Upshur County Schools, West Virginia This file was submitted by Valerie Crook, E-mail address: This file may be freely copied by individuals and non-profit organizations for their private use. All other rights reserved. Any other use, including publication, storage in a retrieval system, or transmission by electronic, mechanical, or other means requires the written approval of the file's author. This file is part of the WVGenWeb Archives. If you arrived here inside a frame or from a link from somewhere else, our front door is at http://www.usgwarchives.net/wv/wvfiles.htm History of Education in West Virginia Prepared under the direction of the State Superintendent of Free Schools 1904, Charleston: The Tribune Printing Company, 1904 pg. 243 - 247 Upshur County BY W. S. MICK, SVPEEINTENDENT Just thirty years after the Pringle brothers began their pioneer life in the hollow of the Sycamore tree standing on the south bank near the mouth of Turkey Run and nine months after the immortal Washington had left the White House to become a private citizen at Mount Vernon, Mr. Haddox, in a primative log cabin near the mouth of Radcliff's Run, less than two miles south of the present town of Buckhannon, indeed, within the suburbs of the town, taught the first school in the bounds of the present county of Upshur. This school was supported by private sub- scription. The interest manifested can only be measured at this date by the liberality of the contributions which, when all collected, and paid over to the first "jolly pedagogue" in the present bounds of Upshur, amounted to the liberal salary of $60 and board per month. The latter half of this consideration was by compliance with the condition that the teacher go home in turn with the pupils of each patron and sup- porter of the school. This remuneration is in striking contrast with the meager salary paid by our present district boards of education. The attendance of this first school was regular, large, and wide. During the three months, the length of the school term, tradition in- forms us that the inexcusable non-attendance was nothing. Pupils were present at the hour of opening and during the day the program proceeded with the regularity of the clock. Children gathered from a circuit of five miles from the school house answered the roll call, "Here." Our reliable informer also tells us the names of some who attended this first school. Thomas Carney, Zechariah Westfall and David Casto were pupils, Jacob, John, William and Isaac Cutright and their sister, Ann, and the Oliver children on Cutright Run were also pupils. Adam, Daniel, and George Carper from the present site of Buckhannon were boys in attendance, and the Tingles, the Finks and Hyers from Finks Run were also enrolled. The second school was established about 1800 on the site of the present court house in the town of Buckhannon and a Mr. Samuel Hall was employed to instruct the children of the neighborhood in reading, writing and arithmetic. Mrs. Mary Bradley taught the first school at French Creek in the year 1817. Thus the meager beginning of the school history in Upshur county. To these three schools were added, as necessity and comfort advised, others. The increase of schools was not and could not be satisfactory, owing to the need of children at home, to clear the forest, to tend and col- lect the crops and otherwise to assist parents in providing for the absolute needs of the family. In the mind of the pioneer, the greatest and highest achieve- ment in education consisted in the ability to read a morning and evening scriptural lesson, a deed for land, or a stray volume of Shakes- peare, or Poor Richard's Almanac, also, to be able to answer notices, to prepare contracts and deeds and to communicate with the land office at Richmond. Along with these marks of proficiency went the ability to add sums, estimate distances, to ascertain areas and to calculate Interest. Whenever the child could handle and apply readily the principles of these branches, he was well qualified to meet and combat the contingent experiences of this forest life. The greatest stimulus to general education with equal school ad- vantages came with the emigration of the New Englanders to this country. This emigration began in the year 1801 with Zechariah Morgan settling on the Buckhannon river near the town of Sago. His story of this new country attracted Aaron Gould, Sr., and his, in turn, brought Robert and Gilbert Young with their families in the year 1811. The years 1814, 1815, 1816 and 1817 brought scores more of these enthusiastic Puritans, who contributed much, immeasurably to the agitation of greater school ad- vantages which was seed sown in good ground and in time bore and is bearing fruit to the glory and honor of Upshur county citizenship. According to their strict ideas of life they forced an educational op- portunity and made their children take and improve it. Continuous battle was waged between poverty and the illimitable forest on one side and ambition and a hope of better future on the other. The acts of the Virginia Assembly of the late forties, giving partial State support to the schools were due in some measure to the violent agi- tation of the New Englanders west of the mountains. The Poor Fund converted many dwelling houses and churches into school houses. These required teachers and on February 1, 1847 an act was passed by the General Assembly of Virginia entitled, "An act to incorporate the Male and Female Academy of Buckhannon." The incorporators by this act purchased a lot in the town of Buck- hannon, near where the Episcopalian church now stands on Main street, and built thereon a comfortable one-story school house. Nearly all the students who attended this school became teachers as soon as their preceptor thought them capable. Some became influential in county politics after 1851. So great was the interest in common school work that many new schools were started and the Poor Fund allotted to this county paid but a small part of current expenses. One teacher of this period tells us that he had thirty-five pupils and got only $36 from the Poor Fund. Whenever the Poor Fund was not sufficient to compensate the teacher for his services he could choose either to teach for the Poor Fund only, or had to solicit from the patrons, a varied subscription, which was paid in corn, oats, live stock, or currency as provided by the agreement be- tween teacher and patron at the time of the solicitation. This brings us to the war of the rebellion. An act passed December 10, 1863, by the Legislature of West Virginia established free schools throughout the length and breadth of this war-born commonwealth. A State superintendent, a county superintendent and