Library of the 
 University oi North Carolina 
 
 Endowed by the Dialectic and Philan- 
 thropic Societies 
 
JlinongDmmng Girls 
 
 in the South 
 
 A Glimpse of Thirty-five Years' Work 
 
 SHOWING SOMETHING OF WHAT GOD HATH 
 WROUGHT AMONG THE SOUTHERN HIGH- 
 LANDERS OF NORTH CAROLINA :::::: 
 
 Story of Tdttb and Crust 
 
 FRANCES ELLINGWOOD UFFORD 
 1879 1914 
 
Light on the Pathway 
 
 CHAPTER I 
 How I Was Led 
 
 AT the earnest solicitation of many warm friends and 
 supporters, who have followed my steps for the past 
 thirty-five years with their prayers and contributions, I 
 have consented to attempt to portray in these few modest 
 pages the gracious leading of providence. 
 
 With a deep and profound sense of divine guidance, 
 I beg to lift the curtain in review of these hallowed years, 
 to record these following chapters of human events. 
 
 JAMES B. WHITE 
 
 coassociated with the God of Missions. Behold the 
 wondrous plan of God in laying upon the heart of a poor 
 white man, (Mr. James B. White, near Concord, N. C.,) 
 the burden of prayer for twenty years, in behalf of the 
 poor children of his neighborhood! While he was plead- 
 ing that teachers might be sent, the writer was asking for 
 permission to enter a larger field of labor, 
 
2 
 
 Having completed eight years in teaching at Bloom- 
 field, N. J., the way opened in 1878, for entering Bethany 
 Institute, a Bible Training School for Christian workers 
 in New York City. Two years previous to this, the writer 
 received the blessed infilling of the Holy Spirit and power 
 for service. Little did we dream, as our willing feet crossed 
 this new threshold of endeavor, what a wonderful oppor- 
 tunity for service awaited us! 
 
 We had been at the Institute six months, engaged in 
 city mission work. Other hearts were burdened for the 
 neglected children, a letter being received by the 
 
 MRS. S. W. SCOTT 
 
 Superintendents of the Institute, Mr. and Mrs. A. G. 
 Ruliffson, from their friends, Dr. and Mrs. Borland, 
 founder of the first School for Colored girls at Concord, 
 N. C, asking if a Bible reader could not be sent to work 
 there. The letter was read to us and the question pro- 
 posed as to entering this work. We prayed about it. The 
 decision was made to do so, our Father opening the way. We 
 shrank from going alone. Would not God provide a 
 companion? He did provide one — Mrs. S. W. Scott, a 
 widow, who had also been engaged in city mission work in 
 connection with the Institute. She decided to accompany 
 me. 
 
3 
 
 A few friends became interested. They gave us each 
 fifty dollars for expenses. A farewell meeting was held for 
 us, at which Mrs. James Lorimer Graham, then the presi- 
 dent of the Woman's Board of Home and Foreign Missions, 
 made a stirring address and offered prayer for us. 
 
 A Work Born of Prayer 
 
 Thus we went out in the apostolic way, leaving New 
 York on March 2, 1879, for Concord, North Carolina. 
 
 We were given a home by Dr. and Mrs. Borland at 
 Scotia Seminary, referred to above. God was pleased to 
 use us in a gracious outpouring of His Spirit, thirty of the 
 colored girls being converted in two weeks. 
 
 At the conclusion of this revival, we received a call 
 from Mr. White, who resided three miles from the Center. 
 He told us how long he had been praying for a school at 
 Rocky Ridge for white girls. 
 
 Dr. Dorland had said to me repeatedly, ''Miss Ulford, 
 you will have to go out in the country, and start a school 
 for the white children." Now we saw the hand of God 
 guiding us to our work there. 
 
 After reaching Concord, we agreed to spend an hour 
 each day in prayer, for guidance, that we might be used of 
 God for His glory. 
 
 A log cabin and four acres of land had been laid upon 
 God's altar for the school, by Mr. White and his aged 
 father, being confident, on hearing of our arrival, that we 
 were sent in answer to his prayer. Before seeing us, he 
 canvassed the entire community to ascertain how many 
 would send their children to the Northern ladies. He found 
 the majority would do so. Most earnestly did he plead 
 with us to open the school. We laid the matter before 
 God in prayer. Mrs. Graham in New York approved 
 of the step proposed. 
 
 On June 30, 1879, we were driven out to the field 
 three miles from Concord by Mr. White named ''Rocky 
 Ridge," and introduced to the log-cabin (see cut), being 
 ^ greeted by twenty children whose ages ranged from five 
 ^ to twenty-two years. 
 
4 
 
 The school each morning was opened by prayer, Bible 
 lesson and a Gospel hymn. 
 
 In three weeks' time, sixty children filled the cabin to 
 overflowing. Then we erected a ''brush arbor" to ac- 
 commodate them. Mrs. Scott's dehcate health forbade 
 her remaining longer than two months. She left me the 
 last of August for her home in New York. For eight 
 months longer, the work continued in the cabin, the writer 
 holding the fort alone, though being constantly upheld 
 and guided by our unseen but ever present Lord and Mas- 
 ter. 
 
 LOG-CABIN 
 
 In addition to the teaching of the sixty or more pupils, 
 we conducted a Sunday School at the cabin each Sabbath 
 morning and a prayer-meeting in the evening. The children 
 delighted in singing the Gospel hymns, and reciting Scripture 
 verses at these services. 
 
 Invitations were frequently accepted for holding extra 
 services a few miles out from Rocky Ridge. These places 
 were reached by horseback. Eagerly the people watched 
 for our coming, improvising seats in their cabin homes, 
 which were crowded with earnest listeners, as we unfolded 
 to them the Word of God. The cottage meetings held in 
 the neighborhood of the school were greatly blessed of 
 God, resulting in several conversions. Boarding with Mr, 
 
s 
 
 white and family, we were at liberty to visit in the homes of 
 the people, which we did each week. This enabled us to 
 secure a better acquaintance with the families and there- 
 by render them more assistance in every way, for their 
 betterment. 
 
