USA > New York > Wyoming County > Warsaw > History of the town of Warsaw, New York, from its first settlement to the present time; with numerous family sketches and biographical notes > Part 9
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Not only were school-houses uncomfortable; the course of instruction and the qualifications of teachers were very de- fective. The entire course, in most of the schools, embraced only spelling, reading, writing, and common arithmetic. In this last branch, Daboll's Arithmetic was used; and the mathematical ambition of many pupils was satisfied when they could " cypher " to the end of the "Single Rule of Three," which in that popular work came before Fractions. Few teachers having a knowledge of grammar, this was not in- sisted on by the inspectors. Geography, now one of the studies in every primary school, could hardly be found in a country school. An atlas, indispensable to the successful study of this branch, the writer never saw in a school until after he had been for several years a teacher.
The manner of teaching and conducting a school is also worthy of note. Writing, in many schools, was not done at any fixed hour, nor by all at the same time. None but goose- quill pens were used. A metal pen would have been a great curiosity. We well remember our surprise some forty or fifty years ago, on being told that the president of a certain bank signed its bills with a steel pen. To make and mend the pens and " set copies " for ten, twenty, or thirty pupils, took no small portion of a teacher's time, and was often done during reading and other exercises, in which the worst mistakes es- caped the observation of the teacher. To avoid this, some teachers did this work before or after school hours. The introduction of the metallic pen and the printed copy-book,
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HISTORY OF WARSAW.
is justly regarded as an invaluable improvement, saving much time and labor, and furnishing the pupils with good and uni- form copies.
Nor had the black-board been invented; or if it had, it was not known in the rural districts. Nor were scholars in arith- metic taught in classes. They got the attention and assistance of the teacher as they could. Voices were heard from differ- ent parts of the room, " Master, I can't do this sum; " or, " Master, please show me how to do this sum." These, with questions asking liberty to " go out," to "go and drink," etc., which, on the "floor" of some schools, were always "in order," the teacher going from one part of the room to another to " help" the scholars, or to do their work for them; and schol- ars running to the teacher to ask him how to pronounce the hard words in the spelling and reading lessons :-- all these, and other things that might be mentioned, kept the school- room in a constant bustle. There were, however, some good teachers then; and there are many now who answer too nearly the foregoing description: yet a comparison of the schools of fifty years ago with those of the present time, shows on the whole a vast improvement.
The first school of a higher grade than the district school, and in which classical studies were taught, was commenced about the year 1825, by Rev. Anson Tuthill, who had for sev- cral years been a teacher in Middlebury Academy, and was continued about two years.
In 1829 or 1830, a select school was commenced by Rev. Julius Steele, minister of the Presbyterian church, and dis- continued on his removal in the spring of 1831.
In 1835, Rev. Stephen Porter, of Geneva, established a school of the grade of an academy, and continued it about two years.
Select high schools were thereafter taught, successively, by Mr. Paddock, Charles J. Judd, Josiah Hurty, and others.
A number of select schools for young ladies and misses have been taught in this town. The first was about the year
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EDUCATION-SCHOOLS.
1822, by Maria Clark, of Le Roy. Soon after, one by Lu- cinda Gregg, of Londonderry, N. H., afterwards the wife of Hon. William Patterson.
In 1844, a school for young ladies was established, and for two or three years continued, by Anna P. Sill, since the suc- cessful founder of the popular and famed Female Seminary at Rockford, Ill.
In 1847 or 1848, was established a Parochial School by the Presbyterian church, which was continued twelve or more years under different teachers.
Of primary select schools, there have been many. The names of teachers remembered are, Catharine W. Blanchard, who taught what was then called an "infant school," an insti- tution then (about the year 1832,) quite popular. Miss Blanchard is now the wife of Hon. John Fisher, of Batavia. About the same time, Emeline Monroe, now the wife of Eli Rood, of Wethersfield, came as a teacher, and taught in this village both select and district schools, for seven years.
UNION SCHOOL.
