USA > West Virginia > Summers County > History of Summers County from the earliest settlement to the present time > Part 29
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HISTORY OF SUMMERS COUNTY, WEST VIRGINIA.
the returns was very small for General Goff, and Judge Fleming contested before the Legislature. A number of illegal votes were alleged to have been cast in this county by both parties, and they were included in the contest notices. Proof was taken by Colonel T. G. Mann, as attorney on behalf of the Republican candidate, General Goff, and James H. Miller, as attorney for the Democratic candidate, Judge Fleming. Depositions were taken as to some votes at New Richmond, Meadow Creek, and two or three at Hin- ton, practically all of them being Republican votes who were colored construction laborers on the C. & O. Railway. All the depositions and proofs taken were on behalf of the Democrats. When it came to the proofs by the Republicans, no evidence was taken by them to show any illegal Democratic votes. It was clearly proven that some few illegal colored votes were cast at Meadow Creek and New Richmond, and that they voted for General Goff. These votes were so clearly proven illegal that no question was raised as to their illegality, and they were voted to be thrown out and not counted for General Goff by the Republican as well as the Demo- cratic members of the committee and Legislature.
Hon. John Duffy Alderson, of Nicholas County, six years a mem- ber of Congress as a Democrat from the Third District, frequently, during his Congressional career, addressed the people of the county, as did also C. P. Snydor, who was a member of Congress for two terms before Mr. Alderson.
There have been conventions held in Hinton for the nomination of candidates for Congress.
Hon. Joseph H. Gaines has been twice nominated in Hinton ; Hon. John D. Alderson twice nominated there ; Hon. Wm. Seymour Edwards once, and at the same time that Mr. Gaines was nominated, there being two Republican Conventions, with two sets of delegates and two sets of spellbinders, but Mr. Edwards afterwards with- drew, and gave Mr. Gaines a clear field, who was elected over Hon. Henry B. Davenport, the Democratic candidate. This was in 1904.
Hon. A. N. Campbell was twice nominated at Hinton as the Democratic candidate for judge of the circuit court. Hon. Wm. H. McGinnis and John McGrath were nominated as the Democratic candidates for the State Senate in 1902 and Honorables Alt. Bal- lard and M. F. Matheney, the Republican candidates for the same office at the same election, were also nominated at the same place, in the court house at Hinton, as were Captain A. C. Harrison, the Democratic candidate in 1904, and Hon. Alt. Ballard in the same year.
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HISTORY OF SUMMERS COUNTY, WEST VIRGINIA.
The convention was held in Hinton at the Parker Opera House in 1896, to send delegates to the Democratic National Convention at Chicago, when General J. W. St. Clair, of Fayette County : Major James A. Nighbert, of Logan, and James H. Miller, of Summers, were elected delegates to that convention that nominated Wm. J. Bryan for the Democratic candidate for President in 1896.
The first convention for the nomination for candidates for office to be voted for outside of the county was a Democratic Congres- sional Convention held at the court house, to nominate a candidate for the Third West Virginia District, when it extended to the Ohio River. The candidates were John Edward Kenna, of Charleston, Charles Edward Hogg, of Point Pleasant, and Eustace Gibson, of Huntington. Each of the candidates withdrew, and Mr. Kenna was nominated and Mr. Hogg was nominated for Presidential elector.
One of the first political speeches ever made in the county was by Hon. Romeo H. Freer, then of Charleston, supporting the Re- publican candidates, at the court house. He was afterwards elected judge of his circuit, to Congress, and Attorney-General of the State. This was back in the seventies.
Hon. Henry G. Davis spoke in the court house in 1877, soon after its completion, and when a candidate for the United States Senate. Hon. Frank Hereford, of Monroe County, was also a familiar speaker in the county during his political career in Congress and the United States Senate.
Hon. John W. Arbuckle, of Greenbrier County, has frequently addressed the people of the county in support of the Democratic candidates, and never failed to respond to their call. He is of the ancient Greenbrier family of the name, whose ancestor was the great pioneer and scout at Point Pleasant in 1774.
