Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1922-03-22
BRIEF SKETCH OF EDGEFIELD
SCHOOL.
SCHOOL.

(Taken from The Tattler, a month
ly paper published by the pupils of
the Edgefeld High SCHOOL,
Some fifty years before the Ameri-
can Revolution there was established
Just outside what is now the incorpo-
rate limits of the town of Edgefeld,
a settlement of hardy pioneers. These
settlers came, some from settlements
along the Savannah river, and some
across the mountains from Virginia
and Pennsylvania. The practiced eye
and good judgment, characteristics
of the early pioneers, convinced them
that here, amid the rolling hills and
smiling valleys they had found a fer
tile and healthful region. So here they
settled, loved and wrought, as was
the way with pioneers. Some years
later when this settlement had in
creased to twenty or thirty families,
the need of a school was felt. Just
three quarters of a mile east of this
first settlement, on the banks of a
charming brook-tradition tells US
named Three Quarters branch-later
known as Academy branch, the first
known school building was erected.
Many years later-July 10th, 1925
"a patriotic and public spirited cit
izen, Eldred Simkins the elder, son
of Arthur Simkins, n of the earliest
settlers and owner of historic Cedar
Walk" decided the present site to the
town for a nominal sum, to be used
for education purposes forever, and
it has been so used continuously since
that time.
There is not living today, in all the
confines of Edgefeld county, a sim
gle human being that was living that
July day ninety even years ago when
this generous gift was made, not only
to the children of that day, but for
the children of all succeeding genera
tons, and the aged trees that stand
on the campus, and the brook that
sgoes on forever are the mute and
only witnesses.
There are few, if any, local schools
in upper Carolina that r older.
None, surely, that can claim more IL
lustrious names among its alumni.
Her sons in every walk of life, from
her earliest days, have made her
name famous in the annals of South
Carolina. Soldiers! Statesmen! Ju-
rists! I cannot undertake in so brief
a sketch to mention the number of
United States Senators and Congress
men, the Diplomats and Governors,
the many noted Judges and Lawyers,
che gifted Orators and Literary Men
that were once students within the
walls of the old brick academy that
once stood on these grounds. Nor the
of the many noble youths who
left their studies here and in far off
Mexico placed the Palmetto flag first
on the ramparts of that Imperial
City; and whose bones still rest in
sight of her walls. Nor of that in
Vulnerable company of brave hearts
who left these classic groves to fol-
low Butler, Gary, Bonham, Brooks,
Perrin, Bland, Dunovant and Bacon
on every battle field in Virginia, and
whose graves mark every spot where
the Confederate armies fought. Nor
must we forget that simple white
cross that at Chateau Thierry marks
the last earthly resting place of a for
mer student.
Furman University, now located at
Greenville, S. c., and the Southern
Baptist Theological Seminary, now
located at Louisville, KY, had their
beginning in the hearts of Edgefeld
citizens on this same hill.
In 1898 Col. F. N. K. Bailey began
a co-educational institute here and the
present building was erected for his
use in 1903. He remained here four
teen years, and since his departure
it has been used for the Graded and
High School.
What an inspiration to US today
should this glorious past be. How
worthy of emulation are the lives and
achievements of her former students.
Many of us bear the same names,
many others have some of the same
blood in our veins-all are inheritors
in common of this great and inspir-