USA > New York > Saratoga County > History of Saratoga County, New York : with historical notes on its various towns > Part 22
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The first number of the daily summer edi- tion, with the title of the Daily Saratogian, was issued on the 23d of June, 1855, George W. Demers editor. The paper was twenty by twenty-eight inches in size, and contained a full list of the arrivals till the close of the sea- son, together with brief abstracts of general news, local items, personal gossip, etc. The daily was discontinued on the 23d of August, and in the following year it was again pub- lished during July and August, Waldo M. Potter being its editor, and B. F. Judson its publisher. From that time a daily paper was issued every summer only till June, 1869, when the publication of a permanent daily was begun, and has continued without interrup- tion to the present time.
The partnership of Potter & Judson, men- tioned above, was formed on the 11th of Feb- ruary, 1858, and continued until September
22d, 1870, when Mr. Potter sold out his interest to Mr. Judson, Mr. Potter being succeeded as editor by David Francis Ritchie, who had since June, 1869, been assistant editor of the paper. Mr. Judson remained tle sole pro- prietor of the paper until July Ist, 1873, when Mr. Ritchie purchased a half interest in the office, retaining the position of editor of the daily and weekly editions, wielding an able and versatile pen.
From 1868 to June, 1869, the date of the first issue of the daily, a semi-weekly was pub- lished ; this ceased with the publication of the daily.
On the 23d of December, 1876, Charles F. Paul purchased Mr. Judson's interest in the paper, the style of the new firm being Paul & Ritchie; Mr. Ritchie still remaining the editor.
The firm of Paul & Ritchie was dissolved on petition of Charles F. Paul by the supreme court, and on December 29, 1881, Mr. Paul purchased the entire plant of the Saratogian from James W. Horton, the receiver appointed by the court to sell the property.
In January following The Saratogian Com- pany was organized with a capital of thirty- two thousand dollars, to which the property was transferred. The incorporators and board of trustees were Charles F. Paul, Henry B. Hansom, and Thomas Burns. C. F. Paul was president and treasurer, and Charles C. Les- ter secretary. This company still continues to publish The Saratogian, with the usual changes incident to corporations.
In the winter of 1887 the major portion of the stock was purchased by Hon. George West, who also owned the Saratoga Journal, which was soon after merged in The Sarato- gian. In October, 1890, Mr. West sold the stock to Messrs. McElwain, Burns and Scan- lon. In May, 1893, Mr. McElwain disposed of his interest in the paper, his stock being taken by parties whose names have not been published. Col. Judson A. Lewis is in edi- torial charge.
This sketches the proprietary and editorial
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conduct of the paper during the period of its existence up to the present time. To narrate the history of its life, embodying its treatment of political and social topics, would require space far exceeding that allowed in these pages. Coming into existence as a special champion of temperance principles, as indicated by its original name, the Temperance Helper, it was for about three years a sturdy and formidable advocate of the theory of prohibition, when it espoused with vigor and power the rising for- tunes of the Republican party. Mr. Potter, its editor, was a born controversialist, and both with voice and pen did much to build up the politcal party the principles of which he ar- dently espoused.
The Saratogian has from the beginning been a republican journal, and is regarded as the leading exponent of its party in the political district in which it is published. It has always had a wide circulation, especially in the sum- mer season, when it reflects day by day the marvelous picture of life in America's great watering-place. Both politically and socially, The Saratogian wields an extended and po- tent influence, its peculiar location rendering it more cosmopolitan in character than most newspapers of the interior.
VI .-- THE SARATOGA SUN.
The Saratoga Sun was founded by A. S. Pease in 1870. It was purchased by Edward P. Howe in 1882. In 1892 Howe admitted his son, L. M. Howe, into partnership, and they are the proprietors and publishers. The Sun has always been a democratic newspaper, and under its present proprietorship has at- tained great circulation and influence in Sara- toga and adjoining counties. Daily editions have been issued at times during important political campaigns.
The Sun has always maintained a high lit- erary standard, and is a favorite in family cir- cles. Its local and general news departments are well sustained.
VII. -- THE SARATOGA DAILY DEMOCRAT AND WEEKLY UNION.
The Daily Democrat succeeded the Daily Union, which was founded in 1887 by B. F. Judson and others. The Union was inde- pendent republican in politics, but supported Grover Cleveland for president in 1892. Its successor, the Daily Democrat, supports dem- ocratic principles, and is one of the official papers of the village of Saratoga Springs, ap- pointed by the Board of Trustees in April, 1893. Its influence as a straight out demo- cratic paper was felt in the charter election of that year, when the entire list of democratic candidates for village officers was elected -- something never known before in the village. The Daily Democrat and Weekly Union circu- late extensively throughout the county.
