Early School in Edray District, Pocahontas County, WV

I believe the description below, found in the History of Edray Community by S.B. Moore, and published in the Pocahontas Times in 1926 is the school our ancestors attended, probably between 1820 and 1850. The school mentioned was built very near to the Griffin property near Stony Creek in the Edray area of Pocahontas County. The teacher who led classes in this school was William Young. He came from Madison Co, in Eastern VA, and may have had connection to our Rodgers ancestors who hailed from that county. I think the sons and grandsons of Jonathan and Rachel Griffin may have been educated at the school described in this passage. The Baxter family mentioned has descendants who now live on the old Griffin land. They may have been very near by in those days as well.

"Some of the first schools were taught in the old farm homes. One among the first, if not the first was in an old house near Mrs. George Baxter's home. The house was a round log structure, clapboard roof, held in place with press poles. The fire place took up most of one end of the house. It was made of rough stone. Chimney made of slate and mud. Now,for light, paper was pasted over the cracks and creased to let in the light. Other cracks in the building were chinked and daubed. Seats were made of split logs or poles, holes bored and pins put in for legs. The term of school was about three months. The salary was one dollar per scholar a month. Writing was done with quill pins. The teacher boarded with the scholars. My father Isaac Moore, taught at this school when a young man. The first schools were called "Open Schools." Everyone spelled and read aloud." S. B. Moore

Jonathan's sons, William and Benoni, became teachers, going over the mountain to what became Webster County, and teaching near Point Mountain. Jonathan is also listed as a teacher and may have held school in his home before the above school was built. His daughter, Rachel, married a teacher, Charles Ruckman. Her children became teachers in Ohio where they moved. The Griffin tradition as educators goes on through other branches of the family to our generations today.