At the time of Davis's arrival in September 1865, [4] 

Malden had a large African-American

population, consisting of former slaves who had previously been brought to Kanawha
County to work in the local salt industry, or who had come to work in the industry after being
freed following the war.[1] While in Malden, it became known among the town's residents that
Davis could read and write.[4] Reverend Rice offered Davis a job teaching former slaves.[3] Davis
resigned from his position on the boat, and at the age of 18, he became a schoolteacher at
Rice's privately-operated Tinkersville school. [3][4][8] The Tinkersville school was one of the first
African-American schools in Kanawha County,[1] and the first school in the Kanawha
River valley to be conducted by an African-American instructor. [2] It was funded by the poor
residents of Malden,[4] and was at first conducted in Rice's log home. [5][6][8] The school
transitioned from Rice's bedroom to a local church, and then a purpose-built classroom. [4][8]
Davis arrived at Malden about one month after the arrival of Booker T. Washington and his
family from Hale's Ford, Virginia,[1][4] and while Davis was teaching at the Tinkersville school,
Washington was one of his students.[1] Davis was Washington's first teacher. [1][4][9] He traveled to
Washington's home to tutor and teach him outside of school hours, and took a special interest
in Washington.[3] Davis later described Washington as an apt student who readily learned, no
matter the course material, and said that he was popular among his fellow students. [5] In
addition, Washington's wife, Fannie Smith Washington, attended the Tinkersville school.[2]
At the time of Davis's arrival in September 1865, [4] Malden had a large African-American
population, consisting of former slaves who had previously been brought to Kanawha
County to work in the local salt industry, or who had come to work in the industry after being
freed following the war.[1] While in Malden, it became known among the town's residents that
Davis could read and write.[4] Reverend Rice offered Davis a job teaching former slaves.[3] Davis
resigned from his position on the boat, and at the age of 18, he became a schoolteacher at
Rice's privately-operated Tinkersville school. [3][4][8] The Tinkersville school was one of the first
African-American schools in Kanawha County,[1] and the first school in the Kanawha
River valley to be conducted by an African-American instructor. [2] It was funded by the poor
residents of Malden,[4] and was at first conducted in Rice's log home. [5][6][8] The school
transitioned from Rice's bedroom to a local church, and then a purpose-built classroom. [4][8]
Davis arrived at Malden about one month after the arrival of Booker T. Washington and his
family from Hale's Ford, Virginia,[1][4] and while Davis was teaching at the Tinkersville school,
Washington was one of his students.[1] Davis was Washington's first teacher. [1][4][9] He traveled to
Washington's home to tutor and teach him outside of school hours, and took a special interest
in Washington.[3] Davis later described Washington as an apt student who readily learned, no
matter the course material, and said that he was popular among his fellow students. [5] In
addition, Washington's wife, Fannie Smith Washington, attended the Tinkersville school.[2]
At the time of Davis's arrival in September 1865, [4] Malden had a large African-American
population, consisting of former slaves who had previously been brought to Kanawha
County to work in the local salt industry, or who had come to work in the industry after being
freed following the war.[1] While in Malden, it became known among the town's residents that
Davis could read and write.[4] Reverend Rice offered Davis a job teaching former slaves.[3] Davis
resigned from his position on the boat, and at the age of 18, he became a schoolteacher at
Rice's privately-operated Tinkersville school. [3][4][8] The Tinkersville school was one of the first
African-American schools in Kanawha County,[1] and the first school in the Kanawha
River valley to be conducted by an African-American instructor. [2] It was funded by the poor
residents of Malden,[4] and was at first conducted in Rice's log home. [5][6][8] The school
transitioned from Rice's bedroom to a local church, and then a purpose-built classroom. [4][8]
Davis arrived at Malden about one month after the arrival of Booker T. Washington and his
family from Hale's Ford, Virginia,[1][4] and while Davis was teaching at the Tinkersville school,
Washington was one of his students.[1] Davis was Washington's first teacher. [1][4][9] He traveled to
Washington's home to tutor and teach him outside of school hours, and took a special interest
in Washington.[3] Davis later described Washington as an apt student who readily learned, no
matter the course material, and said that he was popular among his fellow students. [5] In
addition, Washington's wife, Fannie Smith Washington, attended the Tinkersville school.[2]
