History of Saratoga County, New York, with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers., Part 51

Author: Sylvester, Nathaniel Bartlett, 1825-1894
Publication date: 1878
Publisher: Philadelphia, Everts & Ensign
Number of Pages: 780

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In the War of 1812, he, as colonel of a regiment, went to Plattsburg and served until honorably discharged. He was first married on Feb. 22, 1813, to Laura Bradley, and by her he had two children, of whom Mervine G. is the only surviving one. She died Sept. 2, 1820. Mr. Put- nam's second marriage was on Oct. 17, 1823, to Betsey Stillwell Alcott. Of the issue of this marriage, Dr. Lorin B. Putnam is the only survivor of seven children.

Mr. Putnam was born Aug. 12, 1790, and died on July 4, 1874, being nearly eighty-four years of age. Ile wit- nessed the development of Saratoga, from the log cabin and its stump table to its present size and prominence. His age covered the average of almost three generations, and has witnessed the growth of the Putnams to one of the largest families in the county. Ile filled several offices of trust, and among them that of trustee, overseer of the poor, assessor, and bank director. He built and, up to 1836, kept the Centre House, on Broadway, opposite to the United States Hotel, and in 1839 converted the building into stores. The spring which bears his name was dis- covered and first tubed in 1833.

In 1858, he became a member of Rising Sun Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons, and was a member in good standing at the time of his death. Mr. Putnam accumu- lated a handsome property, which has of course enhanced in value by the growth of the village. He was a man of sterling integrity and scrupulous honesty, being always ready to fulfill any obligation assumed by him. Though venerable in years, and having survived the allotted time of man many years, yet few will be more missed than Lewis Putnam, the oldest landmark of Saratoga.

SAMUEL SEARING.

Samuel Searing was born at or near Hemstead, Long Island, of Quaker parentage. He married Sarah Pearsall, sister of George Pearsall. Samuel, with his family, came to Saratoga Springs about or soon after the close of the War of the Revolution, and settled on the flat lands below the hill on which stands the house called the " Benjamin Putnam Place," about one mile west of the High Rock spring. He had six children,-Richard, Nathaniel, Gil- bert, Samuel, Margaret, and Sarah. The two daughters married brothers, John and Ziba Taylor, who were largely engaged in business (lumbering and merchandise) at the Ten Springs. At that time the Ten Springs was more of a business place than the village of Saratoga Springs.

Ziba Taylor's daughter married John II. Steel, for many years the leading surgeon and physician of the village.

Samuel Searing, Jr., settled at Fort Wayne, Indiana, and his descendants are numerous in that State. Nathaniel also married, and had three children,-Henry, Nathaniel, and Martha. Martha married a Mr. Worthington, of Albany, and the sons settled in Michigan. Gilbert Searing died a bachelor. Richard Searing married Elizabeth Thunder, and had by her Clinton, Courtland, Betsey, Laura, and Martha. He settled about one mile east of the village, on the farm now known as the Eureka and White Sulphur Springs farm, on Lake avenue.

He lost his wife, and married Hannah March, widow of William March, and daughter of Samuel Stanley. She was born at Jeffrey, near the base of old Grand Monadnock mountain, in New Hampshire. She was of English parents. She bore him three children,-Sarah, Hannah, and Wil- liam M. Clinton never married. Courtland and Martha died young. Betsey married Leonard Adams, son of Jason Adams, an old resident of the southern part of Wilton. They settled at Cold Water, Mich., and had sons and daughters. Laura married Theron P. King, son of Daniel King, of Moreau, Saratoga County, settled about seven miles east of Troy, and had two sons and five daughters. Sarah married James Ingersoll, son of William Ingersoll, of Wilton, settled in the town of Wilton, and had three daughters. Ilannah died a maiden. William M. married Caroline M. Huling, daughter of Beekman and Maria Smith Huling, old residents of Saratoga Springs and vicinity. IIe engaged in the profession of law, and prac- ticed in said village, when his health would permit, up to the breaking out of the great Rebellion. Ile had six chil- dren, and was engaged in manufacturing when the Presi- dent first called for seventy-five thousand men. He closed his factory and law-office, and responded to the call. He procured the necessary papers, and organized three compa- nies,-two in Saratoga Springs and one in Greenfield,- went with them to Albany, and assisted Colonel Edward Frisbey with them to organize the Thirtieth Regiment New York Volunteers. Their children are Beekman HI., who married Sarah J. Jenner, and resides at Saratoga Springs ; William M. Searing, Jr., who married Harriet A. Carpenter, and reside at Beloit, Wis .; Richard C. Searing, an Epis- copal minister, is rector of a church at Walton, Delaware Co., N. Y. ; Edward J. Searing, clerk in St. Nicholas Hotel, New York city; Caroline M. Searing and David S. Searing, who reside with their parents. Hannah II. Searing died at the age of six years.

