USA > New York > Ontario County > A history of Ontario County, New York and its people, Volume I > Part 26
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The traditions of the village for educational work, especially for women, were destined, however, to be maintained for a time. The year 1876 saw the inauguration of two important undertakings in this line. The Upham School for Girls, so named in honor of the beloved Miss Hannah Upham, was founded in that year, by Mrs. Samuel D. Backus, and entered upon a highly appreciated service, first as a day and then as a day and boarding school, that continued until 1891.
In the same year, 1876, the Granger Place School was opened, in the old Francis Granger homestead. This institution was organ- ized by a number of experienced teachers, including Miss Caroline A. Comstock, Miss Jane M. Slocum, Mrs. Charlotte P. Crocker, and Miss Harriet J. Hasbrouck, and it did a large and useful work under their management and later under the principalship of Mr. Samuel Cole Fairley, but it was not financially successful and in June, 1906, finally closed its doors.
For several years beginning with 1884, the Fort Hill School, a boarding and day school for boys, was conducted by the Rev. J. Hatrick Lee, a former rector of St. John's church, in the old Ran- kine place in the northeast part of the village.
The history of the public schools of the village has been one of constant progress. In 1874, school districts No. 10 and 11 were brought together in a union district and a massive school house erected on a lot near the public square. This building was com- pleted in 1876. In 1886, after a struggle in which the interests of the private schools were a leading factor, No. 13 was brought into the union district, and as a result of another exciting contest, an academic department was added to the school system, which was thereafter developed on broad lines and included in the central management primary or branch schools located on Saltonstall
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street, Adelaide avenue, and Chapel streets. At last, in 1900, the old Canandaigua Academy trustees turned over the property and trust funds of that institution to the Union School and Academy, as heretofore stated, and the latter organization, in 1906-7, follow- ing a vote of the taxpayers authorizing an expenditure of $80,000 for the purpose, built a magnificent new Canandaigua Academy on ground made historic as the site of the first "academy of learning" erected on the Genesee tract. To the sum voted by the people, Mr. Grant Schley, a native of the village and a former student of the Academy, added $10,000 to enable the Board of Education to complete the building on the plan originally designed.
The Churches.
The first religious service held in the village of Canandaigua was that at the funeral of Captain Caleb Walker, in August, 1790, and consisted simply of the reading of the church of England burial service.
In the same year meetings were held in the log barn on Judge Phelps's place, and at these services, it is related, sermons were read by John Call and the singing was led by Mr. Nathaniel San- born, husband of the good mistress of the Sanborn tavern. It is also recorded that "at a meeting of a number of the inhabitants of the town of Canandarqua on the evening of the 17th day of December, 1792, for the purpose of taking the minds of the inhabi- tants whether it is their wish to hire a clergyman to preach with us the ensuing season, Othniel Taylor, Judah Colt, and Abner Barlow were appointed a committee to hire a clergyman," and it is probable that religious services were thereafter held in the settle- ment with more or less regularity.
But the first real step toward organizing religious work in the village, which sees its fruition in the strong church organiza- tions and the splendid houses of worship of the present day, was taken when the First Congregational church of Canandaigua was organized, on February 25, 1799. A Protestant Episcopal church. known as St. Matthews, had been formed a few days earlier, but for reasons unknown it had only a short life and the people of that and other denominations united cordially in supporting the Con- gregational organization. This had for its first minister, Rev. Timothy Field, at a salary of $500 per annum. In the interval between the retirement of his successor, Rev. Henry Channing,
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"A man of learning, a great stickler for liberty and independence," who "came when he pleased and went when he pleased," and the coming to the pastorate of the Rev. William T. Torrey, there was erected the meeting house which, with various enlargements and improvements, has continued in service and now constitutes a most characteristic and dignified example of the Colonial architecture for which the village is distinguished. The Gothic chapel, now included in the very complete plant belonging to this church organ- ization, was erected in 1872-73, during the pastorate of the Rev. Frederick B. Allen. Among the longer pastorates in the church were those of Rev. Ansel D. Eddy, extending from 1823 to 1835, and that of Rev. Oliver E. Daggett, which covered a period of twenty-two years, from 1845 to 1867. The present pastor is the Rev. Livingston L. Taylor.
