U.S. Data Repository -- USGenNet Inc. -- Please read the U.S. Data Repository Copyright Statement on the following page: Chapter XVI, THE CHURCHES AND SCHOOLS OF THE COUNTY. In the year 1815, a Presbyterian minister, who had been holding a series of meetings in the neighborhood of Fairmont, preaching wherever he could obtain a room large enough to contain the people, effected a regular church organization. This event took place in a barn on the farm of Asa Hall, near Barnesville, and is believed to be the first permanent church organization within the bounds of Marion county, though there is one at Gilboa which claims to have a prior existence. The former organization, now known as the Presbyterian Church of Fairmont, in 1822 built a frame church on the ground afterwards occupied by the old brick building that has recently been demolished, which stood on Jefferson street, opposite the Mountain City House. This frame church was of the most primitive description. No lath or plaster covered its walls, and no ceiling reflected the light of. the tallow candles in their dim candle-sticks fastended to the posts, or held in position against the wall by two nails driven into the studding. In 1850, this church gave place to the old brick that, in turn, has been pulled down to help furnish material for the handsome Presbyterian Church that now stands on the corner of Jefferson and Jackson streets, built in 1879. The first brick church built within the town of Fairmont was the recently demolished Protestant Episcopal Church, which was built by the Methodist Episcopal denomination, and used by them until the building of their present commodious place of worship on Main street, in the year 1852. Among the events which took place within its walls, are some of secular as well as of religious interest, for here the first court that ever convened in the county, held its regular sessions, and it continued to be used for that purpose until a court house was built. In 1834, the Methodist Protestant denomination built a frame church on Quincy street, and after a lapse of seventeen years, it was pulled down to make room for the substantial brick structure which now stands on the same ground. This latter church, erected in 1851, is still used as a place of worship by the Methodist Protestant denomination. It seems hard to realize, on looking at an old log building, now used as a barn, standing at Yellow Rock Ford, two and a half miles from the mouth of the West Fork, that this was ever a church. It was, however, the first Baptist Church ever built in this region, though the exact date of its erection is unknown. Here Joshua Hickman, and other celebrated clergymen, preached the Word to the inhabitants of the surrounding country. The Roman Catholic Church of Fairmont, was built in 1858, and is the only regular organization of the kind in Marion county though there are quite a number of that faith, especially along the route of the Baltimore and Ohio railroad. As time passed on other churches began to dot the green hills and vales of the county, until now there are a great number of all denominations, and all are prosperous, comprising in their membership the bulk of the population. There is scarcely a home in the county that is inaccessible to a church of some kind. The only African church in the county is in Fairmont, and is called the African M. E. Church. For many years Marion county has had good schools, and especially is this true since the establishment of the free school system. Among the principal instructors of her youth during the few years previous to and during the civil war, were J. L. Morehead, George W. L. Kidwell, B. F. Martin, Alexander Steele, Miss Mary J. Shore, Prof. Lanigan, and others. The Fairmont Male and Female Seminary, under Prof. W. R. White, from 1856 to 1864, was a very successful institution, being an educational power in the community, and having students from all parts of the State, many of whom now occupy prominent positions in life. Prof. White is the author of the "Alphabet Made Easy" very popular primmer in general use throughout the country. Since the establishment of the free school system the progress of Marion county in educational matters has been rapid, until now every advantage to gain a common school education is afforded the youth. Upon every hand are neat, convenient school houses, provided with first-class teachers. The following table from the report of the county superintendent, J. N. Satterfield, for 1879, will serve to show the reader the condition of the schools in Marion county in that year, financially and otherwise: Total value of all school property in county, $70,062.75 Aggregate value of buildings, 60,825.00 Number of common schools in county . . . 103 Number of graded schools in county . . . 5 Number of high schools in county . . . 1 Total number of schools . . . . . 109 Whole number of buildings . . . . 105 Number of districts . . . . . 5 Number of sub-districts . . . . . 