USA > West Virginia > Harrison County > History of Harrison County, West Virginia : from the early days of Northwestern Virginia to the present > Part 32
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pointed a committee to superintend the building of the Randolph Academy.
The delays were long and vexatious and it was not until 1793 that anything definite was accomplished as will be shown by the following entry :
Harrison County, Clarksburg, Saturday, February 23, 1793.
Pursuant to adjournment of the Board of Trustees of the 2nd. of January last, the following trustees met, viz:
George Jackson, John Powers, Joseph Hastings, H. Davisson, John Prunty, John McCally, Daniel Davisson, Maxwell Armstrong, George Arnold, Wm. Robinson and Benjamin Coplin.
Resolved that the Randolph Academy be built of wood and frame work, and be thirty-six feet in length and twenty in breadth, agreeable to the original plan, except the cupalo, and be let this afternoon to the low- est bidder, under the immediate direction of the Board, and to be com- pletely finished on or before the first day of November next in a work- manlike manner.
Resolved also that the purchaser give bond with approved security.
Resolved also that the undertaker be paid his money by three install- ments, to-wit: one third when the frame is raised, the second third at finishing said house and the other third in six months after the said house is finished.
The building of the said Academy being exposed to sale, Mr. David Hewes being the lowest bidder, undertook the same at one hundred and seventy-nine pounds, and entered into bond with Hezekiah Davisson his surety (in the sum of three hundred and fifty-eight pounds) and to complete the same on or before the first day of November next.
Resolved that the Treasurer either on rect. of Mr. William Hay- mond or Mr. Benjamin Wilson, that the Randolph Academy is raised agreeably to the plan and bill of scantling to him produced, pay Mr. David Hewes the sum of 59.13.
And then the Board adjourned till the Saturday last before the third Monday in March next.
JOHN HAYMOND, C. R. A.
June 4, 1795, last payment directed to be made to David Hewes, Constructor, at a meeting of the Board held this day.
CLARKSBURG, Monday July 20, 1795.
Pursuant to its adjournment of the 4th. of June, the board of trustees of Randolph Academy met, viz: George Jackson, Joseph Hast- ings, John Powers, John Prunty, James Arnold, George Arnold, William Barkley and Benjamin Coplin, Gent. Trustees.
On motion of Wm. Jackson, seconded by Wm. Prunty, Mr. Joseph Hastings was unanimously chosen chairman to the board. In conformity to an order of the board of trustees of the 24th. of June, last, the Clerk laid before the board a letter from the Rev. George Towers, signifying his willingness to accept of an appointment as a teacher in the Randolph Academy on certain conditions.
North Western Virginia Academy
A
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HISTORY OF HARRISON COUNTY
Resolved that the Rev. George Towers be employed as a teacher in the Randolph Academy at the rate of two hundred and fifty dollars per annum to be paid in quarter yearly payments (provided he shall consider the same to be a competency) and that the Clerk take bond from the said Towers for the faithful performance in the said office, agreeably, to an order of the Board at their last session, and that he be under the direction of the board during the said year which shall com- mence on the first day of August next.
Resolved, that for each Latin scholar who shall be taught by the said teacher, there shall be paid sixteen dollars; for each English scholar five dollars; for each scholar in grammar and arithmetic six dollars, and for each scholar in the mathematics, if the said Towers will teach that science, eight dollars per annum, which shall be paid in quarter yearly payments to the Treasurer of the Randolph Academy, and for every scholar who shall be taught for a shorter time than one year shall be paid a sum in proportion to the above.
And then the Board adjourned till Saturday next, at three o'clock P. M.
JOHN HAYMOND, C. R. A.
At a meeting of the Trustees of the Randolph Academy on the 21st. day of December, 1799.
Benjamin Wilson, John McCally, Benjamin Coplin, Daniel Davis- son, William Martin, George Arnold, John Black and Hedgeman Trip- lett, present.
