USA > Virginia > Prince Edward County > Prince Edward County > A history of Prince Edward County, Virginia: from its formation in 1753, to the present > Part 18
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By an Act of the Legislature, passed May 24th, 1860, the charter of the company was amended, and the name changed to "The Farmville Female College." This corporation held the property until Janaury 15th, 1873, when it was con- veyed by deed to Mr. G. M. Bickers, pursuant to a resolution adopted by the stockholders in a meeting held July 1st, 1870, when they determined to sell and, after paying its debts, dis- tribute the proceeds amongst the stockholders. By deed dated May 29th, 1882, Mr. Bickers conveyed the property to the Rev. Paul Whitehead and others, Mr. Whitehead being the Principal of the College at that time.
By deed dated April 7th, 1884, "The Farmville College," a corporation of which the aforementioned Rev. Paul White- head was President, conveyed it to the town of Farmville, and, by a deed of the same date, the town of Farmville con-
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veyed it to the State of Virginia, in consideration that the State would establish on it a Female Normal School.
"A system of free schools for Virginia was established, July 11, 1870, by the first Legislature to assemble after the War between the States. As these schools struggled year after year for a stable footing, it became more and more evi- dent that they must be supplied with specially trained teach- ers before they could reach the desired efficiency. To make provision for this pressing need, the Legislature at its regu- lar session in March, 1884, passed the following Act estab- lishing the Normal School :
"Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia :
1. That there shall be established, as hereinafter provid- ed, a normal school expressly for the training and education of white female teachers for public schools.
2. The school shall be under the supervision, manage- ment and government of W. H. Ruffner, J. L. M. Curry, John B. Minor, R. M. Manly, L. R. Holland, John L. Buchanan, L. A. Michie, F. N. Watkins, S. C. Armstrong, W. B. Talia- ferro, George O. Conrad, W. E. Gaines, and W. W. Herbert, as a board of trustees. In case of any vacancy, caused by death, resignation, or otherwise, the successor shall be ap- pointed by the Governor. The Superintendent of Public In- struction shall be ex-officio a member of the board of trustees.
3. Said trustees shall, from time to time, make all need- ful rules and regulations for the good government and man- agement of the school, to fix the number and compensation of the teachers and others to be employed in the school, and to prescribe the preliminary examination and conditions on which students shall be received and instructed therein. They may appoint an executive committee, of whom the Superin- tendent shall be one, for the care, management and govern- ment of said school, under the rules and regulations prescribed
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as aforesaid. The trustees shall annually transmit to the Gov- ernor a full account of their proceedings under this act, to- gether with a report of the progress, condition and prospects of the school.
4. The trustees shall establish said school at Farmville, in the County of Prince Edward; provided said town shall cause to be conveyed to the State of Virginia, by proper deed, the property in said town known as the Farmville Fe- male College; and if the said property is not so conveyed, then the said trustees shall establish said school in such other place as shall convey to the State suitable grounds and build- ings for the purpose of said school.
5. Each city of five hundred inhabitants, and each coun- ty in the States shall be entitled to one pupil, and for each additional representative in the House of Delegates above one, who shall receive gratuitous instruction. The trustees shall provide rules for the selection of such pupils and for their examination, and shall require such pupil selected, to give satisfactory evidence of an intention to teach in the pub- lic schools of the State for at least two years after leaving the said normal school.
6. The sum of five thousand dollars is hereby appro- priated to defray the expenses of establishing and continuing said school. The money shall be expended for that purpose under the direction of the trustees, upon whose requisition the Governor is hereby authorized to draw his warrant on the treasury.
7. There shall be appropriated annually, out of the treas- ury of the State the sum of ten thousand dollars to pay inci- dental expenses, the salaries of officers and teachers, and to maintain the efficiency of the school, said sum to be paid out of the public free school fund; provided, however, that the Commonwealth will not in any instance be responsible for
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any debt contracted, or expenditure made by the institution in excess of the appropriation herein made.
8. The Superintendent of Public Instruction shall ren- der to the Second Auditor an annual account of the expendi- tures under this act."
It was not until 1886, however, that the institution was incorporated by the Legislature, under the name of the State Female Normal School.
That Farmville secured the school was owning to the fact that the town offered to give to the State a building formerly used as a girls' school, and this offer was warmly supported by such influential men as Dr. W. H. Ruffner, Dr. James Nelson, then pastor of the Baptist Church at Farm- ville, and Dr. W. H. H. Thackston, at that time mayor of Farmville and most anxious to promote its interests.
