USA > New York > Saratoga County > History of Saratoga County, New York : with historical notes on its various towns > Part 71
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REDERICK E. PATTERSON, a
successful farmer and business man of the town of Stillwater, is a son of Cornelius and Maria (Moore) Patterson, and was born at Grangerville, Saratoga county, New York. He received his education in the public schools, and then learned the trade of carpenter, which he followed for eight years, during a part of which time he did considerable railroad work. When he quit carpentering he went to Schuy- lerville, where he conducted a meat market for seven years. At the end of that time, in 1885, he removed to the town of Stillwater, where he purchased his present farm of ninety acres, which lies five miles from the village of Stillwater. Mr. Patterson, beside farming, is also engaged in the general mercantile, grain and feed, and coal and lumber business at Wilbur's Basin. He is a democrat in politics, and as a business man has met with good suc-
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cess in every line of commercial enterprise in which he has been engaged.
On April 28, 1870, Mr. Patterson married Mary A. Gannon, daughter of Patrick and Mary A. (Landon) Gannon. To their union have been born three children, one son and two daughters : William W., Una and Mabel.
Frederick E. Patterson is of New England ancestry, and his father, Cornelius Patterson, was born in 1810 in this county, where he has always resided. He is a carpenter by trade, and worked in this and Duchess county until 1842, when he purchased a farm near Granger- ville, which he disposed of in 1849 to engage in the lumber business at Saratoga Springs. In a short time Cornelius Patterson left there, and was successively engaged in milling and farming at Grangerville, and in farming near Schuylerville. From Schuylerville he removed to Victory Mills, in the town of Saratoga, where he purchased his present farm of one hundred and twenty-five acres. He is a dem- ocrat in politics, and a member and a deacon of the Schuylerville Baptist church. Mr. Pat- terson has been twice married. His first wife, whose maiden name was Maria Moore, died in 1848, at thirty-eight years of age, leaving three children : Clarence C., who died in July, 1892, at fifty-three years of age; Francis A., and Frederick E., whose name appears at the head of this sketch.
F RANK JONES, the present efficient postmaster at Ballston Spa, was for twelve years a paper manufacturer here, and then secretary and treasurer of the Mount Mac- Gregor Railroad Company, and later was ap- pointed and is now acting as receiver for that corporation. He is a prominent republican, and is now the able president of the Republi- can County committee. Mr. Jones was born October 19, 1851, at Ballston Spa, Saratoga county, New York, and is the eldest son of Hiro and Mary J. (Coburn) Jones. The fam- ily is of Welsh descent, and settled in Vermont
at an early day. At Fairlee, that State, Hiro Jones was born in 1817, and was reared and educated at his native place. In 1849 he mar- ried Mary Jane Coburn, a daughter of George Coburn, of Fairlee, Vermont, and in 1850 they removed to the village of Ballston Spa, New York, where they continued to reside until called away by death - the mother in 1874, at the age of fifty years, and the father in 1879, aged sixty-two. Hiro Jones was a republican in politics, and served at one time as super- visor of the town of Milton, this county. For many years he was successfully engaged in the manufacture of woolen goods at Ballston Spa, and accumulated a handsome competency. About 1867 he retired from the woolen manu- facturing business, and became one of the founders of the First National bank of Balls- ton Spa. Upon its organization for business, he was elected president of this bank, and con- tinued to administer the duties of that position from that time until his death. In religion both he and his wife were members of the Presbyterian church, and he was at all times active and liberal in support of the various in- terests of his denomination and the cause of Christianity in general. He was the father of a family of two children, one son and one daughter, only one of whom now survives.
Frank Jones was reared in his native vil- lage, attending the public scools for a time, and completing his education in private insti- tutions of learning at South Williamstown and East Hampton, Massachusetts, also traveling abroad for about one year. After leaving school he embarked in the manufacture of paper at Ballston Spa, and successfully con- ducted that business for a period of ten years. In 1886 he became secretary and treasurer of the Mount MacGregor Railroad Company, and occupied that position until the affairs of the company became involved and a receiver was asked for by the stockholders. On account of his familiarity with its business, and his well known ability and strict integrity of character, Mr. Jones was appointed as receiver by the
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court, and as such has for two years been man- aging the business of this road in a manner satisfactory to the various parties in interest. In 1889 Mr. Jones was made postmaster at Ballston Spa, and has acceptably occupied that office ever since.
