USA > New York > Monroe County > History of Monroe county, New York with illustrations descriptive of its scenery, Palatial residences > Part 41
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The faculty consisted of Prof. A. C. Kendrick. D.D. (chair of Greek), who still lives to honor the university by his voried culture, genial spirit, and spotless life; Prof. John F. Richardson, A.M. (chair of Latin); Prof. John II. Ray- mond, A.MI. (chair of history and belles-lettres ), now president of Vassar College: Prof. Chester Dewey, D.D. (the natural sciences ), who died in ISGS, full of years und honors; E. Peshine Smith (acting professor of mathematics ), now interpreter of international law at the court of Japan ; Albert H. Mixer (tutor in languages .. now professor of modern languages in the university.
Of these gentlemen, Professors Kendrick, Richardson, and Raymond resigned similar chairs at Madison University, and brought to the University of Rochester a wealth of culture and experience which were invaluable. The professor of theology at Madison ( Rev. John Maginnis, D.D.) and the professor of Hebrew ( Rev. Thomas J. Conant, D.D. ) also resigned their chairs in that institution to identify themselves with the educational interests of Rochester, and, for a time. gave instruction in the university, though the Rochester Theological Seminary Boou engrossed their services,-an institution with which the University of Roches- ter has never had any organic connection, though they were founded by the satue denomination, aud the university maintains with the seminary relations of mutual kindness and co-operation.
Many of the students of the new college, as well as most of its instructors, were transferred from Madison University, and the first catalogue ( 1850-51) announced, resident graduates, two; seniors, teu ; juniors, fifteen ; sophomores, thirteen ; freshmen, thirty-seven ; total, seventy-four. In July, 1851, the first class, numbering ten, was graduated. the Hon. Ira Harris, of Albany, presiding on that occasion as chancellor.
So sudden was the development of the university that Ralph Waldo Emerson was wont to cite it as an illustration of Yankee enterprise, -- saying that a landlord in Rochester had an old hotel, which he thought would rent for more as a oni- versity ; so he put in a few books, sent for a coach-load of professors, bought some philosophical apparatus, and, by the time green peas were ripe, had graduatel quite a large class of students.
Him. C. Morey, a. M. was birther of Reuben Money, second husband of Mercy Maria (Tullar) Barnes. E. F. albright . 1912
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HISTORY OF MONROE COUNTY, NEW YORK.
The growth of the university may not have been equally rapid ; but it has been beyond all question permanent and substantial. Among the causes which have contributed to that growth we must mention first the election of Martin B. Au- derson, in 1853, as president of the university.
President Andersou had already achieved an enviable reputation as ao iustruc- tor at Waterville College (now Colby University ), and had subsequently, as editor of the New York Recorder (then the leading Baptist paper of the country), acquired a wider kuowledge of men and things, which has contributed largely to his success as an educator. He brought to the service of the university rare executive ability and a single-hearted devotion which have contributed largely to its present eminence and success.
Hardly less important to the university, though in a different sphere, have been the services of Mr. William N. Sage, who has, from the first, discharged the duties of treasurer with equal honor to himself and advantage to the institution whose finances have engrossed so much of his time and thought. And yet Mr. Sage is bat a type of many large-hearted and intelligent laymuen whose names must be mentioned in anything more than the merest sketch of the University of Rochester.
Thanks to the intelligent guidance and earnest care of such guardians. the uni- versity enjoys the happiness ascribed to that people whose anuds are uninteresting. It has had its trials aud its triumphs, of course ; but there is nothing in its history which need prevent setting immediately beside our meagre sketch of its origin an outline, equally brief, of what it is to-day.
Its last catalogue (1873-76) records a total of one hundred and sixty-five stu- dents, of whom one hundred and thirty-three were pursuing the classical course ; eighteen, the scientific; two, the eclectic ( these courses have from the first been recognized in its curriculum) ; and twelve, special studies in the department of analytical chemistry.
Of these students, forty-six were from Rochester, eighty-five from the State of New York outside of Rochester, seven from Illinois, six from New Jersey, five from Pennsylvania, four from Ohio, three each from lowa and Kansas, one each from Massachusetts, Wisconsin, West Virginia, Colorado, England, and China.
