Hazel Green Academy

"Hazel Green Academy is established as a Mission for the Kentucky mountains hence its very low rates of tuition, and the offer of the managers to educate free of charge the worthy indigent. It is intended to bring it within the power of the poorest in this world's goods to secure a good education. It is hoped the Academy may serve as a stepping stone to college and a higher sphere in life to some who otherwise might never have an aspiration beyond the life of their fathers. By giving young men and women a taste of better things, we hope to fill them with a noble ambition to rise in life."

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Hazel Green Academy was founded in 1880 in the small farming community of Hazel Green, in Wolfe County, Kentucky. At the urging of his wife Lou Ellen, Senator William Oldham Mize, along with two other men of the Hazel Green community, Jesse Taylor Day (see below for Jesse Taylor Day ~ Family Genealogy) and Green Berry Swango, financed and established the Academy. It was established in 1880 by a Charter from the Kentucky Legislature. The bill was introduced by a Hazel Green citizen, Senator William O. Mize. The Founders of the school were Mize and his wife, Hazel Green merchant, J. Taylor Day, and Green Berry Swango, Greenberry was a community leader in Wolfe County, Kentucky, a Commissioner of Wolfe County, a Judge in Wolfe County (two terms: 1882-1886), a delegate to the Kentucky Constitutional Convention in 1890.

Greenberry Swango, CSA

The first classes were held in the Hazel Green Masonic Hall, before a permanent school building was erected downtown in 1885. N. B. (Napoleon Bonaparte) Hays was the first principal. He was later the Attorney General of Kentucky. Hazel Green offered health services, and ran a farm to provide many of the school's staples. Much of the labor to support the school came from the students. In its earlier years, the Academy was called the "Athens of the West" and the "Mother Mountain School" as it preceded other private, missionary and public schools in its 20 county service area by several years

The founders remained responsible for the school until 1886, at the invitation of the Founders, in 1886, the Kentucky Christian Woman's Board of Missions (CWBM), a sisterhood of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), assumed operation of the financially ailing school. The Disciples of Christ adopted the school in 1886 and operated it as a mission, with tuition and boarding costs offset by outside donations and work scholarships for students. The academy’s motto was, “Where we find a path or make one.” The magnitude of the undertaking as the "Kentucky Mountain Mission" caused the Kentucky Board to appeal to the National CWBM at Indianapolis for support. By 1919, the CWBM was enveloped in the new United Christian Missionary Society (UCMS) which sponsored the Academy. In 1919, another division of the Christian Church, the United Christian Missionary Society, headquartered in Indianapolis, Indiana, became the governing body and the major source of financial support for the Academy. 

By the mid-1920’s, the Academy boasted a 212-acre farm, a used clothing store, a small hospital and a kindergarten, along with a gymnasium, administration building, classrooms and an arts and crafts complex. Free public education offered by the state, however, began to sweep through the state in the 1910’s and 1920’s. Although the Academy teaching staff during those years numbered few more than a half-dozen, grades 1-12 were offered until 1929, when grades 1-6 were discontinued. As public schools were established in the area, the academy stopped teaching the first six grades in 1929, the Academy began offering courses only for middle and high school students. In 1965, grades 7 and 8 were dropped.

But under Stovall’s leadership in the 1930s and 1940s, course offerings and community services grew. The school had its own water and power plants, which supplied electricity to the town into the 1930s. At various times, Hazel Green Academy also provided the community with a library and a small hospital. When World War II ended, the school’s farm donated more than six tons of food for European relief. The Academy continued to teach grades 7-12 until 1965, by which time grades 7 and 8 were no longer being offered. Established at a time when few eastern Kentucky roads were passable the year round, and 28 years before Kentucky provided for the establishment and maintenance of public high schools, Hazel Green Academy began as a boarding school and remained so until 1983.The school closed its doors August 31, 1983. Its last Director was Dr. Robert "Sandy" Goodlett and the last Principal was Rev. Bob Dailey. Dailey was the principal, 1980-83. Before that he was the math and science teacher for two years.

Hazel Green 1885 (newspaper above)

Hazel Green 1900, wing had been added on

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Jesse Taylor Day ~ Family Genealogy

John Day B: 1418 Denbighshire, Wales D: 1515 Shinfield, Berkshire, England M: 1452 Margaret de Bracy Griffith 1418-1505

Sir Nicholas Day B: 1452 Shropshire, England D: 1526 Newport, Monmouthshire, Wales M: 1472 Sarah Lowe. Children: Baron of  Warfield Nicolas Day 1472- & Sir Richard Worfield Day 1477–1585.

