USA > New York > Onondaga County > Onondaga's centennial. Gleanings of a century, Vol. II > Part 46
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The Diocese of Central New York was formed in 1868, and at a special convention held in St. Paul's church, Syracuse, on January 13, 1869, the spirited rector of Emanuel parish, Boston, was elected its first bishop on the third ballot. In a letter dated January 25 he signified his acceptance of the election, and on April 9 of the same year the ceremonies of his consecration to this sacred office occurred in his church in Boston in the presence of ten bishops and a large number of clergymen and laymen. The twenty-fifth anniversary of the consecration was celebrated by union service at St. Paul's cathedral on April 8, 1894, the Rev. Dr. Joseph M. Clarke officiating. For twenty-seven years Bishop Huntington has presided over the diocese with the utmost care, visiting its nearly 150 parishes and missions for confirmation, discipline, etc., and winning the love and reverence and esteem of not only the mem- bers of his own denomination but the adherents of other faiths and societies. Simple, plain, and unassuming he enjoys a warm place in the affections of thousands of people, whose spiritual devotions have been created or quickened by his prayers, his words of encouragement, and his innumerable acts of charity and benevolence.
Bishop Huntington's first literary work of importance was the publication in 1856 of "Sermons for the People," which was followed in 1860 by "Christian Believing and Living." Among his other works are " Helps to a Holy Lent." "Forty Days with the Master," "Human Society: Its Providential Structure, Relations, and Offices" (Lowell Lectures), the " Bohlen Lectures," and two collections of poetry, "Lyra Domestica " and " Elim, or Hymns of Holy Refreshment." While in the
Cordially Yours of. a. Duncan.
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Unitarian ministry he had editorial charge of the Monthly Religious Magazine; later he aided in establishing the Church Monthly, and in his own diocese he has had charge of the Gospel Messenger. He has also contributed many articles to various other periodicals, including the Forum, The North American, The Independent, The Churchman, etc. He has been an indefatigable worker, not only in literature, but in advancing all worthy causes and enterprises, in building up churches and parishes, and in promoting institutions for education, for charity, and for humanity.
His vacations have always been spent on the ancestral farm at Hadley, Mass., upon which the old homestead was erected by his great-grandfather, four miles from Amherst College, the bishop's alma mater. Six successive generations of his ma- ternal ancestors have lived and died in this dwelling.
September 4, 1843, Bishop Huntington was married in Boston, Mass., to Miss Hannah Dane Sargent, daughter of Capt. Epes Sargent, of Cape Ann, and a sister of Epes Sargent, the poet. Of their seven children two died in infancy ; the others are Rev. George Putnam, rector of St. Thomas's church, Hanover, N. H., and author of " The Treasury of the Psalter," a devotional study of the Psalms; Rev. James Otis Sargent, widely known as Father Iluntington, and a member of the Order of the Holy Cross; Mrs. Ruth Huntington Sessions, of Brooklyn, author of " Roger Ferde's Faith," which was published serially in The Churchman; and Miss Arria Sargent and Miss Mary Lincoln, of Syracuse. Miss Arria S. Huntington is the author of " Under a Colonial Roof Tree," a charming book descriptive of the family home at Hadley and its traditions, and is also well known for her benevolent and charitable work. She was one of the organizers of the Shelter for Homeless Women, and is prominently connected with various other organizations, including the Kindergarten, the Woman's Union, girls' clubs, etc.
WILLIAM A. DUNCAN, PH.D.
