USA > New York > Saratoga County > History of Saratoga County, New York, with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers. > Part 103
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Joseph Gilbert, a soldier of the Revolution, settled on Iladley Hill from 1800-2. He died in 1839, and his son John succeeded him on the farm. He died in 1872, and the homestead is now occupied by his son, James Gilbert.
Henry Blackwood, with his five sons, settled on Hladley Ilill in 1802. One of the sons, Charles Blackwood, is still living in that neighborhood. The place is quite commonly known throughout the vicinity as " Pluck Hill," in recog- nition of the plucky nature of some of its early inhabitants.
Indissolubly connected with the history of the town is the name of Jeremy Rockwell. Coming into the town at an early period, he at once assumed a prominent position in social, political, and business affairs, and until his death was constantly engaged with all the energy and ability at his command in conducting public affairs, manifesting a land-
414
Manlius gofres
Myra Leffers
RESIDENCE OF MANLIUS JEFFERS, HADLEY, SARATOGA CO.,N.Y.
415
HISTORY OF SARATOGA COUNTY, NEW YORK.
able public spirit, and amidst all conducting his various business schemes to a successful issue. Hle rapidly ac- quired property, and became the largest land-holder in the town. He held many offices of trust and responsibility. As early as 1809 he was serving in the capacity of justice of the peace, and continued to act as such till about 1830. From 1816 to 1819 he was town clerk. Elected to the office of supervisor in the spring of that year, he continued to hold that office for fifteen successive years, and in 1835 was again chosen to that office, and held it at the time of his death. He also held the offices of associate judge, member of Assembly, and was a member of the conven- tion that framed the constitution of 1821 for this State. He was seventy years old at the time of his death, Aug. 14, 1835. He first married a Miss Miller, of Ballston, and by her had one child, a son. After her death he mar- ried Betsey Bird, and by her had twelve children. They were named respectively James, Henry, Harmon, Charlotte, Hiram, George 'T., Jeremy, Jr., Celina, Emeline, Caroline, Charles, Maria, and William W. Of these, Harmon and Charles live in Hadley ; George T., in connection with his son, George H., runs the deservedly-famous " Rockwell House" at Luzerne; Celina Levens and William W. are living in Warren county. Harmon has held the office of justice of the peace for eight terms. Was town clerk six years, and supervisor eleven years. In 1843 he built the Cascade House at Hadley. It is a fine building, and from its broad piazza commands an unrivaled view of river and mountain scenery. The rest of the children are dead. The Rockwells trace their descent from a Norman knight, Sir Ralph de Rocheville. The first of the name in America was Deacon William Rockwell, of Dorchester, who came from England about 1630. Jeremy's father was Joseph Rockwell, of Salisbury, Conn., and he was a great-grand- son of this Deacon William Rockwell.
The Jeffers family were among the carly residents. The first representatives of the family came from Wales, and settled in Massachusetts. They were the great-grand- parents of Manlius, Sidney, and Jefferson Jeffers. David Jeffers was the son of these people, and married and raised a family in Massachusetts. Both he and his wife did valuable service for the cause of independence, he serving in the army and she ministering to the needs of the sick and wounded in the hospitals. Their eldest sou, Deodatus, came to Hadley about 1800, and settled at Jessnp's Landing, at what is now the town of Corinth. He lived there until about 1804, when he removed to Hadley and bought some land of Jeremiah Rockwell, on great lot 2 of Palmer's purchase, being a subdivision of what is known as the Nixon lot, and bordering on the north bank of the Sacandaga river, about two miles from its mouth. Deodatus Jeffers was a man of iron constitution, wonderful strength, and great vitality. It was a boast of his that he never knew a qualm of sickness or a pang of pain from disease during his whole life. He never employed a physician till his first and last sickness came upon him. He was a lumberman by pro- fession, and held first rank among that hardy class of citi- zens. He worked many years for Jeremy Rockwell, cut- ting off the splendid pine timber along the rivers, and died in 1854 from the effects of a cold taken while witnessing
the building of a dam at Luzerne, at the age of eighty-eight years. Eunice, his wife, died in 1845 of slow consump- tion. Deodatus left three sons, Sidney, Jefferson, and Man- lius, all of them still living in this town.
