Mohawk Valley genealogy and history : [a compilation of clippings, 1945-1946], Part 20

Author:
Publication date: 1942
Publisher: [1942-1949]
Number of Pages: 276

USA > New York > Montgomery County > St Johnsville > Mohawk Valley genealogy and history : [a compilation of clippings, 1945-1946] > Part 20

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1. Name of individual or firm.

2. Post office address. (

3. Business or occupation.

Figures placed after the occupa- tion of farmers, indicate the number of acres of land owned or leased by the person named.

(Continued from last week.) Mayfield, Fuiton County

Collins, William H., Northvlile, farmer 240. Conway, John, Mayfield, farmer 2. Cozzens, William, Mayfield, car- penter. Crater, Jacob, Mayfield, farmer mer 49.

Cruger, John, Vaiis Mills, farmer 200 .-

Christie, Edward, Mayfield, super- visor and farmer 150.

Christie, John R., Mayfield (with Van Rensselaer R.,) farmer 100. Christie, Simeon, Mayfield, farmer 180. Cleaver, Frederick, Gloversvliie, farmer 90.

Cleveland, Smith G., Vails Mills, farmer 40.

Cleveland, Thomas, Vaiis Mills, Christie, Jacob, Mayfield, farmer. Davis, Hosea H., Vails Mills, far- mer 20.

Degolyer, Calvin, Mayfleld, far-

Demarest, Richard, Vails Milis,

farmer 84.

Hail, Ephraim S., Mayfleld, farmer

Hall, Henry, Cranberry Creek, tar- mer 207. Haii, James, Mayfield, farmer 51%. Hall, James S., Cranberry ,Creek, farmer 50.

Hallenbeck, Seiah W., Mayfield, farmer 64. Hathaway, David . W., Mayfield, prop. of saw mill.

Hathaway, Isaac, Mayfleld, retired farmer.

Hathaway, Seth C., Mayfield, far- mer 100.

Hays, John, Broadalbin, mason and farmer leases of Louisa Satterlee'70. Hegeman, Micah, Mayfield,, lime burner and farmer 181.

Hestead, Anthony, Valls" Mille

farmer 30.

Hickey, Edmund, Cranberry Creek, farmer 300.

Hickey, Michael, Cranberry. Creek, surveyor. Hill, Lewis, Broadalbin, farmer 100 Hollenbeck, James B., Mayfield, farmer 20. Hoiiet, James F., Mayfield, leather, dresser and school teacher.

Holiett, John H., Mayfield, farmer 90. 1

Holon, Michael, Vails #: Milis, tanner and farmer 10.4:

Houseman, William H., Mayfield, farmer ieases of . Mrs. Catherine

Becker 105. Howland, Frost P., Vails Mills, far- mer 300. Howland, Harrison, Vails Mills, farmer.

Holand, Reuben H., Vails Mills, farmer 80. Husted, Reuben, Vails Mills, far- mer 100.

Hutchins, Frederick A., Vails Mills, farmer leases of A. McFarland 100. Jackson, James E., Mayfield, far- mer 175. 1

Jackson, Robert, Mayfleld, farmer 135.

Jackson, Willlam, Mayfleld, prop. of Mansion House and owns 400. Jayaer, George, Vails Mills, far- mer 261. Jewei, George, Vails Mills, farmer 1. Johnston, Nathan, Mayfield ,allo Joshlin, Mary Mrs., Vails Mills, farmer 46. physician. Keettle, Leonard, Vails Mills, far- mer 3.

(To be continued)

Enterprise & News

An ABC Newspaper

ST. JOHNSVILLE, N. Y. Telephone 3741

S. K. IVERSON PUBLISHER

Entered at the St. Johnsville Post- office, St. Johnsville, N. Y. as second cass matter. Published every Thurs- day

SUBSCRIPTION RATES Montgomery, Fulton and Herkimer, Countles-One Year $2.50. Ali others, $3 except Canada $4 Six Months $2.00

50.

