USA > New York > Monroe County > Rochester > Settlement in the West : sketches of Rochester with incidental notices of western New-York > Part 30
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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 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48
This association was organized in November, 1836. There are several auxiliaries in the county, and the whole number of members now is about 2000. The President is
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SKETCHES OF ROCHESTER, ETC.
Frederic Starr ; Vice-president, Seth C. Jones ; Secretary, E. D. Smith ; Treasurer, James Seymour ; Managers, Wal- ter S. Griffith, William W. Reid, and Ashbel W. Riley. The City Temperance Society, one of the auxiliaries, em- braces about 600 members.
The spirit with which the temperance cause has been ad- vocated in Rochester, from the period of the earliest orga- nized movements down to the present time, may be gathered from the statements already furnished.
Rochester Anti-Slavery Society.
At the election for officers on the 4th of January, 1838, the following persons were elected :
Lindley M. Moore, President ; George A. Avery, Silas Cornell, Russell Greene, O. N. Bush, David Scoville, Vice- presidents ; Oren Sage, Treasurer ; S. D. Porter, Corre- sponding Secretary ; E. F. Marshall, Recording Secretary.
A state convention, in accordance with the objects of this society, was held at the courthouse in Rochester on the 10th and 11th days of January, 1838.
Whatever diversity of opinion may exist among the citi- zens as to the expediency of the course pursued by such as- sociations as the above, it is worthy of notice that Rochester has never been disgraced by any such mobs or riots as have attended the discussion of the " Abolition Question" in many places throughout the land.
Masonic Institutions
Have ceased to exist in Rochester or the surrounding country.
Wells Lodge of Master Masons was installed in 1817; Hamilton Royal Arch Chapter in 1819 ; and a Knight Tem- plar's Encampment in August, 1826; but all were abol- ished by a surrendering of their charters to the Grand Lodge, in consequence of the discussions arising from the outrage on William Morgan. This surrendering occurred in 1829. It was the first movement of the kind ever made, and had great effect in producing a general abolition of the masonic societies in this region. Many of our prominent citizens, who were members of the masonic institution, united pub- licly in assigning the reasons which influenced them to adopt this conciliatory course ; and those reasons were published in an address that appeared in pamphlet form and through the newspapers in the winter of 1829.
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IMPROVEMENT OF SOCIETY.
Theatres and Circuses
Cannot now be found in Rochester. The buildings formerly erected for such purposes were years ago turned to other objects. The theatre was converted into a livery-stable, and the circus into a chandler's shop.
The distaste for such exhibitions that prevails in New- England has much influence here, where the population is so largely composed of emigrants from that region.
It is earnestly hoped that vigorous efforts will be made by the citizens to strengthen the literary and scientific insti- tutions which are now seeking to furnish means of rational amusement, as well as of solid improvement, to the rising generation particularly ; that thus the facilities may be les- sened for establishing in our city attractions less calculated to better the condition of society. Prevention would, in this case, emphatically be preferable to any attempted remedy. Prosperous as are now many of those who have aided to make Rochester WHAT IT IS, it cannot be doubted that they will liberally sustain all well-directed efforts towards render- ing Rochester WHAT IT OUGHT TO BE when the present gen- eration shall have passed away-when the sons of those who built the city shall fill the places of their fathers.
Abolition of Imprisonment for Debt and of Special Legisla- tion respecting Banking.
It may not be considered amiss to state, in connexion with the foregoing facts respecting the efforts made at Rochester for the improvement of the condition of society, that the peo- ple of this city were among the foremost in arousing atten- tion to the above subjects. On both questions the organized, energetic, and persevering movements made hereabout may be ranked among the most powerful means which contribu- ted to the passage of the Non-Imprisonment Act and the General Banking Law ; two of the most important measures in the policy of this state.
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SEMINARIES OF ROCHESTER.
THE present condition of institutions reflecting such credit on the city induces us to mention some particulars connected with their origin, as illustrative of the cheering re- sults which usually crown well-directed efforts (on the part of even few persons) in enterprises of this nature.
