USA > West Virginia > Upshur County > The history of Upshur county, West Virginia, from its earliest exploration and settlement to the present time > Part 33
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SUPERINTENDENTS OF SCHOOLS FOR UPSHUR COUNTY.
D. D. T. Farnsworth, 1851 ; Clinton G. Miller, 1852; Simon Rohrbough, 1853; Simon Rohrbough, 1854; Tilletson Jenney, 1857; Henry Simpson, 1861 ; Asbury Rohrbough, 1864; J. Loomis Gould, 1867; L. B. Moore, 1872; H. D. Clark, 1873; J. F. Hodges, 1873; George R. Latham, 1875; Joseph S. Reger, 1877 : Charles L. Brown, 1879; R. A. Armstrong, 1882; L. P. Brooks, 1883; F. P. Sexton, 1885: W. B. Cutright, 1889; N. W. Loudin, 1891 ; E. H. Knabenshue, 1899; W. S. Mick, 1902 ; J. H. Ashworth, 1907.
BUCKHANNON ACADEMY.
The first legal action toward making provisions for greater educational facilities in the present bounds of Upshur county was made in 1847. Several prominent citizens in and around the town of Buckhannon asked the Virginia Assembly to pass an act creating them a body politic, to have perpetual succes- sion and a common seal to purchase, receive, and hold to them and their succes- sors, forever, any lands, rents, goods and moneys of whatsoever kind to be used to the advantage of education in their midst. On February Ist, 1847, the Gen- eral Assembly of Virginia passed an act entitled, "An act to incorporate the male and female academy of Buckhannon." The incorporators, according to the terms of the act, purchased a lot near where the Episcopal Church now stands on Main street in the town of Buckhannon, and built thereon a comfortable two-story school house. The first principal of this school was J. Wesley Webb, who was succeeded hy Mr. Young, of Virginia. Augustus Sexton was also a teacher in this school. Some of the pupils who attended this school were Dr. Thomas G. Farnsworth, Nicholas C. Loudin, Mrs. J. W. Heavner, M. J. Jackson and Dexter W. Cutright.
The interest and influence of this school was great considering the limited field in which it operated and the meager means with which it endeavored to affect its work. It was a lamentable fact that after several years of success this male and female academy of Buckhannon was suspended, the building was allowed to decay, the lot was turned out to the common, and thus it remained until February 23, 1866, when the Legislature of West Virginia, by an amendment to the act passed February 1, 1847, made David S. Pinnell, Levi Leonard, Joseph D. Rapp, Nicholas C. Loudin, Thomas G. Farnsworth and Marshall Rohrbough trustees. The same act empowered them "to lease, sell, rent, or otherwise dis- pose of the same in such manner as shall seem most conducive to the advantage of said academy." These trustees sold it and put the money on interest until a time when another high school shall be established in their midst, then the principal and accrued interest shall be donated for the aid and support of said new high school. Marshall Rohrbough was chosen secretary, and delegated by the board of trustees to negotiate a loan of this money. We are not able to say whether. it was ever given to the Normal and Classical Academy, the first high school at Buckhannon, or any other school.
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FORMATION OF UPSHUR COUNTY.
BAXTER'S INSTITUTE.
Just prior to the outbreak of the war in 1861 the Presbyterians endeavored to establish a high school at Buckhannon. They were under the leadership of Rev. R. Lawson, an earnest educator, who persuaded his parishioners to name the school after Richard Baxter, whom Dean Stanley styles "the chief of English Protestant school men," and as all know the author of "Saints' Everlasting Rest," at one time a widely read theological work. A committee was appointed to select a site, to purchase lumber, and to make a contract for building. The site selected was the oak grove near the present West Virginia Methodist Episcopal Conference Seminary. Lumber was hauled on the ground, and the contract for building was let. War came on, McClellan's army invaded the county, ap- propriated the lumber for camp and camp fires, and Presbyterian hopes for a high school had to be deferred.
In 1905 Congress awarded the local Presbyterian Church $1,431 damages for the destruction of the Baxter Institute. At a special term of Circuit Court June, 1905, at which Capt. A. M. Poundstone was elected special judge, the court named A. M. Legget, S. B. Phillips, J. J. Morgan, W. G. L. Totten and A. A. Simpson to be the trustees to receive the fund.
FRENCH CREEK INSTITUTE.