----

MIHAWK VALLEY

GENEALOGY AND

HISTORY 28

St. Johnsville Enterprise and News, St. Johnsville. N. Y.

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY #1, 1946

Questions and Answers -- A department devoted to the pursuit of knowledge. No charge to regular subscribers. Any reader, whether subscriber or not, is invited to submit answers.

Give dates, places and sources.

FULLER

Who were the parents of Alfleda Fuller ?

According to the Starr Genealogy (Frank F. Starr, 1879) she was born Sept. 3, 1785 (where ?. ) and on No- vember 9, 1801 at Onondaga (town or county?) married Noah Starr. She died Sept. 15, 1808 at Onondaga (town or county ?)

Noah and Alfleda Starr had Samuel born Sept. 2, 1802 Montezuma, Cayuga Co.

Ruel born Dec. 22, 1803 at Onon- daga.

Alfleda born Feb. 15, 1808 at On- ondaga; married in 1832 Harvey Keith.

Noah Starr married (2) in 1809

Mahepsable Moces, (3) Susan Fox, 1775 Susanna Willis. Want ancestry and (4) Polly Crossman. of both.

There seems to be little doubt about the accuracy of the unusual name Alfleda, as her daughter was also named Alfleda. -

The Starr Genealogy infers that she was born in Onondaga, but the Onondaga Historical Association de- nies that any white girl was born there that early, and suggests she may have been a relative of either Amos or Matthew Fuller, who were early sttlers.

Marshall S. Walker, Jr. 3124 Dumbarton Ave., N. W., . Washington 7, D. C.

WELLER, FITZGERALD.

Ancestry wanted of Jacob A. Wel- ler born about 1809 and Julia Fitz- gerald, his wife born about 1808, family history says he was a native of Newburg, N. Y. and she of New Jersey. They moved to Veteran in Chemung Co., N. Y. Then to Athens twp., Bradford Co., Penn. in March 1843.

Jacob A. had a family of 12 child- ( ren, 10 of whom grew to maturity and I find he had at least one broth- er mentioned, Frederick Weller who married Anna Spear. They moved from Tioga county, N. Y. into Ath- ens, Penna, in 1840. They had a fam- ily of 15 children. Wanted ancestry of Rev. Stephen Krum born Feb. 27, 1807 in Dryden who married Al- mira Coon Feb. 2, 1826. She was born Oct. 20, 1806 and tradition says came

· (Continued on page 8)

FITCH

Want ancestry of John M. Fitch, bron Dec. 4, 1796 (where ?) and of his first wife Rhoda, born June 17, 1803; died Sept. 16, 1834. Children: Cyrus, born Jan. 31, 1821; Huldah,

Thomas and Dorothy Wood Kennedy. I have Thomas Kennedy's military record from Pension Claim W16316. James Backer served in the war of 1812, enlisting at Rome, N. Y. He married Mary Daniels born March 12, 1798. They lived in town of West- ern, Oneida Co., N. Y., later in town of West Turin, Lewis Co., N. Y. In- formation desired of parentage of Mary Daniels, Dorothy Wood and Benjamin Backer,

Mrs. Frederick Satehla, R D 1, Munnsville, N. Y.

LACY, WILLIS

In Newark, N. J. Hist. Library on card index for New Providence, N. J. it states Abraham Lacy, Jr. married

GILBERT, THOMPKINS

Samuel Gilbert born about 1755 married Esther Thompkins or Thompson about 1775. They were of L. I., N. Y. Their son born Sept. 23, 1776 married in Geneva, N. Y. Han- nah Lacy. John was in 1803 tax list of Fayette, Seneca Co, N. Y. with brother Thomas Gilbert. Samuel Gil- bert died between 1790-99 and widow Esther married a Mr. Rose. They had sons Abram, John and Matthew Rose. There was a Samuel Gilbert in Brookhaven, L. I., 1790 census. Was he married to Esther and where bur- ied? Want ancestry of Samuel and Esther,