The act to incorporate the Rochester High-school was passed in March, 1827. By it the two school districts on the east side of the river, in the limits of the then village corpo- ration, were constituted into one; and twelve trustees, resi- ding within those limits, were appointed, whose corporate ex- istence is perpetual. The act authorized the levy of a tax of $4000, in sums not exceeding $2000 in one year, for the purchase of a lot, &c. Under this act an institution was or- ganized ; a lot (12 acres) was purchased from Enos Stone ; and contracts were made for erecting a large stone edifice, to cost $5000. This is the present high-school building. In the construction and for other purposes, a greater sum was expended than was at first authorized. After several successive taxes, the debts constantly increasing rather than diminishing, and the experiment as a Lancasterian school growing very unsatisfactory to the inhabitants of the district, it was resolved, at a public meeting in 1835, that, having paid about $7000, and the debts being then about $4500, "the trustees be authorized to sell the property for the amount of the debts, if such a sum could be obtained." Under these circumstances, and when the property was likely to pass into private hands, one or two persons re- solved on an effort to raise the means and save the premises for literary purposes. A stock was accordingly made of $4500, in shares of $50 each ; which, after much effort, was taken up by about 60 persons. The debts being then paid, and the institution reorganized, a new day for the interests of education dawned upon Rochester-as consequent upon and growing out of the effort to save the High-school, was ; the raising of the money (also contributed as stock) for the establishment of the new and beautiful seminary for young ladies in Fitzhugh-street, of which Miss Jones is principal.
ROCHESTER HIGH SCHOOL. Built of stone. See account. The Rev Chester Doutor aringinal 1000
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SEMINARIES OF ROCHESTER.
Soon afterward (the impulse thus given being strongly in- dicated by public feeling), sufficient encouragement appear- ed to induce the erection of another female seminary by Miss Seward, on the eastern margin of the city-which, for convenience and location, is admirably situated. Particulars of these female seminaries may be found farther on.
Soon after the reorganization of the High-school, the Rev. Chester Dewey, professor of chymistry, botany, nat- ural philosophy, &c., in the Berkshire Medical Institute at Pittsfield, Massachusetts, was called to be its principal- Miss Mary B. Allen being principal of the female depart- ment, and Mr. Josiah Perry of the English department. Miss Allen (who, in consequence of ill health, removed to Charleston, South Carolina) has been succeeded by Miss M. M. Snow.
The High-school has now for some years ranked among the largest in the state in the number of its pupils and in the amount of money received from the regents of the universi- ty. 'The whole number of pupils in all the departments of this school are in some terms nearly 300; and it is be- lieved that in no institution in the state is the instruction more thoroughi or better fitted to the practical purposes of life. The High-school is built of stone, is 85 by 55 feet, three stories high, surinounted by a cupola and bell.
The Fitzhugh-street Female Seminary, on the west side of the river, is built of brick, and is every way pleasant in appearance and location. In the management of it Miss Jones is assisted by the Misses Doolittle. The improve- ments which have recently beautified the street so much, renders delightful the position of this school.
Miss Seward's Seminary is situated in Alexander-street, in the eastern part of the city. It is on elevated ground, commanding pleasant prospects in all directions. The ju- dicious arrangements of the building, and the taste displayed in the extensive garden around it, are worthy of particular notice.
The estimation in which these seminaries are held is suf- ficiently testified by the number of pupils from the surround- ing country and from Canada, as well as from among our resident population.
Representations of the different seminaries are herewith inserted-and farther particulars are given under the heads of the respective institutions.
1
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SKETCHES OF ROCHESTER, ETC.
Rochester High-school.
Rev. Chester Dewey, Principal of the Institution ; Josiah Perry, Principal of the English Department ; Miss M. M. Snow, Principal of the Young Ladies' Department.
This is one of the most flourishing and useful literary institutions in the state. The edifice, an ample stone structure of three stories, is pleasantly situated in a high and healthy part of the city. The grounds appropriated to the school, nearly two acres, have been planted with shrubbery, and will soon become very agreeable.
A valuable philosophical and chymical apparatus has been procured, which offers great advantages to students. Lectures on experimental philosophy are given in the first and second terms ; and on chymistry in the second or third term ; besides which, lectures on subjects of gen- eral interest are delivered semi-weekly to the whole school during a considerable part of the year.
The school receives a larger dividend of the literature fund than any academy in the state, with but one or two exceptions.
The school is divided into three apartments, each being under the instruction of a principal and as many assistants as are necessary.
The whole number of pupils for the academic year ending April, 1837, was, in the Classical and Mathematical Department, 101 ; in the English Department, 268 ; Young Ladies' Department, 193-total, 562.
The academic year is divided into three terms ; two of fifteen weeks each, commencing early in May and September ; and one of sixteen, commencing early in January.
The Rochester Female Academy
Stands on South Fitzhugh-street, and takes a high rank among the val- uable institutions of the city.
