A Centennial Memorial History of Allegany county, New York, Part 19

Author: Minard, John Stearns, 1834-1920; Merrill, Georgia Drew
Publication date: 1896
Publisher: Alfred, N.Y., W. A. Fergusson & co.
Number of Pages: 1102

USA > New York > Allegany County > A Centennial Memorial History of Allegany county, New York > Part 19

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DAIRY CATTLE .- Well may the people of our county feel proud of the advancement made along the line of breeding fine dairy cattle. And I here desire to mention some who by energy and means have contributed to this result. Judge Philip Church of Belvidere was the pioneer in good breeding, both in cattle and sheep, and the value of his example upon the people in an early day in this direction was of great value. His favorite breed was the Durhams or Short Horns. Among others we find William Simpson of the New York Stock Farm of New Hudson. L. D. Stowell of Black Creek, D. B. Whipple of Cuba, Amsden Brothers of Cuba, Jerry Clark of Andover, William G. Tucker of Elm Valley, the late Daniel Gardner of Angelica, Joel Carr of Almond, Joseph Lockhart of Almond, Richard Charles of Angelica, David Norton of Friendship, H. Vanderhoof of Belmont, L. C. Drew of Cuba, J. E. Middaugh of Scio, Cobb Brothers of Independ- ence and S. S. Carr of Almond. The principal breeds bred by them were the Jerseys. Holsteins, Short Horns, Ayrshires and Guernseys, and among these herds in this county are as fine dairy cattle as can be found anywhere.

HORSES .- While the advancement along the line of breeding fine horses, especially for draft and farm purposes, has not been what we might wish or expect, yet among those who have taken an interest in this direction and have done what they could toward bettering our condition, I will mention a few: Judson Clark of Elmira, formerly of Scio, William Simpson of New

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Hudson, the late Daniel Bennett of Canaseraga, Elliott & Kingsbury of Friendship, E. A. Cottrell of Andover and Cobb Brothers of Independence.

SHEEP .- Allegany county has never been so distinctively devoted to sheep husbandry as the counties north of us. Yet our farmers have by no means been indifferent to this branch of farming. But it is a fact to be re- gretted that while we are making progress in every other line of practical husbandry, the sheep, one of the noblest of animals, is being sorely neglect- ed. Much of our land is rough and better adapted to sheep raising than for any other purpose. Yet for various reasons, known or unknown, some legitimate and some foolish and unbusiness like, our resources in this direction have been largely cut off, and this valuable industry well nigh ruined.

HAY .- One source of revenue to our farmers has been the selling of hay. Whether this practice will be so much continued in the future as in the past we are not able to say. It certainly will not be during 1895. Selling hay as a general thing is disastrous to good farming, and for our agricultural advancement it would be well if the practice was discontinued.

MAPLE SUGAR .- In mentioning our resources we must not forget the sweetest of them all, maple sugar. Not only in an early day did the pioneers derive much help from this source, but even now we would be reluctant to part with this branch of farming, especially when we produce 600,000 pounds in a single year as has been the case in the past.

POTATOES .- While our county has not until recently been regarded favorably as regards potato culture, yet it is fast coming to the front in that line of farming. This is due largely to the fact that potatoes have been the best paying crop raised on the farm for twenty years, and the only crop that has steadily increased in quality and price. In 1894 and 1895 there was sold and shipped out of the county over 500,000 bushels.

There are other resources that might be mentioned but time will not permit, and as we bid good-bye to the first century and begin the active duties of the second, the question naturally arises, "What will the future be to us as farmers?" We have many natural advantages. The sweetest of grasses, the purest of water and that in abundance, a healthy climate. natural gas and oil for fuel and light, and with a people intelligent, industri- ous, we ought to strive to make our calling what God intended it should be, the noblest and most desired of all vocations, and as we to-day enjoy in many ways the fruits of the labor and toil of the noble men and women that have been prominent all along the past century, so may we strive to do well our part, ever remembering that true nobility lies not for what you do for your- self but what you do for others.

S.A. Early

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CHAPTER XXVII.

DEVELOPMENT AND PROGRESS OF OUR PUBLIC SCHOOLS. *

BY SAMUEL A. EARLEY, ESQ.

