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 18
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protection. Also officers' barracks, soldiers' barracks, guard room, kitchen and store houses. A saw mill in the swamp south-west from the fort, furnished a great portion of the material for these build- ings. An irregular wall to the north-east, whose ruins are still partly visible, enclosed a space devoted to gardening purposes.
In 1776 there were erected for hospital use two buildings, one on the flat below the forts, and the other, of considerable dimen- sions, near the former site of Fort William Henry, which were used for the accommodation of the sick from Gen. Schuyler's army then lying at Fort Edward. To these were probably added others sub- sequently, for in the army correspondence of those days, we learn that over three thousand troops were invalided here with the small pox. Among the victims to this terrible scourge, was the
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Brigadier General Baron de Woedtke, a Prussian officer of distinc- tion who had espoused the American cause, and whose remains now occupy an unknown grave at Lake George. One of these hospital buildings, was afterwards used as a hotel, and under the name of the long house was known far and wide at the beginning of the present century. The barracks referred to were capable of accomoda- ting one thousand men. At the time it was taken possession of by Burgoyne's advance there were 14 pieces of artillery here, only two of which were mounted.
FOUNTAIN, the. The idea of a public fountain in connection with the Glen's Falls Water Works, appears to have originated with Mere-
FERGUSON
PUBLIC FOUNTAIN, GLEN'S FALLS.
dith B. Little, who, in 1872, circulated, and obtained two hundred signatures to a petition to the village trustees, in their capacity of commissioners of the water works, to erect a fountain in the centre
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NAMES OF LOCALITIES.
of the village, at the expense of the corporation, or its taxable property, which should be both a credit and ornament to the place. This was presented to the board of trustees, who thereupon authorized the said Little to act as a committee to select, and report a design. This was done in the winter of 1872 and '3, and the trustees, acting as commissioners, accepted such plans and estimates and made an appropriation from the proceeds of the sale of water bonds to cover its cost. In the mean time, a new election took place and Mr. Little was chosen one of the new board of trustees. In the spring of 1873 the work was commenced, and being vigorously pushed, was completed about the time of the commencement of sum- mer travel in the month of June following, Messrs. Little and Wm. Wait of the board of trustees acting as committee of construction. It is situated at the central part of the village, near the intersection of Ridge, Warren and Glen streets, and when in full play, is a most conspicuous object of attraction. The diameter of the basin is twenty-one feet, the rim being of iron, the bottom of cement. Its depth is about three feet. The base of the pedestal is of Glen's Falls marble, two and a half feet in height, octagonal, with three projecting buttresses. The fountain proper, with ornaments, is about fifteen feet high above the water level. There are a number of jets, and attachments, which give a pleasing variety to its play. The entire outlay expended in its construction was nineteen hundred dollars. The cost was considerably enhanced by its being built over a nest of five immense cisterns, into which the waste material of the fountain flows, thus creating a large reservoir of water, which can be resorted to in case of any great emergency, such as a fire, or obstruction in the water works.
FOUR corners, the, 1797. By Benjamin Wing's store. The latter occu- pied the site at the bend of the road, in Mr. Henry Crandell's front door yard, near the soldiers' monument.
FRENCH mountain. An elevation lying partly in the town of Caldwell, but chiefly in the town of Queensbury. It is. at its highest point about eighteen hundred feet above tide water. Its northern pro- montory projects several miles into the head of Lake George divid- ing it into two portions. The eastern slopes are arable and cultivated to the summit. The western declivity, with trifling exception, is abrupt, precipitous, rocky and scantily wooded. It is supposed to have received its name from an attack planned and attempted by the French against Fort William Henry in the spring of 1756, in which that mountain was made the base of their operations. Prior to that, as appears by a map in The American Military Pocket Atlas, it was called by the less pretentious name of Gooseberry mountain.
22
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HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF QUEENSBURY.
FULLER's mill, 1786-94. A saw mill situated on the outlet of the Big pond, below the site of the factory, recently burned.
FURNACE, the, 1854. Now occupied as a carriage manufactory by the Norriss brothers. It was a business first started by Dwight Hitch- cock as elsewhere recorded. About the date above named it came into the possession of a firm consisting of Stephen Goodspeed, George C. Mott and A. W. Holden, and was continued nearly two years under the firm name of Goodspeed, Mott & Co. Its princi- pal business was making stove castings.
