CHAPTER XIII. 

EDUCATION - EARLY SCHOOL TEACHERS - SCHOOL-HOUSES - THE PUBLIC SCHOOL 
SYSTEM - PREJUDICE AGAINST IT - SOME PROMINENT INSTITUTIONS OF 
LEARNING - EARLY RELIGIOUS HISTORY.

 
THE EARLY SETTLERS of the upper Ohio valley were not indifferent to 
the importance of the subject of education, especially was this the 
case among the Scotch-Irish portion of the population. The first
school of which we have any knowledge (which is exceedingly limited)
that was established in Ohio county, and, indeed, the only one in
the Pan-handle, was located in the vicinity of West Liberty, and
was taught by the grandfather of the late Thomas Ewing, of Ohio,
the distinguished politician and statesman who supplemented his mental
with his manual accomplishments, being in the habit of using his
leisure hours in the laudable task of mending and cobbling the shoes
of his neighbors, in the performance of which he turned many an honest
penny. This was not unusual among the teachers of this early day who
were prone to eke out a scanty living by moving about from place to
place seeking such employment as might tend to contribute to their
support. Hence in the intervals of "keeping school," they manufactured
the shoes and garments of their friends and patrons. Their learning,
as a rule, was quite limited, as it generally extended no further
than the rule of three in arithmetic, and in orthography to the
spelling of words in three syllables. They had great faith in the
use of the rod and applied it assiduously enforcing discipline by
coercive measures which won for them a distinct notoriety.
 
The schoolhouses were architectural buildings of the most primitive 
simplicity, being built of unhewn logs and containing sometimes one 
and sometimes two windows, with a clapboard roof and a door of the 
same material which swung on wooden hinges, with rough benches of 
split logs, which being destitute of any support for the back 
prevented the pupils from indulging in any lazy lolling and 
compelling them to sit bolt upright in their places. Here would 
gather the boys and girls from miles around carrying their dog-eared 
"Dilworth's," and their much worn and blotted copy books, these 
latter often made of coarse brown paper, but which for all practical 
purposes were as useful as if made of the finest letter press.
 
But with a later day a decided improvement was visible. The teachers 
were more competent, and progress was made in the curriculum of 
studies which were adopted, and gradually better and more comfortable 
school-houses were erected, and better accomodations provided. 
Schools and academies began to multiply, and the attention of the 
people began to be more directed to their value and importance. They 
were not, however, fostered by the state, but principally by private 
means. It was not until the year 1846 that the state of Virginia 
passed an act for the establishment of a district public school 
system, which among other things provided that where one-third of the 
qualified voters of any county should petition the county court, who 
at the preceding election had voted for delegates to the general 
assembly, that it was the duty of the court to certify the same to 
the commissioners of election for the county, when at the succeeding 
election the commissioners were required to open a register for the 
votes of the electors qualified to vote for delegates. In this 
register two columns were required to be kept, one in favor of the 
establishment of district schools, and the other for those opposed 
to it.

It required two-thirds of the legal voters to adopt. The school 
commissioners were made a body corporate by this act, and the general 
curriculum was to consist of reading, writing and arithmetic (arid 
where practicable), English grammar, geography, history (especially 
of the state of Virginia, and of the United States), the elements of 
physical science, and such other higher branches as the school 
commissioners might direct; and all white children, male and female, 
resident within the respective districts into which the county was 
divided under its provisions were entitled to receive tuition free of 
charge.
 
Three trustees were to be appointed annually for each district, two 
by the qualified voters of the district, at the annual election for 
school commissioners, and one by the board of school commissioners at 
the first meeting after the election. 

Teachers were required to keep registers of the names and ages of 
pupils, the names of parents and guardians, dates of entrance and 
daily attendance, etc. At the end of the term delivered by the 
teacher to the clerk of the board of school commissioners. The 
penalty for failure was one- fourth of the compensation of the 
teacher.

The expenses of school-houses, furniture, etc., was to be defrayed by 
the inhabitants of each county by a uniform rate of increased 
taxation upon the then existing subjects of the revenue tax and the 
county levy.
 
