Establishment of Schools

From the establishment of the first school in the neighborhood of Spring Creek, in 1800, by Benjamin Alexander, the schools of Wilson County have increased in number and facilities until at the present the county is dotted over with high schools and academies, and can boast of one of the leading universities in the South. As above stated the first school in Wilson County was established sometime in 1800, by Benjamin Alexander, on the waters of Spring Creek. The school was taught in a log dwelling-house, from three of four months in the year, and, though humble and unpretentious, furnished the foundation for the present magnificent school system. Another school was taught by Rev. Samuel Donnell in the same neighborhood, in 1802, which was called a classical school, and was conducted in connection with the church of which Mr. Donnell was pastor.

Following these schools several others were taught in the various creek neighborhoods, of which no record can be obtained, and in 1810 George McWhirter, a man of finished education, established what afterward became the celebrated Campbell Academy. This school was located on Hickory Ridge, about five miles west of Lebanon. Mr. McWhirter was assisted in the conduct of the school by his two daughters, and all the higher branches were taught. In the course of five or six years the school was removed to Lebanon and a good building erected on a piece of ground donated by Gov. Campbell, for whom the school was named. In 1840 a new building was erected for the academy, and it was continued as such until the late civil war, after which it was turned over to the Cumberland University, to be used as a preparatory department of that institution, and is in use at the preset.

Among the prominent teachers of this school were Rev. Thomas Anderson, Profs. C. Anderson, Myron Kilborn, W. R. Dougal, Lucien Marshall, Poindexter and Kennedy.

Sometime in 1815 a very good school was taught at the schoolhouse known as the Washington Schoolhouse, of which Prof. Patterson was the teacher, and about that time another school was taught by Mary Morris, at a point a few miles west of Lebanon. In the spring of 1824 Brevard College, one of the leading schools of that day, was established by Capt. Thomas Brevard, a native of Ireland. The building was an ordinary log house, and stood four miles due east from Lebanon. The higher branches were taught by Capt. Brevard, and not a few of the citizens of the present obtained their education at that institution of learning. After conducting the school successfully for about nine years Capt. Brevard was succeeded by Prof. William Pemberton, who in turn was succeeded by Prof. Robert Simpson, and he in turn by Prof. John Vesa, a Frenchman. The school was abandoned after one year's management of Prof. Vesa.

The next high school established was the Abby Female Institute, in Lebanon, during the thirties, the proprietors and teachers of which were Miss Harriet Abby and her sister, Mrs. Kilborn, both of whom came from the New England States and founded the school, The institute was afterward conducted as a high school by Rev. Mr. Roach, Prof. Edgar and Gen. A. P. Stewart, and was abandoned during the seventies.

Carroll Academy was next established by Prof. Stephen Owen, a Northern man, sometime in 1842. This school was situated on the Lebanon & Rome Pike, seven miles northeast from the former place, and was one of the leading schools of that day. The school was afterward moved to Big Spring, and was continued until during the seventies. Among the teachers were Prof. Stephen Owen, Prof. Carroll, Capt. Norris and Prof. J. B. Hancock, the latter being now at the head of Maple Hill Female Seminary.

In about 1842 Princeton College of Kentucky, under the direction of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, was moved to Lebanon, and Cumberland University established, of which Rev. F. R. Cassitt, D. D., was the first president. The university was first located in the old Cumberland Presbyterian Church, but subsequently a large college building was erected on College Street, which was surrounded by a large campus. The building was afterward enlarged, and during the civil war was destroyed by a Confederate soldier, who having attended the college, became incensed at it being occupied by Negroes, filled one room with cedar rails one night and applied the match, destroying the entire property. After the war the university was re-established. The private residence of Judge Abraham Caruthers, which stood on the south side of West Main Street, about one mile from the Public Square, was purchased in 1867 and converted into a college building, and is at present the theological department of the university. About the same time the private residence of Andrew Anderson, on the same side of the above street, on the second block west of the Public Square, was purchased and converted into an academic hall.

In 1878 Caruthers' Hall was built at a cost of about $22,000, in which is situated the law department of the university. The combined valuation of the property of the university is about $60,100. Caruthers' Hall is a handsome brick building, and is an ornament to the city.

