USA > New York > Seneca County > History of Seneca Co., New York, with illustrations descriptive of its scenery, palatial residences, public building and important manufactories > Part 19
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The Ovid Emporium was a publication, in 1832, by Bishop Orenslier.
The Seneca County Courier was established in 1836, by Isaae Fuller & Co .; O. H. Platt, then a leading lawyer, became its first editor. Platt was succeeded by Dexter C. Bloomer, then a young man of great promise. Bloomer .removed from Seneca Falls to Mt. Vernon, Ohio, thenee to Council Bluffs, Iowa, where he at present resides. During the first ten years of its existence, tho Courier had various publishers, among whom were Mills & Bloomer, Flavius J. Mills, and Mr. Bloomer, of whom we have spoken. Then came the firm of Davis & Mills, F. J. Mills and John L. Davis. The paper then passed to N. J. Milliken; then he took in a partner, and the publishers were known as Milliken & Mumford. The latter disposed of his interest to the old publisher, Isaac Fuller, and the Courier was published by Fuller & Milliken. In 1848, Milliken withdrew, and established the Free Soil Union, and Isaac Fuller continued to edit and publish the Courier. In 1849, Mr. Fuller gave up the publication to Messrs. Foster & Judd, and became the landlord of the " Sencea House," then standing on the corner of Ovid and Bayard Streets, and the principal publie house of the village.
PLATE XV
RES. OF JOSEPH BARNES, JUNIUS TP., SENECA CO., N. Y.
RES. OF BARNEY SNYDER , JUNIUS TP., SENECA CO., N. Y.
Engine House of Torrent Co. No. 5. Waterloo
Residence of the late Judge Watkins. South Waterloo.
55
HISTORY OF SENECA COUNTY, NEW YORK.
Foster gave way to Fuller, who returned to the newspaper business in 1850, and united with Judd, under the firm name of Fuller & Judd. In 1851, Fuller once more assumed sole proprietorship, and, as editor and owner, conducted the Courier on up to 1865. For four years previous to this last date, Sylvester Pew was connected with him in the job printing department. In 1865, the entire estab- lishment was purchased by Pew & Holton, S. Pew and S. Holton, with Mr. Holton as editor. The office was totally destroyed by fire in 1867, but the loss was quickly repaired by the purchase of new material. In 1871; Mr. Pew be- came the sole proprietor, employing A. S. Baker as editor. In 1875, the establish- ment was purchased by Horace W. Knight, and the paper is now published by Knight & Baker. The Courier has always been a pronounced political journal, first, as the organ of the Whig party, and subsequently of the Republicans, and has always maintained its position as a paper of commanding influence and ability.
The Orid Bee was started at Ovid, in 1838, by David Fairchild, as a nentral paper. Mr. Fairchild was from Otsego County, this State; he had been publish- ing, at Trumansburg, a paper termed the Trumansburg Advocate, and, moving to Ovid early in 1838, issued the first number of the Orid Bec, on February 21 of that year. In an inaugural poetical address, which appeared in the first number, it is stated that
" The Bee will mingle in no party strife For banks, nor anti-banks, nor local broils, But lead a social, peaceful, busy life- Unpledged to seets, unbribed by promised spoils."
The paper was published under the firm name of David Fairchild & Son. The father soon sold to his son Corydon, and in November, 1838, began at Hammonds- port, Yates County, the publication of another paper. Corydon Fairchild con- tinued the publication of the Ovid Bee until February, 1872,-a period of thirty- six years,-as its editor and proprietor. Finding the need of rest, Mr. Fair- child sold the paper to Oliver C. Cooper, and went to California, where he is at present. Mr. Cooper changed the name to Ovid Independent, and hoisted the motto, "Independent in everything-neutral in nothing." Cooper associated with him, as a publisher, Nelson Hyatt, and the paper was conducted by Hyatt & Cooper until the great fire of October 12, 1874, burned ont the entire estab- lishment. Mr. Hyatt then retired, and the junior member of the firm, Oliver C. Cooper, re-established the paper, and still carries it on, with reputation and profit.
The Seucen. Falls Democrat was established in October, 1839, by an "associa- tion of gentlemen." Josiah T. Miller, then a minor, became the editor; Stephen S. Viele, Ebenezer Ingalls, and John L. Bigelow, were the Committee to carry on the business. Dennison Card was the foreman, and Fred Morley, since appointed United States Minister to China, Sylvester Pew, and Nicholas Suydam were among the employees. Within a few months, the " association" leased the office to Mortimer J. Smith and S. Pew, who then constituted the firm of Smith and Pew. At the expiration of six months Mr. Miller purchased Smith's interest, and the firm became S. Pew & Co., which continued about a year. The ofice then passed into the hands of F. J. Mills, under lease, who continued it until 1850, when Mr. Pew, who meanwhile had become one of the proprietors of the Observer, bought the office, and sold the material to Mr. Mills. This party then removed West, to Sheboygan, Wisconsin, and established there a new paper. During the time Mr. Miller was connected with the Democrat, there was issued during a few months of the year 1844 a Democratic campaign sheet, under the title of " The Polk- Wright," Miller being editor.
