USA > New York > Warren County > Queensbury > History and biography of Washington county and the town of Queensbury, New York > Part 1
USA > New York > Washington County > History and biography of Washington county and the town of Queensbury, New York > Part 1
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1 GENEALOGY 974.701 W27H
GENEALOGY COLLECTION
ALLEN COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY 3 1833 01149 0072
Digitized by the Internet Archive in 2010 with funding from Allen County Public Library Genealogy Center
http://www.archive.org/details/historybiography00gres
.
WASHINGTON ACADEMY, SALEM, N Y.
HISTORY AND BIOGRAPHY
- OF -
WASHINGTON COUNTY,
AND THE
TOWN OF QUEENSBURY,
NEW YORK,
- WITH -
HISTORICAL NOTES ON THE VARIOUS TOWNS.
ARRANGED AND EDITED BY
THE GRESHAM PUBLISHING COMPANY.
allustrated,
CHICAGO, ILL.
GRESHAM PUBLISHING COMPANY: RICHMOND, IND. 1894.
NEW YORK, N.Y.
PRESSES OF M. CULLATON & CO., RICHMOND, IND
- PREFACE.«
1180279
F A TRUTH it may be said that History, the highest form of prose literature, is fast becoming one of the most popular and important branches of human knowledge. It has rapidly risen in our day from an empirical state to the rank of a science, and the master minds of this century that have devoted their energies to efforts in behalf of its advancement in accuracy, interest and value, have transformed it from the princely eulogy and fairy tales of olden times into a vast super- structure only less real than the great drama of actual events it is intended to perpetuate in human memory. This improvement has popularized History until it is no longer the Pactolus of the learned, but has risen to be the guiding star of modern civilization. In it are reflected the principles that govern the character and destiny of nations, and from it the statesman and reformer may construct a chart to guide all intelligent effort at reform in our old civilization, or in the upbuilding of the new. As in ancient times, so even at this hour, "Experience is a light for our footsteps," no less for the Nation or community than for the individual, and true History is human experience condensed and preserved.
Local history particularly has rapidly risen in importance since our Centennial year, when the Congress of the United States, by joint resolution, recommended to each city, town and county in this country the duty of collecting for permanent preservation their local history and biography. In the first century of our National existence the annals of town and county, together with the individuality of the citizen, had been absorbed by the history of the State and the still more masterful theme of the life of the Nation. Since the opening of our second century it is becoming more generally understood that the history of a people resolves itself largely into the achievements of its leading men and , women, and that in biography may be found that department of history most valuable for the intelligent study of National life and human advancement. Hence in the series of County Cyclopedias that bear the imprint of the publishers of this volume, much attention
5
25.00
Good Speed-
SURMAND TILE
vi
PREFACE.
has been given to the collection and publication of biographical sketches of leading citizens, past and present. It is a fact that biography of this character must have promi- nent place in the local history of the future, and that the important and useful lessons it teaches will never fail to excite interest and give pleasure. It subserves the highest good by presenting examples worthy of emulation, and by perpetuating the memories of those who are worthy of remembrance.
From the time when this territory was yet a wilderness down to the present day, Washington county occupies an important position among her sister counties of the Empire State-a proud eminence based alike on her wonderful development, her indus- trial prosperity, and the prominent place she occupies in the history of the Revolution - that gigantic struggle for the rights of man, when a Nation was born in a day, and the dial hand on the clock of human progress moved forward in a greater advance than it had hitherto marked in five centuries.
That Washington county has kept well to the front in that general improvement which distinguishes these later times-in industrial development, art, science, literature, and everthing that tends to ennoble life and make its possession priceless-is largely due to the energy, ability and character of the men who have found fitting notice on the pages of this volume-worthy descendants of the pilgrims and pioneers who first conquered this soil, and by brawn and brain reduced it to the uses of civilization.
THE PUBLISHERS.
CONTENTS3
HISTORICAL.
