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 115
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Henry Bovencamp, priv., Co. G, 30th N. Y. Inf. ; enl. 1861 ; discharged ; bving in Edinburgh.
Aaron Bradt, priv., Co. G, 30th N. Y. Inf .; enl. 1861 ; died in rebel prison at Richmond, Va.
John Bradt, priv., Co. G. 30th N. Y. Inf .; en1. 1861; disch. with the regiment June 16, 1863 ; chied in Edinburgh.
Elnathan Bristol, priv., 93d N. Y. Inf .; disch, with the regiment ; living at West Day.
Peter Butler, priv., Co. C, 115th: N. Y. Inf; enl. Aug. 13, 1862; killed in action at Olustee, Fla.
llenry CIute, priv., Co. C, 115th N. Y. Inf. ; enl. Ang. 14, 1862; was killed by the explosion of the mine at Fort Fisher, N. C., being buried in the rains. James Colson, discharged ; living in Day.
John 13. Colson, discharged ; living in Day.
John S. Colson, discharged ; living at Batchellerville.
Byron Daniels, priv .; died in the service.
James Daniels, discharged ; living at Luzerne.
Edwin Delong, priv., 2d N. Y. Vet. Cav .; disch. with the regiment ; living at Conklingville.
La Fayette Delong, discharged; living in Michigan.
Andrew Deming, 2d H. Art .; d:sch. with the regiment; living in Wellstown, Hamilton Co.
Edgar L. Deming, priv., Co. C, 115th N. Y. Inf .; enl. Ang. 8, 1862; discharged ; living in Wellstown, Hamilton Co.
Jolin Deming, priv., 2d H. Art. ; died in the service.
Gordon Dimick, priv., Co. D, 4th H. Art .; enl. Dec. 14, 18G1.
George Dickerson, priv., Co. D, 4th II. Att .; enl. Dec. 25, 1861.
Joseph Ellison, priv .; killed at the battle of Cold Harbor.
Elam F. Evans, priv., Co. C, 115th N. Y. Inf .; enl. Aug. 5, 1862; killed at the battle of the Wilderness in 1864.
Gilbert F. Edmond, priv., Co. D, 4th HI. Art .; enl. Dec. 25, 1861.
Nicholas Flansburgh, pr.v., 77th N. Y. Inf. ; enl. 1861 ; died in hospital.
Julian Graves, priv., Co. E, 4th II. Art .; discharged ; living in Greenfield.
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HISTORY OF SARATOGA COUNTY, NEW YORK.
Daniel Guiles, priv., 2d N. Y. Vet. Cav .; discb. with the regiment ; living in Day.
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Irving W. Guiles, corp., Co. G, 30th N. Y. Inf; enl. Juno 1, 18GI; mustered ont June 16, 1863; living at Day Centre.
George Guiles, priv., Co, G, 30th N. Y. Inf .; enl. June 1, 18G1 ; trans. to 77th N. Y. Inf. ; lost trace of.
Rensselaer Havens, priv., 115th N. V. Inf .; disch. with the regiment; died in Day, since the war, of disease contracted in the service.
Charles Hetrick, priv., Co. D, 4th H. Art .; disch, with the regiment; living in Edinburgh.
Thomas Hopkins, priv., Co. G, 20th N. Y. Inf. ; enl. June 1, 1861 ; discharged ; living in Glen's Falls.
Wendell B. Howe, priv., Co. C, 115th N. Y. Inf .; enl. Aug. 8, 1862; killed on the vidette line in front of Petersburg, Va.
William C. Howe, priv., Co. C. 77th N Y. Iuf. ; enl. Nov. 8, 18GI.
William A. Hunt, corp., Co. D, 4th N. Y. H. Art ; enl. Dec. 15, 1861.
David Kinney, priv .; living at Ballston.
Jonathan Kinney, piv., Co. E, 4th II. Art. : living in Rensselaer county
Abramı R. Lawrence, corp., Co. G, 30th N. Y. Int .; enl. June 1, 1861; wounded
five times; disch. with the regiment ; he also served in the Florida war and in the Mexican war, and is now living in Day.
