USA > New York > Warren County > Queensbury > A history of the town of Queensbury, in the state of New York : with biographical sketches of many of its distinguished men, and some account of the aborigines of northern New York > Part 17
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53
Mr. Lapham is yet in the flush and vigor of an active manhood, and has still before him a future whose golden freighted fruit has yet to mature and ripen, before the sturdy trunk will bend to the weight of its burden or bow to the infirm ities of years.
MAN-WALES ENG
THE ARCH, GLEN'S FALLS.
853
ERECTED 1864.
FIRST NATIONAL BANK.
FERGUSON ALBANY.
FIRST NATIONAL BANK, GLEN'S FALLS.
NAMES OF LOCALITIES.
ikS an appropriate sequel to the topographical descrip- tion of the town of Queensbury, there is herewith appended a list of names of places and buildings, the far greater portion of which have been met with in the early road surveys, and other town records.
To these have been added some obtained from the Wing, the Robards and the Peck Manuscripts, and other old family papers. In a few instances designations of modern or more recently constructed buildings have been introduced both for the sake of illustration, and to give opportunity for a fitting description.
Whenever it has been practicable to obtain them, dates have been affixed to show the contemporaneous use and application of these terms.
AUSTIN's, Phineas, mill, 1808. A saw mill situated on the outlet of the Big pond.
AUSTIN's, Solomon, mill, 1808. A saw mill situated on the outlet of the Big pond.
BALDWIN's mill, 1854, 7. A. saw mill situated near the left bank of the Hudson river, on the waste weir leading from the Glen's Falls feeder, about half way between Glen's Falls and Sandy Hill.
BANK, The First National of Glen's Falls. Was first organized in Jan- uary, 1853, as the Commercial Bank of Glen's Falls, in what was then known as the Sherwood building, erected somewhere about 1841 or '2, on the same site covered by the present structure. It was purchased by the bank of W. S. Sherwood for $2,800, and was destroyed in the great conflagration of 1864. The present building was erected the same year at a cost of $18,000. Architect, Walter Dickson, of Albany ; builders, D. C. Holman, mason, Morgan & Wright, carpenters. Original capital unchanged $136,400. Average circulation, $120,000. Average deposits since 1865, $300,000. Reorganized as a National bank April, 1865.
OFFICERS.
President, .. William McDonald, from organization.
.. Augustus Sherman, from November 23d, 1858
159
NAMES OF LOCALITIES.
Vice President, Bethuel Peck,
from organization.
Augustus Sherman,(a) from February,
1855
66
66 Linus B. Barnes,
from November, 1858
66 James Morgan,
from February, 1861
66 66 Jerome Lapham,
from November, 1873
Cashier,
.. Isaiah Scott,
from organization.
.. Fred. A. Johnson jr., from April, 1859
66
.. Emmett Johnson,
from January, 1865
Original Board of Directors.
Lewis Hunt,
James C. Clark, William W. Rockwell,
Bethuel Peck,
Keyes P. Cool, James Morgan,
Hermon Peck,
William H. Warren, Quartus Curtis,
Augustus Sherman,
Erskine G. Clark, Joseph Russell.
William McDonald,
(a) The subject of this sketch, was born in the town of Arlington, Vt., on the eleventh of February, 1801. He was the son of Ware Darwin, and Anna D. (Can- field) Sherman, the latter of Arlington, Vt., the former from Conway, Mass., whence the Sherman family in this country is understood to have originated. By his father's side he was nearly connected to the distinguished statesman and patriot, Roger Sherman, of Revolutionary fame: by the mother, to the Rev. Dr. Canfield, the eminent divine.
At the tender age of five years, his parents removed first to Kingsbury, N. Y., and the following spring to the then frontier settlement of Fairfield, now Luzerne on the Hudson river. His only opportunities for an education were derived from winter attendance upon such schools as the sparsely settled lumber districts of our wilderness border can afford, added to one winter's schooling in his native town.
The father followed the mingled pursuits of lumbering and farming, and the son early learned the necessity of hard and exhaustive application, to severe and rough work. Before the Glen's Falls feeder was constructed he used to draw lumber across from Corinth or big falls, raft it in cribs to the bend and from thence take it across to Deadman's point above Fort Edward ; and after the big dam at that place was built, it was carried still further down the river to Rogers' land- ing, opposite Schuyler's island, whence it was rafted to market.
