Robert W. Simmons, politician a pioneer in black education, born 1822 VA.1862 he took the lead and found the Sumner School, a private school for the town’s blacks. Housed in an army barrack. Simmons, on horseback,made a long and dangerous war-time trip to Washington, where he secured the building directly from President Lincoln. It is West Virginia’s earliest black public school in 1866-later named after abolitionist Sen.Sumner, In the 1980's it became a museum, The Sumnerite.Robert W. Simmons, politician a pioneer in black education, born 1822 VA.1862 he took the lead and found the Sumner School, a private school for the town’s blacks. Housed in an army barrack. Simmons, on horseback,made a long and dangerous war-time trip to Washington, where he secured the building directly from President Lincoln. It is West Virginia’s earliest black public school in 1866-later named after abolitionist Sen.Sumner, In the 1980's it became a museum, The Sumnerite.
Robert W. Simmons, politician a pioneer in black education, born 1822 VA.1862 he took the lead and found the Sumner School, a private school for the town’s blacks. Housed in an army barrack. Simmons, on horseback,made a long and dangerous war-time trip to Washington, where he secured the building directly from President Lincoln. It is West Virginia’s earliest black public school in 1866-later named after abolitionist Sen.Sumner, In the 1980's it became a museum, The Sumnerite.