Philo Roswell Lawrence, priv., Co. D, 4th II. Art .; eul. Dec. 15, 186] ; disch. with the regiment; lives in Wellstown, Hamilton Co.
C. F. Marcellus, priv., Co. C, 77th N. Y. Inf .; en]. Nov. 14, 18GI.
John II. Mason, priv., Co. C, 115th N. Y. Inf; enl. Aug. 7, 1862; disch, with the regiment ; living in Day.
Edward Mattison, priv., Co. C, 77th N. Y. Taf .; enl. Oct. 1, 1861.
Zira II. Mattison, priv., Co. C, 77th N. Y. Inf. ; eul. Oct. 15, 1861.
John Michaels, priv., 77th N. Y. Inf .; enl. 1861 ; lives in Wellstown, N. Y.
Renzi Michaels, priv. ; substitute for Isaac N. Scott ; died in the service.
Ambrose Milliman, priv., 77th N. V. Inf .; eul. 1861 ; living in Iowa.
Cutler Mill.man, priv., 53d N. Y. Inf .; enl. 1861; lost an arm in the service; received an lionorable d scharge; lives in Iowa.
William Milliman, priv., 77th N. Y. Inf .; living in Iowa.
John McGuire, priv., Co. D, 4th HI. Art .; enl. Dec. 25, 18G].
Zabin Mills, priv., Co. E, 169th N. Y. Inf .; died in the service.
Abijah Ovitt, priv., Co. D, 4th H. Art .: enl. Dec. 25, 18G1 ; died in the service.
Chauncey Palmer, priv., Co. G, 30th N. Y. Inf .; enl. Jone 1, 1861 ; mustered out with the regiment ; lives in Saratoga.
Arunah Perry, priv., Co. G, 30th N. Y. Inf. ; mustered in June 1, 18GI ; mus- tered out June 16, 1863; lives in Hope, Hamilton Co.
George Pixley, priv. ; living in Day.
James Pixley, priv .; living in Warrensburg.
William Pixley, priv .; living in Edinburgh.
Edwin Rhodes, priv., Co. C. 115th N. Y. Inf. ; enl. Aug. 6, 1862; mustered out with the regiment : living in Day.
John Ross, priv., 93d N Y. Inf .; living in Croweville, town of Day, or Edinburgh. Charles Ryther, priv. ; lives in Day.
William Scott, priv., 4th H. Art. ; musterel out ; living in Hadley.
Samuel B. Shepard, priv .. Co. C, 77th N. Y. Inf ; en1. Oct 22, 1861 ; lives in Day.
Dennis Springer, priv., Co. C, 115th N. Y. Inf .; enl. Aug. 6, 1862; killed on vidette line in front of Petersburg, Va.
Jobn Stead, Jr., priv., 30th N. Y. Inf .; enl. 18G1 ; missing.
Beecher Truax, priv., 2d N. Y. Vet. Cav.
Henry Truax, priv., 2d N. Y. Vet. Cav. ; living at Glen's Falls.
John W. Van Arnom, priv .. Co. D, 4th II. Art .; enl. Dec. 14, 1861.
John Vanderhoof, priv., Co. G, 30th N. Y. Iof .; enl. June 1, 1861 ; mnstered out with the regiment; living in Northampton.
Ransom Varney, priv., Co. G, 30th N. Y. Inf. ; enl. 1861.
Solomon Wheeler, priv., 2d N. Y. Vet. Cav .; living in Chautauqua county.
Timothy White, priv .. 93d N. Y. Iaf .; living at Creek Centre, Warren Co.
Lorin Woodcock, priv., Co. E, 169th N. Y. Inf. ; discharged : living in Ballston. Stephen Woodcock, priv., Co. E, 169th N. Y. Inf .; living in Tioga Co., Pa. George Woodworth, priv .; died in Day in 1577.
Charles A. Vates, priv., Co. C, 115th N. Y. Inf .; enl. Aug. 6, 1862; mustered out; living in Day.
Edgar F. Yates, priv .; was never mustered into the service on account of sick- ness; living in Day.
William II. Zenstine, priv .; living in Batchellerville.
The town, in August, 1864, paid a bounty of $300 to volunteers to fill its quota. In September the amount offered was increased to $950.