With the opening of the Glen's Fall feeder, he was among the first to place a boat on its waters for the transportation of lumber. When but fifteen years of age, when boys of the present day are next to helpless, he was obliged to wagon lumber alone to Albany, attending both to sales and purchases, with the care and thoughtfulness of an adult. The following season, in consequence of his father's financial troubles and difficulties, he was obliged to take charge and management of the entire business, working early and late with unflagging perseverance in order to help his father out of debt.
His first venture in the lumbering business on his own account, was running an old English mill, with two saws, which stood on a small stream which empties into the Hudson near the residence of Thurlow Leavins in Luzerne. At the same time he had the running of a grist mill near by, and at this laborious, double task, besides drawing and rafting his lumber to market, he laid the foundation
160
HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF QUEENSBURY.
Since organization the following changes have occurred in the board, viz :
Jeremy Rockwell,
elected September, 1853
William A. Fonda, .
February, 1854
Isaiah Scott,
66
July,
1854
Levi Hatch,
66
February, 1855
Enos Howland, .
66
66
66
Henry Ferguson,
66
66
Ruliff Kipp,
66
66
1856
Ira Harris,
66
66
66
Charles R. Richards,
66
66
66
Daniel Sweet, .
66
66
1857
Linus B. Barnes, (a)
66
August,
66
James Morgan, „
66
66
66
for the princely fortune he has since attained. Three years later he took the Buttolph mill further down the river.
He was married on the fourth of March, 1824, to a young lady by the name of Nancy Weed, who was at that time engaged in teaching in the neighborhood. He had nine children by this marriage, all of whom are living but three. Having dis- posed of his interest in Luzerne, in the winter of 1840-41, he removed to the feeder dam, where he resumed the manufacture of lumber on a larger scale, with increased facilities. Two years later he came to Glen's Falls, which has since been made his permanent residence. Year by year, with increased means at command, his lumber operations became more and more extended, until they assumed colossal proportions. His timber land investments commenced about the time of his removal to Glen's Falls, by a purchase in the sixteenth township. This resulted in prompt and lucrative returns. Since that period he has seemed to have the gift of the golden touch. Possessed of rare good judgment, and strong common sense, his investments, numerous and varied as they have been, have been in- variably prospered in every direction, until he has attained an aggregate fortune, equal if not greater than that of any person in the county.
His wife died 12th June, 1848. On the first of September, 1856, he was married again to Charlotte H., daughter of the Rev. T. L. Conkling, of Martinsburgh, Lewis Co., N. Y. There have been four children born by this marriage, none of whom now survive. As shown by the record he is associated either as trustee, director manager or president, in nearly all of our monied corporations. He was the first president of the Glen's Fall's Paper Mill Co., and also of the Bald Mountain Lime Company. Having retired within the last two or three years from his more ex- tended pursuits, he has interested himself in the erection of a handsome and costly block of stores and offices, which bears his name, and will, it is hoped, prove not only an elegant addition to our village, but an enduring fame, a monument sacred and perpetual to his memory. Still vigorous and active for his years, genial and kind hearted, it is to be hoped that the downhill slope of life will be spread out for him in many a green field, many a flowery nook, many a pleasant and sunny expanse, enjoying to the fullest extent of earthly capacity the well earned fruits of his early toil.
(a) LINUS BATES BARNES, son of John and Mary (Bates) Barnes, was born at .Granville, Camden Co., Mass., on the 6th of June, 1803, where his infancy and youth were passed, and where he received the only educational advantages ever
66
1858
U. G. Paris,
.
WESTERN BANK NOTE & ENG C) CHICAGO
'Augustus hermann.
161
NAMES OF LOCALITIES.
Alexander Robertson,
elected January, 1859
Henry Crandell,
February, 1860
Jerome Lapham,
66
1861
Gustavus A. Austin,
66
66
Nathaniel Barker,
66
66
Charles Fowler,
66
66
Lifelet Harris,
October,
66
William H. Gayger,
February, 1862
Daniel V. Brown,
66
1864
William McEachron,
66
66 1865
Martin Coffin,
66 August, 1867
BARBER's, David, saw mill, 1837. On the trout brook at the West mountain.
BAY, Big. An expansion of the Hudson river above the big bend.
BAY, Little. An enlargement of the Hudson river above the Big bay, and a short distance east from the original town boundary.
BEND, Big. A bold curve in the Hudson river about three miles above Glen's Falls, shaped something like the letter U, and enclosing a peninsula of two or three square miles.
placed within his reach. At the early age of fourteen he commenced the great struggle of life as a clerk in a mercantile establishment at Hartford, Conn., where he remained for a number of years. It was at this formative period of his career that he became impressed with the truths of Divine Revelation, and was made the subject of saving grace. Before he had completed his fifteenth year he united with the church under the pastorate of Dr. Hawes, and from that time up to the period when the javelin of death assailed him at the portals of his own church doors, he was a consistent, ardent and zealous member of the Presbyterian church.
