History of Cayuga County, New York : with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers, Part 36

Author: Storke, Elliot G., 1811-1879. cn
Publication date: 1879
Publisher: Syracuse, N.Y. : D. Mason
Number of Pages: 762

USA > New York > Cayuga County > History of Cayuga County, New York : with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers > Part 36

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Junior Year .- Hebrew and Chaldee ; Canon of the Scriptures ; Biblical Criticism ; Critical Reading of Old and New Testaments ; Church History begun ; Natural Theology ; Questions in Mental Philosophy ; Exercise in Lecture Room Talks throughout the year, extempore.

Middle Year .- Evidences of Christianity ; In- spiration of the Scriptures ; Christian Theology ; Hebrew and Greek Exegesis continued ; Bibli- cal Interpretation ; Church History continued ; Lectures on the Sermon and on Style; Exercise in the Preparation and Criticism of Plans; Ex- tempore Preaching.

Senior Year .- Lectures on Preaching and Pas- toral Theology ; Exercise in the Criticism of Plans continued ; Preaching-Extempore and from Manuscript ; Critical Analysis of Sermons ; Personal Drill and Sacred Oratory ; Greek Exe- gesis continued ; New Testament Literature ; Church History continued ; Church Polity ; The form of Government and History of the Presby- terian Church ; Church Parliamentary Law.

GOVERNMENT OF THE SEMINARY. The Au- burn Theological Seminary is regarded as the property of the Presbyterian Church. Its finan- cial administration is vested in a body of trustees who hold the real and personal estate under the provisions of the charter. The trustees are elected by the commissioners, composing the coordinate body administering the affairs of the Seminary. This body consists of a representation of two

clergymen and one layman from each of the Presbyteries comprised in the bounds of the sy- nods of Albany, Central New York, Geneva and Western New York. These Presbyteries are at present eighteen in number, and the Board of Commissioners therefore consists of fifty-four members. The commissioners appoint the pro- fessors and, with the concurrence of the trustees, fix the salaries and make all necessary appropria- tions of funds. Each commissioner holds his office for three years, one going out of office and the Presbytery supplying his place by a new election each year. A body of examiners, com- posed of the senior commissioner of each Presby- tery, attend at the annual examination of the classes in May, at the end of the Seminary year.

PROFESSORS .- The board of instruction in the seminary consists at present of five professors in the several departments of Christian Theology, Church History and Government, Biblical Criti- cism, Study of the Hebrew Language and Lit- erature, and Sacred Rhetoric and Pastoral The- ology. Each professor, at his inauguration, de- livers an address and subscribes to the following pledge :

" In the presence of the omniscient and heart- searching God, I do solemnly and sincerely af- firm and declare that I believe the Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments to be the Word of God and the only infallible rule of faith and prac- tice ; that I do receive and adopt the Confession of Faith and the Catechisms of the Presbyterian Church in the United States of America as con- taining the system of doctrine taught in the Holy Scriptures ; that I do approve of the government and discipline of the Presbyterian Church as pre- scribed in the form of government of the Pres- byterian Church in these United States ; and I do solemnly promise to maintain with zeal and fidelity the truths of the gospel, and to be faith- ful and diligent in all such duties as may devolve on me as a professor in this seminary, according to the best of my knowledge and abilities."

The present faculty of the seminary are the following : Rev. Samuel M. Hopkins, D. D., Hyde Professor of Ecclesiastical History and Church Polity ; Rev. E. A. Huntington, D. D., Taylor, Seymour and Ivison Professor of Bibli- cal Criticism ; Rev. Willis J. Beecher, D. D., Professor of Hebrew Language and Literature ; Rev. Herrick Johnson, D. D., Bellamy and Ed- wards Professor of Sacred Rhetoric and Pastoral Theology ; and Rev. Ransom B. Welch, D. D.,

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L. L. D., Richards Professor of Christian The- ology.