History of Washington County.
CHAPTER I. - Introduction - Geography -- Topography - Lake George - Diononda- howa Falls - Geology - Minerals. 17-23
CHAPTER II .- Mound Builders - Indians - War-path of America 23-27
CHAPTER III. - Champlain's Invasion -- Hudson's Discovery - Iroquois Raids into Canada- Father Jogues Discovers Lake George 27-29
CHAPTER IV .- French Invasions of the Mo- hawk Country - Iroquois Ravages of Can- ada. 29-30
CHAPTER V .- Destruction of Schenectady- Winthrop and Schuyler's Expeditions - French Invasion - Dellius Land Patent. . .
30-32
CHAPTER VI. - Nicholson's Expeditions Saratoga Settlement -- Campbell Colony - Lydius' Establishment. 32-34
CHAPTER VII .- Destruction of Old Sara- toga - Fort Clinton - French Expeditions -- English Abandonment of the County ... 34-35
CHAPTER VIII .- Battle of Lake George - Rogers, Putnam and Stark's Rangers -Fall of Fort William Henry - Abercrombie and Amherst's Campaigns 35-40
CHAPTER IX .- Early Settlements - Provin- cial and Artillery Patents - New Hamp- shire Grants .. 40-42
CHAPTER X. - County Formation under Name of Charlotte. 42-43
CHAPTER XI .- Commencement of the Rev- olution - Burgoyne's Invasion - Battle of Fort Ann - Burgoyne's Slow Advance - Murder of Jane McCrea - Bennington - Saratoga - Union Convention - Revolu- tionary Soldiers 43-51
CHAPTER XII .- Charlotte becomes Wash- ington County - Cambridge and Eaton An- nexed - Canals - County Seat Struggles - Turnpikes - Warren County Erected - Battle of Plattsburg. 51-53
CHAPTER XIII .- New Industries - Cham- plain Canal - Plank Roads - Early Rail- roads. 53-55
CHAPTER XIV. - Commencement of the Civil War - Regimental Histories and Mor- tuary Lists - Peace. 55-62
CHAPTER XV. - Later Railways - Present Industries - County Progress. 62-63
CHAPTER XVI .- Statistics of Population. Manufactures, Agriculture. Mining, and Trade, and Transportation. 63-66
Pages
Pages. 17-79
viii
CONTENTS.
CHAPTER XVII .- Agricultural and Medical Societies - The Early Press - Churches- Schools -Early Banks - Secret Societies 66-72 CHAPTER XVIII .- County Political and Civil Lists. 72-76
CHAPTER XIX .- County Home-Early Iron Enterprises - LaFayette's Visit - Steam- boat Navigation - Indian Names - Histor- ians . 76-79
Historical Notes upon the Villages and Towns of Washington County . 80-142
CHAPTER I .- Village and Town of Salem .. 80-84
CHAPTER II .- Village of Sandy Hill, and Town of Kingsbury 84-90
CHAPTER III .- Village and Town of White- hall 90-95
CHAPTER IV .- Villages of Fort Edward and Fort Miller, and Town of Fort Edward. .. 95-100
CHAPTER V .- Village and Town of Green- wich 100-105
Pages
Pages CHAPTER VI .- Village and Town of Argyle. 105-110 CHAPTER VII .- Towns of Jackson and White Creek. 110-116
CHAPTER VIII -Village and Town of Cam- bridge. 116-122
CHAPTER IX .- Villages of Easton and North Easton, aud Town of Easton. 122-124
CHAPTER X -Village of West Hebron and Town of Hebron. 124-127
CHAPTER XI .- Village and Town of Gran- ville. 128-132
CHAPTER XII. - Village of Hartford and Towns of Hartford and Hampton 132-136
CHAPTER XIII .- Village and Town of Fort Ann. 136-138
CHAPTER XIV .- Towns of Dresden and Putnam. . 138-142
Historical Notes upon the Village of Glens Falls and the Town of Queensbury. 143-148
-
-
-
ix
CONTENTS.
