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 20
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Without discord or clash of interests, the early acholastic education, fitted for the times, and yet upheld by many in the preparatory departments of our colleges, has quietly merged itself in the free schools, while yet reserving the right to re- assert itself, should the apathy or neglect of the present munificent system permit its interests to suffer.
The history of the Waterloo Academy, as such, is brief, as was its existence, yet it waa the healthy stock upon which was grafted the prosperous Union School. About the year 1840, subscriptions were circulated for the purpose of erecting an academy. The effort, though costing no little labor and patience, resulted in the sum of six thousand dollars. The building erected at the time was regarded not only convenient for the purposes of the school intended, but as a model of Tuscan architecture, and was the subject of much admiration. In form it was a paral- lelogram, ninety feet long and forty-six feet wide, and from the basement to the top of the balustrade, thirty-six feet. The rotunda rose above the roof fifteen feet, making the height total fifty-one feet. The total expenditure for building, grounds, and furniture, was not less than nine thousand dollars. The Board of Trustees, as constituted by the charter, comprised the following names : Joel W. Bacon, Richard P. Hunt, Samuel H. Gridley, Daniel S. Kendig, Asa N. Draper, Edmund Gay, P. T. Mumford, William V. G. Mercer, Thomas Fatzinger, Caleb Fairchild, Peter R. Wirts, Gardner Welles, Aaron D. Lane, and Samuel Clark. Joel W. Bacon was President, D. S. Kendig, Secretary, and P. T. Mumford, Treasurer. The school was opened in May, 1842, under the instruction of Joseph E. Larned as Principal, Teacher of Languages and of Elocution ; William Crocker, Assistant and Teacher of Mathematics and English Literature ; Sophia G. Larned, Precep- tress of Female Department, and Margaret Bohr, Teacher of French and Orna- mental Branches. The Principal being called to act as Tutor in Yale College, left at the close of the second quarter, and was succeeded by Edward Cooper. The Board of Instruction, as shown by a catalogue of April, 1843, was thus composed : Edward Cooper, Principal ; Charles G. Brundige, Mathematics ; William Crocker, Natural Sciences and English Branches ; H. F. De La Place, French and Italian. Miss Larned, Preceptress ; Catherine C. Wyckoff, English Branches ; Julia Pinkney, Primary Department, and Catharine Morrison, Music. Mr. Cooper remained two years. The school had grown rapidly, and was evidently enjoying
the confidence of the people. There was an attendance of more than one hundred and thirty-six males and one hundred and forty-two females, making a total of two hundred and seventy-eight. Among the members of the institu- tion at this term were, Richard Kendig, L. E. Swift, William H. Burton, Edward H. Birdsall, Charles P. Crosby, now of New York, and Edward Welles, now Bishop of Wisconsin. In August, 1847, the Academy ceased to exist. Caused hy necessity through indebtedness on the one hand, and the acquiescence in a new mode of instruction on the other, it passed to be known as the "Union School."
The public schools of the County are the colleges to a vast majority of her youth. ' The State, realizing that her safety depends upon the intelligence of the masses, as farmers, mechanics, and legislators, as voters, citizens, and soldiers; has made full and free provision for the establishment of public schools within her borders. In 1789, an act was passed by the Legislature requiring the Sur- veyor-General to set apart two lots in each township, of the public land, thereafter to be surveyed, for gospel and school purposes. In 1793, the Regents recom- mended the establishment of a general system of common schools. Governor Clinton, as had previous Governors, urged the same. In 1800, a bill making ap- propriation to the support of common schools, passing the Assembly, was defeated in the Senate. In 1806, provision was made for a permanent school fund, and in 1812, an Act passed for its distribution. Originally, the electors were permitted to decide, at their annual town meeting, whether they would accept their share of the money appropriated, and levy an equal amount on their taxable property. It is related that the sum of $80.29 was apportioned to Juniua, in 1813, and a special meeting of the town's electors was held, to determine what to do with the money, and the following resolutions were adopted: First, that the town do not accept the money allowed by the State for the support of common schoola, being $80.29. Second, that the town is willing to receive its proportion of the school-fund, to apply it for the education of poor children.