There were, Baptists, sixty-five; Presbyterians, forty-one; Episcopalians, four- teen ; Methodists, eleven ; Free Methodists, five ; Jews, four ; Congregationalists, four; Unitarians, two; Evangelical Gerinans, two; Roman Catholic, one; Uni- versalist, one; Seveath-Day Baptist, oue ; Quaker, one; iofidel, one.
The number graduating in 1876 was thirty-four. The whole number of graduates to date is six hundred and one, of whom five hundred and seventy-six received the degree of A.B., and twenty-five the degree of B.S. Of this number, one hundred and seventy-one have entered the ministry, ninety-three have been ad- mitted to the bar, sixteen have studied medicine, sixteen have become editors, eighty (an unusually large proportion) have become teachers,-of whom twenty- five have attained a grade equal or superior to a college professorship.
It is not in the learned professions alone, however, that the graduates of Roches- ter are found. About one-quarter of them have devoted themselves to " business." They may be met with on the farmi, at the counting-house, in the machine-shop ; and, wherever met, evince an independence of thought, a breadth of culture, an adaptation to the exigencies of practical life which is believed to be, in some respects, due to their Rochester training. An intelligent attempt, at least, is made hy the university to give to each man the training which he, as an indi- vidual, Decds; and the smallness of the classes ( together with the fact that none ł it trained and experienced instructors come in contact with the students) ren- ders possible to an exceptional degree what is, in many colleges, not even at- tempted.
In evidence of the adaptation of the university training to the demands of prac- tical life, the fact may be adduced that, when the great rebellion broke out, the first " two years' regiment" raised in the State of New York was raised by a Rochester professor (General Quinby, a graduate of West Point in the class of '43), aud largely recruited by Rochester students. The alumni of the university numbered in 1861 (including the class about to graduate) one hundred and eighty- nine. Of that number, twenty-five, or about one in eight, entered the Union army. Thirty more left the lower classes for this purpose, making the university's contribution for this sacred object fifty-five. Of this number, teu, whose games are inscribed ou a memorial tablet in Anderson Ilall, oever returned.
The faculty of the university as at present constituted, with the year when their present connection with the university began, is as follows :
Martin B. Anderson, LL. D., president (1853), Burbank professor of intellec- tual and moral philosophy, and instructor in history, politics, andl esthetics ; Asahel C. Kendrick, D.D, LL D. ( 1850), Munro professor of the Greek language and literature ; Isuse F. Quimby, LL.D. (1851), Harris professor of mathematics and natural philosophy ; Samuel A. Lattimore, Ph. D., LL.D. ( 1868), professor of chemistry, aud instructor in auatomy, physiology, and geology ; Albert H.
Mixer, A.M. (1868), professor of modern languages, and instructor in Greek ; Joseph H. Gilmore. A.M. ( 1865, professor of logie, rhetoric, and English litera- ture, and instructor in elocution ; Otis H. Robinson, A M. (ISS). professor ot mathematics, and librarian ; William C. Morey, A.M. (1872, professor of the Latin language and literature, and instructor in history and law.
It is hoped that the faculty may soon be reinforced by officers especially charzel with the work of instruction in history and in the natural sciences.
The buildingy of the university are situated in the eastern part of the city m' Rochester ( about que mile and a half from " the four corners," but easily accessible by the street-cars ), on a plat of ground embracing twenty-three and a half acres. "f" which eight acres were presented to the university in 1853 by the Hon. Azariah Boody. The buildings on the university campus, which is level, but considerably elevated and handsomely adorned, are three iu number.
Anderson Hall. completed in 1861, is a severely plain bat very substantial structure of brownstone, one hundred and fifty feet in length by sixty in breadIth. three stories in height, with basement, which appears in the rear and on the side as ao additional story. This building, which has hitherto subserved all the pur- poses of the university, is designed mainly for recitation-rooms. Its cost was thirty-nine thousand dollars, of which sum twenty-five thousand dollars was con- tributed by the State of New York, being the only pecuniary assistance that the university has received from that source. The present value of the building is estimated at seventy-five thousand dollars.
Sibley Hall, hardly yet complete, was erected by the Hon. Hiram Sibley, of Rochester, at an expense of more than one hundred thousand dollars. for the accommodation of the library and cabinets of the university. The building, which is one hundred and twenty-five feet by sisty, with a projection of twenty feet in the centre of the front, is of brownstone trimmed with white, and is thoroughly fire-proof. The walls are fifty-two feet in height, but the building has only two floors,-the lower one being devoted to the library, and the upper one, temporarily. at least, to the cabinets.