BIOGRAPHICAL.
Page
Adams, James
275
Adams, J. M
208
Allen, Fred. W
370
Ambler, S. B. 350
Anderson, Rev. John.
402
Armstrong, Adam, jr.
315
Ashton, J. W
412
Ashton, W. J.
433
Baker, N. G. 349
Bancroft Public Library, The .. 361
Bartlett, Dr. W. R
390
Bascom, Hon. O ..
385
Bascom, R O.
284
Bates, Homer B
318
Bemis, E. H. 336
Blackfan, H. S., M. D 193 Blashfield, C. E. 426
Bratt, Frederick A.
387
Brayton, John
256
Briggs, David O
192
Brooks, John
246
Brown, Maj. Daniel.
389
Buck, Charles H.
294
Bullock, Rowland S. 156
Burdett, James H
383
Burditt, E. L.
273
Burleigh, Hon. H. G ..
249
Byrne, Hon. Frank.
231
Cameron, Hon. W. M. 161
Carver. J. W 292
Chase, D. A., M. D.
407
Page
Chase, Elijah. .
424
Cipperley, John, M D 321
Clark, Asahel.
190
Allen, Hon. C. L.
318
Clark, Dr. B. J
337
Clark, E. G.
260
Clark, Guy R
418
Clark, Rev. Thomas, M. D. 409
Cleveland, W. W.
242
Cole, A. B.
274
Cole, Hiram.
436
Colvin. H. D.
419
Contryman, Capt. A B 242
Cornell, Flavius J
410
Cotton, Willard H
187
Cozzens, W. I
419
Crandall, Alden M
379
Crandall, Henry
203.
Crandall, W. H.
369
Crocker, B. P.
367
Cronkhite, L. W.
201
Cronkhite, William
174
Cruikshank, Robert.
224
Culver, George B
167
Cushman Family
356
Davis, C. G. 209
Davis, L.
235
Davis, O. F
422
Davis, Rufus R.
282
Dearstyne, Andrus.
155
Dennis, W. H.
427
Derby, Hon J. H. 195
Dillingham, Henry.
306
Donahoe, Rev. John F
176
Page
Doren, James.
215
Doremus, G. W 417
Dorr, Geo. E.
420
Earl, J. C. 384
Eldridge, Ahira. 316
Eldridge, William 353
Ellis, James.
308
Ethier, Rev. J S.
329
Farr, Dr. D. C. 343
Fennel, Rev. A. J.
215
Fenton, C. S.
387
Ferriss, J. A.
160
Field, Rev. T. A
186
Filkins, David.
386
Finch, George N
225
Finch, S. L
283
Fishler, Franklin
324
Fitch, Hon. Asa, M. D. 338
.Fitch, Prof Asa, M. D
412
Flood, Thomas
381
Foster, John B
188
Frazer, Frederick
378
Fryer, Wilbur
345
Ganly, John 428
Gayger, W. H 287
Getty, George D 211
Gibson, Hon. James
151
Gifford, Thomas C.
305
Gilchrist Family. 362
Gilroy, John.
339
Goodson, Isaac A
380
x
CONTENTS.
Page
Goodman, Hon. J. E.
351
Gray, Capt. E. J. . . 322
Gray, Henry, M. D 204
Gray, J. W.
298
Gregory, Sylvanus
355
Greenough, E. A.
194
Griffin, B. H.
411
Griswold, S. K
221
Haines. A. G
282
Hall, Austin
431
Hall, John
340
Hamilton, Robert.
168
Harris, G D.
415
Harris, John F
175
Haviland, Joseph
184
Hill, Fred E.
244
Hodgman, A C.
251
Holcomb. B. R., M. D.
178
Holmes, Cornelius, M. D
388
Horsfield. Rev. F. H. T
433
Horton, E. T., M. D ..
