History of Tioga, Chemung, Tompkins and Schuyler counties, New York, Part 112

Author: Peirce, H. B. (Henry B.) cn; Hurd, D. Hamilton (Duane Hamilton)
Publication date: 1879
Publisher: Philadelphia : Everts & Ensign
Number of Pages: 1112

USA > New York > Chemung County > History of Tioga, Chemung, Tompkins and Schuyler counties, New York > Part 112
USA > New York > Schuyler County > History of Tioga, Chemung, Tompkins and Schuyler counties, New York > Part 112
USA > New York > Tioga County > History of Tioga, Chemung, Tompkins and Schuyler counties, New York > Part 112
USA > New York > Tompkins County > History of Tioga, Chemung, Tompkins and Schuyler counties, New York > Part 112

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).

On the 25th of December, 1866, Mr. King was married to Emma A., daughter of James K. Howland, Esq., of Danby.

413

AND SCHUYLER COUNTIES, NEW YORK.

buhr-stone makers, 3; weavers, 5; rope-makers, 1; millwrights, 2; pattern-makers, 2; boat-huilders, 6; last-makers, 2; soap and eandle- makers, 2; masons, 20; total, 289.

Millinery establishments, 5.

Paper-Mill .- Mack, Andrus & Woodruff, employing 30 hands. This firm's printing-office, book-bindery, and book-store employ 23 hands.

Olympic Falls Flouring-Mill .- J. S. Beebe, proprietor; dimen- sions, 38 by 30 feet ; conducted by Ezra Cornell.

Plaster-Mill .- J. S. Becbe, proprietor ; turned out 800 tons of plas- ter last year.

Machine-Shop .- Building owned by J. S. Beebe; proprietor of business, Lucas Levinsworth. Manufactures pails, tubs, keelers, cte. ; employs 12 hands.

Chair-Factory .- In the "machine-shop" building; makes 2000 ehairs yearly ; Barnaby & Hedges, proprietors.

Ithaca Furnace .- Dennis & Vail, proprietors. This is an extensive establishment; makes mill-gearing and other eastings, and has been in operation six years.

There is another furnace near this, owned by H. King, which melts 75 tons of iron yearly.

Plow-Manufactory .- Silas Mead ; makes yearly about 200 plows.

Woolen-Factorg .- S. J. Blythe, proprietor. This factory dresses from 500 to 700 picees of eloth, and eards about 14,000 pounds of wool, annually.

Woolen-Factory .- John Raymond, proprietor; does a business in kind and amount similar to Mr. Blythe's.

Ithaca Iron-Foundry, and Steam-Engine Manufactory .- Cook & Conrad. Business nearly the same as that of Dennis & Vail, and turns out a large amount of work.

Factory of Hardy & Rich .- Manufactures saw-mill dogs. This dog is a patented article ; sells at $150 a set. Total business, $7500 annually. Lumber sawed with this dog brought fifty cents extra per 1000 feet.

EDUCATIONAL.

School District No. 16, as we have seen, was connected with the academy until 1825, and occupied the lower por- tion of that building. Here the school was conducted probably as early as 1820, by Mr. J. H. Hickock and Miss Lydia Hibbard, a sister of Henry Hibbard.

Some of those who then attended the school are now living, and advert to the good old days and primitive methods with a lively interest, mixed with no fear of the rules and ferules that have passed away .*

Augustin P. Searing was then clerk of the school district. The next teacher was Wait T. Huntington, who was succeeded by A. H. Shaw, and he by a Mr. Griswold.

In 1825, the trustces of the district purchased the lot on the northwest corner of Mill and Geneva Streets, in part payment for which the sum of $600 was voted at a meeting held at the coffee-house, in September, 1826. Here a school-house was erected and first occupied in October, 1827, from which date the school prospered until 1840, when its capacity was doubled. This building was, after enlargement, about 30 by 80 feet, of one story, and with gable facing south. It was used until 1853, when the present structure, known as the " Central School," was built at the southwest corner of Mill and Albany Streets.

The Laneastrian system was carly introduced, under which the school was conducted by Mr. - Davis, 1828; Isaac Day, 1834; and William P. Pew, about 1836. The

new school system was adopted in 1848, and taught by M. R. Barnard.

