History of STNC


"On September 16, 1889, Arvy Glenn Freed, an alumnus of Valparaiso University in Indiana, became the first president of Southern Tennessee Normal College at Essary Springs, Tennessee, about 60 miles south of here. Enrollment grew from 72 the first year to 450 by 1893." Sam Hester

Sign says, "The Birthplace of Freed-Hardeman University 1892"
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Flyer of Southern Tennessee Normal College, Essary Springs, Tenn. (1892)
 

The Southern
Tennessee Normal College
Essary Springs, Hardeman County
Will Begin Sept. 18, 1892
 
The History of this College is too well known to narrate. It has already surpassed the expectations of its best friends. Over Four Hundred and Fifty Students from Four States were enrolled the last session. The prospects for future are flattering in the extreme.
 
LOCATION. - We have the choice location of Southern Lands. High, dry, and healthy. Pure Air. The best of mineral water, free to students. The highest of Moral influences. A nice quite, place, four miles south of Pocahontas on the Memphis & Charleston R. R. This place was chosen by the President for the building of an Ideal Normal College to meet the crises of the hour.
 
COURSES OF STUDY. - Preparatory, Teachers', Scientific, Business, English, Music, Type-writing, and Select.
 
All Branches taught from the Alphabet to the Classics.
 
EXPENSES. - Board, Rooms, Fuel, Lights, Washing, all complete at $7 to $8 per month. Many of our best students of for much less than these figures.
 
Tuition in preparatory Course from $1.50 to $2.50 per month. Teachers', $3.20 per month. The other course, $3.50 per month. We guarantee these figures. All expenses of a student need not exceed $10 to $12 per month. Tuition due at the beginning of each ten weeks.
 
WE HAVE THE CHEAPEST SCHOOL IN THE SOUTH.
 
FACULTY. - Our Faculty is the strongest, -- the best that can be secured. The Institution is Permanent, Reliable, Progressive, Through, Practical, and suited in every respect to meet the demands of young men and ladies in securing an Education.
 
APPARATUS. - The Instition is now supplied with the lates and best apparatus. A costly Surveying Outfit has been secured. The student does actual field work. A fine REMINGTON TYPEWRITER, No. 2, latest Model, has been added. This machine is too well known to need commendation. A very costly LIBRARY of the best Encyclopedias, Histories, Anatomies, and General Literatures, is in daily use by the students. Over one thousand square feet of the best Blackboards. Charts, Globes, Maps, and alltha can be desired to make a success of any subject.
 
WHEN TO COME. - Come at your first convenience. You will find classes to meet your demands.
 
WHO SHOULD COME. - Age nor qualifications exclude no one. You are sure to feel at home in your classes, it makes no difference what your advancement may be.
 
BOOKS. - Bring all the text-books you have. You will need them. All good authors are used, and none taken as standard.
 
HOW TO REACH ESSARY SPRINGS. - From the West, by way of Memphis and Grand Junction; from the East, by way of Decatur and Corinth; students from the North and South will change at those places on the Memphis & Charleston R. R. for Pocahontas, where they will be met with conveyance for the College. Write the President at what time you will leave your homes.
 
The Institution is positively non-sectarian. Our students are from almost all denominations, and we give them as testimonials. Our Faculty is of different religious beliefs.
 
The high moral stand for our students has no superior. They are from the best families in the land, and govern themselves.
 
Teachers, Students, Patrons, Friends, All: - We can not tell you all in this little circular. We ask you to come and see for yourself. We guarantee every word in this circular, and know that we can do even better than here represented. The reputation of the school is now established. Its work is known. It shall be improved each day. The College is now a reality.
 
We challenge competition, and willingly meet all opposition. Can you not be with us? We hope to meet you in the school-room, and shall do all in our power to advance your welfare.
 
Come, we welcome you.
 
Write for particulars,
 
A. G. FREED, President
ESSARY SPRINGS, HARDEMAN CO., TENNESSEE
Do not forget the date of opening.
 
W Joe Offices
Corinth, Miss.?
 
David Nelms invited A. G. Freed to come to Essary Springs to preach and start a school. He is buried in the Essary Springs cemetery.

