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 45
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78 | Part 79 | Part 80 | Part 81 | Part 82 | Part 83 | Part 84 | Part 85 | Part 86 | Part 87 | Part 88 | Part 89 | Part 90 | Part 91 | Part 92 | Part 93 | Part 94 | Part 95 | Part 96 | Part 97 | Part 98 | Part 99 | Part 100 | Part 101 | Part 102 | Part 103 | Part 104 | Part 105 | Part 106 | Part 107 | Part 108 | Part 109 | Part 110 | Part 111 | Part 112 | Part 113 | Part 114 | Part 115 | Part 116 | Part 117 | Part 118 | Part 119 | Part 120 | Part 121 | Part 122 | Part 123 | Part 124 | Part 125 | Part 126 | Part 127 | Part 128 | Part 129
FINANCIAL STATEMENT.
For the School Year, March 1, 1877, to March 1, 1878.
RECEIPTS.
From public money.
$5,436.76
.. village tax
28,808.00
: regents of the university.
138.96
tuition of non-resident pupils
65,50
rent of buuses.
17.00
$34,466.22
DISBURSEMENTS.
For teachers' wages.
$16,924.26
: janitor's wages.
746.13
.. fuel
SS5.08
new building, including payment on mort- gages
16,621.78
repairs.
1,199.22
insurance.
204.90
furniture
434.02
66
library.
119.96
incidentals,-brooms, printing. etc.
914.48
Total ..
$38,048.83
Cost per capita of current expenses, everything included, except new buildings, is $11.97. In 1874, 813.46; 1875, $14.29; 1876, 813 11 ; 1877, $13.46 ; and 1878, $11.97.
COMPARATIVE TABLE OF STATISTICS
Relative to the Union Free School, extending from 1872 to the Present Time, as shown by the Annual Report to the Board of Regents, September 1.
SUMMARY STATEMENT.
1872.
1873.
1874.
1875.
1876.
1877.
Value of academic lot and buildings
$16,000.00
$17,000.00
$17,000.00
817,000.00
$17,000.00
$17,000.00
Value of library
200.00
200.00
200.00
200,00
200.00
200.00
Apparatus.
245.26
297.76
399.76
399.76
399.76
399.76
Other property.
500 00
500.00
500.00
500.00
500.00
500.00
DISBURSEMENTS. #
Teachers' wages ..
$2,050.00
$2,600.00
$3,120.00
$3,120.00 300.00
$2.920.00 300.00
$2,600.00 300.00
Fuel and incidentals.
300.00
300.00
300.00
Apparatus
147,00
152.50
102.00
Repairs and alterations
1.700.00
250.00
Sum of attendance
314
240
253
291
299
283
Average attendance.
105
SC
82
97
99
72
Average daily attendance
75
593 per cent.
58 per cent.
59 per cent.
60 per cent.
73 per cent. 36
Passed regents' examination.
9
21
12
28
1
* As there is no separate account kept for the academic department, the receipts are equal to the disbursements.
183
HISTORY OF SARATOGA COUNTY, NEW YORK.
SEMINARIES AND PRIVATE SCHOOLS.
Of the early schools of Saratoga Springs, Wm. L. Stone writes, in his interesting " Reminiscences," as follows : " The most prominent if not the only teacher of those days was Lawyer Blake, as he was called. He was a man of liberal education, and was the first to establish himself as a lawyer in the village. His success in his profession appears not to have been great, and he afterwards opened a school in the upper village. He died many years since at the Osborn House. Mr. Smith, commonly known as Dea- con Smith, was a graduate of an eastern college, and taught off and on for a number of years. He was a man of great peculiarities and of great excellencies. Then came MIr. Marshall,-a Quaker,-the author of ' Marshall's Spelling- Book,'-a work much used in its day.
" After that, from year to year, school was taught in the ' old school-house' in Church street, just north of the old Presbyterian meeting-house, since known as the Commer- cial liotel. This school-house was burned down long since, but there are many yet who have not forgotten it. Students from Union and other colleges would here try their skill as pedagogues till a wider field was opened to them. Neither would we fail to mention Miss Dolly Abel, who taught their ' A B C's' to generation after generation. She was emphatically the village school-mistress,-a woman of sub- stantial excellence. Miss Pearce too was a veteran teacher, who began and finished her course in her own house in Federal street. Time would fail us to name the multitude of worthy persons who have begun and remained a longer or shorter time in this vocation. Rev. Mr. Duncan, Miss Day, Mrs. Streeter, Miss Ashman, and latterly, Miss Carrie Carpenter and Mrs. Frederick Root, both of whom have conducted a popular school successfully for many years."
