Oakfield Town/Village Historian
Cary Seminary
Cary Seminary was a well-known and highly regarded private school in Oakfield for over 60 years.
Colonel Alfred Cary donated the land for the school, and with citizens, subscribed funds for the erection of the building. The cornerstone was laid July 4, 1840, and in the fall of 1844, the school opened. During the first winter term there were 136 students, almost evenly divided between boys and girls. Pupils were allowed to board at the school, or in private homes in the community. The annual enrollment from 1844 to 1860 ranged from 200 to 300 students. During the Civil War the school suffered, but after the war the school was especially prosperous. In later years, the school eliminated the primary and intermediate departments and work was confined to the academic grade. The availability of free education provided in Oakfield began the downfall of the seminary. By 1905, the Seminary had closed, and the building was leased by the Oakfield school district. In 1926, the Seminary building was torn down and a new district school was built in its’ place.
Student Enrollment
School Year ending July 31, 1847
Trustees:
President: Alfred Cary
Clerk: George March
Treasurer: Stephen Olmsted
James A Bolles
Stephen Grant
Trumbull Cary
Homer Kimberly
John Foot
John Cotes
James A. Billings
John S. Ganson
Benjamin Pringle
John E. Tompkins
William H. Seward
James D. Merrill
Harvey Putnam
Heman J. Redfield
Richard L. Wait
George W. Lay
Board of Instruction:
Benjamin B. Richards, Principal
Robert Blennerhassett, Ancient and modern Languages
Artemas Chapel, English,
Algernon S. Pratt, Penmanship
Anna P. Sill, Painting and Drawing
Minerva A. Kibbe, Music
Eliza A. Richards, Primary dept.
Students: Residence:
Rathbun P. Allen Oakfield
Oscar Allen "
Shelton Armstrong "
Henry W. Arnold Bergen
William Baldwin Oakfield
Milton R. Baldwin "
Aaron Baldwin "
George Bemis Alabama
Benjamin H. Benham Byron
James A. Billings Batavia
Ira F. Bird OAKFIELD
Isaac Bishop Alabama
Alva J. Blodgett Oakfield
Charles W. Bradley OaKFIELD
s. Gates Bronson Warsaw
Ryan S. Buck Oakfield
Walter W. Burton "
William Caldar "
Caleb Calkins "
Elias Calkins "
Samuel Campbell Grand Traverse, Mich.
Charles Chamberlin Oakfield
Artemas Chapel "
James M. Chapel Lima, NY
J. Foster Clark Alabama
James A. Cowles Oakfield
Luther Crocker Elba
Josia J. S. Dean Royalton, NY
Francis Drake Oakfield
Sheldon Dunlap Shelby, NY
Josia Dunlap "
B. Franklin Fellows Oakfield
James B. J. Fellows "
William H. G. Finch "
Charles Foster "
Franklin J. Fuller "
George D. Fuller "
Charles H. Fuller "
Henry K. Gates Warsaw
Archibald M. Gibson Oakfield
John Sill Gibson "
James W. Gibson Alabama
William W. Gould Pembroke, NY
Asa W. Green Alabama
Gideon C. Guernsey Royalton, NY
Rawson A. Harmon Wheatland, NY
Leonard W. Hartt Oakfield
Giles Hathaway Barre, NY
Henry L. Hawes Oakfield
Benjamin F. Hawes "
George M. Hopkins "
Nelson Horning Alabama
Charles Howard Oakfield
Henry Howard "
Milo M. Howe "
Colby Ingalsbe Alabama
Worthy Johnson "
Richard M. Jones Oakfield
Edgar Knickerbocker Riga, NY
Charles H. Laing Waterloo, NY
Alfred C. Lewis OAKFIELD
Lucas Seaver Lewis "
John Macomber Alabama
Samuel March Oakfield
Elias Martin Alabama
Hiram McCreery Clarkson, NY
Levant C. McIntyre Oakfield
Thomas W. McIntyre "
John Morris Batavia
Theoron C. Norton Alabama
Washington O’Donoughue Bergen
William D. Olmstead Oakfield
S. Emory Olmstead "
Charles Pardee Alabama
Stillman Pond "
Edson H. Pond "
Homer Reed Oakfield
Sherman Reed "
Jackson Reeves "
Henry D. Reeves "
G. W. Rice Barre, NY
Oliver H. P. Roszell Alabama
Nathan C. Rowley Batavia
James A. B. Satterlee Oakfield
Elijah Sheldon, JR. Royalton, NY
Simeon Sheldon "
Nathan Shotwell Elba
Albert Sizer Bethany
Horace Smith Pembroke
George S. Spalding Oakfield
Henry G. Stone "
Daniel R. Taylor Alabama
William H. Vaneps Oakfield
William H. Wait Bethany
John W. Ware ` Oakfield
Simon P. Webster Kendall, NY
J. Kannicott Whitman Oakfield
Nelson C. Wilder Elba
William H. Willett Pembroke, NY
James Willett Batavia, NY
Austin W. Wolcott Oakfield
Edward Wolcott "
Gilbert Wolcott "
Oliver M. Wolcott "
Augusta Allen "
Mary A. Ash Alabama
Henrietta Baldwin Oakfield
Helen E. Barker "
Elizabeth Barker "
Frances A. Barker "
Alzina Bailes "
Levantia A. Bartholomew "
Susan E. Beecher Bennington, Mass.
