USA > New York > Oneida County > Kirkland > History of the town of Kirkland, New York > Part 10
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The first principal of the school was Mr. John Niles, a graduate of Yale College in the year 1797. He held this position three years, when his failing health com- pelled him to change his employment. Subsequently he became a clergyman, and removed to Bath, Steuben County. He died in the year 1812 .-.
Rev. James Murdock was associated with Mr. Niles during one year of his preceptorship. Studying theology with Rev. Dr. Norton, of Clinton, he afterwards became a. Professor of Languages in the University of Vermont, and of Church History in Andover Theological Seminary.
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HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF KIRKLAND.
He was a man of studious habits and sound learning. His translation of Mosheim's "Ecclesiastical History " will long remain a monument to his industry and exact scholarship.
In September, 1801, Rev. Robert Porter became the principal of the academy. A graduate of Yale, he had been serving for some time as a home missionary among the feeble settlements along the Black River in this State. In his new field he worked successfully four years. He then joined a colony which was about to establish the town of Prattsburgh, in this State. His subsequent life was one of much practical usefulness. He died in the year 1847.
In the autumn of 1805, Mr. Seth Norton, brother of Rev. Dr. Norton, became principal. With the exception of a single year spent in New Haven as tutor, he held his post as preceptor of this academy until the year 1812, when the institution was raised to the rank of a college ; at that time he was appointed Professor of Languages.
Mr. Norton was a man of considerable mental force and weight of character. His personal appearance was not pleasing, for his complexion was dark, his eyes blue, his manners jerky, and his speech rapid and abrupt. Yet he was a thorough scholar, and made his pupils thor- ough and accurate, and lie inspired them with a love of study. He was particularly fond of music, and was him- self a superior singer. For many years he was the chor- ister of the village church. Both the words and the music of the familiar tune " Devonshire," beginning -
"Ye servants of God, your Master proclaim,"
were composed by him. For many years he was com- pelled to struggle with infirm health. He died in De-
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HAMILTON COLLEGE.
cember, 1818, the first year of his married life. His remains were deposited in the College Cemetery.
II. HAMILTON COLLEGE.
This institution has been closely identified from the first with the growth and prosperity of the town of Kirk- land. It originated here. From its feeble beginnings until the present time, it has been fostered by the labors, sacrifices and pecuniary gifts of the inhabitants. It has also been the benefactor of the town. It has enhanced the value of real estate, and increased the business of the place. It has drawn hither a respectable class of inhab- itants, and improved the tone of society. It has afforded facilities for the education of the young, and induced many to acquire a thorough classical training who would otherwise have failed of its advantages. The limits of this volume will allow space for only a brief sketch of the history of the college; a deficiency which I should the more regret, were it not that a full and complete his- tory of the institution may be looked for in due time, from Professor Edward North, who is preparing the same, in compliance with a vote of the trustees.
The account already given of Hamilton Oneida Acad- emy brings its history down to the year 1812, when the school was raised to the rank and functions of a college.1 In order to obtain a charter, and a grant of $50,000 from the legislature for its endowment, it was found nec- essary to raise another fund of $50,000 by subscription. Rev. Caleb Alexander, of Fairfield, Herkimer County, was employed to undertake this work. And so energetic and skillful did he prove, that in a few months he secured a sum which, with the estimated value of the academy
1 The academy closed its formal existence September 10, 1812.
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HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF KIRKLAND.
buildings and lands ($15,000), amounted to $52,844.64. A charter was granted May 22, 1812. The trustees im- mediately completed the unfinished portions of the acad- emy, and put the whole in good repair. They then pro- ceeded to the election of a Faculty, choosing the Rev. Azel Backus, D. D., of Bethlem, Conn., as Presi- dent ; Rev. Seth Norton, Professor of Languages ; Josiah Noyes, M. D., Professor of Chemistry ; and Theodore Strong, Tutor. The doors of the college were opened for students October 24, 1812; and regular recitations commenced on the first of November.
The inauguration of the president took place Decem- ber 3d, in the Congregational church of Clinton ; the exercises consisting of a discourse by the president-elect, an address in Latin by Professor Seth Norton, and prayer and reading of the Scriptures by Rev. Dr. Asahel Norton, of Clinton, and Rev. Eliphalet Steele, of Paris Hill. Dr. Backus' life in the presidency was destined to be short. He died after four years' service, December 28, 1816.
