Sidera Chase papers

Sidera Chase was born on October 31, 1818, in Hoosick, New York. He graduated from Wesleyan in 1842. While at Wesleyan Chase was a member of the fraternities: Delta Kappa Epsilon and Phi Beta Kappa. Chase was also a founding member of the Mystical Seven at Wesleyan. Chase was a teacher at Preparatory School in Middletown of which he later became assistant principal (1840-1842). Chase later became principal of the Female Institute in Middletown (1848-1854) and later the Newark Wesleyan University in New Jersey. He subsequently left the educational field due to poor health. Chase had a stint in manufacturing from 1854 until 1861, which was interrupted due to the Civil War, and continued again from 1866 to 1869. Chase later was the U.S. Deputy Collector in New York's First District from 1869 until 1873. Chase again switched careers when he began work on the editorial staff of the New York Tribune (1873-1887). Following his working career, Chase engaged in study and writing until his death on September 21, 1897 in Nordhoff, New Jersey. Chase was the brother of the first Wesleyan graduate, Daniel Henry Chase. Chase was married to Sarah Johnson of Middletown. They had four children: Frances Elizabeth (born 1842), Julia Fisher (born 1848), Jennie Burton (born 1854), and Nellie Low (born 1857).