The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1895-05-23


history is closely associated with that
of woman who is declared by the st.
Louis Globe-Democrat to have come
pretty near to being queen in reality
as we'll as in name.
It was in 1866 that Ellen Quinn
vent from Western North Carolina
to this part of Texas. As would be
judged from her name, she had Irish
blood in her veins, but it was mixed
with copious strain Of Indian, de.
rived from the Cherokees that still in
habit reserve among the Carolina
Mountains. Just under what ci1cum-
stances she left her native State no
one seems to remember, but soon
after she announced her intention to
open q school for the benefit of the
surrounding country. It seemed as
if the school would likelySbeneft the
Country" literally SO called, as there
were very few inhabitants to get the
good of it. What few men there
we're, however, got together and put
up house for her. It was the first
schoolhouse ever put up in Montague
County, and was made of rough
logs cut from the timber surrounding
the base of what is now known as
Queens Peak It was situated about
half way up on the southern side in
order to protect it from the cold
northern winds of winter. There
were several reasons why this site was
chosen. Wood was near at hand for
building the house and supplying the
fires in winter, which items were very
important ones to the Texans of those
days. Water could be obtained from
spring close at hand, and this also
was not to be sighted. : Moreover,
the Peak, though only & hundred or
80 feet above the surrounding prairie,
was the highest point for miles
around, and from it's summit watch
could be kept for the approach OF
indians or other hostile characters.
From it signals could be given in case
Of danger.
School opened with four pupils, all
Of whom came from the only house
within two miles of the place. Soon,
however, it began to increase as the
fact Of it's existence began to be noised
abroad through the country. =; Grown
men who had come to Texas when
boys and who had lived on the frontier
without educational advantages would
come to school to Miss Quinn in order
TO redeem their lost time. They came
from anywhere within 100 or 200 miles.
Most of them could come for only
Few months consecutively, at times
when there was little to do on farm or
ranch, but they put in good work
when they did come. For some months
the attendance would run as hig gh as
thirty aad then again it would drop
down to three or four. Tuition WAS
uniformly So per month. It must have
been al interesting sight to sec the
little room crowded with big, bearded
cowboys poring over their books.
They probably had spurs jingling at
their heels and big six-shooters dang
ling from their belts, but the black
haired little lndian-Irisl woman was
mistress for all that. On one occa-
sion big six-footer refused to obey
some command she had given him. Co.
ing to the -four sack in which she kept
collection of her miscellaneous be-
Iongings, she gathered up handful of
black pepper. She had probably pre-
pared this for just such emergencies,
and before her recalcitrant pupil knew
what was coming she threw the pepper
square i1to his eyes. The bully sprang
TO his feet with roar of pain, while
the rest of the school shouted up
roarious approval of the act of discl-
pine. Then o dozen of the devotees
of learning grabbed and carried him
bodily to the foot of the Peak. He
was then informed that if he ever en-
tered the schoolroom again or IN env
way molested the teacher there woul9
be feast for buzzards and coyotes.
For while Ellen Quinn was troubled
by occasional travellers who, In pass
ing through the country, would usa
her schoolhouses as a lodging place 1o7
the night. One night, just as such q
party were pushing in the door. aroa1
like that of a cannon started them, and
on investigation it was found that a
rusty old musket had discharged about
8 double handful of slugs into the roof
with force enough to have killed O
dozen men bad they been in The way.
From :hat time on 10 nocturnal IN