The organization of this historic church, like that of the Con- gregational churches of East Bloomfield (1796). South Bristol (1796), Bristol (1799), West Bloomfield (1799), Victor (1799). Naples (1800), Honeoye (1801), and Rushville (1802). is to be credited largely to the work of the Rev. Zadock Hunn, who had settled in the town in 1795, and who, though lacking, we are told, elements of popularity as a preacher, was most earnest and suc- cessful in forwarding the religious development of the region.
St. John's Episcopal church was organized in 1814, its first rectors, Rev. Alanson W. Welton and Rev. Dr. Onderdonk, con- ducting services in the town hall until the fall of 1816, when it entered into possession of its own church edifice, a well propor- tioned wooden structure on upper Main street. The church con- tinued to increase in strength under a succession of devoted rec- tors until 1872, when the erection of the present handsome stone edifice was undertaken. The consecration of the new building, which was delayed for fourteen years after its erection in order that it might be freed of indebtedness, took place on May 6, 1886. which by a singular coincidence was the seventieth anniversary of the day on which the foundation of the first church building was laid. The present rector is the Rev. Herbert L. Gaylord.
A Methodist "class" had been formed west of the village as early as 1796, but it was not until 1816 that a formal organization was effected by that denomination in either the village or the town of Canandaigua. In that year, under appointment of the Ontario circuit, Rev. William Barlow set about raising funds for the erec-
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tion of a church, and, a lot on Chapel street having been purchased, the work of building was begun. On July 26, 1818, the "chapel" was dedicated. On February 4, 1823, the society became an incor- porated body under the name of "The First Society of the Meth- odist Episcopal Church in the village of Canandaigua." The soci- ety grew rapidly in strength and numbers and in 1834 arranged to establish itself in a more central position, purchasing the site on the west side of Main street where the present church is located. The old building was moved to this site from Chapel street the following summer. In 1855-56 it was enlarged and improved : during the pastorate of Rev. John Allabaster, 1867 to 1869, it was further improved and a pipe organ provided; yet again, under the pastorate of Rev. Dr. L. C. Queal, 1880-83, the church was reseated and refurnished and a parsonage built ; and, finally, in 1902-3, under the pastorate of Rev. William W. Webb, the present splendid stone edifice was erected at a cost of $50,000. The present pastor is Rev. Arthur Copeland, D. D.
A Baptist church was organized at Centerfield, west of the village, in 1826, but the working center of the denomination was transferred to Canandaigua in January, 1833. The first services held here were in the town house, but a lot centrally located on the east side of Main street, south of the square, was immediately pur- chased and steps were taken toward the erection of a house of worship. This was completed and dedicated in December, 1835. the original building being of brick and 41 by 50 feet in size. In 1879, under the pastorate of Rev. W. H. Sloan, the house was rebuilt and enlarged, and in 1906, under the pastorate of Rev. J. Scott Ebersole, it was further enlarged and improved, at a cost of more than $12,000, the improvements including the building of new Sunday school rooms and the thorough modernizing of the interior. The present pastor is Rev. G. Rector Dye.
The Presbyterian church was organized, in 1870, by members of that faith who had formerly been connected with the Congrega- tional church, the first public meeting in reference to the enter- prise being held in the court house on April 26. The first public preaching service was held on Sunday, May 8, and on May 15 the church was formally organized with a membership of fifty-seven. In November, 1870, the Rev. Samuel H. Thompson became the pastor, and on the 30th of May, Decoration day, the following year, the corner-stone of the church edifice was laid, on the lot at the
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corner of Main and Gibson streets. The church was completed and dedicated on January 26, 1872. Under a succession of able pastors, with men of prominence as leaders and a devoted membership, the Presbyterian church soon gained and has maintained an important place in the religious life of the community. The Sunday school chapel was built in the summer of 1875, and in 1900 this was enlarged and the church edifice was redecorated and refurnished. The present pastor is the Rev. Guy L. Morrill.
