USA > New York > Wyoming County > History of Wyoming County, N.Y., with Illustrations, Biographical Sketches and Portraits of Some Pioneers and Prominent Residents > Part 60
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A building erected and an endowment secured, applica- tion was made to the Regents of the New York University, composed of the governor, lieutenant-governor, secretary of state, and eighteen other persons appointed by the Legisla- ture to supervise the schools of the State, for a charter, which was granted January 26th, 1819.
The trustees named in the instrument are Ebenezer Wil- son, Isaac Wilson, William Patterson, William B. Collar, Jabish Warren, Samuel Ewell, Joseph Alma, William Bond, Silas Allen, Paul Howes, Russel Abel, Augustin Belknap, Silas Newell, Isaac Andrus, William Mitchell, Eliphalet Owens, Major Evans, Gaius Thomas, Peleg Ewell, Archibald Hotch- kiss, Joseph Eastland, Moses Rowe and David Knowlton.
The institution was made subject to the " visitation " of the regents, and has ever since received a portion of the " literature fund " of the State.
John F. Carey, who had married a sister of Major General Stanton, had already opened a select school in the building. He was a fine scholar; he graduated at Dartmouth College. in the same class with Webster, delivering the "valedictory," while Daniel sat demurely in his seat, resolving to come out ahead next time. Soon after this, Mr. Carey remarked prophetically to Captain Waldron: " Daniel Webster will distinguish himself; he will be talked of for President of the United States."
The irrepressibles of 1818 were an overmatch for the learned and amiable Professor Carey. The boys of the period (not to speak of the girls) considered going to school a sort of pastime, and they improved it as such. Professor Carey failed to govern them, and resigned his charge, a good deal disheartened. Soon after, while in a shoe shop, he looked thoughtfully for some time at the pegging process, and sadly remarked to the cobbler, "I would be glad to exchange my education for yours." In saying this he did not disparage science-he exalted art !
To secure a competent presiding officer for the first and only classical school of western New York was a matter of great solicitude. Judge Isaac Wilson, member of Assembly from Genesee county, who had been active in obtaining the charter, had formed acquaintance with Rev. Joshua Brad- ley, the active, eloquent and aggressive pastor of one of the Albany churches. Mr. Bradley was offered the presidency, and, after considering the matter, accepted it. A brick house, elaborately finished, was prepared for him, and he left the city of Albany with his family in the fall of 1819 for the hamlet on the Oatka. He proved to be the right man in the right place. He was a full match for the boys. Sometimes he took the truants into his room, and spent a long time with them in exhortation and prayer; if that didn't cure the rogues, he was sure to fetch them with beech sprouts, vigorously applied.
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HISTORY OF WYOMING COUNTY, NEW YORK.
The school was a great success, averaging one hundred and fifty scholars, and rising as high as two hundred. They were from the very first families of western New York. The Rochesters; Fitzhughs, Redfields, Evanses and Careys of Batavia were represented. Seven presidents of colleges be- gan their academic studies at Middlebury Academy. Seth M. Gates, M. C., William A Howard, M. C., of Michigan, now governor of Dakota, Senator Doolittle, of. Wisconsin, Dr. James P. White, of Buffalo, Professor Henry A. Ward, of Rochester, and many others with a national .reputation, were pupils there.
Seth Cushing, A. M., of Massachusetts, taught the lan- guages and higher mathematics, remaining at his post till his death, in 1837. He was a thorough scholar, very orderly in his habits and greatly respected. Mr. Tuttle taught under Mr. Bradley, and was succeeded by Rev. Eliphalet Spencer, a brother of Joshua A. Spencer, a distinguished lawyer residing at Utica, N. Y.
The five years for which Mr. Bradley was elected having expired, he went west, where he founded several collegiate institutions, and died at St. Paul, Minn., in 1855. He is widely known for the active part he took in the anti- masonic excitement. His work on " Masonry " had a wide circula- tion. He was succeeded by his assistant, Rev. Eliphalet Spencer, who conducted the academy with marked ability, assisted by Mr. Cushing, Mr. Gillet and others.
