USA > New York > Oneida County > Rome > Our city and its people : a descriptive work on the city of Rome, New York > Part 12
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" Resolved, That a union free school be established within the bounds of School District No. 5, in the town of Rome, pursuant to the provisions of chapter 555 of the laws of 1864, and tlie amendments thereto."
The following gentlemen were then elected trustees, to act as a board of education for the district, viz .: Stephen Van Dresar, John Reifert, Zaccheus Hill, Edward Huntington, R. E. Sutton, and H. O. South- worth. The following resolution was then odopted :
Resolved, That the Board of Education of this union free school district be and they are hereby authorized to adopt the academy, located in said district, as the academical department of said district, with the consent of the trustees of said acad- emy, pursuant to section 24 of title 9, chapter 555 of the laws of 1864.
On the 16th day of July, 1869, the following resolution was passed by the Board of Trustees of Rome Academy, viz .:
Resolved, That we consent that .the Board of Education of Union Free School District No. 5, in the town of Rome, may adopt the academy as the academical de- partment of said school district.
In conformity to this resolution, and on the same day, the academy
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property, consisting of a building and lot on James street, philosophical and chemical apparatus, cabinet and library, was transferred to the Board of Education by a quit-claim deed executed by the following gentlemen, acting as a board of trustees, viz .: Samuel Wardwell, J. M. Sturdevant, H. O. Southworth, A. H. Brainerd, Henry M. Lawton, S. B. Roberts, C. W. Elmer, H. D. Spencer, R. E. Sutton, R. T. Walker, and George Merrill.
The academy lot was originally the gift of Dominick Lynch in the interest of education, to be forever occupied by a building devoted to that purpose.
July 17, 1869, the Board of Education. having been duly organized, July 9, 1869, by the election of S. Van Dresar, president, and R. E. Sutton, clerk, adopted the following resolution, viz .:
Resolved, That the Rome Academy be and the same is hereby adopted as the academic department of this Union Free School District, a union school having been duly established under the provisions of title 9 of chapter 555, of the laws of 1864.
Thus virtually ended the struggle in behalf of free schools. The old rate-bill was abolished, and the schools were opened in the fall of 1869 upon the broad and catholic basis of free education to all.
The academy opened with an enrollment of 97 pupils in 1869, which has rapidly increased to more than 200 in 1877, with advantages for a still larger number. From this point there has been steady and rapid growth in the various directions which indicate prosperity.
In 1870 the Liberty Street school building was thoroughly repaired, and in September of that year the first and second floors were occupied for school purposes, the third floor having been abandoned as danger- ous in case of fire or accident. In January, 1871, the Thomas street building was first occupied, having been erected and furnished during the previous year. In 1872, to secure increased facilities, at moderate expense, the academy was thoroughly repaired, and the seating capac- ity increased to accommodate 200 pupils. In the fall of the same year the schools were reorganized. The advanced pupils of the Liberty
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street school were transferred to the academy, and relief was thus afforded to the crowded condition of the lower departments. In 1874 the Vogt property, on the east side of South James street, was pur- chased, and the inside of the building remodeled, and put in thorough repair for school purposes. In September, 1874; the building was first occupied by two teachers and 122 pupils. In January, 1875, the new building on Third street, in East Rome, was opened, and the old one on Dominick street passed into the hands of the common council for fire department purposes. In 1876 the West Rome building was re- paired and improved, and new seats were added for the accommodation of eighty pupils.
Continuing this complete account of the city schools down to that year, it must be stated that in 1878 a new brick school building was erected on the corner of Thomas and Jay streets at a cost of about $8,000. It was fitted for two departments, primary and intermediate. In the summer of 1895 a brick addition was built on the Jay street school costing about $5,500. In 1891 the Liberty street school was enlarged by opening and fitting the top floor of the building for 7th and 8th grade scholars. A fireproof tower was erected from which to reach this floor. In 1890 a dwelling was purchased on South James street in which a second school on that street was opened.
The departments now comprise the primary of three years; the in- termediate of two years; grammar of two years; preparatory of one year, and academic, four years. To these has been added a special course for students who intend to teach.