 Few of them had but one room; this was shared with 
 the family as we spent a night in their different homes. 
 The children, as well as parents, were terribly addicted to 
 the use of snuff and tobacco. 
 
 The writer organized for the school a temperance 
 ''Band of Hope." Having found more enjoyment in the 
 learning of Bible verses and Gospel hymns, than in the use 
 of narcotics, the happy children signed the pledge and many 
 of them kept it. 
 
 We know of young men and women to-day — pupils 
 of that first school, who have never broken their pledge. 
 
 A Rare Trophy 
 
 Most of the fathers were intemperate men. One of 
 these had been a drunkard forty years. He induced his 
 six sons to enter the saloons at Concord. There they drank 
 and gambled. We longed to see this poor man of over 
 sixty years reclaimed and saved. 
 
 As we looked to God in his behalf and asked him to 
 sign the pledge, the Spirit touched his heart. After read- 
 ing the pledge at the close of the meeting one Sabbath 
 evening, invitation for signing it being given, we were over- 
 joyed to see this man step forward with five of his drink- 
 ing companions to sign his name to it. Although his com- 
 panions failed to keep it, this man kept the pledge in- 
 violate. 
 
 Every Sabbath afterward, his nickle was dropped into 
 the collection basket instead of the whiskey till, as hereto- 
 fore. Through the influence of the Mission he was thor- 
 oughly transformed and several years later died a triumph- 
 ant death. One of his six sons, the most desperate charac- 
 ter of all, was afterward converted, united with the church, 
 read the Bible through, and died a happy death. We had 
 been praying for his conversion twenty-five years. God 
 
6 
 
 was pleased to pour out His Spirit upon the school and 
 community that first year. In answer to earnest prayer, a 
 number of the pupils and people were truly converted. 
 
 CHAPTER II 
 Erection of Buildings 
 
 IN response to appeals made in New York state by my 
 associate Mrs. Scott, through the Northern Presbyter- 
 ian Board, which had assumed the care of the work, five 
 hundred dollars were secured by her and sent us. The 
 
 WHITE HALL 
 
 erection of a two-story plain building was begun. The last 
 of April our closing exercises were held in the partially 
 completed house. The joy of the pupils in occupying it, 
 knew no bounds. It was beautifully decorated with ever- 
 greens and wild flowers gathered by them most enthusias- 
 tically. But the time of supreme delight was during the 
 first closing exercises, when the girls and boys in their best 
 attire, put forth their initial efforts, in recitation, declama- 
 tion and song, in the presence of so large an assembly of 
 
7 
 
 parents and friends. Addresses were made by Dr. Dor- 
 land and Mr. White. I glanced at the face of the latter, 
 which was radiant. His dreams and cherished hopes for 
 years were now realized. A few years later he had the 
 great joy of seeing his two daughters graduate from White 
 Hall Seminary. We gave the school this name in honor of 
 Mr. White, the donor of the first property used. The 
 writer came North in the spring of '80, returning the fol- 
 lowing autumn, with a Mt. Holyoke graduate — Miss Eliza- 
 beth Ainsworth. 
 
 We reopened as a boarding and day school. Twelve 
 girls were received as boarders and fifty girls and boys as 
 day pupils. God set His seal upon the work by giving 
 us all the unsaved souls among the twelve boarding pupils 
 of that first year. 
 
 Thus, from year to year. His blessing accompanied 
 our efforts. Eternity alone will reveal the glorious results 
 of the work of this first school. 
 
 Additional funds were now sent us. A wing forming 
 the letter T was made to the first building. The cabin was 
 no longer needed for the purpose of dining-room and kitchen. 
 It was utilized for the day-school, a larger number of 
 boarding pupils being received. We held mothers' meet- 
 ings occassionally. The poor women were much inter- 
 ested in the furnishings of our mission home. Never hav- 
 ing seen such counterpanes, they were es'pecially attracted 
 to our ''white beds," as they termed them. When reply- 
 ing to their queries about the bedroom sets and furniture, 
 that all was given us by friends North, they exclaimed, in 
 wonder, "They didn't give 'em for nothin,' did they?" 
 
 Unable to secure sufficient land for the enlargement of 
 the White Hall school, at the expiration of eight years, when 
 forty-two girls were in attendance there, a sufficient teach- 
 ing force provided, the Presbyterian Board in New York 
 came most providentially into possession of a grand proper- 
 ty at Asheville, over one hundred miles distant from Con- 
 cord. This property was owned by the late Rev. L. M. 
 Pease, founder of the Five Points House of Industry in 
 New York. It was valued at thirty thousand dollars. This 
 
he gladly laid upon God's altar, donating all to the Board 
 (except a life annuity for use of himself and wife) for the 
 first school for Mountaineers in Western North Carolina. 
 The writer having had the eight years' experience at White 
 Hall, the late Mrs. D. Stuart Dodge petitioned the Board 
 for our release from there, to assist in the founding of this 
 one at Asheville, known as the ^'Home Industrial School." 
 
 HOME INDUSTRIAL SCHOOL 
 During a number of years, the school was ably super- 
 intended by Mr. Pease. He and his noble life-companion 
 rendered most valuable services to the Board, being suc- 
 ceeded by Miss Florence Stephenson as principal, who 
 entered the work the first year, 1887. From its inception, 
 the results of this work have been marvelous. Hundreds of 
 poor girls have been received, trained, saved by God's 
 grace, and are now doing grand work in teaching and train- 
 ing others of their own class. 
 
 While the writer was at work there, Mr. and Mrs. 
 Pease invited Miss Frances E. Willard and her associate 
 Miss Gordon to visit them. While with us, Miss Willard 
 became deeply interested in the work we were doing. Her 
 visit proved a great inspiration to both teachers and pupils; 
 in fact one of our girls named herself Josie Willard in ad- 
 miration of her noble character. The career of Miss Will- 
 ard, like that of Mrs. Garfield, illustrates the wisdom of 
 being educated for the possibilities of life. 
 