To meet the requirements of the increasing population, other schools, offshoots from the Lancastrian and Central schools, had been organized, and all finally werc, with the academy, in 1874 reorganized under the new school aet now in force.

The private schools of Ithaea have been many and of good repute from quite an early period. The first of which we have any account was kept soon after the year 1818, by a Miss Bowen, in a school-house built by Phincas Ben- nett, on what was called the " Island," at the forks of Six- Mile Creek.

After that period chief among the teachers of Ithaca's sons and daughters were Isaac Day and Mary Baird. Mr. Day was a man of much knowledge, and had the rep- utation of imparting it without stint and after the sturdiest fashion. Many are they who, even at this hour, wax warm over their own deseriptions of personal experience at his classic seat of learning.

Miss Baird was born at Burlington, Conn., in the year 1790. Leaving home early in life to gain a living, she procured employment, so far as possible, in boarding-schools, where she acquired an education which was the foundation of her life-work. She came to Ithaca with the family of Mr. Henry H. Moore, in 1825, and opened a school on Green Street, where she taught a few small children. From that time until the infirmities of age bade her cease, she successfully taught and trained hundreds of the children of the place, many of whom in time sent their children to the same fount of knowledge. To remove her grateful pupils from the Ithaca of to-day, would cause a void in her social and business cireles of which few think or even dream. Her methods were her own, and often novel; just what they were could only be revealed by the tongue of the buekle whose strap clung so fondly to the old trunk in the entry. The historian forgives, if he eannot forget,

How the tongue of that buckle saluted his ear,

From the strap's whizzing end, on its way to the rear.

Miss Baird died Oct. 3, 1868, and was buried in the cemetery at Ithaca.

THE ITHACA ACADEMY

was incorporated in 1823, but the trustees did not purchase the interest of the school district (No. 16) until 1825. The history of the old academy building takes us back to Nov. 17, 1817, when a meeting of citizens was held at the " Columbian Inn." At this meeting little was accomplished, as also at another held Sept. 28, 1818; but finally, at an adjourned meeting held at the same place, Oet. 2, 1818, it was resolved to " build a school-house with an academy." David Woodeock and James Collier were appointed a com- mittce to draft the subscription, and Joseph Benjamin, John Johnson, and David Ayres a committee to circulate it ; John L. Maffit and Major Scaman were afterwards added to the latter committee.

At the next meeting, Oct. 12, 1818, James Nichols, Otis Eddy, and Ebenezer Mack were elected Trustees ; Benjamin Drake, Collector; and David Ayres, Clerk.

# Among those who attended the school wero the following : John Pelton, Don Woodcock, Henry Woodcock, Samuel J. Blythe, Lathrop S. Eddy, Comfort Butler, Jr., Marcus Butler, Jeremiah S. Tourtellot, George W. Phillips, Jr., Henry Aekley, Merritt Baker, William T. Eddy, Benjamin Davis (famous as " Long Tom"), Miranda Phillips, Joanna Tourtellot, the Misses Perkins, et al.

414

HISTORY OF TIOGA, CHEMUNG, TOMPKINS,

Luther Gere, David Woodcock, and William Linn were made a committee to correspond with General Simeon De Witt respecting a site for the school-house.

The sum of $400 was soon after raised by tax on the inhabitants of the district. The building was in part erected and used in 1819, but because of difficulty in eol- lecting subscriptions in money it was not finished until 1826 .*

In May, 1823, Messrs. Samuel Parker, W. M. Adams, Oliver C. Comstock, Andrew D. W. Bruyn, Charles Hum- phrey, and Joseph Speed were made a committee to open and receive subscriptions for the funds of the academy.

Messrs. Bruyn, Humphrey, and Bloodgood (Francis A.) were appointed to inquire into the state of the building de- signed for an academy, and to obtain title to the property.

John Ellis, of Dryden, Dr. MeAlaster, of Newfield, John Applegate, of Enfield, Reuben Smith, of Hector, Rev. J. Dean, of Groton, and Rev. Gerrit Mandeville, of Caroline, were appointed agents to solicit subscriptions in their respective distriets.

