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A LITTLE HISTORY OF
FIRST FREE SCHOOLS IN WEAKLEY COUNTY
From the diary of Archelaus Madison Hughes IV First Superintendent of Schools Weakley County 1867-1869 This is a transcription of a journal kept by my maternal great grandfather, Archelaus Madison Hughes, IV (1834-1904). The original journal is in the Tennessee Room in the McKenzie Memorial Library, McKenzie, TN. A microfilm copy of the journal (Reel #414) is in the Tennessee State Library and Archives. The journal begins with a record of Archelaus’ activities as Weakley County Superintendent of Schools in 1868 through 16 Nov 1869. After a lapse of almost five years, he resumes his writing as a personal journal on 7 Sep 1874, where this transcription ends. I wanted to maintain the character of the time and place of his observations. Therefore, very few corrections have been made from the original document. The grammar, punctuation and spelling are those of the author, Archelaus Madison Hughes, IV. Submitted by Charlene Wegel
Nimer
FOREWARD - About Archelaus Madison Hughes IV Archelaus Madison Hughes, IV was the fifth of six children born to Archelaus, III and Elizabeth Brashears Hughes. Archelaus, III died on 25 Aug 1838 at the age of 38. Elizabeth Brashear Hughes died 20 Apr 1880 Their children were: 1) William Martin Hughes b. 31 Oct 1828 2) Edward Everette Hughes b. 15 Jul 1830 3) Henry Clay Hughes b. 12 Jan 1832 4) Jessee Brashears Hughes b. 3 Sept 1833 5) Archelaus Madison Hughes, IV b. 27 Dec 1834 - d. 29 Aug 1904 6) Mary Elizabeth Hughes b. 15 Jun 1837 Archelaus Madison HUGHES IV enlisted in the Confederate Army at Trenton, TN on 17 Sep 1861 for a period of 12 months. He was a private in Co. I, 31 Tennessee Infantry. He fought at the battle at Perryville, KY on 8 Oct 1862 where he was slightly wounded and taken a prisoner of war. Archelaus, IV appears on a receipt by Maj. F.W. Hoadley, C.S.A., Acting Agent for Exchange of prisoners of war on 15 Nov 1862. Archelaus, IV returned to his home in Weakley County, TN on 4 Jan 1863 and stayed there for a time. He writes in his journal on 26 Jan 1878, “During the war I was one of the many refugees from Tennessee who sought and found an asylum north of the Ohio river. I stopped over in Jefferson Co. Ill and lived there in all about fifteen months, six or seven miles west of Mt. Vernon in what was then known as west Long Prairie, and spent most of my time in teaching.” He married Martha Ann Fonville on 1 Apr 1867. He was 32 and she was 22. Martha was usually called “Matte” or “Mat.” Martha was the daughter of Graves and Obedience Smith Fonville. Archelaus and Martha lived in Weakley County where seven of their eight children were born. Their eighth child was born in Clay County, Arkansas. They lived at Ralston, Weakley County, Tennessee until November 1877 at which time they moved to the community of Poor Do. On September 23, 1879 the family moved to the Black Bend community where Archelaus had a contract to teach school for five months. Archelaus’ mother Elizabeth Brashears Hughes was a member of the household for several years. Although the growing family suffered financial hardships, they seem to have been more prosperous than some of their neighbors. Archelaus planted a large orchard and owned livestock including cows, hogs, chickens and mules. Other farmers often rented or borrowed his mules and wagon. Archelaus, IV bought 2,750 bricks and had a chimney constructed in their home. He also had at least one rental house and rented land to other farmers. Archelaus Madison HUGHES IV was a farmer and school teacher. He was the first Superintendent of Schools in Weakley County, TN (1867-1869). In 1874, he was an unsuccessful candidate for Clerk of the County Court which seems to be his only attempt to gain a political office. He was an officer in the Ralston Grange No. 255 and also served as Recording Scribe for the local chapter of the United Friends of Temperance. Archelaus, IV moved his family to Clay County, AR in December, 1882 where he continued to farm and teach school. Because the public schools in Tennessee had little community support and were not adequately financed by the state, he had been considering moving from Tennessee for many years. He explains his reason for the move in an entry dated Thursday, August 12, 1875: “Before I conclude finally to move I will first go and see for myself, what kind of a country Missouri is. If I do not like that probably I shall go to Kansas and look. If I do not like there I shall come back through Illinois. I have lived in the latter state, but do not now know the price of land there. My motive for going to another county is first I am doing but little good here and I want to go where a good system of public schools is already established. Perhaps I may teach some and at least I can educate my children if nothing more.” The family is found in the U.S. Census for Rutherford County, TN in 1850, in the Census for Weakley County, TN in 1860, 1870 and 1880 and in the Census for Clay County, AR in 1900. ##########################################################################
From the
diary of Archelaus Madison HUGHES, IV (1834-1904)
Superintendent of Schools Weakley County 1867 - 1869 Note: I have put the surnames in CAPPS - he used varied spellings so check carefully...MaryCarol The people of the 5 Civil Dist did not seem to care much about free schools and it was difficult to induce them to take any steps toward organizing for free schools. That Dist did not report but 180 white children for 1867. In 1868 it reported 515 white and colored. William V. BRAM is the present Clerk. Some of the legal voters of the 8 Civil Dist concluded to organize for free schools but misunderstood the school law and elected a Board of Education for the Civil Dist. One of the Board proceeded to lay off a new district and reported to the County Superintendent that the Board had agreed to the division of the Dist. And by taking a part of each of the old districts a new one was formed. As they claimed to be elected for that purpose I considered it was all right and told ____ Wm. TAYLOR to go ahead and lined up a school in the new district. Mrs. M.A. HOLLIS was employed to teach five months. Shortly after Mrs. HOLLIS began teaching, Mr. W. H. BROCK one of the gentlemen elected to lay off the new dist said Mr. TAYLOR had acted without authority for himself and Mr. Cabel ALLEN two of the Board had dissented from the new dist consequently the old district lines would stand. This left Mrs. HOLLIS without any assurance of getting any state aid for her services. After maturely considering the case I was led to the conclusion that if the Directors from the old 26 sub Dist did not agree for her to get her pay from that end of the Civil Dist she would be likely to lose her pay for services. I went to see the Directors about the matter but they did not seem willing to give up their chances for a free school in order to benefit Mrs. HOLLIS. I have since learned that not one of the Directors of the old 26 School district is a legal voter. The 9 district elected three Directors for the Civil Dist and proceeded to take the scholastic population but this was all they done for the year 67. Mr. WITT took the scholastic population for the 11 dist. It amounted to more than 400. Alexander CAMPBELL Esq took the list for the 12. He is yet Clerk of the Board of Education for the district. B. F. _____ Esq took it for the 14. A. M. CLEMONS for the 13. John A. GARDNER and others for the third. B. D. HYNDS for the 18. William I. ________ for the 4. Thso. M. BIGGS for the 1st, &c, &c. No schools were taught for 1867. All that was done was to take the scholastic Enumeration and that was incomplete. Silas W. BRUCE was the first teacher that applied for a certificate to teach a free common school in the County. His qualifications were very poor, decidedly the poorest of any applicant yet. He never taught in the county. Mr. F. I. ALEXANDER was the next. His experience in the school room had been considerable, and his qualifications were much above the average. The next applicant was a young lady from Dukedom. She has a tolerable knowledge of Geography and in other branches moderate. I will not particularize any more of the teachers of the county. As a general rule not one in ten is anything like qualified for a teacher. I was surprised at the incompetency of our teachers. With the exception of Rev. I. H. D CARLIN, Thurmun BOAZ, F. I. ALEXANDER, S. E. WAISTCOAT, B. A. ______, T. I. FEATHERSTON and E. M. TAYLOR and _______ A. M. SMITH not one of the others are at all qualified for good teachers. The first free school taught in the County was taught by Miss Susan M. KORNEGAY. Her school is now out (Nov 27, 68). I made out a requisition according to the form sent me by gen. EATON and send on for the money. I made a mistake in regard to the number of children in the 13 Civil Dist. I had my records made out for 255 when in reality there were only 155 and according to the apportionment now made there is owed the 13 Dist seventy four dollars and 50 cts, one dollar and 10 cts of which is mine for commission. I will pay Miss KORNEGAY tomorrow $73 40/100. Quite a number of schools commenced the 1st Monday in August and consequently will end in Dec prox for which the teachers will demand their pay. But according to gen. EATONS interpretation of the law – and I presume he is correct – no money can be drawn for any district containing more than 25 colored children unless such children are provided with school privileges. Now as there is not a colored school in the County and all but three 13, 15, 16 districts have the requisite number of colored children, and no schools there will be quite a noise raised by the opponents of the school law, because niggers must be schooled before white children can draw any public fund. But gen. EATON intimates that the Freedmans Bureau will send an agent here and build up colored schools. Then the Co. Supt must recognize them. When this is done it will create a 7 day wonder and be loudly condemned by all opposers of progress but the prejudices and passions of the hour will gradually subside and it will become common to see nigger schools and ere long all will wonder that anybody ever opposed such a step. At least this is my opinion. This journal was not received until the 25th of Nov 1868. The various records that I have kept I will endeavor to sum up briefly from the point left off at in the opposite back page, and then I will keep up with everything I do in regard to free common schools. I have examined sixty-seven (67) teachers, but quite a number of them did not succeed in getting up schools principally because they doubted the ability or inclination of the state authorities to pay teachers for their services. The first school taught in Weakley County under the school laws of 1867 & 1868 was taught by Miss Susan M. Kornegay of Sub Dist No. ____ of Civil No. 13. (The sub-Dist here mentioned was No. 57 under the old order of things; and I instructed Mr. I. W. SHELTON Clerk of the Board of that Civil District to number them, 1, 2, 3, 4, which he promised to do and I have not yet ascertained the numbers. The Scholastic population of the 13 Civil Dist for 1867 numbered 155 white, the colored numbering less than 25 and the apportionment of 48 7/100 amounted to seventy four dollars and .50 (74.50) out of which I paid Miss S. M. KORNEGAY seventy three dollars & 40 cents, my commission of 1 ½ percent being $1.10/100. I gave Miss KORNEGAY all the money belonging to the 13 civil district which was not in strict accordance with law, because there are three other districts, two of them having schools, each entitled to an equal apportionment but under the following considerations, I thought I would be safe in so doing. I learned from a letter of gen EATON addressed to the County Court Clerk of this county that in Dec