History of Ontario Co., New York, Part 44

Author:
Publication date:
Publisher:
Number of Pages: 391

USA > New York > Ontario County > History of Ontario Co., New York > Part 44

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

The village of Canandaigua was, in 1813, composed of three school districts, numbered respectively as Nos. 11, 12, and 13. The bounds of No. 11, now No. 10, include the lots from Nos. 3 on both sides of Main street south to Nos. 12, and out-lots on the east, from 4 to 11, inclusive.

SCHOOL DISTRICT NO. 10.

The first meeting of the freeholders and inhabitants was called by John G. Spencer, school commissioner, for October 2, 1813. Notification was made by James D. Bemis. At this meeting James Smedley was appointed moderator, and James D. Bemis clerk. Adjourned till October 4, when the inhabitants met in the brick school-house and elected J. D. Bemis district clerk, and Asa Stanley,

James Smedley, and Eliphalet Tayler, trustees. Benjamin Waldron was elected collector. It was agreed that the school-house occupied a favorable position for the district, and that house and lot should be purchased. To this end a tax of $750, with five per cent. for collection, was voted and duly collected. The trus- tees' met the committee appointed by the proprietors on March 23, 1816, and agreed upon $586.50 as the price of the premises. Meanwhile, a Mr. Bills had been teaching a school limited to fifty pupils, and permitting each proprietor to send a scholar to each share owned. Erastus Stanley being collector in 1817, was authorized to collect all moneys due the instructor, or for other purposes. In 1818, $80 were voted to repair the school-house, and trustees were authorized to exempt the poor from paying tuition at their option. In the following year a tax of $50 was voted for the purchase of a stove and pipe for school-house use. Annually a tax was levied for repairing the house and furnishing wood.

The teachers, in 1822, were Messrs. Newcomb and Gooding, the former of whom received $5, public money, and the latter, $15. The first recorded report to the commissioners by the trustees was made March 31, 1823. School had been taught eight months and twenty-five days. Cash from commissioners for tuition, $76.12. All expended. The number of children residents of the district was 153. Joseph Ryan, Ira Weston, Edson Carr, B. Stall, and Thomas Sellman were teachers in 1823. In 1825, the district became known as No. 10, by communi- cation from the commissioner to the trustees, and as such placed on file.

On March 26, 1838, a meeting was held at the old school-house, to consider the question of taking it down and erecting a new one on the site. This was considered inexpedient, and on motion of William Antis, Jr., a committee of three, namely, S. F. Andrews, Peter Townsend, Jr., and William Antis, Jr., was appointed to report on a new site for a building. Other committees were likewise appointed on site and cost of building. Finally a site was bought fur $105, and $840 tax voted to build thereon a school-house. For the tax, 20, against, 5. The building to be completed and ready for occupation by October 1, 1839. A tax of $200 additional was required to finish the building. A book- case was provided, and a tax for purchase of a library made. The old school- house was sold for $154.47. The new house cost $1069.38. Teachers' wages for year ending September, 1841, $327.54. Total expenses of district for the year, $1658.55, show the growth of wealth and educational interest. Rate schools were still in vogue, and deficiencies in rate bills were raised by taxation. On September 3, 1851, the school building was found too small, and an addition was voted, for which a tax of $800 was provided. The building committee was composed of Merrick Munger, O. H. Smith, and William McClure. As years went by, large sums were expended for various purposes, and, in 1867, a direct tax of $950.89 was levied. Mrs. Jones was elected librarian for the year, and for her services received $10. In 1869, the district raised by tax $1803.93; public money, $615.45; total, $2419.38. Teachers' wages, $2000; incidentals, $419.38; total, $2419.38. At a meeting held November 9, 1869, the front part of the school building was pronounced unsafe, and it was decided that it be taken down. A committee of three, William H. Lamport, J. J. Mattison, and William Hildreth, was appointed to consider, among various matters, the estab- lishment of a union school.

