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Tag Archives: education

Matilda Wade (1929)

09 Thursday Sep 2021

Posted by Brandon Ray Kirk in African American History, Huntington, Women's History

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African-Americans, Cora, Cora School, Douglas High School, education, genealogy, history, Huntington, Logan County, West Virginia, West Virginia State College, West Virginia Teachers Association

In April of 1929, the Logan Banner profiled numerous prominent African-American residents of Logan County, West Virginia.

Matilda Wade

Teacher, Cora School

Miss Wade is a graduate of Douglas High School, Huntington, and West Virginia State College; she has done summer work at the same institution. This is Miss Wade’s first term as a teacher, but her adeptness and aggressive methods have the knack and precision of those of longer experience. Miss Wade has a pleasing manner in her school work which brings willing and immediate reaction from her pupils. Her ideals in education are high. With her disposition to apply herself, and the active and energetic methods she employs, she is bound to reach a high place in her profession. Miss Wade is a member of the West Virginia Teachers’ Association. She possesses another splendid quality in her ability to make friends among the patrons of her community.

Whirlwind News 04.12.1927

09 Thursday Sep 2021

Posted by Brandon Ray Kirk in Big Harts Creek, Whirlwind

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Appalachia, Bernie Adams, Big Harts Creek, Burl Mullins, Daniel McCloud, Dixie Adams, education, genealogy, history, Hoover Fork, Howard Adams, Jackson McCloud, James Carter, Logan Banner, Logan County, Lucy McCloud, Monaville, Shade Smith, West Virginia, Whirlwind, whooping cough, Will Adams

An unnamed correspondent from Whirlwind on Big Harts Creek in Logan County, West Virginia, offered the following items, which the Logan Banner printed on April 12, 1927:

Sunday school is progressing nicely at Trace.

A large crowd attended the last days of Howard Adams’ school Friday. All reported a fine time.

James Carter of Monaville was visiting home folks of Hoover Sunday.

Wonder if Daniel McCloud got all the news Sunday evening.

Howard Adams went up Hoover whistling “Hard Times.” His mustache caught on fire.

Wonder what Burl Mullins was interested in Saturday evening that he forgot to shave.

There are several sick children in our town with whooping cough at present.

Jackson McCloud is making his home at Daniel McCloud’s.

We are all listening for the wedding bells to ring on Hoover. Look out Burl, you will be sure to hear them.

Shade Smith of Whirlwind was calling on friends at Daniel McCloud’s Sunday.

Burnie Adams is very ill with whooping cough at this writing.

Wonder why Will Adams was stepping so high Saturday? He must have been afraid of getting his sox muddy.

Wonder why Lucy McCloud looks so down hearted these days? Cheer up Lucy, you have made a bad mistake.

The funniest thing we heard last week was Mrs. Dixie Adams making Howard change beds.

Daily happenings: Daniel losing his cane; Earl and his potatoes; Lucy lost her ___; May got disappointed; Alice and her job; Uncle Jack chewing his tobacco; Tilda going to see __; Charlie and his black eye; Clyde going to the store.

L. Jean Bayes (1929)

16 Friday Oct 2020

Posted by Brandon Ray Kirk in African American History, Logan, Women's History

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African-Americans, Appalachia, Aracoma High School, Cheyney, Cheyney Normal School, education, history, L. Jean Bayes, Logan, Logan Banner, Logan County, Pennsylvania, teacher, teachers, West Virginia, West Virginia State College, Wilberforce University

In April of 1929, the Logan Banner profiled numerous prominent African-American residents of Logan County, West Virginia.

Miss L. Jean Bayes

Elementary Department, Aracoma High School

Miss Bayes is a graduate of Wilberforce University and has done work at West Virginia State College and Cheyney Normal, Cheyney, Pa. She has taught for eleven years in West Virginia, seven of which have been engaged in Logan county. She is a member of the Teachers’ State and National Educational movements. She is very energetic in the promotion of civic, religious and the political welfare of her county and state. She tends her efforts zealously for the welfare and uplift of her people in a wide scope of interest. Social handicaps appeal strongly to her humanitarian impulses, and she is a veritable Good Samaritan in this sphere of necessity. Miss Bayes possibly has not a superior among the women of her race in the state as an organizer and effective public speaker. As a teacher she is effective. She knows her subject and her pupil and brings both together harmoniously and beneficially. In the community, Miss Bayes is always constructive and outstanding in whatever she undertakes and easily outdistances all competitors in her program. Her ____ is widespread, for she is possessed with a purpose and strength of character that makes her a natural leader among her people.

Chapmanville High School in Chapmanville, WV (1926)

29 Friday May 2020

Posted by Brandon Ray Kirk in Banco, Big Creek, Chapmanville, Kitchen, Queens Ridge

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Banco, Big Creek, board of education, Browns Run School, Buck Fork School, Bulwark School, Chapmanville, Chapmanville High School, education, George Mullins, Godby Branch School, Harts High School, history, Hoover School, Kitchen, Kitchen School, Logan Banner, Logan County, Queens Ridge, Robert Sanders, Rocky School, Stone Branch School, Striker School, T.B. Ferrell, T.B. Stone, Thompson School, Trace School, Upper Trace School, West Virginia, White Oak School

From the Logan Banner of Logan, WV, comes these items of history for Chapmanville High School, dated April 2 and April 16, 1926:

Chapmanville Plans to Vote on Bond Issue for High School Building

Total of $75,000 Proposed, $45,000 of Which to Establish New Structure; Balance to Remodel Others.

Four years of discussion is about to crystallize for the residents of Chapmanville in a High School that will provide for the instruction of both junior and senior high school students if the plans of the Board of Education of that district, which have already been launched, prevail among the voters.