The Presbyterians in and around French Creek were immigrants from the New England States, and were always energetic and progressive in educational
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affairs. On February 23, 1871, they met in their church house and prepared papers, asking for the incorporation of the French Creek Institute. They secured their charter on March 2, 1871. It is now on record in the Upshur county clerk's office in deed book H, page 507. The purposes of this institute are set forth in this charter document, and among them are the following: "It is to be a male and female academy to train up teachers and promote education generally." The patrons of the school subscribed, at the time they asked for the charter, $400, and requested the privilege of increasing the capital stock to $30,000. The charter members were Benjamin Gould, Ebenezer Leonard, Loyal Young, Ashley Gould, Alpheus Brooks, Freeman F. Sexton, Morgan A. Darnell, N. M. Ferrell and J. K. P. Koon. The first principal was Dr. Loyal Young ; other principals were: Myra Brooks, J. Loomis Gould and R. A. Armstrong. The last is now professor of English in the West Virginia University. This school wielded a wide, beneficient and salutary influence upon the future school history and growth of education in this and adjoining counties.
THE WEST VIRGINIA NORMAL AND CLASSICAL ACADEMY.
This institution was incorporated in 1882 as the West Virginia Academy. The United Brethern in Christ's Church, locally, a very strong denomination, was its founders, promoters, and guardian. Those foremost in the church in encour- aging the matter were Rev. Zebidee Warner, D. D., of Parkersburg ; Revs. W. M. Weekley, Columbus Hall; J. O. Stevens and L. F. John, all of the Parkersburg Conference. The last two of these had just completed their regular college course at Otterbein University, Westerville, Ohio, and had received special training in school work, therefore, they were full of enthusiasm, tireless energy and a lofty purpose to attain the goal of their ambition, namely, to make their church and church school as influential in West Virginia as it was and is in the State of Ohio.
Prof. J. O. Stevens for some time had been in charge of the Buckhannon public schools, wherein he proved himself an efficient educator and saw unmis- takable evidence of an unworked field ready for great educational results. It was due to his influence that such prominent laymen as Levi Leonard and Dr. G. A. Newlon, and others of Buckhannon town and surrounding country were interested. At first they encountered more obstacles than they had anticipated. The fair prospects which prompted them to such great efforts turned ino dark grounds and friends which before had not taken any active interest, had to be called upon to rally about the institution and give it the support that it needed to start it.
A commodious building of ten rooms was erected, five courses of study were arranged and a respectable show of students entered upon their work. The classical course and the philosophical course were arranged with a view to fit young men and young women for the sophomore year in college. The teachers' course was intended to qualify students for work as teachers in the public schools of the State, and the musical course provided an opportunity for a general musical education. The commercial course was afterwards added to the curriculum. The students enrolled were soon organized into two literary socie- ties, the Philomatheon and Philadelphian. Each was furnished a hall where
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they held their weekly meetings, and each became strong factors in training the students for successful life after their school days.
The first principal was Prof. J. O. Stevens. He was succeeded by Prof. L. F. John. At commencement in June of 1885, Prof. John resigned the principalship for the purpose of taking post-graduate work at Yale, and W. S. Reese, Ph. M., of Otterbein, was elected to the vacant place. Prof. Reese remained but one year. He was succeeded by Rev. W. O. Fries, A. M., of Lebanon Valley Col- lege of Pennsylvania, who continued at its head during three years. It was during his administration that the commercial course was started with Prof. F. P. Sexton, now a successful merchant and insurance agent in the town of Buck- hannon, at its head. This course gave a large number of young men and young women an opportunity for a business education, and it was improved by them. From the beginning the musical course was under the supervision of Mrs. Sue B. Hall, a graduate of Otterbein University, in both the scientific and musical courses.
At the opening of the school year, 1889, Prof. W. O. Mills, Ph. B., a graduate of Otterbein University, took charge of the school. Prof. Mills is now professor of mathematics in the West Virginia Conference Seminary, where he has been since 1897. Professor Mills did not enter upon his work without previous ac- quaintance with it. His first experience during the previous year of 1888 availed him much in the management of the school. He served as principal only one year at this time and was succeeded by Prof. U. S. Fleming, A. M., formerly principal of the Fairmont State Normal School and principal of the Grafton Public Schools, and assistant editor of the Methodist Protestant Advocate, pub, lished at Pittsburg, and superintendent of the City Public Schools of Parkersburg, who had the management of the school for the years 1889 and 1890.
