A Centennial Memorial History of Allegany county, New York, Part 20

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 20

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RICHBURG ACADEMY .- Erected in 1848 at an expense of $3,000. The members of first board of trustees were: Alvan Richardson, Samuel S. Carter, Samuel Sherman, Pliny Evans, Hollis Newton. Alvan Richardson, Jr. Prof. Bixby and wife, first instructors, were followed by Prof. Badgley and Henry L. Jones, and the academy is now succeeded by the Richburg union school with 3 teachers. principal F. L. Peckham.

FRIENDSHIP ACADEMY .- Friendship academy opened about 1848 with Jeremiah Hatch as principal. and W. D. Renwick assistant, followed by Prof. Miller. The work done by this academy was of a high order and con- tributed much to the growth of the town. A union school conducted by Prof. T. H. Armstrong, principal, with 8 assistants supplies its place, and it is second to none in the county for efficient work.

WELLSVILLE .- The Wellsville union school building in Dist. No. 1 is a magnificent structure, costing about $30,000, and with all the equipage of modern times. Twelve teachers are employed, Prof. Craig being principal. He is assisted by a corps of teachers second to none in the county. All have combined to elevate this school to its high standard of usefulness. Prof. C. M. Harding conducted this school for a number of years, and to his genial nature, deportment, energy and personal magnetism is largely due

* The building was built in 1851 at an expense in all of nearly $5,000. - J. S. M.

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HISTORY OF ALLEGANY COUNTY, N Y.

its success. Prof. J. M. Reed, of Wellsville union school No. 2, and his assistants are doing creditable work and building up the school.

Some of the teachers of note have been: W. D. Renwick, of Friendship, commenced teaching in 1846 for $13 per month at Haskell Flats and boarded with the scholars. He taught at Portville, Cattaraugus county, and at Friendship for $30 per month as assistant principal of Friendship academy in 1851, and there received a state certificate. He taught at Belmont from 1859 to 1861; conducted a school at Scio in the new house two years with success and satisfaction to all. Elected school commissioner in 1863 he served to 1866, and was re-elected in 1872. This position he filled with honor to himself and profit to the people. In all his work he was energetic, thorough, original and practical. He has taught 72 terms in all, including several terms of select schools. Mrs. Abigail A. (Maxson) Allen was the first woman in this county that demanded and received adequate pay for teaching. In 1844 she demanded $20 per month and received it. Jonathan Allen, afterwards her husband, received at the same time $15 per month. Washington Steenrod, Steven Wilson, Hiram Wilson, Davis Browning, Shel- don Stanton, Edward Wightman, Cyrus Cotton, Sr., Francis Norton, the late Judge Green, Miss Lucy Willard. Sally Simons, Elmira Allen, Robert Reed, Randall Reed (afterwards doctor) were of our best teachers. Among later teachers mention should be made of Prof. Mills, one of our best teach- ers. He is now teaching in the Geneseo Normal school, with credit to the institution. Prof. Waterbury served long and well in the county and in the same normal school. Prof. Crissey of Belmont union school did excellent work in that school. Its present high standing is in a great measure due to his personal efforts. Prof. Armstrong of Friendship is doing superior work. The institution is worthy of the patronage it receives. Prof. A. J. Glennie of Bolivar is doing well and is esteemed by all connected with the school. The veteran teacher Prof. A. D. Howe has conducted the Whites- ville union school with great ability for a number of years.

There are now in existence 13 union schools in this county with 77 teach- ers as follows: Alfred 4. Andover 6. Wellsville No. 1, 12, Wellsville No. 2, 3, Belfast 5, Whitesville 3, Belmont 7. Friendship 9. Cuba 8, Bolivar 7, Rich- burg 3, Canaseraga 5, Rushford 5. The number of teachers employed in teaching at the same time in 1894 was 330. The result of the teachers' ex- amination for the year ending March. 1895, in 2 districts of Allegany county is as follows: June, 60 examined, 20 passed; August, 85 examined, 29 passed: September, 38 examined, 18 passed; October, 83 examined, 32 passed; January, 105 examined, 14 3d grade. 13 2d grade; March, 74 ex- amined, 21 3d grade, 13 2d grade, 1 1st grade; April. 45 examined, 12 1st grade. 4 3d grade, 2 2d grade. Eight first-grade certificates have been granted since 1890, 356 second grade. and 403 third grade.