At a recent meeting the tentative plans were prepared after the matter had been discussed with one hundred representative voters who had been invited by special letter to attend for the purpose of ascertaining their will in the matter. Of this number it was found that only four showed any disposition not in favor with the proposed bond issue to cover the completion of the project and these it is confidently expected will find their way over to those who are eager to establish a High School in the district.

Another meeting is scheduled to be held in the school house, at Chapmanville, April 10, at which time details of preparing the proposed $75,000 bond issue will be further discussed.

As proposed now, the bond issue will provide $45,000 to defray the cost of the new High School, and $30,000 to be devoted to converting one-room school buildings into structures of two or more rooms. In this latter, the members of the Board of Education feel that the item of continued maintenance for these old buildings will go a long way toward the cost of creating the new ____.

New buildings will be erected at various parts of the district where it is found they are needed.

Although there are at the present time 150 pupils ready to take up the courses offered in the High School, the structure tentatively planned will entirely care for the future, at least for many years to come.

The achievements of the Chapmanville district in the matter of progress in educational matters during the past six years has been very notable. In 1920, when the present Commissioners took charge, they had a $17,000 debt hanging over their heads.

That debt has dwindled down until now it represents only $2,700.

In 1920 the district boasted of 34 schools, part of them receiving scholars and part of them idle. Since then 13 elementary rooms have been added as well as a Junior High, with three teachers.

This year the school district will obtain $18,000 from the State for the fund devoted to elementary teaching. Also the State will allow the district a little over $1,600, about $350 of which will provide for the cost of the proposed bond issue election. The confidentially expected will find their ______, coal cost and other matters in connection with the upkeep of the schools.

The Board of Education consists of the following members: T.B. Ferrell, president, Big Creek; T.B. Stone, Secretary, Kitchen; Robert Sanders, Banco; and George Mullins, Queens Ridge.

***

Chapmanville Orders High School Plans

Architect Will Present Them At Special Meeting April 17; Points Named Where Improvements Will Be Made

At a meeting of the Board of Education of the Chapmanville district, last Saturday night, held for the purpose of further discussing plans in connection with the proposed bond issue of $75,000 for the erection of a High School and the improvement and construction of other school buildings in the district, the board authorized the architect present to draw tentative plans.

These will be presented at a special meeting to be held Saturday, April 17, at the Chapmanville school at 10 o’clock in the morning. At this meeting it is hoped that most of the details of the proposed bond issue will be decided upon and something definite reached regarding the election to take care of it.

It was reported at the meeting that sentiment has grown rapidly and opinion is practically unanimous in favor.

It was proposed that improvements be made in the elementary schools at Stone Branch, Kitchen, Godby Branch, Thompson, Rocky, Striker, White Oak, Browns Run, about the mouth of Smoke House. Also Trace and Buck Forks, Bulwark, Hoover and Upper Trace all repairs made on all buildings that cannot be combined with others.

In order that these matters may be discussed and known to the citizens of the district all are urged by the Board of Education to be present at the next meeting.

Note: Chapmanville High School was consolidated with Harts High School in 2006-2007.

Harts Creek District Teachers (1915)

25 Saturday Apr 2020

Posted by Brandon Ray Kirk in Atenville, Big Harts Creek, Ferrellsburg, Gill, Green Shoal, Hamlin, Harts, Little Harts Creek, Queens Ridge, Sand Creek, Toney

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App F. Queen, Appalachia, Atenville, Blackburn Holton, Carrie Tomblin, Charley Pack, Clerk Lucas, Decker Toney, education, Ferrellsburg, genealogy, Gill, Green Shoal, Green Shoal School, Hamlin, Harts Creek District, Hendricks Lucas, history, Ida Pack, J.B. Johnston, Jasper Shelton, Kile Topping, Lincoln County, Lincoln Republican, Logan County, Martha Fowler, Maud Stollings, Nancy Payne, Queens Ridge, Ross Fowler, Sand Creek, Sheridan, Sherman Smith, Shirley Holton, teacher, Thomas J. Manns, Toney, Victor Shelton, Watson Adkins, West Virginia, William H. Tomblin, William Wirt Stephens

From the Lincoln Republican of Hamlin, WV, comes this history about early 20th century teachers in Lincoln County:

In 1915, 59 teachers enrolled to take the State Uniform Examination at Hamlin and Sheridan. Here are the teachers from Harts area who attended the institute:

Rebel Adkins, Queens Ridge

Clerk Lucas, Toney

Thomas J. Mans, Atensville

Sherman Smith, Logan County

Carrie Tomblin, Queens Ridge

W.H. Tomblin, Queens Ridge

Decker Toney, Queens Ridge

Kile Topping, Queens Ridge

Source: Lincoln Republican (Hamlin, WV), 1 April 1915

***

Certificates issued:

2nd Grade

Rebel Adkins, Queens Ridge

Watson Adkins, Ferrellsburg

Martha Fowler, Ferrellsburg

Maud Gill, Gill

B.B. Holton, Ferrellsburg

Shirley Holton, Ferrellsburg

J.B. Johnston, Queens Ridge

Clerk Lucas, Toney

Charley Pack, Queens Ridge

App F. Queen, Queens Ridge

Jasper Shelton, Sand Creek

William Wirt Stephens, Ferrellsburg

Maud Stollings, Queens Ridge

William H. Tomblin, Queens Ridge

Decker Toney, Queens Ridge

3rd Grade

W.E. Fowler, Queens Ridge

Hendricks Lucas, Ferrellsburg

Ida Pack, Queens Ridge

Nancie Payne, Queens Ridge

Victor Shelton, Sand Creek

Kile Toppings, Queens Ridge

The teacher institute for Harts Creek District is scheduled for Green Shoals school house on November 19.