For a series of years the citizens of Rochester had been accustomed to schools of superior merit for the education of females. These schools, although the result of individual enterprise, were looked upon with much favour, and were at length considered as indispensable to the welfare of the community. In January, 1835, after the efforts made to sustain the Rochester High-school, it was resolved, at a meeting of the friends of education, that another building should be erected for scho- lastic purposes, and that the new edifice should be permanently appro- priated to the education of females. The citizens generally met the project with spirit, and directly sufficient money was subscribed to pur- chase a lot and erect the edifice. Able instructers were procured ; and in May, 1836, the school commenced with favourable auspices, under the name of " The Rochester Female Seminary."
In April, 1837, the institution was incorporated under the name of "The Rochester Female Academy." The act of incorporation is as liberal as could be desired. The lot is pleasantly and eligibly situated. The edifice is built in good taste, and its apartments are arranged with special regard to convenience. The second story is in one spacious hall for instruction and academical exercises. This is admirably lighted and ventilated, and, as a cheerful, pleasant room for study, will prob- ably bear a favourable comparison with any which has been constructed in the state.
The institution has from its beginning flourished under the care of its competent instructers, Miss J. H. Jones, and the Misses A. D. and
ROCHESTER FEMALE SEMINARY-(Miss J. H. Jones, principal, 1838).
A section of Fitzhugh-street, showing the above Seminary on the left side of the picture, shaded by trees. The building on the right represents a style which has been adopted in some of the newly-constructed dwellings, as well as publie buildings. The centre building serves as a representative
MISS SEWARD'S FEMALE SEMINARY. In Alexander-street. near the east line of the City of Rochester. See account.
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SEMINARIES OF ROCHESTER.
Julia Doolittle. It has three departments for study, with an average number of about ninety pupils. The course of studies is extensive, and the institution, like the High-school and Miss Seward's Seminary, com- mends itself to all who advocate for females thorough mental discipline and a finished solid education. The present trustees are James K. Liv- ingston, Moses Chapin, Elijah F. Smith, Jonathan Child, James Sey- mour, Henry B. Williams.
Alexander-street Female Seminary.
Miss Sarah T. Seward, Principal, and Teacher of Ethics and Meta- physics. Miss Philena Fobes, Teacher in Drawing, Painting, and Mathematics ; Miss Martha Raymond, Teacher in the French Lan- guage ; Miss Sarah C. Eaton, Teacher in Natural Science ; Miss Mary A. Thorpe, Teacher in the Primary Department ; Miss Julia R. Hall is also an assistant teacher. There is a teacher of Instrumental and Vocal Music. The average number of pupils is from 90 to 100, about half of whom board in the institution. The catalogue for the present term contains the names of 109 students.
The building for this school was erected in 1835. It is 60 feet deep and 64 front, including its wings, which are 22 feet square. It is three stories high, including a spacious basement, and contains about forty rooms. It is situated on a beautiful ridge of ground, and has about five acres arranged for playground and garden, with several hun- dred fruit and ornamental trees.
The academic year is divided into two terms of 22 weeks each. The winter term commences on the first Wednesday in November, the sum- mer term the last Wednesday in April.
There is an examination at the end of each term-the fall vacation lasts six weeks, and the spring two.
Lectures on history, botany, and elocution are delivered occasionally at the institution by professional gentlemen of the city.
This valuable seminary was erected and is sustained wholly through individual enterprise. " Our friends will recollect," says the late report, " that we have no legislative fund to aid us, nor trustees to be inter- ested in our success ; and our institution (if it deserves the name) is simply an individual effort to be useful."
Other Schools.
In addition to the seminaries already mentioned, there are several select schools in the city-the whole number of this class being eigh- teen. Besides these, there are' thirteen common school districts and two half districts within the city limits : in one of which districts a spacious and beautiful edifice has been erected-the building next north of St. Luke's Church-which might be advantageously used as a model for similar structures in other districts. When to all these seminaries are added the twenty Sabbath-schools, we think it needless to say more respecting the attention bestowed on education in Rochester.
It may be added, that a sum equal to the interest of $20,000 is an- nually contributed by a few citizens of Rochester for paying the salary of the President of Hamilton College, their late fellow-citizen, the Rev. Joseph Penney-a fact creditable to the institution and the individual that receive the benefaction, and to the enlightened and grateful liberal- ity of the donors.
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SKETCHES OF ROCHESTER, ETC.
THE BAR OF ROCHESTER.