VIII. - THE SARATOGA EAGLE.
The Saratoga Eagle is a republican weekly paper of Saratoga Springs, and is just com- pleting its fifteenth year, having been founded by John Johnson and Timothy Harrington in the fall of 1878. When started and during the proprietorship of John Johnson, about eleven years, it was in politics independent. In 1881 Mr. Harrington sold his interest in the Eagle to Elvin S. Piper, now the largest dry goods merchant in Brooklyn. Mr. Piper was interested in the publication but a short time, when he sold out to Levi S. Packard, the firm then being Johnson & Packard. In 1888 Mr. Harrington came into the firm again, having purchased Packard's interest. The next and last change was in May, 1889, when Frank M. Cozzens and Fred M. Waterbury purchased the plant from Johnson & Harring- ton, and since then they have run it as a re- publican weekly. It has a large circulation, and is always fearless in promoting the wel- fare of the village and county. The publish- ers are the editors.
The Saratoga Chat is a new periodical of much promise. It is a new venture in Sara- toga, being a little weekly journal devoted to
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the society news of the village and pictorial work. It is published the year 'round, on fine book paper, and contains twelve pages. The paper was originated and founded by Cozzens & Waterbury about December Ist, 1892, and is edited by Fred M. Waterbury. It is not a political paper, but devoted to light reading and society notes. Although the paper has been in existence but a trifle over half a year, it has a large circulation, being found in the home of all the society people, and on the table of every club and public reading-room in the village.
IX .- THE PRESS OF OTHER VILLAGES.
THE PRESS OF WATERFORD.
The Waterford Gazettee was established 1801, by Horace L. Wadsworth, and was continued until after the close of the war of 1812.
The Waterford Reporter was published in 1822, by Wm. L. Fish.
The Anti-Masonic Recorder was issued at Waterford in 1830 by J. C. Johnson.
The Waterford Atlas was started Decem- ber 1, 1832, by Wm. Holland & Co. In 1834 it became the Waterford Atlas, Mechanics' and Manufacturers Journal. It was soon after . discontinued, perhaps unable to bear so long a name.
The Democratic Champion was published in 1840 by H. Wilbur.
The Waterford Sentinel was started May 18, 1850, by Dr. Andrew Hoffman, now of Albany. In 1858 it was sold to J. H. Masten. He sold it to Wm. T. Baker. Baker contin- ued it two or three years until 1870, when it was sold to Haywood & Palmateer. This partnership ended in 1871 by the death of Mr. Haywood. The office was then pur- chased by S. A. Hathaway. In April, 1872, the Waterford Advertiser was started by R. D. Palmateer, who purchased the interest of the Sentinel in July, 1873, since which time there has been one paper, the Advertiser, published by R. D. Palmateer.
Dr. Hoffman enlarged the Sentinel twice, and continued it eight years. J. H. Masten, who bought of him, was the publisher of the Cohoes Cateract, and he issued the Sentinel from that office. Mr. Haywood, spoken of above, had been an early publisher of one of the Waterford papers. Dr. Hoffman went from Waterford to Vermont, and published for a time the Northfield Herald, a democratic pa- per, also the Vermont Christian Messenger, a Methodist journal, Then he published the Coxcuckie Union for three years, and finally settled in Albany in the practice of his pro- fession of dentistry.
THE PRESS OF SCHUYLERVILLE.
The Schuylerville Herald was published at Schuylerville in 1844, by J. L. Cramer. This was the first attempt to establish a newspaper in the town. It was finally discontinued. In 1848 the Old Saratoga was established by Allen Carey. This was discontinued in 1852. The Battle Ground Herald was published by R. N. Atwell & Co., from August 1, 1853, to July 31, 1857, and was discontinued. In Decem- ber of the same year the Saratoga American was started by J. R. Rockwell. He published this to the fall of 1861, when he enlisted, and became captain of Co. K, Seventy-seventh regiment, and the paper was discontinued. R. N. Atwell continued a job printing office for several years. Finally, other parties es- tablished the Schuylerville News, about the year 1867.
In the spring of 1870 this was succeeded by the present Saratoga county Standard, a large and handsome sheet, issued weekly by the Standard Publishing Company; P. A. Allen now the editor.
