USA > New York > Saratoga County > History of Saratoga County, New York : with historical notes on its various towns > Part 62
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good will that reached him from all parts of the country. The local newspapers spoke in high praise of his enterprise, energy, goodness of heart and benevolence, and universal love and esteem were expressed for Dr. Hamilton, both as a citizen and a physician. In 1874 he moved into his present establishment at No. 44 and 46 Franklin street, which he has since conducted successfully, and which is widely known in this country and Europe as "Dr. Robert Hamilton's Medical institute of Sara- toga Springs." It is charmingly located, near the principal springs, churches and hotels, and is carefully adapted to all the require- ments of invalids and guests. Its boarding department is well regulated, its halls and parlors unusually pleasant and well arranged, and its sleeping rooms are cheerful, airy and well furnished. Taken together, Dr. Hamil- ton's establishment is a model institution, and is justly regarded as one of the best in the world. He gives his personal care to every department, and his well known skill and learning, combined with his pleasant, affable disposition, make Dr. Robert Hamilton's Med- ical institute one of the most popular and successful establishments at Saratoga Springs. His treatment of chronic and nervous diseases has been especially gratifying. During the summer he occupies part of five buildings, and his patients come from all parts of the United States, with occasional visitors from many foreign countries.
On July 19, 1846, Dr. Hamilton was mar- ried to Jane L. Abbott, a daughter of Capt. Lewis Abbott, of South Brookfield, Massachu- setts. To the Doctor and Mrs. Hamilton were born four children, one son and three daughters : William A., who studied medi- cine, was graduated from Yale college in 1868, also from the college of Physicians and Sur- geons of New York city ; was chief physician of Bellevue hospital, and engaged in practice at Minneapolis, Minnesota, where he died October 22, 1881, aged thirty-five years ; Ada, now the wife of Dr. E. S. Davenport, of l'itts-
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field, Massachusetts; Jessie, who married Frank A. White, of Saratoga Springs; and Carrie, who became the wife of Frank How- land, also of this city.
Dr. Hamilton is a member and one of the censors of the State Eclectic Medical society, of which he has been president, and is also a member of the National and District Eclectic Medical societies, of which latter he was also president several years. He is one of the State board of medical examiners of the State, which meets quarterly to examine med- ical students, and on Obtober 21, 1874, deliv- ered the annual address before the State Med- ical society, at Cooper institute, in New York city. The address was afterward published and widely circulated. For a time he filled the position of lecturer on physiology and the laws of health at the Fort Plane Female col- lege, and was elected professor of medical jurisprudence and hygiene in the Eclectic Med- ical college, of Philadelphia, in February, 1866. Dr. Hamilton usually lectures twice a "week at his medical institute, and nearly every year goes abroad, delivering a course of lec- tures on medical subjects. He has received many favorable notices of his lectures. The Doctor formed the first organization here of the Sons of Temperance, and served as pre- siding officer for a time. He is still a mem- ber, and for several years was also a member of the National division ; is a member of the order of Good Templars, and also of the Wo- men's Christian Temperance Union. He is also a member of Franklin Lodge, No 48, Free and Accepted Masons. Politically Dr. Hamilton is a republican with whig anteced- ents. He cast his first vote for William Henry Harrison for president in 1840. In 1844, while in Chicago, he was elected alderman of that city on the abolition ticket, being the first man, if not the only one, ever elected to office on that ticket in that city. During his term he was selected by the council to serve as acting mayor in the mayor's absence, and as such presided over the councils of the
World's Fair city, then in its infancy. In re- ligion, Dr. Hamilton adheres to the faith of his father, and for nearly half a century served as class leader in the Methodist Episcopal church, and for more than twenty-five years as trustee. He is still a member of the official board, and for about twenty years was presi- dent of the board of trustees. Within the past few months Dr. Hamilton has given some very valuable evening lectures on the laws of health and kindred subjects. Of these lec- tures a public journal says : " Among the many delightful entertainments at Saratoga the even- ing lectures at Dr. Hamilton's take high rank as being not only most interesting and instruc- tive, but are given by this talented physician se clearly that the audiences are charmed, as well as instructed. Dr. Hamilton's lectures during the past week have been on the laws of health. His ideas on 'nutrition' gave most valuable suggestions as to diet and muscular exercise, and were expressed in eloquent and forcible language. The finest musical talent added its charms to these delightful gather- ings. Mrs. Freelong, from London, with her pure soprano voice, sang the gems of Italian song, and Mrs. Davenport, his daughter, of Pittsfield, Massachusetts, rendered some fine classical compositions in a truly artistic man- ner. As these charming evenings are free to the public, the parlors are always filled by a cultivated, appreciative audience."
