Spartanburg County, South Carolina - Chapter 5, 1900

Chapter 5

For more than a half century from the beginning of the history of Spartanburg county proper the educational facilities, as provided by law, were very poor as to the masses of the people, and the number of schools limited.

We have made inquiries for information and statistics at the oflEice of the Superintendent of Education in Columbia as to the number and character of schools taught in Spartanburg county in the early period of her history, but could gain no information whatever, and the only matter touching upon the same which we have found is recorded in Sims's History of South Carolina (see Appendix, p. 331), which contains a report of returns of the State census for 1839. This report shows that for Spartanburg county there ivere taught during said year only nine schools^ ivith an attettdance of one Jnindred and fifty scholars and an expenditure of Si^joo. It will be observed that this report is made fifty-four years from the date of the organization of the county.

For some valuable information, obtained other than the sources referred to, we are indebted to Major William Hoy for a series of interesting articles contributed to the county press, covering a period of many years, giving some information as to the first schools and school-teachers in the early history of Spartanburg county.

In referring to the early school-teachers, Major Hoy says : "In making inqniry for the first school-teachers in the connty, I find that the first three that there is any tradition of were Rev. IV. C. Davi\ Judge Smith and Mr. Bhindell. The first tivo rose to national fame^ Davis in Theology. He wonld compare favorably with Edwards of New England, and Chalmers of Scotland. I have heard one of the daughters say, that he taught on the Tyger while he was pastor of Nazareth Church. It is known that there was a classical school at Rock Spring, on Charles Moore's land, several years before 1800."

It is further stated that Davis was the teacher of this school, and that among the pupils were Postmaster- General Barry, under Jackson's administration, and afterwards Envoy Extraordinary to Spain.

Davis, while recognized as an eminent minister of the Presbyterian Church of South Carolina, yet entertained peculiar views on some theological questions^ of zvhich he had a considerable following.^ and which caused for a time a division in his church, for the particulars of which the reader is referred to " Howe's History of the Presbyterian Church of South Carolina."

Judge William Smith,* another school-teacher mentioned by Major Hoy, had a national reputation, as already stated. A sketch of him is presented in "O'Neall's Bench and Bar," and also by Governor Perry, in his "Sketches of Public Men," etc. The

*The person here alluded to is not the Judge William Smith of Spartanburg county (father of Dr. John Winsmith), a sketch of whom will appear at another place.

place where he taught school in Spartanburg county is not given, but it is stated that among his pupils was Richard Thomson, father of H. H. Thomson. While it is said that Mr. Thomson possessed a good business education, it is further stated that the school of Judge Smith is the only one he ever attended.

While Judge Smith, it is said, possessed excellent learning, yet the statements are conflicting as to where he received his education. One is that he was educated in Virginia, while Judge O'Neall states that he was a schoolmate of Andrew Jackson's which, if true, was probably in the Waxhaw settlement, in Lancaster county, S. C, where the latter w^as born.

It is further stated of Judge Smith that in early life he was very poor. He married earh', and is described as traveling the circuit on foot when he commenced the practice of law. His first case was " The State v. Elchander," in which he appeared as attorney. Elchander, it seems, put up all the money he had in gambling ; lost it and then put up his horse, wdiich he also lost. Afterwards he secured, by some unlawful means, his horse, and was charged with clergyable felony, wdiich at that time was a hanging crime. He was tried and acquitted through the efforts of Smith, which soon placed him in the front rank as a lawyer. Afterwards he became a judge, and later a United States senator. At the age of seventy-eight he was tendered by President Van Buren a seat on the bench of the United States Supreme Court, which he very properly declined.

At the time of his death, which was about the year 1838, he was the owner of 800 slaves in Alabama and Tennessee. It is further stated that Elchander became a prominent man and a member to Congress from the State of Ohio, and while in Congress met his old friend

"Davis, Smith and Blundell," says Major Hoy, "taught in this county considerably over one hundred years ago. Blundell taught several schools in this county and Greenville since the year 1800. One noticeable school that he taught was on Tyger River, where Commodore Berry now lives. . One of his scholars was Nesbitt (Wilson), who went to Congress. Four of the Evinses, and several others of his scholars, went to the Legislature. One school was taught by him in the bend of the Enoree, near Anderson's Bridge, on the Greenville side, and had about an equal number of students from each county. This school was very remarkable, as I have never heard of a male member of that school but what made his mark in the world, which made some parts of their lives unusually useful. Five of the Kilgores, on the Greenville side, became graduates. In the Dean family, on the Spartanburg side, that family produced at least five superior business men. This school produced a man that was surveyor-general and secretary of state. All have passed the dark valley long since."

