Tag Archives: #Athens

The Athens Academy

Cleages, Tennessee,
Although the paper is dated 1894, the dates within the article are for after 1900. Click to enlarge!

This is a transcription of the article from The Athens Post Athens, Tennessee 21 Dec 1894, Fri  •  Page 22

The Athens Mission for the Colored People was established is sustained by the United Presbyterian church through its Freedman’s Board. This board spends annually for the support of this station from $2,000 to $2,500. The public school funds, amounting to $450, are used for incidental expenses. The salaries of the missionaries being paid entirely by the board.

The United Presbyterian Church has always been a friend to unfortunate humanity, and has mission stations among all classes of people who need help. The have established thirteen stations for the Freedmen of the South. Eighty missionaries and $55,000 have been set apart to carry on the work. In all of these stations there are churches which are destined to play a conspicuous part in the cultured Christian civilization of the colored race. This church is strong where the negro needs strength. It demands a clean membership and an educated ministry, family worship and Sabbath observance. It minimizes churchanity and magnifies Christianity. As a result of this its growth is slow. United Presbyterians among the Freedmen are made by a very tedious process.

The schools established by this church are open to all who will take advantage  of them. Money and clothing are often sent to be used in helping worthy poor students. So thoroughly have these students have been equipped that the young people who grow up within the bounds of the school in ignorance are without excuse. The object of the school is to do for eager, ambitious students what they cannot do for themselves.

At Knoxville College board, tuition and furnished rooms can be had for $6.85 per month. In Alabama, on the plantations, where the people are poorer, boarding, tuition and furnished rooms can be had for $4 per month. In this way school advantages are put in the way of many who otherwise wouldn’t have them.

Athens Academy has its doors open to students from a distance. It places an education within the reach of young people of limited means. We would be glad to correspond with persons who would like to come. We can arrange so that you can attend school here for about what it takes to support you at home.

RELIGION AND MORALS

The aim of the supporters of our school has been to make the institution thoroughly and earnestly Christian. All plans of work are devised for the purpose of making our students strong, earnest, and liberal-minded men and women.

INSTRUCTORS

Rev. Jno. T. Arter, principal, Jas W. Fisher, Henry W. Cleage, Miss M. Lea Jones, Mrs. Louise Collier, Miss Christianita Totten. All workers of experience and ability.

PROSPECTS

The prospects for the. Future of the academy are good. The school is gaining many friends among the citizens of both races. The moral and religious training which are being taught by the teachers are being seen in the homes of the older people, and in the daily life and character of the youth. The parents of this and adjoining counties are earnestly requested to send their boys and girls here for their college preparation.

INDUSTRIAL TRAINING

Instruction in needle work, patching, darning, plain sewing, cutting and dressmaking is given under the direction of an experienced teacher. All desiring to have a practical knowledge of plain sewing, needle work and dressmaking will have ample opportunity to learn during the regular literary course.

DESIGN

The “Academy of Athens” is consecrated to the glory and honor of God and the welfare of a needy race. Its object is to impart knowledge, discipline the mind and train the heart, so that those who leave its walls will be better prepared for the diversified duties of college and actual life. In the course of study the training has special reference to the preparation of students for college and for becoming successful teachers in the public schools of the state. In short, the course is comprehensive and practical and the teachers endeavor to drill the students in the branches taught, that their knowledge will be through and not a mere smattering. Furthermore, this being a Christian institution, parents of the vicinity and adjoining counties may feel reasonably safe in sending their children here for instruction.

This is an opportunity for any young man or woman who is really hungry for an education. We are taking special pains to provide for students at a distance, and as before stated, will be pleased to correspond with those who desire to attend school.

MRS. LOUISE COLLIER

 entered the City School In Savannah GA when quite a child. Later she attended the Atlanta University for a number of years. While yet in school she accepted a position as teacher near Americas, GA. She afterwards taught in the city graded schools o Americus where she continued to teach for seventeen years, resigning there to accept her present position in Athens.