Benejah Holl, a Revolutionary sol- dier of N. Y. State was in New Marl- borough, Ulster Co. 1790 Census, N. Y. and in Charleston, Montgomery Co. 1800 census. Two Children Nan- cy and Phoebe were born in Mont- gomery Co. Other children born where? were Jesse 1786, Benejah, Jr. 1787, Asa, Isaac 1790, Chloe 1794, Sally, Phoebe and Nancy. This fam- ily was in Sempronius, Cayuga Co., N. 1806-9 and Benajah, Sr. died

Niles, Cayuga Co., 1840. Want ances- try of Benejah and name of wife. · Mrs. H. T. Jeffery, 338 West Main street,

Palmyra, . N Y.

BOYD, STAATS

Hugh Boyd, son of John and Ann (Logan) Boyd, was born in Lasing- from . Connecticut. They lived in burgh, Albany Co. Jan. 25, 1767 and died in Albany July 6, 1799. He mar-) Danby, N. Y. or nearby. They had 5 children: Henry married Jane Hol- J lister; Nancy Fidelia married Benja- min Genning; . William B. married Emma Horton; Lucinda who mar- ried Joseph Grant and Louise Ed- ward. ried in Albany, Jan. 14, 1796 Cather-' for this purpose often placing restric- ine Staats, daughter of Barent and Antje ' (Winne) Staats of Al- bany. Catherine Staats was born in Albany Jan. 11, 1774. I would like to know the date of death of Cath- Ralph H. Weller, RD 3, Towanda, Penna. erine Staats Boyd. They are prob- ably buried in the vicinity of Al- bany.

SCHERMERHORN, Van VECHTEN

Want the ancestry of Agniete (An- existence of these early graveyards tje Van Vechten wife of Jacob Cor- nelise Schermerhorn. They were mar- ried in Albany June 23, 1714. SHOEMAKER

cemetery at Cherry Valley, Otsego county. COMBS

Data of Samuel Combs and wife Martina. Children: Anna born Márch 18, 1741; Johan born Je. 2, 1743; Elizabeth born Jly. 31, 1747. Ref .: Records, Zion Luth. Church, Al- bany, N. Y. , COON

Data of John Coon, Columbia Co., N. Y. Children: Alexander, Daniel

Nelson, Newton, Maria, Diadema, Frances, Adelaide. Alexander' Coon married Catharine Calkins and set- tled 1780 in Green Co., N. Y. and had childrn: Augusta and Esben.

Data of Daniel and Rhoda Coon early settlers and land owners of Otsego Co., N. Y. Children: Betsey, Ezra. Fanny, Clarissa, Laura, Pollys Daniel, John S., born 1807 Plain- field, N. Y., Alanson. Was this fan Y ily related to John Coon in abov 'e query ?

Miss Josephine B. Brown, 333 Harmon Arve., N. W. Warren, Ohio ..

ZULLER

Will the person who sent in the Zuller query please forward name and address. The query will be print- ed on receipt of same.

LOCAL HISTORY"

BY DONALD D. PARKER Brookings, South Dakota

"LOCAL HISTORY"-HOW TO GATHER IT, WRITE IT, AND PUBLISH IT'

(Continued from last week)

Cemetery Inscriptions

Cemetery inscriptions can provide historical data; sometimes they are the only source for certain years when the birth and death records were kept by neither the town nor the churches. When a new country was first settled, th dad were bur- ied on the individual farms and in some places family burving grounds are still continued. Certain parts of the country have numerous private cemeteries of this sort. Usually, however, the village or town soon set aside a plot of ground to be used tions on its use, such as requiring residence in the town before an in- dividual could be buried there. These restrictions were always hard to en- force, however, because of complex relationships, varying residences and occupations, Gradually the private, family cemeteries gave way to the common cemeteries. Often the very

has been forgotten. Not two miles from where the writer once lived is an abandoned cemetery wherein from 30 to 50 bodies were placed between

WELLER, FITZGERALD

Ancestry wanted of Jacob A, Wel- ler born about 1809 and Julia Fitz- gerald, his wife born about 1808, family history says he was a native