The report of October 1895, shows the following census of school children : First ward, 627 ; Second ward, 469; Third ward, 654; Fourth ward, 554; Fifth ward, 646. Total, 2,950.
The present superintendent is W. D. Manro, who assumed the office August 1, 1893. He is a native of Auburn, N. Y., and was born June 27, 1864 ; was educated in the Auburn High School, Phillips Acad-
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emy at Andover, Mass., and Yale University, where he graduated in 1888.
The present value of the school property is $105,000. There are enrolled in the city 2,916 persons between the ages of five and twenty- one years. The whole number of those who attended school in 1895 was 1,926; of these 192 were in the academy and 398 in private schools. The Board of Education for 1895-96 consists of Dr. T. M. Flandrau, Edward Comstock, William R. Huntington, Albert H. Gol- ley, Jerome Graves, and William H. Van Wagenen. Dr. Flandrau is president of the board and William R. Huntington, clerk. The follow- ing is a complete list of the teachers for the year beginning September 3, 1895 :
Academy .- Wayland E. Stearns, principal; Marie E. George, Sara Abell Beers, M. Delle Turtelot, Marion J. Clarke, Helen Elizabeth Thalman, Christine D. Ross.
Liberty Street School .- R. H. Barringer, principal ; Edith M. Wolfe, Anna Catlin, Adella S. Clark, Elizabeth C. McGuinness, Harriet L. Clark, Mary E. Dean, Annie R. Bielby, Ella Van Dresar, Avis Le Roi.
Thomas Street School .- Anna E. Cross, principal ; Cora M. Wright, Ella R. Hook, Anna M. Freer, Nora M. Doyle, Hattie L. Rowley.
James Street School .- Mary L. Buck, principal ; Hattie May Fox, Susie C. Aldridge, Georgianna Wheeler, Emily J. Kimball.
South James Street School .- Frances G. Henderson, principal; Mary E. Dietrich.
Jay Street School .- Sarah E. Parry, principal ; Clara M. Ninde, Lena May Putnam, Elizabeth Westcott Clarke, Minnie L. France, Mary Cummings.
East Rome School .- William Thorn Kennedy, principal ; Minnie F. Wood.
West Rome School .- Jennie E. McAdam.
Supervisor of Vocal Music .- Marion E. Davison,
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Supervisor of Penmanship and Drawing .- Emma Sabine.
Elocution Teacher .- Lillian M. Gilligan.
Following is a list of the members of the Board of Education of Rome, as elected each year since the incorporation of the city :
1869 .- H. O. Southworth, Edward Huntington, one year; R. E. Sutton, John Reiffert, two years; S. Van Dresar, Z. Hill, three years.
1870 .- Edward Huntington, Henry Patrick.
1871 .- H. Patrick, (Calvert Comstock, to fill vacancy), John Reiffert. 1872 .- S. Van Dresar, Z. Hill. 1873 .- Calvert Comstock, B. Whitman Williams. 1874 .- John Reiffert, James Aiken. 1875 .- Jerome Graves, G. Harrison Lynch. 1876 .- B. Whitman Williams, Edward L. Stevens. 1877 .- James Aiken, John Reiffert. 1878 .- Harvey L. Bedell, Harrison Jacobs. 1879 .- A. C. Kessinger, H. M. Lawton. 1880 .- John S. Baker, Griffith W. Jones. 1881 .- Calvin West, Cyrus D. Prescott. 1882 .- James C. Smith, Henry G. Wright. 1883 .- Jerome Graves, E. Stuart Williams. 1884 .- Richard E. Sutton, Thomas M. Flandrau. 1885 .- William R. Huntington, C. Sherman Smith. 1886 .- E. Stuart Williams, Jerome Graves. 1887 .- Richard E. Sutton, Thomas M. Flandrau. 1888 .- Charles S. Smith, William R. Huntington. 1889 .- Jerome Graves. E. Stuart Williams. 1890 .- Richard E. Sutton, Thomas M. Flandrau. 1891 .- Cyrus D. Prescott, Harvey S. Bedell. 1892 .- Jerome Graves, William H. Van Wagenen. 1893 .- Thomas M. Flandrau, Albert H. Golley. 1894 .- Edward Comstock, William R. Huntington. 19
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1895 .- Jerome Graves, William H. Van Wagenen.