Between the years 1819 and 1826 a sort of academic department was somewhat spasmodically supported in the upper rooms of the building. In 1819 a " school for young ladies" was there opened by Miss - Shepard, in which, with the principal English branches, were taught " needle- work, painting, map-drawing, etc."

G. A. Stark weather taught a select school in 1820-21.

Sept. 17, 1821, Rev. Samuel Lawrence opened a " class- ical and mathematical school for young ladies and gentle- men."

C. W. Connor, Arehier Green, Jesse Merritt, David Ayres, and Stephen Maek, as a committee, then acted on behalf of the academy, but we find that between two distinguished members thereof there was little harmony. [See American Journal of Oct. 30, 1822.]

In 1823 the erop of instructors was. plentiful. In July, Samuel Phinney opened a classical and English school, and on the 28th of the same month Lyman Cobb commenced an English grammar school,-both in the academy ; while in November the president, Rev. Wm. Wisner, gave notice that Mr. and Mrs. F. Sherrill would commence the " next quarter" on the 24th of that month. Mr. Sherrill had taught the summer quarter of that year, beginning the 28th day of May.

In 1825 the academy authorities purchased the interest of the school district in the joint property, and it became a separate institution from that time.

The first principal thereafter appointed was Rev. Samuel Phinney, who commenced his labors in January, 1826. He filled the position until the appointment of his successor in May, 1829. The principals who have succeeded him, and the dates at which they began to serve, are as follows : John P. Hendrick, May, 1829; William A. Irving, May, 1831; James F. Cogswell, September, 1838; William S Burt, September, 1839; James Thompson, April, 1843; Samuel D. Carr, July, 1846; Samuel G. Williams, July, 1859; Wesley C. Ginn, Aug. 23, 1869.

The presidents of the Board of Trustees and the times of their election are as follows: Rev. Wm. Wisner, April, 1825 ; Daniel L. Bishop, December, 1827; Henry Ack- ley, 1848; Augustus Sherrill, 1850; Nathan T. Williams, May, 1854; Hon. Henry S. Walbridge, May, 1858; Hon. Douglas Boardman, October, 1868.

For a number of years the academy was greatly crippled by a considerable number of perpetual scholarships, which had been sold to gain relief from pecuniary embarrassment. These were extinguished by purchase, in 1839, under the management of the late William Andrus, its faithful and efficient treasurer. In 1840 the brick extension of the academy was erected, and a considerable debt thus incurred which was eventually discharged. Mr. Andrus served as treasurer for more than thirty-five years, and by studied economy accumulated for the institution a surplus of about $10,000. The interest of this fund, still under the con- trol of the last elected Board of Trustees, f is now and has becn, since the passage of the new graded-school act in 1874, appropriated to the Cornell Library for the purchase of books.

In the main the academy has always been a flourishing institution, a eredit to its several boards of management and successive principals.

Soon after the passage of the act of April 4, 1874, which provided for the " establishment of a system of graded schools in the village of Ithaca," the academy was turned over to the Board of Education designated thereby, upon a lease for five years, and has sinee been occupied by the high and grammar schools under the new system.}

The high school is subject to the visitation of the Regents, and reccives its proportion of the literature and other funds accordingly.

In its educational facilities it may be safely said that Ithaca is equaled by few places in the Union, the courses of study being complete, in continuity and thoroughness, from the time of entrance into the primaries to that of graduation at " Cornell."

The present Board of Education consists of the following commissioners : Edward S. Esty, President ; John J. Glen- zer, A. M. Hull, Joseph C. King, Cornelius Leary, Mareus Lyon, Horace Maek, Jeremy Smith, Benjamin F. Taber, John L. Whiton, George R. Williams, and Jacob R. Wort- man. L. C. Foster is Superintendent of Schools and Secre- tary of the Board.

CHURCH ORGANIZATIONS.

THE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCHI

was organized Jan. 24, 1804, by Rev. Jedediah Chapman, a missionary of the General Assembly. The number of original members was thirteen.