The "Black Robes," as the Jesuit missionaries were called, were the first men to teach the Christian religion in the territory which is now embraced in Western New York, but their devoted and self sacrificing labors were among the Indians of the forest, pre- ceding by many years the coming of the white settlers. The latter were for the most part Protestants in religion, and it was not until nearly the middle of the eighteenth century that the adherents of the Roman church had assembled here in numbers to warrant effort to form an organization and erect a church building. Priests had visited the community in earlier years and had held services in private houses or other buildings, but it was not until 1848 and '49 that the people of the church were provided with a house of wor- ship. The original building was of brick, but of small dimensions, and stood on the lot at the corner of lower Main street and Salton- stall street, and after a few years it was incorporated in a much larger structure. In 1861-62 the church was still further enlarged. but with the advancing growth in numbers and increase in pros- perity of the people who worshiped there, it in time became inad- equate in size and otherwise unsuited to the needs of the congre- gation. The first settled pastor of the church was Father Edmund O'Connor, who served in that capacity from 1849 until 1858, and he was followed in succession by Rev. Charles McMullen, 1858-59: Rev. Michael Purcell, 1859-61; Rev. James M. Earley, 1861-62; Rev. Joseph McKenna, 1862-69; Rev. Denis English, 1869-1901 : Rev. James T. Dougherty, 1901-11. The St. Mary's Orphan Asy- lum and Academy, organized under the auspices of St. Mary's church, was incorporated in 1855 and first occupied houses on Saltonstall street, but in 1873, following the purchase for the church of the John A. Granger property, at the corner of Main and Gibson streets, it was transferred to the mansion there, where it was con- tinued in connection with the convent until, following the settle- ment of Rev. Father Dougherty as pastor, the children were trans-
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ferred to an institution in Rochester. In the meantime, in 1880, a school building was erected on the new property, and during the past year this has been enlarged by the erection of an addition, including a commodious public hall on the second floor. In 1903, following the paying off of the indebtedness incurred in the pur- chase of the Granger property, the congregation, under the leader- ship of Father Dougherty, erected the handsome brown stone edi- fice in which the stately worship of the church is now conducted. This involved an expenditure of over $90,000, but the burden of indebtedness thereby incurred was being so rapidly reduced that in 1908 the handsome brick and stone rectory was erected, to be followed soon by the addition to the school building above men- tioned, completing a plant that, including the real estate, has cost more than $160,000.
The Wesleyan Methodist church, erected on Bristol street, in 1888, through the generosity of John Carrington, houses a small but earnest congregation now under the pastoral charge of the Rev. Sanford D. Wilcox. All Souls Universalist church, recently organized, holds regular Sunday afternoon services, with Rev. E. P. Wood, of the Victor church of that denomination, officiating, in the Congregational chapel, and the same sanctuary, on Sunday evenings, houses a small congregation of colored people, to which a visiting clergyman from Rochester ministers.
The Newspapers.
The earlier newspaper history of Canandaigua is not easy to trace. The first attempt at printing a paper was made in 1799, when Lucius Cary moved here the "Ontario Gazette and Gene- see Advertiser," which he had started at Geneva a year or so before. This publication did not long survive, but was succeeded early in 1802 by the "Western Repository and Genesee Advertiser," published by James K. Gould. The following year the name of the paper was changed to the "Western Repository," and in 1804 James D. Bemis became interested in its management. Mr. Gould dying in March, 1808, the enterprise was continued by Mr. Bemis, who soon developed a large publishing business and made the paper the leading and most influential publication of its kind in the western country, richly earning the title of the "Father of the Western New York Press." The earliest copies of the paper access- ible show that Morse & Bemis published the Repository in 1805;
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Morse, Ward & Co., in 1830: Morse & Harvey in 1835; George L. Whitney in 1840; Orson Benjamin in 1845. The name of the paper was changed from "Western Repository" to "The Ontario Reposi- tory" in 1830. In 1857, George L. Whitney & Son became the proprietors and they were suc- ceeded in 1861 by George W. French, by whom it was sold, in February, 1862, to Jacob J. Matti- son, who consolidated it with the Messenger. Politically the Re- pository was a supporter of Fill- more, the American Presidential candidate, in 1856, and Bell, the National Union nominee, in 1860, both representing the struggles of the remnants of the Silver Gray Whigs for a separate existence.
The Ontario Messenger, established in 1803 as the Ontario Freeman, by Isaac Tiffany, was taken over and rechristened in 1806, by John A. Stevens, who continued in charge of the publi- cation until about 1830, following which the publishers were, first, JAMES D. BEMIS. James D. Bemis was born in Spencer, Massa- chusetts, July 1, 1783; learned the printing trade in Boston and Albany .. Opened a book store in Canandaigua in 1804. Became editor and proprietor of the Ontario Repository, and later started papers and book stores in Wayne, Livingston, Erie, and Onondaga coun- ties, winning recognition as "The Father of the Western New York Press." Died No- vember 2, 1857. Day & Morse, then T. B. Hahn, then Hubbell & Turner, again T. B. Hahn, and finally, in 1845, Jacob J. Mattison became inter- ested in the enterprise and al- though from time to time associated with others in the management continued at its head until his death, in August, 1879. In the mean- time the paper had absorbed its old-time rival, the Repository. Politically the old Messenger was a straight Democratic organ. as its successor, the Repository and Messenger. has continued to be to this date. After Mr. Mattison's death. the Repository and Messenger was sold to William H. Underhill, of Bath, following whose death in 1883 it was continued for a time by his father, A. L. Underhill, and then, in December, 1885, it became the property of Herbert Hunt- ington. The paper was continued under the latter's management
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until January, 1907, when he retired and it became the property of the Messenger Printing Company, of which W. A. Patton was president and general manager. On December 9, 1907, it began publication as a daily.