In 1891, Prof. W. O. Mills found himself again at the head of the school and continued to be its principal until 1897, when it was moved to Mason City, Mason county, W. Va.
The school was supported by tuition and voluntary contributions of friends. The U. B. Conference did not increase its membership as rapidly as was hoped by the founders of this institution and, therefore, the financial support which was expected did not materialize. Considering that the membership of the U. B. Church in the Parkersburg Conference was never more than 11,000, and consid- ering the wealth and means of that membership, the laity and nobility, the school succeeded admirably.
The enrollment began with 93 in the year 1882 and continued to increase until it reached 186, its maximum. The work done by this academy cannot be measured by dollars and cents. It was the pioneer in the work of higher educa- tion in this part of the State. It had its own way to make. Every dollar had to be personally solicited from the people scattered over the territory in the Parkersburg Conference. Thic work was arduous and sacrificing upon those who undertook it. Rev. C. E. Hall worked continuously from the beginning of the school in 1882 to the year 1889, traveling to and fro over the State making private and public appeals to the membership of his church for financial assist- ance and aid to keep the school on its feet. Rev. S. A. Shanabarger succeeded him as financial agent, and his task was no less tiresome. Indeed it was a harder one, for the State Normal Schools had taken on new life and were being provided for by larger appropriations by the Legislature to enable them to reach out and do the kind of work and do it with better and more equipments than
WEST VIRGINIA WESLEYAN COLLEGE AND DORMITORY.
WEST VIRGINIA CONFERENCE SEMINARY, BURNED IN 1905.
MR. AND MRS G. S. CUTRIGHT and sons D H., W. B., I. G., A. H .. and ('. B., and daughters Iva and Corienne.
1111724
RESIDENCE OF SENATOR U. G. YOUNG.
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FORMATION OF UPSHUR COUNTY.
could be had in the West Virginia Academy. The tide was too strong, the church would not stem it, the financial supporters of the school refused to do more, local creditors were urging the payment of their debts, and the school property had to be sacrificed at a public sale. It was bought by the corporation of Buckhannon and converted into the public school building for the inde- pendent school district of Buckhannon, where it will always remain.
"THE WEST VIRGINIA WESLEYAN COLLEGE." 1
This educational institution at Buckhannon, maintained by the West Virginia Conference of the Methodist Episcopal Church, is one of the finest educational institutions of our state. The Methodist Church has always been a great friend to education, especially in its more popular forms. The Methodist Episcopal Church alone is at present conducting 133 schools with 3,000 teachers and 47,000 students of all grades.
In Western Virginia many years ago the Methodists supported an academy at Clarksburg. The unhappy misunderstanding and division of 1844 proved fatal to this school, and for over forty years the Methodists of the State were without a school of their own. After the Civil war was over and the new State firmly etab- lished, American Methodism celebrated its centennial in 1866. At this time much work for education was done in the country and West Virginia Methodists began the effort for a school which never entirely ceased until after years of waiting it was rewarded with great success.
In 1876 Buckhannon presented to a committee of the West Virginia Confer- ence a subscription of $6,750 for the location of a seminary in the town, but the Conference did not accept the offer then. In1883 the Conference appointed a committee on the centennial observance of the formal organization in 1784 of the Methodist Episcopal Church. This committee recommended the establishment of a seminary as an important object for the gifts of the people. In 1884 the Conference was held at Buckhannon, and it appointed a board of trustees for the proposed seminary. This consisted of A. J. Lyda, chairman ; L. L. Stewart, secretary ; D H. K. Dix, treasurer ; T. H. Hughes and Samuel Steele.
This board received contributions during the year and in 1885 the conference elected a board of eight ministers and eight laymen whose duty it was to receive proposals for the erection and endowment of a seminary, the coference to decide where it should be located. The ministers were A. J. Lydia, L. H. Jordan, J. A. Fullerton, Samuel Steele, E. H. Orwen, L. L. Stewart, H. J. Boatman and A. B. Rohrbough. The laymen were H. C. McWhorter, H. K. List, J. C. McGrew, A. M. Poundstone, B. F. Martin, Samuel Woods, Henry Logan and Nathan Goff. In 1886 death removed Dr. Samuel Steele and Hon. Nathan Goff. Rev. J. W. Reger, D. D., was chosen in place of Dr. Steele, and his name is very closely con- nected with the whole history of the Seminary. In place of Mr. Goff, John A. Barnes was chosen, and he is still on the board.