a board of education of each school district has to be duly elected and qualified. The first election of a county superintendent and township school officers was held in every voting precinct in Upshur county on the fourth Thursday in April, 1864, with the result, which we think sufficient for this brief sketch, A. B. Borhabough, afterward a very eminent divine of the West Virginia M. E. conference, till his death in 1901, was chosen as first county superintendent of free schools of Upshur county. No re- port is left by him to tell the number of schools and what condition they were in at that date, but it is fair to presume that his work was hard and earnest. His successor, J. Loomis Gould, whose administration covered a period of six years from 1865 to 1871, gives a report for each year during his incumbency. His first report shows eighteen schools in operation, one school house, an enumeration of 2643, and enrollment of 535, an average daily attendance of 384. Number of male teachers, 11; number of female teachers, 8; average male salary, $35 per month, and an average female salary of $18 per month. With a view to comparison with this first report the figures of each succeeding ten years up to 1895 are taken. The report of 1875 shows number of schools, 68; enumeration, 3259; enrollment, 2434; average dally attendance, 1484. Number of male teachers, 49; number of female teachers, 24. Average male salary, $30.08; average female salary, $30.48. The report of 1885 shows eighty schools, eighty-three school houses, 4023 enumerated, 3195 enrolled, 1973 in dally attendance, 64 male teachers, 26 female teachers. 'Report of 1895 shows 107 schools, 107 school houses, 4886 enumerated, 3905 enrolled, 2730 in daily attendance, 80 male teachers, 39 female teachers. The report of 1903 shows 132 schools, 115 school houses, 4925 enumerated, 3985 enrolled, 2699 in daily attendance, 67 male teachers, 65 female teachers. These figures indicate a healthy growth in the past thirty-eight years. At the time of the first report there were eighteen schools and one school house; at the time of the last report there were 132 schools and 115 school houses. An average increase of three schools and three school houses per year. From the advent of the New Englander into the settlements along the Buckhannon river and the waters of French Creek, Presbyterianism took the lead in progressive educational ideas and affairs. Coming as they did from the highly intellectual atmosphere prevalent in and around Boston, it was but natural that they should take an unusual interest, indeed, the initiative, in providing for a general and a higher education of their children. Just prior to the Rebellion we find the Presbyterians in and around Buckhannon under the wise leadership of Rev. R. Lawson and an earnest educator, bound together in united effort to establish the Baxter's Institute named after Richard Baxter whom Dean Stanley styles "The chief of English Protestant school men" and the author of Saint's Everlasting Rest. A lot was obtained and a site selected by the White Oak Grove near the site of the present West Virginia Conference Seminary. Lumber was purchased and hauled on the ground. The contract for the building was let. War came on and the building was deferred. Armies invaded the county, besieged the town appropriated the lumber for camp and camp-fires and Presbyterian hopes for a high grade school were temporarily dissipated. No sooner had the clouds of war cleared away than that unconquer- able thirst for knowledge in the Puritan's breast began to agitate the advisability and possibility of an academy. At this time as well as since, the Presbyterian faith had more devotees in and around French Creek and it was but natural that that place should be the immediate field of operation. On the 23rd day of February, 1871, the stronger and more well-to-do families of the French Creek Presbyterian church assembled in their church house and prepared papers asking for the incorporation of the French Creek Institute. The charter was granted March 2, 1871. The pur- pose of this school as stated in their charter was a male and female Academy, "to train up teachers and promote education generally." The amount subscribed and paid upon the charter was $410 with the privilege of increasing the capital stock to $30,000. The charter does not expire until 1970, although the school has been for many years suspended and the academy building torn down. The first principal was Dr. Loyal Young. Other principals were Myra Brooks, J. Loomis Gould and R. A. Armstrong, now professor of English in the West Virginia University. This school wielded a wide, beneficent and salutary influence on the future school history and growth of this and adjoining counties. The next effort toward the establishment of a higher school in the county was the West Virginia Normal and Classical Academy in the town of Buckhannon. Its founders were men prominent in the Parkersburg Conference of the U. B. in Christ Church. Rev. Zebedee Warner, D. D., Rev. W. N. Weekley, Revs. C. Hall, J. O. Stevens and L. T. John were foremost in encouraging and consummating its establishment. Prof. J. O. Stevens was the first principal. He was greatly assisted by his lovable and enthusiastic wife, Mrs. J. L. Stevens, now of Dayton, Ohio. Other principals were Profs. L. F. John, W. S. Reese, W. O. Fries, W. O. Mills, now of the West Virginia Conference Ceminary, and U. S. Fleming, now superintendent of the Parkersburg City public schools. This school was moved to Mason city in 1897 and from there to Ravenswood. This in brief is the history of the public, parochial and academical schools of Upshur county until the location of the West Virginia Con- ference Seminary at Buckhannon in 1897, an institution that has grown to large proportions in its brief life. The present educational work in and for the public schools of Upshur indicates a healthy normal growth. W. S. Mick, the present county superintendent, enjoys the confidence of the teachers and with a tireless and watchful energy and a lofty pur- pose, is co-operating with and assisting patrons and teachers holding the same high ideals, in making the school system more complete, more effective and more general. A Friday Institute has been held in each magisterial district with a large attendance and with instructive programs. Saturday Institutes were held during the school term, one every month in each district, with good and lasting results. Prospects for future growth and development of greater interest by patrons and teachers are indeed flattering. In closing I wish to express my gratitude to W. B. Cutright, of Buck- hannon, for valuable assistance in the preparation of this article.