Mary U. Billings Batavia
Elizabeth S. Billlings "
Marion M. Bradley Oakfield
Calista Brown "
Ellen M. Buck "
Emma A. Buck "
Eunice Buell "
Spide Buell "
Amelia Burgess "
Chastina M. Buswell Batavia
Frances Calkins Oakfield
Harriet A. Campbell Westfield, NY
Helen Chamberlin Oakfield
Mary Cheeney Alabama
Olive Churchill Bethany, NY
Hannah B. Coddington Oakfield
Eliza Coddington "
Harriett Cowles "
Zilpha Crocker Elba
Sybil Curtis Alabama
Elizabeth Foot Batavia
Hepzibeth Freeman Oakfield
Sarah E. Fuller "
Lucy E. Galaway Detroit, Mich
Lucy T. Gardner Oakfield
Mary E. Gates Warsaw
Mary E. Gibson Oakfield
Susan M. Gibson "
Susan E. Goodrich Alabama
Harriet Gregg Oakfield
Mary A. Gregg "
Sarah M. Gregory Batavia
Frances M. Hebbard Oakfield
Ellen Hosselkus Oakfield
Hester Hosselkus "
Mary Hosselkus "
Helen Howard "
R. Cordelia Howe Elba
Jane Joyce Leroy
Amanda N. Kelsey Oakfield
Olive Kimberly Batavia
Mary A. Knickerbocker Elba
Eliza Knight Oakfield
Harriet Lillie "
Sarah C. Long Pembroke
Ann J. Long "
Emeline Macomber Alabama
Julia Mann Oakfield
Mary A. McBrertz Royalton, NY
Delia E. McCrillus Oakfield
Ann J. McCrillus "
Sarah C. McCully Batavia
Susan Merrill Byron
E. Lovina Morley Bethany
Harriet J. Morley "
Mary E. Morley "
Ann E. Moss Oakfield
Mary Nichol Alabama
Marietta Olmstead Byron
Mary J. Pardee Elba
Margaret Pardee Alabama
Zipporah B. Parish Bergen
Louisa Phillips Oakfield
Elizabeth A. Pierson "
Augusta Rathbun "
Eliza A. Richards Bennington, NY
Melinda Richards "
Hannah Richards Balston, NY
Ann Q. Ross Oakfield
Narcissa R. T. Roszell Alabama
Mercy N. Shepard "
Amanda Shepard "
Nancy Smith Oakfield
Julia Smith Batavia
Horatia Spalding Oakfield
Amanda Stone "
Harriet Sweetland Stafford
Emily Taylor Alabama
Elizabeth Taylor "
Jane Thompson Oakfield
Charlotte Tone Bergen
Mary F. Vale Royalton, NY
Mary Waller Elba
M. Cordelia Waller "
Sarah W. Ware Oakfield
Abigail Warner Batavia
Caroline M. Warner "
Dolly Watson Stafford
Mary S. Webber "
Julia Webber "
Sophronia Whitman Oakfield
Sarah Wilcox Elba
Phebe A. Williams Royalton,NY
Sarah A. Wolcott Oakfield
Loretta Wolcott "
Sarah A. Wolcott Alabama
H. Miranda Wolcott "
Eleanor Wolcott "
School year ending July 31, 1889
Trustees:
President: Rt. Rev. A. Cleveland Cove
Vice President: A. C. Dodge
Treasurer: Henry Caple
Secretary: H. B. Rathbone, M.A.
