While we know our northern friends may not feel it, in the South, Spring is
here. So we thought we'd share a few of our gardening sites appropriate
for this time of the year. Along with gardening, there's grilling, and getting
ready to diet so that you can fit back into that bathing suit this summer!
"Books are keys to wisdom's treasures;
Books are gates to lands of pleasure;
Books are paths that upward lead;
Books are friends. Come let us read."
The following reminiscences, gleaned from
letters written by these three heroic young
lady teachers, will be read with interest.
They discover in their own language, their
feelings of hopefulness and loyalty while
coping with unexpected embarrassments and
unusual privations. Single handed and alone
they penetrated the wilds of Indian
Territory to a secluded spot, where they
were a half day's ride from their nearest
white friends, and thirty-five miles from
the railway.
Holding aloft the Bible, the true standard
of the cross, they rallied the ignorant and
uncivilized natives appreciatingly around
it, more worthily and long before our famous
explorers decorated the North Pole with the
American flag.
The mail was carried once a week from
Clarksville to Wheelock, ten miles east, the
nearest post office.
Teaching Elizabeth
Washing
At the end of her first year, March 19,
1887, when she was still working alone,
having school, Sunday school, preaching and
boarding house all in the old log house,
Miss Hartford wrote to a friend, as follows:
"This ought to be a resting day for me, but
I am always tired on Saturday. This has been
my wash day and I will give you my
experience with a girl of fifteen, who is
very ignorant about the simplest things
relating to work. It is useless to tell
Elizabeth how to do any work, unless one
goes with her and shows her every change.
Today I had her wash her own clothes by my
side, while I washed mine, to show her how,
and how speedily she ought to do her own
work. The only way to succeed in having them
work is to work with them."
"These poor Freedmen have a just claim on
the Church. They are far below their white
brothers and sisters, but they are not to be
blamed for it. Slavery has made them so, and
we must do something to lift them up. This
however, will not be done by sending them to
expensive schools, to make ladies and
gentlemen of them, but where they will learn
to work thoughtfully and be taught the pure
religion of the Bible. The worst ones among
them are very religious in their way."
A "Feelin' Meetin'"
"On last Sabbath we had an example of the
way they like to do things. Their old black
preacher always preaches on the Sunday
school lesson. He comes early to hear what I
say and then 'enlarges on de subject in de
afternoon.' I cannot tell you how hard it is
sometimes to sit still and listen to the old
man's explanations. Last Sabbath he dwelt a
long time 'on de fact Rebecca was a shameful
deceiver an dat Jacob was another one.'"
"In the afternoon, after two hours of
preaching services he concluded, 'as it was
still early in de day' they would sing a
hymn and any who wished to jine de Church
could come 'for'ud and give us der hand.'"
"As soon as they started to sing, a woman
fell in some sort of spell. She was sitting
near me on the same bench. Instantly it
occurred to me they were getting up one of
their 'feelin' meetin's', as they call them,
and I was frightened half out of my wits.
Fearing they would get to shouting and
pounding each other, I ran out as fast as I
could. There were about fifty of them packed
in one little room sixteen feet square and I
was up in front. It was one of the friendly
tribe that shouted, and had I been wise, I
would have known what was coming. My flight
spoiled the meeting, but if you would
appreciate my feelings just imagine you are
alone in a small room with fifty darkies and
fifteen or twenty of them commence shouting
and breaking benches. I had a severe
headache and have not felt well all week."
"After I ran out the people laughed and the
poor woman recovered quite suddenly. By the
time I was safe in my own room the meeting
was dismissed. I was nervous and
discouraged. I called the old preacher to my
room and gave him a lecture. He said he did
not believe in shouting and had no idea of
any one doing so. I am afraid some of the
shouting ones will be offended but I could
not help it. It was the first time I have
felt afraid since I came here."
"The school children think it was the 'best
meetin' they were ever at.' They say 'Miss
Hartford did look so funny when she got
scared.' I tell them they may laugh at me
but not at the poor woman who shouted. I
tell them that shouting and falling in fits
is not religion, that the poor woman was
probably a good Christian, but her shouting
and spells do not make her one."
"'Mamma says,' said one of them, 'that she
first took religion wid one of them spells
and dey allus' come when she gits happy.'"
"Poor things! I tell you this to show you in
what a sad state they are. They have had
enough preaching to make them think they are
religious, but have had no real Bible
teaching, and there are ten thousand of them
in this nation. The Board has concluded to
send Miss Haymaker here and I am glad."
Mrs. M. E. Crowe
Carrie E. Crowe
Anna T. Hunter
Martha Hunter
Bothersome "Bredderin"
The Board talks about sending a new preacher
here, I hope they will send a strong healthy
consecrated white man. A sickly man has no
business here. Common sense and grit are
needed more than learning. It will be no
easy task for a white preacher to manage
these black Presbyterians. I suspect it will
require more tact and will power to manage
this set, than one of our city Churches.