The writer, in his effort to seek information as to the early schools taught in Spartanburg county, and particularly as to the Minerva School, mentioned in Ramsey's "History of South Carolina," and of the Academies, Rocky Spring, Poplar Springs and Pine Grove, is indebted to Colonel Thomas J, Moore, of Moore, S. C. , for the following interesting letter, which we herein subjoin : in the Tyger River section of Spartanburg county, about which you inquired, I beg leave to say that it is involved in a great deal of uncertainty. Scarcely any records have been preserved, so that now it is a question of local tradition and speculation. That some attention was paid to higher education, even from the very beginning, in fact, from the earliest settlement, and before the coimty was formed as it now exists, is to be inferred from the number of educated men who went forth from this section to adorn the different walks of life. It is not to be- supposed that all the early settlers were uneducated men. Tlie fact is, some of them were well educated, for instance the Jordans, and probably old Alexander Vernon, who settled near Wellford ; Charles Moore and Andrew Barry, who settled near here, and Andrew Thomson, of the Walnut Grove section. The tradition is that Charles IVIoore was a graduate of Trinity College, Dublin, Ireland, or of Oxford, England. At any rate, he is described, in a deed of land on file in North Carolina, as a '-^scJiool-teacJier."' Dr. Howe, in his "History of the Presbyterian Church in South Carolina," says that Andrew Barrv received a liberal English education before he came to this country. I have in my library a Greek Testament with this inscription, in a beautiful hand, " Andrew Thomson, Ejus Liber, Anno Domini 1772," thus showing his acquaintance with two classic languages. In the back of the same book is inscribed, " Lawson Thomson, A.D. 1791," and "Andrew W. Thomson, A.D. 1809," thus showing for many years they studied the Scriptures of the New Testament in the original language. It has already been said that there must have been schools of a high order at a very early date, wdiich fact is inferred from the number of young men who were sent away to distant colleges ; amongst the number I may mention, in this connection, only two - Wm. Taylor Barry, who went to Kentucky and filled many high positions, including the Postmaster-Generalship under President Andrew Jackson, and Dr.

Andrew Barry Moore,* who graduated in Dickinson College, Carlisle, Pa., in 1795, and afterwards took his degree of M.D. at some medical college and settled near here, where he lived and died, celebrated as an eminent physician.

Dr. David Ramsay in his " History of Sonth Carolina," in writing on edncational matters in Spartanbnrg District as it then was, mentions "the Minerva School of a Ingh order of abont twenty scholars," and ^'a flonrishing school at Rocky Springs." The Minerva school location has always been a sort of mystery to me, bnt I have no donbt now that it was in the bounds of Nazareth Church and was presided over or fostered by the pastors of that church, who were always men of fine education. My old grandmother f once pointed out to me the site of an old school, which I take to have been the Minerva School. The exact location is on the right of the Saluda Gap road as you go north, about midway between Mr. Rowland Gresham's and his mother's residences.

Dr. Howe, before alluded to, further says that James Gilleland, Jr., who stood high as a linguist, taught a grammar school in Spartanburg District before the beginning of this century, to which school went Dr. John Mcllhenny and Dr. Samuel B. Wilson, Professor of Theology in Union Seminary, Prince Edward county, Va., both eminent divines. This was in 1798 to 1801. This was probably the Minerva School.

At this time, in fact in 1794, Rev. James Templeton b)ecame the supply of Nazareth Church, in which capacity he served eight years, devoting much attention to educational matters. As head, he organized the Philanthropic Society with the view of advancing and perpetuating an academy of high order, which society was incorporated by the Legislature of South Carolina in 1797. I have seen the list of incorporators, but do not have it by me now. I think, however, the Jordans of Wellford, General Thomas Moore of this section, and Wm. Smith of the Glenn Springs section, were the principal ones. This society furnished teachers to destitute neighborhoods, doubtless from the Minerva and Rocky Spring schools. The Minerva School must have flourished for a good many years, for Colonel Thomas P. Brockman, of Greenville county, who was born in 1799, went to school there, boarding with old Aunt Polly Crawford, relict of John Crawford. x\t the time he went there, there were a number of young men boarding at the same place. I will add that James Gilleland, Jr., was not a preacher when he was first in charge of the school, but afterwards studied theology and ministered to Nazareth, where he had some conscientious scruples on the subject of African slavery, which he held to be wrong in principle. He was enjoined by Presbytery in 1806 to be silent in the pulpit on this question. Unable to still his conscience he moved to a free State.

