USA > New York > Warren County > Queensbury > Gazetteer and business directory of Saratoga County, N.Y., and Queensbury, Warren County, for 1871 > Part 14
USA > New York > Saratoga County > Gazetteer and business directory of Saratoga County, N.Y., and Queensbury, Warren County, for 1871 > Part 14
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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
Miles Beach moved from Ballston to this place about the vear 1806. He built a store on the east side of Broadway, a little north of Congress Hall. This was the first store opened in that part of the village. He afterwards built a distillery on the back part of the same lot. The first brick house in the place was built by Ashabel Andrews, on the south corner of Washington Street and Broadway. Nathan Lewis afterward built the Pavilion on the east side of Broadway, near where the Presbyterian church now stands. The first clearing in the south part of the village was made by Indian Joe, a half breed. In 1783 General Philip Schuyler opened a road from the mouth of Fish Creek to the Springs. Here he erected a tent, under which he and his family remained several weeks. The next vear he built a small house for himself and family, and con- tinued to occupy it during the summer while he lived. This was the first frame house erected in the village. It consisted of two rooms with a stone fire place and chimney, and was finished inside and out with rough boards. In 1823 John Ford built the original part of the United States Hotel. It was en- larged at different times until it became one of the largest in the place. It was burned June 18, 1865, and has never been rebuilt. John and Ziba Taylor were among the earliest merchants of the place. They were active business men and engaged largely in the lumber trade. They opened the first store, in 1794. William Waterbury came into this town about 1:91 and pur- chased a farm of one hundred acres, lying south of what is now Congress Street ; he gave $3.25 per acre. The deed wasexecuted by John K. Beekman and Thomas Storms, then residents of New York City. Samuel Waterbury located here soon after. When Wm. Waterbury reached this County he owed the man
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who moved him seven dollars, and had only two and a half with which to pay him. His other property consisted of a scythe and a pocket knife. He was elected constable and held the office for eleven consecutive years. He died July 16, 1843. Henry Walton, one of the largest landholders of the place, first settled in Ballston in 1790. In 1816 he came to Saratoga Springs and took possession of real estate inherited from his father and his uncle. IIe at one time owned nearly all the land occupied by the present village of Saratoga Springs, except what lies south of Congress Street. He presented the site for the first Presbyterian Church edifice, and also the site occupied by the Universalist Church. He died in New York City, Sept. 15th, 1844.
High Rock Congress Spring. This was the first of the mineral springs discovered in this region, and is believed to have been known to the Indians, on account of its healing properties, long before it was visited by white men. It is one of the greatest natural curiosities of the country, and worthy of the attention of all. The rock is composed of what is known as calcareous tufa. It is conical in shape and rests upon the marl beneath the surface of the ground. Its size diminishes quite rapidly as it rises above the surface, and terminates in a rounded top, in the center of which is a circu- lar opening which leads to the cavity within. This cavity gradually widens as the rock enlarges, leaving the thickness of the rock nearly the same throughout, making the space within similar in shape to the exterior of the rock. The circumfer- ence of the rock at the surface of the ground is twenty-four feet, four inches; the diameter of the aperture four inches below the summit is twelve inches; the hight of the rock above the ground is three feet six inches, and the depth of the spring from the top of the rock is thirty-two feet. The rock is supposed to have been formed by the deposition of matter from the water. The water in this rock did not rise to within several inches of the top until artificially tubed. In 1865 the proprietors commenced a series of improvements, during which some very interesting discoveries were made. On removing the conical rock, it was found to have no immediate connection with the rock below, but the water was supplied by percolations through the intervening soil. Directly beneath the rock they Found muck and tufa commingled, to the depth of seven feet, then a layer of tufa two feet thick. then a stratum of muck, then another stratum of tufa three feet thick. The trunks of Ary, trees and the leaves of pine and other trees were found 'added in the muck. Upon the trunk of one tree there were counted 130 concentric rings. The upper surfaces
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of these trees were worn smooth, indicating that they had formed a passage way for the Indians, to the spring. Proceed- ing thus through alternate strata of tufa and muck, they reached the rock from which the water proceeded. A tube was applied and the conical rock replaced in its original position, since which the water has flowed over the surface. The event was celebrated on the 23d of August, 1866, upon which oc- casion the late Chancellor Walworth presided and an oration was delivered by W. L. Stone, of New York City. The mother of President Dwight. of Yale College, visited the High Rock Spring in 1791, and thus speaks of the place : " On reaching the springs at Saratoga, we found but three habitations and those poor log houses, on the high bank of a meadow where is now the western side of the street, near the 'Round Rock.' This was the only spring then visited. The houses were almost full of strangers, among whom were several ladies and gentle- men from Albany; and we found it almost impossible to obtain accommodations even for two nights. We found the 'Round Rock' at that time entire, the large tree that some years after fell and cracked o fissure in it being then standing near and the water, which occasionally overflowed and increased the rock by its deposits, keeping the general level three or four inches below the top. The neighborhood of the spring like all the country we had seen for many miles was a perfect forest; and there were no habitations to be seen in all the vicinity except the three log houses, which afforded us little more than a shelter."