A half dozen old fellows claiming to be
elders tried to run 'de Sunday School and de
teacher' until I read to them a letter from
Dr. Allen, secretary of the Board. Not one
of them can read, but they take great pride
in being elders. Some were appointed elders
in other Churches and they think that makes
them elders here. It will be a sad day to
them when they learn they are not elders
here, and I fear they will not then be
willing to remain as members.
I have written you a long letter and it is
all about the darkies; but no doubt you are
expecting that.
James McGuire And Others, 1901
Hard Work And Miserable
Living
"I am not so strong, in fact feel ten years
older than one year ago. I fear I cannot
stand the heat this summer. I said 'heat'
but do not mean that exactly. This climate
is rather pleasant, if we could only provide
comforts. It is the constant hard work and
miserable way of living that makes it so
bad.
No white person could eat what these women
prepare,-bread, always of corn, and fat
pork, swimming in grease. Give them flour,
they stir in a lot of soda and serve you
biscuit as green as grass. They have no idea
of better cooking and will not take the
pains to do better. We are going to teach
them to cook, scrub and wash clothes.
Write soon and tell me whether you called on
mother, when you were in Steubenville.
Your Friend, Eliza Hartford."
Six months later when she returned from a
short visit to her mother she writes:
"The weeds were so high I
could scarcely see the house. I had to pay
forty dollars from my own earnings on lumber
hauled for the new school building, but
which Elder Crittenden says, was taken by
thieves. I paid it to save our credit and am
glad I had it to give.
"We have now nineteen
boarders. I am almost worked to death and it
takes all my patience to stand it."
Betsy Bobbet
A letter dated January 6, 1888, bears the
stamp, "Oak Hill Industrial Academy." A
change in her assistants had taken place in
November previous and she writes:
"Miss Haymaker before leaving had miserable
health and I have had a hard time since my
return. I think Miss Campbell will do well.
The attendance now ranges from 45 to 60 and
I am not able to do anything except the
school work. Four of the children have had
chills and fever, and I have had to rise at
night to care for them. I have been trying
to do the work of three people and not
complain. Still I'd like to grumble a
little, if I could find the right one to
talk to. I am beginning to feel a little
like Josiah Allen's wife, when she said,
'Betsy Bobbet, you're a fool, or else me.'
Still I had rather be regarded foolish, by
working hard for the good of others, than
take advantage of another.
Pray for me for I need your prayers.
Eliza Hartford."
Miss Haymaker's
Eventful Journey
Miss Priscilla G. Haymaker made her first
journey to Oak Hill about the first of
April, 1887. She passed by way of St. Louis
to Texarkana, Arkansas, 50 miles east of
Clarksville, over the Iron Mountain railway.
This part of the journey was made during the
night, and most of the time she was the only
lady in the car. The crowd on the train was
one of ruffians, who spent the time playing
cards, drinking whiskey and showing their
revolvers.
The conductor said to her, "Lady you have a
rough crowd to ride with to night, but I
will not leave you long." He was as good as
his word. He sat in the seat with her when
in the car and returned promptly when
required to be absent.
At Clarksville she found the driver from
Wheelock awaiting her arrival at the hotel.
As early as four o'clock the next morning
everything was in readiness for making the
trip to Wheelock in a covered wagon. It soon
began to rain and continued raining all day.
It was 8 o'clock at night when the team
arrived at Wheelock.
The cordial welcome extended by Rev. John
Edwards, Superintendent, and his wife and
the teachers at Wheelock Academy, was one
not soon to be forgotten. It was greatly
appreciated and enabled her to feel she had
gotten back again to a place of
civilization.
Miss Haymaker, the first assistant of Miss
Hartford, April to November 1887, was a
native of Newlonsburg, Pa., daughter of
George R. and Priscilla Haymaker.
On October 1, 1890, she returned to Oak Hill
and served as the principal teacher in the
Academy the next six years. In the fall of
1892 she was joined by her brother Rev. E.
G. Haymaker, who then became superintendent.
On October 13, 1896, she became the wife of
John Blair of Chambersburg, Pa., and they
still reside there.
Miss Campbell's
Trip From Clarksville
Miss Anna E. Campbell, the successor of Miss
Haymaker arrived at Clarksville, the same
day the latter passed through that place on
her way home in November, 1887.
The proprietor of the hotel called her very
early the next morning and informed her he
had secured a mule team driven by a negro to
take her to Oak Hill. When she was leaving
the hotel he solicitously inquired,
"Do you carry a gun?"
"No I haven't any weapon except a little
pocket knife," she answered. He then said,
"In going into Indian Territory you ought to
have a gun, you may need it."
Mr. Moore, the railway agent, a man from
Ohio, noticing by the check of her trunk,
that she came from Pennsylvania, was very
courteous and gave his name. He charged the
driver to protect the lady at the risk of
his own life; all of which he solemnly
promised to do, by promptly answering, "Yes
sah, dat I will."
