USA > New York > Oneida County > History of Oneida County, New York : from 1700 to the present time, Volume I > Part 45
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1867-Isaac Oliver Best, Private 121st N. Y. Vols. Edward Amenso Davis. Charles E. Rice, Private N. Y. Vols.
1868-Henry Nelson Payne, Lieut. Col. 37th U. S. Negro Inft. Charles Ham- ilton Sedgwick, U. S. Navy. Eben Winslow Judson, Lieut. 142d N. Y. Vols.
1869-Charles Anderson, Private Company I, 174th N. Y. Vols. Eugene Cheeseman, Private Company C, 90th N. Y. Vols. Jerre Meacham Chrysler, 10th N. Y. Heavy Art. Lewis Ray Foote, Private 161st N. Y. Vols. Roswell Miller, Brevet Captain 3d N. Y. Heavy Art. Charles Henry Searle, 1st Lieut. 187th N. Y. Vols. Selden Haines Talcott, Company I, 15th N. Y. Engineers. Charles Augustus Wetmore, 90th N. Y. Vols.
1870-Francis Herbert Bagley, Captain 75th U. S. Inft. Dept. Gulf. Charles Goddard Baldwin, Sergeant N. Y. Vols. Homer Wellington Searle, Capt. and Brevet Maj. 114th N. Y. Vols.
1872-Seward M. Dodge, Corp. 143d Ill. Vol. Inft. Edward Gridley Love, Wisconsin Vol. John H. Shepherd, 1st N. Y. Lincoln Cav. (at age of 14). Mor- ton Trippe, Wayne Co., N. Y. Reg. Lewis R. Weber, Sergeant 5th N. Y. Heavy Art.
1873-Charles Taylor Burnley, Sergeant and Quartermaster 18th N. Y. Cav. 1876-William E. Kimball, Corporal 15th N. Y. Cav. Robert McLean, Cor- poral 14th N. Y. Heavy Art.
Hamilton College has one of the finest and best equipped educational plants in the country. Its Campus is unrivalled for situation and beauty ; its eminence and outlook are magnificent; and a more healthful and inspiring place would be difficult to find anywhere. Under President Stryker the buildings have been multiplied, always constructed with the view of harmony in artistic design, and no money or pains has been spared to make every structure complete in con- veniences and arangements. The New Hamilton is the product of twenty years of uninterrupted labor and devotion on the part of President Stryker, the trustees and financial friends of the college, and it is now one of the most charm- ing spots in the county.
PUBLIC COMMON SCHOOLS
It is probable that the first attempt to establish public common schools was at Whitesboro, but soon afterward they were started both in Westmoreland and also in Rome, probably before 1800. Dr. Bagg says the first school in Utica was kept "in a building on the south side of Main street about midway between First and Second streets, and the teacher in 1797 was Joseph Dana." The early
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schoolhouses were ordinarily built of logs and warmed by fire-places, into which large logs could be placed. Sometimes these fire-places were five or six feet in length, and would thoroughly heat the room in the coldest of weather. The desks were arranged upon three sides of the room against the wall, leaving at one end an opening for the outside door. The teacher sat at the opposite end of the room, generally upon a slightly elevated platform. The seats consisted of a board running around the room in front of the desks, and the scholars sat, when at study, with their backs to the teacher and their faces towards the wall. Chil- dren came from long distances to school, generally bringing their dinners in their tin dinner pails, which in winter would always be frozen, and at the noon hour they would gather around the fire-place, and later the large box stove, thaw out and eat their dinners. The instruction was most thorough in the fund- amental branches. Contests in spelling were very common, not only in each school, but "spelling schools" were frequent, in which a large number of schools competed. These were important events in early history, and the student who could "spell down" all of the contestants on these occasions was hailed as a hero or heroine. It may well be asked whether or not the method adopted in modern days of educating young children has improved in the slightest degree over that which prevailed in our very earliest history. It is scarcely necessary to enter upon a history of the common schools in the county, as it has been a work of gradual development, until it has reached its prosent state. At the present time the county is divided into four school commissioner districts, and there are 388 school districts. The first district contains 54 school districts; the second, 94; the third, 83; the fourth, 126. There are 20 academies and high schools in the county. In the first district, 5; second, 9; third, 2; fourth, 4.
