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 24
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He married Eliza, daughter of John Folsom, a sketch of whose life is given herewith. By her he had three children, all daughters, the eldest of whom mar- ried a Presbyterian minister by the name of Frost, whom together with an un- married sister named Frances, are understood to be living. The youngest daughter Alida, who married a lawyer by the name of Melancthon W. Perine, is now dead.
After removing to Glen's Falls, Capt. Berry was for a number of years largely engaged in getting out spars, round, and square timber from the West mountain and Luzerne. His lumber operations were from this time forth gradually ex-
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225
John Folsom,
Elected. 1815. Stephen Clark, 66 John A. Ferriss, 1816. Thomas Colton,
226
HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF QUEENSBURY.
Elected.
Elected.
1823. John Thomas,
1830. John Van Pelt,
Luther Johnson,
1831. Lewis Numan,
" `Bogardus Piersons,
Sidney Berry,
Samuel Cook,
1832. Moody Ames,
1824. Elias Hawley,
Jonathan W. Freeman,
Alpheus Hawley,
Fletcher Ransom,
1825. Solomon P. Goodrich,
1834. Sidney Berry,
Elnathan Parsons,
Lewis Numan,
1826. Bogardus Piersons,
Sheldon Benedict,
Roswell Weston,
66 George G. Hawley,
1827. Charles G. Jones,
1825. Jonathan W. Freeman,
66 Sidney Berry,
Alexander Folsom,
1828. Horatio Buell,
1836. Lewis Numan,
Moody Ames,
Sheldon Benedict,
1829. Sidney Berry,
1837. Sidney Berry.
Lewis Numan,
George G. Hawley,
Samuel Estabrook,
66 Billy J Clark,
1830. John L. Curtenius,
1838. Billy J. Clark,
Sheldon Benedict,
Jonathan W. Freeman,
panded, great success attending his enterprises and ventures. He built and owned mills in Westport, and the vicinity of Paradox lake in Essex county, the lumber there manufactured finding its way to market via Lake Champlain, and the Northern canal, At the time of his death these operations were moving along on the flood tide of successful experiment. His estate, at the time of his decease, and probably not very economically managed at that, was inventoried and settled at up- wards of fifty thousand dollars, which, for those days was considered a large fortune.
Mr. Berry was a man of great energy, probity and public spirit. He was an active and influential politician of the whig school, but never a place seeker or aspirant for political honors. He was a man of infinite humor and jest, and many anecdotes are still related of him, which establish his great shrewdness and originalty.
In 1836, he commenced improving his large village property, built a culvert in the ravine down the long hill, through which, up to within a very recent period, the sewerage of the village found its outlet ; graded down the hill opposite his residence, and opened up Berry street, which still retains his name, and erected en- tirely at his own expense a brick building for a young ladies' seminary, which, for a number of years was very successful, and had a wide spread reputation. This building is now the property of school district No. 19. His remains were at first buried in the old grave yard on West street. Some two or three years ago they were exhumed and redeposited in the new cemetery. This place (as is to be hoped) of final sepulture, is marked by a plain marble shaft on which is inscribed the following unpretentious legend.
SIDNEY BERRY, Born September 12, 1783, Died May 5, 1839.
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THE CHURCHES.
Elected. 1839. Lewis Numan,
Abraham Wing,
George Cronkhite,
1840. George G. Hawley,
Linus B. Barnes, 1841. Billy J. Clark, George Sanford,
1842. Lewis Numan,
George Cronkhite, 1843. George G. Hawley, 66 Linus B. Barnes,
1844. Halsey R. Wing,
Alfred C. Farlin,
1845. Stevens Carpenter, Albert N. Cheney,
1846. Ira A. Paddock,
66 Orville Cronkhite,
1847. Linus B. Barnes,
Thomas J. Strong,
1848. James C. Clark,
Benjamin F. Shattuck.
Number of Trustees reduced to five.