On March 1, 1870, J. F. Brown, G. A. Moes, and L. M. Smith were appointed to draft a plan of a school-house to contain four departments. They reported in favor of a building to be composed of stone and brick ; in dimensions fifty by eighty feet; four rooms on each floor ; a hall seven feet wide the whole length of the building, which was to be twenty-four feet high; stone basement six feet ; school-rooms to be eighteen feet high, with glass partitions. It was voted and re- scinded to raise by tax two thousand six hundred dollars, and pay same for the Noonen, Leavenworth, Gates, and Saxton lots, with right of way to Bristol street. The district decided to build on their own site, and to that end voted a tax of six thousand dollars. This was rescinded, and eight thousand dollars voted for a new site on the Foster lot, and the proposed building. June 11 this was rescinded, and five thousand dollars was voted by forty-five ayes to thirty-three nays, show- ing the diverse opinions existing. By a legal opinion, expressed on reference to Tho. B. Weaver, State superintendent, that a school-house site cannot be changed only by special meeting, called for that purpose, the district was exempted from purchase of the lot. At a meeting held February 9, 1875, the subject of a con- solidation with No. 11 was discussed, but no action taken. In May the consoli- dation was effected, and a new one-story school building was voted to be erected at a cost of two thousand dollars. The teachers in the school have been many ; among the principals, Gilbert W. Sutphen, Cornelius Andrews, A. J. Jones, and Meesrs. Antisdale and Simmons have served.

SCHOOL DISTRICT NO. 11.

The record of school district No. 11 begins with a meeting held at Mills' hotel on April 8, 1816, at which time the district was known as No. 12. The noti-

Digitized by Google

110

HISTORY OF ONTARIO COUNTY, NEW YORK.

fication of a meeting had been made by James Sibley; William Kibbe was chosen clerk ; Robert Spencer, collector; and James D. Bemis, Ellis Doty, and Punder- son B. Underhill, trustees. The site of the old school-house " on the square near the clerk's office, being the same designated in Messrs. Phelps and Gorham's deed of the square, and therein reserved for the use of a school-house," was voted as the place on which to build a one-story house without cupola, and a tax of one thousand dollars to be raised for that purpose. At a subsequent meeting, Moses Atwater, Esq., having proposed to sell the trustees a lot situated on Cross street, opposite the burial-ground, a bargain was made, and by November, 1816, the house was finished, and a meeting of the freeholders convened therein. The building was constructed of brick, at a cost, as exhibited by Ellis Doty, the super- intendent appointed by the trustees, of one thousand two hundred and thirty-one dollars. Three hundred dollars, exclusive of collection fees, were voted to liqui- date debt and provide a contingent fund. At a meeting held October 6, 1817, James Sibley was chosen clerk ; Thaddeus Chapin, Robert Royce, and Owen Hall, trustees; and William Gooding, collector. The poor were exonerated from the payment of tuition, and the deficiency was made good from contingent fund. The names of persons thus exonerated are given, and the inhabitants so provide funds as to maintain a surplus in the treasury. A stove and pipe are purchased in 1819 at a cost of forty dollars, and the teachers' rate bills are presented for col- lection to the proper officer. A report was made March 29, 1821, to the common school commissioners of Canandaigua by Oliver Phelps, clerk of the district, wherein it is seen that school had been kept by a legally qualified teacher for " three quarters and three-fourths of-a quarter." Cash from commissioners during the year, fifty-three dollars and seventy cents, all expended in payment of teach- ers' wages. The children taught during the year were one hundred and twenty ; the number in the district January 1, 1821, was one hundred and nine. There was too much light, or view, given by the windows of the school-house, since Octo- ber 1, 1821, "it was voted that the two front windows be boarded to the upper tier of lights." It is noticeable that the tax for a number of years was uniformly fifty dollars, and the exemption of the poor finds mention on each annual record. No. 12 was changed in 1825 to No. 11. In 1837, the tax was raised to one hun- dred dollars, and the same amount was levied in 1838. A report was made January 1, 1839, to the school commissioners, by William Axtell and Henry Chapin, trustees. No library money was reported received, and no volumes were in the library. The number of children reported was one hundred and fifty; of two hundred and eighteen residents, eleven were blacks. The school was not visited by the inspector, and the district apportionment was one hundred and nine dollars and thirty cents. January 1, 1840, school had been in session eleven months of the previous year; one hundred and ninety-five dollars were paid for teachers' wages, and one hundred and eighty-seven pupils over five and under six- teen had been in attendance. Thos. Hall and T. E. Hart were trustees, and one visit had been made by a school inspector. In 1842, no visits by any officer were made. The text-books in use in this school at that date were, Willson's Class Reader, Analytical Reader, Child's Guide, Cobb's Reader No. 2, Elementary Spelling Book, Willson's, Smith's, and Adams' Arithmetics, Olney's and Mitchell's Geographies, and Brown's Grammar. During the year five select schools were taught in the district. The teacher's salary in 1843 was four hundred dollars, and tuition of the school-going class was reduced to one dollar each. Outline maps and apparatus were purchased, and premiums given as incentives to good behavior. Mr. James C. Cross was teacher at this period, and in 1846 was voted fifty dollars additional to employ an assistant teacher. On October 21, 1846, it was unanimously voted to build a new school-house. J. M. Wheeler, A. H. Howell, and C. Kelsey were building committee. An attempt was made to levy a tax of three thousand dollars, to build a house in connection with a town-hall, to be upon the public square, and failed. A site was purchased of C. Kelsey, on the south side of Greig street, a building erected, and the old house was sold for one hundred dollars. In October, 1851, the salary of J. C. Cross, teacher, was raised to four hundred and fifty dollars, and himself appointed collector. In 1852 the salary was made five hundred dollars, and in 1853 a vote of thanks for serv- ices as teacher was placed upon record. On the motion of A. H. Howell, one hundred and seventy-five dollars were voted to purchase and hang a bell in the school-house. In 1868 the amounts raised annually had reached one thousand five hundred dollars; repairs had been made upon school building, and an organ had been purchased. Want of room is apparent from the various measures taken for relief. Expenditures rapidly increased, and October 13, 1874, they amounted for the year to three thousand three hundred and seventy-seven dollars and eighty- eight cents. Steps were taken towards a union with No. 10, to form a new dis- trict, known as Consolidated District No. 11. Among principals of the school have been Messrs. Antisdale, Sutphen, Fisk, Chas. Aldrich, Wm. Van Dusen, Ira D. Durgy, who was in charge seven years, and L. N. Beebe, for the last four years.