The library and cabinets are worthy of the magnificent home thus provided for them ... The library embraces, as yet. only thirteen thousand volumes ; but those volumes have been acquired by purchase, and very carefully selected. They are made available to the student by a system of indexing, which is believed to he more thorough and systematic than that adopted by any other library in the United States. Through the liberality of General Johu F. Rathbone, of Albany, a per- maneut fuod amounting to twenty-five thousand dollars was, in 1857, created for the increase of the library.
The geological aod mineralogical cabinets, collected by Professor Henry .1. Ward, for some time a member of the faculty, but now exclusively engaged in the collection and purchase of illustrative material in the department of the physi- cal sciences, were, io 1862, purchased aud presented to the university by the citi- zens of Rochester, at an expense of twenty thousand dollars, -a sum which was far below their market value. They have received the etuphatic commendation of the best scientific authorities as unsurpassed for completeness, thoroughiness of arrange- meut, and general adaptation to purposes of instruction ; and annually attract thousands of visitors. A cabinet of archaeology and an art collection are also be- ginning to assume creditable proportions. The library and cabioets are freely open to the puhlie.
The Trevor observatory, erected in 1876, is a small iron-sheathed building, with revolving roof, containing a telescope with six-inch object-glass. manufactured by Alvin Clark & Sons, of Cambridgeport, Massachusetts, which is designed not +++ much for original investigation as for an adjunct to class-root instruction. The building and apparatus is the gift of John B. Trevor, Esq., of New York city. president of the board of trustees, and one of the most munificent benefactors of the university.
The president's mansion is situatedl directly across Prince street from the ani- versity campus, and, though unpretending in style, is well adapted to the purpose for which it is designed. Towards the purchase of this property the citizen- of' Rochester contributed, in 1867, twenty thousand dollars The present value of the house and grounds is estimated at forty thousand dollars.
The estimated value of the "unproductive property" of the univer-ity. in- cluding buildings, grounds, library, cabinets, etc., is three hundred and seventy- eight thousand six hundred and sixty-two dollars and twenty-seven cents. Its "productive property" is stated at two hundred and twelve thousand sixteen dollars and forty-nine cents,-a sumn which its friends hope soon to see very ou. siderably increased.
It will be noticed that no "dormitories" are mentioned among the college build- ings. The students find homes among the people of the city, -a course which is deemed for their advantage, socially, morally, and intellectually. In their Young Men s Christian Association cathliated with associations of the same name through- out the country ) they are brought together for religious work. Hall' a dozen of
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HISTORY OF MONROE COUNTY, NEW YORK.
the more prominent "Greck Letter Societies" give them all the opportunities that they need for special literary culture and social reonion: They maintain a glee club, which has achieved considerable local reputation, and publish a monthly paper, The University Campus, which is no unworthy representative of " college journalism." They are taught, however, to reward themselves as members of the community in which they temporarily reside, -- amenable to its laws, but ( in the absence of that constant and minote supervision which the dormitory system is supposed to facilitate, but really defeats) a law unto themselves. Thus far they have rarely done discredit to the confidence reposed in them; while they find in the city cheaper and better homes, and fewer temptations to evil, than the dormi- tory system would afford.
The uoiversity, owing to the excellent schools in the city and its immediate vicinity, needs no "preparatory department." It has a thoroughly-equipped de- partment of theology in the Rochester Theological Seminary. Propositions for the establishment of schools of law and medicine have been declined, with the idea that there was no such demand for them as justified the existence of the academic department. A school of applied science is. however, a felt necessity ; and it is hoped that that necessity will soou be supplied.
While the statistics already given show that only forty-six out of one hundred and sixty-five students are, at the present writing, Rochester boys, aod that the university has something more than a local significance. it is the natural and efficient head of the excellent public school system of the city. In recognition of the interest manifested by the citizens of Rochester in its establishment, twelve scholarships, yielding free toition, were set apart. as soon as the university was in operation, for the benefit of those who might fit for college in the city schools. Three students of the Rochester Free Academy ( selected by competitive exami- nation) sre annually admitted to the university upon these scholarships, which yield them, in free tuition. two bundred and fifty dollars apiece. The result is that any Rochester boy of fair endowments and thorough application can secure : college ednostinn free of expense. The practical working of this system is illustrated by the fact that, upon the first competitive examination, the successful candidates were a Roman Catholic ( the lamented Colonel O'Rourke), a Jew (Rabbi Simon Taska, of Memphis, Tennessee), and a Baptist, neither one of whom woold have found a college education possible but for the facilities so freely afforded.
