BEGINNINGS -

When the Indian lands were opened after the Treaty of Dancing Rabbit, many of the early settlers brought with them a love of learning and a determination to make their new home in the wilderness as much a place of refinement and culture as their resources would provide.

One of the early settler in 1834 was Charles Bingley Ames. Originally from Ohio, he had taught school in Alabama for a number of years before moving to what was later to become Noxubee County. His Father had been instrumental in the founding of Ohio University and his grandfather, a graduate of Harvard, was a Chaplain in the Revolution and perished at Valley Forge on May 15, 1778. His son was in the first graduating class at A&M in 1883.

Ames later became an attorney and a judge for Noxubee County.

The Longstreets were another pioneer family deeply concerned with the education of the young. James Longstreet had died in Augusta, GA, in the cholera epidemic of 1833 but had sent his family ahead to keep them safe from the pestilence. Although James never made it to Noxubee County, his widow and their children did and resulted in large and well educated families. The name of Longstreet as a surname has now died out in the County.

James' brother, Augustus, was the President of the University of Mississippi, as well as of Emory, Centenary and the University of South Carolina. He is buried at Oxford.

EARLY ACADEMIES -

At first, the children were taught by the Mother at home. But concern for more efficient means led to the establishment of formal schools or Academies. One of the earliest was

PUBLIC SCHOOLS -

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES -

Aware that education is not limited to the classroom, Noxubee County provides an excellent library system. The Director, Mrs. Beth Freshour, oversees the system from the main library at Macon where Miss Judy Proffitt is the Branch Librarian. Other branch libraries are at Brooksville and Shuqualak. In addition to the regular functions of a library system, meeting rooms are provided for small groups, audio-visual equipment is on hand and ready for use, computers are available and classes are taught in their basic use. The Inter-Library Loan system makes practically any book in the world available to the Noxubee citizen.

THE ELECTRONIC AGE -

With the coming of the computer and the lowering of its price, many homes, businesses and professional people have taken advantage of this window on the world. Computers are available at the Library and at school. Classes are taught from an early age, which enable the citizens to gain access to information, entertainment, culture and enlightenment. The skills of learning the use and repair of computers open new vistas of education and employment.