The Ontario County Times was established by Nathan J. Milliken, in January, 1852, as the organ of the anti-slavery wing of the Whig party. It took an active part in the events leading up to the organization of the Republican party, and under the manage- ment of its founder and his sons has continued an exponent of that party's principles. Mr. Milliken took his oldest son, Charles F. Milliken, into partnership on January 1, 1891, and upon the for- mer's death in December, 1902, the paper passed to the manage- ment of his two sons, C. F. & R. B. Milliken, by whom its publi- cation was continued until the death of the junior member of the firm on January 2, 1911. Charles F. Milliken is now the editor and manager.
The Ontario County Journal was established in 1874 by George D. A. Bridgman, as an Independent or Liberal Republican paper, but its policy was soon changed to that of a party organ and it has so continued under the management of successive proprietors. In May, 1886, it became the property of William G. David, but in September of the following year he sold it back to its founder, Mr. Bridgman, by whom it was conducted until July, 1891, when it became the property of Edwin P. Gardner and William H. Ham- lin. In May, 1899, Mr. Hamlin retired and Mr. Gardner has since continued sole proprietor and editor.
In addition to the papers which have survived the vicissitudes of the years as above related, there have been numerous unsuccess- ful ventures in the field. The Ontario Phoenix, which was established in 1827 by W. W. Phelps, and later conducted by R. Royce, was united with the Repository in 1836. The Clay Club was the name of a campaign paper printed at Canandaigua during the campaign of 1844. In April, 1882, the Ontario Independant was established by William C. Hydon and Edward A. Wader. In December, 1883, Mr. Hydon retired, and the publication was continued by Mr. Wader until February, 1885, when it was discontinued and its subscription list sold to Mr. Bridgman of the Ontario County Journal.
In August, 1898, the publication of a paper known as The Daily Chronicle was undertaken by A. R. Mickie, but after a
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precarious existence of forty-six days the venture was given up and the press and other materials shipped to another field.
In August, 1900, W. A. Brown and W. D. Powers began the publication of the Canandaigua Chronicle. In January, 1903, Mr. Powers retired from the firm, and Mr. Brown thereafter conducted the business until, in December, 1903, he effected a sale to Leonard A. Parkhurst and John L. McLaughlin, by whom it was continued until December, 1907, when upon the failure of the Lisk Manu- facturing Company, of which the two proprietors were directors. it went into the hands of a receiver and soon after suspended publication.
Library and Historical Associations.
In a community like Canandaigua, where was centered a popu- lation of unusual intelligence and educational institutions of high standing, and where resided a citizen like William Wood who was inspired by an ambition to provide the people means of knowledge and liberal culture, the founding of a public library association could not have been long delayed. As to just when the first step to this end was taken there is no information at hand, but the records show that in November, 1826, plans for "the Canandaigua Merchants' Clerks Library, to consist of every merchant's clerk in the village who chooses to join," were laid, and the organization started out with a nucleus of fifty books contributed by Mr. Wood. What became of this library and what was its history is not known, but it appears that it had a short life, for a new library movement was inaugurated in 1859. On May 6 in that year there was organized the Wood Library Association, so named in memory of the village philanthropist whose death had occurred two years before. The first officers were as follows: President, H. Bennett : vice president, S. C. Bennett ; secretary, J. G. Gregory ; treasurer, H. J. Messenger ; trustees, Francis Granger. H. O. Chesebro, Lucius Wilcox. Chester Coleman, and O. H. Smith.