This was styled in the act the general system, which also included 
another known as the special system. As will be perceived the act of 
1846 was optional in its character, hence to remedy this, and with a 
view of making the public system obligatory on all the counties the 
general assembly passed the act of 1852, which provided for 
districting all of the counties of the state, appointing 
commissioners, fixing their duties and compensation and giving to the 
county courts the power of rearranging the districts, etc. Under the 
act of 1846, Ohio, Marshall and Kanawha counties, were the only ones 
which adopted it, but this was all they did, and they went no 
further, except in the case of Ohio county, which not only adopted 
it, but put the law into operation and organized under it. Hence the 
first county in the southern states to adopt and put into operation 
the public school system was Ohio county, and the first public school 
established in the south was the Third ward public school in the City 
of Wheeling.
 
But this was not accomplished without an effort. A decided opposition 
was manifested upon the part of a respectable minority of the 
citizens of the community, composed principally of those financially 
able, which nominally took the ground that the increased taxation 
necessary to support the system was unjust and oppressive. If the 
prejudices of some of these against the general and public character 
of the schools could have been successfully met they would have found 
no difficulty in giving to the system their approval. The prejudice 
of others led them to base their opposition to it on the foolish 
pretense that it was a Yankeeism, and therefore was un-Virginian.
 
They enforced their respective views by the fallacious argument that 
it was unfair as well as unjust that they should be taxed for the 
education of others who were too poor or too straitened in their 
circumstances to confer this boon on their offspring, and that it was 
an invidious distinction which discriminated in favor of a large 
class at the expense of a few.
 
But this spirit of selfish opposition did not prevail, yet it 
lingered in the communities for a long period after the successful 
establishment of the schools, and while it ceased to be 
demonstrative, yet its latent and baneful influence was felt upon all 
opportune occasions.
 
In the present it has entirely ceased, and we doubt whether among 
those surviving in the different counties where it was most 
strenuously opposed one can now be found who would acknowledge their 
opposition. In the four counties composing the Pan-handle no more 
intelligent, moral and virtuous people can be found than their 
inhabitants, and certainly none who esteem more highly the blessings 
of education. Among some of the most prominent institutions of 
learning in these counties we may name Bethany college, founded by 
the late Alexander Campbell, the Linsly institute of Wheeling, and 
the Wheeling Female college. The first-named institution was 
established in 1840. The establishment of this claimed the labors of 
Mr. Campbell through many years, who devoted his untiring energies to 
the Herculean task of establishing an institution which should 
attract and gather together the youth from all portions of the 
country. And in this he met with great success, and before his death 
saw his pet project no longer an experiment but a fixed and permanent 
institution. North and south, east and west, are hundreds of its 
alumni occupying some of the highest and most important positions of 
a social, literary, religious and political character who to-day 
point with pride to Bethany college as their alma mater. The old 
building was destroyed by fire in the year 1857, but was rebuilt 
during the succeeding year by one of attractive appearance and 
magnificent dimensions. 

In this connection we would also call attention to the fact that as 
early as the year 1799 an academy was incorporated in Brooke county, 
called the Brooke academy, three years after the organization of the 
county. In 1862 the corporation was revived and Hugh W. Crothers, 
Danforth Brown, Sr., David Fleming, O. W. Langfitt and Samuel George 
were appointed trustees. In the year 1858 West Liberty academy was 
opened under favorable conditions, and its public opening the writer 
who was present well remembers, the interest shown in its success by 
the presence on the occasion of some of the ablest and best educators 
of the day, among whom were Bishop Campbell, Rev. R. V. Dodge and 
Prof. A. F. Ross, this latter being the principal of the institution. 
It is now one of the normal schools of the state.
 
The Linsly institute, located in Wheeling, was chartered in 1814, and 
was endowed by Noah Linsly, Esq., a benefactor of Wheeling, who 
should be held in lasting remembrance. He donated the ground for the 
building and also a perpetual fund. For many years the philanthophic 
object of the institution was defeated by bad management, but 
subsequently the institution was revived and improved under a board 
of more judicious trustees, who have made it a useful institution.  
It is mainly supported by tuition fees. 