On October 11, 1882, Mr. Jones was united in marriage to Ida G. Crane, eldest daughter of the late L. Murray Crane, of Ballston Spa, who for many years was a well known paper manufacturer of this village. To Mr. and Mrs. Jones have been born two sons: Murray Crane, who died May 4, 1888, and Hiro Co- burn, now in his seventh year.
For a period of six years Mr. Jones was sec- retary of the Republican County committee, and is now serving as its president. He has always taken an active interest in public ques- tions, and occupies a high place in the councils of his party in Saratoga county. In religious faith and church membership he is a Presby- terian. He is a member of Franklin Lodge, No. 90, Free and Accepted Masons, of which he was master for two years, and of Warren Chapter, No. 23, Royal Arch Masons, and Washington Commandery, No. 33, Knights Templar.
F REDERICK I. STEENBERG, jus-
tice of the peace in the town of Half Moon, and a popular and prosperous business man and mill owner of Ushers, this county, is a son of Elias and Gettie (Clement) Steen- berg, and was born September 13, 1839, at Ithaca, Tompkins county, New York. His paternal grandfather, Peter Steenberg, was a farmer, and lived for many years in the town of Half Moon, Saratoga county. He was a whig in politics, and married Anna Van Nos- trand, and reared a large family. His son, ยท Elias Steenberg (father), was born in the town of Half Moon, this county, on May 3, 1806, and after reaching man's estate became a farmer and passed his life in the cultivation of the soil and stock raising. He owned a fine
farm containing one hundred and ten acres, was a whig and republican in politics, and died in 1886, at the age of seventy-seven years. Nearly all his life he was a consistent member of the Methodist Episcopal church, and served as trustee and steward of his church for a number of years. On September 11, 1834, he wedded Gettie Clement, a daughter of John Clement, a farmer of the town of Half Moon, this county, and by that union had a family of four children, two sons and two daughters : Orrin C., Frederick I., Amelia, who became the wife of J. J. Callehan, of Mechanicville ; and Emily. Mrs. Gettie Steenberg was born in the town of Half Moon, this county, Decem- ber 12, 1810; was a member of the same church as her husband, and died July 9, 1851, aged forty-two years.
Frederick I. Steenberg was reared on his father's farm and received an academic educa- tion, being graduated from the Jonesville academy in 1859. He afterward learned the trade of miller, and now owns and operates a saw mill, grist mill and planing mill at Ushers, in the town of Half Moon, and is also engaged in buying and selling grain and fertilizers, lum- ber, etc., doing an annual business aggregat- ing twenty thousand dollars.
On June 7, 1869, Mr. Steenberg was united by marriage to Sarah Barnes, a daughter of Steven and Esther Barnes, of Westchester county, New York. To Mr. and Mrs. Steen- berg have been born two children, one son and a daughter : Etta and Frank B., both living at home with their parents. Politically the subject of this sketch is a stanch republican, and in the fall of 1884 was elected justice of the peace, in which office he has served ac- ceptably ever since, a period of more than eight years. Squire Steenberg is a man of sound judgment, and is always well posted on current events in politics, business and gen- eral affairs. He is a prominent member and trustee of the Methodist Episcopal church, and also a member of Mechanicville Lodge. Ancient Order of United Workmen.
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OL. DAVID FRANCIS RITCHIE,
present postmaster of Saratoga Springs, and one of the leading citizens of that village, is a son of George Gavin and Catherine (Nares) Ritchie, and was born in the city of Rochester, New York, March 12, 1840. His father was a Baptist minister, a native of Ed- inburgh, and a graduate of the Edinburgh High school, of Scotland. He came to the United States in 1830 with his parents, and a short time after he settled in Geneva, New York, where he married. Later he removed to Rochester. He prepared for the ministry at Madison university, New York, and held charges at several places in Otsego county. He was always especially interested in the re- ligious press and societies, for which he did much editorial work. He was a prominent upholder of the abolition movement, being as- sociated with Gerrit Smith, Rev. Samuel J. May, Fred Douglass and others in the anti- slavery organization. At the time of his death his home was at Clinton, near Utica. He died suddenly away from home at Brockett's Bridge, New York, in 1852, at the age of thirty-five years. The mother, Catherine (Nares) Ritchie, is a native of Geteva, New York, and resides with her son at Saratoga. She is in her sev- enty-fifth year and is a member of the Baptist church.