We have seen the pioneers erecting their schools contemporary with settlement, and solely on their private account. In 1812, the office of School Commissioner was created, and in the record of early town meetings we find a record of pro- vision made for School Commissioners and Inspectors, and it is apparent that Seneca Connty kept pace with the progress of school development. In 1838, the district library system was established by law, and the office of County Super- intendent was incorporated with the statutes concerning schools. The need of a school for the education of teachers was seen, and steps to supply were taken, which resulted in the passing of an act and the opening of such school at Albany, December 18, 1844. Under the supervision and inspection of County Superin- tendents, the schools made evident progress ; but the appointment of incumbents on partisan grounds, regardless of qualifications, rendered the office unpopular, and caused its abolishment November 13, 1847, and a temporary retrogression ensued. The establishment of free schools dates from March 26, 1849. The crude legislation in vogue made the taxation unequal, and resulted in remon- strances from every quarter, and April, 1851, the Free School Aet was repealed, and the old rate system came back. . Its stay in New York was transient. Con- ditional free schools were allowed by Act of 1853, and the principle recognized. The office of School Commissioner was created April 12, 1856, and Town Super- intendeney at the same time abolished,-a change which is regretted by a portion of the people as removing the authority too far from the people. In April, 1858, annual meetings were directed to be held on the second Tuesday in October, and the school year to begin October 1, The people are willing to promote merit, and hence the private school and academy were yielded to the common school. A trial has been made, and one portion of the population has decided adversely, and are deliberately engaged in a re-establishment, so far as they are concerned, of a former system. The crucial test is being applied, and it is desirable that all seets and classes shall find their way in common through our free schools, however divergent may be their ultimate career in life; and a people whose valor and patriotism has been so fully shown in the arena of warfare will be slow to yield the evident advantages of our common-school. education, established on the basis of freedom and equality.
The teacher, as the physician, saw the advantages likely to result from associa- tion, and for years held voluntary assemblagea. The first Teachers' Institute in the State was held at Ithaca, Tompkina County, April 4, 1843, and on November 13, 1847, the Institute was legally established, and provision made by appropria- tion for its support. ' The press of the County has, from time to time, contained brief record, not of interest here, of institutes at various points, instructors present, character of exercises, and number in attendance. These institutes are held annually, and are of two weeks' duration. The one for 1876 begina June 12, at Ovid, E. V. De Groff, Principal; Miss Minnie Sherwood, Assistant. Examinations of teachers are written out in reply to questions prepared by the County Commissioner, who has himself been a teacher. The branches upon
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HISTORY OF SENECA COUNTY, NEW YORK.
which the test of scholarship are applied are Reading, Penmanship, Spelling, Defining, Arithmetic, Algebra, Geography and use of Globes, English Grammar, United States and General History, Civil Government, and Discipline. Maxi- mum, 100; minimum, 75. Certificates are of three grades, and range from three months to three years. ' The present policy prevailing is the employment of cheap teachers, which, it is hoped, will give way to higher wages and ample qualifications. The School Commissioner receives a salary of $800 from the State, and an additional $200 is levied by the County. His duties are to examine and license teachers, visit schools, apportion public moneys, and report to the Superintendent of Public Instruction. The following is a list of School Commissioners from 1861 to 1876, each official holding for two years : Peter V. N. Bodine, of Lodi; Isaac Runyan, of Waterloo; Hammond, of Covert; Wil- liam Hogan, of Fayette ; H. V. L. Janes, of Lodi; and George N. Hurlbut, of Waterloo. The following statistics are given for the school year ending Septem- ber 30, 1875. The County is divided into the south jury distriet capital, Oyid, and the north jury district capital, Waterloo. The division for educational pur- poses is into 106 districts. Ninety-seven of these have their school-houses in Seneca County, and nine in others. The number of licensed teachers employed at the same time, for twenty-eight weeks or more, was 136. The number of children between the ages of five and twenty-one, residing in the County, was 9198. Three private schools were taught, and attended by but 47 