History of Orange County, New York, with illustrations and biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Part 111

Author: Ruttenber, Edward Manning, 1825-1907, comp; Clark, L. H. (Lewis H.)
Publication date: 1881
Publisher: Philadelphia, Everts & Peck
Number of Pages: 1336

USA > New York > Orange County > History of Orange County, New York, with illustrations and biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men > Part 111

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The building committee consisted of James Little, Robert H. Houston, and Henry S. Beakes.

The stockholders met March 10, 1841, to decide the location, and a majority voted in favor of a lot on Orchard Street, offered by Stacey Beakes. A lot offered by Dill & Houston was the one upon which the building was finally erected. David Clark was the contractor. The building was commenced in August, 1841, and accepted as completed by the trus- tees in October, 1842.

The first teacher was Rev. Phineas Robinson, who

opened the first session soon after the building was completed, and remained two years.

His snecessor was Patrick McGregor, who taught five years, and who was succeeded by Henry Free- man. He also taught five years, when he was snc- ceeded by Rev. P. Teller Babbitt. The latter re- mained a year and a half, when D. Kerr Bull was appointed principal.

The academy as thus erected was a very convenient building, three stories high, with a basement. The principal and his family occupied the second floor and the rooms of the basement.

On the first floor was the school-room, with two recitation-rooms attached. The third floor was di- vided into eleven rooms, for students who boarded in the institution.

The teachers of the public schools of Middletown for 1880-81 are as follows :

School No. 1 ( Cottage Street) .- Ellen Wickham, principal; Mary J. Barlow and Isabella MeBurney.

School No. 2 (High Street) .- Florence Dennison, principal; Annie Gray, Elizabeth Corwin, Fannie Corwin, Sarah B. Russell, and Helen MI. Dorrance.

School No. 3 (Bennett Hill) .- Mrs. S. R. Baird, principal; S. Louise King, Anna Friend, and Lottie L. Boyd.

School No. 4 ( Beattie Hill) .-- Eugenia DeKay, prin- cipal ; Rebecca J. Worcester and Carrie Harding.

School No. 5 ( Orchard Street) .-- Sarah E. Darbee, principal ; Hattie Bull and Evie Brett.

Primary, No. 6 (South Street) .- Mary L. Burroughs, principal ; E. Katie Sease.

Academy .- Senior Department, Lydia J. Van Hou- sen; Intermediate Department, Ira L. Case ; Junior Department, Anna B. Dunning; Teacher of English Grammar, Sarah E. Igo; Arithmetic, Nettie B. Cooper ; Geography, Annice M. Parsons.

THE STATE HOMEOPATHIC ASYLUM FOR THE INSANE AT MIDDLETOWN, N. Y.

This institution was originated in 1869, through the exertions of George F. Foote, M.D., and of certain public-spirited citizens, both in Orange County and in other sections of the State, who were desirous of applying the principles of the homeopathie school of medicine to the care and relief of the insane.

In Jannary, 1870, a bill was placed in the hands of William MI. Graham (who was then representing this district in the Senate of this State) for the pur- pose of obtaining, through the action of the Legisla- ture, an act incorporating the above-named institu- tion. To the surprise and regret of many of the warm and ardent friends of the project, the bill upon its third reading received but five or six affirmative votes in the State Senate.

The cause of the bill receiving so few affirmative votes in the Senate was owing to the fact that Dr. Foote and the friends of the proposed institution were desirons of making it a private asylum, and ob-

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HISTORY OF ORANGE COUNTY, NEW YORK.

taining State aid to the amount of $150,000, or, in William MI. Graham were appointed as such trus- other words, of obtaining an appropriation from the ' tees. State of that amount for a private institution.

After an examination of the subject by those who felt a deep interest in the establishing of the institu- tion, it was apparent that an act of that character, if passed by the Legislature, would conflict with the strict construction of the constitution, and would therefore be declared by the courts as unconstitu- tional.

The friends of the project feeling so deep an interest in their undertaking, and so anxious for its success. were perfectly willing to comply with whatever means were necessary for the fulfillment and accomplishment of the object so dear to them.

The senator of this district was authorized and re- . quested to prepare and perfect a bill that would meet the requirement of the constitution, as well as the earnest wishes and desires of the numerous friends of the new project. Accordingly, a bill was thus pre- pared, and presented to the Senate for their consid- eration some time in the month of February, 1870, and, after the usual course all bills presented to the Senate have to take, it received their unanimous assent,-not a negative vote against the measure.