His first business venture on his own account was in trade at Blandford, Mass., about the year 1826. Here he remained for seven years, with something more than average success, and acquired the repute of a thorough and energetic busi- ness man.
On the 19th of November, 1828, he was married to Miss Emily Treat.
About the year 1833 he removed to the city of Albany, where he engaged in the leather business. Two years later he removed his family to Glen's Falls, and, at the same time embarked in the manufacture of leather at Johnsburgh, in this county. At this point, for a period of twenty years, his business interests were large and important. In 1846 a bank, the only one ever in the county north of Glen's Falls, was started, and continued in successful operation for about ten years. Ofthis, called The Warren County Bank, Mr. Barnes was president. It was a bank of issue, and at one time had a circulation of $180,000. Its affairs were so judiciously conducted under his management that it was a source of handsome revenue to its stockholders, and when its circulation was called in, every dollar was redeemed that was presented, and an outstanding deposit made sufficient to liquidate all further claims.
About the year 1860 Mr. Barnes discontinued his connection with the Johnsburgh . tannery. Hopelessly involved and crippled through causes which it is not our pro-
21
4
יו
Samuel Pruyn, .
.
.
162
HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF QUEENSBURY.
BLACK Snake. A crooked reach in the Glen's Falls feeder, about one mile below the village, near the Jointa Lime Company's kilns. BLIND rock, the. 1787, 1808, '19. See pages 14, 15, 16.
BLOCK island swamp, 1810, 11. The western portion of the Big Cedar swamp contains an island of this name, which, in seasons of high water is almost inaccessible. It is supposed that a small block house was built here during the Revolutionary war, and that it was within its shelter that Polly Wing took refuge with her son Daniel W., at the time of Carleton's invasion in 1780.
BOOM, the Big. A structure built by the associated lumbermen of Fort Edward, Sandy Hill and Glen's Falls for the purpose of catching and securing the large bodies of logs often floated down by the spring freshets in the Hudson river. It is situated at the Big bend, about three miles up the river from Glen's Falls, and is composed of large logs and timbers bolted and chained together, and supported by numerous piers placed diagonally and at frequent intervals across the stream
BRIDGE, Bentley's, 1799. A bridge crossing the Outlet, on the Dunham's bay road.
BRIDGE, the Hunters', 1798. A well known place to sportsmen, it having been a famous runway for deer and other game. It spans a small rivulet, about forty rods west of the Bay road, at the rear of Jonathan Potter's residence, and on the by-road leading thence to the plank road by Brown's pond.
vince to canvass, he surrendered all that he had to his creditors, and started life anew with penury and want staring him in the face. He met the struggle with a serene and brave spirit, and never, to the last day of his existence, slackened in the honorable endeavor to win his bread and support by honest industry. He has always, since his residence in Glen's Falls, held a large measure in the respect of the community. Public spirited and energetic, he has never been found wanting in open and earnest adhesion to all principles which tend to the uplift of humanity and the conservation of public morals. On the question of temperance, particularly, his voice and efforts were ever ready to sustain and advocate its most ultra doctrines and carry into execution its most thorough and radical measures.
Among the first to secure a lot in the new cemetery, his last surviving child, his father and sister were in rapid succession consigned to its peaceful shades, and in view of the interest and attention he bestowed upon the city of the dead, he was made superintendent, a position which he had held uninterruptedly up to the time of his death. He was twice or thrice elected coroner. For upwards of thirty years he was a ruling elder and twenty years a trustee of the church in whose communion he lived and died.
His death, which was sudden and unlooked for, occurred on the evening of Monday, the 6th of January, 1873. He accompanied his wife to church to attend the first meeting of the week of prayer. He had not felt well before leaving home. After reaching the church, his breathing became difficult and labored, and he rested awhile on the steps in the church porch before entering the church. Continuing to grow worse, he was taken home, and shortly after sank away to that last, deep, dreamless"sleep of death.
163
NAMES OF LOCALITIES.
BRIDGE, the river, 1798. The town records show that John A. Fer- riss was at this date allowed eight dollars and a half for services done on the river bridge, thereby establishing the fact that a bridge across the river then existed. Four years later a grant was ob- tained for a toll bridge, in which Gen. Warren Ferriss was at first largely interested, but which afterward became the property of John Folsom.
BRIGGS'S, Jeremiah, mill, 1838-44. A grist mill on the Half-way brook at the foot of Briggs's pond, near the present brick yard.