1849. Frederic A. Johnson,
1850. Charles Rockwell, Linus B. Barnes,
1851. George Cronkhite,
George G. Hawley, Halsey R. Wing,
1852. George Cronkhite,
Frederic A. Johnson,
1853. Linus B. Barnes,
1854. Halsey R. Wing,
George G. Hawley,
1855. George Clendon jr., Fred A. Johnson jr.,
1856. Linus B. Barnes,
66 Fred A. Johnson,
Elected. 1857. Halsey R. Wing,
-
George G. Hawley, 1858. George Clendon jr.,
1859. Linus B. Barnes,
Fred A. Johnson jr., 1860. Halsey R. Wing, 66 George G. Hawley, 1861. George Clendon jr.,
1862. Lewis L. Goodman, vice Geo. Clendon jr., gone to the war.
Linus B. Barnes,
« Fred A. Johnson jr., 1863. Ezra Benedict, Archibald C. Tearse,
1864. Stephen L. Goodman,
1865. Daniel Peck, vice Ezra Benedict re- moved from the place.
Henry Crandell,
Jerome Lapham,
1866. A. C. Tearse, Daniel Peck,
1867. Stephen L. Goodman,
1868. Henry Crandell,
James A. Freligh, 1869. A. C. Tearse,
Thos. S. Cooledge,
1870. Stephen L. Goodman,
1871. Henry Crandell, James A. Freligh,
Martin Coffin, vice A. C. Tearse, re- moved from the place.
1872. Martin Coffin,
M. L. Wilmarth,
Thomas S. Cooledge.
228
HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF QUEENSBURY.
UNION CHURCH OF EAST LAKE GEORGE.
Through the instrumentality of Mr. C. L. North, of Brooklyn, and the aid and encouragement of several ladies and gentle- men, who were passing the heated term, at two or three places of summer resort in that vicinity, a Sunday school was organized in one of the school houses at East Lake George, in the summer of 1864.
The following year, it was renewed with great vigor; and another school in the vicinity was revived. Both were prospered to an unexpected degree, and, as opportunity presented, occa- sional services were held, sometimes under the shade of a tree, and sometimes in school houses, in this vicinity. This was the inception of an earnest movement toward the establishment of permanent religious services in this hitherto neglected neigh- borhood.
A subscription paper was circulated (Mr. North contributing largely thereto, and Mr. Mattison giving the land), and a hand- some amount was raised for the purpose of building a church, the corner stone of which was laid with fitting services on the 5th of November, 1867. The building was completed and ded- icated the following season, and a society of forty members organized by the Rev. W. B. Lee, of Brooklyn, who from the first has been one of the chief promoters of the enterprise.
This little church was at first committed to the pastoral charge of the Rev. James Lamb, now of Caldwell at the head of Lake George. The present incumbent is the Rev. Isaac See. A very pleasant and attractive feature connected with this organization is an anniversary pic-nic and festival held late in the summer, which is designed to gather all the children of the neighbor- hood, with visiting Sunday schools, for a season of recreation, and enjoyment. Some of these gatherings have been attended by over five thousand people. A handsome and commodious parsonage, which appears at the left of the church in the cut, has been erected, and a neat, substantial fence surrounds the entire enclosure.
1April, 1874. Since the above was compiled, a change has again been made in the supply of the pulpit, and a pleasant school house added to the belongings of this church.
-
JW.Orr NX.
ILSOR
UNION CHURCH, EAST LAKE GEORGE.
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THE CHURCHES.
METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH.
That form of Christianity known as Methodism was first in- cidentally introduced into the northern portion of Warren county, which, for a number of years went by the name of Thurman's patent, as early as 1796, by two lay preachers, zealous pioneers for the truth in Christ, who explored this sparsely settled region, and unfurled the banner of the gospel amid its wide stretching foreste. These were Richard Jacobs, and Henry Ryan. Mr. Jacobs was drowned the same year on his return from Elizabethtown, Essex county, while endeavor- ing to ford the swollen current of the east branch of the Hudson near the outlet of Schroon lake. Mr. Ryan, who was after- wards known as one of the most active and successful itinerants of this wide extended circuit, was discovered to be a Methodist by means of his pocket bible.
The Thurman patent (including the Gore in the town of Chester), was issued by the colonial authorities to John Thurman, about four days prior to the declaration of Independence, 1776. During the progress of the Revolutionary war, although taking no active part in hostilities, he sided in sentiment with the crown, and, as a natural consequence, when difficulties, subsequently arose between him, and his tenants and lessees, the sympathies of the inhabitants were with the latter. Not willing to trust the validity of his title, or the dismemberment of his extensive property to the juries of the region, in the year 1800, Mr. Thur- man went quietly before the legislature, and procured the pass- age of an act legalizing his title. Appended to this act, were certain stipulations, that the land so granted should be disposed of to actual settlers at the rate of eighteen shillings per acre, with the privilege of five years to pay in ; and, if unpaid at the end of that time, the indebtedness then to be secured by bond and mortgage to run twenty-one years.1 As a result of this
1 The substance of the above statement was communicated to the author by the late Hon. John R. Thurman, M. C., April 7th, 1851. A reference to the Calendar . of Land Papers, does not corroborate the statement, nor does Sauthier's Map of 1779, contain any mention of such a patent. The records in the department, would seem to show, that Thurman's locations were chiefly made within the limits of Hyde township, and Totten and Crossfield's purchase, and, that the first loca- tions were made in 1787.