¡ The last board, now holding over, is composed as follows : Doug- las Boardman, President ; Samuel H. Winton, Secretary; Josiah B. Williams, George W. Schuyler, John L. Whiton, Marcus Lyon, Joseph Burritt, Edward S. Esty, Harvey A. Dowe, William L. Bost - wick, William Andrus, t and John Gauntlett.}

# This change was made by authority of Section 22 of the school act referred to.

" This building was erected by Otis Eddy, and is the rear or wooden portion of the present high school.

* Now Regent of the University, and therefore ineligible.

+ Deceased.

¿ Died May, 1875.

415

AND SCHUYLER COUNTIES, NEW YORK.

Jacob Yaple was the first deacon.

The church was denominated " The South Presbyterian Church in Ulysses." It was, however, designated on the reports and minutes of the Presbytery by the name of " Ulysses Second Church," till it took the name of Ithaca. Soon after its organization it was received under the care of the Presbytery of Oneida, and on the organization of the Presbytery of Geneva, in 1805, was assigned to that body.

In August, 1816, the church, on account of convenience of location, was dismissed from its connection with the Presbytery of Gencva, and in February of the next year was taken under the care of the Presbytery of Cayuga; and on the erection of the Presbytery of Ithaca was as- signed to that body.

On the 5th day of November, 1805, Rev. Gerrit Man- deville was installed pastor of this and the First Church of Ulysses, by the Presbytery of Geneva. He was dis- missed from his pastoral relation to the church of Ithaca, August 15, 1816. During Mr. Mandeville's incumbency, no special revival of religion took place. Ithaca was but an inconsiderable place ; wickedness greatly prevailed, and frequently, it is said, not more than fifteen persons, a .d rarely more than thirty or forty, were found upon the Sab- bath attending public worship. The church had made very little increase in numbers, and for a considerable period previous to Mr. Mandeville's dismission no preach- ing was enjoyed, he having removed from the place.

In February, 1816, the Rev. William Wisner was en- gaged to preach, as a stated supply, for one year.

Not having a more suitable place of worship, Mr. Wisner's small company met in the old school-house on the present academy ground, and the ensuing summer in a barn hastily fitted up on the pastor's own ground, and soon after in the loft of a building owned by Mr. Levi Leonard, and used as a stable and warehouse, standing upon the spot where now are the stables of the Tompkins House.

At that time the church had twenty members residing in the village and vicinity, cight of whom were males and twelve females. Of the former, three were in a short time excommunicated for heresy, or gross immorality, and two of the latter were suspended from the communion of the church.

On the 5th of February, 1817, Dr. Wisner was installed pastor of the church, and in the ensuing autumn was suc- cessful in adding to the roll of members two leading gam- blers and horse-racers, with forty other individuals.

In the spring of 1818 the meetings were removed from the stable-loft to the new church in the park, which we have before deseribed. In 1825 the congregation had be- come comparatively strong, and the needed enlargement of the church-building was readily effected. The number of members at that time was 263. The village had in- creased greatly in population, and its moral standing con- fessedly much improved. In the fall and winter of 1826, 220 persons were added to the church ; and in January, 1831, 224 others were enrolled.

The following 14th of April, Dr. Wisner was, at his own request, dismissed from his pastoral charge, and re- moved his family from the place.

At that date the church consisted of more than 800

members, nearly all achieved in the fifteen years of Dr. Wisner's faithful ministry.

Rev. William Page next-for one year-took the church in charge, with acceptable results, and was succeeded by Rev. Alfred E. Campbell, who was installed Aug. 8, 1832, and continued until Oct. 16, 1834, when he was dismissed. Rev. John W. Mccullough was installed Nov. 12, 1834, and having embraced the sentiments of the Protestant Episcopal Church, was dismissed April 10, 1838.

Dr. Wisner returned to Ithaca with his family a short time previous to the dismissal of Mr. Mccullough, and was again installed as pastor, July 10, 1838, and remained in that relation to his people and church until 1848,-as long as his failing health and increasing years permitted.

Down to the year 1842 there had been received into the church 1349 members, of whom 460 had removed or been dismissed to other churches, 49 had been cut off by dis- cipline, and 175 had gone to their final rest.

