officers, teachers, agents, or servants as they shall deem necessary, and shall have power to make such contracts as they may consider conducive to the inter- ests of the academy, and to require the subscribers to the stock of the academy to pay in the stock, by them severally subscribed, to the treasurer at such times and in such installments as they shall specify: provided, that the said trustees shall not sell or dispose of any real estate belonging to said academy, unless the consent of a majority of shareholders be first had and obtained at some general meeting thereof.
"7. The treasurer shall receive all moneys accruing to the academy and property delivered to his care, and shall pay or deliver the same to the order of the board. Before entering upon his duties he shall give bond, with security in such penalty as the board may direct, made payable to the trustees for the time being and their suc- cessors, and conditions for the faithful discharge of his duties, under such rules and regulations as may be adopted by the board, and it shall be lawful for the said trustees to obtain a judgment for the amount thereof, or any special delinquencies incurred by said treas- urer, on motion, in the Circuit Court of Doddridge County, against the said treasurer and his securities, his or their executors or admin- istrators, upon giving ten days notice of said motion, and in case any stockholder shall fail to pay any subscription or installment due from him or her to said academy, when thereto required as here-in-before provided for, after notice to the subscriber or such. requisition, the same may be recovered in any Court of Record in Doddridge County, in like manner and on like notice.
"8. The said board of trustees may supply vacancies in their own body and make such by-laws, rules, and regulations respecting the affairs of the corporation, as they may approve, not inconsistent with the constitution and laws of this commonwealth or of the United States, but a majority of the stockholders at any general meeting may amend, alter or repeal such by-laws, rules, and regulations, or any of them.
"9. The president shall preside over the proceedings of the trustees, and in his absence a chairman pro tempore may be chosen to preside at such meeting. The said trustees shall keep a full and fair record of their proceedings in a suitable book to be provided for the purpose, the record of the proceedings of each meeting to be signed by the chairman, or chairman pro tempore.
"10. The capital stock of said seminary shall be deemed personal estate, and shall pass and descend in the same. manner, and shall be transferable on the books of such seminary in such form as the by- laws shall prescribe; and any debt which any stockholder may owe
WEST UNION ACADEMY. ( From a photograph taken in 1902).
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WVEST UNION ACADEMY
said academy being arrearages upon his stock, shall constitute a lien upon the same until such debt is paid.
"II. Extra meetings of the stockholders may be convened at any time by order of the board of trustees, or by any number of stock- holders holding together twenty shares of stock or more. Notice of such meetings to be given in the manner here-in-before prescribed.
"12. This act shall be in force from its passage."
"STATE OF VIRGINIA, CITY OF RICHMOND; To wit,
"I, George W. Mumford, Clerk of the House of Delegates and Keeper of the Rolls of Virginia, do hereby certify that the foregoing is a true copy of an act passed by the General Assembly of Virginia on the 16th day of April, 1852. Given under my hand this 30th day of September, 1852.
"GEORGE W. MUMFORD,
"C[lerk of the] H[ouse of] D[elegates] and Keeper of the Rolls of Virginia."
Through an error of the engrossing clerk of the House of Delegates the required number of shares of stock was made "seventy" instead of "forty." This together with another verbal error arising from the same cause, necessitated amend- ments to the charter which were passed by the next General Assembly as early as January 13, 1853. These amendments altered the word "seventy" in the second section to "forty," and the word "trustees" in the third section became "commissioners."
The charter and amendments as finally passed were drawn by Benjamin W. Jackson, and differed materially as to details from the draft first approved by the council.