There are union, high and graded schools in the following places in the county : New Hartford, Clinton, Oriskany Falls, Knoxboro, Camden, Clayville, Sauquoit, Rome, Waterville, Oneida Castle, Verona, New London, Durham- ville, Westernville, Whitesboro, Oriskany, Holland Patent, Boonville and Utica.
WHITESTOWN SEMINARY
Next to Hamilton College the school of importance of a private nature was Whitestown Seminary. This institution was founded at Whitestown in 1827, and was first called the Oneida Academy, afterwards the Oneida Institute. It was first a Presbyterian school, and was intended to educate young men for the ministry. Manual labor on a farm and in a workshop connected with the in- stitution was performed by the students for certain hours each day, and in this way a student without means was enabled to procure an education. Some of the most eminent men of the county were trustees of the institution, among whom were Apollos Cooper, Asahel Seward, Abraham Varick, Moses Bagg, Thomas Walker, Rev. Samuel C. Aiken, William Walcott and Isaac Williams. This in- stitution was fortunate in having among its instructors some men of unusual ability, among whom were George W. Gale, who was instrumental in the found- ing of Knox College in Galesburg, Illinois; also Rev. W. J. Beecher, and the Rev. Beriah Green, a man of unusual ability, who, after serving as the head of the Oneida Institute became the famous abolitionist and worked with great effect for
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the freedom of the slaves. In 1841 the Free Will Baptists founded a school at. Clinton, afterwards removing to the Oneida Institute at Whitesboro, and, under a new charter, reorganized the institution under the name of Whitestown Semin- ary. This denomination controlled the institution until about 1878, when it again became virtually a Presbyterian institution. Among the notable principals of the institution during the period the Free Will Baptists controlled it were Daniel S. Heffron, Samuel Farnham and James S. Gardner. All these were men of unusual ability and acquirements, the last named being one of the most ex- traordinary disciplinarians and teachers who has ever filled any position in Oneida county. The influence of Prof. Gardner over all who were under his charge was something very wonderful, and he has ever been regarded by the thoughtful students as the ideal teacher and head of an institution. The school flourished until the establishment of graded schools and academies for academic scholars had made it much cheaper for students to attend these schools than to attend the seminary, where a substantial tuition fee was required. Failing health induced Prof. Gardner to give up the institution, and it was afterward cared for by the Rev. Moses M. Dunham, but finally ceased to exist. It became nec- essary, to meet indebtedness, to dissolve the corporation, and the property was sold, converted into a knitting mill, and is still used for that purpose. The course of instruction included a thorough preparation for college, also instruc- tion on scientific subjects, literature, modern languages and music. During the civil war and for some years subsequent a military company existed among the students, and military instruction and drill was a part of the curriculum.
CLINTON LIBERAL INSTITUTE
Another school which, for a time, ranked high as an educational institution was Clinton Liberal Institute for Young Men, which was organized by the Uni- versalists about 1831, and later a female department was organized, but this department was carried on in a separate building. In 1832 a new building was completed, and the institution was removed from its temporary buildings to this new building, which stood upon Utica street in the village of Clinton. Later, a substantial stone building was erected, to which the young men's department was removed, the department for young women still being carried on in a sep- arate building. This institution had somewhat of a checkered career, and finally, in 1879, was removed to Fort Plain. Among the teachers at this institution who were renowned were Rev. C. Thunnel and George R. Perkins, who pub- lished a series of mathematical works for use in public schools that were used generally throughout the state of New York and elsewhere.
YOUNG LADIES' DOMESTIC SEMINARY
Rev. Hiram H. Kellogg established a seminary for young ladies at Clinton in 1832, and the school was opened in 1833 as the Young Ladies' Domestic Sem- inary. In this institution students were permitted to perform manual labor to pay their expenses, which did not exceed $120 a year. It is a notable fact that the renowned teacher, Mary Lyon, came to Clinton and examined this school,
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returning to Massachusetts determined to found a seminary upon the same plan, and the fruit of this visit was Mount Holyoke Seminary at South Hadley. In 1841 Mr. Kellogg was elected president of Knox College, and the seminary passed into the hands of the Free Will Baptists. After conducting the institution for three years it was given up and became a private seminary under the control of Mr. Rawson, but, in consequence of failing health, he was obliged to abandon the work, and Mr. Kellogg returned to Clinton and attempted to resuscitate the school, but finally it was abandoned in 1850.