9 
 
 CHAPTER III 
 Another Double Providence 
 
 It was an unspeakable pleasure to assist in founding the 
 ^ above second institution. 
 
 Before leaving the first, however, I received a call to 
 enter Stanly County, sixteen miles from Concord. Rev. 
 Mr. Arrowood, a minister of the Presbyterian church, was 
 appointed by the Presbytery to plant a church at Locust 
 Level. 
 
 Before entering the field, he preached for us at White 
 Hall Seminary. After doing so, he wrote, urging me to 
 found a school there adding '^Come over into Macedonia 
 and help us. " His place was filled by Rev. J. G. Anderson, 
 who, later, preached also in Stanly County. The desire 
 of the writer was to found at Locust a school for boys. 
 
 We completed a year at Asheville, then resigned from 
 the Board for a year's rest, appealing to them for the school. 
 Our appeal was not in vain. We were given permission to 
 secure fifteen hundred dollars. While we were presenting 
 the cause and gathering funds, Rev. Mr. Anderson, with- 
 out knowledge of this, wrote a friend, who was a member of 
 the Women's Board in New York, in regard to planting 
 a school at Locust Level. In a few months I 
 succeeded in raising a sufficient amount for a successful 
 start in the erection of the building. Mr. Anderson as- 
 sumed the oversight of the work, and a young man of 
 efficiency and honor expended the funds as we sent them 
 on to him. This was in the summer of '89. Long had we 
 desired to attend the Northfield Conference. The way 
 was opened for us to do so at this time. 
 
 Earnestly did we look to our heavenly Father, for 
 an opportunity to present there this work of our new ven- 
 ure. Thirty precious dollars were received toward it. We 
 had told a number of friends of the work from the beginning 
 and of this proposed school for boys On Saturday after- 
 noon, the day before the Conference was to close, we, with 
 a few other mission workers, were asked to speak of our 
 work. At the conclusion of the service a gentleman told 
 us of his interest in the story related^ and s^id that he was 
 
10 
 
 going to ask Mr. Moody to permit us to give it in the public 
 meeting. 
 
 Sabbath evening at the auditorium, before the service 
 opened, Mr. Moody arose and said, ''If Miss Ufford is in 
 the audience will she please come to the platform. " Seated 
 behind him, with the choir, I arose to respond, when, 
 recognizing me, he stated that I was to speak that evening, 
 and would be given ten minutes. Though shrinking from 
 accepting the privilege granted, God's hand in it was seen, 
 and His divine help bestowed. Never before were we 
 able to crowd so much in ten minutes, as we rehearsed the 
 story from its beginning, of His wonderful leading, in the 
 establishment of this first work attempted for the Mountain 
 people of the South. As we closed our remarks, Mr. Moody 
 in his characteristic way, inquired if it was my brother, 
 Rev. E. S. Ufford, who wrote ''Throw out the life-line." 
 
 In assenting, he rephed: "Good! let us have it now — 
 Mr. Sankey you sing the solo and we will all join in the 
 chorus." Thus for the first time, by such an audience, 
 I listened to the singing of my brother's song. 
 
 He has assisted us in throwing the hne in behalf of 
 this cause of our Master, by securing, from time to time, 
 funds for its needs. 
 
 BTANLY HALI, 
 
11 
 
 Having secured in cash and pledges nearly one thou- 
 sand dollars, before returning South, in the fall of 1890, 
 with Miss C. F. Glover of Camden, Me., a Mt. Holyoke 
 graduate, as associate, we entered this Macedonian field. 
 The school thus founded was named ''Stanly Hall," to 
 designate the county. Twenty boys were received as 
 boarders. Their ages ranged from twelve to twenty- 
 one years. We also had a large day school for both sexes. 
 
 Rev. Mr. Anderson, already mentioned, told us that 
 he had preached forty sermons in the county without hav- 
 ing one conversion. The school had been in operation 
 but three weeks, when one young man decided for Christ. 
 He did so on his way home from church one Sabbath even- 
 ing, after listening to a stirring Gospel sermon, by Mr. 
 Anderson. On the afternoon of that day, he received from 
 us a personal note, urging him to make the decision. The 
 influences of both church and school cooperated in win- 
 ning souls for Christ, many from time to time, being added 
 to the church. 
 
 We found that intemperance and immorality, as well 
 as illiteracy were rife in this county. We were told that 
 it contained ninety distilleries. 
 
 One man owned a ''still," about half a mile from the 
 school. It had ruined hundreds of men. With the aid of 
 a lawyer, we were able to have the school incorporated, 
 which prohibited the sale of intoxicating liquors within a 
 radius of two miles from us. This victory was hailed with 
 joy by our young people — who hitherto had been indifferent 
 toward this great evil in their midst. Now they saw work 
 to do. 
 
 For young souls to dwell in view of golden opportuni- 
 ties is at once inspiring. You may call these occasions 
 emergencies, but I call them opportunities. If we live 
 in expectation of them, then it leads to looking for them. 
 And they who look for opportunities will know them when 
 they come. 
 
 Another Link 
 
 Allow us to revert to the first link in the chain of 
 events which resulted from our visit to Northfield, 
 
12 
 
 We were awaiting the train the day following the close 
 of conference, when a lady who heard us tell the story, 
 asked us how much we needed to complete our Stanly Hall 
 building. Learning that thirty dollars was all we then 
 had, she said she would send us a check for fifty dollars, 
 which she did soon afterward. This good friend proved 
 to be Miss Sarah E. Gilbert of Utica, N. Y. 
 
 CHAPTER IV 
 More Vacation Addresses 
 
 THE following year while on a visit to Washington, D.C., 
 the writer was invited by the women of the Presbyter- 
 ial Society to tell of the results of the White Hall School, 
 and Mission. After hearing of what had been accomplished 
 the society at once generously voted to donate the two 
 thousand dollars then in their treasury for the proposed 
 Laura Sunderland Memorial School." Our first White 
 Hall building had been burned in 1891. 
 
