I recently learned of a wonderful school that existed in Scott County, Kentucky. I wrote to the Preservation Kentucky/Kentucky Heritage Council and they granted me permission to reprint the following article. It was a winning entry in the Photo-Essay Competition sponsored by Preservation Kentucky and the Kentucky Heritage Council. This particular essay was written for the 2002 competition by Sarah Miles, a home school student in Scott County. This is an annual contest and the 2005 regulations can be found on our website. We are always trying to spread the word about this contest, so any help that you can provide would be wonderful. (see http://www.preservationkentucky.org/news/PK_2002_Essays/High_02_1.html. I will be adding some data at the end of the article. "Preserving the Spirit of Place" 4rd Annual Preservation Week 2002 Photo-Essay Winners The Choctaw Academy by Sarah Jane Miles "When I first heard about the Choctaw Academy my reaction, like many others, was "the what"? In this essay I'm going to expand your knowledge of the Choctaw Academy. The Academy is hardly known to most Scott County citizens, and it was once know throughout the United States as the best-civilized school for Indians. The Choctaw Academy has only one building left; I plan to show you why I think the building should be reserved for future generations. It is one thing to read and write about history, but is another thing to personally see and stand next to that same spot where history was made. The Choctaw Academy is located on Blue Springs farm, a beautiful homestead with rolling hills, hand made rock fences, and a sparkling spring. In the year 1818, Richard M. Johnson, future Vice-President under Martin Van Buren, feeling led to help the Indians, donated land right next to his home to the Kentucky Baptists Mission Society for building an academy that would educate and civilize the Indians. This land was known as Blue Springs. Consequently, the academy was built consisting of five buildings. The academy itself was a two-story stone building; there were three buildings for living quarters and dining, and one frame structure. It was first opened in 1819, but was closed shortly after in 1821. It was not reopened until after 1825, when Richard Johnson made a treaty with the Choctaw nation promising to give the money received from the sale of Indian territory to the education of Indian children. Around twenty-five young Choctaw Chief's sons, ranging from ages 13-24, were sent to the Choctaw Academy becoming the first teenage boys in the school. They each were given a new American name like Davis Fry, Adam Nail, John Wade, Daniel Miller, and Thomp McKenny. Reverend Thomas Henderson, a strong Christian man, was selected to be the overseer of the school. The Indians were taught reading, writing, arithmetic, grammar, geography, practical surveying, astronomy, and vocal music. If the students wished, they could also work in a trades shop for making shoes, building wagons, running a tailor store or a blacksmith shop. Also a fund was given to each Indian (who participated in the trade shop) to enable them to buy instruments and tools to start their own trade on returning home. There was plenty of land outside for the boys to have fun playing games, running or relaxing in their spare time. Other Indian nations soon saw the quality and education the Choctaws received, and joined the Choctaw Academy including: Chickasaws, Cherokees, Foxes, Miamies, Osages, Pottowatomies, Seminoles, and Quapaws, also attending were local black and white boys from nearby farms. By 1830, the Academy was in full bloom with over a hundred students. Choctaw Academy kept growing so much that by 1831, they decided to move to White Sulphur, a nearby farm also owned by Richard M. Johnson. Rev. Thomas Henderson expressed his feelings of success when he learned that pupils from the Choctaw Academy were putting to use what they had learned and were behaving as Christians. Many graduated students had written him stories about their newly found jobs. One student had opened a blacksmith shop, another was running a shoe and boot store, and one had just become a teacher. Hearing these stories made Henderson value the work and effort he put into the academy, knowing that the students would grow and apply their knowledge. Like most schools, the Choctaw Academy had to face some mischievous rumors. In 1839, a group of boys wrote a letter about their suffering to Mr. Armstrong, who recruited Indians for the Choctaw Academy. Many people believed the letter to be lies told from ill-behaved boys who just wanted to go home, but never-the-less more examinations were made. Even thought the Choctaw Academy went through numerous more inspections to prove its quality and even selected a Choctaw named Peter Pitchlynn, to fill in the space Rev. Henderson's retirement left, many parents refused to send their children. Some think that the refusal from some of the Indians was what caused the Choctaw Academy to close but that is not true. With the Indians starting to build their own schools in their land, there was no use in going to a school that was miles away in Kentucky. So in 1845, the Choctaw Academy came to an end. But for twenty years the Choctaw Academy had the privilege of educating many generations of Indians and seeing them grow with the nation. Some of these young men were: Lewis Downing, George W. Harkins, Peter Pitchlynn, Robert Jones, William Smallwood, the Leflores, the Folsoms, and the Nails. There is only one building left, believed to be a living quarter, because of a fire. The Choctaw Academy building has survived for almost two hundred years and I think it would be wonderful if it could be preserved for future generations to tell the story that it has experienced