Ordered that the address by the trustees of the Randolph Academy on the 21st. day of December, 1799, be made a part of the record of the trustees' proceedings at the public examination of the scholars of the Randolph Academy on the 21st. of December 1799 in the presence of the trustees and a respectable audience the following oration or address was delivered by Col. Benjamin Wilson :
SIR :- Permit us to tender to you our unfeigned thanks for the par- ticular attention you have given to the tuition of the pupils committed to your charge, as well as the strict watch over their morals, and where- as the late enlargement of your charge will increase your vigilance to watch over their morals, we give you the assurance of this board, that nothing shall be wanting on our parts to render you assistance to make the institution respectable. Therefore, permit us to ennumerate some of the dangerous ills which is to command your attention, as well with- out the Seminary as within, viz: the wilful breach of the Sabbath day, lying, cursing, swearing, quarreling, frequenting taverns or still houses by night or by day, and in particular the infamous ill of gaming, togeth- er with other ills not enumerated. You will also please inspire such of your youths as have arrived to the age of discretion to avoid all low com- pany, and at all times and places to sequester themselves from such. Should any of the public rules of the Seminary be wantonly violated, by those who are of the years of discretion, for the first offense, you are sol- emnly to admonish them; for the second offense, you are to call on three of the trustees, who are to join you in admonition, and for the third
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offense you are to call on the chairman who will summons a board who will acquit, suspend or expel the offender if found guilty."
Ordered that a copy of the above order be set up in the Academy.
The trustees earnestly recommend it to those who have children, to send them to Divine Worship every Sabbath day when there is preach- ing in said town."
So it appears that the Academy finally opened its doors for pupils in the Fall of 1795 under the supervision of the Reverend George Tow- ers, a Presbyterian Minister, a native of England and a graduate of the Oxford University, who is described in the advertisement of the Trus- tees as a "Gentleman of undoubted character and abilities, who has en- gaged to teach the Latin and Greek languages, the English gramatically, Arithmetic and Geography."
Tradition states that the institution flourished for some years and that after the charter expired, the building was used for educational purposes until about the year 1842. Mr. Towers died in 1816.
The North Western Virginia Academy.
The Northwestern Virginia Academy was built in 1843 a short dis- tance West of the Randolph building and after the establishment of the public school system was used for that purpose until the construction of the present High School Building in 1894 on the same site.
The lot on which these three mentioned buildings were built was conveyed to the Trustees of the Randolph Academy by Thomas Barkeley and Hezekiah Davisson on May 2, 1793, and is recorded in Deed Book No. 2, page 434.
The beginning corner of the lot is described as being at a "dead tree, standing N. 10° E. 38 poles and 15 links from the North-westerly corner of the Court House, and the dimensions are given as being 20 poles in length and 10 poles in breadth and as containing "One and a quarter acres."
The Court House referred to above then stood on the North East corner of Second and Main Streets opposite where the present Presby- terian Church building stands.
The North Western Virginia Academy was incorporated by an Act of the Virginia Legislature in the year 1842, with the following trustees named in the Act:
Edwin S. Duncan, John J. Allen, Samuel L. Hays, William A. Har- rison, Waldo P. Goff, Charles Lewis, George Pritchard, John W. Coff- man, Augustine J. Smith, Richard W. Moore, Walter Ebert, Nathan Goff, Gideon D. Camden, John Stealey, John Talbott, Solomon Parsons, Joshua Smith, Adam Carper and John J. Swayze.
By an Act of the Legislature passed January 24, 1843, the Board of Trustees were authorized to add ten additional members to their number.
The building (which) was of brick, two stories high, 71 feet by 44 feet, surmounted by a cupola.
The first floor was divided into a large hall, on the right of which was a large room called the chapel, on the left were two school rooms.
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HISTORY OF HARRISON COUNTY
The second floor was divided into five rooms. The building stood on the West End of the old Randolph Academy ground and partially on a lot donated by John J. Allen.
The expenses of construction was raised by a general subscription of money and donations of lumber and other building materials.
