The comet. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1877-1882, 1880-02-21
ROAMING PAP.
HE INfADEs We ANCIENT cOLLEGE
OF JEFFERSON.
And INDUCES I'm some Rare old Rem.
eniscences4 r,
JEFFERSON COLLEGE,
WASH GT0N Miss. Feb. 10th, 1880.

WASHINGTON Miss Feb 10Th, lSsO.
arrived here yesterday, and being
of literary turn, took quarters at
this Alma Mater of Nfississippians.
where thanks to the friendly intro
duction of Judge w. N. Whitehurst,
to. Professors ]. S. Raymond and
James Mcclure, Jr., have been en-
tertainedin regal style at this institu-
ton, so old in the. history or the State,
and so dear to the memory of some of
.her most gifted sons. Jefferson Col
lege was incorporated by an act Of the
legislature of the Mississippi territory
May 18th 1902. On the 9rd, of Janua-
ry the following year the trustees met
in this town and organized the board
by the election of William G. C.-Clai-
borne governor of the territory, Presi-
dent, William Dunbar, Vice President
and Felix Hughs. Secretary while
Alexander Montgomery was soon after
made Treasurer. An appeal to Con-
gress for aid for funds to maintain, or
support the institution, met with
response in shape of grant of land.
In 1903 some forty two or three acres
of ground was donated in this town
for = site, and the legislature soon af-
ter accepted it as permanent location
of Jefferson College. This land III
cluded the, famous Ellicott Springs
near which Andrew Ellicott, commits
sioner of the United States, encamped.
with his men, during the tardy SETTLE
ment of the line Of demarkation be-
tween Mississippi Territory and West
Florida. Here also Gen. Wilkinson
encamped during the prevalence of
sickness at Natchez, and from this
spot Jackson marched his little army
to fight the battle of New Orleans
After passing through various vicissi-
tudes and struggling against poverty,
the year 1907 found Mr.. James Nc
Alister in charge, Of the institution
and the same year found the Trustees
contracting for the building of the
east wing of the College edifice. Dur
ing this time, however, some Of the
land which the Government mad
given to the institution, was Gained
by individuals Under old Spanish
grants, and much litigation ensued in
consequence. Congress at last inter-
posed and settled the difficulty by an
milling her grant to the institution of
certain specified lands and locating
the same amount in another section of
the Territory. From this time oh una
der the able management of the Trus-
tees, Jefferson College seemed to pros
per up to the time of the war. Though
once destroyed by fire it was soon re-
built and contimued o. fiourishing in
stitution, while some of the first men
in the United States received their
education here, among whom Knight
mention Gov. A. G. Brown, Jefferson
Davis and many other statesmen and
men of letters attended this institu-
ton during its days of prosperity. |
Prof. J. S. Raymond now has charge,
and under his management, l bespeak
for it a prosperous future. There is at
present fifty two students, while thirty
seven board in the College building.
The rates of tuition are two dollars
per month with session of ten |
while board, washing, lights
and fuel cost only thirteen dollars per
additional. The commence
ment is June 26, each year. L wandered |
about the old town and was shown
many objects of historical interest.
The old building wherein met the
first convention to adopt Terri
torial constitution was a Methodist
church, OH land decided to the Meth
odist society by Lorenzo and Peggy
Dow, is now demolished, though the
Did bricks mark the spot; and to-day
was shown the original deed which
BEARS their autograph. This was prob
IDLY the first methodist lChurchjp the
and the land now COM
poses part of the College grounds. Ar
I'D oak is still standing, though riven
1y lightning and fast going to decay,
lnder whose shade the salute was
vas fired when the Territorial Consti-
,ution was adopted.
A new school house occupies the spot
where stood the. court house in which
Jol. Aaron Burr was tried before the
Supreme Court of the United States
or treason, against his government. !
Iere too, on that memorable occasion,
vas Hermann Blannerhassett and
len. Andrew Jackson.
The site of the old State House is
low vacant lot, strewn with brick
nd rubbish. Under large live oak
rec, in the rear of the College is
moss growps head stone, erected to