USA > Virginia > Washington County > Washington County > History of southwest Virginia, 1746-1786, Washington County, 1777-1870 > Part 50
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Deeds were executed pursuant to this order of the court, and the trustees of the Academy set about in earnest to make the institu- tion of great service to the community.
Soon after the determination of this suit, the trustees of Abingdon Academy employed Nathaniel Holley as principal of the Academy, and rented a room for the school to be taught in until the Academy building could be erected.
In the year 1824, the Board of Trustees appointed Francis Smith, James Cummings and Earl B. Clapp, curators for the Academy land, and in the same year appointed David Campbell, James White and Francis Smith, a committee to select a location for the Academy and have the site for the Academy cleared out, and in the following year, Francis Smith, John M. Preston and David Campbell, were appointed a committee to let the contract for the erection of a brick Academy to cost $2,000, and at the same time the Board of Directors directed that the cost of the erection of this Academy be paid by money raised by private subscription.
In the year 1826, when the brick Academy was nearing com- pletion, the Board of Trustees of the Academy sold and conveyed to General Francis Preston, all their interest in the old Academy building on Water street, and in the year 1827, occupied the new Academy building, and elected William Ewing principal.
The brick Academy erected in this year was situated upon the location of the present Academy building, and was one of the best school buildings in Western Virginia at the time.
William Ewing served as principal of the Academy until 1833, and during his occupancy the attendance was considerable and the Academy prosperous.
From the year 1833 to 1837, Professor Peter McViccar, formerly a professor in Hampden-Sidney College, was principal of the Acad- emy, and received for his compensation $1,300 yearly. The tui- tion fee was $10 per session and the number of students exceeded forty.
In the year 1833, the trustees of Abingdon Academy decided that it would be advisable to unite the male and female schools of the
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town, and appointed a committee to ascertain the practicability of selling the Academy lands and uniting the two schools, but this undertaking of the trustees evidently failed, as there is no evidence that the two schools were ever united.
In the year 1833 there were four schools for boys in the town of Abingdon, conducted by the Rev. David Spyker, Rev. F. L. B. Shaver, Samuel Baillie and a Mr. Hathaway, and one school for girls.
In the year 1:24, Dr. Thomas Walker conveyed to the minister and congregation of Sinking Spring and their successors fifty-five acres of land, now in West Abingdon and including Sinking Spring Cemetery, and a portion of Fruit Hill and Taylor's Hill.
In the year 1800 the validity of this deed was questioned by some, and on the 11th of January, 1800, Colonel Francis Walker, as executor of Dr. Thomas Walker, conveyed this same land to the Rev. Charles Cummings and others and their successors.
In the year 1840, the validity of this last conveyancee was ques- tioned, and on the 23d of May in that year, William C. Rives and his wife, Judith P. Rives, Mann Page, and Jane F. Page, the heirs- at-law of Dr. Thomas Walker, conveyed these lands to the trustees of Abingdon Academy and their successors.
Subsequently it was decided that the first deed executed by Dr. Walker was valid and, consequently, all subsequent deeds void.
The next information that we have of the Academy is in the year 1849, at which time W. A. Woodson and B. F. Ficklin were prin- cipals.
During the administration of Woodson and Ficklin the Academy was a military institution, and for a number of years thereafter. The students were uniformed and daily drilled. The uniform worn by the students was as follows: A coatee of gray cloth with white metal buttons, with pantaloons of the same material for winter, and white linen or cotton for summer and a blue cloth cap. The attendance during this period in the history of the school was large, and the school was exceedingly prosperous.
W. A. Woodson and J. M. Brockenbrough were the principals of the Academy in the year 1851, but they disagreed, and J. M. Brockenbrough during the following year conducted a school for boys in the basement of the Temperance Hall. To this school he
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Southwest Virginia, 1746-1786.
gave the name of Washington Institute, but the school ceased to exist after the first year.
The principals of the Abingdon Academy from 1822 until the present time have been as follows :
1822-1827, Nathaniel Holley.
1827-1833, William Ewing.
1833-1837, Peter McViccar.
1837-1838, Rev. Ephraim D. Saunders, Cumberland county.
1838-1840, George Clive, Albemarle county.
1840-1843, Rev. Samuel Matthews.
1843-1849, John G. Winniford.
1849-1850, B. F. Ficklin and W. A. Woodson.
1850-1851, W. A. Woodson and J. M. Brockenbrough.
1851-1852, W. A. Woodson and W. Y. C. Humes.
1852-1853, J. E. Blankenship.