persons. The report of the time school was kept is given by adding each school's time to the rest, and Fayette's seventeen schools report whole time of schools at 566 weeks and 3 days. The average day's attendance, and entire attendance, is given in the same manner. There were 202 teachers licensed by the local officer, 10 by, the State Superintendent, and 2 at the normal school. Of these, 82 were. males and 132 females. Attendance by children in the County has been 6917; in other districts, 217. Total, 7134. There were 139 inspections. The Dis- triet Libraries were established in 1838, and till 1851, with exceptions, $55,000 were annually appropriated by the State to the various counties for the purchase of books. By Act of July 9, 1851, the law made discretionary what had been obligatory, in reference to levying a tax by the town Supervisors for library pur- poses. It would be useful in this connection, could it be known to what extent the books have been read, and the measure of their value as an educational appliance. The number of volumes in the distriet library is 6012, contained in 59 cases, and valued at $3019. Of four grades of school buildings, log, frame, brick, and stone, the first has long since subserved its purpose, and passed into history ; of stone, there are but 2; of brick, 32; and of frame; 69, giving a total of 103. The value of school-house sites is $19,181; of school-house and site, $178,630, and the assessed valuation of property taxable in the district, $6,311,120 .. By way of contrast, we give the school statistics from the report of 1859: School-houses, 104; districts, 102; teachers, 117; children, between four and twenty-one, 10,164. Volumes in library, 16,347. State apportionment, $9968.53. Receipts, $24,109.69. Expenses, the same. . A marked discrepancy . exists in the reports of school-library volumes. As old structures give way to new, better seata are furnished. In early days the teachers were, many of them, old. men, now they are upon the opposite extreme of youthfulness ; the former taught for low wages, when all things were low; the latter to obtain places. Better teachers and wages are needed.
CHAPTER XXVII.
SENECA IN THE WAR. OF THE REBELLION-STATISTICS-THE NINETEENTH NEW YORK VOLUNTEERS-THE FIFTEENTH ENGINEERS-THE THIRTY-THIRD NEW YORK VOLUNTEERS.
AMERICANS are proud of the Republic, and their valor on land and sea has attested their patriotic devotion. Conscious of their own loyalty, the yeomanry of New York looked calmly upon the secession of States and the cumulation of rebellious forces until, like a thunderbolt, fell the tidings of Fort Sumter bom- barded and surrendered. Then the people forgot all but the peril of the land, and all over the North thousands rushed to arms.
All over Seneca County the noble fervor spread, and from Seneca Falls, Water- loo, and Ovid, companies of her choice young men went forth to battle, led on by men like Ashcroft, McGraw, Guion, Aikins, and BoDine .. Month after month men left the field, the work-shop, and the desk, to fill the plaecs of the fallen or unworthy, and to swell the forces of the National Army.
In 1861, two hundred and thirty-seven men had joined the ranks. In the, dark hours of 1862, when Harper's Ferry fell and brought distress to many a. home in Seneca, four hundred and sixty-seven enlisted; in 1863, one hundred: and eighty-four went out; in 1864, three hundred and sixty-seven ; and others in: 1865. Seneca County had representatives in seventy regiments of infantry, thirteen artillery organizations, two batteries, thirteen cavalry regiments, the First Veteran Cavalry, the navy, and in regiments from other States."> The prin -: cipal representation was in the Fifteenth and Fiftieth New York Engineers; the. Nineteenth, Thirty-third, Seventy-fifth, One Hundred and Eleventh, One Hundred and Twenty-sixth, and One Hundred and Forty-eighth Infantry; the. First, Third, Ninth, and Sixteenth Artillery; the First and Eighth Cavalry ; the Fifteenth United States Regulars, and the navy. The County furnished a total of one thousand three hundred and twenty-eight men. Six hundred and twenty- four of these were men of family. The oldest soldier enlisted was aged sixty- two years. . Eight hundred and ninety-nine were natives of the State. In respect to employment, forty-nine were carpenters ; seventeen clerks, copyists, and accountants ; twelve coopers ; two hundred and ninety-two farmers; two hun- dred and eleven laborers; thirty . mechanics, and nineteen moulders; besides a fitting representation of other occupations. So far as can be learned, the deaths in military service of Seneca soldiers was two hundred and seventy-six, of whom one hundred and seventy-one were married. Two hundred and seventy of these were volunteers. Sixty-nine were killed in hattle, thirty-one died of wounds received in battle, and one hundred and thirty-one died of sickness acquired in service. Thirty-two died in 1862, fifty-four in 1863, one hundred and thirty- nine in 1864, and but twenty-six in 1865.
