USA > Tennessee > Bedford County > History of Tennessee, from the earliest time to the present; together with an historical and a biographical sketch of Maury, Williamson, Rutherford, Wilson, Bedford and Marshall counties, besides a valuable fund of notes, reminiscences, observations, etc., etc, Vol.2 > Part 30
USA > Tennessee > Marshall County > History of Tennessee, from the earliest time to the present; together with an historical and a biographical sketch of Maury, Williamson, Rutherford, Wilson, Bedford and Marshall counties, besides a valuable fund of notes, reminiscences, observations, etc., etc, Vol.2 > Part 30
USA > Tennessee > Wilson County > History of Tennessee, from the earliest time to the present; together with an historical and a biographical sketch of Maury, Williamson, Rutherford, Wilson, Bedford and Marshall counties, besides a valuable fund of notes, reminiscences, observations, etc., etc, Vol.2 > Part 30
USA > Tennessee > Maury County > History of Tennessee, from the earliest time to the present; together with an historical and a biographical sketch of Maury, Williamson, Rutherford, Wilson, Bedford and Marshall counties, besides a valuable fund of notes, reminiscences, observations, etc., etc, Vol.2 > Part 30
USA > Tennessee > Williamson County > History of Tennessee, from the earliest time to the present; together with an historical and a biographical sketch of Maury, Williamson, Rutherford, Wilson, Bedford and Marshall counties, besides a valuable fund of notes, reminiscences, observations, etc., etc, Vol.2 > Part 30
USA > Tennessee > Rutherford County > History of Tennessee, from the earliest time to the present; together with an historical and a biographical sketch of Maury, Williamson, Rutherford, Wilson, Bedford and Marshall counties, besides a valuable fund of notes, reminiscences, observations, etc., etc, Vol.2 > Part 30
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 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78 | Part 79 | Part 80 | Part 81 | Part 82 | Part 83 | Part 84 | Part 85 | Part 86 | Part 87 | Part 88 | Part 89 | Part 90 | Part 91 | Part 92 | Part 93 | Part 94 | Part 95 | Part 96 | Part 97 | Part 98 | Part 99 | Part 100
The Exchange Bank was established in the summer of 1852, under the free banking system by William and Joseph Spence. The bank was started with a capital stock of $50,000, but was afterward increased to $100,000. The bank did a prosperous business till 1857, when by some improper management the bank became embarrassed and suspended for a time, but resumed business again in 1858, but was permanently suspended in a short time. Much loss and dissatisfaction grew out of the management of this institution.
The First National Bank was established in March, 1869, with a capital stock of $100,000. The first board of directors were J. B. Kimbro, W. N. Doughty, J. W. Rich- ardson, J. R. Collier, J. R. Dillon, J. E. Dromgoole, J. B. Palmer, W. A. Ransom, M. L. Fletcher, W. B. Lillard and A. M. Alexander. The officers were J. B. Kimbro, president; W. N. Doughty, vice-president; J. B. Collier, cashier. In July, 1871, the capital stock was increased to $160,000, and in March, 1872, J. B. Kimbro died and was succeded by J. W. Childress as president. In 1879 Collier, the cashier, died and was succeeded by H. H. Williams, the present cashier. J. W. Childress resigned in January, 1880, and was suc- ceeded by E. L. Jourdan. In 1877 the capital stock was reduced from $160,000 to $100,- 000, at which it now stands, with $50.000 surplus. The present board of directors are E. L. Jordan, J. B. Palmer, J. M. Avent, J. M. Haynes. Joseph Ransom, R. C. Blackman, N. C. Collier, J. W. Sparks, J. T. Byrn, J A. Moore and George Beasley.
S31
RUTHERFORD COUNTY.
