purchase a site, which was soon sought by authority of the Baptists of
the State. They selected the abandoned building and grounds of Shelton
College, overlooking Saint Albans. Because of race prejudice, however,
the people of that town started such a protest that the owners of the
property were induced not to sell the site for such an unpopular
purpose.

A more successful effort, however, was soon made. Talking with
Superintendent Morgan about the necessity for higher education for the
Negroes of West Virginia, Byrd Prillerman obtained from this official
the promise to support a movement to supply this need. Superintendent
Morgan furthermore directed Prillerman to Governor Fleming to take up
with him the same proposal. The Governor was in a receptive mood and
informed Prillerman, moreover, that this problem could be more easily
solved than he had at first thought, for the reason that such an
institution could be so established as to benefit by the Morrill Land
Grant Act intended to subsidize, with funds from the proceeds of
public lands, institutions largely devoted to instruction in
Agriculture. Like the Negro Baptists of the State, Governor Fleming
thought of purchasing Shelton College in St. Albans; but inasmuch as
that place was not available the State government had to take more
serious action. As Governor Fleming said he would give his approval to
a bill for the establishment of such an institution, the only problem
to be then solved was to find persons to pilot such a measure through
the legislature. Superintendent Morgan outlined the plans for this
legislation. He showed how necessary it was to secure the support of
Mr. C. C. Watts and Judge James H. Ferguson. Byrd Prillerman used his
influence in securing the support of Mr. Watts and C. H. Payne induced
Judge Ferguson to lend the cause a helping hand. These gentlemen
framed the measure which, after some unnecessary debate and
unsuccessful opposition from friends of Storer College, they piloted
through the legislature in 1891 as a measure establishing the West
Virginia Colored Institute.

The first head of this institution was James E. Campbell, a graduate
of the Pomeroy High School. After laying the foundation and
popularizing the work to some extent in the central portion of the
State, Campbell resigned and was succeeded by J. H. Hill, who rendered
very efficient service until 1899, when he was succeeded by J. McHenry
Jones, under whom the school considera