USA > New York > Warren County > Queensbury > History and biography of Washington county and the town of Queensbury, New York > Part 9
USA > New York > Washington County > History and biography of Washington county and the town of Queensbury, New York > Part 9
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During this period Greenwich had eleven sheets, all of which went down prior to 1850, except the People's Journal, founded in 1842 by John W. Curtis. The ten defunct papers between 1832 and 1850 were: The Banner, The Union Village Courant, The Union Village Democrat, The Democratic Champion, The Wash ington County Sentinel, The Union Village Jour- nal, The Champion, The Eagle, The Union Vil- lage Eagle, and the Union Village Democratic Standard.
CHURCHES.
The pioneer settlement but scarcely pre- ceded the pioneer church and school house in the county.
The United Presbyterian church is the old- est religious denomination of Washington county, being planted at Salem in 1766 by Rev. Thomas Clark and his colony from Bali- bay, Ireland, and in 1875 numbered thirteen churches and two thousand five hundred and twenty-nine members.
The Presbyterian church is second in order of age, and was founded but two years later, at Salem, by the Massachusetts colony, whose church faith would have been supposed to
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BIOGRAPHY AND HISTORY
have run in Congregational grooves. In 1875 there were nine Presbyterian churches and eight hundred and ninety-three members.
The third place in order of age of the relig- ious denominations is contested for by the Baptist and Methodist Episcopal churches.
The Baptists claim the foundation of Botts- kill church of Greenwich, as early as 1770, while some hold for 1767, and none later than 1775. The Baptists, in 1875, had twenty-one churches and two thousand two hundred and sixty-eight members.
The Methodist Episcopal church dates its existence to the year 1770, when Philip Ems- bury, the founder of Methodism in the new world, organized Ash Grove, the second Meth- odist church in America. The Methodists, in 1875, had twenty-three churches and two thousand six hundred and thirty-five mem- bers.
The Moravian mission and church of Salem were established, and a century later went out of existence as a religious body.
The Friends, or Quakers, established Easton meeting or church in 1775, and one hundred years later numbered three churches, or meet- ings, with one hundred members.
The Revolutionary struggle stopped settle- ment and church growth, and the first new church,after its close, to be established in the county seems to have been the Congregation- alist. A society of this church was organized in Granville in 1782. The denomination in 1875 numbered five churches and three hun- dred and twenty-one members.
The Protestant Episcopal church was or- ganized. as early as 1790 in Kingsbury, where the Hitchcock family was prominent among its members. In 1875 there were six Episco- pal churches and five hundred and seventy- seven members.
We have record of the Reformed church, of Easton, as being organized in 1807. This denomination, in 1875, had four churches, with a membership of two hundred and four- teen.
The Free Will Baptists were organized in 1817 in Putnam.
The next denomination of which we have trace as being organized in the county is the Catholic. Christ, now Saint Mary's, Catholic church, of Sandy Hill, was formed in 1830. The Catholic churches of the county in 1875 numbered ten, with a membership of four thousand five hundred and fifty.
The Second Adventist church was organized in Hebron in 1849, and a quarter of a century later numbered three congregations and two hundred and five members.
Three denominations that went down in the county were : the Reformed Protestant Dutch church, organized in Argyle in 1809 ; the Argyle Reformed Presbyterian church, formed in 1828; and the West Fort Ann Protestant Episcopal church, organized in 1832.
In the census of 1875 no mention is made of the existence of the Universalists, whose First Society of Hartford was formed in 1834; or the Wesleyan Methodists, whose Granville church was organized in 1843.
SCHOOLS.
With the planting of the New Perth colony of Dr. Clark at Salem, in 1767, the school house was built by the side of the church, and other log school houses were built in the county prior to the Revolutionary war. After that struggle private schools were maintained until State legislation provided for a public school system, under whose continued im- provements the district and Union graded schools of the county have made good pro- gress.
Higher education was introduced into the county at an early day. Washington academy was commenced in 1780, as a classical school, and in 1791 became the fourth incorporated academy in the State. Fairville academy, at North Granville, was opened in 1807, and there the celebrated Salem Town did normal school work in training teachers that made
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BIOGRAPHY AND HISTORY
his name famous in this and adjoining coun- ties. Other academies were soon established in other places and higher education has been well provided for ever since in numerous academies, seminaries, and collegiate insti- tutes.