The first meeting of the Board of Trustees was held in Richmond, April 9, 1884, and organized by the election of Dr. J. L. M. Curry, president, Dr. J. L. Buchanan, vice- president, and Judge F. N. Watkins secretary and treasurer.
The Board was confronted by a serious difficulty at the outset in the shape of the seventh section of the law establish- ing the school. This provided that the money set apart for the support of the school should be taken from the public free school funds. The question was at once raised as to its constitutionality. It was the opinion of the Attorney-Gen- eral, and, later, of the Court of Appeals, that the seventh section was "unconstitutional and void" in so far as it at- tempted to divert the public school funds.
The Board of Trustees thus found itself without funds for the proposed work, until an extra session of the Legislature amended the section, August 23, 1884, by passing a law re- quiring that the ten thousand dollars be paid out of the treas-
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ury of the State, "which was just what should have been done at first."
At the first meeting of the Board, Dr. W. H. Ruffner was unanimously chosen president. At the same meeting a committee composed of Dr. Ruffner, Dr. Curry, and Dr. Buch- anan, was appointed to formulate a plan of organization of the school. The committee made its report June 10, 1884, but, because of the delay in getting the funds to run the school, the report was not adopted until September 17, 1884. The school was then ordered to be opened October 30th, fol- lowing, although, to quote Dr. Ruffner's words, all they had was "a principal, an appropriation, a rough scheme, and an old academy building,-not a teacher, nor a book, nor a piece of apparatus or furniture."
The school was opened promptly at the appointed time, however, with Dr. Ruffner as president; Miss Celeste E. Bush, of Connecticut, as vice-president; Miss Clara M. Brim- blecom, of Boston, for vocal music; and Miss Lillian A. Lee, of Connecticut, for drawing and mathematics. To this number were later added Miss Pauline Gash, of North Caro- lina, teacher of English; and Mrs. Clara Bartkowska, of Rich- mond, Va., to have charge of the preparatory school. These six persons formed the first Faculty of the school. During the first year Mr. Beverly H. Robertson was added to this faculty as teacher of science, Latin, and algebra; and Miss Belle Johnson, as teacher of piano music. In this first ses- sion there were enrolled one hundred and ten students, of whom forty-four were accommodated in the building. There were three graduates, viz: Annie Lydia Blanton; Lulu M. Duncan; and Lulu O. Philips.
To Dr. W. H. Ruffner, and to Dr. J. L. M. Curry, un- doubtedly belongs the credit for the Normal School idea in Virginia, and the State was fortunate indeed in securing the services of two such able men to launch and guide the new
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undertaking. By this means the new venture set out on correct Normal School lines and the vexations, due to con- stant experimentations, were thus avoided. Thus the pioneer school of its kind in the Southland was assured a proper foundation, and Farmville Female Normal School was a suc- cess from the very start.
A more extended note respecting these two remarkable men will be found in chapter thirteen, on biography.
The school had in turn, the following to serve in the office of President : Dr. William Henry Ruffner, 1884-1887. James Atkinson Cunningham, LL.D., 1887-1896. Robert Fraser, LL.D., 1898-1902. Joseph L. Jarman, A.B., LL.D., 1902, to the present time. (See further, Chapters on Biography and Who's Who).
When Dr. Jarman assumed the presidency of the in- stitution, the entire plant; grounds, buildings, etc.), were valued at only $90,000; the present valuation exceeds $500,- 000. During Dr. Jarman's regime, twenty-eight separate pieces of property have been purchased, so that the school grounds now comprise some twelve acres all told.
For thirty-seven years Mr. Benjamin M. Cox has served the institution as Business Manager. His daughter, Miss Mary White Cox, is the efficient Head of the Home Depart- ment.
Mrs. Bessie G. Jamison is the housekeeper.
Miss Lillian V. Nunn is the supervisor of the laundry department.
Mr. William Marshall Atkinson is the college constable.
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Ilistory of Prince Edward County
STATISTICS OF GROWTH
Students
1884-1885
121
1899-1900 351
1889-1890
.248
1909-1910
616
1921-1922
637
Faculty
1884-1885
8
1899-1900
13
1889-1890
9
1909-1910 .....