1853-1854, Rev. Thomas Brown.
1854-1855, Rev. Henry T. Lee.
1855-1856, Stephen J. Pendleton, Williamsburg.
1856-1859, Rev. Thomas Brown.
1859-1860, Charles T. Brown.
1860-1861, R. H. Hall.
1861-1865, William Farmer.
1865-1871, Robert P. Carson.
1871-1872, John H. McRae.
And since 1872, Robert P. Carson, J. B. Baker, A. P. Wilmer, J. W. Cole and B. R. Smith in the order named.
It is worthy of mention at this point that John G. Winniford, who for a number of years successfully conducted the Abingdon Acad .. emy, was the son of the principal contractor in the building of Emory and Henry College, and probably the first graduate of that institution.
Mr. Hall, the principal of this Academy in the year 1861, resigned his position as principal of the Academy and enlisted in the service of the Confederate States.
Robert J. Preston, Samuel B. Paston and James G. McChain, in the order named, were assistant professors at the Academy during the administration of Robert P. Carson.
In the spring of the year 1861, the volunteers from Scott county were permitted to occupy the Abingdon Academy temporarily, but
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Washington County, 1777-1870.
this permission was abused, and the trustees of the Academy peti- tioned the Secretary of War of the Confederate States to prohibit the use of the Academy by the soldiers, and in June, 186%, this petition was granted and the soldiers forbidden to occupy the Academy.
By the year 1822 the Academy buildings by neglect and bad usage had cracked and were in a very dilapidated condition, and the Board of Trustees, because of the necessity above stated, began the erection in that year of the present AAcademy building and the brick residence near thereto.
The corner-stone of the Academy was relaid jointly by Waterman Lodge, No. 219, and Abingdon Lodge, No. 48, Ancient Free and Accepted Masons, on the 15th day of July, A. I., 5822, A. D., 1872, conducted by P. G. M. Thomas F. Owens.
The program was as follows :
Robert E. Withers, Grand Master of Virginia.
Waterman Lodge, No. 219.
John C. Campbell, Master.
John G. Clark, S. W.
William White, J. W.
George R. Barr, Secretary.
Charles B. Coale, Treasurer.
Abingdon Lodge, No. 48.
John A. Barrow, Master.
P. C. Landrum, S. W.
John D. Cosby, J. W.
G. V. Litchfield, Secretary.
W. F. Barr, Treasurer.
Committee of Arrangements :
R. M. Page,
1
George R. Barr, Lodge No. 219.
Thomas K. Trigg,
G. V. Litchfield, - John D. Cosby, Lodge, No. 48.
John A. Barrow, -
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Southwest Virginia, 1746-1786.
Trustees of Abingdon Academy : E. M. Campbell, President. John G. Kreger, Secretary and Treasurer.
James K. Gibson, C. S. Bekem,
John A. Campbell,
A. C. Cummings,
A. R. Preston,
George V. Litchfield, Sr.,
Charles J. Cummings,
N. K. White,
T. G. McConnell,
D. G. Thomas,
James Fields,
S. N. Honaker,
James L. White.
Contractors :
James Fields, Masonry.
Frank Smith, carpenter.
The buildings thus begun were completed in a short time, and at this day are in use by the authorities of the Academy.
The trustees of the Academy in the meantime had sold and con- veyed the property derived under the will of William King, and, pre- vious to 1861, had used the interest arising from this endowment fund in discharging the current expenses of the school, but by the depreciation of the securities held by the Board of Trustees for this fund, the entire fund was exhausted by the erection of the buildings before mentioned and since that time the school has been without an endowment fund.
Since the close of the war the following gentlemen have acted as principals of the Academy in the order named: Colonel R. P. Car- son, J. B. Baker, A. P. Wilmer, J. W. Cole, and B. R. Smith.
This Academy is situated within view of the Norfolk and Western Railway and about one-quarter of a mile from the depot thereof. The grounds consist of about eighteen acres of land, and the Academy buildings are situated on a high hill in the midst of a splendid grove of poplar, oak and chestnut trees overlooking the town of Abingdon, and from this hill a splendid view may be had of all the surrounding country.
Many of the distinguished men produced by this county and this section of Virginia have been students of this Academy, and under its present very efficient management many of the sons of this sec- tion of Virginia are being prepared for a life of usefulness and honor.
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Washington County, 1777-1570.
