USA > New York > Jefferson County > History of Jefferson County, New York, with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers > Part 43
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Mr. Bishop was succeeded by Mr. Cowen, and he, in a short time, by Joel Everett, a very efficient teacher, who kept the school during the greater part of the War of 1812. These were precarious times for schools in this vicinity ; for, when the men were called out in arms, the school-boys had to take their places at home as far as practi- cable, and, besides, everybody was in a state of more or less excitement lest a successful invasion by the British and Indians should compel them to flee from their homes. Some of the most aged people in the city still recollect how Mr. Everett used to come into school in the morning, anxiously inquiring of the scholars if they had heard any news from Sacket's Harbor. Mr. E. taught until 1816.
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HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, NEW YORK.
In that year Watertown was incorporated as a village, and divided into two school districts, Washington street being the line between them. Exhausted by the war, the people felt no disposition to go on with the academy enter- prise, which was involved in debt, and the upper story of the building was used for several years as a district school-house for the castern district (which became district No. 3 of the town of Watertown); the old frame school-house being abandoned. Avery Skinner, then a youth of twenty, afterwards one of the most prominent men of Oswego county, taught there from 1817 to 1823 ; an extremely long period for a district school of that era. Rev. Daniel Banks also taught a select school in the lower story of the same build- ing for several years after the war, supplying to some extent the lack of an academy.
For the western district (No. 2), the sites of the Arsenal- street school and the Methodist parsonage were purchased in 1817, for two hundred and fourteen dollars, and a one- story briek school-house ereeted for six hundred and ninety- six dollars.
The academy (that is, the building originally intended for that purpose) was sold on a mortgage, in 1820, to the " Watertown Ecclesiastieal Society," who erected the First Presbyterian church on the same lot, somewhat west and south of the former structure. The eastern district was then divided on the line of State street. The district north of that street, which retained the name of No. 3, pur- chased a wooden building on Factory street and fitted it up as a school-house. The upper story of the academy was occupied by the school of the southeastern district (No. 8), with Mr. Skinner as teacher, until 1823, when a stone school-house was erected on the site of Grace church, on Sterling street. These three districts remained as thus or- ganized as late as 1840 ; the school-houses remaining the same, except that the wooden one on Factory street was replaced by a briek one about 1830.
In 1826 or 1827 the old brick academy building was taken down, and the material used to erect a brick structure on Clinton street, for the Washington Female Academy. Miss Northrop and Miss Hooker were successively princi- pals there, with competent assistants; and from 1828 to 1837 the school bore a high reputation, being attended by all the young ladies and " big girls" of the first families of the ambitious village, with many from the outer regions.
In 1831 and 1832 a determined effort was made to estab- lish a good high school for young men and boys. An or- ganization was effected, and the stoek was promptly taken by the principal citizens of the place. Micah Sterling, Eg- bert Ten Eyck, Orville Hungerford, Jason Fairbanks, Love- land Paddock, Norris M. Woodruff, and Henry D. Sewall subscribed ten shares each ; nine others took five shares each ; one took four shares; five, three shares ; nineteen, two shares; and twenty-six, one share each. The first trustees were the gentlemen just named (except Mr. Wood- ruff ), together with Thomas Baker, Reuben Goodale, Al- pheus S. Greene, Justin Butterfield, William Smith, Joseph Goodale, Joseph Kimble, Geo. S. Boardman, and John Safford. A commodious stone building was erected in a handsome grove on Academy street, and on the 19th of September, 1832, La Ruc P. Thompson opened the first
term as principal. There were not enough students assured to justify the employment of an assistant. It was a boys' academy, and the only girls who ever attended it were two daughters of William Smith, who had a small room by themselves, and whose father obtained this privilege as a special favor, in order that Mr. Thompson might supervise the classical education of the elder. After Mr. Thompson, Mr. Samuel Belding and Mr. Joseph Mullin, now one of the justices of the supreme court of the State, were prin- eipals of -the institution. It had a very moderate amount of prosperity, and never received the visitation of the regents.
