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

enterprise and did every thing in their power
to make the new undertaking success
Their time and their money was placed freely
at the services OF the Institution. Only three
of the first Board are on the present. Board
and during all the years OF the exlstenrS ol
the College they have been Its fast frlenrs and
most cordial supporters In the days. Of its
prosperity they have rejoiced, ana in the
periods OF encouragement they have given
II their unWearied attention. The Board had
its first meeting on the fifta% November, 1859,
pd nd p Sy E. DR. E press aSd
The Sasf first ; act of TIE Board was to take in
charge the femeIe school already in operation
In Due West, Which had been under the con.
trol OF MISS Elizabeth McQuerns for some
The next step was to secure the funds
necessary for the promotion of the enterprise,
ard the carrying out of the plans they had
! I,iade.
Looking to this end. q committee. was
appointed to secure subscriptions, and the
money thus raised was to he expended In pro-
curing site. erecting building, and other ex;
penses necessary to the organization and
operation Of Female College,
REV. ]. /. BONNER WAS THE FIRST PREsI'
DENT, REV. JONATHAN GALLOWAY,
THE FIRST TEACHER.
On the thirteenth Of December, 1859, Rev.
| ]. 1. Bonner was elected President OF the Col
| lege. and Rev. Jonathan Galloway was elect
ed Professor. Before this, in fact, before any
steps at all were taken towards electing q
President, the services OF Miss Sallie McBride
the daughter Of a missionary to China, had
been secured as Music Teacher
| The first session of the College opened on
the second Monday Of January, 1850. The ex
ercses were conducted in Miss McQuerns's
academy building In the rear Of the churcn:
That building being too small for the number
Of teachers and pupils, some Of the recitations
were heard in the church. The faculty tne
first year consisted of Rev. j. l. Bonner, pres.
ident, Rev. j: Galloway, Miss E. McQuerns
and Miss Sallie Mcbride.
DETERMINED TO ERECT A COLLEGE BUILD
At a meeting of the Board Of Trustees on
to toe erect s College building: One that would Be
more commodious and better adapted TO the
work OF the school than the quarters they
then occupied. ,,u,o
Rev: j. /; Bonner, o DR.. ]; n Ii Hawfhn9n Millsp
Rev. ]. N. Young and Capt. X: c, sharp, we're
appointed to draft plan OF the building.
The plan submitted by the committee nalne
| ly: q three-story brick building, slXty-nve
ieeG square, with two wings two stories high,
was, after some deliberation, adopted oy Tue
Board.
|
The plans having been made, the con
| tract being let out on the seventh OIL August
1852 the corner stone Of tne que wess
Specially selected speakers adding 10 the luter'
est OF the occasion. -
It was time OF rejoicing to. the people Of
Due West for they saw In 1t the beginning OF
the fuifillment of their long cherished hopes.
The work was carried forward with dlspatch
until the funds were exhausted, ana while tIle
building was not completed for several years,
vet so much progress had been made on IL
thai, they were able to teach In 1t during the
next scholastic year.
THE FIRST DEATH AMONG THE TRUSTEES.
During this year the College suffered
a loss In the death of the President
of It's Board of Trustees, Rey. f.; r. r.,
Pressly. d. d. Prof. J. F. Lee was elected TO
MI the vacancy caused by the death or Or.
Pressly. DIR. K. G. Grler during this year was
elected member OF the Board anu ever after
wards was one of Its most deVoteu IItinoa iriEnas
was organized in 1853 1t has had. besides those
mention ed above, three Presidents OF us
Board, Rev. j. ]. Bonner, Rev. w. M. Grler ~
cmmbent. Aiihought President of Erskine
College, DIR. Grler, Is always ready TO help tne
Female College in nll OF its enterprises ana
at oil times bestows upon II his c"re'ul
In December, 1860, Miss G. Ransom, OF Andcr.
son:county, S. e., was elected to take charge
OF the Primary Department OF the College.
TIE FIRST GRADUATING CLASS.
In July, 1861, the College sent out ITS first
graduating class. The graduates were Misses
Louisa ]. Galloway, Mary +. Galloway, DO n
ME Jones. EVELYN .P. Jones and Lizzie j..
Young This the first &C 1Sars en., Tas Hs
graduates vet there were only two present on
their graduating day, the other three having
returned to their homes on account ol the
war.
NO SUSPENSION ON ACCOUNT OF THE WAR.
During the following summer Miss Mcbride
resigned her position as teacher OF music anu
Miss \. Lila Morse, now Mrs. Dr. Bonner. was
elected to take her place as teacher of music
in the College. Mrs. Bonner began her con-
nection with the College the first OF October.
1851, and she has been connected with it every
year since, making twenty: eight years that
She has been engaged in its service. These
were stirring times, particularly In the South.
was In a state of excitement, for the
80, mou them EyHrytlinp felt IL