USA > New York > Genesee County > Our county and its people : a descriptive and biographical record of Genesee County, New York, v. 2 > Part 4
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Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42
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OUR COUNTY AND ITS PEOPLE.
Matilda Wedge, who began teaching in Bethany in 1808, is generally believed to have had the first school in that town. Aaron Bailey was the first teacher at Linden, beginning his school there in 1828. In 1839 the Genesee Manual Labor Seminary in Bethany was incorporated with a capital of twenty thousand dollars. Among the principals of this then novel institution were R. Whiting, who served from 1834 to 1841, and Joseph Hurty, who continued the school from 1841 to 1844.
The earliest school in Byron, if the records are correct, was that opened in 1810 or 1811 by Chester T. Holbrook. Nothing certain is now known of any other early schools in that town.
The first school house in Darien was erected in 1811 or 1812, but just where it stood or who presided therein as instructor is something which the present or future generations probably never will know.
Chester Scott settled in the town of Elba in 1817 and taught the first school there. The year in which it was opened cannot be ascertained. It is referred to, however, in 1-20.
Esther Sprout's school, established in Stafford in 1806, is reputed to have been the first in that town. A little later Richard Radley con- ducted a private school in the building east of the Episcopal church. Between 1830 and 1835 a cobblestone school house was erected in the northwestern part of the town. It is still standing.
The earliest known teacher in Pavilion was Laura Terrill (or Tyrrell). When she opened her school is not known, but is believed to have been during the War of 1812. Other early teachers were Daniel Walker, Louis Moon, Mary Hill and Rodema Judd.
In 1811 Anna Horton began teaching in Pembroke. Hers doubtless was the first school opened in that town. Little is known of any other early schools.
We now come to the modern public school systems of the county and to other educational institutions which now flourish or have existed up to a comparatively recent period.
THE SCHOOL SYSTEM OF BATAVIA.
Among the early school records of the town of Batavia is a deed from Nathan Rumsey to Simeon Cummings and Libbeus Fish, dated September 2, 1811, conveying the premises formerly occupied by Mrs. Haseall, commonly known as the "old brick school house," now form- ing a part of Ross street at its intersection with Main street. This brick building was completed in 1811 or 1812. The lower floor was
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arranged for occupancy as a public school, while the upper rooms were finished off for meetings of the local Masonic lodge. This building was the first brick structure west of the Genesee river.
The first school meeting was held in this building December 1, 1813, under an act of the State Legislature passed in June, 1812, to establish common schools. School district No. 2 of the town of Batavia then included "all that part of the village of Batavia, east of an alley on the east side of lot 16, and on a line running south from the south end of said alley to the southern boundary of said village, the north half of lots 7, 9 and 11, sec. 8; north third of lot 1, sec. 12: lots No. 8, 10 and 12, sec. 8; lots No. 8, 9, 10, 11 and 12, sec. 9; lots No. 2, 4 and 6, sec. 13, T. 12, R. I."
The first "warning," issued by John Z Ross, Ebenezer Mix and Isaiah Babcock, commissioners of schools for the town of Batavia, was dated November 25, 1813, and read as follows:
To Simeon Cummings: You are hereby required and directed to warn all the freeholders or taxable inhabitants of Dist. No. 2. a description whereof is above given, to meet at the Brick School House, in said district, on Wednesday the first . day of December next, at one o'clock, P. M., by virtue of an Act entitled " an Act for the establishment of Common Schools."
Pursuant to this order Mr. Cummings issued a warning to the fol- lowing persons :
Aaron Van Cleve, Jobn Hickox, Ebenezer Cary. Trumbull Cary, David MeCracken, Horace Gibbs, Richard Smith, Burrage Bristoll. Aden Glass, John S. Leonard, Baker Leonard, Nathan Graham, Sylvenus Graham, Ethan B. Allen, John Z. Ross, Charles Eggleston, Oliver Smith, Rufus Hart, Russell A. Dickenson, Winter Hewitt. Samuel Latham, Damel B. Brown, Ephraim Brown, Elsha C. Hickox. Enoch Bakt- win, Benjamin Graham, Peter Powers, John Glass, Dodridge Loomis, James Coch- ran, Libbeus Fish, Patrick Powers, Oswald Williams, James Williams, Samuel Houghton, Libbeus Perkins, Uriah Debow, Robert Wilson, John De Wolf, Roswell Graham, Benjamin Porter, Ebenezer Mix, Benjamin Blodgett.