JOSHUA T. BLANCHARD.

Among the many prominent citizens of Saratoga who, while younger, several years ago took an active part in public affairs, and now live somewhat retired from business cares, in the enjoyment of a green old age, is the subject of this sketch. General Blanchard first came to the Springs in 1822 or '23. Before the United States Hotel was first opened, in 1824, while the proprietor was absent in New York purchasing his supplies, leaving General Blanchard

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HISTORY OF SARATOGA COUNTY, NEW YORK.

in charge, a stage-load of gentlemen drove to the door seek- ing entertainment. Although not formally open, the gen- eral took them in and kept them, and these were the first of the long list of summer tourists who have since made this famous hostelry their temporary home. General Blan- chard afterwards was one of the proprietors of a line of stages, was engaged in railroad affairs, became major-gen- eral of the militia, and mingled extensively in politics as an old line Whig and Silver Grey, with Francis Granger and others.

SAMUEL J. PEARSALL, M.D.

Sammel Jay Pearsall is a native of Wilton, Saratoga Co., N. Y., where he was born on the 18th of May, 1833. He is the son of Saumel and Caroline E. Pearsall. His father

and. gaining in public confidence, he built up in a few years a very successful practice. During the past ten years Dr. Pearsall has had all the professional practice he could attend to, while his practice is constantly growing in favor among an enlarging circle of patients. He is a member of the Saratoga County Homeopathic Medical Society of Northern New York, and the State Homoeopathic Medical Society, and has held all the offices in the gift of the two first-mentioned as-ociations.

As a member of the Methodist Episcopal church, he con- tributed liberally to the erection of the new church at Sar- atoga Springs, and has held the office of trustee for the past seven years. Though not an active politician, he has been repeatedly solicited to accept offices of trust, such as mem- ber of the board of education and trustee of the village, but he has steadily declined, and given his exclusive atten-

Photo, by Myers, Saratoga Springs.

D. I. Pearsall h?

was a native of Dutchess county, and an carly settler in the town of Wilton, where he pursued the occupation of a farmer. His mother was born in this county.

The subject of this sketch was brought up on his father's farm in Wilton, and was educated at the district schools and at the academies in Poultney, Vt., and in Fort Ed- ward, Washington county.

In the spring of 1856 he came to Saratoga Springs and began the study of medicine with Drs. Easton and Mitchell. In 1856 he commenced attending lectures at the Homwo- pathie Medical College of Philadelphia, where he continued his course, and graduated in March, 1858. On the first of May, 1858, he commenced practice at Saratoga Springs. Homeopathy was then new, and the prejudices to contend against and competition with the old school of practice ren- dered his progress at first difficult ; but his energy and knowledge of his profession soon removed these obstacles,

tion to his medical practice. In 1860 he was married to Miss Carrie E., daughter of William Smith, of the town of Wilton, by whom he has one son, eighteen years of age, who is a student preparing to enter college.

HENRY W. MERRILL.

Henry W. Merrill was born in Jefferson Co., N. V., Sept. 10, 1810. Ilis father, Nathan Merrill, was a native of East Hartford, Conn., and married in Vermont, whence he removed to Jefferson county in 1809, where Henry was born the following year, being the eldest child of the family. His parents soon after removed to Bergen, Genesee Co., where he worked and assisted them on the farm, and at- tended district school as he had opportunity during his boy- hood. lle had naturally a strong desire for education, and

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IIISTORY OF SARATOGA COUNTY, NEW YORK.

at the age of seventeen he entered upon a course of study with a view to preparing himself for a professional life. Ilis parents not being in circumstances to provide him the means, could only give their consent that he should undertake to ed- neate himself by his own exertions. The way which seemed open to him was that of teacher in the district schools, and to this he had recourse, teaching in winter and attending at classical schools during the summer. In this manner he attended an academy at Middlebury, Wyoming Co., and subsequently a similar institution at Geneva, N. Y., and in due time, after experiencing many of those trials and hard- ships incident to the life of a young man seeking to make his own way in the world, he prepared himself for college. In 1835 he entered Union College as a freshman, and graduated in the class of 1839.

Immediately after this he accepted an offer to teach in

an attorney-at-law to the Supreme Court. In due time he was admitted as counsellor, then as solicitor in the court of chancery, and finally to practice in the Supreme Court of the United States.

