History of Saratoga County, New York, with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers., Part 82

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 82

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In 1821, John House was a member of Assembly ; 1825, Nicholas B. Doe; 1828, Eli M. Todd ; 1829, Joshua Mandeville ; 1830, Samuel Stewart; 1834, Eli M. Todd ; 1839-40, John Stewart; 1842, John Cramer ; 1847, Thomas C. Morgan ; 1860-62, John Fulton.

In 1846, Joshua Mandeville was judge. Among the old masters in chancery were John Cramer, in 1805; Joshua Mandeville, in 1813; John K. Porter, in 1840; examiners in chancery, John K. Porter and Edward F. Bullard.

V .- VILLAGES. WATERFORD.

The village organization is much older than that of the town, and it would be interesting to give very fully its records. The village was surveyed as early as 1784 by Flores Bancker, and divided into lots. In 1801 it was in- corporated, and the first trustees were Hezekiah Ketchum, Jacobus Van Schoonhoven, Matthew Gregory, Isaac Keeler, John Pettitt, Duncan Oliphant, and Thomas Smith. These seem to have been trustees, from one statement, as early as 1794, though the date of incorporation is given as 1801.

The village records were destroyed in the great fire of 1841, and it is difficult to give the names of early trustees or the successive presidents and clerks.

In 1841, John House was president ; M. C. Powell, clerk. The trustees were John Stewart, John Haswell, N. B. Doe, Alexander Stewart, Elisha Morss, and William Smith.

The present year, 1877, David T. Lamb is president, and D. M. Van Hovenburgh, clerk.

Business Development .- The hydraulie canal, utilizing the great water-power in convenient form for general use, led to the establishment of a large number of manufacto- ries, in which the place has excelled for many years. Here are two stock- and die-factories, a machine-shop, an axe- factory, a twine-factory, an ink- and lampblack-factory, a soap- and candle-factory, a flouring-mill, and a pearling-mill. On the Champlain canal, too, there are large opportunities for water-power, and there have been in existence for many years the flouring-mills, a foundry and machine-shop, an auger-factory, and a distillery. The manufacture of fire- engines was started in 1831, and they have done an exten- sive business, turning out some of the time $60,000 worth of work a year. A more complete statement of these enter- prises will be found under the head of industrial pursuits.

A bridge across the Hudson was built at this place in 1804, at the cost of a large expenditure for those times. The present structure, known as the Union bridge, was built in 1812-14, at an expense of $20,000.

The limits of the village of Waterford are not very ex- tensive,-a compact territory, bounded mostly by the Cham- plain canal and the rivers, only being comprised in the corporation. Outside the bounds of the corporation is West Waterford, a station upon that branch of the Rensselaer and Saratoga railroad, which passes through Cohoes. Op- posite Cohoes, during the past few years, quite a village has grown up under the name of North- Side. It is very largely the residence of operators in the various mills and factories below the State dam, and also in the city of Cohoes. Though the town is so small in territory, yet a separate election distriet has been established at North-Side.

We obtain the following memorandum of Alexander Stewart, who came to Waterford in 1814. He had three brothers, also in Waterford, now dead. Among them was General Samuel Stewart, for so many years the well-known chorister of the old Reformed church. He was also a man of military taste, though he declined a colonel's commission in the regular army in the War of 1812. It is said that had he taken it, he would have outranked Colonel Winfield Scott, afterwards the noted general. The father of these brothers was a Connecticut man, a soldier of the Revolu- tion, and was in this county at the surrender of Burgoyne.

Alexander Stewart mentions the following business men of Waterford in 1814: House, . Myers & Co., Wynant Vandenburgh, Foster & Vandenburgh, Stewart & Knicker- bocker, King & Foster, Davis & Thorn, Close & Vandecar, Moses Scott, Scott & Fowler, John Vibbard, Henry Ten Broeck,-all these were merchants, doing a general busi- ness. To these he adds Horace IIudson, hardware ; Samuel Drake, druggist ; James Oliphant, tannery ; George Edson, leather-store; Mr. Grant, flouring-mill ; John Robinson, shoemaker (Mr. Stewart remembers that the boys covered Robinson's chimney one " St. Patrick's day in the morning" and smoked him out) ; Roger Evans, jeweler ; James Fowler, tailor; James Ilale, blacksmith; Mr. Grant, hatter; John Cramer, lawyer; James Van Schoonhoven, lawyer; William Given, lawyer; Samuel Huntington, lawyer. Mr. Shaw and another man kept two mcat-markets under one roof.

"ELM PARK", RES. OF REV. STEPHEN BUSH, WATERFORD, NEW YORK.

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HISTORY OF SARATOGA COUNTY, NEW YORK.

The building stood exactly opposite the present Waldron market, in the centre of the street, a drive-way cach side of it.

Dr. Whitmore was the principal, and about the only physician in 1814. Dr. Porter, though, began practice soon after, perhaps 1815. From 1814 to 1820 there were other merchants established : Todd & Comstock, D. K. Lighthall, and Isaac Bailey. N. B. Doe, lawyer, was in Waterford soon after 1814. Samuel Demarest was keep- ing tavern in 1814, on the site of the present Morgan House. Still earlier Gerardus Van Schoonhoven kept the Eagle Hotel, now the private residence of Mrs. Brown ; soon after, William Gates kept it. Mr. Haight, in 1814, kept the tavern on the corner of First and Broad streets. At the same time Mr. Smith was keeping tavern on the corner of Fourth and Broad streets. The Stewart store is on the site of the old John Vibbard store of 1814.

VI .- SCHOOLS.

