Greenbrier County, West Virginia - 160th Anniversary Booklet - Part 10 *********************************************************************** USGENWEB NOTICE: These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or presentation by any other organization or persons. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material, must obtain the written consent of the contributor, or the legal representative of the submitter, and contact the listed USGenWeb archivist with proof of this consent. *********************************************************************** Historical Booklet - Greenbrier County 160th Anniversary - 1778-1938 Published 1938 Transcribed by Lori Samples THE OLD LEWISBURG ACADEMY Tradition has it that the Old Lewisburg Academy was founded in 1810, but there is no record of the exact time. Certain it is that Dr. John McElhenney (we use that spelling, but it should be of interest to note that the original spelling was McIlhenney"), its founder started his school by 1812, for there is a deed on record in the Clerk's office of this county, in deed book No. 5, at page 414, from John McClanahan to John Wair, which reads: "The said party of the first part does, this 15th day of October, 1812, grant unto James Wair, his heirs and assigns two acres of land lying and being in the county of Greenbrier, adjoining the lot on which the Lewisburg Academy is erected, and bounded as follows:.."etc. Quoting from the act of incorporation, passed January 29, 1812: "And act establishing an Academy in the town of Lewisburg in the County of Greenbrier. "Be it enacted by the General Assembly, that James Marrs, Charles Arbuckle, James L. Clowney, James Withers, Thomas Creigh, John Mays, James McLaughlin, the Rev'd John Micklehaney, John Welch, Christian Piercy, Henry Hunter, Thomas Beard, John Mathews, John Stuart and William Renick, of the county of Greenbrier, Allen Taylor and Botetourt, Samuel Blackburn and William Pogue of Bath, Hendley Chapman of Giles, Andrew Burns and Isaac Estill of Monroe, David Ruffner of Kanawha, Jesse Bennett of Mason, and Elisha McComas of Cabell County, gentlemen, be and they are hereby constituted a body politic and corporate, by the name of 'the Trustees of Lewisburg Academy in the County of Greenbrier'"... This was the first brick building erected in Lewisburg. Dr. McElhenney conducted the school alone for some time and then chose seven assistants before his time expired. These were Rev. Alexander Curry, a former pupil; Launcelot G. Bell; Rev. Francis Dutton; Rev. James Spotts, a Baptist Minister; William Dalton, on "old-field school-teacher," William Graham, and Mr. Hearon. The old academy building fronted east, and stood in the edge of a walnut grove. A little log cabin faced the site of the academy. A little brick cabin also stood about fifteen steps north. The Old Stone Church cornered the graveyard just south of the site. The Academy had no portico then; the upper rooms were reached by stairs from the outside. A bell! - that was a luxury unthought of then. An old historian tells us that the boys of today should be envious of the early students, for in 1812 "its campuses extended from the Potomac to the Ohio Rivers!" Many years later a post-and-rail fence enclosed part of the premises. The "Welch Road" ran up through the woods, passing about twenty steps south of the Academy. Wrote William E. Withrow, under date of June 8, 1882: "I entered the Academy at Lewisburg in the fall of 1816, sixty-six years ago, at the age of seven years. I there met for the first time Rev. John McElhenney in the character of the Teacher and Principal. The house occupied by this school was a two story brick building, perhaps 40 x 60 feet, with four old fashioned chimneys, two at each end. It was divided at first on the ground floor into three rooms, consisting of a study and recitation room for general purposes, and across a moderately wide hall, two recitation rooms, which were sometimes used by the older students as study rooms, and occasionally for a few months as dormitories for the foreign students. But the necessities of the school made it convenient to put these two rooms into one, and the teachers gave us holiday one Friday afternoon if we would tear down the partition ad carry out the debris, and this we did with the good will of Academicians. So in after years, down to my going to college in 1828, there were two rooms only, below one on the north and one on the south side in no respect finished, except a floor had been laid over the entire area of the building, and it was occasionally used for public exhibitions - such as plays, speaking, and reading of essays. It was also in part occupied by privileged students who claimed at least that they wanted quiet to pursue their studies. By removing here and there a brick from the window jams they could redily climb into the garret, and as some of these studious young gentlemen were god athletes the young hot bloods occasionally got into sports among themselves, both noise and merry making, and Mr. McElhenney often came slipping upstairs and found the crowd there in many undignified and unscholarly attitudes, some chattering in the unfinished open attic, some going through unfinished gymnastics, and some talking out of open windows with comrades outside and below." >From the foregoing, we must not conclude that Dr. McElhenney was a poor disciplinarian. On the contrary, he punished when necessary, but he tempered justice with money, and the narrator explains that "It was said in those days that the Professor himself in early life liked juvenile sports, and that one secret of his succesful goverment laid in his liberal treatment of the erring ones." Many pupils of the Old Academy became distinguished as divines, lawyers, and teachers. These included Dr. W. S. Palmer, of the Presbyterian church; Alex Reynolds, Brigadier General in the Confederate Army; Samuel Reynolds, a Colonel in the same army; Col. William Procter Smith, Chief of Engineers on General Lee's staff, who had large part in planning the fortifications of Richmond; and Alex F. Mathews, who had the distinction of winning the degree of A. M. from the University of Virginia in one year. This scholastic accomplishment aroused considerable favorable comment at the time. Succeeding Dr. McElhenney, the following principals served the school: Francis Dutton....1827-29 Nicholas B. Seabrook .....1829-30 John Steel.....1830-33 Jacob N. Cardozo..... 