On June 20, 1853, George J. Davis, Joseph Jeffrey, John S. Davis, Lodowick H. Davis, Stephen T. Davis, Samuel Preston F. Randolph, and Jepthah F. Randolph, stockholders, met at West Union for the purpose of considering the inter- ests of the academy. Upon an examination of the book of
subscriptions for stock, it was found that enough stock had been subscribed for to enable the organisation of the corpora- tion to proceed. Accordingly, they issued a call for the stock- holders to meet at West Union on the 8th of July following for that purpose. Owing, however, to the scant attendance of stockholders at that time, it was not until August 12, 1853, that the organisation was effected. On that date, the following named stockholders were present :- John S. Davis, Lodowick H. Davis, Jepthah F. Randolph, Neeley D. Jeffrey, William
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SEVENTH DAY BAPTISTS IN WEST VIRGINIA
Batten (also as proxy for Abraham Batten), Peter F. Ran- dolph (also as proxy for Isaac F. Randolph), Samuel Preston F. Randolph, Stephen T. Davis, William J. Davis, Joseph Jeffrey, Richard Ford, David D. Davis, George J. Davis, and William F. Randolph (also as proxy for Jonathan F. Randolph).
John S. Davis, Lodowick H. Davis, Samuel Preston F. Randolph, Joseph Jeffrey, and David D. Davis were elected the first Board of Trustees. The stockholders with their respective shares were as follows :--
WILLIAM F. RANDOLPH,
7 Shares,
PETER F. RANDOLPH,
I 2-3 Shares,
ISAAC F. RANDOLPH,
3 1-3 Shares,
JESSE F. RANDOLPH,
3 1-3 Shares,
JONATHAN F. RANDOLPH,
3 1-3 Shares,
JEPTHAH F. RANDOLPH,
3 1-3 Shares,
SAMUEL PRESTON F. RANDOLPH,
3 1-3 Shares,
ELIONA DAVIS,
3 1-3 Shares,
JOHN S. DAVIS,
5 Shares,
RICHARD FORD,
I 2-3 Shares,
GEORGE FORD,
I Share,
LODOWICK H. DAVIS,
2 Shares,
GEORGE J. DAVIS,
I Share,
DAVID D. DAVIS,
2 Shares,
STEPHEN T. DAVIS,
2 Shares,
WILLIAM J. DAVIS,
2 Shares,
NATHAN DAVIS,
4 1-3 Shares,
JOSEPH JEFFREY,
I 2-3 Shares,
WILLIAM BATTEN,
3 1-3 Shares,
ABRAHAM BATTEN,
I 2-3 Shares,
THOMAS BOND,
I 2-3 Shares,
ABEL P. BOND,
I 2-3 Shares,
AMAZIAH BEE,
2 Shares,
60 2-3 Shares at $15,-$910
These shares of stock were taken to cover subscriptions previously made to the academy.
Thus it will be observed that from the time of the first meeting at New Salem for the purpose of organising a school, more than two years had elapsed before the organisation under the charter was completed.
At about this time it appears that there was some thought of inviting the general public to take stock in the institution,
CAPTAIN NATHAN DAVIS.
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WEST UNION ACADEMY
and make it undenominational. It was decided, however, not to do so, but to keep the school as it had been from the beginning, wholly under Seventh Day Baptist control.
In the meantime the material business affairs of the school had progressed as if the academy had been incorporated from the beginning.
March 16, 1851, subscribers to stock had been obtained as follows :- William F. Randolph, Jonathan F. Randolph, Jesse F. Randolph, Jepthah F. Randolph, Richard Ford, George Ford, Eliona Davis, Lodowick H. Davis, Stephen T. Davis, William J. Davis, Nathan Davis, George J. Davis, John S. Davis, and Samuel Preston F. Randolph. On the above men- tioned date, these subscribers all met at West Union. There were present, also, Rev. Azor Estee, Stephen Thomas West Potter, Dr. John LaForge F. Randolph, and other friends of the school, who were invited to participate in the deliberations of the day.
At this meeting it was voted to accept the offer of Dr. Ethelbert Bond, John S. Davis, and Samuel Preston F. Ran- dolph, the owners of the building and lot then used for school purposes, as follows :---
"That, Inasmuch as the present owners had paid three hundred dollars for the property, they would sell it for school purposes for that sum with interest on what they had already paid toward it. John S. Davis offered to subscribe seventy-five dollars, and Samuel Preston F. Randolph fifty dollars, respectively, of the amount to the capital fund of the institution."
