USA > Pennsylvania > Tioga County > History of Tioga County, Pennsylvania, with Illustrations, portraits and sketches of prominent families and individuals > Part 72
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The church trustees are F. M. Shaw, E. L. Sperry, D. J. Butts, M. L. Clark, V. R. Pratt, D. H. Pitts and B. Moody. The class leaders are H. L. Johnson, E. L. Sperry, F. M. Shaw and J. W. Beach.
The following is a complete list of the pastors from first to last: 1841, I. Smith and E. H. Cranmer; 1842, E. H. Cranmer; 1843, R. M. Reach and M. Scott; 1844, J. Ashworth and S. Nichols; 1845, E. Pinder; 1846, 1847. R. L. Stilwell; 1848, 1849, O. Trowbridge; 1850, W. C. Mattison; 1851, A. H. Shurtliff; 1852, 1853, W. Man- ning; 1854, 1855, I. L Rogers; 1856, J. R. Jaques; 1857, H. N. Seaver; 1858, 1859, R. L. Stilwell; 1860, R. A. Drake and W. Beach; 1861, W. Cochran and R. A. Drake; 1862, W. Cochran; 1863, 1864, W. M. Haskell; 1865-67, H. Lamkin; 1868, H. T. Giles, W. Beach, L. Beach and L. D. Watson; 1869-71, W. D. Taylor; 1872, J. T. Canfield; 1873. 1874, H. S. Parkhurst; 1875, 1876, G. C. Jones; 1877, H. Vosburgh; 1878-80, H. C. Moyer; 1881, 1882, J. T. Brownell.
St. James's Episcopal Church seems to have had its origin in a Sunday-school started by William Hollands in March 1865, and in which Mrs. James R. Wilson, Mrs. Joseph P. Morris, and others took an active part. At the same time William Hollands began lay reading in a hall, which he kept up every Sabbath until April 1866, when, largely through his efforts, a rector was secured in the person of Rev. N. Barrows. From this time on regu- lar services were held in the Baptist church, which had been hired for the purpose. A church organization was thus effected, with William Hollands and Charlotte his wife, Mrs. Sarah E. Morris, James R. Wilson and Mar- garet his wife, Robert Crossley and Mary his wife, Frederic, Hart, Josephine and Irene Stewart as members.
Efforts were made to procure money with which to build a church edifice, while a charter of incorporation was obtained May 30th 1867. The necessary building funds having been secured, some here, the rest in Phila- delphia and elsewhere, work was begun, and the corner- stone laid by Bishop Stevens September 12th 1868. The church was completed and opened for worship December 2Ist 1870, having cost, with the bell and organ, $7.500. The rector was absent in Europe during most of this year, and Mr. Hollands, having a license, again served as lay reader. On the 24th of April 1871 the church was consecrated by Bishop Stevens, and the communion was administered. The officers of the church at this time were: James R. Wilson, senior warden; William Hollands, jun- ior warden; R. Crossley, A. J. Ross, F. A. Stewart, F. A. Allen and J. P. Morris, vestrymen. After the church was organized many valuable tokens were received from Mrs. Edgar of New York, Mrs. Margaret Wilson, Mrs.
Sarah E. Morris, Mrs. Vesta King, Mr. and Mrs. F. A. Allen, and others. The bell, weighing 1, 140 pounds and costing $500, and a fine pipe organ, costing $Soo, were presented by Charles E. Smith of Philadelphia. The lot was presented by Mr. and Mrs. Joseph P. Morris, and is one of the finest locations for the purpose in the village. The interior of the church is very fine.
The whole number of communicants at the present time is about 60. The present officers are: Rev. B. F. Brown, rector; William Hollands, senior warden; Rob- ert Crossley, junior warden; M. King, R. Crossley, F. A. Stewart, J. P. Morris, C. V. Elliott and E. Blackwell, vestrymen.
Rev. N. Barrows was rector from 1866 to 1875, fol- lowed by Rev. William Marshall from 1875 to 1880, who has been succeeded by Rev. B. F. Brown, the present in- cumbent. This church has thus far been highly pros- perous, judging from the large accessions to its member- ship.