The old district school-house in this place being no longer of sufficient capacity to accommodate all the children of the district, a larger house was built on Genesee street, nearly opposite the residence of J. A. McElwain. In the second story select schools were sometimes kept; and before the county buildings were completed, it was used for holding county courts. After it was no longer used as a school-house. it was sold to Isaac C. Bronson, and removed to the west side of Main street, and fitted up for stores. It was burned at the time of the great conflagration in February, 1867.
The increase of population for a few years after the estab- lishment of the county seat in this village, seemed to require a public school of a higher grade, and a house of larger dimensions. It was proposed to consolidate the districts in and near the village, and to form a graded school, more com- monly called " union school." As this plan involved a heavy
S
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HISTORY OF WARSAW.
expenditure for a suitable building, the proposition was for a time successfully resisted. An affirmative vote, however, was at length obtained, and a large and commodious stone build- ing was erected.
UNION FREE SCHOOL.
The Union School was a district school, and subject to the sanie laws and regulations as district schools in general. It had not been long in operation under its new name before the plan was conceived of ingrafting upon it an academicul department, which, by compliance with the law regulating seminaries, should become entitled to share with them in the distribution of the Literature Fund. A petition signed by citizens of the district, accompanied by a bill drafted here, designed to carry into effect the object of the petitioners, was presented to the legislature. This bill, with some amend- ments, one of which made it of general application throughout the state, became a law.
In pursuance of the provisions of the law, the Trustees, on the written request of citizens of the district, gave notice calling a " meeting of the inhabitants of District No. 10 of the town of Warsaw, entitled to vote thereat, at the school- house, on the 13th instant, (Sept. 1853,) at 7 o'clock, P. M., for the purpose of determining by a vote of such district, whether a Union Free School shall be established therein, in conformity with the provisions of the act passed June 18, 1853. The act provides for the organization of an academical department, and the question whether such department is to be established, will be determined by the said meeting." The notice was signed by J. A. Darling, J. A. McElwain, and A. Holly, Trustees.
A meeting, pursuant to the above notice, was held, of which Isaac C. Bronson was Chairman, and B. F. Fargo Secretary, and at which it was resolved, that a Union Free School, on the plan proposed, should be established; and John A. Mc- Elwain, Joshua II. Darling, Alanson IIolly, Sanford L.
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EDUCATION-SCHOOLS.
Boughton, Charles W. Belden, and Lloyd A. Hayward, were elected Trustees, who are called "Board of Education." Copies of the proceedings, dnly certified by the Chairman and Secretary, were deposited in the offices of the town and county clerks, respectively, and a copy transmitted to the State Superintendent.
In October, 1853, the Board employed Prof. Richard K. Sanford, as Principal of the Union Free School, and his wife as an assistant teacher. Horace Briggs, who was principal of the Union School at the time of the change, was also continued as assistant teacher; but in consequence of ill health, resigned in February following. In the spring of 1854, Prof. Norman F. Wright, who had been for nine years prin- cipal of Genesee and Wyoming Seminary, at Alexander, was employed as Principal, and Prof. Simeon D. Lewis, a teacher in that institution, was engaged as an assistant. Prof. Wright was also intrusted with the general care and management of the primary schools connected with the Academy.
In August, 1857, Prof. Norman F. Wright was again employed as Principal; Kate Leland, a graduate of Thetford Academy, Vt., teacher of French, English, drawing and painting; and William P. Boughton, educated in Warsaw Academy, teacher of German, and the higher English branches.
In the spring of 1860, Prof. Joseph Gile, a graduate of Dartmouth College, N. II., became Principal; and Mary M. Gile, educated at Franklin Academy, N. II., and Holton High School, Mass., assistant. Mr. Gile taught till November, 1861.
In the fall of 1861, Prof. O. H. Stevens was employed as Principal, and Mary M. Gile was continued as assistant. Mr. S. tanght two terms, ending with the academic year in July, 1862.
In Angust, 1862, Winslow Scofield, a graduate of Hamilton College, commenced as Principal, and Miss Gile continued as assistant. Mr. Scofield taught one year.
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HISTORY OF WARSAW.
In Angust, 1863, Prof. Charles H. Dann, a graduate of Williams College, took charge of the school as Principal, and has been continued as such to the present time. Miss Gile also holds the place she took in 1860.