Miss Martha Thompson, daughter of Dr. N. Thompson, opened a first-class school for young ladies in the north part of the village, following Miss Williams.
After the closing of the Wayland Seminary, a special account of which is added to this sketch, there were other schools, with reference to which we quote further from Mr. Stone :
" The first prominent school for boys was opened in 1836, by Mr. Elijah K. Bangs, in the old Methodist meeting- house, now the Broadway House, which he purchased and transformed into a building suitable for his purpose. He resided in the village until 1838, when he removed to Hempstead, Long Island, but returned in 1839, and con- tinued to teach in Saratoga until the spring of 1845.
" In the spring of 1849 Mr. Paoli Durkee opened a classical school for boys, and continued to teach until the summer of 1858. On first coming to the village he taught in Washington Hall, since occupied by Mrs. Charles Mason and others, but at that time owned by the late Joel Root. Afterwards he purchased the lot adjoining the hall on the north, and erected on it a dwelling and a school-house, into the latter of which he removed his school in 1851. The school has educated many persons eminent in their several walks in life, having worthy representatives in the mechani- cal, mercantile, legal, medical, and military professions. Among the latter may be mentioned the late Lieutenant- Governor Morris, whose early death after be had made a
brilliant record in the late civil war excited a poignant sorrow throughout a wide circle of friends.
" Mr. Durkee aimed to render study attractive by cheer- ful surroundings rather than by stern and harsh discipline. Many a delightful summer day has witnessed his entire school reclining on the mossy carpet of the woods in the rear of the school-house diligently conning their lessons.
" Rev. Mr. Proudfit succeeded Mr. Durkee ; then Mr. Robb, now of Oswego. In the later years Rev. Mr. Crocker opened a private school."
To this account may be added a school for girls, taught for some years in what is now the Broadway House, by Miss Hannah Hodgman and Miss Nancy Hodgman, ladies of thorough education and literary culture.
Among the teachers of early times may still further be mentioned the names of some who taught in the old academy : Mr. Stephen T. Nott, Rev. Mr. Williams, Mr. Gregory, Mr. Mann.
In the way of select schools, as personal enterprises, may be named as having taught for longer or shorter periods, Miss Seekrider. Miss Ames, Mrs. Bird, Miss Eaton, Mrs. Streeter, Miss Day, Rev. Mr. Half. In later years Mrs. Dickenson, Miss Ashman, Miss Woodworth, Rev. Mr. Dunton, Misses Williams and Paul, Miss Thompson, Mrs. Root. Teachers of boys' schools were Messrs. Proudfit and Robb, Professor IFandock, Rev. Mr. Crocker, Mr. Ellin- wood, Mr. Rouse, Mr. Johnson. At the present time (1878) Miss Spence has an interesting school for little folks in Circular street.
THE MISSES WAYLAND'S SCHOOL.
The first boarding- and day-school for young ladies was opened by the Misses Wayland in 1831, on the south cor- ner of Broadway and Washington streets. The site is now covered by the building of the Grand Union Hotel. The school-house on Washington street having undergone vari- ous changes, was in 1875 removed to Putnam street, in the rear of Congress Hall. It was a very simple and unpre- tending structure, but it was dear to many hearts on account of its cherished associations. Many matrons now presiding over households in all parts of the Union look back to school-days passed there with loving, glad remembrance. The number of pupils was always limited, a family school having been the ideal of the principals. To educate as well as to instruct was their purpose. The condition of the school was prosperous, and it was well sustained until its final close, which was occasioned by family changes.
TEMPLE GROVE SEMINARY.
In 1854, Mr. Carter opened a school for young ladies, in a building now a part of Dr. Strong's establishment.
Soon after, Rev. Luther F. Beecher was associated with him, and in 1856 they built the institution at Temple Grove. It was conducted by Mr. Beecher until 1865, when it was sold to parties from New York for hotel and school purposes combined. Their undertaking was not successful.
The school was suspended for a year, and in 1868 the property was purchased by Rev. Charles F. Dowd. He made large additions to the building, supplied the entire
184
HISTORY OF SARATOGA COUNTY, NEW YORK.
institution with every needed facility, and made it a first- class ladies' seminary. In 1869 it was incorporated, be- coming subject to the supervision of the regents of the university, and sharing in the distribution of the literature fund. The first board of trustees were: Rey. Charles F. Dowd, president ; Rev. John Woodbridge, vice-president ; Hon. Frederick A. Conkling, Rev. P. R. Day, Rev. L. M. Woodruff, Rev. John P. Gibson, Hon. Charles S. Lester, Alexander Cherry, Prof. Hiram A. Wilson, Charles N. Lock wood, and Paoli Durkee; Benjamin F. Baneroft, treasurer ; Henry M. Dowd, secretary.