1896 .- Full board, Thomas M. Flandrau, Albert H. Golley, Edward Comstock, William R. Huntington (secretary), Jerome Graves, W. H. Van Wagenen. W. D. Manro, superintendent.
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CHAPTER XV.
RELIGIOUS ORGANIZATIONS.
The First Religious Society .- According to the first census in 1800, the population in that year of the whole town of Rome was 1,479. We have no means of ascertaining the number in the village, but presume the population was about 300. Prior to the year above named there was no church organization or religious society in Rome. On Thurs- day, September 25, 1800 (as the record shows) articles of association, or covenant of Christian fellowship and confession of faith, were signed by the following four persons: Joshua Hathaway, Ebenezer Wright and Grace his wife, and Daniel W. Knight. The document was prob- ably drawn up by Mr. Hathaway. This was the first germ or nucleus of the first religious society in Rome. On Sunday, September 23, 1800, a religious meeting was held, and, as tradition says, in a ball room of a tavern which then stood on a corner of the highway in Wright Settlement leading to "Canterbury Hill," and near the later residence of Henry L. Kirkland. Rev. Simon Waterman of Plymouth, Conn., was present and officiated. At that meeting the above four persons again signified their consent to the covenant and confession of faith, above mentioned, and the following nine additional persons also signified their assent thereto: Mr. and Mrs. Matthew Brown, Mr. and Mrs. Solomon Rich, Mrs. Hathaway, Mrs. Peter Colt, Mrs. Colbraith, Mrs. Gilbert, and Mrs. Hayes, making thirteen in all. The Rev. Simon Waterman, then present, as the records state, " declared the foregoing persons thus congregated, a church of Christ, and in a very solemn, serious and affecting manner administered the sacrament of the Lord's Supper." Mr. Hathaway was elected scribe. A continuous abstract
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of the records reads as follows : "January 24, 1802, Mrs. Edes was ad- mitted a member of this church, and was baptized. Attest J. Hatha- way, scribe. Mrs. Church was admitted, Mrs. Moore, Mr. Jervis and wife. J. Hathaway, scribe. June 3, 1804, were baptized by Mr. Ely, Daniel Whitman, son of Colonel W. D. Knight, and Betsey Jervis, daughter of Timothy Jervis. Mary Ann, daughter of J. Hathaway, baptized by Rev. Mr. Clarkson, June, 1805. Septembor 16, 1804, Anna and Henrietta Desire, children of Henry Huntington, presented by his wife. February 17, 1805, Hannah, wife of George Huntington, made a public profession of her faith and received baptism. Likewise baptized Hannah, Thomas and Mary Mumford, children of the said Huntington. March 3, 1805, baptized Benjamin Huntington, and Matthew, children of Matthew Brown, presented by his wife, who at the same time made public profession of her faith."
This religious society being the first organized in Rome called itself "The First Religious Society in the Town of Rome," and took that as its corporate name, and which is the corporate name now.
The first election of trustees took place January 11, 1802, as fol- lows: Daniel W. Knight, one year; John White, one year; Benja- min Wright, two years ; Oliver Smith, two years ; Clark Putnam, three years. To become legally incorporated, the laws passed April 6, 1784, and March 27, 1801, required certain formalities to be fol- lowed, which it does not appear this society complied with, so on June 23, 1806, another election of trustees took place and the follow- ing persons were elected : D. W. Knight, three years ; Samuel Dill, three years; Gideon Butts, two years; Jonathan Tallcott, one year ; John W. Bloomfield, one year. A certificate of such election was re- corded in the Oneida county clerk's office, June 30, 1806 (as it ap- peared by the records). This certificate states that after two weeks' previous notice of such meeting, the meeting was held June 23, 1806, " at the school house near the gaol, where public devine worship is
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statedly held," etc., and that " said society shall be called and known as the First Religious Society in the town of Rome."