Congress Spring was discovered in 1792 by a hunting party, and named in honor of John Taylor Gilman, one of the party, who was a member of Congress.
Columbian Spring is a few rods from Congress. It is chaly- beate and highly tonic.
Hamilton Spring is in the rear of Congress Hall ; it was dis- covered and tubed by Gideon Putnam.
Pavilion Spring was discovered at an early day. It was tubed in 1839 by Daniel McLaren. It is now owned by the Pavilion and United States Spring Co., who have greatly improved the surroundings, laying out walks and planting shade trees.
United States Spring is in the same inclosure.
Saratoga Stur Spring, formerly called Saline Spring, has already attained considerable celebrity.
Empire Spring, in the north part of the village, was tubed in 1846.
Washington Spring, upon the grounds of the Clarendon Hotel, was first tubed in 1806, but was not brought into practical
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use until 1859, when, after great expense and labor, it was suc- cessfully tubed and its waters rendered available.
Putnam Spring was tubed by Lewis Putnam in 1835, and again in 1857.
Saratoga Seltzer Spring, formerly called "Barrel Spring," be- cause a barrel was used for the tubing, is near High Rock Spring. The ground about the spring was wet and the spring was suffered to pass out of notice. In 1860 Dr. Haskins pur- chased the lot containing the spring and began the work of excavation with thirty men. A shaft twenty by thirty feet was excavated through five feet of muck, four of tufa, twenty-one of blue clay and four of hardpan, down to the calciferous sand- rock. A birch tree eighteen inches in diameter and thirty feet long, with portions of the roots attached, was found imbedded in the calcareous deposit. The spring was substantially tubed and in 1868 a large bottling house was erected.
Saratoga A. Spring was known at an early day, but no at- tempts were made to tube it until 1865, when George Western & Co. purchased the land upon which it rises. The tubing was defective and it was retubed in 1866, after which the water was bottled in considerable quantities until the burning of the bottling house.
Excelsior Spring is one of ten springs situated sbout a mile east of Broadway. This spring was tubed at an early day, but the tube was imperfectly set and fresh water mingled with that of the spring, rendering it worthless. In 1859 it was re- tubed, and a carriage way opened leading from the spring to the public highway. A fine avenue has since been opened from the Schuylerville Road to the spring.
Eureka Spring is about a mile and a half east of Broadway. The surroundings are beautiful, and improvements recently made have rendered the place attractive and accessible.
Hathorn Spring, situated a little north of Congress Hall, was discovered in 1868 while removing the debris preparatory to building. This spring is central in location and becoming quite popular.
Sulphur Spring, situated near the Eureka Spring. was tubed in 1868 by Anthony Dyett, Esq., of New York. He has im- proved the grounds, erected a bathing house and other works for the accommodation of visitors.
The Geyser Spring is a little south of the village and was reached by boring 140 feet through a ledge of rocks. The water 14 ejected at intervals to the hight of fifteen or twenty feet above the surface of the ground. The water is said to possess all the
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medicinal properties of Congress Spring, with an extra amount of magnesia.
The Crystal Spring and Red Spring, with many others of less note, contain medicinal qualities, which, in common with those mentioned, have made this the most popular watering place on the American Continent.
