History of Saratoga County, New York, with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers., Part 58

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

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 58

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V .- SCHOOLS.

The earliest school that the older people speak of was nearly or quite as early as 1800 on the ground of the

present cemetery, kept in what was the first Baptist meet- ing-house. This was followed in a few years by the large two-story building, known for so many years as the "Acad- emy." This stood in what is now Science street, near the railroad. It does not appear to have been an actual academy under the care of the regents, but simply a large public or district school, with two departments, one for the smaller scholars and another for the older pupils, two teachers being employed. This was an excellent school, and many of the older and middle-aged citizens were educated there. It was finally abandoned as a school building, removed to the cor- ner of Charlton and Ballston streets, and fitted up by the Methodists for a church. Sold by them to the Catholics, and finally by them to private parties, and fitted up as a dwelling-honse. The removal from Science street was about the year 1836, and two district school-houses were built that year, one on Malta avenue, nearly opposite the residence of Edward W. Lee ; the other is still standing on High street, between Ballston and Charlton, remodeled into a dwelling- house. This system was succeeded by the Ballston Spa Union School district. This was organized April 17, 1870. The first board of education consisted of the following citi- zens : Iliro Jones, president ; Neil Gilmour, clerk ; E. II. Chapman, B. F. Baker, C. N. McClew, E. Parkinson, J. B. Cheydlen ; John J. Lee, treasurer.

The school was maintained for three years in the old school buildings of the districts and such other rooms as could be procured. In the fall of 1873 it was voted to erect a union school building, and the present convenient house on Bath street was erected the following year, at a total expense of about $23,400. The school was opened Sept. 14, 1874; principal, Thomas C. Bunyan, who has remained in charge to the present time, October, 1877. The school is arranged in three grades,-academic, inter- mediate, and primary, and so divided into sections as to require the employment of eight teachers. The annual pay-roll of the teachers amounts to $3750, and the district received from the State in 1877, 81654.27 ; and there were nine hundred and ninety-two scholars. The present board of education for the school year 1877-78 is as follows : E. H. Chapman, president ; John HI. Westcot, clerk ; D. G. Harris, B. W. Noxon, Seth Whalen, S. C. Medberry, George R. Beach; John J. Lee, treasurer.

Some years before the adoption of the union school sys- tem, the Malta avenue school-house had been abandoned, and another one built on the corner of Milton avenue and Hamilton street.

OTHER SCHOOLS.

From Mann's " Bench and Bar of Saratoga County" we take the following :

Mention should be made of the State and National law- school, established by John W. Fowler, a bright, but er- ratie son of genius, in the old Sans Souci Hotel, Ballston Spa, in 1849. Ile opened it with a full corps of compe- tent professors, and secured an abundant patronage. Among the graduates may be mentioned the names of Colonel Slocum, of the First Rhode Island Infantry, who fell at the head of his regiment fighting at Bull Run ; Governor Gil- bert C. Walker, of Virginia; Judge Abraham R. Law- rence, surrogate; Delano C. Calvin ; General Roger A.

Photo, by T. J. Arnold, Ballston Spa.

I Moura M. D.

LEVERETT MOORE was born on the 9th of December, 1805, in Palmer, Mass., where he was placed with a farmer to be reared, his father having died when he was seven years of age. Ilere he worked and attended school winters until the age of fourteen, having the mind and the application to make the best use of his limited opportunities. At the age of eighteen he commenced teaching, by which he ac- quired the means of attending a classical school at Gran- ville, Mass., and continued teaching and studying until the age of twenty-one, when he commenced the study of medi- cine. He completed his course at Pittsfield, Mass., and graduated at the medical college in that city in December. 1829. After practicing a short time in Ulster county, N. Y., he removed to Albany, where he carried on a successful practice till September, 1834, when he removed his office to Greenbush, on the opposite side of the Hudson, and practiced there about six years.