Few at this day can conceive of the immense excitement that attended the abduction of William Morgan for his at- tempted revelation of the secrets of masonry. All the masonic lodges were held responsible for the alleged mur- der of Morgan, and many churches required their members to renounce masonry on pain of excommunication. The Baptists were in the ascendant at Middlebury. A majority of the trustees of the academy were of that denomination. It was expected that they would continue to control it, though there is nothing to that effect in the charter, and all contributed to its funds. Mr. Spencer, principal of the academy, Mr. Gillet, teacher, General Stanton, trustee, and several other Baptists, refused to renounce masonry when required by their church to do so; they joined the Presby- terians, who were more accommodating in such matters. This threw the Baptists into a minority, and Rev. Eli S. Hunter, D. D., pastor of the Presbyterian church at Middle- bury, was made principal of the academy. The institution still continued to prosper, having no formidable competitor west of Genesee river. In 1827 Colonel Wales Cheney, graduate of a military school at the east, took charge of the English department, and drilled the students in military ex- ercises, continuing for several years, when he turned his attention to horticulture. He is widely known as the orig- inator of the "Colonel Cheney " strawberry, and is still residing at Wyoming. He was secretary of the first temper- ance society in this vicinity, founded about 1830.
Dr. Hunter was succeeded by Rev. Norris Bull, D. D., of Geneseo, a very eminent preacher and a Presbyterian. He was elected by a close vote. Mr. Warren, a Baptist trustee, was engaged in earnest conversation when the votes were cast, asserting vigorously that a Presbyterian principal " was a violation of the understanding-a fraud;" and while dem- obstrating this to one of the opposite party, who had voted, and who listened to him very quietly, the hat was turned, and Mr. Warren found to his horror that he had forgotten to
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vote, and the Presbyterian was elected by one majority! The history of this period should not fail to note that secta- rian disputes ran very high. The contentions for mastery in the academy continued for several years, and were a part of the denominational controversies that many remember, but which fortunately have given. place to a more . tolerant spirit.
During Dr. Bull's administration the Presbyterian board of education sent large numbers of divinity students to the academy to prepare for college. He was succeeded by Rev. Joseph Elliot, pastor of the Baptist church in Wyoming, a popular preacher, who sustained the high reputation of. the school, and was succeeded in 1838 by Rev. Mr. Buck, who was followed by Rev. Beriah Leach. During this period Professor Whitlock, afterward teacher at Lima; Professor Houghton, brother of the noted Boston publisher; Professor Paddock, afterward professor at Willoughby, O., and many other eminent teachers were employed, and with uniform success.
Mr. Joel Whiting, a graduate of Hamilton College, a scholar and a Christian gentleman, assisted by Professor Joseph Brown, Mr. Albert Capwell and Miss Aurelia Whit- ney, of Le Roy, conducted the school till they were suc- ceeded, in 1846, by Professor David Burbank, a graduate of Brown University, who was assisted by Professor H. K. San- ford, Miss Lucia A. K. Waldo, and Miss Jane Thompson as teacher of music.
July 28th, 1852, Monroe Weed, a graduate of Madison University, was elected principal, and filled the office for fourteen years. Without disparaging the eminent and worthy educators who preceded and succeeded Mr. Weed, it will be admitted that a more faithful or a more competent instructor has seldom or never presided over an institution of learning. He resigned his place, and was called to a similar institution at the east, where he died. He was assisted by his father- in-law, the learned and venerated Professor Morse, formerly of Hamilton; by his wife, and by Miss Mary Chapman and several other very competent instructors.
Rev. J. M. Scarff succeeded Mr. Weed as principal, fol- lowed by Mr. Eugene Saterlee, who was succeeded by Rev. Irvin Smith in 1868. He was followed by Professor F. W. Forbes, of Rochester University, and he by the present prin- cipal, Professor H. G. Davis.
