Page:Oregon Historical Quarterly vol. 19.djvu/15

UMPQUA ACADEMY 5 to place it about a quarter of a mile east of where the first Academy building proper stood. It may thus be seen that the institution that became so promi- nent in Southern Oregon in later years had its beginning in a very modest structure. It is written by one of the first stu- dents: "The school house had a few rude pine desks, un- painted except by ink we pupils spilled over them and un- adorned except by a few pictures drawn by our hands or carved with our knives." The first principal was Rev. Jas. H. B. Royal, who served two years. He was educated at the Rock River Seminary and McKendree College, Illinois. Mary Elizabeth Royal, his sister, was "Preceptress and teacher of physiology and mental philosophy." She later became the wife of the late Rev. John Flinn and is now living in Portland. Mr. A. R. Flint, formerly of Boston, succeeded Mr. Royal as principal. He was long a resident of Southern Oregon and was well known as a civil engineer and surveyor of public lands. He located the claim on the north bank of the Umpqua River about three miles east of Winchester that is still known as the "Flint Place." He was a pioneer merchant of Douglas County and also served a term as Receiver of Public Moneys at the Roseburg Land Office. Miss Helen Flint, a daughter of the principal, was preceptress. She became Mrs. A. H. Dearborn, now of Portland, and is the mother of Prof. R. H. Dearborn, of the Oregon Agricultural College. Other assist- ants who taught in the first building were Miss Charlotte S. Grubbe, later wife of Dr. E. R. Fisk, one time Dean of the Medical College of Willamette University. Among the early students attending at the old building were many names later and even now familiar on this coast. It is to be regretted that the complete enrollment of the first year cannot be given. Here are some of them: Dr. Geo. B. Kuykendall, now of Pomeroy, Wn. Rev. John Wesley Kuykendall, who died many years ago in California. '! 3 1 Hon. Geo. W. Riddle, former County Judge of Douglas