2. Thomas Jefferson Nevins 1, 2 (Thomas ) was born on 5 Jun 1795 in Hanover, Grafton, New Hampshire, USA. He died on 14 Jan 1861 in Silver City, Lyon, Nevada, USA. He was buried on 8 Nov 1863 in Lone Mountain Cemetery, San Francisco, San Francisco, California, USA.
HON. THOMAS JEFFERSON NEVINS, A. M.
Thomas J. Nevins, son of Thomas and Sally (Brown) Nevins, was born in Hanover, N. H., June 5, 1795, and died in Nevada about 1860. He was a student at Dartmouth College for some time. He then studied law in Norwich, Vermont, and was admitted to the bar. He practiced his profession in Penn Yann, and Buffalo, N. Y., and later in Norwich. In 1846, the University conferred upon him the degree of A. M. About 1849, he went to San Francisco as agent for the American Tract Society, where he at once took a prominent part in public affairs of that city. In 1850, he established the first school in that city; he drafted the first bill for government of the public schools and became the first Superintendent, which position he held for two years. Besides his interest in education, he did every thing in his power to promote the temperance movement and worked diligently for the establishment of churches and Sunday schools. Later he became interested in the silver mines of Nevada and removed to Silver City in that territory. During a flood in that locality, while trying to save some property, he fell into the water. The shock and chill brought on pneumonia of which he died. He was buried at Silver City, but, two years later, the Board of Education of San Francisco caused his remains to be removed to that city, where they were interred with public honors. He was twice married : First in 1825, to Minerva Loomis, who died in 1827, leaving him one son, Oren Green Nevins. In 1829, he married Cornelia Clark of Oswego, N. Y., by whom he had three children: Stanley Morris, "N. U.' ' '28 (q. v.) George Willoughby, " N. U.' ' '50, (q.v.) and Cornelia born in 1832. Mrs. Nevins married William Stuart Culbertson of New Albany, Indiana, where she died on October 18, 1880. Norwich University, 1819-1911: Her History, Her Graduates by William Arba Ellis, Grenville Mellen Dodge - 1911Came to Caifornia in the gold rush. Is credited with starting the first school in San Francisco. Went to Nevada to mine silver and drowned in a flood. Was taken back to San Francisco to be buried with large monument at grave. Gravewas later moved to National Cemetery in San Bruno, California in pioneer section. Practiced law before coming to California.
Tombstone inscription from Lone Mountain Cemetery, San Francisco, California
Thomas J. Nevins, born in Hanover, New Hampshire, June 5, 1795; died in Silver City, Nevada Territory, January 14, 1861. The first agent of the American Tract Society on this Coast. A Pioneer in the interest of Religion, Temperance, Charity and Good Morals and a promoter of the organization and labor of man lending assistance to the advancement of the Public Welfare. The Board of Education and Citizens of San Francisco in unite in erecting this monument to his memory as the Founder of Common Schools in this City and State, and as the first Superintendent of Common Schools in San Francisco.CHAPTER XVII
THE PUBLIC SCHOOL SYSTEM
By Professor John Swett and the Author
HOW THE PIONEERS MADE EARLY PROVISION FOR A FUND THAT WOULD PROVIDE EDUCATIONAL FACILITIES ON A GENEROUS SCALE--GOVERNMENT LANDS FORMED THE BASIS FOR AN EXTENSIVE SYSTEM OF INSRUCTION, WITH LIBRARIES IN EVERY SCHOOLHOUSE--SAN FRANCISCO'S FIRST SCHOOLHOUSE AND FIRST SCHOOL TEACHER--AN OUTLINE OF THE EVOLUTION OF THE STATE'S PLAN OF INSTRUCTION--NORMAL SCHOOLS"The first school ordinance passed under the measure known as the state law of 1851 was that of San Francisco, which was adopted in September, 1851. It provided for a board of education of seven members, a city superintendent of schools, and other officers, and appropriated $35,000 to carry out the educational plan. Thomas J. Nevins, father of the ordinance, was the city's first superintendent of schools. The first schools organized under this law were the Happy Valley School, of which James Denman was the first teacher, and the Powell Street School, of which Joel Tracy was the first teacher. These schools opened on December 17, 1851. Washington Grammar School was opened on December 22, 1851, with F. E. James as principal. During the year 1852 the following schools were organized: Rincon, January 28, Silas Weston, principal; Spring Valley Grammar, February 9, Asa W. Cole, principal; Union Grammar, June, Ahira Holmes, principal; Mission Grammar, May, Alfred Rix, principal."