At the first school meeting, held pursuant to the notice thus given, Simeon Cummings, Libbeus Fish and Daniel B. Brown were chosen trustees of the district, Richard Smith was chosen clerk, and James Cochran collector. They served until the annual meeting of 1815. From that time to March 1829, when the district was divided, the fol- lowing served as trustees:
1815, Libbeus Fish, David C. Miller, Benjamin Allen.
1816. Simeon Cummings, George W. Harris, Oswald Williams. 1817. John Z. Ross, Aaron Van Cleve, Ilorace Gibbs.
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OUR COUNTY AND ITS PEOPLE.
1818-1819, Richard Smith, Benjamin Allen, Oswald Williams.
1820, Libbens Fish. Ephraim Chapin, Benjamin Allen.
1891. Simeon Cummings, Johnson Goodwill, Oswald Williams.
1822, Johnson Goodwill. John Z. Ross, John Allen.
1823, William Seaver. Simeon Cummings, John Allen. 1824, Trumbull Cary, Phineas L. Tracy, Orange Allen.
1825-1826, Henry Brown, Daniel H. Chandler, Samnel Graves.
1827, John A. Coffin, Nahum Loring, Lawrence Wilks. 1828, Samuel D. Green, Elijah Lathrop, James Allen.
At a public meeting held at the brick school house March 28, 1829, the following resolution was unanimously adopted :
"That the School District be divided at some point to accommodate the inhabit- ants of the district, and that four persons be chosen as a Committee to aid the Trustees, and that Hinman Holden, George W. Lay, Horace Gibbs and Oswald Williams be said Committee."
In accordance with the recommendation of this committee and the trustees, the district was divided at the annual school meeting held October 12. 1829, by the passage of a resolution reading as follows:
All that part west of the street or alley called . Dingle Alley," or Centre street, running between the house of Clement Carpenter and the blacksmith's shop stand- ing on James Cochran's land north, and running sonth across Genesee street between the lands owned on the northeast corbier by Chauncey Kirkham, and the land or house how owned by Mrs. Jacob S Otto, to be known aud distinguished as School District No. 12, and all that part of the old district lying east of the said streets to be still known and distinguished as School District No 2.
After the division of the district the following served as trustees of school district No. 2.
1829, Trumbull Cary, Silas Finch, John Lowber.
1930, Libbens Fish, David Gardner, Joel Dun.
1831, Elisha Parmalec, Chauncey Kirkham, James P. Smith.
1832, Aaron Van Cleve, John Lowber, John Allen.
1833, Nathan Follett, E. C. Dibble, Jonathan Lay.
183-1, William Fitch, Joseph W. Coffin, Simeon Cummings.
1835, Phineas L. Tracy, Luther Barker, Homer Kimberly.
1836-1839, Ira Belden, Oswald Williams, David N. Tuttle.
1840, Chauncey Kirkham, Phineas Moffett, Preston Durant.
1841, James P. Smith, Levi Barnes, Stephen Tuttle.
1842-1846, Homer Kimberly, Daniel D. Waite, Onan Dustin.
In 1839 Judge Taggart, one of the foremost champions of the cause of education for many years, made an effort to establish a union school system in Batavia. He drew up an act consolidating the two districts, which passed the State Legislature; but the inhabitants of Batavia evi-
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dently were not quite prepared to take this important step, and they voted down a resolution to raise by taxation the money necessary to perfect the plan of consolidation. But seven years later, December 28. 1846, the inhabitants of the two districts, having voted for consolidation and the establishment of a union school system, eleeted these trustees : Daniel D. Waite, three years ; Benjamin Pringle, two years; Augustus Cowdin, one year. Branon Young was elected clerk, John Griswold collector, and Isaac MI. Joslyn librarian. March 20, 1827, Joseph Nixon had conveyed to David Evans, Trumbull Cary and John R. Cotes, Jr., as trustees of the Batavia Academy, the old academy lot adjoining St. James church. Here was established, at first, a select academy. Among the early instructors were Joseph Nixon, Robert Hoag and others. But in 1829 this property came into possession of the trustees of school district No. 2, and was occupied as a school house from 1829 to 1848, when the consolidation of the districts took place. There is in existence no records of the trustees of this old district, as far as can be ascertained.