In February, 1836, the Watertown presbytery adopted resolutions proposing to unite with the Black River Con- gregational association in founding a high school of a marked religious tendency. A joint committee of the presbytery and the association, at a meeting held the following month, unanimously agreed to the proposition, and recommended Watertown as the best loeation. On the 25th of May of the same year the Black River Literary and Religious In- stitute was incorporated by the legislature, the first trustees being Martus Smith, James H. Monroe, Eli Farwell, Jason Clark, George S. Boardman, Hart Massey, Rowell Kinney, Craft P. Kimball, Elisha Camp, Lewis A. Wieks, Henry Jones, George W. Knowlton, Ebenezer H. Snowden, John Covert, E. M. Adams, Elisha P. Cook, David Spear, Chas. B. Pond, Artemas Crittenden, John A. Cathcart, David Granger, Abel L. Crandall, Roswell Pettibone, and Wm. Chittenden. They were authorized to establish a seminary in Watertown, the annual ineome of which should not exceed four thousand dollars, to elect a faculty, and to fill vacaneies in their own number. They adopted a constitution, ac- cording to which the board consisted of twenty-four mem- bers,-six Congregational and six Presbyterian clergymen, and of six Congregational and six Presbyterian laymen. When a vacancy occurred a person of the same elass and sect as the late member was to be appointed in his place, and the presbytery or association of the late meniber's de- nomination was to have the sole power of nominating his suecessor. A board of visitors, appointed by the trustees, was authorized, besides exereising general supervision over the school, to administer to the faculty a prescribed con- fession of faith and a pledge of religious fidelity.
The first faculty consisted of Rev. J. R. Boyd, principal ; Rev. John Covert, vice-principal; and Mrs. John Covert, preceptress. A lot on the corner of State and Mechanic streets was immediately purchased for $4500, a wooden building for temporary use was ereeted, and the school was opened in September, 1836. In the spring of 1837 the permanent building was begun, and in 1838 it was eon- pleted. It was forty by seventy feet, two stories high be- sides the basement, built of stone and brick, and eost $6500. The institution was received under the visitation of the Regents in January, 1838, and received a share of the literature fund while it continued in operation.
The former academy, which had always been feeble, speedily went down before the rivalry of the new institu- tion. A large majority of the stockholders in the former soon assigned their interest to the latter. The academy was suspended in 1838 or '39, and in 1841 its corporation was
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MRS. J. G. HARBOTTLE.
J. G. HARBOTTLE.
RESIDENCE OF J. G. HARBOTTLE, No. 7 STATEST., WATERTOWN, N. Y.
GENDRON, PHOTOGRAPHER, WATERTOWN. N. Y.
WM. HOWARD.
MRS.WM. HOWARD.
RESIDENCE OF WM. HOWARD, No.60 STATE ST., WATERTOWN. NEW YORK.
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HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, NEW YORK.
dissolved by the legislature. The female academy also ceased to exist, as the institute had departments for both males and females.
From 1838 to 1864 the general educational system remained substantially the same, primary education being furnished by the district schools, and higher education by the Black River institute, the name of which, however, was changed in 1846 to " Jefferson County Institute."
Notwithstanding the apparently narrow sectarian basis on which the institute was founded, it met with marked success. Its scholars were numbered by hundreds at a time. During the year 1853 it had over five hundred ; two hundred and sixty-four males, and two hundred and fifty- eight females. The first principal, Rev. J. R. Boyd, con- tinued until 1848, when he resigned to re-enter the ministry. Rev. D. M. Linsley was the principal from 1848 to 1853, when he was succeeded by Rev. Alvan Parmelee. In its palmy days there were no less than eight assistants.
In regard to the common schools during the period above mentioned (1838 to 1864), several new districts were formed; but it would not be interesting to particularize their exaet dates, as the distriet system has been substan- tially done away with. This system became less and less satisfactory, and many private schools were patronized by the citizens. In 1864 there were twenty-nine teachers em- ployed. The number of children of school age in the vil- lage was 2633, while the number registered in the district schools was only 1287, or forty-eight per cent. This and other evidences of the failure of the district schools to meet the wants of such a village as Watertown caused a general demand for a system of graded schools. The proper representations were made to the legislature, and on April 21, 1865, an aet was passed establishing such a system.
