The Stone School House
Fleming School District No. 7, located in the Town of Fleming, Cayuga Co., New York, was served by a school house constructed of stone overlooking the western shore of Owasco Lake until centralization of local school districts in the first half of the 20th Century. The Stone School House today is part of a private residence at the corner of Stone School Road and State Route 38 (West Lake Road). An examination of the 1859 map of Fleming shows the school in the northeast corner of Lot 91. Sheila Saft Tucker's book on the Town of Fleming describes the Stone School."The Stone School in the Town of Fleming . . . is a familiar building to every one in this part of the country. The original building was built on land given to the town to be used for the purpose of education of children in district No. 7. Schuyler Peterson [NOTE: Should be Cornelius A. Peterson, Schuyler's father - R. A. Post] gave this plot of land which was to be reverted to his estate when its' use as a school house was terminated. The school house was built in 1855 from field stone found on the surrounding land. It was used as a school until 1945. . . . The building and land then reverted to the Schuyler Peterson estate. . . ."
-- Sheila Saft Tucker, The Township of Fleming Cayuga County, New York 1823-1973 (Auburn, Cayuga Co., NY, Sheila Saft Tucker, 1973)
Cornelius A. Peterson
The great-grandfather and grandfather of Cornelius A. Peterson were very early settlers of the land north of Stone School Road on Lot 83 of what was then part of the Town of Aurelius. They came in from New Jersey in 1796. Cornelius A. Peterson married Helen Post, daughter of Jacob Post, Sr., ca. 4 July 1851. Jacob's widow Jannetie (Jane) Nevius Post appears to have remained on his farm in adjacent Lot 91 with some of her children following Jacob's death, with her son Jacob Post, Jr., a Carpenter, listed as Head of Household in the 1850 federal census. Jacob, Jr. and his 2nd wife, Betsey Ann Allen, removed to the Town of Scipio, Cayuga Co., New York several months before his sister Helen married Cornelius A. Peterson. Cornelius and Helen then assumed operation, if not ownership, of the Jacob Post, Sr. farm. The plot of land on which the Stone School House was constructed appears to have come off this farm early in Cornelius A. Peterson's tenure.
Students of the Stone School House in 1859
A grouping of genealogical notes and miscellaneous papers found in California and sent to me contains a sheet of paper on which is recorded the names of students of the Stone School House during a summer term in 1859 and a subsequent winter term mainly in 1860. A member of the Peterson Family, possibly Helen Post Peterson, likely authored the "list of scholars."
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| A list of scholars who attended District School No. 7, the Stone Schoolhouse, in the Town of Fleming during the term from 11 April 1859 until 27 September 1859 - found in Peterson Family papers |
The List of Scholars
Students at the Stone School House from late Spring to early Fall in 1859 were (Caroline) Augusta Peterson, Gilbert (B.) Peterson, (Christopher) "Chris" Peterson, George (E.) Peterson, (Edward J.) "Eddie" Jewhurst, (Mary) Laura Jewhurst, Sarah Richards, George (B.) DeGroff, Esther (E.) DeGroff, (Catharine) Adella Post, (Catherine) "Katy" Marin (Moran), Sarah Quinn, Andrew Neel (O'Neil), Eliza (Ann) Jones, Sarah (E.) Jones, (William) "Will" Casley, Mary Fletcher, Henry Fletcher, and John (G.) VanArsdale.
Cornelius A. and Helen Post Peterson's oldest four children head the list of scholars. Caroline Augusta would have been 7 years old, Gilbert B. approximately 8, Christopher "Chris" 5, and George E. Peterson turning 4 during the summer term of 1859.
Edward J. and Mary Laura Jewhurst, children of Edward and Jennie Jewhurst, respectively would have been 6 and 4 years old in 1859. Census data indicate that the Jewhurst family normally resided in Auburn, Cayuga Co., New York. Given Mr. Jewhurst's occupation as a Horse Trainer, he may have been working in Fleming at the time the list of scholars was made.