SCHOOL DISTRICTS.
As a part of the school history of the town of Warsaw, we give a list of the existing districts, with such facts relating to them as have come to our knowledge; the names of some of the carly inhabitants, and of those residing therein who are voters at district meetings, or liable to taxation for school purposes. As, from time to time, the number of districts in the town has been increased or diminished, and their bounds have been altered, the number by which each district is at present designated, is not in every case that by which it has at all times been distingnished.
DISTRICT No. 1.
The first school within the limits of this district was taught in 1811 or 1812, in a log school-house built in the style of those times. The present district was formed in 1823. It is a joint district, a portion of it lying in Gainesville. The first school-house was a framed building, on Lot 9, in this town; and in less than a year after it was finished, it was fired by an incendiary, and destroyed. The next year another was built on the same site. In 1859, the site was removed one- fourth of a mile south, into Gainesville, and some of the families were annexed to District No. 2, adjoining it on the north. The school-house being now in Gainesville, it is designated as No. 14, in that town. The names of the inhabitants of this town belonging to the district are the following:
Andrew Beardsley. George Dixon,
Mrs. Sarah Fowler,
George Brown, James Fluker, Job M. Relyea, Willard T. Warner.
John Cummings, William Fluker, Linus Warner,
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EDUCATION-SCHOOLS.
DISTRICT No. 2.
This district is in the south-east part of the town, and is sometimes designated as the "Fluker District." Its school- house is in the vicinity of the Free Will Baptist Church. [The names of its inhabitants, if they have been received, have been mislaid, and they can not be obtained in time for insertion.]
DISTRICT No. 3.
In 1811, a log house was built at the forks of the road about a mile and a half east of the village. Some of the in- habitants then residing within the bounds of the present district, were Lot Marchant, Dea. Eliphalet Parker, and his sons, Giles, Eliphalet, Ira, Benjamin, John G., and Lyman, Gideon T. Jenkins, and others. The house was burned about ten years after it was built, and the present one erected near the place of the old one.
The following are the names of the present inhabitants of the district:
Charles Agar, A. J. Armstrong,
M. R. Atkins,
David Botsford,
Samuel Brigham,
Michael Burke,
Otis F. Carpenter,
Charles Chase, Allen D. Fargo,
Jeremiah Gardner,
Luther H. Hill, Sylvanus Howes,
Edward McDonald,
Hugh McDonald,
Amos Otis, 2d,
Orrin Otis. Leverett Parker,
Sydney Parker,
Valentine Parker,
William Parker, Aurora S. Perkins,
Michael Smallwood, Nelson Slocum,
Mrs. Watrous,
Loman Whitlock, Nathan S. Woodward, Samuel Woodward.
Districts Nos. 8, 9, 10 and 11 were consolidated in the formation of the Union School. The village district, into which cither parts or the whole of the other three were merged, was No. 10.
DISTRICT No. 5.
This district, called sometimes the "Arnold District," though fourth in the eastern tier of districts, was, we believe, at the last general numbering of districts, called No. 5, by
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HISTORY OF WARSAW.
which number it is probably still designated, though No. 4 has been discontinued. The names of the inhabitants at present composing this district, are the following:
Comfort Adams, Ammi Andrews,
-- Andrews,
Osmyn S. Arnold,
Welcome Arnold,
Stephen B. Barden,
Calvin Bryant,
Mrs. Bryant.
Edward Evans,
Hezekiah Fargo,
Samuel Fisher,
Samuel Mills Fisher,
- Flower,
John Hill,
J. Kane,
James W. Kinney,
George Parker,
Simeon Rice,
Thomas Scott,
- Shepard,
Jacob.Smith,
John Walker,
- · Wilkie,
Ammi Wiggins,
George Wiggins.
DISTRICT No. 7.