102 YOUTHS BETWEEN THE AGES OF 6 AND 21. Number of white males . . . . . 3,304 Number of white females . . . . . 2,927 Number of colored males, . . . . . 15 Number of colored females. . . . . 18 Total number of males . . . . . 3,319 Total number of females . . . . . 2,945 Whole number of youths between ages of 6 and 21 . 6,264 Of these, the whole number attending school is . 4,710 Number of males . . . . . . 2,644 Number of females . . . . . . 2,066 Avenage daily attendance . . . . . 3,164 Average age of pupils . . . . . 11.5 Number of male teachers . . . . . 94 Number of female teachers . . . . 26 Whole number of teachers . . . . . 120 A branch of the State Normal School is located in Fairmont, and as it is celebrated throughout the State for its excellence, and an institution of which Marion county may well be proud, it deserves special mention: The act establishing a system of free schools was passed December 10, 1863, and it was immediately found that there was need of well trained teachers. The State did not at first provide for a school for teachers and many such institutions were started as private enterprises. The first of these was the Fairmont Normal School, which was opened in 1865, by J. N. Boyd, then editor of the National, in the basement of the M. P. Church. The success of this school prompted the citizens to take steps towards securing such an institution permanently in Fairmont, and in the winter of 1865-6 a bill proposing to establish a State Normal School at that place was introduced into the Legislature, but that body adjourned without taking any action upon the hill. The citizens of Fairmont formed a joint stock company under the title of "The Regency of the West Virginia Normal School," and secured a charter for the same. The incorporators were Oliver Jackson, Jacob C. Beeson. Ellery R. Hall, John N. Boyd, Dennis B. Dorsey, James J. Burns, T. A. Fleming, J. H. Brownfield, T. A. Maulsby and A. Brooks Fleming. A board of directors was elected of which Oliver Jackson was President. Ellery R. Hall, Secretary, and J. J. Burns, Treasurer. A lot was purchased of Judge E. B. Hall for $1,500 and the wing of the present building was begun in the summer of 1867. It was 68x40 feet and two stories high. In February, 1867, the Legislature voted $5,000 to this school, on condition that $2,000 additional be paid by citizens of Marion county. The condition was complied with and the institution passed into the hands of the State. In 1872 the main building, which is 80x40 feet, and three stories high, was erected. The entire cost of the building has been about $20,000, of which the State gave $10,000 and the district of Fairmont the remainder. After its purchase by the State, Prof. W. R. White, who had been the first state superintendent of free schools, was the first principal of the Normal School. Prof. White secured of Dr. Sears, agent of the Peabody fund, a gift of $500 for the normal department and $1,000 for the model school, which donation was continued through the four years following. In 1870, Prof. White resigned, and was succeeded in the Principalship by Prof. J. C. Gilchrist (now Principal of the State Normal School located at Cedar Falls, Iowa), who continued in office until the late Dr. J. G. Blair received the appointment, in 1871. The latter gentleman retained the office until his death, December 22d, 1878. In 1874 the Normal and Public Schools were separated, and from this time on the benefits of the separation have been felt by both schools. On the death of Dr. Blair, Miss M. L. Dickey, who had for eight years been the first assistant teacher, was appointed to fill his place, which position she now holds. Dr. Blair was a man of profound learning and bore an almost national reputation as an instructor, and it is conceded by the friends of the school everywhere that Miss Dickey, whose reputation for talent and tact in disciplining and teaching a school of this kind is enviable, is well worthy to fill his place. The lowest number of students attending the school at any one time during its existence was 30, and the highest 221. They come from all parts of the State, and many have been from Ohio, Pennsylvania and Maryland. In 1879, 19 counties of West Virginia were represented in the school. The faculty at present consists of Miss M. L. Dickey. Principal; Miss Lucy Fleming and Prof. U. S. Fleeting, assistants; and Mrs. A. M. J. Pinnell, teacher of music. The building is provided with a commodious hall or chapel, containing an organ, and is capable of holding five hundred people, a large main school room, library and apparatus room, the several necessary class rooms, and a music room, appropriately furnished with a piano, etc. The school has two prosperous literary societies--the Mozart Society and the Normal Lyceum. This latter organization has recently laid the foundation of a library. The Normal School is worthy the encouragement of the county, for it not only reflects great credit upon the community, but it is a source of considerable revenue.