Simultaneously, war-meetings were held all over Seneca County, and within an almost incredible space, company after company departed to its rendezvous. Patriotie spirit needed little urging, and every effort to recruit men met some success, so that a complete history of the battles wherein Seneca soldiers were engaged would embrace a history of the war in every field, and is. therefore be- yond our reach.
The Nineteenth New York Volunteer Infantry, self-styled the "Seward Regi- ment," was principally raised in Cayuga County. It desired to remain at .Au- burn to be organized, clothed, and equipped; but the law made Elmira the rendezvous, and the ardor of the citizen soldiery made each company eager to be first upon the ground. From peace to war was too great a transition to our people, and inefficiency, haste, and blunders long checked enthusiasm and paral- yzed the efforts of the most willing.
Seneca Falls was the home of. James E. Asheroft, by profession a dentist, and the commander of a well-drilled Zonave company. Foresceing war, Captain Ashcroft, as early as November, 1860, tendered the Governor the service of his company, but the offer was declined. On Sunday, April 14, 1861, a Confederate flag waved from the ramparts of Fort Sumter. . On Monday, Abraham Lincoln called for seventy-five thousand men to suppress unlawful combination, and Aslı; eroft at once began to form a company for the field. By Thursday thirty-three had enlisted ; a day or two more and the organization was full. It was composed of young men from eighteen to twenty-five years of age. Among them were two sons of Hon. H. B. Stanton. Mrs. Stanton expressed her regret that her two younger sons were not old enough to enlist also. Ashcroft's company de- parted from Seneca Falls amid the plaudits of thousands, and by 11. P.M. of April 27 reached Elmira,-the second company to arrive upon a rendezvous where later brigades were seen. Quarters were assigned at the Old Barrel Fac- tory ; soldiers' rations issued ; straw and blankets, in place of feather beds and white sheets, for beds; and soldier life had begun. Meanwhile, Captain John H. Ammon had been raising s fine company at Auburn, some twenty men of whom were from Seneca Falls; this body of young men was mustered in 'on May 7, and on May 9 reached Elmira, and were quartered in Beecher's church. On May 14, regiment number Nineteen was formed, and an election of regimental officers ordered with the following result: Colonel, John S. Clark; Lieutenant- Colonel, Clarence A. Seward, Esq .; Major, James H. Ledlie. The men of the Nineteenth enlisted for two years. Captain W. L. Elliott, without authority for the set, mustered them into the service of the United States for three months only, and laid the foundation for subsequent serious troubles. In the enrollment. of companies, the following order prevailed : Company A, Captain John T. Baker; Company B, Captain T. J. Kennedy ; Company C, Captain J. E. Ash- croft ; Company D, Captain Owen Gavigan; Company E, Captain Thomas II. Schenck ; Company F, Captain Nelson T. Stephens; Company G, Captain Charles H. Stewart; Company. H, Captain Solomon Giles; Company I, John H. Am- mon ; and Company K, Captain J. R. Angel. The first uniforms issued were a shabby gray, coarse of material, and extravagantly large, and the pride of the recruit in & handsome uniform found no stimulus here.
At ten A.M. of June 4 the regiment received their colors, next day their.
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HISTORY OF SENECA COUNTY, NEW YORK.