230
HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF QUEENSBURY.
judicious policy, the lands became settled rapidly, and were soon the most productive part of the estate. One or two of the mortgages still remain unsatisfied. This settlement, first called Elm Hill, was within the boundaries of the town of Queens- bury, and, has since been known by the names of Thurman- town, and Johnsburgh. Mr. Thurman, originally a merchant, was a shrewd,1 far seeing, energetic, and successful business man, and through his influence, and enterprise, many settlers were induced to acompany him, and take up leaseholds in the wilderness. The infant settlement presently received a fresh impulse and accession of strength, in the erection by Mr. Thur- man of a grist mill, a saw mill, a razor factory and a cotton factory for the manufacture of prints. This is claimed to be the first of the kind, introduced into the country. These es- tablishments were located on a small stream near Noble's corners, and it has been asserted were in successful operation in 1790. At all events, a map, of which mention is made in the Calendar of Land Papers, bearing the date of 1792, speaks of the lots owned in Hyde township by the late John Thurman. Tradition states that he was gored to death by a bull. His death of course was a heavy blow to the prosperity of the settle- ment. The property came into the possession of his son, also named John, and with the gradual addition of many minor branches of industry, and mechanic arts, the work of settlement still went slowly forward.
The Rev. David Noble, who had long been a local preacher of influence and consideration, emigrated with his family from the north of Ireland, and landed in New York, in 1795, where, for two or three years, he was associated with the management and ministrations of the John Street M. E. church. Having here formed the acquaintance of Mr. Thurman, he was per- suaded to visit his patent with a view to removal thither. At that time the roads north of Caldwell were little better than bridle paths, while none of the numerous large streams and rivers which had to be crossed on the route, had even the sem- blance of a bridge. In the year 1798, Mr. Noble leased of the
1 It is related of him, that on one occasion on his return to New York, he filled his pocket with beech nuts, and exhibited them to his friends as a sample of the buckwheat raised on his patent, and a proof of the extraordinary fertility of the soil. Whether for this or some other cause now unknown, it is averred, that in those days an exchange of these lands, acre for acre, for the rich alluvial flats at Waterford, was refused.
231
THE CHURCHES.
proprietor 400 acres of land at two and a a half dollars per acre, upon which he, and his sons, soon made a clearing, and built them up a log-house, which to them was a dwelling, a school house and church. Here, at this out-post of civilization, they were visited from time to time by those men of God, Elijah Hedding, Martin Rutter, Elijah Hibbard, Samuel Howe, David Brown, and others, and, with the numerous families of Nobles, Somervilles, and Armstrongs as a nucleus, a strong and flour- ishing church was built up, whose influences are still manifest to the present day. The services were held for a long period of years in private houses, and afterward in school houses, being supplied as long as he lived by the Rev. David Noble, 1 and afterward by other leaders, who sprang up among them. This was the extreme wilderness limit, of what was then known as the Ash Grove (since Cambridge), or six week's circuit.
Here, as elsewhere in the work of evangelizing the world, the operations of the Spirit and the progress of Divine truth, were met with opposition, obloquy, and reproach. In reference to this, a writer in the Troy Conference Miscellany states as follows. "The persecution in Thurman's patent was truly grievous. Many young people that experienced religion were turned out of doors by their parents.
" Some of them were whipped cruelly ; two young women were so whipped by their father, that the blood ran down to their feet, and he then turned them out of doors, and they walked fifteen miles to a Methodist society. That father was a church member.
" Two younger brothers having been converted, were often severely beaten for attending Methodist meetings. It astonished me that the father of ten children, eight of whom had ex- perienced religion, should drive six of them from the house, and whip these two boys for no other crime, in reality, than that of worshipping God with the Methodists.
1 Rev. David Noble, died July 10, 1807, at Arlington, Vt., while on a visit to his daughter, the wife of Richard Empey. He left home at Elm Hill in Thurman on the 9th, and traveling on horseback reached the place of his destination on the afternoon of the following day. He immediately attended religious services which were going forward in a school house near by. After the sermon, he gave an ex- hortation sat down, swooned away, and died. His remains were afterward removed from their humble resting place, to the burial ground at Ash Grove. The follow- ing lines were inscribed on his tombstone.
"This man was faithful in his Master's cause ;
Three minutes exchanged the pulpit for eternal joys."
