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From the History & Directory of Yates Co., Vol. 2
published 1873, by Cleveland
pg 1105 - 1114
STARKEY
SEMINARY
This valuable institution of learning owes
its origin to the Christian denomination, a widely scattered body of people,
with no stringent coherence of doctrine or organization, but with many able and
independent minds, holding views and doing a work which in times past have acted
with no little disintegrating force on other sects, especially in this county.
Upholding the right of private opinion and taking issue with some of the
leading tenets of the current orthodoxy of the age, they required the equipment
of learning in their work, and long felt the need of educational opportunities
free from the bias of hostile opinions.
In 1835, at a meeting of the N.Y. Central
Conference of this church, held at Marion, Wayne County, the subject of
education was discussed, and a committee appointed which initiated measures that
led finally to the erection of Starkey Seminary.
Their object, as stated by themselves, was “to place our youth and
children in a situation to obtain an advanced education without subjecting them
to that contaminating control of sectarianism which is visible in some
institutions.”
The Central Conference met at Rock Stream
June 10, 1839. After due
deliberation, a committee of seven was composed as follows on the subject of
education: Joseph BADGER, O. E. MORRILL, Ezra MARVIN, Joseph BAILEY, David
MILLARD, G. A. HENDRICK and E. G. HOLLAND.
At a second adjourned meeting of this committee “and the friends of
education,” held at Eddytown Jan. 15, 1840, Elder Ezra MARVIN was chosen
President, and Daniel D. VAN ALLEN Secretary.
On this occasion the first board of Trustees of the proposed Seminary was
chosen, as follows: Isaac LANNING, Clarkson MARTIN, Harvey G. STAFFORD, Daniel
D. VAN ALLEN, Leverett GABRIEL, Caleb COWING, Dr. Henry SPENCE, Horace
HENDERSON, Hiram A. NEWCOMB, Eli TOWNSEND, James HUNTINGTON, Elder Ezra MARVIN,
Obadiah CHASE, Elder Joseph BAILEY, Elder Seth MARVIN, Elder John GUTHRIE, and
Elder O. E. MORRILL. It was also
resolved to call the institution “The Seminary of the New York Central
Christian Conference.”
Funds for the erection of the Seminary were
chiefly collected by Elder Ezra MARVIN, who was the appointed agent for that
purpose, and were gathered from all quarters where the adherents of that faith
resided. Eddytown was selected as
the location of the institution, no less on account of the beauty and salubrity
of its situation than the superior liberality of the local subscription.
Of a subscription of about $11,000, upwards of $4,000 was raised in that
neighborhood. The erection of the
original building, 80 by 32 feet, three stories high, with a basement, was
finished in 1842. It is a brick
edifice. The building committee
were, Isaac LANNING, Horace HENDERSON, James HUNTINGTON, and Hiram A. NEWCOMB;
the contractors, Clarkson MARTIN and Harvey G. STAFFORD.
John D. CARPENTER did the wood work, and Benjamin ROSS the mason work.
The money expended in the original structure was about $7,000.
Elder Ezra MARVIN was President of the Board
of Trustees until his death, with the exception of seven years, while he was
pastor at Enfield. Isaac LANNING
has been one of the trustees from the first, and several years President of the
Board. Other trustees not belonging
to the original Board have been: Daniel SHANNON, Jr., John ROBERTS, 2d, Allen
HUNTLEY, John ROYCE, Simeon ROYCE, Allen BASSETT, David MILLARD, O. E. CHASE,
Ebenezer S. FLEMING, De Grasse MALTBY, William ANDREWS, Isaac L. HAZEN, James C.