In 1813 another law was passed, providing for the incorporation of religious societies, and this society, for some reason or other, took steps to be again incorporated under the latter law, taking the same corporate name as before. Accordingly on the 10th of August, 1813, a meeting of the adult male members was held at the meeting house of the society, and elected for trustees W. M. Talcott, William Wright, Gideon Butts, Elijah Worthington and Chester Hayden. A certificate of incor- poration, witnessed by Wheeler Barnes and Cyrus Davenport, and acknowledged before Judge Charles Wylie, was made out and recorded August 13, 1813, and which fixed the legal status of that society.
The first deacon elected was D. W. Knight, November 24, 1807 . There was no regular pastor settled over this society during the first six years of its existence. There must have been, however, preaching quite frequently, for we have before us three original subscription lists, much worn and faded, yet the signatures are legible, under which funds were raised to pay the clergyman. The first subscription paper is without date, but states that 'the subscribers agree and promise to pay to the First Religious Society in Rome, such sums as are set opposite our respective names, and for the use and to be applied for the ex - press purpose of supporting and maintaining a clergyman for said so- ciety for the year ensuing." This paper must have been drawn up and signed in 1801, or the very first of the year 1802, for upon the mar- gin opposite the name of one of the signers is written " January 11, 1802, paid 64 (shillings) August 31, paid 68 shillings," etc. This subscription list amounts to $212, and is as follows : George Hunting- ton & Company, $22 ; Joshua Hathaway, $10; John Barrard, $12; Thomas Gilbert, $4; M. & M. Brown, jr., $8; Benjamin Wright, $8 ; Clark Putnam, $5; Oliver Smith, $5; Thomas Selden, $2; James Bartlett, $5 ; William Johnson (written on margin," in judgment ") $1 ;
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Benjamin Raymond, $5 ; Gideon Selden (written on margin, “ in judg- ment ") $4; Amos Jefferson, $5 ; Timothy Jervis, $8 ; Parker Halleck, $3 ; Daniel W. Knight, $3; Samuel Edes, $2 ; Charles Wylie, $3 ; Philip Filer, $2 ; Thomas Brackney, $2; Michael Frost, $3 ; Thomas Walker, $3 ; James Barrow, $7.50 ; Elijah Ranney, $2 ; Rufus Easton, $3; Stephen White, $5 ; John B. Pease, $2; James Simpson, $2.50 ; Oliver Greenwood, $3 ; Eliakim Hammond, $1 ; Abraham Hanford, $2 ; Moses Wright, $3 ; Ebenezer Baker, $1 ; Elijah Baker, $5; (on the margin opposite the above two names is written, " paid by employing Mr. Morey one day to preach") ; John White, $2; Asa Bushnell, $1; Ezekiel Thayer, $1 ; Ebenezer Wright, $4; Isaac Lathrop, $1 ; Allyn Wright, $2 ; Silas Perkins, $1 ; Gurdon Smith, $3 ; Caleb Rennels (on margin "in judgment "), $1 ; Elijah Clark, $3 ; Stephen Welton, $3 ; Ebenezer Wright, jr., $4 ; Cornelius Van Wormer, $2; Israel Denio, $1 ; Solo- mon Rich, $3 ; Moses Fish, $2; John Wright, $1 ; Zaccheus Abel, $2; Phillip King, $3. Total $212.
The next subscription paper bears date January 5, 1803, and is to pay for clergyman for the ensuing year and says : "The payments to be made in wheat, pork or money, and payable one-fourth part every three months after date."
The next subscription bears date August 6, 1803, and expresses to be " for the purpose of employing a clergyman to preach in the said society agreeable to a vote of a meeting held August 5th."
The names of the clergymen who officiated prior to 1806 were Revs. Simons, March, Knight and Taggert.