EARLY BANKS.
Whitehall was the earliest center of bank- ing operations in the county. The old Na- tional bank of Whitehall was chartered as the bank of Whitehall in 1829. The Com- mercial bank of Whitehall came into exist- ence August 15, 1849. The National bank of Fort Edward was organized in 1851, and the bank of Salem in 1853. The Cambridge Valley bank was chartered in 1855, and the Farmers' bank of Washington county came into existence at Fort Edward in 1856, while Sandy Hill, the western county seat, did not have banking privileges until as late as 1864, when the First National, of that place, was organized.
SECRET SOCIETIES.
Of all secret societies in the county the Free Masons are the oldest. Nearly all the prominent American officers in the Revolu- tionary war, from Washington down, were Free Masons, and floating bodies called " military lodges " were often held within the different regiments stationed in the county. But permanent Free Masonry dates its exist- ence in Washington county to Fort Edward, where in July, 1785, Washington Lodge, No. II, Free and Accepted Masons, was instituted, with Colonel Adiel Sherwood as master.
The following thirteen lodges were instituted in the county from 1785 to 1813 :
No. Name.
Placc. Year.
Fort Edward 1785 II . Washington
Aurora Hampton 1793
28. , Livingston Kingsbury 1793
Cambridge 1793 32. Rural.
51
North Star
Salem .
I796
Liberty
Granville 1796
Herschel Hartford. 1800
No.
Name.
Place.
Year.
Farmers'
Easton
1802
Rising Sun
Greenwich 1805
Brothers'
Fort Ann. 1806
96.
Social Hall
Whitehall 1806
Hebron
Hebron.
1813
Argyle
Argyle 1813
All of these lodges went down in the anti- masonic war of 1828-32. For twenty years every lodge fire was out, and during the period from 1844 to 1866 but eight of the given lodges were revived, and nearly all under dif- ferent names, and but two new lodges insti- tuted. Phoenix, No. 96, came first at White- hall, followed by Granville, No. 55, in 1851 ; Mount Hope, No. 260, Fort Ann, 1851 ; Fort Edward, No. 267, 1852; Sandy Hill, No. 372, 1855 ; Salem, No. 391, 1855 ; Cam- bridge Valley, No. 481, Cambridge, 1860 ; Herschel, No. 508, Hartford, 1861 ; Argyle, No. 567, 1865 ; and Ashlar, No. 584, Green- wich, 1866.
Previous to the anti-masonic war Royal Arch chapters and Mark lodges had been es- tablished as follows : De La Fayette Chapter, No. 9, at Fort Edward, in 1801 ; Federal, No. 10, Cambridge, 1801 ; Hartford Mark Lodge, No. 45, Hartford, 1808; Social Friends Mark Lodge, No. 62, Whitehall, 1810, suc- ceeded by Williams Chapter, No. 37, in 1829; Washington, No. 49, Easton, 1816, removed to Greenwich, 1819; and Fort Ann Mark Lodge, No. 83, from 1819 to 1823.
No chapters were revived until 1850, but in the sixteen years following four chapters were opened as follows : Champlain Chapter, No. 25, at Whitehall, in 1850 ; Fort Edward, No. 171, in 1860; Sandy Hill, No. 189, 1866; and Hartford, No. 192, 1866.
Of the other secret and beneficial societies existing in the county but little definite infor- mation could be secured.
The Independent Order of Odd Fellows seem to have had an existence in Washington county as early as 1844, at Whitehall, Hart- ford and Greenwich. Whitehall Lodge, No.
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BIOGRAPHY AND HISTORY
5, was instituted July 19, 1844, by the same name but bearing 54 as its number under a former grand lodge jurisdiction. North Hart- ford Lodge was instituted February 12, 1844, but soon went down. Union Village Lodge, No. 122, was organized August 15, 1844, at Greenwich. In 1846 Arcturus Lodge, No. 55, was organized at Sandy Hill, and Salem, No. 45, at Salem. The last of the early Odd Fel- low lodges of which we find account was Jane McCrea Lodge, No. 267, instituted at Fort Edward, August 10, 1848. The earliest en- campment was Horicon, No. 29, established at Whitehall about 1846. It became extinct in later years, and was succeeded by Whitehall Encampment, No. 69, organized April 29, 1872.