 LAURA SUNDERLAND SCHOOL 
 
 This school was founded during that year. It was 
 named for the daughter of Dr. Sunderland of Washington, 
 D. C, who was a most consecrated Christian worker 
 
1^ 
 
 before being called from her earthly labors. The school was 
 located two miles from the first White Hall School, and in 
 full view of the town. The first workers appointed by 
 the Northern Board were Professor and Mrs. Green, of 
 Western New York, and they did the first work in build- 
 ing up the institution. The Northern Board in New York 
 is still in control of this work, and Miss Melissa Montgom- 
 ery has served as prinripal for a long term of years. Grand 
 results have been achieved, many girls having graduated 
 from the school with high honors. About thirty acres of 
 land for the site of this school were donated by a Southern 
 friend resident at Concord. 
 
 After the destruction of the first school building by 
 fire, the late Mr. A. Parker, of Brooklyn, N. Y., visited the 
 school. The result was the rebuilding of the edifice by 
 this good friend. He erected a two-story building with 
 recitation rooms and dormitories for teachers, also for 
 twelve girls as boarders. He built also, a one-story cot- 
 tage for use as a dining-room and kitchen. This building 
 was known as Parker Hall, and by means of which, good 
 work was accomplished. For a number of years a day 
 school has been taught at this old first site in this building. 
 
 Following the death of this kind donor, and the trans- 
 ference of the property from the Northern to the Southern 
 Board, the former name of White Hall was reassumed. For 
 25 years, Mr. White conducted the Sabbath School there, 
 and for a number of years a self-supporting day school 
 has been in operation. 
 
 Other good friends — the Misses Masters of Dobbs 
 Ferry, N. Y., (who have been in touch with this work in 
 connection with the schools, and since its inception) have 
 proved an untold inspiration and help to us. 
 
 Through the young ladies of their school a fine mission- 
 ary horse was provided us. It came about in this way: 
 The suggestion was made that a fine be imposed for each 
 slang word used by any member. In less than two weeks 
 $35 were in hand towards the horse; the rest of the amount 
 followed soon after. At the request of the school we 
 named the horse ''Dobbs". It has been our pleasure to 
 
14 
 
 visit this famous school from time to time, and speak of 
 the progress of our work. One of the King's Daughter 
 Circles, the ''Helpful Ten/' has wrought for our schools 
 many years. 
 
 Thus as we continued in this glorious cause, its multi- 
 plied possibilities dawned on our vision with sublime out- 
 look. And so, what is the watchword of life to the one 
 who seeks for success? The poet states it well : 
 
 ''I slept, and dreamed that life was Beauty; 
 I woke and found that life was Duty." 
 
 CHAPTER V 
 Needy Girls 
 
 TO return to the Stanly Hall School at Locust Level. 
 From its first year, God added His blessing. A number 
 the boys, also of the day pupils, were truly converted and 
 confessed Christ as their Saviour. Soon after entering this 
 very needy field, however, my heart was pained in noting 
 the neglect of the poor girls. It was not considered neces- 
 sary by many of the parents that they should be educated. 
 If either could be sent to school the boys must go. The 
 cotton fields were the girls' domain. 
 
 So burdened was I, in seeing the hundreds of girls 
 going down to ruin, for the need of Christian training and 
 education, that I again appealed to the Board for permis- 
 sion to plant at Albemarle, the county seat of Stanly, and 
 sixteen miles distant from Locust Level, a school for girls. 
 At the same time I asked them to appoint a gentleman and 
 his wife to succeed me in taking charge of the Stanly Hall 
 School. (See picture on page 10) 
 
 Rev. and Mrs. A. H. Temple of Sparta, 111., were ap- 
 pointed for the field, entering it in '93. 
 
 The Board, however, could see no way open to plant the 
 school at Albemarle, so that I remained with Mr. and Mrs. 
 Temple for that year. 
 
 Through another providential occurrence, I secured 
 two consecrated young women to be ready to go to Albe- 
 
15 
 
 marie (if I could obtain a building) as teachers for a day 
 school. This project was accomplished, and they went 
 there, where they taught a successful school one year, while 
 I was finishing my work at Locust Level. One of these 
 was a native of Iowa, an accomplished teacher. The 
 other was from one of the finest families in the South, and 
 one of our estimable girls at the Asheville School. 
 
 On finishing the course of study there, this young 
 woman went to Chicago and entered Mrs. Myers' Bible 
 Training School. It was there she met her friend from 
 Iowa and they were both engaged for some time, in New 
 York City mission work. My first step taken at Albe- 
 marle was the purchase of an unused public schoolhouse 
 with one acre of land, which I bought for $300. The money 
 came from four friends in the North. One hundred pupils 
 were in attendance at this first day-school at Albemarle. 
 
 At the close of the Locust Level School I resigned 
 from the Board, feeling sure that our Father would have 
 me go forward and trust Him for the needed funds for 
 Albemarle. The summer of '93 was spent at the North. 
 Contributions were received, and new friends rallied about 
 me. Returning South, I rented a house, and received three 
 girls as boarders, who were eager to be educated. With an 
 assistant teacher we continued thus teaching the day- 
 school, until the summer of '97 when most providentially 
 the dear Lord provided a superior helper in the person of 
 Miss H. J. Northrup of Minneapolis. She had gone to the 
 Cumberland Mountains at Grassy Cove, Tenn., for her 
 health. 
 
 Learning from a friend who was a teacher at the Par- 
 ker Hall School, near Concord, that we were trying to 
 found a girls' boarding school at Albemarle, she wrote us 
 offering her services which we most gladly accepted. Pre- 
 vious to this, I was obliged to secure the money for the 
 teachers' salaries. Here, then, was one given with a small 
 income, who could donate her services. For seven years 
 she put her time, talents and means into the work, accom- 
 plishing great good by her self-denying labors, in teaching 
 and in moulding the lives of our girls. 
 