Known attendees
Richard Nelms, Cass Ross, Ella Kennady, Ben Ragan, Albert Hudson, Nettie Moore, Cora Bingham, (Mrs. A. G. Freed), Walter Kidd, Blake Nelms, Charles Ijams

Allen O. Lea

Allen O.  Lea, postmaster of Shreveport, La., is one of the best-known men in business, political, and social life in the northern section of the state.
 
He was born Aug. 8, 1876, in McNairy County, Tenn., and reared in his native locality, he received a primary and grammar school education at home; then entered the Southern Tennessee Normal school from which he graduated in 1895.
 
Continuing his studies, Mr. Lea matriculated in the law department of Cumberland Univesity, at Lebanon, Tenn., and in 1897 was awarded his diploma. The same year of his graduation as a lawyer was marked by his election, at the age of 21, as the mayor of Selmer, Tenn., a public trust which he ably filled during two years.
 
In 1899 Mr. Lea was appointed postmaster of Selmer, serving in that official capacity to the year 1902, when he was appointed office deputy United States marshal, and to fill this position, he removed to Memphis, Tenn.
 
The following year he came to Shreveport, La., as chief deputy United States marshal, which position he held about 6 years, and in 1910 he was appointed United States marshal for the western district of Louisiana, which position he resigned in Dec., 1910, to accept the place of postmaster of Shreveport.
 
Mr. Lea is a member of the Shreveport Chamber of Commerce, of the Genevieve Orphanage board, and member of the Shreveport golf and country club.

James Perrin Lowery
 

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Geneva, Fla.
BIRTH: Ripley, Miss., Mar. 5, 1872
WIFE: Anna Hornsby
CHILDREN: Six
BAPTIZED BY: M. H. Northcross, July, 1892
BEGAN PREACHING: Wenasoga, Miss., 1893
 
TRAINING: Southern Tennessee Normal College, Essary Springs, Tenn., B.S., University of Mississippi
 
CHURCHES SERVED: Senatobia and Thyatira, Miss., 1915-21, McKellar Avenue, Memphis, Tenn., 1925-28, Monroe, La., 1936-43
 
RELIGIOUS DEBATES: Lowrey-Dye, Methodist, "Name, Origin, Doctrine. and Practice of the Church," 1916, Lowrey-Milburn, Baptist, "Name, Origin, Doctrine, and Practice of the Church," 1912, Lowrey-Taylor, Baptist, "Name, Origin, Doctrine, and Practice of the Church," 1917
 
RADIO: Pine Bluff, Ark., Sanford, Fla.
 
PERMANENT CONTACT: Roy W. Nichols, Geneva, Fla.
 
OTHER FACTS OF INTEREST: Was student of A. G. Freed, President, Southern Tennessee Normal College. Taught in Freed-Hardeman College, 1908-15. Had a part in establishing eighteen congregations in Southern states. Editor of Green County Observer, Paragould, Ark.. for four years. Taught eight years in public schools in Tenn., Miss., and Fla. Most of his life has been spent in evangelistic in destitute fields. For ten years he published The Mississippi Evangelist. Did evangelistic work in Miss. when there were only three loyal preachers left after the digression.
 
Preachers of Today, Vol. I, 205-06

Rachel B. and Francis Ann Martindale
By 1889 Finn and Belle Martindale moved to Essary Springs, Tennessee for the purpose of enrolling the eldest daughters Rachel Bradford and Frankie in school.
 
Rachel B. (Bradford) and Francis Ann (Frankie) not only attended school together in Tennessee but both became engaged about the same time to brothers. Rachel was engaged to Willis Heywood Watkins and Frankie was engaged to George W. Watkins of Caruthersville, Missouri. But a funny thing happened on the way to the alter for Rachel and Heywood Watkins, it appears that Rachel's younger sister, Martha Elizabeth, hijacked Heywood Watkins, and they eloped with him to Missouri.
 
--- Ron Hughes
 
William Robert Rutledge -- 1867-1952
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He was a member of the church of Christ at Tiplersville, Miss. and father of James H. Rutledge. He is buried in the Tiplersville, Miss. Cemetery which is located a few hundred yards behind the Tiplersville church of Christ building. Below, he is standing to the right of A. G. Freed.
 