Among the other early settlers were Jonathan Flanders, Mr. Wilson, Mr. Richards, Mr. Delane, Mr. Hazard, David Lawton, Abel Houghton, Enoch Gray, John Johnson, and Stephen Kenyon. The first frame house in the southern part of the town was built by Stephen Gray about 1830. Jonathan Flanders kept the first inn. It was near the ferry on the Rice farm. Drafting for the War of 1812 was condneted at this tavern.
Alexander H. Palmer came to Hadley in 1818 as agent for Gordon Conkling. He was supervisor two terms, was elected member of Assembly in 1852, and is now a United States inspector in the New York custom-house. Kenyon's blacksmith-shop at Hadley, in 1818, was about the first one in the town.
In 1846 the town voted for no license by a vote of eighty-five to forty-two. In 1847 the vote on the same question stood, against, eighty-four; for, fifty-six.
The Conklingville bridge was built in 1852, and was carried off by high water about 1860. In 1861, Luke Kathan, Robert IFumphrey, and David Wait, acting in behalf of the town, built a new bridge at a cost of $1400.
In 1866 a road was surveyed, the location of which was determined by the surveyor in the following novel manner. The record reads : " Beginning at a point in the middle of an old road on the line between the town of Day and Hadley, and from which point the apex of the roof of the house of Widow Shippey bears south fifty-seven degrees west, and runs thence," etc.
In 1827 money to the amount of $30 was paid by the overseer of the poor for the support of "one Pixley, a porpor."
At one time justices were elected for " long and short turms." One citizen tendered his resignation from office because he was " about to leave the town for an indiffinate period." There is a road in the town, one part of which, if we believe the assertion of the surveyor, runs " tangin- tially.'
In 1848 a minister named Benson, a Second Adventist, held meetings in a private house in Conklingville. The first clearing on the south side of the river, near Conkling- ville, was done by Thomas Ralph in 1828. He worked about one-half day and then crossed the river in a canoe. In returning, the canoe was upset and he was drowned. The body was recovered some time after and was buried on the river-bank, near the present saw-mill.
The Adirondack railroad runs through the eastern part of the town parallel with the Hudson. This company's bridge across the Sacandaga river, near its mouth, is quite an imposing structure. It is a square truss-bridge, built of wood, thoroughly bolted and braced. It rests on solid piers of cut-stone, and is made up of four spans. The main or river-span is nearly two hundred feet in length. The tops of the rails are about ninety feet above the river at low water. The bridge was built in 1860. The bridge at the mouth of the river was built by Obadiah Wilcox in 1813, and still stands. It is supported by three arches,
416
IIISTORY OF SARATOGA COUNTY, NEW YORK.
and is covered. It has a double roadway, and is about two hundred feet long.
IV .- ORGANIZATION.
The town of Hadley was formerly a portion of the town of Greenfield. In 1801 it was erected into a separate town, and comprised the present towns of Hadley, Corinth, and a portion of Day. In 1819 it was reduced to its present dimensions.
Jeremy Rockwell was the first supervisor of the present town, and served in that capacity fifteen successive years. The records of the first town-meeting, and all others previous to 1820, are not to be found.
In the winter of 1829-30 bounties were paid for the killing of thirty-five foxes. The next town meeting repealed the by-law authorizing the payment of such bounty.
In 1841 the town was divided into eight school districts.
LIST OF TOWN OFFICERS .*
Year.
Supervisor.
Town Clerk. Collector.
1801. Benjamin Cowles.
1802.
6.
1803.
16
1804.
1805.
Daniel Church.
1806.
1807.
1808.
1809.
1810.
Elisha Brace.
1811.
J. W. Taylor.
1812.
Orlando Boardman.
1813.
1814.
1815. Timothy Brown.
1816. Benjamin Cowles.
1817.
1818. =
1819. Jeremy Rockwell.
1820.
=
1821.
1822.
1823.