The bill then took its usual course in the Assembly chamber, and after a thorough discussion of the merits and demerits of the proposed measure, it received the unanimous assent of the members of the Assembly (as in the case of the Senate), not a negative vote being cast. The act was passed April 28, 1870, and received the signature of Governor John T. Hoffman, on the day of its final passage by the Legislature.

The first section of the aet provided : "There shall be established at Middletown, in the county of Orange, a State lunatic asylum for the care and treatment of the insane and inebriate, upon the principles of medi- cine known by the homeopathie, and it shall be known by the name of the State Homeopathie Asylum for the Insane at Middletown .. There shall be twenty- one trustees to manage said institution," and George F. Foote, Thomas Hitchcock, Frederick A. Conkling,

HOMOEOPATHIC ASYLUM FOR INSANE.

It was required of the trustees at their first meeting to draw lots in order to divide themselves into seven classes of three each, which chosen should hold office one, two, three, four, five, six, and seven years respec- tively. The treasurer of the State was directed to pay, on the warrant of the comptroller, to the trustees named in the aet such sum or sums of money as might be required for the building of said asylum, such sum or sums of money in the aggregate not to exceed $150,000 ; but that said sum or sums of money should not be paid until it was proven to the satisfaction of the comptroller that $150,000 had been subscribed by private persons, and actually paid in cash, to be applied to the purchase of a site and the construction and maintenance of the asylum.

In January, 1871, a bill was presented to the Senate, entitled an act to amend an act passed April 28, 1870, "to establish a State lunatic asylum upon the princi- | ples of the homeopathic, in Middletown, county of Orange," and became a law March 31, 1871, having passed both honses of the Legislature and received the signature of the Governor.

This amendment made it the duty of the treasurer of the State to pay, on the warrant of the comptroller, to the trustees named in the act, whenever it was proven to the satisfaction of the comptroller that they (the trustees) had selected a suitable site for the loca- tion of the institution and paid for the same, and that a good and warranty deed had been made ont to the State, the sum of twenty thousand dollars for every ten thousand dollars subscribed by private per- sons or municipalities, and actually paid in cash, and having been used for the purchase of a site and the construction and maintenance of said asylum. Such sum or sums of money in the aggregate not to exceed $150,000.

A site was chosen for the asylum on a farm of 150 aeres, located about a mile to the westward of the village of Middletown,-a spot which commends its selection by the beauty of the views which it com- mands, its excellent and healthful sur- roundings, its admirable facilities for drainage, supply of water, and ease of access.

The site chosen was secured by the trustees, and paid for by private sub- seriptions, and the Legislature has made from time to time such appro- priations as were necessary for the erection of suitable buildings for the purposes of the asylum, and for beauti- fying the grounds.

John David Wolfe, Peter S. Hoe, John K. Hackett, James P. Wallace, Phineas P. Wells, Henry R. Low, The main building accommodates all the adminis- trative officers and ninety patients. It is 166 feet long by 62 feet deep, and four stories high, exclusive Elisha P. Wheeler, Oliver B. Vail, Robert H. Berdell, Richard B. Connolly, D. D. T. Marshall, Carroll Dun- ham, John F. Gray, Homer Ramsdell, Abraham B. | of attic and basement, each floor affording an area of Conger, J. Stanton Gould, Alonzo R. Morgan, and 12,000 square feet. Its architecture is of the Rhenish

Fary Truly Yours . MYalcon?

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style, combining an appearance of strength with a certain lightness and cheerfulness of effect, which is in marked contrast to the sombre heaviness not in- frequently observable in asylum buildings. The edi- fice is of the best brick, with Ohio stone dressings, and from its front a boldly projecting tower furnishes a porte-cochere to the principal entrance, gives addi- tional space to the elegant music-room on the second floor and the chapel on the third floor, and rises to a height of ninety feet from the ground.

This building was completed and opened to receive patients on the 20th day of April, 1874. Dr. George F. Foote having resigned the position, Henry R. Stiles, M.D., was appointed medical superintendent.

The following were the officers : Fletcher Harper, president; Grinnell Burt, vice-president ; Peter S. Hoe, treasurer ; M. D. Stivers, secretary.

Trustees, Drs. T. F. Allen, Joshua Draper, John F. Gray, D. C. Jayne, E. D. Jones, E. MI. Kellogg, J. W. Ostrom, H. M. Paine, William E. Watson ; A. B. Conger, John Cowdry, James G. Graham, H. R. Low, D. D. T. Marshall, Daniel Thompson, Salem H. Wales, E. P. Wheeler.

The first asylum staff was as follows: Henry R. Stiles, M.D., medical superintendent ; William M. Butler, M.D., first assistant physician ; John Coch- ran, steward.