or January there would be another apportionment made which would be considerably larger than the apportionment made last ______. The other schools in that district will not close until the latter part of December 1868. Acting on the presumption that the next apportionment will be something near one dollar and fifty cents to the scholar, which will more than make up the deficiency of the 48 & 7/100 cents taken from the other sub-districts of the 13th civil district and applied to the sub Dist in which Miss KORNEGAY taught. But this is a bad way to do business and in the future, I will be particular and pay each sub-district its due proportion. Where several schools are taught in the same civil District, and there is not state aid sufficient to pay off all the teachers, I will each one so much per cent on his salary. This I think will be in accordance with the law, and will give general satisfaction. In the 7 civil Dist there are 5 different free schools, and not more than one half of the scholastic population was taken for the year 1867; which made a considerable deficiency to account for by the patrons. I am aware that this will create considerable excitement among the teachers in that district, but it cannot be helped. The fifth District only returned about one hundred and ninety whites for last year; and there are four schools in that Dist _______for I am not certain whether Mr. C. BONDURANT is teaching in the 5 or 7. The Vth and VII districts are the most populous in the county and yet for 1867 they returned but slight figures in their scholastic enumerations consequently the teachers in those districts will receive less aid than any other two in the county in consequence of the neglect to take the scholastic population. The 3rd district also showed a small report notwithstanding I did more to induce the people of that district to take the proper steps to secure the state aid than any other Districts in the county. There is but one school in the 3rd yet, and will not probably another one this year for there is great animosity in that District against anything that emanated from “________ Legislature”. Yet it is to be hoped that this prejudice and ill feelings will ere-long die away. The scholastic population for the other districts was correctly taken, and if the school law is strictly complied with the teachers in all of the Districts except the 3, 5 and 7 will have no reason to complain. It is a very hard matter for me to get exact information concerning the schools of this county. Quite a number of teachers commenced free schools in August and September but quit them for fear they would get nothing for their labors. Very little was done toward free schools until about the last of July 1867. About that time gen. Eaton sent out some information to Supt. and School officers about the prospect for the funds which had a decidedly good effect toward building up free schools. I examined no less than twenty-five applicants for free schools in two days at Dresden the last week in July. During the month of August and September I caused the scholastic population to be taken again. This time it was much more complete than last year for last year the 7 only made out a little more than 400 this year upwards of 700. The fifth Dist. last year (1867) numbered 190 while this year five hundred and fifteen (515) of all colors. The third also showed handsome gains. The county on an average made a gain of nearly 20 per cent in one year, but the most of it was gained in the above mentioned districts. For 1867, the entire scholastic population for the county was five thousand two hundred and eighty-two (5,282) for 1868 it was five thousand nine hundred and thirty (5930). I will now briefly notice each civil district in the county after which I will keep a faithful record of the business I do in regard to the free schools of the county. The Ist District is completely organized. It contains four sub-districts and has three schools. Joseph J. CARLIN, Clerk of the Board. The II is at presently unorganized. It was for a time attached to Obion County but has recently been transferred to Weakley by act of the Legislature. The III District has but two Directors at present one of them Mr. BATES having removed from the state and I have not yet (Dec 3 1868) appointed his successor. William LASSWELL Clerk. He is also a member of the Executive School Board for the County. There is but one school in the III. The IV is also completely organized. It is sub-divided in four school Districts. There are two schools in the IV. William DUNN, Clerk. I appointed every Director in the IV. The V has her full share of local Directors duly elected by the legal voters of the district. There are four schools in that District. If Mr. BONDURANTis in the V, there are five schools in it. William V. BRAM Clerk. The VI is divided into four sub-Districts and has but two schools. The VI was one of the earliest in the county to organize, then divided into four sub-districts and proceeded to complete their organization the first Monday in March 1867 for the purpose of electing one of their number County Superintendent without consulting any other district in the county. The whole affair proved a failure and Mr. W. W. ALLMAN the gentleman they elected County Superintendent retired behind the curtains for a time but has since come up for certificate to teach a free common school. He is but poorly qualified for a teacher and the Directors of his sub-Dist have serious notions to dismiss him altogether for the following reason. So after he obtained his certificate he took his own children to the school house and kept them there for an hour or two and then adjourned the school for a month in order to complete something at home, and then commence his school again. William NEWBERRY Jr is the Clerk of the VI. I have already a page or two back made some remarks in regard to the VII. It contains at present five sub-districts and as many schools. Some of the Directors were appointed and some elected. Dr. J. T. CUND is the nominal clerk of the Board, no regular appointment or election by the sub-district clerks have yet been made. The VII has six instead of five sub-districts and schools. The VIII has but two sub-districts. The Directors in the second sub-district were elected and not one of them being a qualified voter. I was not cognizant of this fact until recently and must rectify it. The Directors for the first sub-dist were appointed. W. H. BROCK Clerk. There are now two schools in the VIII Dist. The IX District is fully organized, divided into three sub-Districts, each one having a school. Mr. FEATHERSTON teacher in second sub Dist of the 9th is about the best qualified teacher for a young man in the county. Benjamin F. BROCK Clerk of the IX. The X organized by electing three men as Directors for whole Civil District. It is divided into four sub-Districts at present but two schools. B. F. JONES Clerk. The XI has four sub-Districts and four schools. Some of the local Directors were elected and some appointed. James A. WEBB Clerk. The XII has three Directors for the Civil Dist and has three schools and three sub-districts. Alexander CAMPBELL, Esq. Clerk. The XIII has four sub-Districts and three schools. Mr. Colth_______ quit his school for some reason I do not know. Miss KORNEGAYS school is out the first one in the county and she was paid $73.40 on order for one hundred and fifty dollars. The other schools in this Dist will close in a few weeks. J. W. SHELTON Clerk. The XIV Dist is divided into three sub Dists at present. Three Directors were elected for the Civil District. Mr. HALLS time having expired, I appointed B. H. DAVIS Esq in his stead. There are three schools in the XIV. John A. WILLAIMS Clerk. The Directors for the XV were appointed. It has four sub Districts and three free schools. James M. D___ing Clerk. In the XVI the Directors were elected three in number for the Civil Dist. It has but one school at present. David L. THOMAS Clerk. The XVII has but three Directors and one school. T. H. JOHNSON Clerk. The Directors were elected for this Dist. They were elected for a sub Dist but assume the management of the whole district. Being an inhabitant of the XVIII I will be a little more particular in its school history. Under the present school laws of the state, the Civil District is divided into three sub Districts No. 1 being in the eastern end. John STAFFORD, Gilbert H. HATLER, Willis WILLIAMS local Directors. Willis WILLIAMS Clerk. B. LUSK teacher. Mt. Pisgah. Sub Dist No. 2. Isham TUCK, Benjamin D. HYNDS, Sr and Joseph R. QUAILES, Local Directors. J. R. TURNER Clerk. Miss Lavina ALLEN teacher. Mt. Enterprise. Sub Dist No. 3 Samuel DAMSON Jr, Matthew M. ATKINSON and David M. DUKE, Local Directors. J. M. DUKE Clerk. Teacher Miss F. Berthia SWIFT. Islleys School house. Willis WILLIAMS, Clerk of the Board. William NEWBERRY Jr, William LASSWELL & Willis WILLIAMS are the executive school board for the County of Weakley. Willis WILLIAMS Clerk. A. M. HUGHES Co. Supt. Having brought my account up to the present time I will proceed to keep things recorded as I go. Left home Monday morning November the 20 1868 for the purpose of looking after school matters in the south part of the County, reached Dresden about 10 ½ oclock and went to the P.O. and found some mail. Left town about 12 m. for the 10 Dist. It commenced about 1 p.m. and continued most of the evening. Went to Mr. I. CARLTONS and ascertained from him the condition of schools in his district. William J. POOL one of the teachers in the 10 has had a tolerable school all the while. Mr. FINCH a young man is also teaching in the 10. He has the reputation of being a fair teacher considering his age and experience in the school room. Mr. POOLS salary is forty (40) dollars and Mr. FINCHES thirty five (35) per month. After leaving the 10 I went into the 15 District. Mr. J. M. GROOMS one of the Directors in the 15th went with me to visit some of the schools in his district. I. S. DUNLAP is teaching in the 15 but admits 28 students from the 16th the directors in each Dist agreeing to give him orders for his pay. Mr. DUNLAP has had a very fine school most of this time often numbering forty and sometimes fifty scholars. His salary is fifty (50) dollars per month. After leaving Mr. DUNLAP we went to visit Mr. E. R. HORTONS school in the same district. Mr. HORTON is a Virginian but moderately competent for a teacher. Has some doubts about his pay. His school is not very well attended. He was sick at the time I went to see him but hoped to be able to begin his school again soon. He also thought his school would improve as most of the farmers in the neighborhood were about through with their work. HORTONS salary is forty dollars per month. Philip I. MARRINS is also teaching in the 15 district. His school did not begin until some days after I had visited that portion of the county. His salary is forty dollars per month. Mr. James M. D___ing clerk of the Board for the 15 District is one of the best school officers in the county. There is at present but one school in the 16 district. It is taught by an old gentleman named COCHRAN. His school is very poorly attended and the Directors are displeased with him and have requested him to stop teaching but he will not. Mr. David L. THOMAS Clerk of the Board says he will not give an order to Mr. COCHRAN for his pay. I am rather afraid the old gentleman will get his labor for his pains. The 15 & 16 Districts have each less than 25 colored children of a school age hence the teachers in those Districts will receive the state aid whether colored schools are taught or not. After leaving the districts above mentioned I went into the 9th and found Mr. I. M. WARD at his post. He is teaching at Mt. Washington Academy. He did not commence until August 3 and having lost some time he will not close until some time in January. WARD is teaching his first school