His successor in office was the Rev. Henry Davis, D. D., an alumnus of Yale College. Dr. Davis had been Pro- fessor of Languages in Union College, and at the time of his election here was president of Middlebury College, and had recently been appointed president of Yale, to succeed the eminent Timothy Dwight. For reasons which prevailed in his own mind, he chose to accept the position offered him by this college, and was inaugurated in the fall of 1817. Dr. Davis continued in office sixteen years.
During the early years of his presidency the number of students greatly increased. But afterwards troubles arose, chiefly from difference of opinion in the Faculty and Board of Trustees, on questions of internal govern-
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PRESIDENTS OF THE COLLEGE.
ment and discipline, which brought the college very low in numbers, and for a time alienated many of its friends. Yet no one doubted the integrity of the president, or his strong attachment to the institution. He died in Clinton, March 7, 1852, aged eighty-two years.
Dr. Davis was succeeded, in the fall of 1833, by the Rev. Sereno E. Dwight, D. D., a son of Timothy Dwight. Owing largely to the infirm state of his health, he re- signed his position after two years' service. He died November 30, 1850. At the time of which we now speak the Faculty of the college consisted of the following pro- fessors : John H. Lathrop, in the department of Ethics and Political Economy ; Simeon North, in the Latin and Greek Languages ; Charles Avery, in Chemistry and Nat- ural Philosophy ; Marcus Catlin, in Mathematics ; and Oren Root, Tutor. Between the election of President Davis and the resignation of President Dwight, Professors James Hadley, John Monteith, Eleazar S. Barrows, Will- iam Kirkland, and John Wayland served the college for short periods.
In the autumn of 1835, the Rev. Joseph Penney, D. D., of Northampton, Mass., was elected to the presidency. He was a thorough and accurate scholar and a preacher of much ability. Greatly to the regret of the friends of the college he resigned his office in the year 1839.
Rev. Simeon North, D. D., then Professor of Languages, was promoted to the presidency in 1839, and held this position eighteen years. His administration covers a pe- riod of much prosperity in the affairs of the college. At the time of his election to the chair of Ancient Languages only nine students were in attendance ; at his resignation of the presidency there were one hundred and thirty-nine. At his inauguration the treasury was almost empty ; dur-
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HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF KIRKLAND.
ing his term of service it was largely replenished, new buildings were erected, and several new professorships created. Among the professors of this period mention should be made of Rev. Henry Mandeville, D. D., in the department of Moral Philosophy, Rhetoric and Elocu- tion ; Rev. John Finley Smith, in Latin and Greek, suc- ceeded in the same department by Edward North, L. H. D. ; and Theodore Dwight, LL. D., in Law, History, and Political Economy ; Rev. Anson J. Upson, D. D., as Professor of Logic, Rhetoric and Elocution ; and Rev. William S. Curtis, D. D., as Professor of Mental and Moral Philosophy.
President North was succeeded in the year 1858, by Rev. Samuel W. Fisher, D. D., of Cincinnati. Dr. Fisher's presidency, which lasted until 1866, was one of great success. Eminent as a preacher, his services in the pulpit and on the platform gained for the college a wide public recognition. The number of students steadily in- creased, the finances of the institution were augmented, and its internal affairs were in many respects improved. During his term of service Rev. William N. MeHarg was elected Professor of the Latin Language and Literature ; Christian H. F. Peters, Ph. D., Professor of Astronomy ; and Ellicott Evans, LL. D., Professor of Law, History and Political Economy.
The Rev. Samuel Gilman Brown, D. D., formerly a professor in Dartmouth College, was elected to the pres- idency in the year 1866. We rejoice that the time has not yet come for completing the record of his official life in connection with this institution. During his adminis- tration the college has received numerous and valuable pecuniary gifts, and in all respects it stands upon a broader and surer foundation than it has ever before oc-
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FACULTY OF THE COLLEGE.
cupied. Since his inauguration, Mr. Edward Wallenstein Root served the college one year as Professor of Chemis- try, but was removed by death, greatly lamented. Rev. Samuel D. Wilcox also occupied the chair of Rhetoric and Elocution very acceptably for about two years, when his failing health compelled him to resign.
The present corps of instructors is as follows : -
Rev. SAMUEL GILMAN BROWN, D. D., LL. D., Pres- ident, and Walcott Professor of the Evidences of Chris- tianity.
CHARLES AVERY, LL. D., Professor Emeritus of Chemistry.
Rev. NICHOLAS WESTERMANN GOERTNER, D. D., College Pastor.