It is a fact singularly illustrative of the changes which have marked the history of Western New-York, and particularly of the city of Ro- chester, that the gentleman who was first admitted to the bar of OLD ONTARIO-in 1790, when that county comprehended all that portion of the state westward of the Seneca Lake-is now a practising lawyer at the bar of a city within that territory which has now thirty-six resident lawyers, although that city had no existence even in name till nearly a quarter of a century after his admission to the bar of the county which formerly included the site of the city. We refer to VIN- CENT MATHEWS .*
The following communication will sufficiently explain the introduc- tion here of a portrait of that venerable citizen, who is probably the oldest practising lawyer in the state.
Tribute of Respect.
" The undersigned, members of the bar of the City of Rochester, desirous of testifying our respect for the character of General VINCENT MATHEWS as a citizen and as a jurist, hereby unite in requesting that a miniature portrait of that venerable lawyer may be inserted with the account of the legal profession in the 'Sketches of Rochester and Western New-York,' to defray the expense of which we hereby freely contribute the requisite amount.
" It may be remarked, that General Mathews was the first person ad- mitted to the bar of Ontario, which county then (about 1790) included that large section of the state west of Seneca Lake.
" The junior members of the Rochester bar some years ago caused a portrait of the aged jurist to be drawn and placed in the Courthouse of Monroe at Rochester. The senior members of the profession now cheerfully unite with their junior friends in causing a miniature portrait
* This veteran left Orange county for Newtown in Tioga (then Montgomery) about 1789, where he located for a while. He was admitted in 1790 to the Supreme Court of the State, and in the following year to the bars of Montgomery and Ontario-Oli- ver Phelps presiding at the time in the court of the latter county. Then there was no road but an Indian path between Newtown and Geneva-between Geneva and Canandaigua a road was " cut," but it was almost impassable. In the same year he was elected to the Assembly from Montgomery county-in 1792 he saw Captain Williamson at Bath, residing in a marquee, before a house was built in that quar- ter. About this time he travelled some distance in the wilderness to join Major Hardenberg and Moses De Witt while they were surveying the Military Tract ; and with them celebrated the "4th of July" where Aurora now is, with a wooden can- non well hooped for the patriotic purpose. He was for several years a commis- sioner, along with the late Judge Emot and Chancellor Lansing, for settling disputes growing out of the frauds of persons who sold patents for land in the Military Tract rather oftener than law or honesty allowed. In 1796 he was elected to the Stato Senate from what was then called the Western District, including all that portion of the state west of Schoharie, Montgomery, and Otsego. In 1809 he was chosen to represent his district in Congress, and was in the special session when Erskine's treaty was rejected, during the first year of Madison's presidency. In IS21 be settled at Rochester, where he has filleri several offices, such as assemblyman, district attor- ney, &c., and where his course has been such as to justify the good-will which his associates have here publicly manifested. As he yet lives (and may he be spared many years among us), we forbear from adding more than a brief acknowledgment of our indebtedness to him for many interesting matters which we may use farther in ampler accounts of the settlement of Western New-York.
ـهم
Faniel h & M
1
Un itt. 1.
A Tribute of Respect from his Assunates
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THE BAR OF ROCHESTER.
to be engraved in the best style of art for insertion in the above-men- tioned work."
The foregoing was signed by all the members of the profession now engaged at the Rochester bar. The names of the subscribers will be found alphabetically arranged below. The list includes that of Addison Gardiner, who resumed the practice of his profession on resigning the office of judge of the eighth district.
Attorneys in Rochester in 1838, alphabetically arranged.
Bishop, Wm. S. Green, Sanford M.
Montgomery, Wm. R.
Buchan, Patrick G.
Haight, Robert Mumford, George H.
Chapin, Moses
Hamilton, Theodore B. Nash, John C.
Chapin, Graham H.
Hastings, Orlando
Pratt, Abner
Delano, M. F.
Hills, Isaac
Rochester, Henry E.
Doolitle, James R.
Humphrey, Harvey
Samson, Ashley
Eastman, Joseph A.
Lee, Charles M.
Selden, Samuel L.
Elwood, Isaac R. Lee, E. Smith
Smith, E. Darwin
Gardiner, Addison
Leonard, Hiram
Smith, Erastus P.
Gay, Horace
[Mathews, Vincent]
Stevens, Hestor L.
Gilbert, Jasper W.
Mathews, Selah
Wentworth, Ariel
Grant, Simon H.
Miller, Samuel
Wheeler, Ephraim B.
Whittlesey, Frederic.
Other Attorneys of Monroe County.
Boughton, Selleck
Holmes, Elias B.