What this Academy most needs is an endowment fund that will enable the trustees to extend the sphere of usefulness of the institu- tion, and if some of our well-to-do citizens could be impressed with the fact that wealth transmitted to descendants has an enervating effect and oftentimes destroys the usefulness of excellent men, maybe they would be impelled to confer a small portion at least of their wealth upon this institution, and thereby forever merit the love and respect of their fellow-citizens and their posterity. The pro- vision contained in the will of William King, as above set out, has done more to perpetuate his memory and to instill into the minds of his posterity and fellow-citizens a sublime respect for his character as a man than all the great wealth that passed at his death to his relatives.
Female Education.
As early as March, 1840, the General Assembly of Virginia in- corporated the Abingdon Female Academy with a capital of $50,- 000, under the management of the following trustees :
David Campbell,
John M. Preston,
Alexander Findlay,
John W. C. Watson,
John N. Humes,
Fairman H. Preston,
Jacob Lynch,
Daniel Trigg,
Samuel H. Wills,
William Y. C. White,
Jeremiah Bronough,
John C. Greenway,
John Dunn.
This school was for many years conducted in a room in the Ma- sonic Hall, which was located on Valley street, on now the vacant lot between the Presbyterian manse and the residencee of Mrs. S. M. Withers. This school for many years was under the supervision of Miss Melville and Miss Agnes Mitchell (the latter won distinc- tion by her production entitled the "Smuggler's Son"), and after- wards by Miss Bettie Litchfield, and at one time by the Rev. Thomas Brown.
In the year 1851, Miss Bettie Litchfield conducted the school at the Masonic Hall, and Misses Sallie C. and Elizabeth Balfour con- ducted a school for young ladies in the Methodist Protestant church.
In February of the year 1851, a committee appointed by the Holston Conference met in Abingdon and discussed the propriety of establishing a female college within the bounds of the confer-
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ence ; and while this committee failed to establish a school in Abing- don, the subject was extensively discussed and was finally brought to the attention of McCabe Lodge, No. 56, I. O. O. F., of Abingdon, and, as a result, the lodge, in the year 1853, projected a plan for the erection of a first-class female college in Abingdon, to which was given the name of
MARTHA WASHINGTON COLLEGE.
This name was suggested by Colonel John Campbell, of Hall's Bottom, who, in speaking of this enterprise, said: "If the name of your county was the first honor of the kind paid to General Wash-
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Martha Washington College, Abingdon, Va.
ington, the name you are about to give to your female college will be the first of the kind paid to his wife, who shared with him his anxieties and hopes in our struggle for liberty and whose domestic virtues made her a perfect model of female excellence. By thus con- ferring the name you will do honor to the bosom friend of Washing- ton, who consoled him during his wonderful career. You will also do honor to the first settlers of Washington county, who proved
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Washington County, 1777-1870.
themselves in the darkest hours of the revolution to be worthy the name that had been selected for their county."
The Odd-Fellows Lodge that undertook this worthy enterprise was organized on the 22th of June, 1817, the following persons being charter members : James D. McCabe. John C. Campbell, F. L. B. Shaver, Matthew Davis and Charles B. Coale.
The growth of the lodge was rapid, and its usefulness was un- bounded, and by the year 1853 most of the leading citizens of Abing- don were active members.
When the lodge had decided to undertake this enterprise commit- tees were appointed to select the location for the college and ascer- tain the cost thereof, to solicit subscriptions from the citizens of the town and county and from other lodges, and shortly thereafter the lodge purchased from William Y. C. White about ten acres of land on the hill north of the county courthouse for the sum of twelve hundred dollars, the purchase money being paid in cash. W. W. Blackford, a member of the lodge, was employed to furnish the plan for said college, which plan was reported and adopted, and contracts were let for the building of a large three-story building intended as the main building of the college.
In the meantime the General Assembly of Virginia, on the 3d day of March. 1851. incorporated the proposed college under the name and style of the Trustees of the Martha Washington College, the following gentlemen being named as trustees: B. R. Johnston, James H. Dunn, James Fields. David C. Dunn, John L. Bradley. Samuel Garner, George R. Barr, Samuel Logan. William K. Heis- kell. Thomas L. Preston, Peter E. B. C. Henritze, Henry W. Baker and John C. Cummings, to which board were subsequently added Charles B. Coale and John G. Kreger.
This board organized by the election of Thomas L. Preston as president of the board.
The ladies of the town were interested, and conducted several fairs for the benefit of the college. A Gift Enterprise was conducted at Abingdon and 50,000 tickets were sold at $1.00 each. Fifty thou- sand gifts were bestowed upon the holders of the tickets sold. among the gifts being a farm of 150 acres of land, house and lot in the town of Abingdon, piano, carriage, buggy, certificates of scholarship in the proposed college, and several thousand steel engravings of the proposed college buildings.