During aggressive political campaigns, it has been the practice of both the leading political parties, Democratic and Republican, to have political speakings by either local or imported orators, at practically all of the schoolhouses and voting places in the counties. posting notices in advance, and on the dates advertised; the local candidates and the speakers attend and discuss the issues as well as the merits of the various candidates. These meetings are held under the auspices of the county executive committees of the re- spective parties, and are usually held in the afternoons and even- ings. This custom has largely come into vogne within the last ten years.
President Wm. Mckinley visited the city once while President. but only stopped a few minutes on the platform of his train, when he was greeted by a great concourse of people.
CHAPTER XVI.
SCHOOLS.
The free school system was in operation in this State at the date of the formation of this county, although in a crude form ; but very material advancements and improvements have been made. Prior to the date of the formation of the State, and for some time after the war, the only educational system, or means of securing an education, was by private or "pay" schools. Those who desired could attend, or those who were able to pay the tui- tion, usually $1 per month per pupil. The schools were few and far between, and the old schoolmaster was a "power in the land," he being the scrivener and legal adviser for the entire section of the country in which he was located. He would go into a neigh- borhood, secure subscribers sufficient for a school for a few months -usually during the winter, when the farmers could not be at work on their farms-then "board around" with the pupils. One school answered for an entire district, for a neighborhood in a ra- dius of ten miles.
There were at the time this county was formed very few free schools, and fewer free school houses in the county, and they were all of rough hewn logs. As I recollect at this time, there was but one free school house in Green Sulphur Township; it was the old "Gum School House" at the ford of Lick Creek, at the foot of Keeney's Knob, about a half a mile above the old "Miller Home- stead." This house was built under the supervision of Samuel H. Withrow, by Mr. Nathan Duncan, and was of hewn logs, with dressed ceiling and floors, and cost $400. S. H. Withrow was at that time one of the school officers under the "system" then in power, and it was through his influence the house and school were secured. This house was built about the year 1867 or 1868, while the district was still in Greenbrier County, a part of Blue Sulphur Township. The children for all that region around, from six years of age to twenty-one, around from the top of Keeney's Knob to the head of Lick Creek, and to the top of Sewell Mountain, the
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HISTORY OF SUMMERS COUNTY, WEST VIRGINIA.
Andrew Foster place, the Hurley place, the Slater's Creek and Duncan settlements, a radius of six miles or more, attended, and there was no complaint in those days of that distance to travel. The war having suspended education for several years, the schools, when they began to open up after its conclusion, were filled with a large number of boys and girls more than twenty-one years of age, and of boys who had fought under the stars and bars.
The first free school at this house was taught by a young man by the name of A. M. Matics, who was very much disliked by both pupils and patrons, and before the close of the term all had quit the school except a very few. No one could teach school in those days without first subscribing to some kind of a teacher's test- oath, testifying to his loyalty to the Government during the war.
The first school house erected on Lick Creek, of which I can secure any information, was an old log house on the farm of Wil- liam B. McNeer, on the bank of Slater's Creek, near the forks of the creek, and the first school taught there after the war was by John P. Duncan, and was attended by a number of the old soldiers of the Confederacy, including Jno. C. McNeer, James W. Miller, James S. Duncan, John L. Duncan, Nathan Duncan, and others whose names I do not remember, who had all been in the army.
The first school, however, taught on Lick Creek after the war was by Major Jno. S. Rudd, was a large subscription school, and was attended by a great many in that region. It was the first school ever attended by many of us, walking a distance of two miles and a half to and from each day. As stated before, school teachers then and now were people of importance in the country. They wrote wills, and prepared deeds and legal documents con- veying land. Major Rudd was a West Point graduate, and a fin- ished scholar and teacher, as well as lawyer ; but not a man of high character. At that time he still wore his officer's uniform, with his epaulets. His wife, Mrs. Rudd, was a fine lady, cultured and womanly, of the finest sensibilities. He died a few years ago at Montgomery, and she still resides at Union, Monroe County.
One of the oldest teachers known to the country was Colonel George Henry, who lived in the meadows in Greenbrier County. He was a descendant of Patrick Henry, of Revolutionary fame, being a grandson, and was a West Point graduate. He would re- ceive all kinds of products, raiment and wearing apparel, for tui- tion, and "boarded around," spending a night alternately with his pupils, and for which he was not expected to pay. Colonel Henry. while an accomplished scholar, was celebrated for his slovenly hab-
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HISTORY OF SUMMERS COUNTY, WEST VIRGINIA.
its, it being understood that he bathed his face only when it could not be well avoided.
