PAGE 2
The Goodspeed Publishing Co., History of Tennessee, 1887
transcribed by Helen Rowland
Shelby County TN History (Cont)
First Cavalry, Company F, of this regiment, was from Shelby County. This company was commanded by Capt. M. V. Gray. It was organized into a battalion commanded by Maj. H. C. King in April, 1862. Later it helped to form a regiment, the officers of which were Thomas Claiborn, colonel; James Pell, lieutenant-colonel; M. J. Wick, major; H. C. Bate, adjutant. The operations of this regiment were confined mainly to Tennessee and Kentucky.
The nucleus of the Seventh Cavalry was Logwood’s battalion, which was composed of the Memphis Light Dragoons, T. H. Logwood, captain; Shelby Light Dragoons, captain, J. G. Ballentine; Tennessee Mounted Rifles, captain, Joe White. This battalion was organized in the fall of 1861, with T. H. Logwood, lieutenant-colonel; C. H. Hill, major; J. W. Somerville, adjutant. This body of men operated in Kentucky and near the State line for some time. On June 10, 1862, this was formed into a regiment, with the following regimental officers: W. H. Jackson, colonel; J. G. Stock, lieutenant-colonel; W. L. Duckworth, major. The following companies were also added: From Shelby County—Company K, W. F. Taylor, captain; J. W. Sneed, first lieutenant; H. W. Watkins, second lieutenant. Company C, S. P. Bassett, captain; J. T. Lawler, first lieutenant; John Albrecht, second lieutenant. A company (partly from Tipton County), J. A. Anderson, captain; Alex. Duckworth, first lieutenant; John Trent, second lieutenant. The regiment was engaged at Bolivar and again at Medon in August; at Britton’s Lane, near Denmark, in September; then at Corinth. On October 4 it assisted in cutting Grant’s base at Holly Springs, and destroying $5,000,000 worth of stores. It was with Van Dorn in a raid to Bolivar, and then returned to Grenada. It was engaged with Loring and Tilghman at Yazoo. Col. Jackson was made a brigadier-general, and J. C. Stock became colonel, and W. L. Duckworth lieutenant-colonel. Company A, under Capt. W. F. Taylor, became escort to Gen. W. H. Jackson, and Company B, under J. B. Russell, became escort to Gen. Loring. J. B. Lawler became captain of Company C, on the death of Capt. Bassett at Medon. Companies were stationed at different parts of the country. Col. Stock resigned, and W. L. Duckworth became colonel. In a dash upon Collierville, October 11, the regiment came near capturing Gen. Sherman. His horse, sword and a part of his staff were captured. The regiment then retired to Holly Springs. The Seventh assisted in the defeat of Smith and Grierson in their raid into Mississippi. At a new organization W. L. Duckworth was retained as colonel; W. F. Taylor was made lieutenant-colonel; C. C. Clay, major, and W. S. Pope, adjutant. In March, 1864, the Seventh assisted in the capture of Union City, with 700 prisoners, without loss. In the summer of 1864 it assisted in the defeat of Gen. Sturgis at Guntown, Miss., and in the fall joined in the raid through West Tennessee, through Paris and to Johnsonville, where fifteen boats and twenty-one barges were destroyed, the whole amounting to $3,000,000. This was a preliminary step to Hood’s raid into Tennessee. The Seventh passed by way of Henryville, Mt. Pleasant, Columbia, Spring Hill and to Franklin November 30, and on to Nashville, where the regiment occupied a position on the Charlotte Pike, within two miles of Nashville, where it was engaged December 15 and 16. When the army had reached Tupelo the men were allowed a furlough, but reassembled again at West Point, Miss., whence they were taken to Selma, where they were opposed by Gen. Wilson, to whom they surrendered at Gainesville, Ala., in April, 1865. The regiment lost in killed and wounded 207 men.
Forrest’s old regiment was organized at Memphis in October, 1861. N. B. Forrest was elected lieutenant-colonel, D. C. Kelley, major, and C. A. Schafer, adjutant. This regiment was made up from both Mississippi and Tennessee. Company C, containing ninety men, was from Memphis, of which company T. H. May was chosen captain. The regiment originally contained eight companies, and followed the various fortunes of its indomitable leader. It won its first laurels in its escape from Donelson, and was connected with every success of its leader, including the capture of Murfreesboro, with the capture of Col. Streight and the capture of Johnsonville. Before the close of the war the commissioned officers of the companies and the regiment were largely from Memphis and Shelby County.
Bankhead’s battery, a body of men 100 in number, was raised by S. P. Bankhead and W. T. C. Humes. It was organized in April, 1861, at Memphis. The commissioned officers of the company were S. P. Bankhead, captain; W. T. C. Humes, first lieutenant; J. C. McDavitt, W. L. Scott and W. B. Greenlaw, second lieutenants. They first saw service at Fort Pillow, in the heavy artillery service, but returned to Memphis in the summer, and were organized as light artillery, having four guns. They were at New Madrid, Columbus, Island No. 10 and at Shiloh, where the battery lost twenty men. On May 14, 1862, the battery was reorganized, and later Capt. Bankhead was made brigadier-general of artillery and W. L. Scott was made commander of the battery. Henceforth it was known as Scott’s battery. The battery fought at Murfreesboro, Chickamauga and Missionary Ridge. At the latter place the battery was nearly annihilated. The guns were lost and nearly all the men were killed. There being so few left, the men were attached to Marshall’s battery, where they served to the close of the war. A portion of Jackson’s battery, also some of Carnes’ battery, were from Memphis, but it is believed no regularly organized body joined either. Company A, and Company H, from Memphis, joined a regiment composed of Tennesseans, Alabamians and Mississippians. The officers of Company A were Joe Barbiere, captain; T. J. Brooks, first lieutenant, and T. J. Spain, second lieutenant. The officers of Company H were J. R. Farabee, captain; G. F. Pillow, first lieutenant. The regiment was organized February 26, 1862. After the capture of Island No. 10 the companies were assigned to some of the older regiments.