SEMINARY LIBRARY .- The Seminary Library consists of about 12,000 volumes, mostly theo- logical, but many also critical, historical and philosophical. These have been judiciously arranged by the librarian, with reference to sub- ject and time, according to the method of many of the best European libraries. Interesting ad- ditions lately made are the great fac-simile of the Tischendorff Ms. of the New Testament, (the Sinaitic Ms.) and the Abbe Migne's splendid edition of The Fathers, (the Latin and Greek Patrologia) in four hundred volumes. The library is freely open for the use of clergymen and citi- zens of every denomination. Several hundred volumes are annually added ; but as the building is shelved for 60,000 volumes, many of the al- coves are still empty and suggest a splendid op- portunity for generous benefactions, as an indi- vidual possessing the means and disposition to aid the cause of sacred learning, can scarcely do better than adopt one of the vacant alcoves to bear his name and fill it with appropriate books, which, in this elegant fire-proof building, would no doubt remain a safe deposit to bless many coming generations.

AUBURN YOUNG LADIES' INSTITUTE .- This educational institution is located at 68 and 128 North street. In the winter of 1853, on the in- vitation of prominent citizens, Mr. Mortimer L. Browne, then a teacher in Syracuse, and Emer- son J. Hamilton, a teacher in Bath, N. Y., visited Auburn with reference to establishing a seminary for the higher education of young women. Great interest was manifested by the citizens and the expectation was awakened that substantial aid would be given to the enterprise. About the time that an effort was to be made to procure subscriptions, such a stringency occurred in financial matters that it was deemed wise to defer the attempt until it could be made under more favorable circumstances. Meantime, Mr. Browne unexpectedly received the appointment of super- intendent of public instruction in Syracuse, and Mr. Hamilton was called to the principalship of the High School in Oswego, and the Auburn en- terprise was indefinitely postponed.

In the autumn of 1854, Mr. Winthrop Tappan, from Augusta, Maine, came to Central New York seeking a suitable location for the estab-

lishment of a select school for young ladies. On reaching Auburn he received such encourage- ment that he opened a small school in Corning Hall block. This experiment was so successful that Mr. Tappan soon visited Syracuse and in- vited Mr. Browne to become associated with him in establishing a school to be known as the Au- burn Young Ladies' Institute, to be located in the City Hall, which the citizens of Auburn had engaged to remodel for educational purposes, and make free of rent for the first three years of the school. The proposition was accepted by Mr. Browne, who resigned his office in Syracuse, and became associated with Mr. Tappan in organizing the Institute in May, 1855. These gentlemen were thus associated for three years, during which time the reputation of the Institute became so extended that an urgent demand existed for the accommodation of pupils from abroad.

Their joint principalship and proprietorship having expired by limitation in 1858, and Mr. Tappan preferring to retire from the institution, his interest was purchased by Mr. Browne, under whose sole management and control it has since remained. His residence on Genesee street be- ing insufficient to meet the demand for boarding facilities, Mr. Browne purchased the " Goodwin Place," 128 North street, which he so remodeled and enlarged as to accommodate twenty or more young ladies. Three or more acres of grounds are connected with the residence, and are so ar- ranged and adorned as to produce the most beau- tiful landscape effects. Their attractiveness, the daily walk to and from the residence to the day school and the provisions for carriage and sleigh riding, promote that high physical culture without which the best intellectual development cannot be secured.

In 1871, after occupying the City Hall over sixteen years, Mr. Browne purchased the north building of the Knight block, 68 North street, erected a large addition thereto, and converted the whole to the purposes of the day school. Its long occupancy of the City Hall forbade the in- corporation of the Institute by the Regents, and it has thus been debarred from any share in the annual school appropriations by the State. In consideration of this disability, and in deserved recognition of its usefulness in the cause of edu- cation, a petition was numerously signed by the best citizens of Auburn, and through Hon. Wm.