Jacob A. had a family of 12 child- ren, 10 of whom grew to maturity and I find he had at least one broth- er mentioned, Frederick Weller who married Anna Spear. They moved from Tioga county, N. Y. into Ath- ens, Penna. in 1840. They had a fam- ily of 15 children. Wanted ancestry of Rev. Stephen Krum born Feb. 27, 1807 in Dryden who married Al- mira Coon Feb. 2, 1826. She was born Oct. 20, 1806 and tradition says came from . Connecticut. They lived in Danby, N. Y. or nearby. They had 5 children: Henry married Jane Hol- lister; Nancy Fidelia married Benja- min Genning; . William B. married Emma Horton; Lucinda who mar- ried Joseph Grant and Louise Ed- ward.

Ralph H. Weller,

RD 3, Towanda, Penna.

· (Continued on page 8)

FITCH ....

Want ancestry of John M. Fitch, bron Dec. 4, 1796 (where ?) and of his first wife Rhoda, born June 17, 1803; died Sept. 16, 1834. Children: Cyrus, born Jan. 31, 1821; Huldah, born Sept. '15, 1822; Lydia, born Nov. 10, 1824; James born . Feb. 10, 1826-7; William born March 9, 1829, Eunice born April 18, 1831; Henry born July 27, 1833. (Bible re- cords). Want places of residence, marriages, dates of death, and to contact descendants.

John M. Fitch married (2) Lucin- da P. (Fox) Martin, widow of David Martin. Children: Lucy Ann M. Fitch, born Nov. 9, 1835-6, Ashtabu- la, Ohio who married in Huron twp., Wayne Co., Mich. May 14, 1854, John Barry, son of Archibald; and Charles Calvin Bronson Fitch, born July 17, 1838; died about 1842. Fam- ily probably came from Ohio to Oak- land, Wayne or Lenawee Co., Mich. 1837. Lucinda P. Fitch then a widow bought land in Belleville, Wayne Co., Mich. 1854 and came to Albion, Mich. 1860. Want any records of this Fitch family and date and place of death and burial of John M. Fitch. FOX, MARTIN

Want ancestry of Lucinda P. Fox, born March 4, 1796 in Vermont, and of her first husband David Martin, a school teacher. Only known .child, her sister who was Lydia Ann Martin born Jan. 28, 1820, |1828. Frankfort, Herkimer Co., N. Y., married Orion, Oakland Co., Mich. Dec. 10, 1844, Arthur Hamilton El- Schenectady, N. Y.

liott, son of George P. and Sally (Monsen) Elliott. Want places of

residence and records of Daviu and Lucinda (Fox) Martin family. She married (2) John M. Fitch.

Mrs. H. M. Stevens, RD 4, Albion, Mich.

BACKER, DANIELS

Wanted proof that James Backer born Dec. 7, 1796 in Montgomery Co. was son of Benjamin and Lucy Backer married Jan. 11, 1796. Lucy McCOMB

born Jan. 3, 1779, probably in town Data of Robert and Rosamond of Milton, Saratoga Co., N. Y. then McComb. Daughter Lucy died' Sept. called Ballston, was a daughter of 14, 1812, aged 25 years, buried in

ied ? Want ancestry of Samuel and Esther.

cy and Phoebe were born in Mont- gomery Co. Other children born where? were Jesse 1786, Benejah, Jr. 1787, Asa, Isaac 1790, Chloe 1794, Sally, Phoebe and Nancy. This fam- ily was in Sempronius, Cayuga Co., N. 1806-9 and · Benajah, Sr. died

Niles, Cayuga Co., 1840. Want ances- try of Benejah and name of wife. · Mrs. H. T. Jeffery,

338 West Main street,

Palmyra, .N Y.