At Schuylerville, where he remained ten years, his prac- tice became large and lucrative, laying the foundation of his future financial prosperity.

In 1846 he married Miss Valeria S. George, daughter of Jared George, of Waterbury, Vt., a lady of attractive personal appearance, excellent character, and amiable dispo- sition, who has since been his faithful companion. The fruit of this union has been nine children, six of whom, three sons and three daughters, are now living.

In 1851 he removed to Saratoga Springs, where he pur- sued a successful practice till 1873, when, owing to ill health and other causes, the practice was partially abandoned.

Photo, by Baker & Record, Saratoga Springs.

HENRY W. MERRILL.

the academy at Union Village, Washington Co., where he taught less than one year, and at the same time pursued the study of law in the office of Judge C. F. Ingalls, father of Hon. C. R. Ingalls, present judge of the Supreme Court of the Third district of New York. He soon gave up teaching and weut to practicing law, his talents and services being in demand in the lower courts, where he earned the means of support while pursuing his legal studies. Mr. Merrill refers to this experience as being the most valuable of his life, giving him exercise, not only of his talents, but insight in human character and the motives and causes of litigations, which were of great service to him in his later practice.

In 1840 he was admitted to practice as an attorney and counsellor in the court of common pleas of Washington county. In 1841 he removed to Schuylerville, Saratoga Co., and opened a law-office. In 1842 he was admitted as

The sketch we have thus hastily written indicates only some of the salient points in the life of a self-made man. He is one of whom the Latin phrase is eminently true, Faber sux fortuna-the architect of his own fortune, although it would better express the feelings of Mr. Merrill, as he has often expressed them, to say that under the Divine Providence he has been the architect of his own fortune, for he recognizes the assisting hand of the Creator in all man's ways.

On account of the inability of his parents to assist in the honorable course he had prescribed for himself, he was thrown early in life upon his own resources ; and it was his greatest pleasure, in after-years, to contribute something of the property he had gained to their assistance who never lacked the disposition, only the means, to do all for his well-being which the tenderest affection and the most earnest solicitude could prompt.

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HISTORY OF SARATOGA COUNTY, NEW YORK.

ELIAS LEE WAKEMAN.

The Wakeman family is presumed to have descended from John Wakeman, formerly of England. Timothy Wakeman, the grandfather of Elias L. Wakeman, was a farmer in Fairfield Co., Conn., for a number of years, and was in the party who followed and harassed the British when they visited Danbury and burned the stores at that place. Elias Lee, his grandfather on his mother's side, was a Baptist minister ; came originally from Connecticut, and established the First Baptist church of Ballston Spa, where he finally died.

Samuel S. Wakeman, the father of Elias L. Wakeman, was born in Connecticut, in 1787, and married Sarah Lee in that State. He removed, in 1812, to a point about two

Photo, by Baker & Becord, Saratoga Springs. ELIAS LEE WAKEMAN.

and a half miles from Ballston Spa, where he took up his residence as a farmer, at the same time sawing and trading in lumber. He continued that business until 1824, when he removed to the farm now occupied by Elias L. Wake- man. He had six children, four girls and two boys, viz., John A., Elias L., Rachel, Amanda Ann, Margaret, and Sarah, of whom all are living save Rachel. He held a number of important offices in his town, and was road eon- missioner at the time Saratoga Springs was cut off from Saratoga town.

Elias L. Wakeman was the third child, and was born on Jan. 10, 1816, in Saratoga Springs. He received a com- mon-school education, and, until his father's death, assisted him in farming. Since that time he has farmed a large tract of land for a number of years, subsequently purchasing two hundred and eighty-three acres of the same, which is the place where he now resides. lFe is still engaged in farming. He never married.

He has been foremost in encouraging the introduction and use of the various farm improvements as they have ap- peared. Hle purchased one of the first mowing-machines introduced, and in 1858 one of the first wheel-rakes. He has continued to keep abreast of the times, and has actively co-operated in the various progressive movements of the day.

Mr. Wakeman has always been an active and sincere Democrat in politics, but has never desired, sought, nor filled any office. He has been a regular attendant of the Baptist church. Strange to say, he has never had any serious altercation or dispute with any one, has never had a lawsuit, and never identified himself with any of the so- cieties of the day. He has stood singularly aloof, living a peaceful and smooth life. He has been acquainted with most of the old residents of his locality, has been identified with its growth and material improvement, and has watched with especial pleasure and pride the increasing importance and influence of his native town.

THOMAS NOXON.

