davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1903-07-26

taking of these pioneers in education was
not all in vain. for the old school with its
quaint buildings, nestled In a grove of
stately oaks near Kenansville, braved the
storms of adversely for almost a century
even through the Civil War, and offered
its instruction to seekers of knowledge
from all parts of North Carolina.
In the year 1895 Rev Samuel Stanford
came from Orange county to kenansvlile
and assumed control of the Grove Aca-
deny, which position he held until quite
an old man. From 1880 to 1910 Andrew
Manspeaker was Ill charge, and from lS45
until after the war the Rev. James M.
Sprunt, d. D., graduate OF the Unyer-
sity of Edinburgh Scotland, and scholar
of great attainments, was at Its head. He
was succeeded by Professor 5. w. Gle
ment, graduate OF the University OF
North Carolina.
Many distinguished men have been edu-
Gated here, including w. r. King, Vice
President of the United States. The Acad-
envy attained its greatest success and
probably accomplished its greatest good
under the faithful and scholarly manage
ment of the Rev. James M. Sprunt. d.
D., for whom the present James Sprunt
Institute of Kenansville was named.
DESCRIPTION OF KENANSVILLE.
There is no village in North Carolina
east of the mountains that compares IN
beauty and picturesqueness with henans-
vile, the county seat of Duplln. 1t Is
situated upon a rolling, undulatlng eleVa-
ton superior in every respect TO any other
place in Eastern North Carolina Its
drainage is natural and perfect; its trees
are beautiful and symmetrical; Its moral
surroundings are unsurpassed; It's culture
and refinement are not excelled any
where. It's genial atmosphere, It's salu-
brious climate, its healthful surroundings,
and its location seven miles from the rail
road-where it is neither disturbed by
the hum of factory nor the immoral IN
f1uence usually prevalent III such towns
make it an ideal spot for study ana Tor
the attainment of those graces ana ac-
complishments which count IN producing
refinement and in building character
Unique in it's records and rich In colonial
history the little town stands out pre-
emnently as a place of interest and antlq-
uity.
AS summer and winter resort 1t offers
superior advantages, especially TO those
who seek rest and quiet instead OF the
rush and hustle of gayer places.
The town spring, with the capacity Oh
more than a GALLON per minute furnishes
the little village with a hundred tunes the
| amount Of pure watet actually needed,
The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1903-07-26

ed as an argument why 1T should re-
ceive the honor. tie fact that it was stu
ated upon the North East River about
the head OF navigation, which was the
only outlet to Wilmington at that time,
there being no railroads in operation. Be
tween the two contesting places the vote
of the justices OF the county was a tie,
and General James Kenan, who was chair
man of the board and whose home was at
the old court house. cast the deciding vote
in favor of the present site and for him
the little town was named.
EARLY EDUCATION IN KENANS-
VILE.
Before the new court house had been
make Kenansville an educational center,
and as early as 1886 the following was
written about the place and about the
proposed school: "At our last session Of
Assembly in this State we got an act pass
ed for establishing an Academy for the
education of youth in the Grove neigh
borhood In this county. This school IS
fixed in the heart of the Presbyterian set
tlement where our family all live and we
have considerable share in conducting
it. We have purchased piece OF ground
pleasantly situated for the purpose, on
which we are now building a house, which
we expect will be finished about twelve
months hence. From the pleasantness and
agreeableness of the situation and the
The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1903-07-26