The area of the town is 16,618 acres.
STILLWATER was formed March 7, 1788. A part of Easton (Washington Co.) was taken off in 1789, and Malta in 1802. It lies upon the Hudson, south-east of the center of the County. The surface is uneven and moderately hilly. The highest point is about 250 feet above the Hudson. The fiats along the Hudson and Anthony's Kil are bordered by a range of bluffs from 60 to 100 feet. The streams are generally small brooks flowing through deep gulleys worn in the drift deposits. There are several fine cascades upon these streams. The north- west corner borders upon Saratoga Lake. The soil upon the river flats is alluvial. West of the bluffs is a wide belt of heavy clav ; and in the south-west part is a sandy tract interspersed with swamps. Upon the shore of the lake is a spring, called the White Sulphur Spring. A hotel and bathing house were erected here at one time, and a small steamer was put upon the lake. The buildings were burned after a few years and the enterprise was abandoned.
Stillwater, (p. v.) on the Hudson River and Champlain Canal, about three miles north of Mechanicville, contains four churches, viz., Presbyterian, Methodist, Baptist and Episcopal ; two hotels, eight stores of various kinds, two paper mills, one making straw board, the other wall paper; a kniting mill, three saw mills. a plaster mill, two lumber and coal vards, a wagon shop, three blacksmith shops, three shoe shops, two district schools and 757 inhabitants. It is connected with the railroad at Mechanicville by stage running twice a day, and also with Schuylerville.
The Knitting Mill of Pierce Kane was erected in 1865. It is $5 feet by 30 and two stories high, and turns out about 25 dozen shirts and drawers daily.
The Paper Manufactory of Mosher, Haight & Co., was estab- lished in 1846 by Mosher & Allen. In 1869 the works were burned and new buildings of brick have since been erected. The main building is 26 feet by :6, and two stories high besides the basement. The machine room is 53 by 30 feet, the engine room 40 by 60, and the bleaching room 25 feet square. There
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are four 300 pound engines, and one machine with the capacity of about one and a half tons per day of wall paper.
The Straw Board Mill of D. & W. Pemble was established in 186%. It has two 300 pound engines and one 36 inch cylinder machine. The dryer is 8 feet in diameter and 18 feet long, Dodge's Patent. The mill has a capacity for turning out nine tons per week, and consumes about 600 tons of straw annually.
Montgomery Lodge F. & A. M., No. 504, was instituted in 1860 and has 95 members. There is about $500 in the treasury, and about $130 are annually paid out for charitable purposes.
Mechanicville, (p. v.,) located on the Hudson River, in Still- water and Half Moon, was incorporated July 16, 1859. It is a station on the Rensselaer & Saratoga R. R., and contains four churches, viz., Methodist, Presbyterian, Episcopal and Roman Catholic ; two hotels, an academy, a district school, two carriage factories, a large planing mill and sash factory, a linen thread factory, several stores, groceries, mechanic shops, &c., and about 1,200 inhabitants.
Mechanicville Academy. This is a boarding and day school for both sexes. The edifice, which is of brick, four stories high. was built in 1860. It is beautifully situated on a high bank of the Hudson, and is surrounded by ample and elegant grounds. The building affords accommodations for twenty-five boarders and one hundred day scholars. It has been so crowded for the last few terms that the erection of an addition is in contempla- tion. The institution is owned by a joint stock company, and managed by a board of twelve trustees. The successive presi- dents of the Board have been B. B. Hutchins, Lewis Smith and Isaac Clement. C. C. Wetsell was the first principal, Rev. Ber- nice D. Ames, A. M., is the present principal and lessee of the institution. Four or five other teachers are associated with him in the Board of Instruction.
American Linen Thread Co., organized in 1851, is the only company in America manufacturing linen thread. The capital invested is 870,000. The buildings are of brick, the main one 96x36 feet, with two wings 44x80 and 40x40 feet respectively. Another building connected with the establishment is 44x100 feet. Mr. L. E. Smith is secretary, treasurer and managing agent of the Company.