HENDERSON, Samuel J. MAY, Albert FEARING, Elder Oliver BARR, Rev. E. PEABODY,
Rev. Samuel OSGOOD, Samuel B. BUCKLEY, Daniel LANNING, Rev. Orris FRASER, Daniel
A. JENISON, Nicholas WEBB, John H. CURRIER, Thomas NICHOLAS, Adam CLARK, Dennis
W. DISBROW, Lewis W. PROPER, Bryant R. HURD, Abraham A. POST, Jr., Nathaniel
SUTTON, J. S. BAILEY, Joseph McALPINE, Abram J. SWART, Reuben B. HENDERSON, John
NOYES, Matthew ROYCE, Thomas MANDELL, Rev. William SIBLEY, Alfred A. BURNHAM,
Thomas HENRY, Edward HOTCHKISS, Philetus ROBERTS, Edwin R. WADE, Isaac CHASE,
Aaron ALDRICH, Amasa STANTON, Rev. George W. HOSMER, Charles HAUSE, William
SAMPLE, Thomas LAMOREAUX, Rev. William B. HAIGHT, George S. BAILEY, William L.
SHARP, Ezra McALPINE, Cyrus BARBER, William O. CUSHING, Ira S. DISBROW, George
N. KELTON, George COREY, J. ASHWORTH, Elder Samuel S. BOWDISH, Jeremiah SIMONDS,
Hezekiah LEONARDSON. Cyrus BARBER
is President of the Board in 1872. Larmon
G. TOWNSEND was the first Treasurer. James
HUNTINGTON was Secretary and Treasurer many years.
The Seminary was opened for the reception of
pupils November 28, 1842, and 142 students attended the first quarter.
Rev. Charles MORGRIDGE was the first Principal, and was assisted the
first year by Richard TAYLOR and Rev. Samuel WHITE, the latter teaching Latin
and Greek. Mr. MORGRIDGE was a man of superior learning and personal
worth, but the school did not prosper under his care, and he resigned at the end
of two years. He was succeeded by
Mr. Abram MILLER, a native of Barrington, and a son of Daniel MILLER of that
town, an amiable and worthy young man. He
had the free use of the institution and the free scholarships were suspended;
but he abandoned the undertaking at the end of the second quarter.
The next Principal was Thomas E. TURNER, who continued till 1847, and was
chiefly assisted by his wife. They
had previously taught a select school in Dundee.
They moved to Iowa, where he was a member of the Legislature, and
afterwards died of consumption.
The 4th Principal was Prof.
Edmund CHADWICK, who took charge of the institution when it had reached a very
low ebb. The free scholarships
given as inducements to the original subscribers to the Seminary fund, had
nearly destroyed the school. He
commenced Nov. 8, 1847, with 14 pupils, after making considerable effort to
replaster the walls and improve the surroundings of the Seminary.
Prof. CHADWICK remained Principal 14 years.
Though informed by Mr. MORGRIDGE that the Seminary might as well have
been located in the moon, he entered upon his work with courage, and by
industry, perseverance and careful management, put the Seminary on a paying and
prosperous basis. At his coming,
such men as Abbott LAWRENCE, Charles Francis ADAMS, Albert FEARING, Thomas
MANDELL, and others of Boston and vicinity, contributed funds to purchase
apparatus for the school. Edmund
CHADWICK was born in 1812, in Milton, New Hampshire.
He graduated at Bowdoin College in 1840, paying his way by teaching.
He studied two years at Lane Theological Seminary, and graduated a
Theological student at Bangor, Maine. His
health failed as a preacher, and he then took charge for two years of the
Classical and Mathematical Institute at Nashville, Tennessee.
He next became Principal of Starkey Seminary; and after the close of his
service there, taught three years in Dundee, as Principal of the Academy in that
village. He still resides at Eddytown, engaged in fruit culture and
miscellaneous pursuits. He married
in 1854 Cassandra D., daughter of Joseph L. HOBART. She was a woman of worth and amiable character, and died the
following year. He subsequently
married Adaline, daughter of Philip WARD, who was some years Preceptress at
Starkey Seminary and at Dundee. Prof.
CHADWICK did a work of lasting good at Starkey Seminary, and retrieved the
fortunes of the institution where few men could have accomplished it.