Various places in the state were desirous of securing the location of the semi- nary with them. Parkersburg and Elizabeth may be mentioned among these. On July 13, 1887, the trustees met at Philippi to decide upon the place and the vote was in favor of Buckhannon. Two days later the trustees proceeded to Buckhan- non. to select a site, but did not succeed. On August 29 they met again and purchased a tract of a little over forty-three acres for $5,551.87. In October, 1887,
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FORMATION OF UPSHUR COUNTY.
the conference met at Parkersburg and these proceedings were ratified. The trustees were also directed to proceed with the erection of buildings. The main building was finally completed during the summer of 1890, and on September 3 of that year the school was opened. A month later the conference, which was in session at Weston, came in a body to Buckhannon, and the building was dedi- cated by Bishop Cyrus D. Foss. From the opening to the present the school has moved forward in a career of unbroken prosperity.
The first president of the institution was Rev. B. W. Hutchington, A. M., D. D. Mr. Hutchinson was a native of Pennsylvania. He graduated at Ohio Wesleyan University and then entered the ministry. While a pastor in Provi- dence, R. I., he was chosen president of the new institution. Early in 1898 he resigned to accept a similar position at Lima, N. Y.
President Hutchinson began with a faculty of three teachers besides himself. During the first year three more were added. Seventy pupils were enrolled during the first term. During the year 201 different students received instruction. Since then until the fire in February, 1905, which destroyed the main building, every year had a larger enrollment, since the fire and recovery the enrollment has again continued to increase.
The work of the shool has been continuously increasing. At first it was con- fined to common English branches and the elementary classics pursued in prepa- ration for college. Then a musical department was added and a deparment of art followed. In the spring term of the first year a business department was added and all these varieties of work have been constantly maintained.
The tendency has been to raise the standard for admission and constantly add studies of higher and higher grades. The school was chartered with full powers but not until June, 1903, did the Board of Trustees raise the courses to full college grade. The standard is that prescribed by the University Senate of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and listed as a college.
In 1891 five persons, one man and four women, received diplomas as the first graduating class. The first male graduate was William B. Cutright, now a lawyer in Buckhannon. The class of 1906 numbered 69. There have been in all 536 graduates from the various courses. Nineteen hundred and five saw the first graduates in regular college work.
In 1895 the state legislature passed a law which authorized the State Board of Examiners to grant teachers' certificates to graduates of the seminary. This to some extent makes it a State Normal School, but there is no connection with the state government except by this recognition of its work. It has sent out a large number of teachers to the public school of the state besides those who are teaching in private schools in other states. In the Seminary diplomas are given in the Classical, Scientific, Literary, Normal, Musical, Engineering and Commercial courses. Besides these, certificates are given to the students of the Business Colleges whenever they complete their shorter courses.
In the College the usual degrees are conferred.
The institution is co-educational. Ladies and gentlemen are admitted on terms of perfect equality and work together in the classes without any unpleasant results. A reasonable amount of very pleasant romance has grown out of this fact, and thus far the history is free from any tale of scandal.
The moral and religious tone of the school has always been high. While it was established and is controlled by one religious denomination it has never been sectarian. Several different churches have been represented in its faculty, and
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FORMATION OF UPSHUR COUNTY.
its students have been from a great variety of denominations. Even Jewish pupils have been received and treated with perfect courtesy in the work of school. No institution could be more free from religious bigotry, and the clergymen of all the Buckhannon churches are in most pleasant relations with the school. The students themselves choose which church they will attend in the town and on any Sunday in term time students can be found in every local congregation.
The buildings are on a hill rising with a gentle slope in the southeast part of the town. They consist at present of the Administration Building, the Ladies' Hall, Conservatory of Music, the President's residence and Power House. The first is an imposing edifice built of brick. It contains the necessary offices, many recitation rooms, two halls for literary societies and a chapel which will seat 1,500 people. The Seminary began with one building and its students found homes as they could, among the families in town. This proved more and more inconvenient for the lady students as their number increased. In 1893 the project of a Ladies' Hall was adopted and in September, 1895, the finished building was ready for occupancy. It is built of brick and is so planned as to allow of building on of a wing, which will greatly increase its capacity. It contains parlors, a convenient kitchen and dining room and rooms for 80 young ladies. It is supplied with modern conveniences and is a healthful and pleasant home for its residents. When President Hutchinson took charge of the school he built a residence for himself some rods to the eastward of the Seminary building. The house was afterwards purchased from him by the trustees and has since been steadily used as the President's home. The spacious Music Hall constructed of brick and stone was added in 1902.
