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 49
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He was a member of the Presbyterian church from an early date, was for many years the superintendent of the Sabbath-school, and, since 1827, a period of more than forty years, one of its ruling elders. He died on Thursday,
JOHN C. HULBERT.
John C. Hulbert, who was judge of Saratoga County from 1863 to 1871, was born in Pittsford, Vermont, Feb. 12, 1817. His father, Luther Hulbert, established him- self as a merchant at Malta, in this county, when John C. was quite young ; he also held several town offices, and seems to have manifested considerable talent and a decided leaning toward a political and legal career, having at one time been a master in chancery. The son, however, started out in life in another path,-that of literature. After finishing an academical education at Saratoga Springs, he (as did Judge Corey) decided to become a disciple of Gut- tenberg rather than of Blackstone, and served an appren- ticeship in the office of the old Ballston Spa Gazette ; and, like Judge Corey, he forsook printercraft to follow the law as a life vocation. He studied with such able men as Judges
E.F. Bullard
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HISTORY OF SARATOGA COUNTY, NEW YORK.
Marvin and Ilill, and William A. Beach, Esq. In Deecm- ber, 1836, he was admitted to the bar of the Common Pleas, and in 1839 to that of the Supreme Court. He was eminently successful and popular as an advocate. From 1847 to 1856 he hell the office, performing the duties with acceptance and honor, of surrogate. In 1862 he was elected county judge, and was re-elected for the two ensuing terms. He made an upright and able judge. Since his retirement from the bench, he has prosecuted his chosen profession at the bar.
GENERAL EDWARD FITCH BULLARD
is a native of Saratoga County, having been born at Schuy- lerville, Feb. 7, 1821. He is the fourth son of Alpheus Bullard, and his paternal ancestors will be seen under the sketch of his brother, Daniel A. Bullard. ITis mother, IIannah Fitch, is a descendant of Thomas Fitch, who set- tled at Norwalk, Conn., in 1638. His son, Thomas (the second), had seven children, and died in 1690, at Norwalk. Thomas (the third), a son of the latter, died at Norwalk, May 10, 1731, aged sixty. A daughter of his was grand- mother of Chancellor Kent. Thomas (the fourth) was chief justice of the colony of Connecticut, and from 1754 to 1756 was governor of that colony ; died July 18, 1774, aged seventy-five. IIe had ten children. His third son, Ebenezer, was born at Norwalk, Feb. 25, 1729; married Lydia, daughter of Samuel Mills, Jr., of Greenwich, Conn. He died at Wilton, Conn., in 1762; left three sons, namely, Major Jabez Fitch, Ebenezer Fitch, and Giles Fitch.
The second Ebenezer Fitch married Sarah, daughter of Colonel David Hobby, of Northeastle, Westchester Co., N. Y., a prominent actor in that vicinity during the Revo- lutionary war .*
Ebenezer Fitch removed from Wilton, Conn., in 1785, to the Saratoga district, where he settled at a place now called St. John's Corners, in the town of Greenfield, and where his daughter HIannah was born, Sept. 9, 1787. His mother came with him and resided with some of her chil- dren in that vicinity until the time of her death, Oct. 31, 1813, in the cighty-third year of her age. She was a re- markable woman, of great intelligence, and beloved by her family and neighbors. She remained a widow fifty-one years, being generally known by the name of Widow Fitch, and her modest monument over her grave, in the town of Greenfield, is thus lettered. She lived to see her children all prosperous and somewhat distinguished, all having been engaged in the War of the Revolution.
Her son Jabez was a major in active service, and her only daughter, widow of Captain St. John, lived until she drew her pension, about 1836, amounting to over 83000.
Iler son Giles was appointed by the governor and council justice of the peace in 1793, and held the office a great many years.
Her son Ebenezer removed to Old Saratoga in 1798, where he died May 14, 1817, leaving ten children, among them Hannah, who married Alpheus Bullard, January 5,
1812, and Edward, his youngest son, who succeeded to his beautiful homestead, near the outlet of Saratoga lake. Hannah is yet living, in full possession of her mental facul- ties, at the time of this writing (June 22, 1878), although nearly ninety-one years of age.
Edward F. Bullard, when about two years old, removed with the family from Schuylerville to Northumberland, upon a new farm in the wilderness. The family of eight children were there reared by the parents by means of great industry and economy. Each of the sons helped fell the forest and clear up the land. Young Edward was thus en- gaged upon the farm after he was seven, and attended the district school, a mile and a half distant, winters only until he was fourteen years of age.
