Historical Wyoming County July 1958 - Old Fulton History

July 19 56
MILESTONES (cont.)
Page 123
colonialism, segregation and atomic tests. Dr. Conroy entered Canisius
^ollege, Buffalo, at the age of 15, the youngest student in the
history of the college, and for fifteen years was a member of its
faculty.
Warsaw's United Church will hold a one day observance, July 13, in
commemoration of the 150th anniversary of the founding of the Presbyterian
Church, July I1+, Ib08, the parent body from which the present
church is descended.
The annual meeting of the Wyoming Historical Pioneer Association will
be held in the Log Cabin, Silver Lake, on the traditional first
Thursday in August, Mr. Samuel v e Gayton, Warsaw, is president,and
the usual program of tribute to our pioneer heritage is being planned
On May 6th, residents of former District No. 1, Covington, voted to
close the La Grange district school and transport the pupils to Perry
Central School. The building is a landmark of the Community, having
been erected more than a century ago. Harold Altoft, president of
the Wyoming County Pair Association, completing 57 years of teaching,
has been at the school since 1V25, and on two occasions prior to that
date. His mother attended the same school and his last pupils included
two of his grandchildren.
A Jemison Romance
Not long ago the Pennsylvania folklore Society noted the career
of Jakey Jemison, grandson of Mary, and reputed to have been the
first descendant of an American Indian to hold a commission in the
U. s . Navy. Jakey attended Dartmouth College and later became a
physician, -passing with honors the examination for assistant Naval
surgeon ana was commissioned as a lieutenant aboard the cruiser
Powhatan. The ship was assigned to the Mediterranean area to clean
out the Algerian Pirates, and the story goes that the dark-skinned
daughter of the shiek who ruled Algeria fell in love with Lt.Jemison
on the occasion of the first diplomatic ball held in the British
embassy at Algiers. Coiirt officials soon noted the princesses's
interest ii, the doctor and asked Jemison's commander about his background.
The captain sketched the distinquished heritage of this
descendant of the "original" Americans, and, as a result, Jemison
was permitted to call upon the princesses with the understanding
that marriage would be impossible due to the differences in racial,
religious and political matters.
In due course, the Powhatan's stay in the Mediterranean came to
a close and Jemison came aboard with tear-stained cheeks as the ship
departed for Cyprus. When the ship arrived at that destination, it
was discovered that the princesses had been a stowaway and she was
returned to her father when the ship again paused at Algeria on its
way back to the United States. The story concludes that Lt. Jemison
was unreconciled to the parting, died a short time later, and was
buried at sea. Thus, like his grandmother, the "White Woman of the
Genesee," he drank deeply of the cup of sorrow.