Marlboro County ScArchives History - Books .....Chapter XXXVI Educational Matters 1897
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Book Title: A History Of Marlboro County

XXXVI.
EDUCATIONAL MATTERS.

  Our forefathers began to take an interest in educational matters at an early
date. It is fair to presume that school-houses and churches went up
simultaneously, and that soon after they had erected their rude log
dwelling-places, log churches, and log school-houses were built. It is
significant that the school-house was found near by a church. At Brownsville,
Parnassus, Salem, Hebron, Smyrna, Pine Grove, Boykin, Beaverdam, and other
churches, school-houses are seen. It shows that education and religion go hand
in hand, and our forefathers recognized the fact. They also knew that the
erection of churches and school-houses would have the effect to bring into their
locality other settlers of good character. The lively bidding of towns and
cities for the location and erection of educational institutions in their midst
shows that the same idea is entertained to-day. The building of school-houses in
Bennettsville antedated the churches. On December 12, 1830, an Academical
Society was organized and the following signed the constitution governing it:
John McCollum, Nathan B. Thomas, Joshua David, Hartwell Ayer, John McQueen, Jas.
E. David, C. W. Dudley, Campbell Stubbs, Jas. C. Thomas, Geo. Bristow, Wm. T.
Ellerbe, John H. David, Thomas Cook, E. L. Henegan, and several other. A board
of trustees, consisting of John McCollum, John McQueen, C. W, Dudley, Nathan B.
Thomas and E. W. Jones was elected, and they in turn elected as the first
teacher of the Bennettsville Male Academy, A. C. Sinclair, with John W.
Covington, assistant. Sinclair was succeeded by C. W. Dudley, and after him,
Duncan McLaurin, C. Davy, and others. The first teachers for the Female Academy
were Miss Jane McKay, afterwards Mrs. John McCollum, Miss Sarah Richards, Miss
Simpson, and others followed.

  The female academy stood on the lot of land across the street from the
Methodist church, now occupied by W. S. Townsend. The land was originally owned
by James Cook, the grandfather of Mesdames Breeden and Moore. The house was
perhaps 100 feet in length, one-story high, and with folding doors, was divided
into two rooms, and as occasion required, could be turned into one large room
for public entertainments. The male academy was adjacent to the Baptist church,
and where it stood is now seen the Bennettsville graded school building for
white children of both sexes. The Academical Society owns the school property,
and convenes biennially to elect a new board of trustees, who have general
supervision of the school, and whose duty it is to elect the teachers. The
buildings are ample and well-arranged. The trustees have been fortunate in their
selection of teachers, and the teachers have had the hearty encouragement and
support of the patrons. Hence little or no friction arises, and large numbers of
children attend. Additional room has recently been obtained by the purchase of
the old Baptist church building, and with slight improvement, four or five
hundred children may be accommodated. Messrs. Chase, Paisley, Thomson, Britton,
Sheridan, Root, Graeser, Rast, Stackhouse, Wilcox, Brodie, and others have
managed and taught the children. The school is now under the control of Prof. Cork.

  The colored graded school has been managed by competent men like E. J. Sawyer,
Cain, and others. They have been much hampered in their work on account of lack
of room. But steps are being taken looking to the enlargement of accommodation.
The large livery stable recently owned by Capt. P. L. Breeden has been
purchased, and is being erected in West Bennettsville, where the colored
children, in their laudable and earnest desire for education, may be taught.