and has had only a moderate attendance. Salary forty dollars per month. Left Mr. WARD at Mt. Washington and went across to Mr. Benjamin F. BROCK Clerk of the Ninth Civil Dist. Mr. T. J. FEATHERSTON teacher at Brocks Chapel has had a very fine school and is well qualified for a teacher. He seems to manage very well and has the good opinion of his patrons. His salary is thirty five (35) dollars per month. FEATHERSTON commenced the 27 of July & will close the middle of December. Mr. J. E. CANDLE(CAUDLE) is teaching in the 9th and has a tolerable school. He also commenced the 27 of July and will close in December. His salary is forty five (45) dollars a month. He is teaching in sub district No. 3 of the 9th civil district. Left the 9th district and went into the 8th. Found much confusion there. A number of the citizens of the 8th wanted the district divided into three sub districts as there are at present but two sub districts. Three men were elected to divide the district and one of them reported to the Supt that the desired division had been effected and a new district formed and that he had employed a teacher and wanted to commence a school at once. Presuming that all was right I told him to send up his teacher for examination and if qualified the school could commence at once. Mrs. HOLLIS was the teacher selected. She applied for and received a certificate of qualification and commenced immediately. Soon after Mrs. HOLLIS commenced teaching Mr. Wm. BROCK one of the gentlemen elected to subdivide the district said that himself and Mr. ALLEN had dissented from the division and had agreed that an additional district at present was unnecessary and that Mr. Taylor had given me wrong information. I saw Mr. TAYLOR soon afterwards and told him what I had learned. He seemed somewhat surprised and said he thought it was all right and thoroughly understood that the new district was established. I was then requested to attend a meeting of the neighbors to adjust the matter. After a great deal of talking it was finally agreed that the old district lines should stand for the present and if the public fund justified an additional district than it would be made. In the mean time Mrs. HOLLIS continued her school and taught it out and called on me for her pay. She brought some papers to show that she had taught the school but they were not properly written out nor signed and I could not assume the authority to use the public fund for the purpose of such claims. The school originally commenced in what was purported to be a new district but the order was given for one of the old sub districts and that too by men who claimed to be elected in a new district. I looked upon the whole affair as a blunder on the part of some one, and could not under such circumstances draw a requisition on the State Superintendent for funds to pay the teacher besides the Local Directors elected for the district in which Mrs. HOLLIS taught would not agree for her to take the fund belonging to that because her school was taught within one hundred yards of the eastern line of the district, and the children of the west part of the district could reap no benefit from a school taught there. Hence, viewing the whole matter I think it very doubtful whether Mrs. HOLLIS get her pay or not. But there is another error in the 8th. The people of the 2nd sub district of the 8th Dist met and elected three men Local Directors for the sub district not one of the Directors elect being a qualified voter, and every man voted that wanted to certificate or no certificate. Thus we see the whole affair has been badly managed and the only remedy I see is to appoint qualified voters and commission them according to law and then perhaps things will go on better in that locality. The people of the 8th are very anxious to secure the public fund some of them are pretty heavy tax payers and thus wish to get back a part of their money. Benjamin A. TANSIL is teaching at Hickory Grove Academy and does not average more than 15 scholars. His salary is fifty (50) Dollars per month. Mr. TANSIL is very well qualified for a teacher having had considerable experience in the school room. Mr. William M. BERRY applied for a certificate a few days since to teach a free school in the 8th the same Dist in which Mrs. HOLLIS taught. He is poorly qualified in every way but says he is capable of teach all the children in the neighborhood as they have had no school at the Parish school house for more than five years. His salary is forty Dollars per month. I spent several days in the 8th district yet could not accomplish much from the fact that there is a great deal of contention there relative to free schools. After leaving the 8th I went back into the 7. Rev. A. M. SMITH is teaching in one of the sub dist of the 7th. Mr. SMITH is also an old teacher and manages children very well but allows most too much latitude to the larger boys. His school has made a good average. The teachers in the seventh district will get a less per cent on their salaries than in any other district in except probably the fifth because the scholastic population of that District did not amount to but little more than 400 while in reality there are nearly double that number. Besides there are six schools in the seventh Dist and most of the teachers get heavy salaries. Mr. F. I. ALEXANDER teacher in the seventh had at one time more than sixty scholars in attendance but his school has fallen off greatly. It does not at this time probably average more than twelve or fifteen. His school will terminate in a few days. Salary 60 Dollars per mo. Mr. Wm. PERRY also of the 7 has not had much of a school at any time. He is also poorly competent but industrious and honest and does his best. Salary forty dollars per month. Sam E. WAISTCOATt of the 7th teaches at Walkers Chapel School good salary Sixty five Dollars per month. Church BONDURANT, Miss Eliza McLANE both teaching in the seventh. BONDURANTS salary about fifty Dollars per month Miss Eliza McLANE thirty Dollars per month. The teachers of the seventh will be greatly disappointed about their pay but I cannot do any better. The next schools things will be better. William V. BRANN clerk of the 5th District. There are four schools in this District and it is organized fully having three local Directors in each sub-district. In sub Dist. No. 1 the school commenced Monday November the 2. Lon A. KILLEBREW teacher. Salary fifty Dollars per month. Mr. KILLEBREW is a young man of moderate education may make a tolerable teacher with experience. Sub Dist No. 2 Monday July 20, 1868. Simon P. THACKER teacher. Forty Dollars per month. THACKER is also a young man. Not very well qualified. Knew him in Illinois. Sub Dist No. 3 school commenced Monday, August 3 1868. J. H. D. CARLIN teacher. Salary sixty dollars per month. Rev. J. H. D. CARLIN is perhaps the best qualified teacher in the county. He has had long experience in the school room. Qualified himself for a teacher and Baptiste Minister while a young man. Sub Dist No. 4 school commenced August 3, 1868. Albert C. BRANN teacher. Salary forty Dollars per month. Mr. BRANN is quite young for a teacher and his education is limited. The good people of the 5 Civil District did not seem to take much interest in public schools until the last summer (68). They neglected to take the scholastic population in time which will materially reduce their portion of the school fund. The scholastic for that Dist for 1867 as reported was only about 180, for 1868 it was 815 the second largest Dist in the county. It was a difficult matter to get Directors there most of the people being disfranchised but at present everything seems to be moveing smoothly on. Joseph I. CARLIN Clerk of Civil Dist. No. 1. There are four schools in Dist No. 1. B. PALMER, S. P. CLIFTON teachers. Mr. PALMER is an old batchelor and once very fond of his liquor but I believe that he is now sober and steady enough. His qualifications are limited. Studied old authors, ___, Arithmetic, ____, Grammar. Dont think he knows much about modern authors. CLIFTON is a young man and in the same category with most of the other teachers in the county. Dont know the salaries of the teachers in the first District having had no report from there yet. Had the salaries and other statistics of this and other districts in a little blank book which I carried in my pocket but either mislaid or lost it. The 13 Civil District lies alongside of and west of the 1st. I. W. SHELTON, Clerk. There were four schools in the 13. Mr. COLTHORPE commenced a free school taught a few weeks and then quit. Miss Susan M. KORNEGAY has taught a five months school in that Dist. For one hundred and fifty Dollars. She was paid Seventy three Dollars and 40 cents (73 40/100). Mrs. Abbie E. Thomas is tolerably well qualified but not so well as I expected from the highly recommendations I had received concerning her. Her salary is forty Dollars per month. Mr. E. M. TAYLOR a Kentuckian is the best qualified young teacher in the county except perhaps Mr. T. I. FEATHERSTON. TAYLOR having a better knowledge of mathematics & FEATHERSTON of Grammar. Mr. TAYLRS salary is I believe thirty-five Dollars a month. South of the 13 Dist lies the 17. There is but one free school in the 17 taught by M. I. F. WOOD at forty Dollars per month. A. M. GOULDES applied for a certificate last spring to teach a free school in the 17 but for some reason he did not teach a free school but a subscription one. Mr. GOULDESis over an average teacher, Mr. WOOD under the average. Immediately west of the 17 and adjoining it is the 2nd district. It was last winter by Act of the legislature attached to Obion County. The present Legislature repealed the Act and it is again a portion of Weakley County. I do not know anything about school matters there but will go over soon and see what can be done. The 3 & 18 Districts are south and across the north fork of Obion river from the 2 & 17. William LASSWELL is the clerk of the 3rd District. There is but one school in the 3rd at present. It is taught by Miss ____ PENN. Salary forty two and one half dollars per month. Mr. Philip MANISO proposed to teach in the 3 and was employed by the Directors but some of the citizens wanted some one else, and said MANISO should not teach there. He was prevented from teaching by threats and a visit from disguised men calling themselves Ku Klux. Maniso is now teaching in the 15 district at forty dollars per month. Three schools in the 18, B. LISK teaching in dist. No. one. Forty-five dollars per month I believe. Miss Lavina ALLEN in the 2nd sub district. Her salary forty dollars a month. Miss Berthia SWIFT in sub District No. 3. Forty dollars a month compensation. I believe that I have noticed somewhat in detail all of the Districts in the County except the eleventh and twelfth. They are more remote from my home than any other districts. I have less opportunities to observe things in them than in any of the other districts. The school law makes it my duty to visit frequently sub district schools and over a County 25 miles square with more than forty schools it will take up most of my time. However, if my salary will justify it, I will enter cheerfully upon the task. I was informed by one of the Directors of the 4 civil districts that there had been but one school taught in that district this year and that it is not likely that any more schools will be taught there until the summer of 69. I would here remark that when I say schools I mean only Free Common Schools and if I should have occasion to notice other kinds of schools I will specify which kind, College, Academy or Common Subscription School. The Clerk of the first Civil District also informed me yesterday that there was but one free school in his district. Mr. PALMER & others haveing declined to teach a free school. Mr. CLIFFTON is the only teacher of the District. I have sent the papers to the District Clerks