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B. Woodin, Senator from this district, was pre- sented to the Legislature of 1871, asking that $3,000 be appropriated to it, to be applied to the purchase of apparatus, library and cabinet. The appropriation was made, and expended for the purposes stated, and has thus added to the effi- ciency and reputation of the Institute. With this exception, since its establishment in 1855, this institution received no assistance from any source, and whatever reputation or success it has achieved is due alone to its intrinsic merit. From the last circular, issued in 1878, we summarize the characteristics of this Institute as follows : The most liberal provision for physical comfort ; facilities for thorough and symmetrical mental culture ; unusual attention to individual develop- ment ; and, paramount to all other considera- tions, the formation of elevated moral and re- ligious character. From the same circular it ap- pears that the patron references are from thirteen different States. Its present Board of Trustees comprises Sylvester Willard, M. D., Elliot G. Storke, Miles Perry, Jno. W. Haight, Alonzo G. Beardsley, Oscar F. Knapp, Wm. Allen, David M. Osborne, and Hon. Theodore M. Pomeroy.

CAYUGA ASYLUM FOR DESTITUTE CHILDREN. -This asylum, which occupies a pleasant site, ornamented with shade trees and shrubbery, on Owasco street, between Walnut and Bradford streets, was founded by the unwearied efforts of a few benevolent ladies, in the spring of 1852, and incorporated by act of the Legislature the same year. Its object, as stated in the act of in- corporation, is " to provide a temporary home for orphan, half-orphan and destitute children, sup- ply their necessities, promote their moral, intel- lectual and religious improvement, and fit them for situations of usefulness." Its corporate pow- ers, as regards its property, are vested in a board of nine male trustees ; and as regards the ap- propriation of its income, the care and manage- ment of its children, and of its internal and do- mestic concerns, in a board of female managers, consisting of a first, second and third directress, a treasurer, a secretary and twenty-seven other female managers, residing at the time of their election or appointment, in the County of Cay- uga. The first trustees, as named in the charter, were John H. Chedell, John W. Haight, Franklin L. Griswold, Zebrina M. Mason, Henry Under- wood, J. Ives Parsons, Charles N. Tuttle, Ros-

well Curtiss and Ebenezer B. Cobb; and the first board of managers, Harriet T. Pitney, First Directress ; Mrs. Zebrina M. Mason, Second Di- rectress ; Mrs. Jesse Segoine, Third Directress ; Caroline F. Blatchford, Treasurer ; Harriet S. Conklin, Secretary; Mrs. John W. Haight, Mary C. Morgan, Florence Mellen, Mrs. Crane, Fran- ces M. Goodwin, Margaret R. Watson, Mrs. Rice, Charlotte P. Underwood, Sally N. Bacon, Mrs. John McFarlan, Julia C. Clark, Mrs. W. I. Preston, S. Maria Reed, Abbey Warden, Henri- etta Parsons, Melita Chedell, Mrs. S. L. Bradley, Deborah Ann Bronson, Lydia H. Young, Caro- line Ross, Mary Fowler, Jane H. Woodruff, Mary Ann Robinson, Eliza Lewis, Andalusia Starin, Celuta Cook and Mary Kipp.

The managers are empowered " to govern the children committed to their care, and prescribe the course of their instruction and management to the same extent and with the same rights as exist in the case of natural guardians ;" to bind out such children " to some suitable employment in the same manner as overseers of the poor are authorized to bind poor and indigent children," but to see that provision is made whereby they shall be secured " an education proper and fitting to the condition and circumstances in life of such a child, and instruction in mechanical or agricul- tural pursuits." The amended act authorizes the board of supervisors " to instruct the super- intendents of the poor * * * to annually contract with the managers of said asylum, to board and clothe all children thrown on the county for sup- port, who are of a proper age to receive its bene- fits, at a price not exceeding eighty cents each per week;" and the board of supervisors are " authorized to levy and collect annually, in ad- vance, in the same manner as other county charges are levied and collected, such sums of money for the above purpose " as they " may deem necessary and expedient." Article IX of the by-laws provides, that " no person shall be considered eligible to the office of superintendent who is not a professed believer in the doctrines of the Bible, and competent to give religious in- struction to the children, abstaining also from all sectarian influence."