Col. David F. Ritchie spent his youth mostly in Clinton and Utica, learned the art of printing, and prepared for college at Utica academy. He accepted the position of city editor of the Utica Herald in 1860, having pre- viously done some newspaper work while at school, and expected to enter college, but the outbreak of the civil war in the spring of 1861 fired his patriotism, and in April of that year he enlisted as a private soldier in the Utica Citizens' corps, the first company from Utica to respond to Lincoln's call, and which sub- sequently became Co. A, 14th New York reg- iment of volunteers. Here he served until the autumn of the same year, when he was promoted from sergeant and commissioned
second lieutenant in New York Ist regiment light artillery, where he continued to serve until the close of the war. He was twice pro- moted to be first lieutenant and afterward cap- tain of battery C, and was mustered out at the close of the war as captain, at Elmira, New York. He was also breveted major and col- onel for meritorious services in front of Peters- burg, Virginia, in 1864-5. He served through the war with the Army of the Potomac, and, though never wounded himself, his horse was shot under him at the bloody battle near Spott- sylvania Courthouse, Virginia. After the war Colonel Ritchie returned to Utica where he rejoined the editorial staff of the Utica Herald, where he remained until 1869. During two years of this time he published the Evening Telegraph. In the spring of 1869 he came to Saratoga, where he has resided ever since. He soon entered the office of the Saratogianas as- sistant editor of the Summer Daily Saratogian, and that fall the publication became a perma- nent daily paper. In 1870 the editor, Waldo M. Potter, retired, and Colonel Ritchie became the chief editor, and two years later one-half owner of the paper, associated with B. F. Judson. In 1882 he sold out his interest in the Saratogian and started the Saratoga Journal, a Republican paper, which he continued to publish until 1887, when the two papers were combined and he again identified himself with the Saratogian, becoming its editor in 1888, and continued as such until 1890. In June of the same year he was appointed postmaster of Saratoga Springs, which position he now holds. In the legislative session of 1872-73, Colonel Ritchie was appointed financial clerk of the State assembly. He has always been an earn- est and an active republican, and has in nearly every campaign in the past twenty-five years taken the stump in behalf of his party. He has been chosen commander of Wheeler Post, .. Saratoga Springs, of the Grand Army of the Republic, and is now president of the Young Men's Christian Association. Colonel Ritchie has done considerable literary work, outside
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of his journalistic duties, and has delivered many addresses. He is also greatly interested in outdoor athletics, the promotion of which he has always vigorougly encouraged. He is one of the founders and members of the Regent Street Baptist church, and has been superin- tendent of the Sunday school for fifteen years, and several terms a trustee.
Colonel Ritchie was married in 1863 to Su- san J., daughter of Lucy L. Partridge, of Utica. Their family numbers three sons and three daughters : Agnes 1., Florence K., An- nie, Francis G., Albert D. and Norman L. Colonel Ritchie isan active Mason and a mem- ber of Washington Commandery, No. 33, Knights Templar, of Saratoga Springs.
H IBBARD HALL, a well known farmer and stockman of Gansevoort, who is also largely interested in the lumber business of that section, was born at Saratoga Springs, Saratoga county, New York, April 1, 1845, and is the only surviving son of Alonzo H. and Tacie A. (Norton) Hall. The Halls are of Scotch ancestry, and were among the early settlers in the town of Wilton, where the fam- ily was planted by Otis Hall, a native of Scot- land, and the paternal grandfather of Hibbard Hall. He was a lumberman and farmer, own- ing a large tract of land near Saratoga Springs, where he removed in later life. Politically he was a whig and in religion a member of the Baptist church, which he served as deacon for many years. He died near Saratoga Springs. His wife was Hannah Sherman, and they reared a family of nine children, six sons and three daughters : Elisha, Sallie Robinson, Alonzo H. (father), Betsy Gordas, Mills B., John S , Emily Sherman, Beroth and Warren. Alonzo H. Hall (father) was born in 1814, in the town of Wilton, this county, wliere he was reared, educated and lived most of his life. In 1848 he removed to Virginia and settled near Fairfax Courthouse, where he purchased a
large farm and engaged extensively in farming until 1853, when he returned to the town of Wilton and bought the old homestead, con- taining one hundred and fifty acres. Here he remained until 1865, at which time he re- moved to the town of Northumberland and purchased the farm upon which he resided until his death, December 26, 1890, at the age of seventy-six years. He was a whig and repub- lican in politics, a member of the Gansevoort Methodist Episcopal church, and of the Inde- pendent Order of Odd Fellows, and was twice married. His first wife was Tacie A. Norton, a daughter of Timothy Norton, by whom he had two sons : Otis T. and Hibbard, the sub- jeet of this sketch.