Among the accomplished lady teachers not mentioned above were Miss Dency Cook, now Mrs. S. B. Peck, of Mich- igan; Miss Reynolds; Miss Elizabeth Cook, of Homer, N. Y .; Miss Look, now Mrs. A. B. Capwell, of Brooklyn; Mrs. Mary S. Squires, of Wyoming; Miss Rose Forbes, now teaching in the institution; and Mrs. Davis, wife of the prin- cipal.
Judge Isaac Wilson was the first president of the board of trustees. His successors were Hon. Hanford Conger, Hon. John B. Skinner, who always took a lively interest in the institution, Rev. Charles Ray and Major Hugh T. Brooks.
Among the later trustees (the original board are all long since dead) who have been fast friends of the school were Peter Capwell, Henry .G. Walker, Benedict Brooks, Rufus H. Main, Smith Chapman, Daniel and Abijah Bradley, A. Blackman, Rev. William Dean, D.D., Rev. Harrison Daniels, Rev. Jesse Elliot, Lewis Prey and Major-General Phineas Stanton. The present secretary is Ebenezer Webster.
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MIDDLEBURY ACADEMY-WYOMING SALT.WELL-PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.
The exhibitions of Middlebury Academy at an early day were the chief entertainments of the period. People came from every quarter, and tragedies and comedies were acted in the highest style of histrionic art. The masonic lodge fur- nished the costumes.
About all the families took boarders at Middlebury vil- lage, but there was no boarding house connected with the institution. Board at first was a dollar a week, then $1.25, $1.50, $2.00 and finally $2.50, illustrating the great law of progress.
The chief service of history is to show the progress of ideas. For many years no female teachers were employed in Middlebury Academy, though young women as well as young men were always instructed there. That ladies can instruct as well and better in some departments than men is a somewhat modern discovery. The treasurer's books show a gratifying increase in "women's wages;" beginning with $150 a year the preceptresses attained to $400.
"Corporeal punishment " is a problem of the ages. " Flog- ging in the navy " found stout defenders in the middle of the nineteenth century. Ropes' ends were specifies for marine emergencies. "Elder " Bradley, our pioneer principal, was an eclectic; he tried all sorts of remedies for insubordination, and he always cured! The last thorough-going flogging in Middlebury Academy antedates 1830; the beneficiary was a clergyman's son. "Moral suasion " did not become very popular in common schools till a later day.
The domestic arts were not "lost " till after November 14th, 1826. At that time Joseph Woodhull conferred on Mid- dlebury Academy " the right to make, vend and use " an im- proved instrument for spinning and reeling cotton and wool; whether the pupils were instructed in that art does not ap- pear-there is abundant evidence that their mothers under- stood and practiced it, and weaving, too.
The coarse yellow writing paper used in 1819 by the treasurer of Middlebury Academy, and that used by treasurer Isaac G. Hammond in 1879, illustrate the general smooth- ing off of ruder methods.
Baptists have a clear majority in the board of trustees, but for several years there have been no sectarian contro- versies, and principals and teachers have been chosen with little or no reference to their ecclesiastical connections. Here also we learn the spirit of the age.
Two or three thousand dollars, raised by subscription, was expended recently in improving the Academy buildings and in enlarging the endowment fund, and the facilities for ob. taining a classical education at this pioneer academy are be. lieved to be unsurpassed.
WYOMING SALT WELL.