Rocky Spring school, of which Dr. Ramsay spoke, was located one half mile north of the railroad station of Moore, on the left of the Saluda Gap road going north, opposite the present residence of Mr. W. J. Otts. It was patronized by the Moores, Barrys, Crooks and Means, the last two families living on the south side of South Tyger River in the vicinity of Switzer. That it was a fine school I have no doubt. I have seen many an old copy-book, arithmetic and geography in manuscript, generally in elegant chirography, which I would prize highly now if I had them, but I am sorry to say that I was foolish enough in my younger days to allow them to be destroyed along with much other valuable matter. The names of the teachers even have been lost to tradition, except a noted one named Thirlkill, of very early date, and Jonathan Haddon and H. D. W. Alexander, who was the last one, about 1846 or 1847, when the school became extinct.

The location of Poplar Springs school is well known. Poplar Springs was the site of a Presbyterian camp ground about 1800 to 1802. The water-supply being deficient, they moved to Samuel Pearson's big spring, for the same reason that John was baptizing at ^'Enon - because there was "much water" (udata polla) there. When the school was established there, we do not know at this day. We can only go back to 1816, for in that year, Maj. Wm. Hoy and the late Capt. David x^nderson went there in their sixth year. About the year 1833 or 1834, the Rev. John L. Kennedy, a Presbyterian minister, commenced a school which he taught for several years, four or five at least. Under him the school attained some celebrity. It was he who afterwards went to Anderson county and spent his life in founding and conducting the famous Thalian Academy, more familiarly known as "Slabtown," where most of the Tyger River boys were sent for preparation for life or college. He was succeeded by James K. Dickson, who taught several years. He was succeeded by B. F. Winslow from Vermont in 1841, who wrote a most beautiful hand, and in the language of one of his j^upils "was the most accomplished teacher that ever graced the academy." The succession after this was George M. Broyles, of Tennessee, Rev. Z. L. Holmes and Henry M. x\nderson, after which the school became extinct.

During the time of the Poplar Springs school there must have been some years when it was vacant. This w^as probably before the school of Rev. J. L. Kennedy in 1833 or 1834. About this time Tyger James Anderson, a patron of Poplar Springs, patronized a school at Flint Hill taught by the Rev. John Boggs. Flint Hill is one half mile north of the Rocky Spring school, before noted, in the fork of the roads just below Mrs. J. J. Wood's residence.

The Rev. John Boggs was of very small stature, but with great learning. He had a large family of daughters and boarded a number of boys. The joke is still preserved that he had some long family prayers, and on one occasion, after the 'Amen' was said, only he and one other arose from their knees, the other being the late Dr. John C. Anderson of Alabama. When the learned

After all these schools had run their courses, a large and flourishing school was established at Pine Grove, about one mile north of the Rocky Spring location before noted, opposite to and a little below the residence of Capt. C. A. Barry. It was established in 1848, most probably, and was intended mostly for girls, as there were quite a number in the neighborhood. I remember to have gone there in 1849, ^^^'^ with three more little boys constituted the male department.

Miss Hamilton, of Anderson county, taught in 1848, and Miss Mary Juhan in 1849, under both of whom instrumental music on the piano was taught. The school these years was filled with girls from the families of Evins, Millers, Strobels, IVIoores, Fielders, &c. After this it was a mixed school. Mr. Z. D. Cottrell taught there in 1850 and 1851, David Jones, 1852 and 1853. In 1854 it was vacant. In 1855 Mr. Dick Kennedy, son of the old Poplar Springs teacher, taught a fine, large school, principally in the classics. In 1856 Mr. H. P. Barry taught there, after which the school became extinct. But the interest of the founders of the Minerva School, Rocky Spring Poplar Springs, Flint Hill and Pine Grove seemed to be transferred to their descendants, for they became, immediately upon the extinction of Pine Grove Academy, the founders of schools of a still higher order, the Reidville Male and Female High Schools, the former intended to prepare boys for college and life-work, the latter to graduate and confer degrees upon girls. In 1859, under the leadership of the Rev. R. H. Reid, these schools were founded, having been chartered, with a board of trustees numbering thirty members, two-thirds of whom were to be Presbyterians. Since then the board of trustees consists of fifteen members, divided into three classes of five each, one class going out of office every year.

In 1858 the male school building having been completed was opened as a mixed school, under the Rev. Thos. E. Davis, who taught it two years.

The other buildings having been completed, the female school was opened with a full corps of teachers in 1859. Since then both schools have been flourishing, doing great good in educating the minds and hearts of a very large number of boys and girls. Some of my sweetest recollections cluster around these schools, for two years of my life were spent in them. The venerable R. H. Reid, the founder, is still, after a lapse of forty-two years, president of the board of trustees.

Colonel Moore in his letter refers to the organization of the Philanthropic Society at Nazareth Church in 1797, the Rev. James Templeton being the pastor of said church at the time and the prime mover of the steps taken leading to the organization of the society.