293
Howard, Henry A
276
Howe, Prof. W. W.
253
Howland, L. M.
215
Howland, Amasa
219
Hubbard, Martin D
316
Hughes, Charles
195
Hughes, William H.
372
Ingalsbe, G. M.
320
Ingalsbe. Milo.
264
Ingalsbe, Myron D ..
193
Jenkins, C. A.
425
Jenkins, Gamalael
197
Jenkins, Lymar
386
Jenkins, N. L
162
Jones, O. D.
429
Johnston, Rev. John
251
Keenan, John
379
Kellogg, Rev. Charles D
258
Kenyon, Sylvanns H
157
King, Lieut. John.
216
Page
Lapham, Hon. Jerome
375
Ordway, James M.
184
Larmond, Capt. John
430
Ottarson, B. F.
314
Lashway, Albert H.
378
LaVake, James C
997
Law, James.
326
Lawrence, W. E.
278
Lillie, Judge Thomas A. .
169
Linendoll, R. A., A. M., M. D. 220
Long, A
229
Lotrace, Charles H
337
Lowber. R. W.
236
Lyon, Charles
291
Manville, Capt. J. H
262
Martine, Hon. G. R .. M D
311
Mason, H L.
385
Mason, S. C.
312
Masters, J. T.
207
McArthur, James L.
153
McArthur, Thomas W
162
McCarty, Maj. James
222
McCormick, J. B.
277
McDermott, Rev. James
166
McDonald, Hon. Wm.
325
McKensie, David C., M. D
389
McWayne, LeRoy, M. D.
364
Mealey, Cornelius
377
Mealey, Jno. H
304
Miller, Frank
409
Miller, Joseph
313
Miller, W. H, M. D.
190
Millington, John, M. D.
361
Moneypenny, Dr. John
400
Montgomery, L. E.
285
Morey, C. L.
366
Mott, O H., M. D
257
Mowry, Henry L
177
Neddo, Capt. George
348
Newman, Alfred J
416
Northrup, H Davis.
234
Northup, Judge L H.
160
Norton, N. R.
414
O'Brien, Rev. James
204
O'Brien, M. H.
307
Page
Packer, Nathan E.
335
Palmer, W. M.
382
Paris, C. R ..
222
Paris, Hon. U G
223
Parks, S. H
201
Parrish, H. H
432
Patterson, Charles R.
366
Peck Family
353
Pember, F. T
287
Petteys, Edgar MI
188
Pierce, C. H.
344
Piser, Leonard.
368
Potvin, Mitchel.
354
Powell, W. H.
294
Pratt, Albert V.
355
Pratt, De Morris.
423
Pratt, James E
303
Pratt, John L., jr.
363
Pruyn, Samuel.
185
Reed, Edward
286
Rice, O. K.
165
Rice, R. Niles
405
Rich, L. M.
403
Rider, James M
159
Robertson, H. G.
414
Robinson, J. J.
272
Robinson, O. C.
353
Rochon, C. A.
262
Rogers, Deliverance
273
Rogers, Hon Charles.
376
Rogers, Lieut. Harper N
388
Rogers, W. G.
421
Root, Henry, A. M., M. D.
232
Rosekrans, Hon. E. H.
339
Russell. S W
180
Satterlee, George
296
Sawyer, Rev. E. R., D. D
189
Scales, Charles
402
Seeley, Jurden E
170
Sheldon, Hon. O. W
191
xi
CONTENTS.
Page
Sheldon, N. E., M. I) 357
Sherrill, George 263
Sherrill, J. D. 254
Sherman, Alex. M 404
Shiland, John
408
Shipman, Hiram
196
Sisson, Hon. Hiram.
156
Sickles, Maj. Gen. D. E .. 384
Skeels, E. W.
319
Skiff, S M.
422
Smith, Henry
404
Somers, John
434
Sprague, A. T.