Shelby County furnished at least fifty-three full companies; these with the recruits would doubtless aggregate 6,000 men. The voting population in 1860 was only about 6,000.
The evacuation of Forts Pillow and Randolph in June, 1862, left the river open for the advance of the Federals. The concentration of all the Confederate forces at Corinth stripped the country of men. Brig-Gen. Villepigue was then commander of the forces about Memphis and Col. Thos. H. Rosser of the post. The Federal fleet arrived above the city on Thursday night, June 5, and at 9 o’clock anchored within about one mile and a half of the place. It consisted of the rams Queen, Monarch, Lancaster and Switzerland all under command of Col. Charles Ellet. The gunboats were the Benton, Commodore Davis’ flag-ship, St. Louis, Mound City, Louisville, Cairo and Carondolet, all under Commodore C. H. Davis. The Confederate consisted of the Gen. Van Dorn, Gen. Price, Gen. Bragg, Gen. Lovell, Gen. Beauregard, Jeff Thompson, Sumpter and Little Rebel, all under command of Commodore Ed. Montgomery. By direction from Richmond M. Jeff Thompson, who witnessed the battle, was made general commander with Montgomery. Before the engagement began Commodore Montgomery made the Little Rebel his flag-ship instead of the Van Dorn owing to a large amount of stores on board that vessel. Thompson says he held a consultation with Montgomery as to the defense to be made. Two companies of soldiers were asked for to help man the boats but before they could be brought from the depot, the battle had begun. According to his statement the action commenced much sooner than was expected. Col. Ellet says he was not expecting to encounter a Confederate fleet at all, as it was understood that it had retreated, and that the action was a surprise to him. By the official report of both Col. Ellet and Commodore Davis, the battle began at 5:30 A.M. and ended at 7 A.M., lasting one hour and a half. The battle was opened by Commodore Montgomery, who advanced to meet the enemy as far as Wolf River. After some wild firing the Queen and Monarch advanced boldly. The Queen aimed a blow at the Beauregard but missed her mark and was herself struck by the Beauregard and so damaged that she ran ashore on the Arkansas side. Col. Ellet who commanded the river fleet, was on board the Queen as his flag-ship, and was himself wounded in the leg by a pistol shot, the only casualty on the Federal side. The Beauregard and Price made for the Monarch, but a blow by the Beauregard at the Monarch missed its aim and tore off the wheel-house of the Price, which drifted and sank on the Arkansas shore. The Little Rebel struck the Monarch but did no damage and in turn the Monarch struck the Beauregard and crowded her on her side. The Federal gunboats were now closing in and a shot from one penetrated the boiler of the Beauregard which sand opposite Fort Pickering. A Federal tug rescued the crew. The Gen. Lovell was penetrated early in the action and she careened and sank in deep water. Captain Cabell was killed by a sharpshooter, but Capt. Delacy and most of the crew swam ashore and escaped. The boiler of the Little Rebel was exploded by a shot, but she drifted ashore and most of the crew escaped. The Sumpter was captured in a damaged condition. The Jeff Thompsn was fired by a shell and burned to the water’s edge, when her magazine exploded with terrific force. The other vessels attempted to make their escape, but were pursued and all captured except the Van Dorn. The vessels returned from the pursuit at 10 o’clock. According to Commodore Davis, the Federal loss was, Col. Ellet wounded, and the ram, Queen or Queen of the West disabled. He also reported four prisoners captured, and about 100 killed and wounded of the Confederates and seven vessels. M. Jeff Thompson in his report to Beauregard, thinks the battle was ill-advised, that the boats were poorly handled and that the result was unavoidable under the circumstances. He speaks further of the work of the Federal sharpshooters as being particularly fatal. At 10 o’clock Commodore C. H. Davis sent Medical Cadet Chas. R. Ellet, son of Col. Ellet, Lieut. Crandell of the Fifty-ninth Illinois, and ten boatmen bearing a flag of truce, demanding the surrender of the city to the authority of the United States, to which Mayor John Park replied: “By the force of circumstances the city is in your hands.” The Federal officers and men then proceeded to place a flag upon the courthouse, also one upon the custom house. They were met by the mayor and leading citizens with their characteristic courtesy, but they were surrounded by a hooting and howling mass who showed their contempt for the invaders not only by hurling invectives but shots and other missiles. In a short time Col. Fitch, with detachments of the Forty-third and Forty-sixth Indiana Regiments landed, and at 3 o’clock P.M. the mayor met him and arranged for the government of the city. Order was issued for business, except saloons, to proceed, and for citizens to return to their homes. Capt. John H. Gould was appointed provost-marshal. The majority of the leading citizens, officers, bankers, etc., left the city and went south. The Federal commander issued rigid orders to the citizens; he also ordered any soldiers pilfering or straggling from ranks to be shot.
A singular feature of the battle was that it was witnessed by almost the entire population of the city, at that time estimated at 5,000. There was more or less friction between the civil and military authorities till July 2, 1864, when martial law was declared. On May 11, 1866, a conflict occurred between the police, citizens and the negro soldiery stationed at the forts. Bad feeling was existing between the police and soldiers, some of whom were of a very disreputable class, and Gen. Stoneman says some of the police were not of the best. The soldiers were used to execute the orders of the Government agents, marshals, etc., and were frequently brought in conflict with the police. A deadly feud grew up, which was encouraged by agitators and demagogues. A reign of terror existed from the 1st to the 3d of May, which was only suppressed by Gen. Wallace and the leading citizens. About twenty-four negroes were killed, and property estimated at $120,000 was destroyed. These disturbances have long since passed away.
In Elmwood Cemetery is set apart a portion for the repose of the Confederate dead. In this are buried 117, who were residents of Memphis and vicinity. Besides these there are nearly 1,000 from Arkansas and other States. There is now in course of erection a monument, whose towering shaft is to perpetuate the memory of the fallen.
