WHITESTOWN SEMINARY, ONEIDA COUNTY, NEW YORK Copyright (c) 2002 by Laura Perkins. ************************************************************************ USGENWEB NOTICE: These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or presentation by any other organization or persons. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material, must obtain the written consent of the contributor, or the legal representative of the submitter, and contact the listed USGenWeb archivist with proof of this consent. The submittor has given permission to the USGenWeb Archives to store the file permanently for free access. ************************************************************************ History of the Whitestown Seminary, was extracted from the "History of Oneida County," 1667 – 1878, by Everets and Farriss. The names of the Alumni Association, are from a newspaper, published by the students, called the "Whitestown Index", dated June 1878. In 1827, an institution was founded at Whitestown, first called the Oneida Academy, later known as the Oneida Institute, established by the Oneida Presbytery, to educate young men for the gospel ministry, but other young men of good character were also received as students. The extensive revivals prevailing the preceding years had turned the attention of many young men, especially within the Presbyterian Church, to the work of the ministry, and to other kindred forms of Christian services. The first instructors of the school were George W. Gale, a graduate of Union, and Pelatiah Rawson, a graduate of Hamilton. There were twenty-seven students during that first year. The characteristics of the early management of the seminary were,----the combination of manual and mental labor, the substitution of Hebrew and Greek Scriptures for the ordinary classical course, and the free admission of young men of all classes and colors to the privileges of the institution. Students were required to do manual labor, either on the farm or in the workshop, not less than three nor more than four hours each day. This was to 'preserve the health of the students,' 'increase the number of educated men,' 'promote the spirit of enterprise and independence,' 'tend to bodily and mental energy,' and ' exhibit an example of industry.' In 1845 the school was consolidated with the Clinton Seminary, a denominational school, established at Clinton in 1841. The two institutions have since been known as the Whitestown Seminary. The attendance at the Whitestown Seminary in the first decade, from 1844 to 1854, rose from 173 to 317, and during the second decade from 317 to 565. In 1869, after a quarter of a century, the number of students was 522. It has been reliably stated that "not less than ten thousand young men and young women have been helped to higher ideals of manhood and womanhood by the discipline and nurture here afforded." During the year ending June 1878, the names of 387 students were on the rolls of the seminary, and its condition was in every way flourishing and prosperous. The courses of study included collegiate, Latin, and English courses for ladies; an