381
Sprague, Watson N
171
Stevenson, Hon. W. D
252
Stillman, S. L.
210
Sullivan, D. J.
322
Sweet, B. G.
233
Taber, Charles R. 302
Tefft, Frances A. .
257
Tefft, Hon. W. H
179
Page Thebo, P. C. 245 Wallace, Theo. C. 347
Thomas, Melvin
344
Thompson, J. H.
206
Thompson, LeRoy
213
Thompson, Thomas
357
Thomson, Lemon, M D 346
Tidmarsh, H L
415
Travis, W. B.
418
Trumbull, G E
212
Underwood, Christopher
154
Underwood, George F
220
Vandewerker, H. W., M. D.
214
Van Dusen, Hon. N. W.
286
Van Ness, C. H.
318
Van Wormer, Francis M
173
Van Wormer, Rodney
293
Vaughan, A C.
323
Wallace, H. H.
292
Wallace, J. W.
243
Page
Ward, T. L. 426
Watkins, John L 358
Wells, W. W.
416
Wentworth, Rev. E., D D. 192 Weston, Hon. Roswell 417
Whitcomb, George H
261
White, J. H.
281
Williams, General John
393
Williams, R. Jay
301
Williams, Sherman
226
Williamson, Alex
234
Wilson, Joseph
365
Wilson, Ross. .
435
Wing, Hon. H R.
411
Witherbee, R. M. 295
Woodard, Daniel D
326
Wright, C. T
255
Wright, Maj. James.
202
Young, Cornelius
. ..
253
-
xii
CONTENTS.
ILLUSTRATIONS.
Page
Page
Bancroft Public Library, The
facing 361
Cronkhite, Leonard W 201
Ethier, Rev. Joseph S. 329
Gibson, Hon. James.
149
View of Altars in St. Alfonsus' Church, Glens
Falls. .
between 326 and 329
Lapham, Hon. Jerome
375
Long, A. J
..
229
.
Lowber, Robert Wilson
236
Lyon, Charles.
291
Martin, Godfrey R., M. D
311
Rice, Orrin Kellogg
165
Russell, Solomon W.
180
Howland, Amasa.
219
Ingalsbe, Milo. 264
View of Altars in St. Mary's Church at Glens
Falls.
. between 326 and 329
White, James Hylar .
facing 281
Williams, General John.
393
Williams, R. Jay.
301
HISTORICAL SKETCH
OF
Washington County, New York.
CHAPTER I.
INTRODUCTION -GEOGRAPHY-TOPOGRA- PHY-LAKE GEORGE - DIONONDAHOWA FALLS-GEOLOGY - MINERALS.
INTRODUCTION.
.
LONG the shore of one of the world's
most beautiful lakes, and in the historic upper valley of the noble stream made famous forever by the " Prince of American Letters," lies an old and time- honored county, first called Charlotte for Queen Charlotte, wife of George III., of England, and afterward given its present name of Washington, in honor of the master-spirit of the American Revolution.
Washington county, New York, the "war- path of America," owes its military importance during war, and its commercial advantages in times of peace, to its geographical position ; but its history-like that of any other county- is the result of the character, the spirit, and the intelligence of its people.
To write the history of Washington county from its creation, under the name of Charlotte, by legislative enactment in 1772, down to the recorded events of the present, and confine the work to the limited space which the scope
of this volume will but necessarily allow, is an undertaking of no small degree.