There is a flourishing Sunday-school of some 50 pupils and 7 teachers, which is superintended by William Hol- lands, a veteran Sunday-school worker, who has been a superintendent 54 years-30 of the time in Mansfield.
The Presbyterian Church .- This church was organized on the 29th of April 1870. At a meeting of the Presby- tery of Wellsboro, held at Tioga April 12th 1870, a re- quest was presented, signed by several residents of Mansfield and vicinity, asking the presbytery to organize a church to be known as "the Presbyterian Church of Mansfield " The request was granted, and a committee consisting of Rev. Dr. J. D. Mitchell, Rev. C. Otis Thatcher and Hon. H. W. Williams was appointed to organize said church.
On the 29th of April 1870 this committee met in the Baptist church at Mansfield, when Rev. Dr. J. D. Mit- chell was elected chairman and Hon. H. W. Williams secretary. After a sermon by Dr. Mitchell from Rev. xxii. 17, the following named persons presented letters and were enrolled: Charles H. Verrill, William Hutchin- son, Mrs. Fidelia Hutchinson, Mrs. Harriet N. Hunt, Miss Nettie H. Hunt, Miss Emma R. Hunt, Ralph R. Kingsley, Mrs. Sarah Kingsley, Mrs. Eliza Kingsley, Miss Caroline M. Kingsley, Mrs. Lottie R. Hoyt, Mrs. C. E. Elliott, Charles Thompson, -Mrs. James Hoard. Mrs. Mary E. Spencer and and Mrs. Lay na Reynolds- 16. The roll being completed, Charles H. Verrill and William Hutchinson were elected ruling elders. After prayer by Rev. Mr. Thatcher the meeting was addressed by Rev. Dr. Mitchell, when the organization of the Presbyterian church of Mansfield was declared com- pleted. Immediately after these services, on the same day, the following persons were received upon profession of their faith: O. V. Elliott, Mrs. O. V. Elliott, Miss Emma A. Elliott and Miss Lelia S. Cole, making a mem- bership of 20.
Rev. Joseph A. Rosse-I became pastor, and continued as such till 1875, when he was succeeded by Rev. S. C. McElroy, who remained until April 1876. On the ist of July 1876 Rev. George D). Meigs became pastor, and he
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HISTORY OF TIOGA COUNTY.
remained until 1882. The present pastor is Rev. Wil- liam S. Carter.
The present membership is 78. The trustees are Joseph Hoard, Homer Kingsley and Abram Shuart, with O. V. Elliott as clerk.
There is a flourishing Sunday-school connected with the church, having 8 teachers and an average attendance of 50. Joseph Hoard is superintendent.
In 1875 a small but neat and substantial church edifice was erected at a cost of $2,000. The ground cost $780. The church has been blessed with a good degree of pros- perity, and is one of those institutions which Mansfield could not well do without. In the sisterhood of churches this one, like the rest, has its own most important sphere of usefulness, and, like them, the promise of a grand future.
In connection with this history of the Presbyterian church the reader is referred to the account of a similar organization existing in this place many years ago, which will be found on page 303.
A Universalist Church was organized in Mansfield in 1882, with Emma E. Bailey as pastor. The old Method- ist church at the corner of Main and Elmira streets was bought for its use.
EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS.
Prior to 1814 children had to rely on the scanty edu- cation to be obtained on winter evenings by the light of a pile of blazing logs in the great open fireplaces so con- spicuous in the old-time log and plank houses. But in 1814 the first school was opened, at Canoe Camp, by Miss Sally Elliott (afterward Mrs. Daniel Rose). Two of her pupils were Oliver Elliott, now of Mansfield, and Martin Stratton, residing at Blossburg. She also taught in 1815. Then Daniel Rose took the school, followed by Gardner Simmons and a man by the name of Clark.