=
46
=
1834. Deealvas S. Graves.
1835. Uriah II. Kendall ..
1836. David Stewart.
1837. Stephen Gray, long term. Thomas Frost, short term.
1838. II. Rockwell, long term. Thomas Frost, short term. 1839,
1840. David Stewart.
1841. Stephen Gray.
1842. Harmon Rockwell.
1843. Thomas Frost.
1844. David Stewart.
1845. John B. Aldrich.
1846. Ariel C. Loveless.
1847. Harmon Rockwell.
1848. Zina II. Cowles.
1849. R. Humphrey, long term. Otis Kihlin, short term.
1850. M. Jeffers, long term. A. C. Loveless, short term.
1851. 66 long term. John Gilbert, short term.
1852. Ilarmon Rockwell.
1853. Rubert Humphrey.
1854. Manlius Jeffers.
1855. John A. Kettell.
1856. Harmon Rockwell.
1857. R. Humphrey, long term.
1857. G. Kenyon, short term.
1858. Manlius Jeffers.
1859. Elijah Ellis.
1860. George Kenyon.
1861. Robert Ilumphrey.
1862. Manlius Jeffers.
1863. J. A. Kettell, long term. A. II. Palmer, short term.
1826.
1827.
Ilarmon Rockwell. =
=
1829.
David Stewart.
Orange Dayton. George T. Rockwell.
1831.
60
George T. Rockwell. Liberty Butler.
1832.
1833.
Decalvas S. Graves.
1834. Charles Stewart.
ت
David Stewart.
elect.
1835. Jeremy Rockwell.+ Iliram A. Perry.} H. Rockwell. app. D. S. Graves, app.
1836. Charles Stewart.
= elected.
1837. David Stewart.
Peter Butler, app. Thomas Butler.
1838. Harmon Rockwell.
IS39.
Canni Lindsay. William Mallory.
= " elected.
1840.
N.M. Houghton, app. Gordon Jenkins. 66 William Mallory.
1842.
David Stewart. =
1843.
James Myers.
# The records are lost for list of town clerks prior to 1805, and for collectors previous to 1821.
+ Died in office.
Year. Supervisor.
Town Clerk. Collector.
1844. Harmon Rockwell. 1815.
1846. Wmn W. Rockwell.
1847.
1818. Ilarmon Rockwell. 1819.
1850. Jefferson Jeffers.
1851. Alex. K. Palmer.
1852. Manlius Jeffers.
1853. Robert Ilumphrey. John Cameron.
1854.
1855. David Wait.
1856. Jefferson Jeffers.
1857. Manlius Jeffers.
Abner D. Wait. David Sturdevant.
1858. 66
= 1859. Robert Humphrey. David Wait.
Joseph Waslıburo. Anderson Holden.
1860. Alex. II. Palmer.
1861. John J. Wait.
1862. G. Conkling, Jr.
1863. Manlius Jeffers.
John J. Wait.
1864. G. Conkling, Jr.
1865. John J. Wait.
Chas. W. Reynolds. Hugh Aldrich.
1866.
George Kenyon. Rollin L. Jenkins.
1867. William II. Palmer. Grove II. Moore.
James II. Mills.
1868. Benjamin Pickens. Martin II. Wilcox.
Edward Seovill. Joel Loveless.
1870. Manlius Jeffers.
Stephen Kenyon.
Jonathan D. Ford.
1871. William II. Palmer. John A. Kathan. John Johnson.
1872. Stewart Early.
Joseph E. Morris.
John C. Palmer. James Boyce.
1874. 66
William P. Bunnell. Alex. H. Palmer(2d).
1875. Lewis E. Wait.
Warren Johnson.
1876. Darius Martin.
James F. Austin.
Monroe Kathan.
1877. John J. Wait.
Charles HI. Mills.
1878.
Clark Early. George W. Jenkins.
JUSTICES OF THE PEACE.
1830. Joel Dayton.
1831. Stephen Gray, long term. U. II. Kendall, short term.
1832. Harmon Rockwell.
1833. Stephen Gray.
1824.
=
1825.
1828.
=
1830,
=
Harmon Rockwell. Henry Black wood.
1868. George Kenyon. 1869. Lemuel D. Sahin.
1870. Il. S. Jenkins, long term. J. Gilbert, long vacancy. D. Martin, short vaeaney.
1871. IT. Rockwell, long term. A. II. Palmer, short term.
1872. G. Kenyon, long termn. J. Johnson, short term.
1873. Solon Bingham. 1874. David II. Yates.
1875. M. II. Wileox, long term. Mark Beattie, short term.
1876. Joseph Duun, long term. Joel Loveless, short term.
1877. S. Bingham, long term. J. Scovill, long vacancy. J. Gilbert, short vacancy. 1878. George Dunkler.
Truman D. Stewart, Daniel A. Stewart.