Baron of Warfield Nicolas Day B: 1472 Shropshire, England D:   M: Mary Lowe 1543 Shropshire, England D: 

Richard Warfield Day B: 1477 Newport, Shropshire, England D:  1570 St Davids, Pembrokeshire, Wales M: 1502 Lady Elizabeth Agnes Osborne B: 1480 Pembroke, Pembrokeshire, Wales D: 1580 Southwark, London Borough of Southwark, Greater London, England, 20 children.

Sir Robert Day Dee of Snaith B: 1518 Pembroke, Pembrokeshire, Wales D: 1558 Shillingford, Wales: Glamorgan, Wales M:  1544 Lady Maryon Normon B: 1520 D: 1576 Rickmansworth, Hertfordshire, England.

John Daye B: 1544 North Riding, Riding, Yorkshire, England D: 1584 Saint Savior, Surrey, England M1: 1559 Alice Elizabeth Wentworth B: 1541 Yorkshire, England D: 1624 Scrooby, Bassetlaw District, Nottinghamshire, England, 13 children M2: 1563 Helene Shepharde B: 1540 Shephall, Hertfordshire, England D: 1564 Hertfordshire, England.  2 children M3: 1574 Elizabeth Smith 1554-1616 Wedmore, Somerset, England, 1 child.

Richard Robert Day  1575 Kilburn, Yorkshire, England D: 1628 M: 1595 Anna Kirby 1579-1609

John L Day B: 1597 Shrewsbury, Shropshire Eng. Registered at St. Mark D: 1664 Petworth Parish, Gloucester, Virginia, US M: Elizabeth Mason B: 1600 Shrewsbury, Shropshire Eng. Registered at St. Mark D: 1650 VA

John Day 1627-1657 Mary Bennett Bland  1624-1701 Children: Mary Day 1643-, James Day 1645-1701, Elizabeth Day 1651-1713, John Day 1653-1725 & Anne Bennett Day-Chapman 1655-1711.

James Day  1645-1701 M: Mary Thompson 1666-1712 Children: James Day, Elizabeth Day-Ridley & Thomas Day.

James Day 1680-1726 M: Juliana Norsworthy. Children: Thomas O Day & James Day

Thomas O Day 1699-1752

John Day 1720-1760

Joshua Tyler Day 1740-1785M: Lucy Ann Gibson 1740-1786 Children: Elizabeth Day 1756-1854, PVT William Clay Day Sr 1759–1821, PVT John Day 1760–1837, Lucy Ann Day Waggoner 1766–1823,  PVT John Reuben Day 1770–1840, Archibald Day 1772-1850 & Henry Day 1778-.

Pvt John Day 1760-1837 M: 1782 Rebecca Howe 1765-1856.  A Revolutionary Patriot. Fought with the Virginia militia from 1776 - 1779. Children: Joseph, Daniel, Pvt William, John, Betsey, Allen Taylor, Anna and Jesse

Jesse C Day 1802-1883 M: 1820 Margaret Caskey 1804-1884 Children: William Day 1821–1884, Judge Robert Caskey Day 1822–1897, Rebecca Jane Day Finch 1826–1893, Elizabeth Day Haney 1829–1901, PVT John Washington Day 1832–1896 & Allen Taylor Day 1837–1884).

William  Day 1821-1884 of Kentucky M: 1844 Phoebe Eleanor Gibbs 1825-1862. William was reared on a farm in Morgan Co. and educated at private schools. He bought land, most of which was virgin forest. Here he lived and followed farming until his death, at which he owned ten thousand acres of timber land. In 1859 he was elected to the legislature of his state on the Democratic ticket and served one term.

1~Margaret Day1849–1890 M: 1866 Archibald Callaway Cope  1828-1907

2~Nancy Jane Day 1851–1854 

3~Nathan Floyd Day Sr 1854–1936 M: Roselie Dupont Kash 1869-1929

4~Mary Elizabeth Day 1857–1860

5~John C. Mason Day 1859–1915 M: 1887 Margaret C McLin 1865-1921. John was a successful lumber dealer.

6~William Day Jr 1862–1934 M: Rowena Rae Marion 1862-1930

1~Luther Day 1884–1905

2~Carrie Day 1890–1930 M: 1908 Hiram June Jett 1883-1970

1~June Eloise Jett 1913-1965 M: Alfred Stratton Miller 1913-1978

1~Henry David Miller 1942-2015

3~Eleanor "Nellie" Day 1897–1923 M: 1922 Zachary Taylor Hurst  Jr 1894-1949

1~Maj Albert Hardin Hurst 1922-2006 CPL US Army WWII Civil Air Patrol 

4~William Ernest Day III 1899–1942 M: Julia Jett 1907-2000  

1~William O Day B: 1930 Frozen Creek, KY D: 2014 M: Carolyn Ann Aloia 1931-2015 He was a retired Major in the United States Marine Corps. and was a Vietnam veteran, Bronze Star Medal with valor.

