The Whitestown Seminary

Thanks to Laura Perkins for Submitting this

    History of the Whitestown Seminary, was extracted from the “History of Oneida County,” 1667 – 1878, by Everets and Farriss.  The names of the Graduating Class and 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

GRADUATING CLASS, 1878:

John Malcolm BLUE—s--- Bergen
Leland Clarence BROCKWAY---s----Parish
Fred Manwell CALDER---c----New York Mills
Lilian Mary CHAMPLIN---l, e----Whitesboro
Fanny Elizabeth CHAPMAN---l, l----Unadilla Forks
Mary Josephine CHAPMAN---l, l----Unadilla Forks
William Horatio DEWING---s----Litchfield
Judge Douglass DODGE---c----Knoxboro
George ERNST---c----Marcy
John S. GRIFFITH---s----New York Mills
Edward Elliott SIMMONS---s----Sauquoit
Thomas Huntington SWIFT---c----Utica
Dora Marie TOWNSEND---l, l----Phoenix
Mattie Elizabeth YOUNG---l, e----Verona

“c,” classical;  “s,” Scientific;  “l, e,” Ladies English;  “l, l,” Ladies Latin.

COMMERCIAL:
Ira Bela CARY – Marcy
Lillian Mary CHAMPLIN – Whitesboro
Ella Mary HALSTEAD – Blossvale
Frederic Harvey WELLES – Port Royal, S. C.
Julius Watkins WIGHT – Whitesboro
Minnie Ellen WOOD – Marcy

__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