In 1806 Rev. Moses Gillett, a graduate of Yale College, commenced his labors in this society, and on Wednesday, October 14, 1807. was in- stalled as pastor. The church was not then completed, and the work bench was used for pulpit, and temporary seats were brought in. The services were at eleven A. M., and as the records show the following ministers officiated, viz .: Rev. Oliver Wetmore made the opening
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prayer. Rev. James Eels, of Westmoreland, preached the sermon from I Timothy, 4, 16. Rev. Eliphalet Steele made the ordaining prayer. Rev. James Southworth, of Bridgewater, gave the charge. Rev. Israel Brainard, of Verona, gave the right hand of fellowship, and Rev. James Carnahan, of Utica (afterward president of Princeton Col- lege in New Jersey), the concluding prayer.
The society was then composed of the following members: Matthew Brown and Molly, his wife; Ebenezer Wright and Grace, his wife ; Gideon Butts and Anna, his wife; Joshua Hathaway and Elizabeth, his wife ; Timothy Jervis and Phebe, his wife; Hazel Strickland and Chloe, his wife; Samuel Dealing and Betsey, his wife; Daniel W. Knight ; Amos Jepherson and Sarah, his wife; Sara Colt, wife of Peter Colt ; wife of John W. Bloomfield ; Philomelia, wife of Benjamin Wright ; Zelpha, wife of Thomas Gilbert; Elizabeth, wife of Stephen Hayes; Jane, wife of Thomas Selden ; Esther, widow of William Col- braith ; Polly, wife of Samuel Edes; Sally, wife of Thomas Moore ; Solomon Rich and his wife; Emma Dilla, wife of Ephraim Church ; Jonathan Covel; thirty in all.
When Mr. Gillett commenced his labors in 1806, the society had no church edifice. The meetings were held principally in the public school house, which then stood on the southeast corner of the West Park. Occasionally meetings of the society were held in the store of George Huntington & Co., and sometimes, as tradition says, they were held in the barn of Seth Ranney, and sometimes in the ball room of the building where Rev. Dr. Stryker resided, that being then a hotel.
After Mr. Gillett commenced his labors here, the society felt as if an edifice was needed, and accordingly in December, 1806, a subscrip- tion paper, bearing date the 30th of that month, was started, That original document is in the hand writing of George Huntington and commences as follows: "Whereas, the inhabitants of the First Re- ligious Society in the town of Rome have agreed to build a church or
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meeting house, either on the lot situated on the westerly side and ad- joining the public square in the village of Rome, or on a lot situated on the easterly side and adjoining said square, and that the subscrib- ers, at a meeting duly warned, shall determine on which of said lots the meeting house shall be erected; the said meeting house to be of the dimensions of 42 feet by 55 feet, to be constructed and fin- ished according to a draft or plan drawn by Benjamin Wright, esq., the building committee that shall be appointed, to have the power to alter the plan of said meeting house as to dispense with the inside pillars. They may also vary the plan of finishing as they may judge expedient to save expense, or to render the building more useful or convenient to the society."
Then follows an agreement to pay the sums subscribed, one-fourth on the first day of June, September, December, 1807, and February, 1808, for the purpose of purchasing of Dominick Lynch the lot to be designated, and for erecting and finishing said building. The commit- tee not to proceed until the sum is subscribed which they think suffi- cient to finish it or until said trustees shall have a full and unincum- bered title to the lot. And to induce large subscriptions it is agreed that, " as soon as may be after the erection and completion of said meeting house, the trustees shall offer for sale to the highest bidder at public vendue, the right to the pews respectively, subject to such rents, restrictions, conditions and regulations as said trustees shall direct," etc
The lot was purchased for $180, and the deed for the same is on parchment, "indented," and bears date August 24, 1807, and is from Dominick Lynch and Jane, his wife, to " The Trustees of the First Re- ligious Society of Rome." The lot is 198 feet on Court street and 200 feet deep.
There being a deficiency in the foregoing subscription, another paper was drawn up bearing date May 11, 1808, by which the required sum was raised.
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After Mr. Gillett's resignation the pulpit was supplied by Revs. D. Cary, B. W. Dwight, and E. O. Dunning, each acting only a short period. March 10, 1841, Rev. Selden Haines was installed pastor.