16 
 
 The princfipal business men of the town had told me 
 that if I would erect a good building on the beautiful site 
 shown us, they would donate four acres of land for it. At 
 once, on being joined by my new helper, I disclosed to her 
 the desire and plan — to erect on the proposed site or near it, 
 a temporary house. She heartily coincided with me, and 
 the first step taken was the purchase for fifty dollars of two 
 acres of land, at this beautiful, elevated and retired site, a 
 short distance from the town, Miss Northrup making this 
 donation from her private funds. I had been able to 
 secure but four hundred dollars. With this small amount 
 quite a rude structure was cheaply erected. Happy to be 
 done with paying rent, we gladly moved into our own new 
 home in January, 1896. Ten girls were received as board- 
 ers, and were taught at the day-schoolhouse with day 
 pupils. 
 
 In 1900 a Graded School was provided for the town. 
 I sold my day school building with its improvements, for 
 four hundred and twenty-five dollars. 
 
 I 
 
 ALBEMARLE SCHOOL BUILDING 
 
 In 1901 we built an addition to the first four-hundred 
 dollar home, applying towards its erection the above 
 amount. Extra funds for it were obtained. While not 
 quite as large as the first house it was constructed with 
 better material. In 1903 a tower addition was made to 
 the new annex. 
 
17 
 
 This afforded a class room, and rooms above for an 
 additional number of girls. 
 
 During the summer, a much needed laundry building 
 was erected. This was made possible by a bequest of one 
 thousand dollars left our school by the late Mrs. Mary 
 Minot, of So. Orange, N. J. The first poorly constructed 
 building was improved and remodeled by use of this timely 
 gift. The entire property cost $2500. Thanks to many 
 kind donors, no debt rested upon it, and for twenty years, 
 has stood as a monument to God's goodness and His never 
 failing promises. It can be seen several miles distant on 
 approaching the town. As we gaze upon it, recalling our 
 toils and prayers of ten years, we can only exclaim, ''What 
 hath God wrought?" Is this not true of all humble be- 
 ginnings? As Sidney Smith used to say: ''No man can 
 end with being superior who will not begin with being 
 inferior. " 
 
 CHAPTER VI 
 Future Prospects 
 
 IT was our desire that this work should be established 
 on a sound basis. The Northern Board felt unable to 
 assume the care of it. However, the Southern Presbyter- 
 ian Church, whose territory of missionary operations in- 
 cluded Stanly county, was able to do so. The Mecklen- 
 burg Presbytery adopted measures for its further enlarge- 
 ment. Money was raised for three additional acres of 
 land. The first two acres cost $50. Seven years later we 
 paid $75. for three additional acres. We then started a 
 subscription paper among our friends at the North and in 
 the South, securing in this way, the first thousand dollars 
 towards the larger brick building, which was erected 
 and completed in 1907. Just here we cannot refrain from 
 mentioning our most loyal and liberal donor to this build- 
 ing — the late Mr. A. C. Trowbridge, of East Orange, N. J. 
 He made it possible for us to enjoy the happiest Thanks- 
 giving Day of our lives. It was by a telegram received 
 from him on that day, stating that he had secured from his 
 
18 
 
 business friends the sum of five hundred dollars for the brick 
 building. He and his brother, Mr. C. A. Trowbridge were 
 among the liberal donors of this amount. During the ten 
 years at Albemarle in which I worked without salary, 
 trusting our God for the supply of the needs of the work, 
 as also for my own, many and blessed have been the direct 
 answers to prayer. 
 
 For all these tokens of His love and care, showing 
 that the scihool was of His own planting, I can never cease 
 praising Him. My favorite verse will fittingly close this 
 chapter — Philippians 4:19, ^'But my God shall supply 
 all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ 
 Jesus. " 
 
 ''What is my being but for thee, — 
 Its sure support, its noblest end? 
 'Tis my delight thy face to see. 
 
 'O show a few of the results of the efforts directed by 
 
 ^ different workers in the different schools during the 
 twenty-five years, we append the following incidents: 
 
 A girl of eight years entered the White Hall School 
 in '82 soon afterward being converted there. 
 
 Very often, after her conversion, did this dear girl ap- 
 proach us in tears, begging us to pray for her poor father. 
 She was the granddaughter of the man who had been a 
 drunkard forty years, when we entered our first field. He 
 is the man whom we previously mentioned, as having been 
 converted after our twenty-five years of united pleading 
 in his behalf. Her mother who died when she was small, 
 was an intelligent and fine looking woman. The girl was 
 very pretty and interesting. By permission of the Board, 
 and the father's consent, I took her to Asheville. At the 
 
 And serve the cause of such a Friend. 
 
 CHAPTER VII 
 
 Some of The Graduates 
 
19 
 
 school there, she was trained as a Kindergarten teacher. 
 In the mountain schools, under the Northern Board, she 
 
 GRADUATES TRAINED FOR SERVICE 
 
 assisted for three years, Miss Frances Goodrich of New 
 York, who has done, and is still doing splendid work for 
 the Mountaineers. 
 
 This young woman, our interesting girl, was then 
 sent by the Board, to the "Henry Kendall College" at 
 Muskogee, Ind. Ter. There she taught four years with 
 great success. Meeting soon afterward a young lawyer 
 from South Carolina, a mutual attachment was formed, 
 and they were married at the home of the College Presi- 
 dent. The wedding was an impressive and attractive one, 
 from many points of view. The wedding trip was to 
 Manitou Springs, Col. The husband is a Christian man, 
 and a member of the Presbyterian church. He is also a 
 talented lawyer. This dear girl has frequently written 
 me expressing her appreciation of the help received at 
 ''dear old White Hall," and that had it not been for the 
 training received she could not have been and done all 
 which she has for our dear Master. Her father thanked 
 us again and again for the education which we gave her. 
 
20 
 
 Another poor little girl of ten years was also received 
 at the White Hall School. She was an orphan, and home- 
 less. She possessed an uncontrollable temper. Often 
 did she tell the teachers that she might as well be sent 
 away, as she could not overcome it. Patiently we bore 
 with her, pleading for her conversion. God heard, and she 
 was saved. I took her, also, to Asheville. She developed 
 a talent for nursing. Having finished the prescribed course 
 of study at the home industrial and normal schools, Mr. 
 and Mrs. Pease sent her to Orange, N. J. In a few years 
 she graduated as a trained nurse from the training school 
 there. She won splendid success in her profession in that 
 city. One of the best physicians said of her that she was 
 the finest surgical nurse in the state. During one year she 
 earned and saved a thousand dollars. 
 