32
1921-1922
42
Home Department
1884-1885
1*
1899-1900
3
1889-1890 2
1909-1910
12
1921-1922 ..... 13
Lady Principal
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History of Prince Edward County
COLORED SCHOOLS
This sketch of the colored schools of the county, like the sketch of the colored churches, was furnished by the Rev. P. W. Price, a most excellent colored preacher, who, in ad- dition to his pastoral duties (he serves a group of colored Baptist churches) is also the principal of the splendid col- ored school at Farmville, with an enrollment of about 400 children under his care. The sketch is given almost verbatim. The attention. of the careful reader will be arrested by the statement of the exceedingly short and inadequate school term, and by the beggarly salary paid the teachers of these schools.
A few years after the Civil War, when the days of the re-construction were well over, the doors of a few public schools were opened to colored people. These schools, about six to begin with, were taught by white people for some years, until some of the colored students became qualified to assume the task of teaching.
The real thirst for an education on the part of the colored community has added very greatly to the school advantages presented to colored students and, at the same time, created a deep sympathy in the hearts of many white friends.
Hundreds of those who attended these colored schools of the county, have finished higher schools, returned to their homes, and through strenuous effort, and with the co-operation of the school authorities, have increased the number of colored schools in the county to thirty-three, with a teaching force of fifty-one.
The average length of the school term is from five to six months, and the average monthly salary of the teachers, be- tween $35 and $40.
Chapter Thirteen
Prince Edward County Biography
1. Henry Watkins Allen.
2. J. L. M. Curry.
3. John Atkinson Cunningham.
4. Asa D. Dickinson.
5. Walter Gray Dunnington.
6. Robert Fraser.
7. Patrick Henry.
8. Joseph Eggleston Johnson.
9. John Peter Mettauer.
10. James Nelson.
11. William Henry Ruffner.
12. Francis N. Watkins.
13. Peter Winston.
14. Daniel Witt.
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History of Prince Edward County
PRINCE EDWARD COUNTY BIOGRAPHY
HENRY WATKINS ALLEN: Brigadier-General, Confed- erate States Army, and Ex-Governor of Louisana.
Henry Watkins Allen was born in the county of Prince Edward, near Farmville on the 29th day of April, 1820.
His father, Dr. Thomas Allen, a graduate of Hampden- Sidney College, was of Scotch extraction. His mother, Ann Watkins, was descended from a Welsh family.
The first mention of a "Watkins" in the history of Vir- ginia, was of one "James Watkins," a companion of "Captain John Smith," in his expeditions of 1607-8. The Watkins are related to many of the best Virginia families; the Finchards, Carringtons, Venables, etc. In the Revolutionary War a troop of horse, known as "Watkins Troop," raised in Prince Edward county, fought with conspicuous bravery; their leader, Thomas Watkins, grandson of Thomas Watkins of Chickahominy, at the battle of Guilford Court House, March, 1781, was distinguished for his gallantry; winning laurels in single combat.
Henry W., the subject of this sketch, was the fourth son of Dr. Allen. A biographer (Sarah A. Dorsey) describes him as "rash, but true; quick, but not malignant; flashing with sudden ire, but sweet and sound in temper; with noth- ing hidden, nothing mean, heartfelt warmth, earnest affec- tion, constancy, generosity, no revenge, with a softness and tenderness of soul almost feminine."
In 1833, Mrs. Allen having previously died, Dr. Allen, with his motherless children, moved into Kay county, Mis- souri, leaving the remains of the gentle wife and mother to rest beneath the green sod of "Old Virginia."
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With the subsequent history of Allen we may not deal in detail in so short a sketch, save to note the fact that in 1861 he re-visited Virginia, and spent a short time with his relatives in Prince Edward county. Whilst there he went to the family cemetery to see his mother's grave. "Never," says his cousin, the late Honorable Francis N. Watkins, father of Judge Asa D. Watkins, present Commonwealth's Attorney, a sketch of whose life appears elsewhere in this work, "did I wit- ness such uncontrollable emotion as seized him as he ap- proached that hallowed spot."
Henry Watkins Allen died in exile, in the city of Mexico, on Sunday, April 22nd, 1866, at 11 o'clock in the morning.
WALTER GRAY DUNNINGTON See Page 320.
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History of Prince Edward County
DR. J. L. M. CURRY. Born in Georgia, 1825. Died in Asheville, N. C., February 12, 1903.
His father was a prominent landholder and slaveowner of Georgia, but the subject of this sketch spent his early life on a plantation in Alabama. He graduated from the University of Georgia at the early age of eighteen, then studied law at Harvard University, graduating when twenty years of age. At the age of twenty-one he became a member of the United States Congress from 1857 to 1861, when his fine gifts of oratory attracted much favorable attention.