On May 15, 1848, Mrs. Tacie A. Hall died, aged twenty-eight years, and sometime after- ward Mr. Hall married Maria A. Mosher, by whom he had one child, a daughter, named Mabel, who became the wife of Thomas Briggs.
Otis T. Hall was a student at Union college when the civil war broke out, and, leaving the recitation room, he enlisted in Co. E, 153d New York infantry, and took part in the Red River expedition and participated in several important compaigns through the south. He was promoted early in the service to the posi- tion of adjutant on the staff of Colonel Davis. After the war he studied law, was admitted to the bar in New York city, where he practiced for a number of years, becoming prominent in municipal politics and serving as alderman, superintendent of the water works, and in other responsible positions. While serving as alderman he was made president of the board one term, and was a successful campaigner and stump speaker, whose reputation extended throughout the Empire State. He died De- cember 17, 1875, at the carly age of thirty- four, and in the very zenith of a successful and brilliant career at the bar and in politics.
Hibbard Hall was reared principally on his father's farm in the town of Wilton, this county, and obtained his preliminary educa- tion in the public schools. He afterward at-
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tended Fort Edward institute, and later began the study of medicine with Dr. S. S. Strong, of Saratoga Springs. After two years spent as a medical student his health became im- paired, and on the advice of a physician he abandoned the idea of following that profes- sion, and turned liis attention to agriculture as being better adapted to its constitution. He purchased a farm in the town of Northum- berland, where he was engaged in the cultiva- tion of the soil and stock raising for a period of five years. At the end of that time he bought his present farm of one hundred and fifty-eight acres, which is all well improved and in an excellent state of cultivation. As a farmer he has been successful, financially and as regards his health, and for a number of years has made a specialty of breeding fine horses, principally the Hamiltonians. Since 1890 he has also been extensively engaged in lumbering, employing about fifty men and thirty teams in the various departments of his enterprise.
On March 12, 1869, Mr. Hall was united by marriage to Mary Grippen, a daughter of H. R. Grippen, of Corinth. To Mr. and Mrs. Hall were born two children, one son and a daughter. The son, Otis G. Hall, was reared on his father's farm, educated in the public schools, and in 1887 married Lizzie Haveland, a daughter of William Haveland, of Moreau. He is now engaged in farming in the town of Moreau. The daughter, Ada T., became the wife of Bertram E. Hibbard, a photographer, of Glens Falls, Warren county.
In his political affiliations Hibbard Hall is a stanch republican, and takes an active interest in the success of his party and the promulga- tion of republican doctrines, being specially interested and well posted on the subject of tariffs and their effect on the business of the country. On account of his well known busi- ness ability and sound judgment in regard to property values he was elected to the office of assessor of his town, and has occupied that position continuously for nine years.
S AMUEL WASHINGTON FUL-
LER, third child of Samuel and Mary (Warner) Fuller, was born in the city of Al- bany, New York, Christmas day, 1816. On November 15, 1837, he married Charlotte Amelia Benson, daughter of A. and Sarah Benson, of Albany, and to them were born seven children, six of whom are living.
In the spring of 1831, following his four- teenth birthday, Samuel W. Fuller was ap- prenticed to William Gladding, a practical and talented painter of Albany, "to serve until he one and twenty would be." For the first year he was paid forty dollars, and al- lowed two shillings a week for spending money. Soon after the expiration of his apprentice- ship Mr. Fuller formed a copartnership with Stephen Rogers, of Albany, to do house, sign and ornamental painting. They received from Edward C. Delevan the contract for glazing and painting the hotel Mr. Delevan was then erecting, and which has since been known as the Delevan house. Mr. Fuller, even at that period, excelled in graining, lettering and ban- ner painting, as numerous testimonials show.
