Taylor's School

Taylors School: Named from the owners giving the land for the school.

By Lorene Beard

From 1986

Taylors School was a one room log cabin used for both school and church services of all faiths. It started in 1838 on Taylor property. This was then the 5th district of Bradley County with Abraham Lillard I, Manager. When Polk County was organized there were 20 families and 74 children. Schools were 3 months or 6 months a year with weeks out for farm work or cotton picking.

John Franklin Taylor got up a subscription for a new school and in 1899 a deed was made for the school already started on Taylor land. The deed reads follows: "A gift deed given by J.E. Taylor and wife, lane Taylor, to the District school directors of the Second Civil District of Polk County, Tennessee. John F. Clemmer, Thomas T. Jenkins, and William C. Gilliland and their successors in office." The property was joined on the Northeast by J.K. Biggs. It was made for one half an acre on the North side of the public road leading from Benton to the Savannah Ford. This was called the plank building. Out houses were made out back and water was carried from a spring. This deed was made from J.E. and Jane Taylor, October 22, 1889. W.M. Bain, County Court Clerk of Polk County.

The first teachers known -- Calvin B. Taylor 1860, G.F.Baker 1898, John L. Williams 1899 and J.M. Stevenson 1903. A new two-story brick building was built in about 1914,. Other teachers were (dates unknown): Abe Guinn, Myrtle Johnson, Mr. and Mrs. Swanson, Nell Thomas, Dottie McClary, Mr. and Mrs. Kilpatrick, Curtis Kimsey, Ida Pippenger, Anna Lillard Dunken, Linnie Goodner, Cora Harrison, Mr. and Mrs. Lunsford, Walter Howard, Mrs. Ella Rymer, Eula Brock. Lillie Bell Harrison, Chassie Stevenson, Mrs. George McCamey Williams, Blanche McClary, Lizzie Lyle, Lewis, Hattie Lyle, Dora Cheek, Carol Wilson Owensby, Mayme Arp, Mayme Smith Harrison, John Wilson, Maggie Guinn Hicks, Reba Cook Calhoun, Lillian Spargo, John Estep, Bernice Russell Groves, Ona Fox Wiley, Isham P. Lyle, Adaline Gilbert Lillard, Mrs. Etta Burchfield.

Taylor School was noted for its outstanding attendance. Many children walked through these doors through the years from 1838 through the many years the Taylor School bell rang.

These teachers named cover those years and I'm sure I've missed some. Some have gone on to become doctors, lawyers, statesmen, farmers, businessmen, builders of our country (fathers and mothers). From pioneer days to the present, this school is well remembered.

Many can remember going to school in a covered wagon, walking or horseback. Harve Rymer drove a wagon route for children that lived so far away.

In the early 1920s, when cars began to travel there was the need of better roads. As trucks and school buses were brought in, at first only the high school students rode to Benton. Ernest Stevenson was one well-remembered driver. Then the Polk County Court and school board decided to consolidate many of the smaller schools and bus them to Benton. The old red hill in Benton was a busy place.

The little country schools soon faded away and so did lots of other community functions. Everyone that attended Old Taylor School has many fond memories of happy days, the way all the community neighbors banded together for school, for their children, the freedom and quiet peace of discipline, big ball games and great community entertainment. One outstanding happening long ago was reported by a Cleveland, TN paper. On December 1893 Sheriff John Hutcheson arrested two men from Georgia, openly selling whiskey just one-half mile from Taylor School, selling to school boys. The sheriff also confiscated their wagon and steers.

Everyone remembers something unusual or something funny from their youth.

The school was used for community affairs like Christmas trees at Christmas, pie suppers, box socials, and entertaining school plays. The school bell rings no more, only in memory of elderly that enjoyed happy school days there long ago.

Other than names already mentioned, some of the folk living in this community are: Phillips, Jenkins, Morgans, Stones, McClarys, Rymers, Falkers, Pells, Keys, Waldroups, Qualls, Wileys, Cronans, Lyles, Dilbecks, Holdens, Postens, Keiths, Evans, Keslers, Hicks, Allens, Foxs, Campbells, Callahans, Scarbroughs, Presswoods, Adams, Standridges, Carters, Chastains, Liners, Pullems, Quinns, Griffins, Clures, Lockes, Gillilands, Bryans, Stillwells, McClures, Daltons, Burnettes, Brocks, Baxters, Beards, Fishers, Brooks, Carvers, Coxs, Mantooths, Guys, Ortons, Crosses, Spurlings, Alloways, Smiths, Tilleys, Sheltons, Gobles, Witts, Bishops, Millers, Ellis, Hamptons, Cullpeppers, Cheeks, Crumps, Bates, Passmores, Tilsons.

At this date in 1986 there are many more due to farms breaking up into housing. Due South to the old "Parris" Poston farms there are many homes, the farm having been sold in lots or small acreage. The large farm where sheep and cattle ranged is covered with beautiful homes.

In the early days Luke and Anna Lyle took care of the elderly and poor. It was a county sponsored farm home. Lyles owned the farm but the county furnished its keep. Small cabins were built and they were cared for under Mrs. Annie's care. She also furnished a grand dining room for county court officers to eat and jury dinners and guests. It was a beautiful well cared for home. Even some elderly folks could help with the chores. It was on Benton Pike, 3 miles north of Benton. It was closed in the late 1940s.

Many changes have been made through the years. Abraham Lillard I, a veteran of the War of 1812, came here to this area and owned a large area of Polk County. He gave each of his sons a farm, lands from the Hiwassee River to the top of Chilhowee Mountains at Lillards gap. His sons were Abraham II, Dan, Jasper, Luther, Newton Lillard. The Lillard families were very prominent in the building of our country.

Also, the Taylors lived here: William J. Taylor, who was thought to have been killed by Indians; John E. Taylor, who started the Taylor School and gave much to the area; and Franklin Taylor.

And of the Biggs family, Polk County had three men to be sheriff -- Burch E. Biggs, son of Tom K. Biggs, and Burch's sons Broughten and Burch Glen Biggs were from Sagetown.

The William Derl Woody families: He served in the Civil War, came here from North Carolina to Springtown and moved here in early 1800s and built Sagetown. His sons were James, Jasper, William Harden, John Allen, J. Newton, and Merit Abraham, who married an Indian Princess. These sons and our sons and daughters made a great contribution to our county and state. One son of J.J. Woody, John Allen, helped organize Antioch Baptist Church and Oak Grove Baptist Church and was pastor of many churches in this area. Other sons were in county government as Sheriff, Peace Officers, Statesmen, good pioneer families. Their large numbers of children passed our heritage on to their families.

We still have family names in our area of those early families, such as Abraham Lillard II, who served in the Civil War. The oldest citizens of this area still living are Mrs. Ella Mae Biggs Cloud, 93 years old; Mrs. Cora Hampton, 94 years old; Mr. Biggs Waldrop, 94. Several are in their 80s: Mrs. Nettie Pell Hooker, Mrs. Ona Biggs Gregory, Mr. Watson Gregory, Mrs. Madilee Morgan Allen, Mrs. Carrie Brock and others.

Thanks to all those that told me their stories of the past and to Roy G. Lillard, historian. Roy was the son of Abraham Lillard III. He was a great help to me in getting dates of early history.

Taylor schools are gone but there are many who can remember the very spot where they stood. Old Antioch Church is still standing in its third church building. The bells still toll their call to worship on Sunday mornings and ring out across the green valley of Sagetown.

May 1986