William Lewis, of Muddy Creek, was the second teacher at the "Gum School House." This school house, which was famous in its day, after many years of usefulness, was abandoned, the school district divided, and numerous other school houses built around in the neighborhood. After the free schools came in vogue, the teachers all had to go to the home of the county superintend- ent for examination by him, and the grade of the certificates were numbered from one to five, one being the highest and five the lowest. Only the elementary English branches were required to be taught.
There was at the beginning, as above stated, one free school house built in Green Sulphur District. Z. A. Trueblood was the first county superintendent of Greenbrier County, of which we have any information.
Mr. T. J. Jones was an old gentleman, and one of the few who could hold office just after the war, and was a justice of the peace, as well as school commissioner, and took acknowledgments to deeds, and usually, when he signed his name officially, he did so by signing "T. J. Jones, Justice, J. P." This gentleman undertook to be examined to teach in the free schools. as he was qualified to teach by being in a position to take the test-oath. He applied to Mr. Trueblood for a certificate, and returned rejoicing greatly, car- rying in his pocket a No. 5 certificate. On being questioned as to his success, he joyfully announced "that he had come out at the top; that he had gotten the highest, a No. 5. and could have got- ten a No. 6 if the law allowed it !"
The school houses, teachers and systems have greatly improved since those days, there being now scarcely a log school house in . the county, they being now built of frame, with active and intelli- gent young gentlemen and ladies for teachers. The curriculum has been enlarged, including most of the modern branches of study for a fair business education. The school houses are furnished with modern desks, seats and other school furniture and fixtures. At the time of the founding of the county three months was the term; now we have five, with one graded or high school, employing twenty teachers and a principal and assistant, in the cities of Hin- ton and Avis.
The funds for maintaining the free schools were then secured, as now, by direct tax levied against the personal and real property assessments of the county, and were divided into a Building and
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HISTORY OF SUMMERS COUNTY, WEST VIRGINIA.
Teachers' Fund. Originally they were collected and paid out by a treasurer of the county ; but for the last number of years, since the adoption of the amendments to the Constitution, by the sheriff as ex-officio treasurer, on drafts issued to the teachers by the presi- dent and secretary of the Boards of Education of the respective districts. Each teacher at the founding of the county was required then, as now, to make monthly reports to the Board of Education, endorsed by the trustees. Each district, through its trustees, con- tracts for the respective teachers for the sub-districts into which the magisterial districts are divided, there usually being a free school for each sub-district.
The Board of Education is composed of three members, one the president and the other two members of the Board, and a secretary. The president and members of the Board are elected for four years, and they elect the secretary; all of the school officers being under the general supervision of the superintendent of free schools for the county, and under a State Superintendent of Free Schools. Their authorities are not materially changed at the present time from what they were originally. George W. Lilly is the present superintendent, serving out his second term of four years, and is a very excellent and up-to-date school man and educator. The business of the Board of Education is "to let out," construct and repair school buildings. The trustees employ the teachers, look after keeping the houses in repair, fire, water, etc.
Originally the girls swept out the houses and the boys pro- vided the wood and made the fires from fagots gathered from the forests, they taking their turns alternately in the performance of these duties. At the present time all of this is changed, and all provided to order and paid for from the public finances-the build- ing fund. Originally the parent did as he pleased about sending his children to school, and a great many for whom the free schools were intended secured little or no benefits therefrom. Now. un- der the law, each pupil under the school age is required by com- pulsory statute to attend school, unless prevented by sickness or a legal excuse, and a parent failing in this is subject to a prosecution and fine, there being a truant officer in each district, appointed by the Board of Education, to enforce this law. The county super- intendent's record shows that there were 16 free schools in the county at its formation, with 16 log school houses, each of which were log structures, and the number of teachers was 16. For a num- ber of years there was a great demand for schools by teachers : now the demand is for teachers. The low wages paid, the increased ex-
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HISTORY OF SUMMERS COUNTY, WEST VIRGINIA.
penses of living, the short terms for which the schools are kept open during the year, have made teaching unattractive as a pro- fession, and the teachers of the present day, in the majority of such cases, are teachers only until something better turns up, the schools being used as stepping stones to a more profitable career.