Thomas Noxon was born in Beekman, Datehess Co., N. Y., April 20, 1813. He is of English descent on his father's side, and on his mother's side of Scotch extraction, his an- cestors being common with those of the eminent Judges Noxon, of the city of Syracuse. His father, Clark Noxon,

Photo, by Baker & Record, Saratoga Springs, THOMAS NOXON.

settled in the town of Half-Moon, in this county, in 1816. Here Thomas Noxon was reared on a farm, and educated primarily in the common schools, though in the school of experience and self-study be prepared himself for his sue- cessful business career.

He married, in 1836, Emma Clapp, daughter of Joseph Clapp, of Half-Moon, and engaged in farming, which he fol- lowed about two years. In 1838 he embarked in mercan- tile business at Clifton Park village, and continued in that business, with an intermission of five years, in which he was engaged in farming, till 1871.

He then removed to Ballston Spa, to attend to the duties of the office of sheriff of the county, to which he had been elected in the fall of 1870. He is a Republican, and was elected on that ticket in opposition to David Harlow, the Demoeratie nominee. Previous to this he had represented the town of Half-Moon in the board of supervisors for the years 1856, '57, 60, '61, '64, '65, and '66. In May, 1865, he became a resident of Saratoga Springs, of which town

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HISTORY OF SARATOGA COUNTY, NEW YORK.

he was elected supervisor in 1877, and was, during that year, chairman of the board. In March, 1878, he was elected president of the village of Saratoga Springs, and is at this writing discharging the duties of the office.

In all these official positions Mr. Noxon has discharged his duties with rare efficiency and integrity, and he is now retired from active business, occupying a high place in the esteem and confidence of his fellow-citizens. For many years he was postmaster at Clifton Park village.

ANSON M. BOYCE.

Anson M. Boyce is a son of Ananias Boyce, who was born in Dutchess county, at the town of Washington. Ilis mother's name was Sarah Mead, a native of Nassan. She afterwards resided in the town of Schodack, Rensselaer county, where she was married. Ananias Boyce removed from Rensselaer county to the town of Wilton, Saratoga county, where he farmed for a number of years, and where he finally died. He had fifteen children,-twelve boys and

Photo, by Baker & Record, Saratoga Springs. ANSON M. BOYCE.

three girls,-of whom all are living save one boy, who died in infancy. Himself and wife died a few years ago, each having lived to be over eighty years of age.

Anson M. Boyce was born on June 14, 1828, at Scho- dack, Rensselaer county. He engaged in farming with his father until seventeen years of age, when he com- menced a system of self-education, attending school and teaching. He gained a thorough knowledge of algebra withont the aid of a teacher. He attended the com- mou schools, and subsequently the academy at Nassau, where he qualified himself to enter the sophomore class of Union College, but did not enter because of ill health. Ile was about twenty years old when ready for college.

Ile next entered upon the study of law in the office of Pierson & Wait, of Troy, N. Y., but after continuing this pursuit for two years his health compelled him to leave it.

Ile then returned to school-teaching, and taught at Cas- tleton, Rensselaer county, for a term of years. Ile came to Saratoga County in 1854, and bought a farmi in Wilton, upon which he supervised the work.

In about a year he was elected school commissioner of the Second Assembly district, and held that office two full terms and a part of a third, in all about seven years. He also taught at the same time in Pine Grove School, No. 4, Saratoga Springs, and continued principal of the same for about twenty years, resigning his charge on June 22, 1877. When he first took charge of this school it had an average attendance of sixty pupils, and he had one assistant ; and when he left it the attendance averaged about three hundred, and he had six assistants.

In politics Mr. Boyce has always been a Democrat, and has filled several important local offices. He has been twice a member of the board of supervisors. Ile was a justice of the peace for four years. He has filled the re- sponsible office of overseer of the poor. He was always elected as a Democrat, although the town is largely Repub- lican, a fact which speaks well for his personal popularity, and shows the appreciation in which he is held by his fellow- townsmen.

In March, 1850, Mr. Boyce married Caroline M. Stewart, of Schodack, Rensselaer county, by whom he had one child, Frank M. Boyce, born August 2, 1852. This son subse- quently pursued medical studies at Albany Medical College and Bellevue Hospital, New York, and is now a physician in successful practice in Saratoga Springs, where his father now resides. He is likewise a Democrat, and owing to his personal popularity has already been elected to and filled the important offices of coroner and physician to the poor.

It may be well to add, in closing this sketch, that Mr. Boyce has long since overcome the pulmonary disease which so seriously interfered with his earlier plans in life, and that to-day at the age of fifty years he is robust and strong, weighing about two hundred and sixty pounds. Ile has a fair promise of a long life.