In 1840 he settled as a physician at Ballston Spa, taking the place of Dr. Samuel Freeman, who had practiced for

twenty-five years previous. Dr. Moore has remained in successful practice here since 1840, until about two years since, when he began gradually to withdraw from the active duties of his profession. He has filled a place in the medi- cal profession in this county attained by few local prac- titioners, and is universally esteemed, not only for his pro- fessional talents and integrity, but for his character as a man and a citizen.

Ile is a member of the Saratoga County medical society, of which he was for a number of years secretary, and is also a member of the Union medical association, of Wash- ington, Warren, and Saratoga counties. Ile is a Repub- lican in politics, but, on account of his professional duties, has always declined to accept office.

Ilis first wife was Elizabeth G., daughter of Horace Allen, of Albany, to whom he was married in 1833. She died in 1843, and he married for his second wife Mary L. Smith, of Ballston, in 1844. He has a son and daughter living by the first marriage.

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HISTORY OF SARATOGA COUNTY, NEW YORK.

Pryor, of New York ; and ex-Judge Samuel D. Morris, of Brooklyn, an alumni that would reflect honor on any institution. At the commencement in 1850 there were present ex-President Van Buren, Governor Hamilton Fish, and the great Kentucky commoner, Henry Clay. The lat- ter made a memorable address to the students, addressing through them, for the last time, the young men of America in words of earnest counsel to be true to themselves and their country. But the projector of this law-school, to balance all his other attainments, lacked what General McCook ealled a " level head." He was very improvident, knowing nothing of the financial problems conducive to suc- cess, and after three years of active and useful life the institution went into bankruptcy.

Rev. Deodatus Babcock also opened and carried on a school for a time, and it was continued by Chas. D. Seeley. It was kept in the Henry A. Manu house; beginning about 1846, and continuing about ten years by Rev. Mr. Babeock, and about three years by Mr. Seeley. It was an excellent school, and furnished a thorough course of training.

There was also a ladies' seminary from 1822 to 1835. It was in High street, and was afterwards changed to a boys' school, and continued for a short time, when it was abau- doned. This school was under the charge of Lebbeus Booth, a gentleman of classical culture and a successful teacher.

The private school by Rev. James Gilmour, opened in 1856, was a valuable acquisition to the educational facilities of Ballston Spa. The school building was on Pleasant street, on the present site of the residence of J. J. Luther. The school-house was burned down twice, and after the last fire the enterprise was abandoned. Hon. Neil Gilmour, now superintendent of publie instruction of the State, was an assistant instructor in the institution.

The old Sans Souci Hotel, besides its other interesting reminiscences, also has the honor of having been devoted to the purposes of a ladies' seminary. Rev. D. W. Smith was the proprietor and principal of the school, and continued it some two years or more.

The parish school of Christ church, Ballston Spa, was organized in May, 1850, under the rectorship of the Rev. George Jarvis Geer. The rector was assisted in this work by the Rev. Theodore Babcock and the Rev. John II. Babcock, who were teachers in the " Ballston Spa Institute," then a flourishing institution under the charge of the late Rev. Dr. Babeoek. The parish school was placed under the care of Miss Mary R. Smith, who has had charge of it ever since. The number of pupils has varied much from time to time, ranging from thirty to sixty, never over sixty ; but most of the time as many as forty. School in session sum- mer and winter, with usual vacations.

VI .- CHURCHES.

CHRIST CHURCH OF BALLSTON SPA.