January 20, 1847, the site of the first union school house was located on a lot on Liberty street known as the John Lowber lot. By an act of the Legislature passed March 28, 1847, the taxable inhabitants of con- solidated school district No. ? were authorized to raise money by tax for the purchase of a site and the building of a new school house. April 6 following it was voted to raise the sum of $5, 500 for the purchase of a site and the erection of a new building for the union school. The new building was occupied as a school house in the fall of that year, and during the year following the old brick school house and the academy building were sold and the proceeds employed toward paying for the new structure on Liberty street. The first appropriation, with the pro- ceeds of this sale, proving inadequate, September 25, 1849, $1,250 additional was voted to pay the debt and complete the building. No- vember 3, 1853, the inhabitants voted that the school should be free and known as The Batavia Union Free School District No. 2. The number of trustees was also increased to six. From the date of the organization of the Union school to the establishment of the free school, the following served as trustees:
1847, David D. Waite, Benjamin Pringle, Wm. S. Mallory.
1849-1850, Benjamin Pringle, Junius A. Smith, Daniel D. Waite.
1:51, Daniel D. Waite, Elias Foote, Corneal Ganson.
1852, Elias Foote, Asa \. Flint. Alexander Smith.
1853, Homer Kimberly, Charles T. Buxton, James A. Olds.
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OUR COUNTY AND ITS PEOPLE.
The development of the educational system of Batavia since the founding of the union free school in 1853 has been remarkable. Public interest was awakened about that time, and many efforts were made to improve the facilities of the school. In 1861, in conformity to an appli- cation therefor made by Seth Wakeman, Jarvis R. Smith, H. M. Warren, George Babcock and other trustees, the Regents of the University of the State of New York established an academical department in the school. The school continued to grow and improve in other ways. In October, 1866, school district No. 1, at the east end of the village, united with the union free school. April 25, 1872, at a largely attended public meeting held at Ellicott hall, the site for a new school house, embracing three acres of land near the geographical centre of the dis- trict was adopted by a vote of 178 to 62, and at the same time the sum of $50,000 was appropriated for the purchase of the site and the erec- tion of the new building. June 13 the board of education appointed H. I. Glowacki, H. U. Howard and John F. Lay a building committee to superintend the erection of the new edifice. July 17 following the site was purchased of Mrs. Tomlinson for $4,500.
In the meantime the enemies to educational progress had been at work. As the result of their appeal, Hon. A. B. Weaver, then state superintendent of public instruction, on July 11, the day the site was purchased, set aside, as irregular, the procecdings of the meeting at which the sum of $50,000 had been voted. But the friends of educa- tion were now thoroughly aroused, and at a second public meeting, held August 1, 1822, the same site was again adopted by a vote of 192 to 167, and the sum of $40,000, together with the proceeds arising from the sale of the school house on Liberty street, was voted to be used to pay for the site already purchased and for the erection of a new building. In October the name of John Fisher was added to the building com- mittee.
During the summer of 1872 the building committee had inspected a large number of new school buildings located in various places. After careful consideration they finally adopted the plans submitted by A J. Warner of Rochester. Work upon the structure was begun that fall, but the severe weather of the ensuing winter caused delay until spring. In the meantime the board of education awarded the contract for the erection of the building to John Dellinger, for $40,840. At the annual meeting held in October, 18:3, the further sum of $25,000 was voted to complete the structure. In June, 1874, the term closed at the union
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school house on Liberty street, and thenceforward it ceased to be used for school purposes, having been occupied from 1848 to 1864.
The new building was opened on September 1, 1874. The dedicatory services were of unusual interest. Among those present were Dr. S. B. Woolworth, secretary of the Regents of the University of the State of New York, who delivered an address which was most appropriate to the occasion ; Hon. L. A. Haywood of Warsaw ; Judge Bangs of Le Roy; R. L. Selden, school commissioner of Genesee county ; Dr. A. D. Lord, superintendent of the State Institution for the Blind; Prof. H. B. Buck- ham of the Buffalo State Normal School; Prof. Briggs of Buffalo; Prof. N. F. Wright, a former principal of the school; M. C. Richardson, ed- itor of the Lockport Journal ; Judge Richard P. Marvin of Chautauqua county; Rev. W. Mallory, Rev. J. E. Bills, Hon. John Fisher, Judge Soper, William Tyrrell, William C. Watson; John H. Yates, a former pupil of the union school who delivered a poem untitled " The Living Age," and many others. Several highly interesting addresses were made. At their conclusion Major H. I. Glowacki, president of the board of education, delivered the key of the building to Prof. Gardner Fuller, principal of the school. This ended the exercises of the day.