The succeeding pastors of this society have been Revs. Selden T. Haynes, November, 1849, to May, 1850; Wil- liam N. MeHarg, December, 1850, to April, 1857; T. Dwight Hunt, Jan. 13, 1858; David Torrey, D.D., March, 1860 ; Theodore F. White, whose ministry extended from Nov. 1, 1865, until the spring of 1877. The present pastor, Rev. M. W. Stryker, was settled in the summer of 1878.

The old church-building, enlarged in 1825, was torn down in 1853, and the present larger structure at once erected.

A Sabbath-school was organized in April, 1826, and held its meetings in the academy building.

THE METHODISTS

of this part of the country first met for worship, and to listen to the preaching of one of their own denomination, at the house of one of the original settlers, John McDowell. in June, 1793, on a Sabbath evening. The minister on this occasion was William Colbert, a junior preacher on Northumberland circuit in Pennsylvania, who had been sent on a tour of exploration through the then western wilds of New York. In the prosecution of this mission he went from Wilkesbarre to Niagara ; and returning, made such a report to Conference as caused Bishop Asbury to form that immen ,e region into a circuit, and appoint James Smith preacher thereof. Tioga circuit, most of which lay in Pennsylvania, had been formed a year carlier, and now James Thomas was sent on as preacher. Ithaca was so situated with respect to these two charges that it might be taken into cither.

Mrs. McDowell was accustomed to speak of Mr. Thomas as the first minister appointed to Ithaca. He, however, gave up the ground to Mr. Smith, and it was embraced in Seneca circuit.

Valentine Cook was appointed presiding elder,-a man of energy and preaching ability.

After this we find the names of Alward White, John Brodhead, Cornelius Mars (called " Thundering Mars"), and Thornton Fleming* connected with occasional minis- trations at Ithaca.

# Mr. Fleming was appointed presiding elder, in 1794. over Tioga and Seneca circuits; Mr. Cook continuing to be elder over most of his former charge.

416

HISTORY OF TIOGA, CHEMUNG, TOMPKINS,

The first revival occurred in 1794, under the charge of the Rev. John Brodhead, who then succeeded in forming a class of eighteen persons, viz. : Mrs. McDowell, Peter Van Orman and wife, George Sager and his mother, Wil- liam and Richard Pangburn, Elias De Pew, Abram and Mary Smith, Catharine Hinepaw, Mr. - Jackson and Rachel, his daughter, Dr. Simons, Garret Shoemaker and wife, and Cornelius Shoemaker and his wife.

In the fall of 1795 the Cenference constructed a new district of Northumberland, Wyoming, Tioga, and Seneea circuits, over which Mr. Cook was elder. Tioga and Seneca circuits were united, with Joseph Whitby and John Lackey as preachers.

In 1796, in the autumn, Hamilton Jefferson and Anning Owen took the charge; but the class, for lack of sufficient centralized support, began to wane, and in a year or two disbanded. The elass-meetings usually were held at the house of Mr. MeDowell, though most of its members lived some distance in the country .*

Little afterwards was done towards the founding of a Methodist society in Ithaca until about the year 1817. In that year Mr. David Ayres, a New York merehant, eon- menced business in Ithaca. He was a man of much zeal in religious matters and energy in business, and it was through his efforts principally that a minister and regular services were soon seeured.

In August or September of that year mectings were eom- menced in the upper room of a warehouse owned by Levi Leonard, where the Presbyterians had formerly worshiped. Rev. James Kelsey was the officiating minister, and at a meeting held at the school-houset organized a church society, consisting of the following persons: David Ayres, Mrs. David Ayres, William Dummer, Anson Titus, Mrs. Ansou Titus, Elizabeth Sidney, afterwards Mrs. Bloom, Maria Wright, and Mary Barber.

John Kimberlin, one of the preachers of the Cayuga circuit, for a time alternated with Mr. Kelsey in fortnightly appointments, and thus regular preaching was secured. Meetings were held first at the hotel, then in the " Co- lumbian Inn," and the Leonard warchouse.