= James P. Burnham. Daniel B. Ketchum. Aaron Houghton. Manlius Jeffers. Levi Sturdevant. Manlius Jeffers. = 66
George Kenyon. John W. Sayre.
Canni Lindsay. John Johnson. George Kenyon. John W. Sayre. Joseph Washburne.
Briggs Gray. Henry Wilcox.
David Wait. George Kenyon. Samuel Black wood. ¥ Alexander Graham.
Stephen Kenyon, Ir. Henry S. Jenkins. = James II. Mills.
George Kenyon. Juhn Il. Wagar. Caleb Graham. Joseph Smith.
1869. .. A. J. Rockwell.
1873. John A. Kathan.
Elisha Wilson.
Jeremy Rockwell.
II. T. Carpenter.
Ilenry Rockwell. David Stewart.
16
=
1864. Harmon Roekwell. L. D. Sabin, appointed. 1865. 1866. Manlins Jeffers. 1867. C. Kennedy, long term. M. Beattie, short term.
George Kenyon.
1841.
I. S. Cent
OFFICE & TANNERY OF LEWIS E. WAIT, HADLEY, SARATOGA CO., N.Y (LUMBERMAN & AGENT FOR H. POOR & SON)
417
HISTORY OF SARATOGA COUNTY, NEW YORK.
V .- VILLAGES AND HAMLETS.
HADLEY is a small hamlet at the mouth of the Sacan- daga river. It contains about a dozen dwellings, two hotels, two stores, and a school-house. It is really a part of the village of Luzerne. It was commenced in 1790, by Henry Walker, who first settled there. The first saw-mill was built, in 1791, by Delane & llazard. The first grist-mill by Jeremy Rockwell, in 1803. The first store was kept by Rockwell, in 1807.
CONKLINGVILLE lies on the western border of the town, on both sides of the river. It was started by Gurdon Conkling, who came there in 1848, and built a large tan- nery, a store, a hotel, and several dwellings. Previous to this there had been two saw-mills erected, one on each side of the river. The first dam in this town was built in 1828, by Johnson & Wait. It was about forty feet above the present one. That dam, with the mill at its south end, built by Isaac Barber, in 1831, was carried away by high water in 1848. It was then built where it now stands. The first school-house in Conklingville was built in 1849. Miss Mary A. Andrews was the first teacher. Perry Burton, Joel and Silas Dayton were also among the first teachers there. Conklingville at present consists of about fifty dwellings, two churches, four stores, two blacksmith-shops, one tannery, one woodenware-shop, one collar-box factory, one hotel, one wagon-shop, one saw-mill, and a school-house. It has about three hundred inhabitants. The first store was kept by David Wait, about 1840. The building stands near the wooden-ware-works, and is used for a dwelling. William Wright was the first blacksmith there.
VI .- SCHOOLS.
A man named Wilson taught the first school, in 1791.
The first school-house in the Stewart neighborhood was built at a very early day. It was made of pine logs, and when short of kindling-wood it was the practice to hew off a piece of the sides to get some. The seats were wooden słabs, with legs made of round sticks, and there were no desks. The floor was of loose boards. The house was near the ferry, at what is now the Rice place. A mau named Pitcher taught there.
Previous to 1820 there was a log school-house in the Ellis neighborhood. John Johnson and Walter Knott were early teachers there.
COMMISSIONERS' APPORTIONMENT, MARCH, 1878.
District.
between the Ages of
Five and Twenty-
Equal Quota of Public
Public Money Accord-
ing to the Number
Public Money Accord-
ing to Average At-
Library Money.
Total Public Money.
No. I
23
$52.14
$15.82
$17.10
80.77
$85.83 91 98
9
23
52.14
15.82
26.25
77
46
4
39
52.14
26,82
19,82
1.30
100.08
5.
40
52.14
27.51
29.30
1.34
110.29
96
104.28
66.03
69.53
3.20
243.01
7 .....