With the completion of the commodious building on Ross street, it was the prevalent belief in Batavia that the school accommodations in the county seat were not only greater than necessary, but also that many years would elapse before any considerable increase in the ac- commodations would be necessary. How faulty these conclusions were is shown by the fact that within fifteen years the number of public school buildings within the district had been increased from one to seven. These schools are as follows: The schools on Pringle avenue, Washington avenue, Pearl street, West Main street, East Main street and William street.
The first of these schools was that located on Pringle avenue, which was erected in 1883 at a cost of over eight thousand dollars. Two years later the Washington avenue school was built. In 1887 the inhabitants of school district No. 4 in the town of Batavia voted in favor of consol- idation with union free school district No. 2, and soon after the neces- sary steps for the union were taken. The school building then in use, a frame structure, still remains in use, though remodeled and enlarged, the only frame building in the district, the others being of brick. The school facilities of the district were still further increased in 1891 by the construction of three new school buildings, located respectively on
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OUR COUNTY AND ITS PEOPLE.
West Main street, East Main street and William street. These addi- tions to the educational facilities of Batavia complete the public school system of Batavia, undoubtedly as excellent from every standpoint as that of any other village of equal size in the country, and superior from many view points to that of many villages or cities containing a much greater population.
Upon the organization of the union free school district in 1853 the number of trustees was increased from three to six. Since that year the various school boards have been constituted as follows:
1853-E. C. Dibble, presilent; Horace MI. Warren, clerk; Homer Kimberly, Charles T. Buxton, James A. Olds, Rufus Robertson.
1854-E. C. Dibble, president; H. M. Warren, clerk; Homer Kimberly, Charles T. Buxton, Rufus Robertson, James A. Olds.
1855-Homer Kimberly, president; H. M. Warren. clerk; James A. Olds, Augus- tus Cowdin, Rufus Robertson, Charles T. Buxton.
1856-Homer Kimberly, president; H. M. Warren, clerk; Charles T. Buxton, James A. Olds, Augustus Cowdin, Rufus Robertson.
1857-Homer Kimberly, president; H. M. Warren, clerk and treasurer; G. B. Worthington, Charles T. Buxton. Augustus Cowdin, James A Olds.
IN58-Homer Kimberly, president; H. M. Warren, elerk and treasurer; Jarvis R. Smith, S. Wakeman, G. B. Worthington, Charles T. Buxton.
1959-Seth Wakeman, president; H. M. Warren, clerk and treasurer; G. B. Worthington, George Babcock, Augustus Cowdin, Jarvis R. Smith.
1860-Seth Wakeman, president; H. M. Warren, clerk and treasurer; John Fisher, George Babcock, Augustus Cowdin, Jarvis R. Smith.
1861-Seth Wakeman, president; H. M. Warren, secretary and treasurer; John T. Carr, D. W. Tomlinson, George Babcock, Augustus Cowdin.
1962-Seth Wakeman, president, H. M. Warren, secretary; Charles T. Buxton, treasurer; John Fisher, D. W. Tomlinson, Augustus Cowdin.
1863-Seth Wakeman, president; II MI. Warren, secretary ; Charles T. Buxton, treasurer; Augustus Cowdin, D. W. Tomlinson, John Fisher.
1864-Seth Wakeman, president; 11. M. Warren, secretary; Charles T. Buxton, treasurer; D). W. Tomlinson, John Fisher, Augustus Cowdin.
1865-Seth Wakeman, president; II. M. Warren, secretary; Charles T. Buxton, treasurer; M. II. Bierce, Wilber Smith, D. W. Tomlinson.
1866-Seth Wakeman, president; II. M. Warren, secretary; Charles T. Buxton, treasurer: D. W. Tomlinson, M HI Bieree, Wilber Smith.
1867-D. W. Tomlinson, president ; HI. M. Warren, secretary ; Tracy Pardee, treas. urer ; H. 1. Głowacki, M. H. Bierce, Wilber Smith.