The Knights of Pythias organized North Star Lodge, of their order, at Whitehall, on December 27, 1871.
Seven years later the Ancient Order of United Workmen had an organization at Fort Edward.
Temperance societies were numerous in the county in the early years of temperance organization. Champlain Division, No. 267, Sons of Temperance, was organized in 1847, at Whitehall, and a Tent of Rechabites formed there at the same time. Temperance organizations were formed at other places, but have all become extinct. The Good Templars organized at several places in later years, but most of their organizations met with the fate of the Sons of Temperance.
CHAPTER XVIII.
COUNTY POLITICAL AND CIVIL LISTS.
POLITICAL LIST.
Under this heading will be given the State senators and members of assembly.
STATE SENATORS-1777-
1777 .- William Duer.
1777-79 .- John Williams ; also served 1783- 1795.
1777-85. - Alex. Webster.
1778-82 .- Ebenezer Russell; also 1784- 88, 1795-1803.
1779. - Elishama Tozer. 1786-90. -- David Hopkins ; also 1809 13. 1788-92 .- Edward Savage; also 1801-07.
1793-1803 .- Zina Hitchcock.
1796 1802 .- Ebenezer Clark. 1796-98 .- James Savage. 1804-08 .- Stephen Thorn ; also 1823-26.
1807-1I .- John McLean ; also 1836-37.
1812-15 .- Gerritt Wendell. Allen Hascall. 1817-21 .- Roger Skinner. 1821 .- David Shipherd.
1823-25 .- Melanchthon Wheeler.
1825-29 .- John Crary.
1829-33 .- John McLean, jr. 1834-36 .- Isaac W. Bishop.
1838-42 .- Martin Lee. 1844-48. - Orville Clark.
1852-54 .- Daniel S. Wright.
1856 .- Justin A. Smith.
1862 .- Ralph Richards.
1866 .- James Gibson. 1871 .- Isaac V. Baker, jr.
1878 .- Charles Hughes.
1884 .- A. C. Comstock.
1888 .- M. F. Collins.
1892 .- J. H. Derby.
The unusual number of State senators from 1777 to 1791 is accounted for by the fact that the Vermont territory sent no senator to Albany for their part of the senatorial district, includ- ing Washington and a part of that State, and the whole number was elected in Washington county.
MEMBERS OF ASSEMBLY, 1777.
1777-78 .- John Barnes, Ebenezer Clark, John Rowan, Ebenezer Russell.
1778-79. - Elishama Tozer, Albert Baker (served to 1781), and David Hopkins, who served until 1786.
1779-80 .- John Grover, Noah Payne.
1780 .- Hamilton McCollister, served until
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BIOGRAPHY AND HISTORY
1785, and Matthew McWhorter, who served until 1782.
1781-82. - John Williams.
1782-83 .- Benjamin Baker, Joseph Mc- Cracken, who served in 1786.
1784-85 .- Edward Savage, Adiel Sherwood. 1785-86. - Albert Baker.
1786 .- Joseph McCracken, who also served in 1788-89.
1786 87 .- Ichabod Parker, Peter B. Tearse, who served until 1790.
1787 .- Adam Martin, Edward Savage, who served from 1795 to 1802.
1788-89. - Alex. Webster.
1789-91 .- John Rowan, Zina Hitchcock, who served until 1794.
1791 .- Thomas Converse, Daniel Curtice, who served until 1794.
1792 .- John Conger.
1792 -- 93 .- David Hopkins, served 1795-96. 1794 .- William Whiteside, Benj. Colvin, Philip Smith, David Thomas.
1796 .- Thomas Smith, served 1798.
1796-97 .- Timothy Leonard, A. L. Blanch- ard, G. G. Lansing, Andrew White, Daniel Mason, served 1798.
1898 .- Reuben Pride, Melanchton Wheeler.
1798-99-Charles Kane, Seth Crocker, Philip Smith, David Thomas.