Source: Lincoln Republican (Hamlin, WV), 16 September 1915

Note: These items were printed during the brief time when Queens Ridge Post Office served most residents of Big Harts Creek and Little Harts Creek and other areas near the Wayne County line. Queens Ridge is not located in these watersheds.

Guyan Valley High School Graduates (1932)

17 Tuesday Mar 2020

Posted by Brandon Ray Kirk in Ferrellsburg, Gill, Harts, Midkiff, West Hamlin

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Appalachia, Brady, Branchland, Cecil Dean, Earl Brumfield, education, Emma Adkins, Ferrellsburg, Fred B. Lambert, Gill, Guyan Valley High School, Hallie Messinger, Harry Pinson, Harts, Hazel Adkins, history, Huntington, Juanita Cline, Lincoln County, Macil Covey, Marshall University, Midkiff, Morrow Library, Philip Adkins, Pleasant View, Reva Pierson, Roncie White, Samuel Adkins, West Virginia, Wilford Dingess

Fred B. Lambert, a prominent educator in the Guyandotte Valley, compiled this list of early Guyan Valley High School graduates. Guyan Valley High School was located in Pleasant View, Lincoln County, WV.

Picture 456A

GVHS students, 1928.

List of 1932 graduates

1. Earl Brumfield     Harts, WV

2. Samuel Adkins     Harts, WV

3. Roncie White     Gill, WV

4. Emma Adkins     Branchland, WV

5. Hazel Adkins     Branchland, WV

6. Philip Adkins     Harts, WV

7. Macil Covey     West Hamlin, WV

8. Juanita Cline     Bradyville, WV

9. Hallie Messinger     Branchland, WV

10. Reva Pierson     West Hamlin, WV

11. Wilford Dingess     Midkiff, WV

12. Harry Pinson     Midkiff, WV

13. Cecil Dean     Ferrellsburg, WV

Source: Fred B. Lambert Papers, Special Collections Department, James E. Morrow Library, Marshall University, Huntington, WV.

Miss Ruby L. Hess (1929)

26 Wednesday Feb 2020

Posted by Brandon Ray Kirk in African American History, Women's History

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African-Americans, education, history, Logan Banner, Logan County, Lorado, Nannie Burroughs School, Ruby L. Pless, teacher, West Virginia, West Virginia Parent-Teacher Association, West Virginia State College, West Virginia State Teachers' Association

In April of 1929, the Logan Banner profiled numerous prominent African-American residents of Logan County, West Virginia.

Notable Blacks of Logan County LB 04.16.1929 13

Miss Ruby L. Pless

Teacher, Nannie Burrough School, Lorado

Graduate West Virginia State College and did summer work at same institution. She has taught four years, two of which have been spent in her present position.

She is a member of the West Virginia State Teachers’ Association and of the State Parent-Teacher Association.

Miss Pless is a teacher of engaging personality. Studious and earnest in her work, and direct in her methods, for obtaining results, she is classed with the group of progressive teachers of the county and state. She is making a splendid record in her present position. Well placed in the affections of her pupils and patrons, Miss Pless’ thoroughness in her field of labor is destined to lead her far in advancement in the profession in which she is engaged.

Miss Rosalie Adams (1929)

09 Sunday Feb 2020

Posted by Brandon Ray Kirk in African American History

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Appalachia, Aracoma Junior High School, Douglas Junior High School, education, history, Logan, Logan Banner, Logan County, Omar, photos, Rosalie Adams, teacher, West Virginia, West Virginia State College

In April of 1929, the Logan Banner profiled numerous prominent African-American residents of Logan County, West Virginia.

Notable Blacks of Logan County LB 04.16.1929 11

Miss Rosalie Adams

Teacher, English Department, Douglas Jr. High School, Omar

Embracing the teaching of French, Sociology and History, Miss Adams is a graduate of West Virginia State College, A.B. degree, with honorary Cum Laude. She has done summer work at the same institution; member of Alpha Kappa Alpha and other social clubs. She has been in her present position one term, but is highly qualified for the grade of work in which she is engaged. When pursuing her studies Miss Adams was classed as one of the most brilliant students in the institution, and her graduation was most creditable in its distinctive marks. Miss Adams has aspirations to reach a higher degree of efficiency in her chosen profession, and contemplates pursuing studies for master’s degree in summer work in a credible institution. She is thorough and efficient in her work and takes high rating as a teacher.

Early Schools of Logan County, WV (1916)

04 Tuesday Feb 2020

Posted by Brandon Ray Kirk in Civil War, Logan

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Appalachia, Aracoma, Athelyn Hatfield, Beatrice Taylor, Bertha Allen, Big Island, Big Rock, Bill Ellis, board of education, Brooke McComas, C&O Railroad, Charles Avis, circuit rider, civil war, Cleveland, Coal Street, Dingess Run, E.M. Ford, education, Elma Allen, F.O. Woerner, Florence Hughes, Fred Kellerman, Free School Act, G.O. Nelson, George Bryant, George T. Swain, Guyandotte Valley, Hickman White, history, Isabella Wilson, Island Creek, J.A. McCauley, J.L. Chambers, J.L. Curry, J.W. Fisher, James Lawson, Jennie Mitchell, Jim Sidebottom, Joe Perry, Joel Lee Jones, John B. Floyd, John Dingess, Kate Taylor, Kittie Virginia Clevinger, L.G. Burns, Lawnsville, Leland Hall, Leon Smith, Lettie Halstead, Lewis B. Lawson, Lillian Halstead, Logan, Logan County, Logan Democrat, Logan High School, Logan Wildcats, Lon E. Browning, Lucile Bradshaw, Maud Ryder, Maude Smartwood, Minnie Cobb, Morgantown, Ohio, Old Fork Field, Pearl Hundley, Pearl Staats, Peter Dingess, principal, R.E. Petty, Roscoe Hinchman, Sarah Dingess, Southern Methodist Church, Stollings, Superintendent of Schools, Tennessee, The Islands, typhoid fever, W.V. Vance, W.W. Hall, West Virginia

