USA > Virginia > Albemarle County > Albemarle County > Albemarle County in Virginia; giving some account of what it was by nature, of what it was made by man, and of some of the men who made it > Part 8
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At the organization of the county, the pillory, stocks and whipping post were regarded as necessary accompaniments of the courthouse, and court proceedings. In 1807 order was given to repair these important means of correction. In process of time they seem to have disappeared by natural decay. In 1820 they were all directed to be restored in the public square. Subsequent to that period the first two re- ceive no further mention, but James Lobban and Audrew Brown were appointed to select a place for the whipping post as late as 1857.
In 1811 a brick and stone wall was ordered to be erected on the Square forty-five feet from the courthouse. John Jor- dan contracted to perform the work. In 1816 the trustees of the town were allowed to sink a well on the Square, exterior to the wall. In 1824 V. W. Southall obtained permission to build an office on the southeast corner of the Square, and F. B. Dyer one on the southwest corner. At the same time an office was directed to be built on the northeast corner for the use of the County Clerk's assistant, and William H. Meri - wether was allowed to build one adjoining it on the west;
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but a month or two after the entire order was rescinded. The next year a commission, consisting of Joseph Coffman, John M. Perry, Jobn Winn, Alexander Garrett, Micajah Woods and Opie Norris, was directed to have two offices erected on the northeast corner of the Square for the Commonwealth's Attorney and the Sheriff, the brick wall taken down, the front yard paved with the materials, and a light railing placed around the Square. These two offices were occupied in 1830 by V. W. Southall and T. W. Gilmer at a rent of fifty dollars. In 1841 permission was again given for the erection of offices on the front corners of the Square ; but it was evidently withdrawn, though no notice of the counter - manding order appears. The same year the Charlottesville Lyceum had leave to hold their meetings in the courthouse. Authority was given in 1855 to Messrs. Strange and Jones, to ring the courthouse bell for the uses of their school, but it was soon after recalled.
In 1847 in answer perhaps to some ebullition of public spirit, James W. Saunders, John R. Jones and William A. Bibb were directed to enclose and improve the public square, provided the expense of the work was borne by private sub- scription. What was effected in pursuance of this movement is not known. Two years later Allen B. Magruder and W. T. Early asked leave to build offices on the Square, and the petition was so far taken into consideration that Malcolm F. Crawford and Thomas Wood were appointed to examine and report on the subject. In 1855 the town was granted liberty to erect an engine house on the west side of the Square, in a line with which Drury Wood and W. T. Early were allowed to build offices on the east side. The next year an order was passed, directing the enclosing and paving of the Square according to a plan submitted by William S. Dabney ; and it was no doubt in agreement with the provisions of this plan, that shortly after the stone wall and iron railing now existing were ordered to be erected, not to exceed the cost of fifteen hundred dollars.
Not long after the beginning of the century an effort was made to secure the transportation of the produce of the
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county by water. The need of a cheaper and more expedi- tious mode of reaching a market had long been felt. Farmers had been obliged to move their crops, first to Fredericksburg, and then to Richmond, by wagons; and the goods of mer- chants had been conveyed to their stores by the same slow and expensive process. The course of James River was then unobstructed, and the question arose whether the Rivanna might not be rendered useful for the purposes of commerce. The scheme was attempted of turning to account these water courses, which nature had placed at the door to be outlets of such admirable convenience. The Rivanna Navigation Com- pany was formed, and a charter procured. In 1810 George Divers, Williams D. Meriwether, Nimrod Bramham, John Kelly and Dabney Minor were its Directors, and Peter Minor its Treasurer. The original methods of procedure were simple enough. They aimed to keep the channel of the river clear of snags and hammocks, and to provide flat - bottomed boats called batteaux, for the carriage of freight. Advantage was taken of freshets to load the boats, and run them down, while the stream was at high water mark. As at such times the water rushed with the speed of a torrent, the navigation was often dangerous; but the management of the boats became a special business, and the men employed acquired an intelligence and skill which were seldom baffled by accidents. A family named Craddock bore for many years a high reputation as adroit and successful watermen.