Pavilion No. 1, as it is designated for convenience, was opened for the reception of patients in 1876, and is devoted entirely to that purpose. It is 204 feet in length, and three stories in height above the base- ment, with wing on the southerly end 65 feet deep, and on the northerly end a wing 70 feet deep, and is built of brick and half-timbered work, so constructed as to give it the appearance of three distinet villas, slightly connected by balconies and glass-covered galleries, thus avoiding the prison-like style gener- ally followed in similar institutions.

Externally, this pavilion is considered even more attractive than the main building. Charming, how- ever, as its exterior is to the eye, the interior arrange- ment is still more graceful and home-like; indeed, the " home-like" has been, and will be, a sine qua non in the planning of all the building of the asylum.

By an act of the Legislature passed June 21, 1875, the board was changed both as to its numbers and composition. The number of trustees thereafter were to be thirteen, and Fletcher Harper, Jr., and Egbert Guernsey, of New York; Grinnell Burt, of Warwick ; Joshua Draper, Nathaniel W. Vail, Uzal T. Hayes, James B. Hulse, James II. Norton, Moses D. Stivers, of Middletown; James G. Graham, of Newburgh ; Daniel Thompson, of Thompson's Ridge; H. M. Paine, of Albany ; and William H. Watson, of Utica, were the persons named as trustees.

At the first meeting of said trustees they shall draw by lots in order to divide themselves as nearly as may be into three equal classes; one class of five shall hold office for two years, and one class of four shall

hold office for three years, and one class of four shall hold office for four years respectively.

Feb. 9, 1877, Dr. Henry R. Stiles resigned his posi- tion as medical superintendent of the asylum, and in the month of April following Dr. Selden II. Talcott, the newly-elected medical superintendent, assumed charge of the institution, and continues in this ea- pacity.

Pavilion No. 2 is now nearing its completion. It is built with a view of great stability and con- venience, being about the same dimensions, similar in architecture, and built of like material as pavilion No. 1. To the eye it appears grand and beautiful. It is built in a substantial and workmanlike manner in every particular. The turrets are somewhat different in form, size, and design from those on pavilion No. 1, which adds very much to the general appearance, gracefulness, and beauty of the structure.

It may also be considered as a building of four stories, the fourth, or attic story (unlike pavilion No. 1), being finished into pleasant, well-ventilated, cheer- ful rooms for greater convenience, and for the accom- modation of a larger number of patients.

Externally this pavilion, when completed, in its grand, majestic appearance, will be considered the peer of its associates.

The interior arrangements are somewhat different from pavilion No. 1, having been arranged with a view to greater convenience, and will be considered, if possible, more graceful, more convenient, and more home-like than its predecessor. It will be completed for the reception of patients in the early part of the coming summer.

The present management of the asylum is as fol- lows :

Trustees : Fletcher Harper, president ; Grinnell Burt, vice-president ; M. D. Stivers, secretary ; Uzal T. Hayes, treasurer; Egbert Guernsey, M.D., Daniel Thompson, James H. Norton, Hon. John G. Wilkin, Joshua Draper, M.D., Hon. James G. Graham, Hon. William Herring, William Vanamee, Hiram J. Sibley, Jr. Officers of the asylum : Selden H. Taleott, A.M., M.D., medical superintendent ; Wm. M. Butler, A.M., M.D., first assistant physician ; C. Spencer Kinney, M.D., second assistant physician ; Miss Georgie Hor- ton, lady assistant ; John Cochran, steward.

SELDEN H. TALCOTT, A.M., M.D., was born in Rome, N. Y., July 7, 1842. 11e was brought up on a farm, and received the ordinary common-school and academie education, such as is usually accorded to farmers' sons. In 1863 he attended the commence- ment exercises at Hamilton College, Clinton, N. Y., and from that time determined to acquire a collegiate education. In one year he prepared for and entered college. Shortly after this he enlisted in the Fifteenth New York Volunteers, engineers, and served in the Union army for about one year, receiving at the close of the war an honorable discharge. On returning from the South, in 1865, he re-entered college, and