When fifteen years old, in September, 1836, he went to the academy at North Granville, Washington Co., N. Y., where he was a student for six months under the Rev. Ebenezer Mack, and during that time resided in the family of his uncle, John Sarlo, M.D.
This was the extent of his education in the schools. The summer of 1837 he worked upon his father's farm, and during the following winter he taught a district school in the town of Old Saratoga, near Bryant's Bridge, and finished his three months of teaching before he was seven- teen.
In June, 1838, he commenced the study of law with Joseph T. Fullerton, at Schuylerville; but during most of the summer he assisted upon his father's farm.
In September, 1838, he entered the office of Cramer & Ellis, at Waterford, in this county. Chesselden Ellis was then district attorney of Saratoga County, and young Bul- lard at once assisted in preparing the indictments, and very soon took part in the trials of the most important criminal cases brought before the courts of this county.
In 1840 he commenced an active political life, although not then twenty-one years of age. In 1842 he was elected justice of the peace for the town of Waterford, at the time he gave his first vote. During the fall of that year he brought forward as a candidate for Congress Mr. Ellis, and was largely instrumental in securing his nomination and election.
The rules of the Supreme Court then required a student to pursue a clerkship of seven years, and as he could pro- cure but six months' deduction for classical studies, in the ordinary course young Bullard could not have been admitted to practice in that court until 1845. Long before that he was in the habit of trying cases at the eirenit, and arguing motions at the special term, by the special grace of the court.
In May previous, Chief Justice Nelson made an order that he be admitted to present himself for examination at the October term, 1843. He was so examined at that term, with a class of about one hundred and ten, and stood at the head of the class, of whom about thirty were rejected. In 1844 he was appointed by Governor Bouck master and examiner in chancery, in the place of John K. Porter, whose term had expired, which office he held until the court of chancery was abolished in 1847. In 1845 he was elected brigadier-general of the Ninth Brigade, and commissioned by Silas Wright, then governor.
ยท # Reminiscences of Saratoga, by Wm. L. Stone, p. 82.
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HISTORY OF SARATOGA COUNTY, NEW YORK.
During the session of Congress of 1844-45, the ques- tion of the annexation of Texas was agitating the whole country, and most of the members from New York were opposed to it. Mr. Ellis sought the advice of his friend, young Bullard, who strongly urged him to sustain that measure, which he accordingly did. During the contest in the committee of the whole, the vote was sometimes so close that Mr. Ellis' vote was required to carry the ques- tion. Mr. Ellis often stated afterwards that Bullard was responsible for his vote and the results which followed.
In 1848, General Bullard took an active part in the can- vass in favor of General Cass for President, making speeches in nearly every town in this county. In 1849 the Demo- cratie party ran him as their candidate for Senator in this district against General Cook, but as that party was largely in the minority the latter was elected.
In April, 1850, Daniel S. Dickinson, then in the United States Senate, sustained the compromise measures against a powerful opposition in his own party, and at his request several leading Democratie politicians of this State were invited to Washington. Among the few who attended were Chancellor Walworth and General Bullard, and they together had interviews on that subject with many of the leading members of both houses. At the same time Gen- eral Bullard became personally acquainted with Daniel Webster, on whose motion he was admitted to practice in the Supreme Court of the United States.
In September, 1850, General Bullard was a delegate to the Democratie State convention, and took an active part in indorsing the compromise measures which had then recently passed Congress. In 1851 the Democratic party ran him as a candidate for county judge against Judge Bockes. He then resided at Waterford, where he received a flattering vote, but not enough to overcome the adverse majority.
In the years of 1853 and 1854 he spent the winters in the south for the benefit of his health ; and while there was treated with great courtesy by leading southern poli- ticians, and by special invitation, in April, 1854, spent ten days with Governor James H. Hammond, of South Caro- lina, upon his plantation.
During his excursion in the south, the sympathietie na- ture of General Bullard coming in contact with slavery converted him into the friend of the oppressed.
Upon his return north he stopped over in Washington, and was present when the bill to repeal the Missouri eom- promise passed the House of Representatives. On that occasion several of the members from New York presented his name to the President for the appointment of consul to Honolulu, and he would probably have received that posi- tion ; but, after his return home, July 19, 1854, he wrote to his friend, Governor Marcy, then Secretary of State, de- clining the place, and stating that he would accept no appointment which would impair his entire freedom to act as occasion might require.