The school law of the city of Auburn passed June roth, 1875, authorized the board of education " to employ a teacher or teachers in the asylum for destitute children of said city, and to pay

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therefor out of the public school fund, in like manner as other teachers are paid; and said board is authorized to supply said asylum with fuel for school purposes, in like manner as other schools are supplied ; and the said board shall have the same care, oversight and direction of said school as of the other public schools of said city ; but nothing in this act shall be construed to give the board of education any control over the management of said asylum except as herein provided. The board of managers of said asy- lum, with the concurrence of said board of edu- cation, may at any time discontinue such school, in which case the pupils therein shall be entitled to all the privileges of any other of the public schools of said city."

The first meeting of the ladies, on record, was held May 5th, 1852, when the society was organ- ized, and the managers elected as named in the act of incorporation. The asylum was first opened in 1852, in a wooden house on the east side of James street. In 1853 the lot on which the asylum now stands was purchased for $3,500. With the additions subsequently made, at a cost of $3,200, it comprises about two acres. In 1857, the main asylum building, which is a fine, three-story brick structure, was erected at a cost of over $8,000 ; and in 1858, a rear addition, for a school-room and other purposes, was built at a cost of $6,000. In 1870, a flag-stone walk was laid and curb set at a cost of $1,400. In 1871 the main building and fence were repaired and a new and more desirable walk from the street to the front steps laid, at a cost of about $2,000.

From the report of the Secretary for 1877, it appears that the number of children in the asy- lum during the year was 167 ; of whom 107 were boys and 60 girls. The number of children then in the asylum was 98. The smallest num- ber in the institution at any time was 78. The number who have found homes was 57. The present number of inmates, (October Ist, 1878,) is 95. The receipts from all sources in 1877, in- cluding an appropriation of $3,000 from the Su- pervisors and the balance on hand at the begin- ning of the year, were $4,937.74 ; the expendi- tures, $4,855.89.

The board of managers issue monthly a pa- per called The Orphan's Friend, which is a great assistance to the asylum in enlisting the sympa- thy and aid of the public, while it gives informa-

tion to the friends abroad of its management, and the history of the children committed to its care.

On the death of Mr. James S. Seymour, who was the president of the board of trustees of the asylum from its organization, and a liberal benefactor, the asylum received a bequest of $ 10,000 as a permanent fund, the interest only to be used. It has been the recipient of legacies from other individuals from time to time, among them $2,700 from Dr. Healy, of Syracuse ; $5,000 from Laban Hoskins, of Union Springs ; $1,440 from Mr. Baker, of Fleming ; $300 from Mrs. Mary Miller, of Auburn ; $100 from Mrs. Dr. Rudd, of Utica ; $1,059 from Kittlewells; and $1,310 from Hugh McDowell, of Niles ; be- sides innumerable donations of various sums.

CHAPTER XXVIII.

HISTORY OF AUBURN, (CONTINUED.)

CHURCHES IN AURELIUS AND AUBURN-EARLY RELIGIOUS TEACHERS-FIRST RELIGIOUS SO- CIETY-FIRST CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH IN AUBURN-ITS CHANGES AND HISTORY-ST. PETER'S CHURCH-FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH- FIRST METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH- OTHER CHURCH ORGANIZATIONS.

R EV. David Thatcher, from Orange, N. J., made, in 1795, a missionary tour through this region, and held religious services at the scattering settlements. Rev. Asa Hillyer, also from New Jersey, engaged in a similar work at Aurora, in the town of Milton, now Genoa, and at Hardenbergh's Corners, in 1798. Elder David Irish, is said to have preached here in 1794, and if so, his was probably the first sermon to white men at the hamlet.