OREN ROOT, LL. D., Professor of Mathematics, Min- eralogy and Geology.
CHRISTIAN HENRY FREDERICK PETERS, Ph. D., Litchfield Professor of Astronomy, and Director of the Litchfield Observatory.
ELLICOTT EVANS, LL. D., Maynard Professor of Law, History, Civil Polity and Political Economy.
EDWARD NORTH, L. H. D., Edward Robinson Pro-' fessor of the Greek Language and Literature.
Rev. JOHN WILLIAM MEARS, D. D., Albert Barnes Professor of Intellectual and Moral Philosophy, and In- structor in Modern Languages.
ALBERT HUNTINGTON CHESTER, A. M., E. M., Childs Professor of Agricultural Chemistry.
Rev. ABEL GROSVENOR HOPKINS, A. M., Benjamin- and-Bates Professor of the Latin Language and Liter- ature.
CHESTER HUNTINGTON, A. M., Professor of Natural Philosophy, and Librarian.
9
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HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF KIRKLAND.
HENRY ALLYN FRINK, A. M., Kingsley Professor of Logic, Rhetoric and Elocution.
The treasurers of the college have been as follows : Erastus Clark, from 1812 to 1825; James Dean, from 1825 to 1828; Othniel Williams, from 1828 to 1832; Benjamin W. Dwight, M. D., from 1832 to 1850 ; Oth- niel S. Williams, LL. D., from 1850 to the present time.
The trustees of the college have uniformly been men of high repute in every walk of life. In the words of Pres- ident Fislier, they have been " men wise in their genera- tion, strong in intellect, full of enterprise, and the recip- ients of honor and respect from the State and the church." ยท
It would be difficult to enumerate all the benefactors of the college. From the beginning until now, it has been cherished and helped forward by the contributions of the poor, and those in moderate circumstances, as well as by the ampler gifts of the rich. The town in which it is located has always done generously in its behalf. In the raising of funds for its endowment the several presi- dents and professors and treasurers and many of the trus- tees have taken an active part. Special notice should be made of the labors, at an early day, of Rev. Caleb Alex- ander, of Fairfield, and subsequently of Professor Charles Avery, who, first during the presidency of Dr. Dwight, and afterwards of Dr. North, devoted himself with much energy and perseverance to an increase of the college re- sources. The institution is greatly indebted to the faith- ful and untiring services of Professor Avery. In the year 1859, Rev. N. W. Goertner, D. D., was appointed a special commissioner, to secure a more ample and per- manent endowment of the college .. He has prosecuted his work from that time to the present with great zeal
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.
CLINTON GRAMMAR SCHOOL.
and efficiency. During his term of service, and chiefly by his exertions the sum of two hundred thousand dol- lars and upwards has been raised for the benefit of the institution.
The South College, the Commons' Hall, now used as the Cabinet, and the old President's house, now occu- pied by Professor Chester, were built during the adminis- tration of Dr. Backus. The Oneida Academy Hall was removed, and the Chapel and Kirkland Hall and Dexter Hall were erected (though the latter was not finished) during the presidency of Dr. Davis. Dexter Hall was afterwards completed by a special subscription raised for that purpose by President North. The Commons' Hall was fitted up for a Mineralogical and Geological Cabinet, and the Gymnasium, the Laboratory and the Astronomi- cal Observatory were erected during Dr. North's presi- dency. During the same period, also, the old President's house, which stood a few rods southeast of the South College, was removed to its present position ; additional land east of the College buildings was purchased, and the entire grounds were laid out in their present order. The Library Hall and the new President's house were erected during the administration of Dr. Brown.
III. CLINTON GRAMMAR SCHOOL.
This school has been almost wholly contemporancous with Hamilton College. In the fall of 1813, one year after the Hamilton Oneida Academy had been elevated to the rank of a college, the friends of education in this vicinity endeavored to raise the sum of $3000 by subscription for erecting a new academy. The effort failed of success, because the inhabitants of the town had recently given out of their scanty resources all they
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HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF KIRKLAND.
could spare to help endow the College. But they were not disheartened by this failure. In the year 1815, they organized a stock company, the members of which were to own the property, and receive whatever dividends might arise from the rent of the building and grounds. It was confidently believed that the stock would pay annual dividends of fifteen per cent. The estimated cost of the edifice was $2000, and the stock was divided into shares of twenty dollars each. Subscriptions having been obtained to nearly the required amount, the build- ing was erected. It was forty feet long, twenty-six wide and two stories high ; and it was built of brick.