Dr. Hamilton has always been active and liberal in support of church interests, and in- deed in every movement calculated to benefit humanity. His years have been full of labor and honor, and he is now nearing the close of a career remarkable for its professional success.
C EORGE L. AMES, a retired business man of Saratoga Springs, is a gentleman whose successful career furnishes a fine ex- ample for the imitation of young men who mean to win success in life by deserving it, and are willing to build on the corner stone of
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OF SARATOGA COUNTY.
energy, enterprise, integrity and immovable determination. He is a son of Justin M. and Anna H. (Chaffee) Ames, and a native of Becket, Berkshire county, Massachusetts, where he was born June 16, 1832. The Ames family is of English and Welch descent, and was among the earliest to settle in Connecti- cut, where a number of its members have won local distinction. A branch of the family was soon planted in Massachusetts, and in Berk- shire county, that State, Joel Ames, paternal grandfather of the subject of this sketch, was born about 1775. There he grew to manhood, receiving a good education, studied medicine and was a student all his life. He was a man of more than ordinary ability, and became widely known in his native State. He married Zuba Putnam and reared a large family, several of whom became prosperous and prominent citi- zens of Berkshire county. One of his sons, Justin M. Ames (father), was born in that county during the initial year of this century. He received the best education afforded by the schools of that section, and after attaining manhood engaged in farming and lumbering, with both of which he remained connected during most of his active life, and in both of which he was remarkably successful. In 1863 he came to the village of Saratoga Springs, and resided there until 1883, when he removed to Connecticut, and died at Thompsonville, that State, in 1885, at the good old age of eighty-five years. Politically he was a whig and republican, but in no sense a partisan, a man of broad views and independent action. He was a member of the Congregational church, and his life fitly illustrated the religion he professed. Strong minded and upright in character, he won the confidence of all with whom he came in contact, and was shunned only by those who feared the light of day and felt instinctively that he held nothing in com- mon with themselves. About 1824 he mar- ried Anna H. Chaffec, a daughter of Thomas Chaffee, and a granddaughter of Colonel Knowlton, who fell at the battle of Washing- 27
ton Heights. She was a native of Becket, Berkshire county, Massachusetts, and died at her home in that State in 1859, aged fifty- seven years. She was a member of the Con- gregational church, and a woman of many rare qualities of heart and mind. By this union Mr. Ames had a family of twelve children, ten of whom attained majority, and nine of whom are still living.
George L. Ames was the fourth child, and was reared and principally educated in his na- tive village of Becket, Massachusetts. After passing through the best schools of that place he entered Black River academy, at Ludlow, Vermont, and completed his academic course in that institution. In 1852, when twenty years of age, he came to New York, and set- tling at Schuylerville, this county, embarked in the jewelry business, which he continued until 1861, meanwhile studying law and being admitted to the bar of this county. In 1857 he was appointed clerk, then to the posi- tions of superintendent and general superin- tendent of Champlain canal, and continued to discharge the functions of that office for a pe- riod of ten years, with an ability and mastery of details that amounted almost to genius, and proved alike acceptable to the public and very advantageous to the interests of the canal management. He also served for four years as deputy canal commissioner for the eastern division, under Commissioner George W. Chap- man, with headquarters at Albany. He came to Saratoga Springs, this county, in 1870, and has been a resident of this village ever since, now occupying his handsome residence on Broadway, surrounded by all the comforts and luxuries necessary to refined living. In 1875 occurred the disastrous failure of the Com- mercial bank of Saratoga Springs, and Mr. Ames was appointed attorney for the receiver by the court, and directed to wind up its busi- ness. In doing this he closed out a large stock of hardware and the American hotel and Geyser spring, that came into the hands of the receiver of the bank, and in all the trying circumstances
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BIOGRAPHY AND HISTORY
connected with adjusting conflicting interests, and arranging the complicated affairs of the bank, he displayed superior ability, sound judgment, and the strictest integrity, together with a deep insight into human nature and a complete mastery of the general principles which underlie the vast structure of modern business.