Constitution Of The Philanthropic Society

The following gentlemen, now members of the Spartanburg Philanthropic Society, met according to a previous appointment at Nazareth meeting-house, viz. : J. Jorden, Esq., Major I. Foster, Col. T. Moore, Mr. Samuel Nesbitt, the Rev. James Templeton, Mr. G. Benson and Mr. Samuel Miller. They agreed to form themselves into a society and signed the paper which contains their constitution, and is as follows :

We, the subscribers, inhabitants of Spartanburg county, in the State of South Carolina, taking into our most serious consideration how we may best contribute to the public and general interests of our country, and knowing how a much more general diffusion of knowledge and sound literature amongst our fellow-citizens might, with the smiles of a kind and gracious provi- dence, contribute to this purpose, especially how much it might affect the civil, political and religious interests of the rising generation, we do, therefore, voluntarily and unanimously agree to form ourselves into a society for the benevolent and patriotic purposes of patronizing and promoting the interests of learning in our county in particular, and throughout the State in general, as far as it may be reasonably and conveniently in our power, or as far as our influence may extend :

The writer is indebted to Major A. H. Kirby for a manuscript memoranda relating to the early schools taught in the village of Spartanburg. In 1837 Major

Kirb}'* became a resident of what is now the city of Spartanburg when a boy of only eight summers, and at that time the old Male Academy (which was located near the old Spartanburg union depot) was in operation. It w^as a substantial brick building, which stood for many years after the school was discontinued.

At the time Major Kirby came to Spartanburg this school was being taught by Jonathan Hadden, who was a fair type of the old schoolmaster of those days. He was strict in discipline and always opened the school with a short prayer. He was an elder in the old Nazareth (Presbyterian) Church, and resided about half w^ay between the court-house of Spartanburg and said church (boarding in the Yillage and returning home every Friday afternoon).

At an earlier period in his life, perhaps about 1825, Jonathan Hadden taught a school in the vicinity of Wellford, of which the maternal guardian of the writer, was a pupil. In his childhood days he has often heard her speak of him as among her early instructors and of some amusing incidents in connection with the school. Mr. Hadden would not only open his school with prayer, but at that day and time, when Sunday-school education and training was deficient, he would at its close in the afternoon catechize his scholars on the Scriptures. His pupils were not always as well posted as he would have washed for. On one occasion, in answer to the question, "Who was the wisest man?" a little boy answered with a loud and clear voice, " Old Solomon Thompson, sir!"t It has been stated by another, however, that

* Major Kirby received the honorar}- title of Major from the fact that he commanded for four years the Lower Battalion, 36th Regiment South Carolina militia, from 1856 to i860.

these offhand shoots from the little urchins nnder his charge were by no means indicative of the standard of scriptural knowledge in the school, and the good man impressed man)- lessons of inspired truth upon his pupils, which yielded rich fruit in after years.

Previous to 1837 Major Kirby learned that E. C. Leitner and, perhaps, other teachers, had run the Male Academy at Spartanburg successfully, drawing pupils from some of the lower districts.

Major Kirby further states, that at the year referred to (1837) there was also a female school in Spartanburg village, known as the Spartanburg Female Seminary ^ which was located on Main street, on the lot now occupied by Captain Petty and Mrs. Jennings, which was in a fairly flourishing condition. It was taught by the Rev. James Boggs of the Presbyterian Church, assisted by his wife and daughters. They also kept up a Sunday-school during the spring and summer months, as there were then no organized Sunday-schools in the churches.

About 1839, there seems to have been an advanced movement in the matter of schools in the town of Spartanburg, both for males and females. An effort was made to secure the services of an accomplished teacher for the Female Seminary, which resulted in the choice of Miss Phebe Paine, who landed in Spartanburg during said year as a " Yankee school-teacher. ' ' She was a native of one of the New England States, and her reputation as an educator was claimed to be equal to any in the United States, and by reason of this fact she was offered situations where money and patronage exceeded that of Spartanburg, notwithstanding the Female Seminary then, while under her care, was liberally patronized, and she had under her charge some

Miss Paine, when she came to Spartanburg, brought with her two sisters and a niece. Miss Webb, from Carlisle, Pa., who assisted in the various departments of the school, which was kept up for several years. She also brought with her at this, or some subsequent time, Miss George Anna Moore, a music teacher, and also a pupil and assistant, Miss Mary Owen, who afterwards became Mrs. Mary Owen Dean. All of these ladies possessed rare accomplishments and intelligence, and did their full share to advance the educational interest, both in the town and country at that time.

After Miss Paine had taught in Spartanburg for a number of years she accepted a situation at Cokesbury, S. C. , where she also taught with success. In late years, upon the completion of the Spartanburg Female College, she returned to Spartanburg and was employed as one of the teachers of that institution. After teaching for several years she returned North. Her reputation as a female teacher still increased, and her latter days, it is said, were more brilliant than the first. She lived to the advanced age of ninety years, and among the chronicles of the illustrious dead, for the year that she died, all over the world her name was given prominence as a noted instructor of youth.

