Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1895-06-16
hra,ed Natural Bridge In the southeast
part.
FIRST ScOTCH-IRISH SCHOOL

were unable TO attend the northern col
lcge Agents were appointed 10 solicit and
receive donations. and trustees were APP
pointed TO carry the plans into execution.
! but the location was changed because
there was no one TO assume the manage
ment az the place first agreed on-Staun-
ton-and, more for an experiment than
anything else. the trustees erected a log
building on the summit Of a hill. in a
grove. on Timber Ridge. about a mile
northwest OF the present village OF Fair
field. The building was situated In
populous district. and II afforded plenty
OF firewood. timber for building purposes.
and fine spring OF water flowed from
the hillside. and the students had view
OF the country below, and the Blue Ridge
mountains. The school was appropriately
named Mount Pleasant Academy. This
was the first germ OF Liberty Hall. Wash
ington College. now Washington and Lee
University. The school was under the
inspection OF Rev John Brown, pastor
of Providence church. In the northern
part Of this county Rockbrdge-an II
was managed by William Graham. who
was born in Pennsylvania. Of Scotch
Irish parents. In l7i5. lie was graduate
OF Nassau Han. and he cane 10 this part
Of the country with the character OF
gentleman OF genius. scholarship. and
piety. which character n supported
through life. The academy remained al
its FIRST location for a few years only
when land was donated for its removal
BY Samuel Houston uhe father Of the
eminent General, president and Senator
Samuel HOuston). and Alexander Stuart
father OF Judge Archibald Stuart. and
grandfather of the Hon ~ H. H. STUART.
This land consisted Of 80 acres. and WAS
about six miles south OF Mount Pleasant
Academy. az Timber Ridge meeting
house. whic. is six miles north of Lex
inCton The name Of the school WAS now
changed TO Liberty Han ard the
building was considerably larger than the
ono at Mt. Pleasant. Mr.. Graham tray
ellcd North as far as Boston TO solicit DO
nations. and with these donations a num-
Der Of instruments and books. the begin
ming OF a library, were purchased. In
the year 17i9 Lexington was established
the county seat OF Rockbridge county,
and soon after the academy was removed
TO situation one mile northwest OF the
town, and a frame building WIS erected.
and the usual instructions were continued
for a number of years. During the Reyo-
lutionary war. Mr.. Graham. clergyman,
as well as the principal of Liberty Hall.
volunteered his services on a pressing
occasion. and in concert with other volun-
teers, who, being without officers, appoint
"a MN captain anu iIdlii'I ~ I44tNt NiAN
enemy. The students OF the academy
were called forth in common with the
other militia, and were led 10 battle.
After the close of the war the number
OF students increased and n large stone
building was erected, which was capable
Of accommodating forty or fifty students.
Soon after this funds became low, and
instructors could not be procured. and
the school would have gone out of eN-
fe4a hut hs1 pf shares
Of James river stock by General Wash
ington. The shares were worth $1,000,
par value. The Legislature of the state
Al It's next nesting, changed the name or
the academy to that OF Washington
Academy. In the fall OF 1902 the trustees
had the building insured, and in January,
1913. the building took fire and Was burned
to the ground (the walls are still stand
ingl. and only the books. apparatus, and
bedding could be saved, as there was
no water near. and the fire had gotten
under Roadway before ii was discovered.
The school turned out of doors by the
fire. was driven TO town for temporary
accommodation, and brick dwelling was
obtained, and after a short time the
business OF the school was resumed,
though under much disadvantage. The
next building was erected in Lexington
and since then a number of other build
ings have been erected.
THE EARLY CHURCH OF ROCK
BRIDGE COUNTY.
The first presbyterv in Virginia was
established in 100. This was known as
the Hanover Presbytery, and was formed
by the authority Of the SYNOD OF New
York. and the presbytery first consisted
Of six ministers. including the Rev. Johh
Brown. OF New Providence; The cele-
nj Hanover
and the Rev. Alexander Craighin, OF
Windy Cove New Providence. Timber
Ridge. Falling Spring, and Halls meet
ing-house. or Monmouth, are among the
old churches in Rockbridge county. Some
Of these churches, built by the first gene.
ration, are still standing, substantial
monuments of the pious zeal OF the carry
settlers. They are built OF limestone
Of the Valley or brick, and in building
some of them before roads, wagons, anu
saw-mills could facilitate the collection OF
the materials. singular modes Of collection
had 10 be resorted TO by the builders.
The new Providence congregation packed
all the sand used in the wells OF thelr
churches from "a place six miles distant
sack by sack on the backs or horses
and what is almost incredible, Inc lair
wives and daughters of the congregation
undertook this while the men iapored
al the stone and timber. Monmouth Is
about three miles northwest OF LeNlngtoh,
and Timber Ridge is six miles north OF
this place.
SOME &XHO WILL BE PRESbNl'
Among tho.s who will be present are the
following: DR.. John Mclihany' Oh
Philadelphia; DR.. Bryson, OF Aiaoama' 80
G. Floyd. Tennessee; DR.. II. IL McDoweh,
Kentucky: DR.. Dinsmore, California;
Colonel NGlEnt,
Nashville: w. O. Mcdowell. New Jersey;
colonel j. w Echols, Pennsylvania; Hon
Henry Wallace, Iowa; George ii. Fry
Ohio. Hon. John Dalzell, Pennsylvania
DIR Robert Pillow. Tennessee; W. H.
Hunter, Texas. \. q. Adams, tennessee
Colonel william Preston johnston
louisiana; Colonel c. W Adair, Georgia.
r. X. Cassidy, Iowa; J. {. BAR Fehhsyl-
vania; ". q. Thomas, New AoIk'
j. c. Calhoun, Alabama; Colonei htau-
hurry. Pennsylvania; G. \. Carlisle lnul-
ana. DIR. John H. Rodgers. MIS-
souri,: NJ. W. McAlamey. Pennsyiyania;
Rev. A. NJ. Frazier Virginia. Mayor
Thomas Kirkpatrick. Virginia; General
John Echols, Kentucky; II. II. Houston
Philadelphia: Or. William McPheeters'
south Carolina: Rev. \. W. Sproul, Ne"
York, and Rev. MIR. Barclay. virginia:
Most of the visitors will be accompanied
by their families.
PROGRAMME IN DETAIL.
The following is the programme IN oe-
tail as IL has been arranged for me con-
gross: Thursday. June 20. lS5-Congress
10 be called to order at 10 o'clock a. NJ
bv the president OF the Scotch-lrish 80
ciety OF Rockbrdge county and the rec
TOR Of the Washington and Lee uniVer-
slty. Judge William McLauehlin. Al
dress OF welcome by the Hon. q i.
O'Ferran. Governor Of Virginia; response
by Mr. Robert Bonner, OF New ioIA'
nresident OF the society. Address. Ihe
scotch-Irish OF the Valley Of Virginia
nv Joseph A. WaGdcll. Ii. D., Stauntoh'
Va. Aftornoon-Sig Sightseeing. Evening
Reception by the Washington ana Lee
University and citizens OF Lexington.
FRIDAY. June 21st-Morning session. ~
o'clock. opening exercises. Address.
"presidents OF the Washington and Lee
University" by the Rev. Henry a. White.
on d.. H. D.. of the Washington ana
lee University: paper. The Meckien-
burg Declaration Of Independence. by
DR. George w Graham. of Charlotte
- - adfrcss "Iyhat Education Can DO