Herald and tribune. [volume] (Jonesborough, Tenn.) 1869-current, 1893-06-08
WASHINGTON COLLEGE.
Historical Sketch Of this H0nored In.
stitntiop.
BY A. N. DoBsoN. NJ. b.
mo-. IL

traveller might have been seen vending
his way through dense forests and
cane tickets, seeking n home beyond
the confines of his native State and al
most beyond civilization. Passing
through the Scotch-Irish settlements
of Virginia, he entered the territory of
North Carolina, which then embraced
all southwest of the Ohio River. Halt.
ing for short time upon the beautiful
mountain waters of the Watauga, but
mott finding perfect ideal of his fu.
ture home, he resumed his journey
westward, following the Indian hun
ters' paths down the valley and across
the hills, viewing the grand range of
the Cumberland Mountains upon his
left, Natures rocked ribbed walls
which enclosed the beautiful valley of
East Tennessee miles long and 60
to so miles wide.
AS he passed through a grove of
grand old oaks, in the springtime, he
heard the woodman's AK as they were
telling the native forest and clearing
the virgin soil for future golden har-
vests. Approaching them he found u
neighborhood gathering, composed of
Scotch Irish Presbyterians. They soon
learned the traveller was minister of
their own faith, and earnestly request
ed him to preach for them. He con.
sented. So hungry were they for the
Word of Life, they called together at
once the rustic choppers, and he, using
his horse for pulpit and the majestic
oaks for their sanctuary, preached the
first Presbyterian sermon west of the
Alleghanies. Captivated by the hos
pitality of these pioneer settlers and
the beautiful, fertile valley in which
they were located, he determined to
cast his lot with them and make that
his future home. He secured farm
on the water of Little Limestone Creek,
and soon there were three rude build
ings erected: one for his family, an
other for their church, which they cal
led Salem, now belonging to Holston
Presbytery, Synod of Tennessee, hav-
ing maintained an upbroken Organiza-
tion down to the present time; the
third building, for educational pur-
poses, soon grew into Washington Col
flese,and stands todss sosasa monument
to its Scotch Irish founder. The illus
trious founder of these time honored
institutions was Rev. Samuel Doak, d.
d., whom DR.. Ramsey, in his ANNALS
of Tennessee" most fittingly styles
The Apostle of learning and religion
in the West.n
DR.. Samuel Doak was born in Au-
gusta Co., Va, of pure Scotch-Irish
descent. Although possessed of limit
ed means, he resolved, while very
young, to secure an education. AT
the age of 10 he began the study of Lat.
in under DIR. Archibald Alexander
educator and divine. In l773, Samuel
Doak entered Princeton College then
known as Nassau HALL, under the
Presidency of DR.. Witherspoon, and
was graduated from that institution in
the year of American Independence
l776. He studied theology under DR.
Robert Smith, of Piqua, Pa, and Rev
John Blair Smith, of Hampden Sidney
College, Virginia, and was licened tc
preach by the Presby terry of Hanover
Soon after he married the daughter oil
Rev. John Montgomery, and immedi
ately moved to the Holston settlement
in East Tennessee, as has already beer
noticed.
After teaching some two years ant
meeting with signal success, this insti
tuition of learning was chartered by
the Legislature of North Carolina OF
May 9th, 1852, as Martin Academy, il
honor of Governor Martin, of North
Carolina. This institution in the wild
erness was so wonderfully blessed anC
prospered under the wise and superio
management of this jealous Scotch
Irish pioneer of religionand education
that the academy soon grew into col
lege, to meet the ideas of thorough
education which the new settlers ant
their noble leader had imbibed in ear
ly life. On the Sth day of July, 1896
this institution was chartered by tn
Legislature of the U. S. southwest O
the Ohio River as Washington College
in the honor of the illustrious Fathe
, of our country, Gen. George Washing
! ton. Hence Washington College i
| one year older than the State of Ten
nessee, and Martin Academy, from
which 1t sprang, fourteen years olde
, than the State. 'Ramsey's Annals O
Tennessee say: "This was the frs
,, literary institution ever established il
the Mississippi Valley wet of the ALLIE
: ghanies. p" The charter Of Washington
3 College was granted to twenty eigh
!, such Scotch-Irish educators and pa
! triots as Rev. Samuel Doak Tits frs
= President), Rev. Gideon Blackburn
Rev. Chas. Cummins, Gen John Sewer
: Colonel John Upton, Colonel Josep
Hamilton, James Balch, Colonel Ian
don Carter, Colonel William Cooke
Judge Joseph Anderson, David Dead
erick, John Nelson, Alex. Mathes, an
' others.
Many of these men rendered signa
service in the Revolutionary struggl,
When CORVALLIS marshalled hi
armies in the Carolinas and prou