From the Logan Democrat of Logan, WV, in a story titled “Schools and School Houses of Logan” and dated September 14, 1916, comes this bit of history about early education in Logan County, courtesy of G.T. Swain:

The hardest proposition encountered by the author in the preparation of this book was securing the following information relative to the early schools of Logan. We interviewed numbers of the older inhabitants, but owing to their faulty memories we were unable to obtain anything accurate. Nor were the county school officials able to give us any information regarding the schools of the early period. In making mention of this fact to Professor W.W. Hall of Stollings, who is District Superintendent of the free schools in Logan district, he graciously offered to secure as much information as he could from an old lady by the name of Sarah Dingess, who lives near his home. Thus, when we thought that we had exhausted every effort along this line, we were surprised and doubly appreciative of the efforts of Professor Hall, who secured for us the data from which the following article was compiled:

When the first settlers of Logan left the civilization of the East and came to the fertile Guyan Valley to carve homes for themselves and their children out of the forest, they brought with them a desire for schools for their offspring. One of the first pioneers of this valley, Peter Dingess, very early in the last century, erected a pole cabin upon the ruins of the Indian village on the Big Island, for a school house. That was the first school house erected within the limits of Logan county. In that house the children of The Islands (the first name of Logan) were taught “readin’, writin’ and spankin’.” After they ceased to use that house for school purposes, the people annoyed Mr. Dingess so much, wanting to live in the building, that he had his son, John, go out at night and burn it down. Thus the first school house for the children of Logan disappeared.

After the cabin on the Big Island ceased to be used for a school house, Lewis B. Lawson erected a round log house near the mouth of Dingess Run, where W.V. Vance now resides, for a school building. In that house George Bryant taught the children of Lawnsville (the name of Logan at that time) for a number of terms. A Mrs. Graves from Tennessee, wife of a Methodist circuit rider, also taught several terms there. Her work was of high order as a few of the older citizens yet attest.

A short time after Mr. Lawson built his school house at Dingess Run his brother, James, erected a school house on his land at the forks of Island Creek in the Old Fork Field, where J.W. Fisher now resides. The Rev. Totten, a famous and popular Southern Methodist circuit rider, taught the urchins of Aracoma (the name of Logan at that time) for several terms in the early ’50s of the last century.

After the passage of the Free School Act by the General Assembly of Virginia in 1846, the people of Aracoma and Dingess Run erected a boxed building for a school house by the Big Rock in the narrows above Bill Ellis’ hollow. The county paid the tuition of poor children in that school. Rev. Totten taught for several years in that house. He was teaching there when the Civil War began, when he discontinued his school, joined the Logan Wild Cats, marched away to Dixie, and never returned. Each of the last three named houses was washed away in the great flood in the year 1861.

When the Civil War was over and the soldiers had returned to their homes, they immediately set about to erect a school house. They built a hewn log house on the lower side of Bill Ellis’ hollow. That was the first free school building erected within the present limits of the city of Logan. In that house one-armed Jim Sidebottom wielded the rod and taught the three R’s. He was strict and a good teacher in his day. That house served as an institution of learning till in 1883 the Board of Education bought about an acre on the hill where the brick school houses now stand from Hickman White. A few years later additional land was bought of John B. Floyd in order to get a haul road from Coal street opposite the residence of Joe Perry’s to the school building. The old frame building was erected on the hill in 1883, and it furnished ample room for the children for more than two decades.

After the completion of the Guyan railroad to Logan the phenomenal growth of the city began. The growth of its educational facilities has kept pace with its material progress. In 1907 a brick building of four more rooms was added. Then they thought they would never need any more room. In 1911 they built a two story frame school house. In 1914 the magnificent new High school building was erected. Today, nineteen teachers are employed in the city, and within the next few years several more teachers must be employed, while the buildings are already taxed to their capacity.

In the year 1911 the Board of Education employed W.W. Hall as district supervisor. He asked for the establishment of a high school, and the citizens strongly endorsed his recommendation. The high school was established and Mr. Hall went at his own expense to the state university at Morgantown to find a principal for the high school. He secured F.O. Woerner, and the school was organized in 1911, on August 28. The next year Miss Maude Smartwood of Cleveland, Ohio, was added to the high school teaching force. In 1913 J.A. McCauley died from typhoid fever before the school closed, and George EM. Ford was employed to finish the term. In 1914 the school offered for the first time a standard four-year high school course and was classified by the state authorities as a first class high school. Today it is regarded as one of the best high schools in the state. It has more than one hundred pupils enrolled and employs seven regular high school teachers. It has a better equipped domestic science department than any other high school in West Virginia. When the high school was organized in 1911, there were only seven pupils in eighth grade in the city school. These seven were taken and pitched bodily into the high school. Of that first class, Fred Kellerman, Leland Hall, Roscoe Hinchman, Leon Smith, Kate and Beatrice Taylor continued in school until they were graduated June 2, 1915.

The first common school diploma examination ever held in Logan county was conducted by Supt. Hall as the close of his first year’s work at the head of the Logan District schools. He also conducted the first common school graduation exercises ever held in the county, in the old Southern Methodist church, on May 28, 1912.

Logan is indeed proud of her schools, and the efforts made by the faculty and school officials toward the training and educational development of young America meets with the hearty approval and commendation of all citizens.

Those in charge of the county schools are: Lon E. Browning, county superintendent; W.W. Hall, Logan district supervisor; the Logan district board of education is composed of J.L. Curry, president; and J.L. Chambers and L.G. Burns, commissioners. Chas. Avis is secretary of the board.