52
52.14
35.76
51.64
1.73
141.27
273
$364.98
$187.76
$213.64
$9.11
$775.49
$ No house, no report.
VII .- CHURCHIES.
THE FREE-WILL BAPTIST CHURCH OF HADLEY.
In the year 1826 the first organization of the Baptist denomination in the present town of Hadley was formed. Rev. - Chandler was pastor. John Loveless and John Jenkins were deacons. It was an open-communion society, and existed for several years. The meetings were held at the residence of John Loveless. The Free-Will Baptist church was organized in the summer of 1841, at the present residence of Elder David Hyde. In 1844 the first church edifice was built by Mr. ITyde. It was a cheaply-built house, intended for but temporary use, and cost the trifling sum of 8300. The membership was small at first, but has gradually, spite of times of trial and de- pression, increased until the present number is thirty-nine. In the year 1869 the present church was built. Its cost was $2600. It is a building about thirty by fifty feet on the ground, with a square belfry and tower. Commodious sheds are attached. This house was dedicated January 20, 1870, by Rev. George T. Day, of Dover, N. H. Rev. John H. Loveless was the first pastor of the church. He was succeeded by Rev. David Hyde, who has remained pastor, with the exception of an absence of nine years in Rensselaer county (where he had charge of a church), till the present time. The church during that time was under the charge of Rev. John II. Loveless and Rev. David Smith. Rev. Joseph Tripp was pastor for one year since that time. The present officers are Richardson Woodcock, deacon ; Mrs. Anna Bingham, clerk. The Sabbath-school connected with the church was organized in 1844, with a small mem- bership. The average attendance during the past year was forty-one. Rev. David Hyde has long acted in the capacity of superintendent. There is a pleasantly-located and finely- inclosed cemetery near the church. Over the gate is the inscription, " Lynwood Cemetery ;" on the inner face is the legend, " Will not the Judge of all the earth do right ?'
The first religious meetings in the neighborhood were held at the house of John Loveless, on the northern part of great lot 4 of the twenty-fourth allotment of the Kaya- drossera patent, about the year 1825. Services were held at the residence of Rev. David Hyde until the church was built in 1844.
WESLEYAN METHODIST CHURCH OF HADLEY.
The Wesleyan Methodist church was organized in 1844. Walter R. Sutliff was class-leader. Among the first men- bers were Walter and Sarah Sutliff, Riel Loveless, Anna Johnson, Dennis Townsend, Mrs. Joseph Smith, Mrs. Den- nis Townsend, Mrs. Tilly Houghton, Laney Gray, Lucy Ilonghton, Ira Gray, and Robert Johnson. There was a class of about twenty-five members. This church is one of a circuit, and the ministers in charge at its organization were Rev. S. II. Foster, Rev. James Dayton, and Rev. William H. Hawkins. Changes have been made at different times, and the following ministers have been connected with the circuit, Rev. Enos Putnam, Rev. S. Abbott, Rev. William P. Ray, and Rev. W. H. Flansburgh. The mem- bership has sometimes been as high as fifty, but is now about
Number of Children
one.
...
...
...
...
Money.
of Children.
tendance.
53
418
HISTORY OF SARATOGA COUNTY, NEW YORK.
twenty-five. There has been a Sunday-school connected with this church, which was organized in 1845. Walter R. Sutliff was first superintendent. The average member- ship has been about forty scholars. The church edifice was built in 1845. It is a plain wooden structure, with- out blinds or tower, unpainted and quite badly out of re- pair, with a gallery on three sides of the room. Size about thirty by forty feet. First cost was $2000.
CONKLINGVILLE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCHI.
Previous to the year 1854 religious meetings were held at various times by Rev. David Lyon, of Northampton, and also by Rev. Mr. James, a Dutch Reformed minister of the town of Day. These meetings were held in the hall on the second floor of the residence of Colonel Gurdon Conkling, and also in the school-house. On the 26th of September, 1854, a committee appointed by the presbytery of Albany, consisting of Rev. J. T. Backus, D.D., Rev. S. E. Lane, and Rev. John Woodbridge, met in the hall above men- tioned for the purpose of organizing a Presbyterian church. Rev. J. T. Backus acted as moderator. Ten persons were admitted to membership and constituted the original society. Of these, Gurdon and Caroline Conkling, Mrs. Sarah Conkling, William S. Young, Orlando Barnes, Wil- liam Farquar, William Wittington, and Perry Burton joined by letter, and Henry and Luey Wilcox on profession of faith. William S. Young was elected clerk of the session. The sacrament of the Lord's Supper was admin- istered, and the first meeting of the Presbyterian church of Conklingville ended.