The first school within the bounds of this district, (South Warsaw,) was kept in a log-house, on the east side of the road, nearly opposite the residence of Rufus Morris, in or about the year 1808. Two or three years after, a framed house was built further south, nearly opposite the site of the present tavern. This house was burned about a month after the school in it had commenced. Another was built on the opposite (west) side of the road. A few years after, this house also was burned, and the present house was erected. Among the male inhabitants who resided in this district when the first school was kept, were Amos Keeney, William Web- ster, Moses Stearns, Silas Wethy, Daniel Knapp, Solomon Morris, Sen., of whom only the two first named are living. The inhabitants constituting the district at present (1868,) are the following:
De Witt Akin,
.Jeremy Allen.
Wm. W. Allen,
Elias Baker,
John Bennett.
Sylvanus Brady, John F. Clark,
Elon W. Chase,
Elijah Chamberlain,
Emerson Conable, Franklin Day,
John Everingham,
Franeis Graves, Edward Hayward,
Amos Keeney, Ilarry Keeney, -
Eleazar Keeney, Hezekiah Lineoln,
John H. Keeney.
Leonard L. Martin,
Luther Morris,
Luther S. Morris. Rufus Morris,
Clarinda Park,
Philander Rogers,
Samuel J. Munger, Orson Standish,
Augustus F. Stearns,
Eugene B. Stearns,
-
Ambrose Mosher,
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EDUCATION-SCHOOLS.
George Stearns,
Willard Stearns,
Joseph Stewart,
Daniel H. Stark,
Henry Sheldon,
Helon S. Taber.
Edwin Truesdell,
Elon G. Truesdeil,
Philander Truesdell,
Mills Webster,
William Webster,
Almon Wilcox.
DISTRICT No. 12.
The first school within the bounds of the present district was kept, it is said, in the winter of 1807-8, in a vacated log- house, on the east or Le Roy Road, about half a mile below the present school-house. After a few years, the school was kept near the line of the town of Middlebury. In 1817, the present house was built at the junction of the roads from Wyoming and Le Roy, on land leased by Josiah Jewett to the district, gratuitously, so long as the house shall be occupied as as a school-house.
Among the first settlers of this district were Josiah Jewett, Simeon Hovey, Josiah Hovey, Gurdon Hovey, Samuel Whit- lock, Julius Whitlock.
The inhabitants of the district in 1868, are the following:
Charles Brown, Jay J. Baker, John Brown,
Addison Brainerd.
Henry Finch. S. Alden McCulloch,
Anson H. Owen,
Amos Otis,
Elisha W. Scovel.
Albert Warren,
Russel Warren, Harry Whitlock,
Samuel Whitlock.
DISTRICT No. 13.
This district was formed and the school-house built in 1834. Its inhabitants were Levi Crandall, Palmer Fargo, Noah Fisk, George Howes, David Ingersoll, Samuel Ingersoll, Amasa Mynard, Charles Steele, George Steele, Nathan Warren, Richard Warren, Nicholas Reddish, and perhaps others.
The house remained until 1868, when a new one was built a little south of the old site.
The following are names of the inhabitants in 1868:
J. Bowen. Duane Chase, John S. Chase,
James Cheon, Schuyler Clarke,
Henry Cornell,
Palmer Fargo,
Palmer Fargo, Jun ..
O. Emery,
John Kongh, Alva Parker,
Daniel Peck,
Alonzo Pierce, Henry Ryan,
Augustns Watrous, Leonard Watrons.
George Storts,
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IHISTORY OF WARSAW.
DISTRICT No. 14.
This district is in the south-west part of the town, and em- braces a few families residing in Gainesville. The year in which it was formed, we are unable to state. Its inhabitants chiefly live on the road which divides the two towns, Gaines- ville and Warsaw.
The names of the inhabitants residing in Warsaw are as follows:
James Foot,
John Hawley,
Alfred W. Hoyt.
Apollos Keeney,
Samuel Munger, Henry W. Norton.
Joseph Pike,
William Pike, Hiram Relyea,
John Relyea,
Edwin Tanner, Joseph Taylor.
DISTRICT No. 15.
This was among the earlier districts laid out in this town, and was for a long time, and is still, designated as the " Sharp District," one of the early settlers, - Sharp, and his son, Horace C., having resided near the corners where the school- house stands. As in most of the other districts, its first school- house was built of logs.