I ASSUME the duties assigned to me, knowing well that others are better prepared to do justice to the subject than myself. Still I will submit a few facts as I have learned them from others or recall them to mind. Almond furnished the first school, taught by Joseph A. Rathbun, 1802;+ Angelica the second, 1804; Amity, 1810; Wellsville, 1811; Scio, 1819. I think schools were established in all the towns as early as 1825. The first news- paper was published at Angelica in 1820. These schools were supported by private subscriptions. The people of each neighborhood would look about for some young lady among them to take charge of a few scholars and teach them to read, write, spell and perhaps cipher as far as division. For the winter a man was secured who could assist the young men in mathematics as far as the Rule of Three or Interest. The following are some of the sub- scriptions: " I give one bushel of Indian corn and one cord of wood to Robert Reed for teaching my two boys three months." Another: " I give one bushel of wheat, one quarter of beef and three bushels of buckwheat for my four childrens' schooling this winter (1824). Districts were soon formed. The state became interested in the schools, giving some little aid, as you will see by these receipts for public money. 1831, "Received of Samuel Van Campen. Commissioner of Schools, $12.36, District No. 2. Scio, Middaugh Hill, Philip Mccutchen, trustee." Another: "1830, Joseph Davis, trustee, $7.30." Report of school district No. 4, Amity, 1831: Whole number of families in district 9; Number in the school 6; Refused by teacher one. Benjamin Luther, district clerk.

From this time three inspectors were elected in each town to look after the schools and examine teachers. Trustees hired the teachers paying them the public money and the balance by rate bill. My friend, Ex-commissioner Renwick, well remembers the logs drawn to the schoolhouse for the boys to prepare for the fire during recess. Every boy was required to assist. I have heard this quoted: "'He that will thrive must either hold or drive.' If you cannot chop, you must either split or pile the wood." Christmas was a great day. The boys would arrive at the schoolhouse in advance of the teacher, and upon his arrival would be demanded a "forfeit " or "treat." I well remember the first term I attended school. The boys captured the schoolhouse before daylight on Christmas morning, barricaded the door and

*A paper read at the fiftieth annual meeting of the Teachers' Association of the Southern District of Allegany Co., held at Friendship in Feb., 1893, when Mr. Earley was teaching his 72d term of school, is the basis of this chapter.

t Mr. Rathbun received the first deed of land for a farm on record in the county.

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windows. Upon the arrival of the teacher he was ordered to take the water pail and bring from the distillery, just across the road, a pail of whiskey, which he did with pleasure, distributing it judiciously no doubt. The girls returned home, while the boys and teacher held high carnival through the day. It was the first real circus I ever attended. All went merry as a marriage bell. The next day the teacher's hair pulled and woe to any pupil who by chance came within his vision from the wrong side. Some half-dozen water-beech whips, from four to eight feet long, were brought in and secreted under the floor, but at an opportune moment were brought forth, thrust under the forestick in the fireplace, withdrawn, and twisted under the teacher's huge foot, thus made ready for use. Some of the larger boys were then called to the front, they politely removing their coats. I took a com- manding position back of a large splint broom in the corner behind the door. Solomon was the first victim. The whip was applied longitudinally, trans- versely and horizontally until debris filled the air. As soon as the storm was over and the skies brightened so I could see my way clear I sought home, " sweet home" (without making my bow or waiting to bid the teacher "Good afternoon " as was the custom) where I remained for the remainder of the term, satisfied that there was no place like home. The breaking down of doors and smoking-out process I will not attempt to describe.

At this time the school houses were constructed of logs, with a large chimney of stone, while the jamb furnished a good seat for an unruly boy. The desks were placed around the outside of the room. A dunce block was placed in the corner, where refractory pupils wearing the "fools' cap" were made the laughing-stock of the school. The first half hour in the morning the teacher was employed in making or mending the quill pens for the day. Cobb's or Webster's spelling-books were the only books used for reading by the smaller scholars, until they were ready to read in the English Reader, American Manual, or Hale's History. Murray's, Kirkham's and Brown's grammars were in some of the schools at this time, 1830 to 1838. Daboll's Arithmetic and Morse's Geography were also in use. *

In 1840 a new era dawned upon the educational interests of Allegany county. Prof. Loomis opened what was called the Angelica Academy with success. Alfred University was established in 1838 with Prof. William C. Kenyon as its principal. He was a very active, energetic and able instruct- or. Teachers with improved methods were soon furnished from this institu- tion. The board of supervisors in 1841 elected Wm. C. Kenyon and Abra- ham Burgess "deputy superintendents of common schools." From this time state, county and town superintendents were chosen. All this time the secretary of state had supervision of all schools, receiving about $700 per annum. Prof. Kenyon was long county superintendent. He was to education what John Marshall was to the judiciary of the United States. He visited nearly every school in the county, called the inhabitants together

* In 1836, Lyman Lovell, from Vermont, taught a very superior select school at Centerville Centre, hav- ing from 30 to 35 pupils .- J. S. M.

