Biography of Mary E. Powell Rist

Mary Powell Rist was born three miles west of Summit, Miss., July 17, 1877 to Hillary and Laura Lenard Powell.   She died in She at attended public schools at Sand Hill and Summit, finishing the grammar course at the latter school. Later attended New Orleans University, New Orleans, LA. Being forth of a family of twelve children, her educational advantages were limited. In 1894,  she began teaching in the public schools of Pike County, Mississippi. In 1900, she entered Morris Brown College Atlanta, Ga., to prepare for mission work in foreign fields. Her father failing to consent, she declined. 

She was one of nine children. Her siblings were; Georgiana, John, Hillary, Bennie, Minnie, Beulah, Nannie, and Edward Powell. 

In 1900, Mrs. Rist's book was published "My Leisure Moments,"  which was favorably received. In it, she wad very touchingly appeals to the women of the race for higher standard of womanhood.

In October, 1901, she was led to her bridal nuptial by Mr. J.C. Rest, of Summitt, Mississippi. At present, she is engaged in teaching, her leisure time being utilized in revising her first work, and adding to the a serial which she hopes to bring out in the near future.

References

Professor I.W. Crawford, B.S. Multa In Pavor. 1909. pg 214

The Biography of William Henry Holtzclaw Founder of Utica Normal and Industrial Insitute

William Henry Holtzclaw was born in 1876 in Alabama. In 1910 he was a principal at a college in Hinds County, Mississippi. He was born to a former slaves and sharecroppers. His mother told him that the only way to escape poverty was to get and education.  William went on to enroll in Tuskegee Institute and studied under the leadership of Booker T. Washington. 

Booker T. Washington inspired Williams to used his education to teach and educate the children of former sharecroppers in rural areas in the South poverty stricken communities. Williams chose Utica, Mississippi to solicit support from both black and white people to organize and build the Utica Normal and Industrial Institute. 

Williams was married to Mary Ella Patterson Holtzclaw. Mary was a 1895 graduate of Tuskegee Institute at the Snow Hill Normal and Industrial School in Alabama. After her and Williams moved to Hinds County, Mississippi, she and her husband found Utica Normal and Industrial Institute where she was in charged of the training of black girl's studies. 

The Institute later became Utica Junior College, and eventually the Utica campus of Hinds Community College. He was and author and published two newspaper, the monthly Utica News and a s school newspaper, Southern Notes. He also published his autobiography, " The Black Man's Burden, in 1915.

References

Professor Crawford, I. W: Multa In Parvo The Connell Printing Company, 1904.