86  HISTORY OF CLAY COUNTY

had taken a course at Asbury University and was then preparing for
the ministry in the M. E. church, which was his life work, in which
he was crowned with success and won the laurels of the profession.
    A number of Bowling Green people met at the clerk’s office, in
the court-house, on Wednesday evening, February 5th, 1862, and organ-
ized a joint stock company for the promotion of the educational interests
of the town, of which 0. H. P. Ash was elected president; Hezekiah
Wheeler, secretary, and James Black, treasurer. In carrying Out the
plans of their association, Rev. T. S. Milligan was employed as teacher,
who opened school on the 29th day of April following. Rev. Milligan
was a fine scholar and experienced instructor, pastor of the Presbyterian
church.
    Miss Lorinda Kilgore, afterward employed by this association
rendered efficient and satisfactory service and also taught successfully
at a later day in the public schools.
    In September, 1857, a joint-stock company was organized to build
an academy at Brazil, and in March, 1859, a similar company was
organized at Bowling Green, neither of which carried its purpose into
practical execution.
    An educational association was organized at Center Point in the
summer of 1870, composed of the most substantial citizens of the town
and its surroundings for the purpose of maintaining a school which
would afford the opportunity for competent instruction in the higher
branches as well as in the common school course. The affairs of this
association were managed by a board of directors, or trustees, chosen
annually by the membership. Teachers were employed on an agreed
salary, the association making good any deficits, in case the tuition fees
paid in were insufficient. The board of directors, or committee, for the
year 1870 were C. W. Moss, D. W. Hays, J. C. Gilfillan and William
Givens, and for the year 1871, C. W. Moss, D. W. Hays, J. C. Gilfillan
and W. J. Kennedy. The teacher employed, as principal, for the first
year was W. T. Catbcart, from the State University; for the second
and third years, Charles M. Parks and James 0. Collins, respectively,
from Westfield (Illinois) College.
    Many terms of private school, of from five to ten weeks, usually
called “normals,” or normal institutes,” to afford teachers and others
home facilities for review and instruction in the philpsophy and methods
of teaching, intervening the terms of public school, were taught at
Brazil, Center Point, Clay City and other points, some years ago. The
county superintendent, associated with one or more experienced and
successful teachers of the county, constituted the corps of instructors,
as the rule. Among those who conducted these schools may be named
John W. Stewart, Preston B. Triplett, Maston S. Wilkinson, William
H. Chillson, John W. Love, Thomas N. James, Josiah S. Gosborn, John
C. Gregg, Thomas J. Scott, C. P. Eppert, William Arnett, Homer Hicks,
John E. Travis. W. W. McGregor taught similar schools in Cass and
Harrison townships. Though this system seems to have run its course,
or fulfilled its mission, being no longer in vogue, its resultant benefits
in the more efficient work of our common schools are not to be over-
estimated.
    Of the pioneer or early teachers of the county more than half a
hundred may be named. By early teachers is meant those who taught