The first Episcopal service of Saratoga County (except what may have been held by Chaplain Brudenell, of Bur- goyne's army, as mentioned in another place) was in the spring of 1791, by Mr. Ammi Rogers, of Bradford, Connee- tient, who, under the supervision of the Rev. Mr. Ellison, of Albany, officiated as lay reader at St. George's church,

in Schenectady, and in private houses in this section of the country. Mr. Rogers was ordained deacon by Bishop Pro- vost, in Trinity church, New York, June 4, 1792, and ad- vanced to the priesthood by the same hands, October 19, 1794. Christ church was first located at Ballston Centre, and Mr. Rogers was its first pastor. Families of Episcopal views in both Charlton, Ballston, and Milton attended church there, and services were occasionally held in private houses in the various towns. The parish of Christ church was organized in 1787, by Thomas Smith, Ezekiel Horton, James Emott, Edmund Jennings, James Mann, Elisha Miller, Salmon Tryon, and forty-two others. In 1792 the first church edifice was erected a little south of Ballston Centre, on lands now owned by Riley Crippen. The first vestry consisted of Joseph Bettys, Elisha Benedict, war- dens ; Thaddeus Betts, John Wright, Joshua Bloore, Ja- bez Davis, Richard Warn, and James Emott, vestrymen. Rev. Mr. Rogers remained rector until 1807, when he was succeeded by Rev. Mr. Van Horn, and he in turn by Rev. Gamaliel Thatcher, who died while in charge. Meanwhile, in 1810, at the rapidly-growing village of Ballston Spa, a parish was organized under the name of St. Paul's church, with the Rev. Joseph Perry, rector. After the death of Mr. Thatcher the pastor of St. Paul's assumed charge of both churches. But they were so near each other that it was evident strength and efficiency would be promoted by union. Accordingly, in 1817, they were consolidated into one society, and the united body appropriately received the name that had been given to the early church of the fathers in Ballston thirty years before. The first vestry of Christ church of Ballston Spa was Joshua B. Aldridge and James Mann, wardens; Epenetus White, Jr., Thomas Palmer, Samuel Smith, Thomas Smith, Eli Barnun, Daniel Starr, vestrymen. At this time the church edifice was taken down, removed to the village, and erected on a lot adjoining the old county clerk's office. It was re-opened by the celebration of morning prayer and a sermon by Rev. Benjamin T. Onderdonk, afterwards bishop of New York, from the text, " He loveth our nation and hath built us a synagogue." Rev. Mr. Perry was succeeded as rector by Rev. William A. Clark. In 1824, Rev. Deodatus Bab- cock accepted the call of the parish, and administered the sacraments and performed the offices of the church for nearly a quarter of a century. From 1845 to the present time the successive reetors of the church have been Revs. George J. Geer, Robert G. Rogers, Charles Arey, George W. Dean, George Worthington, and Joseph Carey.

During the rectorship of Rev. Wm. Dean, in 1860, the corner-stone of the new edifice was laid, and the work of erection was prosecuted to completion in the next two years, at an expense of about $11,000. In March, 1862, the congregation took a sorrowful leave of the hallowed walls within which they and their fathers had so often gathered. There the children of successive generations had been bap- tized. There for seventy years the people had worshiped " the Lord in his Holy Temple." From its sacred altar the dead had been borne forth to burial, the sad refrain of mor- tality, " ashes to ashes, dust to dust," relieved by the glori- ous words of Christian hope, " I am the resurrection and the life." The congregation moved from the old to the

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IHISTORY OF SARATOGA COUNTY, NEW YORK.

new, praying that the glory of the former house might de- seend on the latter. The old edifiee was taken down after a few years, its oaken frame still sound as when it eame from the hewer's axe, fit representative of the solid men of old, who laid the foundations of our eivil and religious in- stitutions. As an evidence of early genuine Christian friendship, it should be added that the bell which has so long ealled the faithful to the House of God, was a gift from the North Pearl Street Dutch Reformed church of Albany. It bears the ancient inscription, " Benj. Whitear Sharon in 1774. This bell is made for the High Jarmon Reformed church, Albani."*

The reetory adjoining the church was built many years before the new edifice,-a wise forethought having at an early date secured the valuable corner lot for the church. A few years since the church also purchased from the State the building ereeted for an armory in 1858. It is used for the general purposes of the society and for the parish school. The present officers of the church are Rev. Walter Dela- field, rector ; James W. Horton, Benj. F. Baker, wardens; S. C. Medberry, clerk ; George C. Beecher, treasurer ; Ste- phen B. Medberry, Wm. A. Wheeler, Samuel Smith, George C. Beecher, Stephen C. Medberry, John Richards, Andrew Booth, John Scott, vestrymen.