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in the evening, and, in his lucid manner, portrayed the advantages of a thorough education. He breathed into them "the breath of life and they became living souls." The fire was kindled. A teachers' meeting was called at Friendship in December, 1843. A preliminary organization was effected which resulted in the permanent organization of the Teachers' As- sociation in September, 1844. The prime movers of this association were Gurdon Evans, Horace H. Nye, afterwards doctor, Dr. C. R. Earley, Cyrus Niver, Jerome Harrison, Betsy Harrison, Mina LeSuer (Marvin), Susan Crandall (Larkin), Charles Willard, Cyrus Cotton, W. H. Crandall, John Wells and many others. The following is a copy of a certificate of member- ship issued to Charles R. Earley at that time:

" FRIENDSHIP, N. Y., Sept. 27, 1844.

This is to certify that Charles R. Earley is a member of the Teachers' Association of the Southern As- sembly disirict, of the county of Allegany, N. Y. H. H. NYE, President.

G. EVANS. Secretary."

The Albany Normal school was opened in the same year (1844) with an instructor second to none, Prof. Page .* This was the year the telegraph was first used, and I think the State Association was organized the year following (1845). The National Association was organized in Philadelphia by Horace Mann, Samuel Randall and others. The institute, which was a powerful auxiliary, was then organized, with first-class conductors, such as Salem Town, Chas. Sanders and others. Town associations were after- wards held twice a month at which all teachers were expected to take part. You can easily see that with institutes of two weeks with two associations in each year, together with the town associations, many opportunities were furnished for improvement. Davies' Arithmetic, Charles Sanders' graded series of readers. Colburn's Intellectual Arithmetic. Town's Analysis, Olney's Geography and Prof. Kenyon's Grammar (which contained an excellent system of analysis) were adopted as text books, all of which combined to give our schools an impetus heretofore unknown. Compensation of teachers advanced from $12 to $18 per month for gentlemen and from $1 to $3 per week for ladies, and board with the scholars. New schoolhouses were built. the dunce block was exchanged for blackboards, and the fools' cap gave place to chalk and maps. Alfred University has, from its inception, ren- dered great aid to our public schools by furnishing them with able teachers. " The first class was graduated there in 1844, and numbered 20 members- 11 gentlemen and 9 ladies, among them, Jonathan Allen, Sayles, Pickett and Evans, among the ladies were the future wives of President Kenyon, President Allen, and Professor Sayles. Subsequent classes have varied in size from four or five, to twenty-five or thirty. The largest being in 1887. when, counting graduates in music, art, the business department and theol- ogy, as well as regular college graduates, the class numbered 51 members.

* About 1843 or 4 J. W. Earle, a graduate of the Vermont University, opened a school at Centerville, which was the best in all that part of the county up to that time. Mr. Earle was a very competent teacher, and his patronage was extensive, pupils coming from Pike, Portage, Nunda, Hume, Rushford and Cattaraugus county .- J. S. M.

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The whole number of graduates is about 630, making an average of over twelve a year since the first class was graduated in 1844. Besides those who have graduated, the institution has given instruction in partial courses, without graduation, to nearly 20,000 young men and women. Many of these students were from families which had not the means to send their children away to school and they must have remained without such opportunities had not Alfred given them encouragement in their poverty, and given many of them some opportunity to help themselves." Teachers came from Alfred with new inspirations, new ideas. Among them were Prof. Picketts, Prof. Larkin, Prof. Bean, D. A. Ford, Dr. Milford Crandall, the late Hiram Dimick, Miss Melissa Applebee (Mrs. S. A. Earley), Prof. James Marvin, Ex-Com- missioner W. D. Renwick, E. W. Johnson, afterwards town superintendent, and Dennis Chapin from Albany Normal School equipped with the very best methods. I was a pupil of his on his return in 1845. I never saw his superior to simplify mathematics. There were other noted teachers too numerous to mention but none the less worthy .*

The office of county superintendent was filled by Prof. W. C. Kenyon, John J. Rockafellow, Hiram Wilson (an uncle of Mrs. Geo. W. Friesof Friend- ship)and Hugh M. Severance, who knew moreabout estimating contract labor on the Genesee Valley canal than of supervision of schools. The office of county superintendent was abolished early in 1856, and that of town superin- tendent was soon afterwards done away with and the present system adopted.