The contractor was Joseph Warwick and the woodwork was done by John Cain.
When in 1843 the building was sufficiently completed, it was turned over by the trustees to the Methodist Episcopal Church Conference to conduct the school.
The Reverend Gordon Battelle was the first principal and the first session opened for pupils October 1, 1843.
Mr. Battelle, a man of recognized ability continued in charge for about twelve years, when he was succeeded by Reverend Alexander Mar- tin. The last to hold the position was R. A. Arthur, before the civil war.
The enterprise was quite successful in giving advantages of a high- er education than had ever before been offered to the youth of Clarks- burg and surrounding counties.
During the war the building was occupied by the government as a barracks, guard house and hospital.
Private schools were for a time taught in it, and in 1866 the trus- tees turned it over to the public school system, and it was occupied for that purpose as long as the building stood.
The Board of Education of the Clarksburg District added two rooms to the West End of the old building. In 1894 the old building was torn away, except the new part and the present building was constructed, which is to be known officially as the "Tower's School" in honor of the first teacher of the Randolph Academy.
The Clarksburg Independent School District has constructed sever- al other substantial buildings and the County at this time, (1909) is dotted with white school houses and they are doing good work in a noble cause.
The establishment of this institution of learning has been of vast importance to the people of Western Virginia, and the originators, builded better than they knew. From its portals men have gone out into the world and become famous in many walks of life. Its pupils have been members of Congress, constitutional conventions, the legislature, Judges of Courts, Officers of the Army, County officials and filled many honor- able positions in business life.
It has done a noble work and the ground on which it stood has for a hundred and fourteen years resounded with the pattering feet and the playful voices of the children of Clarksburg, and thousands of men and women scattered to all parts of the continent have looked back to this hallowed time honored spot with feelings of grateful recollection.
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HISTORY OF HARRISON COUNTY
Following are programs of exercises held by the pupils, which ex- plain themselves :
ANNUAL PERFORMANCE Original and Select NORTH WESTERN VIRGINIA ACADEMY, December 15, 1858. PROGRAMME. Part 1 .- Selected.
Prayer. Music.
Oration, T. S. Hursey. "Pitt's Speech on Stamp Act."
Oration, Edward Davis. . "Change, not Reform"
Oration, F. M. Horner "Separation of the States"
Oration, R. T. Lowndes "Why I Don't Marry"
Music.
Oration, C. T. Lowndes. "Up Salt River"
Dialogue, E. Butcher, Morden; N. Goff, Lenox Music. Part II-Original.
Oration, D. Wilson. "American Enterprise"
Oration, N. Goff. "Our Country"
Oration, M. Jackson "Fillibustering" Benediction.
Music.
Clarksburg, Harrison County, Va.
Powell, Printer.
Order of Exercises, Thursday Evening September 24th, 1846.
PRAYER-MUSIC. Part I-Selected.
1. The Thunder Storm. .W. W. Roach
2. New England's Dead Henry Haymond
3. Love of Country. . . . V. B. Shinn
4. No Excellence Without Labor T. Armstrong
5. Ireland Music.
W. Haymond
6. Passing the Rubicon. Hugh H. Lee
7. Cost of Glory. . M. Harrison
8. False Estimation of War. . A. Owens
9. Spirit of Freedom. .B. Smith
10. Duelling .J. A. Sehon
11. The Bible
Music. W. W. Lewis
12. Defence of the Colonies J. B. Woodward
13. Murder Will Out. . W. G. Harrison
14. The Indian . C. Goff
15. Qualification for Office . D. Dicks
16. Evils of War .. John J. Davis
17. The Age of Reason Music. .E. B. Ebert
18. Patriotism A. J. Smith, Jr.
19. Our Western Domain. . Geo. Johnson
20. Cicero Against Cataline. .N. Lewis
21. The Veterans of Bunker Hill . C. McCally
22. The Eagle . P. A. Davisson
23. True and False Progress
Music. C. T. Harrison
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HISTORY OF HARRISON COUNTY
Part II-Original.
