Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1884-02-26
The. John Stephenson Female
Seminary.

dered at the present term of the Cir
cult Court, by Judge Faulkner, in the
case of Andrew Hunter and others,
Trustees, against John AIcCurdy and
others, Trustees.
1t is generally well known-at least
to the citizens OF Our town-that the
late John Stephenson, during his life
time, generously dedicated two very
desirable lots, on the East side of
Chariestown, to two important uses
one for the use of Cemetery, and
the other, in the language of the donor,
"for the purpose of laying the foun-
dation, in the county of jefferson, for
Female Seminary, to be erected on
the said lot, or elsewhere, in or near
the town of Charlestown."
The Cemetery lot has grown into
the beautiful resting place for the
dead known as Edge Hill Cemetery.
The Seminary lot has remained I'M
improved until the present time. This
has been unavoidable.
By those acquainted with Mr..
Stephenson's designs touching the
Seminary, it was well understood,
that, as above mentioned, the lot of
ground donated by him was simply to
clay the foundations of this Insti-
tuition, and that it was his intention.
thereafter, to make ample provisions
for the erection of buildings and
other improvements necessary and
proper for its complete equipment
Owing, however, to losses sustained
i by the war, his benevolent purposes
were frustrated and, hence, the trus-
tees whom he had selected to execute
mis- wishes were powerIe5s to do so.
With view of utilizing, in some
manner, the property thus vested in
them. the trustees, some years ago.
iled bill in chanccry, (Which took
the name of the cause above referred
to, which had for its object the sale
of the four acres, contained in the
Seminary lot, and the application of
the proceeds to the purposes OF the
original grant. For various and
satisfactory reasons no disposition of
the property was effected under these
proceedings.
Meantime, and with the concur
renee Of the surviving trustees, who
were anxious fully to discharge their
duties in the premises. several gentle
men lately applied for, and obtained,
a certificate of incorporation (Which
Mr.. Stephenson expressed his desire
should be donc) for a Female Sem
mary Company. TO this company
was given the appropriate name of
=" John Stephenson Female Sem
mary" and, in order to obtain the
requisite assistance in establishing
and maintaining the projected Sem
mary, the company was chartered as
a joint-stock company, with an au-
thorized capital OF $40. 900, divided
into shares Of 500 each.
After its organization, and without
any very active cxertions, subscrip-
tions to stock were, within short
time, obtained to the extent of about
$4,000, or one-haIf of the estimated
costs of the necessary buildings and
appointments for this most desirable
institution.
BY the decree alluded to in the
above entitled cause, Judge Faulkner
has directed the surviving trustees in
the original deed from Mr.. Stephen
sou, to convey tho valuable real estate
of the said grantor to the /" John
Stephenson Female Seminary" so
that there's every prospect that within
a short time During the present year
at furthest) the purposes of Mr..
Stephenson will, if not to the full
measure of their originalconception,
at least in a crcditabIe manner, be ac-
complished.
But it will be observed that there is
yet necessary to be raised about
81, 900 of the fund needed for this
enterprise. We do not hesitate to
express the belief that this amount
will be speedily supplied by those
who appreciate the value of the in
stitution which will thus be Iastingly
secured by our community.
We learn that, at an early day, this
subject will be specially brought to
the attention of our people and their
aid invoked. In the meantime sub
scriptions to stock may be made
through the President OF the company.
Hon. w. II. Travers, its Secretary SIS.
Dalgarn. its Treasurer, Gustav Brown.
or either of its Directors, Hon. w. l..
Wilson and Rev. c. n. Campbell, who
with the above named gentlemen cor
| stitute the board.