BROOK, the Cold, 1798, 1808-24. A small stream on the eastern bound- ary of the town in Harrisena, running north and emptying into Lake George.
Another stream bearing the same name crosses the road near Sandy Hill and empties into the Hudson river. It also forms for a short distance the eastern boundary of the town.
BROWN's mill. A saw mill on Rocky brook, a short distance east of Brown's Half-way house, on the road leading to the Oneida.
BROWN's pend. Sometimes also called the Round pond. A lovely sheet of water near to and south of the Big pond, near the road leading from the brick yard north towards the plank road. It empties into the Meadow run, a short distance from the point where that stream delivers its waters into the Big pond.
CARMAN's neck, 1789. The narrowest reach or isthmus of the peninsula enclosed by the Big bend. So named from John Carman, an ori- ginal proprietor under the Prindle patent. The title, however, subsequently failed by reason of its being included within the limits of the great Kayaderosseras patent.
CAVES, the. Passages worn by the action of water through the bed rock at Glen's Falls. Some of them are quite spacious, admitting of several persons standing erect in them, at the same time. They have been made famous as the scene of some startling but wholly fictitious adventures in the novel, The Last of the Mohicans, by J. Fenimore Cooper.
CEDAR landing, 1843. One of the numerous points, which fringe the Queensbury boundaries of Lake George.
CEMETERY, the. A place of sepulture originally consisting of sixteen acres bought by the corporation of Glen's Falls in 1854. The original ground is nearly filled, but large additions have been made to the original purchase.
CHAMPLAIN's tannery. A well known establishment on the Half-way brook, at the plank road crossing, two miles north of Glen's Falls. It has been in operation for about fifty years, and has only been discontinued within the past two or three years.
164
HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF QUEENSBURY.
CHAPMAN'S, Porter S., inn. 1834-5. A large public house, originally consisting of a story and a half leanto, which was built as early as 1812, on the site of the grass plot in front of Mrs. James C. Finch's residence ; and an old fashioned swing sign for a number of years commemorated the event by the following inscription,
COFFEE HOUSE, 1812.
It was enlarged to a spacious and comfortable building by its pro- prietor, Samuel G. Skinner, in 1814. At this time an infair and ball was held, at which the best society of the surrounding country was present, much to the annoyance of John A. Ferriss, the owner of the Glen's Falls Hotel. The feeling of rivalry was so great be- tween the two houses that Skinner on this occasion sent to Albany for a professional cook. The entertainment must have been a sumptuous affair, to have retained a place in the memory of man for a period of sixty years. The hotel was kept by Skinner for a number of years. The name was afterwards changed to the Union Hotel. It was burned about the year 1842.
CHURCH, the west. A Union church edifice erected at the West moun- tain about forty years ago, chiefly through the exertions and aid of the late Halsey Burnham. It is now occupied chiefly, if not ex- clusively, by the Baptists.
CLENDON brook, the. A bright, sparkling, mountain stream arising in the West mountain, and running through the Clendon farm ; once famous for its trout, and known as the trout brook, in the early days of the settlement. Lower down it bears the name of the Ogden brook, and the Pitcher brook.
COSGROVE Music Hall. Originally called the Cosgrove Opera House. Built by Messrs. Keeffe and Amer in 1869, at a cost of twenty thousand dollars. Size 50 X 75 feet. This admirable hall, elegantly and tastefully decorated, and finished, has a seating capacity for about one thousand persons. A spacious and well arranged gallery and a stage of 20 by 50 feet, with drop curtains and full set of scenery on flats. The acoustic properties of the hall are simply perfect, and the arrangements for lighting ample and complete. The illustration exhibits on the right, a corner of the old Union Hall, adjoining, which was built immediately after the great fire, and was for several years, the only public hall in the place.
CRONKHITE's hotel. A popular place of entertainment, and quiet sum- mer resort, on the east side of Lake George, near the north-eastern boundary of the town.
165
NAMES OF LOCALITIES.
CRONKHITE's mill. A saw mill, now no longer in use, near the river, below the quarries, and opposite the Jointa Lime Company's kilns. Another mill, bearing the same name, and belonging to the same proprietor, was situated at the Little bay, in the west part of the town.
DAM, Big. A structure twelve feet in height built by the state across the Hudson river two miles above Glen's Falls, at the time of the construction of the Glen's Falls feeder, for the purpose of creating a pond and level adequate for the supply of water in the Northern canal. It was very substantially rebuilt in 1872, and about two feet added to its height. There are large lumber manufacturing establishments at either end of the dam.
