Bio: Prof. Francis Watkins Pettway, Bienville Parish Louisiana Source: Biographical and Historical Memoirs of Northwest Louisiana The Southern Publishing Company, Chicago & Nashville, 1890 Submitted by: Kay Thompson Brown ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://usgwarchives.net/la/lafiles.htm ************************************************ ************************************************ PROF. FRANCIS WATKINS PETTWAY Francis Watkins Pettway of Arcadia, La., was born in Wilcox County, Ala, November 2. 1868, the second of eight children-five sons and three daughters -whose names areas follows: Mark Harwell (a book-keeper of Knoxville, and a graduate of the University of Alabama), Francis Watkins, John H. (who is a resident of Wilcox County, Ala., and is a student in the University of Alabama, being first captain in the military department, which is a school of high rank; he took the first Shakespeare prize, as did also his brother, Mark H., and the Anglo Saxon prize), Albert Julian, McDaniel, Pauline (deceased). Maida and Laura. The younger members of this family given after John H. are attending the schools of Marion, the boys being in the public schools, and the girls in the female seminary of that place. The father of these children was a Virginian, born in 1848, his vocation throughout life being that of a cotton planter He is a finely educated gentleman, having been graduated from the University of Alabama in his early manhood, and has always been a believer in and a supporter of the principles of education, the advantages which he has given his children testifying to this fact. His wife, who was formerly Miss Laura Jones, whose parents were Virginians, was horn in Alabama, and was a graduate of the Marion Female Seminary, and an accomplished and intelligent lady. She passed from life in 1885. Prof. Pettway receive a his early education under private tutors. Prof. Julien Legare, who was a member of the distinguished South Carolina family being among the number, also Miss Sallie Maxey, now Mrs. Sarah Esker, who is the present secretary of the W. C. T. U. of Alabama, and a lady of culture, intelligence and fine executive ability. From her Prof. Pettway received his impetus to perfect himself in the science of mathematics. In 1885 he entered the freshman class of the State University of Alabama, and while in that institution carried away the honor of first captain and adjutant of the military department, and was appointed by the university faculty as orator of the Peithonian Society, and was also one of the nine orators selected to represent the university at commencement. He was one of the leaders of his class, and as above. stated was graduated with the highest honors. During his junior year it is but just to mention that he was appointed to the first position in the military ranks of his class, which numbered forty five members. Upon his immediate graduation he entered the National Normal University of Lebanon, Ohio, and took a commercial course of three months, carrying away his diploma in book-keeping. He then at once entered upon his duties as professor of mathematics and business in the Arcadia Male and Female College, this being in the year 1889. He now fills the chair of mathematics and science in the Male College of Arcadia, a position be has held since it adopted its present name in 1890, he being the able assistant of Prof. R. A. Smith, the president. Prof. Pettway is a gentleman of rare scholastic ability and one rarely meets with a young man who possesses such an extended and complete knowledge on all questions as he. He has made his own way in life since he was twenty years of age, and has found that he is perfectly capable of carving out a career for himself. Like his father before him, he is a Democrat in politics, and has taken considerable interest in the local issue of this parish. His first vote was cast against the Louisiana State Lottery. He is an honored member of the Delta Kappa Epsilon fraternity, national secret organization of the leading universities of the United States. After finishing his labors in the college at Arcadia La , in 1890, he made a tour of all the principal eastern cities, and through Canada, thence to Glenn's Falls, near Saratoga, N. Y., where he received general instruction under Prof. White of Cincinnati, who is a great and noted psychologist, author and writer, and under Dr. Metcalf, superintendent of the schools of Boston, and Dr. Woodhull, superintendent of the schools of New York City, these gentlemen being all well known educators. He also took a special coarse or instruction in the school of elocution under Dr. Butterfield, the renowned preceptor and professor of the Boston School of Oratory and Dartmouth College. Prof. Pettway is a close student at all times, and his favorite study is the higher mathematics. He is a gentleman who is thoroughly pasted on all literary subjects, and although be has seen only twenty.two summers he possesses brilliant attainments, and is one on whom honors will he rapidly conferred. He is as yet undecided what will be his future calling in life, but whether it be of an agricultural, professional or commercial nature a right future is predicted for him by all. In consideration of his services as commandant of A. C. C. the title of major was conferred upon him at the commencement of 1889.