The Seneca Democrat, a semi-weekly, was published for a short time from the Democrat office.
The Memorial, a legal reformu journal, was commenced at Seneca Falls in 1838, by Ansel Bascom. It vigorously advocated reform in the codification of laws, and urged important amendments to the State Constitution. It was printed nt the Democrat office, and published montbly, until the calling of the Constitutional Convention in 1846, of which body Mr. Bascom was chosen a member. The Memorial is regarded as having been the main agent in bringing about that legal reform in the code of legal procedure that has superseded the old common law system of pleading and practice, not alone in New York, but in other States and in Great Britain.
The Lily, a monthly sheet, was originated in 1851 by Mrs. Amelia Bloomer, as a temperance, dress reform, and woman's rights advocate. It was printed at the office of the Courier. It obtained a considerable circulation throughout the United States, and received contributions from Mrs. Stanton, Mrs. Gage, Miss Anthony, and others, who have since become widely known. In 1854, the Lily was removed to Mount Vernon, Ohio, and soon after discontinued. This sheet gave the name " Bloomer" to a costume introduced by Mrs. Stanton, as a dress for ladies. The dress was sharply criticised by papers, local and general; and the Lily as earnestly advocated the reform, and so fastened upon the dress the name of the lady editor.
'The Water Bucket was published at Seneca Falls, in the interest of temper- ance, during the flood tide of the Washingtonian movement, by a society organized in the village.
The Free Soil Union was established by N. J. Milliken in 1848, immediately after disposing of his interest in the Courier, and published as a Free Soil paper. At the same time the Waterloo Observer was inelining towards Free Soilism; and in 1849 Sentell & Pew, of the latter paper, purchased the good will and subscrip- tion list of the Union, and Mr. Milliken removed to Canandaigua, where he estab- Jished the Times.
The Seucca Falls Reveille was started January 7, 1855, as the American Reveille, by Gilbert Wilcoxen, George A. Sherman, and A. S. Baker, as the firm of Wil- coxen, Sherman, & Baker. The paper was issued in the interests of the American or " Know Nothing" party. Mr. Wilcoxen was the first editor, and, in 1856, pur- chased the entire establishment and issued a paper as editor and proprietor until 1859, when it passed into the hands of Holly & Stowell. Gilbert Wilcoxen is now County Judge. George A. Sherman and Arthur S. Baker entered the United States service, where the former died ; the latter was on the staff of General Martindale, in the service, was connected with the Saratoga Post, and in 1874 became editor of the Courier. Holly and Stowell published the Reveille until January 7, 1860, when Holly sold out to Stowell, who had been the editor meanwhile, and who now became both proprietor and editor. Alanson P. Holly had been foreman in the works of Downs & Company, and on severing his con- nection with the Reveille removed to Lockport, thence to Barry County, Michigan. Henry Stowell had been a machinist in the employ of the Silsby Manufacturing Company, and, entering the business of journalist at Sencca Falls in 1859, has continued therein till date. In June, 1860, Mark W. Heath purchased a half- interest in the paper, but re-sold within the year. Mr. Stowell changed the name of his paper in 1860 to its present title, the Sencca Fulls Reveille, and brought it out as a Douglas Democratic sheet, with the laudable motto, "Our country, her institutions, and her interests." The paper is regarded as the exponent of Democratie ideas, and the leading journal of the party in Seneca. The office em- ploys seven hands, of whom George MeConnelly is foreman. It contains four presses, power paper-cutter, and Globe and Liherty job presses. The Cottrell & Babcock cylinder press is a model of mechanism, and by it excellent work is executed.
The Sencca County Sentinel was commenced at Ovid, January 19, 1860, by A. S. Williams, under Republican colors. Mr. Williams sold to T. R. Lounsbury, a native of Ovid, and present Professor of English Literature in Yale College. During the same year, 1860, the paper was bought by S. M. Thompson, and by him conducted till 186I, when it passed into the control of D. G. Caywood. Sale was made to Riley and Baldwin; the latter disposed of his interest to his partner, John Riley, who removed the office of publication to Farmer Village. Here it was owned by Oscar M. Wilson, and published by the firm of O. M. Wilson & Son. It was removed to Trumansburg, where it is now published as the Tomp- kins County Sentinel.