1800 .- Micajal Pettit, Isaac Sargent, Ben- jamin Colvin.
1800-1 .- Gerrit G. Lansing, Timothy Leon- ard, William McAuley.
1802. - Micajah Pettit.
1802-3 .- Alex. Cowen, Jason Kellogg, John McLean, Isaac Sargent.
1803-4 .- David Austin, John McLean.
1804 .- Stephen Thorn, Dr. John Mckinney.
1804-5 .- Isaac Harlow, Jason Kellogg, Solomon Smith, James Sarbuck.
1804-6 .- William Livingston, John Mc- Lean.
1806 .- Isaac Sargent, Nathaniel Pitcher, Daniel Shipherd.
1807 .- Jason Kellogg, Peleg Bragg, John Gray.
1807-9 .- James Hill.
1808 .- Thomas Cornell, Lyman Hall, Henry Matteson, Gideon Taft.
1808-9 .- Alex. Livingston, Reuben Whal- lon.
1808-10 .- Roger Skinner.
1810. - Jolin Galc, Wm. Livingston.
1811 .- John Baker, John Richards, Isaac Sargent, Reuben Whallon, David Woods.
1812 .- Lyman Hall, James Hill, John Kirk- land, Alex. Livingston.
1812-13 .- John Beebe, Jason Kellogg, Francis McLean, M. Wheeler.
1814 .- Paul Dennis, Samuel Gordon, John Savage, Charles Starbuck, John White.
1814-15 .- John Richards, Henry Matteson, John Gale, Nath. Pitcher, Isaac Sargent.
1816 .- Michael Harris, John Reid, David Russell, Jas. Stevenson, Roswell Weston.
1816-17 .- John Gale, Nath. Pitcher, David Woods.
1816-18 .- Isaac Sargent.
1818 .- Jason Kellogg, Alex. Livingston, John McLean, jr.
1819 .- William McFarland, John Gale, John Doty, Wm. K. Adams.
1820 .- David Austin, Peleg Bragg, James Hill, John Kirtland.
1820-21 .- Wadsworth Bell, James Mallory, John Moss, William Richards, John Baker.
1822 .- Silas D. Kellogg, James Tefft.
1823 .- Timothy Eddy, John King, Martin Lee, Jas. McNaughton.
1824 .- John Crary, Silas D. Kellogg.
1824-25 .- David Campbell, Ezra Smith.
1825 .- Lemuel Hastings, Samuel Stevens.
1826 .- Hiram Cole, Jas. Stevenson, Israel Williams, David Woods.
1827 .- John McDonald, P. J. H. Myers, Samuel Stevens.
1828 .- Jonathan Mosher, Henry Thorn, Henry Whiteside.
1829. - John McDonald, Robert McNiel, Richard Sill.
1830 .- David Russell, Robert Wilcox, David Sill.
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BIOGRAPHY AND HISTORY
1831 .- George W. Jermain, Henry Thorn, William Townsend.
1832 .- Isaac W. Bishop, John McDonald, James Stevenson.
1833 .- Walter Cornell, Charles Rogers, David Russell.
1834. - Charles F. Ingalls, Melanchthon Wheeler, James Wright.
1835 .- Jonathan K. Horton, George Mc- Kie, Allen R. Moore.
1836 .- Aaron Barker, Alex. Robertson, Stephen L. Viele.
1837 .- Joseph W. Richards, Charles Rob- erts.
1838 .- Erastus D. Culver, Leonard Gibbs. 1839 .-- Salmon Axtell, Jesse S. Leigh.
1840 .- John H. Boyd, Anderson Simpson. 1841 .- Erastus D. Culver, Reuben Skinner. 1842 .- James McKie, jr., Daniel S. Wright. 1843 .- Anson Bigelow, James W. Porter. 1844 .- John Barker, John W. Proudfit. 1845 .- James Rice, John Stevenson.
1846 .- James S. Foster, L. S. Viele. 1847 .- A. F. Hitchcock, Samuel McDonald. 1848 .- Benjamin Crocker, Elisha A. Martin. 1849 .- Leroy Mowry, Alex Robertson. 1850 .- David Sill, Calvin Pease.
1851 .- Thomas C. Whiteside, James Farr. 1852 .- Elisha Billings, David Nelson.