Having been brought up at the feet of John Cramer, the leader of conservative Demoerats, up to this time General Bullard had strongly supported that party ; but having be- come converted to the anti-slavery cause he at once became a decided radical in favor of freedom.
At once he took the field in that eause, and his early
attempts to organize the Republican party have become a part of the history of the country.
When the great anti-Nebraska convention, which met at Saratoga, Aug. 16, 1854, adjourned to Auburn without forming a new party, he at onee, over his own signature, appealed to the independent voters of the State to join the convention to be held at Auburn, Sept. 26, 1854.
As that convention failed to follow his lead in forming a new party, he called a meeting in this county, to be held at Ballston Spa, Oct. 6, 1854, at which the Hon. William llay presided, and Thomas C. Green, of Stillwater, was secretary, when Colonel McKean was nominated for county judge, and the nucleus of the Republican party was formed.
Although General Bullard continued an active supporter of the Republican cause, his course was too independent to suit the leading politicians, and hence they never selected him for official position.
When secession raised its banner, and the country was shaken by the approaching war, he sternly adhered to the cause of the oppressed, while he retained the kindest feel- ings towards the true men of the south. To such an extent did his kindness lead him that in February, 1861, he wrote to his friend, Colonel MeKean, then in the House, that Congress should offer to pay for the slaves of the loyal men if they would emancipate them peaceably, without waiting for war. Colonel Mckean fully eoncurred in that view, and on the 18th day of February, 1861, in- troduced a resolution into the House looking to that end, and sustained it by an able speech. President Lincoln afterwards sent a special message recommending substan- tially the same measures.
After Mr. Lincoln was inaugurated, General Bullard sustained the cause of the Union, and, by correspondence and otherwise, was instrumental in keeping the government firm in protecting its integrity.
At the outbreak, in April, 1861, General Wool, who was in command at New York, foreseeing the extent of the approaching conflict, took active measures to forward troops, while he stopped the shipment of supplies to the rebels at Norfolk. For these energetic measures some of the authori- ties at Washington had proeured an order to be sanetioned by the President, ordering him back to Troy, and in effeet superseding him. He had made strenuous efforts to be put in active service, and in this was aided by Senator Wilson, then at the head of the military committee of the Senate, and by A. B. Olin, then upon the same committee in the House. At this juncture General Bullard visited Wash- ington in his behalf. On his arrival he called upon the members of the cabinet, General Scott, and the President, in company with Colonel Mckean, yet a member of the House. The result of this conference was that within a few days General Wool was ordered into active service and sent to Fortress Monroe.
In April, 1863, General Bullard published a pamphlet of sixty-two pages, entitled, " The Nation's Trial," " The Dormant Powers of the Government," ete., which was ex- tensively circulated. He received many letters in regard to this pamphlet. We take the liberty of publishing the following :
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IIISTORY OF SARATOGA COUNTY, NEW YORK.
" PETERBORO, June 26, 1863.
" E. F. BILLARD, EsQ.
" MY DEAR SIR,-God reward you for your admirable pamphlet, ' The Nation's Trial.' It is brimful of learning, wisdom, and right. eousness. Nothing eonll be more timely. In behalf of humanity I thank you for this service to humanity. I have increasing hope that our poor guilty country is to be saved.
" Your friend, " GERRIT SMITHI."
In 1874, General Bullard became a resident of Saratoga Springs, where he yet resides, and continues in the active practice of his profession.
July 4, 1876, he delivered the centennial oration at Schuylerville, upon the grounds where Burgoyne had sur- rendered. It was published in pamphlet form, and fur- nished to many of the libraries of the country.
FRANCIS WAYLAND.
Francis Wayland was born in Frome, Somersetshire, England, in 1772. Ile married, in Norwich, Norfolk, Miss Sarah Moorc, a native of that city. They came to this country in 1793, and to Saratoga Springs in 1821. Rev. Mr. Wayland was for several years pastor of the First Baptist church in this village, and after retiring from his charge, having a competent income, continued to reside in the place, often gratuituously supplying the desk for neigh- boring destitute churches, and was held iu request for his just and wise counsels. He was among the first promoters of the cause of temperance in the county, uniformly hold- ing, however, that permanent reform must be based on Christian principle.
A man of integrity, truth, and uprightness, of quiet tastes, unassuming and cordial manners, his influence was felt through the community, and he was endeared to many hearts by his kindly ministration to body and soul. He died at Saratoga Springs, in 1849.