 At one time she was engaged to a young man pre- 
 paring to go as a missionary to India. This engagement 
 was broken, and she joined the Red Cross Society. 
 
 She went to Chickamauga, during the Spanish Ameri- 
 can war, and did good service. Later she was to have gone 
 with Clara Barton to the front, but was eleven hours too 
 late to join the party. A few months later our heroine 
 went out to Montana to visit a nurse friend who had 
 married there. She met and married the man of her 
 choice. She wrote of her supreme happiness with this 
 man — the dearest she could have found had she searched 
 the world over. 
 
 Did space permit, mention could be made of scores of 
 other girls, now filling good positions in different callings, 
 and of others, in homes of their own, some of whose children 
 have graduated from the different schools planted. Of 
 many can it be said to God's eternal praise that this and 
 that one was born again within the walls of the old White 
 Hall Seminary. 
 
 The same can be said of the Laura Sunderland School, 
 the daughter of White Hall. Very many girls have been 
 saved and trained, in that grand institution through the 
 tireless energy of its principal Miss Melissa Montgomery 
 and her able assistants. 
 
21 
 
 A Polished Gem 
 
 We must make especial mention of one other poor 
 orphan girl whom we found at Locust Level She was 
 plowing in the fields for those with whom she lived and was 
 about fifteen years of age. In her poverty and homeless 
 condition, little was it dreamed of the latent powers which 
 dwelt within her, afterwards to be developed and used so 
 mightily for God. She came to us appealing for assistance 
 to enable her to enter the ''White Hall School," sixteen 
 miles distant. We fitted her out with a suitable wardrobe 
 and sent her there in 1890. The man who took her told 
 the teachers he had brought a girl from Stanly county. 
 She corrected him by saying, ''No, I'm from North Caro- 
 lina. " Never entered the door of White Hall Seminary a 
 girl with greater ambition to learn and to know God than 
 this one. She made remarkable progress in study and in 
 the Christian life. When the building was burned in '91, 
 she was transferred to the Laura Sunderland school. There 
 
 HER FIRST SCHOOL AT CONCORD, N. C. 
 
 she made still greater progress. On finishing the course of 
 study and graduating from that school, she was able to 
 teach during the vacation, thus assisting herself in that 
 
22 
 
 way. In the fall of '86 she entered the normal and Colleg- 
 iate Institute at Asheville, graduating several years later. 
 Ten years of excellent instruction in all branches of in- 
 dustry taught, as also the means of culture, proved an un- 
 told blessing to this ambitious, consecrated, Christian girl. 
 
 Her second school was taught a few miles from Ashe- 
 ville. A part of the time she was assisted by her brother, 
 Jackson Smith, one of our Stanly Hall boys. The school 
 was a success and proved a powerful factor in the trans- 
 formation of the neighborhood in which it was located. 
 This dear young woman possessed the rare gifts of tact and 
 common sense. She organized a Christian Endeavor 
 Society for the older pupils of her school. Their Christmas 
 exercises were broken up by an intoxicated man, who 
 proved to be a lawyer of much talent. Soon afterward he 
 called upon these two young workers, and apologized for 
 his conduct, which showed the true spirit of Southern 
 chivalry. Expressing his desire to live a different life, 
 and for their prayers and help in doing so, they took their 
 Bibles and read to him some of God's promises. Follow- 
 ing the reading of the word with earnest prayer for the 
 fettered man, they had the joy of seeing him accept Christ 
 as his Saviour. He renounced his cups and is now living 
 an exemplary Christian life, being one of their warm sup- 
 porters. 
 
 In 1901 our young heroine entered a new field. She 
 was sent by the Northern Presbyterian Board to Little 
 Pine Creek, Yancy County, near Marshall, N. C. She 
 received a salary of $300.00. For three years she labored 
 in this mountain cove, most assiduously and marvelous 
 have been the results of her efforts. Through her earnest 
 petitions a gentleman of means erected a new school build- 
 ing and chapel combined, in memory of his wife, and which 
 is known as the ^'McDivitt Memorial Chapel." Over one 
 hundred children of the mountaineers were gathered in and 
 taught by this consecrated young woman the first year, 
 and with an assistant afterward. So speedy were the 
 results of her work that the attention of school superin- 
 tendents and others were called to it. When visiting her 
 
^3 
 
 school they wondered with amazement at the progress of 
 her pupils and she was able to prepare several of them for 
 entering the schools at Asheville. But the spiritual part of 
 her work was truly more wonderful — in the Sabbath school 
 and in the homes of the people, as she endeared herself to 
 them in cases of sickness and death. One man whipped his 
 wife and sent her away from home. The query was, 
 
 ^'What will Miss S say?" One good man was so 
 
 aroused that he went to this wife-beater, and gave him a 
 sound thrashing, took the wife back home and made him 
 promise to respect her in fututre. All awaited the verdict 
 of Miss S . She gave hearty approval of the course 
 
 MISS S- 
 
 adopted, and thereafter everything was lovely and peace- 
 ful. Thus through her influence and the high esteem in 
 which she was held by the people, the wife-beating ceased. 
 Drinking and gambling also, for not a drop of whiskey was 
 made after she went among them. The feuds which ex- 
 
24 
 
 isted all disappeared, and no pastor in those mountains 
 had more influence than had this young woman. 
 
 The reader may be interested to know that this lo- 
 cality of which we are writing was nearly two hundred 
 miles from her birthplace. Imagine the log cabin — a room 
 of 12x12 feet in which this plucky woman first saw the 
 light, and we are led to exclaim, ^'God hath chosen the 
 weak things and those that are despised — to confound the 
 mighty!" This dear young worker has told me that she 
 never remembered the time when she did not love God and 
 long to be and do something for Him. Truly her longings 
 have been fulfilled. 
 
