Historic Sites

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Wilcoxen Home Historic Marker

Historic Site #:06-058   (Exists)   Type: B2,D,F1 Town:Macedon
Site Name:Wilcoxen Home Historic MarkerGPS Coordinates:43.06721, -77.3044
Address:39 W. Main St. Macedon NY
Description:
November 10th marks the 150th anniversary of the birth of Ella Salome Wilcoxen born: 11/10/1865. 

 
Photo from Macedon Historical Society WebsitePicture of Ella Salome Wilcoxen
Wilcoxen House
 
Historic narrative:

Why is she important to the people of
Macedon?  First of all, she was a native
of Macedon, and the first female graduate of the University of Rochester!  She lived on Main Street, across the street and a little west of the
Baptist Church.  It is there that you can
see the Pomeroy Historic Marker erected in her name.  The
U of R opened it classes to women in 1900 after Susan B. Anthony had raised
$50,000 to support the program. Ms. Wilcoxen had to complete special
endorsements from U of R faculty members to even attempt enrollment.  She transferred from the Geneseo State Normal
School for her senior year. She graduated in 1901 with a Ph.B.- a Bachelor’s
degree of Philosophy.  In
1901 Ella Salome Wilcoxen may have published a work titled “The motive of religion
in the colonization of the United States: And its influence on colonial
development.” This work is attributed her, unfortunately, no copies are
available, and no more information has been found.  But a Bachelor's of Philosophy usually
requires a thesis or research so it would make sense that this might be her
thesis. 

  • July 17, 1884  became a member of the First Baptist
    Church at age 19.  
    June 1888 participated in the Women's
    Home and Foreign Missionary Society meeting in Newark NY. 1893 she served as clerk for the
    church. 1897 she served as a vice
    President of the Western Wayne Christian Endeavor
  • 1900 she enters the University of
    Rochester and is named president of a new college fraternity – Students
    Association for Women – which all 33 female students joined. On Friday,
    February 22, 1901, the Students Association held a reception in Anderson
    Hall with Susan B. Anthony as their guest of honor. 
    May of 1903 she presented a paper at the Women's Home and Foreign Missionary Society of the Wayne Baptist Association annual meeting titled “What our W.B.H. M. Society has done in the last twenty two years.” 1903 to 1905 she continued her
    education at Illinois Wesleyan University.  1906 and 1907 she taught Biology
    at West High School in Rochester which is now the Joseph C. Wilson Magnet
    High School.
  • December 1910 she spoke at a tea
    for the Women's Home and Foreign Missionary Society In Wyoming NY.  
    1910 she spoke at the Chemung
    River Baptist Association annual meeting during the Wednesday Woman's hour. July 1918 She spoke at the Gospel
    Meeting in Newark in.
  • September 1927 she spoke at the
    Fairville Presbyterian church in her brother's place when he was ill. 
    She spoke at the Farmington
    Friends Meetinghouse.  August 18, 1927 she attended a Bible Conference at Fair Haven.  She died in 1933



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