1868-D). W. Tomlinson, president; H. M. Warren, secretary; Tracy Pardee, treasurer; Joseph C. Wilson, William Casey, H. I. Głowacki.
1869-H. I. Głowacki, president; William Casey, secretary; Joseph C. Wilson, H. U. Iloward, S. U. Main, Tracy Pardee.
1870-H. I. Głowacki, president; William Casey, secretary, Joseph C. Wilson, W. T. Bliss, H. U. Howard, S. U. Main
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1871-H. I. Głowacki, president; John F. Lay, secretary ; H. U. Howard, S. U. Main, W. T. Bliss, Miles H. Blerce.
1812-H. I. Glowacki, president; John F. Lay, secretary; H. U. Howard, S. U. Main, John Fisher, M. H. Bierce.
1813-H I. Glowacki, president; John F. Lay, secretary; II. U. Howard. S. U. Main, M. H. Bierce. N. A. Woodward.
1874-H. I. Glowacki, president; John F. Lay, secretary; H. U. Howard, S. U. Main, John Fisher, N. A. Woodward.
1875-H. 1. Głowacki, president; John F. Lay, secretary; H. U. Howard, William C. Watson, Nathan A. Woodward. John Fisher.
1876-President, John Fisber; secretary, John F. Lay; Hayden U. Howard, Will- iam C. Watson, Daniel W. Tomlinson, Horace S. Hutchins, M D.
1877-President, Hayden U. Howard; secretary, John F. Lay; H. S Hutchins, William C. Watson, D. W. Tomlinson, Wilber Smith.
1478-President, H. S. Hutchins; secretary, John F. Lay ; Wilber Smith, D. W. Tomlinson, Theron F. Woodward, George Wiard.
1979-President, H. S. Hutchins; secretary, John F. Lay; George Wiard, T. F. Woodward, M. H. Bierce, Wilber Smith.
1850-President. H S. Hutchins, clerk, Wayne H. Parsons; George Wiard. I). W. Tomlinson, T. F. Woodward, Carlos A. Hull, Miles H. Bierce.
1881-President, H. S. Hutchins, clerk, Marcus L. Babcock ; George Wiard, M. H. Bierce, Carlos A Hull, Wayne I. Parsons, William C. Watson.
1882-President, H. S. Hutchins, clerk, Marcus L. Babcock; George Wiard, Car- los A. Hull, Edward F. Wood, Wayne H. Parsons.
1883-President, H. S. Hutchins: clerk, Marcus L. Babcock; George Wiard, Wayne H. Parsons, Edward F. Wood. John Holley Bradish, Robert B. Pease.
1881-President, H. S. Hutchins; clerk, Marcus L. Babcock and J. W. Le Seur ; Robert B. Pease, Levant C. MeIntyre, George Wiard, Edward F. Wood, J. Holley Bradish.
1885-President, George Wiard; clerk, Philander P. Bradish; L. C. Mcintyre, J. H. Bradish, Mrs. Adelaide R. Kenny, Mrs. Marion E. Sheffield, R. B. Pease.
1856-President, George W:ard : clerk, P. P. Bradish; L. C. MeIntyre, Mrs. Ade- laide R. Kenny, Mrs. Mario :. E. Sheffield, Robert B. Pease, J. H. Bradish.
1897-Pre-ident, George Wiard; cleik, P. P. Bradish; L. C. McIntyre, R. B. Pease, Mrs. A. R. Kenny, Mrs. M. E. Sheffield, J. HI. Bradish.
1888-President, George Wiard; clerk. P. P. Bradish, Mrs. A. R. Kenny, Mrs. Emily Tozier, R. B. Pease. L. C. McIntyre, J. Il. Bradish.
1889-President, George Wiard, clerk, P. P. Bradish; Mrs. Emily Tozier, Mrs. A. R. Kenny, John M. M.Kenzie, L. C. McIntyre, J. II. Bradish.
1890-President, D. W. Tomlinson ; clerk. P. P. Bradish, Mrs. Emily Tozier, Mrs. A. R. Kenny, John M Mckenzie, R. B. Pease. J. H. Bradish.
1891-President, D. W Tomlinson; clerk, P. P. Bradish; Julian J. Washburn, Hobart B. Cone, John M. Mckennie, J. H. Bradish, R. B. Pease.
1892-President, D. W. Tomlinson; clerk, P. P. Bradish; J. Il. Bradish, J. M. Mckenzie, J. J. Washburn, R. B. Pease, H. B. Cone.