BOYD, STAATS

Hugh Boyd, son of John and Ann (Logan) Boyd, was born in Lasing- burgh, Albany Co. Jan. 25, 1767 and died in Albany July 6, 1799. He mar- ried in Albany, Jan. 14, 1796 Cather-, for this purpose often placing restric- ine Staats, daughter of Barent J. and Antje | (Winne) Staats of Al- bany. Catherine Staats was born in Albany Jan. 11, 1774. I would like to know the date of death of Cath- erine Staats Boyd. They are , prob- ably buried in the vicinity of Al- bany.

SCHERMERHORN, Van -VECHTEN Want the ancestry of Agniete (An- tje Van Vechten wife of Jacob Cor- nelise Schermerhorn. They were mar- ried in Albany June 23, 1714.

SHOEMAKER

Want date of birth, death and marriage of John Shoemaker who resided in Sharon Springs, Schoharie Co., N. Y. Would also like to know name of his wife and any of the an- cestry of both. He had several child- ren among them Isabelle Shoemak- er who was born in Sharon Springs February 13, 1863. If someone has any of the data I want I would like to correspond and will pay for all information given.

LOCKWOOD

'Who were the parents of Lucy Lockwood who was born 1805

(where ?) and died in Charlton, Sar- atoga Co., Feb. 28, 1883. She mar- ried Dec. 23, 1824. (where ?) Everett Birdsey Sanders.

HEARSEY, GROOT

Who were the parents of Susan- nah (Susan) and Nancy Hearsey, who were sisters and resided in Sche- nectady. Susan Hearsey married readily accessible when copied, were ;

Dec. 25, 1806 Cornelius S. Groot. Nancy Hearsey was born in 1791 (where ?) and died in Schenectady May 9, 1877. She married June 24, 1828 Cornelius S. Groot, husband of

Donald A. Keefer,

RD 2 Sacandaga Road,

TOTTEN, MACOMB

Data of Totten (Totton) family of map. This will allow you to return Green Co., N. Y. Samuel and wife at once to the stone if, for any rea- Frances (Macomb ?) Totten had daughters: Sarah bp. Dec. 21, 1783 and Maria bp. Aug. 23, 1785.

Jacob and Lydia (Van Den Berg) Totton had Samuel bp. March 3, After you have become thoroughly 1792; Peter bp. April 3, 1791; Joseph| familiar with the cemetery, induce

one or more old residents to go there with you. They can point out the relationships whic hexisted be. ; tween various families. The very -

sight of old stone's marking tlic resting place of el inhamia its w.'

BY DONALD D. PARKER Brookings, South Dakota

"LOCAL HISTORY"-HOW TO GATHER IT, WRITE IT, AND PUBLISH IT'

1 (Continued from last week)

Cemetery Inscriptions

Cemetery inscriptions can provide historical data; sometimes they are the only source for certain years when the birth and death records were kept by nelther the town nor the churches. When a new country was first settled, th dad were' bur- ied on the individual farms and in 'some places family burying; grounds are still continued. Certain parts of the country have numerous private cemeteries of this sort. Usually, however, the village or town soon set aside a plot of ground to be used

tions on its use, such as requiring residence in the town before an in- dividual could be buried there. These restrictions were always hard to en- force, however, because of complex relationships, varying residences and occupations, Gradually the private, family cemeteries gave way to the common cemeteries. Often the very existence of these : early graveyards hag been forgotten. Not two miles from where the writer once lived is an abandoned cemetery wherein from 30 to 50 bodies were placed between 1837 and 1857, yet only a few peo- ple in the region today know of this old graveyard or anything about the people buried there. Such cases may appear in your community and are often to be discovered by asking old residents.