GEER's basin. A well known tying up place for boats, in the Glen's Falls feeder at Shermantown. It derives its name from the late Hon. Walter Geer, the former owner of the adjacent property.
GLEN's Falls Company's lime kilns. Situated about half way between Glen's Falls and Sandy Hill. Very conveniently located on the towing path side of the canal, where the products of the manufactory can be easily shipped on board canal boats. These works have been in operation something more than fifteen years.
GLEN'S Falls feeder. As its name implies, a tributary of the Northern canal. First surveyed about the year 1823, and first dug through, as a big ditch, simply, in 1824. Enlarged from 1828 to '32 in the latter of which years it was first made navigable for canal boats, and became an avenue and thoroughfare of our inland commerce.
GLEN's Falls Insurance Company's building. The first movement to- ward the formation of an insurance company in Glen's Falls was in 1849, when a number of our more prominent citizens moved in the matter, and without allowing the enterprise to lag from want of energy, pushed it forward to a firm incor- porated basis. The original intent of the movement seems to have been to form a species of local insurance corporation rather than to launch forth upon the broad waves of a grand national enterprise such as the movement has proved to be. We think that none of those who originally moved in the matter ever supposed that they were laying the corner stone of a corporation that within a few years would count its property by the hundreds of thousand dollars and its business by millions, and would make the name of Glen's Falls of household familiarity throughout the Union. The original call for this purpose was signed by those whose names are familiar to us all, some of whom move among us as of yore, while many which were of weight and dignity have passed through the eternal gates and exist to us only as bright spots in the panoramic succession of dear memories. The following were the signers of the original call for the purpose of formation : J. H. Rice, D. G. Harris, E. H. Rosekrans, Abraham Wing, Bethuel Peck, Charles Rockwell, E. S. Vaughn, A. Sherman, E. H. Hopkins, George
GLENS FALLS MARSUIRANCE COMPANY
THE GLENS FALLS Insurance Company's Building
CLENSTREET, CLENS FALLS, N .Y.
This Company was organized under the corporate name of the Dividend Mutual Insurance Company May 1st 1849 After 15 years of most successful business it was May 1$$1864 reorganized on the joint stock plan with a cash capital of $ 100.000. to which in January 1867 was added $ 100.000. Cosh-The business of the Company has been grandly successful it having besides its Capital of $ 200.000 Surplus assets amounting to 375.000
Making a total of $575.000
The present officers are .
R.M. LITTLE. President
JEROME LAPHAM Treas. AUGUSTUS SHERMANVice Pres .
A. NEWTON LOCKE. Secy.
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NAMES OF LOCALITIES.
Cronkhite, A. N. Cheney, D. McNiel, Billy J. Clark, J. G. Havi- land, L. B. Barnes, James Hurley, J. B. Cool, W. S. Carpenter, H. R. Wing, D. H. Cowles, John H. Walker, J. S. Perine.
In this same year (1849) the company became formed and incor- porated under the provisions of an act of the New York state legislature, assuming the name of the Glen's Falls Dividend Mutual Insurance Company, and on the 15th day of February, 1850, a meeting was held and the following were elected as the first board of directors of the company : F. D. Hodgeman, E. H. Rosekrans, Thos. Archibald, Charles Rockwell, Stephen Goodman, Bethuel Peck, William Cronkhite, Albert N. Cheney, Pelatiah Richards, L. B. Barnes, Abraham Wing, William H. Wells, Billy J. Clark.
Following close upon their election the board of directors held a regular business session on the 4th of March of this same year, when the following were elected first officers of the company :
President - Bethuel Peck.
Vice President - Pelatiah Richards. Secretary -R. M. Little. (a) Treasurer - A. N. Cheney. Attorney - E. H. Rosekrans.
The company now formed and in a condition for the prosecution of business, commenced its official labors in a single room of the old Exchange building, corner of Glen and Exchange streets, removing some time thereafter to a single room on the second floor of the old
(a) RUSSELL M. LITTLE was born in Peru, Berkshire county, Mass., December 26th, 1808. His education was acquired at Wilbraham Seminary in the same state. In the year 1827, being then only nineteen years of age, he left this insti- tution, to enter upon the arduous and laborious duties and responsibilities attached to the position of minister in the Methodist Episcopal church of which denomina- tion he has ever since been an active, zealous and efficient member. For twelve years Mr. Little continued to officiate with great success, until, in 1839, his health broke down from over work, and he was forced to retire from active ministerial duties.