The Sencca Sachem, a monthly historical and local journal, was published at Seneca Falls for a few months, commencing January I, 1863. It was conducted by Francis M. Baker.
The Seneca Evening Journal was commenced in February, 1867, at Farmer Village; it was published as a monthly by J. Bergen. As observed, the history of journalism in Seneca County has been little less than a struggle for existence, often ending in failure. The first "power newspaper press," an Adams, was placed in the Waterloo Observer office about the year 1849, but being too cum- bersome was soon removed, and a small Gordon job press put iu. Mr. Fuller introduced a Lawyer job press in 1857, and in the year following a power news- paper press was put in by Fuller & Pew. In 1872 S. Pew purchased for the Courier two first-class cylinder presses, and placed the office upon a good basis. For years, newspaper men were paid for advertising and subscriptions in " trade," " orders," and farm produce, and received but little money. In 1865 the cash system was introduced in paying office expenses, and the workings of that plan have been mutually advantageous.
Job printing long enjoyed little patronage, and this was secured mainly by the Observer office, at Waterloo. With the growth of the County and the large man- ufactories, however, this business is greatly augmented, and where twelve years ago there was but one power press in the County, there are now some sixteen. The jobbing establishments of Seneca's press are complete in appointment und unsurpassed in ability of execution. The character of the publishers stands well, and few counties can boast of more energetic workers.
56
HISTORY OF SENECA COUNTY, NEW YORK.
CHAPTER XXVI.
ACADEMIES AND PUBLIC SCHOOLS-THE PIONEER, OVID ACADEMY-" SENECA COLLEGIATE INSTITUTE''- THE SENECA FALLS ACADEMY-WATERLOO ACADEMY-PUBLIC SCHOOLS OF THE COUNTY.
THE community which most fosters education gives greatest security to person and property ; knowledge is sought for its usefulness, and those most proficient in learning are best calculated for the performance of every duty. Seneca County, from its organization till the present, has always evinced a deep interest in the in- struction of her youth. As in Iceland to-day, schools were anciently. unknown, and the parent taught the child as the sons of the prophets and the wise men of old were versed by arduons study in the letter of the law. Oral instruction was common to Greek and Roman. As practiced by the Catholic of the present, the schools were supervised and controlled by the elergy. Experience is a worthy educator. It teaches that sectarianism dwarfs energy and opposes the greatest good to the greatest number, aad elears no open field for competition. Comparison of results between the countries upholding a free-school system with all others strikingly illustrated its advantages. The formation of schools almost with the building of the first forest homes in this County shows that the pioneers did not intend to fall behind any other place in securing the benefits resulting from in- struction in schools. The establishment of academies has given opportunity to choose between free and private instruction, yet the two elash, and the latter uniformly gives way. We have spoken of the desire to establish in Seneca an agricultural college, and the history of the enterprise. It remains to us to treat of the academies and public schools. While we are nominally equal, there is of necessity an aristocraey of society. The few who pass through the high-school course shows that most are satisfied with a common instruction.
The academy was earlier what the high-school aims to be at present, the com- pletion of an ordinary course or the preparatory school of the college and uni- versity. King's College was incorporated in New York City in 1754 by patent, and in 1775 was the sole educational institution of the kind in the colony. Its name was changed in 1784 to Columbia College, which was to become the centre of a system whose branches were to be found in every county. A Board of Re- gents was established, consisting of leading State officers, two persons in each county, and one from cach religious denomination. The scheme was unwieldy, and was superseded by Aet of April 13, 1787, which constituted the Governor, Lieutenant-Governor, and nineteen others the Regents of the University. In 1842 the Secretary of State, and in 1854 the Superintendent of Public Instruc- tion, were made ex-officio members of the hoard. None receive pay, and they hold office for life.
An annual apportionment of income from the literature fond was made to academies in amount proportioned to the number of classical students. The fund originated in the reserve for educational purposes of certain land tracts, and was largely augmented by the proceeds of four lotteries, granted April 3, 1801, by which funds were to be raised for both academics and common schools. In 1816 some $10,000 were added to the fund, and in 1819 arrears of quit-rents amounting to over $53,000 were equally divided between the two school systems. Ia 1827 $150,000 was appropriated by the Legislature to the fund, and April 17, 1838, $28,000 was annually to be set apart from the United States Deposit Fund, to be distributed among academies. The fund was managed by the Regents till January 25, 1825, when it was transferred to the Comptroller for investment. Ia 1858 the principal amounted to $269,952.12, aside from the United States Deposit Fund. By Act passed April 12, 1853, general rules were required to be estab- lished by the Regents, governing academies and other educational institutions, whereby they obtained general powers of a corporation. Capital stock of an academy could not exceed 850,000, and charters were made perpetual.