New Jersey must be credited with the honor of an early religious culture of this wilderness field, and it is worthy of remark, that three young min- isters from that State itinerated over this ground, when most of their routes were either well trod- den Indian trails, or in the absence of these, the freshly blazed trees of the forest. Their names were Matthew La Rue Perrine, James Richards

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and Henry Mills; they in after years, became emi- nent and honored professors in the Auburn Theo- logical seminary. The father of a fourth profess- or, Aaron Condit, was also an early missionary from New Jersey, and held services at Aurelius. Seth Williston and Jedediah Bushnell labored here in 1799, and aroused a deep and abiding re- ligious interest.

The first religious society incorporated in this vicinity was the Reformed Protestant Dutch Church in Owasco, organized September 23d, 1796. In the same year a Baptist Church was organized in Fleming, and in 1799 another of the same denomination in Brutus, now Sennett. These were followed in 1801 by the organization of the "First Congregational Society of Aurelius," consisting of five members, namely : Samuel Col- ver, Gilbert Weed, Josiah Mix, Rebecca Mix and Jacob Shaw.

The place of meeting, was at the house of Icha- bod Wilkinson, on the Poplar Ridge road. . Its trustees were drawn from different and, when the facilities for traveling are considered, from widely separated settlements. They were: Thomas Mumford, of Cayuga ; Joseph and John Grover, of Fleming Hill ; Henry Moore, residing on the road to Union Springs ; Hezekiah Goodwin, one mile from the Half Acre; William Bostwick, of Auburn; Jesse Davis and Joseph Taylor, residing in the south part of the town ; and Moses Lyon, near the Half Acre. David Higgins was called to the pastorate, in May, 1802, and his salary was fixed at $500. His family comprised ten mem- bers. For the annual support of each of whom there was thus the pittance of fifty dollars only.

In 1809, a partially finished church at the Half Acre, was occupied by this society where they worshiped until November, 1810, when Mr. Higgins, tired of the neglect of the congregation to finish the house, and being offered the pas- toral care of a congregation in Auburn, resigned, to serve the " First Congregational Society" of that place. This society was organized Sep- tember 17th, 1810, with the following trustees : Robert Dill, Silas Hawley, Henry Ammerman, Moses Gilbert and Noah Olmstead, Jr. The so- ciety soon after its organization adopted the Pres- byterian form of government. The sum sub- scribed for the salary of Mr. Higgins was less than $500. A regular church organization was not effected until January 14th, 1811. It

comprised nine persons, namely : David Herring, Silas Hawley, Oliver Lynch, Eunice Higgins, Sarah Gilbert, Betsey Tyler, Rachel Parker, Sarah Hawley and Anna Coggswell. Within the first year of its organization the membership had risen to seventeen .*

In February, 1813, Mr. Higgins resigned and was succeeded by Hezekiah N. Woodruff, who had officiated for nine years at Aurora. In his letter of acceptance, he expresses the fear that the provision made for his support "will not be fully adequate to free him from worldly care and embarrassment." When Mr. Higgins resigned, the Church consisted of twenty-seven members, twenty-four of whom were women. Mr. Wood- ruff was installed June 22d, 1813, and continued until August 29th, 1816. During his pastorate the first church edifice was erected, at a cost of $16,000 and dedicated March 5th, 1817. Its cost had been fully paid and the prosperity of the society was not checked by the burden of debt. Hitherto their meetings had been held in the school-house on South street and in the "long room " of the " Centre House."

Mr. Woodruff was succeeded March 3d, 1817, by Rev. Dirck C. Lansing, of Onondaga, where he had held a pastorate for eight years. He con- tinued here until June 16th, 1829, over twelve years. He then assumed the charge of the Sec- ond Church of Utica.