Soon after this, he embarked in mercantile pursuits which were followed for several years with his accustomed energy, industry and success. He then entered upon his insurance career, acting as local agent for foreign companies until the year 1849, when he organized the Glen's Falls Dividend Mutual Insurance Com- pany, of which he was elected secretary, which office included the duties of gene- ral agent, manager, adjuster, and all that was active connected with the entire business.
The history of this organization is one of uninterrupted prosperity, due in great ·measure to the well known probity and faithfulness of its executive officer. The result was exhibited, after an unprecedented career of fifteen years, and paying over two hundred thousand dollars in losses, in a cash accumulation of ninety-five thou- sand dollars, besides paying all expenses including the purchase of a lot and the
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HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF QUEENSBURY.
D. H. Cowles & Co.'s building, corner Warren and Ridge streets, until finding a permanent home in its own commodious building on Glen street, which it at present occupies. The building, which is the property of the company, has twice been enlarged to meet the requirements of the constantly increasing business which has ac- companied its increase of years. During the early years of this company, while in its swaddling clothes, the transaction of its busi- ness was not necessarily diffused into the hands of as extensive a
erection of a building,1 and without making a single assessment upon its policy holders.
These results seem something wonderful in the light of our recent experience in regard to insurance companies.
In the fall of 1861, when the rebellion had reached its most formidable propor- tions, and even our national existence was jeopardized, when good, true and strong men of all parties, rallied together for the support of the common cause and the protection of the common interests, Mr. Little was chosen as standard bearer of- the republican party in the sixteenth senatorial district of New York (consisting of Clinton, Essex and Warren counties); was elected senator by a triumphant majority, and served through the sessions of '62 and '3, with distinguished ability. Although he might have looked forward to further political preferment with great confidence, from his wide popularity, and the prestige of success which has characterized his whole career, yet he has repeatedly declined entering the politi- cal arena, preferring the even tenor of his professional pursuits, to the hot excit- ments, and paroxysmal industries of a public life.
" The general disaster which had overtaken mutual companies, and the growing prejudice against them, was readily appreciated by Mr. Little, and early in 1864, he proposed the reorganization of the Dividend Mutual into a joint stock company, with a paid up capital of $100,000. It is pretty strong evidence of the confidence of the public in the subject of this sketch, that in those days, when fortunes were counted in thousands instead of millions, he was able to raise the required capital (all cash and paid up), in the space of a few weeks; and the organization of the Glen's Falls Insurance Company was perfected, Mr. Little being again chosen secretary."
So prosperous and successful was the new company, that three years later its capital stock was doubled, and, in compliment to his efforts, the board of directors elected him to the presidency of the institution.
In all his varied relations to the company, his duties have been always arduous, frequently perplexing, difficult and harassing, while his industry has been per- sistent and unremitting, and his tact, address, and shrewd management, simply something wonderful.
Gentle, amiable, and unobtrusive in manner, kind, courteous and considerate of the feelings of others, Mr. Little is the model of a Christian gentleman, beloved at home, honored and respected abroad. Although he has attained an age when most men are willing to retire from the active struggles and conflicts of life, Mr. Little, with his wonted energy and perseverance, by night and by day, through sunshine and storm, in winter and summer, is constantly pushing or guarding the interests of the company into which his life has been woven, and in whose service it is slowly wearing out.
1 This sketch is copied almost verbatim from an article published in the Insurance Age, July, 1873.
REV. AND HON. R. M. LITTLE.
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HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF QUEENSBURY.
corps of assistants as at present, and many of our citizens will re- call the fact that for some years the secretary (now president) was " boss and all hands," not only transacting all the inside work but the outside business as well. Even after the name of the Glen's Falls Dividend Mutual Insurance Company had become well and favorably known over a large extent of territory as an honorable and efficient corporation, the whole office work was done by the secretary and one clerk, and that with the accommodations and palatial surroundings of office furniture which would not have brought twenty-five dollars in the market.