WILLIAM ALEXANDER DUNCAN, Ph. D., was born in Oswego, N. Y., November 1, 1837, and is the eldest son of William and Mary (Wood) Duncan, natives of Scotland. His grandfather was Alexander Duncan, a man well known in his day as an educator and one of the most cultured and best educated men on Dee side. William Duncan had been trained from youth as a workman on the granite buildings of Aberdeen, Scotland, and was a finely educated builder and master mechanic. Coming to America with his young wife Mary, the daughter of James Wood, of Airlie, he located in Syracuse previous to 1840, when it was only a thrifty village. He saw the great possibilities of a city, because of its nearness to inexhaustible limestone quarries, and immediately entered upon the work of building many of its important structures. As superintendent of construction for the contractor he supervised the erection of the First Presbyterian church in South Salina street, laying the corner and top stones, and also had charge of the building of the old St. James's church (burned in 1891), and other stone edifices. To his taste and skill Syracuse owes much of its celebrity for the beauty of many of its public buildings, and to his early presence is due a large measure of the substantial and the artistic in its architecture. His ability and integrity as a builder caused a demand for his services in several large cities of the
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State and in Canada. He was a man of the most upright character, and by his example, teachings, and mental attainments won an enduring reputation. His memory lives, not alone on the pages of history, but in the hearts of appreciative citizens, in the monumental buildings which he supervised, and in the memorial windows which have been placed to himself and his estimable wife in the First Ward Presbyterian and Good Will Congregational churches of this city. The children of William and Mary Duncan were Dr. William A., James D., Joseph M., John H., Mrs. F. Morgan, and Mrs. E. Tankie.
Dr. William A. Duncan came to Syracuse while an infant and has since made this city his home, becoming one of its most active, useful and respected citizens. As a youth he became strongly desirous of aiding in the promotion of secular and religious education, and when a young man his first educational work was as the principal of an academy. For fourteen years he was a member of the Board of Education of Syracuse, representing the Fifth ward, and for two years was president of the board. The Seymour school edifice, which is widely recognized as a model school building, the plan of which has been adopted in many cities, was designed and erected by him. He advocated and helped to introduce many business and teaching methods now in operation in the city schools. Among these was the "Quincy method," which aided materially in bringing the public school system up to a standard second to none in the United States. For several years Dr. Duncan was a member of the executive committee of the Young Men's Christian Association, for nearly twenty years led its teachers' class, and later became president of the association, when he designed and planned the present beautiful and commodious Y. M. C. A. building, which has always been regarded as one of the model association buildings in America. He be- came the head of this body when it was in a transition state, and during his admin- istration increased its membership from a comparatively small number to about 600. From that time to the present the association has enjoyed uninterrupted prosperity.
Dr. Duncan has always been active in Sunday school work. He organized the Syracuse Sunday-school Association and served as its first president, and was for three years president of the Onondaga County Sunday school Association. For twenty-five years he was superintendent of Plymouth Sunday-school and branches, Good Will and Pilgrim. For eighteen years as chairman of its Sunday-school exec- utive committee he has represented the State of New York on the executive commit- tee of the International Sunday-school Association of the United States and Canada, and for thirteen years he has been district and field secretary of the Congregational Sunday-school and Publication Society, which represents the Sunday-school interests of the Congregational churches of the United States. He is the originator of the organization known as the New York State Woman's Sunday-school Mission Aid Association, and the author of "home classes." This work was originated in June, 1881, and has grown, through additions and development, into what is now known as "the home department of the Sunday-school." It extends the privileges of the Sunday-school to those unable to attend, or who, for any reason wish to form home, individual, or neighborhood classes, provides them with Sunday-school leaflets and pamphlets, and recognizes them as members, so that they may report their progress and be identified in every way, except personal attendance, with the parent school. W. H. Hall, secretary of the Connecticut State Sunday-school Association, in speak- ing to the Sunday-school convention held in Saratoga, N. Y., said in reference to this
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work: "If Dr. Duncan had never done anything but give birth to this one idea, he had done enough to place him among the public benefactors of the race." Dr. M. C. Hazard, in his admirable book, "Home Classes, or the Home Department of the Sunday-school," says:
"But while others have given it an impetus now and then, Dr. Duncan has been urging it all the while. By circulars, by addresses innumerable, by private conver- sations, by taxing correspondence, he has unremittingly kept the Home Department before the public until it has made its legitimate impression. He has believed in it, talked for it, written for it, argued for it, lived for it, as no other man has. In the most of instances those who have spoken of it have been inspired by him to speak. In New York he secured the organization of the Woman's Mission Aid Association, without which that State never could have been covered with such a network of Home Departments. In 1887, at Chicago, in an address during its session, Dr. Duncan callled the attention of the International Sunday School Convention to the merits of the Home Department. He secured the unanimous commendation of that convention for it in the meeting which was held at Pittsburg in 1890. Ile was the author of a paper on the subject which was read before the World's Sunday-school Convention, held in London in 1889. Through his advocacy at the World's Sunday- school Convention, held in St. Louis in 1893, the executive committee reported the following recommendation, which was unanimously adopted :
" ' Your committee desires to recognize the Home Department of the Sunday- school as presented by Dr. W. A. Duncan, of New York, and to commend the same to the Sunday-school workers throughout the world. We believe the adoption of this plan will increase the membership of the Sunday-school and extend the bene- fits of the school to many who cannot regularly attend its sessions.' "
In fifteen years this plan has developed into enormous proportions, and is exerting a powerful influence throughout the Christian world. In 1891 Dr. Duncan visited Europe in the interests of this work and the World's Columbian Sunday-school Con- vention, and as the representative of the International Sunday-school executive com- mittee addressed Sunday-school works in nearly all the capitals of Europe-London Paris, Rome, Vienna, and other cities-and with Bishop Vincent was offered a pub- lic reception by the Sunday school workers of London. In Rome Dr. Duncan was permitted to aid in the introduction of the International series of Sunday-school les- sons into the Protestant Sunday-schools of Italy, through a Columbian Sunday-school pledge made to the general Sunday-school superintendents of the different Italian Protestant denominations. Some 10,000 Protestant children are now studying these International Sunday-school lessons, which are printed in Florence. A similar pledge was made to Dr. Clark, of Prague, for the Sunday-school workers of Austria, and some 3,000 are being reached at the present time through home class leaflets. Hundreds of Sunday-schools have been organized through his efforts, and a large number of churches have grown out of these schools.
Dr. Duncan has been since 1883 the secretary and superintendent of the Chautau- qua University, located at Chautauqua, Chautauqua Lake, N. Y., and next to Lewis Miller and Bishop Vincent is perhaps the most widely known official connected with the Chautauqua movement. At a meeting of the board of trustees of the Chantau- qua Assembly held at Buffalo, N. Y., January 30, 1894, the following report and res-
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olution were offered by Chancellor Vincent, and the resolution passed by a rising vote.
Especial gratitude is due to our efficient secretary, by whose confidence, financial skill and to a large degree, personal resources the assembly was brought safely through a period of great difficulty and even danger. It is only fitting that this service should be as generally recognized, as it is highly appreciated, by the friends of Chautauqua.
Resolved, That the board desires to express its sincere and hearty appreciation of the efficient services of our secretary, Dr. W. A. Duncan, whose skill and courage in the financial perils of the past summer entitle him to this assurance of the gratitude and confidence of the board.
BISHOP J. H. VINCENT, Chancellor.
LEWIS MILLER, President. Chautauqua Assembly.
In addition to his labors in this capacity he founded and has been mainly instru- mental in successfully establishing the Georgia Chautauqua Assembly at Albany, Ga., which bids fair to rival its parent in the north. This assembly has done a very important work in developing a feeling of harmony between the religious and cultured people of the North and South, bringing upon the platform northern and southern speakers, including clergymen, senators, and governors. Besides attending to the arduous duties which these various movements have entailed he has for many years conducted a large book store in Syracuse.
Dr. Duncan's presence upon the platform is magnetic, impressive, and command- ing. Endowed with the very best of Scotch traits and education he is an eloquent and a graceful orator, and stands in the front rank of able and popular speakers. He is firm of purpose, gentle, earnest, and concise, and sincere in all that he at- tempts. His work has been that of a public benefactor, whose memory will forever remain as pure and inspiring as it is noble and elevating. The degree of Doctor of Philosophy was conferred upon him by Mount Union College, of Ohio, and never did that institution recognize a more able or a worthier man.
Dr. Duncan was married to Miss Julia B. Coleman, daughter of J. M. and Eliza Coleman, of Seneca Falls, N. Y., who were of Holland Dutch descent, of Revolu- tionary stock, and among the earliest settlers of Seneca Falls. To Dr. and Mrs. Duncan two daughters have been born, Mary E., and Grace L.
GEORGE RAYNOR.