The state "compulsory attendance " act took effect January 1, 1895. In May I endeavored to ascertain its effect, and wrote to the principals of the various union schools for the approximate increase in attendance. I received

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OUR PUBLIC SCHOOLS.

ten answers from which I quote. Prof. Craig of Wellsville No. 1, said, " no change." Prof. B. B. Brown of Andover said "about three per cent." Prof. A. Hebding of Alfred says " no noticeable increase with the exception of two boys who liked to play truant." Prof. A. D. Howe of Whitesville says "attendance since January 1st has increased about two per cent. I do not know as the law caused it." Prof. J. Crissey of Belmont wrote, " the com- pulsory education law has probably increased the attendance here ten per cent." Prof. F. L. Peckham, Richburg, writes, " my school has increased in numbers but a very little, because the law has not been enforced as it should have been." Prof. T. H. Armstrong, Friendship, says " probably from one to two per cent." Prof. H. A. Adams of Canaseraga writes " no perceptible increase." Prof. F. W. Gray, Belfast, says "increase only one and three-fifths por cent." Prof. J. M. Reed, Brooklyn Union School (No. 2), Wellsville, "In a total registration of 152 there is an increase of ten. A marked result of the law has been increased regularity of attendance of for. mer irregular scholars. Another result has been the strengthening of the teacher's authority in making the pupils to respect the office of teachers."

The school money appropriated in 1895 to the county, was:

Commissioner District No. I .. Commissioner District No. 2 .. District No. I, collected by tax District No. 2, collected by tax

$ 18,440.58 22,053.89 -- $ 40,494.47 21,372.79 43,707.77 -- 65,080.56

Total for common schools Literary Fund.

$105,575.03 15,983.99

Total for all purposes.

$121,559.02

The number of teachers teaching at the same time was 333. Number of children of school age 11,997. Number of children in the school some time during the year 9,649. Not in school at all 2.348. Average attendance 6.097, less than 51 per cent.

There are two parochial schools in the county, both in Wellsville. The Roman Catholic school with three teachers under the supervision of Sister Borgia, has 180 scholars. The German American Lutheran school has 103 enrolled pupils, from six to fourteen years of age. The English branches taught are reading, spelling, penmanship. arithmetic, geography. United States history. Prof. H. A. Laewen is principal. Miss Ottilie Sievers and Rev. George Buch assistants.

The cost of the eleven State Normal Schools for 1894 was $352.190.33. The contrast of distribution is great between 1816 and 1895. In 1816 only 8112.18 came to what is now Allegany, $78.80 going to Nunda and Ossian. The county collected an equal sum, which made a total of $224.36. In 1895 the total is $105,575.03, and, including the literary fund, $121.559.02. The 32.000 teachers now engaged in teaching in the state are paid $11,000,880. The training classes number 100, and cost 8217.740. This county has teach- ers' training classes at Alfred University, at the Genesee Valley Seminary and Union School, at Wilsons Academy Angelica, at Belmont Union School, at Friendship Union School, and at Wellsville. costing the state $1.829.

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HISTORY OF ALLEGANY COUNTY, N. Y.

Upon the whole we now have as good a class of teachers as any county in the state; the union schools are well supplied with normal teachers, yet we have some imperfections, and, even at the expense of criticism, I will say that we have too much crowding for regent's examination and too little concentration; too much Greek before the foundation is substantially laid for a good English American business education. Develop the whole man symmetrically, and the whole structure will be as enduring as the rock of ages. Embellish and beautify the fabric as much as you please, but do not neglect the foundation. This beautiful structure of ours, our system of education, must be adjusted by skilled workmen, or the whole fabric may be impaired. Like a beautiful bouquet of flowers, the imperfections must be removed by a competent and delicate hand, or the beauty of the whole will be destroyed. While our public schools formerly instructed about 68 per cent. of the children of school age, the average attendance of the state now is only about 58 per cent. of its 2,000,000 children. If the decrease contin- ues it will not be long until more than one-half of the children of school age will be educated in private schools or in the streets. We may excuse it as we will, yet the stubborn fact exists and calls for remedy; our compulsory educational law alone will not do away with it. Notwithstanding the normal schools of this state have increased in number from 1 to 11, and our colleges to 15 or 16, and with all our academies and a graded school in every hamlet, yet about 42 per cent. of the children of school age are now out of school. I think we have in the United States 197 normal schools, with about 45,000 pupils, and only about 6,000 who are taking a business course and 4,000 a special course. We must make one grand effort to win back the pupils of the private schools and gather in the non-attendants from the highways and byways. If we are good teachers to-day, let us be better to-morrow. We live in an age of unparalleled development. Industrial schools are to be established all over this land with competent instructors who will receive large salaries. Will you be of their number? There is no such thing as a state of rest in this work. You are advancing or retrograding.