Herbert P. Bissell
Rev. Pierre Cushing
Principal: Reginald H. Coe
Teachers:
Reginald H. Coe
Howard L. Rixon
Mary G. Armstrong
Elizabeth V. Rorbach
Sarah A. Buell
Students: Age:
Wilber J. Armstrong 18
Stanton E. Barrett 17
Charles. S. Dillingham 20
Bert B. Farnsworth 20
Francis L. Hawes 16
Homer J. Knickerbocker 16
Roselle H. Norris 18
Herbert W. Olmsted 20
Fred J. Pev 18
Richmond L. Rathbone 16
Herbert R. Stevens 18
Mary A. Blodgett 19
Lillian Chamberlin 17
Anna C. Chapple 16
F. Edith Deuring 17
Nina A. Drake 15
Selina Printup 20
Anna M. Pugsley 13
Gertrude A. Rausier 17
Georgia W. Rathbone 18
Jane Sleeper 20
Addie H. Wolcott 15
School year ending July 31, 1890
Trustees:
President: Rt. Rev. A. C. Cove
Treasurer: Henry Caple
Secretery: A. B. Rathbone
Rev. E. N. Potter
Rev. A. M. Sherman
Principal: Curtis C. Gove
Preceptress: A. M. Thomson
Resignations:
Reginald H. Coe
Howard L. Rixon
Appointments:
Curtis C. Gove
Miss. Am M. Thomson
Mary G. Armstrong
Sarah A. Buell
Frances L. Norton
Students: Age:
Herbert J. Armstrong 19
Stanton E. Barrett 17
Lee T. Benton 20
Charles S. Dillingham 21
Charles H. Eichler 14
Avery S. Gilbert 15
Francis L. Hawes 17
Charles S. McDonald 20
Fred J. Pev 21
Richmond L. Rathbone 17
Lillian Chamberlin 19
Anna C. Chapple 16
Marjorie L. S. Coe 16
Nina A. Drake 16
Clara J. Farnsworth 17
Flora L. Isaac 15
Nannie A. McVea 17
Selina Printup 20
Anna M. Pugsley 14
Gertrude A. Rausier 20
Addie H. Wolcott 15
School Year ending July 31, 1891
William S. Andrus 18
Stanton E. Barrett 18
Charles H. Eichler 14
Albert A. Farnsworth 15
Bruce f. Halsey 15
Burt Norton 14
Bayard J. Stedman 15
George A. Wakeman 17
Edith Bloomingdale 15
Marjorie L. S. Coe 17
Lillian Chamberlin 19
Nina A. Drake 16
Catherine C. Gove 13
Nannie A. McVea 16
Anna M. Pugsly 15
Addie A. Wolcott 16
School Year ending July 31, 1892
Francis C. Blodgett 17
Charled H. Eichler 16
Albert A. Farnsworth 15
Francis L. Hawes 19
Bruce F. Halsey 16
Burt B. Norton 15
Bayard J. Stedman 17
Allison J. Wakeman 16
George A. Wakeman 18
Clara B. Andrews 19
Edith E. Bloomingdale 17
Josephine A. Cosway 16
Catherine C. Gove 14
Mabel E. Howland 16
Susie H. Town 19
Nina A. Drake 19
School year ending July 31, 1893
Principal: Rev. Curtis C. Gove
Students: age:
Frances B. Blodgett 18
Albert Farnsworth 17
Bruce F. Halsey 17
Burt B. Norton 16
Richmond L. Rathbone 21
Bayard J. Stedman 17
George A. Wakeman 18
Allison J. Wakeman 16
Harry D. Waldo 19
Clara B. Andrews 20
Lizzie A. Armstrong 16
Edith E. Bloomingdale 17
Josephine A. Cosway 17
Nina A. Drake 18
Catherine C. Gove 14
Mabel E. Howland 18
Grace B. McDonald 17
Nina T. Norton 15
Anna M. Pusgley 17
Sarah Root 17
Susie H. Town 20
Year Ending July 31, 1894
Francis B. Blodgett 19
Bruce F. Halsey 18
George H. Harvey 17
Frank R. Ingalsbe 16
Harry C. Nobles 17
Burt B. Norton 17
Richmond L. Rathbone 22
Allison J. Wakeman 17
Harry D. Waldo 19
Clara B. Andrews 21
Florence M. Andrews 17
Lizzie A. Armstrong 17
Helen P. Baird 20
Mabel Buxton 19
Grace E. Farnsworth 15
Catherine C. Gove 15
Bertha L. Lewis 19
Nina T. Norton 16
Anna M. Pugsley 18
Rhena A. Pugsley 15
Alice E. Roatch 16
Susie H. Town 21
Year Ending July 31, 1895
Trustee: Year of appointment
A. Cleveland Coxe 1865
William D. Olmsded 1884
Arthur B. Rathbone 1875
Henry Caple 1883
Gad B. Worthington 1856
Robert W. Nichols 1871
John L. Macomber 1877
William C. Dunlap 1877
A. P. Jackson, MD 1879
Irving J. Stedman 1880
Henry Halsey 1881
Thomas L. Nichol 1882
William A. Hitchcock 1883
Eugene T. Chamberlin 1887
Charles F. J. Weigley 1888
Rev. Pierre Cushing 1889
Rev. Addison M. Sherman 1890
Frank B. Redfield 1891
Henry F. Darnell 1892
William D. Orville Doty 1892
Fred B. Parker 1892
Aldice G. Warren 1894
Rev. Warren G. Hubbard 1894
Charles F. Stafford 1894
Teachers:
Curtis C. Gove, Principal
Edwin B. Clift, Science and Mathematics
Miss Nina A. Drake, Vocal and instrumental Music
Miss Clara B. Andrews, English
57 students enrolled, but not listed by name
School year ending July 31, 1900
Trustees:
Vice President: Irving J. Stedman