The second school in the township was opened in 1818, by Miss Miranda Allen, daughter of Lieutenant Allen, and was kept in a house built and used as a dwelling by Frank Truman, which stood on the knoll south from Kelleytown. Martin Stratton, of Blossburg, was one of ber pupils.
FIRST MANSFIELD SCHOOL AND SCHOOL-HOUSES.
In the winter of 1821-22 the first school in Mansfield borough of which we have been able to obtain any record was kept in one room of a plank house occupied by John Kelts, across the railroad from Mart King's fac- tory. It was kept by Susanna Allen, daughter of Lieu- tentant Jacob Allen, and an aunt to Prof. F. A. Allen. This was undoubtedly the first school ever opened in a place since become famous for its schools. Who shall say how much we owe to this woman for our progress in this direction? Her name shall not perish, though doubtless she has been dead this many a year; but placed on the page of history she shall henceforth be known as Mansfield's first school-teacher. Two of her pupils were Daniel L. and Eliza Holden. Her sister Miranda had previously kept a school at Kelleytown, a
mile and a half below Mansfield, in 1818; and afterward her sister Philena taught until 1826 in a log house built by Alpheus Button for a dwelling, in 1815, which stood a few rods north from the park entrance.
In 1826 the first school-house was built. It was a plank house, and stood where the railroad now runs, a few rods south of the railroad bridge on Wellsboro street. In 1827 and 1828 William C. Ripley taught the first school there. One of his pupils was the late Professor F. A. Allen.
In 1837 the old white school-house on the hill, at the corner of Academy and Sullivan streets, was built, and it has served its purpose well, having been in continuous use more than 40 years. At the time of its erection and for many years afterward it was the best school-house in the county. It has but recently given place to the new graded school building and been turned into a dwelling. There are many to whom, as to the writer, the old white school-house on the hill is freighted with pleasant school memories. It was there we played " mumble-peg," and it was there we threw the ball over the school-house and velled "Ante-over!"
THE CLASSICAL SEMINARY AND THE NORMAL SCHOOL.
[BY SIMON B. ELLIOTT AND ANDREW SHERWOOD .* ]
The project of erecting an institution of learning in Mansfield was first mentioned by J. S. Hoard to Dr. J. P. Morris, Rev. H. N. Seaver, Alvin Gaylord, and per- haps one or two others, some time in the month of May or June 1854. Receiving no encouragement except from Dr. Morris, who joined heartily in the enterprise, Mr. Hoard, it seems, let the matter rest until about the 4th of July following, when he made known to quite a num- ber of gentlemen the project he had in view. This was at a camp meeting held on L. D. Seeley's farm in the township of Sullivan. An agent of the seminary at Lima, " N. Y., had been canvassing this section of the country; in fact was at this very camp meeting soliciting aid and selling scholarships for that institution. Mr. Hoard deemed it an error to send money out of the country which might as well be expended here, and to send our youth away to be educated when facilities might be af- forded them at home. Determined in his efforts, he brought the matter before the quarterly conference of Mansfield charge of the M. E. church. This meeting was held in Colonel R. C. Shaw's tent, on Saturday the 9th of July 1854. Present at this meeting were Rev. H. N. Seaver, presiding elder; Rev. W. Manning, minister in charge; R. C. Shaw, P. M. Clark, J. B. Clark. L. Beach jr., L. Cruttenden, Joseph Hubbell, Alvin Gaylord, and J. S. Hoard. The suggestion was not very favorably received by the gentlemen present, and, the legitimate business of the conference occupying nearly the entire time, it was concluded to meet again at the church in Mansfield
*1 desire that the credit shall be given to my friend Mr. Elliott for the greater and more valuable part of this history (nearly all of it in fact). which is taken from an important address delivered by him on the 7th of January 1868, and to which I have simply added enough to give a complete outline history down to the present time,-A. S.]
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THE NORMAL SCHOOL, MANSFIELD.
on the following Monday. This adjourned meeting was held, but no new members were present and not all of those who had attended at the camp ground. Gentlemen having had time to reflect and think upon the matter viewed it in a more favorable light, and it was resolved to hold a public meeting at the M. E. church in Mans- field on the 26th day of July 1854. Here was the be- ginning. Of course it will be seen that credit is given to Mr. Hoard for first originating the enterprise. All honor, then, to him who first saw, and dared, and did!