ton at very low rate of $1,000 per term
Of four months. Last year Miss May
Farrior completed the four years course
and received the first diploma conferred
by the Institute She is a mere girl, but
before graduating she wrote piece of
music, which has been published and
from the sale of which she receives con
siderable compensation.
OFFICERS AND INSTRUCTORS.
REV. w. NJ SHAW, President. Bible
Course and Greek.
MISS MARGARET HILL PIERCE, Lady
Principal. Latin and French
MISS MARY FAISON DE VANE. Eng
lish and History.
MISS MARIA D. LOFTIN. Mathema-
tics and Science.
MISS sETHELLE BOYD. Primary.
MISS ELIZABETH COWAN. Instru-
mental Music.
MISS MARY COOPER. Matron
DR. j. w BLOUNT Resident Physi-
clan.
An instructor in voice culture and the
violin will be added before the opening
in September.
TRUSTEES:
Rev Peter Mcintyre, President, Faison,
n. c.
DR.. j. w. Blount. Kenansville, N. C.
Henry Farrior, Kenansville, N. G.
S. B. Newton. Kenansville N. c.
B. F. Hall, Wilmington. N. C.
Oscar Pearsall, Wilmington, N. C.
Rodolph Duffy, Catherine Lake, N. c.
T. B. Peiree, Warsaw, N. c.
S. O.. Middleton, Hallsville, N. C.
SOME OTHER MATTERS OF INTEREST.
The James Sprunt Institute is not CO.
educational institution. 1t is not mixed
school in any sense of the word but was
primarily intended for the education OF
worthy girls in Duplin and adjoining
counties. But the education of the boys
is not neglected in Kenansville. Mr. w.
NJ Shaw, president of the school, who is
a practical and experienced teacher has
arranged to take under his immediate
control and as members of his family. a
limited number of boys not exceeding
twenty, who will have every attention
that they would at their own homes They
will have the benefit of the regular col
lege course at a small cost, though they
neither board nor study in the school
building This arrangement has been made
On account OF those parents who have
boys and girls to send to school and desire
not to have them too widely separated
and for the purpose of doing something
for a few boys who are not able to go
to more expensive schools.
The fact that Kenansvlle is situated
away from those things that distract the
mind of the student, that it has three
mails per day from the railroad and from
other places that it has telephone and
telegraph connections with the entire
State, and that it is a place both health
full and picturesque makes it an ideal
spot for a great educational institution;
and those who have established and nur-
tured the James Sprunt Institute, IN
memory of that beloved and scholarly
man and minister, Rev James NJ Sprunt.
D. D., are living to see their most ardent
expectations realized.
The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1903-07-26

and every summer brings rest seekers
here, who go away much benefited. The
surrounding country offers great sport
for quail shooting and northerners often
spend the winters here.
THE JAMES SPRUNT INSTITUTE
AN UP-TO-DATE FEMALE
COLLEGE.
In 1896 DR.. James w. Blount and Mr..
Henry Farrior, two OF Duphn's most re-
spected and publc-spirited citizens, con
ceived the idea of establishing at Kenans-
vile first class boarding school, whose
chief purpose should be to educate the
poor girls of the county who were not
able to pay the usual expenses necessary
at other colleges. With this end IN view,
they purchased and put in good condition,
at their own expense, valuable piece OF
property, beautifully situated in Kenans-
vile, and after equlpplng the buildings,
donated the property, as tree gift, TO
the Wilmington Presbytery Tor the pur-
poses of female college. The Presby-
terry assumed the responsibility of the OPP
portunity offered it, and the success OF
the school has been most gratifying. The
last report of the Trustees speaks Tor
itself, a part of which we quote as fol
lows:
at has been the object of your Board
of Trustees to make the teaching the tea-
ture of this school and they believe that
IN this direction better results than ever
have been accomplished.
In each department a well equipped
teacher has done excellent work.
AS a preparatory school Of the first or
der we challenge comparison with any
school of its class in the State.
It was a James Sprunt Institute girl
who last year entered the full junior
course at the State Normal School IN
Greensboro, being the only girl who, in
the history of the State Normal, had so
entered
More and more as our school ages 1t
justif1es our claim to high grade Insti
tuition. where fine advantages of secular
education are combined with Christian in
fuences and the atmosphere of cultured
and refined home life.
Away from the hustle and the noise OF
/ the factory and the ship, in dreamy, pic
/ turesque Kenansville with its classic as
! sociations and refined society, there is
unusual opportunity for the development
The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1903-07-26

By J. O. CARR.