The Wheeling Female seminary was chartered in 1848, and went into 
operation in the winter of 1850. At the time it was regarded as a 
great accession to the educational interests of this section of the 
state. The successful projection of this institution was attended 
with difficulties. The late Rev. William Wallace, D. D., was, 
however, untiring in his efforts to secure its establishment.  Nor 
were they in vain. It opened under the management of D. W. Telford, 
and the degree of excellency and efficiency which it subsequently 
attained, gave assurance of what it was intended to be, one of the 
best female seminaries. During its existence it has turned out 278 
graduates up to the present time, six of whom have become 
missionaries in the foreign field. The present president, Rev. H. R. 
Blaisdell, has contributed much to its improvement. He is a gentleman 
of fine executive abilities, and a born educator. Under his direction 
we think there is a grand future before this institution. He is 
assisted by a competent corps of teachers, seven in number, who 
appear to worthily second his efforts in making an institution of 
which West Virginians may well be proud, and one where their daughter 
can receive a first-class education.
 
But we have neither time nor space to give to the consideration of 
the educational institutions of this portion of our state, but 
suffice it to say that these are so abundant and of so high a grade 
that none need send their children out of the state to obtain an 
education.
 
Early Religious History of the Upper Ohio Valley. - In shaping the 
moral and religious character of the upper 0hio valley, 
Presbyterianism had much to do. It was among the earliest religious 
denominations to enter the field. As early as the year 1782, which 
was the year following the organization of the Presbytery of 
Redstone, Rev. John McMillen was appointed at a meeting held October 
16, to supply at Ohio Court House (West Liberty) on the third Sabbath 
of November following.  A year afterward Rev. Joseph Smith was sent 
to supply the same place, under another name, however, viz.: Short 
Creek, which continued to be the same of the church for perhaps 
fifteen or twenty years, when it was called West Liberty. Revs. John 
Brice and James Hughes, were two of four candidates who were licensed 
to preach the gospel by the Presbytery of Redstone. Brice settled at 
Three Rigges (West Alexander, Penn.), and the forks of Wheeling, 
known as the Stone meeting house, about six miles east of Wheeling, 
and Hughes, at Short Creek and Lower Buffalo, and the last-named was 
installed pastor on the 21st of April, 1790. In these congregations 
Hughes labored for upward of twenty-four years with encouraging 
success. He resigned his charge on the 29th of June, 1814. He was an 
early and decided friend of missions and an active member of the 
board of trust of the Western Missionary society, for a number of 
years. 

In July, 1775, Rev. John McMillan, D. D., preached at Chartiers, on 
the fourth Sabbath of August, and on the Tuesday following at Pigeon 
Creek, now in Washington county, Penn. At the meeting of his 
Presbytery in April, 1776, he accepted a call which was presented to 
him from the congregations of Chartiers and Pigeon Creek, and was 
dismissed to connect himself with the Presbytery of Donegal, then the 
most western Presbytery, but did not remove his family to the west 
until the year 1778, on account of the unsettled and disturbed 
condition of the country and the exposure of the frontier settlements 
to the hostile incursions of the Indians. He, himself, however, 
visited his congregations as often as practicable, ordained elders, 
baptized their children and performed such other acts of pastoral 
labor as circumstances would permit. He was the first minister who 
settled as a pastor west of the Allegheny mountains, and was one of 
the original members of the Presbytery of Redstone, and was its first 
moderator. In the month of October, 1802, there was a great revival 
and a wonderful manifestation of God's presence, in which great 
mental misery and bodily weakness was experienced by many by reason 
of conviction of sin. Owing to the scattered population of the 
country and the scarcity of church buildings, it was customary for 
the Presbyterians to hold camp meetings in different portions of some 
of the counties now composing the Pan-handle, where great numbers 
would congregate and listen to sermons all day, and these gatherings 
often lasted for days at a time. 

The Presbyterians were followed by the Methodists. The numbers and 
influence of the latter, though not so great as the first named, soon 
worked its way into notice, overcoming many difficulties in its 
progress. Itineracy was a marked peculiarity of this sect. The 
eccentric Lorenzo Dow was one of these early traveling preachers 
passing through the sections of which we write, in the year 1806, 
preaching as he went. He was a man of shrewd wit, and ready speech, 
and quite eccentric.
 