The Sash and Blind Manufactory of Barnes & Ladow, located n'ont half a mile west of Mechanicville, was established in lett by A. Barnes. and in the spring of 1869 Mr. Ladow be- cathe a partner. The mill is 40x70 feet, two stories high, and gives employment to from 20 to 25 hands.
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The Paper Mill of Gardner Howland & Son, is located about half way between the villages of Mechanicville and Stillwater, on the 'Hudson River. They make about three tons of printing paper per day, and consume about 1,500 tons of straw annually. The mills run one 54 inch Fourdinier Machine with Harper's attachment, and one 48 inch Fourdinier Machine. The mill was established in 1863 by the present proprietors.
The Methodisl Episcopal Church of Mechanicville was organ- ized in the year 1828, under the joint pastorate of Rev. James McCreery and Wright Hazen, who were appointed to the charge of Half Moon Circuit at the New York Conference of the same vear. The original class consisted of but seven members, five of whom were females, and was instituted in an unoccupied dwelling. For several years the society worshiped in a union church with the other denominations of the village, but in the year 1831, succeeded in erecting a house of worship for their own use, which was dedicated Jan. 1, 1832. This edifice fur- nished sufficient accommodations until 1848, when the growing congregation necessitated the building of the present house, a brick structure, costing some $5,000, and capable of seat- ing about 350 persons. The present pastor is B. B. Loomis, and the number of communicants 210. This Church has long been distinguished for the number of resident ministers connected with it. Among these may be mentioned Revs. A. Mckean, Datus Ensign, Phineas Cook and G. Lyon, fathers in the ministry, who have long since gone to their reward; while at present Revs. B. D. Ames, principal of Mechanicville Academy ; O. J. Squires, agent American Bible Society ; J. W. Carhart. D. D., agent New York State Temperance Society, and E. Noble, a superannuated member of the Troy Conference, are connected with its Quarterly Conference.
Bemis Hights (p. v.,) contains a hotel, a tin shop, a grocery, a carriage shop, a blacksmith shop, a harness shop, a school house, and about a dozen dwellings. The Bemis Hights Cheese Factory, located abont three-fourths of a mile west, was estab- lished in June, 1870, and can use the milk of 300 cows.
Jobville is a hamlet in the south part of the town.
Ketchum's Corners, (p. o.,) in the north-west part, contains two churches, viz., Methodist and Presbyterian, a hotel, a store. a wagon shop, a harness shop, a blacksmith shop and 50 inhabit- ants. Thomas Hunt, from Dutchess County, was one of the early settlers, having located about a mile and a half from Ketchum's Corners.
Seth Eddy, from Berkshire Co., Mass., came to Stillwater in 1810, and commenced business as a general merchant, which he
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continued for thirty years. Two years previous to his death, his son Samuel G. was admitted a partner. He has continued the business alone for thirty years, making sixty consecutive years during which the firm has been doing business in the same place. It is said to be the oldest store in the County.
This town was included in the Saratoga Patent of 1684. The settlement commenced about 1750. Among the first settlers were John Thompson, George Palmer, - Benjamin, Dirck Swart, and men named Ensign, Burlinghame and Abeel. The two decisive battles between the Americans under General Gates and the British under General Burgoyne were fought in this town. The first occurred on the 19th of September and the second on the 7th of October, 1777. Bemis's Hights, where the battles were fought, are about four miles north of the vil- lage of Stillwater. Most of the country was covered by a dense forest at the time of the Revolution. The ground rises abrupt- ly from the river flat, which is about half a mile wide a short distance above, and becomes narrower towards the mouth, the bluff's affording an excellent site for a fortification which would command the passage of the river and the narrow valley below. The principal road passed along the margin of the river. Upon this road, at the southern extremity of the bluff, was a tavern kept by a man named Bemis. It was the best between Fort Edward and Albany, and a famous place of resort for sleighing parties in this region. His stock of liquors was good, and his larder well supplied with all the luxuries which the region afforded. Mr. Bemis owned a portion of the hights near him, and from that circumstance they received their name. On the summit of the hight, about three-fourths of a mile north-west of Bemis's, a man named Neilson had made a small clearing and erveted a small dwelling and a log barn. The barn was picketed and used as a fort. The house stood