The engraving shows the appearance of the building after a rough usage of fifty years ; it has recently been remodeled and much improved, under the direction of Mr. A. P. Kelsey, principal of the Rural High School, and is now occupied by him. The land on which the building was to stand was given by David Comstock, in payment for four shares of stock. The bricks were made by General Collins, near Middle Settlement. The timber was furnished by James D. Stebbins, in payment of stock. No dividends were ever declared upon the stock.
In the interim between the closing of Hamilton Oneida Academy and the opening of the new institution, a classical school was set up in the second story of the building now occupied by Judge Williams as a law office, the lower story being then used as a cabinet shop. It was taught by the Rev. Comfort Williams, assisted by Moses Bristol. Next year, it was removed to the building on College Street next east of the acad- emy, and it was taught by William Groves. Next year, it was opened in its original place, and was taught by
GRAMMAR SCHOOL.
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SCHOOL DISCIPLINE.
George Bristol. Mark Hopkins, since widely known as President of Williams College, and Charles Avery and Horace Bogue were among the pupils of this year. In the fall of 1816, the school was transferred to the new brick building on " the Flats," and placed under the care of Rev. Joel Bradley. Mr. Bradley held the post only a year or two, and was succeeded by Rev. William R. Weeks.
This gentleman was somewhat original in his modes of discipline, as the following instance will show : In the absence of clocks and watches in the school-room, Mr. Weeks set up a pendulum from the ceiling, at one end of the room, the continuance of whose vibrations should determine the length of a recitation, or a play-spell or a penance. When the boys when out for a recess, they were permitted to set the pendulum a-swinging for them- selves, though if they swung it so hard as to make the weight strike the ceiling, or if they played longer than the pendulum vibrated, they each received a black mark. Alas! the temptation was too strong for many a lad to resist. And so it happened that the pendulum weight (which was an old horse-shoe), by its repeated thwack- ings broke the plaster of the ceiling in pieces, and the boys' legs kept in motion out of doors long after the chronometer within was still. Of the sore punishment which these transgressors received there are those now living who could feelingly relate.
At what precise time the Female Department of this school was organized, I am unable to learn. Only it is believed that Miss Mary Hayes was the first teacher, and this probably in the year 1817. She was succeeded by Miss Mary Heywood, and she by Miss Julia Hayes, and the latter by Miss Delia Strong.
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HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF KIRKLAND.
Mr. Weeks resigned his post as Principal of the Male Department in the fall of 1820, and was succeeded by Mr. Charles Avery, just graduated from College. Mr. Orlando Kirtland was the successor of Mr. Avery, in September, 1822. Mr. Isaac Wilmarth was the Prin- cipal from the spring of 1825 to the fall of 1826. Mr. Joseph S. Bosworth, now Judge of the Superior Court in New York, taught the school from 1826 to 1827. In the year 1828, the school was placed under the care and supervision of the Board of Regents, and became entitled to receive aid from the Literature Fund.
Following Mr. Bosworth, as Principals, I find the names of Noah Cushman, Leicester A. Sawyer, Salmon Strong, John C. Underwood (late United States District Judge, for Eastern Virginia), Mr. Hickok, Joseph W. Hubbard, Henry Kendall (now one of the Secretaries of the Board of Home Missions of the Presbyterian church), Erastus C. Williams, Edward S. Lacey, Edward North (now Professor of Greek in Hamilton College), Edward P. Powell, Henry P. Bristol, Gilbert Wilcoxen, and the present incumbent, Ambrose P. Kelsey.
In the spring of 1866, the building occupied by the High School having been burned, that school and the Grammar School were incorporated together, with Mr. Kelsey as Preceptor, and have since occupied the build- ing of the latter.
The Female Department of the school, though several times suspended, has never ceased to exist. Among the teachers who succeeded Miss Strong, afterwards the wife of Professor Avery, were Miss Julia A. Wilson, Miss Ann E. Hopkins, afterwards the wife of Professor A. C. Kendrick, D. D., of Rochester University, Miss Jane Wilson, Miss Sophronia Luce, now the wife of
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MISS ROYCE'S SEMINARY.
Rev. Dr. Kendall, of New York, Miss Matilda Wallace, now the wife of Dr. William D. Love, of East Saginaw, Mich., the Misses Elizabeth Bradley, E. C. King, Anna and Mary Chipman, and by Dr. John C. Gallup and Mrs. Marilla H. Gallup.
