The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1890-01-22
TIE FERGUSON ACADEMY.
Ets Excellent BuiIdinG..-Its Efficient
Corps Of fTeachers-..Its Good Work
Among the COlOred People.

In the early history Of South Carolina Abb
beville County took the lead In establishing
good schools and colleges for the education OF
the white youth of the County. and the good
result OF that work of our fOrefatherS Is plain
ly 10 be seen In the morals and habits OF our
people today. In Ike manner the colored
their emancipation, to establish schools and
colleges for the education and training OF
their youths whereby they are the better fit
ted for citizenship and better prepared for
done so much for them, and which still mum
ifests great interest In their destiny.
Some eight years ago Rev. E. W. Williams
Of the Presbyterian Church came from the
North and began TO teach and preach to his
race In the town OF Abbcvlle. Having re-
cclved good education, and being in great
sympathy with the brethren OF his own race,
he was emlnently qualified for the. work
which he assumed, and from the first. he has
welded wonderful influence with the col
ored people hereabout. He soon organized a
many of the best and most substantial col.
Ored people. His influence In shipping their
conduct and behavior, as citizens has been
most salutary, and under his inspiration the
10 educate and ira their children. After his
congregation had been organized, and whe n
he had opened his school. the next need was
Il suitable building in which to teach and
preach. He and his people raised a hand.
some sum of money. but not enough for their
purposes. He went North and received most
ecuClOus alu w ItIl IudG HlOIcy IL SuUSGtu-
tial and comfortable house was built-a por-
tion being used as school room, and the re.
maindcr being set apart for divine worship.
Success so far crowned his efforts rs teach
er that n larger and more extensive building
was needed. Further effort was made, His
own people at home did their part TO the full
extent Of their ability. Northern friends and
sylnpatlizers did the rest. a splendid three
story brick structure, with manSard roof now
stands on the church lot-a monument TO the
zeal OF his race and the li6eralty Of his
Northern sympathlZers. A greater part of
the structure has been recently plaStered,
and made habitahe Superintendent VIII
iamS and a corps of efficient teachers live In
the building, and some fifteen or twenty
boarding scholars have quarters IN the COL
legc.
He has lately received valuable aid from
Washington In the way Of desks and seats
q generous friend In that city having given
the seats. and paid for their transportation to
.Abbeylle.
The institution Is practically out of debt. and
the work In the college. and Oh tile farm,
which Is connected with the school, pro-
crosses in Il satisfactory manner. and the
friends Of the cOlored people who may have
contributed TO the establishment OF this In
stituton would experience sense Of gratid-
cation If they knew how faithfully and how
practically their money has been spent, and
they would give 10 their wards and bcnetlc-
iaries still more hearty Godspeed If they
could realize their great Improvement in all
that constitutes true citizenship.
The founders and builders OF such institu-
tions as Ferguson Academy make their i'm
press upon all the people who receive the
blessings which such colleges confer.