The famed John J. Dickey, the founder of Jackson Academy, later Lees College, in Jackson during the 1880s, wrote a letter to the editor, J.L. McCoy, of the Jackson Times in 1918. It follows:

Rev. J. J. Dickey Praises Breathitt

Second M. E. Church, South

Maysville, Kentucky, June 5, 1918

Mr. J. L. McCoy, Jackson, Kentucky

My Dear Friend: By the courtesy of Mrs. W. J. Elliott, a native of Breathitt, now of this city, whose mother was one of my pupils in Jackson Academy, I have just enjoyed reading The Jackson Times of May 1918. The record of the school commencements thrills me. When I contrast the educational situation in Breathitt County in 1882, with the conditions today I find reasons for great rejoicing and thanksgiving.

It was in the afternoon of November 18, 1882, that I rode into Jackson for the first time, and found hospitable entertainment in the home of Hon. G. W. Sewell, to whom I had a letter of introduction from Rev. T. B. Cook, then Presiding Elder of the Mountain District. At that time, Mr. R. A. Hurst was teaching the district school in the courthouse with about 25 pupils present. I made a short talk to the school, and told the pupils to tell their parents to come to the courthouse that night, and I would deliver an address on education. Some 30 or 40 persons came to hear me. At that time, I had no more idea of locating in Jackson than I had of locating in Boston. I had a great scheme in my mind, and was working to make it a reality. I had conceived the idea of having a high grade school established in every county seat of the mountain region; the need of which greatly impressed me. My scheme was to go through these counties and solicit young men to go to the colleges of the Bluegrass section, and qualify to do that work. Later they would return to their native seats, build up private schools in the capitals of the counties, so that the young people of these counties might have better advantages. The public schools might be better supplied with better teachers, and in this way better facilities for education might be brought to the door of every child. To everybody but myself, the undertaking seemed Quixotic, but I was confident as the brave Don.

The noble horse that was carrying me in my search for young men became lame at Jackson, and halted me in my journey. This kept me there three weeks, and resulted in my residing in Jackson 13 years. While I was not permitted to carry out my scheme in the way I had planned, yet I had a profound satisfaction in knowing that my dream of years ago was realized, even before the state made a high school in every county compulsory. My joy is brightened by the knowledge of the great progress in Breathitt, to whose people I gave joyfully the best years of my life. As I write in my mind is flooded with memories of those years of delightful service.

I am truly proud of Breathitt's record in the war. Her distinction in sending her quota in volunteers, up to the present time, gives her a unique place in Kentucky history. I rejoice in everything that indicates her prosperity. My faith in her future has never waned since the day I located within her borders.

I would like to say to every one to whom I had the privilege of giving instruction that I still expect them to act well their part in making the world a better place in which to live, and that their posterity may point with pride to this record. The richest legacy one can bequeath to his offspring is a noble life, and this everyone can do.

I wish to send greetings to all my friends in Breathitt County and surrounding counties. As editor and publisher of The Hustler, I had a great opportunity of making friends, as well as in my teaching and preaching. I look back upon the 19 years I spent in the mountains of my native state, as the happiest and most satisfactory years of my life. I consider it my good fortune that I had the privilege of knowing so many of the people of that section, and of contributing my mite in helping them to work out a noble destiny. I have always contended that the greatest resources of the mountains were not material but mental, and that the day is coming when from her defiles will spring the men and women who will dominate the state.

I am most delightfully located in the city of Maysville as pastor of one of her churches, in vigorous health, and still doing a man's work.

Fraternally,

J. J. Dickey