muskets and equipments, and on June 6 set out for Washington. Rumors were passed along, excited men learned of turbulence in Baltimore, and three rounds of cartridges, each containing an ounce ball and three buckshot, were issued to each man. Their march through Baltimore, with fixed bayonets and capped muskets, cowed the city roughs and prevented attack. On again to Washington, and into camp. Wedge tents were used for shelter, each occupied by four men. Drill and camp routine, with visits from President and Secretary of State, and others distinguished, followed. The first death was of Joseph Winters, drummer boy in Company C, drowned while bathing, and buried with military honors. The Nineteenth had been assigned to the command of Major- General Sandford, who, on July 5, ordered four regiments, among which was the Nineteenth; to reinforce General Patterson near the Potomac at Williamsport. Fifteen wagons were allotted to the regiment to convey its baggage. Soldiers were loaded down with accontrements and knapsacks, which galled the shoulders and blistered the feet. Later, there were few wagons, and each man bore a lighter load. Arrived at Williamsport, the river, wide and shallow, was forded, and Martinsburg was reached about midnight. The regiment now found itself one of thirty, in an army of twenty-three thousand men. In front, at Bunker Hill, was Joe Johnson, with a force little less numerous. The spirit of adventure prompted the men to scouting. On July 11, Martin Webster and S. J. Tobias, of Company I, while foraging were fired upon by a party of Stuart's cavalry, and Tobias was struck in the hip. Webster returned the fire and killed a rebel. A brief skirmish, and the men were captured and sent to the later famous Libby prison. Tobias died of his wound September 26, and Webster, exchanged, returned to duty in June, 1862. The battle of Bull Run, the panic of victorious troops, the arrival of Johnson with fresh columns, and the failure of Patter- son to co-operate with McDowell, are well-known events, and no troops more deeply regretted their forced inaction than the ragged but popular Nine- teenth New York. Patterson was retired and Banks assumed command. He found few regiments except New Yorkers,-the Pennsylvanians enlisted for three months had gone to their homes,-and established himself on the Maryland side at the " Heights." On July 30, the Cayugas for the first time went gladly to' dress parade, clothed in army blne. On August 22, the regiment was forced to continue in the service for two years, under penalty of being treated as mutineers. Cannon and musketry were brought in readiness to fire upon them. Most of the men yielded to necessity, but the morale of the organization was broken. It was not the continued service, but the want of good faith, which brought difficulty, and the intelligence of the men increased the effect. It was an unmerited wrong and disgrace. Most returned to dnty, but twenty-three immovable men were court-martialed and sentenced to two years' hard labor on fortifications, but were anbsequently pardoned and entered the service in Carr's Second Cavalry. On De- cember 11, 1861; the Nineteenth volunteers was changed to a regiment of heavy artillery, and, as an organization of infantry, passes from- sight. It saw heavy guard and picket duty along the Potomac, and, if it bore no part in battle, it was not the less entitled to the honors due those who were always ready and often anxious for the fray.
THE FIFTEENTH NEW YORK ENGINEERS.
The Fifteenth Regiment, New York Engineers, had been years in service, and, in common with other organizations, had become reduced in numbers. On the call of the President in 1864, a large accession was made to the ranks of the Fiftieth Engineers, and a surplus of volunteers, numbering about sixty men, who had volunteered for this regiment from Seneca Falls and its vicinity, were assigned to the Fifteenth. Mustered into service in Camp Seward, at Auburn, they reached Elmira on October 3. Their stay was brief; experience had not been in vain, and the Senccans, leaving camp at Elmira October 8, found them- selves at City Point by the 14th. They came at once upon the field, and heard with strange feelings the booming of heavy guns, the crash of shells, and saw the stern realities of military life, to which Seneca's veteran soldiers had grown familiar. The men found quarters at a line of works located some six miles from Petersburg, and, during the winter, were employed in laying out and building fortifications and erecting hospitals for the Second and Ninth Army Corps. From time to time they were brought to the front to line new works, and while their duty was not to mingle in the fray, they were made familiar with its most stirring scenes. On April 2, 1865, they were actively engaged in extinguishing fires in Petersburg, and were kept in the advance from that point westward to Berkshire and to the Staunton River, to construct bridges for passage of troops and trains. On May 1, they were ordered to Washington. On their march they passed through Richmond, forming a part of the forces that, on May 6, passed through that rebel stronghold in grand review. Reaching Arlington Heights, they again marched in review, on May 12, through the strceta of Washington. Thence they were furnished transportation to Elmira, and in June were discharged
from service. The skill shown in works, the' rapid construction of bridges for railways and pontons for the passage of troops, have excited astonishment and admiration, and the prompt service of this branch of the army made success in pursuit possible and prevented combinations that would have protracted the struggle.
THE THIRTY-THIRD NEW YORK VOLUNTEERS.