As a special item of interest, we append here, a list of those who have, from time to time, since the formation of the company, been connected with it in the capacity of Directors, up to the present time, placing those who are of the existing Board in italics, and a review of these names will recall to the minds of all who have had an acquaintance of length in Glen's Falls, potent reminiscences of men of industry, wealth and influence. D. H. Cowles, Hermon Peck, Lewis Hunt, Alexander Robertson, Joseph Parry, Geo. Clendon, S. B. Lee, T. S. Gray, O. Cronkhite, Jas. W. Schenck, Alonzo W. Morgan, Thos. Potter, Isaac J. Davis, Walter Phelps Jr., John Alden, D. G. Roberts, F. A. Johnson, Jr., O. Richards, Jerome Lapham, B. F. Bancroft, Charles Fowler, Augustus Sher- man, J. C. Greene, E. Andrews, M. W. Fish, H. S. Rankin, F. 0. Burhans, H. R. Wing, Asahel Wing, Jas. Morgan, (a) Isaac G. Parker, R. M. Little, Stephen Brown, Ruliff Kipp, Sam'l Pruyn,
(a) JAMES MORGAN was born in the town of Bolton, Warren county, N. Y., on the 24th of August, 1814, he being a babe of a few weeks old when his father, with the other members of Capt. Pliny Pierce's company, was summoned to the northern frontier to join in the brilliant campaign where the raw militia of northern New York achieved that signal victory ever famous in history as the battle of Plattsburgh.
The Morgans were of Welch extraction, the ancestors, according to family tra- dition, having immigrated to this country about the middle of the seventeenth century. The name signifies sea born. They were of that fierce, wild and hardy Celtic stock who through centuries repelled both Saxon and Norman subjugation ; and whose adventurous and hardy mariners were a terror to the northern seas, and anticipated by two centuries the discovery of America by Columbus. The father, Jonah Morgan, one of eleven children, removed from Nine Partners, Dutchess county, N. Y., and settled on Barton hill in the town of Bolton, then a young and thriving township. Here he purchased a farm, and in the peaceful pursuits of agriculture passed a long and uneventful life. He married for his second wife Sally, daughter of Nehemiah and Hannah Brown of the same neigh- borhood, by whom he had a family of nine children, of whom James was third in the order of birth. Participating in scant degree in the limited opportunities furnished by forest hamlets for an education, we find him at the early age of eighteen, launched upon the career of life, working at farm labor for the small pittance of eight dollars a month. With the same sturdy purpose and indomita-
· COTFRN BANT NOTE &A ENG COITH AM
James Morgan
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NAMES OF LOCALITIES.
A. J. Pearsall, T. S. Coolidge, J. L. Cunningham, Harvey Brown, M. B. Little, Jos. Fowler, E. Alliger, D. C. Holman, Jos. E. King, W. A. Wait, John A. Sheldon.
The Dividend Mutual did a most successful business for fifteen years, never having made an assessment on its premium notes, pay-
ble will which overcame in later life so many obstacles, he aimed early for that honest independence which honorable industry and steadfast perseverance are so sure to bring, and win for their followers.
In 1834 he removed to Glen's Falls, where he was first employed on what is now known as the old Cheney mill, of which he has since been many years a proprietor. Subsequently he found employment in the old lath mill on this side the river. In these pursuits he worked out his apprenticeship in that business of which in his later years he became so rare and energetic a director; and in whose small details and minor economies he so familiarized himself as to amass in a short period a splendid fortune, when others, with perhaps equal sagacity, might have impoverished or squandered an estate. In 1837 or '8 he bought the well known grocery stand on the site now occupied by Mrs. Ferguson, where for two years he carried on a thriving business. From thence he removed to the stand now covered by the spacious mercantile establishment of Messrs: Coolidge & Lee, where, with increased facilities for trade, a large and remunerative business connection was established. 'About this time he embarked in lumber operations, whose gradual extensions, enlargements and combinations finally reached the amazing proportions of one of, if not the largest lumbering manufacturing esta- blishment on the Hudson river, and, at the time of his death, the business had become so expanded that two years' stock of logs, equivalent to two large fortunes, were constantly afloat on the Hudson and its wilderness tributaries, and four large gang mills, with all the modern improvements for economizing labor and material, were constantly in operation, with two sets of employees, night and day, during the period of canal navigation, or about two-thirds of the year.