In 1827 books were opened for an enlarged subscription of stock, and eleven hundred and fifteen shares were taken at fifty dollars a share. A list of the subscribers remains on record in Deed Book Twenty-Seven. This money was raised to improve still further the channel of the river. The improvement consisted in the erection of dams at shoal places, to increase the depth of water, and thus secure slack water navigation, locks being provided to raise or lower the boats at the different levels. Some of the locks were handsomely faced with hewn stone, and built in a substantial manner. Besides the dams located in Fluvanna, there was one erected at Milton, three at Shadwell, one at the Woolen Mills, one
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at the Three Islands, two at the Broad Mossing Ford, and two at Rio Mills. It was no doubt in preparation for this effort, that commissioners were appointed by the County Court in 1825 to consider the practicability of clearing out the south fork from the mouth of Ivy Creek to the "Little River." The court also in 1841 directed an examination of the improvements on the south fork with the view of allowing additional tolls. Some still living remember boats bound for the James River Canal at Columbia, which carried from eighty to a hundred barrels of flour, and from forty to fifty hogsheads of tobacco. The value of this work was entirely destroyed by the advent of the railroads; yet it seemed hard to abandon an enterprise, on which so much had been expended, and from which such great benefits had been derived. Since the war another attempt was made to renew its usefulness. Two dams were constructed, one above Milton, and the other above Shadwell; but both being damaged by sweeping floods, the whole matter has been finally dropped.
The early settlers of Albemarle amidst all the distracting labors of founding new homes, set no small value on the advantages of education. Both those who pushed their way up from the tidewater section, and the Scotch Irish element who came over from the Valley, made it their care to build the schoolhouse. Soon after the formation of the county, Rev. James Maury, Rector of Fredericksville parish, opened a classical school on the borders of Albemarle and Louisa, which he superintended for many years with eminent success. In this nursery of learning Mr. Jefferson received in part his mental training. At the same period Rev. Samuel Black, whose home was on Mechum's River below the Miller School, was also engaged in teaching. Rev. Matthew Maury, son of James, succeeded his father in the school as well as in the parish. In fact, it was generally the case that ministers of the gospel, whose salaries were small, joined the work of instruction to their regular professional duties. In the early deeds, it is not uncommon to find in the description of places sold, the incidental mention of the schoolhouse, or the school- house spring. It was also customary in setting forth the
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parties to deeds, to state their residence and occupation, a matter of no slight importance in a historical point of view. We learn in this way that about 1760 a James Forbes, who bought land on the head of Ivy Creek, was a schoolmaster, and that William Coursey, Jr., who lived in the northern part of the county, pursued the same vocation. David Rodes, who resided on Moorman's River, mentions in some notes still remaining, patronizing from 1766 to 1768, the schools of Charles Lambert, William Coleman and William Harris.
In consequence of Mr. Jefferson's repeated suggestions, seconded by the active efforts of Joseph Cabell in the Legis- lature, a State law was passed in 1818 in which it was pro- vided, that Commissioners should be appointed in every county, not less than five, nor more than fifteen in number, who should give attention to the children of families unable to bear the expense of their education. These appointments were made in Albemarle every three years for a considerable time. Those who constituted the first commission were Martin Dawson, James Clark, Francis Carr, John Goss, Thomas Wood, James Jarman, John A. Michie, Isaac A. Coles, William Harris, Allen Dawson, William Woods, Samuel L. Hart, Charles Yancey, Christopher Hudson, and Henry T. Harris.