HOUGHTON SEMINARY
Another school that for a time did good work at Clinton was Houghton Sem- inary. This was established by Louisa M. Barker as "Home Cottage Seminary" in 1854. The institution was sold in 1861 to Dr. J. C. Gallup, who changed its name to Houghton Seminary, placed the institution under the care of the regents of the university, and it was successfully conducted as a ladies' semin- ary. In 1880 Dr. Gallup sold the school to A. G. Benedict, a graduate of Hamil- ton College, who conducted it for several years, but it could not be carried on successfully in competition with the high schools and academies supported by the state, and it, therefore, was given up some ten years since.
COTTAGE SEMINARY
Still another private school was established at Clinton in 1861, when Miss Baker, having severed her connection with the Home Cottage Seminary, estab- lished Cottage Seminary. At her death the institution passed under the care of Miss Annie Chipman, who was a teacher of more than ordinary ability and tact, and her school was most successful, but was confined to a few selected students. The course of training was so thorough that the young ladies educated here were received into substantially all colleges without examination. Rev. Chester W. Hawley succeeded Miss Chipman in the management of this institution.
PROSPECT ACADEMY
About 1850 an academy was established at Prospect, in the town of Trenton. This was organized under the board of regents, was controlled by a board of trustees, and was very successful for some years, but it was not sufficiently sup- ported to enable the trustees to carry it on without calling upon the public for donations, and the building was finally taken over by the town as a public school building, and the academy part was given up. Soon after, the building together with its furnishings and library were destroyed by fire, and a new school build- ing for that district was erected upon its site.
SAUQUOIT ACADEMY
For many years in different parts of the county academies have been suc- cessfully conducted where pupils were prepared for college and were given an ex-
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cellent business education, but they have substantially ceased to exist, and the union free schools have taken their places generally throughout the county. One of the most important of these schools was known as the Sauquoit Academy. This institution was organized in 1844, and in 1845-6 it had about two hundred pupils. Some of the instructors of this school became afterward prominent men, among whom were Rev. Moses E. Dunham, and later, for a time, Rev. Anson J. Upson. The last principal who was comparatively successful was Thomas H. Roberts. The competition of the public schools, however, was so great, that in 1895 the institution was merged with the Union Free School at Sauquoit, and from that time Sauquoit Academy has ceased to exist.
VERNON ACADEMY
A like fate attended the Academy at Vernon. This institution had been suc- cessfully conducted until it was no longer possible to compete with the public schools, and in 1876 it was merged with the Union Free School at Vernon.
UTICA FEMALE ACADEMY
The people of Utica about 1833 felt the need of a place for the training of their daughters which should be as good as the academy had been for their sons, which would obviate the necessity of sending their daughters away to be edu- cated as many had been, and would at a more moderate cost offer advantages for instruction, not only to residents of the city, but to those of the country around. Men of influence were enlisted in the accomplishment of the object. By them the public were aroused to its importance, a stock company was formed, without expectation, however, of pecuniary gain, and the means were secured. This institution was chartered April 28, 1837. The first trustees named in the charter were John H. Ostrom, Nicholas Devereux, Horatio Seymour, C. A. Mann, Joshua A. Spencer, S. D. Childs, T. S. Faxton, John C. Devereux, Alrick Hub- bell, T. E. Clark, T. H. Hubbard, Theodore Pomeroy, A. Munson, B. F. Cooper, Chester Griswold, John Williams, Horace Butler, Charles P. Kirkland, S. P. Lyman, Holmes Hutchinson and Henry White. The same year four lots lying between Washington street and Broadway, with the buildings upon them, were purchased at a cost of $6,300. The school was first opened in the building known as the United States Hotel, corner of Genesee and Pearl streets, where it was continued until the new building was finished. The number of students in December, 1838, was 168. In 1838-39 an academy building of brick, three stories, 50 by 150 feet in dimensions, was erected, the cornerstone having been laid with proper ceremonies June 20, 1838. The first principal was Miss Urania E. Sheldon, who continued until August, 1842, when Rev. James Nichols and wife succeeded her and remained until June, 1844, when they retired and were succeeded by Miss Jane E. Kelly, who continued to fill the position until 1865. The fitness of Miss Sheldon to conduct a seminary had been shown as the head of the one in Schenectady. To this of Utica she at once gave a great success. In the household department she was aided by her sister Cynthia, and in that of instruction, besides others, by two pupils she brought with her, who became
