Floral College

Floral College

John Gilchrist, II (1785 -December 6, 1868) was born the eighth child of John and Effie McMillian. John believed in education, his father had employed a Scottish tutor to educate the Gilchrist children in the Classics. In 1805 he was received as a student at the University of North Carolina and in 1809 he graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree. He was the first student for Robeson County to graduate from the University of North Carolina. In 1812, he received his Master of Arts degree from the same college. John began to read the law and was admitted to the courts. Although, he was referred to his whole life as "Lawyer Gilchrist" he only practice law for a short time as he soon found lawyers and their practices distasteful and declared that if this were their manner he would spend his few days as an obscure farmer. He quickly found ways to fill his days. He served in the North Carolina legislative the following years, 1810-1811; 1816-1817; 1822; 1825-1826.

In 1841, John Gilchrist, Jr. and others felt that the educational needs of the young ladies of the Robeson County area were not being filled. Their answer was the founding of Floral College, the first female college in the state to confer degrees. John had settled on a large plantation near Centre Church, just north of present day Maxton and there he set aside property to house Floral College. The success of the college became his ruling passion. He devoted all of his energy and most of his resources to its upbuilding. He received great help from a wonderful Board of Trustees. They were Malcom Purcell, WA Sellers, Peter A. MacEachin, Dr. Angus D. McLean, Dr. John Malloy, Malcom Smith, and Daniel MacKinnon.

Found in the 1848 Catalogue are the following staff: Rev. John R. McIntosh, Principal, Instructor in Chemistry, Natural Philosophy, Evidences of Christianity; Mrs. C.M. McIntosh, Drawing, Painting, Embroidery, Botany; Mr. John C. Sutherland, Mathematics, Intellectual Philosophy; Miss Elizabeth H. Jewett, Grammar, Geography, History and Rev. F.W. Plassman, Music, Vocal and Instrumental.

In 1843 the college graduated its first eight students: Euphemia D. McNeil, Flora McNeill, Flora Bunting McQueen, Mary Morrison, Mary Jane Davis, Ann Catherine Shaw, and Mary Jane Shaw.

In the 1856 Catalogue we find the following members of the Board of Trustees A.D. McLean, MD, President; John Gilchrist; John Malloy, MD; Archibald Smith; Daniel McKinnon; Peter McEachin; Alexander Purcell; William McKay; JB McCallum; P.A. McEachin, Treasurer; Col. P.P. Smith; A.S. Baker; J.S. McQueen, Secretary; J.A. McKay; Douglad Patterson and Wm. A. Sellers. The faculty were Rev. Daniel Johnson, Principal, Instructor of Chemistry, Moral Science, Latin and Greek; Mrs. E.M. Johnson, Assistant Governess and Superintendent of Social Duties; Miss Mary L. Morrison; Miss Caroline Murphy; Miss Sallie R. Kerr and Miss R.J. Dougherty. In 1856 the college had a total of 71 pupils.

Floral College thrived until the beginning of the Civil War, when it was forced to close for the duration. During the time it was closed the buildings we rented to the Bellamy family of Wilmington. It was believed that the women and children would be safer in land, but as we now know Sherman's troops march right to the door of Floral College. An ad for the college in January 1871 sates that preparatory course tuition, board and washing could be had at the cost of $85 while the same was available on the collegiate level for $90. In addition they could choose from music taught on the piano and guitar, pencil and crayon drawing, painting in oil and watercolors. Lights and fuel were provided at cost with one half of the tuition being due in advance and the other at the close of the session.

By 1872 things had turned for the worst. In the January 4, 1872 newspaper is found the following ad: On the 8th day of Feb'y next Floral College will be sold to the highest bidder, subject to a mortgage in favor of the heirs of the late Reuben King, the sale to take place on the premises. Also, at the same time and place, will be sold all furniture and fixtures belonging to the College; also all evidences of debt. Terms Cash. By the order of the stockholders, D.S. Morrison, J.D. McLean and J.M. McKinnon commissioners. Thus a sad ending to a glorious institute of learning.

John Gilchrist was an experimenter with new kinds of fruit and vegetables and loved to plant unusual species, the late Cornelia McCallum Purcell often told of him visiting Floral College. On one of his visits he brought with him tomatoes and lectured to the girls on their food value. This was the first time many of the girls had ever seen tomatoes, the belief at the time was that they were poisonous.

I am working on trying to document a complete history of Floral College and the girls that attended. I am interested in any personal information concerning the girls (letters, diaries, photographs, etc.) Listed below are three spreadsheets I have complied. The first lists all the graduates from 1843 until 1848. The second lists all those attending the school in 1848 and the third shows the girls attending in 1856.

Graduates 1843-1848

Attending in 1848

Attending in 1856

Please contact me to discuss Floral College and the girls. blake@bbtyner.com