MISS CHRISTIANITA TOTTEN

Of the Danish West Indies, came to this country in 1891, entered Knoxville College and graduated from the Normal department in 1885, after which she taught in the Missions for Freedmen for six years. She is now in charge of the sewing department and is very active in the mission work of Athens.

MISS M. LEA JONES

A native of Dallas, Texas, attended Knoxville College for a number of years. She received her appointment as intermediate teacher to the Athens Mission in the Spring of 1900.

JAMES W. FISHER

Attended the public graded schools of Eufaula, Ala, his home town, during most of his boyhood. He next attended Knoxville College in which he pursued his studies for five years. He was in charge of the Mt. Zion District school in Alabama for three years. His present position is assistant principal of the Athens Academy.

HENRY W. CLEAGE

Is a native of Athens. He entered and finished the course of the Athens Academy under Rev. Cook’s administration. He then attended Knoxville College. His teaching one year at Riceville gave him his first ideas of the practical side of the profession in which he is now engaged. At present he is a member of the corps of instructors o the Academy of Athens.

REV. JNO. ARTER,

Principal of the Athens Academy, is a graduate of the class of ’95, Knoxville College; also of the class of ’98, Alleghany Theological Seminary. For two years he served at Catherine, Ala., as pastor of the U. P. (United Presbyterian) Church. He now has charge of the Athens U. P. church.

MRS. MINNIE J. ARTER

In childhood enjoyed the advantages of the public schools of Americus, Ga., her native home. After graduating from Knoxville College, she taught seven years in the city schools of Americus and seven years in the mission schools in Alabama. She is now in charge of the teachers’ home and parsonage.

MRS. MINNIE B. CLEAGE

Is not in the profession now, but she finished the course at the Academy of Athens, and was a student at Knoxville several years. She is now the wife of Henry W. Cleage.

PROF. COLLIER

All of Mr. Collier’s instructors in his youth, except one, both in and out of the Atlanta University, were teachers from the North. He was graduated from the State Normal School at Fayeteville, N. C. Mr. Collier’s experience extends from the rural district to the principalship of graded schools. He is at present substitute teacher in the Athens Academy. Mr. Collier is in very feeble health.

Jerry Cleage “….and a slave for life…”

Cleages,
“Know all men by these presents that I, Pleasant W. Lane of the County of McMinn and the State of Tennessee for and in consideration of the sum of four hundred dollars to me in hand paid the receipt whereof is hereby acknowledged have bargained sold and delivered unto David Cleage of the county and state aforesaid a negro Boy named Jerry of bright mulatto colour aged about ten years. Said boy I warrant sound and healthy both in body and mind and free from any defect whatever and slave for life and covenant the title is clear of any encumbernance whatever. And I will warrant and defend by these presents forever. Given under my hand and seal this twelfth day of November One thousand and eight hundred and forty one.”
witnesses
P.W.Lane
John King
Thomas Vaughn
 
Another document from the Cleage plantation in Athens, TN, thanks to the woman who gave copies to my cousin Elbert and to Elbert for sharing them with me.  It is very hard to get documentation of ancestors who lived before freedom so it’s always wonderful when someone who has papers shares them. Not wonderful to read about a ten year old being “a slave forever” but wonderful to see something that places your people in time and place.
 
The Rest of the Story
Jerry was about 35 when freedom came. In the 1870 and 1880 census he is described as a laborer. He had married Charlotte Bridgeman, who had been a slave of David Cleage’s wife.  They had a large family. One of Jerry’s sons, James, married my grandfather’s sister, Josephine. Her father, Lewis Cleage and grandfather, Frank Cleage came off of the same plantation. Frank was mentioned in the note to the overseer I posted earlier.
 
In the 1910 census Jerry was described as a mulatto, in his 80’s, widowed and a delivery man for a grocery store. Jerry Cleage died March 28, 1919 at about age 92 of arterio schlerosis and pulmonary endema. Occupation before death, Drayman. Parents Joe and Leah Cleage. His daughter Nellie was the informant, that is she gave the information that is on the death certificate.  Jerry lived his whole life in Athens Tennessee and died free.  He was not a slave for life.