The Stone River National Bank was organized May 1, 1872. The directors were W. N. Doughty, J. P. Rice, W. R. Butler, W. C. Eagleton, T. C. Goodrich, Theodore Smith. J. 1. C. Haynes. D. D. Wendel and C. B. Huggins. The officers were William Mitchell, president; D. D. Wendel, cashier, and C. B. Huggins, teller. The capital stock was $50 .- 000. The present officers are William Mitchell, president; A. M. Overall, vice-president. and J. B. Fowler, cashier. The board of directors are William Mitchell, A. M. Overall, Alex Hartman, J. I. C. Haynes, W. N. Doughty, C. H. Byrn, J. H. Reed, Horace E. Palmer, W. C. Harrison. Jr., W. Barton and C. M. Holden. The Stone River National Banking Company was organized May 1, 1872, with a capital stock of $50.000. The of- ficers were W. N. Doughty, president; D. D. Wendel, cashier, and C. B. Huggins. teller; directors: J. P. Rice, W. R. Butler, W. C. Eagleton, T. C. Goodrich, J. I. C. Haynes and Theodore Smith. The present officers are William Mitchell, president; A. M. Overall, vice-president; J. B. Fowler, cashier. Directors: William Mitchell, A. M. Overall, Alex Hartman, J. I. C. Haynes, W. N. Doughty, C. H. Byrn, J. H. Reed, H. E. Palmer, W. C. Harrison, Jr., W. Barton and C. M. Holden.
The first newspaper ever published in Murfreesboro was The Courier. The initial number of this little sheet made its appearance June 16, 1814. It was issued from the of- fice on the corner of Vine and Lebanon Streets, by G. A. and A. C. Sublett. The Courier was like other papers; at times it gave the news rather than the expression of opinions. The press was one of the Franklin style, not unlike that on which was printed the Dec- laration of Independence. Mail service was furnished once a week at this time, but to facilitate exchanges private carriers carried papers to Nashville. The Weekly Times was established in Murfreesboro in 1837, and was the organ of the Democratic party. It was edited by Thomas Hagan. The Tennessee Telegraph said: "The union of the Whigs for the sake of the Union." Its motto signified its politics. It was edited by E. J. King. This editor, like the modern editor, saw the salvation of the country depended upon the support of his paper and his party. The National Vidette was established by G. A. Sublett in Murfreesboro in 1828. It favored the election of Andrew Jackson for President in opposition to John Quincy Adams. It was an "anti- administration" paper. The Murfreesboro News was established in 1859 by 1. Watkins, and was edited by G. T. Henderson, as a neutral political paper, but in 1852 it was changed to a Democratic paper. The paper was ably conducted by Mr. Henderson till it was suspended on account of the war, the type and press having been destroyed by the Federal Army. The Telegraph was the Whig organ of the county and was edited first by T. Taylor and afterward by R. S. Northcott. This paper continued till the war. The Murfreesboro News was again started by Mr. Henderson in January, 1866, and was contin- ucd till 1878, when it was sold to other parties. The News is now owned and edited by W. C. Frost, a young and vigorous writer, who is conducting the paper in a very successful manner. The Free Press was started in 1878 by G. T. and R. K. Henderson. It, as well as the News, is Democratic in politics yet conservative on all matters in regard to opinion. The pages of The Free Press show that the Messrs. Henderson kne v how to edit a paper. The Gold Eagle is the organ of the colored people. It was begun in January, 1886, but suspended publication until the middle of February on account of machinery. The paper is a seven column edition and is edited by Dr. B. Andrew Franklin. It is issued from the office of Russell & Ransom,
The scourge of cholera first threatened the place in 1832, but fortunately did nothing more than to frighten the inhabitants. A general clearing up and fumigating of the foul place was begun. The cholera went away only to gather strength for its return in 1835, when it came like a terror in all its horrors. Men and women frightened fled from their homes as though they were pursued by a devastating army; business was suspended; relief committees were formed; G. J. Cain, a prominent merchant, died; Gen. William Brady, a prominent lawyer and candidate for Congress, succumbed to the disease; Dr. A. Hartwell, who did yeoman service for the sick, was himself attacked and died. A com- mittee of young men, James and John Holmes, D. D. Wendel, William Spence, W. T.
0
832
HISTORY OF TENNESSEE.
Leiper, John Leiper, Robert Loik, Samuel Eagleton and James W. Hamilton were formed to act as nurses and attend the needs of the sick, and right nobly was the work done. The women, too, did their share. Providing coffins, digging graves and nursing the sick took all their atteniton. The town seemed depopulated by the disease and fright. Soon the destroying angel raised its wings and fled, but sadness was left in nearly every household.
