"I (name) do solemnly affirm that I will support the Constitution of the United States the Constitution of this State and that I will faithfully discharge the duties of the office of Trustee to the best of my skill and Judgment So help me God." Signature of the person named above. "Sworn to before me this (the date) signed by the sec of the Board of Education.

The trustees who signed the above pledge were A. J. Keister, 8^th of July 1881; George Mallower, 13^th day of July 1881; E. J. Magorurdo; E. J. Wagoner; John D, Keister, Jr., 20^th July; James M. Temple, 1^st Aug. 1881; J. P. Dyer; Manasseh Judy, 31^st day of January 1882; Joseph May (signed Josiah F. May) 4^th day of Feb. 1882; John T. Lambert, 24^th of July 1882; George Trumbo, 27^th of Jan. 1883; E. R. Dyer Secty. BE.

I Allen Dyer do solomenly swear that I will support the constitution of the U.S. and the constitution of this State and will faithfully discharge the dutys of the office as President of Board of Education of Bethel District to the best of my skill & judgement so help me God. Sworn to and subscribed to before me this 9^th day of June 1883. Noah M. Cowger, Justice.

Jacob H. Lough was sworn in as President of the Board of Education of Bethel Dist. By H.T. Cowger, Sec. B.E. on July 26, 1887. Trusties who qualified in 1887 were H.G. Gilkeson, Geo. S. Pope, A. H. Lough, Jas S. Trumbo. Henry G. Gilkeson, W [?].F. Pope, I.E. Bolton qualified in 1888 with Jas W. Conrad, and Adam Hoover.

"Addison Simmons Trustee for Broad Run school qualified before me by taking the oath as prescribed by Law. Nov 6^th 1888. H.T. Cowger Sec. B.E"

"Cyrus Mitchell Trustee for Sub district No.9 of Bethel qualifed before me this day by taking the oath as prescribed by law. August 27, 1894. H. T. Cowger, Sec. BE."

Minutes from Nov. 16, 1881 with only Allen Dyer, President & Geo S. Pope, com. filled the unexpired vacancies for trustees with Henry Kiester, M.C. Miller, A. E. Coff??, person whose name was unreadable, and Erasmus Brady.

Dr. Frank Anderson Sheriff of Pendleton Co. in "apc with Bethel School Fund" gave an accounting of money received from the State and assessments. Among those paid were H.J. Cowger, G. A. Hivus, E. V. Blakemore, J. M. Armstrong, L. M. Pope, Reuben Puffenbarger, Katie S. Hiner, Miss S.S. Lough, W. L. Kister, David S. Hoover, Henry L. keister, and J. M. Armstrong in 1881. On page 9 were the names of H. Gilkeson, E.R. Dyer, Wagonner, Chris Shoemaker, Sylvester Burrows, ?, P. Pope., George D. Wagoner, W.A. Judy, John A. Mallow, J.F. May, Geo Dasher, A.J. Guther, Wm Hoover, S.H. Propst, J. Trumbo, David Sienst, Daniel Kiser, W. Eyer, Samuel Eyer, Josiah May, Erasmus Brady, John Fink, John Dyer, Joel Thomas.

In Feb 1882, a case was submitted to the Board "the expediency of teaching school on Saturdays in Sub-district No. 2," it was agreed that one half of Saturdays in the 4 months may be taught. Another motion was that school in Sub district No 4 "may be continued for 4 month from the time of commencing or as long as the School makes a daily average of 10 Pupils during the Term of School."

Minutes of May 27, 1882, included the names of those who were to be reimbursed for providing wood and other maintenance. "It is further order that Wittig who is teaching on Shenandoah Mt. be paid in purportion to the number of scholars attending from each Co. Rockingham & Pendleton Co's."

Minutes of July 1882 include appointment of Wm Nickleson, Robt. Davis, A.E. Coffman, J.R. Lambert, Geo Dasher, Nash Kukendull, Manasseh Judy, E. Brady, Jas M. ? and Adam Lough as trustees. It was also ordered that John Fink be appointed to ??the furnishing of school house on Shenandoah Mt. And to report the estimated cost of completion before the work is done. Schools were to be taught for 4 months. The salaries for the teachers per month for the school year "shall be as follows according to grade of certificate. No 1 $26, No. 2 $23, No 3 $20 it having been ascertained by the Board that it will be necessary to raise by levy for the payment of teachers salaries for the current year in addition to the available funds on hand. It is ordered that a Levy of 20 c on the $100 - valuation of the Real Estate and personal property of the District be leaved for that purpose."

On page 11 of the ledge, John D. Keister, Jr., John R. Lambert, Jacob W. Propst, John P. Dyer qualified and took the oath as prescribed by law as of Dec. 1883.

In 1884- 93 Henry Keister, G.S. Pope, Samuel Eye, G.D. Waggoner and John Lambert, A. Hively, Sylvester Simmons, Granville Dyer, A. J. Keister, Chris Shumaker, Anderson O. Propst, Henry W. Pope, Geo W. Brady, A. J. Morris, A. J. Guthries, Hiram Nazlerood, M.S. Shaver, Jacob Trumbo, and A. L. Pope qualified as trustees.

