Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1900-07-25

Taylor King, David Mossor, Joseph
Berry Sanders, Rov. James H. Sui
Ivan. William Cephas McCarloy, Noill
Webster hiacaulay, John Althous
Johnson.. Samuel Pctigru, Stribling,
Rev. William w. Leathers, ROY.
Burris, William A. Sheldon, Mumford
Stokes Strbling, Rev. John B. Dickson,
Rev. d. Bedford Waite, William Alex
ander Dickson, Rev. James Michael
Mcclure, Rev. Morris G. Barton, Miss
Fannie Sheldon, William Franklin
Farmer.
Itappcars, therefore, that thore have
boon twonty-six teachers since tho
school began, and that the average term
has beenIone and elve-thirtoenths years
Those making tho longest periods of
continuous sorvico were Rov. G. ii.
Spears, Rev. G. II. Gresham and w. A.
Dickson, tho two last named touching
four years each.
Of tho twonty-six teachers, twelve,
5. p. Stribling, w. W. IIoathors, G. II.
Gresham, Il. II. Burriss, W. A. Sheldon,
NJ. S. Stribling, j.. B. Dickson, ID. b.
Waite, NJ. G. Barton, Miss Fannie Shol-
don and w. Il. Farmer have had moro or
less college training, and several of
these aro full graduates
TO Miss Fannie Sheldon belongs tho
distinction Of boing a momber of tho first
class graduated by Winthrop College,
and to Mr. W. +. Farmer that Of being
tho only graduate of the South Carolina
NJ Military Academy in tho list.
Rev. g. ii. Spears, Of Franklin county,
Georgia, then thirtytwo years of age,
was chosen to teach tho first school, in
decd, | am informed tho house was built
with Wow of securing his services, and
so acceptable did he prove himself to DO,
| raising tho educational spirit to so high
a pitch, that ho was hold for four or five
years. 1t was during this period that
tho school rose to high water mark.
Young mon and women came from dis
tanco in numbers to attend tho school,
and tho animating spirit impaired by the
teacher pormcatcd, not only tho school,
but tho ontiro neighborhood. Thoro was
Il big exhibition, so popular in anti-bel-
lum times, every year, and on ono occa-
sion thorc was barbecue at which there
were some thrco thousand pounds of bar
becucd meats.
In many respects Mr. Spcares was re-
markablo man. Not educated in the
modern acceptation of the term, ho nov
crtholcss became highly practical and
successful teacher, reaching and holding
place in the front rank. He did not
| enter school until he was fairly grown,
AND nnd SO awkward did ho feel among the
little follows Of his class that lie was on
tho point Of giving up. But his teacher
encouraging him, ho hold on, and before
the year was out ho had outstrpped
several classes which stood above him at
tho beginning. He soon began to teach
and so rapidly did his fame, as a teacher,
spread and so fast did his pupils advance
march ahead of them. He was local
preacher in the Methodist church, and
while ho was fairly good preacher, tho
principal charm of his pulpit efforts was
his magnificent singing.
About the year 1860 the people here
called him back, and raising something
of the enthusiasm Of former times ho
taught four years more and died in har-
ness, October, 1873, aged iifty-tivo years.
His body found scpulturc in the grave
yard here upon the scene Of his richest
and most abundant labors. But he rests
in an unmarked grave, and tho forma-
ton here to-day of Spcarcs Memorial
Association would be a graceful tribute
to the man and his work.
The second teacher, Robert Pullam,
OF Georgia, taught but Il year, and later
lost his life in the service Of the Confcde
| racy.
lIo was succeeded by Rev. II. NJ. Bar
ton who, however, broke moro of the
bread of life to this people than he found
for their children tho grain of earthly
knowledge. lIo preferred preaching to
an instructor of the young, Martin Bar
ton shone brightest as herald of the
| Cross. | cannot let this occasion pass
to emphasize his wonderful gift of ora
| tory. He knew nothing of the arts of
the trained elocutionist and lacked the
graces of the polished speaker, perhaps,
but he often swept his auditory with
flashes of the purest eloquencc. He, too,
rests i'll South Union graveyard, but
beneath shaft raised by popular sub
scription.
The next teacher in order was Elijah
Reese, born and reared in this ncighbor-
hood, and suppose, pupil here Of Mr..
Spears. He did not teach long, but be-
came printer and died some years ago
at the head of an influential newspaper
at Edgefold. S. G.
Miss Eliza Bibb, also a pupil Of Mr..
Spears, now Mrs. Samuel Burns, of Bar
tow county, Georgia, taught next.
| Rcv. j. III. Sullivan taught ono year,
afterward sold goods successfully at Fort
Madison, where he died a few years ago
David Mcsscr taught one year, in 1861 :,
and now lives in Atlanta, Ga.
Tho year 1865 found tho school in
charge Of Miss Fannie Dumas, Of Geor-
gia. She had to deal with young men
who had been in the army, but sho
made them toe tho mark, and John Jol-
Icy, survivor of the crater incident at
Petersburg, told me in effect, tho other
day, that the boys would as willingly
riskcd fooling with the Yankees as with
| her.
Mr.. J. II. King, of Westminster, taught
iii the year 1866, bit liz soum gave ;:p
teaching and engaged in other pursuits
lo was good instructor and discipline
rian, and the cause suffered a loss
when he abandoned the work.
j. B. Sanders, Esq, Of Oakway, came
next, and it will be a surprise to many
to know that he ever taught school, for
| he has been out Of tho business so long
| finding land surveying and the diSpcn.
sing of justice in the name of the State
far more cOngcnial than cutting and
using hickory withcs from tho forests of
South Union.
| w. G. McCarley taught ono year, went
| to merchandising and died at Seneca in
| 1897.
He was followed by n. w. Macaulay,
OF Mccklcnburg county, North Carolina,
who taught two years and was later
| elected School Commissioner Of Oconcc
County and served two terms. He is now
teaching in his native county
J. a. Johnson, of Abbcvillc county,
| succeeded Mr.. Maeaulay, teaching but
one year. lie soon quit the business en-
| tered the profession of the law, and is
now prominent attorney at the National
| Capital.
S. =. Stribling has seen much service
| as teacher in the schools Of the county,
and it was during his term as School
| Commissioner that OcOnco county was
| laid on in tho present system Of school
districts. Mr. Stribing taught here SOY.
cral years with success.
| w w | pnthnrc I,,I