In conclusion I will say, let us continue to labor, earnestly incessantly and honestly. "Whatsoever our hands find to do, do it with our might." " Rest not, haste not, " advance all along the line, allow no subject to lose its place for another, but keep each in its proper place until every American son and daughter shall have a good AMERICAN BUSINESS EDUCATION. Run the whole race and run so that we may win. You must not allow yourselves to stumble over some Greek roots and fall by the way. When it shall be ours to join the silent majority, may those who are left behind cry out with one voice: " Well done, good and faithful servant.' You have done your duty according to the ability given. the world is the better for you having lived in it," and as we cross the Mystic River, we shall see upon the other side those who have gone before beckoning us on. Yes, they will be the first to take us by the hand and welcome us.

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ALFRED UNIVERSITY.

CHAPTER XXVIII.

ALFRED UNIVERSITY.

BY REV. LEWIS A. PLATTS, D. D.

"S OME ARE BORN GREAT, SOME ATTAIN GREATNESS, AND SOME HAVE GREATNESS THRUST UPON THEM." The first two members of this aphorism strikingly describe the manner by which the great institutions of learning in this country have become what they are. A few among the newer ones. like Cornell in New York. Leland Stanford in California, and the Chicago University. are constituted great; the vast gifts of money by which they are founded giving them buildings, appliances and faculties which enable them to organize departments and open classes at full size and strength, at the very beginning. They are born great. Others, like Yale, Harvard, Columbia, etc., were content to begin in a humbler way, and multi- ply facilities and strengthen faculties as the demands of patrons made these things necessary and funds in the hands of trustees made them possible. They have attained greatness. But the majority of men, even of those filling important places and doing honorable work in the world, are in no sense great. In like manner the hosts of institutions which bless our state and nation are in no sense great, save as, in spite of the poverty of their resources, they have trained. inspired and fitted for honorable and useful work multitudes of men and women.

It is cause for congratulation that, comparatively early in the century which has marked the settlement and growth of Allegany county, one of these humbler institutions of higher learning found its home in the primeval forests that covered our hills and valleys. Alfred University was the off- spring of that sturdy valor which made homes out of wild wastes, and which, while felling forests and building homes, longed for that mastery of mind and heart which makes men and women. Many of the people who settled in and about Alfred came directly, and others by only one or two removes, from homes of culture in New England, and they were not content to rear their children with no better opportunities for an education than were afforded by the meager common schools of that early day. One of the first efforts in the direction of a better training was the organizing in 1834 or 5 of an even- ing school for the purpose of teaching the rudiments of vocal music. The organizer and teacher of this school was Maxson Stillman, who still lives in Alfred, having reached his 96th year. A little later, when the academy was organized, and, later still, when the university organization was effected, Mr. Stillman was made a trustee, in which capacity he served until the annual meeting in 1893.

In 1836. Bethuel C. Church, a young man who had enjoyed better educa- tional advantages than most young men of his time, organized and taught, in

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HISTORY OF ALLEGANY COUNTY, N. Y.

the chamber of a dwelling-house, a select school. Among the pupils in this school, and the youngest of the number, was Jonathan Allen, a man since become famous in the annals of Alfred University. During the next two or three years, this school began to be called an academy; of which James R. Irish, a student from Union College at Schenectady, N. Y., was principal. Mr. Irish was also a minister of the gospel, and the pastor of the church in the village. Finding the work of both school and church too great for him, and preferring to continue in the latter, he wrote to a fellow student at Union College, and besought him to come to Alfred and take charge of the young and promising academy. In the summer of 1839 he came, making the journey to Dansville by canal packet, and the remainder of the distance on foot, much of the way through unbroken forests. Thus was introduced to the scenes of his future life work, Prof. William C. Kenyon. He was a man of slight, nervous body, bright, keen intellect, and an indomitable will. For the student of honest endeavor, however dull, he had large patience and helpfulness. But he hated shams and pretences; and woe betide the student who tried to shirk his duties.

