Our forefathers began to take an interest in
educational matters at an early date. It is fair
to presume that school-houses and churches went up simultaneously,
and that soon after they had erected their rude log dwelling-places,
log churches, and log school-houses were built. It
is significant that the school-house was found near by a church. At
Brownsville, Parnassus, Salem, Hebron, Smyrna, Pine Grove, Boykin,
Beaverdam, and other churches, school-houses are
seen. It shows that education and religion go hand
in hand, and our forefathers recognized the fact. They also knew
that the erection of churches and school-houses would have the
effect to bring into their locality other settlers of good
character. The lively bidding of towns and cities
for the location and erection of educational institutions in their
midst shows that the same idea is entertained to-day.
The building of school-houses in Bennettsville antedated the
churches.
On December 12, 1830, an Academical
Society was organized and the following signed the
constitution governing it: John McCollum, Nathan B.
Thomas, Joshua David, Hartwell Ayer, John McQueen, Jas. E.
David, C. W. Dudley, Campbell Stubbs, Jas. C. Thomas, Geo. Bristow,
Wm. T. Ellerbe, John H. David, Thomas Cook, E. L. Henegan, and
several other. A board of trustees, consisting of John
McCollum, John McQueen, C. W, Dudley, Nathan B. Thomas and E.
W. Jones was elected, and they in turn elected as the first teacher
of the Bennettsville Male Academy, A. C. Sinclair, with John W.
Covington, assistant. Sinclair was succeeded
by C. W. Dudley, and after him, Duncan McLaurin, C. Davy, and
others. The first teachers for theFemale Academy were
Miss Jane McKay, afterwards Mrs. John McCollum, Miss Sarah Richards,
Miss Simpson, and others followed.
The female academy stood
on the lot of land across the street from the Methodist church, now
occupied by W. S. Townsend. The land was originally owned by James
Cook, the grandfather of Mesdames Breeden and Moore. The house was
perhaps 100 feet in length,one-story high, and with folding doors,
was divided into two rooms and as occasion required, could be turned
into one large room for public entertainments. The male academy was
adjacent to the Baptist church, and where it stood is now seen the
Bennettsville graded school building for white children ot both
sexes. The Academical Society owns the school property, and convenes
biennially to elect a new board of trustees, who have general
supervision of the school, and whose duty it is to elect the
teachers. The buildings are ample and well-arranged.
The trustees have been fortunate in their selection of
teachers, and the teachers have had the hearty encouragement and
support of the patrons. Hence little or no friction arises, and
large numbers of children attend. Additional room has recently been
obtained by the purchase of the old Baptist church building, and
with slight improvement, four or five hundred children may be
accommodated. Messrs. Chase, Paisley, Thomson, Britton, Sheridan,
Root, Graeser, Rast, Stackhouse, Wilcox, Brodie, and others have
managed and taught the children. The school is now under the control
of Prof. Cork.
The colored graded school has been managed by
competent men like E. J. Sawyer, Cain, and others. They have been
much hampered in their work on account of lack of room. But steps
are being taken looking to the enlargement of accommodation. The
large livery stable recently owned by Capt. P. L. Breeden has been
purchased, and is being erected in West Bennettsville, where the
colored children, in their laudable and earnest desire for
education, may be taught.
In ante-bellum days the male
academy in Bennettsville was in charge of good
teachers. Such men as D. McD. McLeod, J. H.
Hudson, R. H. McKinnon, E. H. Graham, Daniel White and Neill D.
Johnson, Leary, and Anderson, endeavored to impart knowledge to the
boys. At the female academy the girls were taught
by Mrs. Ann Cros-land, Mrs. C. A. Thornwell, Mrs. A. J. Johnson,
Mrs. B. D. Townsend, Mrs. W. P. Emanuel, Mrs. J. B. Jennings
and Mrs. B. D. McLeod. It must be understood by
the young readers of this chapter, that these ladies all came to
Bennettsville bearing other names, but decided to change them for
the names here given.
The list might be
extended by mentioning Mrs. J. P. Campbell, Mrs. P. A. Hodges, Mrs.
J. N. Weatherly, Mrs. W. P. Emanuel, Jr., and Mrs. R. A,
Douglas. So that it is seen that a goodly number of
female teachers who came to teach have become permanent
residents. Marlboro feels justly proud of
the long list of competent educators who have done faithful work in
her schoolrooms. But especial mention must be made
of the services of Mrs. B. D. McLeod and Mr. and Mrs. John S. Moore,
who are residents of the county. Mrs. B. D. McLeod taught before and
after the war in Bennettsville. Later for quite a
number of years she had a large, flourishing school at Blenheim,
where many young ladies and youths were prepared to take high
stands in the colleges of this and other States. She
was subsequently engaged in teaching near her home at the
residence of the late Dr. A. McLeod. It may
truly be said that Mrs. McLeod's whole life in Marlboro has been
devoted to teaching and assisting in the rearing of her half
brothers and nieces and nephews. A woman of high
culture, broad-minded and kind-hearted, the good she has done in
Marlboro can never be estimated.
Mr. and Mrs. Moore taught
before, during and after the war in Bennettsville, covering a longer
period than ever did any other teachers in the town. After the war
they taught for a number of years at Hebron. We suppose it is safe
to say that no one teacher in Marlboro has left a stronger and more
lasting influence on the minds and lives of so great a number of
pupils as has Mrs. Moore. Her methods were gentle and so thorough
that few passed from under her care without receiving a fine
rudimentary education and many have become successful teachers who
received no other advantages than such as the fine schools of Mr.
and Mrs. John S. Moore furnished.
In the country the schools
have generally been well sustained. With men like Donald Matheson
and W. R. Smith at Parnassus; L. M. Hamer and Harris Covington at
Hebron; the Johnson brothers at Pine Grove, and others like them at
other places, it is easy to understand why the schools in a former
day prospered. And with conscientious, competent teachers in charge
and a united support of the patrons, they are prospering still.
While the youth of the county enjoy the advantages of good schools
at home, yet large numbers are not satisfied to accept what they
offer, but very properly seek schools of higher learning where a
collegiate education may be obtained. The number of college
graduates is constantly increasing, and while it is scarcely to be
hoped that another Thornwell will ever be sent forth in the world,
yet some obscure boy born on Marlboro soil may come to the front and
even rival Dr. Thornwell.
It is a laudable and praisworthy
ambition to strive for a collegiate education, for such striving
will place others besides Thornwell and Robt. McIntyre in the
college president's chair. Let the youth of Marlboro educate
themselves, for as competition in all lines of human thought and
action increases more and more will the educated mind hold sway.
Some other Marlboro boy may follow John L.
McLaurin into the U. S. Senate.
The incentive and
necessity for a finished education is greater to-day than ever
before. Because your countrymen, C. S. McColl and D. D. McColl, have
succeeded in their lines of business and made handsome fortunes
without the advantage of college training—youth of Marlboro, do not
undertake to do the same! Because Peter T. Smith could, with no
college training, amass a snug fortune on his farm—farmer boy, do
not take for granted that you could do likewise!