The National Cemetery was established in 1867. The land was selected and purchased by Rev. W. B. Earnshaw, Lieut.-Col. A. W. Willis and Maj. G. W. Marshall. It was first called the Mississippi River National Cemetery, but has since been named the Memphis National Cemetery. There was purchased forty-four acres of ground for which there was paid $9,817.56. A space about 800x1,800 feet, about thirty-seven acres, is enclosed by a brick wall; the remaining seven acres are enclosed by a wooden fence. In the main enclosure are buried the remains of the soldiers. This enclosure also contains the house of the superintendent and such other buildings as are necessary. Sections are set apart for the regular army, the navy, and each of the States whose soldiers are buried there. There is also the “Fort Pillow Section,” containing 248 dead. The cemetery contains the remains of all who died from Kentucky to Mississippi, including both sides of the river. It is the fourth cemetery in size in the United States. The order and size are as follows: Vicksburg, 16,588; Nashville, 16,538; Arlington, 16,260, and Memphis, 13,932. In 1874 there had been expended upon the cemetery $249,556.66. It is beautifully shaded and has nice drive ways. Capt. Hess is the present superintendent.
But little, if anything, was done for public education in Shelby County before 1870. During this year, in accordance with the code of Tennessee, and an act of the Legislature, passed July 7, 1870, the scholastic population of the county was enumerated in part, but as the school records are incomplete a full history of the schools is unattainable. So far as those records show, the school population was as follows: In the First Civil District, white 424, colored 296; in the Sixth District, white 415, colored 422; in the Seventh, white 293, colored 508; in the Ninth, white 432, colored 420; in the Thirteenth, white 126, colored 388; in the Seventeenth, white 53, colored 49. This enumeration included the youth between six and twenty-one years of age. In 1871 the enumeration was continued and based upon the ages from six to eighteen. In the Third District, white 165, colored 235; Tenth, white 401, colored 340; Twelfth, white 159, colored 246. In the Ninth District 513 attended school and in the Tenth 351, 268 white children and 83 colored. In 1872 the following additional districts made reports: the Second, white 207, colored 251; Fifth, white 236, colored 82; Eighth, white 204, colored 218; Sixteenth, white 128, colored 270. In 1873 the Fifteenth District reported white children 305, colored 125.
During the succeeding years the work of organizing the schools went slowly forward, and even of what was done reports are meager. Turning backward and going over the same ground, January 14, 1871, the school commissioners made a report to the effect that they had found some difficulty in carrying out the provisions of the law on account of the general apathy of parents and guardians with regard to the schools and the want of suitable buildings for schoolhouses. They had, however, succeeded in organizing one school which would commence operations January 16, 1871, and another was in process of organization. In the Fourteenth District, school commissioners were elected February 20, 1871, and in the Eleventh and Twelfth on the 25th of March. On the 1st of the following July the school commissioners of the Seventeenth District reported that they had received from the county trustee $554.20, and that the second school had been organized, that school had been in session five months, that seventy-three scholars had been in attendance and that the amount paid out for school purposes had been $501 and for furniture, $21.70. On October 12, 1871, the total amount of funds in the Fourth District was reported to be $480.17, and that Mrs. Hamilton had received $152.85 and Mrs. Amelia Templeton, $100. In the Second District the commissioners reported for the year ending June 30, 1872, having received from the county trustee $566.25, and having paid out for instruction $432, for house rent $6, for two loads of wood 75 cents and for a water bucket 50 cents, and in the Sixteenth District for the same year the commissioners reported that school had been taught four months for the white children, with an average attendance of forty-three, for which $314.16 had been paid, but that there had been no free school for the colored children for want of a house in which to hold it.
These facts and figures are given merely as illustrative of the work attempted during the early years of the school’s existence. The superintendents paid praiseworthy attention to the duties of their office, and the people generally, not having seen the advantages free public schools confer upon a community, could not appreciate those advantages. Previous to 1882 some of the county superintendents were a Mr. Tyler, George Fleece, Judge G. P. Foote, C. H. Stein and Dr. W. L. Henderson. In 1882 Mrs. W. H. Horton was elected by the county court and since then the schools have made steady and commendable progress. During the first year of her incumbency she held three teachers’ institutes; during 1883, four; during 1884, five; during 1885, five, and during 1886, five. The West Tennessee Institute was held in Collierville in June, 1886, by the State superintendent of common schools. There were in attendance about eighty-five teachers, fifty of them from Shelby County. There were present four instructors of the teachers, Prof. Frank Smith, Prof. A. B. Bourland and Mrs. Horton.
The progress of the schools of the county have made is shown by the following statistics from the report of Mrs. Horton for the year ending June 30, 1886. At the beginning of the year there was on hand $12,769.60; there was received from the State during the year $7,660.91; from the county, $55,381.77; total school fund for the year, $75,812.29. The scholastic population was, white males, 7,591; white females, 6,781; total white children, 14,378; colored males, 9,813; colored females, 9,777; total colored children, 19,590; a grand total of 33,968. The number of schools in the county was for white children 69, for colored children 79, total number of schools, 148; the number of schoolhouses was 148, one stone and 147 frame; 7 frame schoolhouses were erected during the year. The number of white male teachers employed during the year was 17; white females, 58; colored males, 59, and colored females, 20; a total number of 154 teachers. There are 19 school districts in the county and 12 graded schools. The number of pupils enrolled during the year was 10,556, of which the white males numbered 1,829; white females, 1,778; colored males, 3,270; colored females, 3,679. The average daily attendance was, white children, 4,166; colored, 6,338; total, 10,504. The average number of days taught during the year was 120, and the average compensation was $35 per month. The schoolhouses are valued at $37,517.50, and the apparatus at $1,640; total value of school property $39,157.50. At the election held January 3, 1887, Dr. W. L. Henderson was chosen to succeed Mrs. Horton.