COSGROVE
OPERA
HOUSE
FERGUSON , ALBAN .
COSGROVE MUSIC HALL.
DANFORD's, Samuel, inn, 1812. A lumberman and river driver's board- ing house and resort, at Big bay on the Moreau side, in the early days when the lumber manufactured up the river, was rafted down in cribs to this place, taken out carried across to Deadman's point at Fort Edward, and thence rafted down the river to find a market in Troy and Albany or New York.
166
HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF QUEENSBURY.
DERBY'S, John, hotel, 1816. The old Wing stand something remodelled and rejuvenated. A noted inn of that day. It stood on the site of Cowles & Co.'s store.
DUNHAM'S bay, 1819-21. A projection of the southern extremity of Lake George, bordering upon the town of Queensbury. Named after Elijah Dunham, an enterprising merchant and lumberman, who at one time owned a fine sloop, which conveyed passengers, as well as lumber and merchandise, through Lake George.
EAST line. A term applied in the early part of the century to the east- ern boundary of the town, in the vicinity of the Fancher quarries. EMMONS's, Adonijah, store, 1814. A room in the south end of the dwell- ing on Glen street, now owned and occupied by J. W. Finch.
FACTORY, the. Sometimes called Curtis's factory. Woolen cloth works on the Ridge road, on the outlet of the Big pond. Destroyed by fire in 1869.
FAIRFIELD, to the line of, 1808. Original name of Luzerne township. FANCHER quarries. Extensive lime stone beds on the eastern boundary of the town. The products of these quarries, are yearly becoming an increased article of export and revenue.
FEEDER dam. The big dam, two miles above the village, constructed by the state to create a pond for the supply of water to the Northern canal at the level above Fort Edward.
FEEDER, the. The branch canal leading from the big dam above Glen's Falls to Fort Edward, and supplying the level of the Northern canal at that place with water.
FERRISS's, John A., inn, 1802, 3, 5. The building now occupied by A. N. Locke as a dwelling, next north of the Glen's Falls Insurance building.
FERRISS's, Warren, mills. Saw and grist mills situated on the site of the Glen's Falls Company's Stone Mills and the race way above it.
FERRY, Samuel Fairchild's, 1786. Across the Hudson river, at the foot of the reefs, and above the Big bay.
FERRY, Park's. A ferry established just above the falls across the river previous to the Revolution, by the Parks family.
FIVE mile creek, the, 1819. ) Elsewhere described as the Meadow run. So FIVE mile run, the, 1797. S called from its being about that distance from the head of Lake George.
FORBES'S and Johnson's forge, 1811. A forge of considerable note in its day, situated at the outlet of the Forge pond, from whence the latter derived its name. It was worked mostly in the manufacture from bog iron ore, of the old fashioned plough shares. The ore was drawn principally from a point east of Fort Edward, and was reduced by a cheap process of charcoal smelting, the coal being pro- .. duced abundantly from the adjacent plains.
167
NAMES OF LOCALITIES.
FORD, at the sand beach. A point in the river, nearly opposite the Glen's Falls Transportation Company's office, where, before the erec- tion of a bridge, there was a ridge of bed rock available as a rough fording place in low water. The terminus of the ford on the Moreau side was opposite the lower point of the island.
FORD, Morgan's. A fording place in the Hudson river, opposite the road intersecting the highway to Fort Edward, at the old Reuben Morgan place about midway between Glen's Falls and Sandy Hill. It was much used during, and anterior to the Revolutionary war, being on the direct route between Skeenesborough and the Middle line at Ballston, and other settlements in the Saratoga district. It was here that a portion of Burgoyne's army crossed the river at the time of his advance towards Saratoga, and encamped on the heights on the south side of the river.
FORGE pond. An expansion of the Half-way brook, about one and a half miles west of Glen's Falls, famous for its trout fishery. For origin of name see above.
FORGE road, 1833. The road leading west from the Warren county fair grounds, past the Forge pond.
FORT George, 1784. " The inhabitant of, annexed to Queensbury."- Town Records. This, as appears elsewhere, was Hugh McAulley who it would seem from the above entry was then the only resident at the head of the lake. The plan of Fort George was marked out by Col. James Montressor, chief engineer on Gen. Amherst's staff on the 22d of June, 1759. It was laid out on an elevation situated about six hundred yards south from the head of the lake, and about the same distance easterly from the site of old Fort William Henry. It was known, in colloquial parlance, as Montressor's folly. The only portion of the fort ever fully completed was the south- west bastion. A temporary stockaded post was built, within its
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.