Oscar F. INGALSBEE succeeded Mr. CHADWICK as
Principal in 1861. He was five
years teacher of Mathematics in the Seminary before he took charge of the
school. He remains Principal in
1872. The institution has been
successful and prosperous under his administration. Chiefly through his efforts an additional building was
erected in 1866, 84 by 32 feet, three stories high, at a cost of $9,000.
It is named Hathaway Hall, in honor of Elisha HATHAWAY of Bristol, Rhode
Island, who contributed $1,000 towards its construction.
In 1868 the original building was remodeled and improved, at a cost of
$2,000. Of this sum Caroline
FOREMAN of Milford, New Jersey, gave $1,000, and it was christened Foreman Hall,
in honor of her gift. Prof.
INGALSBEE was the architect of Hathaway Hall, and C. T. WHITNEY, of Honeoye
Falls, the builder.
Oscar F. INGALSBEE is a son of Asa INGALSBEE
and Wealthy SWEET his wife, and was born in Chenango county in 1830.
He was a farmer’s boy, and studied until he arrived at the age of 22,
receiving his education chiefly at Oxford Academy.
He married in 1854 Sarah C. HENNIKER, born at Redfield Springs in 1832. He was a select school teacher before he came to Starkey
Seminary. Their children are Emma
J., Alison E., Edmund C., Frank W. and E. Marion.
In 1849 Ezra MARVIN, the indefatigable
friend of the Seminary, took the field to collect money to pay a discouraging
debt of $1,500, which had then accrued. Jason G. MILLER, of Covington, Genesee county, gave $1,000 of
this sum, enjoying strict silence on the subject during his life.
The first Preceptress of the Seminary was
the wife of the third Principal, Mrs. TURNER.
The second was the first wife of Prof. CHADWICK.
His present wife was the third Preceptress.
Miss N. N. DOANE was several years Preceptress, under Prof. INGALSBEE. Miss Helen C. BASSETT has held that position several years.
Among the assistant teachers of Starkey
Seminary worthy of mention have been, Augustus C. WINTERS, Abram J. SWART,
Elizabeth M. DISBROW, Mrs. Elizabeth FOX.
The catalogue of 1855-8 reported 484
students; that of 1858-60 reported 288; that of 1865-8 gave account of 395; and
that of 1868-71 numbers 427.
Starkey Seminary sent 40 of its students as
soldiers to the war that suppressed the Rebellion.
Ezra MARVIN, to whom Starkey Seminary owes
so much, was a son of James MARVIN and Polly REED his wife; was born at Laurens,
Otsego county, in 1806, and married in 1827 Huldah, widow of Charles INK and
daughter of Elder Ezra CHASE, a noted preacher of the Christian connection.
Elder MARVIN was an effective minister of this faith, and a man of
ability and practical character. But
for his persistency in the work, Starkey Seminary would not have achieved an
existence in his day. He resided in
Starkey at the time of his death in 1871, and was buried at Rock Stream. His first wife died in 1868, and he married a second wife,
Lucinda A. CHAPMAN, widow of Joseph McALPINE.
The children, all of whom were born of the first marriage, were, Julia
Ann, Amanda Caroline, Aurilla J., Lois L., Polly Elizabeth, Eva Delphine.
Julia A., born in 1828, married in 1848 Daniel BOYER, who was a Christian
preacher of ability, and who died in 1853.
She married a second husband in 1858, Samuel P. MARVIN, of Havana,
Schuyler county. They have three children, Ezra M., William P. and John P.
Amanda C., born in 1830, married in 1851 Oliver W. PURDY, who is a farmer
in Wisconsin. Their children are
Charlotte E. and Caroline M. Aurilla
J. born in 1832, married in 1851 Ezra COOPER, a banker at Union Mills, Pa.
Their children are Ida D. and Marvin.
She died in 1855. Lois L.
born in 1834, married in 1853 Elder Philemon R. SELLEN. He is now a Christian pastor at Plainville, NY.