SCHOOL DISTRICT NO. 13.

The bounds of No. 13 are given, " Duncan's and Seymour's to Granger's and George Willson's, inclusive." The first recorded meeting was held October 10, 1832. An old school-house and site were to be sold, and a new house and site obtained. J. A. Stevens was elected clerk ; Seth Aldrich, Holloway Hayward, and Asa Spaulding, trustees; and Ashbury Christian, collector for said district. A building committee was selected, to consist of E. S. Gregory, Stephen Wood, and Colonel A. Bunnel. A brick house, twenty-three by thirty-six feet, was built on the old site, at a cost of four hundred and seventy-two dollars and fifty-four cents. Benjamin Canfield, contractor, was allowed fifty dollars in addition to his contract price, but the action was subsequently rescinded. A sale was made Octo- ber 25, 1834, by public auction, held at the Northern Retreat, kept by Holloway Maynard, of a school-house, late the property of school district No. 16, for twenty-one dollars and sixty-eight cents. The teacher during 1835 was Hiram Blanchard, who receipts to William Kibbe one dollar and fifty-six cents for black- board furnished. The first recorded report to commissioners gives the number of children in the district January 1, 1835, at one hundred and fifty, and no school visitation. George B. Northrup received one hundred dollars for teaching a term of four months, from November 7, 1836, to March 8, 1837. Abigail Munger taught a short summer term for sixteen dollars and fifty-three cents. Bennett Munger was the next winter teacher. The rate bills occasion trouble, and defi- ciencies are made good by tax. On October 3, 1848, a vote of thanks was ten- dered William Wood for the present of a clock and set of maps to the school. A colored school was in operation in 1848 in the district, and O. L. Crosier was the teacher, followed in 1849 by S. A. Sloat. Male teachers have been as follows in the schools of district No. 13: Messrs. Oakley, Haskall, in 1843; Marshall Fin- ley to 1848; Alanson R. Simmons, 1849; M. L. Rawson, 1851 ; M. A. Green- leaf, 1853; Charles B. Hemingway, 1854 ; N. L. Robert, 1856; Charles T. Smith, 1862; Henry M. Davis, 1864; Michael Dunnigan, 1865; and Charles Latham, in 1868. Of lady teachers were Caroline C. Hayward, Sarah Bishop, Hannah L. Jeudevine, experienced and popular, Mary Hubbell, Harriet P. Jacobs, Nancy Beebe, E. H. Crofut, T. M. Thompson, and Julia Heminway.

CONSOLIDATED DISTRICT No. 11.

With consolidation in 1875 came vigorous action to place the public schools upon a high basis. To this end a generous outlay of money was appropriated, and steps for the erection of a central high school building taken. A committee, of which Hon. William H. Lamport was chairman, reported at a meeting held in May, 1875, in favor of the purchase of the Bennett property. The purchase was made at a cost of eleven thousand dollars. The contract for a new school-build- ing, to be built between September 1, 1875, and same date, 1876, was taken by Hugh King, at thirty-two thousand nine hundred dollars. This beautiful and commodious structure, August, 1876, approaches completion. The dimensions of the building are, length, one hundred and fourteen feet; width, seventy-nine feet. It is three-storied, built of brick of the best quality, of which nine hundred and eighty-two thousand are required. It has four towers. The main tower has a bell turret on the top of the ridge. The height to the top of this tower is one hundred and twelve feet. The first story contains five school-rooms twenty-five by thirty-three feet, twelve feet high, and is provided with halls and stairways. The second story is a duplicate of the first. The third story has a hall full size of the building. The hall proper is sixty by seventy feet ; a stage is twenty-four by thirty-eight feet. This story is twenty feet high. A casement extends under the entire building. The occupation of the house will mark a new era in the public schools of the village. In 1875, No. 11 employed twelve teachers, at a cost of four thousand five hundred and thirty-six dollars. Of these, Levi N. Beebe is principal. He is well qualified as an organizer, and the experience of past years augurs well for the schools when they shall have come, as eventually they will, under one management.