24. Lafayette
25. Mind, the Glory of Man J. W. McCoy
.J. S. Cox
26. The Deity Seen in Nature .. R. W. Barnes
Music.
27. Napoleon . .G. L. Pigott
28. Our Country W. C. Carper
Music-Benediction.
One of the land marks which will be remembered by the pupils for the last sixty-five years, is the old stone mile post, which stood on the corner of Pike Street, opposite the Academy, on one side is "R. 108" and on the other "P. 85," meaning the distance in miles to Romney and Parkersburg by the Northwestern Turnpike. The upper part of the old stone has been taken from its location and placed in a prominent place in the foundation of the Methodist Episcopal Church, (Goff Chapel) now being built, 1909.
Broaddus Female College.
The Broaddus Female College of Winchester conducted by the Rev. Edward J. Willis, a Baptist Institution, was removed to Clarksburg in 1876, and for a time occupied the old Bartlett Hotel building, the site of which now belongs to the Court House Park, which stood on Main and Third Streets, having been purchased by the County from Lloyd Lowndes.
In 1878 a large brick building was constructed in Haymond's grove. and the school moved into it.
The building has been enlarged and the school has done excellent work for many years.
In 1908 the property was sold and the institution was removed to Philippi in this year, 1909.
The Salem Academy.
The Salem Academy was incorporated under the laws of West Vir- ginia on December 28, 1888, with the usual privilege of corporations, to be located in the town of Salem. The charter sets forth that the Institu- tion is to be subject to the regulations of the Seventh Day Baptist Edu- cational Society, for the purpose of teachng all of the various branches of learning, comprising a thorough Academic and Collegiate course.
The Incorporators were :
G. W. F. Randolph
A. L. Childers
Lloyd F. Randolph F. M. Swiger L. B. Davis Charles N. Maxon
Jesse F. Randolph
James N. David J. L. Huffman Uric Randolph
C. M. Randolph Ernest Randolph
Hiram Wilson
The Academy began its first term in the public school building April 1, 1889, with J. L. Huffman as acting principal.
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HISTORY OF HARRISON COUNTY
During the following year the school was held in a building belong- ing to Hon. Jesse F. Randolph.
In December 1889 the Academy was completed and occupied for school purposes.
In 1890 Professor S. L. Maxsn was elected President and he was succeeded by Rev. T. L. Gardner.
The Institution has gained a wide reputation for excellent work and it gives promise of greater influence in the future.
St. Joseph's Academy.
About the year 1867, a small parish school was established by the Catholic Church Society under the direction of Miss Mary White.
In 1871 the home residence of James M. Jackson, on the East Side of Elk Creek was purchased, remodelled and a colony of the Sisters of St. Joseph's was sent from Wheeling and a first class Academy for young ladies was opened.
In 1876 Centennial Hall was constructed and in it the preparatory and parish schools are taught.
The institution is in a flourishing condition.
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HISTORY HARRISON COUNTY
Newspapers.
The first newspaper published in what is now West Virginia, was the "Monongalia Gazette," published in Morgantown, in 1803.
Since that time the journalistic highway has been strewn with in- numerable wrecks of newspaper enterprises, but the rural editor was possessed of a sublime faith in his ability to succeed where so many had failed, and pressed onward in his noble pioneer efforts to enlighten the people.
These old time papers were very small affairs printed on hand press- es, and contained little or no local news, as everyone was supposed to know that, but was filled up with foreign news and political affairs, with a few advertisements mostly of a legal nature.
How many newspapers have been started in Harrison County is past finding out, but their number has been legion.
The records of the chancery court occasionally gives the name of the papers in which legal notices were directed to be published, but most gen- erally, the decree stated that notice should be given in some "public newspaper printed in the town of Clarksburg" and sometimes the words "if any be printed there" were added to the order.