In the troublous times of the War of 1812 a report was circulated that the Indians were coming with tomahawk, scalping-knife, and fire-brand, pillaging, murdering, and burning whatever fell into their revengeful hands. Some of the settlers, among them the Flansburghs, Van Vlecks, Van Pattens, Wooleys, and others, abandoned their farms, packed their household effects and removed to Schenectady in search of peace, safety, and civilization. Some returned ; others did not. The settlers who stayed through the ex-
citement, refusing to flec, have ever since felt justified in a little jocose bantering of the ones who were frightened into leaving their homes.
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH.
ENOS MURPHY.
The subject of this sketch was born in Canada in the year 1835, and came to Saratoga Co., N. Y., about the year 1853. His early life was spent in the routine of farm labor, and at common district schools. His father, James, was a native of Ireland, and belonged to that hardy race of men who have fought for liberty from oppression, built our ca-
nals and railroads, and who by economy and industry have secured homes and wealth in a foreign land. Since he came to this county he has engaged largely in the lumber business, and successfully managed his interests in that direction. In the year 1874 he married Mrs. Melvina, widow of the late Silas Paul, and daughter of John G. Demming. They have two children, George D. and Sarah L.
Mr. Murphy is a man of indomitable perseverance, and early in life became inured to the hardships of labor, and continues to follow the business first engaged in upon coming here, his operations causing him to employ at times some fifty men. He is manly, and kind to all whom he comes in contact with or has in his employ. When he first came to Saratoga County he settled iu the town of Day, and floated his logs on Mud lake and Livingstou lake, and now uses all the available streams for that pur- pose.
WILTON.
I .- GEOGRAPHICAL POSITION.
THE town of Wilton lies northeast from the centre of the county. It is bounded north by Corinth and Moreau, east by Northumberland, south by Saratoga and Saratoga Springs. The town includes 16,956 acres of improved land, 5045 acres of unimproved, and of this last amount 3495 aeres are woodland. The population in 1875 was 1218. The town lies wholly within the Kayadrossera patent.
We add the brief legal description of the town and the definition of its boundaries, as found in the revised statutes of the State :
"The town of Wilton shall contain all that part of said county hounded northerly by the north bounds of Northumberland continued west to the northeast corner of Greenfield, easterly by Northumber- land, southerly by a westerly continuation of the south bounds of Northumberland, and westerly by Greenfield."
The region that now constitutes the town of Wilton was known in colonial times as Palmertown. This name, tra- dition says, was given it by a band of Indians who came there from the east some time after King Philip's war, and settled at the base of the mountains somewhere in the Perry and Stiles neighborhood. As Palmertown it was long known by the early settlers. As Palmertown it be- came a place of considerable trade and importance, while what is now called Saratoga Springs was known as a " deer lick" in the woods six miles south. During the Revolu- tion two block-houses were built at Palmertown, in which troops were sometimes quartered, and in which the early settler often sought shelter from the British and Canadian Indians. After the Revolution, and early in the present century, Palmertown was regarded as a more eligible place of settlement for business and professional men than Sara- toga Springs. It was in Palmertown and in its neighbor- hood that Dr. John H. Steel, Judge Esek Cowen, and other distinguished professional men first opened their offices and began their practice. With the early merchants of Palmertown the earliest settlers of Saratoga Springs did the most of their trading.
Aeross Palmertown and through Greenfield, following an old Indian trail, ran the old highway to Johnstown and the west over which thousands of New England emigrants passed on their way to central or western New York in the early years of this century. But when the new town was formed the old name was dropped. But the mountain- range at whose foot the old Indian hamlet nestles still bears aloft the old historie name of PALMERTOWN.
II .- NATURAL FEATURES.
The northwest corner of Wilton is filled with the moun- tain masses of the Palmertown range of the Adirondack mountains. The Palmertown range is the most easterly
of the five great mountain-chains which traverse the great wilderness. The Palmertown range begins on Lake Cham- plain, near Ticonderoga, and running down on both sides of Lake George, crosses the Hudson above Glen's Falls, and running through the town of Wilton, ends in the high ground of North Broadway, in Saratoga Springs. Mount MeGregor, one of the principal peaks of this range, is in this town, and Glen Mitchell lies in one of the mountain gaps in the corner of Greenfield. These mountains afford beautiful and picturesque scenery, with their steep rocky declivities and forest-crowned summits.