At the time of Davis's arrival in September 1865, [4] Malden had a large African-American
population, consisting of former slaves who had previously been brought to Kanawha
County to work in the local salt industry, or who had come to work in the industry after being
freed following the war.[1] While in Malden, it became known among the town's residents that
Davis could read and write.[4] Reverend Rice offered Davis a job teaching former slaves.[3] Davis
resigned from his position on the boat, and at the age of 18, he became a schoolteacher at
Rice's privately-operated Tinkersville school. [3][4][8] The Tinkersville school was one of the first
African-American schools in Kanawha County,[1] and the first school in the Kanawha
River valley to be conducted by an African-American instructor. [2] It was funded by the poor
residents of Malden,[4] and was at first conducted in Rice's log home. [5][6][8] The school
transitioned from Rice's bedroom to a local church, and then a purpose-built classroom. [4][8]
Davis arrived at Malden about one month after the arrival of Booker T. Washington and his
family from Hale's Ford, Virginia,[1][4] and while Davis was teaching at the Tinkersville school,
Washington was one of his students.[1] Davis was Washington's first teacher. [1][4][9] He traveled to
Washington's home to tutor and teach him outside of school hours, and took a special interest
in Washington.[3] Davis later described Washington as an apt student who readily learned, no
matter the course material, and said that he was popular among his fellow students. [5] In
addition, Washington's wife, Fannie Smith Washington, attended the Tinkersville school.[2]
At the time of Davis's arrival in September 1865, [4] Malden had a large African-American
population, consisting of former slaves who had previously been brought to Kanawha
County to work in the local salt industry, or who had come to work in the industry after being
freed following the war.[1] While in Malden, it became known among the town's residents that
Davis could read and write.[4] Reverend Rice offered Davis a job teaching former slaves.[3] Davis
resigned from his position on the boat, and at the age of 18, he became a schoolteacher at
Rice's privately-operated Tinkersville school. [3][4][8] The Tinkersville school was one of the first
African-American schools in Kanawha County,[1] and the first school in the Kanawha
River valley to be conducted by an African-American instructor. [2] It was funded by the poor
residents of Malden,[4] and was at first conducted in Rice's log home. [5][6][8] The school
transitioned from Rice's bedroom to a local church, and then a purpose-built classroom. [4][8]
Davis arrived at Malden about one month after the arrival of Booker T. Washington and his
family from Hale's Ford, Virginia,[1][4] and while Davis was teaching at the Tinkersville school,
Washington was one of his students.[1] Davis was Washington's first teacher. [1][4][9] He traveled to
Washington's home to tutor and teach him outside of school hours, and took a special interest
in Washington.[3] Davis later described Washington as an apt student who readily learned, no
matter the course material, and said that he was popular among his fellow students. [5] In
addition, Washington's wife, Fannie Smith Washington, attended the Tinkersville school.[2]
At the time of Davis's arrival in September 1865, [4] Malden had a large African-American
population, consisting of former slaves who had previously been brought to Kanawha
County to work in the local salt industry, or who had come to work in the industry after being
freed following the war.[1] While in Malden, it became known among the town's residents that
Davis could read and write.[4] Reverend Rice offered Davis a job teaching former slaves.[3] Davis
resigned from his position on the boat, and at the age of 18, he became a schoolteacher at
Rice's privately-operated Tinkersville school. [3][4][8] The Tinkersville school was one of the first
African-American schools in Kanawha County,[1] and the first school in the Kanawha
River valley to be conducted by an African-American instructor. [2] It was funded by the poor
residents of Malden,[4] and was at first conducted in Rice's log home. [5][6][8] The school
transitioned from Rice's bedroom to a local church, and then a purpose-built classroom. [4][8]
Davis arrived at Malden about one month after the arrival of Booker T. Washington and his
family from Hale's Ford, Virginia,[1][4] and while Davis was teaching at the Tinkersville school,
Washington was one of his students.[1] Davis was Washington's first teacher. [1][4][9] He traveled to
Washington's home to tutor and teach him outside of school hours, and took a special interest
in Washington.[3] Davis later described Washington as an apt student who readily learned, no
matter the course material, and said that he was popular among his fellow students. [5] In
addition, Washington's wife, Fannie Smith Washington, attended the Tinkersville school.[2]