it was the only graded school for Negroes in the State
of West Virginia, and had to supply many of the first teachers and
ministers in West Virginia and even in the adjacent portions of
Maryland and Virginia. The towns nearby caught the spirit of the
uplift of the Negro from what was being done for the race in Storer
College. This institution, of course, had its opposition; but wherever
there was a helpful attitude toward the Negro, the work which it was
doing in spite of its difficulties stood out as a shining light.[16]

Many of the early teachers of Storer College spent a part of their
time working among Negroes in nearby communities. Mrs. Annie Dudley, a
white woman connected with that institution, taught the first school
at Shepherdstown. She had about twenty-five students and conducted a
night and a day school. She was a well-educated, sympathetic woman who
did much to lay the foundation for the Negro public school which was
established there in 1872. The next popular teacher in the Eastern
Panhandle was William B. Evans, who successfully taught in
Shepherdstown, Keyser, Martinsburg, and Bolivar for forty-two years.
His wife, Mrs. M. E. L. Evans, after beginning in Virginia, taught ten
years at Storer, Summit Point, Smithfield, and Bolivar. William Arter
taught thirty-two years at Kabletown, doing excellent work. The most
prominent teacher that Shepherdstown had was John H. Hill. He graded
the work of the school and endeavored to standardize instruction. He
is still remembered in that community for the efficient work which he
did. He was finally succeeded by Alexander Freeman when Mr. Hill
became an instructor in the West Virginia Colored Institute, of which
he later became principal.

About the same time the influence of Storer College was felt in
Charles Town, the county seat of Jefferson County, where there was
another settlement of Negroes. The first teacher of whom we have a
record was one Enos Wilson, a Negro. He was a man of fair preparation
through self-instruction. He had much enthusiasm in his work, exerted
an influence for good, and won the respect of his people. In achieving
his success he had the cooperation of Mr. William Hill, the
grandfather of J. H. Hill. Although not well informed himself, William
Hill believed in education and religion, and supported all uplift
movements then taking shape among the Negroes.

Following Enos Wilson, who later became an instructor in another
field, came L. L. P