The names of the inhabitants in 1868 are the following:
Marcus Buck,
Cyrus Capen,
Matilda Cleveland,
Nicholas Cleveland,
Nicholas Cleveland, Jr., Uriah Cleveland.
William Cleveland,
Christopher Hale,
Philander Hale,
Harry Ifalch, Alonzo Hatch,
Henry Munger,
Jason Munger,
Mrs. Parnel Munger,
Porter B. Munger,
George Relyea.
Eliphalet O. Scovel,
Nathan S. Scovel,
Edwin Stearns,
Chauncey L. Stevens,
Nye Stevens,
Patrick Talty,
George Truesdell,
Hiram Truesdell,
John Truesdell,
Hiram F. Walker,
Jacob Whiteman,
Samuel Wolcott.
DISTRICT No. 16.
The school-house in this district is nearly three miles south- west from the village. The first school was taught by Amy Martin, now Mrs. Clark, in the summer of 1816, in a log house previously occupied by Samuel Salisbury as a dwelling, about forty rods east of the present house. A year or two
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EDUCATION-SCIIOOLS.
after, a log school-house was built on or near the site of the present house, and was used until 1823 or 1824, when a framed house was built. This was burned a few years after, and the present one erected in its place.
Among the inhabitants residing in the neighborhood at and about the time of the organization of the district, were Samuel Salisbury, Warham Walker, William Shipman, Aaron C. Lyon, David . Martin, Newton Hawes, Polly Day, widow of Col. Elkanah Day, and Elisha Barnes. Among the early teachers were Elisha W. Scovel, and Hiram Day.
Names of the inhabitants of the district in 1868:
Edmund Buck,
John Lary.
Henry Buck,
Rollin Buck,
Ormus Marshall,
Willard Buck,
David C. Martin,
Benj. B. Conable,
Jordan Mead,
Lorenzo Cook, Jolın P. Mead.
Broughton W. Crane,
George Pierce,
Byron Crane,
Jay Scribner,
Luther Foster,
Andrew J. Seeley,
Sydney Foster,
Hiram Stearns,
Jerome Hoisington,
John Truesdell, Jr.
DISTRICT No. 17.
The first school-house within the present bounds of this district was a log house; in what year built, we have not ascer- tained-probably about the year 1807. It stood at the four corners three-fourths of a mile east of the west line of the town, on the south-west corner, two and one-fourth miles west of the village. Among the early inhabitants were Peter W. Harris, Curtis Edgerton, Luther Parker, Dea. Ezra Walker, Dea. Abraham Reed, Hezekiah Wakefield, Isaac Phelps, Zera Tanner, Philip Salisbury, Aaron Bailey, Thomas C. Chase, Elder Jabez Boomer, and Jonathan Young.
The first framed school-house stood about mid-way between the site of the old one and that of the present house.
The names of the present inhabitants of the district, are as follows:
Herbert Andrews,
Benjamin Bishop,
James N. Barnett,
Henry Crist,
Robert Barnett,
Samuel Bassett,
George Ciist,
Abraham Dick,
Dorson Bentley.
Samuel S. Eldridge,
Christopher Fisher,
Hiram Melvin,
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HISTORY OF WARSAW.
John Fisher,
Milo Monroe,
Nicholas Fisher,
Silas Norton,
Patrick Fitz Gibbons,
Bradley S. Gallett, Myron Palmer,
Webster Norton,
Jacob Gatlı,
Philip Gath.
Archibald Prentice,
Philip Smith,
Erastus Gill,
Henry S. Hatch.
Beman Wilcox,
Sarah Hagan,
Ira Wilcox,
John W. Hawley,
Albert Jones.
DISTRICT No. 18.
This district is in the north-western part of the town, the school-house and most of its inhabitants being on the "Old Buffalo Road." Among the early settlers within the present bounds of the district, were Isaac Luce, William Shipman, Nathan Pierce, Roderick Chapin, William C. Hatch, and David Young. The following are the names of its inhabi- tants in 1SGS :
John Bannan, Adam Klair,
Moses Perkins,
Betsey Gay,
William Bannan, Samuel W. Perkins,
Orlando Gay,
Samuel W. Perkins, Jun., Lyman Hatch,
Allen Pierce,
Milton D. Hatch,
Peter Sailor,
Seth Ransom Hatch,
Collis Sammis,
Walter M. Hatch,
David Sammis,
Walter Hatch, Thomas Tanner,
William T. Hatch.