THE PRESS OF STILLWATER.
The Stillwater Gazette was started at Still- water village in 1845, by Isaac A. Pitnam, and was published three years.
The Coldwater Battery was also published in 1845 by Isaac A. Pitnam. It had only a brief existence.
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OF SARATOGA COUNTY.
The Stillwater Journal is now published there.
THE PRESS OF MECHANICVILLE.
The Hudson River Chronicle was published at Mechanicville from October, 1856, to March, 1868, by Samuel Heron.
The Mechanicville Mercury, published by F. L. Mead, now in its eleventh year.
The Morning Star was published at Mechan- icville in 1854-55 by C. Smith & Co. It was
an experiment, and continued for only a short time.
THE PRESS AT CRESCENT.
The Crescent Eagle was published in 1852 by C. Akerman.
THE PRESS AT CORINTH.
The Corinthian is a paper published weekly at Corinth by C. H. Wyman, editor and pro- prietor.
HISTORICAL NOTES UPON THE TOWNS
OF
SARATOGA COUNTY.
CHAPTER I.
THE VILLAGE AND TOWN OF SARA- TOGA SPRINGS.
I. - GEOGRAPHICAL POSITION.
The town of SARATOGA SPRINGS was set off from the town of Saratoga April 9th, 1819. It occupies a nearly central position in the county. The village of Saratoga Springs was incorporated April 17th, 1826.
On the low foot hills of the southern slope of the most easterly of the five great mountain ranges of the Adirondack wilderness, in the pride of her gorgeous palatial beauty, sits the village of Saratoga Springs -of the world's most famous watering places the peerless queen.
A spur of the old Canadian Laurentian moun- tains crosses the St. Lawrence river, as the
reader will remember, at the Thousand Isl- ands, and spreading easterly and southerly over the whole of the great wilderness, rises into great lofty mountain peaks in the interior and slopes gradually down to the great water courses on every side. In the depth of the wilderness this spur of Laurentides separates into five great chains, all of which run down to the southern slope. The most easterly of these chains is the Palmertown range. This range begins on Lake Champlain, near Ticon- deroga, and running along both sides of Lake George, crosses the Hudson river above Glens Falls. After crossing the Hudson, this chain of mountains runs down along the border of the towns of Corinth and Warren, through Wil- ton and Greenfield, and under North Broad- way in Saratoga Springs. Beyond the Hud- son the highest peak of the Palmertown range
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is old French mountain, which overlooks Lake George, so full of historic memories. On this side of the Hudson the highest peak is Mt. MacGregor, which overlooks the site of the old legendary Indian village, called Palmertown, from which the great mountain range derives its name.
Thus the village of Saratoga Springs, while she sips her mineral waters in the full blaze of fashion's highest splendor, sits at the very foot of the old Laurentian Adirondacks and breathes to fullness the purest and most in- vigorating air of the mountains.
Along in the valley which runs through the village the hard Laurentian rocks terminate, and the softer rocks of the Trenton limestones and Hudson river slates begin. In the geo- logical fault or fissure which here occurs be- tween these two great systems of rocks, the mineral springs of Saratoga bubble from the earth's bosom, elaborated by the cunning hand of nature.
There may have been, and it is highly prob- able there were some white men who saw the mineral springs of Saratoga before Sir William Johnson went there in the summer of 1767. Sir William himself, in a letter quoted in Morse's Gazetteer, intimates that an Indian chief discovered these springs to a sick French officer in their early wars with the English. Again, it is more than probable that some of the early settlers of Milton, who were there about 1765, and those near the lake about 1764, being only half a dozen miles away from these springs, often went to them even before Sir William's visit; but whether they did or not we have no account. It may, therefore, of a truth be said that of a long line of dis- tinguished men and women, and of the vast concourse of summer visitors that for a hun- dred years have been pressing with eager feet towards these springs to taste their healing waters, Sir William Johnson led the way.
Sir William, at the time of his celebrated visit with the Indians to the High Rock spring of Saratoga, in the month of August, 1767,
was living in the height of his baronial power with the Indian princess, Mollie Brandt, as his wife, and their eight dusky children in his manor house at Mt. Johnson, near the Mo- hawk country. He was then His Britannic Majesty's superintendent-general of Indian affairs in North America, colonel of the Six Nations, and a major general in the British service.