Great interest attaches to the public schools of Memphis. Generally they have been ably managed, and they have attained a high degree of efficiency. But it would be very difficult without great effort in the way of investigation to accurately apportion to those responsible for their establishment the credit due to each. It is believed, however, that J. W. A. Pettit was the first to urge upon the Board of Alderman of Memphis to establish a system of free schools for the city. This was early in 1848, and in accordance with his advice the members of the board had schools opened each in his respective ward. Col. Pettit, as alderman, opened the first school at the northeast corner of Third and Overton Streets, in the house of Mrs. Moore, whom he employed as teacher. Subsequently he opened a second school, the teacher of which was Mr. Walker, near the corner of Main and Overton Streets. Subsequently it was moved to the Methodist Church, east of Center Alley and south of Concord Street. Later schools were opened in the Second and the Third Wards. On the 1st of April, 1848, a resolution was adopted by the Board of Alderman that an assistant teacher be employed by the alderman of the First Ward for the school in that ward, “provided the compensation of such assistant shall not on any account exceed one-half allowed the teacher ($30 per month) now employed, and that said assistant shall at any time be discontinued by the board with no compensation except for the time he or she may have been employed as such assistant.” On the 13th of May, 1848, a committee was appointed to examine into the progress of the Third Ward school, and on the 20th J. Wright and Col. Pettit offered separate reports in relation to the adoption of a system of free schools. A resolution was offered on June 3 to reinstate Thomas J. Pearson as teacher of the Third Ward school, to which an amendment was offered to discontinue the whole of the ward schools, both amendment and original resolution being voted down, showing that there was some dissatisfaction with the working of the free school system. But it had too many friends to permit of its overthrow, and on the 19th of June, 1848, an ordinance was introduced and passed concerning the free school system. This ordinance consisted of selections from two ordinances previously proposed but not passed, one of them having been introduced by Major G. B. Locke, the other by Mr. McGeveney. From Mr. McGeveney’s proposed bill were selected Sections 1, 2, 8 and 9, and from Mayor Locke’s, Section 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7. Section 1 of the ordinance as adopted divided the city into school districts; Section 2 provided that the school tax should be one-eighth of the city revenue as provided by the charter, and that the schools were to be equally free to all white children between the ages of six and sixteen; Section 3 said that all that part of the city north of Poplar Street should be the First District, and all that part of the city south of Poplar Street should be the Second District; Section 4, that the Board of Education, then called the Board of Managers, should consist of the mayor, two aldermen and two citizens, one from each school district; Section 5, that there should be two school houses in each district, and Section 7 required the Board of Managers to report to the Board of Mayor and Aldermen. On the 1st of July the Board of Managers was increased by two members, and a superintendent of schools provided for. Col. J. W. A. Pettit was elected to this position, and was the first superintendent of schools of Memphis. On the 18th of this month the duties of the superintendent were prescribed, and the responsibility for the success of the schools was laid upon his shoulders. Supt. Pettit opened schools on Market, Poplar, Adams, Court, Madison, Gayoso, Main, Hernando and Third Streets, and Brown Avenue. Among the early teachers besides those mentioned above were Misses Cochren, Cook, Root, Pettit, Gayle, Creighton, Porter and Davis, Mesdames Margaret Doyle, Creighton, Sappington, Erwin, Barnett and Jenkins, and Messrs. Davis, Creighton, Kilpatrick, B. R. Trezevant, Carroll, Bell and Ring. The progress of the schools under the Board of Managers, constituted as already recited, not being satisfactory a change was proposed by Mr. Barry in the following ordinance: “Be it ordained by the mayor and Board of Aldermen of the city of Memphis that hereafter the Board of Mayor and Aldermen be the sole board for conducting and controlling the public schools of the city, and that the present Board of Managers be discontinued,” which was passed on the same day. The old Board of Managers had found it necessary to act irregularly and had not reported the irregular action to the Board of Mayor and Aldermen at their first meeting after such irregular action had been taken. Dr. Fowlkes on the 21st of October proposed an ordinance, which was passed, providing for the establishment of a high school as nearly as practicable in the geographical center of the city in the Third Ward.
The Board of Mayor and Aldermen passed a resolution on the 1st of August, 1850, in which they approved of having a general superintendent for the schools, and fixed his salary at $600 per year. At the same time they appointed J. W. A. Pettit superintendent, “subject to removal at any time.” Up to this time Col. Pettit had served without pay. According to his annual report for the school year ending June, 1851, the number of schools had increased to twelve, with 580 pupils, the cost for the year being $4,891.50. Had Col. Pettit’s advice with reference to the purchase of lots for schoolhouses been followed, thousands of dollars would have been saved to Memphis in the expense of her schools. He remained superintendent of the schools until June, 1852, when he removed to Germantown, where he died August 24, 1863. Col. Pettit has been called the “father of the Memphis public schools.”
The next superintendent after Col. Pettit was Dr. Ebbert, for the year ending June, 1853; then J. F Pearle, for the year ending June, 1854, and for the year ending June, 1855, Mr. Tarbox, and S. H. Tobey after Mr. Tarbox went to Nashville. Mr. Tobey was succeeded by Dr. A. P. Merrill, who served two years, until June, 1857. During his first year, on May 4, 1856, the city schools were incorporated by an act of the Legislature. Previous to this incorporation some of the principal teachers otherwise than as named were the following: Miss Black, now Mrs. Boyd, of Memphis; Miss Mary E. Woods, now Mrs. C. A. Richardson, of Memphis; Miss Wood, now Mrs. George W. Fisher, of Memphis; Miss Emily Bowdoin, now Mrs. E. B. Armour, of Memphis; Miss Fannie Gayle, now Mrs. Jobe, of Memphis; Miss Florida Pettit, now Mrs. Dr. Thompson, of Germantown, and Mrs. Henrietta Hampton, who commenced teaching in October, 1852, has been so engaged ever since, and is still a valuable teacher in the schools.
