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Editor's Note:
Readers of The Kentucky Explorer have been introduced to the
Rev. John J. Dickey in past issues. Remember that he was a traveling
preacher throughout the eastern part of the state during the
years between 1880 and 1925. He helped to establish numerous
churches and at least two colleges. He was also a teacher and
a newspaper editor. However, his most enduring gift to us today
may well be his diary that he kept faithfully during some 50
years of his later life beginning in the 1880s. In all, over
6,000 pages written in his own hand make up this interesting
digest.
In this journal of his, Dickey often wrote down accounts of events
daily. Much of the material concerns his day to day life. However,
during the late 1890s he began to gather family history on various
families he met in his travels. We are offering these interviews
to our readers in the hope that they will be appreciated in the
sense that Rev. Dickey intended. These interviews were written
word for word as they were given to Rev. Dickey. Nothing has
been changed.
Third Quarterly
Meeting
I came home Saturday morning, found Bro. W. B. Ragan, P. E. here
to hold Q. M. He conducted services Saturday morning and night,
Sunday morning and afternoon. We paid him his claim of $7.50
He has gotten $15 on the Circuit thus far. Just what I have received.
I told him of my plans and purposes, and he was well pleased,
viz, that I thought of proposing to the people of Manchester
to enlarge the school building and I would open a school this
fall, provided the trustees would give it to me. I have looked
at the field for six months, have been in correspondence with
Rev. J. W. Hughes and Miss Bennett about a teacher here for the
coming year, and I do not so much as get a response. I know,
in reason, no one else will undertake such an undesirable task
and I feel that the Lord has put me here to serve this country.
I see no other way except to undertake work of teaching here.
I told Bro. Ragan that I wanted an understanding with him that
as Presiding Elder he would cooperate with me by putting a good
man here to preach and sustain him by a liberal appropriation.
He said he would. Now, men can be found for that work but none
for the school because it will not pay. My plan is to employ
a lady assistant, who can teach music and primary classes, as
I did at Jackson and begin in August next, if the people will
build the addition. Of course, it will be my work to create sentiment
in favor of the enterprise and capitalize that sentiment into
action. I think the best thing for the London school is to have
a good graded school here and not a church school and perhaps
the best for Clay County. The more people we can send to London
the better for Clay County. The people need to have contact with
a higher and better civilization. I mentioned the enterprise
today, first to County Judge John Wright; second to Rev. Baker,
Baptist minister; and third to Mr. John Treadway, chairman of
the Board of Trustees. They all approved. Bro. Baker was enthusiastic
and offered to do all in his power for my success. He, at once,
told of a cousin of his, Mrs. Hutton of Tazwell, West Virginia,
28 years old, and experienced teacher of music and letters who
would come to my assistance he believed, that she was a good
Methodist and a devout Christian.
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