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Southwest Virginia, 1746-1786.
By the year 1858 the main building of the college was about com- pleted and' the grounds somewhat improved, when, during a very severe storm, the building was so badly injured as to make it neces- sary to tear it down and rebuild it, and it was apparent that the lodge would not be able to complete the undertaking as at first pro- posed, although they had expended $30,000 thereon.
At this time the Rev. F. E. Wiley, representing the Holston Con- ference, submitted a proposition to the lodge on behalf of the confer- ence. The lodge accepted the proposition of the conference, and the college, with its debts, real estate and subscription list, was transferred to the Holston Conference, the transfer taking effect on Monday, June 14, 1858.
· The conference immediately began preparations for the comple- tion of the enterprise undertaken by the lodge, and soon thereafter purchased from Thomas L. Preston the present location of the col- lege for the sum of $21,600.
The property thus purchased was the former residence of Gen- eral Francis Preston, and the home at one time of William C. Pres- ton and John S. Preston, of South Carolina ; Mrs. Wade Hampton, South Carolina ; Mrs. Robert J. Breckenridge, of Kentucky ; Mrs. General Carrington, of Albemarle county; Mrs. John B. Floyd, Mrs. James McDowell, of Rockbridge, and Mrs. John M. Preston, of Abingdon.
The General Assembly of Virginia incorporated Martha Wash- ington College on the 22d of February, 1860, naming the following trustees :
George V. Litchfield,
Ephraim E. Wiley,
Milton Y. Heiskell,
T. P. Hoofnagle,
B. R. Johnston,
William P. Bishop,
C. B. Coale,
W. K. Heiskell,
Thomas S. Stewart,
Edmond Longley,
Joseph Haskew, Thomas G. McConnell,
John A. Campbell.
This board organized by the election of John A. Campbell as president, and the first session of the school was duly opened on March 15, 1860, and, save for the suspension of a few months in the year 1862, has continued in successful operation to the present, the last few years being the most prosperous in its entire history.
This college can boast of more than three hundred and fifty grad-
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Washington County. ITT-1870.
uates, representing all of the Southern States and many of the Northern and Western States.
The description of the buildings and grounds is best given by one of the original trustees of this college :
"The buildings and grounds are of the most elaborate and mag- nificent order. unsurpassed for beauty and convenience in the South or out of it. The grounds comprise eight acres, and are gorgeously ornamented with trees and shrubs and Howers. There are more than a mile of continuous serpentine walks for the young ladies to promenade in, all tastefully bordered with flowering shrubbery. Fruits in great variety, including berries and grapes in great abund- ance, grow in all parts of the ground, at all times in their season accessible to the inmates, and the young ladies seem, in their beau- tiful and well-ordered "home school," to be as happy as the first inhabitants of Eden before that Snake came along. The buildings are extensive, convenient and imposing, and capable of accommo- dating from 125 to 150 boarders. The Faculty is equal to any anywhere; and if we were young again, we believe we might be bewildered at the sight of the bright eyes, sunny curls and fairy- like forms that sport amid the flowers of the campus on calm sum- mer evenings. Some of our young men are half crazy now, but they dare not pass the enclosure, except to see a sister or a cousin, and they all have cousins of course, and even then nearly every tree and bush and flower seems to say-"thus far shalt thou go and no ·further."*
The buildings, four in number, are constructed of brick, and are heated by steam and are lighted by incandescent electric lights.
The principals of this college during its very useful career have been : W. A. Harris, B. Arbogast. R. W. Jones. Warren Dupree. E. E. Hoss. E. E. Wiley. D. S. Hearon, S. N. Barker and W. M. Dyer.
STONEWALL JACKSON INSTITUTE.
In the year 1868. a number of the prominent citizens of Abing- don. principally affiliating with the Presbyterian Church, feeling it necessary that another school for the education of girls should be established in this section of the State, undertook the founding of such an institution in the town of Abingdon.
*Charles B. Coale.
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Southwest Virginia, 1746-1786.
The location selected was the brick residence erected by General John S. Preston in the year 1833, and lots Nos. 10, 11, 12, 13, 20, 21 and 3-4 of lot No. 9, in West Abingdon. This property was occupied by General Preston until his removal to South Carolina, and then by Governor Floyd until the time of his death.
After the death of Governor Floyd, his wife, Sally B. Floyd, and W. B. Byars, trustee, conveyed this property to A. L. Hendricks, who, on the 16th of January, 1868, sold and transferred the same to the trustees of Martha Washington College.
