The Tennessee in the Civil War Message Board

Re: Memphis State Female College

Are you still looking for information on this college. My Great Great Grandfather Andrew Jackson Montgomery was one of the original nine men who put funds in to build it. He lived near there. College was originally called Montgomery. I have a picture of it as well.
The State Female College was located on McLemore street east of Hernando Plank Road, near Elmwood Cemetery. It was among the earlier successful educational institutions of Memphis. It was founded in 1858 by Rev. Stephen G. Starkes, and was chartered soon afterwards as a private corporation, although the name adopted was somewhat misleading. Seven citizens of Memphis purchased for the purpose of the institution seven acres of land, at what is now the corner of McLemore and College avenues. On this land large, elegant, and commodious buildings were erected at a cost of $60,000 , and the school commenced operations under the most encouraging circumstances. Under the administrations of Mr. Watson and Mr. Collins the school quickly rose to a high degree of prosperity , and gave promise of being one of the most important institutions of learning in the South. The outbreak of the Civil War and the Federal occupation of the city interrupted its operations, and the buildings and grounds were occupied by Federal Troops. After the close of the war the school was resumed, but it never recovered its former prosperity, and the yellow fever epidemics tended still more to depress it.

In the 1860 Memphis City Directory it shows Andrew Jackson Montgomery as being a Trustee on the Executive Board of the school. Andrew owned the property next to the school and this property is shown as being his place of residence.

His brother Edward Franklin Montgomery was a member of the Tennessee 7th Calvary. Do you know if they were part of Forrest's raid.

Andrew Jackson Montgomery when swearing allegiance back to the union was accused of housing confederate wounded at his home.

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Memphis State Female College
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Re: Memphis State Female College