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HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF QUEENSBURY.
" That father did not whip religion nor Methodism out of his children, for some of their descendants are now among our wealthy, influential, and devoted members."
About this time, the eccentric, and widely known Lorenzo Dow, and his admirer Timothy Dewey, were sent into this re- gion by the authorities of the church. Dow officiated in a school- house in the north part of the town, and in a barn at the east of the Oneida.1
1 The following extracts from his diary will give a glimpse of his labors and ex- periences in this region.
The date of this narrative was in the spring of 1798.
"From thence " (Skeinsborough," sic.), I visited Kingsborough and Queens- borough, where many were brought to a sense of themselves, among whom was Solomon Moon.
" One evening, just as I had dismissed the assembly, I saw a man to whom my mind was impressed to go ; and before I was aware of it, I was breaking through the crowd; and when I had got to him I said, 'are you willing I should ask you a few serious questions ?' to which he replied, yes ; ' do you believe,' (said I), ' there is a God ?' Said he, 'Yes.' Q. 'Do you believe there is a reality in 'religion ? A. ' I am uncertain ; but think we ought to do as we would be done by.' Q. ' Are you willing for some good advice ?' A. 'Yes.' Q. 'Supposing I shall give you some that you can find no fault with the tendency of it ; are you willing, and will you try to follow it for four weeks ?' A. 'Yes, if it is no unreasonable request.'
I then desired him not to believe what authors, ministers or people said, because they said so ; but to search the scriptures to seek for light and instruction there ; to read but a little at a time, and read it often, striving to take the sense of it.
2dly. Not to stumble over the unexemplary walk of professors of religion ; nor the contradiction of ministers' sermons ; but to forsake, not what other people thought was wrong, but what he himself thought to be wrong ; and then to take his leisure time, and go where none would see him but God, twice or thrice a day, and upon his knees to beseech the Almighty to give him an evidence within, that there was a heaven and a hell, and a reality in religion, and the necessity of en- joying it in order to be happy ; and then, said I, I do not believe the time will expire before you will find an alteration in your mind, and that for the better. Q. ' Is the advice good or bad ?' A. 'I have no fault to find; the natural tendency of it is to good, if followed.'
" I then said, 'You promised, if the advice was good, and you had no fault to find with it, that you would follow it four weeks ; and now I call God to witness your promise,' so left.
" He went away, and began to meditate how he was taken in the promise before he was aware of it, and for forty-eight hours neglected it, when his conscience con- demned him, and for the ease of his mind was necessitated to go and pray.
" From hence I went to Therman's patent, and held several meetings, not in vain, and riding across the branches of Hudson river, I called the inhabitants together, and we had a refreshing season from the presence of the Lord. In eternity, I be- lieve, some will be thankful for that day."
(The quarterly meeting following the foregoing record, was held at Pittstown, N. Y., on the 20th of June succeeding).
" Here, after S. Hutchinson had finished his sermon, J. Mitchell began to exhort, when there commenced a trembling among the wicked ; one, and a second, and a
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THE CHURCHES.
Traditions are yet extant of the power of his sermons, and of the numbers awakened, and converted by his preaching. Soon after his coming, the Methodist society was organized at the Ridge, a settlement then containing more dwellings, and in- habitants than the village of Glen's Falls.
As previously stated, Queensbury was at this distant period of time included within the boundaries of what was then called Ashgrove circuit, so named from the locality where Methodism was first planted by Philip Embury, the renowned pioneer of the faith, previous to the Revolutionary war.
Having previously organized the first society of the denomi- nation in New York, about the year 1770 he removed to the town of Cambridge, and in that portion of the township known in the local annals as Ashgrove, within the present limits of the town of White Creek established a society and continued as
third fell from their seats, and the cry for mercy became general ; and many of the backsliding professors were cut to the quick ; and I think for eleven hours there was no cessation of the loud cries ; no business of a temporal nature could be done at this quarterly meeting conference.
" The next day, Soloman Moon, who had come more than forty miles, stood up in the love-feast and declared how he was caught in a promise, and to ease his mind, was necessitated to fulfil, and within three days found the reality of what he had doubted ; and besought others not to be afraid of promising to serve God ; for, said he, ' I bless the day that I ever saw the face of Brother Dow.' It was curiosity, as he testified, which first induced him to come out and hear him that was called ' the crazy man.'"
July 3d, 1805. Dow visited these scenes of his former labors. He says, " by South Bay, Fort Ann, Glen's Falls, and staid at an inn ; but judging from circum- stances that it was necessary to watch my horse, I slept none that night." Not very complimentary to the tavern or the neighborhood !