Stonewall Jackson Institute, Abingdon, Va.
When it was definitely determined to undertake the establish- ment of this school, the trustees of the Sinking Spring Presbyterian Church, purchased from the Trustees of Martha Washington College the property above mentioned, and the gentlemen interested at once met and organized a Board of Trustees composed of the fol- lowing gentlemen: W. Y. C. White, A. C. Cummings, T. P. Clapp, F. B. Hurt, Robert A. Preston, T. M. Clapp, James W. Preston, Rev. James McChain, D. G. Thomas, D. C. Dunn, S. A. Preston, D. C. Greenway and J. G. Kreger, and elected the following officers : President, W. Y. C. White.
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Washington County, 1717-1870.
Vice-President, A. C. Cummings.
Secretary, John G. Kreger.
Treasurer, Samuel A. Preston.
The Trustees of the Sinking Spring Presbyterian Church appointed the Rev. A. L. Hogshead as agent to solieit subscrip- tions to the new enterprise, and the Board of Trustees gave to the new institution the name of Jackson Female Institute, and selected the Rev. Samuel Davies Stuart, of Staunton, Virginia, as principal of the institution for the first year, and the Rev. Thomas Brown as principal professor. The first session of this school began on the 15th of September, 1868, with a large attendance and bright pros- peets. The name given to the institution was bestowed and intended as a tribute, so far as such an act can constitute a tribute, to a majestic character, a great name that will ever shine with un- dimmed glory upon the page of history.
When General Lee received information of the organization of this institution he addressed the following letter to the principal of the Institute, expressing his feelings in regard thereto : Rev. S. D. Stuart :
In reply to yours of the 16th instant in reference to the Stone- wall Jackson Institute. I assure you that any scheme designed to perpetuate the recollections of the virtue and patriotism of General Jackson meets with my approval. As he was a friend of learning, I know of no more effective and appropriate method of accomplish- ing the praiseworthy object in question than the establishment of an institution in which the young women of our country may be trained for the important and responsible duties of life. I hope the institution established by the people of Southwest Virginia, and dedicated to the memory of General T. J. Jackson, may meet with entire success and prove a blessing to the State.
Very respectfully, your obedient servant,
R. E. LEE.
What more fitting monument could be erected to the memory of General Jackson, who was loved chiefly for his patriotism, gen- tleness. truth, his love for his family and his God, than an institu- tion of learning of this character.
Could General Jackson know the manner in which the young lady pupils of this institution are taught and witness them in their uniforms of Confederate gray, he would feel that this is the grand-
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Southwest Virginia, 1746-1786.
est monument that has yet been erected to his name by a loving people.
By the year 1870, it was found necessary to have this institution incorporated, and the General Assembly of Virginia, on the 27th of June, 1870, incorporated the same with the following Trustees : W. Y. C. White, T. P. Clapp, James W. Preston, S. A. Pres- ton, David C. Dunn, Floyd B. Hurt, D. G. Thomas, John G. Kreger, David C. Greenway, H. S. Preston, E. H. Barnett, George R. Barr, James W. Humes, George W. Palmer, A. C. Cummings, Isaac B. Dunn and Joseph R. Anderson.
I. B. Dunn and Joseph R. Anderson declined to serve as trustees and R. M. Page and John A. Buchanan were elected to fill the vacancies.
Considerable difficulty was experienced by the trustees of this institution in relieving it from its indebtedness, but after a few years the financial condition of the institution was such as to justify the erection of a commodious addition, three stories in height, at the east end of the original building, and about ten years ago a handsome building was erected at the west end of the original build- ing, and the grounds were terraced and placed in excellent condi- tion.
The trustees of this institution until recent years were selected, one-half by the trustees of the Institute and the other half by the trustees of Sinking Spring Presbyterian Church, but, in the year 1896, the trustees of the Sinking Spring Presbyterian Church transferred their interest in the institution to Abingdon Presbytery, and the charter of Jackson Female Institute was amended by the General Assembly changing the name to Stonewall Jackson Insti- tute and provides for the appointment of new trustees by the Abing- don Presbytery and the trustees of the Institute.
It may be said that this institution bids fair to experience in the near future such an era of prosperity and usefulness as is seldom witnessed, and that not without cause.
Could the fathers and mothers of our country know and expe- rience the gentle Christian-like influences that are constantly exerted by the principal of this institution in her dealings with her pupils, they could not hesitate to intrust their daughters to her care.
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