HON. GEORGE RAYNOR was born in Oswego, N. Y., January 16, 1814, and was a son of Jacob Raynor, whose English ancestry settled early upon Long Island, at the little village of Raynortown, so named from the fact that many of that family settled in that locality. His mother was Elizabeth Stevens, a native of Washington county, N. Y. For many years the family resided in Oswego county and there the father died in 1826, the mother surviving until 1859, when she died at Syracuse. A large family of children was born to them, of which Mr. Raynor was the youngest son. His early opportunities for obtaining an education were limited, though by persist- ent study and later facilities placed within his reach, he was enabled to secure what was then considered a liberal education. His school life closed with a period of study in the Onondaga Academy, when it was at its best, under the principalship of S. B. Woolworth.
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George Raynor came to Syracuse in 1828 and became associated with his brothers, Willet and Henry Raynor, continuing with them several years, acquiring correct business habits and knowledge. During this time he resided with his mother on Clinton street where Milton S. Price built his stores in recent years. He became the owner of the property there and also of the corner where the MeCarthy whole- sale stores are now situated and a store building in James street (Robber's Row). About the year 1841 he was called to a position as assistant to the postmaster in Syracuse. The postal business was attractive to him from the first and he ardently began the study of the service in every detail, fitting himself in an eminent degree for the long period of official employment upon which he had entered. Four years later he was appointed mail agent, his route extending over the New York Central Railroad from Albany to Buffalo. He acted in this capacity until 1865, at about which time the new postal cars came into existence. He was then appointed one of the railroad postal clerks between New York and Buffalo and served in that capacity until 1871, his whole period of postal service covering about thirty years. Too much cannot be said of the faithful efficiency with which Mr. Raynor filled these positions. By unflagging study he made himself familiar with the names and locations of the thousands of post-offices which came within his jurisdiction, a task in itself for which few persons are competent.
Mr. Raynor's political life was active and honorable. His first vote was cast for William H. Seward in 1838 and thenceforth he consistently acted with the Whigs, until the party dissolved. He then became a Republican. For the most part he preferred to do his work in the ranks, but he occasionally held offices of a local nature. During two years, in 1864 and 1865, he was supervisor of the town of Onon- daga and was elected to the Assembly of 1873, being assigned to the Committees on Canals and State Charitable Institutions. June 13, 1848, Mr. Raynor was mar- ried to Cordelia Hall, daughter of Judge Johnson Hall of Syracuse. In 1854 he erected the hadsome residence at the corner of South Salina and Furman streets, where he passed the remainder of his life. From that time forward he liberally gave of his time, energy, and means for the development of the region which has been known as Danforth. Ile entered zealously into the project of establishing the street railroad between that part of the city and the center and, with one exception, was the largest stockholder in the company. With the clear foresight for which he was known, he saw the future importance and attractiveness of this section as a residence locality and by gradual purchases became the owner of several tracts of vacant land on South Salina, Kennedy, Mulberry, and Furman streets. Thereon he erected a number of superior dwellings, their distinguishing features being their large surrounding grounds, their unusual distance from the street lines, and the gen- erally attractive style of the architecture. Most of these he sold to an excellent class of residents, whose settlement in the then distant suburb gave it the high repu- tation it has ever since retained.
Mr. Raynor was enterprising and public spirited. Churches, without regard to creed or sect, schools and all improvements that promised to benefit the people at large always found him a willing benefactor.
One of Mr. Raynor's prominent traits was his ardent love and appreciation of nature. The fields, the lakes and the solitude of the wilderness were ever calling him with voices he found it difficult to ignore. His extensive garden was cultivated
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to the utmost and broad areas were devoted to growing the flowers he loved so well and which he lavishly bestowed upon the homes of others.
He was an enthusiastic fisherman and no better companion could be found with whom to follow a stream. For thirty or more years, he joined with William H. H. Smith, R. G. Wynkoop, Dudley P. Phelps and Edward J. Foster in annual spring trips to the North Woods, where they camped beside the trout streams tributary to Black River, or in the later years of this period at Smith's Lake and Lakes of the Red Horse and Fulton Chains. Of this private club (if it may be called such), Mr. Raynor acted every year as commissary, while Dudley P. Phelps was chaplain. No Sabbath passed, in the woods, that did not witness the reading of sermons and a song service, while fishing and all secular pleasures were put aside. Only one of this little band is now living, Mr. W. HI. H. Smith. For several years Mr. Raynor was also accustomed to make a second visit to the Adirondack wilderness, during the summer months, with another party, among the members of which may be men- tioned, Judge George N. Kennedy, Patrick Agan, O. C. Potter, James Herring and J. W. Yale. Several of the members of these two clubs with others were the first to present a memorial to the Legislature, petitioning that the Adirondack wilderness be set aside as a State park.