English and scientific course for gentlemen, and classical and commercial courses. In the musical department, every facility is provided for thorough instruction in all branches. Frequent lectures upon scientific and literary subjects were held, and the library contained 2,000 volumes, the use of which was allowed to students free of expense. An annual paper, called The Whitestown Index, was published by the students, in the interests of the seminary. In June 1878, the Whitestown Seminary celebrated its Fiftieth anniversary. THE WHITESTOWN INDEX WHITESTOWN SEMINARY, JUNE 1878 __The Seminary Catalogue for 1878 contains the names of over 1,000 persons who have been elected members of the Alumni Association. Some three hundred names have since been added to the list of membership. These, together with a few other names inadvertently omitted from the Catalogue, are printed on another page. Any former students whose names are not published in either the Catalogue or the Index will confer a favor by sending their addresses to the Secretary of the Association. OFFICERS: President: Hon. Ellis H. ROBERTS, LL. D. - Utica Vice President: Pres. Oren B. CHENEY, D. D., Bates College Samuel W. GREEN, Esq. - Brooklyn Mrs. D. M. Chapman HEFFRON - Chicago, Ill. Recording Secretary: Prof. Franklin P. ASHLEY, Ac. M. - Whitestown Corresponding Secretary: Miss Mary Cauldwell - Whitestown Treasurer: Henry J. COOKINGHAM, Esq. - Utica Necrologist: Prof. Joseph W. ELLIS, A. M. - Whitestown Board of Managers: Col. J. Stuart LOWERY - Utica George C. HORTON - Utica Miss Nellie M. EVANS - Marcy Dr. Smith PARKER - Whitestown Miss J. M. HUGHES - Whitestown Miss B. M. WHITE - Whitestown Prof. James S. GARDNER - Whitestown Prof. Joseph W. ELLIS – Whitestown Samuel R. CAMPBELL – New York Mills W. Stuart WALCOTT – New York Mills MEMBERS: Elected since February 1, 1878 William E. ABBOTT - Syracuse Joseph ARNOLD - Burlington Flats Albert A. AUSTIN - Boston, Mass. James A. BAILEY - Rome Stephen E. BAILEY - Vernon Will. BALLARD - Bartlett Vincent E. BARNES - New Hartford M. BARNUM - Ithaca H. BARNUM - Utica Rev. John E. BEECHER - Cass City, Mich. L. A. BERRY - Marshalltown, Iowa DeWitt C. BESSEE - Bartlett G. Judson BESSEE - Bartlett Charles E. BEST - Jordan Joel P. BISHOP - Cambridge, Mass. James E. BRIERLY - Whitestown Rev. L. BROCKETT - Lewiston, Maine William H. BROWN, M. D. - Cedarville Frank BURROWS - Ottumwa, Iowa John E. BURTON - Geneva, Wis. George W. CAMP - Waterville Herbert B. CASE - New Hartford Francis CRAVES - Washington Mills D. A. CHAMPION - Little Falls Fred CHENEY - Rome Cyrene L. CHILDS - Canastota Erastus CHILDS - Oneida, Ill. REV. S. D. CHURCH - Taunton, Mass. Frederic A. CLAPP - Deerfield Joshua CLAYTON - Ilion M. L. CLOYES - New Hartford Rev. M. COLE - Lowell, Mass. H. S. COLLINS - Turin Fred COMSTOCK, M. D. - Frankfort Charles COOK - Little Falls Melvin A. COOK - Little Falls Nathan A. COOK - New Hartford JOHN W. COOPER, M.D. - Grandville, Mich. William H. COOPER - Whitestown Prof. John T. COPP - Hillsdale, Mich. William CREASER - Westmoreland Rev. A. V. B. CRUMB - Toungoo, Burmah