The centre and southwest parts of the town are gently undulating or broken by low ridges. The principal streams are Snoek Kill, Bog Meadow brook, and Cold brook. The soil in the cast and southeast is a yellow sandy loam resting on clay, and in some places swampy. At the foot of the Palmertown mountains is found some of the best land in the town, a belt of productive gravel and clay loam. The ancient growth of white and yellow pine that covered the plains was very heavy. It has nearly all been cut off.
The town has a mineral spring of acidulous and carbon- ated water near Emerson's Corners, and there is also a sulphur spring in the southeast part.
In the vicinity of Wilton village there are some very fine farms, good soil, and productive.
Perry's pond is a small body of water covering perhaps fifteen aeres. The Snoek Kill is the outlet of it.
The mineral spring above alluded to is on the farm of Mr. Rood. The water is of excellent quality, very pleasant to the taste, and under favorable circumstances, near a large village, might be quite celebrated.
III .- EARLY SETTLEMENT.
The first settlement of what is now the town of Wilton, but then and long before known as Palmertown, was begun by two brothers, William and Samuel Brisbin, as early as the year 1764. These two brothers were the sons by his first wife of James Brisbin, who came over from the north of Ireland, and became the first settler of what is now the town of Northumberland, in the year 1765.
The two brothers, William and Samuel Brisbin, made their first attempt at settlement on the south branch of the Snoek Kill, in what afterwards became the Laing neighbor- hood. One and perhaps both of them had been soldiers under Abercrombie and Amherst in the last French war, and the year after peace was concluded they began the early settlement of the old wilderness they had so often traversed while on the war-path. They made clearings, built a saw- mill, and eut roads on to their lands. When the war of the Revolution came on they abandoned their little settle- ment.
462
Photo, by Baker & Record, Saratoga Springs,
B Collamer
463
HISTORY OF SARATOGA COUNTY, NEW YORK.
In the year 1770, Rowland Perry, having a family of eight sons, removed from Dutchess county to these northern woods, where there was ample room for the labors of this large family of stalwart boys. The names of this colony brought by Rowland Perry were Samuel, John, Benjamin, Absalom, Roswell, Artemas, Rowland, Joseph. The home selected by Mr. Perry was on the present farm of John Woodard. The valuable spring at that place, flowing from the solid rock two and a half barrels a minute, was a great attraction to decide the question of location. A further argument in favor of this place was suggested by Mr. Perry's experience in Dutchess county, which had proved that very fertile lands were found at the base of the hills. If there was some after-disappointment as to the soil, yet surely the beautiful valley, sheltered on the north and west by the mountains, is attractive enough now to justify Mr. Perry's selection. The family reached this place over a road cut by the Jessups, early settlers of Luzerne, from Fort Miller, on the Iludson, by way of what is now Emer- son's Corners and Wiltonville, the road then bearing north- westerly through the Perry neighborhood, and over the mountains, and then up the Hudson to Luzerne.
IIere this pioneer family began the struggle of frontier life. All the sons remained for a time, but two finally re- moved to Sencea county, and two to Genesee county. After settling on the rich, fertile lands of western New York, it is not strange if they doubted the wisdom of their father's early choice. Four of the sons settled in Wilton, and the name is a frequent one in various parts of the town. Wil- liam, a grandson, born in 1797, is still living in sight of the carly home,-a specimen of lively, healthy old age rarely seen. To his clear memory and accurate statements we are indebted for many items in the early history of the town.
A year later than the advent of the Perrys, the town received quite an accession of emigrants.
In 1781 or 1782 there had arrived at New York four brothers, James McGregor, William McGregor, John McGregor, and Alexander McGregor. They were sons of John McGregor, of Thorn Hill, Scotland. One of the brothers, John, lived in New York city, and Alexander returned across the ocean, and settled at Liverpool, England.