In his business life Mr. Raynor was above reproach and his heart and hand were always open to the afflicted and destitute. It is proper here to quote the following estimate of his character which was written by one who knew him well at the time of his death, which occurred April 30, 1878.
" Mr. Raynor was an excellent citizen. He was enterprising and public spirited, and always willingly aided every public project that was brought to his attention. Upright and honest in every deed, he possessed the entire confidence of his acquaint- ances, and often rendered valuable and gratuitous service to those in need of coun- sel and assistance. There was much of sympathy in his nature, as many peo- ple who have been the recipients of his favor can testify, and to his friends he was as true as steel. He was a hater of dishonesty and hypocrisy in every form, and his daily life was an exemplification of the Golden Rule. He was quiet and unob- trusive in manner and steadfast in purpose, yet his nature was genial and sunshiny, making his life one of pleasure and happiness to his family and friends. Many hearts are saddened by his death." Mr. and Mrs. Raynor were the parents of four children : Charles Hall, born August 22, 1849, died July 18, 1853; George Franklin, born January 1, 1854, died January 8, 1857; a son born June 16, 1857, died an infant ; Mary Virginia, born September 6, 1861, married October 21, 1886, to George Will- iam Garrett; they have one child, George Raynor Garrett, born October 31, 1894.
Hon. Johnson Hall, father of Mrs. George Raynor, was born in Sheffield, Berk- shire county, Mass., January 6, 1794. He was a descendant of Ebenezer Hall, of Revolutionary fame. His father, Gen. Isaac Hall, removed from Sheffield with his his family to La Fayette, Onondaga County, in 1797. Johnson Hall served as post- master in La Fayette many years and removed to Syracuse in 1838. His connection with the Judiciary of the county came through his appointment as Associate Judge with the late Hon. Grove Lawrence and Oliver R. Strong. In this capacity Judge Hall's sterling integrity, accurate judgment, and innate sense of justice gave him an honorable position. Judge Hall represented Onondaga County in the State Leg-
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islature in 1830; was elected sheriff in November, 1831. During the first ten years of his life in Syracuse he was connected with the hardware firm of Hall, Rhoades & Sherman. Judge Hall was a staunch Democrat in politics. His death occurred October 27, 1870.
EDWIN S. JENNEY.
COL. EDWIN S. JENNEY is a son of William Jenney who was educated at Brown University and who at first entered the clerical profession as a Baptist clergyman. Shortly afterwards he made important inventions with reference to sawing instead of splitting barrel staves and removed to a humber district in Michigan for the pur- pose of carrying on the stave business.
Colonel Jenney was born September 5, 1840, at Poughkeepsie, in this State, where his father was then keeping a boarding school known as the Dutchess County Academy.
He received a thorough education in public and private schools and in Kalamazoo College. In January, 1860, he began the study of law at Syracuse with the firm of Pratt & Mitchell which was then just formed.
The next year the war of the Rebellion broke out and though not yet of age his undaunted courage and intense patriotism led him promptly into the activities of that struggle in which he subsequently won distinguished honors.
Early in 1860 he became second lieutenant of a Zonave Company commanded by Captain Butler which was originally composed of about forty young men from the best families in Syracuse and was the first one organized in Central New York and was inspired by the tour of the Ellsworth Zouaves which at about that time made a tour through the country.
On the day of the firing upon Fort Sumter, Captain Butler and his then young lieutenant, Jenney, agreed instantly that they would go to the front, and together they organized the company which did go to the front and was commanded by Cap- tain Butler. This was the first company which left Syracuse. Before it was mus- tered into service, however, Jenney went to Oneida county, and there raised a com- pany, of which he became captain, and these gentlemen stood side by side, in the same regiment, Butler as captain of Co. D, and Jenney as captain of Co. I.
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