By the act of incorporation referred to above, the Board of Mayor and Aldermen was required to appoint a suitable person from each ward of the city and one for the city at large as visitors of the city schools. This board of visitors was given power to choose one of their own number president, to employ and dismiss superintendents, teachers, etc., to fix salaries, rent school-rooms, buy furniture, and to have full control of the schools. No one was to be admitted as a pupil except white persons residing within the city limits, and between the ages of six and twenty, except upon payment of tuition, and the board was authorized to prescribe higher branches of study than those usually taught in the city schools, charging therefor a suitable tuition fee if the ordinary school revenue was not ample to pay the extra expense attending the introduction of these higher branches. The first board of visitors under this act was composed of Dr. L. Shanks, Dr. J. W. Maddox, J. B. Kirtland, Leroy Pope, H. L. Guion and Robertson Topp for the wards, and Dr. A. P. Merrill at large. A new act of incorporation was passed March 20, 1858. During the war the schools were conducted without much interruption, but it was very difficult for the city to pay expenses, these expenses being from necessity paid in scrip. On the 5th of July, 1864, the following resolution was passed by the Board of Mayor and Aldermen: “That the warrants issued by the School Board shall be received and cashed as all other city warrants;” and in this way the schools were maintained. In the scholastic year of 1861-62 there were seventeen schools, with 1,495 pupils; in that of 1864-65 there were twenty-seven schools, with 2,419 scholars. In 1865 the superintendent said in his report that without suitable buildings, with an empty treasury, and with all the excitement and feeling aroused by civil war, the schools had been successfully conducted through the storm. The tuition of each pupil in daily attendance upon the schools had been $4.30, and the total cost of conducting the schools for that year had been $45,473.88.
The following table comprises more information with reference to the schools of the city than can otherwise be presented in the same space, and corrected as it is by the preceding sketch it will prove especially valuable: 1852-53 Superintendent Dr. Ebbert; 1853-54 President A. P. Merrill, Superintndent J. F. Pearle; 1854-55 President A. P. Merrill, Superintendent Tarbox & Tobey; 1855-56 Superintendent A. P. Merrill; 1856-57 President J. H. McMahon, Superintendent A. P. Merrill; 1857-58 President G. R. Grant, Superintendent Leroy Pope; 1858-59 President T. W. Preston, Superintendent Leroy Pope; 1859-61 President John A. Nooe, Superintendent Leroy Pope; 1861-62 President G. R. Grant, Superintendent A. P. Merrill; 1862-63 President James Elder, Superintendent Richard Hines; 1863-65 President S. T. Morgan, Superintendent Richard Hines; 1865-66 President J. J. Peres, Superintendent W. Z. Mitchell; 1866-67 President H. H. Higbee, Superintendent W. Z. Mitchell; 1867-68 President H. D. Connell, Superintendent W. Z. Mitchell; 1868-69 President J. T. Leath, Superintendent W. Z. Mitchell; 1869-70 President Thos. R. Smith, Superintendent J. T. Leath; 1870-71 President R. B. Maury, Superintendent J. T. Leath; 1871-72 President W. Z. Mitchell, Superintendent H. C. Slaughter; 1872-73 President Chas Kortrecht, Superintendent H. C. Slaughter; 1873-75 President Chas. Kortrecht, Superintendent A. Pickett; 1875-76 President R. W. Mitchell, Superintendent A. Pickett; 1876-78 President W. A. Goodman, Superintendent J. T. Leath; 1878-80 President W. C. Folkes, Superintendent W. H. Foute; 1880-84 President G. V. Rambaut, Superintendent Chas. H. Collier; 1884-86 President R. D. Jordan, Superintendent Chas. H. Collier.
Referring briefly to the colored schools it may be stated that among the first efforts made with reference to their establishment was in September, 1864, when a special order was issued that the control and discipline of the educational interests, school and teachers of the public schools for the colored people of the city of Memphis, “is hereby entrusted to the municipal government of the city, and the committee on public schools is hereby constituted a school board with full power for the efficient management of the same.” Subsequently the colored schools were incorporated with the white schools, and in 1869 J. T. Leath, president of the board of education, said he had heard no complaint because of this joint incorporation. President Leath then expressed himself in the following language: “Imbued and clothed as our colored friends are with all the immunities of citizens, they should be qualified by education and moral training to perform all their duties to society, to their country and to their Maker.”
Commendable progress has been made in the public schools for colored children. In March, 1874, the Clay Street schoolhouse was completed. At this time there were 3,902 colored children of school age in the city, 1,565 of whom were enrolled. At the close of the school year 1878-79 there were seven schools for white children and three for colored. In 1882 there were five schools for colored children, as was also the case in 1885.
The Highbee School is located at the intersection of Beale, Lauderdale and Jessamine Streets and fronts on each street. It was established in 1875 as the Presbyterian Grammar and High School, with Miss Jennie M. Higbee, principal. Miss Higbee had been for ten years principal of the Memphis Female High School, and it was thought by her friends that her sphere of usefulness would be enlarged by placing her at the head of this school. In 1879 the name was changed to “Miss Higbee’s High School,” and in 1882 to “The Higbee School.” The building in which this school is kept is a three-story brick with seventeen rooms devoted to study and recitation. The grounds are beautifully shaded with oaks, elms and magnolias. In addition to the above described a new building has just been completed. It is an imposing structure and so arranged as to meet all requirements. It is the result of a conference of Miss Higbee’s friends, who recognizing the great good she had accomplished in a long series of years by her unaided efforts, furnished the means for its erection and equipment. Besides the common branches of an English education, the course of study comprises the higher English branches, natural sciences, literature, ancient and modern languages, music, phonography, painting and wood carving. The object of the principal of this school is expressed in her motto, “Not many things, but much.” Following are the names of the faculty of this school: Miss Jennie M. Higbee, principal; Miss Laura Shortt, higher mathematics, Latin and Greek; Miss Helen Marion Quinche, natural sciences; Mrs. P. E. Phillips, history, mathematics and languages; Mrs. W. R. Johnson, intermediate classes; Mrs. Mary Shouse, principal of primary department; Mlle. Marie Jost, French; Prof. Bignon, French; Prof. Leon Lausberg, German; Miss Martha Tradeau, principal of school of music; Miss Jonnie Winston Fall, phonography and type writing; Miss Carrie Deslonde Dobyns, principal of art school, and Miss Aurelia Lane, resident governess. This school has had over 2,000 students and 193 graduates.
