USA > West Virginia > Monroe County > A history of Monroe county, West Virginia > Part 21
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In a very large sense the sections of Virginia lying on the two sides of the Blue Ridge were settled by distinct populations. To the people on the west side the established church seemed an alien
241
OTHER CHURCHES AND THE FRATERNITIES
· church, and it gained only a slight foothold among them. The UI- stermen were Presbyterians, and as they were most numerous among the settlers of Monroe, they brought their religious preference with them and it has ever since been strongly represented. The sects chiefly in favor among the German immigrants to the Valley of Virginia were the Lutheran and Reformed churches. That neither of these appears to have effected an organization within the Mon- roe area is doubtless because the German settlers were not suffici- ently numerous and compact. The Presbyterian is a kindred church, and to a considerable degree they identified themselves with it.
Next to the Presbyterians and the German churches, the Bap- tists were once the most numerous among the dissenting sects in Virginia. The strong foothold they acquired in Monroe has al- ready been explained. That the Methodist bodies, taken collec- tively, have distanced all other denominations in this county is be- cause they have been eminently a missionary church in their organ- ization and methods. Because of its very nature the Alleghany fron- tier was a missionary field, and the larger results came to those de- nominations whose methods were most adaptable to frontier con- ditions.
Thus it becomes clear why the Presbyterians, Baptists, and Meth- odists are far in the lead among the religious organizations of Mon- roe. Their special history has been sketched in preceding chapters. It remains for us to mention the other churches represented.
The Christians or Disciples, commonly known as Campbellites, would seem to have the first claim to attention, inasmuch as they appear to lead in the number of their congregations. Theirs is an American church, and peculiarly a church of the Great West. Alex- ander Campbell, its founder, was born in 1788, and spent his long life of activity almost within sight of the Ohio river. Since the Alleghanies are the eastern fringe of the real West, it is not at all strange that this county should have been responsive to the efforts of a church of such character. No full historical account of the Disciples in Monroe has been furnished to us. They appear to be represented in all the districts except Wolf Creek. The pioneer
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A HISTORY OF MONROE COUNTY, WEST VIRGINIA
resident preacher was the Reverend Powhatan B. Baber, who came to the south of the county in 1830 and lived here the remaining 70 years of his life. The church at Sinks Grove was organized in 1885. Characteristically enough, the prime movers were two young men who had returned to Monroe from a sojourn in the West, dur- ing which time they joined that denomination.
We have pointed out that the Episcopal was in the nature of a foreign church to the early settlers of the west side of Virginia. Its appearance in this section has in many instances been of com- paratively recent date. In no small degree this has been due to the influence of summer guests, among whom this church is held in much favor. All Saints parish of this county dates from 1875. The church at Union was completed in 1878 and consecrated by Bishop Whittle. A rectory was purchased at the same time. At Salt Sulphur Springs is St. Michael's, a tasteful stone edifice. The church is Alderson was built in 1888. Bishop Meade and others officiated at Union from time to time, even long before the organi- zation of the parish. The longest pastorate has been that of the Reverend Richard H. Mason (1875-1889), but he had been com- ing here from White Sulphur Springs prior to 1868.
Some of the early settlers of Monroe were not only Irish but Roman Catholics. Yet there was no church of their faith until the brick chapel at Sweet Springs was built in 1853. This was due to the circumstance that several of the more prominent families of that locality are Catholics, and that others were attracted by the demand for labor at the summer resort.
The Church of the Brethren, known also as the Dunkard, is also represented in Monroe by a single congregation. The first baptisms took place in 1830. Some years later an organization of 15 members arose with Samuel Hutchinson as the first elder. In 1876-7 the Spencer Run church was built near Lindside through the efforts of Elijah P. and Andrew L. Fleshman, who put up a mill and sawed the lumber themselves. The membership had then in- creased to 60. The building is 40 by 50 feet and contains a church kitchen.
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OTHER CHURCHES AND THE FRATERNITIES
Our information respecting the fraternities occurring in Monroe is but fragmentary. Of the secret orders in America the Masonic is not only the oldest, but it has shown the greatest vitality. Next in long standing is that of the Odd Fellows. In quite recent years there has arisen a large number of secret fraternities, usually with insurance features. In the 70's came the Grange, followed by other agricultural organizations. Still older in origin, but usually lack- ing in permanency, are the various temperance societies, which are social as well as reformatory. Local associations of all these classes exist or have existed in this county. But the absence of large min- ing or manufacturing interests is accompanied by an absence of labor organizations.