June 1, 1825, C. II. Skillman, a licentiate of the pres- bytery of New Brunswick, was delegated by the board of missions to take charge of the church. January 9, 1856, he joined the presbytery of Albany, and on the 17th of the same month was ordained to the ministry, and settled as the pastor of the church. He remained connected with the church in this capacity until June 1, 1860, when he relin- quished his charge. He was succeeded by J. K. McLean, a licentiate of Albany presbytery, who supplied the pulpit until October of that year. From October to December the pulpit was vacant. December 16, 1860, Rev. J. A. Pat- terson, an evangelist of the presbytery of Huntington, be- came stated supply for a time. During the years of 1861 to 1866 there was no regular supply for the pulpit, and only occasional meetings were held. The church, however, was used by the Methodist denomination and meetings were held by Rev. J. K. Wager during those years. April 14, 1867, an effort having been made to revive the somewhat dormant church, Rev. David Edgar became stated supply, and re- mained about six months. Another period of quiet, and then on the 21st of July, 1871, Rev. George Craig became stated supply. Again for a long time the pulpit was vacant, until in June, 1874, J. D. Countermine, a student at Princeton College, supplied the pulpit for about three months. The pulpit was then left unoccupied until July 1, 1875, when Rev. George S. Bell became stated supply, and remains in that capacity at present.
In the fall of 1856 steps were taken to bring about the erection of a house of worship, and the work was carried along so far as to have the building inclosed and a lecture-
room finished off by the 28th of November. On that day a preparatory lecture was delivered by the pastor, Rev. C. H. Skillman. This was the first service held in the church. For ten years following the church remained in an unfin- ished state, services being held in the lecture-room, and, when demanded by the size of the audience, in the unfin- ished room. Notably was this the case when, in April, 1865, that dark and gloomy wave of grief and horror swept over the land, darkening every hearth, and throwing the chilled life-blood back upon the fainting hearts of forty mil- lions of people. When the terrible news of the assassina- tion of that best-beloved President America ever possessed, came on the wings of the lightning, the people here, as else- where, were grieved, shocked, and almost stunned. And on that day, when a sorrowing nation, from Maine to Cali- fornia, and from the northern lakes to the boundaries of the defeated south, met to pay tribute to the worth and wisdom, the justice, generosity, kindness, and statesmanship of the departed, and to manifest their appreciation of his many virtues, and to mourn not only the country's less but a loss which each one felt to be a personal bereavement, the citizens of Iladley in common with the hosts of their fellow-country- men met to hold a memorial service. The meeting was held at the unfinished church, which was crowded full, and was addressed by Rev. J. K. Wager, a Methodist Episco- pal minister, who, standing on an upturned dry-goods box, delivered a powerful and touching sermon. In 1866 the church was finished off, and the dedicatory services were held in the fall of that year, Rev. John Woodbridge, of Saratoga, preaching the dedicatory sermon. The building is a plain structure, about thirty by sixty feet in size, and surmounted by a square tower. It is painted white, with green blinds, and presents a neat and tasty appearance. The Sunday-school connected with this church was first or- ganized as a Union Sabbath-school in 1853 or 1854. The sessions were held in the hall in the second story of Col- onel Conkling's house. Miss Mary Hedges was the prime mover in this enterprise, and was the first superintendent. Mr. Albert Conkling, Mrs. Caroline Conkling, and Mrs. A. H. Palmer, were among the first teachers in the Sunday- school. The school was not very large, but has been con- tinued since, and is now in excellent condition. The present number of names on the roll is one hundred and twenty. There are one hundred and forty volumes in the library. The present officers are D. 11. Yates, superinten- dent ; John King, assistant superintendent ; Martin H. Wilcox, secretary ; E. G. Dunklee, treasurer.
The membership of the church has varied considerably from time to time, and is now about thirty-five.
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