The Brandon news., September 17, 1908, RANKIN COUNTY TRADE EDITION, Image 26

About The Brandon news. (Brandon, Miss.) 1892-1961

Image provided by: Mississippi Department of Archives and History

                
| SewaAov 3Vase\m 't&e£»a\xYVa.
i\* • :: * ■
.•' This distinguished Mississippian was born
in Brandon. Soon after his birth his father
moved to Smith county, where the future
Governor and Limited States Senator remain
ed until 1876 when he came back to toe a
citizen of this town.
He is well known to every citizen of Mis
sissippi and her people lave him for his loyalty
to her interests and his great ability to serve
them.__|
Education in Rankin County Before and
After Hie War.
- -j
.
Although the schools were few in number
before the war, there were some that had high
curriculums, taught by teamed professors,
who were well paid and the attendance was
large.
Centenary College, afterwards removed to
Jackson, Louisiana, was located near .where
Tom Rogers now lives, about 6 miles east of
Brandon and was an institution of learning
that enrolled a large number of students from
this state and Louisiana. The Brandon Col
lege reorganized in 1849 by President Thorn
ton was at once given merited high standing
and old students assert that he was one of
the best men this county ever had within her
borders and was an educator whose superior
has never been found in this section.
After the war its name was changed to
the Brandon Female College, whose principal,
until her death, was the well beloved Miss
Frank A. Johnson. Her teaching and the
grandness of the pure unostentations life that
sweet woman lived left it’s impress which is
still felt here and will be for years to come.
Mrs. D. M. Mayers, Brandon, Miss. I
Richland Academy and the schools at
Cato and Fannin were of high grade also. Mr.
Herron, the principal of the Fannin school
during the latter part, or just after the civil
war, was not only a splendid teacher, but a
magnificent character. Bishop ChasB. Gal
loway. and Rev. C. W, Grafton, of Union,
Church, Miss., were students there, and as
youths gave evidence of future greatness.
Bishop Galloway nas an international reputa
tion as one of the M, E. Churches greatest
ministers and learned men, while the Rev.
Grafton has remained an the Jefferson county
neighborhood, where he first commenced to
preach, though called to some of the largest
Presbyterian churches in the country and only
lately declined a chair in the southwestern
Presbyterian College at Clarksville, Tenn.
After the war, during reconstruction times,
the schools were very poor, but the amount of
tax money spent ora them was burdensome
on the people.
r In 1871 when the present system was
given us Samuel J. Proctor, a man as small of
Statue, as he was large of mind, was appoint
ed county superintendent. Maj. Ben F. Sut
ton -succeeded him by appointment later on.
Gf the early days of the free school system not
much can be said. If they examined teachers
it was orally, and not until Hon. J. R. Preston
was elected state superintendent was the
standard of teachers raised.
Wm. Buchanan was appointed superin
tendent of the schools of this county in 1873
and held the office until Dr. Wm. Reber suc
ceeded him in 1884. Upon Dr. Rebels death
Edward Jack, Esquire, was appointed to fill the
vacancy. The office soon became elective
and Mr. Jack was the first superintendent
elected. He died and H. S. Cole was appoint
'Wtr. awii 'Wits. £>. S.
When a boy, Lewis May started out for himself, yet consider
ably on the sunny side of forty, is one of the largest merchants of
Rankin county and biggest cotton buyers. He is married, a Mason,
a Pythian and a deacon in the Baptist church. He is a successful
man whose hard work and strict honesty has been justly rewarded.
edinJuly1898 to fill the unexpired term. C.
R. Cook in 1899 was elected and served for
three years. S. R. Myers was appointed to
finish out Cook's term and is now the county
superintendent, having been elected twice by
the people, his term expiring in 1912.
For a number of years there has been an
educational awakening in this state and
Rankin is keeping well in the front ranks.
All educational activity is not progress and
much substantial progress does not have out
ward signs of such character as to be readily
recognized. Everything else equal, we may
measure progress by the material prosperity
of a county and of that county’s willingness
to contribute a due proportion of its material
increase to the cause of education. Rankin
has been liberal in her levy for schools, which
with a good state appropriation, in some com
munities further supplimented by local sub
scriptions, speaks in actions louder than
words revealing a sound educational senti
ment.
Considering the large enrollment and the
daily attendance our public schools have all
shown decided progress.
The average length of term in all the public
schools has increased from 40 days to 115.
The people too have come to realize that
teaching is a science of well established prin
ciples and an art of very difficult process.
Greater and greater is the demand for trained
teachers as more and more there is a demand
, *
^.oxv. AJO. C-oVVveT,
The gentleman who succeeds
Hon. John Sharp Williams as
congressman from this district,
was born in Warren County in
1873, where he has always resi
ded. His father was a brave
Confederate soldier. He is a
graduate in both the literary and
law courses at the University of
Mississippi. That he is an ora
tor of ability was demonstrated
in his recent canvass; that he is
popular at home is attested by
the support he received in War
\ ren County; that he has a ful
share of personal magnetism is
1 proven by the vote he received.
| The remark he made when told
, that victory was his, showed the
manner of man he is: j
“In the joy of this great honor, ^
which I deeply appreciate, I feel
i however, some regret to accepts* "
the victory over such a gallant
and noble natured gentleman as
that distinguished man who was
my opponent in the contest.”
for trained workers in every other department
of human effort. The standard of requirement
for teachers license is becoming higher and
higher each year. Everything looks bright for
the education of the youth of this state as the
whole people are beginning to it realize the
necessity of higher and more thorough learn
ing. _
Brandon Postmasters since the war:
R. H. Reeves,
Albert Langley,
Samuel J. Proctor,
Henry Kernaghen,
A. J. Frantz,
M. L. Lott,
W. H. Maxey,
Mrs. S. J. Coulson,
Robert Burns.
A hand, horse measure, is four inches.
Watches were first constructed in 1476.
The first iron steamship was built in 1830.
The first newspaper was pu blished in Eng
land in 1588. The first newspaper advertise
ment appeared in 1652.
I Presbyterian Church, Brandon, Miss.