The Thirty-third New York Volunteers was among the very first organized. Three companies went out from Seneca County-two from Seneca Falls and one from Waterloo. Close upon receipt of the news of hostilities at Charleston, en- rolling offices were opened and recruits enlisted. E. J. Tyler, Esq., established an office in Seneca Falls, and within a week eighty men had been obtained. May 9, George M. Guion was elected Captain ; E. J. Tyler, First Lieutenant ; Pryce W. Bailey, Second Lieutenant. Upon May 13 the company left their home for Elmira, amidst the enthusiasm of citizens, and bearing away the best wishes of the community. At Waterloo meetings were held, and funds and in- fluence were frecly bestowed by such men as Hon. A. P. King, Hon. D. S. Ken -. dig, and Messrs. Kendig, Knox, Hadley, Wells, Mackey, and Dr. S. Wells. On April 26, the company, eighty six strong, was sworn into the State service by Major John Bean, of Geneva. The company known as the " Waterloo Wright Guards" was officered by John F. Aikens, Captain ; Chester H. Cole, First Lieu- tenant, and Andrew Schott, Second Lieutenant. It left for Elmira on the last of April, and was speedily introduced to the discomforts of the barrel factory. Two companies had departed from Seneca Falls; a third soon followed then. Aided by Brigadier-General Miller, John McFarland, and George Daniels, Pat- rick MeGraw, a British soldier for fifteen years, organized a company of Irish- men, and, encouraged by Rev. Edward McGowan, received at the Catholic Church, after vespers, from him his benediction. On May 22, 1861, the Irish company departed for Elmira, by way of Geneva and the lake. On May 21, a regimental organization was effected by eight companies, two companies afterwards joining them. The following election was held : Colonel, Robert F. Taylor, of Rochester ; Lieutenant-Colonel, Calvin Walker, Geneva ; Major, Robert J. Mann, of Seneca Falls ; and Adjutant, Charles T. Sutton, of New York City. . The regi- ment was numbered the Thirty-third. Guion's Company became A, that of Aikins C, and McGraw's K. Prior to their departure for Washington, the regi- ment was presented with a beautiful flag by the ladies of Canandaigua. Formed in hollow square, the regiment was presented with the banner by Mrs. Chesebro; who accompanied it with an earnest and eloquent speech, in which the organiza- tion was designated as the Ontario regiment-a title which brought honor in the field to the old county of which they thus became the namesake. Colonel Tay- lor, receiving the flag, gave promise that " it should never be dishonored or dis- graced." On July 3, the Thirty-third was mustered into the United States service for two years, by Captain Sitgreaves, a regular officer. July 8 they were en route to the capital. At Camp Granger, located near the city, E. Back- erstose, of Company H, was accidentally shot; this was the first death in the regiment. While the battle of Bull Run was in progress, the regiment listened with feverish excitement to the far-away sounds of artillery all that day. Even- ing came, and with other regiments they promptly obeyed orders, and started for the Long Bridge, but were recalled. Chester H. Cole here succeeded Aikins, who had resigned his position as Captain of Company C. Lieutenant Schott, of the same company, was succeeded by L. C. Mix, promoted from commissary ser- geant. The regiment moved, on the 6th of July, to the vicinity of the Chain Bridge, and were brigaded with the Third Vermont and Sixth Maine, under Colonel W. F. Smith. On September 15, the Thirty-third was attached to the Third Brigade, formed of the Forty-ninth and Seventy-ninth New York and Forty-seventh Pennsylvania, and commanded by Colonel Stevens, who, in a special order, forbade profanity. Divisions were now formed, and the Thirty-third found itself under command of General Smith, promoted from colonelcy. On the morn- ing of the 29th of September, Smith advanced his division upon Vienna, formed in line, and placed Mott's battery in advance, and the Thirty-third as its support. Other batteries were put in position. The enemy were in force, and suddenly opened with artillery, which caused no casualties. Our batteries responded. The force soon returned to camp. From time to time other advances were made, and skirmishing ensued, so preparing the men for the work to follow. All winter it was " all quiet upon the Potomac," and the rebels having fallen back from Manas- sas, McClellan began the transfer of his magnificent army to the vicinity of the James. The Thirty-third were taken on board three stcamera, on March 23, and conveyed southward to Old Point Comfort; they were employed in recon- noitering; built a redoubt of logs, to which was given the name Fort Wright, in honor of Joseph Wright, of Waterloo.
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