We add the following biographieal sketch of the first pastor of this church, and the founder and leader of many others. The Rev. Ammi Rogers, the first pastor of Christ church, was born at Branford, New Haven Co., Conn., on the 26th May, 1770, and was a lineal descendant in the fifth generation of the Rev. John Rogers, who was burnt at the stake at Smithfield, 14th February, 1554, first martyr in Queen Mary's reign. At the age of sixteen he entered Yale College, and was graduated in 1790. He was or- dained deacon 24th June, 1792, and elevated to the priest- hood 19th October, 1794. In the year 1794 he married Margaret Bloore, only daughter of Joshua Bloore, of Balls- ton. She died at Ballston in the year 1800, leaving three infant children. During the nine years of his ministry in Schenectady and at Ballston and vicinity, he baptized fifteen hundred and forty-two persons, and officiated at more than a hundred weddings and as many burials.

Joshua Bloore was a settler in Ballston previous to 1787. Ile came from Manchester, England, and first settled as a merchant in Albany. His wife was Margaret Brintnal, of Langly parish, Derbyshire, England. Ilis only daughter, Margaret, married Rev. Ammi Rogers at Ballston, in the year 1794, and dying there in 1800, left three infant chil- dren as the fruit of their union.

BAPTIST CHURCH OF BALLSTON SPA.

The first organization of this church was in 1791. The congregation met in a school-house south of where the village now stands, and continued to meet there until the year 1802. During this time the village was a preaching station supplied by different ministers, two of whom may be mentioned,-Rev. Mr. Mudge and Rev. Mr. Langworthy, of Saratoga Springs. In the year 1800, Rev. Elias Lee was called to the pastorate of the church, which then

numbered ninety-four members. Mr. Lee was a man of remarkable talent and power, and well beloved by his church. He remained pastor thirty years, and the connection then only terminated because be was called " up higher." The first meeting-house was built soon after Mr. Lee assumed the pastorate, and occupied a part of the ground where the present Ballston cemetery is located. The pulpit of the old meeting-house is said to have been almost exactly above the place where Elder Lee was buried. This first Baptist meeting-house stood until about the year 1820, when it was removed to a spot just west of the railroad depot, where the water-tank now stands. There services were held until the year 1837, when the present house was completed at an expense of $8000. The legal organization of the church took place in 1802, and the certificate, recorded in the office of the county. clerk, shows that Rev. Elias Lee was pastor, William Stillwell, deacon, Joseph Robinson, William Still- well, Silas Briggs, Nehemiah Seeley, Elisha Roe, and Jonathan Peekham, trustees.

In 1805 the Saratoga Baptist Association was formed, and this church was one of the constituent members. Like most other churches this has had its days of spiritual growth and prosperity, as well as its days of adversity and declension. The church had its largest additions during the two years' pastorate of Rev. S. S. Parr,-one hundred and nineteen. The catalogue of pastors is as follows: Rev. Elias Lee, thirty years; William E. Waterbury, four years; S. S. Parr, two years ; Charles B. Keyes, one year; Norman Fox, twelve years; Orrin Dodge, two years; Joseph Free- man, one year ; I .. Y. Hayhurst, four years ; E. S. Widde- mer, one year ; William Groom, Jr., four years; William O. Hlohman, four years ; P. Franklin Jones, one and one- half years; George W. Clark, five and one-half years ; E. H. Johnson, one and one-half years ; R. T. Jones, the present pastor, now in the third year of his labors. The present organization consists of Anson B. Garrett, Barney Crossman, Seymour Rowley, Calvin Wiley, A. J. Griffen, deacons ; Edward Maxon, treasurer; Seymour Rowley, Stephen E. Garrett, James W. Morris, Charles N. MeCleuv, William S. Waterbury, trustees ; Jerome B. Schultz, sexton ; A. J. Griffen, church clerk.