Among the lady teachers referred to as coming to Spartanburg with Miss Paine, we will state that during the forties Miss George Anna Moore married to Mr. A. J. Vernon, Aliss Webb to Dr. R. M. Daniel, and Miss Mary Owen to Hon. Hosea J. Dean.

cessfully taught for se\-eral years by ]\Iiss Louisa Hamilton and Miss Rosa Wallace, of Anderson, S. C, and also by Miss Foster (afterwards Mrs. D. C. Judd), Miss Hood, Miss Harlow and others. The last named was also employed by the Drs. Curtis in the Limestone Female High School for several years.

In 1849 the Female Seminary at Spartanburg was presided over by Rev. Z. L. Holmes, assisted by Mr. C. F. Judd ; and in 1850 an advertisement appears in the Spartan files announcing the employment of Miss Tupper, of the Troy (N. Y.) Female Seminary, who had been sent out by ]\Iiss Willard, of that celebrated institution, to establish one of a similar character in the South. She was assisted by Miss Temple, a lady well known for her musical attainments and critical knowledge of the French language.

Returning again to the Spartanburg Male Academy, we will state that about the time ]\Iiss Paine took charge of the Female Seminary there, Rev. Erastus Rowley and Milton Rowdey (both from the North) were secured as teachers for that school, and under their management quite a number of boys and young men were drawn to the school from the lower districts, among them the Keitts, Housers, Dantzlers, Wannamakers and others. There was also Matt Wallace and others from Union District, for it was then considered a classical school, preparing young men for college.

After the withdrawal of the Rowleys from said school, the same was taught successfully and successively by Elias Hall, Major John A. Leland, Z. D. Cottrell, William Irwin, Rev. Clough S. Beard and others, all of whom were first-rate teachers.

John G. Landrum, in 1836. Mr. Landrum had taught successfully schools at Wilbanks schoolhouse in Union county and at Clayford Academy, on the waters of Lawson's Fork (near the present residence of Mr. Calvin Foster), and at Rock Spring, on the waters of North Tyger River (near the Isaic Morgan homestead residence), prior to the opening of the school at Mt. Zion. His biographer states that " he opened a school at Mount Zion, into which he gathered the boys and girls of the neighborhood, and it was not long before his reputation as a teacher had extended beyond his immediate locality, and pupils came from other communities to avail themselves of the benefits of his instruction." At one time in this school he was assisted by Mr. Memory N. Chapman, who possessed a finished education for that day, and enjoyed the reputation of being one of the finest penmen in the State. Afterwards he represented Spartanburg county in the State Legislature for several years. Mr. Landrum's biographer further states : " He (Landrum ) continued in charge of the school at Mount Zion for a period of ten or twelve years. His school at this place became very popular, and was attended by many who afterwards occupied eminent positions in life. His house was open to boarders, as were the houses of the neighborhood, and on the school-roll were the names of the Chapmans, Wingos, Highs, Fosters, Turners, Bomars, Ballengers and others."*

Among the early pioneer school-teachers in Spartanburg county was Christopher Golightly, who taught back in the thirties. He was also a land surveyor, and in the -capacity of teacher or surveyer he was rather above the ^average man of his day. Although possessing by nature some eccentricities, he was, notwithstanding, a man of intelligence, force of character and sterling integrity. He was the father of eight sons, three of whom were known personally to the writer, viz.: William, Richard and Patillo. All of these tanght in different portions of the upper part of Spartanburg district in the forties and perhaps in the early part of the fifties. Possessing as they did many of the peculiar characteristics that belonged to their father, they were nevertheless teachers of more than ordinary intelligence and abilit}^, and were not only well versed in the English branches but taught Latin and the higher mathematics. William, the oldest son (father of Mr. J. Calvin Golightly, on South Pacolet), was instructed in the schoolroom by his father until he was eighteen years old. He then went to the town of Union, S. C, to a boarding-school, and learned Latin, Greek and Algebra ; but Latin was his favorite throughout his life. His instructor at this school was Wm. E. Clowney, who afterwards became a representative in Congress of the Congressional District of which Spartanburg formed a part.

William Golightly also taught music and was at times associated with William Walker (A. S. H.), Henry White and Isaac Neighbors ; he married when a young who was also a school-teacher in the early history of Spartanburg District. He came from Virginia to South Carolina soon after the close of the Revolution peddling on cotton cards, and married a Miss Leach, who belonged to a family representing the early settlers around old Fort Prince.

Christopher Golightly, the progenitor of the Golightlys referred to, married a jNIiss Harrison, daughter of Richard Harrison, one of the first county court judges for Spartanburg county and whose name is mentioned elsewhere. The late James Moss and Andrew Barry were his brothers-in-law, having also married daughters of Mr. Harrison.

