In October, 1902, leaving his wife in Alabama, he started for Utica, where, with unflagging industry he succeeded in opening a school under an oak tree in the forest one mile from the town. As soon as he was able to secure a cabin in which to teach the young people flocked in great numbers to his school. In a very short while he had 200 pupils in daily attendance. One teacher after another was employed; but the struggle was most distressing when he found that he could not raise money enough to pay them. During all this time he was trying to arouse the interest of the people. He went from door to door explaining his efforts, then made a tour of the churches; after riding or walking ten miles at night, he would return and teach the next day. After a protracted struggle of this kind and after visiting nearly everybody for miles, he secured about $600. Forty acres of land were purchased and part of the lumber for a comfortable building was put on the ground. Some of the trustees in New York City and Boston came to his assistance and with this and contributions from a few other friends, he was able to get through that first year. Although it was a struggle, he found in it some pleasure. To know that you are doing the work that the world needs and must have done is a pleasure, even under trying circumstances. It is doubtful if any school started as a result of Tuskegee’s teaching ever accomplished more in the same length of time, during its first year of existence than was true of the Utica Normal and Industrial Institute. Starting in October, 1902, without a cent, in the open air, he succeeded in one year in establishing a regularly organized institution, incorporated under the laws of the state of Mississippi, with 225 students and seven teachers, and the property valued at $4000. On 40 acres of good farm land, about a mile from town, a model crop had been grown. He had erected a two-story frame building, at a cost of something over $4000. But in all this noble work Professor Holtzclaw was assisted by teachers whose co-operation made it possible for him to accomplish so much in so short a period. [Illustration: PROF. W. H. HOLTZCLAW] Miss Ada L. Hicks, lady principal of the institute, a graduate of the Snow Hill school and for a number of years a student at Spelman seminary, Atlanta, Ga., is one of the most helpful workers associated with the professor. She is deeply concerned about the work and is painstaking in every effort. Miss Clara J. Lee, head of the academic work of the institute was born on a farm in the neighborhood of Utica. She finished the normal course in Tongaloo university, located in the beautiful little village of Tongaloo, in the very middle of the state of Mississippi, just a few miles from Jackson, the capital. She started to work with Professor Holtzclaw immediately upon her graduation and her services have been invaluable. Her endeavors are highly appreciated by the principal.