This church was known as the Second Milton until 1802.

PRESBYTERIAN CIIURCH.

The First Presbyterian church was organized in June, 1834. Previous to this time families of Presbyterian senti- ments had belonged either to the church at Ballston Centre or that of Milton Centre. The rapidly-increasing import- ance of the village of Ballston Spa led to a desire for a separate church at this point. The movement was very mueh aided, as was that of the Methodist organization about the same time, by an extensive and noted revival, a part of this general work that prevailed over so large a por- tion of the State from 1828 to 1835. The first prelimi- nary meeting was held May 10, 1834, and the church organized with sixty-six members, bearing letters from the two churches named above.

The first trustees were elected July 8, 1834, Philip II. MeOmber, Jonathan S. Beach, Edward W. Lee, Moses Williams, Christopher Earl, and James Comstock.

* A verbatim copy of the inscription.

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HISTORY OF SARATOGA COUNTY, NEW YORK.

The church edifice was erected in 1835, at a cost of $10,000. It was dedicated in November of that year, the congregation having met for a few months in the court- house.

A parsonage was bought in 1856, at an expense of nearly $3000.

In 1860, Samuel H. Cook built a neat chapel on Milton street, at an expense of about $600, for the use of the so- ciety. Ilis intention, expressed before his death, of making it a free gift to the church was carried out by his family.

The several pastors of the church have been James Wood, Samuel J. Prime, A. T. Chester, Daniel Stewart, George T. Todd, Nathaniel S. Prime, Richard Il. Steele, Nathaniel B. Klink, David Tully, S. Mattoon, S. A. Hoyt, Jr., David Murdock.

The present organization (1877) consists of five elders, --- T. M. Mitchell, Hiro Jones, J. L. Phillips, Joseph Horn, E. R. Scareman ; and of six trustees,-T. M. Mitchell, ITiro Jones, John MeLean, George R. Beach, Jonathan S. Beach, James O. Leach ; Hiro Jones clerk of session and also of the trustees.

METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCHI.

It is a matter of regret that no records are preserved of the earliest Methodist work in this village. It would, no doubt, show interesting facts of early prayer-meetings gath- ered in private houses ; of the welcome given to the toiling itinerant minister, as he traveled the immense circuit of the olden times, and once a fortnight or once a month reached this place; the efficient method of organization, which is characteristic of Methodists. The establishing of a pioneer " class," where only two or three " met together in the Saviour's name," was a work in many places all unwritten, yet powerful as the nucleus of future churches and con- ferences. Not even a single leaf of class records may come down to the eager grasp of the historian ; yet there is ample proof that the work was done, and well done, though the names and facts are known only to Him who needeth no record to recall the earthly labors of His faithful children.

Coming down to the actual organization of the church, we find that this occurred in 1836; that the society con- sisted of E. Jones, S. Hicks, C. Caulkins, C. Patchen, and some fourteen others.

Revs. Elisha Andrews and Wm. H. Baekus were the first ministers.

They first worshiped in the old academy, so called.

Their first house of worship was erected in 1836, and the dedication services were conducted by Noah Levings. The present one was erected in 1846, at an expense of about $12,000. It has at various times been enlarged and im- proved, at a cost of $6000. In connection with the church a parsonage was erected, at an expense of $2000.

The present pastor is Rev. R. II. Robinson, who has once before also been appointed to this charge. During the war he was chaplain of the Thirty-second Regiment, New York Volunteers. The present organization consists of nine stewards,-C. Garling, J. L. Weed, N. L. Roe, T. White, A. Reynolds, J. E. Purdy, J. L. Hemstead, Wil- liam Winters, David Winne; of five trustees,-David At- kins, president ; W. B. H. Outt, secretary ; George West,

M. J. Esmond, W. W. Garrett; and of eleven class-leaders, -David Atkins, Charles Van Valkenburgh, S. D. Arnold, D. C. Garrison, William Shaw, E. Rogers, J. Tueker, M. J. Esmond, II. C. Dey, A. Clark, W. W. Garrett. The membership is over three hundred. An efficient Sunday- school is maintained, with a good library. The house of worship is centrally and conveniently located, in the midst of the business portion of the village.