Mrs. Wayland was a woman of marked character and pleasing address, and added to noble principles, refined taste, and sound judgment, the graces of a Christian life. She died in Saratoga Springs, 1836.
Their children were as follows: Francis Wayland, D. D., late president of Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island ; Daniel Wayland, formerly in mercantile business in New York city ; John Wayland, D.D., late rector of St. James', Roxbury, Massachusetts ; Mary A. Westcott, adopted daughter, wife of James R. Westcott, Esq., of Saratoga Springs; Susan P. Stone, wife of William L. Stone, Esq., of New York city ; Sarah W. Cushing, wife of Thomas Cushing, Esq., of Boston, Massachusetts ; Anne E. Wayland, of Saratoga Springs.
MILES BEACH.
Among the prominent men of affairs who moved to Saratoga Springs before the year 1810, was Miles Beach. His father was Zerah Beach, who was an carly settler of Ballston from Amenia, Dutchess county, in this State. Zerah Beach was one of those who signed the treaty of Wyoming in 1778, and in 1793 was a magistrate of the
town in which he lived. Miles Beach was in the military service during the Revolution. In 1781 he rose to the rank of captain in the Massachusetts militia; his family still having in their possession his commission as such under the broad signature of John llancock. Miles Beach married Miss Cynthia M. Warren, who still survives him in the ninetieth year of her age, with the bright faculties of her youth to all appearances but little impaired, and in the enjoyment of a green old age. In 1807 he removed to Sara- toga Springs, built in 1814 the home which his family still retains, held the office of postmaster, and was a prominent merchant and business man until his death, in 1837. His children were three sons,-William Augustus, Miles Ed- win, and John Henry Ethelbert, and four daughters, two of whom died young, and of the surviving, one married Patrick Henry Cowen, and the other Benjamin Hunting- ton Rosekrans.
.
DR. JOHN II. STEEL.
John lloneywood Steel was a native of Massachusetts, being born in Leicester in 1780. He was the son of Sam- uel and Anne Garfield Steel. Ilis grandfather, Samuel, was a judge of the county court ; his great-grandfather, Thomas, was also a judge; his great-great-grandfather, Thomas also, emigrated from England to Boston, and was a descendant of William Steel, Esq., magistrate, coun- sellor, recorder of London, baronet, and lord-lieutenant of Ireland.
Dr. Steel was named for his great-uncle by marriage, Dr. John lloneywood, of England, who subsequently re- moved to Leicester, Mass. He left home when quite youug, and his parents dying soon after, he never returned. He read medicine with Daniel Bull, M.D., of Saratoga. In 1829 he received the honorary degree of " doctor of medi- cine" from the University of the State of New York, and in 1800 his diploma to practice physic and surgery. In 1808 he was elected a member of the Saratoga County Medical Society, and during nearly every year from 1808 to 1832 held either the office of president, vice-president, secretary, or censor. During his thirty years' membership, he took an active part in its operations. IIe was president of the New York State Medical Society ; he was appointed surgeon of the Fourth Regiment of Cavalry of the State of New York, mustered into service for the War of 1812; officiated also as assistant-surgcon on board a man-of-war, and was present at the bombardment of Algiers. In 1814 he was commissioned as surgeon in the New York State militia. He was a prominent Freemason. He was an offi- cial member of the Albany Lyceum of Natural History, and cither an honorary or corresponding member of every scientific and historical association of note in North Amer- ica, and of many in Europe.
Dr. Steel married Mary Taylor, sister of Ilon. Miles Taylor, Dec. 23, 1817. His family consisted of seven children, of whom one died in infancy. John II. and Mary are also deceased ; the others are Richard, Miles T., Sarah, and Ann. He died at Saratoga Springs in 1838. His widow survived him until 1872.
Dr. Stech was a notable man, devoted to his profession,
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HISTORY OF SARATOGA COUNTY, NEW YORK.
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and beloved by the entire community as a wise and good man. Polities was little to his taste, yet he fulfilled his duty as a citizen, and discharged his share of its burdens and responsibilities, serving acceptably as judge of the court of common pleas in Saratoga County for several years, and as postmaster of Saratoga Springs village.
TABOR B. REYNOLDS, M.D.
