• 1 •
Old Ebenezer
It was a famous old academy in
its day and time and many dis¬
tinguished sons of North Caro¬
lina obtained their education
within its walls.
committee to superintend same. It
was resolved tliat Jno. M. Enin,
Sam'l King, R. J. Hall and Win. A.
Hall be a committee to prepare a sys¬
tem of laws for the government of
the institution. It was resolved that
Wm. A. Hall, who had commenced
teaching in July, 1822, be continued
ns teacher until the end of the year
from the time he commenced ; and that
he be re-elected annually thereafter.
"The board adjourned with prayer.
Wm. A. Hall, Scc’y.”
The Western Carolinian for De¬
cember 9, 1S23, carried the following
advertisement :
EBENEZER ACADEMY. 1823
This institution was incorpo¬
rated during the session of the
General Assembly in 1822. It is
now open to all who wish either
to pursue a course of liberal edu¬
cation, or study English Grnm-
nmr and Geography. All branches
of education required for admis¬
sion into college, will bo taught.
We are happy in stating to the
public, that a now and commodi¬
ous Academy will be completed
in a few days. The Academy is
in a rural situation, six miles
from Statesville, so that students
will be measurable free from
temptations to vice. It is con¬
venient to church, where there is
preaching statedly.
Iredell County, N. C.
Nov. 1823.
By WILLIAM S. POWELL
Wm. A. Hall.
THE Scotch-Irish who settled
Western North Carolina wore
noted for their great religious
leal, and it was their policy to have
n well-educated ministry; therefore
schools were an important part of
their community. There was Clio’s
Nursery, called the best scientific
school in North Carolina before the
establishment of the University in
1789, and other smaller schools taught
by ministers who came mostly from
1’rincoton to serve the Presbyterians
in the bnckcountry that Inter Ixicnmo
Rowan, Iredell, and Davie counties.
The one of these school* which prob¬
ably had the most lasting influence in
North Carolina was Ebenezer Acad¬
emy. Davidson College, also a Pres¬
byterian school, was the direct result
of the work done by the teachers and
students of Ebenezer.
The minutes of the meeting of the
trustees of Ebenezer Academy are re¬
corded in a small leather-covered note¬
book. The writing, in a flourishing
hand, is fading, but it still tells a story
of the faith and hope of thoso who
worked to make North Carolina a land
of opportunity.
In this little brown book we road
that “During the session of the Legis¬
lature of North Carolina in the year
1822 an act was passed incorporating
Ebenezer Academy at Bethany in Ire¬
dell County and appointing the fol¬
lowing persons to the trustee of the
same: Hugh Andrews, Rev. Daniel
Gould, Rev. Jno. M. Ervin, James
A. Hall, Abner C. Caldwell, Thomas
Allison, Alexander Barr, Sam’l King,
Alexander Nesbit, Wm. C. Hall, and
William A. Hall.
"At a meeting of the trustees at
Bethany Church on the 15th of
March. 1823. on motion. Rev. John
M. Ervin was chosen President of the
board. Wm. D. Hall, Treasurer, and
William A. Hall, Secretary. It was
resolved to erect a suitable academy
building and Wm. I). Hall, A. Barr
and R. J. Hall were appointed a
The old Ebenezer Academy build¬
ing stands almost in the shadows of
Bethany Church. Bethany Church was
organized in 1775 and the present
building was erected in 1855 to re¬
place the one built in 1777.
Rev. Daniel Gould, realizing that a
library is an essential part of any
school, suggested to the trustees at the
meeting in June, 1823, that a collec¬
tion be taken from the students of the
Academy and other persons who were
interested in the welfare of the school
for the purpose of “purchasing a se¬
lect library for the use of tin* Acad¬
emy, consisting of Biography,” as the
Secretary recorded it in the minutes
of the meeting.
“The Rev. Mr. Gould was au¬
thorized to make the selection; who
[rocured the following books to wit:
.ife of Drs. Scott and Buchanan, of
Mrs. Graham, of Rev. M. Martyn.
Spencer, Pierce and Itrainard, of
Capt'n Wilson Touchstone by Flavel,
Sketch Book. Early Piety, Farmer’s
Daughter, Henry Obookiah.”
During its 34 years as u private
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