I will relate a little incident that occurred in a school not far away. A town superintendent, a dignified old gentleman, was visiting the school. A young lady was analyzing a sentence from Kenyon's grammar, calling a phrase "a prepositive, substantive modifier." The old gentleman ex- claimed: "What! a preposterous, substantial mortifier? What is that?" As soon as the teacher could recover her equilibrium she explained that it was a prepositional phrase modifying a noun which was entirely satis- factory.

Friendship, Richburg, Belfast and Rushford built academies. At Friendship, Prof. J. Hatch and Prof. Prosper Miller were principals, both able instructors. Richburg, with Prof. Bixby and Prof. Badger had also excellent teachers. The day of teaching the letters abstractly had passed. Later, about 1866, the word and the sentence method was introduced. I think it was under the management and during the first term of Ex-Com- missioner W. D. Renwick, who had no superior as commissioner in this or adjoining counties. Examination of teachers in civil government was intro- duced during his second term, 1874. About this time there was another advance in teachers' wages, which brought other good workers to our aid, such as Prof. Lewis and his accomplished wife, also Prof. Freeborn, and

* Abial L. Cook, a graduate of the Albany Normal School, taught the Hume Union School in 1848 and 9. He was followed by C. F. Wallace. Both were superior teachers, and gave the school an impetus, which has been plainly discernible ever since .- J. S. M.

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Prof. Blakeslee who took his place among the older teachers which he filled long and well. Prof. Burdick and wife came among us later. The first graded school in the state was at Mt. Morris in 1835. Prof. Lewis was the first to grade a school in this county. He and his wife were highly esteemed by the profession. President Allen of Alfred University never lost an opportunity to lend a helping hand to a struggling pupil and send him on his way rejoicing. No pupil was turned away from that institution because he was out of money. Institute conductors, Johnnot, Buckham, DeGraff and Dr. Armstrong of Fredonia, gave the teachers of Allegany county the credit of being in advance of any other rural county or state. The old log schoolhouses have been replaced with magnificent structures furnished with all the modern equipage. The school year has been materially lengthened. The telegraph has been extended from one short line from Baltimore to Washington. 30 miles, in 1844, to 100,000 miles in 1892, affording instantaneous communication with the whole civilized world. We have a telephone in every business place. Electricity is furnishing motor power for machinery as well as propelling our street cars and lighting our cities and towns. Rail- roads have increased in the United States from about 1,000 miles to 216,149 miles in the last 48 years. Rapid strides are being made by the manufactur- ing interests of the country, one man of to-day doing the work of 100 men of forty years ago.

The first apportionments of school moneys to the county from the state were: 1813, $58.86; 1815, $100.33; 1816, 8190.98. The county clerk's office has been searched without avail for any evidence of its receipt or distribu- tion, and only when the treasurer's records were examined was a voucher found under this head: "March 1st, 1816, Moses Van Campen, treasurer of the county of Allegany, in account current with Allegany county, N. Y., under the common school account. Dr. to New York draft on state treas- urer of this date for quota of school fund for 1816 appropriated by the clerk of the board as follows: Alfred, $26.52; Angelica, 832.14; Caneadea, 0000; Rushford, $53.52; Friendship, 0000; Nunda, $63.16; Ossian, $15.64; total $190.98." I have exhausted in vain all means to obtain the first appropria- tion, besides conferring with state treasurer, secretary of state, comptroller and superintendent of public instruction. From these I have received answers as follows:

STATE OF NEW YORK, Superintendent of Public Instruction, Superintendent's office.

ALBANY, N. Y., May 10, 1895.

S. A. EARLEY, Esq.,

Wellsville, Allegany Co., N. Y.

DEAR SIR :- Replying to your letter of the roth inst., the following information requested is respectfully submitted. The date and the amount of the first apportionment of school money to Allegany county since the establishment of this department in 1854, was in January, 1855, when there was apportioned for teachers' wages $17,108.28 and for libraries $679.84, making a total of $17,788.12. based upon reports made for the preceding school year which ended July

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HISTORY OF ALLEGANY COUNTY, N. Y.

1, 1854. The whole number of log schoolhouses in the state as reported to this department for 1894, was 31. The whole number of children of school age 1,932,325. The whole number attending school 1,124,998. The average daily attendance 721,063, and the whole number of teachers employed 32.929. The estimated per cent of increase cannot be given as no reports have been made to the department since the Compulsory Act went into effect on the first of January last.