There is also considerable mechanical in- genuity and skill in the make up of Mr. Ames, and he has worked out a number of inventions, any one of which might have made him a for- tune if he had cared enough about the matter to take out a patent. While superintendent and commissioner of the canal, he constructed several locks in which new devices were intro- duced, and new applications made of well known mechanical principles.
In 1855 Mr. Ames was married to Ellen L. Tinker, a daughter of Rufus Tinker, of Ches- ter, Massachusetts, and a very excellent and estimable lady. They have had no children. Mr. Ames is a democrat in politics, and while connected with the canal manage- ment, took a very prominent part in the poli- - tics of the State, serving frequently as a dele- gate to the State conventions of his party, and enjoying the confidence of such men as Horatio Seymour, Senator Curnan, Hon. William I. Skinner, Gov. John T. Hoffman, and other well known leaders.
The natural business activity of Mr. Ames was manifested in many ways not referred to in this sketch. While living at Schuylerville he assisted in the organization of the Schuyler- ville National bank, drew its charter, and served as director and president of the bank during the remainder of his residence in that village. He laid out Prospect Hill cemetery at Schuylerville, and the new Green Ridge cemetery at Saratoga Springs, and until his retirement from business was always active in every movement for the improvement and de- velopment of his village, county or State. Mr. Ames is a member of the Masonic order at Saratoga Springs. In his business career
he has displayed the energy of a steam engine, and from first to last has persistently held to that bright lexicon of youth wherein is recorded no such word as fail, having never been con- nected with any enterprise that was not pushed to permanent success. Alike in youth and busy manhood he has always adhered to the truth, giving twelve inches for a foot, and pay- ing one hundred cents on the dollar. He learned this golden motto from his honored father, and to its implicit observance ascribes much of the prosperity that has crowned his somewhat active and successful career in life.
C OL. HENRY C. NEWTON, a battle- scarred veteran of the late civil war, who served gallantly in nearly all the great battles of the army of the Potomac, and spent several months as a prisoner in Libby and other cele- brated southern prisons, is a son of Daniel and Mary Ann (Martin) Newton, and was born in the town of Moreau, Saratoga county, New York, September 21, 1834. The Newton family is of English and German descent. His grandfather, Calvin Newton, served in the Revolutionary war and in the war of 1812. He also had an uncle, Calvin Newton, who served in the war of 1812, and who died before the close of that war.
Henry C. Newton received his education in the common and district schools of Moreau and Glens Falls academy, and then engaged in farming and in the lumbering business, which he followed for some years in his native town. In the mean time he had taught school for several terms, and at the commencement of the war he, with O. S. Cotum, raised a company of one hundred and three men, and was made first lieutenant of Co. A, 93d regi- ment, and was senior first lieutenant of that regiment at the commencement of the war; was one of the keepers of the State prison at Dannemora, in Clinton county, and was removed two years later on account of political sentiments. He served three terms
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OF SARATOGA COUNTY.
as deputy clerk of the legislature after the war, and was officially connected with that body, at Albany, for fifteen years. Soon after this Colonel Newton's health failed him from wounds received and exposure endured in the army of the Potomac, and for the past few years he has not been actively engaged in any business pursuit or been able to hold any pub- lic position, either State or local. He is a republican in politics, served as a justice of the peace for several years, while residing in Hamilton county, before the war, and has al- ways supported the cardinal principles of his party.
On January 24, 1866, Colonel Newton mar- ried Mary E. Farrel, of South Glens Falls.
Colonel Newton's military record is one of which he may be justly proud, as he endured all the privations of camp and march, faced the dangers of battle and suffered the untold horrors of southern prison pens. On October 16, 1861, he enlisted in Co. A, afterward E, was made captain of Co. E, 93d New York infantry, of which he was elected first lieutenant. He was promoted to captain in 1863, brevetted major and lieutenant colonel for gallant and meritorious services in battle, and was honorably discharged from the Fed- eral service on May 15, 1865. His regiment saw hard and continuous fighting, and it par- ticipated in the following battles: Yorktown, Williamsburg, Fredericksburg, Chancellors- ville, Antietam, The Wilderness, Spottsylvania, North Anna, Talopotomy, Cold Harbor, Pe- tersburg, Strasburg, and Deep Bottom. In the Wilderness he was wounded in the abdo- men by a musket ball, at Petersburg he was struck by a rifle ball in the left side, from the effects of which he is suffering to-day with heart trouble, and at Deep Bottom he re- ceived a third wound by being struck in the right ankle by a musket ball. At Deep Bot- tom he was taken prisoner and sent to Libby prison, from which he was transferred to Salis- bury, North Carolina. From the latter place he was taken to Danville, and then sent back
to Libby prison, from which he was paroled February 21, 1865. Colonel Newton was with the army of the Potomac in all of its great struggles for existence, victory and supremacy, except Bull Run and Appomattox Courthouse, and as an officer distinguished himself for effi- ciency and bravery on many a bloody field and dangerous march.