The law provided that there should be nine commissioners of common schools, holding office three years, their terms being so arranged that there should be three elected each ycar, and the commissioners in their joint capacity being styled the " Board of Education of the village (now city) of Watertown." It was made the duty of the board to establish and discontinue schools as they might deem best; to build, purchase, and repair school-houses ; buy and keep in repair furniture, apparatus, books, etc .; to employ and remove all teachers as they should deem best; to pay them their wages, and to maintain a general superintendence over the schools, adopting such regulations for their man- agement as they should think best. They were not allowed, however, to sell the school-houses, but could report the de- sirability of sale to the village trustees. The latter were required to raise by tax the amounts which the board of education might certify were neecssary for the purposes just named ; provided, however, that the amount expended for teachers' wages and contingent expenses should not be less than twice, nor more than six times, the sum appro- priated by the State during the previous year. The board of education was also made the trustees of the school libraries, and invested with various minor powers not neecs- sary to mention here.
The trustees of Jefferson County Institute were also authorized to lease or transfer the institute property to the village, in trust for school purposes, and the high school
under the board of education was made subject to the vis- itation of the regents of the university, and allowed to share in the State funds devoted to higher education. So long as the institute buildings should be leased to the village, the trustees of the institute were authorized to appoint two members of the board of education, in addition to the nine elected by the people. In accordance with this law, com- missioners were duly elected, and the board of education was organized. The institute leased its property to the village for a high school; it has ever since been thus leased, and the institute has continued to appoint two members of the board of education; its own organization being, of course, maintained to enable it to do so. A system of graded schools was at onee organized, the higher English branches being taught in the high school, together with a sufficient knowledge of the languages to prepare a pupil for college. The active management was confined to a super- intendent, appointed by the board, the same person being usually the clerk, though at present the principal of the high school is superintendent. In 1875 the system was re- organized, being modified in some particulars, though re- taining the same general features as beforc.
The system now provides for three departments,-the high school, and the grammar and primary schools. The first is taught in the building of that name, the last two in the common-school houses. Each of the three covers four years or grades, making the whole course of an average scholar through the city schools eover twelve years. But no scholar can advance from one grade to another until he or she shall have passed a prescribed examination. The studies range from the simplest lessons in reading and spelling up to a complete knowledge of arithmetie, grammar, and the other ordinary English branches, in the last term of the eighth year.
In the high school there are three courses, each covering the four years of attendance there. The English course embraces algebra, geometry, astronomy, mental philosophy, civil government, and similar studies. The English and French, German or Latin course comprises most of the studies in the English course, together with either one of the languages just named. Finally, the classical course gives some of the principal English studies, combined with Latin and Greek sufficient to prepare a student for college.
The total number of children registered in the public schools during the school year ending in May last was 1949, being about sixty-eight per cent. of the whole number of school age in the city, the average attendance being 1311. Considering that just before the establishment of the board of education only forty-eight per cent. of the whole num- ber of children in the village attended the district schools, as before stated, it is plain that the new system has found marked favor with the people.
Since its inauguration the following gentlemen have been the presidents of the board of education during the years named, it being understood that the year of service in each case extends till June after the end of the year here given : Theodore Babcock, 1865, '66, and '67 ; Allen C. Beach, 1868; Theodore Babcock, 1869; Beman Brockway, 1870, '71, '72, '73, '74, '75, and '76; William W. Taggart, 1877.
The board of education and principal officers are now as
12
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HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, NEW YORK.
follows : William W. Taggart (president), C. A. Holden, Hannibal Smith, S. C. Knickerbocker, E. Q. Sewall, Wil- liam S. Carlisle, Charles R. Skinner, Henry H. Smith, John Lansing, John H. MeKay, William G. Williams; Super- intendent, W. K. Wickes ; Assistant Superintendent and Clerk, Fred. Seymour.
The schools are in a very flourishing condition, financially as well as otherwise. The income for the year ending May, 1877, was : From city tax, $23,500; from State, $7241.84 ; from tuition fees of non-resident scholars, $1401.83; total, $32,143.67. The expenses for the same period were : For teachers' wages, $18,177.07 ; other expenses, $10,545.88. Total, $28,722.95. The total number of children in the city between the ages of 5 and 20 years, according to the State Superintendent's report for 1875, was 3211.
We close with a list of the various schools, with their teachers and salaries, ete. :
HIGH SCHOOL .- Building erected in 1838; 230 sittings; value of school property, $17,750. W. K. Wickes, A.M., principal ; salary, $1600. R. S. Bosworth, teacher of nat- ural sciences and mathematics ; salary, $900. Miss Cor- nelia M. Johnson, French and English literature; $850. Miss Anna B. Maier, drawing and German ; $700. Miss Jennie M. Haas, higher English ; $440. Miss Fanny Johnson, $440. Miss S. T. Goodenough teaches drawing in the common schools; salary, $320.