The Clara Conway Institute was founded in September, 1877, “for the purpose of affording Southern girls the opportunity of acquiring a broad and liberal education, such as would fit them for independent living for honor and usefulness.” The school is located at 259 Poplar Street. Since its establishment it has had in attendance 1,843 pupils. There are in the school four courses of study: English, literature, classical and special. The classical course requires eleven years for its completion; the English course, which includes the classical except the last year, requires ten, and the literary course requires ten years. The special course is optional. As showing the limit of study in the classical course the eleventh year’s branches are given as follows: Trigonometry, Horace, Herodotus, the history of philosophy, political economy, English literature, the history of art, civil government and a course of historical reading. One object of education is expression which, as defined by Miss Conway in her tenth annual catalogue, is as follows: “Every thought and feeling writes itself upon the plastic body of the little child, and the face and body at sixty are but the history of the soul, that has either beautified it or disfigured it. It is this in every woman’s power to be beautiful in old age.” The school was chartered in May, 1885. The following are the officers of its board of twenty-one trustees: John K. Speed, president; T. J. Latham, vice-president; John H. Shepherd, secretary, and T. H. Milburn, treasurer.
The Le Moyne Institute was established in 1871 through the American Missionary Association, a Congregational benevolent organization deriving its funds from individual contributions and from the Congregational Churches of the North. For some years previous to the establishment of this institution the American Missionary Association had sustained a number of common schools for colored youth in Memphis. In 1870 Dr. F. Julius Le Moyne of Washington, Penn., a life-long earnest and active friend of the colored people, gave $20,000 to be used by the association in founding an English school for colored youth in Memphis. After the cost of erecting the necessary buildings had been taken out of this fund, there remained about $11,000 as an endowment fund and the school was opened in September, 1871. Since this time the institution has been fostered by the association, the money necessary to its maintenance, over and above that received as tuition from the pupils, being furnished by it.
The school is divided into primary, intermediate, grammar and normal grades. The two latter departments provided thorough instruction in the branches taught in the public schools of the State. Approved methods of teaching and the proper management of classes and schools are likewise thoroughly taught. One very important feature of the work in this school is its department of manual training. It consists of an experimental kitchen and sewing rooms, in which are taught household duties. In the wood-working department the boys are duly taught the use of various kinds of tools, including the turning lathe, etc. Three years are spent in the primary grade, two in the intermediate, three in the grammar grade, two in the elementary normal course, at the completion of which students are presented certificates, and two in the advanced normal grade, at the end of which they are given diplomas. Thus twelve years are spent in this institution. The enrollment for the year 1886-87 is as follows: First primary grade, 72; second primary, 69; intermediate grade, 85; grammar grade, 68; normal department, 151, a total enrollment, 445; names counted twice, 18; net enrollment, 427. The instructors in this school are as follows: Andrew J. Steele, principal and professor of natural science; Rev. Benjamin A. Imes, pastor and instructor in Christian work; Esther A. Barnes, grammar and English literature; Rebecca M. Green, mathematics and drawing; Ruth E. Stinson, geography and history; Sarah C. Bateham, grammar grade; Celestia S. Goldsmith, intermediate grade; Zulu E. Fellon, second primary grade; Fannie A. McCullough, first primary grade; Margaret A. C. Stewart, vocal and instrumental music; Minerva A. Kinney, girls’ industrial work and matron of teachers’ home; C. M. Stevens, boys’ industrial work, and Ella A. Hamilton, missionary and night school teacher.
In 1864 efforts were made to secure the establishment by the Christian Brothers of the Christian Brothers’ College in Memphis, and September 21, 1865, a lot was purchased on Wellington Street between Linden and Vance Streets, by Rev. Thomas L. Power, O.P., the pastor of St. Peter’s Church; but owing to pressing demands in other portions of the United States, it was not until after 1871, when the great Chicago fire destroyed several of their institutions that a few brothers could be spared to found this college in Memphis. Most Rev. Patrick A. Feehan, bishop of Nashville, aided by his clergy and parishioners, raised the first subscription toward paying for the college property and the institution was formally opened November 19, 1871, since which time its patronage has been very liberal and its success exceedingly gratifying. Extensive additions and improvements were completed in 1886 at a cost of more than $20,000.
The object of this institution is to afford the means of acquiring a liberal and refined education, and the curriculum embraces a preparatory, commercial, collegiate, literary and scientific course. Of the scientific and literary courses, the Greek and Latin classics and English literature constitute an essential part. The junior members are required to devote special attention to mathematics, logic, literature and the philosophy of history, and the senior members to political and moral philosophy and the doctrine of ontology.
By its revised charter this institution is authorized to confer the degrees of A.B. and A.M. and such other degrees as are usually conferred by similar institutions in the United States. Following are the names of the executive officers of the institution: Brother Maureham, president; Brother Abban, vice-president; Brother John of the Cross, secretary, and Brother Nicholas, treasurer.
St. Agnes Female Seminary was established in 1851 by Father T. L. Grace, and incorporated in 1852. It was immediately taken in charge by six sisters of the order of St. Dominic from St. Catharines, Ky. The names of these sisters were Veronica Ray, who was the first Mother Superior; Magdalen, Frances, Vincent, Catharine and Vincentia, the latter of whom is the only one now living. The property, which is on the south side of Vance Street, near Orleans Street, was purchased by Father Grace, and at the time was known as the “Coe place.” In addition to the building then standing the sisters have erected others as required. At first there were but very few students, but the number steadily increased and it is remarkable that there was no diminution in attendance during the war, and no cessation of instruction on account thereof. There were then about 100 students in attendance, which is the present number, although there are accommodations for 175. In May, 1878, the buildings were destroyed by fire as also was an excellent and choice library valued at $6,000. New buildings were erected in 1879 and the library has been to some extent replaced, having now about 1,500 volumes. Pupils are in attendance from all the adjoining States, varying in age from six to nineteen. They are taught by eleven teachers and ten others are engaged in household duties about the institution. The Mother Superiors have been as follows: Mother Veronica Ray, eleven years; Mother Ann, three years; Mother Mary Louisa, seven years; Mother Mary Alphonso, one year (died of yellow fever); Mother Mary Thomas, four years; Mother Mary Josephine, three years, and again Mother Mary Thomas, commencing in 1885.