Monroe Lodge, A. F. and A. M., began work in 1845 and was chartered four years later as Union Lodge, No. 12. In 1879 it was rechartered by the Grand Lodge of West Virginia as Monroe Lodge, No. 77. Conspicuous among the earlier members were William W. Spencer, Jacob Zoll, Charles Baldwin, Andrew H. Johnston, Michael A. Steele, and Henry S. Shanklin.
Alderson Lodge, No. 70, A. F. and A. M., was chartered in 1875 with 12 original members, J. P. Mayo being the first Worthy Master.
Dove Chapter, No. 37, Royal Arch Masons, was instituted in 1852 and suspended in 1874.
Rocky Point Lodge, A. F. and A. M., was chartered 1873.
Dove Lodge, A. F. and A. M., was organized at Gray Sulphur Springs, 1868, and chartered next year at Peterstown.
In 1886 Divisions of the Sons of Temperance appeared at Pe- terstown and Union with 21 and 18 charter members, respectively.
In 1891 there were organizations of the Farmers' Alliance at Alderson, Cashmere, Double Gates, Gap Mills, Indian Creek, Lind- side, Milton Hall, Peterstown, Pickaway, Red Sulphur, Rock Camp, and Sinks Grove.
At the present time, lodges of various secret orders, particularly of those of recent date, occur in the towns and villages of Monroe.
XXVIII
THE SCHOOLS OF MONROE
The Field School Period-Districts of 1850-The Free School Era- Academies.
N COLONIAL VIRGINIA it was held that education should be a private interest. The constitution of 1776 had nothing to say on the subject of schools and until 1796 there was no state school law which in any way affected the western counties. This view of education was a heritage from England and it was a characteristic of the planter South. It was not shared by the Ulstermen who settled west of the Blue Ridge. As a consequence of their Calvinistic faith, they held that every person should be able to read and write. Schoolmasters and school houses came with them, and we even find that one of the vic- tims of the massacre at Baughman's fort in 1755 was a teacher. He may have been a German, but the German settlers of the Valley of Virginia set as much store on schooling as the Ulstermen them- selves. In the few petitions and other documents that have come down to us from the early days of Greenbrier, we often find an easy and accurate use of language, good spelling, and an observance of proper punctuation.
But with no encouragement from the state, and with the priva- tions of the frontier to engage their main attention, the people of this region could not at first do much to educate their children. For a while, the school interest languished and illiteracy became more common.
In 1809 the Literary Fund was called into existence by Act of Assembly. Certain designated moneys accruing to the state were turned into this fund, which was to be used for the schooling of poor children. A law of 1811 authorized a school or schools in any county as soon as funds were provided. A state board was au-
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THE SCHOOLS OF MONROE
thorized to raise each year for seven years, and by means of a lot- tery, the sum of $30,000. This board could appoint county agents to look after the Literary Fund. In 1822-3 the amount thus dis- bursed in Monroe was $429.25. This was paid out to teachers at the rate of four cents a day for each indigent pupil attending school. The intent of the law was of course to diffuse education, but the aid thus given worked against the self-respect of parents who felt too poor to pay tuition.
For several years prior to 1832 there had been ample funds for the education of the poor of this county, yet within a year or two there was a debt of $150. In 1836, James A. Dunlap, school com- missioner, was directed by special law to pay over all moneys re- ceived since March 7, 1826, for the purpose of rebuilding the acad- emy. The other commissioners appointed by law in 1833 were Robert Campbell, James Alexander, William Hinchman, James M. Haynes, John Hutchinson, Joel Stodghill, and William Mc- Daniel. Campbell was president of the board.
By a law of 1853 the entire capitation tax was applied to the primary and free schools. Yet until after the war of 1861 only a very few counties in Virginia had any system of free schools. The "old field school" was the medium through which the mass of the people of the state received a common educational training.
From an account of one of these field schools that stood three- fourths of a mile west of Sweet Springs, the following description is presented to the reader. Our informant is an elderly citizen who attended the school in 1851.