The faculty consists of F.O. Woerner, Principal of the Logan High School and instructor in mathematics; Joel Lee Jones, languages; Minnie Cobb, science; Isabella Wilson, cooking and sewing; Maud Ryder, commercial subjects; Jennie Mitchell, history and civics, and Mrs. R.E. Petty, music.

Lucile Bradshaw, English, literature, and mathematics; Florence Hughes, geography, history, and physiology, of the sixth and seventh grades departmental.

The following are the teachers in the grades: G.O. Nelson, Principal; Athelyn Hatfield, Pearl Staats, Brooke McComas, Lillian Halstead, Elma Allen, Lettie Halstead, Pearl Hundley, Kittie Virginia Cleavinger and Bertha Allen.

Stone Branch News 01.11.1924

29 Tuesday Oct 2019

Posted by Brandon Ray Kirk in Stone Branch

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Appalachia, Bill Skeens, education, Frank Rice, genealogy, Haskell Compton, Hattie Loud, Henlawson, history, Lizzie McComas, Logan, Logan Banner, Logan County, Roberta Russell, Sadie Ferguson, Stone Branch, Von Browning, West Virginia

A correspondent named “Sweet Marie” from Stone Branch in Logan County, West Virginia, offered the following news, which the Logan Banner printed on January 11, 1924:

We are having some bad weather at the present writing.

There is a lot of sickness in our camps at this time.

Miss Hattie Loud and Roberta Russell was calling on Sadie Ferguson Tuesday evening.

Mrs. Lizzie McComas and Mrs. Bill Skeens of Henlawson was visiting friends at this place Saturday night and Sunday.

Wonder how the boys like their teacher here.

Haskell Compton was visiting Frank Rice Sunday afternoon.

They are holding a revival at this place. Everybody is invited to attend.

Mrs. Bill Rice was calling on Mrs. Von Browning Sunday evening.

Teachers in 1896 (1937)

21 Saturday Sep 2019

Posted by Brandon Ray Kirk in Uncategorized

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cobblers, education, history, Logan Banner, milliners, teachers

From the Logan Banner of Logan, WV, comes this bit of history about U.S. teachers in 1896. The story is dated April 7, 1937.

Writer in 1896 Declared Teachers Earned No More Than Cobblers, Milliners

School teachers’ pay in 1896 assumed as prominent a place in public problems as it does today. The difference in the problem is in that the teachers of 1896 were said to receive about as much pay as milliners and cobblers while today they probably receive less.

But this is not an editorial.

A clipping from Forum in 1896 showed that teachers’ salaries ranged from $100 to $900 a year. The Forum writer wondered how the teachers could live on such a small amount. He’d be in a deeper quandary today.

The average salary for a school year amounted to approximately $318.36 for men and $262.92 for women. Duties included cleaning the schools and building the fires. The writer said these duties were not always considered hardships by the persons who took the jobs, the women having always been accustomed to such duties and the men didn’t find it hard because they could always induce students to perform the tasks for certain favors.

Nearly three times as many women teachers than men were employed in the country schools in the United States at that time. The percentage was higher in the country than in the city.

The teachers instructed their one roomful of children in all branches of learning up to grammar and algebra, the writer said.

He also said that “for what these teachers do they are quite adequately paid.” That wouldn’t apply today.

“A village schoolmaster will earn as much in the year as the cobbler; the schoolmistress will earn as much as the milliner,” the Forum scribe said.

“They do not belong as a general thing to a class better educated than the cobbler or milliner (remember, this was 1896) and they do not work any harder, the writer declared.

Here’s where he warms up a bit and applies to 1937.

“Those of them who have thought about their calling and who have ever been moved to feel that great responsibilities devolved upon them have realized that the conditions were such that they could not do next to nothing, and usually they have given over any efforts to secure a change in school administration.”

Fact for fact and condition for condition there is only a small change in the country schools left after many of them were consolidated. Consolidation was a boon to the country, but 41 years have passed and many teachers are still underpaid and have to teach under intolerable conditions.

Hatfield-McCoy Feud: Schools in 1882

23 Tuesday Jul 2019

Posted by Brandon Ray Kirk in Hatfield-McCoy Feud, Matewan

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Albert Simpkins, Ambrose Guzlin, Anderson Ferrell School, Blackberry Creek, Bob Williams, Charles Carpenter, Coon Branch School, Delorme School, Devil Anse Hatfield, Dials Branch School, Dick Bachtel, education, Elias Hatfield, Elias Hatfield School, Ella Hatfield McCoy, feud, feuds, Hatfield School, Hatfield-McCoy Feud, Head of Blackberry School, Henry D. Hatfield, history, Homer Claude McCoy, Jackson County, Johnnie Rutherford, Kate Ray, Kentucky, Lee Rutherford, Logan County, Mate Creek, Mate Creek School, Matewan, Mike Clingenpeel, Mingo County, Mud Fork, Pharmer McCoy, Pike County, Ransom, Sam Jackson, Scott Justice, teacher, Tolbert McCoy, Tug River, Upper Mate Creek School, W.A. McCoy, West Virginia, Will Bachtel

From “The Rise of Education and the Decline of Feudal Tendencies in the Tug River Valley of West Virginia and Kentucky in Relation to the Hatfield and McCoy Feud” by Homer Claude McCoy (1950):

The following list of school houses are given to determine the location of schools at the time of the feud. Most of the information obtained in regard to the existence of schools and their teachers have been received from interviews. These people were actual students at the schools or had brothers or sisters who went to school there. This information has been verified when possible from different interviews.

Mate Creek School: Mate Creek School was located about a mile up Mate Creek from Matewan which is located at its mouth. It was a log structure and had only one room. The schoolhouse was used during the feud as a prison to retain the three McCoy boys in. David Ross was the teacher of the school during the time of the feud, 1882, just a few days after the boys were held there, and there is a possibility that there was school there before the incident and that David Ross was the teacher.