The project of drilling a test well for oil in the Wyoming valley was determined upon in February, 1878, by the Vacu- um Oil Company, of Rochester. H. B. Everest, secretary and general manager of the company, and formerly a citizen of Wyoming, and J. D. Helmer, ot Pike, president of the company, offered, if land could be leased, to drill a well, .and allow the owners of the land one-eighth of any valuable mineral obtained. A tract of considerable extent was leased, and a well sunk on the farm of C. B. Matthews after the manner of those in the Pennsylvania oil regions. In the course of the drilling, on the 19th of June, a bed of rock salt was struck at a depth of one thousand two hundred and
sixty-five feet, which proved to be seventy feet thick. Sul- phur water being struck below this, further boring was given up and the well was plugged at the bottom of the salt bed. A three-inch iron pipe was put in. Pure water from an ad- jacent brook being admitted outside the tube forms brine, which is pumped out through the tubing. An analysis of . the brine by Prof. S. A. Latimore gave the following pet- centages of components: Salt, 97.919; gypsum, 1.26; chloride of lime, 1.02; chloride of magnesium, .oor; aluminum, traces; pounds of salt in one U. S. gallon, 2.36, or a bushel to twenty-four gallons of brine. As yet the well has not been extensively utilized.
CHURCHES OF WYOMING.
PRESBYTERIAN.
On the 14th of June, 1817, at the frame school-house at Newell's Settlement, now Wyoming, the First Congregational Church of Middlebury was organized by Rev. John F. Bliss, a missionary.
Daniel C. Judd was chosen deacon, and Philetus Sprague, M. D., clerk. Of the original members none remain. They were Daniel C. Judd, Ebenezer Rich, Teresa Rich, Alexan- der Tackles, Philene Tackles, Asa Hill, Sarah Hill, Philetus Sprague, Laura Sprague, Elizabeth Knowlton, Henry Reid, Mary Bennett, Etsey Nelson, Desire Fisher and Huldah Wright.
It would seem that the first organization was short lived, for July 15th, 1819, the members of the Presbyterian or Congregational order met and resolved that the society should be known as the First Congregational Society of Mid- dlebury. and elected Alexander Tackles, D. C. Judd, Eben- ezer Rich, H. G. Walker, Philetus Sprague and Henry Wighteman the first trustees. The annual meeting of the society was fixed on the ist Monday of July. In 1820 J. Eastland and Jedediah Palmer were elected trustees, and in 1821 Mr. Eastland was chosen deacon. Under date of August 8th is found the following record: "That D. C. Judd and J. Eastman be a committee to settle with Elder J. Bradley relative to an arrangement entered into with him for his supplying us with ministerial labors of our own or- der the past year." Elder Bradley was partly supported by this society, and in return was to exchange with Presbyterian ministers. An excellent feeling seems to have existed be- tween Christians of various orders, all meeting together for Sabbath service in the academy. February 3d, 1822, it was voted to make application for admission to the Genesee Presbytery. March 23d Daniel C. Judd, Joseph Eastland and Timothy Judd were elected the first elders, and consti- tuted the session. In the records of the society, under date of July 3d, is the following minute: " Voted unanimously that this society hereafter shall be known by the name of the First Presbyterian Society of Middlebury, N. Y."
In 1825 Joseph Gillett and H. G. Walker were elected elders. This year Rev. Eli Hunter, D. D., commenced his labors with this church, as their first stated supply, July 17th.
In 1826 the names of James C. Ferris and John B. Skin- ner first appeared as trustees, and the records of the session were first approved in presbytery.
On the 21st of March, 1829, the society met in the acad- emy, and it was resolved unanimously to build a house of
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HISTORY OF WYOMING COUNTY, NEW YORK.
worship. Joel Harrison, H. G. Walker and Russel Abel were appointed a building committee. Deeds of the land for the site were drawn in favor of the society by Benedict Brooks and wife, for $450, and by Sylvester Wood and wife, for $125. The contract for building was let to Mr. Chester Hurd, of Warsaw; the foreman was Mr. John S. Culver. The raising of the frame was completed September 19th, and it was left partially unenclosed during the winter. In the spring of 1830 the work on the church was resumed. The church, when completed, was justly regarded as a beautiful edifice, fully equal to the best rural churches of that day. It was dedicated on the 9th of September. The pastor, Rev. Eli S. Hunter, preached the sermon. Jedediah Palmer was the regular leader of the choir, but in the dedi- catory services Thomas Hastings, then of Geneseo, took charge of the music. D. C. Judd, Joseph Eastland, Timo- thy Judd, Joseph Gillet and H. G. Walker constituted the session. The trustees of the society were D. C. Judd, H. G. Walker, James C. Ferris, John B. Skinner, Russel Abel and Phineas Stanton.