to take the school and other statistics of the various district of the County except the 12, and it some twenty five miles from here to Mr. A. CAMPBELL the clerk of that Dist. E. M. TAYLOR of the 13 has presented his order for services in that District for one hundred & fifty Dollars. Rev. A. M. SMITH of the 7 for $241 62/100. Thos. I. FEATHERSTON of the 9 for two hundred (200) dollars. F. I. ALEXANDER for three hundred (300) dollars. ALEXANDER taught in the sub district of Dresden. Calvin W. HAWKE, Leroy M. PERRY, P. S. DUNLAP, B. A. TANSIL, S. E. WAISTCOAT, Rev. John H. D. CARLIN, S. G. THACK, A. C. BRANN, Lon A. KILLEBREW, Robt. E. NOWLIN and several others will close by the 25 of Dec. 1868. Miss Bertha SWIFT, Miss Lavina ALLEN, Miss Susan I. JACKSON, Miss Mary O'CONNER, Philip L. MANISO, W. W. ALLMAN & others will not close about the 1st of March 1868. Up to this time (Dec 1868) there has not been a colored school taught in Weakley County. But I see from the Memphis Post that there are numbers of colored schools in the state. Gen. EATON wrote me in a long letter in October 1868 stating that if in Civil Districts maintaining more than 25 colored children of a school age if such colored children were not provided with school privileges, no money would be appropriated to that district for school purposes. In considering this matter I have come to the following conclusions. The first free common schools under the present school law of the State of Tennessee commenced this year (1868). There were very grave doubts entertained by many men of the ability of the state to meet the demands of the school law, and these doubts were confirmed in many minds, when the report was made public that the state had used the school fund to pay the interest on the public debt. A number of teachers in this county quit teaching free schools in consequence of that report. Others quit because in some localities the prejudice against such schools is very bitter, in fact so bitter that the schools were not patronized while others began teaching free schools but were inducted to turn them into subscription schools. But notwithstanding all of this we have including those just closed about thirty five (35) Free Common Schools in the County of Weakley. Now in view of these facts, it does not seem exactly fair to deprive these teachers of their pay because colored schools were not taught in every Civil Dist in the County except the 13, 15 & 16, these three districts each numbering less than twenty-five colored children between the ages of six & twenty. Such a step on the part of the Commissioners of the school fund would be almost a death blow to public schools in the county. Besides there is another view of the case which seems to me ought to be plain enough to convince anyone that such a step as this would be manifestly wrong. For instance I will take the 4 civil district of this County. There is but one free school in that district. This school is convenient to about sixty white scholars that the sub district in which the school is taught numbers some sixty or sixty five. There is more than three hundred white children of the proper age in the district and all of these 300 children except those in the district of Mr. HAWKES school are without school privileges. Now it would be manifestly unfair to deprive Mr. HAWKES of his wages because some other teachers did not get up schools in those other districts. There is but one school in the 16 District and that district numbers less than twenty-five colored children of a school ages. Will the solitary teacher in that district be deprived of his pay because the children out of his sub district have no schools; then if the case will not hold good when a portion of the white children of a civil district are not provided with school privileges, it certainly ought not to make any difference in regard to the payment of teachers who taught in good faith the public schools of the state if the colored children are not provided with schools. Again at this day and time it is a very difficult matter to induce any one to undertake to teach a colored school. All are aware of the prejudices against such schools, and in some parts of this county it would be even dangerous to teach a colored school. Efforts have already been made to build up one colored school in this County but the teacher expected failed to come. Hence, when we have done our best and could not get teachers, I dont think we ought to be held accountable for the failure. There came to me through the P.O. yesterday the Chattanooga Daily Republican, with a pencil mark drawn over the heading of an article entitled “The Battle of the Books”. The object of the article was to notice a nasty little circular sent to the County Superintendents and other school officers and teachers. I got the circular some time ago but paid very little attention to it thinking it was gotten up for the benefit of some publishing house. About the same time I received several letters and a very valuable little book for Co. Supts. Entitled “The Examiner & Teacher Aid”, also the promise of _________ Analytical Grammar, but it never came, also a list of prices of school books and recommendations of McGuffeys Readers & Rays Arithmetic, &c. from Wilson Hinkle & Co. Cincinnati. I thought the Firm of Wilson Hinkle & Co. had done a heavy business in the book business for this state and did not wish to be supplanted and took that method of counteracting the probable influence of our State Superintendent who had recommended other works than those by Wilson Hinkle & Co. The paper above mentioned took the same view of the case and sustained the action of gen. Easton in the matter for several reasons which it is not necessary here to notice. Among other things the “communication” to the Republican stated that the Memphis Bulletin had charged that Gen EATON intended to deprive the white children of the state of the benefit of free schools if the negro children were not also similarly provided for. The communication to the Republican calls the whole _____ a political battle. I surmise the communication met the approval of Gen EATON before it was published. The letter which Gen EATON wrote to me in October last would certainly bear out the charge of the Memphis Bulletin for in that letter he distinctly said that if a district contains more than 25 colored children and they are not provided with special schools for their benefit all the money belonging to such a district would be withheld until such special schools were provided. This information from the state Supt gave me a good deal of uneasiness because at least thirty teachers in different parts of the County were teaching in districts numbering more than twenty five colored children of a school age. I had promised these teachers that they should be paid. Under these circumstances for me to meet them and tell them that the state would not pay them for their services would be painful to me. But from several circumstances of recent dates and among them the article in the Chattanooga Republican, and papers sent me by Gen EATON, I conclude that the programme sketched out to me by Gen EATON in Oct last will not be carried out, but the teachers will all be paid up as far as the public fund reaches whether colored schools have been taught or not. If this is so, the Free School System of the state will be a success in this County and I presume also in other counties. In the course of time, probably next year colored schools can be organized & set to work for the prejudice against such schools will gradually die away. The various colored normal schools in the United States will turn out annually numbers of colored teachers, and by working the thing gradually along, it will grow to be common, and soon excite no comment. Therefore I think all will be well shortly. Dec. 15 1868. I was at Dresden Wednesday the 16 of the present month (December). Received a letter there from Prof J. H. BARNUM, Assistant Superintendent of Public Instructions for the state. It seems to be the duty of Prof. BARNUM to superintend Schools for colored children. In his letter he said he would be able to visit my County in a few days and for me to have all the facts and points relative to colored schools well in hand by the time he came. I made this fact known to Dr. I. F. CUND, Clerk of the 7 Civil District. Dresden is the point to establish a colored school if one is established anywhere in this County. It is the business of the Directors to employ teachers, fix their salaries, furnish houses etc. I would be glad to have some colored schools started in this County. The great advantage resulting from such a step is apparent to every dispassionate thinker. It will not do for so large a portion of the people of the state to be forever deprived of the privileges of schools. The fact that the colored people are really free is beginning to realized by all classes of our people. The hope of reducing them to slavery again is nearly abandoned every where – perhaps a few dreamers vaguely think that sooner or later they will have them in bondage again. But these few amount to very little. The destitute condition of these people, their utter ignorance and the great disadvantages under which they labor all demand that their condition should be improved & the first step necessary is to educate the rising generation. Many perhaps honestly believe that they cannot take education like the white race but that should not prevent us from giving them a fair trial. Dec 1868. Yesterday evening late I received a note from Dr. P. B. STUBBLEFIELD requesting me to be at Gardners Store this morning at 6 oclock. Enclosed in the letter was a card from J. H. BARNUM, Assistant Superintendent of Public Instruction for the state. Being anxious to see Mr. BARNUM I was there in time. The mission of Prof. BARNUM is to see that colored schools are taught where ever they can be without encountering too much opposition. From a long conversation with Mr. BARNUM, I gathered the following facts. First it will not do to press the colored schools too fast. Take every thing calmly and moderately. Some attention must be paid to the prejudices of the people. We cannot expect everything to move on as well as could be desired at the start. Open up schools for white children at every point where a school is needed. By pursuing such a policy we will establish our schools upon so firm a basis it will be difficult to overthrow them. Prof. BARNUM distinctly hinted to me that in districts notwithstanding the requisite number of colored children are in any given district if in the opinion of the Co. Supt and other school officers it would not be safe to teach such a school, Gen EATON would find some means to provide the pay for teachers. This I believe to be the true policy as I endeavored to show on pages 22 & 23. Some effort was made to start a colored school at Gardner but in the opinion of respectable men, among others Mr. BARNUM, it would be inexpedient at present to commence a colored school at that point just yet. Arrangements were made to start a colored school at Dresden soon after new year sets in. The teachers association at Memphis meets 30 & 31 of this month. I would like to go but think it doubtful. December the 29 1868. Have been riding this week endeavoring to make the teachers not easy in regard to their pay but I can see they are a little doubtful notwithstanding they do not say much. Made out requisitions to day for all of this county except the 2, 13, 15, 16 & 17 Districts. The 2 district has been a part of Obion Co until the last 10 or 12 days when it was by act of the Legislature transferred to Weakley again. There has been no free school taught in that District since the present school law went into operation. I have drawn the apportionment of 48 7/100 cts for the 13 Civil District, and paid it to Miss Susan M. Kornegay. Requisitions for the 16 & 15 were