Upper Mate Creek School: It is believed that there was a school at the head of Mate Creek, but the information is not strong enough to be substantiated.

Coon Branch School: Coon Branch School was located in Kentucky across from the site of Matewan. The teacher of the Coon Branch School was Ambrose Guzlin, and was attending in 1887.

Anderson Ferrell School: This school was located on Anderson Ferrell’s farm a mile below Matewan and came into use when the Mate Creek School was closed about 1883. The teacher of this school was Johnnie Rutherford.

Hatfield School: This school was located on the farm of Elias Hatfield in a hollow behind his home. It was a log structure and came into use when the railroad made it necessary to eliminate the Anderson Ferrell School.

Delorme School: The Delorme school was located near the home of Devil Anse, it was believed, for Charles Carpenter mentioned as a schoolteacher taught in that neighborhood. It is doubtful that there was a school there, for no definite record has been found. Charles Carpenter was said to be a teacher in that locality.

The Dial’s Branch School: This school is not substantiated by any strong evidence as being in operation during the early days of the feud, but was known to exist in the latter days of the feud.

Head of Blackberry School: This was at what is known today as Ransom. This school was some distance (about 15 miles from the mouth of Blackberry). Bob Williams taught school there. Dr. H.D. Hatfield attended school at this school.

Kate Ray who was a teacher at the Elias Hatfield School in 1893, says that she went to school there and when she graduated from the fifth grade she took an examination and taught the next year. She says the examination was not hard, and all the teachers gathered at Williamson. Other teachers that taught there were Albert Simpkins, Dr. Rutherford, Lee Rutherford. Scott Justice taught school at Mud Fork. Mike Clingenpeel was another teacher at Mud Fork.

Mrs. Ray stated:

I went to my first school on Mud Fork in 1888. I was only four years old. They didn’t mind for I didn’t give them any trouble. I learned a little at that age. Lee Curry was the teacher that year. He made improvements in the log school. His first improvement was to put backs on the seats. We did not have any desks or any blackboards. Dick and Will Bachtel also taught school at Mud Fork. They came from Jackson County. They stayed at Sam Jackson’s. They paid about $8.00 a month for board. Scott Justice, now a resident of Huntington, West Virginia, taught school on Mud Fork. So did Mack Clingenpeel. Every one liked Mack. He could explain the lessons so well.

When I was in the fifth grade I went to the Hatfield School below Matewan. When I graduated, I took the teachers examination and taught the next year there at the school on Elias Hatfield’s farm about the year 1895.

Sources:

Derived from these interviews by Mr. McCoy:

Ella Hatfield McCoy interview (she “lived on Blackberry Creek during the time of the feud”) (c.1949)

W.A. McCoy interview (c.1949)

Kate Ray interview (c.1949)

William Anderson McCoy’s Recollections of the Hatfield-McCoy Feud (1949)

23 Sunday Jun 2019

Posted by Brandon Ray Kirk in Big Sandy Valley, Hatfield-McCoy Feud

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Tags

Anderson Ferrell, Appalachia, crime, David Ross, education, Ferrell School, feud, feuds, Hatfield-McCoy Feud, history, Homer Claude McCoy, Johnnie Rutherford, Kentucky, Logan County, Mate Creek, Mate Creek School, Mingo County, Nona McCoy, Pike County, Tug Fork, West Virginia, William Anderson McCoy

From “The Rise of Education and the Decline of Feudal Tendencies in the Tug River Valley of West Virginia and Kentucky in Relation to the Hatfield and McCoy Feud” by Homer Claude McCoy (1950):

Appendix A

I attended school in the school house on Mate Creek just a few days after the McCoy boys was taken out and killed. The kettles and pans that they used to cook their grub in was still in the school house yet. This was my first school. This was about 1882. My next school was in the school house on the Anderson Ferrell farm about one mile below Mate Creek on the W.Va. side of Tug River. The teacher of Mate Creek School was David Ross and teacher for the Ferrell School was Johnie Rutheford.

William Anderson McCoy

Dec. 4, 1949

Note: Homer Claude McCoy (b. 1904) was the son of William Anderson and Nona (Jackson) McCoy. William Anderson McCoy was born in 1873 and died in 1960. To see William’s family in the 1880 Logan County, WV, Census, follow this link: https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:33S7-9YB2-97NB?i=7&cc=1417683

Queens Ridge 03.23.1923

15 Wednesday May 2019

Posted by Brandon Ray Kirk in Hamlin, Little Harts Creek, Queens Ridge, Twelve Pole Creek

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Tags

Appalachia, education, Eva Workman, Francis Fork, genealogy, Hamlin, history, Jim Ramey, Kiahs Creek, Lincoln County, Logan Banner, Mae Caines, Minnie Workman, Queens Ridge, Trough Fork School, W.H. Mann, Wayne County, West Virginia, Woodrow Workman

A correspondent named “Black Eyes” from Queen’s Ridge at Lincoln-Wayne counties, West Virginia, offered the following items, which the Logan Banner printed on March 23, 1923:

The Trough Fork school will close on the 23rd day of this month. Everybody come.

Woodrow Workman has returned home from a two weeks vacation on Francis Creek.

Jim Ramey celebrated his sixtieth birthday last Thursday.

Miss Minnie Workman was the guest of May Caines Monday.

Miss Eva Workman was visiting the post office Friday.

W.H. Mann is attending court this week at Hamlin.

NOTE: Geographically, Queens Ridge is located entirely in Wayne County but the post office area included a section of Lincoln (and Logan) County for a certain number of years.