There have been three academical institutions established in this County, at Ovid, Seneca Falls, and Waterloo. The large brick building, finely situated and commanding a magnificent prospeet from the height at the village of Ovid, is well known as the "old academy," whence have gove out some of our ablest citizens. In the days of its full prosperity wellnigh three hundred youth were congregated here, full two-thirds of whom were engaged in classieal study under the direction of eight or more accomplished instructors. Thousands of dollars were expended in its maintenance, but other thousands were derived as revenues. The property was valued at over $15,000, and contained an apparatus and a library of five hundred volumes. Its origin and career have shown varied for- tunes; at times ranking high, again falling off in reputation and numbers, and finally passiog to the control of the free-school trustees. A well-educated teacher, who had been engaged in his profession at Kidd's Ferry, came to Ovid in 1824, and was indneed to open a school for the study of the classics in the room of the old court-house. The success attending this pioneer effort of William Irving
caused a meeting of interested persons, who formed a board of trustees and took steps towards the incorporation of an academy and the erection of a school building. The academy was incorporated in 1826, and the erection of a proper edifice came forward. In time a structure one hundred and two feet long, forty wide, and four stories high, was completed. The desire to early reap the advan- tages of the enterprise caused the opening of a school in a room on the south- east part of the house late in the year 1826, and during the construction of the work. Mr. Irving served with ability until 1830-31, when he resigned, and was succeeded by Zenas Clapp, a principal known as "scholarly and severe." William Eastman, the next principal, was succeeded in 1837 by William Gook- ins, who had been for three or four years previously the principal of Yates's Conaty Academy at Penn Yan. A notice in the Ovid Bec announces the insti- tution as prosperous, and enrolling one hundred and fourteen students. Suc- cessive principals were Rev. Mr. White, a Presbyterian ; Mr. Hyde, and Theodore Bishop, a native of Lodi, a graduate of Union College, and an Episcopal elergy- man officiating at Buffalo. Next succeeded Francis Hendricks, at present a Presbyterian divine ; George Franklin, ex-County Judge, and a prominent man, who has reputably served as Deputy Secretary of State; Clement C. Leach, and the Rev. Mr. Frazer, who was principal in 1851. Amos Brown, LL.D., took charge of the institution in the fall of 1852, and continued until 1857, when he went to Havana and founded the People's College. Ilis death occurred August 16, 1874. The faculty in 1854 were Rev. Amos Browa, President; Edwin Pense, Professor of Latin and Greek ; George B. Vose, Professor of Mathe- matics; aod W. H. Brewer, Teacher of Agriculture, Chemistry, and Philosophy. The total attendance for the year was three hundred and fifty-six. In 1855 the name of the academy was changed to " Seneca Collegiate Institute," and a second building was erected for a chapel and for boarding accommodations. Mr. Brown was followed for the years 1857-58 by two students in partnership, Prof. W. H. Brewer, now a Yale professor, and John W. Chickering, of Portland, Maiae. Next came Rev. Mr. Livingston for a year, then Prof. Heary R. Lovell, of White- hall, who began in September, 1859, and is now prosecuting attorney in Flint, Michigan, and finally John N. Donelson, a plain but scholarly man: The finan- eial department became embarrassed ; the citizens subscribed funds and paid off the debt, and donated the establishment to the Methodists, who, on assuming charge, gave to it the name " East Geneva Conference Seminary." At the meet- ing of the board held February 25, 1864, Rev. C. S. Coats was President, James Ferguson, Secretary, and Silas M. Kinne, Treasurer. Under charge of I. Brown and Isaac Gibbord associated, the school assumed high rank and prosperity. Professor Brown, later, became one of the faculty in Syraense University. The Rev. Mr. Gibhord was a Methodist minister. Henry Sanford was employed in 1865, and remained till 1867 ; the Rev. Mr. Eastar was a final teacher, and the in- stitution was closed. In 1872, the property, which had become involved, was sold oa mortgage, bid in by the holders of the same, and turned over on its payment to the Board of Education, being known as Union Free School District, No. 1, Building. The first principal made a brief stay ; the next was named Crawford. Professor William Hyde took charge in 1874, and has the present supervision. He is well liked, and has an army reputation as a chaplain. The present school board are Thaddeus BoDine, Rev. H. W. Torrence, E. C. Howell, and E. W. Bryan.
THE SENECA FALLS ACADEMY.