Tillotson Gay, Stephen Vincent,
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PHYSICIANS.
PHYSICIANS.
The dates at which all the physicians named in the follow- ing list commenced and discontinued practice in this town, it is impossible to obtain. In cases in which the year is given without qualification or remark, it may be relied on as correct, or very nearly so. There are probably some, however, whose names we have not been able to ascertain.
1808, Chauncey L. Sheldon; continued in practice until his last illness. He died in 1828.
1817, Augustus Frank; practiced regularly a few years; after which only occasionally, being engaged extensively in other business.
1817, Daniel Rumsey; about two years; removed to Alexan- der; returned about the year 1823; practiced several years; removed to Silver Creek, and engaged in trade. 1822, Cyrus Rumsey, brother of Daniel; about six years; re- moved to Medina, Orleans Co .; thence to Ohio, and died.
1827, Peter Caner; practiced until his final sickness; died in 1854.
Thomas P. Baldwin came soon after Dr. Caner; prac- ticed about two years; removed to Ogden; after which he practiced two short periods; left finally, and died.
1829, Seth S. Ransom; practiced about eight years; removed in 1837 to Burlington, Iowa.
1831, Ethan E. Bartlett; practiced three years, and removed to Georgia; returned to Orangeville in 1836; came to Warsaw again in 1848; practiced regularly a number of years, and more or less since.
1834, Jonathan Hurlburt, about two years.
1842, Lindorf Potter, about two years.
1842, N. D. Stebbins; one year or more, and removed to Detroit, where he remains.
1849, or 1850, Dr. House; practiced a year or more.
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HISTORY OF WARSAW.
1850, John G. Meachem; practiced until 1862, and removed to Racine, Wis.
1850, or near that year, Charles W. Belden, having previously practiced in town, returned from Sheldon after several years' absence, and, in 1855, removed to Dubuque, Ia., where he resides.
1850, Charles A. Dake; practiced until 1867-seventeen years, excepting one or two temporary periods of absence.
1852, or '53, Dr. Blanchard; about six months.
1853, Dr. Day; a few months.
1854, Dr. Gardner; practiced about two years.
1854, Dr. Wells, with C. A. Dake a few months, and removed to Mt. Morris.
1854, Dr. West, in C. A. Dake's office; practiced one year. 1859, C. M. Dake came into the practice of his brother, and remained in town about six years.
1862, Milan Baker succeeded John G. Meachem, and con- tinnes in practice.
1862, E. W. Jenks was here one year.
1866, J. C. Pitts, and continues in practice.
1867, Dr. Phelan; continned one year.
1868, Dr. Miller & Son discontinued practice here this year, after a stay of several years.
1868, Dr. Maynard commenced this year, and contines prac- tice here.
1869, Dr. Tibbets, after a practice here of several years, con- tinnes.
It, D. Comstock. · Sketch.p. 249
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LAWYERS.
LAWYERS.
The following list is believed to contain the names of all the Attorneys who have ever practiced in this town. There may be one or two unimportant exceptions.
1817, Robert Moore came to Warsaw, and is believed to have been the first Lawyer in this town. Ile remained a short time and removed to Perry, where he resided until his death, a few years since.
1817, Mayhew Safford also came in this year from Vermont, and resided here until he died, in Jan., 1831. He ceased practicing many years before his death.
1817, or 1818, Warren Loomis, a brother-in-law of Mayhew Safford, came and joined him in practice. After a few years, Loomis returned to Vermont, where he died. 1818, or 1819, Theophilus Capen commenced the practice of law, and continued a year or two.
1821, or 1822, James Crocker commenced practice, and con- tinned until 1833, when he removed to Buffalo, where he practiced until he died, in 1861.
1833, Ferdinand C. D. Mc Kay took the place of Mr. Crocker, and continued until 1862, when he removed to Des Moines, Iowa, where he died, in 1866.
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