Little Levels Academy

      In the early part of the eighteenth century, a very important educational work flourished in what was then the village of Hillsboro. The Little Levels Academy was established in 1843 under a charter granted by the State of Virginia. The incorporators were: Josiah Beard, S. D. Poage, Samuel L. Mathews, Moses M. Poage, John Hill, Thomas Hill, James Miller, and Richard McNeel.

      Under the supervision of Rev. Joseph Brown, the brick academy was built. It contained one large central room with two wings. Rev. Brown was the first teacher.

      The name of Hillsboro was abandoned for a time in deference to that of “Academy”, so strong was the influence of the school on the people. The old name of Hillsboro has since been restored to the town.

      Rev. Joseph Brown was the principal for seven years. Rev. N. D. Dunlap succeeded him and taught for ten years. His school had a wide reputation among his pupils and enjoyed the patronage of the Lewises and Irwins of Kanawha County; Tyrees and others of Fayette County; the Haynesses and others of Monroe County; the Johnsons, Bears and others of Greenbrier County; the Bensons, Lightners and Ruckmans of Highland County; and the Lewises and others of Bath County. He taught throughout the entire year, and sought the help of the more advanced pupils, notably, Rev. Wm. T. Price, and Rev. James Haynes. It was his opinion that about eighty pupils were about as many as any one man could handle. 

      Mr. Kelso of Pennsylvania, and Miss Priscilla Ramsey, of Augusta County, Virginia, taught one session, and after the close of school, were married, and went to western Pennsylvania to conduct a boarding school.

      Rev. Daniel A. Penick filled the position of teacher for one year, boarded at Colonel Paul McNeel’s and the following autumn married the latter’s oldest daughter.

      Rev. Emerson taught two sessions and boarded at Col. McNeel’s. He made a compass that ran a prefect line from the McNeel gate to the Academy. Rev. Emerson was said to be a relative of Ralph Waldo Emerson and a native of New England. Miss Mary S. Lovelace of Connecticut taught in Hillsboro at the same time, but in a different building. Mr. Emerson became one of her ardent admirers but her choice fell to Mr. Henry Clark. Mr. Emerson afterwards married and established a school for young ladies in Shemariah, Augusta County, Virginia. 

      From the foregoing interesting data, it is easy to understand why so many noble and worthy lives were moulded in this fine institution of learning. The lives of Mr. Harmenius Stulting and family deserve special mention. They were natives of Holland and, to escape religious persecution, braved the perils of the deep on a rude craft of that day and came to dwell here when the county was in its infancy. They were a valuable addition to the social life of the community and through their devoted piety accomplished much good here. Mr. Cornelius Stulting, eldest son in the family, was a fine teacher for many years. Mrs. Caroline Stulting Sydenstricker gave her life as a missionary in China, being sent there by the Oak Grove Church.

      Coming from this Academy were nine young men who later became ministers and several young ladies who became ministers wives. The men were H. M. Sydenstricker, A. M. Cackley, Gratton S. Weiford, John W. McNeel, Ed Overholt and Harry Buchanon. One of these became a Presbyterian minister, two were of the M. E. church, one became a local elder and a most excellent Bible Class teacher in Mt. Vernon Place Church in Washington, D. C. The rest became members of the Baltimore Conference South.

      During the Civil War the Academy was used by the soldiers for a place to which to camp. After the war, the Academy was again revived. It was maintained by private families and functioned until the high school was built. Students from all over Pocahontas County took advantage of the opportunity to secure college entrance requirements so near home. Mr. T. S. McNeel told me that he entered Washington & Lee University as a junior from the Academy. Each student paid tuition. It offered a preparatory course.

      When the old academy was torn down, the bricks were used on the foundation of the new high school building.