From this source it is gathered that the following named papers were published in Clarksburg at the time stated :
1815 The Bystander 1835 The Countryman
1816 The Western Virginian 1840 The Clarksburg Democrat
1817 The Republican Compiler 1840 The Clarksburg Whig
1819 The Independent Virginian 1844 The Scion of Democracy
1822 The Clarksburg Gazette 1845 The Harrison Republican
1822 The Rattlesnake
1823 The Clarksburg Intelligencer
1824 The Independent Virginian
1829 The Clarksburg Enquirer
1832 The Western Enquirer
1855 The Age of Progress
1856 The Clarksburg Register
1861 The Western Virginia Guard
1862 The Telegram
A piece of a copy of the Bystander has been seen by the writer dated June 8, 1811. A. and F. Britton being the publishers. Terms $2.00 a year, being Vol. 1, No. 45. Another issue bears the date of Sep- tember 4, 1813, being Vol. 2 No. 112.
This is the first paper printed in Clarksburg of which there is any knowledge.
Mr. Joseph H. Powell, who entered the office of the Democratic Republican published by Enos D. Morgan at Morgantown in January,
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HISTORY OF HARRISON COUNTY
1834, to learn the printing business, states that a Mr. Sparrowhawk print- ed a paper in Clarksburg in the early thirties.
That Dr. Benjamin Dolbeare in 1840 published a paper at Clarksburg called the Clarksburg Democrat, having succeeded Philip F. Critchfield. In 1844 Dolbeare sold out to Bassel & Harper, who changed the name of the paper to the "Scion of Democracy," which was continued until 1848. Mr. Powell, who returned to Clarksburg in 1840, did the mechan- ical work on both of these papers, his name appearing on them as printer.
In 1840 the whig party started a paper called the "Clarksburg Whig" which was published by William McGranaghan. Later Robert Sommerville published the "Harrison Republican" which Mr. Powell thinks he sold out to Kenton Harper, and he to Samuel Youst.
Mr. Powell says he understood that Forbes Britton published the Rattlesnake.
Of all the papers published in Clarksburg before the war, which have come into the hands of the writer "The Harrison Republican" published in 1845-6-7 & 8 by Robert A. Sommerville in mechanical execution, neat- ness of appearance, literary selections, editorials and arrangement of the advertisements exceed them all, and would be considered a good week- ly paper at the present time, except that not so much attention is given to local affairs.
It was a four paged paper with six columns to the page. Sometime previous to 1840 there was a paper published in Clarksburg called the "Castigator," neither the publisher nor the exact date being known. Its name would indicate that it was a scorcher and for the times fully up to the Yellow Journalism of to-day.
Along in the fifties the Clarksburg papers seem to get on a more stable footing than before. In 1856 Phillip F. Critchfield published the "Age of Progress." W. P. Cooper started the "Register," which flour- ished until the Beginning of the war, when the editor abandoned the pen for the sword under the stars and bars, and Charles E. Ringler, who was the editor of the "Western Virginia Guard," did the same thing save he marched under the stars and stripes.
Robert S. Northcott started the "Telegraph" in the early part of the war, but abandoned it to enter the army, but resumed its publication after the war, the name being changed to the "Telegram."
"The Ohio Twenty-second" was the title of a paper issued in Clarks- burg by soldiers of that regiment July 12, 1861.
Since the war quite a number of short lived papers have come and gone, and now (1909) there are published in Clarksburg "The Tele- gram" and "News" each with a weekly and daily edition, and the "Herald" a weekly and daily.
There are also published in Salem two papers, "The Express" and "The Herald" and in Shinnston "The News", all weeklies.
In a copy of the "Independent Virginian" published at Clarksburg by Lee and McGranahan on November 18, 1824, occurs the following business advertisements :
"N. W. Mack informs the public that he still continues to keep that large and commodius tavern formerly occupied by David Hewes.
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HISTORY OF HARRISON COUNTY
This old tavern stand stood on "Lowndes corner" at Third and Main Streets.