While thus of especial significance and value to Rochester and western New York, the university has already achieved a national reputation; and is reflecting credit upon the religious denomination who have made it a part of their contri- bution to the cause of higher education. As yet the University of Rochester is a college not fully manned or adequately equipped; but no one realizes its defi- ciencies more keenly than its guardians, and in few colleges, at the expiration of twenty-five years, have the deficiencies been so few and the prospects for the future so bright.
ROCHESTER THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY
was founded in 1851. by the Baptist denomination of the State of New York. for the purpose of providing facilities for the education of young men for the ministry. In the year of its organization the seminary had three professors. forty-four students, and a library of about seven thousand volumes. five thousand of which were por- chased from the library of Neander, the church historian. Its coune of study is intended for gradoates of colleges, and for those who can succesfully pursue their studies with gradoates. The professors have been of great note in the Baptist denom- ination, such as Rev. Dr. John S. Maginnis, Thomas G. Conant. Ezekiel G. Robin- ons, Velona R. Hotchkiss, G. W. Northrup. Horatio B. Hackett. The seminary hay been very successful, and has sent out more than three hundred full graduates and aearly one hundred partial students for its English course of three years. and about noe hundred students from its German course. The German course of three years is one of the principal features of the in-titutivo. and is designed to prepare German young men for the pastorates of German Baptist churches. The seminary has now three buildings, Trevor Hall, the Gymnasium Building, and the German Students' Home. The total value of the property amounts to about one hundred and forty thousand dollars. The library is very valuable, and comprises the collec- tions of the celebrated church historian, Neander, and of the late Dr. II. B. Hashill. The endowment of the institution amounts to about two hundred and seventy-five thousand dollars, two hundred and twenty-five thousand dollars of which consists of invested funds, and the remainder of interest-bearing subscriptions. This som is sufficient to pay the salariesof the present profesor. The institution depends largely upon the annual contributions of the Baptist churches throughout the State of New York for the support of students for the ministry. The executive Iward consists of the following persons . J. O. Pettingill, chairman ; Austin II. Cole, recurling serretary ; -- , corresponding secretary ; Rev. S. Adsit,
assistant corresponding secretary ; Cyrus F. Paine, treasurer : Jacob F. Wyckoff, president board of trustees; Alvah Strong. George W. Rawson, Rev. H L. Morehouse, Ezra R. Andrews, Royal L. Mack, Jaunes E. Spencer.
Faculty .- Rev. Augustus H. Strong, president, Davies professor of biblical theology ; Rev. Asahel C. Kradrick, active Trevor professor of biblical literarore and New Testament exegesis; Rev. R. J. W. Backland, Pettingill professor of church history ; Rev. Howard O-good, acting professor of church history ; Rev. William C. Wilkinson. Wyckoff professor of homileties and pastoral theology ; Rev. George H. Whittemore, acting professor of the Hebrew language and litera- ture; Rev. Augustos Rauschenbusch, Hoyt professor, in the German department, of Christian theology and church history ; Rev. Hermann Schaffer, professor in the German department of biblical literature and rhetoric ; Rev. Howard Osgood, acting librarian.
THE FREE ACADEMY,
located on Fitzhugh street. is one of the finest school structures in the State. Its architecture is the French Gothic style, with pavilions on either side terminating in turrets. It is four stories in height, beside the basement. and surmounted by a French roof. It is eighty-three feet in width. and one hundred and thirty in depth. built of red brick, and trimmed with Ohio and Gainesville stone, which gives the whole structure a striking and unique appearance. Seven entrances lead into the building, three in front and two on either side. The central entrance opens into the superintendent's office,-a commodious room, twenty-four by thirty-two feet, con- nected with a private office, sixteen hy thirty-two feet. The other entrances on Fitzbugh street are for students, and open into the pavilions containing the halls and staircases. The other rooms on the first floor are, the central library, which is thirty by sixty-seven fect; the school board room, of the same dimensions ; and a laboratory twenty-four feet square. Separated from the laboratory by sliding doors is a class-room, whose arrangement is such that all the pupils present at a ruitativo can see the chemical and other experiments made hy the instructor Adjoining the laboratory on the opposite side is a work-room, the whole suite being well arranged for the convenience of both teachers and pupils.