As early as 1845 or '46 a good school was taught at Ridgefield Academy, a schoolhouse near Hill's old factory, at that time, one of the best school buildings in the county. The first school taught there was by Professor John W. Wofford (brother of Dr. Jos. L. Wofford, Cherokee Springs), who was a graduate of Athens College, Georgia. He taught two years and then became a candidate for the legislature to represent Spartanburg county, on the side of prohibition, at that time an unpopular issue, and was defeated, but received a very handsome vote. He then emigrated to Mississippi and filled some important offices. While in charge of the Ridgefield Academy, very liberal inducements were offered to pupils outside the neighborhood to patronize the school. At the house of Mr. Joseph Wofford students were boarded at the low rate of $4 per month, washing and lights included. It was a very large school ; the teacher was employed and pay assured by Thomas Young, Samuel Tucker and Joseph Wofford. Among the pupils who attended this school was Major John Bankston Davis of Campobello, S. C, who was a man of general reading and intelligence and possessed a scientific education, particularly in the higher mathematics, and had a first-class reputation as a land surveyor and civil engineer.

As early perhaps as 1825, a teacher of some prominence, whose name - was James Hutchinson, taught successfully at an academy in the vicinity of Cross Anchor, the school building standing near the present New Hope (Baptist) church. Among the pupils who attended this school was the late Hon. Simpson Bobo, Colonel O. E. Edwards, and the children of Col. Thomas Farrow, who lived near by. The accidental burning of the schoolhouse put an end to the further progress of the school.*

Major Wm. Hoy, in his articles to the county press, states that Henry Patillo Barry taught long in the section of the present town of Switzer, and that among his pupils were several members of the Switzer family, Mr. Miles Gentry, Dr. Ward and others. He also states that among the girl pupils was Miss Lnla Tucker, who has long had the reputation of being among the best educators in the State of Florida, and is still engaged in that profession.

Near Trinity Church, in the vicinity of Cross Anchor, was taught, in the years gone by, a flourishing school. This was called the Pear Field schoolhouse, and among the teachers who taught there were Chana Stone and Simpson Burnett, and among the chief patrons was Mr. Johnny Rhodes.

Mr. Hezekiah Ducker, who lives within a few miles of Cross Anchor, at the advanced age of seventy-eight years, was a successful school-teacher in Spartanburg county back in the forties. In 1847 or 1848 he taught at Davis Academy, on Cane creek, near the home of "stone-cutter" John Davis. He, Davis, owned a quarrjon Cane creek, and was noted for his fine millstones.

Among the pupils who attended the school of Mr. Ducker during the year referred to, was Captain John W. Wofford, of Henderson ville, N. C. It might be further said of Mr. Ducker in this connection, that he was a gallant Confederate soldier, though advanced in years.

Of the schools in the vicinity of Woodrnff we cangather bnt little information. In 1851 the Bethel Academy was presided over by Dr. John Dean, and in 1853. by Mr. M. D. Kennedy, assisted by Mr. W. F. Pearson,, and later by Mr. E. F. Davis, author of a "Universal" schoolbook. Hon. Edwin H. Bobo, of Spartanburg, who was a graduate of Oxford College, Georgia, alsotaught there for a few years prior to the civil war.

Mr. Henry G. Gaffney, now aged about ninety years, has recalled some pleasant recollections in connection with his schoolboy days in the vicinity of Gaffney. Under date of July 25th, 1896, Mr. Gaffney states through the county press as follows :

"I can give a good many dots from my own knowledge as to Feudal Robertson, the one-legged schoolteacher, and from other reliable sources. He taught school from my boyhood ; for several years at the schoolhouse about one mile up the old Georgia road and about 200 yards west from the Pole Bridge branch in the woods near James Cooper's old place . . .If I was able to get out there I could point out the spot where the old bull-pen, as it was called, was located, where we all played ball under different names, viz.: town-ball, cat, etc. The girls also played with us and caught the ball in their aprons. , I could give several names and where they lived, but would make it very lengthy. ' '

As early as 1825 Wm. W Hasting began a school which lasted about fifteen years near Van Patten's Shoals on Enoree. In the course of said time he prepared students for higher institutions of learning, and, it is said, taught as many as fifteen students that afterwards graduated in medicine, and among these were three Drs. Westmoreland. He was a good scribe, wrote-

The writer recalls some pleasant memories in connection with his schoolboy days at old Fort Prince Academy, and among the teachers there by whom he was instructed was Dr. Oliver G. Chapman, afterwards a prominent physician in Hunt county, Texas ; Mr. Calvin Foster, who resides near Campton, S. C; INIrs. M. A. Wood, of Rusk county, Texas, who was a first honor o;raduate, before the civil war, at the Holstein Confer- -ence M. E. College, located at Asheville, N. C, and Mr. Leland Jackson, of Jackson Hill, S. C, who subsequently removed to the West.