1853 .- Charles R. Engalls, Samuel S. Bea- man.
1854 .- Ebenezer McMurray, George W. Thorn.
1855 .- James J. Lowrie, Justin A. Smith. 1856 .- John S. Crocker, Henry S. Northup. 1857 .- Anson Ingraham, Henry W. Beck- with.
1858 .- Thad. H. Walker, Ralph Richards. 1859 .- James M. Northup, James Savage. 1860 .- James Savage, Peletiah Jackway. 1861 .- Peter Hill, Nicholas M. Catlin. 1862 .- George H. Taylor, Philip H. Neher. 1863. - Asa C. Tefft, Ervin Hopkins, jr.
1864. - R. King Crocker, And. G. Meikle- john.
1865 .- Sylvester E. Spoor.
I865-66 .- Alex. Barkley.
1866. -- James C. Rogers.
1867 .- Thomas Shiland, Adolp. F. Hitch- cock.
1868 .- David Underwood, Nath. Dailey.
1869 .- William J. Perry.
1869-71. Isaac V. Baker, jr.
1870-71 .- Thomas J. Stevenson.
1872 .-- George W. L. Smith.
1872-73 .- Edward W. Hollister.
1873. - Eleazer Jones died, and William H. Tefft elected to fill the vacancy.
1874-75 .- Alex. B. Law, Emerson E. Davis.
1876. - Henry G. Burleigh.
1877 .- Isaac V. Baker, jr.
1876-77 .- Townsend J. Potter.
1878. - Abraham Reynolds, Geo. L. Terry.
1879 .- A. Reynolds, G. L. Terry.
1880 .- G. L. Terry, Hiram Sisson.
1881 .- Hiram Sisson, J. E. Goodman.
1882 .- Robt. Armstrong, jr., George Nor- thup.
1883 .- Robt. Armstrong, jr., George Nor- thup.
1884 .- D. M. Westfall, Charles K. Baker. 1885 .- George Scott, Charles K. Baker.
1886 .- D. M. Westfall, J. H. Manville. 1887 .- J. Warren Fort, J. H. Manville. 1888 .- J. Warren Fort, O. W. Sheldon. 1889 .- C. W. Larman, W. H. Tefft.
1890 .- C. W. Larman, J. A. Johnson.
1891 .- W. D. Stevenson, J. A. Johnson. 1892 .- W. D. Stevenson, William Reed. 1893 .- W. R. Hobbie.
CIVIL LIST.
FIRST JUDGES, COMMON PLEAS.
1773 .- Philip Schuyler.
1777 .- William Duer.
1778. - Ebenezer Russell.
1800 .- Ebenezer Clark.
1810 .- Anthony I. Blanchard.
1823. - John P. Wendell.
1825 .- Roswell Weston. 1833 .- John Willard. 1836 .- John McLean, jr.
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BIOGRAPHY AND HISTORY
COUNTY JUDGES.
1847 .- Martin Lees. 1852. - James Gibson. 1856. - A. Dallas Wait. 1860 .- Oscar F. Thompson. 1864 .- Joseph Potter. 1872 .-- A. Dellas Wait. 1884 .- R. C. Betts. 1887 .- J. M. Whitman. 1888 .- T. A. Lillie.
SPECIAL COUNTY JUDGES.
1859 .- Oscar F. Thompson. 1860 .- Henry Gibson. 1864 .- Royal C. Betts. 1871 .- Samuel Thomas. 1875 .- C. L. Allen, jr.
SURROGATES.
1775 .- Patrick Smith.
1778 .- Ebenezer Clark.
1783 .- Edward Savage. 1786 .- Melanchthon Woolsey. 1787 .- Edward Savage. 1808 .- Isaac Sargent. 1810 .- Edward Savage. ISII .- Isaac Sargent. 1812 .- Nathaniel Pitcher.
1813 .- Edward Savage.
1816 .- Henry C. Martindale.
1819 .- Calvin Smith. 1821 .- Leonard Gibbs.
1824 .- Samuel Standish, jr. 1832 .- John Willard. 1837 .- Alexander Robertson. 1841 .- John C. Parker. 1845 .- Luther Wait. 1847 .- Joseph Boies. 1852 .- David A. Boies. 1856. -- Marinus Fairchild.