ARSENAL STREET SCHOOL .- Present building erected in 1856. Value of school-property, $13,900. Principal, Mrs. U. J. Walker ; salary, $600. Assistants, Carrie R. Haas, $380 ; Eliza B. Howk, $320; Clara Failing, $300; Eliza Bull, $300; L. H. Holbrook, $400; Anna Van Os- trand, $280; Carrie Van Ostrand, $280; Florence A. Thornton, $280; Kate M. Walker, $260.
LAMON STREET SCHOOL .- Present building erected in 1853; enlarged in 1871. Value of school-property, $21,000. Principal, Sophronia T. Lewis; salary, $600. Assistants, Mary M. Phelps, $380 ; Belle Meader, $280 ; M. S. John- son, $300 ; Anna A. Wood, $440 ; Emma A. Tolles, $300; HI. Delle Hutchins, $300; Ella McCarty, $280.
MULLIN STREET SCHOOL .- Present building ereeted in 1867. Value of school-property, $6000. Principal, Anna M. Halloran ; salary, $380. Assistants, Libbie Halloran, $300; Eliza J. Norris, $280; Carrie A. Kloek, $260.
ACADEMY STREET SCHOOL .- Present building erected in 1831. Value of school-property, $6806. Principal, Mrs. Mary E. Barrows ; salary, $460. Assistants, Polly Felt, $320; Mary E. Hay, $320; E. B. Smith, $300; Jennie R. Farnham, $260.
BOON STREET SCHOOL .- Building erected in 1874. Value of school-property, $15,000. Principal, Lou M. Wood ; salary, $440. Assistants, Mary O'Connor, $280; Leilla Kelsey, $280; Mary MeCormick, $280.
COOPER STREET SCHOOL-BUILDING .- Erected in 1858. Value of school-property, $3500. Principal, Miss Rebecca McConnell; salary, $380. Assistants, Nettie Thompson, $280; Sarah Chellis, $300.
BRADLEY STREET SCHOOL .- Building erected in 1824. Value of school-property, $625. Teacher, Malitta Hender- son, $280.
FACTORY STREET SCHOOL .- Building crected in 1823.
Value of school-property, $675. Teacher, Miss I. B. IIemenway ; salary, $250.
For the early history of Watertown schools, embodied in this sketch, we are principally indebted to the report for 1873, made by D. G. Griffin, Esq., then superintendent. Mrs. Jason Fairbanks and others have also given us con- siderable information on those points. The facts regarding the academies are mainly drawn from Dr. Hough's history, while for the late and present conditions of the schools we are indebted to the reports of Superintendents Griffin and Beal, and the aid of the present assistant superintendent, Mr. Seymour.
PUBLIC-SCHOOL LIBRARY.
The only public library of any particular moment in the eity of Watertown is that one opened to the public by the board of education, in connection with the public schools, in the year 1875. The books, which numbered then 2728, were such as had been accumulated during previous years by the library-fund appropriations from the State ; but no particular system had been adopted, or care taken, for the management of the same. During the year named the library committee arranged shelves and proper conveniences for the protection of the books, and the library was opened to the public October 4 of the same year. Stringent rules were adopted for the return of books, which have proved beneficial. Master Cyrus H. Cole, a pupil of the High School, was appointed librarian, which office he still fills with credit to himself and satisfaction to the board of edu- cation and the public. His register, on June 20, 1876, showed 652 names of different persons drawing books. The volumes now number 3600. From October 4, 1875, to July 19, 1876, 3787 books were drawn. The selections have been judiciously made, and comprise the standard works on history, travels, and fiction, with a goodly assort- ment of juvenile works. The compilers of this work are under obligations to the librarian for many courtesies re- ceived at his hands.
WATERTOWN CHURCHES.
FIRST PRESBYTERIAN.
The history of this church dates back to June, 1803. It was organized by a New England missionary, Rev. Ebene- zer Lazelle, in the barn of Caleb Burnham, at Burrville, the point first settled in the town. The church, at its forma- tion, was composed of the following persons : James Thomp- son, Gershom Tuttle, Thomas Sawyer, - Hinman, Joel Goodale, Henry Jewett, Mrs. Sarah Pettit, Sarah Tuttle, Susannah Sawyer, Jerua Eno, Cloe Baily, Hannah Eddy, and Sarah Taylor.