The offer accepted, a board of eight directors was elected in accordance with the terms of the form of charter adopted by the council January 13, 1851. The directors were as follows :- John S. Davis, William F. Randolph, Nathan Davis, Joseph Jeffrey, Samuel Preston F. Randolph, Lodowick H. Davis, Stephen T. Davis, and William J. Davis. They were instructed to be governed by the terms of the charter as agreed upon by the council.
Stephen Thomas West Potter and Rev. Azor Estee were requested to assist the directors in their duties. Rev. Azor Estee was appointed solicitor and collector.
On the evening of the same day, the directors held a meet- ing, at which the following members were present :- John S.
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SEVENTH DAY BAPTISTS IN WEST VIRGINIA
Davis, William F. Randolph, Nathan Davis, Lodowick H. Davis, Samuel Preston F. Randolph, and Stephen T. Davis. Stephen Thomas West Potter presented a plan for a building, two stories high, thirty-six feet long and twenty-six feet wide, to be erected adjoining or near the present school house. The plan was adopted and the board took the following action :-
"RESOLVED, To commence building as soon as practicable, but being doubtful of the present subscribed funds being sufficient to finish fully, it was thought best only to erect, inclose, lay the floors and finish one room for the present."
Nathan Davis, Samuel Preston F. Randolph, John S. Davis, and William F. Randolph were appointed a building committee.
On April 30, 1851, Eliona Davis signed a contract for erecting the new academy building "in a workmanlike manner, embracing the following items; vis., Making the shingles, framing, finishing the roof and gables and weather-boarding, windows and door-frames, painting steeple, sash, putting in windows, doors, laying the upper and lower floors, and plas- tering one room eighteen by twenty-six feet" for the sum of two hundred and twenty-five dollars ($225.00).
On February 26, 1852, the agent, Samuel Preston F. Randolph, rendered a statement showing that the contractor had been allowed one hundred dollars and seventy-three cents ($100.73) for extra work, and six dollars and thirty-seven cents ($6.37) for disbursements, leaving an unadjusted claim of fifty dollars ($50.00) for extra work on the cupola. The agent further said that the contract was not completed, for want of lumber.
The total cost of the buildings and grounds was eight hundred and twenty-seven dollars and thirteen cents ($827.13). This included the original house and lot at three hundred dollars ($300.00) ; the cost to erect the new building, four hundred and sixty-two dollars and thirteen cents ($462.13) ; and an additional lot purchased of Nathan Davis for sixty-five dollars ($65.00).
On the twenty-eighth of August, 1853, the directors authorised Samuel Preston F. Randolph to rent the old school house to the best advantage.
At a meeting of the directors held September 13, 1854,
SAMUEL PRESTON FITZ RANDOLPH.
35I
WEST UNION ACADEMY
Samuel Preston F. Randolph was instructed to make such improvements on the academy as he might deem best, and he was further instructed to rent both the school house and academy as opportunity might offer.
The directors at a meeting held April 22, 1855, set nine hundred dollars ($900.00) as the lowest price they could accept for the property of the corporation, and authorised Jep- thah F. Randolph to sell it, if opportunity offered.
On August 8, 1856, a sale was closed, whereby the entire property was sold by Jepthah F. Randolph as agent to Isaiah Bee for one thousand dollars ($1,000.00). On March 16, 1860, the General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Virginia passed bill No. 449, introduced by Samuel Preston F. Ran- dolph, one of the directors of the academy and at that time representing Doddridge County in the lower house of the General Assembly. The act runs as follows :-
"Be it enacted by the General Assembly, That the sale of the real estate belonging to the corporation styled the West Union Academy of Doddridge, including the academy buildings and appurtenances, heretofore made by the trustees of said academy, shall be and the same is hereby legalised, and the conveyance of said property made by them is hereby confirmed and ratified; provided, however, that nothing herein contained shall be construed to impair or destroy any lien or claim against said property at the time of said sale. And a general meeting of the stockholders of said corporation shall be called in the manner presented by the charter of said company to decide how the proceeds of the sale aforesaid shall be disposed of. But if it be found impossible to convene such meeting, then the trustees shall settle up the affairs of said corporation as may be deemed best for the inter- est of the stockholders. This act shall be in force from its passage."
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