JONESVILLE'S DUKE LEGEND

BRANTLEY YORK—JONESVILLE’S DUKE CONNECTION

Among legends from Jonesville of long ago is one about Duke University. There is an element of truth to the Duke legend—but somehow through the years, it has gotten jumbled up.

Some people will still tell you that it is all true.

The legend can be traced at least as far back as 1914 when an article appeared in an Elkin newspaper. The article stated that that Duke University probably got its start in Jonesville.

The true story is that the man who organized the school that became Duke once lived in Jonesville. But he did not live in Jonesville until several years after he organized the school that became Duke.

It was in Randolph County in 1838 that he organized the school that became become Duke. It grew quickly and became widely known as was Union Collegiate Institute. Years later it was renamed Trinity College. Eventually, Trinity was moved to Durham and was renamed again-- Duke University.

The man who organized the school that became Duke was Brantley York, a Methodist preacher who was also a teacher. His portrait hangs in the University’s gallery of presidents in the main library on the Duke campus. His portrait also hangs in the narthex of Jonesville First United Methodist Church, which stands on the site of the Jonesville Academy.

 The pulpit from which he preached is on display in the church’s fellowship hall.

York established a 200-mile lecture circuit and selected Jonesville as its center. At that time, Jonesville was one of the busiest towns west of Raleigh. He was attracted to Jonesville because of its central location, its climate, its outstanding academy… and its good mineral spring water.

While in Jonesville, York frequently lectured at the Jonesville Academy.

When on tours, it would take him two weeks to cover his circuit.

Even after he was totally blind, Brantley York continued lecturing and preaching, traveling by buggy, stage coach or train, all over the state, usually with his wife or a son as a companion… and sometimes alone.

Union Collegiate Institute was under Brantley York’s guidance for five years…until he began to lose his eye sight. He attributed his failing eyes to spending long hours at night preparing for his students… by candlelight.

When his eyes grew worse, he decided that it was best to give up classroom work and to turn to lecturing and preaching… from memory. Brantley York—Jonesville’s Duke connection.

                                                                                      --CHARLES GRAY MATHIS

Source: The Autobiography of Brantley York, Amanuensis Two Edition
               The Elkin Tribune
              The Little Church In Jonesville: A Bicentennial Account
                     of Jonesville First United Methodist Church
               duke.edu/brantley york