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Window into History
Mar 7, 2008
John Lewis, common schools and changing names
Since the Katonah-Lewisboro School District is in the process of discussing funding for the next school year, we thought it might be a good time to revisit the eponymous John Lewis and his gift to the town of South Salem. What was that gift?
Ten thousand dollars, give or take a few thousand, and a new name. In February 1840, by an act of the New York State Legislature, South Salem became Lewisboro. The name change didn’t seem to cause an uproar, or even much comment. If it did, there is no record of discussion or dissent in the town archives. The town simply changed its official name to fulfill the requirements of a native son’s offer to the town to aid in the funding of the public school system.
Common schools
John Lewis must have had an uncommon interest in the movement to foster a common education system for all boys in America. According to one source, he was a member of the committee that organized the first public college of New York City. However, when I tried to find evidence of that fact from the archivist of the college several years ago, there was no record of a John Lewis ever sitting on the college governing board. It seems he was more successful here in northern Westchester and his mother’s hometown.
At the time that Mr. Lewis was making his fortune in the financial business of New York City in the 1830s and 1840s, the country was becoming interested in common, or public, education for the masses, the male masses, mostly. It was thought that if all youngsters were taught the same things (common), they would become better, more virtuous citizens and better able to compete in the world market, thus making America a world leader. So, in 1840, he struck the deal that gave our town its current name.
From its inception in April 1842 to the mid-1950s, the Lewis Fund was administered by three trustees elected every year at the annual town meeting, as stipulated by John Lewis. Early trustees included his uncle, Isaac Hayes. There were years when it was hard to fill the three positions. It was a thankless job, although it did not demand much time. For 50 years that arrangement worked well, but in the 1890s, annual town meetings gave way to more frequent meetings. And, by 1956, there were no more common school districts in town. Furthermore, the school district was now combined with sections of Bedford and Pound Ridge. The Lewis Fund monies, by decree, could not be used by students who were not residents of Lewisboro. It was time for a change. And that change was precipitated by another outstanding and outspoken citizen.
Lewis Fund trustees
Alice Poor, another benefactor of the town, had been a fund trustee for almost two decades. A letter in the town historian’s files from Town Supervisor Hugh Coyle, dated Aug. 13, 1945, certified that Frances G. Mead, Pierre L. Rockwell and Alice Poor had been elected trustees, and Frances Mead selected treasurer. Another rather humorous letter from Town Supervisor John J. S. Mead, dated Jan. 17, 1956, targets the demise of the fund trustees’ obligations. The three trustees elected for 1956 were Alice Poor, John Coatsworth and Henry Palmer. Mr. Mead’s letter to John Coatsworth and Henry Palmer states: “At the time that we nominated the present trustees of the Lewis Fund, Mrs. Poor accepted the nomination with the hope that some practical way could be found of abolishing the job.”
His letter details a proposal to ask the state legislature to approve a bill naming the Town Board as the administrator of the Lewis Fund, and to change the original bill to allow the monies to be used “either for school children residents of the town, or turned over to the school districts for general school purposes ... If it were adopted, it would take effect upon the subsequent resignation of the present trustees. Mrs. Poor has already approved the bill and can hardly wait to resign. However, before taking it up with the Town Board on Feb. 14, I would like to know if you have any objections.”
Neither of the two men had any objections and the proposed legislation was presented in Albany before the month of March had done its lambish disappearing trick.
Bang for the bucks
It is estimated that the original principal of the Lewis Fund totaled about $7,000, 1840 funds, not shabby for those days. Additional funds in the form of railroad stocks would have brought the total closer to $10,000, but there is speculation that those stocks never reached their face value and the railroad failed, as many proposed railroads did during the last quarter of the 19th Century. The principal was not to be touched, only the interest, it seems. That sum has fluctuated greatly during the ensuing 168 years. The treasurer’s report for 1936-37, written on a half sheet of copy paper, gave the following figures: Receipts — $0.10 (brought forward); Putnam Co. Savings Bank ($10.18); Int. of Roth Mortgage ($270.00); Int. on Mead Mortgage ($150.00); for a total of $435.28.
Disbursements: eight checks of $50 to schools (the eight district one-room schools in town). That left $35.28 to forward to the next school year.
The final treasurer’s report presented by Mrs. Poor covering the period from Dec. 31,
1955 to April 9, 1956 showed a balance of $90.16 in December 1955, and $6.37 interest from Putnam County Savings Bank. Those monies were given over to the town of Lewisboro when the Lewis Fund trustees were dissolved. The principle included: $5,000 in U.S. Savings Bonds Series G, $2,000 in U.S. Treasury notes, and $425.00 on deposit in Putnam County Savings Bank for a grand total of $7,425.
Over the years, after that change in administrative roles, the Lewis Fund money was used in different ways including a short-lived yearly essay contest. Now the yearly interest is given to the South Salem Library as part of the town’s contribution to library funding. Mr. Lewis’ gift, although self-aggrandizing in a way, helped the struggling early schools and is still adding to the education of Lewisboro school children.
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