Wells College - Cardinal Yearbook (Aurora, NY)

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grandfather of Mr. Henry A. Morgan. Up to that time, he and his wife had lived over 'fthe store,7' an oblong,wooden building situated on the edge of the ravine before mentioned, and not on the site of the f4Morgan's Store we know so well. It was in this building that Colonel Edwin Morgan, the benefactor of Wells College, was born. It was not until after his marriage that Col- onel Edwin made his home in the present Zabriskie home. That stately stone mansion, guarded by two lions, which we know as the Preparatory School,was erected by Henry Morgan, a brother of Colonel Morgan's, and part of his bachelor days were passed there. John Morgan, another brother of Edwin, owned a large farm in Aurora, and built for himself upon it that long, dignified, grey frame home facing the lake, where the Professor of Bib- lical Literature now lives. The college grounds and the 'fWells Placel' were also originally included in this farm. While speaking of the Morgans, the story of old Johnny Locke occurs to me, simply because of the kindness the family always showed the poor fellow. Where this odd character came from, nobody knows exactly. He was born somewhere Uout in the country, and wandered down into Aurora, lived and died here. His mind was somewhat deranged and he led much the life of an animal, but was a faithful creature. It was a strange, unsettled life, that of Johnny Locke. Day after day he wandered up and down the street, always restless, always hungry. He knew, how- ever, where he wouldi find a hot breakfast-three of them in suc- cession if he wished-and inside what cellar or barn door, left hospitably ajar, he would find a buffalo robe spread down for him to rest upon at night. He had his virtues, poor Johnny. He was a faithful watch-dog in Mr. Morgan's store, and no one could equal him in running errands. He would absolutely refuse to deliver a note to anyone but the person to whom it was ad- dressed-even to the nearest relative. At last his health began to fail as the result of his unsettled life. He grew feeble and ill, but was cared for tenderly by the town and by certain families who had always befriended him. When he died he had such a funeral as might have been an honor to the memory of one far above him in station. In Morgan's store you may .see his por- trait painted by the artist Elliot. The face has a vacant, dazed expression that was characteristic of poor Johnny Locke. But to return to the houses of Aurora. The two large frame houses, one yellow, the other brown, that stand on the hill facing 28

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and proud enough the townspeople were of it-it was the first lodge in New York State. Masonic meetings are still held in the upper story. Sometime you may have ascended the narrow stair- case, and under the leadership of Mr. Hitchcock have been con- ducted about the dim, mysterious regions above the store. On the walls of the passageway which surrounds the meeting-room hang the swords of the Knights Templar, which have been carried often and effectually in various theatrical performances at the col- lege. DIn connection with public buildings it may be of interest to mention the Aurora churches. The earliest of these is the Pres- byterian. The first church edifice was erected in 1818, but the building which is the object of our weekly pilgrimage dates from 1860. In early times the church members bought their pews outright instead of renting them. When the latter fashion arose, it met with violent opposition from the conservative faction, so the story. goes, and a party broke off from the main body of the church. They began to hold meetings in the lower story of the Masonic Lodge, until finally, when their funds became sufficient, they erected the Episcopal church. Across the street from the Presbyterian church stands the old, brick Military Academy, silent and deserted since that memor- able day in 1899 when the self-important, blue-coated little Cad- dicsl' bade farewell to Aurora. In 1799 the first academy build- ing was erected. In 1802 Major Ledyard 4' conveyed to the Trustees the present academy lot, with the buildings then stand- ing upon it,'7 we read in the History of Cayuga County. This property was always to be used for educational purposes. As early as this, Aurora was dedicated to the cause of education. The first academy building was burned, a larger was then erected and used till 1835, when the present building was put up. The second building is now used as a Methodist church. It is only within recent years that the Academy has been a military school. It was originally an Academy for both boys and girls, then became a boys, school, and then once more a school for boys and girls. It is interesting to imagine what this school must have been like in the early part of the century. We can, I suppose, picture to ourselves a school-room such as we read of in histories of early New England. Rows of benches, hacked by industrious jack-knives, and dog-eared books scattered about. In winter a huge ire would roar up the chimney and the shivering little girls, who had had a long tramp through the snow to school, 30

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would be grouped about it to thaw out. Salem Town, an early principal of the academy, used to heat brands and place them under the desks, for the children to warm their feet upon. For this kindness he atoned, however, by writing a 4' Speller and Definer,', over whose poly-syllabled words many a youngster toiled laboriously. Yet no doubt the children were very fond of Mr. Town. It is said that he was not only respected but loved by everyone. It is the marble physiognomy of this worthy man, surrounded by its ponderous black-walnut frame, that we have the privilege of gazing upon each Sunday morning in the Pres- byterian church. ' A - The academy was the first school built in the United States, west of New York. It had an established reputationiin the old times, but it was under Salem Town that it became really famous. Among the men of note educated there may be mentioned Presi- dent Fillmore and Governor Seward. Somewhat later than the academy, the Quaker school of Miss Maryat was founded on the street east of the main street of Aurora, and parallel to it. Here it was that Polly and Peggy Ledyard Wrote copies and did sums. Madame Smith, whose fam- ily lived in Cazenovia, went as a boarder to Miss Maryat's, and a very homesick little girl she was. There is a story of how she used to sit by her window, gazing toward her own village, and while the tears streamed down her blue-checked apron, wished, oh so earnestly, that she had never come to that horrid Aurora. Of the late history of this school it is impossible to learn any- thing except that on the departure, deposition, or demise of the Quaker lady, it was kept for a time by one Miss Boucher. Noth- ing is left of the building to-day. . And now, of course, we come to Wells. As we have all listened to Founderis Day addresses it is not necessary in this sketch to discuss the life of Henry Wells. His connection with Aurora dates from the time when, as a young man, he ff boatedw grain on Cayuga Lake. After he had established himself well in busi- ness he bought a portion of the Morgan farm and built a house for himself upon it, and in 1866 he laid the corner-stone of his great gift to young women- Wells Seminary, later 'Wells College. There is only one story of the old times that is connected with the college grounds, so far as I can learn. In the ravine south of the basket-ball court Indian John was hung for the murder of a white man, away back in 1804. It is hard to obtain a definite account of this event, and, indeed, it is rather pleasant to have it 31