From The Times-Register archives
From the 1938 centennial edition of The Times-Register
In the court records of October, 1846, of this county is found an order laying out school districts in this county for the first time and appointing the first school commissioners for Roanoke county. It was stated in this court order that this was done to conform with the act passed by the general assembly on March 5, 1845.
At that time Craig county had not been formed so that the boundary lines of this county were not quite the same as they are today since part of the upper part of this county was included in Craig county when that county was formed in 1851. The districts and school commissioners appointed by the court were as follows:
Districts
“1. Craig Creek and Catawba – embracing the territory up and down those two creeks and that between them. Elias Thomas, commissioner.
- Mason’s Cove and along the east side of Mason’s creek including John Renn and John McCauley. John McCauley, said commissioner.
- Green Ridge – embracing territory between Harshbarger road at McCauley’s and Green Ridge to Tinker’s Creek at Mrs. Farley’s, thence up the west side of Tinker’s Creek to county line. Alfred Dillard, commissioner.
- From county line has mentioned on Tinker’s creek down Tinker’s creek (east side to mouth of Clade creek) up Glade creek to ford at head of David Gish’s mill pond, thence due east to the top of mountain near George Gish’s and with the mountain northwest to county line. Landon C. Read, commissioner.
- From the ford of Glade creek last mentioned down east side of same to Roanoke River, thence down same to county line with county line to the top of mountain near George Gish’s, thence due west to the beginning. William B. Preston, commissioner.
- Ballyhack – beginning at Peter Kefauver’s thence a S. E. line embracing Adam Garnan’s and P. H. Hurth’s (Whiteneck) to county line thence with the same to Roanoke river and up same to the beginning. James Edington, commissioner.
To Tosh’s Ford
- From Peter Kefauver’s up Roanoke river to Tosh’s ford, thence with the turnpike road to county line, thence with the same to the point where the line from Peter Kefauver’s S. E. strikes county line and with the same line to the beginning at Kefauver’s. Elisha McClanahan, commissioner.
- The territory embraced within the Pittsylvania and Botetourt turnpike and the Salem and New Castle turnpike where they diverge from Mrs. Harvey’s to Roanoke river. Janes Crawford, commissioner.
- From county line near Robert Harvey’s to a point on the river opposite Salem Mills, thence a straight line across 12 o’clock knob embracing David Burkett and John Neighbors to Montgomery county line. Joseph Pritchard, commissioner.
- From the point mentioned in No. 9 where the line from 12 o’clock Knob strikes Montgomery line, along Montgomery line to Fort Lewis Mountain and with the same east to Mason’s creek at Hanging Rock, thence down Mason’s creek to Ch. Stoutamire’s, thence crossing Mason’s creek and along south side of Harshbarger’s road to Peter’s creek at the same to Salem Mills to the beginning. Robert Craig, commissioner.
To Tinker Creek
- From Peters creek at J. Frantz’s, running with Harshbarger road to Tinker creek at William Farley’s, thence with Tinker creek to Roanoke river and up same to mouth of Peter’s creek and up same to the beginning at Jacob Frantz’s. Colen Bass, commissioner.
It is further ordered that notice be served by the sheriff upon the persons appointed schools commissioners as above.”
This was the beginning from which the great public school system of Roanoke county has grown. Before the civil war where was not what could be called a general system of free public schools since there were many private schools then in operation.
In 1869-70 session of the legislature an act was passed creating schools all over the state.
However as early as 1830 we find some appropriations made to schools by the general assembly. By act of January 30 of that year an act was passed in which it was specified that a certain sum of money which was a residue of the literary fund be appropriated to the counties and the manner of dividing this money was outlined. Of this fund Botetourt county got $573.50 and Roanoke county $119.17. It was provided that further funds from this source should be divided as follows between Botetourt county and Roanoke county: three-fourths of the appropriation to Botetourt county and one-fourth to Roanoke. Roanoke county had been established but the year previous to this act.
– Prepared by Lingjie Gu