Rev. E. DAVIES - Waterville Rev. A. J. DAVIS - Minneapolis, Minn. George W. DAVIS - Rome Rev. ARTHUR DEERING - Pittsfield, N. H. Hon. C. M. DENNISON - Utica H. B. DUNLAP - Auandale Rev. W. T. EATON - Portland, Maine A. E. ELLIS - Charles City, Iowa Charles D. ELLIS - Charles City, Iowa Frank L. ESMAY - Morrisville Anthony EVANS - Remsen Seth C. EVANS - Remsen Edward EVERETT - Turin Rev. Delos E. FINKS - Fort Collins, Col. Henry FOULKES - Utica Thomas L. FOULKES - Hamilton Rev. William FROTHINGHAM - New York City S. O. GLEASON, M. D. - Elmira Benjamin F. GOODMAN - San Francisco, Cal. C. C. GORTON - Yonkers F. T. GORTON, M. D. - Waterville Charles GRAY - New York City Will GRAVES - Blossvale John D. GRIFFITH - Utica John R. GRIFFITH – Ilion Timothy GRIFFITH – Remsen Wheldon GRIFFITH – Remsen Rev. John R. GRIFFITHS – Floyd Henry L. HALL – Whitestown George HALSTEAD – Fairfax, Iowa Rev. Burdett HART - New Haven, Conn. James HASLEHURST – New York City William HEMSTREET – Brooklyn Eugene K. HERRICK – Chicago, Ill. Rev. D. A. HOLBROOK – Sing Sing Rev. D. G. HOLMES – Chicago, Ill. M. A. HOLMES – Lee, Mass. Rev. J. Wilford JACKS – Romulus G. Watson JOHNSON – Union City, Pa. M. A. JOHNSON – Lowell Cyrus A. JOHNSTON – Rochester, Minn. David M. JOHNSTON – Sidney Plains H. B. JONES – Rome Rev. J. L. JONES – Villisea, Iowa Wheldon W. JONES – Turin Shubael LADD – Oriskany A. D. LEE – Bartlett Charles W. LEE – New York Mills Elias LEWIS – Steuben Corners John C. LILLIBRIDGE – Delevan, Ill. Ivanhoe H. LYMAN – Falls Village, Conn. John MARSH – Clinton James G. MERRIMAN – Oriskany Casander MILLER – Babcock Hill Irving MILLER – St. Johnsville W. H. H. MILLER – Indianapolis, Ind. Will. N. MILLS – Rome P. T. MOREY – Charlestown, S. C. Fred MORTON – Rome Arthur T. MYERS – Cedarville William L. NICHOLSON – Lowell W. E. NORTHRUP – Oneida E. H. NOURSE – Lockport Rev. J. P. NUTTING – Concord, N. H. W. W. OLNEY – Ithaca Hon. John O'DONNELL – Lowville B. A. OSGOOD – Verona E. L. OSGOOD – Stillman Valley, Ill. Eli C. PARKER, M. D. – Holly. G. Edward PHILLIPS – Hoosic Falls F. F. PILMORE – Westernville H. J. POTTER – Marcy William POTTER – Glidden, Iowa J. H. POWELL – Whitestown David R. PRICE – Remsen William J. PRICE – Remsen Evan R. PRITCHARD – Remsen Julius D. PUTNAM – New Hartford Merritt H. QUALE – Linden Christopher C. REED, M. D. – Rome Rev. F. REED – Farmersville, Mass. Henry REED, M. D. – Westernville Edward REYNOLDS – Omero, Wis. Milton ROBERTSON – Herkimer DeWitt Clinton RODENHURST – Theresa Lewis ROGERS – Walesville Charles K. SACKETT – Nora Springs, Iowa Earl N. SACKETT – Union City, Pa. Frank A. SAYRE – Romulus S. SCHOOLCRAFT – Turin Walter SCOTT – Taberg L. H. SESSIONS – Hamlet Manley M. SESSIONS – Hamlet Dana E. SHERRELL – New Hartford Frank H. SMITH – Utica George W. SMITH – Utica Willard SMITH – Rochester James C. SPIEGEL, M. D. – Utica John STEWART – Rome Duane B. STILLMAN – Brookfield Prof. George H. STOITS – Buffalo Marinus W. TERRY – Marshall James THOMPSON – Burlington Flats Rev. A. P. TRACY – Lynn, Mass. Charles H. TREAT – Sutton, Neb. W. H. TRUE – Chicago, Ill. Rev. Ebenezer