In October, 1849, John C. Pelton opened a school in the old Baptist Church in San Francisco, depending entirely upon voluntary subscriptions for its support. It was free only to poor children. In the spring of 1850 the city council came to his assistance and adopted an ordinance making it free public school, the first in California. The school continued under the original ordinance until September, 1851, when it was reorganized under an ordinance providing for a city board of education and a city superintendent. The first superintendent, T.J. Nevins outlined the organization for the first city school system in the state. It was he who proposed the establishment of the San Francisco high school, the grading of the school, the grading of schools and the adoption of a uniform course of study.
Thomas married Minerva Loomis 1, daughter of Nathan Loomis and Dorcas Pratt, on 23 Nov 1825. Minerva was born on 5 Apr 1805 in Rushville, Oneida, New York, USA. She died on 22 May 1827 in Penn Yan, New York, USA.
They had the following children.
+ 18 M i Oren Green Nevins was born in 1827. He died after 1880.
Thomas also married Caroline S. "Cornelia" Clark on 3 Oct 1829. The marriage ended in divorce.
They had the following children.
+ 19 M ii Stanley Morris Nevins Warner was born on 12 Aug 1830. He died on 31 Jan 1875. + 20 F iii Cornelia Minerva Nevins Warner was born on 27 Aug 1832. She died on 18 Oct 1880. 21 M iv George Willoughby Nevins 1 was born on 10 Sep 1834 in Penn Yan, Yates, New York, USA. He died on 25 May 1850 in Mantanzas, Cuba.
GEORGE WILLOUGHBY NEVINS. George W. Nevins, son of Thomas Jefferson and Cornelia (Clark) Nevins, was born in Penn Yan, New York, September 10, 1834. He entered the Preparatory department of the University in 1844, and remained three years. In 1850, he embarked on a vessel from New York, advertised to sail for San Francisco, with a view of joining his father there. The vessel was really bound on a " filibustering" expedition to Cuba; the ship was wrecked on the shores of Cuba, and the crew and passengers were seized and shot at Mantanzas, Cuba, May 25. 1850. Norwich University, 1819-1911: Her History, Her Graduates by William Arba Ellis, Grenville Mellen Dodge - 1911
Thomas also married Jemima Havens Hudson 1, daughter of Joseph Hudson and Mehitable Fanning, on 4 Oct 1855 in San Francisco, San Francisco, California, USA. Jemima was born 2 on 4 Oct 1807 in Franklinville, Cattaraugus, New York. She died on 11 Jan 1891 in San Francisco, San Francisco, California, USA.
3. Henry Nevins 1 (Thomas ) was born on 9 Dec 1796 in , , Vermont, USA. He died on 25 Oct 1859 in Indiana.
Henry married Mary Smith 1 in 1823. Mary was born on 17 Sep 1807 in , , Massachusetts, USA. She died on 19 Sep 1886.
They had the following children.
+ 22 F i Mary Nevins was born on 30 Sep 1825. + 23 M ii John S. Nevins was born on 30 Jun 1827. He died after 1880. + 24 M iii Joel S. Nevins was born on 30 Apr 1833. He died after 1920. + 25 M iv Theron W. Nevins was born on 17 May 1838. He died on 5 Dec 1915. 26 F v Lavina Nevins 1 was born in 1840 in . 27 M vi Louis Nevins 1 was born in 1840 in . He died in 1857. 28 F vii Sarah Nevins 1 was born in 1842 in . 29 M viii Benjamin Nevins 1 was born in 1842 in . He died in 1859. 30 F ix Martha Nevins 1 was born in 1844 in .
4. Alfred Nevins 1 (Thomas ) was born on 7 Feb 1798 in Hanover, Grafton, New Hampshire, USA.
Alfred married Cynthia Morse 1 on 31 Mar 1819. Cynthia was born in 1798 in
They had the following children.
+ 31 F i Cynthia Octavia Nevins was born on 31 Oct 1820. + 32 M ii Alfred Milton Nevins was born on 3 Jul 1822. He died on 3 May 1862. + 33 M iii John Morse Nevins was born on 26 Apr 1826. He died before 1900. + 34 M iv Jacob Newton Nevins was born on 18 Dec 1827. He died on 10 May 1877. + 35 F v Eunice M. Nevins was born on 4 Aug 1830. + 36 F vi Sarah M. Nevins was born on 7 May 1832. + 37 F vii Augusta M. Nevins was born on 28 Aug 1842.
6. John William Nevins 1 (Thomas
) was born on 19 Apr 1801 in Hatfield, Ontario, Canada. He died on 14 May 1881 in Montour, Schuyler, New York.
John was employed as 1860 Census M. E. Clergyman in Catharine, Schuuyler, New York, USA.
John married Marinda G. Geer 1 on 23 Nov 1821. Marinda was born on 4 Dec 1801 in Paris, Onieda, New York. She died on 3 Nov 1856.
They had the following children.