Another Methodist minister of these early days and a man of very 
eccentric character was Jacob Ruber, sometimes called Jacob Gruber. 
He was born in the Cumberland valley, Penn., and came to this section 
of the state in the early years of the present century. For some 
years he was the presiding elder of the Short Creek circuit. One of 
his peculiarities was especially manifested in the matter of apparel. 
In those early days the Methodists, as a rule, were as pronounced in 
their style of dress as are the Friends of the present day. The 
female members of the denomination wore caps destitute of frills or 
ruffles, which fitted closely to their heads, and a bonnet in pattern 
much like a scoop, and by which name they were denominated. Nor did 
they adorn themselves with those vain ornaments, rings, ear-rings or 
other articles of jewelry, while the males wore broad-brimmed hats 
and straight cut coats with standing collars and other dress 
corresponding thereto, and all cultivated gravity of speech and 
demeanor, and were circumspect in their conduct and actions. What a 
contrast between the past and the present. Now the members of a 
Methodist church discard the simple fashions of the past and are 
undistinguishable from the members of other denominations so far as 
garb and appearance are concerned. The subject of our sketch was 
frequent and emphatic in his denunciations of any departure from the 
regulation dress, and did not hesitate on any occasion when it was 
infringed upon to reprove the offender publicly, as well as 
privately.
 
As illustrative of this peculiarity of his, if such it can be called, 
an anecdote, is related of him as being in point. On one occasion, 
while he was attending a camp-meeting in the vicinity of 
Philadelphia, where he was a visitant, in passing along, he came 
across a company of females richly attired in silks and satins, who 
were at the time engaged in devotional services, whom he joined and 
engaged with them in singing. The couplet of one of the hymns runs as 
follows:
 
"I long to reach my heavenly home
And find my long sought rest." 

On reaching this portion of the hymn he surprised and confounded them 
all by rendering the couplet
 
"I long to reach my heavenly home
And find my long silk dress. " 

The females became indignant and at once withdrew, but their places 
thus vacated were immediately filled by others who were clothed in 
the more subdued and less costly raiment of their profession, when 
they continued the singing of the same hymn, he uniting with them in 
the use of the correct words.
 
Among the early Methodist preachers of that day and subsequent were 
Rev. James Finley, Page West Waterman, young Bascom, Hudson and 
others, who were men of piety and faith, and zealous laborers in the 
vineyard of the Master. 

We may be pardoned if in this connection we mention an incident an 
incident which occurred in the Methodist church in Wheeling. Bascom, 
whose fame as a preacher always attracted large audiences, was 
announced to preach in Wheeling. He was a person who was very neat 
and rather precise in his dress, and took pride in appearing in a 
well cut and fitting garb. He was in the habit of carrying in his 
hand a small rattan cane. On this occasion as was usual he had with 
him his rattan, and carried it with him into the pulpit. This act of 
his at once created an unfavorable impression upon the part of his 
congregation. But when he arose to open the services, preparatory to 
doing so he capped the climax by drawing from his pocket a white 
cambric handkerchief and proceeded to brush his face with it, it was 
looked upon by those assembled, in an ostentatious manner, which 
aroused a feeling of the most pronounced disgust on the part of his 
congregation, which was not entirely overcome by his wonderful and 
effective eloquence, so foreign were these things to the habits and 
usages of Orthodox Methodists.
 
The next denomination in this section of importance were the 
Baptists. They, like the Methodists, in the inauguration of their 
efforts for the building of their cause were required to overcome 
opposition and prejudice, which they eventually succeeded in doing, 
and they became quite strong in numbers and influence. The 
denomination, however, in a few years separated into different sects. 

The indefatigable efforts of Rev. Joseph Doddridge, who alone and by 
his single handed labors, endeavored to build up the Episcopal 
denomination, must not be overlooked. Although time and again 
promised material aid by his brethren in the east, yet they kept the 
promise to the ear only to break it to the hope. His earnest zeal in 
the cause so far as they were concerned went unrewarded. He succeeded 
in collecting a small congregation at West Liberty, where he held 
services regularly, also in what is now Brooke county, also in 
Charlestown (now Wellsburg), and also in Jefferson county, Ohio. He 
also held occasional religious services at Steubenville, Grave Creek 
and Wheeling.
 
This worthy man was devotedly attached to his church - her forms and 
ordinances. The following extract from his memoir shows the position 
which he held as an out-post of Episcopacy in this western field. 

"Although for nearly twenty-five years he occupied the cheerless 
position of an advance guard in her ministry, yet he faltered not in 
his labors but untiringly exerted himself to promote the growth and 
prosperity of the church, and to awaken an interest in the trans-
montane dioceses by appeals to their bishops in behalf of the 
scattered members of the fold, who in the vast regions of the west 
were as sheep without a shepherd, destitute of that nourishment and 
fostering care essential to their spiritual growth and happiness."