It was organized as a Congregational ehureh, and in June, 1804, six additional members having been received, Thomas Sawyer and Solomon Calkins were elected deacons. Meet- ings were held in various places : at the house of John Blevin, the ball-room of Col. Tuttle, the wagon-shop of Deacon Sawyer, the school-house, and other houses. When no minister was present a sermon was read, the reader being generally Dr. Brainard, the father of O. V. Brainard, or Judge Strong. Though there was no settled minister, the
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HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, NEW YORK.
church enjoyed the services of various missionaries, and continued to inerease, consisting in 1811 of fifty-four mem- bers.
During this period the village of Watertown at the river increased rapidly, and the people, fecling that they could not go to Burrville to church, began to hold Sabbath serviees in the " school-house on the hill," the present site of the Universalist church. These meetings were under the leadership of Mr. Samuel Bosworth, and Judge Foster was chosen chorister. On February 11, 1811, an effort was made to organize a society that should unite both parts of the town, and the following persons were elected trustces : Tilly Richardson, John Sikes, Thomas Sawyer, and William Fellows, representing Burrville ; Hart Massey and Amos Benedict, representing Watertown Village; and Aaron Brown, Watertown Centre. A vote was taken at that meeting that it was expedient to erect a meeting-house at or near the centre, so as to accommodate both ends of the town ; but the breaking out of the War of 1812 postponed the whole matter, and prevented the accomplishment of what would have been a mistake. The organization fell through, and nothing was done till 1814.
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On the 25th of May in that year "The Watertown Ecclesiastieal Society" was formed, which still continues to be the corporate name of the society. Jabez Foster, Orrin Stone, and Hart Massey were elected trustees. Thomas Sawyer and Theodore Redfield were afterwards added to the board.
July 27, 1815, a eall was made to Rev. Daniel Banks for half his time, on a salary of four hundred dollars. The church at Burrville was at this time removed to Water- town, and, forming a part of the Watertown Ecclesiastical Society, united with the people of the village in this call. The church in Rutland gave Mr. Banks a like call, and he was installed pastor of the two churches October 25, 1815. His preaching services in Watertown were held for two years in the old frame " court-house on the hill," where now stands the jail. In 1817, that building being injured by fire, the congregation met in the brick academy which had been crected in 1811 on the site of the First church.
On the 11th of October, 1819, the society voted to erect a church on the academy lot. A building committee was appointed, and a stone church was built in the summer of 1820, under the immediate supervision of Judge Foster, at a cost of $9000. It was dedicated June 1, 1821. It was indeed an imposing structure for that day, and was the first church erceted in the town.
Immediately after taking possession of this house, the church changed its form of government and elected a bench of elders, consisting of Job Sawyer, Theophilus Redfield, William Brown, James Stone, Jeronimus Van Nest, Hart Massey, William Huntington, Asaph Horton, and Amasa Herriek. February 28, 1821, Mr. Banks resigned his pastorate, and on the same day the church was received under the care of the Presbytery of St. Lawrence.
On the 31st of May the society extended to George S. Boardman, a student from the Theological Seminary of Auburn, a unanimous call to become their pastor, and he was ordained and installed by the Presbytery on July 26, 1821. Dr. Boardinan's pastorate of sixteen years was
laborious and fruitful. He received 505 members into the church, and 394 were removed. He left a membership of 233, although three churches had been organized during his ministry, chicfly from the first church. In 1830 a Congregational church was formed, for which twenty mein- bers werc dismissed. This church lived but a short time. In 1831 the Second Presbyterian church was organized. Thirty-five members were dismissed at its formation, and ten soon after. In 1836 the Burrville Congregational church was organized, and fifteen members were dismissed for that purpose.
On the 26th of June, 1837, the society extended a unanimous call to Isaac Brayton, a student from Auburn Seminary, and he was ordained and installed as pastor of the church on the 31st day of August. Dr. Brayton's long pastorate of twenty-six and a half years was eminently judicious. His ministry, like his life, was quict, conserva- tive, uniform, and successful; and 470 were added to the church during his ministry.
On the 12th of January, 1864, Dr. Brayton requested of the Presbytery of Watertown a dissolution of the pas- toral relation between himself and the First church of Watertown, on account of his own health and the health of his wife.
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