EARLY SCHOOL IN BOWIE COUNTY
"HISTORY OF BOWIE COUNTY SCHOOLS - 
Texarkana Gazette 1936
Compiled by Mrs. R. W. Terral (Verda M. Murrell Terral)

     In 1831 James W. Smith, William L. Borwing, Dr. W. H. Boyce, 
David M. Chisholm and Clement R. Jones agreed among themselves 
to give land for schools.  This was one of the first public donations 
of land for schools in Texas.  Another school had been started 
earlier in 1831 at Woodstock, which about fifteen miles north of 
DeKalb at the present time.  This is the first school that was 
founded in the eastern part of Texas.

     Many of Bowie County's early schools were log cabins with log 
benches.  Pleasant Grove School, about twelve miles southeast of 
DeKalb, was of that type.  The log cabins were just one room with 
a fireplace made of dirt and straw or brick and stick chimney.  
Some of the schools were subscription schools.

     In 1842, Bowie County had nine schools, with a total of 140 
pupils.

     For teaching school, the salary was about fifteen dollars per 
month.  Some of the first school teachers were as follows: Mr. 
Selby, Betsy Wallington, Jim Mahafey, Charles Hooks, Minnie Leigh, 
Mr. Carter, Green Dalby and Ellen Carter.

     In 1868 there was a pay school at Dalby Springs, Ellen J. 
Carter, a graduate of McKenzie College of Clarksville, Texas, 
taught school there.

     Pupils were able to go to school without pay for the first 
time in the year of 1871.

Submitted By: Jean Old
Email: j.old@att.net
Sept. 27, 2000


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