The schoolroom was dimly lighted, much of the illumination sifting in through a row of blocks of greased paper set in one of the log walls. The sheets of paper were about eight by ten inches in size, sticks being used to hold them in place. Below this narrow, horizontal window was a sloping board held up by pegs. This was the writing board. The benches were puncheon slabs, the legs of which were pegs set into auger holes. The only back to the bench was a narrow rail-board. The girls swept the room and the boys got the wood. School hours were the same as now, but there was
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A HISTORY OF MONROE COUNTY, WEST VIRGINIA
no recess except the noon hour. The discipline was good, thanks to a very free use of the hickory switch. At the entrance was a paddle with an "in" written on one side of it and an "out" on the other. The instruction was largely individual. The pupils -had to work and there were few drones. The shirk was punished by being seated on the dunce block. The books in use were the New Tes- tament, Pike's Arithmetic, the English Reader, the Elementary Speller, Murray's Geography, and Murray's Grammar. Spelling was for headmarks. The sexes played apart. The games were "cat and ball," "bandy," "shoot the buck," and "seesaw." A time-hon- ored custom was to put the teacher out-if it could be done-in or- der to make him give a holiday.
The first board of school commissioners was appointed in 1820, in accordance with a law of the preceding year. It consisted of An- drew Beirne, Robert Campbell, William Herbert, James M. Hay- nes, Richard Johnson, Jacob Peck, William Shanklin, John Hinch- man, and William Graham. In 1826 James A. Dunlap, as treas- urer of the board, held in his custody $2571.10 in school funds.
George W. Hutchinson, the first man in Monroe to hold the title of Superintendent of Schools, gave bond in 1851 in the sum of $2000. He held office until the county ceased to be a part of Vir- ginia.
In pursuance of a law of 1846, which was permissory and not mandatory, Monroe was divided into school districts numbered One to Ten. The trustees for these districts were, in the order of num- ber, James M. Byrnside, John H. Vawter, Robert L. Shanklin, Richard V. Shanklin, Charles R. Hines, Isaac Campbell, John Hols- apple, Abner Neel, James Clark, and George W. Hutchinson. The boundaries of the districts were described by the county court as follows :
First: From the mouth of Indian up to the mouth of Stinking Lick; thence by straight line to White Tree Hill, including Stinking Lick neigh- borhood, to Wilson Lively's; thence with the road to the top of the moun- tain near John Symms, and with the county line to the beginning.
Second: From the mouth of Greenbrier to mouth Stony Creek; thence with the road to Indian Creek at John Baker's, and up Indian to the mouth
1
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THE SCHOOLS OF MONROE
of Hans; thence up Hans to John H. Vawter's old place; thence with the ridge road to Wilson Lively's; thence with the line of Number One to mouth Indian and down New River to the point of beginning.
Three: Running from Wilson Lively's with the road by the Hans Creek meeting house to Indian Creek near Moses Mann's; down Indian to mouth of Bradshaw's Creek, and up the same to the regimental line; with said line to Knox's road, and with the latter up Hines's store to Isaac Carden's; thence to the mouth of Stony, and with the line of Two to the beginning.
Four: Beginning on the top of Peters Mountain near John Symms; running with the mountain to the regimental line, and with said line to Number Three; with Three to Wilson Lively's, and with One to begin- ning.
Five: With regimental line on road leading across Knobs, and with regimental line to county line road; with said road to mouth Greenbrier, and with Two to mouth of Stony, thence with Stony to beginning.
Six: Beginning at regimental line on the road where it crosses the Knobs from Union to Hines' store, and with the road to the top of the Knobs; thence with the top of the Knobs to James Bickett's; thence by George W. Nickell's to William Adair's and John Lynch's; thence by William Eads' to Henry Hoke's; thence up Laurel to county line; with said line to regimental line, and with the same to the start.
Seven: Beginning at John Lynch's and running with the main road to the main road to the Union road; thence with said road to Second Creek ford at Moss's; thence to William Count's; thence down Back Creek; thence to county line, with the same to Number Six, and with the latter to the start.
Eight: From ford of Second Creek at Moss's corner to Seven; with the latter to county line near Red Springs; thence with county line to top of Price's Mountain, and with county line, including Potts Creek settlement, to top of Peters opposite to A. Boggess'; thence with top of mountain to where road crosses from Beckner's; thence with said road to John Dun- bar's and thence to the start.
Nine: From forks of road at Hall's place; down Thorny Hollow to head of Indian; with Indian to Salt Sulphur; with Red Sulphur road to regimental line, and with county line to top of Peters Mountain; thence with county line to corner of Eight at the road on said mountain, and with Eight to beginning.
Ten: That portion of the One Hundred and Eighth regimental district not included in the other school districts.
In 1851 District Eleven was taken from Five and Andrew Gwinn became its trustee.