CHURCHES.

ST. JOHN'S PARISH, of Canandaigua, formed as St. Matthew's, was one of the earliest organizations of the original county of Ontario. In 1796 there was no Episcopal clergyman within the limits of the present diocese of Western New York. In this year was founded the Diocesan Society for propagating the gospel in this region. Its first missionary, Robert A. Wetmore, was sent out in 1796-97, and its second, Philander Chase (afterwards successively bishop of Ohio and Illi- nois), early in 1798. Of Wetmore little is known. In 1798-99 Mr. Chase traversed the greater part of the present diocese, from Utica to Sheldon; he bap- tized some four hundred adults and infants, and organized parishes, some of which still exist.

Among those founded was ST. MATTHEW's CHURCH, of Canandaigua, on February 4, 1799. Pursuant to a notice previously given, a meeting to establish

Digitized by Google

111

HISTORY OF ONTARIO COUNTY, NEW YORK.

& Protestant Episcopal church was held at the date given, for the purpose of electing a vestry according to law. Ezra Platt was chairman ; Rev. Philander Chase read prayers. An election of two churchwardens and eight vestrymen was then held. Ezra Platt and Joseph Colt were chosen wardens. John Clark, Augustus Porter, John Hickox, Nathaniel Sanborn, Benjamin Wells, James Fields, Moses Atwater, and Aaron Flint were vestrymen. It was "voted that 'St. Matthew's Church, in the town of Canandaigua, and State of New York,' shall be the name, style, or title by which this church or congregation shall be hereafter known and recognized by law." This organization became extinct shortly after the departure of Rev. Chase, which took place within a few months.

On September 27, 1814, the initial meeting was held to organize the present parish. The proceedings are thus recorded : " At a meeting of the following in- dividuals, who, by a joint act between themselves and the Rev. Orin Clark, rector of Trinity church, in the village of Geneva, have attached themselves to the Protestant Episcopal church, in the United States of America, to wit: Nathaniel Jacobs (2d), M. Atwater, Jeremiah F. Jenkins, Isaac Davis, Richard Wells, Pun- derson B. Underhill, Bennett Stillman, Lot Rew, John A. Stevens, Charles Un- derhill, and John C. Spencer, held at the ofice of M. Atwater, September 27, 1814, it was unanimously resolved that this meeting do incorporate by the name and style of ' The Wardens and Vestrymen of St. John's Church in Canandaigua.'" M. Atwater and P. B. Underhill were duly elected wardens. N. Jacobs (2d), John C. Spencer, John A. Stevens, Ellis Doty, Jeremiah F. Jenkins, Richard Wells, Bennett Stillman, and Lot Rew, vestrymen. Rev. Alanson Welton officiated for the society until September, 1815, and an individual subscription of one thousand dollars for his support shows a generosity for those times. Father Phelps is re- membered as having labored at this missionary station. A vacancy in the rector- ship was speedily filled by Bishop Hobart, who sent hither Dr. Henry U. Onder- donk, who had left the more lucrative profession of medicine for the service of the altar. His entrance upon duty was characterized by prompt action.