CATHOLIC CHURCH OF BALLSTON SPA.

Catholic serviees were held by various pastors of the church, some perhaps as early as 1849. Father Havreman first celebrated mass here on Ash Wednesday. The meet- ings were held in the old Methodist meeting-house, which the Catholics purchased. Father Daly next ministered to this congregation. He was followed by Pastor Cull. Un- der his administration of the parish, ground was purchased and the corner-stone of the present house was laid in De- cember, 1859. It was finished the following year, and consecrated by Bishop McCloskey, now cardinal. Mrs. MeLaughlin, who has furnished this information (on the failure of the priest to do so), states that the great cardinal dined in her humble house. The church cost about $3000, and the fitting up $1000 more. The building committee were Michael St. John, Dennis MeLaughlin, and John Hand. Father Cult ministered to this society many years. Pastor Sheehan came next, and then the first regular parish priest, Rev. M. McGeoghan.

The Catholic cemetery was purchased in the year 1865, and conscerated with appropriate ceremonies. The first burial in it was James St. John.

CENTENNIAL IIALL.

The Centennial hall, erected or finished, as its name in- dicates, in the year 1876, is a neat and ornamental build- ing, devoted to free discussion in religious matters. It was built by citizens favoring or at least interested in modern spiritualism, and its platform is occupied from time to time by speakers upon that subject. The movement has not crystallized into an organization, but regular exercises are now held (October, 1877) twice each Sunday. The advi- sory committee consists of Dr. Moore, Lawyer Brotherton, Mr. Barber, and Mr. Noxon.

VII .- BANKS.

" The Ballston Spa Bank," the first banking institution in town, was organized in 1838, and commenced business May 15, 1839. The first board of directors were James M. Cook, Isaac Friuk, Anson Brown, Lebbeus Booth, Jonathan S. Beach, Samuel Freeman, Eli Barnum, John W. Thompson, Stephen Smith, John Kelley, Harvey Chap- man, Philip H. Macomber, Samuel Hides. James M. Cook was president; Isaac Fowler, cashier ; John J. Lee, teller. The institution was reorganized in 1865 under the name of the " Ballston Spa National Bank." The present board consists of John W. Thompson, president, Jonathan S. Beach, Samuel Smith, Andrew W. Smith, Arnold Ilar- ris, Leverett Moore, Henry Knickerbocker, George G. Scott, George L. Thompson. Cashier, John J. Lec.

It will be noticed that three, John W. Thompson, Jona-

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than S. Beach, and John J. Lee, have been connected with the bank thirty-eight years. The latter has also been treas- urer of the village and treasurer of the Union School dis- trict for many years, enjoying, in a high degree, the confi- denee of the community.

" The First National Bank of Ballston Spa" was es- tablished April 1, 1865. Capital, $100,000. The first trustees were Hiro Jones, Henry A. Mann, Nathaniel Har- rison, Samuel L. Eldridge, Samuel Gould, Jr., Lawrence W. Bristol, John H. Westcot, James O. Leach, J. S. Smith, John McLean, John D. Bancroft, L. M. Crane, and James Ellison. Hiro Jones, president ; John D. Bancroft, cash- ier. This bank has a savings department, organized April 1, 1870. Deposits, about $65,000. The present board of trustees consists of lliro Jones, president ; Stephen C. Medberry, cashier ; George West, John McLean, James W. Norton, James O. Leach, John II. Westcot, Lawrence W. Bristol, J. S. Lamareaux, Thomas Noxon, M. J. Esmond, Abel S. Whitlock, John II. Bassett.

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History of Saratoga County, New York, with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers., Part 58

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