Mount Moriah Lodge, No. 18, was chartered in the year 1817, on petition of F. N. W. Burton. M. B. Murfree, B. F. MeCulloch, John Lytle, A. C. Sublett and John L. Jetton. The lodge met on the north side of the Public Square in their room till about the year 1832, when the discredit attached to the order, by the community, caused it to suspend after a prosperous existence for more than a dozen years. After the excitement above mentioned had died away the lodge again reorganized in 1840. They met for a time in a room on the northwest corner of the Square, then on the west side in a room on the third floor of a building: this room and contents were burned in 1859. The lodge next procured new regalias and filled a room on the east side of the Square. This lodge was compelled to suspend during the war, but was soon after reorganized, and now has a membership of about forty members. The present officers are William Mitchell, W. M .; T. H. Woods, S. W .; George Walter, J. W .; J. H. Allen, Treasurer; J. T. MeKinley, Secretary; J. R. Thompson, Chaplain; J. J. McKnight, S. D .; J. C. Duun, J. D .; W. F. Leiper, S .; J. W. Wigg, T.
Murfreesboro Commandery, No. 10, was chartered May 12, 1870, and was organized by V. E. Sir David Cook assisted by Sir Knights A. B. Martin and Alex W. Wick, of Bald- win Commandery, No. 7. The first officers were Sir J. B. Palmer, E. C .; Sir J. D. Rieb- ardson, G., and Sir J. B. Murfree, C. G. The officers for 1896 are W. F. Lciper, E. C., John Bell, Jr., G .; William Mitchell. C. G .: W. D. Robinson, P .; H. C. Jackson, S. W .; Richard Beard, J. W .; H. W. Kerr, Treasurer; William Ledbetter, R .; Charles King, S. B .; H. Weakley, S. B .; T. M. King, W. Past Commanders: J. B. Palmer, J. D. Richardson, J. B. Murfree, T. H. Woods and H. H. Kerr.
Stranger Rest Lodge, No. 14, I. O. O. F., was instituted December 25, 1845, with the following charter members: J. N. Champion, Andrew Donaldson, J. A. Harrison, S. A. Bivens and R. G. Buchanan. On December 27 W. W. Earthman became a member, the oldest now living. Funds paid to Grand Lodge sinee its inception, $16,570.51; relief funds, $3.389.65. Two fires within the last decade have made a report on the orphans' edu- cational fund impossible, yet there has been expended under this head $980.35. The lodge now owns a $3,000 building on the South Side. Present officers are R. M. Ransom, N. G. : J. P. Coshey, V. G .; M. Hoehnlein and W. B. Drumright, treasurers. Orphan fund trus. tees: N. C. Collier, E. C. Cox and Adam Bock. This body has expended for or- phans now under their care, $1,289.55. The Refuge Lodge has furnished the following Grand Masters: Benjamin Johnson, A. O. II. P. Sehorn, E. G. Budd and J. H. Crichlow, the only one now living, and these three grand representatives to the Sovereign Grand Lodge: A. O. H. P. Sehorn, E. G. Budd and J. H. Criehlow, now lieutenant-colonel upon the staff of John C. Underwood, the lieutenant-general and commander-in-chief of the army of Patriarchs Militant. Notwithstanding the misfortune of fires, etc., the order has had & successful career, and now numbers sixty-five active members.
The G. U. O. O. F. Lodge, No. 1822 (colored), was instituted in October, 1878. The lodge now numbers about 200 members.
The origin of temperance societies in Rutherford County dates as far back as 1827, as mentioned in the history of the Presbyterian Church. In this church was organized the first formal society having rules and by-laws. A society was soon after formed called the "Washingtonians," or Washington Temperance Society. After a time the interest in the matter somewhat died away, but was renewed again in 1847 under the name of "Sons of Temperanee." This society prospered, and higher degrees were formed in 1851. In that year the degree of Knight Templar was opened in the court house, and in 1857 the K. of H. was organized. These societies continued to prosper till broken up by the war. In 1867 the order of G. T. was organized in the court house, and in 1868 the order of S. of T. was re.
833
RUTHERFORD COUNTY.
vived. To the efforts of these good people the State owes no little to her excellent tem- perance legislation.