They have a son, Ezra M. Polly
E. born in 1836, married in 1859 Rev. Jefferson M. FOX, a talented minister of
the Christian faith, held in high estimation, who died in 1872, leaving two
children, Lillian A. and Bertha M. Mr.
FOX had been some years a teacher of worth at Starkey Seminary.
Eva Delphine, born in 1853, is a student of Starkey Seminary.
Elder Seth MARVIN was a younger brother of
Ezra, and a preacher of power. His wife was Lydia Elizabeth, daughter of Elder Joseph
BADGER. He lived some years at
Eddytown. He died at Honeoye Falls
in 1844, at 35, and at that time was Editor of the Christian Palladium, the
organ of the denomination.
CHRISTIAN BIBLICAL INSTITUTE
Connected with Starkey Seminary, but
entirely distinct from it in organization, is the Christian Biblical Institute,
a school for the education of ministers, established in 1869.
It provides for a three years’ course of Biblical study, and a
considerable number of young men have improved its advantages.
Austin CRAIG, D.D., a man of ability and erudition, is its President and
Resident Professor, and Rev. Warren HATHAWAY Visiting Professor of Homiletics. Thus far the Biblical Institute is but the germ of what it is
hoped to make it. It proceeds
moderately without contracting debt, and depends upon the liberality of the
Christian connection for its future. Its
Trustees have been the following:
Rev.
Latham COFFIN, Medusa, NY.
Rev.
A. STANTON, Marion, NY.
Rev.
G. S. WARREN, Watertown, NY.
Isaac
CHASE, Parma, NY.
Rev.
J. W. TILTON, N. Hampshire.
Rev.
E. H. WRIGHT, N. Hampshire.
Rev.
James Maple, Indiana.
Rev.
Isaac C. GOFF, Illinois,
Rev.
D. E. MILLARD, Michigan,
Rev.
D. W. MOORE, Michigan.
Rev.
D. P. PIKE, Mass.
William
PHILLIPS, Mass.
Rev.
J. N. SPOOR, Pa.
George
CORAY, Pa.
Rev.
O. T. WYMAN, Ohio.
Rev.
H. Y. RUSH, Ohio.
Rev.
J. B. WESTON, Ohio.
Rev.
Thomas HENRY, Canada.
J.
E. BRUSH, New York City.
W.
A. GROSS, Ohio.
The endowment of the Institute at its
commencement was $40,000. Its
tuition is free. The ministry of
this denomination in the United States numbers over 1100. It is not settled that
the Biblical Institute will be permanently located at Eddytown.
DUNDEE ACADEMY
In 1849, David SMITH, James SHANNON, Joseph
BARTHOLOMEW and Isaac MAPLES bought the old Methodist Church and fitted it up as
an academy. Richard TAYLOR occupied
it two years as Principal, assisted by Miss Mary ROSE from Cortland county.
He was followed one year by Charles T. WHITE, now pastor at Rock Stream,
also assisted by Miss ROSE. Among
Mr. White’s pupils were George P. LORD, Martin J. SUNDERLIN, Loren G. THOMAS,
Rev. D. COREY, and about 30 who became school teachers.
Other teachers of this school have been, Thomas E. TURNER, William
MARVIN, H.M. ALLER, P.G. WINFIELD, Hanford STRUBLE and Ziba H. POTTER.
Mrs. Edmund CHADWICK conducted the school one year alone, and she and her
husband three years. Thomas
ROBINSON bought the Academy property in 1868.
He conducted it one year with a faculty of several teachers.
The property soon passed into other hands.
The institution was incorporated as an academy, received money from the
literature fund, and also for a teachers’ class, a number of years, but not
after Mr. Robinson had control of it. Archibald
GRANT and his sisters have since been teachers of the school, and now in 1872,
Ira H. STOUT is it’s Principal.
EARLY SCHOOLS AND TEACHERS
All traditions say that Rhoda ROYCE,
afterwards Mrs. Caleb COWING, taught the first school in Eddy Settlement.
Among other early teachers was Zophar ROBERTS.
Isaac LANNING was one of his pupils.