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afterward her earliest successors. She was herself drawn away from teaching by her marriage to Rev. Dr. Eliphalett Nott, president of Union College. Her first brief successor has been known to her credit in similar service in Rochester. On the more lasting and meritorious work of Miss Kelly it seems needless to en- large. Her capacity as a moral as well as intellectual mentor, her skill and tact in the management of this numerously attended institution, the able corps of teachers she from time to time collected to her assistance, are familiar not solely to this community, but are lauded by her scattered pupils the whole country over. After her retirement she continued to live in the city until her death. The building was burned on the 27th of March, 1865, and an elegant and sub- stantial building, 60 by 150 feet in dimensions, three stories and basement, con- structed of brick with roof laid in variegated slates, was erected on the same ground about 1869-70. It is one of the finest structures in the city, and justly a source of pride to the citizens of Utica, even among the many noble educational and charitable institutions which ornament the city. More ground has since been added on the north and on the south of its rear. The school was interrupted from 1865 to 1871, in which latter year Mrs. E. F. Hammill, of Brooklyn, leased the building for three years and opened school. At the end of three years she leased it again for one year, and continued to the summer of 1875, when she was succeeded by Mrs. J. G. C. Piatt. The successors to Mrs. Piatt were Miss Hull and Miss Brownell, who conducted the institution for several years under the name of the "Baliol School," but it was not financially successful, although it had a high reputation and was very satisfactory to its patrons. After the Baliol school was discontinued for a time no school was conducted in the build- ing, and it was finally decided by the trustees to dispose of it and to locate else- where. A short time before this the Young Men's Christian Association build- ing, on the corner of Bleecker and Charlotte streets in Utica, had been de- stroyed by fire, and they were contemplating the subject of rebuilding on that site or locating elsewhere, and it was most fortunate for them that they were able to procure the academy property on such reasonable terms as those upon which it was obtained-about $40,000. The Academy Association located on the corner of Mandeville and Cornelia streets, having purchased a private resi- dence and converted it into a school building. In 1909, under the name of the New School it was reopened by Miss Brownell and Miss Howland. Under this management the school continued until the spring of 1911, when arrangements were made with Miss Alice Knox to take it, and it was opened in September, 1911, under her auspices, and called Miss Knox's School for Girls.
CECILY BAKER'S SCHOOL
Among the private schools in Utica was one founded by Cecily Baker, known as Cecily Baker's school. Miss Baker had been a teacher in the Advanced school in Utica, resigning her position and establishing a private school on Court street for boys and girls from the age of five years upward until pre- pared for the academy in about the year 1881. The school from its beginning was very successful, and since the death of Miss Baker it has been carried on by Miss Frances E. Newland, and it has not lost any of its reputation under Vol. I-24
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her efficient management. There are in attendance from eighty to one hundred scholars, and the training which they receive is thorough and most satisfactory to parents.
MRS. ANNA DEECKE'S SCHOOL
Another private school is that of Mrs. Anna Deecke. This is a kinder- garten of high renown, and has been successfully carried on by Mrs. Deecke since the death of her husband, who was a physician and professional chemist. Instruction is also given in other studies than kindergarten work, and the physical as well as the mental training of the pupils is given careful attention.
PROF. WILLIAM S. RIX'S SCHOOL
For some years Prof. William S. Rix conducted a college preparatory school with success, but having been elected to a professorship in a school at Dallas, Texas, he gave up his private school in 1911.
There have been and are still several private schools in Utica that are worthy of mention did space permit, and there have been excellent educators connected with both public and private institutions of this character. It is, however, not extravagant to say that among them Daniel S. Heffron and Andrew McMillan were among the most prominent. They had both been successful teachers, and their ability and devotion to their work as such, and as superintendents of the public schools in Utica, did much for the advancement of education and culture not only in the city, but throughout the entire county and central New York.