The meeting appointed for the 26th of July was held, and a large number of our citizens were present. Active in soliciting subscriptions for the school were J. S. Hoard, William Manning, Alvin Gaylord, R. C. Shaw, D. L Sherwood, R. P. Buttles, B. M. Bailey, W. C. Ripley, L. Beach jr., and others. On the 28th of November a com- mittee was appointed to procure plans for the building. A committee was also appointed to draft articles of asso- ciation and procure a charter of incorporation. A reso- lution was passed to expend $12,000 in the erection of suitable brick buildings, and to commence operations as soon as practicable, and that a meeting be held Decem- ber ist 1854 to elect permanent officers of the institution. The following is the list of officers elected at that date: J S. Hoard, president; C. V. Elliott and R. P. Buttles, vice-presidents; J. P. Morris, recording secretary; S. B. Elliott and B. M. Bailey, corresponding secretaries; L. Beach jr., treasurer; William M. Johnson, librarian; William Manning, T. L. Baldwin, J. R. Wilson, Rev. Abijah Sherwood, Rev. Richard Videan jr., Joseph Hub- bell, Lyman Reynolds, D. L. Sherwood, J. S. Hoard, J. P. Morris, W. K. Mitchell, J. B. Clark, B. M. Bailey and L. Beach jr., trustees.
The first meeting of the board of trustees was held February 15th 1855, and the plan of a building was adopted. This building was 100 feet in front, with wings 78 feet deep, and four stories high. It was built of brick. At this meeting a building committee was ap- pointed, whose members were each to receive the sum of 81.25 per day for time actually spent in the duties of their office. The committee consisted of J. S. Hoard, D. L. Sherwood and Amos Bixby. The enterprise was now fairly commenced, and its machinery in operation. Work was begun in early spring, and prosecuted as vig- orously as circumstances would allow.
On the 11th of December 1855 the second annual meeting of the stockholders was held, and the following officers were chosen: J. S. Hoard, president; C. V. Elli - ott and R. P. Buttles, vice-presidents; L .. Beach jr., treasurer; W. C. Ripley, recording secretary ; S. B. Elliott and A. Gaylord, corresponding secretaries; D. L. Sher- wood, Joseph Hubbell, P. M. Clark, P. S. Ripley and B. M. Bailey, trustees.
April 17th 1856 the trustees chose the following teach- ers: Mr. and Mrs. J. R. Jaques in the classical depart- ment and mathematics-salary for both $900; T. B. Barker, higher mathematics and English department -- salary $400; Mrs. Ellen E. Seaver, assistant preceptress and teacher of music-salary $300; Miss Kinsey, assistant
teacher in music, $200; Miss E. B. Ryman, drawing and painting-salary, proceeds of the department. Prof. Jaques was made acting principal, and Mrs. Jaques pre- ceptress.
November 18th 1856 was held the next annual meeting of stockholders. J. S. Hoard was elected president; W. C. Ripley and B. M. Bailey, vice-presidents; William Manning, treasurer; W. C. Ripley, recording secretary; S. B. Elliott and R. P. Buttles corresponding secretaries; J. S. Hoard, William Hollands, E. Burley, R. Videan jr. and S. B. Elliott trustees. At a meeting of the trustees held the same day the building committee were ordered to complete the building and have it in readiness for a school by the 7th of January 1857. On this 7th of Janu- ary 105 students presented themselves for admission. Here was the full fruition of our hopes. Here were the material results of our labors.
The building had cost far more than was expected; in- cluding furnishing about $20,000 had been expended. Not far from $17,000 had been subscribed, and from $2,000 to 83,000 of this was unpaid. It is safe to esti- mate the indebtedness at $6,000; but none were dis- heartened. That could have been paid, and would have been speedily, had not disaster soon followed. This term of school passed off pleasantly and profitably. A jubilee was held at the close of the term; Rev. W. H. Goodwin delivered the address. The attendance was large and a pleasant evening was spent.