The writer also attended a school at Beech Springs (near Howell's I\Iill), taught by Mr. Oliver P. Richardson, who might be styled as a typical representative of the "old field" school-teacher of his day. He taught the English and mathematics only, with considerable ability. He was, however, an excellent citizen and progressive farmer, a civil magistrate holding the scales justice equally between all, and was for several years judge-advocate of the 36th Regiment South Carolina militia on the staffs of Colonels Snoddy and Vandyke. He married Miss Hester Wingo, and removed to Texas before the civil war ; and by this marriage he had one son to graduate at the Military Academj^ at West Point.

At New Prospect Academy flourishing schools were taught during the years '58, '59 and '60. In '58 by the Rev. T. J. Earle, a graduate of IMercer University, Georgia, assisted by Mr. Wm. H. Ray, a graduate of the South Carolina Military Academy at Charleston, Mr. Earle afterwards opened up a flourishing seminary for hoth sexes at Gowensville, S. C. , which was liberally patronized at home and from abroad and which re- mained in a fy^osperous condition for a number of years after the close of the war. In 1859, the school at New Prospect was presided over by Mr. L. Perrin Foster, a graduate of South Carolina College, assisted by Miss Angle Edwards, who was a graduate of the Moravian college at Salem, N. C. In i860 the same school was taught by Mr. Thomas Lee, son of the celebrated teacher, Colonel Stephen Lee, of Asheville, N. C, assisted by Mr. Sanniel Lancaster, a popular teacher in the neighborhood. During the years '59 and '60 the writer attended these schools for a period of ten months each year, which ended his days as a pupil in the schoolroom. The great civil war coming up, both Mr. Foster and Mr. Lee volunteered in the service of their country. The former was a lieutenant of Company K, 3d Regiment South Carolina Volunteers, and was killed at the battle of Fredericksburg, The latter (Thos. Lee) , was at first color corporal of the 5th Regiment South Carolina Volunteers and later a corporal of Company D, Palmetto Sharp Shooters, commanded by Captain Alfred H. Foster, and died of disease at Charlottesville, Va., September i6th, 1 86 1. Two braver or more patriotic spirits never entered the service of their country or sacrificed their lives in its defense, than Perrin Foster and Thomas. Lee. Their memories will always be cherished by the writer, who held both in highest esteem as his instructors in the schoolroom and who afterwards suffered with them great hardships in the years of the bloody war which followed.

In 1842 or '43 Colonel Stephen Lee, father of Thomas Lee, just mentioned, started a select school for young men at the homestead residence of Dr. Alfred Moore, which subsequently became the town of Welford, S. C.

We have been unable to gather much information in reference to this school, but its curriculum was high, the object being to prepare young men for college. Col. Lee afterwards removed to Asheville, N. C, where he conducted a school of the same character for many years. During the civil war he was colonel of the i6th Reeiment N. C. Volunteers.

In 1842 a male academy was opened at Glenn's Spring for the benefit of the resident families. The most prominent of these were Mr. John C. Zimmerman, Dr. David Peake, Dr. Maurice A. Moore, Mr. R. A. Gates, and the Winsmiths and Smiths who lived near by. The school was first taught by Mr. John Eison, a prominent educator in his day. Young men from all parts of the State went to this academy to be prepared for the South Carolina College. Afterward Rev. Clough Beard, a Methodist minister, had charge of the school for a number of years until his death in the sixties.

In addition to the schools already mentioned in the town of Spartanburg, there were still other good schools taught there before the war. One of these was the Odd Fellows' school, which was opened up in the old Baptist church lot back of where the new court-house now stands and near the new jail. This was taught for a year or so by Major David R. Duncan, who, after his graduation in the Randolph Macon College in Virginia, came to Spartanburg, his father then being a professor in the Wofford College.

About the year 1854, or 1855, a good school was taught at Fingerville for a number of years, and among those who taught successfully there, were Captain Samuel C. Means and Esquires Elias Johnson and Samuel Lancaster, and among the patrons were the late Colonel Gabriel Cannon, Mr. Jos. Finger, the McMillens,

The St. John's College, for young ladies, was opened about 1854 or '55 at Spartanburg, under the management of the Episcopal Church at that place. This was at a later period changed into a high school for boys, with a military feature, under the tutorship of Captain J. E. Black.

Wofford College

In December, 1850, Rev. Benjamin Wofford died, leaving one hundred thousand dollars for the establishment and endowment of a college for literary and scientific education, to be located in Spartanburg District, to be under the control and management of the Conference of the Methodist Episcopal Church of South Carolina. The town of Spartanburg secured the location of this college by donating the land whereon the elegant building was afterwards erected.