Mr. Morgan's eminent success and large wealth has latterly led to his connec- tion with other monetary and manufacturing interests, and he was a large owner and stockholder, with a controlling voice in the management of the Morgan Lime Company and the Glen's Falls Paper Mill, both of which industries are situated on the south side of the river.
An unfortunate infirmity of deafness no doubt contributed largely to isolate Mr. Morgan from his fellow men, as also from participating as largely in public affairs as most men possessing a tithe of his rare business abilities, energy and persever- ance. Beneath a superficial crust of reserve, Mr. Morgan concealed a kind heart and genial disposition ; and the same disposition which made him a bitter and unrelenting opponent made him a sincere and earnest friend and counselor. Among the laboring men, few employers were better liked than he.
He married about the first of October in the fall of 1841 Olivia, daughter of the late Martin Eastwood, Esq. She, with two daughters, survive to lament and deplore his loss. His death, which occurred on the night or rather early morning of Friday the 1st of August, 1873, was sudden, mysterious and horrible. Being aroused in the night by some passer by, with the intelligence that his horses were making a disturbance at his barn, he arose and dressed, took a kerosene lantern, and went to the barn. That was the last he was seen alive. In less than half an hour an alarm of fire was given, and the barn was found in a bright blaze, and when the building was burned down, his charred remains were found lying beneath one of the dead horses. How or why he came to his death will doubtless always be enveloped in dread doubt and uncertainty.
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ing over $200,000 in losses, and accumulating a cash surplus of over $95,000, not deducting for reinsurance of outstanding risks, or providing for losses which might occur upon them. Consider- ing the nominal character of its rates, this result, looked at in the present light of the fire fiend, seems wonderful.
As one after another of the State Mutuals sunk under reckless or dishonest management and went down in disgrace and dishonor, the Glen's Falls Insurance Company stood almost alone as a con- spicuous monument among the ruins, but the general disaster which had overtaken these companies, and the growing prejudice against them was readily appreciated, and in 1864 it was proposed to re- organize the Dividend Mutual into a Joint Stock Company, with a paid up capital of $100,000. By an act of the legislature the company was reorganized, the policy holders being offered an opportunity to subscribe to the capital stock pro rata according to payments made by them to the company. In most cases these privileges were bought up at a premium, and it is pretty good evi- dence of the confidence of the public in the management of the company that double the amount of the needed one hundred thou- sand dollars was subscribed, necessitating a second pro rating. The company was called the Glen's Falls Insurance Company and succeeded to the good will, reputation and business of the mutual organization.
The business of the re-organized company extended so rapidly that in 1867, its capital was increased by actual payment to $200,000 and the company assumed its place among the important and well-known companies of the State.
Since the formation of this company the following have held the principal offices named and in the order in which their names occur :
Presidents-Bethuel Peck, Pelatiah Richards, A. W. Morgna and R. M. Little.
Secretaries-R. M. Little, A. N. Locke and J. L. Cunningham.
Treasurers-A. N. Cheeney, F. A. Johnson Jr., Alex. Robert- son, Jerome Lapham and F. A. Johnson.
At the present writing the existing officers of the company are as follows :
President-R. M. Little. Vice-President-A. Sherman. Secretary-J. L. Cunningham. Ass't Secretary-G. B. Greenslet. Treasurer-F. A. Johnson. Attorney-Stephen Brown.
Gen'l Agents-R. A. Little, Eastern States ; Sam'l R. House, Ohio ; Brown and Hobbins, Western States.
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NAMES OF LOCALITIES.
The company have nearly four hundred agents scattered through the states of New York, Massachusetts, Vermont, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Michigan, Illinois, Wisconsin and Missouri, half of which number are in the state of New York.
Its present available assets foot over $630,000 and its net surplus over every liability excepting capital is over $319,000. It has paid over one million dollars in losses and has received nearly two million dollars in premiums. Its policies cover over sixty millions of dollars.
Prudence and firmness have ever been the predominating traits of this sound old company, its risks have been carefully selected and a powerful resistance always opposed to fraud.
GLEN House. A hotel, built (on the site of a tavern previously burned), and owned and kept by Henry Spencer, Esq., formerly sheriff of Warren county. It stood on the site adjoining, on the north, Peter Lapoint's saloon under the hill. It was burned in 1867, it being then occupied as a hotel by Russell Barber.
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