The present free school system came with the entry of Monroe into West Virginia. It was some years before it was in good work-
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A HISTORY OF MONROE COUNTY, WEST VIRGINIA
ing order. During the reconstruction period the superintendent re- quired a test oath from the teacher. For several years the examina- tions were oral and the certificates were not graded. But in gen- eral the old schoolhouses were replaced with new ones. As a means of enabling the reader to compare the conditions now with those obtaining in 1876, a digest of the report of J. D. Beckett, county su- perintendent, will be of interest.
Mr. Beckett visited 70 white and 6 colored schools and exam- ined 3449 pupils. The schools were thus distributed: Union Dis- trict, 11; Sweet Springs, 15; Second Creek, 9; Wolf Creek, 10; Springfield, 16; Red Sulphur, 16. The average number of pupils to a school varied from 29 in Sweet Springs to 45 in Wolf Creek. The boards of education were found earnest and willing, but very often the houses were found very indifferent as to light, seating ar- rangements, and general equipment. In Red Sulphur the school- houses were generally log, and nearly all the chimneys smoked. Yet the superintendent could report that no district had a better corps of teachers. He could also report that as a class the teachers were of much better quality than they were six years before, and as a rule were doing very good work. In a majority of the schools Mr. Beckett found "good order, neatness, prompt obedience, hard study, and good recitations. A few of the schools, however, were "in a very bad condition, with filthy floors, no order, and very little dis- cipline." The colored schools were found to compare very favor- ably with the white.
Even yet, the schoolhouses of the county suffer in comparison with farm homes and the rural churches. But such a condition as this is widely prevalent in the United States. Nevertheless, the last report of the state superintendent gives Monroe a percentage of illiteracy of only 5.5, against 7.7 in Greenbrier, and 8.3 in the state at large. Many teachers from this county are serving else- where in schools of higher grade and better salary. Until about 1910, a majority of the teachers were males.
In 1912 there were granted in Monroe 5 certificates of the first grade, 51 of the second, and 63 of the third. There were 2736 volumes in 71 school libraries.
€
WILLIAM T. PATTON Second Creek District
JOHN CALVIN YOUNG Of Second Creek District
ALBERT SIDNEY JOHNSTON Editor of "The Monroe Watchman"
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THE SCHOOLS OF MONROE
In the present year there are 3256 white and 219 colored pu- pils in Monroe. The 120 schoolhouses are supplied by 136 teach- ers, 6 of them presiding over the colored schools. The white high school pupils are 122, taught by 5 teachers. There are 36 school libraries with 1478 volumes.
In 1885 the proposition to lengthen the school year to six months carried in four of the six districts of Monroe.
When he retired from educational work in 1903, Granville Houchins enjoyed, with one exception so far as known, the distinc- tion of having taught a longer period than any other person in West Virginia. His term of service, which was a highly useful one, had continued 48 years. The one exception was A. B. Phipps, of Mer- cer county, who in 1904 had been teaching 50 years and was still in the harness despite his age of 74.
Until about 1898 the debating society was a rather frequent ad- junct of the rural school. It is unfortunate that the fevered at- mosphere of the present decade has permitted it to drop into disuse.
Union Academy was incorporated January 27, 1820. Citizens of Union had bought for this purpose lots 19 and 20 and put up a building. The trustees named in the Act of Assembly, and who had power to fill vacancies in their board, were Hugh Caperton, Alexander Dunlap, Andrew Beirne, George Beirne, Richard Shank- lin, Michael Alexander, Henry Alexander, Matthew Alexander, Jr., William Clark, Robert Coalter, William Vass, and Michael Erskine. By a law of 1840 a portion of the school quota of the county was set aside for the academy, now a flourishing school un- der the Rev. L. A. Alderson. The school commissioners were hold- ing an unexpended balance of $600. Among later teachers were Rev. S. R. Houston, William Vawter, Dr. Waddell, Rev. G. Gray, Delilah Byrnside, Dr. R. R. Houston, G. M. Edgar, Mrs. Ann Randolph, Joseph Alderson. The history of the academy covered about half a century.
As another instance of the local interest in intermediate educa- tion, may be mentioned a petition of 1852 asking an appropriation of $400 to $500 for a schoolhouse on Hans Creek. The cost of
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West Virginia University Library Morgantown, WV 26505
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A HISTORY OF MONROE COUNTY, WEST VIRGINIA
building one was falling on a few citizens, since some were unable and others were indifferent. The help asked would enable chem- ical and philosophical apparatus to be provided. The petitioners thought there was no better school in Western Virginia than the one which was being taught there by the Rev. John Pinkerton, a grad- uate of Washington College.