 On page 21 is a cut showing her with her first pupils, 
 taught at Concord, N. C., Page 23 a picture of her in her 
 graduating dress. In contrasting the two, it will be seen 
 what a change can be wrought in the countenance through 
 training and culture. 
 
 This enthusiastic student was actuated by a strong 
 sense of love to God and love for souls. She was not con- 
 tent to do anything save her whole duty. When Count 
 von Moltke, field marshal of the German army, who was 
 called the General Grant of the German Empire, had 
 returned from his great military triumphs of Sadowa, 
 there seemed to be no limit to the honors a grateful people 
 bestowed upon him, from the King, down to the humblest 
 peasant, and in reply he said, ''I have only done my duty. " 
 
 CHAPTER VIII 
 Stanly County Diamonds In The Rough 
 
 WE pass on again to Stanly Hall, Locust Level, to 
 introduce a few other results among the boys re- 
 ceived there during four years. We have made mention of 
 the brother of this girl just alluded to. He was one of the 
 first boys to enter ''Stanly Hall", and the first convert to 
 unite with the little ''Beulah Presbyterian Church" near 
 the school; a number of years later he was elected as one 
 of its deacons. 
 
25 
 
 After the destruction by fire in '94, of our school build- 
 ing, which we grieve to note, this boy, with others of the 
 twenty students as boarders, was transferred to the Boys' 
 Farm School near Asheville. From there he entered Mary- 
 ville College, Tennessee, graduating with honors. 
 
 Our hero then entered the Presbyterian Theological 
 Seminary at Louisville, Ky., from which he graduated 
 two years ago. He is now pastor of a Presbyterian church 
 at Marshall, N, C, a mountain field — and doing splendid 
 work. His sister, when hearing the news of her brother 
 having been chosen as pastor's assistant for the Little Pine 
 Creek field, her first one — caused her for very joy to pass 
 two sleepless nights. 
 
 Another interesting case worthy of mention, is of a 
 poor orphan boy, seemingly of little promise for the future, 
 but who received lasting impressions at dear old Stanly 
 Hall. Leaving us to seek his fortune, after studying for 
 one year, he acquired some knowledge of carpentry. He 
 later went to Florida. He was given work on one of the 
 large hotels in process of erection. Of his first money 
 earned, he sent us two dollars — one to be used for our 
 temperance work, the other for our Mission Band. His 
 wicked companions tried to induce him to drink with them. 
 On one occasion the bottle was raised to his lips. He 
 remembered his pledge taken at Stanly Hall, and had the 
 courage to desist and say '^No." Our brave boy con- 
 tinued to wear his badge and remain firm for the right. 
 
 One evening he was moved by hearing the strains of 
 martial music and the drum. Reaching the street, he 
 found it to proceed from the Salvation Army meeting. So 
 interested did he become in it, that he joined the army and 
 went out to Ohio and Pennsylvania where he did good 
 work with this organization. He led many lost souls into 
 the Kingdom. Feeling the need of a more thorough edu- 
 cation, our hero entered a college at Austinburg, 0. Fin- 
 ishing the course of study there he entered ''Grant Uni- 
 versity" in Tennessee, where he graduated with honors. 
 For a number of years he has been a successful minister 
 
26 
 
 of the Methodist church in a western town and with his 
 faithful wife accomplished great good. 
 
 Before closing our present chapter we will mention 
 one other remarkable case. It is that of a poor cruelly 
 treated boy of about twelve years. His father and step- 
 mother belonged to the lowest class of whites. 
 
 The boy came to us in the garb represented, in the ac- 
 companying picture — wearing his father's cast off coat and 
 pants. He had run away from home. Our hearts were 
 stirred to their depths as he appeared at our door begging 
 for admission and saying: ''Please missus, let me stay 
 here with you. I'll work hard and do anything for you 
 if you'll only let me stay." Having as helper a young 
 man who could take pictures, the camera was the first 
 means used in his behalf. 
 
 ALLICK AS HE WAS AND IS 
 
 The next humane steps taken were the shears, the 
 bathtub and the bonfire. We found fortunately in our 
 store-room, a suit of clothes, also shoes, which proved an 
 exact fit for the boy. 
 
27 
 
 We cannot forget his look of surprise as he gazed into 
 the mirror at the close of the process through which he 
 had passed, and beheld the transformation in his appearance. 
 What a blessed repayment was ours in having thus rescued 
 one of Christ's little ones — of whom it is said, ''Take heed 
 that ye despise not one of these little ones." Matt. 18-10. 
 
 The heartless father let us have the boy for ten dol- 
 lars. After teaching him to read and write well, at our 
 Stanly Hall School, we sent him to the ''Home for Little 
 Wanderers" at Boston. In the picture, you now see him 
 as he appeared after six months' training in that institu- 
 tion. He was soon after adopted by a lady in Nova 
 Scotia. In his new home he has become an excellent 
 farmer and a good, useful man. 
 
 If given a chance, who can tell but what many of these 
 poor boys may not tread the same path of achievement as 
 numberless others have done in reaching the goal of their 
 worthy ambitions? 
 
 To the lad who aspires to rise to some noble calling in 
 life, let him read the lives of poor boys in America and how 
 they became great. Sixty years ago a Scotch boy emigrated 
 with his parents to Pittsburg, and settled there. He was 
 then penniless, but with the few privileges allotted him, 
 he rose to become the famous Andrew Carnegie whom the 
 world can never forget. 
 
 The Boys' Farm School, located eight miles from Ashe- 
 ville, was founded by the Northern Presbyterian Board in 
 1892. It has already accomplished untold good in finding 
 the mountain boys and educating and training them for 
 good citizens. This grand school is destined to reach 
 hundreds more of "the roughest of rough diamonds" — 
 these boys of sturdy Scotch-Irish ancestry, who have but 
 "one inevitable aim — to learn." 
 
 Just here, we wish to state that our Southern Presby- 
 terian church is accomplishing splendid work through the 
 number of grand schools in the mountain sections now 
 planted for both girls and boys. 
 