On the 4th of June, 1832, the church made a call for the pastoral services of Norris Bull, D. D. Dr. Bull accepted, and became the first regularly called and installed pastor of the church. His pastorate continued about four years.
For about two years the church had occasional supplies. Rev. Messrs. Parten, Schaffer, Colton and Birge officiated during this time.
July 28th, 1838, the society called the Rev. Pliny Twitch- ell to be the pastor. Mr. Twitchell accepted, and entered at once on his labors.
February 7th, 1842, the church resolved to connect itself with the new Caledonia (old school) Presbytery.
In June of 1839 the organ was placed in the church, chiefly by the instrumentality of General Stanton. It was made by Mr. Camp, of Warsaw.
Mr. Twitchell's pastorate continued till 1852, between fourteen and fifteen years. August 14th, 1852, Rev. John W. Wood was engaged as stated supply, and he continued his labors between six and seven years.
In 1858 Otis G. Keith was elected an elder, and Wales Cheney a deacon.
In 1859 the Rev. John Jones was installed pastor by the Presbytery of Genesee River. His pastorate continued three years. Rev. Charles Ray commenced his labors on the first Sabbath of September, 1862, and was installed Oc- tober 30th. October 26th, 1870, Rev. Mr. Ray, on account of ill health, tendered to the session his resignation of the pastorate. During his eight years ministry seventy were added to the church on examination, and thirty-three on certificate. February 6th, 1871, a call was given to Rev. A. B. Morse, who, accepting, began work March 12th.
In 1867 the church edifice at the junction of Academy street and Hill road was remodeled and repaired at an. ex- pense of $7,000, and it was rededicated January 2nd, 1868, Rev. Charles Ray, the pastor, preaching the dedicatory sermon.
The pastors from the organization of the society until the present time have been: John F. Bliss, 1817; Samuel Fuller, 1819; Salmon Hebard, 1820; E. J. Chapman, 1820, and Mr. Fitch, 1820; J. Bradley, 1821; Eli S. Hunter, 1825- 32; Norris Bull, 1832-36; Pliny Twitchell, 1838-52; John W. Wood, 1852-58; John Jones, 1859-62; Charles Ray,
1862-jo; and Andrew B. Morse, 1871, who still retains the pastorate.
The present board of elders consists of Otis G. Keith, chosen January 24th, 1858; Allen Wright, November 16th, 1862; Hugh T. Brooks, November 16th, 1862; John C. Paine, December 24th, 1871; Ethel C. Sherman, November 16th, 1862; Henry T. Strong, January 5th, 1878. Clerk of session, O. G. Keith. Deacons-Alexander Smith, Novem- ber 16th, 1862; Edwin Stanley, December 17th, 1871; Thomas S. Cushing, December 17th, 1871. Trustees (elected first Monday in 1879)-Alexander Smith, Russel Barber, O. G. Keith, N. H. Gillet, John Ridge, E. C. Sher- man. Clerk of society, T. S. Cushing. Treasurer, O. G. Keith.
The Sabbath-school connected with the church was or- ganized in 1830. The officers for 1879 were: Superintendent, C. B. Matthews; assistant superintendent, T. S. Cushing; secretary and treasurer, H. S. Strong; librarian, E. C. Hay- den, and an assistant secretary, a chorister and organist, to- gether with 186 scholars.
During the present pastorate to date there have been added to the church seventy-nine on examination, and twenty-one on certificate; one hundred in all.
The whole number of members of the church from the beginning is 530. Of these 415 united by confession, and 115 by letter. The present membership is 195.
FIRST BAPTIST.