In attempting to some extent the investiture of this important history with the interest that naturally belongs to it, we shall seek to trace the first attempted settlement on the Hudson, and the fate of Captain Campbell's Scottish colony, events occurring between 1737 and 1745. We shall attempt to give what can be secured of the fort building, the passing of hostile expeditions, and the battles in Wash- ington county during King George's and the French and Indian wars. We shall endeavor to examine carefully the Hudson river, the Salem and the Skenesborough settlement be- ginnings of 1761, made respectively by New Yorkers, Massachusetts pioneers, and Scotch Highland soldiers. We shall notice the later coming of the Kingsbury Connecticut colony, and the Campbell and Clark colonies, respec- tively, of Argyle and Salem. We shall record the settlement, in 1770, of the Irish Methodist colony at Ash Grove, under the leadership of Philip Embury, the founder of Methodism on the American continent. We shall endeavor to chronicle the birth and mark the course of the two great New York and Vermont parties on the soil of the county, struggling for civil
( 17 )
2
18
BIOGRAPHY AND HISTORY
supremacy over its entire sweep of territory. We shall record the fraternizing, to a certain degree, of these hostile factions in the com- mencement of the common war waged by the Thirteen Colonies against England, and call especial attention to the noble spirit of patri- otism and self-sacrifice, throughout the larger part of the county, awakened by the opening thunders of the Revolutionary struggle. We shall give brief mention to the Tory defection in Wood Creek valley, and then follow the slow and toilsome march of Burgoyne's glit- tering legions over the "war-path of America" to the fateful field of Saratoga, where splen- did victory crowned the efforts of Arnold and Morgan in the cause of American indepen- dence, while not neglecting notice of the tragic death of lovely Jane McCrea and Baum's ill-starred expedition through the beautiful Cambridge valley to meet disaster and defeat at the battle of Bennington. We shall pro- ceed rapidly over the closing days of the Revolution and the insurrectionary Salem at- tempt of county annexation to Vermont. We shall next attempt to trace the progress of the county since the struggle for independence, noticing its several stages of growth, and re- cording its single accession and afterward great losses of territory. We shall endeavor to give the patriotic position the county occu- pied in the late Civil war, and the proud and honorable part its noble sons took in that great struggle for national supremacy and an undivided country. We shall attempt the record of county progress since the war, and give due attention to the efforts that have been made to place Washington in the front rank of the counties of the Empire State. We shall seek to tell the story of the develop- ment of her material resources and her com- mercial facilities, give her educational advan- tages and high moral and religious standing, and speak of the potent influence for the common weal and public prosperity wielded by an intelligent and progressive county press.
To write the history of the county intelli- gently it is absolutely necessary to trace the territory of Washington under the succeeding jurisdictions of Dutch New Netherlands and English New York, chronicling during that time the march of Indian and French war parties and expeditions over the densely wooded Champlain and Hudson portage.
Associated with the history of the present territory of Washington county under the rule of the white race, is the story of its In- dian occupation as a hunting ground and its use by the red lords of the forest as a great war trail between American and Canadian waters.
It should awaken a feeling of pride in the heart of every citizen of Washington county when they view the wonderful progress the county has made from a few colonies planted in an unexplored wilderness to wealthy com- munities and populous villages.
But little more than a century ago, dense forests covered mountain, hill and valley throughout Washington county, where green meadows and golden harvests now lie warm in heaven's bright sunshine. Such progress is far beyond any fairy result ascribed to the magic wand of enchantment.
GEOGRAPHY.
WASHINGTON COUNTY, New York, is in the historic, beautiful and far-famed valley of the upper Hudson river, and the basins of the northern lakes of St. George and Champlain, and lies between forty-two degrees and fifty- four minutes and forty-three degrees and forty-seven minutes north latitude ; and three degrees and ten minutes and three degrees and twenty-one minutes east longitude from Washington, or seventy-four degrees and ten minutes and three degrees and twenty-one minutes west longitude from Greenwich, Eng- land. As a political division of the State, it is bounded by Essex county ; on the east, by the State of Vermont ; on the south, by Rens- selaer county, and on the west by Saratoga
19
BIOGRAPHY AND HISTORY
and Warren counties. It is sixty-one miles in length, and for forty miles from the southern boundary line has an average width of eighteen miles, which then abruptly contracts down to nine miles; when it reaches the peninsular portion of the county, that narrows down to five miles at the Essex county line. In geo- graphical position Washington county is one of the northeastern counties of New York, while its geographical center and center of population are located respectively in the towns of Fort Ann and Hartford. Its lati- itude and longitude center is in the town of Hartford. The computed area of Washington county is eight hundred and thirty square miles.