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graduated in the class of 1869. During his academic course he took prizes in English composition and declamation. During his college course he received appointments as prize speaker and Clark prize orator. During his senior year at college he was one of the editors of the Hamilton Campus, a college weekly. After graduating from Hamilton College he began the study of medicine with Dr. E. A. Munger, Water- ville, N. Y. After pursuing the required three years' course of study, and having taken two courses of medical Jectures at the New York Homeopathic Medical College, he graduated from that institution in 1872 with the highest standing in a class of thirty- six. During his last course of lectures he was elected president of the College Quiz Society, and was also at the close of the term unanimously chosen valedic- torian of the class. After graduating he returned to Waterville, N. Y., and formed a partnership with Dr. Munger, with whom he practiced medicine for about three and a half years. In September, 1875, Dr. Tal- cott was appointed chief of staff of the Homeopathic Charity Hospital, located at Ward's Island, N. Y. Ile remained in charge of that institution, perform- ing the dnties of medical superintendent in the New York City Asylum for Inebriates, and in the Soldiers' Retreat at New York, until April 24, 1877. Then be resigned to accept the position of medical superin- tendent of the New York State Homeopathic Asylum for the Insane, which latter position had been ten- dered him by an unanimous vote of the board of trustees of that institution. Since that time he has been, and still is, in charge of the above-named asylum. Under his management the institution has become self-sustaining, and the percentage of recov- eries shows in a most favorable light the efficacy of homeopathic treatment for the insane.

In public affairs Dr. Talcott has always taken an active interest. During the campaigns of 1868 and 1872 he made stump speeches in behalf of the Re- publican cause in the county of Oneida. He served at various times as delegate to county and district conventions. Since assuming charge of public insti- tutions he has refrained from active political work, whilst cherishing an abiding interest in the fortunes of the Republican party. Dr. Talcott is a member of various medical societies. At present he is presi- dent of the New York State Homeopathic Medical Society, and of the Orange County Homoeopathic Medical Society. In 1875 he was president of the Oneida County Homeopathic Medical Society. In 1876 he was elected a member of the New York County Homeopathic Medical Society ; he is also a member of the American Institute of Homoeopathy,

fellow of the New York Medico-Chirurgical Society. In 1879 he was appointed a member of the State Board of Medical Examiners by the regents of the University of New York. Dr. Talcott has been for some years known to the public as a writer and a

speaker. He has delivered lectures to the general public and before various societies and literary organi- zations. Among the medical topics upon which he has written, some of which have been published in pamphlet form, are the following : "Prognosis in In- sanity," "General Paresis," " Medical Notes on the Treatment of the Insane," "Mania, its Causes, Course, and Treatment," "Melancholia with Stupor," "Phi- mosis in its Relations to Insanity," " Delusions of the Insane," "The Insane Diathesis," and "Sleep without Narcotics."

VII .- CHURCHES.

FIRST CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH.#

This church was organized June 10, 1785. It then consisted of a few members from the scattered popu- lation (who were chiefly emigrants from Long Island), gathered into a church relation by the Rev. Charles Seeley, who came to this place from Newton, N. J. In 1792, the seventh year of its history, there were 36 members ; the original deacons were James Reeve and Eli Corwin.

The society was incorporated Ang. 12, 1786, under the title of the " First Congregational Church of Mid- dletown, in the precinct of Wallkill and county of Ulster." The original trustees, chosen at that date, were James Reeve, Jonathan Owen, Nathaniel Wells, Samuel Wickham, Wm. Carpenter, and Eli Corwin. Nathaniel Landon was chosen clerk, and Nathaniel Wells treasurer.

The same year the first house of worship erected in Middletown was built by the Congregational Society, on land provided by John Green in his will,t dated Dec. 12, 1784, for the sum of £3, which sum was paid to said Green's executors, who confirmed the same to the society by deed bearing date April 10, 1786, giving title to one-half acre of land, to which was added fifteen and one-fifth square rods of land by deed from Jonathan Owen for the sum of five shil- lings, bearing date July 12, 1786. Some portion of each of the above-named purchases was used for the highway. The house was enclosed that year but not finished, and continued to be used for worship in an unfinished state about ten years.

Feb. 12, 1796, an inventory of the society's prop- erty was taken by the trustees and recorded as fol- lows: " One-half acre of land and meeting-house thereon, valued at £150. Voted that £10 be raised to move the house back from the street, and also voted to finish the interior of the same and sell the seats to pay the expense." A second inventory was taken and recorded Feb. 27, 1799, of property belonging to

a national organization, and is also corresponding the First Congregational Society of Middletown, in the words following, to wit : "One-half acre of land

* Furnished by the officers of the church.

+ The language of the will might be interpreted as implying that the church was constituted some two years earlier (or at least one year) than June 10, 1785, but the officers give the usual statement of the manual.

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and meeting-house thereon, finished, valued at £200, certified according to law, Jacob Dunning, clerk."

This was the only house of worship in Middletown for more than forty years.

The society was prosperous; additions were fre- quently made to the church, particularly in 1815, when, as the result of a revival, 120 were received to its communion.