country adjacent around it, which is gen
orally esteemed very healthy, we have
the greatest expectation that the success
of it will be agreeable to our wishes. The
presidency or tuition of this academy
we think at the beginning or soon after
will be as good as one hundred pounds
sterling per annum, but no gentleman
will be admitted to this charge unless he
be of approved abilities and good con-
duct. and good sound moral character. We
think a gentleman of the clergy might
have a meeting house in the neighborhood
and a small congregation and superlntend
the academy also, having a prudent young
gentleman as a teacher under him and
might by that means acquire a genteel
support AS no gentleman is yet engaged,
if you were here and the acceptance of it
agreeable to you, / would not make the
least doubt of your obtaining it. think
we could have the interest of the trustees
in your favor, but as matters may be pre-
carious, | will not advise you to come in
this expectation unless it be your wish
and desire to come to America"
The gentleman to whom this letter was
written was a learned and cultured Pres
byterian minister then living in ireland,
and by the writer we are further told that
the Sciences and the Latin and Greek
languages were taught in this school,
which was the "first attempt that has
ever been made to teach the languages in
this part of the country; and the writer
further expressed the hope that this in
FAINT institution of learning might yet be-
come profitable and rise to repute. Hence
it will be seen that more than one hun
bred years ago this community was en-
tering the fight for an intelligent citizen
ship, and that the inhabitants in the good
old days were interested in the education
of their children The first trustees Of
the Grove Academy were Thomas Rut-
ledge, James Kenan, Joseph Dickson,
Thomas Gray. William Dickson, David
Dodd. John James, Israel Bordeaux and
James Gillespie. The organization of this
institution was four years before the Uni
versity was chartered, and this historical
old academy was authorized by law to
issue to its students diplomas or certi-
ficates of literary merit" In 1871 the
Fayetteville Gazette contained an elabor-
ate advertisement of this school which
shows that its course of instruction was
both thorough and extensive. The under
The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1903-07-26
RESIDENCE OF THE LATE JAMES D. KENANSVIE
the Propert of Niss

The beginnings of Kenansvile date back
long before the Revolution. AS early as
1749 little colony of immigrants, seek
ing home of freedom and of rest from
persecution, landed in Wilmington and
turned their faces towards the wilderness
of North Carolina as welcome substitute
for their former homes. In this colony
was brave captain, who, while earning
his living amid the perils OF the sea,
wished to establish a home for his wife,
who would be secure from danger during
his absence Captain Beverett and his
wife with others, proceeded north from
Wilmington until they had reached the
present site of Kenansville, where only
short while since the Tuscarora Indian had
roamed the forest and had left the cele-
brated 'Indian Graves" as testimonial
of his war-like nature. But no longer
was there danger from the red man, and
Captain Beverett built here comfort
able hut for his wife, who was only
blushing bride, and he himself returned
to his perilous occupation on the sea. But
unfortunately he became the victim OF
terrible storm and young widow and
child were left to fight the battle of life
alone
A reliable tradition tells us that Mrs.
Barbara Beverett dug with her own hands
the present town spring. which for more
than century and half has never ceas-
ed to furnish abundant supply of pure
crystal water to all who sought to quench
their thirst from its perpetual stream.
Mrs. Beverett married again, and many
of her descendants, from time to time,
now drink of the same stream.
sor1E EARLY HISTORY.
The original settlement was Presbyte-
rian one, and was known as the Grove
Ncighborhood With the beginning of
the community went hand in hand the
beginning of religion and education. 1t
was the home of the first organized Pres
byterian Church in North Carolina. The
first Presbyterian minister who brought
the gospel to North Carolina was Rev.
William Robinson, who was sent out as
missionary from Virginia to visit this
and other Presbyterian colonies. He
spent the winter of 1742 and '43 in Duplin
county, and especially in this neighbor-
hood where he organized the first Pres
byterian congregation in North Carolina
(whether with regular church officers Is
not definitely known), whose place OF
worship was IT first called Goshen, .
several miles north of the present site OF
Kenansville. Some years later, likely
about 1850, the place of worship was
moved to the place now marked by the
"Rutledge Grave Yard on a high cliff
near the Grove Swamp just east of Ke-
Evansville; and from that day until this the
Presbyterian church at Kenansville has
80. i
If Foote's Sketches of North Carolina can
be relied on, is the oldest organized Pres
byterian church in North Carolina. And
besides the historical records that we
have there is abundant tradition as well
as other information which proves conclu-
sively that this is true.
Until 1856 the county court house OF
Duplin was located about three miles
west of Warsaw at place now within
the bounds of Sampson county: but af
The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1903-07-26

