The Monroe journal., 1922-12-05
Late d. A. Covington Was
First to Erect Phone Line
Faro Monroe LAWYER Had His Residence Connected With His
Office: Zeb Green Writes Interestingly of Local History
For the Past Thirty Years-Tes of the Esab-
lishment of His Paper. "Our Home

attempted 10 get experience in the
mechanical end of the enterprise |
never discovered il. Incidentally LED
me say in this connection every prac-
teal printer who sets type either by
hand or at the machine has often.
times regretted that all editorial
proofreaders are not practical print
ers.
When The Home was established
II MarShville the late J. II. Benton
vas postmaster here. In 1895 he
moved to Wadesboro and was sgc-
seeded BY Jasper King. The latter
also held the position as station
agent. and he could have easily held
two or three other jobs at Beaver
Dam" without being under strain
from over-work. However, Mr., King
resigned in a few months and was
succeeded as railway agent by J. [.
Marsh and as postmaster by Fred
". Ashcraft. For diversion Fred
taught in the public schools during
winter season and left Fate Marsh
in charge as assistant postmaster.
In the summer of 1894, Fred was
stricken with typhoid fever and while
he was away Fate mistook the four
cent stamps for one-cent stamps ana
sold them for one-cent each. THIS
was The biggest cut-price ever pulled
off either before or since that time.
After Postmaster Ashcraft had
returned to the office and discovered
the mistake Of his assistant il was
a shock for him in his weakened con-
Gition as well as a financial en-
barraSSment. for it required some
thing like months income 10 re-
pay the loss. But he took it all N
good humor, and retained his assis-
tant.
When Plummer Stewart began
teaching in Marshville Academy in
the fall of 1894 it marked new
epoch in educational methods in this
community. Like hundreds of others
who went out from Prof. o. c. Hamil-
tons school at Union Institute and
forged above the average in various
lines Of activity, Plummer Stewart
became a dynamo as principal of the
school and many of his former stud
ents are rendering distinguished SER
vice in professional and business
enterprises. No mathematician will
ever be able to make an approx
mately correct estimate Of the cum
ulative benifcent results, directly
and indirectly, that must be credited
to the personal service of o. C.
Hamilton as principal of Union In.
stitute. There had been two ruraI
schools that had won deserved dis.
tinction, first at Gilboa under the late
John c. Marsh and at Rock Rest
under supervision of the late Mr.. anC
Mrs. J. b. Ashcraft, but the begin
ming of the active county educationa
spirit was in the establishment OF
Union Institute during the latter par
of the decade of 1880.
The files of local papers published
during the nineties have almost week
II records Of sickness or death from
/ typhoid fever. In the spring of lS9;
Charley Asheraft, son of the Mr.. anC
Mrs. T. f. Ashcraft. was .triche'
suddenly while teaching and died o.
fever after only four days sickness
OF the same malady two other broth
ers, John and Ernest, died within
the next few months and The HON,
Of July, 1898, reported the serious
illness Of the only remaining son o
the family Of four boys, Hugh G
Ashcraft. The latter recovered, il
now a leading resident farmer o
Mecklenburg county. Medical scienc,
had not then discovered that typhoit
fever can be effectively prevented b.