Sarah Richards, about 12 years old, was the daughter of George and Elizabeth Richards (possibly a stepmother). George was a Farm Laborer, and the family had emigrated from England. Sarah appears in the nearby household of Christopher G. and Martha Conklin Post in 1865 working as a Servant.
George B. and Esther E. DeGroff were children of William and Helen Holmes DeGroff. William was a Farm Laborer. George B. was about 9 and Esther E. about 6 years old.
Catharine Adella Post was the daughter of Adam and Mary Ann Post. She would have been only 4 years old during the summer of 1859. Her parents later removed to Livingston Co., New York where she died in 1868.
Catherine "Katy" Moran, also 4 years old in 1859, was the daughter of John and Mary Moran. John was a Farmer who had emigrated from Ireland. Sarah Quinn, of unknown parentage and later (1865) censused in the Moran household, was born about 1856, making her perhaps slightly less than 4 years old in 1859. Her parents are not known.
Cornelius A. and Helen Post Peterson's oldest four children head the list of scholars. Caroline Augusta would have been 7 years old, Gilbert B. approximately 8, Christopher "Chris" 5, and George E. Peterson turning 4 during the summer term of 1859.
Edward J. and Mary Laura Jewhurst, children of Edward and Jennie Jewhurst, respectively would have been 6 and 4 years old in 1859. Census data indicate that the Jewhurst family normally resided in Auburn, Cayuga Co., New York. Given Mr. Jewhurst's occupation as a Horse Trainer, he may have been working in Fleming at the time the list of scholars was made.
Sarah Richards, about 12 years old, was the daughter of George and Elizabeth Richards (possibly a stepmother). George was a Farm Laborer, and the family had emigrated from England. Sarah appears in the nearby household of Christopher G. and Martha Conklin Post in 1865 working as a Servant.
George B. and Esther E. DeGroff were children of William and Helen Holmes DeGroff. William was a Farm Laborer. George B. was about 9 and Esther E. about 6 years old.
Catharine Adella Post was the daughter of Adam and Mary Ann Post. She would have been only 4 years old during the summer of 1859. Her parents later removed to Livingston Co., New York where she died in 1868.
Catherine "Katy" Moran, also 4 years old in 1859, was the daughter of John and Mary Moran. John was a Farmer who had emigrated from Ireland. Sarah Quinn, of unknown parentage and later (1865) censused in the Moran household, was born about 1856, making her perhaps slightly less than 4 years old in 1859. Her parents are not known.
Andrew O'Neil was the son of Patrick and Catharine O'Neil who were censused in the Town of Mentz, Cayuga Co., New York in 1855 when Andrew was just under 1 year old. Patrick O'Neil was a Laborer when the family appeared in the 1860 census for the Town of Owasco, Cayuga Co., New York. Andrew would have been about 5 years old in 1859.
Eliza Ann and Sarah E. Jones were the children of George and Rhoda Jones. Their ages respectively would have been about 7 and 9 years old when attending the Stone School House in the summer of 1859. Mr. Jones was a Farmer.
William "Will" Casley was the son of Elizabeth Casley. They were censused in the household of Benjamin Clark where Elizabeth was a Servant in 1855. Will would have been about 7 years old in 1859.
Mary and Henry Fletcher were the children of unknown parents.
John G. VanArsdale was the son of Cornelius and Hannah Van Nest VanArsdale. He would have been about 9 years old in the summer of 1859. His father was a Farmer.
Eliza Ann and Sarah E. Jones were the children of George and Rhoda Jones. Their ages respectively would have been about 7 and 9 years old when attending the Stone School House in the summer of 1859. Mr. Jones was a Farmer.
William "Will" Casley was the son of Elizabeth Casley. They were censused in the household of Benjamin Clark where Elizabeth was a Servant in 1855. Will would have been about 7 years old in 1859.
Mary and Henry Fletcher were the children of unknown parents.
John G. VanArsdale was the son of Cornelius and Hannah Van Nest VanArsdale. He would have been about 9 years old in the summer of 1859. His father was a Farmer.