Thirty-five years before this, he had come over from Ireland a poor young man, and set- tled in the Mohawk valley, then a wilderness, to take care of a large tract of land that was located there and owned by his uncle, Sir Peter Warren. Sir Peter Warren was an ad- miral in the British navy, who, while a com- modore, distinguished himself by the capture of Louisburg from the French, in 1745. Sir Peter married a daughter of Etienne DeLancy, of New York, and with her received as a dowry this large tract of land in the Mohawk valley. It was situated in the eastern angle, between the Mohawk river and the Schoharie creek.
Sir William Johnson, upon his first taking up his residence in the Mohawk valley, be- came a fur-trader with the Indians, and kept for many years a country store for the accom- modation of the scattered settlers of the re- gion. Rising by degrees through dint of industry and fair dealing, and by the faithful performance of the public trusts imposed upon him, he had become the proprietor of immense landed estates, the acknowledged lord of a princely manor, and high in the confidence of his sovereign. His victory over the French and Indians under Baron Dishan at Lake George, in 1755, had won for him his title of nobility. His wonderful influence, the most remarkable on record, over the Indian tribes, had given him an importance in the affairs of state second to no American then living. He was surrounded by a numerous tenantry and by followers that were loyal to him and his family even unto death.
Sir William married in the more humble days of his early life a poor, modest, gentle-hearted
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OF SARATOGA COUNTY.
German girl whom he found living with her parents in the Mohawk valley, whose name was Catharine Weisenberg. She died young, leaving three children - a son, Sir John John- son, and two daughters, who married respect- ively Col. Claus and Col. Guy Johnson.
Sir William's Indian wife was Molly Brandt, a sister of the celebrated Mohawk war-chief, Ta-en-da-ne-ga, or Joseph Brandt, who was afterwards so long the terror of the border. After the death of his first wife he became enamored of Molly at a general muster of the Mohawk valley militia, held at or near Johns- town. Among the spectators at the training was a beautiful Indian maiden. One of the mounted officers, in sport, dared the maiden to ride on the bare back of his horse behind his saddle, three times around the parade grounds, little thinking she would accept the challenge. Bounding from the ground like a deer upon his horse behind him, she encircled his waist with her arms, and over the ground they flew like the wind, her red mantle and luxuriant raven tresses streaming behind her, her beautiful face lighted up with the pleas- urable excitement of the novel adventure.
Sir William was an admiring witness of the scene, and was smitten with the charms of the dusky forest maiden. He enquired her name and was told that she was the Indian princess, Molly Brandt. He sought her at once and made her his Indian bride. He married her after the true Indian style, by them con- sidered binding, but never acknowledged her as his lawful wife. In his will he remembered her, calling her his "housekeeper, Molly Brandt," and left a large tract of land to his children by her, which lay in Herkimer county, between the East and West Canada creeks, and was long known to the early settlers as the Royal Grants.
In the height of his power, Sir William Johnson, at his seat near the Mohawk, on the border of a howling wilderness that stretched away to the Pacific, dispensed a right royal hospitality. Many a scion
of the English nobility sat at his generous board, or like the Lady Susan O'Brien, wandered through the woods with Sir Wil- liams' accomplished Indian wife, in search of the strange wild flowers of the new world. The Lady Susan passed considerable time at Johnson hall. She was the niece of the first Lord Holland, and the sister of Lady Harriet Ackland, who, as well as the Baroness Riede- sel, the wife of the Hessian general, accom- panied her husband, under General Burgoyne, to the battle-field of Saratoga.
In the summer Sir William spent much of his time at the Fish house, his hunting lodge, on the Lacondaga river, and at the cottage on Summer-House Point on the great blaie, which is one of the mountain meadows of the wilder- ness.
Once every year the sachems of the Six Na- tions renewed their council-fire at the manor house, to talk with Sir William, the agent of their white father who lived across the big water. On such occasions Sir William was himself painted and plumed and dressed like an Indian chief.
Such was the Sir William Johnson at the time of his first visit to High Rock spring in the month of August, 1767; such was he at the formation of Tryon county, in 1772, and such was he two years later at the time of his death, in 1774. He seemed to be mercifully taken away just before the slumbering fires of the Revolution were to burst forth, which were so soon destined to stain the fair valley of his home with blood -to send his family and followers fugitives across the Canadian border.