Prof. Kenyon began at once to call in students. He gave lectures about the county on the subject of education, showing its importance in the various walks of life, awakening in the minds and hearts of young people a desire for learning and urging parents to give their children an education as the best outfit for life's work. Wherever he went there was an educational revival. With his profound convictions, ardent nature and unbounded "genius for hard work," it could not have been otherwise. He visited families for similar purposes and with similar results. Students came to the academy, came fired with noble ambitions, came from homes meagerly furnished with even the comforts of life. In some cases the boys and girls were sorely needed at home to help develop the farm and support the family. In many cases all that the parents could do was to let the children go. If they gave them their time, and perhaps a change of clothing, the boys and girls must do the rest. A young man in New England wrote to Professor Kenyon, asking if there were any way at Alfred by which a boy not afraid of hard work, fired with an ambition for an education, but almost penniless, could take a course of study. Professor Kenyon replied by return mail: "Come on, young man. There is room here for lots of just such boys as you." He came and worked his way through the entire course. That young man was Darwin E. Maxson, subsequently well known as a working factor in Alfred, and throughout the county. That quick, warm sympathy of Professor Kenyon with poor, but ambitious young people, has been a char- acteristic feature of this institution. Hundreds of young people have, through this, been helped in gaining an education, and through it have gained power for usefulness in the world, who would never have arisen above the common level but for such timely sympathy and aid.

Though thus begun in 1836, the formal act of incorporation and organi- zation as an academy did not take place until Jan. 31, 1843. In June, 1844.

ELECTRO LIGHTENC GOTY.

11.

MEMORIAL HALL.

ALFRED UNIVERSITY.

DEDICATED OCTOBER, 1882.

COST $28,000.

CONTAINING UNIVERSITY LIBRARY READING ROOM, LECTURE ROOM, ART ROOM,

DEPARTMENTS OF NATURAL HISTORY AND INDUSTRIAL MECHANICS.

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HISTORY OF ALLEGANY COUNTY, N. Y.

the academy graduated its first class, consisting of 20-eleven gentlemen and nine ladies. At the head of this list we again find the name of Jonathan Allen. In the same list, also, are the names of three other men who have since been professors in the school: Ira Sayles, Daniel D. Pickett, and Gurdon Evans. Among the ladies are those who are best known as the wives of Professors Kenyon, Allen and Sayles.

During the second year of the select school it moved out of the chamber- room into a small frame building erected by the people of Alfred in the cen- tral part of the village for its better accommodation. Between 1840 and 1850 the grounds were procured on the western slope of the hill in the south- eastern part of the village, which now constitute the upper part of the Uni- versity campus, and three commodious buildings were erected. These were the Middle Building, which furnished homes for the families of several of the professors, and contained the general boarding hall, in the later years the home of President Allen. The second was the North Hall, used chiefly as a dormitory for the gentlemen; since sold to the trustees of the village public-school, and, after some years of service in that capacity, sold to a private party and fitted up for a hotel. Near the original site of this building now stands the Steinheim. The third of these buildings was the South Hall, used mainly as a dormitory for ladies. This building was burned in 1858, and upon its site has since been erected the astronomical observatory now in use. A fourth building, the Chapel, was erected near these in 1852. This still stands, containing Chapel Hall, the office, reci- tation rooms, and the young men's lyceum rooms.

To acquire these grounds, erect and equip these buildings, while pro- viding instruction for all the various departments of such a school, pay teachers' salaries, current expenses, etc., with no wealthy patrons, no endowments, and tuitions adjusted to the possibilities of students largely dependent upon their own resources for their education, was a task which would have appalled hearts less brave and determined than those who had given themselves to this noble work. $10,000 had been borrowed to pur- chase the grounds and to begin the work of building, and the citizens of Alfred and vicinity and other friends of the work had done what they could, some in "day's works," some in material, and some in money to aid in the erection of the buildings. It was, however, still a work of self-sacrifice on the part of those engaged in the management and instructional work of the school to keep the machinery running and avoid further debt.