In 1866-67 Dr. Curry served as President of Howard College, Alabama. For thirteen years he was Professor in Richmond College and also President of the Board of Trus- tees of that institution. He often occupied the pulpit - as preacher, although he had no regular charge. He was at one time President of the Foreign Mission Board of the Southern Baptist Convention.
For twenty-two years as agent of the Peabody Fund, and for twelve years of the Slater Fund (which was used exclusively for the education of the negro) he had more to do with the organization of the common school system of the south than any other man. While agent for these two funds, Dr. Curry was twice sent to represent his country at a for- eign court; first as Minister Plenipotentiary to Spain by ap- pointment of President Cleveland, and afterwards as repre- sentative at the Coronation of the Spanish king. ,
It was under Dr. Curry's leadership that the establish- ment of State Normal Schools was inaugurated in the South. It was he who originally drafted the bill for the Virginia School at Farmville. He was elected the first President of its Board of Trustees.
Before coming to his work in Farmville, he was already distinguished as a statesman, diplomat, educator, and author.
He died at seventy-eight years of age, at Asheville, N. C., on February 12, 1903.
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History of Prince Edward County
DR. JOHN ATKINSON CUNNINGHAM. Born, June 24, 1846. Died, October 9, 1898.
The subject of this sketch, the second President of the State Female Normal School of Farmville, Va., was born in Richmond, Virginia, June 24, 1846. His paternal grandfath- er, Edward Cunningham, came from Ireland, to Virginia in 1770, and made a large fortune through establishing iron works that were situated near the present site of the Trede- gar mills in Richmond, and, through a chain of country stores which extended from Virginia nearly to Ohio. The father of the subject of this sketch, bearing the same name, received his schooling at William and Mary, at Harvard, and at the University of Pennsylvania, from which latter institution he graduated in medicine in 1825. He married Miss Mary John- ston, a granddaughter of Peter Johnston of Longwood, near Farmville, and donor of the land on; which now stands Hamp- den-Sidney College.
John Atkinson Cunningham, Junior, was the only child of this union. He was very delicate in health and received most of his early education from a French governess. After- wards he attended private schools, but immediately before the breaking out of the War between the States, he was a pupil at New London Academy, Bedford County.
At the age of seventeen he entered the Confederate Army and served as a private to the end of that struggle. After the war he pursued his studies at the University of Virginia, where he graduated in chemistry, Latin, moral philosophy, natural philosophy, pure mathematics, and French. He after- wards receive his Master's degree from the University of Nashville, and in 1896 Hampden-Sidney College gave him the honorary degree of LL.D.
In 1874 Mr. Cunningham married Miss Florence Boyd, of Nashville, Tenn., who lived for not more than a year
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History of Prince Edward County
afterwards. In 1887 he married Miss Martha Eggleston, daughter of Mr. Stephen Eggleston, of Cumberland county, Virginia.
For a short time after leaving Nashville, Tennessee, where he had taught in the University of Nashville, Mr. Cunning- ham was in business as a druggist in Richmond, Virginia. In 1877 he was made Principal of Madison School in that city, where he taught with great success until he came to Farmville.
The ten years of Dr. Cunningham's Presidency of the Normal School at Farmville, were years of steady and sub- stantial growth. In his first year ninety-three students were enrolled in the Normal School department; in his last there were two hundred and fifty.
He died, October 9, 1898, at Farmville, Va., aged 52 years.
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History of Prince Edward County
JUDGE ASA D. DICKINSON. Born, 1817. Died, 1884.
Asa D. Dickinson was born in Nottoway County, Va., in 1817, the son of Robert Dickinson and Mary Purnal Dupuy. His father was a prominent farmer and citizen of Nottoway County, while his mother sprang from the Huguenot family of that name. Two brothers of his mother, Colonels Asa and Joseph Dupuy, were for many years representatives of Prince Edward County in the Virginia Legislature. Judge Dickin- son's mother was a niece of General William Purnal.
The subject of this sketch received his collegiate educa- tion at Hampden-Sidney College, from which institution he graduated with high honors, in 1836. He afterwards studied law at William and Mary College, and commenced the prac- tice of his profession in 1840.
He was twice married. His first wife was a Miss Mi- chaux of Prince Edward county. His second wife was a Miss Irvine of Campbell county. His family consisted of five sons; two, R. M., and Purnal, by the first marriage; and four daughters.