C EORGE I. JACKSON, a stanch and active republican leader of South Glens Falls, where he has been actively engaged for twenty years with the large lumber firm of Finch & Pruyn, was born in the town of Mo- reau, Saratoga county, New York, June 21, 1850, and is a son of Jonathan and Susan ( Howard) Jackson. His paternal grand- father, Jonathan Jackson, sr., spent the early years of his life in his native county of Duch- ess, and then came to near South Glens Falls, in the town of Moreau, where he was engaged in agricultural pursuits until his final sum- mons came, on January 7, 1865, when his years of life were eighty-four in number. He wedded Margarett Simpson, who passed away November 22, 1859, when well advanced in the seventy-seventh year of her age. Their children were : Katie Warner, Mary Whipple, Angeline Connery, Simpson, Bartlett, George, Jonathan, and Margarett, of whom only Jon- athan and Angeline are now living. Jonathan Jackson ( father ) was born at Malta, on Aug- ust 19, 1817, and moved to Moreau, Saratoga county, where he now resides ; received a good common school education, and has al- ways been engaged in farming and acting as a superintendent of lumbering operations. He identified himself with the Republican party upon its organization, and has zealously and steadfastly supported it through all its vicissi- tudes of fortune, and to-day, although sev- enty-six years of age, is an enthusiastic advo- cate of its fundamental principles. He has been honored at different times by his fellow citizens with local offices of trust and responsi-
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bility. Mr. Jackson married Susan Howard, who was born in 1825, and is a daughter of Thomas Howard, a resident of Queensbury. They have nine children, four sons and five daughters : Annette, Ida Brodie, Franklin, George I., Byron, Maria Whittaker, Katie Hyde, Anna Potter, and Fred, all of whom reside in Saratoga or adjoining counties.
George I. Jackson received his education in the common schools of his native town, and then attended Prof. James Conkright's Com- mercial school at Glens Falls. Leaving school he entered the employ of Finch & Pruyn, a large lumber dealing firm of Glens Falls, with whom he has been for a period of over twenty years. He has been promoted from place to place until he now holds a very responsible position with the company, whom he has served efficiently ever since being in their employ.
On April 4, 1878, Mr. Jackson was united in marriage with Eliza Starbuck, daughter of Stephen and Cynthia M. (Mead) Starbuck, of Glens Falls. Mr. and Mrs. Jackson have one child, a son, Clayton D., who was born April 4, 1884.
In politics Mr. Jackson has always been a republican of republicans. When barely of age he was elected supervisor of his town, which he has also served as collector of taxes and as highway commissioner. He served for two years as a member of the Republican county committee, on which he rendered effi- cient and active service. Mr. Jackson is a member of Attalia Tribe, No. 194, Improved Order of Red Men, and is an energetic and thoroughgoing man in whatever he under- takes.
HARLES M. DOOLITTLE, a popular
citizen and business man of Schuylerville, and the champion cyclist of the Upper Hud- son valley, is a son of Dr. Emery and Oriana (Makepeace) Doolittle, and was born at Easton, Washington county, New York, September
12, 1868. He is of English lineage on his pa- ternal side. His great-great-grandfather, Joel, and his great-grandfather, Edward Doolittle, were natives of Connecticut, where his ances- tors had been resident prior to the Revolution- ary war, in which three of their brothers fell in defense of the liberties of the thirteen col- onies. Charles Doolittle (grandfather) was born at Windsor, Vermont, and at an early age removed to Michigan, where he was en- gaged in farming during the greater part of his life. He was originally a whig and then a republican up to 1884, when he identified him- self with the Democratic party. He died Jan- uary 16, 1890, when in the eighty-first year of his age. He married Mary A. Densmore, and to their union were born six children, five sons and one daughter : Orlando, Josephine, Frank- lin, Chester, Dr. Emery and George. Of these children, Emery, the father of the subject of this sketch, was born March 22, 1842, at Do- ver, Michigan. He studied dentistry, took a full course at Chicago Dental college and prac- ticed his profession at Niles, Michigan, and Schuylerville, this county, until 1889, when he removed to Saratoga Springs, where he has resided ever since. Mr. Doolittle is a demo- crat in politics, and when at Schuylerville he served for ten years as clerk of the corpora- tion, and was postmaster under President Cleveland's administration. He is a member of the Presbyterian church ; Schuyler Lodge, No. 676, Free and Accepted Masons ; Home Chapter, No. 176, Royal Arch Masons ; and Washington Commandery, No. 33, Knights Templar. He married . Oriana Makepeace, daughter of Thomas and Kate Makepeace, of Niles, Michigan, and they have two children : Charles M. and Mabel.