1860 .- Urias G. Paris. 1868. - James J. Lowrie.
1872-78. - Lonson Frazer. 1880 .- I. V. Baker. 1884 .- H. D. W. C. Hill.
SPECIAL SURROGATES.
1857 .- John H. Boyd. 1860 .- Leonard Wells. 1866 .- Daniel M. Westfall. 1873-78 .- Leonard Fletcher. 1879. -. L. Flether. 1880 .- J. K. Larmon. 1882 .- C. L. McArthur. 1888 .- A. D. Arnold. 1889 .- C. G. Davis.
DISTRICT ATTORNEYS.
1801 .- Anthony L. Blanchard, who served as assistant attorney general from 1796.
1803 .- John Russell. 1806 .- John Savage.
1811 .- Roger Skinner. 1812. - John Savage.
1813 .- David Russell.
1815 .- Jesse L. Billings. 1818 .- John Savage. 1820 .- Jesse L. Billings. 1821 .- Henry C. Martindale.
1828 .- Leonard Gibbs. 1836 .- Cornelius L. Allen.
1843 .- Charles F. Ingalls.
1847 .- Henry B. Northup. 1851 .- Joseph Potter.
1857 .- Archibald L. McDougall.
1862 .- Joseph Potter. 1863 .- A. Dallas Wait.
1869 .- Royal C. Betts. 1875 .- Samuel Thomas.
1878 .- Marinus Fairchild.
1881 .- Edcar Hill. SHERIFFS, 1772-1894. 1772 .- Philip P. Lansingh. 1774 .- Jonathan Parker.
1777 .- Edward Savage. 1781 .- Joshua Conkey. 1785. - Hamilton McCollister. 1789 .- Peter B. Tearse. 1793 .- Andrew White.
1796. - Philip Smith. 1798 .- Abner Stone. 1802 .- Nathan Wilson.
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BIOGRAPHY AND HISTORY
1806 .- David Woods. 1810. - Simon Stevens, jr.
18II .- John Doty. 1813. - Wadsworth Bull. 1819. --- John Doty. 1821 .- John Gale. 1826 .- William McFarland.
1829. - Warren F. Hitchcock.
1832 .- Darius Sherrill. 1835 .- Benjamin Ferris.
1838. - Philander C. Hitchcock.
1841 .- Leonard Wells. 1844 .- Horace Stowell. 1847 .- Daniel T. Payne. 1850. - William A. Russell.
1853 .- James R. Gandall. 1856 .- Hugh R. Cowan. 1859 .- Oliff Abell. 1862 .- Benjamin F. McNitt. 1865 .- Dennis P. Nye.
1868 .- James C. Shaw.
1871 .- Orrin S. Hall. 1874 .- John Larmon. 1877 .- George W. Baker. 1880. - James Hill. 1883 .- David Johnson.
1886. - George Marshall. 1889 .- F. D. Hill. 1891 .- G. N. Finch.
COUNTY CLERKS, 1773 1894.
1773 .- Patrick Smith. 1777 .- Ebenezer Clarke.
1785 .- John McCrea. 1797 .-- Saint John Honeywood.
1798 .- Gerrett L. Wendell.
1806 .- Daniel Shipherd. 1821 .- Matthew D. Danvers.
1826 .- Jesse S. Leigh. 1835 .- Edward Dodd. 1844 .- Henry Shipherd.
1853 .- Nathaniel B. Milliman. 1859 .- Philander C. Hitchcock. 1871 .- William H. Kincaid.
1877 .- Charles W. Taylor. 1888 .- Rodney Van Wormer.
COUNTY TREASURERS, 1807-1894.
1807-1847 .- Ebenezer Russell, held by ap- pointment of the supervisors.
1847 .- Calvin L. Parker. 1850 .- Edward Bulkley. 1856 .- John M. Barrett.
1859 .- John King. 1662 .- Nelson G. Moor. 1868 .- Samuel W. Crosby. 1871 .- Asahel R. Wing. 1874 .- James M. Northup.
1879. - H. Davis Northup.
1885 .- John King.