In 1857, Judge Dickinson was elected to represent the county of Prince Edward in the State Legislature and again in 1859. He subsequently served two terms in the State Senate. He also was a member of the Confederate Congress from the district composed in part of the county of Prince Edward. He was disfranchised by reason of this connection with the Confederacy, but his disability was removed by the Congress of 1870, at which time he was elected Judge of the Third Judicial Circuit, in which position he continued for fourteen years; until his death, which occurred, July 22, 1884, as a result of an apoplectic seizure which attacked him while bathing in the Rapidan River.
During the strenuous days of the War between the States,
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History of Prince Edward County
Judge Dickinson won, and retained, the favor and the con- fidence of President Jefferson Davis.
For thirty-seven years, Judge Dickinson was a member and a ruling Elder in the Presbyterian Church. He was also a Trustee of Hampden-Sidney College. He lived most of his long life near Worsham, where he commenced the practice of law.
He was buried in the College Church Cemetery at Hamp- den-Sidney, the burial service being conducted by his pastor, the Rev. Charles White, D. D.
Mr. Blair M. Dickinson, a grandson of Judge Dickin- son, is the honored Principal of the Farmville Public School. Another grandson is Mr. A. B. Dickinson, a prominent lawyer of the City of Richmond, Va.
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History of Prince Edward County
WALTER GRAY DUNNINGTON
Born, Farmville, February 12, 1849
Died, Farmville, August 2, 1922.
Walter Gray Dunnington was, for many years, one of the most prominent tobacco merchants of the entire South.
He was born in Farmville, February 12, 1859, and died in the county in which he was born, August 2, 1922. He was the son of James W. Dunnington and Sallie Madison. He was, on his mother's side, the grand-son of Col. James Madi- son. The Dunningtons, were originally Maryland people. On both sides of the house, Mr. Dunnington came of English ancestry. The habitat of which was the county of Berkshire, in England.
Soon after growing up Mr. Dunnington went West, and for some time lived in the vicinity of Kansas City, Mo. Af- ter about two years he returned to his old home in Farmville and went into the tobacco business, in which business his father also had been engaged.
His operations in tobacco were of such magnitude that they extended into Norway, Sweden, Germany, France, Eng- land and Holland. While he conducted his business chiefly from Farmville, he had very large interests in Louisville, Ky., and spent a considerable part of his time there. He also con- ducted many of his business operations in New York City. In his own line of business, he was one of the "big men" of the State, and, for that matter, of the nation as well. He was the means of making Farmville one of the leading ex- port tobacco markets of the State.
Mr. Dunnington never held political position of any kind, having no inclination in that direction. At one period, how- ever, he had been a member of the Town Council of Farm- ville. For many years he served as a member of the board
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History of Prince Edward County
of trustees of Hampden-Sidney College, at which institution his three sons were educated. He was a man of simple tastes, modest and unassuming, yet, at the same time, aggressive and full of energy, alert in speech and bearing, and possessed of remarkable business acumen.
Mr. Dunnington was married, October 12, 1876, to India W. Knight. daughter of Capt. John H. Knight, a gallant soldier of the Confederate Army, who survives him. Their family consisted of six children, five or whom survive him. They are Walter Gray Dunnington, Jr., a prominent lawyer of New York City; Dr. J. H. Dunnington, an eye specialist of New York City; Mrs. A. G. Clapham, of Washington, D. C., Mrs. E. Southall Shields, of Farmville, Va .; and J. W. Dunnington of Farmville, for many years associated with his father in the tobacco business in that place. His youngest child, named for his Norwegian friend, Conrad Langaard, died in infancy.
Mr. Dunnington was devoted to his family. He was a most loyal friend and, while he consistently shrank from publicity, his deeds of kindness to those in distress were multitudinous. His death brought a remarkable career to a a close. His remains were laid to rest in the cemetery at Farmville.
4
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History of Prince Edward County
DR. ROBERT FRAZER.
Robert Frazer was the third President of the State Fe- male Normal School at Farmville. He became President in February, 1898. He was intended by his father for law. His academic course at the University of Virginia was in- terrupted by the War between the States. Disabled from wounds, he returned to the University in the fall of 1863, and took up the study of law with Professor Minor. He was never satisfied with that step, preferring the profession of teaching to that of the law. Later he took up teaching and the law was abandoned.
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