ter Sampson county was cut off from
Duplin, in 1884, it became necessary to
establish a court house in a more central
part of the county. For this honor two
places were fierce contestants. One was
the present place of Kenansville and the
other Sarecta, on the banks of the North
East River The former urged as its
right to claim the court house the strong,
substantial settlement which had grown
up there, and especially the spring of
pure water which had become famous
throughout the county. The latter offer
The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1903-07-26

ton at actual cost and no money IS made
out of the students. The trustees are en-
abled to make the cost very low by rea-
son of the fact that provisions are pur-
chased directly from the farmer and no
profit is paid to any one. The total eX-
pense per year does not exceed 100000.
The social and religious life of the girls
receives special attention, and while the
discipline of the school is firm it is not
unreasonable. Pupils are regarded as
members of the family and the
social intercourse is without restraint.
Every effort is made to promote their hap
pness and to establish cordial relation
between teacher and pupil. While the
school is under control of Presbytery it
places no restriction on the denominations
al views of those students who hold other
beliefs, and they are free to attend any
o. the Protestant churches IN town. Bible
courses are required ia the school and
the Blakeslee System is used principally
Uniforms have been adopted by the
school, and while they are not compul-
sorry, yet they are recommended on ac-
count Of their cheapness and neatness.
Serge. tailor-made suits with hats to
match are used for winter. 1t is cheaper
to have suits made by one firm and meas
ures will be taken after students arrive.
For early fall white pique skirts and shirt
waists will be used. This each student
should bring with her.
The buildings are being completely re-
uovated, and an adequate supply of black
boards and desks-the gift of Col. Thomas
S. Kenan-have recently been added.
There are two literary societies kept up
in connection with the school and the Ii
brary is constantly increasing in size and
efficiency. Outdoor exercises and health
full games are encouraged and the physi-
cal education of the students receives spe-
cial attention.
COURSE OF STUDY.
The Institute makes no claim to high
grade curriculum, but it challenges any
school to excel it in thoroughness. A
girl can easily enter the junior class at
any female college in the State after hav-
ing completed the course here. The fol
lowing is the prescribed course Of study:
First Year: Arithmetic, Grammar, His
tory of the United States. Latin and
Physiology
Second Year: Algebra begun, English
History, Rhetoric. Latin and Physical
Geography.
Third Year: Algebra finished Geometry
begun, Ancient History, Literature and
Latin.
Fourth Year Geometry finished, Trig
geometry begun, Modern History, Eliza
bethan Era, Latin.
MUSIC DEPARTMENT..
There is no similar school in North
Carolina. that can offer to the public a
more complete musical education than
the James Sprunt Institute offers. This
department is under the direction and
management of a most accomplished must
elan, Miss Elizabeth Cowan. In order
that the poor may have the advantage OF
musical education equal to that given
at the leading colleges, the Institute has
assumed the responsibility Of this course,
has furnished the department with the
best Instruments, and offers such instruc-
The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1903-07-26

of that love of nature, for the cultivation
of that calm thoughtfulness that so digni-
fies and beauties womans character, and
gives that poise so needed in these days
oil noise and nerves and recklessness. This
advantage more thar compensates for any
present inconvenience of approach by
steam or electric modern travel
The following statistics will give some
idea of the gradual and steady growth OF
this school:
For the last school years of the Rev.
Mr. Lancaster's administration, 1S99-19OO,
the enrolment of pupils was fifty-six. The
next year, 1900-1901, the enrolment was
sixtyrseven. The next year, 1901 to 1902,
the enrolment was ninety one, and the
present year. 1929 shows an enroll
ment of ninety-five pupils.
The number of teachers for the first
year of this schools existence was three
and the number now, including'the super
intendent, Rev. Mr.. Shaw, is eight
For the school year, 1899 to 1900, the
total revenue was $1,S75.27; total expendi-
lures S1,S6792.
The total revenue for this present
school year viii be about $4,000. Total
expenditures, $4,000, leaving balance to
the credit of the school of 500.
These figures are highly satisfactory in
that they show steady increase in pat
ronage, a larger revenue well expended
and hopeful financial condition
The canvass for the twentieth Cen
fury Fund" has so far resulted in the
subscription of at least $1,000 for this
school This fund we hope will remove
all Indebtedness and leave us a balance
of nice sum for improvements Our in
debtedness consists of two mortgages, one
$4,000 with interest and one of 1916 SO
with interest.
The trustees have given the school their
closest attention. They have had regular
monthly meetings at which all matters
pertaining to the welfare of the school
have been fully discussed, and such steps
taken as commended themselves to the
best judgment of the Board.
When necessary they have given person
al financial support
They believe they have made substan-
ital progress and that the school today is
on sure basis and in a position to grow
strong and mighty as a Christian Institu-
ton of learning for the girls of Eastern
North Carolina"
GENERAL INFORMATION.
The school year consists of two terms
beginning on September 1st, and closing
The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1903-07-26
GENERAL INFORMATION.

