Samuel Jefferson Ledgerwood - Early Superintendent of Union County Schools

Searching and researching our history at times is very difficult. Sometimes it is right in front of us and we can’t see it. In trying to organize some old pictures I found a picture of Samuel Jefferson Ledgerwood, son of Marganner and James Lourentry Ledgerwood, and a little history to go with it.

Samuel Jefferson Ledgerwood was born in Union County on October 27,1852 and died at Halls in Knox County on December 20, 1916. I expect that the Ledgerwood Square Condominiums are located on a part of his property. He married Mary Ann Hill, b. September 29, 1857 - d. July 2, 1888. After Mary Ann died, Mr. Ledgerwood m. Louisa Irwin b. August 2, 1869 - d. March 2, 1922. Mr. Ledgerwood and his wives are buried at Milan Baptist Church Cemetery. Samuel and Louisa had nine children–Mary Reva (1892 -1895); Georgia Mae (1894 - 1966); Shirley Irwin b. (1896), m. Mildred E. Davis; James Frank (b. 1898), m. Constance Hulsman; Percy Bruce (b. 1901); Mattie Lee, Gladys, Samuel Jefferson and Mildred Elizabeth (b. 1910 - d. 1948) - m. Jospeh E. Carlisle.

Mr. Ledgerwood began his teaching career at Paulette Academy in 1868 at age 16. The Ledgerwood families lived in the Beard Valley and Raccoon Valley (Paulette) sections of Union County. Attorney Lafayette “Fate” Ledgerwood lived at the Edgebert Graves (now Mariam Walker ) place. Later, Fate’s son and daughter-in-law, Lee and Elizabeth “Lizzie, ” lived there. Mrs. Ledgerwood taught piano lessons and her husband sold sewing machines. Samuel Jefferson Ledgerwood eventually became Superintendent of Union County Schools; however, I do not know the terms of service. Even when Mr. Ledgerwood died the county was not yet keeping school records in a central location. If anyone happens to find a record of where and when he taught and served as superintendent, I would really like to add it to my notes.