LUCRETIA AND MARGARET DAVIDSON.

A history of Saratoga would scarce be complete without a mention of these two talented sisters. They were the daughters of Dr. Oliver Davidson, and were born respect- ively Sept. 27, 1808, and March 26, 1823. In both, pre- cocity was early developed ; both had delicate constitutions, sensitive natures, and highly poetic temperaments. Lucretia Maria entered Mrs. Willard's Female Seminary, at Troy, in 1824, to complete her education. She died Ang. 27, 1825, one month before her seveutcenth birthday. Margaret Miller Davidson, as well as her sister, was born at Plattsburg, but before she was ten years of age, her parents had removed to Saratoga Springs. She was an incessant writer,-her poetical writings, which have been collected, amount to two hundred and seventy-eight pieces. Her poems were intro- duced to the public under the kind auspices of Washington Irving. They were first published in 1829, with a memoir by Prof. Sam. B. F. Morse ; they were noticed in a highly laudatory mauer by Southey, the British poet .*

# Duyekinek's "Cyclopedia of Amer. Literature," vol. ii., 324-28.

PHOTO. BY BAKER & RECO

JOHN W. EDDY.

FARM & RESIDENCE OF JOHN W. EDDY, SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y

TOWN OF SARATOGA SPRINGS.

I .- GEOGRAPHICAL POSITION.

THE town of Saratoga Springs is very nearly in the centre of the county; it is bounded north by Greenfield and Wilton, east by Saratoga, south by Malta, and west by Milton. It is a part of the Kayadrossera patent, and con- taius sixteen thousand six hundred and eighteen acres .*

We insert the following description of the town, and the definition of its boundary lines, as given in the revised statutes of the State :

" The town of Saratoga Springs shall contain all that part of saidl county bounded nortberly by Greenfield and Wilton, westerly by Milton, sontherly by Malta, and easterly by a line beginning at the northeast corner of Malta, then down the middle of Saratoga lake and Fish creek to a point two rods above Stafford's bridge, and run- ning thenee, so as to include said bridge and a piece of land four rods wide, to a point two rods below said bridge, and then due north to the south bounds of Wilton.".

II .- NATURAL FEATURES.

The surface of the town is undulating, but scarcely suf- ficient to be denominated hilly. The Kayadrossera ereck forms the southern boundary line ; Saratoga lake is in the southeast corner. This, with its broad outlet, narrowing farther east into Fort's creek, forms an important water front upon that border of the town. The surface is entirely drained by rivulets flowing into these streams and into the lake. Ellis creek, uniting with the Kayadrossera in the southwest, is the most important. Upon it are located the mills at Rowlandville, just over the line, in the town of Milton. This creek drains the western portion of the town from the Greenfield line. There is one other small rivulet iu the southwest, which the railroad crosses in the Brown neighborhood. There are three tributaries of the Kayad- rossera between Ellis creek and Lake Saratoga. The third and most important is the outlet of Lake Lonely, named on the maps Little lake. This body of water has three inlet- ereeks, one rising just cast of the Saratoga race-course; the other two, known as Spring run and Bog Meadow brook, rise the one northeast of the village of Saratoga Springs, the other farther cast, on the line of Wilton. A small rivulet flowing across the entire castern end of the town, and uniting with Fort's creek near Stafford's bridge, completes the drainage system of the town.

Along the Kayadrossera and the lake are found a range of low bluffs.

North from Owl poud and Saratoga lake is a large tract of low and swampy land. The soil in many parts of the town is sandy and poor. A few good tracts are found in the vicinity of the lake, and in the Kayadrossera valley are

some valuable meadow lands yielding an abundant crop of hay.

The mineral springs, so widely known, are situated about three miles from the lake. They are near the centre of what is sometimes called the " mineral spring region," said to have a radius of ten miles. This subject is fully treated of elsewhere in this volume.

Lake Lonely, mentioned above, is sometimes called Owl pond, but this is not correct, according to the people living in the vicinity. The name Owl pond really belongs to a deep, nearly-hidden body of water, comprising an area of four or five acres, and situated a little west of Lake Lonely. It is scarcely accessible at some seasons of the year, being surrounded by swampy ground. In time of very high water the two ponds constitute one body of water.

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History of Saratoga County, New York, with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers., Part 51

Author: Sylvester, Nathaniel Bartlett, 1825-1894 Publication date: 1878 Publisher: Philadelphia, Everts & Ensign Number of Pages: 780

Author: Sylvester, Nathaniel Bartlett, 1825-1894
Publication date: 1878
Publisher: Philadelphia, Everts & Ensign
Number of Pages: 780