The Morristown gazette. [volume] (Morristown, Tenn.) 1867-1920, 1876-11-22
RogersviIIe.

ID SALudbC0s NJ OiiC bAAAAN IL was OhO W
the most thriving towns in East Tennes
see, but of late years has been distanced
by several of its more fortunate, or per
haps, more enterprising neighbors.
The records of the &c Cours of Pleas
and Quarter Sessions" held at the house
of Thomas Gibbons, (about where Kin.
kead's mill now stands), on the 4th day
of June, 1887, show that the commits
sioners who had been previously APP
pointed ''for fixing on a place for build
ing a courthouse, prison and stocks, u
came into court and reported ''that it
(the place. be fixed at Joseph Rogers on
CEockett's Creek WhereuPon,'Jos eph
Rogers came into court and gave up and
relinquished the right and title of two
acres of land for the use of the public
buildings" and it was "ordered that
Thomas Hutchings, HutsOn Johnston,
Francis Dougherty, Joseph Cloud and
Thomas Gibbons be appointed commits
sioners to attend the surveyor and lay
off town at Joseph Rogers, on Friday,
the 18th day Of June, 1857" And ac-
cordingly on that day the village of
Rogersville was located permanently
and christened. A courthouse was soon
built of rough logs, a Jail of the same
material, and the old-fashioned stocks"
for the punishment of Offenders against
the ispeace and dignity Of the State" or
county erected on the public square.
About the year 1911 or II, Joseph
Rogers gave the county lot upon which
to build house for the education of
boys. Governor McMinn, who YVES a
citizen of Hawkins, donated a sum of
money TO pay for the building. This
was the foundation of the present noble
school known as McMinn Academy.
The school has passed through a. great
many trials aud vicissitudes and at pres
ent is in languishing condition, though
its friends are hoping that new life will
soon be granted the old institution and
that great usefulness may yet be in store
for it.
On the 4th day of July, 1S49, under
the auspices of the Independent Order
of Odd Fellows, the cornerstone of
female seminary was laid with appropri-
ate ceremonies. This institution was
opened for the reception of pupils on
the 1st Monday in September, 1850, I'M
der the very lengthy name of the "Odd
Fellows Female Collegiate Institute"
Rev. w. d. Jones, of Kentucky, was
President, Misses Lucy s. Ruggles,
Mary Davidson, Sallie Hinckley, and
several other excellent lady assistants
were at the head Of various classes.
Such distinguished musicians as Prof.
Charles Loehr and Prof. Henry Schwing
had charge of the department of music,
and the school soon took high rank as
an institution for the education of girls.
The whole community for few years
were united in working for its prosperi-
ty. 1t was the pride of the village. The
people boosted that it was the best
school of the kind in the Southwest and
young ladies were drawn here from
twelve or fifteen States. Rivalry among
the different churches in the village f.
nally brought trouble TO the school. DIR.
Jones left it and established Martha
Washington College at Abingdon. Pc
ouniary embarrassments finally caused
the Odd Fellows to sell the property,
and it has been shifting hands every few
years since 1860, until little over a
year ago when the institution was
bought by the Presbyterian church, and
one year ago, the 1st of last September,
the Rogersville Female College was
opened for the reception of pupils under
the Presidency of Rev. A. W. Wilson.
Il is hoped and believed that this last ar.
rangement win be permanent and that
the school will now go on to the ac-
complishment of the useful ends design
ed by those who, at such great sacrifice
of means and labor, erected the fine,
commodious buildings, laid off and or
namented the beautiful grounds and
started the school on its career twenty.
years ago.
No better locality could be found for
a female school anywhere in the United
States. 1t is situated in rather an old
fashioned town. The people arc quiet,
sober and free from fashionable folly.
The region is remarkable for its health
fitness. The society of the College and
the town is good enough for any people;
The first session of the school under
the new management closed last June to
the entire satisfaction of those who sent
their daughters during the session, The
present years work, we are assured by
the officers of the school, promises well.
The teachers and students are all work
4ng faithfully. We take it that the Col
lege Is now established ona firm basis.
1t is in far better condition than II
ever has been and it only requires time
to make it more prosperous than ever
heretofore. The entire Presbyterian
church of East Tennessee should unite
in pushing forward the claims of this
school. Those who. have charge of il
are laboring hard to build it up. Thai
they will be finally successful we have
not doubt, but the great church which
owns the fine property should immedi
ateIy bestir itself and see to it that nc
school of any denomination SURPRISES
this one in prosperity or usefulness i
is true the school is doing very well, a
present, and there Is no roomyfor com
plant, but large additional number O
girls can be accommodated and the)
ought to be here. d -
Hawkins County Marble.