Since the union of the Grammar School and High School, in the year 1866, the former has ceased to exist in name, but it has still a legal existence : its Male Department being represented by the High School under Mr. A. P. Kelsey, and the Female Department by Houghton Seminary under the care of Mr. and Mrs. J. C. Gallup.
IV. MISS ROYCE'S SEMINARY.
This school, called after the name of its chief In- structor, Miss Nancy Royce, was established in the year 1814. It was a boarding and day school for young ladies, and was opened in one of the chambers of Dr. Seth Hastings' (now Dr. Austin Barrows') house. From thence it was removed to a building on the northeast corner of the village Green. It soon became widely known and popular, drawing scholars from all parts of this State and from Canada. Two or three Indian girls, of the Stockbridge tribe, were at one time members of this school. Outgrowing the capacity of the building it occu- pied, it was removed to the Royce house (now occupied by Marshall W. Barker), which was soon enlarged to double its original dimensions to receive the prosperous seminary. From the beginning of her career as Precep- tress, Miss Royce was an invalid, yet by great care in her daily regimen, and supported by an energy of purpose almost indomitable, she contrived to carry forward her school and to build it up into great success. Her health,
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HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF KIRKLAND.
however, finally gave way, and after a few years she was obliged to commit her Seminary to other hands, when it gradually declined and was wholly relinquished. Miss Royce died March 29, 1856, aged seventy years.
V. CLINTON LIBERAL INSTITUTE.1
The ministers and delegates from the several associa- tions comprising the Universalist Convention of the State of New York, met at Clinton, May 11, 1831. Among the acts of that body at this session was the appointment of a committee of three, namely, Rev. S. R. Smith, D. Skinner, and A. B. Grosh, " to collect important facts, and prepare an address to the several associations and to the Universalist and liberal portion of the community, on the subject of establishing a literary institution in this State, not only for the purpose of science and litera- ture, but with a particular view of furnishing with an ed- ucation young men designing to study for the ministry of universal reconciliation."
The election of this committee was the initial step in preparing the way for the erection of the Clinton Liberal Institute.
On June 1st following, the central association met at Cedarville, Herkimer County, when the same subject was brought before that body, and resolutions were passed :
1. Approving the recommendation of the State conven- tion respecting a literary institution.
2. That it be located at Clinton.
3. That a Board of Trust be appointed.
4. Contains the number and names of said Board.
5. That Joseph Stebbins and John W. Hale, of Clin- ton, David Pixley, of Manchester, Timothy Smith, of 1 This paper was prepared by Rev. S. P. Landers.
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THE LIBERAL INSTITUTE.
Augusta, and Ezra S. Barnum, of Utica, constitute an executive committee with usual powers.
6. That Joseph Stebbins be treasurer.
7. That sister associations be solicited to unite with us in promoting the objects herein contemplated. Numer- ous associations throughout the State responded to the acts of the State Convention, pledging themselves to aid in every practicable way the project of establishing such a school at Clinton.
One of the principal causes of this effort to found a school on liberal principles in theology, was (what seemed to be) the sectarian character and the proselyting influ- ences on students, made in the various academies and col- leges of our country.
The first report of the executive committee, dated Clinton, August 20, 1831, in explaining to the public the object of the contemplated seminary, says, among other things, that " it is not to be sectarian." " On the con- trary, while it is deemed all important that the young mind should be strongly impressed with the pure moral- ity of the gospel, we wish to leave the responsibility of indoctrination to the natural guardians of youth.
" Pledging ourselves that as we have seen and felt the evils of sectarian influence in the existing seminaries of learning, so we will use our constant endeavors to pre- serve the one now projected, from its contaminations." This is all that the limited space of this sketch will allow respecting the formative history of the Institute.
A preliminary school for males was opened November 7, 1831, on College Street, in a building owned by Will- iam Johnson, nearly opposite Mr. Kelsey's. This school had four terms a year, and was taught by George R. Per- kins, now of Utica, who was connected with the Institute from this tima until the year 1839.
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HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF KIRKLAND.
The Female Department was commenced November 21, 1831, in a house on the east side of the Green, now owned and occupied by A. W. Mills ; and it was taught by Miss Burr. In May of the following year, it was for- mally opened in the new building erected for that pur- pose on Utica Street, by Miss Philena Dean, now the widow of the late Professor Marcus Catlin. The present site for the male department was purchased of John Sweeting, and the substantial stone edifice, ninety-six by fifty-two feet, and four stories high above the basement, was built in 1832, by contract, for $9300.
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