' For the sake of preserving for the future the fading inscriptions on nld stones, and for what immediate use you yourself can make of them, it is advisable to have the old stones re- cording deaths before, say, 1875 cop- ied, including such matter as Scrip- tural passages, bits of poetry, etc. If this may seem to be too big an in- dividual task, it might be arranged for a troop of Boy or Girl Scouts to do it. In one town of 650, population all stones from 1837, when the com- munity began, to 1875, were copied off in less than four hours by one student. These inscriptions, being

frequently referred to in the course of writing the town's history. It is advisable to make a rough map or plan of the cemetery, noting con- spicuous trees, entrances, monu.

deceased in ments, etc., and as the copying of in- scriptions proceeds, indicating on the map the location of stones. The inscriptions can be written in a small notebook and each one num- bered, an Identical number being placed on the appropriate cemetery -

son, you want to verify names, dates, lettering, etc., as may some- times be necessary on barely legible stones.

bp. Fcb. 3, 1793. Reformed Church, Coxsackie, N. Y. records. )

Benejah Holl, a Revolutionary sol- dier of N. Y. State was in New Marl- borough, Ulster Co. 1790 Census, N. Y. and in Charleston, Montgomery of Newburg, N. Y. and she of New Co. 1800 census. Two Children Nan- Jersey. They moved to Veteran in Chemung Co., N. Y. Then to Athens twp., Bradford Co., Penn. in March 1843.

tel. 281946

Genealogical Sources in the Mohawk Valley

AND NEARBY

BIRTH, DEATH AND MARRIAGE RECORDS (From WPA Guide to Public Vital Statistics Rerocrds in New York State, Voi. 1,1142

HERKIMER COUNTY

Little Falls (1895)

' 1882. Record, 15 vols. Arr. chron. Indexed alph. by children. Custodian Dennis B. Reardon, city clerk, Lit- tle Falls, N. Y. Columbia

1891. Register, 4 vols. Arr. chron. 1891-1913, no index; 1914, indexed alph, by children. Includes marriag- es 1883-1907, and deaths, 1890. Cus- todian I. J. Secker, town clerk, Rich- field Spa, N. Y.

Danube

1886. Register, 3 vols. Arr. chron. Indexed alph. by children. Includes marriages 1886-1907; and deaths, 1886. Custodian Roy S. Spoor, reg- istrar of, vital statistics, RD 4, Little Falls, N. Y.

1888. Register, 3 vols. Arr. chron. 1888-1913, no index; 1914, indexed alph. by children. Includes marriages 1888-1907 and deaths 1888-1934. School shlp, after a struggle of 13 disappointing years To be sure, It was a private concern, the building alone costing 20,000, besides equip- ment and teachers' wages.

Custodian, I. E. Whiting, registrar of vital statistics, Middleville, N. Y. Frankfort

- 1848-1919. Record, 1 vol. arr. chron. No index. Includes marriages and deaths. Custodian, ~ George A. Nite, town clerk, Frankfort, N. Y. German Flats

1900. Register, 4 vols. Arr. chron. Indexed alph. by children. Includes |deaths 1914. Custodian, Charles Fort, town Cierk, Mohawk, N. Y. Herkimer

1890. Register, four volumes. Arr. chron. Indexed alph. by children. Custodian, Donald Harder, town clerk, Herkimer, N. Y. Litchfield

1848-50, 1882. Register, 3 volumes. Arra. chron. No Index. Includes mar- riages and deaths 1882. · Custodian, Charies B. Casler, town clerk, Clay- ville, N. Y.

Little Falls

1887. Register, 2 vols. Arr. chron. 1887-1913, no index; 1914, indexed alph. by children. Includes marriag- es 1887-1907 and deaths, 1887. Custo- dian Fred H. Moshier, town clerk, Little Falls, N. Y. Mannheim

1000 Danleter. 3 vols Arr 1888-1913, no index; 1914, indexed alph. by children. Includes mar- riages, 1888-1913 and deaths 1888. Custodian Mrs. Bessie Bogerd, town Clerk, Dolgeville, N. Y. .

(To be continued)

loosen a flood of recollections that may be of considerable . historical value.