The Library of the school consists of some 7,000 volumes. These books are chiefly the donations of friends. In 1901, through the influence of Miss Adelaide R. Thompkins, of Pittston, Pa., the reading room was refurnished and a goodly number of volumes added to the Library.
The Presidents of the institution since the retirement of Dr. Hutchinson in 1898 have been Rev. S. L. Boyers, elected in June, 1898, and Dr. John Weir, the present incumbent, elected in June, 1900. During the interim between the incumbency of Drs. Hutchinson and Boyers, Prof. Frank B. Trotter was Acting President.
In 1903 through the generosity of Dr. D. K. Pearsons, of Chicago, the school provided a good foundation for endowment. Dr. Pearsons gave $25,000 toward the fund.
On the 4th of February, 1905, a fire totally destroyed the main College build- ing. The loss of such a building to many a school would mean the virtual ces- sation of its work. In the case of the College temporary quarters were forthwith procured, and not a day was lost, not a student retired, not a class was dropped. The cost of the lost sructure was some $34,000. The sound value of the building was placed by the adjusters at $29,000. The insurance was $16,000, all of which was allowed. A fund for restoration was at once started. Generous friends promptly contributed. The result is the splendid edifice which now adorns the campus. The new building is twice the size of the old, and of design and appointments of the most modern and approved kind. A central power house, to heat all the buildings of the College and entirely apart from them, has also been provided. Hereafter no heating apparatus will be within any building. The cost of the new building, with power house, heat and light installation, furniture, etc., is $81,000. Among the larger contributors to the fund for
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restoration are Dr. D. K. Pearsons, of Chicago, $10,000; Andrew Carnegie, of New York, $27.500; John D. Archbold, of New York, $5,000, and Mrs. E. S. Stone, of Wheeling. Granville Strader, of Upshur county, West Virginia, who died a few days before the fire, left a bequest to the University of some fifty acres of coal.
The Board of Trustees comprises twenty-eight men of high standing and wide influence.
BUCKHANNON TOWN.
Most new towns now-a-days are named after the capitalist, the manufac- turer or speculator who founds directly or indirectly, the means and reasons for establishing such congregated place of abode. When Buckhannon was founded the prevailing method of naming a new town was different. The discoverers and explorers and pioneers were numerous enough to furnish abundant names for every new villige. Most every adventurous spirit of the 18th century, has his family name perpetuated in some river, town or city.
Buckhannon takes its name from the river whose head-waters are in the hemlock forests of the Allegheny and whose mouth is near the northern boundary of the county. The river was so named on account of this historical fact. The family document of Jacqueline Ambler, Treasurer of the State of Virginia several years before and at his death in 1797, contains this entry. "There was living (1785) in Richmond a poor old Scotch clergyman, named John Buchannon, whom I invited to make my house his home until he should be able to have better support and care." Taking this entry as a starting point, my researches led me into the early church history of the Mother State. We learn by reading widely that John Buchannon was a missionary minister and teacher for several years after his arrival in this country, that he was very active in his work, brav- ing sore trials and privations in order that he might do good for his fellow-inan, be he a pioneer white or vindictive red. On one occasion his bishop sent him to the head-waters of the Monongahela on a tour of inspection and a mission of help. He crossed the mountains to Tygart's Valley and from thence was going to a mission which he learned was on the West Fork near where the town of Weston now is. We are unable to find whether he made more than this one trip, as we also are unable to possess facts of his discovery and exploration. Our personal opinion is that he thought that the river which runs from south to north through Upshur county, had not been discovered, named and explored by any white man, thoroughly. He assumed to do both and being desirous to perpetuate the deed, called the river after his own name. You will notice that Dr. Buchannon's name was spelled with an "o" and not an "a" like the Virginla family of English descent and prominent in our state and national history. The word has been corrupted in its spelling by the insertion of a letter "k" after "c." Now this is the author's theory for the name of Buckhannon as it now is.
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