The bell and two barrels of clothing for Oak
Hill were put on the wagon and they made the
load a pretty good one for the team. After
driving northward all day it began to grow
dark and they had not yet reached the ferry
across Red River. The crossing was made
however without accident.
When the landing had been completed the
driver remarked:
"I don't reckon we will get dar, 'coz I
doesn't know de way now."
Fortunately there were several houses not
very far away on the bluff along the river,
and after a few inquiries, a white family
was found that very kindly gave Miss
Campbell shelter for the night.
The woman at once offered her a sniff of
snuff as a token of good will. When the
snuff was very politely declined, she
laconically remarked:
"Well, some folks don't."
Miss Campbell arrived at Oak Hill, ten miles
distant from the ferry, the next day, after
experiencing a "stuck fast" in the mud on
the way.
Miss Campbell was a native of Midway,
Washington County. Pa. She became the
assistant of Miss Hartford in November,
1887, two days after the departure of Miss
Haymaker and remained until June 15, 1888.
At that time she expected to return about
the first of October following. But when her
trunk had been packed for that purpose
circumstances arose at home that made it
necessary for her to remain and take care of
her parents, both of whom were aged and
infirm. On March 7, 1905, she became the
wife of James H. McClusky and now lives on a
well cultivated productive farm near
Monongahela, Pa.
Miss Hartford's Night
School
On requesting Alexander M. Reid, D. D., of
Steubenville, Ohio, the early home of Eliza
Hartford to obtain and send a photo of her,
he reported her death at Richmond, Ohio,
July 9, 1901; and stating that a photo could
not be found among her relatives, sent
instead the following beautiful incident,
growing out of her work as a teacher of
night school in that place before she came
to Oak Hill.
Matthew Finding His Opportunity
Rev. Charles C. Beatty, D. D., a former
Moderator of the General Assembly who had
become almost totally blind, at the close of
a prayer meeting held in the Second
Presbyterian Church, said to Miss Hartford,
"Could you not name one of your boys here to
lead me home?"
She replied, "Yes, here is Matthew
Rutherford; he will lead you home."
On the way home Dr. Beatty asked Matthew,
what he was doing: He replied, "I dig coal
in the day time and go to the school of Miss
Hartford at night."
When near home Dr. Beatty inquired,
"Matthew, how would you like to go to school
and get an education?" He said, "I would
like it very much."
Dr. Beatty then said, "Matthew, you may quit
digging coal and go through the school and
High School. Then if you have a good
standing, I will send you to college. If the
Lord should then seem to be calling you to
be a minister, I will enable you to pursue
your studies at Allegheny Seminary."
Matthew, who was a native of England and
exceedingly grateful for this recognition
and counsel, quit the mines and entered
school. He graduated from Washington and
Jefferson College in 1884, and from the
theological Seminary, three years later.
Since 1896 he has been the highly esteemed
pastor of the third Presbyterian Church,
Washington, Pa., and Bible instructor in the
college since 1900. He received the degree
of Doctor of Divinity in 1909.
This incident serves to illustrate the
readiness of the friends of Christian
Education to aid young people of limited
means, who are trying to educate themselves;
and the care they also take to know they are
worthy. It also shows the importance of
young people industriously and economically
doing what they can to help themselves. That
is their best recommendation.
If young Rutherford, while working in the
mines, had indulged in spending his evenings
at places merely of amusement or
entertainment as many do, he would have
missed the golden opportunity of his life.
The unexpected and gracious offer came to
him, while he was attending night school and
the weekly prayer meeting. It was while he
was taking advantage of these opportunities
for intellectual and moral improvement,
within his reach, that he found the true and
faithful friend, whose assistance he most
needed.
Hardships At Oak Hill
Miss Hartford, before coming to Oak Hill,
spent several years as a teacher among the
Mormons at Silver City, Utah. This was a
period when missionary work was difficult
and dangerous. She resigned that work on
account of the failing health of her aged
mother.
She patiently and hopefully
endured many privations and hardships in
faithfully and energetically carrying
forward the work entrusted to her. These
were greatest at Oak Hill than elsewhere.
At Oak Hill she was unable to relieve the
natural conditions that produce malarial
troubles. She felt very deeply the
loneliness of dwelling in the wilderness,
where there was no white person in the
neighborhood to render assistance in time of
special need, or sympathetic friend to
express a word of comfort and encouragement.
Then she could not avoid the incessant
strain of continuous work and worry under
surroundings and limitations that could not
be removed and tended to produce that
nervous exhaustion, which results in
complete prostration. This nervous strain
was increased by every advancing step in the
progress of the work. Relief from this
malady is not found in the use of medicines,
but in a complete change of scenes, diet and
employment. She and her two faithful helpers
were compelled to seek this form of relief.
This site
includes some historical materials that may imply negative stereotypes
reflecting the culture or language of a particular period or place. These
items are presented as part of the historical record and should not be
interpreted to mean that the WebMasters in any way endorse the stereotypes
implied .
Choctaw Freedmen and Oak Hill Industrial
Academy, 1914, Robert Elliott Flickinger