The second term opened April 16th 1857, with about 150 students. On the 22nd of that month, at about 10 o'clock in the forenoon, large volumes of smoke were seen issuing from the observatory. The Mansfield Clas- sical Seminary was on fire! All efforts to save the build- ing were useless, and in a few hours it was a mass of smoking, tumbling ruins. The consternation and confu- sion attending the catastrophe were terrible. One hun- dred and fifty students were turned out into snow over a foot deep; but no one was injured. Providence has watched over those who have ever had aught to do with this institution.
While the walls were yet falling, and the fire was yet lighting up the night, the citizens interested assembled in the Methodist church and resolved to rebuild, and to that end subscribed then and there $4,000. The build- ing was insured for $12,000. With this and the old sub- scription, and what the people would do, it was resolved to proceed, and they did proceed.
On the 25th of April the trustees made arrangements to rebuild. On the 5th of June they contracted with William Hollands for the brick, and on the 10th the plan of the present building was adopted. On the 25th the proposal of Picking & Terry of Elmira to erect the present building for $15,380, the trustees to furnish brick delivered and doors and windows, was accepted. Work progressed until the 29th of September, when, owing to the financial crash of 1857, operations were suspended. One of the insurance companies, from which was due $3,000, had failed, and another owing the same amount had resisted payment. Here began the
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HISTORY OF TIOGA COUNTY.
long gloomy night in the history of this institution, and as we look back upon it we are surprised at the final success and astonished at the shocks the enterprise en- dured. From this time on until 1863 its history is much mixed up with judgments, sheriff's sales and orders of court.
On the 17th of November 1857 the following officers were elected: J. S. Hoard, president; W. C. Ripley and W. Hollands, vice-presidents; H. N. Seaver, treasurer; W. C. Ripley, recording secretary; R. P. Buttles and B. M. Bailey, corresponding secretaries; J. P. Morris, W. D. Kelley, A. J. Ross, H. N. Seaver, and Whiting Beach, trustees. On the 25th of November the trustees passed a resolution to circulate petitions asking the Legislature to pass an act authorizing a tax to be levied in Tioga county to complete the institution. This enterprise failed, as it ought. It was reserved for this people to complete the sacrifice already begun.
In the month of August 1858 the M. E. conference was to meet at Corning, and it was thought best to make a grand effort at that time, hold a meeting on the island. have a free dinner, and invite the members of the con- ference to attend. Arrangements were made, and a special train was engaged to bring up the members of the conference free. The 14th of August was the day ap- pointed. It was a lovely day. An ample dinner was provided, and our people turned out en masse. The special train from Corning arrived and brought three gentlemen. Universal disappointment was the result. Yet it might have been expected. The conference had enough of its own work to do. Professor Jaques, former acting principal, and a man of powerful mental faculties, filled with the ideal, yet hardly enough of the practical, that day came down to solid earth and told us we must not rely on aid from abroad, but if the contemplated structure was ever built it must be built by this people. A plainer truth could not have been uttered, nor in a more opportune time. His declaration came like a dash of cold water after the great disappointment of the day. Yet he did us real service, and so intended it. After our three visitors had left us a determination was expressed by all to put the walls of the building up and the roof on-the first story having been nearly completed when the work was stopped. Never in our history have we seen another day like this. The entire afternoon was spent in the effort, and the sun was low down in the west when the meeting broke up. Men and women, boys and girls, vied with each other in their efforts. Sums in all conceivable amounts from 25 cents up to $too were subscribed; but few of the latter, however, only three if we remember correctly. But Mansfield Seminary was saved that day. Over $4,000 was raised.