In 1845 Mr. Fuller visited Saratoga for the first time, the journey being made in cars drawn by horses over what was the first rail- road in this State. In 1847 he removed with his family to the village of Saratoga Springs, which then had about two thousand inhab- itants, and which he has seen grow to a town of over twelve thousand people. During most of his forty-five years' residence therein he has carried on house, sign and ornamental painting, and for a few years of that period was also engaged in carriage painting. More than half the houses in Saratoga Springs, and all the large hotels, have at one time or an- other been painted under his supervision. In 1878 he erected the large double building at Nos. 44 and 46 Putnam street, and at No. 44 opened the first store in town where all kinds of painters' materials and supplies are exclu- sively kept. When the present United States hotel was being erected, Mr. Fuller was se-
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lected as the painter par excellence to do the work. The colors were left to his judgment. That the " States'" colors became popular is evident from the samples having been sent to over a hundred persons in the different States. Samuel W. Fuller is a man of artistic talent and a thoroughly accomplished painter, as is fully attested by the specimens of his handi- work seen in his studio. The New York Times several years ago said: "We notice in the window of Williams & Stevens a very excel- lent fruit piece. There are many painters of such subjects, and a few who have attained eminence. We see careful study and much artistic instinct in this painting by Mr. Samuel W. Fuller, of Saratoga Springs, and have to say that he has done well." A number of years ago, speaking of the Brooklyn Art asso- ciation exhibition, the Brooklyn Eagle said: "'Fruit,' by Mr. S. W. Fuller, of Saratoga Springs, is the finest fruit piece in the exhibi- tion." An eminent artist who studied and trav - eled in Europe has said: " I have never seen better painted fruit than hangs on that wall." Mr. Fuller was also at one time quite a musi- cian, having been a member of the old Albany band, and while connected with that organiza- tion first taught the late D. L. Downing, leader of the famous Ninth Regiment band, "how to do it." Music of Mr. Fuller's com- position was at one time very popular with bands.
At the present time (1893) Mr. Fuller is a well preserved gentleman of seventy-seven, in appearance not a day over sixty. . His grand- father was a revolutionary soldier, and was given an order calling for one thousand acres of land in what is now the State of Maine, which tract he never located or acquired.
Edward Howard Fuller, the eldest son of the subject of this sketch, served with credit and distinction during the civil war as a mem- ber of the well known 77th New York infantry, and is now associated with his father in busi- ness at Saratoga Springs.
W ARREN THOMAS, one of the older citizens and most substantial farmers of the town of Milton, is a son of Recompense and Fanny (Jennings) Thomas, and was born in the town of Milton, Saratoga county, New York, March 4, 1820. He was reared on his father's farm, received his education in the schools of his neighborhood, and then en- gaged in farming, which he has followed with good success up to the present time. His farm, which lies near Ballston Spa, is in a good agricultural section of the town, where church, school and market are easily reached. Mr. Thomas in religious affairs, like his worthy father before him, strives to love his neighbor and live his life according to the "Golden Rule." He has been industrious and prosper- ous and has secured a respectable competency. On May 17, 1854, Mr. Thomas was united in marriage with Ann Edkins, daughter of John Edkins. They have four children.
Warren Thomas is a descendant in the third generation from his great-grandfather, who be- came one of the early pioneers of the town of Milton, where he cleared out a large farm, and was engaged in removing the Indians back to their reservations. He was of English lineage. His son, Abraham Thomas (grandfather), was born in Connecticut, from which State he came to the town of Milton, where he passed his life as a farmer and where he died in the seventy-third year of his age, from injuries received at a house raising. Abraham Thomas married, and of his children one was Recom- pense Thomas (father), who was born in the town of Milton, where he resided until his death, at eighty-three years of age. He was a farmer by occupation and a strong democrat in politics, and served as an American soldier along the Canadian frontier during the war of 1812. His religion was to love his neighbor as himself, do unto others as he would be done by, and to accord to others the same rights and privileges that he desired to exer- cise himself. He married Fanny Jennings. a
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native of Ballston Spa and a zealous member of church. Mrs. Fanny Thomas, who passed away, aged seventy-three years, was a daugh- ter of Israel Jennings, a native of Connecticut, who served as a private in the war of 1812, and was honorably discharged at the end of his term of service, with honorable mention by his officers.
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