Lodge No. 161, K. of H., was organized in Murfreesboro, September 25, 1825, with the following charter members: 11. H. Clayton, F. H. Crass, W. B. Garrett, S. B. Bowers, J. O. Oslin, T. N. Crichlow, John MeDermott, E. Rosenfeld, J. W. Childress, G. H. Baskett. Dr. J. B. Murfree, J. B. Clayton, E. C. Cox. J. R. Osborn, J. T. Rather. R. L. Martin, S. N. Lawing, S. G. McFadden, Ed Ohrenne, H. Hirsch and W. C. Osborn. The present officers are J. M. Wigg. P. D. ; H. C. Finch, D .: H. Hirsch, V. D .; E. C. Cox. A. D .; S. W. Lawing, R .; J. J. McKinley, F. R .; J. W. Ewing. C .; Dr. R. S. Wendel, Treas .; G. W. Ransom, G .; H. Eickhoff. I. W. and D. W. Donaldson, Sentinel. Present mem- bership ninety-five. The A. O. U. W., was organized May 2, 1877, with the following members: C. O. Thomas, Dr. J. B. Murfree, J. R. Osborn, J. N. Criehilow, R. F. Osborn, W. Roulet, F. H. Crass, W. B. Earthman, H. Hirsch, W. E. and S. N Lawing. This popular fraternity now numbers thirty-nine members.
Jefferson is located at the forks of Stone River. The place was selected, as stated elsewhere, as a seat of justice for the county and remained the same from 1804 till 1811. Col. Robert Weakley and Robert Bedford entered the land about Jefferson and had a town platted. A court house, brick, about 40x40 feet was begun in 1804, and ready for use in the summer of 1806. . A jail and stocks were also built. Rude houses were rapidly built. The town proper embraced forty acres of land. William Nash opened a store near the place in 1803, said to have been the first in the county. An ordinary was kept in the place by Mitchell in 1805. As communication and travel at this time was mainly by river, Jefferson was an important trading post. Numerous keel and flat-boats were seen at her wharves, many were also built there. Goods were bought largely at Pittsburgh and brought to Jefferson by river; produce, grain, meat. etc., were shipped to New Orleans and sold. These voyages required months to complete. After the removal of the seat of justice to Murfreesboro the town began to decline. In 1815 the old court house was transformed into a seminary of learning under the name of "Jefferson Seminary of Learning." The Legislature made John Coffee, Peter Legrand, S. Crosthwait, George Simpson and Walter Keeble trustees of said institution and to govern the same. The school was of short duration; the old building stood till about 1835.
In 1824 Constant Hardeman built the first and only steam-boat at Jefferson and floated the same down to Nashville to receive her machinery and finishing touches. The boat was of about 100 tons burthen. The broad-ax by which most of the timber was hewed is now in the hands of David Neugent. The town now contains a shop, one or two stores, a postoffice and an Odd Fellow Lodge.
The little village of Milton is situated fourteen miles southeast from Murfreesboro. The first settlers came from North Carolina and Virginia about the year 1790. Among the first were James Doran and - - Roach; the former entered land and built a house about one mile from where the village now stands; a stone spring-house bears "J. D., 1807," and is still standing. The latter, it is thought, entered the land where the village now stands. The first house was built about 1810. Little further is known of the place until 1830, when Howard and Benjamin Morgan purchased the land and laid out a town, to which was given the somewhat classic name "Milton." The town was incorporated and "con- stituted a body corporate and politic under the name and style of the mayor and alder- men of the town of Milton." The town soon assumed metropolitan airs, but after an ex- istence of about a half-century the charter was revoked. The place now contains only. about 200 inhabitants. The village contains an I. O. O. F. Lodge, Presbyterian Church, a drug store and two general stores. The amount of business in the place amounts to about $40,000 annually. The pride of the village is its seminary, which was erected and in. corporated under the "four mile law." This school is in a flourishing condition under the management of Prof. N. D. Overall, assisted by Miss Mattie Hill; in the music and art departments are other competent teachers. The high moral standing, the people, their social culture, the fine lands surrounding and good mail facilities, make Milton a desirable
834
HISTORY OF TENNESSEE.
place in which to live. Historically Milton marks the place of a hotly contested engage ment between Gens. Morgan and Blackman in the late war, in which the former was de- feated. Some of the Confederate dead lie buried in a beautiful grove near the village.
The village of Eagleville, consisting of about thirty families, is situated in the south - west part of the county. The first settlements made in that neighborhood were made about 1790. Pioneer settlers were William and Thomas Jordan. Henry Ridley, James Shepard, Robert Donaldson, James Neal, Daniel Scales, Ab Scales, John Guy, Robert Wil- son, James Gillespie, Joe Carson, -- Burgess, George and Robert White.