TUCKER, Spartansburg, Ill. James R. TUFFTS, A. M. – Atchinson, Kansas Rev. Daniel VAN ALSTINE, D. D. – Hornellsville C. E. VAN PATTEN – Pompey James VAN SLYKE – Clarksville, Iowa James WALDO – Westernville Willis C. WATERMAN – Rome J. Montgomery WELLS – Vernon Centre Charles WETMORE – Camden Alonzo M. WHITE – San Francisco, Cal. Charles WHITE – Janesville, Mich. Algeron H. WILCOX – New York City James B. WILGUS – Pike Merrit G. WILGUS – Pike Francis A. WILLARD – New York City George WILLIAMSON – Marshalltown, Iowa Rev. Stephen A. WOOD – Decator Reuben WRIGHT – Ilion Rev. F. S. WYLIE – Whitfield, N. J. William H. WYLIE – Forest City, Mo. Rev. Orren W. YOUNG – Utica Miss Emogene ACKLEY – Holland Patent Miss Nettie B. ACKLEY – Lowell Miss Louise A. ANGELL – Cedarville Mrs. George P. ANNAS – DeRuyter Mrs. H. Haynes BAKER – Stitville Mrs. A. Parks BARNES – Lowville Mrs. G. R. Williams BAROTT – Bartlett Mrs. E. Hatch BECKWITH – Lone Rock, Iowa Miss Alice J. BESSEE – Rome Mrs. H. B. Williams BESSEE – Bartlett Mrs. S. Burnell BESSEE – Bartlett Mrs. L. Lloyd BLACK – New York Mills Mrs. N. M. BOWEN – Utica Mrs. L. Walsh BRIERLY – Whitestown Mrs. M. Kelly BROWN – Cedarville Mrs. A. A. Sherman BROWNELL – Clinton Miss Belle C. BUCK – West Arlington, Vt. Mrs. J. J. ISBELL BURNELL – Bartlett Mrs. K. Mix BURT – Odessa Miss Nettie BURT – Gray Mrs. Anna BUTLER – Bartlett Mrs. E. Gardner CALLANEN – Utica Miss Sophia CHAMBERLAIN – Marcy Miss Sarah E. COBB – Syracuse Miss Flora J. CORBETT – Ithaca Mrs. E. Parker CORT – Clayville Mrs. L. Littler DAVIS – South Trenton Mrs. J. Fitch DAY – Burlington Flats Mrs. F. GLEASON DICK – Buffalo Mrs. M. Crosby DILLENBECK – Schoharie Mrs. Lina P. DYE – Leonardsville Miss A. M. EASTMAN – Fulton Miss Lizzie EDGERTON – Lowell Miss Maggie EVANS – Kingsville, Kan. Miss Anna L. EVERETT – Remsen Miss Jennie EVERETT – Remsen Mrs. L. Wright FARRINGTON – Frankfort Miss Effie GATES – Watertown Mrs. E. Kennedy GATES – Whitestown Mrs. C. M. Burrell GETMAN – Cedarville Miss Addie S. GIFFORD – Fentonville, Mich. Miss Frank V. GOO – Walesville Miss Helen GORDON – Sloansville Miss A. M. GORSLINE – Columbia Miss Alice GRAY – Watertown Mrs. M. Blakesley GREEN – Utica Miss Elvira GRIFFITH – East Branch Mrs. A. Beebe GROVES – Clark's Mills Miss Lilly GYPSON – Lowell Mrs. E. M. Matteson HADLEY – Litchfield Mrs. M. L. Parr HAIG – Clinton Mrs. G. A. HARVEY – Chicago, Ill. Mrs. M. Hemstreet HASTIE – New Britian, N. Y. Mrs. D. M. Chapman HEFFRON – Wash. Heights, Ill. Miss Lizzie HEMSTREET – Brooklyn Miss Mary T. HERBAGE – New York Mills Mrs. Libbie M. HILLMAN – Canandaigua Miss Mary R. HINES – Mohawk Mrs. L. Phelps HITCHCOCK – Oriskany Miss Lizzie HONSINGER – Rome Mrs. J. Reynolds HOPKINS – Utica Mrs. M. Pierce HOUSE - Mexico Miss Kittie HUBBELL – Burlington Flats Miss Esbia N. HUNTLEY, M. D. – Rockford, Ill. Miss Lottie M. INGERSOLL – Litchfield Mrs. H. Gleason JACKSON - Tarrytown Miss Cornelia JACOBS – Saratoga Springs Miss Anna M. JOHNSON – Middletown, Conn. Mrs. M. Horton JONES - Ilion Mrs. M. L. JONES – Troy Mrs. M. Reynolds JONES – Utica Mrs. M. E. Jacks KELLOGG – Seneca Castle Miss