Burroughs, Jr., D. ,
BROCKPORT.
Norton, H. P.
Fuller, James
Jewett, Simeon B.
CLARKSON. Bellows, Ira
Selden, Henry R
Guernsey, Jas. A.
PITTSFORD.
Leonard, Adams, PENFIELD. Denton G. Shuart, WEST MENDON.
John Dorr, SCOTSVILLE.
Smith, E. Darwin
Buchan, P. G. Masters in Chancery at ROCHESTER.
Samson, Ashley
D. Burroughs, Jr., Examiner in Chancery at BROCKPORT.
Ashley Samson, First Judge of Monroe, ROCHESTER.
Abner Pratt, District Attorney,
Isaac Hills, Recorder of ROCHESTER and Examiner in Chancery.
MEMORANDA .- John Mastick, who died about ten years ago, and Hastings R. Bender, who removed from the city some time since, were about the earliest lawyers settled at Rochester. Moses Chapin and Ashley Samson also commenced the practice of law here at an early date. Mr. Chapin presided for several years as first judge in the county courts-a station now occupied by Mr. Samson.
Several gentlemen, well known to our citizens from their former as- sociations at the bar or on the bench, reside in the city, but are not included in the above list, as they are no longer engaged in their former pursuits. Among these are Elisha B. Strong, formerly first judge, who was placed on the bench at the first organization of the county in 1821 ; Timothy Childs, now and for several terms a representative in Congress ; Fletcher M. Haight, formerly a representative in the Legis- lature, and now the Cashier of the Rochester City Bank ; James K. Livingston, formerly Sheriff; Wm. W. Mumford, Jas. H. Gregory, &c.
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SKETCHES OF ROCHESTER, ETC.
William B. Rochester, formerly of the Rochester bar, and likewise judge of the eighth circuit, who left this city to preside over the U. S. Br. Bank at Buffalo, has lately established himself at the head of a bank in Pen- sacola, Florida. Enos Pomeroy, formerly of this city, has located at Wy- oming, Genesee county, in law practice with John B. Skinner. Alex- ander S. Alexander, a gentleman who held various local offices, such as alderman, justice of the peace, &c., and who died lately and suddenly, much lamented by many friends, was one of the earliest practitioners of law who completed their studies in this place.
In September, 1820, Judge Roger Skinner held a session of the U. S. District Court in Rochester, which was the first court of record held here. The first county court of the then new county of Monroe was held at Rochester in May, 1821.
THE MEDICAL PROFESSION.
Some notes on the history of the diseases of this region, and com- parative statements of the mortality in Rochester and other large towns, may be found in the article on Medical Topography.
Dr. Anson Colman, who lately died, deeply regretted by his fellow- citizens, was one of the earliest practitioners of physic and surgery in this place.
Drs. John B. Elwood and Frederic F. Backus were also among the earliest physicians in the city. They are yet practising ; as are Drs. John D. Henry and James W. Smith, who were likewise early settlers.
Dr. Levi Ward, Jr., Dr. Matthew Brown, Dr. Azel Ensworth, Dr. Orrin E. Gibbs, Dr. Eli Day, Dr. M'Cracken, and Dr. Ezra Strong, settled here at an early period-and are all living, but have not prac- tised in the medical profession for several years.
Dr. Maltby Strong, Dr. Alexander Kelsey, Dr. Austin Church, Dr. John Hawkes, Dr. Moses Long, and Dr. M.Gregor, have, we believe, retired from the profession or are engaged in other pursuits.
The practising physicians of the city may probably be correctly set down as follows :
Backus, Frederic F. Henry, J. D.
Russell, Jas. W.
Bradley, Hugh
Hunt, S.
Shipman, P. G.
Bristol, A. G.
Mathews, Chauncey
Smith, Jas. W.
Deforest, Henry A.
Marsh, E. S.
Smyles, John
Durand, T. B. V. Munn, E. G. Tobey, P. G.
Elwood, John B. Peckham, E. G. Van Every, J. H.
Havill, T.
Reid, Wm. W. Wright, H.
Surgeon Dentists.
Horatio N. Fenn, Lewis K. Faulkner, S. W. Jones.
Officers of the Monroe County Medical Society for 1837-8.
William W. Reid, President ; John R. Smith, Vice-president ; E. G. Munn, Secretary ; Frederic F. Backus, Treasurer ; John B. El- wood, John D. Henry, F. F. Backus, J. W. Smith, C. M'Questin, Soc- rates Smith, J. E. Camp, Censors.
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