made out and sent on the 7 inst. No free school was begun in the 17 until after the 30 of Sept. last. The apportionment for the 5th district amounts to less than 100 Dollars i.e. ninety-one dollars and some cents. There are four teachers in the 5 Dist. With an aggregate salary of nine hundred Dollars, which will pay about 10 cents to the Dollar. Verily the teachers in the 5th will complain loudly. There are five teachers in the 7 Dist. With an aggregate salary of about fourteen hundred Dollars and there are apportioned less than two hundred Dollars about 12 cts to the Dollar. The other districts will do much better. The teachers and Directors may grumble at me, but I can not help it. My commission upon the whole amount will be something more than 28 Dollars. December 31 1868 Made out requisitions yesterday for the 1, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 13, 14 & 18 civil districts. Made out requisitions for the 15 & 16 about the 1st of the present month. The 2 district had been a part of Obion County until about the last of November last. Dr. HAWKINS, Supt. for Obion County did not have any free schools started in that part of Obion. Neither were any free schools commenced in the 17 district in the County until after the 30 of September 1868 and according to gen. Eastons construction of the school law, the apportionment of 48 7/100 cents cannot be distributed to any district unless such district commenced schools before the 30 of Sept, which is the end of the Tennessee fiscal year. The 13th Civil District has drawn its portion of the 48 7/100 cts for 68 and that district will get no more until a new apportionment is made. The sum total for the above named district amounts to sixteen hundred & eighty four dollars and some cents. My commission of 11 per cent on the whole amount including the 15 & 16 districts will be about twenty eight Dollars. Gen. EATON sent out a printed circular to the County Superintendents authorizing them to draw on the Treasurer for the amounts due the different Counties, according to the official apportionment of 48 7/100 cts. He also sent the Requisitions, Treasurers receipts, &c necessary. The State Supt. is aware of the condition of this County for he has the figures before him. Now if the law is such that no money can be drawn for the white children unless the colored children are also furnished with school privileges, he certainly would not have sent out the papers at least for this county for he knows that we have had no colored schools here. January 16 1869 I have been riding almost every day of this year, trying to encourage Teachers, Directors and school patrons. Many grave doubts existed in the minds of most teachers of the county in regard to their pay. But I prepared & forwarded to Gen. EATON requisitions for the entire County except the 2, 13 & 17 districts. The first mentioned district was a part of Obion County until December last consequently not in my bounds. No schools were opened in the 17 until after the 30 of Sept. The apportionment of 48 7/100 cts was drawn & paid to the 13th some time ago. The amount for distribution to the remaining districts of the County is fourteen hundred & twenty nine & 54/100 (1429 54/100) dollars, not quite averageing one hundred Dollars to the civil district. Some of the teachers will be sadly disappointed at the amount they will get Wednesday next – the day appointed for paying teachers. For instance Rev. John W. D. CARLIN, has an order for three hundred dollars & he will get thirty-two dollars & sixty cents, but little more than 10 per cent on his salary. Six other teachers will get about the same proportion. Outside of the 5 & 7 districts the pay will be better. But I have every confidence in the ability of the state to meet her engagements. I see in the papers that the Comptroller will shortly announce another apportionment which I have reason to believe will be about one dollar & fifty cents additional to each scholar enumerated in 1867. My commission on the above sum will be twenty one dollars & some cents. In the mean time I hope to start more free schools. January 31 1869. Received from James E. RUST Treasurer of the State of Tennessee Fourteen hundred & twenty-nine & 54/100 Dollars School Fund. The funds were brought from Nashville by Dr. J. C. REAVIS and deposited in the safe of J. W. HAYS & Bro of Dresden, where the remainder, Five hundred & ninety-five Dollars is now deposited. Paid off quite a number of teachers yesterday But the per cent was not large enough to please many of them. The Teachers paid yesterday lived in the 4, 5, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 15 & 16 Districts. The largest amount paid to any one teacher yesterday was One hundred and eleven dollars & 96 cents, the Calvin W. HAWKES of the 4 Dist. The next largest was to B. A. TANSIL of the 8, one hundred & six dollars and 75 cts. The smallest was to W. H. CARLON, for W. W. HALL twenty-one Dollars & 85 cts. The teachers yet to be paid off live in the 5, 7, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14 & 18 Districts. I do not know how they will manage in the 17, for the people in that District are contrary about schools. No teacher can suit them all. Have not started any schools in the county yet for 1869, but think I will have a number of them in operation before the middle of May. Want to start some colored schools this year in the County. Mr. William JONES a sub Dist Clerk of the seventh civil District expressed himself much in favor of colored schools this morning, but did not seem willing to do anything in that direction. Feb 1st 1869. The amount of school fund sent to this county is nearly all exhausted. Out of the Fourteen hundred & twenty-nine & 54/100 Dollars all but Four hundred and forty four dollars has been paid out. All of the items can be found on the 1, 2, & 3 pages of the cash book. None of the teachers of the 3, 14, nor 18th districts have yet been paid off. I will probably pay Miss M. M. PENN next Monday the 8th inst. To day I wrote commissions for James E. FREEMAN, William D. CALDWELL & John A. GARDNER for sub Dist No. 1 of Civil Dist No. 3. CALDWELL for one year, FREEMAN for two & GARDNER for three. The commissions bear date Feb 6, 1869. The three Directors above mentioned in conjunction with several other gentlemen, are building a fine school house to cost three thousand Dollars. It is more than half completed. It is designed for a graded school. First class teachers will be employed. Mr. John A. Gardner, President of the Board of Trustees, thinks that he can secure three hundred Dollars annually for three years from the Peabody fund. He has had some correspondence with Rev. Mr. SEARS on the subject and received a favorable answer. I sincerely hope that we will have at least one thoroughly graded school in our County. It is the intention of the Directors above appointed to consolidate all of the Sub Dists of the 3 civil districts into one School dist thereby enableing every child in the Dist to have the benefit of a high school without paying any tuition for at least five months in every year. I will give what little assistance I can toward carrying out the above school programme. Dr. J. P. CUND of Dresden, Clerk of the 7 Civil Dist Board is using commendable efforts to establish a colored school in the town of Dresden. I think that such a school will be in operation within the next two weeks. The most difficult part to accomplish is to get a house. People who have houses suitable for school houses are afraid if they permit colored schools to be taught in them they will be beat up. Mr. Wm. ROSS was willing to rent a house for that purpose but would not rent for less than one year. Irvine LANDRUM a colored man has a house with two rooms one of which will answer for a school room, and he proposes to let it go for that purpose. If no better arrangement can be made I think the Directors had better take it. John GLENN, a rebel soldier, proposes to teach the school. I do not suppose that he will be interrupted while in the discharge of his duties. His salary will be about seventy five Dollars per month. When we once get the colored school at Dresden in full operation, I do not think it will be a very difficult matter to start other schools for colored children in the County. Licensed Miss Sallie A. DRAUGHAN today. There is a great deal of inquiry about the probability of the State being able to meet the demand of the school law. In some districts the whole amount due the teachers will be paid in others only a portion, oweing to the fact that in 1867 some of the Districts did not take half of the scholastic population, while in others all the children were taken. In some civil districts there was but one school taught while in others there were from five to seven in a single civil Dist. This accounts for the differences for I pay off by civil Dist. Friday Evening Feb 12 1869. Having had a great deal of riding and writing to do since the last date on this record I am a little behind hand with it. Since writing the 32 & 33rd pages I have paid S. G. CLIFTON Eighty eight & 27/100 Dollars for services as teacher in the 1st Civil Dist. Paid D. A. FINCH at the same time thirty three & 25/100 Dollars for services in the 10th Civil Dist. Both payments were made Monday the 9th inst. On invitation of Joseph H. BARNUM, Esq. Business Agent for West Tenn I visited Union City and met with Dr. HAWKINS, Supt. for Obion Co. together with Prof WYATT, Prof ROSEMAN, Several Directors and a number of friends of free schools. The meeting was held in the Theatre. Speeches were made by Prof BARNUM, Rev. McBRIDE, Capt. BELL, Capt. HARVEL, Prof ROSEMANn, Prof WYATT and several other gentlemen, all of whom seemed deeply interested in the success of the Free Common Schools in our state. I shall not attempt to particularize any of the remarks made on the occasion. Suffice it to say that they all were in favor of the maxim, “that the property of the State should be taxed to educate the children of the state. Preliminary steps were taken to build a School house to cost three thousand dollars and to establish a graded school, according to the plan pointed out by the present school law. Returned to Weakley from Union City and met S. E. WAISTCOAT, L. M. PERRY, F. I. ALEXANDER Teachers in this county. Have paid each of them 11 4/100 per cent of their salaries. Have paid in all one thousand sixty-seven & 13/100 Dollars, leaving a balance of 362 41/100 Dollars on hand. Yesterday visited the schools in the 2nd & 3rd sub Districts of the 18th Civil District. Miss Lavinia ALLEN teacher in the 2nd Sub Dist had 35 students. She has averaged forty since she began. House in good repair, but badly provided with seats. I made an effort to have better seats placed in the house. Think it will be done shortly. Miss F. Beatrice SWIFT teacher in the 3rd Sub Dist of the 18, had fifteen students in attendance yesterday. Her school will not average more than 15. The house is bad, the seats are bad and the people in that neighborhood do not take much interest in schools. I will urge upon the Directors the necessity of providing a better house and furniture before another school is taught in that District. Today, (Feb 12) I have been busy preparing reports for Prof. BARNUM, the number of colored children for each district, the number and condition of public school houses, if any for colored children, the estimated cost of building such houses in each of the Civil Districts of the county, where they are not already built. The teachers of the County are slow to change their old school books for new ones. McGuffeys Readers & Rays Arithmetics are in every school in the county. Davies Arithmetics & Hillards Readers have been selected by the proper authorities as the text books to be used in our free schools. I shall try to introduce them. The people generally are more favorable to free schools now than they were three