Semi-weekly herald., 1915-11-18


2 who has ever lived" Other disting-
! uished men have spoken of him with
r the same degree of admiration and
i have honored him as friend.
Booker t. Washington was born a
! slave, at Hale's Ford, Va in 1857
5 or 1858. His owners name was John
Burroughs. His mother was the plan
tation cook and had several children,
, all born in slavery. Booker never
r learned with certainty the name of
his father. All he knew was that he
was white man. At the close of the
war his mother, Jane Ferguson and
his stepfather took him, with the rest
of the family, to Maiden, w. Va,
where he was put to work at a salt
, furnace. He had never been to school
but was ambitions to obtain an edu-
cation. After while he managed to
attend night school for three or four
months year. Then his mother died
and Booker was compelled to earn his
own living.
After working in the mines and fur
naces for some time, he obtained en-
ployment at the house of Mrs. Faris
Ruffner, lady of New England birth
and training, who, though very ex-
acting, regarding all matters of work,
gave him opportunity to continue his
studies. Having heard of Hampton
Institute in Virginia, he determined
to go there. With his small earnings
and little money which his broth
er, John II. Washington, had given
him, Booker was enabled to reach
Richmond, Va, arriving there penni-
less.
Finding shelter in hole under the
sidewalk he slept there all night,
awakening next day to find himself
near dock, where pig iron was un-
loaded from a vessel Securing work
from the captain, Booker Washing
ton remained there until he had en-
ouph money TO pay his way to Hamp-
ton and 80 cents over. He enrolled
at Hampton Institute and TO pay his
tuition became assistant ianitor. He
graduated with honors three years
later and then returned to West
Virginia where he taught school for a
while. Next he entered Wayland
Seminary, Washington, D. c., where
he remained one year, until he was
offered a professorship at Hampton
institute. He accepted it and remain
ed in that position for two years.
In 1881 application was made to
General S. c. Armstrong by citizens
. Of Tuskcgee, Ala, for some one to
start an institution at that place, on
the order Of the Hampton Institute.
Booker Washington was recommends
ed for the position and accepted with
enthusiasm. Upon reaching Tuskegee
he found neither land nor buildings,
only promise by the state to con-
truibute $4,000 annually toward the
expenses of the school. Booker Wash
ington started the school in an old
church and shanty with thirty stu
dents. He was the only teacher.
After short time Mr.. Washing
ton bought an old plantation for $500
paying down $3.50 which he had bor-
rowed from General J. f. b. Mar
shall, one of hes old teachers at Ham
, pton Institute. By herculean efforts
he managed to raise enough money
during the next five months pay
4 off the debt. Now after "a years
t of existence the schools plant with
: its $500 acres of land and it 40 or
more buildings, is estimated to be
worth more than s1,500,000. Its an
nual income from all sources is about
q $325,00O, a considerable part of which
comes from benefactions. Last year
/ the number of students was 1862,
not counting the $50 children of the
training school. There are 167 off
o GERS, instructors and helpers and
training is given in 3S industries or
a trades, in addition to the academic
I work. Since 1882, more then 5000
graduates and such young men and
women who have taken partial cours-
,. es, have been sent out. all qualified
TO do good service rs teachers or in
dust.ial workers.
a The remarkable seccess of the insti-
tute, which was incorporated in 1892
d under the name Of the Tuskegee
Normal and Industrial Institute, was
= due entirely to the eminent ability
f tremendous energy and unflinching
G determination of Booker Washington.
q His efforts received universal recog-
n milton in all parts of the country and
r Mr.. Washington was honored as one
Of the greatest men of his time and
Il especially as the greatest benefactol
of his race. Harvard University and
several other universities and col
leges conferred honorary degrees up.