Dr. John WARNER resorted to school teaching at an early day, to support
his family. Alfred GRIDLEY taught
at a very early period in Bennett’s Settlement.
Dr. William CORNELL taught a school quite early in the north part of
Bennett’s Settlement. Joseph
FULKERSON was another early teacher, and John CULVER, Jane QUIN, John, Jabez and
Teresa BEERS were others. Jonas
WICKES was also a teacher. Subsequent
teachers of more or less note in the town have been, Elmer KEELER, John T.
ANDREWS, Edwin C. ANDREWS, Walter DICKERSON, James L. SEELY, Alice DEMOREST,
Stephen and Zebona EDGERTON, Richard DURHAM, Philander COGSWELL, Henry BURGESS,
Daniel D. WARNER, Ichabod KNEELAND, Christopher LONGSTREET, James W. WARNER,
Street DAVENPORT, Hiland G. WOLCOTT, Eliza Ann WARNER, Mary WOLCOTT, James
AYRES, Hiram A. NEWCOMB, Ezra D. COOK, Ellen S. WARNER, Sarah NEWCOMB, Delia M.
BARNES, Herschell W. PIERCE, Hiram CORNELL, William WIXOM, John D. WOLCOTT,
Henry A. BRUNER, Henry ROBERTS, Lewis J. WILKIN, James H. POPE, Richard TAYLOR,
Charlotte, wife of Daniel D. WARNER, Dr. Samuel H. WRIGHT.
Beyond all doubt, the first school within
the present limits of Starkey was taught by Orpha SCOTT in the vicinity of
Edward POTTER’s, some time before 1800. Orpha SCOTT was a daughter of Dr. Barnabas SCOTT, of
Connecticut. She and her widowed
mother and younger sister Margaret came to the Friend’s Settlement in 1790.
She was a well educated woman for those times, and a person of ability.
She married Perley GATES and lived and died in Gorham at the age of
nearly 100. Her sister Margaret was
the wife of Elijah BOTSFORD, and died at 96 in 1871.
It is stated that the only schools before
the formation of districts under the law of 1812, were but four in number within
the present limits of Starkey; one near Potter’s, one in Eddy Settlement,
another at Hurd’s Corners, and a fourth in Bennett’s Settlement.
In 1826 the town of Starkey was divided into nine school districts and
two parts of districts. Number one
was the northwest and number two the northeast corner of the town; number three
directly south of number two; number four the next south, including Eddy
Settlement; number five the Fulkerson neighborhood; number six “between the
streams,” extending to the Lake; number seven, the Pierce neighborhood; number
eight, Dundee; number nine, between Dundee and number one, on the west line of
the town. Part district, number
one, was at Rock Stream and included a portion of Reading. Part district, number four, embraced portions of Starkey,
Tyrone and Barrington. The public
school moneys of Starkey in 1826 were $218.88; in 1827 the same; and the five
following years, $263.36; in 1833 and five years following, $236.60; in 1839,
$485 for instruction and $121.31 for library fund; in 1848, $429.01 for
teachers, for libraries, $107.19; in 1854, $957.63 for teachers and $50.40 for
libraries; in 1871, $1,598.82 in all, of which $33.75 was for libraries.
The number of pupils in 1826 was 631,
between five and 15 years of age, one less in 1827, and 726 in 1828.
In 1838 the number between five and 16 was 708; in 1848 the number was
725; in 1854 the number was 1,007, counting all between the ages of 15 and 21;
in 1867 the number was 795; in 1871, 737; in 1872, 738.
The increase in the number of children has
been chiefly in Dundee, which at the present time has about 1/3 the whole number
in the town. Some of the rural
districts show a great falling off. One
of the older citizens says that “families ranging from 10 -15 were once quite
common--now are seldom heard of.” He
goes on to say, “I recollect, when I was a little boy, going to school in a
district where there is now an average attendance of 15 scholars; the school
then numbered 100. In that district
there was one family of 14, including the parents, one of 15, two of 17, and one
of 18.”
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