TOPOGRAPHY.
The surface of Washington county is di- vided into three separate and distinct physical parts -- a northern or mountainous peninsular, a central valley stretching from Lake Cham- plain to the Hudson river, and a great southwestern mountain region composed of three ridges and their two separating valleys, running from southwest to northeast, and em- bracing the larger part of the central, and all of the southern townships.
The highest mountain in the county is Black mountain, which is in the town of Dresden, and has an altitude of twenty-eight hundred and seventy-eight feet above the waters of Lake George.
The soil of the county is loam in the val- leys, and sand and clay on the hills and ridges ; while the original heavy forests that covered mountain and plain, and hill and dale, were mainly of ash, oak, beech, maple, elm and pine, in whose depths gamboled the deer, and lurked the bear, panther and wolf. In the rocks once dwelt the deathful rattle- snake, and high in the air swept the fierce and vengeful eagle.
The drainage of Washington county is by the Hudson river and the Lake Champlain systems. The northern peninsula is drained west and east by several small streams into
Lakes George and Champlain, while the north, central and eastern parts have their drainage north by Wood creek, and Pawlet and Poultney rivers, into the narrows of Lake Champlain. The south, central and southern parts of the county have their drainage south by the Batten Kill and Hoosick river, into the Hudson.
The broad plain around Sandy Hill and Fort Edward, running northward, soon nar- rows into the valley of Wood creek, the lar- gest stream in the county that flows into Lake Champlain. This remarkable depression af- fords a fine portage from Lake Champlain to the waters of the Hudson river, and the march of invading armies through this valley, in the struggle of warring races for the mastery of the North American Continent, has made Washington county the " War-path of Amer- ica."
The Batten Kill, whose beautiful Indian name was Ondawa, is the largest stream that flows directly from the county into the Hud- son, and its head waters of Black and White creeks, drain the valley between the first and second great ranges of hills, ere it breaks its way through the first great range trending from southwest to northeast. It also drains largely this first mountain range which con- stitutes the highlands of the towns of Easton, Greenwich, Argyle, Hartford, Granville, Hampton and east Whitehall. Gathering its wealth of waters from the beautiful Cossa- yuna and Argyle lakes, and a score of bright and sparkling creeks and rivulets, the Batten Kill becomes a swift-flowing and strangely picturesque stream, whose wonderful Dionon- dahowa, or Middle Falls, have a descent of seventy-five feet in a distance of three hun- dred. Northward from the mouth of the Batten Kill, in early pioneer days, stretched twelve miles in length and six in width, the eastern part of the great Saraghtoga wilder- ness, one of the famous Indian hunting grounds, through which roamed for untold years the lordly and masterful Iroquois.
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BIOGRAPHY AND HISTORY
In the valley between the second and third range of hills, flows the Owl Kill, the princi- pal Washington county branch of the Hoosick river. Draining largely the second range of hills which constitutes the high ground of Cambridge, West Jackson and east Salem, and Hebron, and the western part of the third ridge, which constitutes the highland in the extreme eastern parts of Jackson and White Creek, it wends southward into the Hoosick river, and through the populous Cam- bridge valley, noted for fertility, and famous for beautiful scenery.
LAKE GEORGE.
Andiatirocte, Saint Sacrament, and George are three names in three different languages for a mountain - walled and island - gemmed sheet of beautiful water whose fame is world wide. The Indian name was supplanted by the French, which in turn gave way to the English, and to-day throughout the bounds of civilization Lake George is the only name that has ever been heard by unnumbered thousands for the lovely sheet of water around which history and romance strangely cling in song and story.
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