In the year 1787, James and William, pushing north- ward, settled in the present town of Wilton. The circum- stances that led to their removal here were these. In the same ship with the MeGregors the Camerons, clansmen and acquaintances, came over to this country. Induced by Thurman, a Scotchman already here, they settled in Lu- zerne ; and the McGregors following the same general line, came to Wilton. It is stated by Duncan MeGregor, of the present Mountain House, that the Camerons were offered, for the same price as they paid in Luzerne, the fertile lands of Johnstown.
James McGregor's pioneer home was the present place of James Henry, a little north of Wiltonville, and the first house stood on the site of the present one. It was a framed building, a story and a half high. It was burned in 1824, and the present house was built immediately after.
William McGregor settled about a mile from his brother, east of Wiltonville.
The brothers became prominent citizens of the town, and passed their lives here.
The sons of William McGregor were John, William, James, and Alexander, and there were also three daughters, Ann, Charlotte, and Elizabeth. Ann became the wife of Mr. Emerson, Elizabeth the wife of Peter MeIntyre ; James and Alexander settled in New York, William at Coeymans, John at Black Brook, Essex county.
The sons of James McGregor were John, James, William, Alexander, Peter, Duncan, and Gregor; the daughters, Elizabeth, Margaret, and Mary Ann. Elizabeth married Iloratio Buell ; Margaret, Lewis Thompson; and Mary Ann, Nicholas Vandewerker. William went to South America, Alexander to Iowa, Gregor to New York; the others set- tled in this section. The home of Duncan for many years has been Glen's Falls. For the last two or three years he has been engaged in perfecting his plans, opening roads and erecting buildings for a pleasure resort on MeGregor moun- tain, a mile and a half from Wiltonville. It was opened to visitors the present season, and is spoken of at length in another place.
Reuben Stiles, of Rhode Island, moved to Palmertown, now Wilton, in the year 1775, and made a settlement at what has ever since been known as Stiles' Corners. Ilis first house was erected on the place now owned by Widow Gray. His children were Eli, Renben, Isaac, Johnson, John, David, Henry, Peter, and Angeline. One of these, John, is still living in Indiana ; Angeline beeame the wife of James D. King ; Reuben and Henry moved west ; David to Chenango county ; Eli, Isaac, and Peter settled in Wilton ; John- son lived in Wilton for a time, and afterwards moved west.
Benjamin Phillips, of Vermont, came to the same neigh- borhood, and settled there about the same time as Reuben Stiles. Ilis house was on what is now known as the Stiles place. It stood in the orchard below the old tavern. There he opened a tavern, and Phillips afterwards kept tavern ou the site of the present Stiles house, that is, the old Phillips homestead. In the wall under the piazza is one stone taken from the old log house of Mr. Phillips. It has on it the inscription, " B. P. 1787." The wife of Eli Stiles was a daughter of Solomon Phillips, son of Benjamin Phillips. Northrup Stiles and Louisa Stiles, children of Eli, now oc- cupy the old place.
The children of Isane Stiles were Mary Ann, James, John, William, Angeline, and Emeline.
The children of Peter Stiles were Amanda, Oscar, Har- rison, Marvil, Susette, Maria Antoinette, and Warren.
Benjamin Phillips and some other carly settlers were buried on the present Fuller farm, the graves scarcely to be found at the present time.
In 1775, Stephen King and his brother Ebenezer moved to Wilton, Dutchess county, coming through from Ballston by means of marked trees. Stephen King's place was the farm now owned by John Goodale. He opened a tavern after a few years, generally called the first in town. This, and that of Benjamin Phillips, probably did not differ much in the time of their opening. Ebenezer King seems to have been the first settler at the present village of Wiltonville. His old homestead was the present Varney house. Ile had two sons,-Ansil and Ormil.
464
HISTORY OF SARATOGA COUNTY, NEW YORK.
William King was an early settler near Dunworth Cor- ners, and kept a tavern there.