Respectfully yours, CHARLES R. SKINNER, State Superindendent.

The State Treasurer's office under date of May 23, 1895, writes, "The apportionment of school moneys of the date that you seek is, as I think, a record of the comptroller's department only. Would suggest that you write to that office for information." The Secretary of State's office under same date, writes: "In answer to your communication of the 21st instant, I regret to inform you that I am unable to comply with your request, as the Secretary of State has not the information asked for at his disposal. The Superintendents of Public Instruction or Regents of Universities should have the record desired."

Only five of the seven towns receiving the 1816 school money are now in Allegany county. The whole money charged to the treasurer was $1,070.59 for all purposes. The total amount collected and paid by the state in 1815 for all school purposes was $104,099. The first act establishing free schools was passed in 1812. The first superintendent of common schools was Gideon Hawley of Saratoga appointed in 1813, who rendered great service to the state and declared the first distribution of public money in 1813. After a time the office of state superintendent was abolished and the secretary of state performed the duties. In 1829 a law was passed authorizing rate bills. January 15, 1833, John A. Dix was appointed secretary of state and had charge of the public schools. He continued in office until 1839. During this time a certain sum "was set aside from the literary fund for the several academies of the state to establish and conduct teachers' classes, that com- petent teachers might be furnished to the several districts of the state." This law induced many localities to build academies and conduct teachers' classes. In 1836 the deposit of the surplus fund of the United States, with a sum equal to this income which was to be raised by tax, was appropriated to academies. This made a total of $200,000, making these institutions far more efficient for educating school teachers. In 1841 the Legislature passed an act providing for the appointment of a county superintendent of common schools. This occurred under Spencer's administration as superintendent of public instruction. S. S. Randall, deputy superintendent (afterwards superintendent), carried this law into effect. In 1843 the office of town superintendent was created.

May 7, 1844, the act was passed creating the first normal school in the state, located at Albany. $9,600 was appropriated. A building was rented, and David P. Page of Newburyport, Mass., was secured as principal, who conducted the school with superior ability and skill until January 1, 1848. He died, leaving as his monument not only 421 superior teachers engaged in the district schools of the state, but also his admirable course of lectures on

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the Theory and Practice of Teaching delivered before the school. Every teacher should possess this book.

In 1847 the office of county superintendent elected by the people was created. In 1847 also a law passed authorizing the organization of teachers' institutes on application of a majority of town superintendents of any county in the state. A town institute was held at Ithaca, April 4, 1843. Salem Town and James Thompson conducted it, and they were considered the prime movers of the State Institute in 1847. In 1894 110 institutes were held in the state, at which 15,430 teachers were instructed. Thus the institutes have grown from one town institute at Ithaca in 1843 to 110 in 1894.

RUSHFORD ACADEMY .- In 1851 was raised $2,500 to build the academy at Rushford, incorporated March 4, 1852 .* The officers in charge were: Board of Trustees: B. T. Hapgood, John Holmes, Israel Thompson, Titus Bartlett, Wm. Merryfield, Robt. Norton, Jas. Gordon, 2d, Isaac Stone, Washington White, Sampson Hardy, Chas. Benjamin, J. G. Osborne, Oliver D. Benjamin, Wm. Gordon, Alonzo H. Damon. President, B. T. Hapgood; Secretary and Treasurer, Robt. Norton; Corresponding Secretary, Dr. Wm. McCall; Librarian, Ira Sayles. Board of Instruction: Principal, Ira Sayles, A. M .; Male assistant, W. W. Bean; Female assistant, Miss E. Frances Post; Assistant teacher in French, Mrs. S. C. Sayles. This institution did effec- tive work and contributed very much to the high standard of morals of that town, and greatly advanced public education in northwestern Allegany. A union school with 5 teachers takes its place at present. It was changed from an academy to union school in 1867.

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A Centennial Memorial History of Allegany county, New York, Part 19

Author: Minard, John Stearns, 1834-1920; Merrill, Georgia Drew Publication date: 1896 Publisher: Alfred, N.Y., W. A. Fergusson & co. Number of Pages: 1102

Author: Minard, John Stearns, 1834-1920; Merrill, Georgia Drew
Publication date: 1896
Publisher: Alfred, N.Y., W. A. Fergusson & co.
Number of Pages: 1102