Encouraged by this, the trustees met on the 25th of August and resolved to proceed with the building. P. M. Clark, W. Hollands and S. B. Elliott were appointed a building committee. Rev. H. N. Seaver resigned as treasurer, and P. M. Clark was appointed to fill the vacan- cy. Work was immediately commenced. One of the building committee took with him three or four young
men, who had had but little experience at bricklaying, and went to work on the walls. With so little help, and so large a building, you could hardly see at a week's end what had been done. The subscriptions had not been made payable in cash. How many turns and trades the treasurer made will never be known. Without money to do with, most men would have failed, but he was just fitted for it. We will state one feat he accomplished. A portion of the first story, the entire second story, and nearly all the third were put up that fall and only fifty cents in cash paid out for labor, nor was any debt con- tracted. A stranger came along and represented himself a bricklayer, but proved not to be and was discharged before noon and paid fifty cents in cash! At the approach of cold weather the work was necessarily suspended and the walls were secured from damage.
On the rrth of November 1858 the following officers were elected: J. S. Hoard president; A. Bixby and J. P. Morris, vice-presidents; P. M. Clark, treasurer; W. C. Rip- ley, recording secretary; B. M. Bailey and R. P. Buttles, corresponding secretaries; John Voorhees, P. M. Clark, A. Bixby, P. S. Ripley, J. B. Clark and B. M. Bailey, trus- tees. On the roth of March 1859 the trustees ordered the building committee to proceed with the work, but to incur no new indebtedness. None had been made since the meeting of the 14th of August on the island.
About the 30th of March $1, 150 were received from one of the insurance companies. This was paid on a mortgage given on the old building. Old debts were paid as well as progress made on the new edifice. We will here state that but $7,500 were ever received out of the $12,000 for which the first building was insured. A. J. Ross resigned as trustee and C. W. Bailey was appoint- ed to fill the vacancy. Work was commenced on the 25th of April and carried on as well as means would al- low. On the 4th of August 1859 Rev. James Landreth was elected principal, and at his request a resolution was passed on the 8th to complete enough of the building to open school by the 23d of November following. Prof. Landreth's salary was $800 and house rent. On the 20th of October Miss Julia A. Hosmer was chosen. preceptress, salary $400, and Miss Mary Bowen assistant teacher, with a salary of $300.
On the 15th of November the annual meeting of the stockholders was held and the following officers were elected: S. B. Elliott, president; J. P. Morris and E. Bur- ley, vice-presidents; P. M. Clark, treasurer; W. C. Ripley, recording secretary; A. J. Ross and R. P. Buttles, corre- sponding secretaries; C. W. Bailey, S. B. Elliott, W. C. Ripley, E. Burley, R. C. Shaw and R. Videan, trustees.
School opened November 23d with barely 30 students. It was kept up until the close of the spring term with some- what increased numbers. On the 3d of July 1860 Prof. Landreth tendered his resignation, which was accepted. On the 13th of July a festival was held, and an address was delivered by T. K. Beecher, of Elmira. That was the first gathering ever held in the chapel, which was then on the second floor, over the present chapel. It was not lathed and plastered, and was without glass in the windows.
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THE NORMAL SCHOOL, MANSFIELD.
November 19th 1861 the next annual meeting of the stockholders was held, and the following officers were elected: Rev. W. Cochran, president; W. C. Ripley and C. W. Bailey, vice-presidents; E. Wildman, treasurer; R. Videan, recording secretary; W. Cochran and W. Hollands, corresponding secretaries; L. Beach jr., W. Cochran, C. W. Bailey, E. Wildman and J. B. Clark, trustees. Under this organization a new era dawned. It was "the beginning of the end." Much of the in- debtedness had been bought up by Rev. R. A. Drake, Rev. R. Videan jr. and J. C. Howe. Various futile ef- forts were made to settle with these men, while Mr. Cochran set himself vigorously at work to save the sem- inary from sale. It was Mr. Cochran who first ap- proached Hon. John Magee, and in a long letter ad- dressed to him laid the foundation of future arrange- ments whereby the seminary was finally saved from the grasp of those who were seeking it. In the spring Prof. Wildman associated with him H. C. Johns. On the 28th of June 1862 a resolution was passed authorizing Wild- man and Johns to complete the seminary building.
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