The Wood Library Association was incorporated in 1868 and was re-incorporated as a Free Public Library in 1896. The present officers are as follows: President. Miss Isaphine P. Granger : vice president, Miss Ray Levy; secretary, Miss Elizabeth G. Coleman ; treasurer, Miss Grace E. Carson ; trustees, Mrs. Frank W. Chesebro, Miss Mary Voak, Mrs. Henry Kelly, Mrs. Frank E. Howe. Miss Frances M. Brunson, Miss Louise H. Field, Mrs. John Scott, Miss
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Jessie E. Freeman, Miss Isaphine P. Granger, Miss Ray Levy, Miss Grace Carson, and Miss Elizabeth G. Coleman.
The Ontario County Historical Society, incorporated in 1902. established its museum in the little office building on the Atwater lot, first occupied by Mark H. Sibley and later by John Callister and other eminent lawyers. It has since gathered a large collection of relics illustrating the Indian occupancy and the pioneer life of the region and has from time to time provided public lectures on subjects relating to the early history of the western part of the State. The ground on which its museum building stood was appropriated in 1910 by the Government as a part of the site for the new post- office, and the historic building, with its contents, was removed to a temporary location on Ontario street, east of the Canandaigua hotel. The society is now seeking a location on which to erect a larger building which shall be fire proof and better adapted to its purposes. A bequest of $1500 from Walter S. Hubbell, who died on December 29. 1909, is contingent on the erection of such a build- ing within a period of five years from that date.
Many other associations designed to enlarge the knowledge of their members or to promote the welfare of the community have characterized the development of the village, like "The Canan- daigua Society of Literature and Science," organized in 1840: "The Ontario Literary and Scientific Social Union," organized in 1874; "The Canandaigua Scientific Association," organized as a Miscro- scopical Society in 1880; "The Young Men's Christian Association," incorporated in 1904; "The Canandaigua Improvement Associa- tion," organized in 1902, and several Board of Trade or Chamber of Commerce organizations.
The order of Masonry obtained an early foothold in Canan- aigua, Ontario lodge No. 23, with Timothy Hosmer as master, receiving its warrant on October 12, 1792. In that and the Mark- masters lodge established in 1809 were included the most prominent men in the young settlement, but in the excitement following the Morgan abduction in 1826. the lodges here were dissolved, and the order had no local organization until the institution of the present Canandaigua lodge, No. 294, on the 8th of January, 1853, since which time it has steadily grown in strength. The Independent Order of Odd Fellows organized Ontario lodge here in 1844, but this was disbanded in 1857, and that order was thereafter without a local organization until May 18, 1870, when its present Canan-
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daigua lodge, No. 236, was instituted. Other secret and beneficial organizations were formed in Canandaigua in the succeeding years and have flourishing lodges here at the present time.
Asylums and Hospitals.
The first blossom of the splendid fruitage which Canandaigua has come into in the way of eleemosynary institutions, except the noble but limited work in that direction by St. Mary's church in the establishment of its orphan asylum in 1855, was that comprised in the founding of the Ontario Orphan Asylum. The movement for this institution had its inception in the brain and heart of Mrs. George Cook and was prompted by the especial need that became apparent as the ravages of the Civil war were felt in the community. The first meeting at which steps were taken to organize "a society for the care of orphan and destitute children of Ontario county" was held at the chapel of the Congregational church, early in May. 1863. The Asylum was formally incorporated in July, 1863, and upon the purchase of the Samuel Greenleaf property at the head of Main street entered at once upon its beautiful work of mercy, the formal opening taking place October 27. 1863. The first officers were as follows: President, Mrs. Caroline B. Cook; treasurer, Miss Antoinette Pierson ; secretary, Miss Catherine Chesebro; directors, Mrs. Jane Howe, Mrs. James Whorrell, Mrs. Emily Smith, Mrs. A. H. Lung. Mrs. Cook was continued by successive elections presi- dent of the board of managers until her death, November 11, 1891. Mrs. Charles S. Hoyt succeeded to the office the following year and was continued at the head of the institution until the year 1900, when she was succeeded by Mrs. Frank H. Hamlin. The latter insisted upon retiring from the office in 1909, and Miss Isaphine P. Granger was elected as her successor. The present officers are as follows: President, Miss Isaphine P. Granger : vice president, Miss L. Elizabeth Clarke; recording secretary, Mrs. Robert G. Cook; corresponding secretary, Mrs. Augustine S. Cooley ; treasurer, Mrs. Sarah E. Case; directors, Mrs. John Reznor, Miss Antoinette P. Granger, Mrs. Orlando J. Hallenbeck, Mrs. F. J. Nichols.
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