months ago and if we can keep them up for a year or two more no power save that on High can put them down. February 22 1869 Washingtons Birth Day. Went to Dresden today. Met a number of Directors, teachers and friends of Free Schools. All are anxious for the forthcoming funds. I did not make known to them the report of Gen EATON, but will shortly. Have been riding almost every day for the last three or four months. I see by this report that it is probable that four Dollars per diem will be paid to Supts instead of a certain salary per annum. It is immaterial with me, for I give all of my time to the duties of the office. At four dollars a day, I will really get more than I would, $800 a year for I am out more than 200 days in a year. The ground is now covered with sleet yet I must ride. Have within the last week started two free schools in the north part of the Co. for the first that have yet started there since the present school law was enacted. One free school in the 3 Miss Sallie DRAUGHAN, salary forty five dollars per month. One in the 2 dist Mr. L. B. SWIFT, salary 60 Dollars per month. One in the 17, Mr. J. W. WALTERS salary forty Dollars per month. Must appoint a meeting some where in the 2 or 17 Dist and arrange those Dists equal with others in the county. As soon as the weather permits I intend to meet the people in every Civil Dist in the County and endeavor to educate them up to the point of local taxation for school purposes. Feb 24 1869. Met Mr. Wm. LASSWELLl & Mr. James HAZELWOOD today. They requested me to come and see them in order to make some arrangements relative to dividing the 3 Civil Dist into convenient sub Districts. Arrangements were made to divide the District, but it is feared that much dissatisfaction will be caused thereby. The Citizens around Gardners Station, want to make the whole Civil District into one Sub School district, and have a high school at the Station, making it free to every white child between the ages of six & twenty for which purpose a fine School-house is going up and will be completed in two or three months. But it is argued by those living a distance from the Station that it is inconvenient and in many instances impossible for children living three & even four miles from the School-house to go, and in that case, the Public fund would not be fairly distributed. Therefore, Mr. LASSWELL & Mr. HAZELWOOD, (Directors for the 3 district) think it would be better for all concerned to divide the civil into three Sub Districts giving all a fair chance to go to school. But Mr. GARDNER, FREEMAN & others, if the District is thus divided, there will not be so good a chance to establish a thoroughly graded school, giving all in the Dist who may choose to attend the privilege of attending a high school free of cost. I think another meeting will have to be called before the matter can be satisfactorily arranged. February 27 1869. Was at Dresden day before yesterday. Urged Dr. CUND to push forward the work of commencing a colored School at that point. He has written to Mayfield Ky to procure a teacher. Thinks he will be successful. The apportionment for Feb 1869, amounts to the following figures, if I am correct in my calculations. Viz. cts First District. $111.75 These figures were made out on 2nd “ 263.35 the enumeration of 1867 but 3 “ 151.65 ought to have been made out on 4 “ 175.54 that of 1868 which see on 5 “ 218.50 another page. 6 “ 330.05 7 “ 385.25 8 “ 293.44 9 “ 371.45 10 “ 313.95 11 “ 420.70 12 “ 187.75 13 “ 178.25 14 “ 346.15 15 “ 217.35 16 “ 200.00 18 “ 223.75 There is no school in the 17 that will close within two weeks after date above and according to requisitions from Gen EATON no notice to be taken of any school that does not close within two weeks after the 1st of March. The apportionment is one dollar and fifteen cents per scholar. This does not include the interest for 1869 nor any of the tax for 1868 merely the tax for 1867. I believe that if proper steps are taken all that is now due teachers will be paid. March 2 1869. At Dresden yesterday. Paid Thomas J. HIGGS & L. A. BLAKE forty-eight & 50/100 Dollars each for services in the 14 Civil Dist. Their orders were each for two hundred Dollars – properly signed &c. by John A. WILLIAMS, District Clerk. Dr. J. T. CUND has promised until I am tired of promises that he will have a colored School started at Dresden. The difficulty is finding a teacher. I promised several District Clerk yesterday that I would visit their Districts shortly and call a meeting of the Directors & citizens and confer together on the best methods of teaching Schools. Must do what I promised. March the 8th day 1869. West to Dresden Saturday. The day was extremely cold. So cold that not many teachers and others interested in Schools were not out. Requested Mr. LOYD a Director in the Dresden School District to get about having the colored School house built somewhere near town. Mr. MALONE has proffered to donate one acre of land to the colored people for church purposes. I think he would as lief it were used for School as for Church purposes. Mr. Joseph H. BARNUM, Assistant Supt. for Bureau of R. A. L. F. wrote to me that I might rely on obtaining from five to eight hundred Dollars for the purpose of building school houses for the colored people. If I can get one or two hundred Dollars from the Bureau for this purpose, I think a house will soon be built and a school opened on the land proffered by Mr. A. J. MALONE. March 8 1869. Made out and forwarded to Gen EATON today requisitions for the County. Viz: First District. 111.73 2nd “ 300.00 3rd “ 151.62 4 “ 275.54 5 “ 441.60 6 “ 334.65 7 “ 537.05 8 “ 305.90 9 “ 384.10 10 “ 307.05 11 “ 454.25 12 “ 280.60 13 “ 278.30 14 “ 346.15 15 “ 223.10 16 “ 200.00 18 “ 193.20 These figures are made out on the reports returned to me by the various District Clerks of the County, copies of which were forwarded to the Supt at Nashville. Whether the requisition will be filled out at Nashville or not remains to be seen. It will be observed that no mention is made of any School in the 17 because no free School will close in that Dist for same months yet but one having opened in that District since the present school law went into operation, and that one since Christmas. Expressed the requisitions copied above to Gen EATON to day. March 10 1869. Rode twenty five miles yesterday. Met the following Teachers. Rev. A. M. SMITH, B. A. TANSIL, Robt. S. NOWLIN, Thurman BOAZ, L. A. BLAKE, Samuel E. WAISTCOAT, all of whom were very anxious for their pay. In reply to their inquiries, I was obliged to tell them that the Treasury was empty and consequently the prospect for paying them anything at present was _____. I could see they were sorely disappointed. I tried to encourage them but they have waited and expected until their patience is gone. Some of them will proceed to collect their wages from their patrons. If something is not speedily done, it will be a more difficult matter to start free schools in 69, than it was in 68. But I have not yet lost faith in the ability of the state to meet her school demands. I shall continue to look to and labor for the interests of free schools in the county until I am assured by competent authority that the school law is a failure, for the want of funds. Was at Dresden yesterday. The inability of the Treasury to meet the present school fund apportionment was the gen topic of conversation. I hope to be able soon to disperse the general gloom of the Teachers by announcing to them that their money is ready. Several teachers contemplated teaching a public school have for the present abandoned the idea in consequence of the failure to be paid for services already rendered. In the mean time I anxiously await further information from Nashville. A. M. HUGHES. March 22 1869. Was at Dresden to-day, quite a number of Teachers were out expecting their pay, but were again disappointed. Wrote to General EATON requesting him to send a check on the First National Bank and Col. CARLTON said he would take it up as soon as he could. See in the papers that free schools have suspended for how long I do not know. Since all are informed that the school fund has been used up for paying interest on the state debt, free school have very nearly suspended here too. Examined James P. ELLIOTT today. Gave him a Certificate grade 8, March 29 1869. Have been riding three days since the 22 inst. Cannot put any schools in operation, until teachers are paid for Services already rendered. If something is not done speedily our free school system will be a dead letter. By the advice of a number of Teachers, I requested Mr. J. C. REAVIS to go to Nashville and see if he could not do something for us. He kindly consented to go the teachers agreeing to pay his expenses out of their salaries. Paid Miss Berthia SWIFT thirty five Dollars Saturday last, 27 Inst for services in the 18th Civil Dist. The August apportionment is nearly exhausted. April 3 1869 Was at Dresden to-day. Saw a number of teachers, but could not induce any of them to take up schools all wanted to get paid for what they had done. Gen EATON is at Washington instead of Nashville. Everything is at a stand still until he returns. April 5 1869. Rode twenty five miles to-day. Examined two teachers, Mr. R. S. MURREL, and Miss Susan M. KORNEGAY, the first of the 13, & the latter of the 1 District. Each one No. 10 grade. Paid John A. WILLIAMS of the 14 district forty Dollars for services in that Dist. His order is for two hundred & fifty Dollars. Hope to be able to pay a better per cent ere long. Reached home half after 6 this evening. May 12 1869. For the last three or four weeks I have not been able to accomplish much toward establishing schools for the present year in consequence of the inability of the State Treasury to meet the demands for school purposes but I am of the opinion that the February apportionment of 1869 will be forthcoming within the next ten days or two weeks. I have been using my best efforts to keep alive the hope that the fund for school purposes will yet come up all right, think the scholastic report will be up in time this year. Have examined nine teachers so far this year. Have spent three and four days out of every week since Christmas attending to the various and sometimes irksome duties of my office. Appointed A. H. Walker, Barnum & Pace Directors for the 17 Civil District. Appointed a Mr. DUDLEY in the 15 Civil Dist since Mr. PANIPON resigned Mr. B. LUSK taught a school in the 4 & 18th districts or at least a sub Dist embracing portions of both the 4 & 18th. He is quite anxious for his pay indeed so are all the teachers in the County. Hope to be able to satisfy them at an early day. A. M. HUGHES. May 15 1869 Was at Dresden to-day. Saw but few teachers out. Told those whom I saw that I would have them a small per cent on their salaries next week. Gen EATON sent me a check for one thousand Dollars date May 12 1869. Said in his letter that he hoped to be able to send checks for the remainder soon. Why Knox County got her full share so much in advance of Weakley I cannot understand. Supt. M. C. WILCOX of Knox County reports a little more than nine thousand Dollars for the Feb apportionment while Weakley up to this date can boast of but one thousand. Perhaps some reason can be produced for such a difference in counties but I would like to know it. May 17 1869. Visited two or three teachers to-day. They are very much discouraged in consequence of not getting pay for services in the school room. I was called upon by various teachers & Directors every day through the week but could do nothing in furtherance of free schools and probably will not accomplish much in that line until some funds are sent here to pay to the teachers. May 22 69 At my post again to-day. Paid Miss M. M. PENN thirty Dollars for services in the 34d District. Took preliminary steps toward forming a new sub District in the 7th Civil