Morgan County Democrat. (McConnelsville, Ohio) 1886-1943, 1922-03-09
History of Meigs School

Somewhere no doubt there live
men and women, could we get them
together and let them talk over old
times. who could and would tell us
much that would be of interest to
MANY who will read this. AS it is
we are thankful to all who have fur
nished us facts and we are hoping
this NAV bring from others memoir
les that should have been included.
Before any school was held at the
present location we find there was
school held on the S. e. Bone farm
near the Cotton bridge. We remem-
Der hearing the late Rena McFar-
land tell of walking from her home
near the Campbell bridge to attend
this school. Then there was
school held on the VIM. Greer farm
near the Cassie Whitehouse resi-
dence. We are unable to get any
facts. in regard to thiss school. We
are also informed there was a school
held in the brick house on what is
known as the DR.. Hall lot. There
was a school house at what the Ray
family called the corner of the field
lust a short way east of the Camp
bell bridge, and by the way, there is
a graveyard across the road from
where this school was situated. We
are unable to learn the names OF
any buried there except the For
dyce family who were related to the
John Mcdonald family, former Bris-
tol residents. This school had been
started prior to 1882, when the
writer's grandfather bought the
! farm.
Some of the teachers of that old
time school were Ben Hardin, Jesse
Tracy, Seth Andrews Nc
Kee, Brown, Chas. = Glenn,
Ben Hall, Henrietta Knox, Sarah
Knox, Mary Skivington, Electra
Moore. VIM. Finney. Then school
was held in the old Bristol church
which stood in the southwest corner
of the Meigs cemetery. The writer
helped take out some of the founda-
ton of this famous structure while
helping dig a grave. This at first
was a two story structure, one room
being used as church, the other by
the Sons ofTemperance as their hall.
School was held in the lower room.
This was later changed to one story,
which burned or was burned down
in 1865. Teachers in this school
were: Mrs. Ida Flanders, Mrs. Ad-
da Oglevee, both of whom we are
glad to say are still residents of our
neighborhood The directors when
the present site was purchased
Robt. Henderson, ]. K. Paxton.
The present location was purchas-
ed from John Atkinson, who then
owned what is now the Lindimore
farm. In the year 1865 a frame
building was erected which did duty
until 1890 when the present build
ing was erected, J. F. McGrath and
John Grandstaff having the contract.
The first building was sold to the
Seventh Day Adventist people who
moved it on to the J. P. Carnes
farm where they held services for
some time. When they disbanded
thev sold out to Mr.. Carnes, who re-
modelled it into the dwelling where
he and his wife now live.
We have the following list of
teachers. We will not attempt to
place them in the order in which
they came on the scene of action:
George Matson, Perry Coler, Chas.
Glenn, B. F. Matson, Alfred Dunn,
r. O. Matson, Frank Cheadle, Finley
Ryan, G. P. Roberts, Nan Adams L.
B. Strong, Agnes Paxton, Brooks
Paxton, Anise Paxton, c. H. Fouts,
John Lawrence, Hattie Arnold, Let
tie Ball, Walter Graham, Adam Bar
clay, Lille Fisher, Jos. Brown, John
Raney, Jas. c.. Oglevee, John Whit
ney. Ollie Smiley, S. L. Wilson, Oh
lie Gatewood, Gus Carnes, M. P.
Daniels, Belva Kidd, AIDA Law
renee. Milton K. Brown, Guy Smith,
J. w. Clark. In all 35, twelve of
whom we know are deceased.
The pupils of the school.-Oh,
what a history they have written
preachers, lawyers, doctors-in fact
you can find their mark in all walks
of life. And many have gone over
where it's all play time with no
hard sums to bring the burrows to
the brow. Of all the vast number
who attended this school and have
passed on, only few are buried in
The cemetery near by. May this
writeup bring to you my
friends pleasant memories and no
sad thoughts of when we were
teachers and pupils in this school.
The above excellent history of
Meigs school was written by C. B.
Ray, and was read by him recently
before the Meigs literary society