The school is now (June, 1878) in vigorous and success- ful operation, remaining under the charge of Mr. Dowd.
The present board of trustees are: Rev. Charles F. Dowd, A.M., president; Rev. Charles S. Lester, A.M., vice president ; Hon. George S. Batcheller, A.M., Hon. Frederick A. Conkling, New York city, Rev. Peter Stryker, D.D., Rev. James N. Crocker, A.M., Hon. John C. Hulbert, Paoli Durkee, A.M., Henry M. Dowd, Alexan- der Cherry, and Hiram A. Wilson, A.M .; Benjamin F. Bancroft, treasurer ; David F. Ritchie, secretary.
Principals .- Rev. Charles F. Dowd, A.M., Mrs. Har- riet M. Dowd.
Instructors .- Scientifie Department : Charles F. Dowd, A.M., Helen W. North, N. Amelia Dowd, Ellen R. Dowd.
Department of Music : Thomas P. Fenner, Florence M. Eddy.
Department of French and German : Mary C. Abbott. Department of Painting and Drawing : Eleanor Merrill. Grounds and Situation-The grounds are covered with a grove of native forest-trees, and are conveniently and tastefully laid out for recreative purposes. They occupy the whole square on Spring street, between Circular and Regent streets. The site is on a little elevation just east of the main street of the village, within ten minutes' walk of Washington spring on the south, and about the same distance from Empire spring on the north, with all the most celebrated springs lying between. From the seminary observatory the whole surrounding country, to a distance of over fifty miles, is brought into an unbroken view in every direction, except upon the northwest, where the view is intercepted by mountains a few miles distant.
VIII .- SOCIETIES. MASONIC.
Rising Sun Lodge, Saratoga Springs .- Rising Sun Lodge was first instituted in that section of the county known as Northumberland, and afterwards as the town of Wilton. The earliest reference to the order, from records that have been preserved, bears date on Oct. 4, 1808, and from minutes of a meeting held at that time Nicholas Angle was Worshipful Master of the lodge ; Daniel Ilieks, Senior Warden ; and Jonas King, Junior Warden. The lodge, at the date referred to, must have been working under a dispensation, as the charter now in possession of the present lodge bears date on Sept. 6, 1809, with Nicholas Angle, Worshipful Master, Stephen King, Senior Warden, and Jared Palmer, Junior Warden.
The lodge continued in successful operation for some years after, when, in 1821, a series of unfortunate cireum-
stances concurred making it necessary, in the opinion of the officers and brethren, that the lodge be removed from Wil- ton to the town of Saratoga Springs. Steps were taken to accomplish this desirable object, but it was not successfully brought before the Grand Lodge of the State of New York until May 25, 1824, a copy of the petition for that purpose being among the papers preserved, and the removal ap- proved by the Grand Lodge June 5, 1824. Previous to this, however, meetings of the lodge were held in what was then called Drake's building, or the old Congress Hall, in 1823. The lodge was afterwards moved to the Columbian Hotel, on the corner of Lake avenue and Broadway, from there to the building owned by Robert Gardner, then to Dr. L. E. Whiting's building, afterwards to that owned by L. P. Close, and thence to the rooms now occupied, in what is known as Ainsworth place.
For six years after the removal from the town of Wilton to Saratoga Springs, Rising Sun Lodge continued in suc- cessful operation, but from that date (1830) until 1835 ceased to make use of its franchise from eireuinstances oceurring at that period, which weakened the energies and impaired the usefulness of the institution of Freemasonry, and hence incurred forfeiture of its warrant. In sueceed- ing years it was regularly revived, but incurred another forfeiture consequent upon inability to continue in thorough organization by removal of able and competent members from the vicinity. A dispensation was granted by the Grand Lodge to certain petitioners, Dec. 16, 1844, organ- izing a regular lodge of Master Masons, to be distinguished as Union Lodge, to be held in the village of Saratoga Springs, which was to continue in force until the 15th day of May, 1845. On May 14, 1845, a petition was drawn up for presentation to the Grand Lodge of the State re- questing the revival of Rising Sun Lodge ; the prayer of the petitioners was granted, and in June, 1845, the lodge was revived and renumbered in the Grand Lodge as Rising Sun Lodge, No. 103, and has continued a successful and active body since its restoration. The charter members in the resuscitation of the lodge were G. M. Davison, Robert McDonnell, Alvah Marvin, Gardner Bullard, D. D. Ben- edict, Joseph White, and Joseph M. Wheeler. D. D. Benedict was elected first Worshipful Master on the reor- ganization of the lodge.