The Missionary Baptist Church was organized one and one-half miles north of Eagle- ville November 7, 1839, by Rushing James Keal and John Landrum. The first mem- bers were Thomas and Sophia Jordan, Elizabeth Williams. Josiah Johnson, Drury Ben- nett, William Cullom, Robert and Nancy Palmer. John and Rhoda Hazelwood. It was then called Harpeth Baptist Church, but on removal to Eagleville, in about 1866, it was called Eagleville Baptist Church. Eagleville Lodge, No. 17, I. O. O. F., was organized May 20. 1846. The charter members were John Nunn, William Nunn, Samuel Rankin . Thomas W. Maxfield, S. S. Morgan, Thomas Cheatham, Thomas Moore and William Tay- lor. Business: Charles Williams sold the first goods in the place in 1832. His old stand is now occupied by his sons, J. C. & R. E. Williams. R. S. Brown has also sold goods for a number of years. Other branches of business are a drug store, cabinet shop, machine shop, tobacco factory, flouring-mill, two blachsmith shops, livery stable and a boot and shoe shop. The school. now under Prof. G. M. Savage, was chartered several years ago. It employs seven teachers, and the curriculum embraces the entire course of mathemat- jes, natural sciences, English, Latin, Greek, Hebrew, French, German and Anglo- Saxon languages, metaphysics, logic, music and art. This school is furnished with a commodious boarding-house for girls, and a row of ten rooms for boys, beside the family buildings. The school building has eight rooms besides the chapel.
Readyville is situated on the Woodbury Pike in District No. 19, in the eastern part of the county. It was named in honor of Charles Ready, who was one of the seven justices that organized the first court in the county, in 1804. He settled in that county not far from the beginning of the present century. In 1833 this was on District No. 6, and George Brandon, A. Tenneson and Joe Macey were made inspectors of elections at that place. Readyville is situated in an excellent farming community, and maintains a flourishing school.
La Vergne was founded after the building of the railroad, and lies in District No. 3, near the Davidson County line. It was incorporated by an act of the General Assembly passed February 28, 1861. It contains several hundred inhabitants, two churches, stores, shops and other business houses. It was at this place that skirmishing began between the armies of Gens. Bragg and Rosecrans previous to the great battle of Stone River. The town fared badly during the war.
Salem is situated five miles southwest of Murfreesboro, on the Salem & Eaglevile Pike. Salem is near the western part of District No. 11. Versailles is the name of a postoffice near the center of District No. 10. It contains a store and other places of business. Middleton is situated near the southern boundary of the county fourteen miles south of Murfreesboro. It contains a Baptist Church, postoffice, store and shops. Christiana lies on the east side of the railroad ten miles from Murfreesboro. It is in the northern part of Dis- trict No. 20. It contains a postoffice, a school, one or two stores and is a good shipping point on the railroad. Fosterville is a thriving little village situated thirteen miles south- east of Murfreesboro on the railroad. It contains a church, store, postoffice and shops. Car- locksville is situated near the southeastern part of the county fourteen miles from Murfrees- boro and in the most thickly settled portion of District No. 24. It contains business houses, a Baptist and a Methodist Episcopal Church and a postoffice,
Stewartsboro, near the Nashville Pike on Stewart Creek, was formerly a place of some little business, but since the completing of the railroad the business has been trans- ferred to Smyrna. In point of population and wealth this is now the second town in the
835
RUTHERFORD COUNTY.
county. It contains a school of excellent merit, a Presbyterian Church, a Masonic Lodge. stores and other business houses. Florence, on the railroad midway between Smyrna and Murfreesboro, has a fine location and is surrounded by excellent farming country. It sup. ports an excellent school.
Rutherford County is divided into forty-three school districts, and has 150 houses for the education of children in the public schools. The schools were organized under the present system in 1869, and put into effective operation in 1873. Besides the 150 school- houses above mentioned the county supports seven graded schools, i. e. one at Murfreesboro. Smyrna, Milton. Eagleville, Fosterville, Lavergne and one at Florence. The school pop- ulation for the year ending July, 1885, was white males. 4,069; females. 3,824; colored males, 3,398; females, 3,281. This makes a total school population of 14.5.2. There was expended for the year as above the sum of $39,556.82. In these schools there were em- ployed 43 male white teachers and 44 females, and 31 colored male teachers and 44 fe- males, making a total of 139 teachers. The total number engaged in both public and pri- vate schools amounts to about 200. The average salary for teachers in the public schools for 1885 was $25 per month, the minimum being $18 and the maximum being $60 per month. The average length of term for the year is four months. Excellent private schools of high grade are maintained the greater part of the year at Milton, Readyville, Eagleville, Florence and Smyrna.