Office of the Board of Education of Bethel District County of Pendleton West Virginia. At a meeting of the Board on the 30^th day of April 1887, present Allen Dyer president, Jacob H. Lough and Henry Keister Commisioners.

On motion it is ordered that A.J. Guthrie be allowed $3 for furnishing wood for school in sub dist. No. 8, that George Trumbo be allowed $4 for furnishing wood in sub. Dist No. 5, that Ira S. Pope be allowed $1.75c for furnishing wood in Sub. Dist No. 6, that Washington Kuykendoll be allowed $2.45c for furnishing wood in sub.dist. No. 5, that Jacob H. Lough be allowed $3 for furnishing wood in Sub. Dist. No 3, that Sylvester Simmons be allowed $4.15 c for furnishing wood in Sub. Dist. No. 2, that Jackson L. Pope be allowed $1.50c for repairing school house in Sub.dist No. 6, that Saml. K. Lambert be allowed $1.00 for repairing stove in Sub. Dist. No. 3.

On motion it is ordered that E. R. Dyer & Bro be allowed $7.53 for furnishing axes, buckets, brooms &c for the schools of Bethel dist.

On motion it is ordered that the Trustees of the several Sub. Districts of Bethel be instructed not to allow any school property of the dist to be used by private individuals as private property.

On motion it is ordered that H. T. Cowger be allowed $17 for his services as Secretary of this Board for the year ending June 30^th 1887 said amount to include the $10 for making his annual report to the County Supt. Nothing more before the Board it is ordered that we adjourn. Allen Dyer, P.B.

H. T. Cowger, Secretary

Office of the board of Education of Bethel Dist. County of Pendleton State of West Va.

At a meeting of the Board held on the first Monday of July 1887 present Jacob H. Lough president, Henry Keisler and James A. Waggoner Members of the Board.

On motion it is ordered that H. T. Cowger be appointed Secretary of the Board from this date. It is ordered that the following named persons be appointed Trustees in the several Sub. Districts of Bethel; for Sub dist. No. 1 Morgan Propst for 3 years, No. 2 Wm Nicholson for 3 years, Jas S. Trumbo 2 years, W.M. Sibert 1 year. No. 3 A. j. Morris 3 years, H. T. Gilkeson 2 yrs. No. 4 E. H. Rexroad 3 years, No. 5 Dasher Wilson 3 yrs. No. 6 Saml K. Lambert 3 yrs. No. 7 George W. Mallow 3 yrs. No. 8 W.W. Eye 3 yrs. A. H. Lough 2 yrs.

It is ordered that the schools in the dist. Be taught 4 months the present school year.

It is ordered that there be nine schools taught in the dist. during the present school year.

It is ordered that the salaries of Teachers per month for the school year shall be as follows according to the grade of their certificates. For No. 1. $25, No. 2 $22, No. 3 $18. It having been ascertained by the Board that it will be necessary to raise by levy for the payment of Teachers salaries for the current school year in addition to the available funds on hand $336.

It is ordered that a tax of fourteen cents (14c) on the $100 valuation of all the real estate and personal property of the dist. Be levied for that purpose and eleven cents (11c) for building fund.

It is ordered that a school house be erected in Sub dist. No. 6 on a site to be yet determined by the Board. Said house to be advertised immediately and to be let to contract to the lowest bidder on Saturday the 30^th day of July 1887 and to be completed by the 15^th day of Nov. 1887. It is ordered that the President and Secretary of this board be authorized to sign in vacation all proper orders for the payment of money out of the Teachers fund and Building fund on the salaries of Teachers employed and claims allowed by the Board and that they report the amount so drawn for on each at the next meeting of the Board.

Nothing more before the Board it is ordered that we adjourn.

J.H. Lough P.B.

H.T. Cowger Secretary B.E.

At a meeting of the Board held on the 30^th of July 1887 present Jacob H. Lough president, Henry Keister & James A. Waggoner Commissioners.

On motion it is ordered that Geo. S. Pope be appointed Trustee in Sub. Dist. No. 6 for the unexpired term of 3 years.

It is further ordered that Geo. S. Pope to be paid $100 on the 1^st day of January 1888 as a payment on a Schoolhouse to be erected by him in Sub. Dist. No. 6.

Nothing more before this Board it is ordered that we adjourn. Signed by Jacob H. Lough, P.B. and H. T. Cowger Secretary

A personal note from Sandra:  The handwritten Ledger of the Board of Education meetings from about 1880-1893 was loaned to me by a descendant of Henry T. Cowger. Henry T's descended from George and Hannah Cowger through their son Henry and his wife Elizabeth Randall Cowger, and their son Jacob. Jacob moved off the homestead after his marriage. This line is about 6 miles from the original Cowger homestead and located at Fort Seybert.

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2001, Janet Cooper

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