1888 .- James O. La Vake. 1893 .- W. H. Hughs.
CHAPTER XIX.
COUNTY HOME - EARLY IRON ENTER- PRISES-LAFAYETTE'S VISIT -STEAM- BOAT NAVIGATION - INDIAN NAMES - HISTORIANS.
COUNTY HOME.
While one court house was fixed in the east and the other located in the west, the other county buildings were placed in the center, the clerk's office being established at Argyle in 1806, and the county home located two miles south of that village, on a farm of two hundred and forty acres. A substantial brick building was erected in 1827, and Joseph Stewart became the first keeper.
EARLY IRON ENTERPRISES.
The use of iron can be traced back to Asia and the days of Tubal Cain. The Phonecians are said to have introduced the art of iron working into Europe about the time of Moses. Iron was made about the middle of the first century in England, and in 1620 the first iron works in the United States were built near the site of Richmond, Virginia. The first iron works in New York consisted of a blast fur-
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BIOGRAPHY AND HISTORY
nace and refinery forge built on Ancram creek, in Columbia county, a short time prior to 1740, by Philip Livingston.
The introduction of the manufacture of iron into Washington county has always been placed at about 1802, when Ephraim Griswold erected a forge for the manufacturing of chains and anchors at Griswold's Mills, in the town of Fort Ann. But in the history of Colonel Long's retreat from Whitehall, John- son speaks of the Americans setting fire to the mills and iron-works. This retreat was in 1777, and if Johnson's information is correct about iron-works then being in existence at White- hall, they must have been erected some time prior, and the iron-producing period of the county must be earlier than its commonly ac- cepted beginning, by nearly forty years, and would rank Washington as one of the earlier iron-producing counties of the State.
Griswold's forge was succeeded by a fur- nace, whose recorded history is limited to the mere fact of its existence. In 1827 Mix, Has- kins and Spaulding erected a forge and an anchor shop at West Fort Ann, but the iron venture was short lived, and the works went to ruin.
The Fort Edward blast furnace was built by George Harvey & Co. in 1854.
LAFAYETTE'S VISIT.
In 1824, when LaFayette revisited the land whose freedom his sword had helped to win, he passed through the county on his way from Burlington, Vermont, to Albany, New York. LaFayette came on the steamer " Phoenix" to Whitehall, where he was received with great display, and after being handsomely enter- tained at Wishwell's hotel, took his departure by land for the State capital.
STEAMBOAT NAVIGATION.
Steamboat navigation in the county has been chiefly on Lake Champlain, and its southern terminal point for over half a century was the port of Whitehall, created in 1799,
but not recognized till 1849. For a period of sixty-five years passenger travel continued north by boat. The end came in 1875, when the Canada railroad carried passengers to Ti- conderoga, which then became the southern lake terminal for steam passenger boats. The following boats run during this period : Ver- mont, 1810-17 ; Phoenix, 1816-19; Cham- plain, 1816-17 ; Congress, 1819 ; Phoenix (2d), 1822 ; Franklin, 1826 ; Washington, 1727-29 ; Burlington, 1830 ; Whitehall, 1833 ; Saranac, 1833; Francis Saltus, 1845; United States, 1847; Canada, 1852; R. W. Sherman, 1852 ; Montreal, 1857-75; Adirondack, 1865-75 ; Vermont (2d), 1871-75. A short line of steam - ers ran from Whitehall to Ticonderoga, from 1875 to 1877, when they were withdrawn.
When the passenger boats were withdrawn, boats and barges were towed by three steamer lines : The Northern Transportation, estab- lished in 1857 ; The Whitehall, that was put on in 1865 ; and H. G. Burleigh's private line.
INDIAN NAMES.
Many a mountain and river of this broad land will carry its Indian name down to the end of time, through the English lan- guage. Mrs. Sigourney has truthfully said of the Indians :
"But their name is on your waters ; Ye may not wash it out."
"Your mountains build their monuments, Though ye destroy their dust "
The Indians passing through Washington county gave names to rock and stream, and to the mountain and plain ; and seventy years ago a majority of these names might have been secured in New York and Canada from persons then living.
From different sources we have collected the following list of Indian names of places, with the meanings assigned to some of them by different authors :
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