The First Presbyterian Church was organized with five members—three females and two males—June 7, 1828, by W. C. Blair. L. Henderson was chosen ruling elder and Rev. W. P. Alrich acted as stated supply from December 13, 1829, to February 12, 1830. In the following November Rev. S. M. Williamson became stated supply and remained until November, 1833. Services were conducted in the log schoolhouse on Court Square up to 1834, when a lot was presented as a building site upon which a frame building was erected. Rev. Samuel Hodge became stated supply in February of this year, remaining only a few months, after which there was no regular pastor until March, 1837, when the Rev. J. Harrison was installed, remaining until July, 1843. The Rev. George W. Coons was engaged in December, 1843, and installed in November, 1844, when the South Memphis Church was organized. In October, 1852, the Rev. Mr. Coons was succeeded by the Rev. S. Kay, D.D., of London, who served as stated supply until January, 1854, when the Rev. J. O. Stedman was elected pastor, remaining until March, 1868, when the Rev. F. H. Bowman of Virginia came and remained until his death, October 6, 1873, of yellow fever. The church was then without a pastor fourteen months, when the present pastor, the Rev. Eugene Daniel, was engaged as stated supply and installed April 18, 1875. The church building erected in 1834 was used until 1852, when a new one was commenced and completed in 1854. This was used until destroyed by fire in 1883. The brick church now used was then commenced and completed in 1885, at a cost of $30,000. The present membership is about 350. The Bible class and the Ladies’ Benevolent Society connected with this church are the means of accomplishing much good.
The Second Presbyterian Church was organized Friday night, December 26, 1844. Following are names of the original members: Alexander S. Caldwell and wife, Martha; Dr. Joseph N. Bybee and wife; T. Pritchett; M. F. Prichett; Misses M. A., M. C., P. C. and M. L. Patillo; Mrs. Eliza Houston, James D. Goff and wife, Miss L. C. Boyd and her slave, Scipio; Dr. R. H. Patillo and wife and J. S. Levett. The first elders were Joseph N. Bybee and R. H. Patillo, and the first deacons A. S. Caldwell and J. S. Levett. Rev. John H. Gray was unanimously elected pastor on Monday, the 29th of December, on which day the session was constituted and Joseph N. Bybee elected its clerk. Seven additional persons were admitted to membership that morning. The church edifice, standing at the corner of Maine and Beale Streets, was soon afterward erected, and dedicated April 2, 1848. The Rev. R. C. Grundy was elected to the pastorate February 22, 1857, and remained until 1861, after which the Rev. J. N. Waddell and Rev. J. H. Gray were each stated supply for a short time, and in August, 1865, the Rev. T. D. Witherspoon became pastor, remaining until , when Rev. W. E. Boggs was chosen and remained until 1879. The pulpit was filled by supplies until January, 1881, when Rev. J. M. Rose became pastor and remained until 1882, when he was succeeded by the Rev. J. F. Latimer, who remained two years. In May, 1885, the present pastor, Rev. Dr. Boggs, returned to the church. The membership is now about 350, and the Sunday-school, of which R. E. Wilcox is superintendent, has about 220 scholars.
The Third Presbyterian Church, standing at the corner of Seventh and Chelsea Streets, was organized October 7, 1856, with fourteen members. The Rev. Edward Porter, having served the church from the time of its organization as stated supply, was installed pastor October 20, 1860, and on the next day the brick church which had been in process of erection about eighteen months was dedicated by the Rev. John H. Rice, D.D. On the 27th of April, 1862, the pastor resigned and entered the Confederate Army and was succeeded by the Rev. William A. Sampler, who was installed October 13, 1866. Rev. E. M. Richardson, D.D., the present pastor, was chosen November 10, 1868, and installed June 13, 1869. The church is situated in what is known as Chelsea and is a most attractive and comfortable structure, with a seating capacity of 500. The present membership is about 150, and both the Sunday-School and ladies’ society are in an energetic and flourishing condition. The Church meets its obligations promptly, and liberally contributes to benevolent objects.
The Alabama Street Presbyterian Church was organized in 1868 by a colony of about thirty from the First Presbyterian Church, who chose the Rev. Dr. J. O. Stedman, a native of Fayetteville, N.C., and a graduate of Princeton College, pastor. A temporary church edifice was erected standing at the corner of Alabama Street and Jones Avenue, the lot upon which it was built having been donated for that purpose by J. C. Johnson. This, a frame building, cost about $1,500, and was occupied until the present brick church was completed in 1880 at a cost of about $9,000. The Rev. Dr. Stedman remained pastor until this year, when on account of failing health he resigned and was succeeded by the Rev. E. E. Bigger, who remained about a year and was followed by the Rev. William Johnson in 1882, who died within a year and was followed by Rev. William Darnall, who also remained about a year. In July, 1885, the present pastor, Rev. J. L. Martin, was chosen. The present membership of the church is about 140, and the Sunday-School, of which Carrington Mason, Jr., is superintendent, has about the same number of scholars.