John Laing, from Scotland, also came in 1775, and settled on the place now owned by Ira Rood, near Emerson's Cor- ners. On his farm is the mineral spring spoken of else- where. Ilere, too, he erected a saw-mill, a little north of the spring. Here he passed his life, and his remains are entombed in the soil of the farm he owned. On the rounded summit of the hill, in the midst of what is now a beautiful meadow, are the broken and fallen stones that mark the graves of the Laings. The largest, a broad, finely- chiseled slab, bears the following inscription :
" In memory of John Laing, who was born in Longholm, county of Roxborough, in Dumfriesshire, Scotland, emigrated to Palmertown, in the State of New York, and followed mer- chandising until March 23, 1793, when he expired in the blessed hope of immortality, aged sixty-seven." On the stone are earved the square and compass, the Bible and bells, emblems of the Masonie order. The members of the eraft residing in Wilton will honor their ancient prin- tiples of respect for their departed brothers by surrounding this little spot with a fence, or otherwise caring for a Mason who died before the century began. Surely the emblems of the order might at least be rescued from the soil now partially covering them.
There also are the graves of Walter Laing, who died in 1810; Helen Laing, the wife of John Laing, who died in 1801 ; Robert Laing, in 1809 ; and Helen Laing, a child.
The carving upon these stones is not very easily surpassed by modern workmen, and it certainly is a case of sad neglect to leave not only the remains of the dead, but also the rich artistie work of a former generation, to be soon covered by the plow and the harrow.
It is supposed that Peter Johnston, a brother-in-law of William Laing, also came to this country about the same time as he did. He settled in the same neighborhood.
Another early settler was John Boyce, about the year 1784. His location was the present place of Mrs. John E. Boyce, near the railroad.
Robert and James Milligan were the pioneers in the southeast corner of the town. John Kendrick settled near him, on what has been known in late years as Kendrick's Ilill. Enoch Peace settled in the same neighborhood · also.
Broadstreet Emerson was an early settler, about 1790, north of what is still known as Emerson's Corners. Dudley Emersou aud Joseph, brothers, also came in soon after.
Lyndes Emerson, whose name appears so often in the records as a town officer, and as the place to which the town-meetings were adjourned, was a son of Broadstreet Emerson. The Emersons came from Lyme, Conn. Jo- seph Emerson built the tavern, a large, roomy mansion, the seene of much old-time festivity. Lyndes kept tavern in it for a long series of years, and it is now over eighty years old. lu the possession of Mrs. Lyndes Emerson, still living in the Emerson taveru, are many ohl documents, some of them of considerable value. Broadstreet Emerson was a very early magistrate, appointed by the governor. A roll of leaves, constituting the docket of his court as far back as 1802, is among the papers of Mrs. Emerson.
Mary A., daughter of Joseph Emerson, became the wife of Walter Doe, and Hannah married William Burnham.
Waldo, one of the sons, settled in Milestown, N. Y., and became a prominent citizen there.
In the neighborhood of the Loudon church Edward Bevins was an early settler. He located on the present place of Lewis Adams. Hle had been a Revolutionary sol- dier, and was at the battle of Bunker Ifill; was a drum- major. His children have often heard him relate the story of the battle, and that when they were nearly ont of ammu- nition they rolled down upon the advaneing British force barrels of sand. Ife eame to Wilton in the year 1780, and about the same time, or a little later, David Adams, an- other pioneer, came from Connecticut and settled near the Corners.
Lewis Adams, a son of Jason Adams, and a grandson of David Adams, lives near the present Protestant Methodist church.
Other carly settlers along the southern part of the town, but not as early as 1800 perhaps, were Hugh Groesbeek, Isaac Ingersoll, John Douglas, Isane Hoag, Jonathan Pendle, James Shearer, John Jaycox.
Enoch Place lived on the present Jane Baker farm. Jayeox, on the farm now owned by Widow Boyee.
William Comstock came from Rhode Island to Green- field in the year 1793. In 1805 he removed to Wilton, and settled on the farm now owned by his son, Wm. W. Comstock. He was a justice of the peace in very early times, appointed by the governor. The docket of the courts held by him is in the possession of his son. It is said of Mr. Comstock that while he served through a long series of years, and presided in many trials, no decision made by him as justice of the peace was ever set aside by a higher court.
Robert MeGregor was an early settler in the town of Wilton. He came from l'erthshire, Scotland, in the year 1801, married Mary, daughter of John Brisbin, and located iu this town in 1808.
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