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1889 Graduating Class of the Southern Tennessee Normal College
 
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Photo and names were provided by Elsie Tapp, Houston, Tx
 
Back row, left to right
(1) Blaake Nelms (2) Richard Nelms? (3) Ben Ragan (4) _ (5) _ (6) Ike N. Rowland (7) Albert Hudson (8) Charlie Ijams
Middle row, left to right
(1) __ (2) Walter Kidd (3) W. R. Rutledge (4) A. G. Freed (5) Cass Ross (6) __ (7) Richard Nelms ?
Front row, left to right
(1) Cora Bingham (later Mrs. A. G. Freed) (2) __ (3) __ (4) __ (5) __ (6) Ella Kennady (7) Nettie Moore
 
rutledgewr

He is buried in the Tiplersville, Miss. Cemetery which is located a few hundred yards behind the Tiplersville church of Christ building. From Walnut, Miss., turn south on Highway 15 and go about seven miles. Run right at the street before you come to the Tiplersville church of Christ building. Go about one mile and bear to the right. The cemetery is on the left. This is the cemetery where Mrs. J. A. Thornton is buried.

Isaac Newton Roland
 
I. N. Roland -- 1868-1950
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C. P. Roland's grandparents were Isaac Newton and Marilda Stewart Roland of Middleton, Tenn. He operated a woodcraft shop. He died when his son, who was also named Isaac Newton Roland, was only twelve years old. In 1888 he entered a school newly established by A. G. Freed at nearby Essary Springs, Tenn. and was in this school's first graduating class, that of 1889. Later he took additonal studies, completing the quivalent of about three years of college at the West Tennessee Normal, the forerunner of the present Memphis State University.
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In the Freed school at Essary Springs, I. N. Rowland met the woman who presently became his wife and the mother of C. P. Roland. She was Mary Margaret Nelms. The Nelms became members of the church of Christ in 1872, being converted by T. B. Larimore. After his graduation, I. N. Roland became a teacher in the Freed school. After Freed came to Henderson, I. N. Roland re-established the Essary Springs institution and kept it in operation for many years. In 1925, he joined the faculty at Freed-Hardeman and taught until he retired in 1939.
 
--- Dr. Charles Roland, Feb. 4, 1968, from Walking Down Memories Lane by Grace Roland
 
1889 Graduating Class of the Southern Tennessee Normal College
 
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Photo and names were provided by Elsie Tapp, Houston, Tx
 
Back row, left to right
(1) Blaake Nelms (2) Richard Nelms? (3) Ben Ragan (4) _ (5) _ (6) Ike N. Rowland (7) Albert Hudson (8) Charlie Ijams
Middle row, left to right
(1) __ (2) Walter Kidd (3) W. R. Rutledge (4) A. G. Freed (5) Cass Ross (6) __ (7) Richard Nelms ?
Front row, left to right
(1) Cora Bingham (later Mrs. A. G. Freed) (2) __ (3) __ (4) __ (5) __ (6) Ella Kennady (7) Nettie Moore

J. T. Stricklin
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J. T. Stricklin was born Nov. 3, 1870 in Hardeman County, Tenn. He was educated in the public school and Southern Tennessee Normal College.
He began teaching school while a young man, and has taught successfully in Alabama and Texas. Hearing so much false doctrine taught, he began preaching in Alabama in 1901. He came to. Texas In 1903 and has preached a great deal in he has been successful. At present he is one of the teachers in the Thorpe Springs Christian College. He continues to preach as he can in connection with the school work.
 
Preachers Who Blazed the Trail by C. R. Nichol

Note J. T. Stricklin's name is the second from the top. Photo is by Scott Harp. For more information go to http://www.therestorationmovement.com/addran.htm.

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Kinchen Langston Rose - 1820-1898
Kinchen Langston Rose was the eleventh child of James and Jerusha McLawhorn Rose. His father died when he was eight years old, after which he migrated with a number of families to Hardeman County, Tennessee. This movement of families over the "Smokies" from North Carolina into Tennessee was known as the "Great Migration." Besides farming a large farm he also preached and taught school. His church was The Disciples of Christ. Reverend Rose was married three times: first wife was Jane Covington, second wife was Susan Covington, they had one son. Third wife was Jeannette Cherry, by whom he had six boys and one girl. He offered his children schooling or a good horse, saddle, and bridle. All chose schooling, and they all taught afterwards. They attended the Southern Tennessee Normal at Essary Springs nearby, and were inspired by the teachings of Dr. Freed.
 
From the book, Some Pioneer Preachers and Teachers of Tennessee by Rosalie Ausmus Keever, 1974.