Lauderdale Street Presbyterian Church was established as a mission on Union Street during the pastorate in the Second Presbyterian Church of the Rev. T. D. Witherspoon. A chapel was erected and dedicated by the Rev. John H. Gray, and a Sunday-school was conducted for some years by members of the Second Presbyterian Church. The first preacher at this mission was the Rev. Mr. Wykoff, who was succeeded by Rev. J. F. Latimer, now professor in Union Theological Seminary, Virginia. In 1874 the church was established by the name of the Union Street Presbyterian Church was the Rev. A. Shotwell pastor about a year. He was succeeded by the Rev. John A. Waddell, at present chancellor of the Southwestern Presbyterian University at Clarksville. Subsequently a lot was purchased at the corner of Lauderdale and Beale Streets and the present building commenced in June, 1876, and dedicated in October following when the name was changed to the Lauderdale Street Church. In 1879, upon the election of Dr. Waddell to his present position, the Rev. N. M. Long was engaged and in 1881 the Rev. R. A. Lapsley became the pastor, remaining until 1882. The present pastor, Rev. Samuel A. Caldwell, was then chosen. In connection with this church is a large and flourishing Sunday-school of which Judge B. M. Estes is the superintendent.
The Cumberland Presbyterian Church was organized August 1, 1840, or a few days thereafter t a protracted meeting held by the Revs. Samuel Dennis, Reuben Burrow, D.D., with eighteen members. Rev. Samuel Dennis remained pastor of the church one year during which time nine more members were admitted. Soon afterward a lot was purchased for $1,100, and on September 3, 1844, the corner-stone of the new church was laid with imposing Masonic ceremonies by Memphis Lodge, No. 91. Rev. Robert Donnell accepted a unanimous call to the pastorate and began his labors February 9, 1845, remaining until June, that year, and was followed by Rev. Mr. Dennis who remained until March 16, 1851, and was succeeded by the Rev. Herschell S. Porter, of Philadelphia, a very able preacher and author, who died in 1855 of yellow fever. The Rev. A. M. Bryan, D.D., began his labors in April, 1856, but resigned to return to his former congregation in Pittsburgh, Penn., in April, 1859; Rev. A. C. Davis, of Lexington, Mo., succeeded and remained until his death in 1867. On January 1, 1868, Rev. L. C. Ransom, of Murfreesboro, entered upon his duties, also remaining until his death in October, 1874. Rev. G. W. Stainback began his ministry in January, 1875, and resigned in January, 1879, when he was succeeded by the present pastor, Rev. H. A. Jones, of McMinnville, Tenn.
The church building is a large, two-story brick structure, with Sunday-school and other rooms in the basement, and auditorium capable of seating 1,200 persons above. Here is a very large, fine pipe-organ, one of the largest, if not the largest, in the Southern States. The Sunday-school was organized March 23, 1845, and is in a flourishing condition.
The First Methodist Episcopal Church was organized as a society in February, 1826, by Rev. T. P. Davidson. The society consisted of three members: Elijah Coffee, Mr. Dickens and Mrs. Paulina Perkins, who afterward married Dr. Dudley Dunn. Mr. Coffee withdrew from the Methodists and united with the Primitive Baptists because the Quarterly Conference would not license him to preach. In 1830 Revs. T. P. Davidson, J. E. Jones and Moses S. Morris were in the circuit with Thomas Smith, presiding elder. In 1831 Joshua Boucher was presiding elder with Pleasant B. Robinson and Ashley B. Rozell as circuit riders. In 1832 Memphis was made a station with Rev. Francis A. Owen, preacher, appointed by the conference in response to the petition of the Methodists residing at Memphis. Upon his arrival there was but one available male Methodist in Memphis, John Manning. After preaching at a private house and one Sunday in the upper room of a store, the dining-room of the old “Blue Ruin Tavern” was chosen for an auditorium. Becoming tired of having no church home Mr. Owen made an earnest appeal to the congregation, and especially to the ladies, who are always foremost in religious work, to build a church edifice. A lot was purchased of Maj. Winchester, a church building commenced, and the first sermon delivered in it as yet incomplete on the first Sunday in June, 1832. A revival commenced, resulting in sixty converts; when the church was organized by Rev. Mr. Owen there were but eleven, the organization taking the name of Wesley Chapel. Following is a list of the preachers of this church, together with the year in which their respective pastorates commenced: Revs. Robert Alexander, 1832; W. Phillips, 1833; T. P. Davidson, 1834: S. S. Moody, 1835; W. D. F. Sawrie, 1836; Isaac Heard, 1837; T. C. Cooper, 1838, remaining but a few months, his appointment being filled out by Rev. Joab Watson; Rev. Samuel Watson, 1839, who returned a membership of 387; A. T. Scruggs, 1841; S. S. Moody, 1842; Dr. Thweat, 1843; S. G. Starks, 1844; Wesley Warren, D.D., 1845, in which year a new church building was completed; M. J. Blackwell, 1847; S. J. Henderson, 1848; James L. Chapman, 1850; W. C. Robb, 1852; J. W. Knott, 1853; Thomas A. Ware, 1855; James E. Temple, 1856; J. T. C. Collins, 1857, during which year 150 joined the church; A. H. Thomas, 1858; W. T. Harris, 1860. Rev. Mr. Harris entered the Southern Army and was followed by Rev. Samuel Watson, and he in 1862 by Rev. J. W. Knott, “who, considering that the city was filled with Yankee soldiers, did about as well as could be expected;” D. J. Allen, 1863. But he had no sooner commenced his work than the Methodist Episcopal Church, by order of the Secretary of War, occupied the building through chaplains, and after a short time the Rev. Mr. McMullen, of Indiana, was selected to be the permanent pastor of the church; finding, however, that the members were disinclined to attend, Mr. McMullen retired. After the Methodist Episcopal Church gave up the building, Rev. J. W. Knott again took charge, and was succeeded in the fall of 1865 by Rev. A. H. Thomas; A. P. Mann, 1866; E. C. Slater, D.D., 1869; S. B. Suratt, 1873; E. C. Slater, D.D., 1877, who died of yellow fever in September, 1878; R. H. Mahon, 1878; S. A. Steel, 1882, and R. H. Mahon again in 1886. The present church-building, a two-story brick standing on the east side of Second Street, near Poplar Street, was erected in 1850. In 1886 the lot on the corner of Second and Poplar Streets was purchased and plans and specifications for a new stone church to be erected on this lot, were prepared by Jacob Snyder, architect of Akron, Ohio, which when completed will be the most elegant and complete edifice in Memphis.