It was during this rapidly growing period that the seven professors, then engaged in the school, entered into a voluntary contract with each other that they would remain with the institution for a period of seven years, and that no one of them should receive from the institution as compensation for his labor anything more than barely enough to meet the actual necessities of himself and family for food, clothing and shelter. It was further agreed that each one should keep a strict account of all that he received, and at the end of the seven years, if there should be any " surplus " it should be divided

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ALFRED UNIVERSITY.

among them in an inverse proportion to the amount which each should have already received. One of the seven gave up the contract at the end of the fifth year, another at the end of the sixth, the other five completed it. One of the seven distinctly remembers that his receipts for some years were less than $300, and it is safe to estimate that the average income of the several parties to the contract for the entire period was not much, if any, above that amount. Whether any of them were made rich by the final distribution of the "surplus " the records fail to show. During this period they gave a mighty impetus to the school, and sent out as graduates more than 100 young men and women well trained for life's work, besides giving help and inspiration to a much larger number, who, for various causes, could not complete the full course. It will be worth while to pass the names of this unique covenant-band down to future generations. They are Principal William C. Kenyon, and Professors Jonathan Allen, Darwin E. Maxson, Darius R. Ford, Daniel D. Pickett, James Marvin and Ira Sayles. In the catalogues of this time, after the name of Professor Kenyon as principal, the names of all the others appear as "associate principals; " showing that, not only in the matter of compensation, but in the matter of work and respon- sibility, they were disposed, as far as possible, to share equally the burdens.

About the time of the building of the chapel there began to be a strong feeling among the friends and patrons of the school, as well as on the part of those having the work in charge, that the institution must assume the powers and responsibilities of a college if it would fill successfully the place in the educational system of the state which the good work already done had made for it. Almost simultaneously with the growth of this feeling, the Sev- enth-day Baptists, under whose labors and management, largely, the school had been established and maintained, were coming to the conviction that they must found and maintain, at some convenient and suitable place, a seminary for theological instruction and training. After due deliberation, Alfred was chosen as the place at which to locate the seminary. Thus it was that the applications for a college charter and for a seminary organization were presented to the Legislature at Albany by the same parties and at the same time.

Under these circumstances, and by advice of the state officials, a uni- versity charter was drawn up, by the provisions of which, under the same board of management, the academic work could be continued, the work of the college could be assumed, and the seminary privileges could be enjoyed. The bill granting such a charter passed both branches of the Legislature and received the signature of Governor King, March 28, 1858, and, on the 14th of April the UNIVERSITY was organized by the appointment of the re- quired board of trustees. William C. Kenyon, principal of the academy, was unanimously chosen president, and the faculty of the academy were also made professors in the college department with several "adjunct profes- sors " and teachers. The old academic organization was kept up until its property and general business matters could be transferred to the new

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HISTORY OF ALLEGANY COUNTY, N. Y.

organization, when it expired, having finished its work as a separate organ- ization. The Theological Department was organized a little later, and com- plete courses in Music, Art, Industrial Mechanics and Business have since been established, the last having been discontinued.

Professor Kenyon continued in the active work of the presidency until 1865, when failing health compelled him to ask for a vacation in the hope of regaining strength for the work he so much loved. In the mean time his first wife, Melissa Ward, "Mother Kenyon," as the students affectionately called her, had died, and President Kenyon had married Mrs. Ida F. Sallan Long. After passing some months traveling in Missouri and other parts of this country they went to England and the Continent; but, failing to find relief from his increasing malady, started homeward. Reaching Paris and London, he arranged to spend a few weeks with friends in the latter city. Here he grew rapidly worse, and, in June, 1867, his work being finished, he entered into rest, in the 56th year of his age. His body was brought home and buried beside the remains of his first wife in Schenectady. His second wife, who survives him, his faithful attendant in all his later labors, and in this anxious quest for health, most lovingly carried out his last wishes re- specting the disposition of his mortal remains. Mrs. Kenyon returned to Alfred where she became Professor of the Modern Languages, in which capacity she labored most earnestly and successfully until the close of the school year of 1894.

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A Centennial Memorial History of Allegany county, New York, Part 20

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