1834-37 Ephraim Trip..... 1838-39 Thomas Brown..... 1839-42 Albert Pierson..... 1842-45 John Brown..... 1845-49 R. T. W. Duke..... 1849-51 Philander M. Custer..... 1851-1860 In 1861, Miss Sue E. McElhenney, the founder's daughter, taught a few months. then the school was closed until 1865. The building was used by both armies throughout the war as a hospital and barracks, and it was greatly damaged. In 1865, Rev. John Calvin Barr, of Lewisburg, was elected principal. Ill health forced him to resign in 1866. Walter Creigh Preston succeeded him. "Times were hard, money was scarce, and scholars were hard to obtain." In 1867 Capt. Alexander F. Mathews took charge of the school. The records say that 1868 was "a time that tied men's pockets - no school that year." But i 1869 H. N. B. Wood was made principal. The free school system was functioning, and the academy had a difficult time of it. It continued to function, and in 1870 William L. Austin succeeded Mr. Wood. In 1871 a school was taught, combining the Pay and Free School Systems, with Rev. P. M. Custer as principal and Misses Olive Peterman and Mary Russell of Virginia, and Miss Lizzie Stone of Lewisburg in charge of the primary departments. In 1873, Mr. John J. Morris was principal. In 1895, the "Trustees of the Academy" made a transfer to a joint stock company, known as the "Lewisburg Female Institute." Shortly thereafter it was decided that the boys branch should be re-established, and a site was secured on the grounds of the old Greenbrier Agricultural Society, "with its beautiful grove of oaks, on the eastern outskirts of town." Major J. M. Lee was the principal. Lee Military Academy was doing well when the major resigned to move elsewhere, and Mr. Samuel R. Houston became principal. He did not have military work. After four years, Dr. M. L. Lacy, "the most distinguished member of the Greenbrier Presbytery," was instrumental in having the school bought by business men of Lewisburg and turned over to the Presbytery. Dr. Lacy became principal and the school was known as Greenbrier Presbytery School. Miss Caroline H. Tipping, of Stunton, was principal of the girls' school for two years, 1875-76. She was succeeded by Rev. Daniel B. Ewing, a Virginia Presbyterian minister, who served until 1881. Rev. Martin Lyle Lacy, D. D., was elected principal of Lewisburg Female Institution 1882, and served faithfully until 1888. Both of the private schools now in Lewisburg owe much to the faith and ability of this man of God, who served his people well. A disastrous fire occured in 1891, but the school was not closed for more than a week or ten days. The Town Hall and other buildings were used to house the students, and finally the session was finished in White Sulphur Springs. In about one year, new and better buildings had been erected. The list of principals: C. A. Young 1887-91 J. C. Brown 1892 - ? R. L. Teleford 1892-1911 R. C. Commerville 1911-16 R. H. Adama 1916-17 J. N. Maxwell 1917-20 J. I. Armstrong 1920-24 J. M. Moore 1924-25 By common usage, the name had become Lewisburg Seminary, although this was never official. In the Spring of 1923, by formal vote, the ownership and control of the institution passed into the hands of the Synod of West Virginia, and the name was changed to Greenbrier College for women. Dr. French W. Thompson became President of Greenbrier College in 1925. Under his capable guidance the college has grown in worth and usefulness, and has won a high place among the colleges of the country. It was bought by a private corporation in 1926, the present owners being French W. Thompson, H. B. Moore, H. L. Goodman, H. H. Blackburn, and W. N. Jasper. Meanwhile, the boys' school had been doing well under the leadership of Dr. Lacy, who served "with his usual earnestness and determination." For a while in the 1890's, the school had been known as Greenbrier Military Academy. Destroyed by fire in 1905, it was rebuilt. In 1906, Col. Houston B. Moore was called to succeed Dr. Lacy. Col. Moore established military training, and the school became known as Greenbrier Presbyterial Military School. The school thrived under the able leadership of Col. Moore. In 1902, with his two brothers, Lieut-Col. J. M. Moore and Maj. D. T. Moore, he took over the school as a private institution. In 1925, fire destroyed all but the new wing. A modern fireproof plant, which is all under one roof except the gymnasium, was built without delay. Greenrbier Military Schhol today has a splendid record. Known as "The School of Achievement," it enjoys a reputation as one of the leading military schools of the nation. THE REV. M. L. Lacy D. D. Mathew Lyle Lacy was born in Prince Edward County, Va., August 6, 1833. He was educated at Hampden-Sydney College and the Union Theological Seminary. After preaching for some years in Prince Edward and Charlotte counties, he accepted a call to the Old Stone Church, arriving here in April, 1869. During a period of about fifteen years he was pastor of Mt. Pleasant Church, Monroe County. After this he returned to Lewisburg. He served terms as president of the girls' and boys' school, in turn. Christian living and education in this section owe much to Dr. Lacy, who was known to everyone as a fearless minister, outstanding scholar and sympathetic friend. He had the sincere affection of everyone in this section. OTHER SCHOOLS Allegheny College was established at Blue Sulphur Springs some time prior to the War Between the States, and was discontinued early in the war period. There were established, at Alderson, Allegheny Collegiate Institute, a Methodist Institution, and Alderson Baptist Academy, later Alderson-Broaddus College of the Baptist denomination, both of which have been discontinued. DAVIS-STUART The Davis-Stuart School, or orphanage, was chartered under the laws of West Virginia, November 17, 1919. It was formally opened, and the first children were admitted, September 15, 1920. An average of 50 children have been cared for annually. It is a home for orphan and dependent children of the state, with the purpose of building useful Christian citizens. The school was made possible through the generosity of Mr. George N. Davis and his wife, Mrs. Mary Estelle (Kinports) Davis, who made an offer of land and endowment to the Synod of West Virginia. Dr. J. L. Lineweaver, Presbyterian minister, was in charge the first year, and since that time the school has been headed efficiently by R. K. Robinson. NEXT: THE FAMOUS SPRINGS OF GREENBRIER