In 1872 the "West Virginia Female Seminary" was chartered, and was opened that year at Union. It was owned by a stock com- pany, which raised a fund of $3000. J. P. Marshall, A. M., was the first principal. A lack of sufficient support caused it to be sold in 1876 to Caleb E. Johnson. Mr. Johnson had been one of the stockholders and now became sole proprietor. He renamed the school the "Johnson Female College,' 'and conducted it eight years with much success. Mr. Johnson was not himself a teacher in the school. The instructors employed were ladies and gentle- men of refinement, culture, and superior education. The first prin- cipal was the Rev. J. M. Follansbee, A. M., M. D., ex-president of Soule University, Texas. Miss M. R. Cabell, of Greenbrier was head of the music department. This academy provided a higher educational training to many who would otherwise have been de- prived of it. Many of the students became teachers in their turn.
In 1855-6, William Adair had a boarding school at Red Sulphur Springs. Nearly forty students were in attendance, some coming from as far as Bedford county. Several of these attained promi- nence.
Alleghany Collegiate Institute, an educational enterprise of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South, and situated at Alderson, was opened in 1888, and is still in successful operation.
XXIX
JOURNALISM AND LITERATURE
Newspapers-Monroe Authors-Literary Specimens.
OURNALISM in Monroe dates back to 1850, when S. P. Windle started the "Union Democrat." It was discontinued after two years, the patronage being too little. A rival enterprise of this period was the "Whig Banner" by A. A. Banks.
The "Farmer's Friend and Fireside Companion" made its bow in April, 1852. The first proprietor was Charles M. Johnston, who sold the paper next year to William Hinton. Mr. Hinton re- named it the "Mountain Orator," and in 1854 sold it to a joint stock company, of which A. A. Chapman and C. J. Beirne were members. They changed the name to "Union Democrat," and employed Stew- art I. Warren as editor. After a year Warren founded the "Lewis- burg Chronicle." He was succeeded at Union by George W. Clark, who was soon followed by Samuel W. Wendel. With the out- break of war in 1861 the paper was suspended. The office material came into the hands of John McCreery, whose son Thomas, a deaf mute, began in 1867 the "Monroe Register." Two years later, Rich- ard Burke bought a half interest in the "Register" and soon became sole owner. He made it a Republican paper. In 1887 he moved it to Hinton, where he continued it as the "Hinton Republican."
The "Monroe Republican" was founded in 1867 by Alexander Humphreys, but was suspended three years later, Mr. Burk pur- chasing the office material. The editors were Cyrus Newlon and William A. Monroe.
The "Border Watchman" issued its opening number, February 2, 1872. In the same year, the "Greenbrier Independent" gives it this friendly mention: "It is neatly printed, its editorials show tal- ent, and its locals and selections are interesting and in good taste."
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A HISTORY OF MONROE COUNTY, WEST VIRGINIA
The first proprietor was Elbert Fowler, who sold out to A. C. Houston. He in turn was succeeded in 1874 by Charles M. John- ston, who had been in Monroe before as owner and editor of the "Farmers' Friend and Fireside Companion." Mr. Johnston died in 1880, and was succeeded by his son, Albert Sidney Johnston, who is still editor and proprietor. The latter has almost literally grown up with the paper, having been connected with it since the age of seventeen.
Two newspapers can scarcely exist in the same town without training their artillery on each other, and the resulting fireworks are sometimes amusing to the spectator. The "Union Democrat" and the "Whig Banner" were printed from the same press in the west end of the Bell Tavern, a building that dates from about 1838, its predecessor on the same lot having been the brewery of Thomas Burns. Party spirit ran so high in those days that a Whig would almost be read out of his party for lodging at a Democratic tavern and eating Democratic pone and bacon. If the case were reversed the result would be the same. Yet the editors got along as rival editors always do. In this instance both men were much addicted to a stronger beverage than picnic lemonade. When intoxicated, either of these knights of the quill would write a redhot editorial for the other paper and then tear it to shreds in his own. A jour- nalistic feature of the 70's were the frequent tilts between the "Reg- ister" and the "Border Watchman." Mr. Burke of the former paper was a bright-minded, scholarly man, who came from Ireland and had been educated for the Roman Catholic priesthood. He fought a duel with Elbert Fowler of the "Watchman."
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