The following are the officers of Rising Sun Lodge for 1878-79: James Mingay, W. M .; E. A. Record, S. W .; Otis Peek, J. W .; C. II. Hulburt, Treas. ; D. Eddy, See. ; A. W. Shepherd, S. D .; J. M. Fryer, J. D. ; C. H. Teft, S. S .; N. Clark, J. S .; Rev. J. Carey, Chaplain ; J. H. Winder, Organist ; E. Brackett, Marshal; C. W. Bene- dict, Tyler.
Rising Sun Chapter, No. 131, Royal Arch Masons, was instituted Feb. 2, 1847. The charter officers were : Joseph M. Wheeler, II. P .; D. D. Benedict, K. ; Richard L. Allen, S. The officers for 1878 are: I. I. Bullard, II. P. ; Otis Peck, K .; William Shoemaker, S. ; J. Myers, C. of H .; L. R. Cushing, P. S .; W. A. Austin, R. A. C .; I. P. Howden, M. 3d V .; C. Carpenter, M. 2d V .; T. A. Record, M. Ist V .; C. H. Cromwell, Treas. ; W. H. Hull, See. ; C. W. Benedict, Tyler.
Cryptic Council, No. 37, Royal and Select Masters,
PHOTO. BY STERRY, SARATOGA SPRINGS.
JOHN VAN RENSSELAER, EsQ.
John Van Rensselaer was born in the town of Greenfield, Saratoga County, N. Y., December 25, 1846. Ile is a self-made man, and one of the rising attorneys of this county. He came to Saratoga Springs with his parents when a child, and received his early education at the eom- mon schools. At the age of thirteen he began a course of self-education with a view to the legal profession. Such was the eagerness of his mind for knowledge that he locked himself up in a garret and studied day and night, consulting books and authors, and where his own efforts failed him, he appealed for the solution of his difficulties to older and wiser men of his acquaintance. Thus he made his way to the acquisition of knowledge, and this habit of study he has kept up through all his professional practice.
At the age of sixteen he began the study of law in the office of Hon. J. C. Hulbert, of Saratoga Springs, and com- pleted his course with L. B. Pike, Esq., of that village. In 1867 he was admitted to practice in all the courts of the State, and immediately thereafter admitted to the courts of the United States. In 1869 and 1870 he practiced law in the city of New York, where he acquired the reputation
of a brilliant and successful advocate. By overwork his health failed, and he was obliged to retire from active duties. He sought rest and reenperation of his wasted energies in rusticating, hunting, and fishing,-meantime studying and reading books relating to his profession. After spending a year or so in this mode of life, with strength and vigor restored, he resumed his practice at Saratoga Springs, and has continued it actively, laboriously, and successfully ever sinee. As a young attorney he stands second to none in this portion of the State, his abilities as an orator and the command he has of the facts of his causes being of a high order. He is frequently employed by other attorneys to sum up their eauses in court, and before a jury he is espe- cially effective, particularly in criminal cases, being retained to defend nearly every eriminal ease in the county.
In the fall of 1877 he was brought forward as a candi- date for district attorney ; but at the county convention he declined the nomination, regarding the acceptance and re- sponsibilities of the office as an interference with his pro- fessional praetiee.
In 1867 he married Mary F. Groesbeck, of Milton, Sara- toga County.
185
IIISTORY OF SARATOGA COUNTY, NEW YORK.
was instituted Feb. 1, 1870. The charter officers were C. II. Holden, T. 1. M .; L. B. Putnam, R. I. D. M .; G. II. Gillis, I. P. C. W. The officers for 1878 are C. H. Sturges, T. I. M .; R. C. MeEwen, R. I. D. M .; G. II. Gillis, I. P. C. W .; C. H. Holden, Treas .; L. R. Cushing, Rec .; C. M. Avery, C. of G .; James Mingay, C. of C .; C. Carpenter, Steward; C. W. Benedict, Sentinel.
