Athens Weekly Review
October 11, 1945

1883 School Days At Old Fincastle Recalled By A. G. Hughes Of Poynor

In the year 1883, A. G. Hughes, pioneer resident of Poynor and Henderson County, attended his
first term of school at old Fincastle. That recollection brought on new memories this week for
Mr. Hughes, and in the following he tells some of them.

“The school at that time was taught by a man named Wheat, whose initials we have forgotten
and Fincastle, in that year, was a trading center for a large territory. A wagon yard was kept for
farmers who came long distances bringing their cotton to sell and carrying back things needed
for the home.

“Two large general mercantile stores were there at that time, one run by B. W. J. Wofford, who
owned a nice home near Pine Forrest where he also had extensive farming interest. Mr. Wofford
drove a buggy to the store each day some five or more miles. The other store was operated by
Jed Adams, who lived in the house where Joe Hurt now lives. He also had a large farm as well
as a lot of livestock.

“Each of these merchants kept six mules on the road to Tyler each day, hauling the goods to the
store and carrying the cotton bought from farmers to Tyler for sale.

“There were two saloons there at that time, one operated by H. C. Turner, who also was post
master, and the other by Von Tanner. In addition to these stores, a well equipped blacksmith
shop was run by Armstead Otey, who died a few years ago at the ripe old age of 112 years.
Otey was a colored man, and a great favorite with the white people.

“ Mr. Adams also operated a steam gin near the present store there. At that time the cotton
was fed into the gin stands by hand and was blown into a room where it was picked up by
hands and carried to the press, where it was necessary to keep a man to tramp it down in
order to get the bale in the press before applying power to press the bale. At that time
cottonseed was worthless, and was left at the gin by the farmers. It was necessary for the
gin man to haul it out of the way and dump it. Many old timers will remember large piles of
cottonseed at the Adams gin.

“There were also two doctors at Old Fincastle at that time. Dr. S. E. Campbell lived at the
place now known as Williford place, where in addition to the practice of medicine, he owned
and operated a large farm. Dr. B. P. Adams lived in the house known as the Tucker or Truitt
place, just west of the store there. Dr. Adams, in additions to the practice of medicine, had a
large farm which he operated with tenants. He also had large herds of cattle. He maintained
an office in town.

“During the year 1884, the school was taught by Judge Sam Lindsey, late of Tyler. Many
scholars attended the school horseback or in buggy. Regan Wofford and his sister, Miss Sally,
came in a buggy from their home near Pine Forest. Miss Bushie Spencer often came in the
buggy with them. She was a sister of John and Toby (C. A.) Spencer, who came horseback
from his home at or near Poynor drew Loyd. Dave Dickerson came from the place where
Jim Martin now lives. At that time it was a dense woods to where Richard Selman lives at Fincastle.

“Boley Tindel came by horseback from the Tindel home some six miles west. Priscilla, Clara
and Mary Campbell came in a buggy from the old place now known as the old Rice place,
where their father had large land interests.

“Joe Hurt and his two sisters, Zula and Minnie, came from the old Hurt home some four or five
miles north, where their father had a large farm, also, and a horse gin. He unfortunately got his
hand mangled in this gin and died from the injury.

“There may have been others coming to school by horseback whom we have overlooked, but
there is one thing we can say, children have a much easier time getting to school than in those
days and their parents have a much easier time getting supplies than then. But there is one
vital thing lacking now and that is the love then one had for the other. More Anon.”

Transcribed by Aaron Freeman

Old Newspaper Articles of Henderson County

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