28 
 
 CHAPTER IX 
 The Mustard Seed Increases 
 
 RETURNING once more to Locust Level, we will state 
 that one building escaped the fire, and the insurance for 
 full value of the main building was secured by the Board in 
 New York. The two-story house was converted into a 
 day-school building. A few years subsequently, the Board 
 by our advice, transferred the property consisting of sixty- 
 two acres of land, what buildings remained, also seven 
 hundred dollars in cash, to the Southern Mecklenburg 
 Presbytery. Near the site of the first building was erected 
 a cottage for Mr. and Mrs. Temple our successors, also an 
 addition to the school building for the primary depart- 
 ment. Mr. Temple having become an ordained minister, 
 was placed in charge of the Beulah Presbyterian church 
 there. He and his faithful companion accomplished a 
 blessed work in that needy field among the children and 
 people for a number of years. 
 
 Nearly one hundred boys and girls have been in at- 
 tendance at the day-school each year. The Presbytery is 
 hoping to found there in the near future an industrial school 
 for boys. 
 
 AT OUR ALBEMARLE SCHOOL 
 
 we are being able to reach each year more of the class of 
 girls who will be able, after the training received, to do 
 
29 
 
 splendid work as teachers and missionaries among their 
 own class. At our commencement exercises in 1904, two 
 of our girls, one a boarding, the other a day pupil, finished 
 the prescribed course of study, being the first to graduate. 
 The boarding pupil was the brightest girl yet received in 
 our home. Her essay of thirty-eight pages on ''The Turks " 
 attested to her talent possessed, also reflecting much credit 
 on her training by Miss Northrup, my co-worker, and who 
 wrought so faithfully for a number of years until her fail- 
 ing health necessitated her retirement from active service. 
 Of her own private income she placed $500.00 to the credit 
 of the work, $200.00 of the amount being used in the pur- 
 chase of the first two acres of land. Later the Presbytery 
 purchased three additional acres. 
 
 President Atkinson assumed the charge of the work 8 
 years ago. The eldest young woman of the graduating 
 class has signified her intention to go to Korea as a mission- 
 ary, after having completed the Nurses' Training Course 
 at the Presbyterian Hospital, Charlotte, N. C. As was 
 said by the Sainted Spurgeon: ''He who wins a soul draws 
 water from the fountain; but he who makes a soul-winner 
 digs a well from which many may drink unto eternal life." 
 
 Each succeeding year from the planting of the first 
 school at Albemarle, the county seat of Stanly County, in 
 1894, wonderful progress has been noted, the greatest 
 and most encouraging being realized at the last commence- 
 ment exercises in May, 1914. Nine seniors of the College 
 Preparatory Class graduated with honors, also three girls 
 from the Commercial Course. Each of these students did 
 so with credit to the school and their faithful instructors. 
 
 Rev. George H. Atkinson, President of the Institute, 
 has wrought faithfully to make of the institution a success, 
 and of the faculty secured by him, none others could have 
 exceeded them, in the faithful and thorough instruction 
 given our students. 
 
 The eldest young woman of the College Preparatory 
 class has signified her intention to go as a missionary to 
 Korea, after having completed the Nurses' Training Course 
 at the Presbyterian Hospital, Charlotte, N. C, 
 
30 
 
 In closing this account of our thirty-five years' of 
 effort, we wish to mention one more of our dear Master's 
 leadings. In 1912-13, we felt divinely led to start a Per- 
 petual Memorial Scholarship Fund, for the benefit of our 
 poorest girls. 
 
 We did so, and feel encouraged with the results thus 
 far secured. We now have $700.00 toward the Fund, but 
 are anxious to receive more shares and of any amounts, 
 from the friends of our work. Celebrating, this year, 
 our 35th anniversary of the planting of the first school, 
 we shall rejoice in receiving from our friends shares of any 
 amount from $5.00 to $500. 
 
 The interest only of the Fund will be used in assisting 
 the most needy girls; hence our desire, to see this year, the 
 principle greatly increased. 
 
 All donations for this Fund may be sent by post- 
 office orders or by drafts or check to Miss Frances E. 
 Ufford, Dean, Albemarle Normal and Industrial Institute, 
 Albemarle, N. C. 
 
 Newest Building at Albemarle Normal and Industrial Institute 
 
Portrait of Miss Ufford's brother, Edward S. Ufford, 
 the author-preacher, with his U. S. life-line which saved 
 7 sailors on the New England coast. He entered the min- 
 istry the same year his sister departed for the Southland, 
 and he has aided her in her work, 
 
No. 63. The Dawning of the Day- 
 
 To my sister, Frances E. Ufford, whose nearly forty years work among the mountaineers of North 
 Carolina has brought the day of hope to many hearts, and to other missionaries in their harvest fields, this 
 song is dedicated. 
 
 E. S. U. Rev. E. S. Ufford. 
 
 s 
 
 T 
 
 There's a morn-ing com-ing, There's a day to break, Hill-top and val-ley 
 There's a tri-umph nearing, There are wrongs to right, Brave-ly ad- van-cing 
 Vic - to - ry is com-ing, We shall quell the foe, Dark clouds are lift- ing 
 
 sum-mon us to wake; Voic - es bid us hast- en, — Let us join the fray, 
 in our Leader's might, Rais-ing high our Stand-ard As we pressour way, 
 from the vale be - low; Sor - row... and sigh = ing Soon must flee a- way, 
 
 :t=::t/ 
 
 i/^ I 
 Chorus. 
 
 For the dawning of the day. 
 
 VVait-ingfor 
 
 Oh, 'tis com-ing! by and by! 
 
 coming by ^ 
 
 Bright stars are shin - ing, morn-ing is nigh; Let us a - wak - en, 
 
 Je - sus bids us wak - en, 
 
 . ^ _ .p. .fl. 
 
 I #- 
 
 -0—0 0 ^- 
 
 -'9 0- 
 
 Watch and pray. 
 Bids us watch -#- ^ 
 
 — u^^— i^t^ h^— 
 
 For the dawn - ing 
 
 Wait-ing for 
 I i 
 
 the day. 
 
 y b*— Ljs.^ II 
 
 Copyright, 1915, by E. S. Ufford,