Halcyon News 09.22.1922

12 Tuesday Feb 2019

Posted by Brandon Ray Kirk in Big Harts Creek, Halcyon, Holden

≈ 1 Comment

Tags

Appalachia, Burl Dingess, Caney Branch, Charles Gore, education, Everett Dingess, genealogy, Halcyon, Harts Creek, Hattie Dingess, history, Holden, Ira Gore, Joe Gore, Lee Dingess, Logan Banner, Logan County, moonshine, teacher, W.W. Gore, West Virginia

A correspondent named “Aunt Meg” from Halcyon on Harts Creek in Logan County, West Virginia, offered the following items, which the Logan Banner printed on September 22, 1922:

Times are good and everybody happy and gay in the old town, but as some of us have never purchased our winter shoes our toes have begun to smell jack frost.

There is some town gossip that Everett Dingess will return to Pennsylvania with his wife and baby where he has spent a few years.

Miss Hattie Dingess has left our town and will teach school on Caney for a few months.

Our home school is progressing nicely under the supervision of Mr. Chas. Gore as teacher. His motto is: “Do good and leave moonshine alone.”

Pete, you walk as if you had spent your past few days in the White House. Has she gone back on you?

Mr. Ira Gore and Burl Dingess made a hurried trip to Holden last week. Boys, what’s your hurry?

Mr. W.W. Gore of Holden spent the weekend with his brother, Joe Gore, of this place.

I wonder why Lee Dingess rides so fast up the hill on his way to the ‘ville. Ask Kris. She knows.

Harvest time has come, boys. Shake off your sleepiness and go to work.

Good luck to the Banner and readers.

Lincoln County, WV: After Oil and Gas (1922)

23 Sunday Dec 2018

Posted by Brandon Ray Kirk in Hamlin

≈ 1 Comment

Tags

Appalachia, board of education, Carroll High School, cattle, Columbus, dairy, Edna Hager, education, fruit, gas, Hamlin, history, Homer Stiles, Hugh Hainor, Ida Hager, Kenova, Lincoln County, Lincoln Republican, Ohio, oil, orchards, sheep, teachers, West Virginia

From the Lincoln Republican of Hamlin, WV, comes this submission by three Carroll High School students about what Lincoln County might do when oil and gas is exhausted in the future.

AFTER OIL AND GAS, THEN WHAT?

If oil and gas were to become exhausted in Lincoln county what suggestions have you along the line of agriculture for keeping up and increasing the wealth of the county and maintaining the population of Hamlin?

Three Carroll High School pupils in a recent examination in Agriculture gave the following answers:

If oil and gas were to become exhausted in Lincoln county, and it is supposed that it will, the people could make just as much money at other things if they would only think so. For instance, Lincoln county has been declared by the best educated men in the State to be the best fruit growing county in West Virginia. The people of Lincoln county can make as much money growing fruit as the people of Ohio, and many a farmer in Ohio has grown rich just by growing fruit. I do not mean out close to Columbus, but down near Kenova, in the hilly section. These hills of Lincoln county can be cleared and the men who are now making $2500 a year working in the oil and gas business can make that much and more growing fruit. Of course he has to go about it in the right manner. If they do it as it should be done they would be busy every day in the year.

Dairying is another thing that has been discussed by educated men for Lincoln county. They say now that we are getting the hard road we can take all our milk and butter to Huntington and receive good prices for it. Improved cattle can be turned out on these hills and if cared for in the proper way a man can make as much money working at it as he can working in the oil and gas business.

IDA HAGER.

If oil and gas were to become exhausted in Lincoln county, I think dairying would help increase the wealth of the county and also help maintain the population of Hamlin. Dairying would pay in this county because so many people do not own cows and would buy all their milk and butter from the dairy. The cows could be pastured in the summer, and this would cause the people to improve their farms; and again, we are getting the hard road, and the dairy products could very easily be taken to market, if the dairy man could not sell all his products at home.

Fruit raising would also help Lincoln county. These hill-sides could be converted into profitable and beautiful fruit farms. I don’t think another town in the U.S. of its size uses so much fruit as Hamlin, and all this fruit must be shipped in from other places when it could be raised very easily at home. The people would improve their farms, and the washed and gullied hills would be made of some use, whereas they are of none. The only thing needed to make both dairying and fruit raising profitable is some one to start and boost the business.

EDNA HAGER.

If oil and gas were to become exhausted in Lincoln county, I would suggest agriculture on a scientific basis to keep the population and increase the wealth. If I see right, Lincoln county has some of the best land for orchards in the eastern part of the United States. What cannot be used for orchards can be used for sheep. With the proper care, orchards of great value and producing ability can soon be started in Lincoln county. Most of the soil, or sub soil, is clay and usually is deep and well watered. The change in temperature is usually gradual and not much risk or danger would be run in loosing from frosts or freezing. Again, we can not find a better sheep raising county in the east than Lincoln county. Sheep would surely prosper in Lincoln county. The land is somewhat run down and this would soon build it back again and restore Lincoln county’s virgin soils. This is the only way I can possibly see to keep Lincoln on her feet.

HUGH HAINOR

Perhaps it is well that some people are thinking along this line. It might be dded also that one way of keeping up the population and welfare of the county is to build up at the County seat the best school possible. In doing this everyone can help. We should have a large number of county teachers in the High School for the spring months. Everyone should be interested in livening teachers up to this opportunity of better preparation. We shall be in the new building then and the new building is fine. It might be of interest to note in closing that the Board of Education and the faculty are considering the establishment of a Five Week’s Summer Training School for teachers, and are discussing the matter with State authorities and with the County Superintendent.

HOMER STILES,

Prin. Carroll High School

Source: Lincoln Republican (Hamlin, WV), 02 February 1922.