The first free school teacher in Pipestem District was Mr. Albert Pendleton Gallatin Farley, who taught in that region di- rectly after the inauguration of the free school system. Mr. Far- ley still resides in that district, is an honorable gentleman and well- to-do farmer, having been educated at Henry and Emory College, in South West Virginia. A. E. Cotton, who now resides at Ad- kinsville, in Raleigh County, was one of the first free school teach- ers in the county, teaching in Forest Hill District especially. His brother, Thomas J. Cotton, was also one of the old-time free school teachers. Archie Allen, who resides on top of the Big Ben Tun- nel Mountain, is one of the oldest teachers in the county, and taught from the time of the establishment of the system until within recent years, and is known throughout the county as one of its best educators. His father, Nathaniel Allen, was an old pioneer set- tler of that region, and died in the year 1903 at the very advanced age of near ninety years. He was known throughout the country as a very devout Southern Mehtodist, and attended all of the quar- terly and other meetings of that church for miles around.
The old school houses in what is now Summers, before the establishment of the free school system, were frequently without other than dirt floors. George W. Lilly, present superintendent of free schools, attended school when a lad in a log house, which had no floor except mother earth. The roofs of these houses were of clapboards, held down by poles laid from one end of the house to the other, with a stick between them to hold them separate.
There are 160 free schools in this county, with 160 teachers. William H. Lilly, father of E. B. Lilly, of Leatherwood, was an old-time teacher, and taught at the old Apple Place School House, forty years ago.
Preston Rives Shirard deserves mention in this story as one of the pioneer free school teachers, as well as "subscription teacher." He educated principally two of the superintendents of this county, David G. Lilly and Jonathan F. Lilly, who were brothers-in-law. He was an over-educated gentleman; had more education than he had practical sense ; was very peculiar in his manners; had long hair down over his shoulders, with a cap without any bill pulled down over his ears, with untrimmed beard, and wore shabby clothes.
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HISTORY OF SUMMERS COUNTY, WEST VIRGINIA.
What money he earned he spent for the good of the cause of edu- cation, and distributed among the poor children of the territory. After teaching in this county for a number of years, he went to Kanawha County, where he died some five or six years ago.
George W. Leftwich is another of the older teachers, and later county superintendent for four years from Forest Hill District. Also Wm. J. Kirk, of Green Sulphur District, who was also a com- missioner of the county court for six years.
HISTORY OF EDUCATION IN SUMMERS COUNTY.
By GEO. W. LILLY, SUPERINTENDENT.
Summers County lies in the southern part of West Virginia, in longitude 81° west and latitude 37° north.
The close of the war found the territory now embraced in the county practically without both schools and churches, and it was not until about the year 1868 that any interest was manifested in either schools or churches.
That portion of the county taken from Fayette had not a single school. From Greenbrier County's territory we received, as nearly as I can learn, not more than four schools; from Mercer County, six, and from Monroe County, six, making a total of sixteen in the county at its formation ; and immediately after the adoption of the Constitution of 1872, which prescribed that the Legislature should provide for a "thorough and efficient system of free schools," our people awoke from their lethargy and made rapid strides, until our system to-day is as good as can possibly be made under the existing circumstances.
The primitive school buildings (a few of which are still stand- ing) were very rude structures, being built by the public-spirited citizens without cost to the county or district. These houses were only sixteen feet square, without any chimney (one end of the house being left uncovered for the space of five feet to afford a passage for the smoke), the whole end being used as a place in which to build fires. The furniture consisted of small logs split into halves and "pegs" used as legs. These houses were all "cabined off," covered with boards held down by "weight poles," and only a very few floored with "puncheons," the others having the bare earth for floors. Windows were unknown, and a rough board was used as a "writing desk." The teachers were scarce; none trained in colleges, normals or high schools, and teachers that were pro-
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HISTORY OF SUMMERS COUNTY, WEST VIRGINIA.
ficient in the three R's, Reading, " 'Riting" and " 'Rithmetic," were in constant demand, at salaries ranging from fourteen to twenty dollars per month, and when such teachers could be secured, they were considered quite a luxury.