even if it was for only a small period of time. It represents the accomplishments of many Kentuckians, who overcame the prejudice of that time, to prove that if you work hard and follow your heart; you can accomplish something great for yourself and others. Next to the school is a small hill where some of the young boys attending the Choctaw Academy died from the Cholera epidemic; I believe this should also have a sign placed on it telling about the students of Choctaw and their accomplishments. References were gathered from "Scott County: a History", "Chronicles of Oklahoma", "Col. Richard M. Johnson of Kentucky", and "History of Scott County". Additional notes: As noted in the article above, students at the Academy were given Americanized names; most did not like these names and when they went back to their tribes, reassumed their Indian names. Tracing most of the students who attended there thus becomes an almost impossible task. Carolyn Foreman wrote an extensive series of articles on the Academy and transcribed several lists of students who attended in the years 1829-1839. These were published in the Chronicles of Oklahoma - Vol VI, #4, December 1928 pp. 453-480, list of students 1829; Vol IX, #4, Dec. 1931, pp. 382-411, list of students 1834; Vol X, #1, March 1932, pp. 76-114, lists of students 1835, 1836, 1838, 1839. The following is a transcription of a report written in October 1838 listing the students then enrolled. My thanks for her transcription efforts and I will show what she was able to copy. Again, these are the American names assigned. "A list showing the names, ages, and tribe of each student in the Choctaws Academy in Scott County, Kentucky on the 1st of October 1838. There are 152 Indian youths in this institution generally in good health, good condition and well contented. The teaching and boarding departments are well conducted with a sufficient number of competent and efficient teachers well supplied with books, stationary and school apparatus; and also with ample supplies of wholesome provisions and comfortable bedding--The workshops are well managed by good foremen and are in a prosperous condition--The medical department is very successfully conducted by Dr. Adam Nail a student of this institution with the occasional aid of other physicians.--All of which is most respectfully submitted. Thos. Henderson, Supt." CHOCTAWS (shows name and age): John Weslley, 21; A. C. Welch, 12; Walt McCan, 21; William Simpson, 16; Brown Nelson, 20; Marcus Hays, 12; Brainard Millard, 20; Simon Willis, 18; James N. Trahum, 22; Tom Hays, 13; James D. Black, 20; Wilson Victor, 13; Coffee Folsom, 19; Osbourn Pursley, 14; Charles Henderson, 20; Joseph Vandever, 14; John R. Cotton, 20; Jonah Simpson, 13; George Gains, 18; Saml McKenney, 13; B. Worland, 18; Charles James, 13; Andrew West, 18; Penson Victor, 11; John McClour, 19; George Perkins, 17; C A Cajpbell, 18; William McClain, 13; Alex Wade, 18; C Columbus, 15; Adam Nail, 19; A Buckholts, 22; Geo W Trahum, 19; W B Pitchlynn, 14; Lewis Cass, 16; Amos Folsom, 15; Benjn. Franklin, 20; Reson Jones, 14; John Page, 16; Morgan Jones, 13; Robert Clerk, 16; John Hunter, 13; William Robus, 15; W C Perry, 13; Adam Christy, 18; C A Harris, 12; Charles Jones, 16; W A Holly, 14; Absolum Holson, 15; John Allen, 14; Jos P Lancaster, 15; N Hobert, 16; Jefferson Jenkins, 12; Saml Cornelius, 12; Ambrose Levine, 15; Alex Mackey, 11; Benjn Nail, 12; Richd Harkins, 19; Josh Folsom, 19; E C Folsom, 20. POTAIOTAMIES [sic] : Richd N. Johnson, 18; John B Durett, 11; James Jackson, 16; Anthony Mastair, 18; William Marshall, 15; Auguswtus Ceasor, 17; James Bones, 13; Henry A Sneed, 17; F A Daudeen, 11; James Winchel, 15; Robt M boyers, 16; M. Vanburan, 15; Thomas Evans, 18; Spear S Tipson, 18; A C Pepper, 18; John T Douglass, 8; L H Lands, 14; Lewis Humbert, 15; Joel P Poinset, 17; Tho McKinney, 19; Amos Kendall, 13. CHICKASAWS: Hughs L White, 1k6; J R Poke, 13; John E Anderson, 16; M Tarver, 14; B A Runnells, 16; L Alberson, 12; Saml Love, 13; William Brown, 14; Colbert Carter, 14; Jackson Frazier, 14; George Colbert, 14; Benjn Runnels, 13; Robt Johnson, 14; William Carrol, 13; Tho H. Benton, 14; John Duncan, 10; N Barton, 14; J B Duncan, 9. CHEROKEES: Phillip Watts, 19; C McIntosh, 15; C Campbell, 16; Charles Branham, 14; Sonora Hicks, 13; Edwd H Pinse, 12; Nicholas Smith, 14; M Bell, 12; Jefferson Rogers, 16; Lewis Downing, 12; David Miller, 16; E Crutchfield, 11; Ellis Fairling, 19; Josh Ross, 13; J B Fields, 15; SEMINOLES: W. T. Duvall, 16; J as D Waiscoat, 11; Wesley Thomas, 15; John H Eaton, 17; Geo W Hord, 15; F C McColla, 16; CREEKS: Tho Marshall, 16; James Henady, 13; Edwd Carr, 14; Porter Marshall, 15; Lucious Marshall, 14; Goliah Haiword, 19; Elijah Beaver, 14; PRAIRIEDUCHEIN: Jack C. Williams, 16; Augustes Garrett, 13; Robt J Waid, 15; David Garrett, 16; James Muir, 15; Lewis I Bryce, 17; Mitchel Forsythe, 13; William Campbell, 13; William Thorn, 11; CHICAGA: John Laterut, 22; Jos Walker, 14; Paul Hill, 21; Pierre Navoir, 16; Isaac P Berry, 19; Frances Page, 20; John T Jones, 16; L B Bertrand, 21; J T Sprags, 17; James H Hook, 6, Moses H Scott, 16. MIAMIES : William Cass, 18; Jack Laull/Lacell, 11; Willy Viley, 15; QUAPAIOS: Gilbert Lafayette, 17; Rufus King, 15 See also: http://jenniferhsrn2.homestead.com/choctaw.html for many more school rosters. As you can note, many children were named for U S heroes, some might have been named for citizens of Scott Co. (c) Copyright for presentation and work not obtained from others 10 Feb 2005 Colonel Sandi Gorin SCKY Links: http://www.public.asu.edu/~moore/Gorin.html Sandi's Puzzlers: http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~gensoup/gorin/puz.html Gorin Publishing: http://ggpublishing.tripod.com/