Article of Agreement Between Samuel Cleage and Overseer – 1834

African-American Genealogy & Slave Ancestry Research, Cleages, Slavery, Tennessee, , ,

Transcription and Context

Earlier this year I met a new plantation cousin, Elbert Arwine, through the connect feature on Ancestry.com.  We started emailing and sharing information.  Elbert is not actually my cousin but he is a cousin of some of my cousins.  His people and mine were enslaved on the same Cleage plantation in Athens, TN.  His ancestor, Bart Arnwine changed the family name from Cleage to Arnwine after freedom.  He is related to James Cleage who married my grandfather’s  sister,  Josephine Cleage.  While visiting in Athens, TN, Elert met a woman who bought the house of the slave owner, David Cleage.  She  found some papers that dated back to the 1800’s with names and dates on them.  Some of those names were our people.  She thought he might be interested and of course he was!  She let him make copies which he shared with me.

The Agreement I have transcribed and posted here is the oldest document that names names.  Named in this document are Bill, Henry, Joe, Frank, Lea, Fannie and Peter.  The Frank named here is most likely my great great grandfather and Joe is my plantation cousin’s ancestor.  I will write about what happened to Joe and Frank and some of the others after freedom in a later post.  I have several bills of sale that I will be posting later also.

There are several words I was unable to make out.  I left blank spaces there.

State of Tennessee McMinn county January 17, 1834
Article of Agreement made and entered into between Samuel Cleage and Wilson Owens.  Samuel Cleage employs him as an overseer on his farm on Little Mouse Creek and his quarter in Whisteria Valley and Owens is to act as overseer and work with the hands until the work is completed and ordered. ____________got out/  commencing 20th instant to superintend all matters things relating to the working of the farm or farm improvements of every description that said Cleage may direct to keep the hands his Cleage’s negroes (sic) employed and make them work as would be right to correct them when they deserve but not to be cruel or abuse them but make them do their duty and not suffer them to run about from the farm at nights.  The hands or negroes are Bill, Henry, Joe, Frank, Lea, Fannie, two little boys and Peter/  Bill is not to be a hand until his master Cleage directs as he is stiller and is to remain in the still house while Cleage carrys on stilling.
Cleage is to have a hand to strike in the shop if he wants one by furnishing a plow boy to work in his place as he expects to have a wagon loaned Owens is to take the hands and go to the Westeria also and work that place to clear a piece of land between the fields and fence and work same and reset the old fences makes rails for farm where said Cleage may direct it and the said Owens is to take special care of farm land timber stock of every kind to be very careful of horses that work the crop and suffer no want of grain to feed as much grain as is now need or what Cleage may direct.  Owens is to have the ninth part of the crop for his services that is of the wheat now growing the oats corn rye fodder.

Cleage is to let Owens have 40 bushels corn for bread at 33 1/3 yards oats 7 bushels oats which said owens is to pay him for out of his share of the crop when said Cleage may want it.  The crop to be undisturbed as respects disposing of same by Owens his share until regularly divided, Owens is to furnish wood for stilling have some cut and hauled in due time and also firewood for the use of Cleage what he wants and for himself.  Owens is to have his wheat share ground toll free Owens to help have saw hauled while water is now flush to the saw mill for plank improving any thing Cleage may want.

Should it be a year that the peaches on said farm should hit said Owens is also to attend to preparing same for tilling and Cleage is to pay Owens what would be right for his actions labour of same.  What they could agree upon if they could not agree each one to choose and leave it to a good man what it is worth now the 9th gallon of same Owens to turpentine and have corn for stilling shelled in proper time as Cleage now attends to same with his hands.

In compliance of same we bind ourselves in the final sum of five hundred Dollars date above                                                                        Samuel Cleage
witness David Cleage                                           Wilson X Owens
                                                                                         his mark