  

1~Whitney Day

2~William O Day II

3~Michael J Day

7~Louellen Day Hargis 1864–1929 M: 1880 Judge James Henderson Hargis 1862-1908, killed by his son.

  

The Hargis Brothers Department Store, Jackson, Kentucky

Home was constructed by James H Hargis where he and wife Louellen raised their two children Beech and Evelyn. This is the home where James had his funeral wake after he was shot and killed by his son Beech in 1908. Home has been torn down in 1937 and Breathitt High School now stands on the land.

1~Beauchamp Cooper Hargis 1884–1918 He was a heavy drinker, enlisted in 1905, in the Army, being discharged, less than five months later, on February 5, 1906, in Missouri, for "disability." He left the country for Belize, for a year before returning. Beauchamp was beat several times by his father, whom he killed 1908 at the family department store.

2~Evelyn Hargis 1890–1958 M1: 1902 William Price Hogg 1878–1918 M2: 1919 Kash Clay Williams 1882–1966

8~Jesse Taylor Day B: 12/12/1846 KY  D: 02/19/1921 M: Rowena Belle Trimble 1850-1932. Jesse died of a cerebral hemorrhage. J. T. Day, a Mason, was a merchant in Hazel Green, Wolfe County, Kentucky, for over fifty years. Buried at Hazel Green Cemetery, KY. Owner of  J.T. Day and Company. He had branch stores at Lee City, Torrent and Frozen. He ran a grist mill on a tract of his land on the Red River, and coal mines were opened up on some of his farms. He accumulated much land. He ran a cattle business and a lumber business in connection with his stores. He wanted to meet the needs of the mountain people. He had a tender heart and always remained the poor man's friend.

1~Kelly Bruce Day 1870–1890 Kelly was on his way to Cincinnati to buy merchandise and an engagement ring for his sweetheart, he was the innocent victim of a stray bullet that had been intended for another man.

2~Lula Day 1872–1935 M: 1891 Rollin A Kash 1870-1901

1~Jesse Day Kash Sr 1892–1969

2~Rowena Kash Combs 1895–1975

3~Dollie Ellen Kash Reed 1897–1969

3~Lillie Day 1873–1951 M: Robert Joseph McLin 1867-1955

1~Mary Roe McLin Howard 1893–1925

2~Monnie Belle McLin Kash 1895–1984

3~Mildred McLin 1898–1983

4~Daisy Florence McLin Huber 1900–1997

5~Robert Bruce McLin 1903–1957

6~Christine McLin Howard 1906–1997

7~Lillian Day McLin Hufford 1909–1981

8~Irene M. McLin Keller 1912–1995

9~Ruby Kathleen McLin Tutt 1912–2000

4~Daisy Day 1886–1947 M: 1911 James Ignatius Hollon Sr 1883-1960

1~Kelly Day Hollon 1912–1930

2~James Ignatius Hollon Jr 1916–1982 M: 1939 Edna Mae Hoover 1914-2012

3~Elizabeth Trimble Hollon 1918–2006 M: James Lacy Stewart 1920-1999

4~Raymon Edward Hollon 1928–1928

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Rev. Clarence Larkin

Henry J Derthick 1906-1910

Hazel Green Academy 1960 Post Card

Henry Stovall Memorial

Hazel Green Industrial Building

1887 Baseball

Pearl (Day) Bach (1887-1968)

Mrs. Pearl Day Bach, historian of the Former Students Association of the academy, has compiled the information concerning the school, particularly in its early years. Mrs. William Everett Bach (Pearl Day Bach), was born in Hazel Green, Wolfe County, Kentucky, and graduated from Hazel Green Academy in 1905. During this time, Pearl became the organist for the Hazel Green Presbyterian Church and later began teaching Music at Caney, Kentucky. In 1905, she was married to William Everett Bach of Jackson, Kentucky and settled in Cannel City, Kentucky where her husband worked as the conductor on the Ohio & Kentucky Railroad. The couple resided briefly in Pineville from 1917 to 1919, where William Bach became the president of the Kentucky River Mining Co. In 1919, Mr. and Mrs. Bach, along with two daughters settled permanently in Lexington, where Mr. Bach continued working for the coal business, and with the Kearns Coal Company, of Cincinnati, Ohio. Pearl was active in numerous organizations, committees, and causes. Among her activities include membership of the Eastern Star, the United Daughters of Confederacy, President of the Crippled Children's Board of the Good Samaritan Hospital, on Advisory Committee of Dessie Scott Children's Home in Wolfe County, charter member and organizer of the Kentucky Mountain Club of Lexington, Kentucky, as well as chairman of the Sick and Hospital Committee from 1945 to 1958. Foremost, she is most notable as an active Kentucky genealogist and clubwoman. 

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