Washington Commandery, No. 33, K. T .- Chancellor R. Walworth, a Knight Templar, and member of a com- mandery that was located at Plattsburg, N. Y., H. V. Sayles, a Sir Knight from a commandery at San Francisco, Cal., and C. 11. Holden, a Sir Knight of Apollo Commandery, of Troy, N. Y., in 1862 held a meeting in what was then known as Marvin House row, and decided upon forming a commandery of Knights Templar in the village of Saratoga Springs. Apollo Commandery, of Troy, was the only one at that time in the vicinity, and there was no organization of the kind having jurisdiction throughout the northern portion of the State. In 1863, in acceptance of the de- cision of these Sir Knights, and in response to their propo- sition, the following Royal Arch Masons, George B. Fish, II. A. Van Dorn, L. B. Putnam, W. R. Winchell, T. G. Young, C. E. Durkee, C. H. Brown, Charles Carpenter, R. C. Blackhall, and F. T. Parkman, companions of Rising Sun Chapter, No. 131, of Saratoga Springs, proceeded to Troy, and the degrees of knighthood were conferred upon them by Apollo Commandery of that city. These, to- gether with Sir Kuights R. Walworth, H. V. Sayles, and C. II. Holden, were the charter members of the new com- mandery, and received a warrant empowering them to organize a commandery in the village of Saratoga Springs, to be known as Washington Commandery, No. 33. On Sept. 14, 1864, Right Eminent Orrin Welch, Grand Com- mander of the Grand Commandery of the State of New York, accompanied by the officers of that body, constituted the new organization, delivered to them their charter, and installed the officers. The ceremonies of the occasion were held at the lodge-room in what was then known as the Close building, on the site of the present Ainsworth build- ing, opposite the United States Hotel. Since that date Washington Commandery, No. 33, K. T., has continued in active and successful operation, having, at the date of the report to the Grand Commandery in 1877, a membership of two hundred and fifty-four, and having knighted since its organization nearly three hundred and fifty members. Meetings of the commandery are now held in the lodge- room occupied by all the Masonic bodies, in the building known as Ainsworth place.
The following have been Eminent Commanders of Wash- ington Commandery since its organization : 1863-66, Geo. B. Fish ; 1866-73, Charles H. Holden ; 1873-74, F. D. Wheeler, Jr .; 1874-75, G. Il. Gillis; 1875-76, C. H. Sturges; 1876-77, J. L. Perry, Jr .; 1877-78, C. H. Holden : 1878, R. C. McEwen.
The following are the officers for 1878-79: R. C. Mc- Ewen, E. C .; II. C. Rowland, Gen .; O. M. Avery, C. G .; C. HI. Sturges, Prelate ; G. II. Gillis, S. W. ; A. Tromblee, J. W. ; L. R. Cushing, Recorder ; II. W. Hays, Standard Bearer ; W. Shoemaker, Sword Bearer ; F. D. Wheeler, Jr., Warden ; W. II. Vibbard, First Guard ; J. M. Fryer,
Second Guard ; J. Myers, Third Guard ; C. W. Benedict, Captain of Guard.
INDEPENDENT ORDER OF ODD-FELLOWS.
Saratoga Lodge, No. 15, Saratoga Springs, is the oldest lodge in the district, being instituted Nov. 17, 1843. The present charter was granted Dec. 1, 1850. The first elected officers were as follows : C. W. Berlingame, N. G .; A. S. Piper, V. G .; C. N. Maynard, R. S .; O. T. Sparks, P. S. ; A. R. Barrett, Treas. ; F. T. IIill, A. S. Hays, and A. J. Ilolmes, trustees.
Its present officers are W. Il. Baldwin, N. G .; C. H. Sanborn, V. G .; A. J. Starr, R. S .; D. S. Latham, P. S .; and J. P. Scovell, Treas. ; O. Conklin, H. H. Martin, Jr., and C. E. Weber, trustees.
The lodge is in a flourishing condition, and in the last report numbered sixty-eight members.
Grace Lodge, No. 413, Saratoga Springs, is an offspring of Saratoga Lodge, and was instituted Dec. S, 1874, with twenty charter members.
The following were its first officers: A. M. Boyce, N. G .; J. F. Lamberton, V. G .; Wm. M. Searing, Jr., R. S .; B. J. Goldsmith, P. S. ; C. D. Slocum, Treas. ; John Van Rensselaar, W. F. Calkins, and B. J. Goldsmith, trustees.
Its present officers are Jas. H. Reagan, N. G. ; John D. Crawford, V. G. ; A. R. Walker, R. S .; John Burgey, P. S .; and C. D. Slocum, Treas .; B. J. Goldsmith, J. H. Reagan, and C. D. Slocum, trustees.