On March 28, 1816, it was resolved to build a church. On May 6, less than two months later, the corner-stone was laid, and in seven months thereafter all was completed. The church was consecrated on December 12, and at this cere- mony Bishop Hobart was present. The building was considered a model of eccle- siastical architecture, but was not completed without the incurrence of an oppress- ive debt. Soon after consecration, Dr. Onderdonk became rector, receiving for his support the income from the pews and a stipend from the diocese. During his rectorship eighty-five names were on the list of communicants. On his resig- nation, November, 1819, the vestry notified Rev. William Barlow, then minister of the village Methodist church, that on his obtaining deacon's orders in the P. E. church he would receive a call to the charge of St. John's church. Rev. Barlow was ordained deacon January 17, 1820, and entered on his duties with a salary, derived from pew rent, estimated at seven hundred dollars. At the close of his ministry in October, 1822, the parish was almost hopelessly involved in debt. In July, 1820, the vestry resolved "to enter upon and seize" twelve pews upon which assessments were unpaid. This measure was a frequent but unavailable resort in early years. In 1822, the church was advertised for sale under foreclosure of mortgage; but the efforts of the vestry, and especially of John C. Spencer, senior warden, averted this loss. He wrote in the name of the vestry to the corporation of Trinity church, New York, asking that fifteen hundred dollars, loaned to the parish, be made a gift. The request was granted on condition that all debts be canceled within twelve months. A subscription was headed by John C. Spencer with one hundred and fifty dollars. The names of O. Seymour, E. Hale, N. G. Chesebro, P. P. Bates, M. Atwater, John Greig, Mark H. Sibley, executor of L. Seymour, and H. Richmond follow with one hundred dollars each. The required sum, five thousand dollars, was subscribed, but whether not paid in or further debt was incurred, a vote is on record con- fessing judgment in favor of the bank of Utica. Amid these difficulties, Rev. James P. F. Clark succeeded Mr. Barlow, but remained less than a year, owing to inability to raise his salary of six hundred dollars. The Rev. Burton H. Hickox, the next named on the records, was more successful than his predeces- sors. In the year 1826, a fourth confirmation, held at St. John's, included the names of fifty-nine persons. Rev. Hickox served three and a half years, and resigned. Eight months' interval without a pastor was followed, January, 1828, by the Rev. John Sellon's assuming charge of the parish, with a salary of eight hundred dollars. Those who recall Mr. Sellon speak with enthusiasm of his brilliancy as a preacher, his fine reading of the service, and his scholarly attainments. He resigned in September, 1829, on a plea of ill health, and the Rev. Ravard Kearney began his ministration in January following. He was invited to become rector, but in the course of his services, which did not terminate until August, 1832, unhappy dissensions between him and the parish disturbed and rendered nugatory his services. The parish now remained a year without a rector. The Rev. Henry J. Whitehouse (afterwards bishop of

Illinois), and the Rev. John Murray Foster, D.D., now of New York, each de- clined a call. The parish promised the former a salary of one thousand dollars, which, to their credit, was declined. Finally, in August, 1833, the Rev. Richard D. Shimeall accepted a call, his salary, based on pew rents, estimated at eight hun- dred and forty dollars. At a meeting held September 13, 1834, the following, offered by Mr. Spencer, was unanimously adopted : " Whereas, John Greig, Esq., has given the vestry the dwelling-house lately occupied by him, which is worth eight hundred dollars, and Henry B. Gibson, Esq., has also presented a lot worth six hundred dollars, on which to place said house, conveyance of which has been executed and recorded, Resolved unanimously, That the thanks of this vestry, in behalf of themselves and the congregation of St. John's church, be returned to those donors for their liberality, and a record of the act be placed on the minutes of the vestry." The house was afterwards sold, and the present rectory built next the church. In 1836, Rev. Augustine P. Provost, then a young man just admitted to deacon's orders, became rector. He was modest, serious, and earnest. His seven years' administration were marked by love, gentleness, devotion, and a whole-hearted discharge of every pastoral duty. Then came a time when the light of his eye failed and the hue of health left his cheek. A few months more and his work was closed; and Bishop De Lancey mingled his tears with all those in the house as he uttered the words, " Let me die the death of the righteous, let my last end be like his." After the death of Mr. Provost, Rev. John Williams (now bishop of Connecticut) was called and declined. The Rev. John Wayland, D.D., accepted a call, and remained five years. The entrance of Rev. Alfred B. Beach upon the rectorship in September, 1848, begins the list of ministrations of clergymen yet living. Mr. Beach was succeeded, July, 1853, by Rev. George I. Rider, then in deacon's orders. He was admitted to the priesthood April 23, 1854. An interval of a year preceded the advent to this ministry of Rev. Walter Ayrault, D.D., in the fall of 1856. Dr. Ayrault resigned June 16, 1862, and Rev. Amos B. Beach, D.D., began duty as rector August 17 following. In April, 1863, his successor was Rev. C. S. Leffingwell, who resigned in 1868, to take charge of the church in Gardiner, Maine, where he remains. In August, 1869, Rev. C. M. Nickison assumed charge, and remained until the autumn of 1875, when, having been called to the charge of the Epiphany church, Rochester, he was succeeded by the Rev. J. H. Lee, the present rector.

Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.

History of Ontario Co., New York, Part 44

Author: Publication date: Publisher: Number of Pages: 391

Author:
Publication date:
Publisher:
Number of Pages: 391