District which if established by the Board will be duly noted. Much _________ as usual because there is no money. May 24 1869. Received Comptrollers warrants for Five thousand seven hundred and nine & 45/ (5709.45) Dollars. Could not get any money advanced upon either of the warrants. Agreed to go to Nashville to-morrow and see what could be done, the teachers agreeing that they would pay my expenses at least all the teachers present agreed to assist. May 27 1869 Returned from Nashville to-day. Did not get but one thousand Dollars which I will immediately distribute. Learned that Supts salary was cut down to three Dollars per diem. Called upon Prof OGDON of Fisk University. He promised to send out at least one teacher to this county within two or three weeks. May 29 1869. Was at my office at Dresden to-day paid thirteen teachers to day to wit: L. B. SWIFT of the second Civil Dist Fifty Dollars, A. C. BRANN of the fifth fifteen dollars, R. E. NOWLIN of the sixth twenty-five Dollars, Samuel E. WESCOTE of the seventh twenty-one Dollars, B. A. TANSIL & Mrs. M. E. HOLLIS of the eighth each thirty Dollars, Thos J. FEATHERSTON of the ninth twenty five Dollars W. J. POOL of the tenth twenty Dollars. Thurman BOAZ of the eleventh Thirty Dollars L. A. BLAKE of the fourteenth twenty Dollars. P. L. MANISO of the fifteenth thirty Dollars and Miss Bertha SWIFT of the 18 thirteen Dollars making in all three hundred and twenty-nine Dollars. A. M. HUGHES Co. Supt. May 31 1869 Paid teachers the following sums to-day. A. M. SMITH 21 Dollars. L. M. PELY same. C. W. HAWKES 30 Dollars. John BELL 20. Miss E. G. COOLEY 30. G. W. ELDER 51 67/100 Dollars. J. O. ALEXANDER 30. Numbers of other teachers are yet to be paid off. One man who had bought some school claims from the teachers refused to receive the pro rata that I offered him. He wants to wait until the whole amt can be paid, but I will pay out just as I received. June 4 1869 Have been busy this week making out report and hurrying up the Directors to take the Scholastic population. June 9, 1869. Directors very slow making up the scholastic reports. Have been in the 3, 14 & 8 to look after this matter. The usual answer is that Directors get nothing for services, hence they are not particular as to duties. But I must urge the matter up for it is time they were coming in. Paid on Monday 7 inst, John A. WILLIAMS of the 14 Dist twenty Dollars for services as teacher in that Dist. Paid to A. DUNLAP of the fifteenth fifteen Dollars for same. John H. D. CARLIN twenty five Dollars for teaching in the 5th several yet to pay off. Made out and forwarded my requisitions for services as Supt. Had them properly approved by Jude WILLIAMS Clerk of the Executive School Board. Amount six hundred & fifty two (652) Dollars. June the twelfth A.D. 1869 Yesterday and day before, visited teachers of the 17th dist. Mr.WOOD & Mr. LUSK. Also visited on the Dist Clerk Mr. A. H. JOHNSON having the Scholastic report taken. Was at Dresden to-day. Paid the following teachers to wit. F. J. HIGGS twenty Dollars. Miss Lavina ALLEN Forty Dollars. W. E. CANDLE twenty five Dollars. Trying to get up a colored school at Dresden but am poorly seconded by the Directors & Citizens. June 14 1869 At my office yesterday paid Miss S. M. KORNEGAY Twenty six & 60/100 Dollars which makes exactly one hundred Dollars that I have paid her for services in the 13 Civil Dist. None of the Dist Clerks have completed the Scholastic reports. Dr.CUND, Dist Clerk of the 7th Civil Dist said yesterday that he would write to Thomas WILLS (colored) of Nashville to come to Dresden and take up a colored school. June 17 1869. Finished a portion of my preliminary report to-day. It is very incomplete. Various forms were furnished to the Dist clerks but they were considered (by the clerks) too elaborate for a preliminary report and as the most of them argued that they got nothing for services they would do nothing in the way of making the required reports. The teachers nine tenths of them did not know how to keep a Register and few of them took the pains to learn how, consequently the Registers were badly kept furnishing but little. June 19 1869. At Dresden to-day. Paid A. J. FINCH teacher in the tenth Dist Twenty Dollars, Elias D. LASTER of the Eleventh Twenty Dollars. Sam E. WESCOT ten Dollars. The latter to Mr. JETT on the order of Mr. WESCOT, for which I hold his receipt. Think I will have a colored school in operation very soon at Dresden. June 25 1869 Have been busy all this week making up my Preliminary Report and apportioning the funds or rather the Comptrollers warrants for which I hope soon to obtain the funds, amongst the teachers. Few of them will be paid in full. I do not think there will be any more funds coming to this County for schools taught in the year 1868. June 26 1869 Was at my office at Dresden to-day. Paid F. M. ALEXANDER twenty Dollars for services in the Seventh District. E. M. TAYLOR twenty five Dollars for services in the thirteenth. Dr. CUND Dist Clerk of the seventh Dist rented a house for a colored school for fifty Dollars. The order was presented to me to-day. Must attend to it. Dist Clerks slow in reporting scholastic population. June 28 1869 Examined Thomas WILLIS colored, yesterday. He is only tolerably qualified but for a colored person he is looked upon by his people as a prodigy. He will commence teaching next Monday July 5, 1869. it will be the first colored school ever opened in this county. ______________________. July 5 1869. At my office at Dresdey to-day. Paid the following teachers the amounts specified Viz. S. P. CLIFTON of the 1st Dist twenty (20) Dollars. F. B. SWIFT of the 2nd 27.50 Dollars. Miss M. M. PENN of the 3 twenty, C. W. HAWKES of the 4 20. B. LUSK 20, John H. D. CARLIN twenty, A. C. BRANN 20, L. A. KILLEBREW 20, C. P. BONDURANT 20, F. J .ALEXANDER 20, L. M. PERRY 20, S. E. WISCOAT ______, Miss Eliza McLANE thirty (30) Robt E. NOWLIN fifteen, Ben A. TANSIL 20, Mrs. M. A. HOLLIS 20, T. FEATHERSTON 30, W. E. CANDLE 20, W. W. _____ fifteen, W. J. POOL fifteen, A. D. FINCH15, Thurman BOAZ 20, E. D. LASTER 20, John BELL 20, Miss E. G.COOLEY 20, J. O. ALEXANDER 20. P. W. ELDER twenty five Dollars, E. M. TAYLOR 15, Mrs. A. E. THOMAS Forty, 40, J. A. WILLIAMS 15, F. I. HIGGS fifteen, L. A. BLAKE 15, P. L. MANIN 15, John COCHRAN forty 40. J. P.WOOD 20. Miss Bertha SWIFT fifteen, Miss Lavina ALLEN fifteen Dollars. A colored school – the first one ever opened in this county, commenced this morning at Dresden. About 35 scholars in attendance the first day. At this date there are five white & one colored school in operation in this county & under the free school law. July 6 1869 Visited the 3 sub Dist of the 18 to-day the Directors of that Dist have not yet made any steps toward takeing the Scholastic population, they promised however to begin soon. But few reports have as yet come in for any part of the County. A. M. HUGHES, Supt. Weakley July 14 1869. For the last several days I have been urging the Directors to take the Scholastic population, and but few of them have yet done so – the excuse being that they are too busy now. Will attend to it. Shortly, so they say. Licensed W. J. REAVIS two or three days ago. Licensed Mo___ to-day. Received a Comptrollers warrant for two hundred & fifty five Dollars from the State Treasurer for services as Supt for this Co up to Nov 22nd 1868. Ten schools in operation now. In four or five weeks forty or fifty more will start then I will be busy until they close which will be toward the last of Feb. The report for the 2nd dist is in, the only one yet for the County, yet. July 24 1869 Examined _____ PATE a few days ago. He is an experienced teacher and bears a tolerable examination. At my office at Dresden to-day. Paid Mr. BRASSFIELD Seventy Dollars on orders from the 5 & 9th Civil Districts. Mr. BRASSFIELD bought the orders from the teachers. Miss P. A. CARLIN has just closed a school in the first Dist. Her salary was thirty Dollars per month. July 29 1869 Since the above date (24) I have visited the 3 & 18th Districts to have the scholastic population taken. This is something Directors will not do without constantly reminding them that it is their duty to do so. Paid Byrd LUSK Twenty Doll to-day. Examined Jeremiah MOSS day before yesterday. August 3rd 1869 Paid Mrs. Susan GARRETT Sixty Dollars yesterday for services as teacher in the 6 Dist. Her school has been out for several months yet she never received a dollar until yesterday because the Dist Clerk would not give her an order. He refused to give her an order on the grounds that scholars came to her from the 5 & 7th Civil Districts and no regular transfers had been made. I suppose from the order properly signed by Mr. NEWBERRY the Dist Clerk of the 6th that the transfer has been duly made. Paid Mr. J. T. DUNLAP of the 15 Dist Twenty five Dollars for services as teacher in the 15. Mr. DUNLAP will begin another school at the same place he taught last Fall & winter, next Monday, the 8th Inst. Mr. Byrd LUSK gave the sheriff an Order on the Supt, for sixty five Dollars and fifty cents, which was accepted on the condition that the order would be paid out of the first proceeds coming into my hand belonging to Mr. LUSK as teacher of a school in the 14th dist during the winter of 68 & 69. Yesterday quite a number of teachers met me at Dresden expecting to be paid at least a portion of their salaries but I could not pay them a Dollar because I had no money to pay with. Mrs. GARRETT & Mr. DUNLAP had not been paid in the 6th of July last when the others were. Great dissatisfaction was manifested by the teachers but I could not help it. Hope to be able to pay them soon. August 7 1869 For the last week I have been able to accomplish but little in the way of free schools. The great reason for so much apathy in regard to free schools is the state has failed to meet the expectations of the people. Had the teachers been paid promptly at this time or at least by the 30 of September every sub District in the county would have had a white school and eight or ten colored schools in the county besides. But as it is there are at present only twelve schools in the Co and the prospect for more of them is not cheering. I cannot induce but few of the District Clerks to make out the scholastic population. Only one district yet reported (the 2nd). I have the Directors as well as the Clerks and urged upon them the necessity of making out the required report they promise to do so “soon” and that is the last of it. An eclipse of the sun will take place this evening beginning about 4 oclock and ending about 6, so says the Almanac. To be specific in my record I have visited the 3, 14 & 7 Districts this week besides spending two days at my office at Dresden. The scholastic population for the County must come up all right if I have to visit every District in the County again. The colored school at Dresden is in a flourishing condition sixty three scholars and two teachers____________. Both are colored. August 10, 1869 Paid Miss May O'CONNER Twenty five Dollars today for services in the sixth Civil District. Received a lot of Reports from the State Supt. He directs County Superintendents to pay teachers whose schools commenced before the 30 of Sept next out of the 1,15 cts already apportioned. As there are less than four thousand Dollars to divide amongst fifty-four teachers it will pay but a small per cent on the salary of each. August 27, 1869 Since the 10th Inst, I have not staid at home a single night. Have been attending to my official duties, a brief account of which I will here give. Left home on the 11 Inst and went into the 8th Dist. Saw Mr. DENT Clerk of the 2nd Sub Dist of the 8th. He had the scholastic population ready, and wanted me to take it but I told him to give it to Mr. W. W. BROCK the Dist Clerk. Have not heard from Mr. BROCK since. Mr. WILLIAMS of the 14 says one of his sub districts has