In the early part of the century John Robertson, a native of Scotland, and father of Judge W. J. Robertson, taught a classical school on the east side of the South West Mountain. His library, a catalogue of which is recorded in Will Book No. Seven, contained a more complete set of the Greek and Latin authors than perhaps could be found in any other private collection in the State. The first numbers of the Central Gazette supply some information in regard to the educational facilities of the county during the decade of 1820. In that year was commenced the Charlottesville Female Seminary, the site of which was what is now the Leterman lot, corner of High and Third Streets. Its first Principal was a Mrs. George. It was subsequently presided over by Mr. and Mrs. Littleford, of Baltimore, Mrs. G. K. Taylor, and Mrs. Egan. Mr. Gerard E. Stuck, who was accredited
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by most flattering testimonials, taught the Charlottesville Academy, designed for boys. Allen Dawson had a school, first at his farm on the Scottsville Road, then at his house on Main Street, west of Third, and still later at a school- house that once stood on J. W. Marshall's lot on Park Street. In this house Thomas Woodson taught some years later. The small brick near the east end of Main Street, now occupied by William Durrett, accommodated suc- cessively the schools of George Carr, Thomas W. Maury and Rev. Mr. Hatch. Mr. Carr afterwards taught in con- nection with Christopher Hornsey, and Mr. Maury removed his school to his residence west of the University, now owned by Samuel Emerson. Mrs. Charles Spencer gave instruc- tion to small children on the south side of Main Street at the foot of Vinegar Hill, and to the same class of pupils Mrs. Ebenezer Watts devoted her labors at a subsequent period. Mrs. Rebecca Estes had a school for young ladies in the large brick on the top of Vinegar Hill. About 1829 Mrs. Blaetterman opened an academy for young ladies in the large brick, south of where the Lynchburg Road passes under the Chesapeake and Ohio Railroad. S. Overton Minor taught at the Farm, and later in the basement of the old Baptist Church. In the old brick next east of the Opera House on West Main Street, a classical school was conducted by Bar- tholomew Egan and Victor Ferrow. William A. Bowen taught near Ivy Depot, holding his examinations in Moun- tain Plains Church, and afterwards near Batesville, making a similar use of Mount Ed Church. Thornton Rogers had a classical academy at his place at Keswick. Joseph Mills gave instruction near Earlysville, and William J. Wilkerson two miles west of Michie's old Tavern. Mason Frizzell, a graduate of Williams College, had charge of a school on Chestnut Ridge, and John Duggins of one near H. Martin's, presumably south of Covesville. T. L. Terrell was a teacher at James H. Terrell's on the east side of the South West Mountain. Samuel Harrison taught at Piney Grove. A school in Brown's Cove was instructed by William Brander, and a Female Seminary in the
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same place by Miss Sarah P. Catlett. When Jonathan B. Carr retired from the practice of the law, he opened a school at his place, the Retreat, north of Dunlora. Rev. Ovid A. Kinsolving received part of his early education at Plain Dealing, the residence of Samuel Dyer.
During the next decade was built the house where Dr. William S. White taught for some years, now the Presbyte - rian Manse, and shortly after the brick at the corner of Maple and Seventh Streets was erected as a Female Seminary. Midway, first opened as a hotel under Louis A. Xaupi, became the seat of a flourishing academy taught by Duke and Powers-Alexander Duke and Pike Powers-and after - wards by Duke and Slaughter-Alexander Duke and Charles Slaughter.
These were some of the places of instruction which existed at that time, and which for the most part might be styled high schools. In them were imparted the elements of a clas - sical education. They were the forerunners of those admirable preparatory seats of learning which arose in the next genera- tion, and still exist in living memory, those of Franklin Minor at Ridgeway, of Charles Minor at Brookhill, of Pro- fessor Gessner Harrison at Cocke's Tavern, of William Din- widdie at Greenwood, of Col. J. B. Strange on the Ridge at Charlottesville, and of Brown and Tebbs at Bloomfield ; and at a later period, those of Major Horace Jones in Char - lottesville, of the Wood Brothers at Cocke's Tavern, and of John R. Sampson at Pantops.
A project was conceived of establishing at or near Char - lottesville a large academy, to be organized and managed on the plan of the German Gymnasium. Its great design was to insure a more exact and thorough drill in the rudiments of learning, and thus afford a more adequate preparation for entrance into the University. In prosecution of this idea, a long prospectus was published in 1829, signed by a large number of the most eminent men in all sections of the State, but nothing tangible ever resulted. Things still seem to be shaping themselves more and more in agreement with the wonderful foresight of Mr. Jefferson, forming that gradation
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which constituted the ideal of his mind, each step rising higher from the common school to the University, at which all the last and most finished results of every branch of learning could be obtained.