The college, known as Wofford College, was named in honor of its foiuider. The following gentlemen comprised the first Board of Trustees, viz. :

Rev. H. A. C. Walker, President ; Revs. W. A. Gamewell, T. R. Walsh, W. A. McSwain, C. Betts, C. S. Walker, J. R. Pickett, Esquires SimjDson Bobo, J. Wofford Tucker, Harvey Wofford, George W. Williams, Robert Bryce and Dr. J. H. Dogan.

In 1854 the buildings of the Wofford College were completed and in October of the same year the college was opened with the following able faculty :

After the resignation of Dr. Wightman, about 1858, Rev. A. M. Shipp was made President, who served for several years, when he was transferred to Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tenn.

Wofford College, at this writing, is in a flourishing condition, with a faculty of eminence and distinguished ability, and with first-class modern equipments, and ranks among the first in the South.

James H. Carlisle, A.M., LL.D., President of Wofford College, Spartanburg, S. C. , was born in Winnsboro, Fairfield county, S. C. , May 4th, 1825. He is a son of Dr. William Carlisle, a native of the north of Ireland, who was born in 1795, came to America in 1818 and located at Winnsboro, S. C. He was a physician by profession and practiced in South Carolina for thirty years, dying in 1866. He was twice married, his first wife being JMary Ann Buchannon, also a native of Ireland, who died in 1858, leaving six children - four sons and two daughters - the subject of this sketch being the second son. He was reared partly at Winnsboro and partly at Camden, S. C. In 1844 he graduated from the South Carolina College and began the vocation of a teacher, which he has since followed. For nine years he was an instructor in a classical school in Columbia. Upon the opening of the Wofford College, in 1854, he was elected professor of mathematics. In July of the same year he removed to Spartanburg and has ever since been a member of the faculty of Wofford College, embracing a period. of forty-four years. vSince 1875 he has been its President, his immediate predecessor in office being Rev. A. M. Shipp, D.D.

Dr. Carlisle is one of the ['few surviving members of the State Convention which met in Charleston and passed the ordinance of secession, December 20th, i860. He was also elected a representative^ from Spartanburg to the State Legislature in 1864. This was doubtless against his wishes or inclinations, but [it was at a time in the history of South Carolina when men of sound judgment and eminent ability were needed in her legislative halls.

Miss Margaret Jane, daughter of Robert Bryce, a merchant of Columbia, S. C. She died in 1891. They had three children, two of whom are living.

Dr. Carlisle is one of the best educators in the Southern States, and has lectured quite extensively. He is the author of "The Young Astronomer " and editor of a volume in the Chautauqua course containing the lives of Thomas Arnold and Roger Ascham. He is an honored and distinguished member of the Methodist Church South, and has been a member of several of its conferences.

Among the citizens of Spartanburg who have won distinction and by their humble walk in life have met popular approval, respect and admiration, none are more prominent than Dr. Carlisle. He is deeply interested in the Sunday-school work and in the moral and intellectual development of the rising generations of our country. In reviewing his great and lofty character three distinctive traits appear to be prominent, viz. : largeness of heart, nobility of soul and brilliancy of intellect.

Spartanburg Female College

While the Wofford College building was in course of construction the ministers and some of the laymen of the South Carolina Conference began to agitate the question of building a female college, and Spartanburg, by a liberal subscription of money and lands, secured the location and very soon after Wofford College was opened, the Spartanburg Female College was opened also and successfully operated. The first professors and teachers of that institution were :

After the resignation of Mr. Tucker, Rev. Charles; Taylor was elected President, who served about oneyear and was succeeded by Rev. Joseph Cross, D.D. The latter was succeeded by Professor Wm. K. Blakeabout the year 1858 or '59, who presided over the institution with eminent ability until towards the close of the period embraced in the civil war, and then the institution was closed for several years. During the time that President Blake had charge of the institution preceding the war he was assisted by Professor Charles Petty, and during the war and perhaps a short time before by Professor Falk of Virginia.

After the war, about 1870, the college revived under the management of Rev. S. B. Jones, D.D,, and Rev. S. Lander, D.D. The latter withdrew, however, in a few months and Dr. Jones remained at the head of the institution for several years, when, on being chosen President of the Columbia Female College, it wasdeemed advisable to close up the Female College at Spartanburg, which was done. This ended its career. The property falling into the hands of Rev. R. C. Oliver^ was opened as an orphanage and kept open as such for a time, but for want of a liberal patronage, or for some other cause, it was closed. Later the same buildings were converted into the Fitting School for the Wofford College, but the adjacent location of the factory buildings made them no longer desirable for educational purposes and the Wofford Fitting School was. transferred to another locality.