Dr. Lansing's services with this Church were signally successful, in which he had very little assistance from any of the evangelists, excepting Mr. Finney. He was aided by him for a short time only, in 1826. The accessions to the Church in the first four years of his ministry were four hundred and seventy-five. Dr. Lansing, by his great influence over all with whom he came in contact was well calculated to win converts, not only to his faith, but also to its successful propa- gation by means of an educated ministry. He suggested the establishment of the Theological Seminary in Auburn, and it received from him a

* On one occasion in the absence of Mr. Higgins, William Bost- wick, an Episcopalian, was invited to read the Episcopal service and a sermon, which he did, without objection by any one. On the Sunday following the return of the pastor, the act was severely con- demned from the pulpit, which led to the secession of the Episcopal attendance, and to their organization of a suciety of their own faith, This occurred while Mr. Higgins was in charge of the religious ser- vices of several settlements and while he was only an occasional min- istrant here, to a society composed of different religious beliefs.

CANFIELD JARROD.

MRS. TERRISSA JARROD,

CANFIELD JARROD.

MR. CANFIELD JARROD was born November 21, 1801, in Warren, Dutchess county, N. Y., and soon after removed with his parents to Salisbury, Litchfield county, Conn., where he remained until 1820, when he removed to Wolcott, then in Cayuga county, N. Y.

His employment was farming, though he en- gaged in wool buying and as an insurance agent. His attachment to a particular spot was not very strong, and he frequently changed his residence. In 1858 he came to Auburn, where, until his death in 1867, he chiefly resided. His widow survives him and now resides on North Street. Mr. Jarrod married Miss Terrissa Skeel in 1823. She was born in Warrensburg, Rensselaer county, N. Y., February 22, 1800, and with her parents moved to Sterling, in Cayuga county, in 1817. Mr. and Mrs. Jarrod have had no children,

but have made their house a pleasant home for five orphans, whom they reared, educated and assisted to business employments. Four survive, some of whom are in the Government service in Washington, D. C. Mr. and Mrs. Jarrod united with the Wesleyan Methodist Church in 1846. Politically, Mr. Jarrod was a firm Republican, using his influence for the liberation of the slaves, and his house was one of the stations on the "underground Railroad," where many a sable traveller, bound for Canada, found refuge, sympathy, rest and refreshment. Their sym- pathy for the unfortunate and care for their wants are proverbial, and Mrs. Jarrod now en- tertains and befriends the Onondaga women, who are selling Indian trinkets in this vicinity. A view of her residence may be seen in another part of this work.

RESIDENCE OF MRS. TERRISSA JARROD. AUBURN, N.Y.

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CHURCH ORGANIZATIONS.

support at once so earnest, forcible and persist- ent as to win to its support, not only his own so- ciety, but secured, so generally, the cooperation of the Presbytery of Cayuga and of the Synod, as to secure the object 'sought. The seminary was located and completed and between that insti- tution and the First Presbyterian Society of Au- burn, there has always existed the most intimate relations, resulting in reciprocal benefits. Most of the ample grounds and nearly one-half of the sum raised in the country for the erection of the first buildings, were contributed by members of this society.

Recently the same beneficent spirit led to the bestowal of $80,000 upon that institution as a condition of its retention in Auburn. This large gift to the seminary was added to the heavy bur- den then recently incurred in the erection of their magnificent church edifice the cost of which was $140,000. It is worthy of remark that this so- ciety has expended upon its church edifices and the seminary buildings and endowments about equal sums, aggregating the large amount of over $240,000, more than one-third of which has been contributed by two wealthy and liberal citi- zens, Sylvester Willard, M. D., and Theodore P. Case, Esq.

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History of Cayuga County, New York : with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers, Part 36

Author: Storke, Elliot G., 1811-1879. cn Publication date: 1879 Publisher: Syracuse, N.Y. : D. Mason Number of Pages: 762

Author: Storke, Elliot G., 1811-1879. cn
Publication date: 1879
Publisher: Syracuse, N.Y. : D. Mason
Number of Pages: 762