Jefferson well deserves the title of Father of the University of Virginia. The whole establishment was the outgrowth of his views upon education. These views occupied his mind while acting as one of the Revisors of the Laws of Virginia in 1776, were constantly revolved in his thoughts, and were from time to time expressed in legislative bills, and correspondence with his friends, until they finally assumed permanent form in the noble institution which is the chief ornament of Albemarle, and one of the chief orna - ments of the State. His fundamental maxim was, that the stability and happiness of the republic depended on the gen- eral diffusion of knowledge through the mass of the people; hence the attainment of this object was perhaps more the dictate of his patriotism, than of his literary tastes. The instrumentality to be employed comprehended common schools, grammar schools or academies, and a university as the head of the system. An act containing these general ideas was prepared and presented to the General Assembly in 1779, but amidst the turmoil of the Revolution attracted but little attention. The same views were expressed in his Notes on Virginia, in which he proposed that William and Mary should be enlarged, and made to occupy the place of a university. In 1796 the Legislature passed an act which approached as near the attainment of free schools in Virginia, as was ever realized until after the war.
This act provided that a majority of the acting justices of each county should determine whether they should be estab- lished ; that in case they came to this conclusion, they should elect three officers called aldermen, who should divide their county into hundreds, in imitation of the political divisions of old English times; and that the people of each hundred should tax themselves for the erection of a school house in the most convenient place, and for the support of a teacher. According to Mr. Jefferson, the common schools
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were to be wholly supported by local taxation, the acad - emy was to be assisted by the State, and the University was to receive a larger measure of State assistance, in con- junction with the benevolent contributions of the friends of education. But his conceptions were far in advance of his age. The magistrates were as little inclined as the peo- ple, to levy a special tax for general education. Although before the system was introduced by the present con - stitution, the counties and cities of the state were allowed by special enactment to adopt free schools for themselves, it is doubted whether a single county availed itself of the priv- ilege, and whether more than one or two cities were liberal minded enough to enter upon the work. A meeting of the magistrates of Albemarle was called to consider the subject in 1797, the year after the act referred to was passed, at which were present Francis Walker, Samuel Murrell, Rice Garland, Wilson C. Nicholas, George Divers, Bernard Brown, Thomas C. Fletcher and Thomas Bell. The decision at which they arrived was, "that no election of aldermen shall be held this year"-nor was any ever held thereafter. Under the law of 1818 which required not less than five nor more than fifteen Commissioners to be appointed in every connty, the full number was appointed in this county. They dis- posed of the quota of the State Literary Fund apportioned to the county, and provided for free education as far as this means would allow. Children thus aided were admitted to the schools upon certificate from one of the magistrates. In 1849 a memorable debate on the question took place before the people of the county, and an election was held. Dr. William H. McGuffey, of the University, took the stump in behalf of free schools, and General William F. Gordon and Col. T. J. Randolph against them. By the popular vote it was decided, that the time for public schools had not yet come.
As early as 1783, just after the Revolutionary War, a move- ment was begun to establish a grammar school in Albemarle. This appears from a letter of Mr. Jefferson, written the last day of that year. In it he narrates the efforts he had made
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to secure a teacher, some literary character of the Irish nation, or some person from Scotland-"from that country we are sure of having sober, attentive men." A charter was ob - tained for the Albemarle Academy in 1803; but though trustees were elected, nothing further was accomplished. Mr. Jefferson was President of the United States, and had the affairs of the country on his hands; the mainspring was therefore wanting. In 1814 he was appointed a trustee. Agitation at once commenced, plans were devised, a site was pitched upon, the town of Charlottesville was selected. But the project was soon enlarged. Albemarle Academy grew into Central College. The Legislature made this change of name in 1816, and provided for the appointment by the Governor of six visitors, who should choose professors, and superintend the affairs of the new institution. The visitors were Thomas Jefferson, James Madison, James Monroe, Joseph C. Cabell, David Watson and John H. Cocke. The next year land was bought from John M. Perry, the present site of the University, and on October 6th, 1817, the corner stone of Central College was laid.