Charles M. Doolittle received his education in the Union Free school of Schuylerville, from which he was graduated in the class of the centennial year. Leaving school, he became an assistant in the postoffice, where he re- mained for six months. He then, in Decem- ber, 1886, became an assistant in the office of
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OF SARATOGA COUNTY.
the Victory Manufacturing Company, and two years later, and before he had reached his twentieth birthday, was promoted to the re- sponsible position of paymaster. He paid out from seven to eight thousand dollars every two weeks. Later he acted as assistant super - intendent of the great plant of the company, and while taking upon himself the many duties and varied labors of his new position, the com- pany requested him to continue as paymaster. He holds both positions to-day, and has given thorough satisfaction to the company in his management of the affairs entrusted to his care. He is a democrat, and is the youngest supervisor that ever served in the county, be- ing elected at twenty-three years of age, by a majority of eighty votes, at Schuylerville, when the village was republican by one hundred and fifty. Mr. Doolittle has given entire sat- isfaction as a supervisor, building all needed bridges and repairing every bad road, and at the same time has lowered the town tax fifteen cents on the hundred dollars. He is a member of Washington Commandery, No. 33, Knights Templar, and has the good will of all who know him.
JOHN HI. CHUBB, a man of varied busi- ness experience, and one of the reliable and well respected citizens of Schuylerville, is a son of John H., sr., and Lydia A. (King) Chubb, and was born at Durgee, Washington county, New York, August 27, 1833. John H. Chubb, sr., was born and reared at Spieg- letown, Washington county, where he passed the carly part of his life. He was engaged in farming, merchandising and lumbering, and had established quite a successful business, when he lost nearly fifty thousand dollars worth of property by fire. This great loss so seri- ously affected his various enterprises that he withidrew largely from business, and removed to the town of Dresden, in his native county, in which he died January 17, 1848, at sixty years of age. He was a democrat and a Bap-
tist, and had held the office of supervisor of his town, while he had been a deacon in his church for many years before his death. Mr. Chubb was a man of influence and standing in his community. He was twice married. For his second wife he wedded Lydia A. King, a daughter of John King, of Northumberland. By his second marriage he had seven children, six sons and one daughter : Prentice, John H. (subject), Andrew, Asa, George, Thaddeus and Phœbe Bartholomew. Mrs. Lydia A. (King) Chubb died June 11, 1862, aged sixty- two years.
John H. Chubb attended the district schools of the town of Dresden, and the public schools of the village of Granville, in his native county, and then turned his attention to boating on the Champlain canal and the Hudson river, run- ning on regular trips between Ottawa and New York city. He first followed freighting, but soon purchased several boats and conducted a general shipping and speculating business until 1855, when he went to Minneapolis, Min- nesota, to accept a position in a civil engineer- ing corps. A year later he removed to Hutch- ison, in the same territory, where took up a claim, and operated a saw and planing mill, besides actively assisting in other ways in building up the new-founded village, that has since grown to a place of considerable im- portance. While residing there he married, and his wife, by caring for a wounded Sioux chief, gained the friendship of that red war- rior and his tribe, whose members frequently made her presents of beads and game. In 1859 Mr. Chubb came east on a visit, and his wife dying suddenly, he remained near Schuy- lerville, where he soon purchased his present farm of seventy-five acres, and engaged in deal- ing in hay, grain and produce, and coal and lime. He now does quite a large business, and al- ways supplies good articles in all his various lines of trade. Mr. Chubb is a republican in politics, and besides serving for some time as superintendent of the Champlain canal, has held several of the offices of his town. He is
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