1893-President, D. W. Tomlinson; clerk, P. P. Bradish; J. J. Washburn, R. B Pease, J. H. Bradish, J. M. Mckenzie, II. B. Cone.
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1894-President, D. W. Tomlinson; clerk, P. P. Bradish; J. M. Mckenzie, R B. Pease, J. H. Bradish, J. J. Washburn, II. B. Cone.
1595 -- Presalent, D. W. Tomlinson ; clerk, P. P. Bradish; J. H. Bradish, J M. Mckenzie, H. B. Cone, J. J. Washburn, R. B. Pease.
1896-President, D. W. Tomlinson; clerk, P. P. Bradish; H. B. Cone, J H. Bradish, R. B. Pease, J. J. Washburn, J. M. M. Kenzie.
1597-President, D. W. Tomlinson; clerk, P. P. Bradish; H. B. Cone, J. H. Bradish, R B. Pease, J. J. Washburn, J. M. Mckenzie.
1898-President, D. W. Tomlinson; clerk. P. P. Bradish; H. B. Cone, J H. Bradish, R. B. Pease. J. J. Washburn, J. M. Mckenzie.
OTHER SCHOOLS.
The union free school system of Le Roy was organized in 1890. Thursday evening, Angust 21. 1890, the taxpayers and voters of school districts No. 1, 3, 4 and 10 of the town of Le Roy met in the opera house in Le Roy according to a call of the school trustees of the dis- tricts mentioned for the purpose of forming a union free school district. The following officers of the meeting were selected without opposition : Chairman, S. W. Skinner; secretary, Edwin D. Shepard; tellers, Frank E. Chaddock, W. E. Humelbaugh ; inspectors. Melvin N. King, Stephen Loucks. Twenty-six voters were present from District No. 1, twenty- eight from No. 2, thirty from No. 4, and one hundred from No. 10. The resolution for consolidation was adopted by a vote of 298 to 81. August 29 another meeting was held, when the following trustees were elected to serve the union district : For one year, Arthur M. Artman, William Huyck; two years, Butler Ward, Archibald Sinclair; three years, S. W. Skinner, F. T. Wilcox, John Maloney. Prof. Charles T. Brace was elected principal of the new school in 1891, its first year, and Miss Emma Henderson assistant principal. In the meantime the new district had purchased the building formerly occupied by the Le Roy Academic Institute, which was occupied in 1891. In 1893 Prof. R. A. Kneeland was chosen principal to succeed Prof. Brace, who had re- signed. Miss Henderson acted as principal for two years after Prof. Brace's retirement, and she in turn was succeeded by Prof. J. C. Bene- diet, who is still principal. In 1898 a commodious addition, of stone, was erected on the east side of the old academy building for the accom - modation of the rapidly increasing number of students.
The Oakfield union free school was organized at a meeting held Jan- uary 3, 1891, at which B. J. Chapman acted as chairman and George A. Isaac as secretary. The resolution to form a union free school district
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was adopted by a vote of ninety-five to forty-one, and the following were elected the first trustees: John W. Heal, one year; Messrs. Hawes and Stevens, two years; Messrs. Griffin and Wright, three years. The building, upon which work was begun soon after the formation of the district, is a handsome brick structure of two stories, cost about seven thousand dollars, and has accommodations for about one hundred and fifty pupils. When the formation of the union district had been accom- plished, the Regents of the University of the State of New York granted the application for a charter, making it a junior academic school. In connection with the school is a library of over six hundred volumes. Prof. Ray M. Lowry, who served the school as principal until 1897, was succeeded in that year by Prof. A. H. Downey.
The union school of Bergen was organized at a meeting held August 8, 1893, at which A. Arnold presided as chairman and D. J. McPherson acted as secretary. The resolution adopted provided "that a union free school be established within the limits of joint school district No. 7, in the towns of Bergen and Riga.". August 15 H. H. Wilcox and D. J. McPherson were elected trustees for three years, Mrs. Spencer Wilcox and Mrs. S. E. Spencer for two years, and H. L. Gage and J. S. Gleason for one year. The school was admitted to the University of the State of New York in January, 1894. E. A. Ladd is principal of the school. For several years a private school known as the Bergen High School was conducted in Bergen by B. F. Hamilton.
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