The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1889-07-03

s,,sht,ps breath. We; H. Colleges, in Il, the
South but what closedx eir doors IN the time
of that great struggle. The Due West Female
aaa ea hs IN a ass
ing time the exercises OF the college were
never stopped, and indeed 80 good was the
attendance that in 1852 the increased number
Of the pupils was such as 70 REQUIRE ts, ths ser
mand Mrs Kate Wideman, now Mrs. Kate r.
Kennedy, was secured as a teacher. her con.
nection with the College at This time was very
brief: the afflictlon Of her husband causing
her to give up her classes. She returned 70
the College again in February, 1877, and Re-
manned in its Faculty until the fall OF 1851.
Mrs. Kennedy Is sister OF hev. =. =. F. ratton,
D. D., and possesses the pre-eminent talent for
which the family has always been noted. IN
addition to this she has had the advantage OF
fine College training. having graduated at
Mrs. Willard's Female Seminary IN Troy. N:
Mathematics. She had splendid gifts for edu-
cational work and In all the history OF the
College no one ever connected Win IL mas
surpassed her as q teacher.
ant teacher Of music In December 1865. Sne
remained in the College severai years an9
taught not only music but mathematics ana
French as well. Miss Nixon was highly &C
complished lady and even yet her hne voice
and charming manners are remembered In
Due West.
In this same year MI. VIM. Hood, OF New
berry, was chosen Professor Of Philosophy.
Astronomy and Chemistry. He accepted the
position but being In military services he
conld not enter upon his duties Immediately.
A petition was made for his release from lnill-
tary services but for some reason ne never
entered upon the active duties OF the POSI-
tion.
THE CHANGE.
In 1855 the financial condition Of the College
was such that the Board passed tho following
resolution: That In view Of al! the iacts Pre-,
transfer the whole property to STOCK COM
pany on condition that the said company as
sumo oil the pecuniary liabilities OF this
SoaI iro,p The s@ purpose s % Of Female Education.
THE REORGANIZATION IN 1885,
This occasioned the reorganization Of the
Faculty to some extent, and among the
changes made was the election OF Prof. J. T.
Kennedy Professor OF the Latin Language.
Before this time, Prof. Kennedy together with
Ga, hss %Sey were in
kline College, but had given some OF their
time to the Female College. In 1855, however,
Mr. Rennedy gaze ms asIe9on d fe5ln tSat tts
until the close Of his Presidency IN 1857, ne
was in the Faculty OF the College. FOR tWen.
ty-one years he was q teacher In the college
of his life AS q teacher he was thorough and
always successful. His previous experience
as student Of Erskine and as PROFESSOR
there, had prepared him well ] for this pace pace
himself he required diligence N his pupils
and It was an unpleasant prospect for any
one 10 60 into his room with badly prepared
lesson.
was still In an unfinished state. It was the
intention Of the authorities OF the school ail
along TO have the pupils from distance 70
beard made ID Rs R cassH ss Saw
not being strong enough financially to carry
out the plans, the Boarding Department was
wholly neglected and the young ladies' VINO
compeiied o IL to board in the families Of the cit-
izens Of Due West
THE ARRANGEMENT FOR BOARDING PUPILS
IN THE COLLEGE.
But still the Board of Trustees did not
there so in 1869 more work was done upon
the College building. In the fall Of the same
year Prof Kennedy with bis family moved
aso Ins GEegs ana Is % that depart
to his present home in Due West and DR.: 2.
H. Edwards. of Rock Hi, was plaeed ,La IN
charge of the Gosge & Rss BonneG
President Of the tftstion took charge OF the
boarding depsEment and remained nSastse y.
until n ms ssat aestth, after which Prof KennedsS
IT The ColMge has never had any endowment,
~ cins always depended on Its tuition fees
| 4oT It's support. There were times when the
4 amount thus realized did not meet the ex
a penses, and the principal teachers had TO suf
fer the loss: Ihe salaries @ PROMISED tI' yer, =,
the country financially depressed, the
amount the teachers received were small In
the extreme. In fact, II some Of the teachers
had not had other means OF support they
could not have remained in the College Sc
long.
FRIENDS BRINGING GOOD GIFTS.
Some OF the friends of the College have
made gifts to 1t which were greatly appre
ciated, and were put to good use. In 1858 Col
D. o. Hawthorn, of Due West, member
81 900. In 1876, Mrs. Ann Wallace, OF Ken
lucky, who had shown herself to be one o.
Erskine's best friends, gave to the Female
College 5000. In 1877 Prof. Frederick Schmidt
of the College died and left in his will some
twelve hundred dollars TO the College: o
course at the organization OF the College
many handsome sums were given, but tnf
record Of these are beyond the reach OF tn'
writer.
DEATH OF DIR. BONNER
The College suffered great loss In lSSl ir
the death OF Rev. j. /. Bonner who died or
the Goth day of April. He had been its Pres
ident from the very first year OF Its organiZa
ton. The College had been the idol Of hi
heart from its first inception. He left moth
ing undone that would con attribute to the sue
cess and prosperity of the College, He wa!
unwearied in his labors for the school
The Board had appreciated his ser
vices, and after his death they passed the fol
!, lowing resolution:
"That we recognize in his zeal ant
we'll directed labors during the LONG
period that he has presided over the Col
!, iege the leading element Of its growth ane
present prosperous condition"
Rev. II. 4. Sloan, D. D.. speaking Q
him says: "He was prominently an ed
ucator. The Due West Female Coilegt
building was secured largely through his per
sonal eXertion. He canVassed far and near
soliciting friends, and collecting students
He was ever full of expedients, looking x
the upbuilding and prepetuity Of his beloved
College. His administrative talents also
were OF high order and well calculated Il
make the College what II is-a first class In
stitution for the cultivation of the female
mind and heart-the pride and ornament o
the Church aud an honor to the State. he
was deservedly popular with his pupils boil
, In College, and long after they had left hel
walls One uniform wall of sorrow went uI