This lodge is a very fine working lodge, and although not so strong in numbers as some in the district, ranks fore- most in its manner of working. The last report shows a membership of forty-eight.
TEMPERANCE SOCIETIES.
Saratoga Division, Sons of Temperance, was originally instituted during the period when the order was so generally organized throughout the State, 1842 to 1843. It existed for several years, and embodied the prominent working temperance men of the place. The " Sons" were the pioneers in the social secret temperance orders of the last thirty years. The books of this old Saratoga Division do not seem to be preserved.
Another division was organized in 1858, and the follow- ing were the officers chosen at that time,-there being a charter membership of twenty-seven : Dr. Hamilton, W. P .; R. O. Wood, W. A .; George Harvey, Treas. ; Sylvester E. Strong, R. S .; O. M. Coleman, A. R. S. ; E. L. Russell, C .; John H. Cozzens, A. C .; Ezra M. Baldwin, I. S .; John Soper, O. S. ; Rev. S. McChesney, Chaplain.
Ten years later, 1868, the officers were Thomas Belden, W. P .; T. M. Ward, W. A .; Robert Ward, R. S .; C. Davison, F. S. ; N. Bedortha, P. W. P .; C. Allen, W. C .; C. Morris, C .; J. Booth, A. C .; J. Gale, I. S .; B. F. Ward, O. S .; George Harvey, Treas.
A third division only had a brief existence, being dis- solved after a few years.
Abraham Lincoln Division, Sons of Temperance .- This was an organization among the colored people of the town, and included their most active temperance and re- ligious workers. It was sustained for only a brief period.
24
186
HISTORY OF SARATOGA COUNTY, NEW YORK.
In 1868 the officers were A. S. Freeman, W. P .; A. Betti- son, W. A .; E. Freeman, R. S .; Miss M. Dubois, A. R. S .; Miss S. Stewart, F. S. ; Rev. J. C. Gilbert, Chaplain ; Mrs. J. Diefendorf, C .; Miss J. Bess, A. C .; Pero Rue, I. S .; Kane Howard, O. S .; Mrs. M. E. Ilunter, Treas.
Mineral Springs Lodge, No. 359, I. O. G. T., was organized under a charter dated April 6, 1874. The first officers were George T. Holt, W. C. T .; Mrs. M. R. French, W. V. T .; M. M. Holmes, W. C .; J. D. Plummer, W. R. S .; Mrs. J. D. Plummer, W. A. S .; J. D. McNiel, W. F. S .; Miss L. M. Aldridge, W. T .; A. W. Parker, W. M .; Miss Carrie Huling, W. D. M .; N. P. MeNiel, P. W. C. T. ; John Devel. L. D.
The lodge was organized in the old hall of the St. Nicho- las building, and met there for a time. It removed in May, 1877, to the hall in the Ainsworth building, of which Peter B. Liker is proprietor.
The present officers (June, 1878) are the following : Charles H. Peek, W. C. T .; Miss Nellie Carney, W. V. T .; Miss Libbie Towns, W. C .; E. II. Getman, W. R. S .; Miss Susie Morris, W. A. S. ; Miss Carrie Huling, W. F. S .; Miss -- Trites, W. T .; Frederick Green, W. M .; Miss Addie M. Liker, W. I. G .; Edward Gibbs, W. O. G .; Miss Eva Swartfeger, W. R. 11. S .; Miss Libbie Corps, W. L. II. S .; Peter B. Liker, P. W. C. T. and L. D.
There was a still earlier lodge of I. O. G. T. in Saratoga Springs, of which we have no account.
There was also a society of Juvenile Templars, known as Minnehaha Temple, No. 152, organized Dec. 19, 1876. The officers were Willie Green, C. T .; Miss Ella Viall, V. T .; Wm. Mellwain, Rec. Sec. ; Edward H. Liker, F. Sec. ; Niss Laura Morrill, Treas. ; Wm. F. Liker, P. C. T.
This temperance society imitated those of the older people by dissolving in a short time.
Saratoga Tent, No. 24, N. O. of I. R., was organized March 30, 1869. Among the officers first chosen were B. W. Amsden, C. R. ; Benjamin Ward, P. C. R .; W. W. Baldwin, Shepherd ; Thomas W. Ward, R. S .; W. H. Baldwin, Treasurer ; C. E. Baldwin, Levite. The tent has sometimes numbered over one hundred members. Their hall was in the building that stood upon the site of the present Ainsworth block, where the society meet at the present time.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.