First Fifty Years of Cazenovia Seminary 1825-1875

The First Students

CHAPTER IV. The First Students

THERE is a slight diversity of recollection among the survivors of the opening term as to the exact number of scholars who were present and enrolled on the first day of the term. In the earliest existing record the names are entered with only the year of admission marked. But this record is manifestly a copy of names alphabetically arranged. The common impression. among the old students is, that the school began with eight scholars.

Horatio Abell heads the list. He was a native of the town of Cazenovia, and was twenty-two years of age when he entered the school. He was the youngest son of Jabez Abell, one of the early pioneers of the town, and is described as "dignified," ready in conversation, communicative; and his would naturally have been the first name enrolled. He was married in 1835 to Miss Arvilla Whitney, of Nelson, and died in his native town May 30, 1852. He was highly esteemed as a citizen. His widow still survives him, and his son, Jabez W. Abell, resides on the beautiful and valuable farm on which his father lived, and which was purchased from the Holland Land Company by Horatio's father.

Henry J. Weed, now of St. Louis, was another admitted on the first day. He was for many years a respected citizen of Cazenovia, and educated his four children at the Seminary. These were Sue E., Lewis L., (deceased,) Virginia L., and Carrie F. Weed. Mr. Weed's recollections of the early days and scenes of Cazenovia and the Seminary are lively, and generally accurate. He was present at the semi-centennial celebration.

Silas L. Loomis shares the honor of being one of the first class, and he has lived almost under the shadow of the Seminary since its opening in 1824. His knowledge of his own enrollment is positive. Mr. Loomis is still living, honored and respected by his fellow-townsmen.

A fourth was Solomon Coggswell, now of Cleveland, Ohio. When the school was opened his father lived in Kenney's Settlement, Cuyler. His father sold his farm, and moved into Cazenovia and kept a boarding house. Solomon has been a farmer till within ten years; since then a fruit, vegetable, and flower dealer. He is now sixty-six years of age. Mr. Coggswell was present the first day, and remained through the year.

Hon. C. H. Weed, of Weedsport, New York, has a very clear recollection that he was present the first day. Mr. Weed is brother to H. J. Weed above noticed. He was fourteen years of age when he entered the school. After an experiment in the West, in 1831, he returned to New York and established himself as a merchant, in which business he continued for several years. In 1852 he was appointed superintendent on the Erie Canal. In 1868 he was elected member of Assembly from Cayuga County, and re-elected in 1869. In the House he served on committees on railroads, State prisons, and public lands. He was married in 1838 to Miss Ann Tuttle, of Camillus, Onondaga County, New York. Mr. Weed resides at Weedsport, New York, where he follows the profession of the law.

Nelson Beckwith was of this class. He was a merchant for many years in the city of New York, then a resident of Paris, France, and now of New York. Addison Beckwith, subsequently a physician, now deceased, was another. No one has disputed the presence of the two last named. But this gives us the number seven. From abundant testimony the number was certainly eight, and the eighth must have been either D. M. K. Johnson or A. Wright.

These were the charter names of the grand old Seminary. It is deemed an immortal honor to have been among the first to enter the competitive course, which has culminated in jubilee history. It is not a little remarkable that after the expiration of fifty years, of the eight who in 1824 constituted the nucleus of the Seminary six are still living, namely, Solomon Coggswell, H. J. Weed, Charles H. Weed, Silas L. Loomis, Nelson Beckwith, D. M. K. Johnson. There are many other names so closely related to the opening term of the school as to be deserving of enumeration and special notice in this immediate connection. William H. Haight, Sydney T. Fairchild, Abram Jackson, Joel Bordwell, Peter Bordwell, Henry Ten Eyck, Leonard Williams, Henry Childs, David Pease, and Erwin Kingsbury are among this number. Hon. William Jackson, now of Jackson, Michigan, was admitted at the beginning of the second term. He was the son of E. S. Jackson, Esq., and the brother of Mrs. S. C. Hitchcock. Mr. E. S. Jackson was an early friend of the Seminary. William entered the school at eleven years of age. His first composition at school bears date March, 1825, and has a pencil note at the bottom by the principal, Mr. Porter, to wit: "Try to write the next time a little longer." Mr. Jackson has held a high position in the city of Jackson, where he resides, of which he has been mayor. He still cherishes the liveliest interest in his native village and in the Seminary, rejoicing greatly in their growth.

Of the earliest lady students we have no accurate knowledge. We have the alphabetical list of those entering the school in 1824-25, but not the relative order of their registry.

pp. 46-48.