Gertie KERTH – Clinton, Iowa Miss E. KIMBALL – Sloansville Miss Clara L. LAW – Bartlett Mrs. E. J. LANGDON – Barrington, Mass. Mrs. A. Isabell LEE – Bartlett Mrs. H. W. Knapp LEE – Westmoreland Mrs. N. W. LEE – Walesville Miss Ellen LLOYD – New York Mills Mrs. E. D. LONE – Cambridgeport, Mass. Miss Maria L. MARSH – Whitestown Mrs. M. Chamberlain McCLURE – Vale, Iowa Mrs. L. Broadwell MERRIMAN – Le Peouf, Pa. Mrs. H. Stephen MILLER- Miller's Mills Miss Helen MORTON – New York Mills Mrs. M. Walcott MOULTON – Saquoit Mrs. L. Tucker MOUNT – Ames Mrs. S. Havens NITENGALE – Lyons Falls Miss Kittie NELLIS – Hastings Miss Florence E. OWENS – St. Augustine, Fla. Mrs. M. Reynolds OWENS – New York Mills Mrs. A. Warner PALMER – Rome Mrs. Stella PECK – St. Johnsville Mrs. N. Broderick PENFIELD – Camden Miss Fannie PETTEE – Clayville Mrs. S. A. Sessions PIERCE – Fredonia Mrs. K. McMorran PIPER – Little Falls Mrs. M. David POOLER – New York Mills Mrs. D. Dickson PORTER – Utica Mrs. M. Rhodes POWELL – Mohawk Miss Ada M. RANDALL – C layville Mrs. C. A. Gypson REVELY – Lowell Mrs. R. Spaulding REYNOLDS – Lone Rock, Wis. Miss Nettie RICHARDSON – Troy Miss Carrie M. ROBBINS – Stittville Mrs. A. Robbins ROOT – New Hartford Mrs. L. Burton SAMPSON – Geneva Lake, Wis. Miss M. Whitton SANDERS – Marcy Miss Eva SEELYE – Montague, Mich. Miss Rose M. SEELYE – Montague, Mich. Miss Ella SESSIONS – Hamlet Mrs. E. Loomis SESSIONS – Hamlet Miss Delia SHAUL – Burlington Flats Mrs. Helena SHERWOOD – Amsterdam Mrs. E. Bates SILLIMAN – St. Johnsville Mrs. C. Graves STONE – Little Falls Mrs. William THOMPSON – Westmoreland Mrs. D. Broadwell TREAT – Union City, Pa. Miss Frances TREAT – Utica Mrs. E. Holdridge TRUE – Chicago, Ill. Mrs. C. E. Payne TUCKER – Mohawk Miss Emma TUDMAN – Lowell Mrs. R. Brown VAN WAGNER – Van Wagner Miss Julia L. WADSWORTH – Plank Road Miss Belle E. WALKER – North Gage Mrs. R. E. WHEELER – West Edmeston Miss Ella WHITTEN – Whitestown Mrs. E. Osgood WILBUR – Stillman Valley, Ill. Miss F. Ella WOLCOTT – Yorkville Mrs. H. McIntosh WOLCOTT – Holland Patent Mrs. S. L. Treat WOLCOTT – Holland Patent Mrs. M. Allen WYCHOFF – Chicago, Ill. Obituary: Ebenezer LEWIS, Esq., died in New York, on Sunday, February 24th, 1878, of Rheumatic Peritonitis, aged 58 years and 6 months. Mr. Lewis was born in Prospect, Oneida County, August 24, 1819. He pursued a course of study at Clinton Liberal Institute, and gave much attention to Welsh literature. In business capacity and general intelligence he took high rank. For a considerable period his business was in New York, but his dearest interests were in his native county. As a trustee of Whitestown Seminary, his name first appears in the catalogue of 1869. He was interested in its welfare, and heartily favored such measures as tended to increase its usefulness and secure its permanent prosperity. He was earnest in his religious convictions, and active in religious work. His last sickness was of short duration, but death did not find him unprepared. IN MEMORIAM: Allie PARR, E.T., October, 1877 Retta STARK, E. T., June, 1877 Katie WELLS, E. T., October, 1877