Among the early settlers were several Baptists. They of- ten assembled for worship, and received several .accessions about the year 1809.
On the 18th of September, 1810, a Baptist church was or- ganized, under the name of "The First Baptist Church of Middlebury." A delegation was present from the church in Attica, Elder Reuben Osborne pastor, at that time the only Baptist church in all this region.
Seventeen persons constituted the church, viz .: Thomas Stetson, Eliphalet Owen, Francis Curtis, Jonathan Thomp- son, Salmon Smith, David Thompson, Oliver Curtis, Isaac Andrus, Abigail Owen, Betsey Curtis, Sally Thompson, Polly Curtis, Mrs. Geer, Clark Andrus, Theresa Smith, Sally Thompson, jr., and Hannah Curtis. In 1815 the church united with the " Holland Purchase Conference," having at that time thirty-nine members.
Elder Joseph Case was pastor during a portion of the period up to 1820. Thus far no very reliable records were kept. From 1820 to 1825 Elder Joshua Bradley labored with the church. In 1822 the Baptist church in Perry be- came a branch of this church, which relation was dissolved at the end of three years.
Elder Bradley was succeeded by Elder E. M. Spencer in 1825. As a result of the anti-masonic controversy which arose in 1827 the latter joined the Presbyterians, and his church suffered a decrease in membership of sixty-four.
In 1827 the church withdrew from the Holland Pur- chase Conference and united with the Genesee Baptist As- sociation. For the next three years the desk was supplied wholly or in part by Elder David Bernard. In 1830 Elder Joseph Elliott began his labors as pastor of this church, and for two years divided his time between this and the West Middlebury, then known as the second Middlebury church.
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CHURCHES OF WYOMING-CEMETERY ASSOCIATION, ETC.
In the summer of 1831 the society built a church edifice on what is now Main street, in the village of Wyoming, which was dedicated toward the close of the same year. From 1832 to 1838 Elder Elliot confined his labors to the church in Wyoming village. During his pastorate the church reached its highest membership, viz., 314. In 1838 Elder B. N. Leach became pastor of the church. He was followed in 1841 by Elder Jesse Elliot, who remained eight years. In 1849 Elder R. Morey commenced his labors with this people, and he remained three years.
His successor was Elder R. C. Palmer, in 1852, who staid two and a half years. In 1856 Elder H. Daniels assumed the pastorate, which he held for nearly four years. Elder A. A. Russell became pastor in 1860, and remained three years. In October, 1863, Elder William C. McCarthy be- came pastor, and remained until July, #865. Elder J. Maloy preached as a supply from December 1st, 1865, to April Ist, 1866. Rev. Ebenezer Packwood commenced his pastorate with this people October 6th, 1866, and remained until Jan- uary, 1869. From April, 1869, till July 8th, 1877, the pas- tor was Rev. M. Forbes. During his pastorate, Saturday evening December 9th, 1876, the church edifice was burned. September 22nd, 1878, a call was extended to Rev. I. N. Earl, who is the present pastor; he united with this church by letter May 31st.
After the burning of the church edifice services were held in the academy building until the erection of the new church, in the summer of 1879; which was built of brick, upon the site of the old church, at a cost of $7,500. In 1867 the society bought a parsonage for $1,000.
The first deacons were Eliphalet Owen, supposed to have been appointed when the church was first organized; Amasa Curtis, - Hoyt, Daniel Brady, James M. Wallace, ap. pointed in December, 1831.
The Sabbath-school connected with this church was or- ganized about 1831. The present superintendent is Rev. I. N. Earl; assistant superintendent, L. D. Gould; secretary, Miss C. N. Wheeldon; treasurer, L. S. Gould; number of scholars, 100; average attendance, 82; number of teachers, 12.
METHODIST EPISCOPAL.
There having been little or no record kept of the official doings of this church, we are enabled to give only such facts of its history as can be gleaned from the " History of the Genesee Conference," which are very meagre, and others from tradition and from the memory of some of the pioneer members of the society.
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