At the time of his visit to the spring, Sir William was escorted by his Mohawk braves. His old wound, received at the battle of Lake George, had never quite healed, and beside this, he was afflicted with the gout so he could scarcely walk. The Indians told him of their famous "medicine spring" in the depths of their old hunting-ground, Kayaderrossera, and he determined to go. Embarking at the
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BIOGRAPHY AND HISTORY
manor house at Mt. Johnson, on the bank of the Mohawk, he proceeded down the river in canoes to Shenectady, and landing, took a new road, lately cut, to the McDonalds, who had settled near what is now known as Balls- ton lake, but then called by the Indians Sho- nen-da-ho-wa, in 1763. At the McDonalds he tarried through the night, and the next day was carried over a rough road, cut for the pur- pose, to the High Rock spring. There, in the deepest solitude of nature, bubbled up the wonderful "medicine waters," then almost, if not quite, unknown to all, save the wild beasts and the red men of the forest.
Sir William remained at the spring several days, and during his stay was so much ben- efited by the waters that he was quite able to walk over the rugged trail that led to his home on his return. The fame of so distinguished a person as Sir William Johnson at once brought these springs into notice.
GENERAL PHILIP SCHUYLER AT THE SPRINGS.
After Sir William Johnson, the next man of distinction, who paid an early visit to High Rock Spring, was General Philip Schuyler, of Revolutionary memory. At the close of the - war in 1783, General Schuyler, while residing at his country seat at the mouth of Fish Creek, in Old Saratoga, cut a road through the wilderness to the High Rock Spring. This old road ran much of the way to the north of the present one, thereby avoiding the low ground of the Grass Bear Swamp. The first summer General Schuyler encamped in his tent near the High Rock Spring for several weeks. The next year he came with his family, and built a small frame house of rough boards, on the bluff a little to the southwest of the High Rock, or what is now Front street. This house consisted of two rooms, and was occupied by the General, his family and friends as a summer house at the Springs every season up to the time of the General's death.
GENERAL WASHINGTON AT THE SPRINGS.
During the first summer of General Schuy- ler's stay at the springs, in 1783, General Washington, accompanied by Governor Clin- jon, General Hamilton and others, paid him a visit there. They were on their return from inspecting the battle-fields at Bemus Heights and the fortifications at Tyconderoga and Crown Point, and were escorted by General Schuyler over the road he had just cut through the woods to his tent near the High Rock. General Washington returned to Albany by way of the trail which led to the springs at Ballston Spa. At that time there was no human habitation nearer the Springs than at Ballston, although Ballston township had been settled thirteen years before, a mill or two having been built there. General Wash- ing was so struck with the value of Saratoga Springs and Ballston Spa that soon after peace was declared he made the attempt to purchase the land near them. In his published corres- pondence there is a letter relating to this sub- ject. But the Waltons and the Livingstons had already perfected their title to the land at Saratoga, and Washington's scheme failed.
III .- THE PIONEERS OF SARATOGA SPRINGS.
The first white man who built a habitation at Saratoga Springs and attempted a settle- ment here was Dirck Schouten. He had been residing on the banks of the Hudson, a little above Waterford. His object in becoming a temporary resident of the wilderness at the High Rock Spring was to open up a trade in furs and skins with the Indians, who congre- gated there in great numbers every summer.
So in the year 1771, this pioneer settler came to the Springs to chop his small clearing, to plant a few potatoes, and to build his hum- ble cabin on the bluff to the westward of the High Rock Spring, on the site of what is now the Empire Hotel. Schouten's route to the spring was by way of the Indian trail which led from the Hudson to the east side of Sara-
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OF SARATOGA COUNTY.
toga lake, thence across the lake in a bark canoe to the mouth of Kayaderrossera river, thence up the river two miles to where the trail branched off to the High Rock Spring. The way to the Springs is much plainer now- a-days than it was one hundred and twenty- two years ago.
The only white person whose name we know who visited the High Rock Spring while Schouten was there, was William Bousman. He was a boy twelve years old, whose father the same year had settled near the south end of Saratoga lake, and the lad had come to assist Schouten in his enterprise.
Schouten remained there part of the time till the summer of 1773, when he quarreled with the Indians and they drove him away.
In the next summer, that of 1774, John Ar- nold, from Rhode Island, with his young fam- ily, tried his fortunes at the High Rock Spring. He brought a few articles suitable for the In- dian trade, mostly spirituous liquors, and with a few household goods in addition, took the trail followed by Schouten three years before to the High Rock Spring. He took posses- sion of Schouten's deserted cabin, made some improvements, and opened a kind of rude tavern for summer visitors.
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