UTICA FREE ACADEMY
In the year 1814 steps were taken to organize an academy in the village of Utica. This was prior to Utica being constituted as a town. The regents granted a charter, and in 1818 the first academy building was constructed. This is the same building that was used as a court house and public hall. This building finally gave way to a better building used for academy purposes only, the court house having been built upon John street upon another portion of the academy lot. This building was sufficient for the purposes for which it was intended until May 13, 1865, when it was destroyed by fire. Steps were immediately taken to build a larger academy on the same lot, during the build- ing of which the school was carried on in the court house. It was not long after this before the increase of pupils was such that a larger building was demanded, and a site was purchased between Elm and Kemble streets, where a commo- dious academy, costing some $250,000, was constructed. Just as it was com- pleted it was destroyed by fire. It was again rebuilt, was occupied for a short time, when it was a second time seriously injured by fire, but not entirely destroyed. It was rebuilt, and in 1910 was occupied. At this date there are about 1,150 pupils, and it is scarcely large enough for the requirements. Among the teachers of this school have been such men as Hon. Ellis H. Roberts, George R. Perkins and George C. Sawyer.
ANDREW McMILLAN Superintendent of schools of Utica
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In Utica there are 25 elementary schools and one academy. The number of children between 5 and 18 years of age attending these schools at the time of the last report (1908) were 14,769.
ROME FREE ACADEMY-On the 21st of December, 1847, a meeting was held in the American hotel in the village of Rome for the purpose of naming trustees for a proposed Rome Academy. Edward Huntington was chairman of this meeting and Calvert Comstock secretary. On motion of John Stryker the following persons were unanimously named as trustees: Henry A. Foster, Calvert Comstock, John Stryker, Edward Huntington, Harold A. Pope, Seth B. Roberts, Alva Mudge, Jesse Armstrong, Benjamin Huntington, Roland S. Doty, Nehemiah Ingersoll, Gordon N. Bissell, Sanford Adams, Richard Peggs, Enoch Armstrong, Lynden Abel, William L. Howland and Henry Brayton. The next day these trustees held a meeting for the purpose of organization. Harold Pope was elected president; Edward Huntington vice president, and Calvert Comstock, clerk. A building committee was appointed, consisting of R. S. Doty, G. N. Bissell, Enoch B. Armstrong and the president. It was further directed that S. B. Roberts be designated to receive from the trustees of the estate of Dominick Lynch the title to a site for an academy building. The president and secretary were instructed to prepare, on behalf of the board, a memorial to the legislature seeking an act of incorporation. A committee was then appointed to solicit subscriptions to the academy fund. On January 28, 1848, the legislature passed the act to incorporate the Rome Academy, reviving an act passed April 28, 1835.
At a meeting held March 20, 1848, the president and secretary were requested to close a contract with D. B. Prince for the erection of an academy building, in accordance with certain proposed terms. A special building committee, con- sisting of the president and trustees Armstrong, Bissell, Huntington and Doty was appointed to superintend the erection of the building. It is later shown in the records that this building was to be of brick, 70' x 44'. It was two stories high, with lecture room, laboratory, three rooms for janitor and furnace room in the basement. The upper rooms were arranged for separate study rooms for boys and girls. At the rear of the building was a woodshed and out houses. The entire cost was $6,208.92.
In July, 1848, efforts were made to secure a "proper principal." On Sep- tember 1, 1848, one David Prentice, LL. D., was tendered the position at a salary of $800, and such further sum, not exceeding $1,000, as the net income of the academy might warrant. Dr. Prentice would not accept the position, and it was offered to George Spencer, who also declined it. November 9, 1848, the Rev. S. B. Brown was elected principal at a salary of $1,000. Mr. Brown was a graduate of Yale, with 16 years experience in teaching.
The board then proceeded to formulate by-laws and regulations. The rate of tuition was fixed at $5 for first year, $6 for second year, and $8 for third year. French was $6 additional, while an extra charge was also made for in- struction in music. At the next election of officers Mr. Pope's resignation as trustee was presented. George R. Thomas was elected trustee in his place, and Edward Huntington president. At the next meeting in March, 1849, the board prepared a petition to the regents of the University of the State of
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New York to become subject to visitation from the University, which meant a participation in the distribution of the University funds. This petition was favorably received.
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