Education
This page contains information about Alcorn's early education in Mississippi and the schools where he taught in the 1890s.
Early Education - Eason's School
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According to an 1880 MS Census, Alcorn Howze and his siblings were living in Independence, Tate Co., MS and they were attending "Eason's school" at the time. I am still trying to figure out where that school was located, but I created a list of every student who was said to be attending there in the 1880 MS Census. The students' names are listed below along with their ages. It was not unusual for this many students to be attending a single school house together. It's likely that the school building was small and all the students were educated together in one room at the same time.
If you are related to anyone in this list, or if you have any information about where this school might have been located, please let me know!
There is one bit of information that may be related to "Eason's School" where Alcorn and his siblings attended.
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Isham Robertson Howze, the man who enslaved Alcorn's father, had a daughter named Elizabeth Bourdon "Donnie" Howze. In 1871, Donnie Howze married Captain John. T. Eason. They lived near Donnie's family home until the late 1890s. Capt. J.T. Eason purchased land in Wall Hill, MS and surrounding areas in Marshall and Tate County, MS. It's possible that Capt. Eason and Donnie donated or sold some land for the school and it was named after him.
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Donnie Howze was a teacher in 1870, and her mother Elizabeth Wilson Howze actually founded and managed a school in Chulahoma, MS for much of her early adult life. It's possible one or both of them assisted with establishing the school.
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Teaching in Mississippi - New Garden and New Salem "colored schools"
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According to the "1890 Replacement Census Tate County" by Louise Cox Fox, "J.A. Howze" is living in Independence, MS and his occupation is listed as teacher. Later in the book, there is a list of "colored schools" with the teachers and trustees listed. J.A. Howze is a teacher at
New Garden and New Salem Schools. More information about them below:
1890 New Garden trustees: 1890 New Garden teachers: :
B.M. Wilson J.D. Davis
J.S. Rigney P.H. Henderson
G.W. Toliver Mary Danmer
Gid Fowler. J.A. Howze *
A.S. Smith
I. Elder
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1890 New Salem trustees: 1890 New Salem teachers:
A.S. Smith J.A. Howze *
Dave Massey Kate Bumpass
H. Strickland Lizzie Martin
Peter Davis
H.W. Lewers
George Sellers
N.T. Brooks