The design had received a start, and like the letting out of waters could not be stopped. Matters ripened fast. In February 1818, the Legislature enacted that the Governor should appoint Commissioners, one from each Senatorial district of the State, who should meet in the month of August in that year at a tavern in Rockfish Gap on the Blue Ridge, and settle the site for a university, a plan for its construction, the sciences to be taught, the number of professors, and a legislative bill for organizing and managing the institution. That body was appointed, and consisted of the following gentlemen : Thomas Jefferson, James Madison, Spencer Roane, Creed Taylor, Peter Randolph, William Brocken - brough, Archibald Rutherford, Henry E. Watkins, Armis- tead T. Mason, Hugh Holmes, John G. Jackson, William H. Cabell, Nathaniel H. Claiborne, William A. E. Dade, Wil- liam Jones, James Breckinridge, Philip C. Pendleton, Archi- bald Stuart, Thomas Wilson, M. C. Taylor, Philip Slaughter, John Johnson, R. B. Taylor, and - Faulkner. All
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except the last three met at the tavern designated, which was the predecessor of the present Mountain Top, and was kept at the time by two brothers named Leake, kinsmen of the late Hon. Shelton F. Leake. Their hall of assembly was a low, whitewashed room, furnished with a deal dining table and split-bottomed chairs. The Commissioners were men of distinction, yet with them as with others local predilections had their weight. Jefferson, who was chosen president, strongly endeavored to secure Central College as the site. Two other places were proposed, Staunton and Lexington. After mature consideration the vote was taken, and stood sixteen for Central College, three for Lexington, and two for Staunton. The work was virtually accomplished. On Jan - uary 25th, 1819, Central College was by the Legislature transmuted into the University of Virginia.
The erection of buildings which had been begun by the authorities of Central College, was already in a good degree of forwardness. The plan of the whole group, as well as the styles of the particular edifices, had been designed by Mr. Jefferson himself. All the residences, or pavilions, as they were called, and all the dormitories, on the West Lawn were put up, and the interior wood work and plastering were in progress. This was true also in regard to the first and sec - ond pavilions, that is, the two most northerly, and ten dormi- tories, on East Lawn. No contracts had yet been let for the remaining buildings, the three southern pavilions and the other dormitories on East Lawn, and the hotels and dormitories on the East and West Ranges. Nor was any mention yet made of the erection of the Rotunda. The first pavilion designed in the Doric order, with the four adjoining dormitories, on West Lawn was built, the brick work by Carter and Phillips, and the wood work by James Oldham. Matthew Brown did the brick work, and James Dinsmore the wood work, of the second pavilion in the Corinthian order. The third pavilion in the Ionic order, with the seven nearest dor- mitories, was erected, the brick work by John M. Perry, and the wood work by Perry and Dinsmore. The fourth pavilion in the Doric order, with fifteen dormitories adjacent, was
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built, the brick work by Matthew Brown, David Knight and Hugh Chisholm, and the wood work by John M. Perry. The fifth pavilion and one dormitory were built, the brick work by Carter and Phillips, and the wood work by George W. Spooner and John Neilson. The entire work of pavilions one and two, with the ten adjoining dormitories, on East Lawn, was contracted for by Richard Ware.
According to Mr. Jefferson's report in 1821, the cost of the ten pavilions was estimated at eighty - six thousand dollars, of the one hundred and nine dormitories at sixty-five thou- sand, and of the six hotels at twenty -four thousand. The entire sum for land, buildings and labor was placed at two hundred and seven thousand. The construction of the Rotunda proved to be an expensive undertaking. An esti- mate published in Niles's Register in 1826, set down the cost of the complete establishment at about four hundred thousand dollars.
The scholastic duties of the University began at length on March 7th, 1825. The number of students present at the opening was forty; the whole number matriculated during the session up to the last of September, was one hundred and sixteen. The Central Gazette issued on the seventh of March noticed the opening, and stated "that many were said to have been prevented from being present by heavy rains and bad roads."
In the early days of the University there was a greater tendency to disorder among the students than has since been apparent. In 1836 wild and boisterous spirits prevailed to such an extent that the firm hand of Benjamin Ficklin was required to repress their effervescence, and in 1840 the deplor- able death of Prof. John A. G. Davis occurred by the rash violence of a student. But the height of these excesses produced a reaction, and led to a more quiet and rational line of conduct. It may be safely affirmed, that in the history of the institution as a whole, there have been as little turbu- lence and destructive riot as in any assemblage of like kind in the country. In truth, notwithstanding reports to the contrary, the most healthful moral influences have been in
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