The law department of the university was established January 9, 1847, and Judge Abraham Caruthers was the first professor, he resigning a seat upon the bench of the State to accept the position. In 1852 Judge N. Green, father of the present chancellor, resigned a seat on the State bench, and responded to a call to assist Judge Caruthers. Shortly thereafter Judge Nathan Green, Jr., the present chancellor, was elected to a professorship in the school, and these three gentlemen continued as the faculty of the law department until the breaking out of the war in 1861. In 1866 Judge Green, Sr., died, and Hon. Henry Cooper succeeded to his position. Judge Cooper resigned in 1868, when Judge Robert L. Caruthers was called to that position, and he, too, resigned a seat on the supreme bench. Judge Caruthers resigned in 1881, and died the following year. Dr. T. C. Anderson then became the president, and he was succeeded by Dr. B. W. McDonnell, and then Judge Nathan Green was elected chancellor, and occupies that responsible position at the present. In 1878 Andrew B. Martin, one of the present faculty, was elected to a professorship. The theological department was established in 1853, and for twelve years Dr. Beard, father of E. E. Beard, a prominent member of the present bar of Lebanon, was the principal. In 1877 the department was reorganized, and its faculty increased to two regular professors and two lecturers. Dr. Beard died in 1881, and Dr. S. G. Burney, D. D., was called to his position, that of systematic theology, and Prof. J. D. Kirkpatrick, D. D., was given the chair of historical theology.

The faculty at present is as follows: Nathan Green, LL. D., chancellor: S. G. Burney, D. D., systematic theology; J. D. Kirkpatrick, D. D., historical theology; R. V. Foster, D. D., exegetical theology; C. H. Bell, D. D., homiletics and missions. Lecturers: W. J. Darby, D. D., and J. M. Hubbert, D. D. More than 10,000 young men have been educated in Cumberland University, and the attendance is large each year. In 1848 or 1849 Dr. N. Lawrence Lindsey, LL. D., at one time a member of the faculty of the university, established a school for young ladies, six miles east from Lebanon, on the Sparta Pike, which was called Greenwood. The school was deservedly popular, and was conducted by Dr. Lindsey until his death in 1868, and afterward by Iris widow until 1883, when it was discontinued.

The Baptist Church established a high school for young ladies in Lebanon in 1859. A substantial brick building was erected on East Main Street, and Rev. Mr. Powell was placed in charge. Dr. Powell conducted the school until sometime in 1861, when he was succeeded by Dr. Griffin, of Nashville, and then followed Rev. J. M. Phillips and Rev. A. Hart as principals. In 1870 the school was discontinued and the property sold to the town of Lebanon, and has since been conducted as a public school, being at present in the charge of Prof. B. M. Mace, a popular educator.

Maple Hill Seminary was founded by Prof. J. B. Hancock in September, 1880, and is located on the Lebanon & Nashville Pike, three miles west from Lebanon, with delightful surroundings of forest and farm lands. The school property embraces twenty acres of land, to which is attached a farm of 250 acres, upon which are produced many of the supplies for the school. The school buildings are of frame, and conveniently arranged and situated. Maple Hill has been a success in every respect since its establishment, and under the judicious and efficient management of Prof. Hancock promises to continue so.

An addition of importance to the educational advantages of Lebanon and Wilson County, will be the Lebanon College for young ladies, which will be opened next fall by Profs. Foster and Weir, of which Prof. Foster will be the principal. The finishing touches are being applied to a handsome and commodious building for this school, which is an ornament to the town in which it is located.

The following is a list of the many excellent high schools and chartered academies in the various districts:

Mount Juliet and Green Hill Academies, in the First District
Lagardo High School, in the Fourth District
Cedar Grove High School, in the Fifth District
Austin Academy, in the Seventh District
Bellwood High School, in the Eighth District
Tucker's Cross Roads Academy, in the Ninth District
Linwood High School, and Shop Spring Academy, in the Eleventh District
Commerce Academy, in the Twelfth District
Round Top Academy, in the Thirteenth District
Prosperity Academy, in the Fourteenth District
Statesville Academy, in the Fifteenth District
Cherry Valley Academy, in the Sixteenth District
Cainsville Academy, in the Seventeenth District
Fall Creek Academy, in the Eighteenth District
Mace Institute, in the Twenty-first District
Mount View Academy, in the Twenty-second District
Oak Grove Academy, in the Twenty-third District
Gladeville High School, in the Twenty-fourth District
Hamilton Academy, in the Twenty-fifth District, and Leerville Academy, in a school district separate from the civil districts. The academies are all chartered schools, working under the four mile temperance law.

The last report of the school superintendent of the county shows the public schools of Wilson County to be in the following condition: Number of pupils: white male, 3,608; white female, 3,444; total white, 7,052; colored male 1,484; colored females, 1,464; total colored, 2,948; grand total, 10,030; average attendance, 5,000. Number of teachers: white male, 61; white female, 29; white total, 90; colored male, 17; colored female, 14; colored total, 31; grand total, 121. Number of schools; white, 73; colored, 30; total, 103.

The county superintendents since 1873 have been as follows: Profs. A. D. Morris, S. G. Shepard, B. M. Mace, J. B. Powell and R. McMillin, the present incumbent.

 Wilson County | AHGP Tennessee

Source: History of Tennessee, Goodspeed Publishing Company, 1886