The second floor, the male department of the academy, consists of two main apartments, thirty by sixty-seven fet, connected in front and rear with four recitation-rooms, cach twenty-four feet square.
The female department occupies the third floor, and consists of one large school- room, sixty-one by sixty-seven feet, and four recitation-rooms, similar in size and location to those of the male department.
The fourth floor is occupied by a hall sixty-one by ninety feet square (connecting with a dressing-room twenty-four by forty-eight feet), with a seating capacity of one thousand persons.
The floors in the first and second stories are fifteen feet apart ; the third story is sixteen feet in height, and the fourth eighteen feet. In the basement are the heat- ing apparatus, closets, coal-bins, ete. The arrangements for heating are complete, and it is ventilated in the most perfect manner.
All the rooms present a tasty appearance, the wood-work being painted a light color and the doors grained. This fine structure was erected at a cost of one hundred and twenty-five thousand dollars.
In the superintendent's office is a tablet of Ohio sandstone upon which is cut the following inscription, embracing names of the officials who were interested in the construction of the building :
ROCHESTER FREE ACADEMY. ERECTED 1873. GEOMOR W. ALDRIDGE, President Common Couacil. H. H. EDGERTON. President Board of Education. A. CARTER WILDER, Mafor. Building Committee .- Ald. JAMES U. KELLY.
B. H. C. GRIFFEY, st. II. CRAIG : Com's, T. E. PARSONS, JORAN JONES, C. L. FREDENEURO. 8. A. ELLIS, Superintendent of Public Instruction. A. J. WARNER. Architect. W. H. GORSLINE, Contractor.
The contract was let to Mr. Gorsline for one hundred and two thousand dollars. The heating apparatus was put in by Sherlock & Sloan at a cost of about twelve thousand dollars ; the plumbing was done by Siddons & Son. for eighteen handred dollars, and the graining by Banning. The above amount was swollen by the cost of a sewer, etc. This structure is not only well planned and substantially con- structed, but in the all-important point of ventilation it is one of the best school eli- fices in the country. There is no boilding of its kind in the State which is heated both by direct aod indirect radiators, and has the ventilating shafts in conocction
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HISTORY OF . MONROE COUNTY, NEW YORK. -
therewith. In the language of Hon. L. II. Morgan, the " Free Academy is simply a special common school,-a finishing school, located in the centre of a group of schools, for which the others are so many primary departments. It assumes that every common schoel, if possible, ought to be of' equal grade with the Free Academy, which expresses the full development of the system." The school was organized in September, 1857. as the Central High School, and char- tered by the regents of the university in 1862. under the name of the Rochester Free Academy. The following persons constitute the faculty : N. W. Benedict, D.D., principal, ancient languages ; James M. Wells, A.M., vice-principal, Latin and elocution ; Martha E. Gaylord, preceptress. higher mathematics, elocution, mental philosophy, moral science; Mrs. Ilelen B. Case, assistant preceptress, Latin, Freneb, English literature and composition ; Caroline R. Wilkinson, rhet- oric, composition, reading, elocution, and logic ; Lucy R. Pope, algebra, history. composition, and elocution; Charles Forbes. M.D., natural sciences and drawiog ; Alexander Trzeciak, German.
PUBLIC FREE SCHOOLS.
Below is given a concise history of each free schoo! in the city, with the names of faculty.
MADISON PARK .- This school is situated on King street, and takes its name from the park near by. Size of lot, sixty-seven hy one hundred and twenty-five feet. The first school building was erected in 1843, and rebuilt in 1872. On the first floor are four rooms ; two twenty-five by thirty feet, and two twenty-five feet ten inches by thirty feet, besides wardrobes and closets. The second floor has two school-rooms twenty-five by thirty feet, aside from closets, wardrobes, and a large school-room thirty-six by fifty feet. The size of the present structure is eighty six by fifty-two feet.
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