He offers the following prices for produce, wheat $1.00, Rye 50 cents, Oats 25 cents and corn 50 cents per bushel. Butter 1212, Bacon hams 1212, cheese 1212, pork per 100 pounds $4.00.
John Sommerville advertises that he still occupies his "elegant and commodius tavern stand and "coffee house."
Has twenty separate rooms with fire places. Terms $1.50 per week. The business advertisements were :
Silver Smith, clock and watch maker-Charles M. Marchet, produce taken for repairs.
Attorney-Blake B. Woodson.
Merchants-A. Werninger, and Thomas Blair.
The subscription price is $2.00 per year, for which Wheat, Rye, Corn, Oats, flour, bacon; dressed deer skins and rags will be taken in payment.
It is stated in the paper that Jedediah W. Goff of Bridgeport has raised two radishes weighing 141/2 and 171/2 pounds respectively.
By advertisements in the newspapers it is ascertained that the following named persons were in business at Clarksburg at the dates stated :
1824-John Davis, saddles and harness; Richard W. Moore, mer- chant; E. B. Jackson, physician; John W. Williams, Post Master; Max- well Sommerville, Merchant; Thomas Blair, Merchant; Charles M. Barchett, clock and watchmaker; N. W. Mack, Tavern.
1826-Despard & Company, merchants.
1827-Goff & Wilson, merchants.
1828-A. Werninger, merchant; Thomas G. Harris, merchant.
1831-Peter Lynch, chair and wheelmaker.
William Williams, Post Master.
"Clarksburg Enquirer" of 1829 and 1830 published by Joseph Israel.
Samuel Emerick announces that he has commenced the business of Coverlet weaving.
Dr. James McCalley offers his professional services.
Merchants-Webster & Stillwell, Despard & Company, John S. Fowkes.
Blacksmith-John W. Coffman.
Ladies Hats-Helen Wilson one door west of Col. John Sommer- ville's tavern.
1830-E. S. Duncan announces that by June 1, he will have wool carding machines in operation at his mill on the West Fork River.
1835-John Carpenter, P. M. of Bridgeport.
1835-Luke Dodd, Barber and Hair Dresser. States in his adver- tisement in the "Countryman,"
"As a hair dresser he has brought to his aid the principles of phren- ology, and is enabled by a judicious management of his shears not only to assist the development of genius and amiability, but also to suppress the bumps of idiocy and destructiveness."
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HISTORY OF HARRISON COUNTY
N. B. Although a majority of his patrons are white men, yet he takes no part in politics but shaves on "boaf sides."
Watchmaking & Silversmithing-James R. Johnson.
Merchant-M. D. Gittings.
Physician-G. W. Neff.
The "Harrison Whig" published by William McGranachan in Clarksburg in 1842.
Among the advertisements are the Clarksburg Female Seminary by J. H. McMechen, Principal.
Criss & Chadwick, Merchants.
E. M. Davisson, attorney-at-law.
James Johnson, Silver Smith.
Henry Waldeck and William Harris, cabinet making business.
No local news. Patent medicine and Eastern Merchant's advertise- ments and long political articles on the tariff and in criticism of Tyler's Administration.
Clarksburg Enquirer, by Joseph Israel, August 15, 1831. By this paper it is seen that Wm. Williams is Post Master, Jno. Wilson, Jr. County Clerk and Geo. I. Davisson, Clerk Circuit Court.
1845, 1846 and 1847.
Cabinet Makers-John Hursey, W. J. Carpenter.
Saddle and Harness Makers-Edward J. Link, B. Wilkins.
Jeweler-N. W. Smith.
Tailor-N. Dunnington.
Physicians-A. C. Smith, John Edmonson.
Druggist and Grocer-A. F. Barnes.
Attorneys-Wm. A. Harrison, Geo. H. Lee, Aug. J. Smith, Lawson Botts, U. M. Turner, Burton Despard, Caleb Boggess, John S. Duncan, Jno. S. Hoffman.
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