The school year consists of two terms
beginning on September 1st, and closing
on December Bird, 1908, ard again on
January 9Th and closing on April Goth,
1904 The Institute furnishes an educa-
Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1903-11-04
Fatal Wreck on Santa Fe.

Kansas City, October 29.-The
eastbound train No. 2 from California,
on the Santa Fe, which left Kansas
City at 6 O'Clock last night, was
wrecked at 8: 80 o'clock at Dean
Lake, Mo-, 35 miles east of Kansas
City. Mrs. Emma Booth Tucker, of
the Salvation Army, was fatally
injured, dying at $3.50 o'clock this
morning at Maceline, Mo. Col.
Thomas Holland, of the Salvation
Army colony at Amity, Colo, was
fatally injured. He died early to-
day. Two others were fatally injured
and thirteen received more or less
serious wounds.
The train ran into an open switch
and struck large steel water tank
with such force as to move it five
feet from it's foundation and throw
five cars from the track, completely
wrecking them. The only cars
escaping we're the mail, express an6
day coaches. The brake rod to the
sleeper dropped down and caught or
the switch this quickly derailed thil
car and another sleeper, the dining
car anG Pullman following.
Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1903-11-04
Atlanta Newspaper Man In Luck.

Atlanta, October 28.--Gordon
Noel Hurtel, the well known news
paper man ofAtlanta, has fallen heir
to an estate of many million francs
in France, and it is stated that his
individual share will be over 1000
900 francs. The announcement
comes through the French consul at
Mobile, who was notified by the
French government that there was a
vast estate belonging to the Hurtel
heirs in France, and asked for any
traces of the family in this part of
the United States. The necessary
papers, identifying Mr.. Hurtel with
with the family whose heirs were
sought, have been prepared and are
now in the hands of the French con-
sui whom it is believed will secure
the property in short while. The
family of Mr.. Hurtel were Bonapart-
lists and left France during the
reign of terror, leaving all property
behind. Mr.. Hurtel is one of the
best known members of the Atlanta
newspaper profession.
Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1903-11-04
Strong Action on Divorce.

Washington, d. c., October 28.-
Strong action was taken by the gen.
eral convention of the Universalist
church yesterday on the divorce
question. 1t unanimously passed q
resolution reporting its unqualified
belief in the sacred relation of mar
riage condemning the evil of hasty
and ill-considered marriages and ex-
pressing its grave concern over the
multiplication of divorces and the
breaking down of the home life
The resolution enjoined on the
ministers of the church the utmost
care in performing the marriage
ceremony and ordered rigid investiga.
tion into the case of the marriage
of any divorced person, "in order
that none but the innocent should
have the service of the ministry
1t also strongly recommended q
uniform national divorce law.
Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1903-11-04
Clifton Company Gives Contract.

Sparlanburg, October 28.-The
Clifton Manufacturing Company yes
terday let the contract for rebuilding
Mill No. 3, which was totally de-
stroyed by the flood on June 6 last.
The contract was let to T. G. Thomp.
son and Bro, contractors, of Birm-
ingham, Ala. The contract calls
for its completion by April l, 1904.
The mill is to be rebuilt on the hill,
about 200 yards above the former
site and where a disaster like the re-
cent one will be impossible. A mill
of about $4,000 spindles is to be
built and a finer class of goods made
than at the old mill