Inscriptions in stone sometimes weather so quickly as to be difficult ot read. Familiarity with local sur- names will make - it easier to deci- pher names. Your greatest difficulty will be with figures, for every digit from 0 to 9 has at some time been mistaken for one or more other dig- Its. The figures 3, 5 and 8 are often confused; so also are 4 and 1, 4 and 7, 5 and 6, 7 and 2, and 6, 9 and A Spring and autumn, ore the heat

How the Ambitions of Alfred Dolge Created an Industrial Dolgeville on Lone Site of a Covered Bridge

New Buliding Lacks a School The Union Free School building

was dedicated October 15, 1887. From that time the school trustees made little if any effort to push the school to an advanced standing: When Mr. Dolge found that he could not accomplish ' anything through the board of education; he began to make preparations for a private] school, where the children of his em- ployees could receive a college pre- paratory education and the ground- work in the natural sciences.

These plans finally culminated in the large academy building on Dolge avenue which was dedicated August 30, 1890 in the presence of a host of citizens and many distinguished guests. The principal address was made by Hon. Andrew S. Draper, state superintendent of public In- struction.

Dolge High School in the Picture In the evening a banquet was

served in the club house, with covers for 200. Edward A. Brown presided and responses to toasts were made by Hon. A. M. Mills, Prof. George Gunton, Editor Blumberg, Hon. Geo. A. Hardin. and Mr Dolge

Thus was launched the Dolge High

Mr. Dolge had already given the public school district over 10,000 in cash and years of effort, only to meet a bitter failure.

Doigeviiie Comes Into Its Own In January, 1899, a private school was started in the club house, with Miss Rust as kindergarten and pri- mary teacher, Mr. Cramer as princi- pal and Mr. Eggenberger as assist- ant. One hundred and eight pupils were 'registered, which left the big new union school building with'only a few pupils.

This caused the "First Families" to see their foolish actions in a new light, and they were glad to incor- porate the academy into the public school system, under the Regents of the University.

So at last Dolgeville had her first Free Public School, where pupils could be prepared for college and one of the first high schools in Herkimer county. Under the skillful guidance of such well-educated teachers as Prof. Eggenberger, the scholarship

First Academic Class in Dolgeville

In the summer of 1897 an academic clsas was formed and written In the school records as the class of 1889, consisting of the following members: Anna Youker, Phoebe Spencer, Gale Barney, Ben Sullivan, Harry White, Edward M. Brown, George Kneas- kern and Aaron Wagner.

A. splendid banquet was arranged in honor of these eight academic pupils, At last the educational ideals of Alfred Dolge were acknowledged as supreme and the anti-high school aristocrats were buried in oblivion,

After an absence of 25 years' the writer returned to Dolgeville in January, 1912 as the district super- intendent of the second supervisory district of Herkimer county.

Things Trustees Had to Learn

A. careful study of the village school system showed the need of at least four changes: First, the time of the supervising principal should be wholly. given to supervision. Sec- ond, the principal should select his teachers. Third, public school music, both vocal and instrumental, should be introduced. . Fourth, a new high school building should be erected.

My first meeting with the school board is seared in memory. The pre- siding officer was the kingfish of the slipper Industry, held in great awe by every worker and feared by the teachers. In condescending terms he wished to know why I was pres- ent. I told the board there were a few things I wished to talk over with them.

School Board Shown How to Shoot I began by saying the superinten- dent of the shoe shop did not spend his time sewing shoes. He was an ex- ecutive. His business was to super- intend work of the shop.

I told him much of the time of the principal was consumed in teaching classes, when he should be visiting class rooms. They were paying him , the wages of an executive, and yet he was teaching classes that should be taught by regular teachers. The , principal should do no teaching, ex- cept when he was demonstrating teaching methods. ,

I could see that "His Majesty" was not taking kindly to my suggestions. Then I said plainly that the selection of teachers should be left to the principal, I pointed out that a school board knows absolutely nothing about the necessary qualifications of a teacher for a certain room or & certain .- grade.1 (To be continued)

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Mohawk Valley genealogy and history : [a compilation of clippings, 1945-1946], Part 20

Author: Publication date: 1942 Publisher: [1942-1949] Number of Pages: 276

Author:
Publication date: 1942
Publisher: [1942-1949]
Number of Pages: 276