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Frank Chalmers Neilson
Author Unknown

“Frank Chalmers Neilson was born and raised in the late 19th century near Pine Bluff, Arkansas. He completed his education at Philander-Smith College in Little Rock and began teaching in the rural schools of Arkansas. At the turn of the century, he was offered a position in Lafayette County, moved to Oxford, and taught at Galilee School. When a new school, Rosenwald Junior High, was built in Oxford, Neilson was invited to become the Principal.

Neilson married Harriet Wiggins. Harriet was the daughter of Lucretia Pulley Wiggins who was born a slave in Coffeeville in 1837. After the Civil War, Lucretia moved to Water Valley and married Harkless Wiggins in the late 19th century. Eventually the Wiggins' bought a farm in Taylor.

Of Frank and Harriet Neilson's eight children, two became teachers in rural Lafayette County. Frank loved mathematics, history, and geography. Frank Neilson died in 1930 after over 20 years of teaching and inspiring students to complete their education."

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