In 1818, Rev. George Harman took the charge, and was suceceded in 1819 by Rev. George Densmore. Under the latter's supervision, and by the persevering energy of Mr. Ayres, a church building was soon begun, and finished in 1820, at a cost of $5000. A spacious lot was donated for the purpose by General Simeon De Witt, at the northwest corner of Aurora and Mill Streets. The building was in size 44 by 58 fect, with a modest tower, from which rang out the silvery tones of the first church-bell in Ithaca.

A detailed account of the opposition encountered in this

matter of the church building; the rebuffs and discour- agements met and overcome by the committee having the matter in charge; the persistent and effectual begging of Mr. Ayres, the appointed agent and superintendent ; and of the ultimate brightening prospeets and successful issue, would require more space than can here be given.t

William R. Collins, Archer Green, and Jesse Merritt were made the building eommittec, or, more accurately, a committee to counsel with Mr. Ayres, the agent ; and Ira Tillotson was by them engaged as builder.

There soon sprang up an intense feeling of bitterness and rivalry between two of the most prominent members of this society,-Messrs. Ayres and Merritt,-originating in their different views of church policy.

This rivalry finally became a serious affair, affecting even the choir; and " the congregation, which had been large and respectable, dwindled down to a mere handful." What was then lost, however, has since been regained, with usury.

Rev. Elias Bowen succeeded Mr. Densmore in 1821, and remained one year ; then eame Rev. Fitch Reed and Dana Fox, who were associated on the eircuit. In 1823 the preachers on Ithaea and Caroline circuit were Loring Grant and William W. Rundell. Messrs. Reed and Bowen were largely instrumental in bringing the church out of its difficulties, and Benjamin Sabin, who took the eharge in 1826, brought up the membership, in one year, from ninety- six to three hundred and forty-nine.

We cannot find room for mention of all who have worthily labored in the interests of this society. Notwithstanding a separate society had been organized in 1851, which drew largely upon its members and resources, the parent society so prospered that in 1866 their building proved insufficient longer to aeeommodate them. In that year they built, on the same ground, the present briek edifiee, 58 by 80 feet in size, with an exterior of fine though somewhat peculiar ornamentation. It has a tower and convenient basement rooms; the eost, with the adjoining parsonage, being about $25,000. Rev. William Searls was at that time in charge.

The present pastor is Rev. Thomas Tousey, who, the last spring, sueceeded Rev. M. S. Hard, who was then appointed presiding elder of the district, which office he now holds.

THE SENECA STREET METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH

was organized Feb. 3, 1851, at a meeting which was held at the church on Aurora Strect, and the following persons appointed the first board of trustees : Henry H. Moore, Benjamin Taber, Daniel F. Hugg, Chas. S. Miles, and Joseph C. Burritt. At this meeting Hon. Amasa Dana presided.

The corner-stone of the present-their first-church building was laid with appropriate ceremonies, by the bishop, at a meeting of the Conference, July 30, 1851. The base- ment was finished on the 26th of November following, and was dedicated on the next day, Thanksgiving, by a sermon by Rev. Fitch Reed. The building was completed the fol-

# After the class-mectings at Ithaca had ceased, there were formed other classes in the country near by ; one of which was at Pewtown, with John, son of William Pew, as leader, and auother at Sager's, as pre- viously mentioned.

t It is a pleasant fact, worthy of record, that a notice of the pre- liminary meeting, for the establishment of a rival church society, was given by Dr. Wisner to his own little flock in the following words :

"I am requested by Mr. Ayres to publish that there will he a prayer-meeting, under the direction of the Methodist Society, at the school-house this evening, at four p.M." At this meeting Mr. Ayres officiated, assisted hy the singers of the Preshyterian Society.

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History of Tioga, Chemung, Tompkins and Schuyler counties, New York, Part 112

Author: Peirce, H. B. (Henry B.) cn; Hurd, D. Hamilton (Duane Hamilton) Publication date: 1879 Publisher: Philadelphia : Everts & Ensign Number of Pages: 1112

Author: Peirce, H. B. (Henry B.) cn; Hurd, D. Hamilton (Duane Hamilton)
Publication date: 1879
Publisher: Philadelphia : Everts & Ensign
Number of Pages: 1112