The Seneca Fulls Acudemy originated in 1832. In that year, on May 12, a subscription was started to raise funds wherewith to erect an academy at the village from which it had its name. A lot was donated for a site by Colonel Mynderse. A subscribed list of forty-eight names appears as holders of shares, each of which was $25. One hundred shares were issued. Colonel Mynderse took twenty ; Richard E. Gay, eight; W. II. King, Anthony Dey, and G. V. Sackett four each. The first trustees were Messrs. Gay, King, Dey, Matthias B. Bellows, and Asher Tyler. The earliest meeting of stockholders of which there is a record was held at the tavern of D. Watkins, in the village of Seneca Falls, on July 12, 1833. Jonathan Metcalf was chosen Chairman, and C. L. Hoskins, Secretary. The Trustees we have named reported that they had received from Wilhelmus Mynderse a deed for the Academy lots, had contracted with Messrs. Wade and Lindsley for the building of the Academy for $1665.32; thst the work had been done to the extent of the contract and satisfaction of the Trustees, excepting the cupola ; that $1666.20 had been expended, and that of uncollected subscriptions there remained $508.80. The report was accepted. The Trustees were then authorized to appropriate at their discretion, from sub- scriptions to be paid, sums sufficient to complete the structure and improve the premises therewith connected. It was resolved to apply to the Regents of the University of New York for incorporation, as the " Seneca Falls Academy." The petition contains, as Trustees, the names of W. Mynderse, A. Dey, Asher Tyler, S. D. Mumford, Chas. L. Hoskins, Richard E. Gay, M. B. Bellows, J. Metcalf,
57
HISTORY OF SENECA COUNTY, NEW YORK.
Chas. W. Dey, Ebenezer Hoskins, Gary V. Sackett, Isaac Smith, Wm. H. King, Abraham Payne, and D. W. Foreman. Asher Tyler and C. L. Hoskins drafted and presented the petition, which was refused on the ground of insufficient endow- ment.
Canton M. Crittenden, the first Principal, began to teach in 1833, the Academy being unfinished at the time, and continued teaching until April; 1844. His assistant was Miss Lucretia Wilson. The incorporation of the Academy was effected in 1837 by special legislation, by which it was provided that said Academy should participate in the distribution of the Literature fund, upon satisfactory showing that it had complicd with the requirements authorizing the incorporation. Upon the death of Colonel Mynderse, which occurred in 1837, a bequest of $2000 was made to the Academy by him. A report by the Academy to the Regents of the University, made in 1839, shows the corporation then possessed of property to the amount of over $5000; and the Academy was placed upon the list of those which were entitled to participate in the Literature fund. On the 21st of De- cember, 1838, the number of students in attendance was fifty-nine. The Academy, in 1841, received from the Auburn and Rochester Railroad $1500 as damages to their property in laying out the road. The institution continued to flourish, and its property to augment in value, and was in 1859 estimated at nearly $9000. As remarked'in the history of the schools of Seneca Falls, the union of districts in the inauguration of free schools was followed by the renting of the Academy in 1867 to school trustees, on condition of maintaining a classical department, and that arrangement is still in force.
The following is a roll of Principals employed from date of incorporation till transfer for free school purposes: Canton M. Crittenden, 1833 to 1844 ; Rutger Van Brunt, one year ; M. L. Bellows, a term ; Orin Root, 1845 to 1849; Charles A. Avery, 1849 to 1853. Mr. Avery died in December of 1853, and was suc- ceeded by Myron H. Beach, who continued until April, 1856. S. G. Williams was in charge till July, 1857 ; Rev. John M. Guion, 1857 to 1860; Charles D. Vail, 1860 to 1864. Then came G. M. Janes in 1864, and C. A. Wetmore, 1865 and 1866. Assistant teachers were: Mary T. Chamberlin, 1839 to 1843; Charlotte C. Butterick, three years ; Frances M. Woodworth, one year ; Ann L. Frazer, one year; Frances L. Hoskins, 1848 to 1853; S. W. Salsbury, in 1850; Fanny M. Pollard, 1850 to 1854 ; Nelson N. Avery, 1851, and Simon Holton, 1851 to 1853; in 1854, Chas. S. Bundy and G. C. Walker, Caroline M. Bullard, Hannah C. Esterly, one year ; C. Lindermau, 1854; Annette T. Hoskins and Emma Frost, 1855; W. Sanderson, F. P. Hoskios, and Rebecca J. Williams, 1856; same year D. C. Smalley, H. M. Hoskins, and Frances Gay ; Anne Frost, one year. Others were J. M. Guion, Jr., Sophia B. Gay, and Addie S. Pollard.
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