  In ante-bellum days the male academy in Bennettsville was in charge of good
teachers. Such men as D. McD. McLeod, J. H. Hudson, R. H. McKinnon, E. H.
Graham, Daniel White and Neill D. Johnson, Leary, and Anderson, endeavored to
impart knowledge to the boys. At the female academy the girls were taught by
Mrs. Ann Crosland, Mrs. C. A. Thornwell, Mrs. A. J. Johnson, Mrs. B. D.
Townsend, Mrs. W. P. Emanuel, Mrs. J. B. Jennings and Mrs. B. D. McLeod. It must
be understood by the young readers of this chapter, that these ladies all came
to Bennettsville bearing other names, but decided to change them for the names
here given. The list might be extended by mentioning Mrs. J. P. Campbell, Mrs.
P. A. Hodges, Mrs. J. N. Weatherly, Mrs. W. P. Emanuel, Jr., and Mrs. R. A,
Douglas. So that it is seen that a goodly number of female teachers who came to
teach have become permanent residents. Marlboro feels justly proud of the long
list of competent educators who have done faithful work in her schoolrooms. But
especial mention must be made of the services of Mrs. B. D. McLeod and Mr. and
Mrs. John S. Moore, who are residents of the county. Mrs. B. D. McLeod taught
before and after the war in Bennettsville. Later for quite a number of years she
had a large, flourishing school at Blenheim, where many young ladies and youths
were prepared to take high stands in the colleges of this and other States. She
was subsequently engaged in teaching near her home at the residence of the late
Dr. A. McLeod. It may truly be said that Mrs. McLeod's whole life in Marlboro
has been devoted to teaching and assisting in the rearing of her half brothers
and nieces and nephews. A woman of high culture, broad-minded and kind-hearted,
the good she has done in Marlboro can never be estimated.

  Mr. and Mrs. Moore taught before, during and after the war in Bennettsville,
covering a longer period than ever did any other teachers in the town. After the
war they taught for a number of years at Hebron. We suppose it is safe to say
that no one teacher in Marlboro has left a stronger and more lasting influence
on the minds and lives of so great a number of pupils as has Mrs. Moore. Her
methods were gentle and so thorough that few passed from under her care without
receiving a fine rudimentary education and many have become successful teachers
who received no other advantages than such as the fine schools of Mr. and Mrs.
John S. Moore furnished.

  In the country the schools have generally been well sustained. With men like
Donald Matheson and W. R. Smith at Parnassus; L. M. Hamer and Harris Covington
at Hebron; the Johnson brothers at Pine Grove, and others like them at other
places, it is easy to understand why the schools in a former day prospered. And
with conscientious, competent teachers in charge and a united support of the
patrons, they are prospering still. While the youth of the county enjoy the
advantages of good schools at home, yet large numbers are not satisfied to
accept what they offer, but very properly seek schools of higher learning where
a collegiate education may be obtained. The number of college graduates is
constantly increasing, and while it is scarcely to be hoped that another
Thornwell will ever be sent forth in the world, yet some obscure boy born on
Marlboro soil may come to the front and even rival Dr. Thornwell.

  It is a laudable and praisworthy ambition to strive for a collegiate
education, for such striving will place others besides Thornwell and Robt.
McIntyre in the college president's chair. Let the youth of Marlboro educate
themselves, for as competition in all lines of human thought and action
increases more and more will the educated mind hold sway. Some other Marlboro
boy may follow John L. McLaurin into the U. S. Senate.

The incentive and necessity for a finished education is greater to-day than ever
before. Because your countrymen, C. S. McColl and D. D. McColl, have succeeded
in their lines of business and made handsome fortunes without the advantage of
college training—youth of Marlboro, do not undertake to do the same! Because
Peter T. Smith could, with no college training, amass a snug fortune on his
farm—farmer boy, do not take for granted that you could do likewise!


Additional Comments:
Extracted from:

A HISTORY OF MARLBORO COUNTY,
WITH
TRADITIONS AND SKETCHES OF NUMEROUS FAMILIES.

REV. J. A. W. THOMAS, AUTHOR.

A wonderful stream is the river Time
  As it runs through the realms of tears 
With a faultless rhythm and a musical rhyme,
And a broader sweep and a surge sublime
  As it blends with the ocean of years.
                        —TENNYSON.

ATLANTA, GA.:
THE FOOTE & DAVIES COMPANY,
Printers and Binders.
1897.


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