Marshall College in Huntington, WV (c.1931)

10 Monday Dec 2018

Posted by Brandon Ray Kirk in Huntington

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Tags

Appalachia, Cabell County, education, history, Huntington, Marshall College, Marshall University, West Virginia

IMG_9647.JPG

New Gymnasium at Marshall College (University), c.1931. Photo credit unknown.

IMG_9648

Science Hall at Marshall College (University), c.1931. Photo credit unknown.

Aracoma High School in Logan, WV (1929)

09 Tuesday Oct 2018

Posted by Brandon Ray Kirk in African American History, Logan

≈ 1 Comment

Tags

African-Americans, Appalachia, Aracoma High School, Aracoma Junior High School, board of education, Coal Branch, education, history, L.E. Farnsworth, Logan, Logan Banner, Logan County, Logan District, Republican Party, West Virginia

Aracoma High School LB 04.16.1929 1.JPG

Logan (WV) Banner, 16 April 1929.

THE COLORED ARACOMA SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL

Now In Course of Erection, is the result of the vision and enterprise of the Logan District Board of Education to meet a need in the life of the colored citizens of this district, which need has been existing for a long period of years, and has equally as long been neglected.

The moving spirit, in the board of education, toward bringing this new school to a successful issue, is Dr. L.E. Farnsworth, and it is to him in particular that the colored citizens of this district owe a lasting debt of gratitude. Early and late, at times seasonable and times unseasonable Dr. Farnsworth worked in the Aracoma colored system, and that the shame against the intelligence and liberality of the white citizens of this district might be removed by in replacing the makeshift which existed with a decent colored school building.

The contribution of the space and picture of the proposed building, shown in this progress section devoted to colored citizens, is made by the Board of Education. This is a further evidence of their generous attitude toward our people, encouraging their efforts to improve themselves and advance their welfare. Such liberality merits our thanks and unstinted praise, and it is hereby extended generously and thankfully.

Source: Logan (WV) Banner, 16 April 1929

***

New School Building

Ground was broken last week in Coal Branch for the new Aracoma Junior high school. A large force of men with scrapers, picks and shovels are busy doing the excavating work, and delegations of patriot citizens of color are visiting the scene daily and watching the rapid progress that is being made on this long needed and prayed for school building. The site is ideal, with a large play ground and when completed and furnished, it will be one of the best in the state. The new Aracoma Junior high school building is the fulfillment of some of the pledges and campaign promises made by Republican candidates and party workers, to the colored voters during the last election. The bringing into existence of this long promised school will be a lasting credit to the members of the Logan district Board of Education and should also standout as another important reason why the Negro should vote the Republican ticket.

Source: Logan (WV) Banner, 19 April 1929

Powell Valley Male Academy at Speedwell, TN (2013)

07 Sunday Oct 2018

Posted by Brandon Ray Kirk in African American History, Civil War

≈ 2 Comments

Tags

African-Americans, Appalachia, Claiborne County, Confederate Army, Davis Creek, education, Felix Zollicoffer, George Shutter, history, photos, Powell Valley Male Academy, Sam Monday, slavery, Speedwell, Speedwell Academy, Tennessee

IMG_8024

Powell Valley Male (later Speedwell) Academy, built 1827, at Speedwell in Claiborne County, TN. During the Civil War, it served as headquarters for Confederate General Felix Zollicoffer. 30 May 2013.

IMG_8034

George Shutter, a German immigrant who settled locally from Pennsylvania about 1800, believed strongly in education. He supplied the money and slaves necessary to build the academy. 30 May 2013.

IMG_8028

Slaves supervised by Sam Monday made the bricks from nearby Davis Creek and erected the building. 30 May 2013.

IMG_8026

Once the building was completed, students relocated from an earlier log building. 30 May 2013.

IMG_8031

Students boarded with neighborhood residents or upstairs in the building. The professor lived upstairs. 30 May 2013.

IMG_8035

The Powell Valley Male Academy operated until sometime around 1900 when it was reorganized as Speedwell Academy and served both male and female students. 30 May 2013. For more history, follow this link: http://www.tngenweb.org/campbell/hist-bogan/speedwell.html

Lillian Samons (1929)

17 Monday Sep 2018

Posted by Brandon Ray Kirk in African American History, Logan, Women's History

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Tags

African-Americans, Appalachia, education, genealogy, Harpers Ferry, history, Lillian Samons, Logan Banner, Logan County, Myrtilla Miner Normal School, National Teachers' Association, Storer College, teacher, Washington, West Virginia, West Virginia Parent-Teacher Association, West Virginia State Teachers' Association

In April of 1929, the Logan Banner profiled numerous prominent African-American residents of Logan County, West Virginia.

Notable Blacks of Logan County LB 04.16.1929 3

LILLIAN SAMONS

Miss Samons is a graduate of Storer College, Harpers Ferry, and Myrtilla Miner Normal, Washington, D.C. She has done summer work at West Virginia State College. Miss Samons has taught for ten years, all of which have been engaged in Logan county. She is a member of West Virginia State and National Teachers’ Association, and also a member of the State Parent-Teacher Association. Steady and methodical as a teacher, Miss Samons grasps the problem of the school room with a keen sense of its requirements. She obtains results immediate and direct, knowing forthwith at what she is aiming. Probably among the teachers of the county and state, Miss Samons takes her place among the foremost, this from a knowledge of the theory and practice and by that peculiar adaption to the work at hand. She has placed high dignity upon the profession, both in her high sense of honor and moral acumen, and her disposition to ever reach forward to a greater efficiency and the discovery of a more exact method to advance her pupils. Miss Samons has an engaging manner and has endeared herself in the hearts of the large number of pupils that have come under instruction, and with the patrons and citizens of the communities in which she has taught. She has a wholesome interest in the welfare of her people and responds actively to any movements that are devoted to their advancement.

Source: Logan (WV) Banner, 16 April 1929.

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