t a few weeks visiting relatives, and then returned
to Marietta. Here I worked at my trade in a carriage-shop, where a great
deal of machine-work was done for two furniture factories and a
planing-mill. Much of my time was spent in repairing machinery and
making bits and knives for the factories.

While at home I tried to make myself a part of the people in a helpful
way. I lived with my parents about two miles from the town. On my
father's farm was a church, the ground for which had been given by my
father. I was elected superintendent of the Sunday-school of this
church, and filled this position as long as I remained there. Soon
after the Sunday-school was started it occurred to me that the young
people of the community could be greatly helped by a literary society.
With the aid of others I organized a society and was elected its
president. We met every Friday night at the house of some member. It was
the custom to meet at different places, so that the long distances
necessary to walk would be equally shared by all. Even by this
arrangement some had to walk three and four miles, but the pleasure and
benefit derived from attending the society repaid us for the trouble.

After I had been at my home about a year, I received a letter from Mr.
Booker T. Washington requesting that I write to Mr. J. Edwin Campbell,
Principal of the West Virginia Colored Institute, then located near
Farm, W. Va. Enclosed with Mr. Washington's letter was one Mr. Campbell
had written, asking that a Tuskegee graduate be named to take the
position of Superintendent of Mechanics. This title has since been
changed to Superintendent of Mechanical Industries. On January 3, 1893,
I arrived at the West Virginia Colored Institute and entered upon my
duties, and have held the position ever since.

[Illustration: STARTING A NEW BUILDING.

Student masons laying the foundation in brick.]

In the early summer of 1898 Mr. J. H. Hill, who was then principal,
resigned to accept a Lieutenancy in a company of United States
Volunteers. During the interim following the resignation of Mr. Hill and
the appointment of Mr. J. McHenry Jones, the present principal, I was
placed in charge of the school by the Board of Regents. Mr. Jones was
elected principal September 21, 1898.

Until the fall of 1898 my duties were many and varied, as I had no
assistance in carrying on the industrial work of the school. I taught
blacksmithing, carpentering, and mechanical drawi