Students of the Stone School House in 1860
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| A list of scholars who attended District School No. 7, the Stone Schoolhouse, in the Town of Fleming during the term from 5 December 1859 until 24 February 1860 - found in Peterson Family papers |
The List of Scholars
Students enrolled at the Stone School House during the term from 5 December 1859 until 24 February 1860 largely included those listed for the summer term of 1859 but with several losses and additions. The scholars were Sarah Richards, Robert Richards, (Catharine) Adella Post, Gilbert (B.) Peterson, (Caroline) Augusta Peterson, (Christopher) "Chris" Peterson, George (E.) Peterson, (Mary) Laura Jewhurst, (Edward J.) "Eddie" Jewhurst, Frank Ward, Andrew Neil (Andrew O'Neil), Catherine "Katy" Marin (Moran), Sarah Quinn, George (B.) DeGroff, Stephen Donavan, John (G.) Van Arsdale (VanArsdale), and John Guilfoil. Changes in the student roll follow.
Robert Richards, son of George and Elizabeth Richards (possibly a stepmother), joined his sister, Sarah, for the winter term. Robert Richards was 14 to 15 years old at this time. His lack of attendance during the preceding summer may have been because he was engaged in farm work.
Franklin "Frank" Ward was a new student at the Stone School House in the winter of 1859-60. He probably was the son of Erastus and Lucy Benton Ward (possibly a stepmother) who resided in the Town of Sennett, Cayuga Co., New York in 1855 and 1860. Frank was about 10 years old during the school term.
Stephen Donavan was a new student. He possibly was the Irish immigrant censused in the household of Cornelius Peterson during the summer of 1860 as "Stephen Dunphen," an 18-year-old Farm Laborer. If so, Stephen would have been by far the oldest student in the Stone School.
John Guilfoil also was a new student for the winter term. He may have been the son of Frank and Kate Guilfoil listed in the 1860 census of Fleming. The family surname was phonetically given as "Gibpal" in this census. John was 5 to 6 years old during the term.
Former students not present at the Stone School House during winter 1859-60 were Esther E. DeGroff, Eliza and Sarah Jones, William "Will" Casley, and Mary and Henry Fletcher. Esther E. DeGroff had not left Fleming and was censused during the summer of 1860 in her father's household.
The family of Eliza Ann and Sarah E. Jones had removed to the adjacent Town of Scipio, Cayuga Co., New York by the time of the 1860 census although they later would return to the Town of Fleming.
William "Will" Casley and Mary and Henry Fletcher were not found in Fleming at this time.
Robert Richards, son of George and Elizabeth Richards (possibly a stepmother), joined his sister, Sarah, for the winter term. Robert Richards was 14 to 15 years old at this time. His lack of attendance during the preceding summer may have been because he was engaged in farm work.
Franklin "Frank" Ward was a new student at the Stone School House in the winter of 1859-60. He probably was the son of Erastus and Lucy Benton Ward (possibly a stepmother) who resided in the Town of Sennett, Cayuga Co., New York in 1855 and 1860. Frank was about 10 years old during the school term.
Stephen Donavan was a new student. He possibly was the Irish immigrant censused in the household of Cornelius Peterson during the summer of 1860 as "Stephen Dunphen," an 18-year-old Farm Laborer. If so, Stephen would have been by far the oldest student in the Stone School.
John Guilfoil also was a new student for the winter term. He may have been the son of Frank and Kate Guilfoil listed in the 1860 census of Fleming. The family surname was phonetically given as "Gibpal" in this census. John was 5 to 6 years old during the term.
Former students not present at the Stone School House during winter 1859-60 were Esther E. DeGroff, Eliza and Sarah Jones, William "Will" Casley, and Mary and Henry Fletcher. Esther E. DeGroff had not left Fleming and was censused during the summer of 1860 in her father's household.
The family of Eliza Ann and Sarah E. Jones had removed to the adjacent Town of Scipio, Cayuga Co., New York by the time of the 1860 census although they later would return to the Town of Fleming.
William "Will" Casley and Mary and Henry Fletcher were not found in Fleming at this time.
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