upon the east side of the road leading to Quaker Springs; it was occupied as the quarters of General Poor and Colonel Morgan while en- camped there. A part of this building is still standing, and is how owned and occupied by Mrs. Charles Nelson. Here is where Major Ackland, who commanded the British Grenadiers, was carried when severely wounded in the battle of Oct. 7th. Some of the Americans concealed themselves in the tree tops, and from their hiding places picked off the British officers by their sure aim. It was a bullet from one of these sharp-shooters which gave General Frazer his death wound. The British and Hossian troops killed in the battles at this place were but subtly covered with earth and brush, and after the land was Frared and cultivated, skulls and other human bones were frequently plowed up. Cannon balls, tomahawks, knives,
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buttons, &c., were found in great abundance. Asa F. Bright- man now owns one of the farms upon which the battles were fought. The Isaac Freeman Estate also occupies a part of the battle ground. General Frazer fell mortally wounded in the battle of October 7th, on the farm now owned by Joseph Rod- gers. He died the next day on the farm now owned by P. C. Colton, and was buried upon a hill a short distance north of Wilbur's Basin, in a redoubt which the British had previously thrown up. The funeral occurred at sunset, and the Ameri- cans, ignorant of what was going on, kept up a constant can- nonade upon the redoubt. Suddenly the irregular firing ceased and a single cannon was heard at regular intervals, booming along the valley and echoing from the hills. It was a minute gun fired by the Americans in honor of the gallant dead. As soon as the information was received that the gathering at the redoubt was a funeral company, paying the last tribute of respect to a brave soldier, orders were given to cease the cannonade with balls and render military homage to a fallen foe.
Lady Harriet Ackland attended her husband, Major Ack- land, to Canada in 1776, and during all the campaigns in which he was engaged until his return to England, she accompanied him, enduring all the privations and dangers of an active campaign in an enemy's country. When she learned that he was wounded and a prisoner, shesresolved to visit the American camp and if possible attend him. With a note from General Burgoyne to General Gates she set out in an open boat upon the Hudson in the midst of a violent rain storm, attended by the chaplain and two servants. The following is a copy of the note :
" SIR,-Lady Harriet Ackland, a lady of the first distinction of family, rank and personal virtues, is under such concern on account of Major Ackland, her husband, wounded and a prisoner in your hands, that I cannot refuse her request to commit her to your protection. Whatever general impropriety there may be in persons in my situation and yours to solicit favors, I cannot see the uncommon perseverance in every female grace and exaltation of character of this lady, and her very hard fortune, without testifying that your attentions to her will lay me under obligations.
" I am, sir, your obedient servant, J. BURGOYNE.".
She was received and treated with the greatest kindness, which was duly appreciated by her and her husband.
Before purchasing a Plano, Organ or other Musical Instrument, call on B. Il. Midley, 12 Mansion House Block, Broadway, Troy, N. Y.
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W. L. Denison now occupies the farm upon which General Gates had his headquarters. It was owned at that time by Cap- tain Ephraim Woodworth, who lived there for some time, and afterwards removed to Northumberland, where he died in 1825 at the age of 93. Jacob Kip of Jonesville now owns the farm near the river, where General Burgoyne had his headquarters a few days previous to the battle.
The Methodist Church of Stillwater village was organized in 1835, by Rev. Ephraim Goss, the first pastor, and consisted of nine members. The first house of worship was erected in 1833. The present membership is 160. The church will seat 250 per- sons and is valued at $2,500. Rev. Abel Ford is the present pastor. A Methodist church, five miles west of the village, was organized more than eighty years ago.
The Second Presbyterian Church of Stillwater was organized Jan. 22, 1866, with 28 members, by Wm. M. Johnson, the first pastor. A house of worship was erected the same year, valued at $3,600, and capable of seating 250 persons. The present mem- bership is fifty.
The Second Baptist Church was organized by Isaac Wescott. the first pastor. Their house of worship is of brick, 40 by 70 feet, and a basement 40 by 40, used as a lecture room. The value of the church is $5,000 and is capaple of seating 300 per- sons. The present membership is 210; the present pastor is Rev. Thomas Cull.
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