not yet reported but the report from the 14th will be up in good time. Mr. CARLTON of the 10 also promised to have his district in reporting order ere long. CAMPBELL of the 12 promised to see to it that the 12 should report. New districts have been laid off in the 12 & new directors elected all of which has not yet been reported. WEBB of the 4 will come to town with his population. Mr. B. F. BROCK of the 7, James M. DREWRY of the 15 and David L. THOMAS of the 16 will all report the scholastic population and number of schools in their respective dists whenever necessary to do so. The Districts here mentioned cover the entire southern portion of the county and a part of the west. I was more than a week getting up statistics of schools in these localities all of which will be duly forwarded. I received a notice that an educational meeting would be held at Lookout Mountain Tenn on the 18 & 19 of Aug. I attended the meeting and found many of the County Superintendents, Teachers and friends of education in attendance. The State Superintendent, Hon.. Horace MAYNARD, and other distinguished characters were present. The business of the convention was various the most important was an address to the Legislature of Tennessee praying an continuation of some sort of a free school system in the state. The address was signed by several of the most prominent members of the convention. The Essays on education and the best methods of instruction were generally good but too long. The weather was extremely warm yet a tolerable attendance was on hand all the time including a number of ladies. The state supt. answered several important questions from Co. Supts ________________________________________________________. September 3 1869 Have visited the 2nd & 17th Civil Districts this week. The second Dist has two free schools taught by Mr. Thomas _______ and Joseph ______. There are two other sub Districts in the 2nd in one of which Mr. L. B. SWIFT has taught a five months school this year. There is no school in the other District yet. I have the scholastic report from the 2nd. It was the first one reported this year. Last year it was a part of Obion County. Mr. I. W. WALTER taught a five months in the 17 this year. He is now trying to make a subscription school. Col. WALKER, Mr. HUGHLETT & Mr. BAUCUM are the Directors for the 17, but the people want to organize by Sub Dist, and I went over there for the purpose of ordering an election in one of the Sub Districts of the 17. Think the whole Dist will be organized this month. Must go to Dresden tomorrow. Sept 4 1869 Was at my post at Dresden today. Examined B. E. GATES a Kentuckian. He will teach a school in the 13 Civil Dist at Forty Dollars per month. Mr. GATES is moderately qualified. The KuKlux or at least men in disguise broke up the colored school at Dresden Thursday night by takeing out the teacher – a colored man named WELL and whipping him severely and ordering him to leave the town on the first train. The school thus summarily broken up was in a flourishing condition. September 6, 1869 At my office to-day. Quite a number of teachers were at town wanting their pay. I will pay them just so soon as I get the money. Appointed James A. PRESTWOOD, P. W. WILSON & James A. MANGNUM local Directors For the sub dist of Dresden. Appointed John _______, William S. ______ & T. G. CARDWELL Local Directors for sub dist No. 1 of Civil Dist No. 1. Must write out their commission this week. Received reports from the 6, 14, 16, 17 & 18 Districts to-day. Examined George W. WILLIS a youth of 18. He got a certificate of the 2nd grade. He seemed to be somewhat disappointed because it was not of the 1st grade but he did not answer 90 per cent of the questions. The prospect seems gloomy for pay for the teachers. Several new schools have gone into operation this month. Salaries not so high as last year. The 1st, 5th & 13th Districts sent in reports to-day. Monday Night – 7 oclock, Sept 20, 1869 Was at Dresden Saturday and got a comptrollers warrant for Three hundred and twelve (312) Dollars. Also various papers to fill out and RETURN this week to Nashville, amongst other papers one for my annual settlement with the State Supt. Paid Col CARLTON One hundred & fifty-four Dollars & 90 cts on orders he had bought from different teachers. Renewed S. E. WESCOATS certificate. He begins a school at Dresden the first Monday in Oct. Salary Eighty-five Dollars per month. Tuesday night 8 oclock Sept 28, 1869 Have paid off the following teachers since the 20th Inst, to wit, TAYLOR of the 13 110 Dollars. This order is now receipted in full. WALTERS of the 17 Two hundred Dollars, his order is receipted in full. WHITEHURST of the 15 Two hundred dollars, MURELL of the 13 Two hundred Miss JACKSON of the 15 order two hundred Dollars. All of the above orders now receipted and filed away. The following sums were also paid L. B. SWIFTt 25 Dollars, C. W. HAWKES 25, I. H. D. CARLIN 15, S. P. WALKER 10, Susan PAMETHE 15, May O'CONNER 15, Frank ALEXANDER 15, Lee ___ 15, Sam WESCOAT 15, Ben TANSIL 25, Milca A. HALLIS 25, FEATHERSTON 40, WARD 10, POSE10, I. O. ALEXANDER 10, Abbie E. THOMAS 15, WILLIAMS 15, HIGGS 10, _____ 10, W. R. BLACKNOLL on an order from Byrd LUSK 45.50. All of the above items will in due time be a transfer to the cash book. Licensed Thos G. CARDWELL of the 1st Dist to teach. First grade schools not doing very well now. October 4 1869. The following teachers were paid the amounts opposite each name Miss M. M. DUNN 25 Dollars, Miss Eliza McLANE 15 Dollars, I. P. ELLIOTT 15 Dollars, E. D. LASTER 14 Dollars, T. BOAZ 15 Dollars, Rev John BELL 10, John COCHRAN 25 Dollars and Miss SWIFT 10 Dollars. Licensed William Evans OLIVER as a teacher of the 2nd grade to-day. Number of men have high hopes of the incoming Legislature in regard to schools. Some of the teachers think that their orders will now soon be paid while others are quite despondent and believe the legislature will repudiate. Both I think are extreme. Teacher orders cannot be paid before the Treasury can get the money. I do not believe the Legislature will repudiate. October the 18, 1869 Have paid off a number of teachers Saturday and to-day. By the advice of a number of the Teachers I sold the remaining warrants that I had to the County Tax Collector at 10 per cent off, and paid the proceeds to the teachers. The Teachers losing the per cent. Some of the teachers wont deduct the per cent. From the savage Bill introduced into the Legislature by various members, I infer bad times for free schools in Tennessee. Some of the Bills propose to repeal the school law, and abolish all offices created by it, others propose to compel all school offices hold any school funds pay them over to the Clerk of the Court and by him sent to the state Treasurer. Some members introduced a bill to put in the penitentiary all school officers having appropriated; or found appropriating any of the school fund to their own use. Some of these spiteful bills I believe have yet become laws. Let us hope that our Legislature will not entirely abolish the free school system of the state. But from the tone and temper of the Legislature the Teachers of the County are afraid to take hold of the free schools. A new system must be devised, one that will win the confidence of the people. Teachers must rest assured that their orders will be cashed at sight, then we will have good schools. It is unless to try to have school unless you can have the money ready when the school is out. There are only ten free schools in this County at this time and most of them are in Districts where no school were taught last year. Yet the people seem anxious that I should go to the various districts and see what can be done toward building up free schools. I go but can accomplish but little. Have exhausted all the funds that have come into my hands October 31st 1869. Was at Dresden yesterday. Paid off, or rather paid the following sums to the following names teachers. John W. D. CARLIN Twenty-five Dollars, Simon G. THACKER Thirty Dollars, James A. WARD Thirty-five Dollars, Franklin I. ALEXANDER Thirty Dollars. The next meeting of the Tennessee Teachers Association will be held at Nashville Tuesday and Wednesday the 3 & 4 Draximo. The House of Representatives voted unanimously for the association to be held in the Hall of the House at night and in the Supreme Court rooms during the day. The meeting will be addressed by gov SENTER, ex-gov Neill S. BROWN, ex gov Henry S. FOOTE, ex Supt John EATON, Supt A. I. TIPTON and various other distinguished educators of the State. Two or three weeks ago I was satisfied that the School law would either be entirely abolished or so mutilated by amendment that it would be rendered inoperative, but I begin to hope for better now. Perhaps the members will see that the present school law is about as good as can be put in operation in the state at present and that a total repeal of the present school law without a better substitute would perhaps cost some of them their seats. But I await further developments. Nov 16 1869 Up to the latest intelligence from Nashville no attention had been made to the school law. Hope the Legislature will let it alone. Some senator by resolution called upon Comp. BLACKBURN to know why the apportion for 1868 had not yet been made and disbursed to the counties complying with the requirements of the law. The Comptroller replied by letter that the money had not been collected, and consequently could not be apportioned or disbursed. So many of the Teachers have commenced and quit teaching free schools that it is difficult to always know exactly how many schools are going on in the County. Mr. Alexander quit teaching his school some time ago but I think he will begin again as he seemed to think that he might get his pay. Attend regularly at Dresden Saturdays and Mondays but I can do but little except to encourage Directors & Teachers as best I can that all will yet be right. Made out and forwarded the requisition for the colored school at Dresden several days ago. The amount is for Two hundred & eighty-eight Dollars and sixty five cents out of which Bill Ross must be paid for the rent of the houses in which the school was taught. If the present legislature adjourns without meddling with the school law it will be greatly to the advantage of the poor children of the state. September 7, 1874...5 years after his last entry of 1869. The last written page in this book bears date November the 16 1869, nearly five years ago. I was superintendent of Schools of this County at the time, and was then very much afraid that the legislature would repeal the school law of 67 & 68, passed during the administration of Governor BROWNLAW. My fears were well founded. The law was repealed, and a County system established, which had the desired effect of its fathers. It effectually killed free schools in Tennessee except in Knox, Davidson & Shelby Counties. This was the Legislature of 1869 & 1870. The succeeding Legislature of 1872 & 1873 passed another school law very similar to the one passed in 1867. It is yet in operation. But every candidate for the Legislature that I heard say anything about the school law was in favor of repealing it. But I hope the people of east and middle Tennessee will send men to represent them who will not suffer the repeal of the present school law in Tennessee. Let it remain as it is unless it can be improved. The great objection to free schools is this, the negro has an equal chance with the white man in sending his children to school, and the white man has nearly all the tax to pay. This is selfish not to say mean. Give the negro a chance and if he can improve his condition in the name of common sense and common humanity let him rise. I would rather see him an intelligent and good citizen rather than an ignorant bad one. Archelaus M. HUGHES. ----------- |
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