By an act of the Thirty-sixth General Assembly an industrial department was established in connection with the institute.
There is no doubt but that Lincoln Institute is one of the best equipped State schools in the country for the education of colored people. Prof. J. H. Jackson, A. B., A. M., a graduate from Berea College, is President of Lincoln Institute. President Jackson has just entered upon the first year of his presidency of the institution, and it is fitting that a sketch of his life, though brief and inadequate, should be given to our readers.
[Illustration: PROF. J. H. JACKSON, A. B., A. M.]
Having been born in Kentucky, his early education was in the public schools of that old Blue-Grass State. Having the advantages that many others had not, he entered Berea College soon after he completed the public school course, and was graduated in June, 1874, with high honors, having the distinction of being the first Negro to be graduated in Kentucky. After his graduation, he taught for a number of years in the public schools of Lexington, Ky.
Prof. Jackson had a desire to retire from school life. He left Kentucky in 1881, and went to Kansas, to engage in tilling the soil. After reaching Kansas City, however, he was called to the principalship of the Lincoln High School in that city. He remained there until 1887, when he was recalled to Kentucky to take charge of the State Normal, located at Frankfort. Prof. Jackson remained at the head of that institution until June, 1898, when he was elected to his present position, to which he comes with ripe experience and scholarly attainments.
Few men are better fitted to take charge of such a school as Lincoln Institute than Prof. Jackson, and the people of Missouri have reason to be proud of the fact that he has been secured.
In this chapter I shall give brief mention of the schools managed by the "Colored Methodist Episcopal Church in America." The connection was organized in 1870, and set apart from the M. E. Church South. They have at this time five Bishops, namely: Bishop Isaac Lane, Bishop J. A. Beebe, Bishop L. H. Holsey, D. D., Bishop R. S. Williams, D. D., Bishop Elias Cottrell, D. D. The church has since its organization made very rapid progress, and is along with other religious bodies raising a great deal of money for educational purposes.