During the ten years extending from 1890 to 1900, there was the greatest possible activity among the friends of education. Boards of education throughout the county were then discarding the old log buildings, and erecting new frame cottages, supplying them with ample light, blackboards and the best of modern school furniture, and many of them, apparatus. In 1890, the schools of Summers County had increased from sixteen at its organization to 120 primary schools, two graded and one high school.
But at no time in the history of Summers County has the zeal for education been greater than at the present. All the old build- ings have been replaced by modern ones, with ample room, light and modern furniture, cloak room and everything for the conve- nience and health of both teachers and pupils. These buildings are 24 x 36 feet, fourteen feet from floor to ceiling ; eight large windows, and well equipped with modern furnishings, at a cost of $850.00 to $1,000.00 each.
In 1903, a system of examination known as the "uniform sys- tem" went into effect. This system raised the standard of the teachers, and this, together with the material development of the State, has produced a shortage of teachers, from which our schools are now suffering. The material development of the State has opened many positions to teachers at salaries far above that offered by boards of education, and, consequently, our schools have lost many of their efficient teachers.
4 Such has been the zeal of Summers County's citizenship that every obstacle has been gallantly met and overcome, and school property is guarded as a treasure, the value of which can not be computed. Summers County, at its organization, could not boast property worth one cent, and now, at the opening of 1907, she has to her credit property worth $200,000.
Summers County now has 161 schools, in which are employed 175 well-equipped teachers, at an average salary of $33.00 per month ; has enrolled 5,000 pupils from a total enumeration of 6,800, and has an average daily attendance of 3,850, at an annual cost per capita of $12.35, based on attendance ; $8.70 based on enrollment, and $6.54 based on the enumeration.
At its organization, and for several years thereafter, Summers County had only one lady teacher, Miss Mollie Jordan, daughter
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HISTORY OF SUMMERS COUNTY, WEST VIRGINIA.
of Gordon L. Jordan, Summers County's first representative in the West Virginia Legislature. But the gentle zephyrs which pass through its beautiful valleys and waft the sweet-scented smell of delicious fruits, blooming flowers, and the glad song of ever-sing- ing birds up the mountain sides, towering from 1.500 to 2,500 feet above the sea, have awakened in the bosoms of the Summers County maidens an enthusiasm for education which will not abate, and is the wonder and admiration of our stalwart sons, who have been giving place to the ladies, until now seventy-five per cent. of our noble and true-hearted teachers are ladies.
The upbuilding of the present system in the county has been materially aided by her efficient county superintendents, viz. :
John Pack, from the formation of the county to 1873.
C. L. Ellison, Forest Hill District, 1873 to 1877. Two terms.
D. G. Lilly, Jumping Branch District, 1877 to 1881. Two terms. Jas. H. Miller, Green Sulphur District, 1881 to 1883. One term. H. F. Kesler, Talcott District, 1883 to 1885. One term.
C. A. Clark, Pipestem District, 1885 to 1887. One term. V. V. Austin, Pipestem District, 1887 to 1889. One term. J. F. Lilly, Jumping Branch District, 1889 to 1891. One term. Geo. W. Lilly, Jumping Branch District, 1891 to 1893. One term. J. M. Parker, Jumping Branch District, 1893 to 1895. One term. Geo. W. Leftwich, Forest Hill District, 1895 to 1899. One term. H. F. Kesler, Talcott District, 1899 to 1903. One term.
Geo. W. Lilly, Jumping Branch District, 1903 to 1907. One term.
J. E. Keadle, 1907. Term beginning July 1st.
THE HINTON HIGH SCHOOL.
At the formation of Summers County the territory embraced in the districts of Greenbrier and Talcott formed only one district, Greenbrier, and supported only six schools.
In the year 1874, the number had increased to thirteen, and in that year a building committee, consisting of W. W. Adams, C. A. Fredeking, M. V. Calloway and C. A. Sperry, was appointed to provide suitable specifications and let to contract a schoolhouse in subdistrict No. 13, which house was erected by E. A. Weeks at the price of $675.00, and is the foundation of the Hinton High School.
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