The public schools were put in operation soon after the war, but for want of proper accommodations were not efficient until within the last year. An elegant brick building was erected on the site of the old Female Academy, and an efficient corps of teachers em- ployed. The present corps of teachers are Prof. W. W. Millam, principal; Miss Sallie Ralston, assistant: other teachers, Misses Mary Jones, Nannie Wade, Allie Wade, Ida Clark and Janie Murfree. The colored schools are under the charge of Prof. Carney and three assistants.
Soule's Female College was organized in 1825, and was known as the "Female Academy." The first trustees of this school were F. N. W. Burton, Dr. W. R. Rucker, M. B. Murfree and Dr. James Maney. This school was for girls exclusively, those hereto- fore being mixed schools. Besides the ordinary branches taught there were in addition rhetoric, philosophy, belles-lettres, painting, needle-work and music. The teaching was done by the Misses Mary and Nancy Banks.
The Female County Academy was founded in 1829. One acre of ground was pur- chased in the north part of town for $100, and a two-story brick building of four rooms was erected thereon. A suitable course of study was prepared, and the services of Miss Keyser was obtained. The school was soon in successful operation. The Rev. Mr. Baker, who became the husband of Miss Keyser, was also employed as one of the teachers. After Mr. and Mrs. Baker retired from the institution Mr. and Mrs. G. T. Henderson con- ducted the school successfully, after whom Mr. and Mrs. Blackington took charge of the school. In 1850 the school had grown to such proportions that an enlargement was found necessary, and one acre of land was purchased of William Lytle and added to the grounds, on which additional buildings were erected. The first teachers in the academy after the enlargement were Mr. and Mrs. Fellows.
In 1852 steps were taken to have a female school of more extended limits. The Rev. Thomas Madden is said to have taken the initiative in this matter. The charter was ob- tained in 1854, and the following trustees appointed: L. H. Carney, B. W. Avent, D. D. Wendel, Levi Wade, W. R. McFadden, Joseph Watkins, William Spence, W. S. Huggins and W. F. Lytle. The school was founded on a very liberal basis, four of the above being Presbyterians, four Methodist, and one belonging to neither. The school was named in honor of Bishop Soule, of the Methodist Episcopal Church. The following faculty were employed: J. R. Finley, president; Mr. J. Hoffman, Misses Jane and Phobe Raymond, Julia Knapp and Jane DeWolf. The school was opened in the Female Academy, but owing to disagreement with the trustees of that institution it was decided to erect a new building. About three and a half acres of ground was purchased where the old Methodist
836
HISTORY OF TENNESSEE.
Church stood, and a large brick building, three stories high, about 100x110 feet, was erected at a cost of $25,000. Dr. Finley resigned before the college was completed, and was snc- ceeded by Dr. S. P. Baldwin, who conducted the school successfully two years, and was succeeded by C. W. Callender, who remained two years, and was succeeded by Rev. John Naff. Rev. Naff conducted the school till his death in 1862. Owing to the war the school was suspended, the building having been taken first by the Confederates as a hospital, afterward by the Federals. The building was greatly damaged by the war. The school was reorganized by the Rev. J. R. Plummer after the war, who conducted a school suc- cessfully for two years. Owing to a debt overhanging the building it was sold, the Rev. D. D. Moore, D. D., being the purchaser, for $15,000. Dr. Moore managed the school six or seven years, when it passed into the hands of J. D. West, D. D., and later into the hands of Prof. J. R. Thompson, its present owner. The institution has a faculty of nine in- structors, the Rev. J. R. Thompson being the president. The school has a preparatory and a collegiate department. In the collegiate department is a freshman, a sophomore, a junior and a senior class, embracing the usual course of a school of its kind. Since 1877 there have been forty-seven graduates from the college. Under the management of Prof. Thompson the school has been eminently successful. The location. the surroundings, the high professional training, the social refinement, and the Christian influence that is brought to bear upon pupils at this institution make it a desirable place for the training of young ladies for the higher duties of life.
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.