On the 12th of January, 1831, a second church was organized and Rev. Jacob Heffenstein was installed its pastor. He was succeeded by Rev. Avelyn Sedgwick, August, 1833 ; Rev. Theodore Spencer, May, 1837 ; Rev. Herman Norton, September, 1838; Rev. Benjamin H. Campbell, March, 1840; Rev. Charles Jones, July, 1841 ; Rev. George . S. Boardman, July, 1843, who continued until 1846. After this long period of usefulness, it was determined for financial reasons to unite these two churches. To facilitate this measure the pastors of the two, Revs. Haines and Boardman, resigned and the union was effected June 12, 1847. The church building of the second society on Washington street was sold to the Welsh Methodists.' The united church was sup- plied during the vacancy in the pastorate by Revs. George C. Lucas, George Bushnell, and W. F. Williams. August 2, 1848, Rev. William E. Knox was installed. The present house of worship was dedicated January 19, 1853. Rev. Dr. Knox resigned his charge November 5, 1869, after which the pulpit was supplied nine months by Rev. Howard Kingsbury. Rev. Peter Stryker, D. D., began his labors as pastor in October, 1870, and was installed November 16, following. He was succeeded by the present pastor, Rev. Dr. James H. Taylor. The membership of the church is nearly 500.
The Baptist Church .- Following is an extract from the records of this church :
In the summer and autumn of the year of our Lord 1817, several of the members of the different Baptist churches, residing in Rome and its vicinity, became impressed with the idea that it would promote the declarative glory of God, the honor of the Redeemer's kingdom, and their own happiness, if God, in His providence, should so order as to have a church formed amongst then.
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A conference was accordingly held at Wright Settlement on Octo- ber 23, 1817, and the result was, as stated, " that there appeared to be ground to build upon, and material with which to build, without inter- fering with any other church or society." Other meetings and coun - cils were held and on December 10, 1817, it was voted, "to give the brothers and sisters fellowship as a sister church, in token of which Elder Elon Galusha, in behalf of the council, gave the right hand of fellowship."
The society thus formed consisted of seventeen members, over whom Elder Dyer Starks became the first pastor and continued several years. Following him were Elders Jacobs and Douglass, and David Morris, of whom the latter continued ten years. The pastors since have been John Gibbs, Emerson Andrews, H. C. Vogell, David Bellamy, J. W. Harris, and H. H. Peabody, who assumed the charge in 1870. For more than twenty-five years he has faithfully and successfully ministered to his flock. The corner stone of the first church edifice was laid Sep- tember 13, 1826, and for more than forty years after its completion meetings were there held. The corner stone of the present handsome stone structure was laid September 13, 1872; it is built of Potsdam sandstone.
Zion Church (Episcopal) .- A meeting was held at the court house in Rome August 15, 1825, at which Rev. Algernon S. Hollister was chair- man, and Hiram Denio, secretary. There an act of incorporation was drawn and a society organized under the name of Zion Church, Rome. Jay Hathaway and Henry Hayden were chosen wardens, and Numa Leonard, Hiram Denio, Horatio N. Carr, James B. Read, James A. Canfield, Richard Butler, and Peter White, vestrymen. Rev. Mr. Hol- lister took pastoral charge of the society and preached in the court house during the ensuing year. The original communicants were Mr. Butler, Mr. Canfield and Miss A. L. Hathaway. The lower story of the Masonic Hall, corner of Washington and Liberty streets, was soon
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engaged for the use of the church for eight years. At the opening of this chapel on a Sunday early in 1826, Rev. Marcus A. Perry preached, and the next day Rt. Rev. John Henry Hobart, bishop of the diocese, which then included the whole of this State, preached in the chapel, confirmed fourteen persons, and baptized two children. Mr. Perry assumed charge of the congregation August 1, 1826, and preached one year alternately with Holland Patent. Zion church Sunday school was organized June 3, 1827, with Rev. M. A. Perry in charge. Thirty five scholars were in attendance, and the teachers were Jay Hathaway, M. Rowley, and L. Hathaway for boys, and A. L. Hathaway, R. Judd, A. Gates, and M. Healy for girls.
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