About the year 1783, two brothers named John, and Robert Moon, emigrated to this town from Rhode Island. Of the former but little is known. His signature appended herewith was found among the old Wing Manuscripts, and is of un- doubted anthenticity.
Johnmoon.
Robert Moon settled on the Outlet, where he erected a saw-mill and the first grist mill in use in the town after the Revolutionary war. Before this was built the inhabitants were obliged to go to Stillwater or Argyle for their flour and meal.
He had three sons, viz : Solomon, named above, Robert, and Benjamin. After the demise of the elder Moon, the charge of the grist mill was assigned to Solomon, the saw mill to Robert, and Benjamin had charge of the farm. All lived near to- gether, and shared equally in the profits and products of each of these industries.
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HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF QUEENSBURY.
its pastor until his death in 1775. From that time until 1788 they were supplied by traveling and lay preachers. During this year, the Rev. Lemuel Smith was inducted as their pastor, and a chapel was built, the first place of worship north of Albany, erected by Methodists to the service of the Most High.
This church was the centre from which northward and west- ward, a Godly influence radiated to the extreme confines of civilization. In 1795 it contained sixty members.
Soon afterward the Cambridge circuit was formed. In 1799 Billy Hibbard, and Henry Ryan, the itinerants on this circuit, traveled about five hundred miles, and filled sixty-three appoint- ments every four weeks, one of their stations at this time being Sanford's ridge in the town of Queensbury. Among the first Methodist ministers who visited Glen's Falls, were the Rev'ds Friend Draper, Daniel Brayton, Andrew Mckean, Samuel Howe, and others, earnest and vigorous men, "valiant for the truth." Not satisfied with the already extended range of country, tra- versed by these men, Rev'ds Tobias Spicer, and Sherman Miner made occasional visits to this village, then only a hamlet, and held religious services in the old academy building, then on Ridge street on the site of Mr. Jerome Lapham's residence. The building, since removed, is now occupied by Messrs. Joubert & White as a Carriage Manufactory, on the corner of Warren and Jay streets.
The late Dr. Spicer, whose memory is like precious ointment, was a clear thinker, shrewd debater, Catholic spirited and reso- lute. Mr. Miner was a man of mild, and lovely spirit and abundant in works. Both have passed to their reward. The first Methodist class, a name by which the branch societies are known and into which for greater activity and efficiency all these churches are divided, was formed in this village in 1824, by Rev. John Lovejoy,1 in the dwelling now known as the General Pettit place 2 situated between the canal and the river, in the
1 " When I first resided at Glen's Falls the church edifice was unfinished, and occasional preachers stood on the work bench. It was an independent Union church, but the Presbyterians took it and settled Mr. Boardman. There was no other sect. When the Methodists gathered themselves together, they were ex- cluded from the meeting house. My piety was so much shocked, that I went to Daniel Peck's wood-shed, and borrowed an axe (without leave) for unlocking the church door, which was opened when the key-keeper saw me coming with that sharp edged substitute. Mr. Lovejoy forthwith entered in and expounded."- Letter from Judge Hay to the author.
2 This building, and the adjoining store formerly conducted by Gen. Pettit, have . very recently (March, 1874), been removed and demolished.
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THE CHURCHES.
rear of the old stone store on the east side of Glen street and near the river bridge. It still stands, and is used as a dwelling. The original number of the class was twelve, eleven being women, only two, namely Mrs. Cynthia Swain, and Mrs. Mary Ellis,' are now living in this village. Others survive, but are widely scattered. Engravings of this old and plain structure, thus early consecrated and now the centre of olden and precious memories, together with others of the old academy, of the ori- ginal Union church occupied chiefly by the Presbyterians, and of the present beautiful structures, would show in part the pro- gress of Christianity here, and particularly of the M. E. church in the contrast of her early weakness and present strength.
From this early date, to 1832, this whole northern region was embraced within the New York conference, and was traversed by · heroic men, zealous for the conversion of the scattered inhabit- ants to Christianity. We can only name the active and earnest John Clark, the first regularly appointed preacher to the societies in Sandy Hill and Glen's Falls ; Seymour Landon, amiable and popular; Julius Fields, characterized for administrative and financial ability, under whose auspices the first church edifice (the old stone building) was erected at a cost of about $1,500 2 in 1829, the land having been given by Mr. J. Pettit, nephew of the general. This structure is still standing, and has been for several years used by the Roman Catholics. Mr. Fields was followed by Rev. Robert Seeney and Coles Carpenter of precious memory.
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