In 1825 the membership of the church was 267, of whom more than 100 were males. At this time it had been the custom for the society to vote from time to time, granting to other denominations the use of the house for worship when not occupied by themselves. This gave rise and created a desire in some of its members to change the church polity from Congrega- tional to Presbyterian.

Under the ministrations of the Rev. George Steh- The architect was I. G. Perry, of Binghamton, N. Y., and Peter H. Terhune, of the same place, was the contractor. Building committee, Wickham C. MeNish, Selah R. Corwin, Stephen S. Conkling, John M. Hanford, and Oliver P. Reeve. bins, a Presbyterian minister, a proposition was made in meeting, Aug. 25, 1825, to change the church order and adopt the Presbyterian platform, and after re- peated and persistent attempts to accomplish the same, meetings being adjourned from time to time, This house, with its appointments, not including grounds, cost the large sum of $49,900, which has been nearly all paid. A small amount still remaining Sept. 29, 1825, a vote of fifteen out of the whole membership was obtained in favor of said change. Only nine of those opposed being present to vote . unpaid is mostly provided for by subscriptions. The against the measure, entered their protest against the proceedings as being unwarranted and illegal.

The society continued to worship in the same house, under the ministrations of the Rev. George Stebbins, until March 19, 1827, and still further, under Rev. Donald McIntosh, until September, 1829, and also under Rev. Daniel T. Wood, until May, 1830, when those of the Presbyteriau order commenced to wor- ship in their new house, located on Orchard Street.

As a result of this separation, however, the old Con- gregational meeting-house was illegally demolished by the Presbyterians, July 26, 1833, and on August 3d following a prosecution was commenced by the Congregationalists against the trespassers. On the 28th of the same month the Congregational society voted to build a new house of worship, 50 by 40 feet, upon the site of the former one, and to finish the same with a gallery.

April 26, 1834, the whole matter of dispute between the two societies was settled by articles of agree- ment, in which the Presbyterian society acknowl- edged their trespass and made reparation.

The new meeting-house was erected in 1834, but not finished. John T. Ludlum and Thomas Van Ilorn were the builders, at a cost of $1260. In 1836 the interior of the house was finished by contraet with Isaac Mills for $800, to which a bell was subse- quently added, and the house was dedicated July 14, 1836. The sermon on the occasion was delivered by the Rev. Joseph Harrison, of Broadway Tabernacle, New York City, and on the following Sabbath, July 17th, the house was occupied for worship, when the church-members renewed their covenant in a solemn manner and the Lord's Supper was administered. 30

This house continued to be occupied by the society until 1871, when it was removed to make way for the present edifice, which was erected during that and the following year, the dimensions of which are 100 hy 60 feet, besides abutments, with a lecture-room attached 70 by 30 feet, the whole in Gothic style, requiring 600,000 bricks, with Syracuse stone trim- ming, covered with a slate roof and ornamented with a spire 185 feet high. The corner-stone, which is of the Syracuse variety, with a cavity containing an air- tight copper box, in which some documents were placed, was, on Thursday, May 16, 1872, Jaid in the foundation at the southeast corner of the building, in a conspicuous position, with appropriate ceremonies, the Rev. Dr. Taylor, of the Broadway Tabernacle, of New York City, officiating on the occasion.

church was dedicated Oct. 22, 1873; the sermon on the occasion was delivered by the Rev. Henry Ward Beecher, of Brooklyn, N. Y. The present officers are as follows : Pastor, Rev. Frederick R. Marvin ; Dea- cons, Daniel Ogden, elected 1840; Selah R. Corwin, 1850; Menander Sands, 1850; Samuel C. Mapes, 1868; Gilbert L. Parsons, 1877 ; Oliver P. Reeve, 1877. Trustees, John M. Hanford, Wickham C. Me- Nish, Selah R. Corwin, Oliver P. Reeve, James B. Crawford, Samuel C. Mapes, and Frederick W. Lowe. Treasurer, Oliver P. Reeve.

The number of members, as per manual, is 238, males 90, females 148, quite a number of whom are absent ; number of families, about 100. There is also a flourishing Sabbath-school connected with the church numbering 212 pupils, O. Clark Crawford, superintendent.

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History of Orange County, New York, with illustrations and biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Part 111

Author: Ruttenber, Edward Manning, 1825-1907, comp; Clark, L. H. (Lewis H.) Publication date: 1881 Publisher: Philadelphia, Everts & Peck Number of Pages: 1336

Author: Ruttenber, Edward Manning, 1825-1907, comp; Clark, L. H. (Lewis H.)
Publication date: 1881
Publisher: Philadelphia, Everts & Peck
Number of Pages: 1336