Tabor B. Reynolds was born in Wilton, Saratoga Co., N. Y., April 8, 1821. After acquiring an academie edu- cation he entered upon a course of study with a view to the medical profession with his father, the late Dr. Henry Reynolds, a well-known physician of the town of Wilton. Ile continued his studies with Drs. March and Armsby, at Albany, and graduated from the medical college of that city, in February, 1842. Ile was associated in practice with his father and brother at Wilton till the time of their decease. His father died Dec. 20, 1857 ; his brother, Dr. John Henry Reynolds, April 3, 1870.
The subject of this sketch, while residing at Wilton, was repeatedly honored with official position by his townsmen. He was town superintendent of schools from 1847 to 1852. In 1856 and 1857 he was elected a member of the board of supervisors, was re-elected in 1863, and by successive elec- tions hekl the office till Dec. 31, 1867. In the fall of 1857 he was chosen by the Democrats and Americans to represent the Second Assembly district in the Legislature. Ile was a popular and useful member during his term of office. Previous to the war he was a Democrat, but upon the outbreak of the Rebellion he joined the party which was sustaining the hands of the government. He has ever since acted and voted with the Republicans, although since 1870 he has taken no active part in politics.
His services on the board of supervisors during the war were very laborious. He was among the most active and energetie in securing enlistments, filling the county's quota of men, providing for bounties, and making provisions for the soldiers generally.
In the fall of 1867 he was elected sheriff of the county by a handsome majority, and discharged the duties of the office till Dec. 31, 1870, with credit to himself and satis- faction to his constituents.
Since his retirement from office he has resided at Sara- toga Springs, and has devoted himself exclusively to his profession. By his eminent skill as a physician, his honor- able character and genial qualities as a man, his energy and strict attention to business, he has built up a large and lucrative practice, and stands second to none in the medical profession of his village and county. He has been a lead- ing member of the Saratoga County Medieal Society, of which he was president in 1857. In 1858 he was elected a permanent member of the New York State Medical So- ciety, and a member of the American Medical Association in 1860. He was also president of the Union Medical Association of Washington, Warren, and Saratoga counties, in 1872.
On the 17th of February, 1843, he was married to Sarah Anu, daughter of Linds Emerson, of Wiltou, Saratoga County. She died Sept. 9, 1874, after a lingering illness.
JOHN W. EDDY.
John W. Eddy is of Scotch-Irish origin,-his grand- father, John Eddy, coming from Ireland, and his grand- mother from Scotland. John Eddy, Jr., the father of Jolin W. Eddy, was born Feb. 15, 1770, and died March 20, 1847, aged seventy-seven years, one month, and five days. Margaret Miller Eddy, his mother, was a daughter of Adam Miller, formerly of Germany, and was born April 3, 1774. She died Aug. 15, 1838, aged sixty-four years, four months, and eleven days. John Eddy, Jr., was for- merly a blacksmith, at what used to be called Livingstone Manor, at a place known as Clairmont. He removed to Saratoga County in 1810, and went to farming, settling at what is now known as Eddy's Corners, near Saratoga Springs. John Eddy, Jr., and Margaret Miller Eddy had two sons and two daughters,-Maria, born Nov. 23, 1803, died Nov. 22, 1838; Samantha, born April 27, 1811; Daniel D., born Aug. 12, 1813; and John W. Eddy.
John W. Eddy was born on March 7, 1808. His early years were passed in assisting his father in farming. Ile received no education other than that afforded by the com- mon schools of his day. In 1832 he married Hannah Maria, daughter of Moses Marshall, of Stillwater. He had seven children by this wife, of whom three-Elizabeth M., John M., and Margaret C .- are still living. Hannah M. Eddy died on April 5, 1844.
In the year 1845, John W. Eddy married Mrs. Syrena Collamer, having by her one son, James S., who is still living. She died Ang. 30, 1847.
Mr. Eddy married for his third wife, Martha Taylor, daughter of John Taylor, of Milton, on Oct. 17, 1852, and is still living with this lady.
John W. Eddy has never made himself obtrusive in any way, but has steadily pursued his chosen calling as a farmer. He was born a Democrat, and has remained true to his faith. He has filled, without seeking them, certain town offices of trust. He has never made any special religious professions, but has tried to make the golden rule his standard of duty through life. He has lived to a hale old age, being over seventy years of age, and is still active, energetic. and industrious. He has a beautiful residence at Eddy's Corners, which may be seen elsewhere in this work, has accumulated much of this world's goods, is surrounded by a pleasant family, and is respected for his plain, straight- forward performance of duty by all who know him.
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