Of the earliest schools in Waterford we have little ac- count. The name of one teacher is mentioned in another place. The town now consists of two school districts. No. 1 comprises the village and considerable surrounding territory. The organization is a union free high school, with an academic department. The main building is of brick, three stories in height, with eight separate school-rooms, also recitation-rooms and convenient halls. A separate building is located at " Doyle City," so called, south of the canal, and another at North-Side. These schools are, however, graded into uniformity with the union school, and are really a part of it. The main building is valued at $15,000; the other two at $5000. There is a valu- able library of fifteen hundred volumes. This free- school system dates from about 1854. The school-house of district No. 2 is located up the river, in the Traverse neighborhood.

Waterford quite carly provided means for higher educa- tion by establishing an academy. This furnished ample facilities, and many of the present citizens in the profes- sional and business classes received their training in the old institution. The academy was on the present site of the Catholic church. Waterford, too, was the place where Mrs. Emma Willard taught for some years before she en- tered upon her long and distinguished career as principal of Troy Female Seminary. Her Seminary here was on Second street, now changed into a block of three dwellings, south of the railroad depot.

COMMISSIONERS' APPORTIONMENT, MARCH, 1878.

District.

Number of Children

between the ages of

five and twenty-one.

Equa (nota of the

1) c Money.

Public Money accord-

ing to the number

of Children.

Public Money accord-

ing to average at-

tendance,

Library Money.

Total Public Money.

No.

1383 48

$729.96 52.14

$951.20 33.01

$929.10 29.82

1.60 $46.14 |$2656.40 116.57

1431

$782.10

$984.21

$958.92

$47.74

$2772.97

VII .- CHURCHES.

THE REFORMED (DUTCHI) CHURCHI.

This society, now extinct, was the old pioneer church of Waterford ; emphatically, the church of old times. The house of worship stood a mile and a half north, near the residence of Gradus Clute, now the Devitt place. This was taken down and removed to the corner of Middle and Third streets, the work being finished in 1799. This re- mained until the spring of 1876, when the society having ceased to exist, the property was soll, the venerable old building removed, and a handsome private residence is now erected upon its site. The corner-stone bore the date 1799, but careful search failed to discover any box of'. valuables deposited there. The year when the old house of worship up the river was built seems to be unknown, nor is it cer- tain that it was the first. The recent manual of the Pres- byterian church states the building " as just before the close of the Revolution," and this is doubtless correct. The church organization may very likely have been much older than that. The brief hints of ancient settlement, still ex- tant, show sturdy defenders of the ohl Reformed faith as residents of Half-Moon Point for a hundred years before the Revolution. The records of this ancient society do not seem to have been preserved, and the names of its founders are not casily obtained.

GRACE CHURCH ( EPISCOPAL).

The following is the record of this organization from the parish book :

Sept. 17, 1810 .- The inhabitants of the village of Waterford, in common of the Protestant Episcopal church, wishing to establish a church in this village, did, after being duly notified as the law directs, meet for the purpose of electing proper persons to carry the same into execution, and did, by a majority of voices, elect the following persons for that purpose : Richard Davis, Jr., and John Vibbard, clinreh-wardens; Guert Van Schoonhoven, Henry Davis, Hezekiah Ketchum, James Meeker, Benjamin Chamber- lain, William MeDonald, Joseph Ketchum, and Ward Rice, vestrymen. And having proceeded as the law directs, said church did cause a certificate to be made, acknowledged, and recorded, in due form, in which the said church was denominated Grace church.

The vestry being thus organized, appointed a lay deputy to represent them in the convention of the Protestant Epis- copal church, to meet in the city of New York, on the first Tuesday of October next. Richard Davis, Jr., the deputy elect, presented the certificate of organization, and he was duly admitted to a seat in the convention.

At a meeting of the vestry, Dec. 10, 1810, John Davis was chosen clerk, Wm. M. MeDonald, collector, and John Davis, treasurer. Richard Davis, Jr., John Davis, and John Vibbard were appointed a committee to purchase a site, and they bought a lot for $176.75, " on the outskirts of the village." Some delay and difficulty as to securing title occurred, and that site was abandoned. July 1, 1811, they bought the Methodist meeting-house, and after repair- ing and refitting it, the building was consecrated by Bishop Hobart, Ang. 30, 1813. That year John Vibbard was sent as delegate to the general convention, and allowed

330

IHISTORY OF SARATOGA COUNTY, NEW YORK.

$17 for his services, the record says, but it probably means his expenses.

May 20, 1814, Rev. Parker Adams was called as rector, at a salary of $350 per year. At the sale of pews in 1814, the following names appear besides those already mentioned : John Knickerbocker, J. Mandeville, Thomas Titcomb, Horace Hudson, Sylvester flaight, T. Davis, J. Cramer, James Thorn, Henry Fanning, John House, Todd & Doc, William and James Fowler, Benjamin Shaw, E. Porter, I. Grant, James Oliphant, William Griffith, John Hall, Joseph HI. Douglas, Nathaniel Foster, James Van Schoon- hoven, Samuel Drake, Samuel G. Huntington, J. Pettit, and Patrick Murray.

The expense of purchase and repairs was £734 16s. 9d. The whole amount was not raised, and the property was mortgaged for about $600 to Guert Van Schoonhoven, John Vibbard, John Knickerbocker, Richard Davis, Jr., and Hezekiah Ketchum. Twelve years later, in 1826, these gentlemen generously donated the entire amount, dis- charged the property from encumbrance, and Guert Van Schoonhoven still further, as an expression of his liberality and love for the church, purchased and donated the title in fee, extinguishing thereby the ground rent, and leaving them in full possession.

The second pastor was George Uphold, the Rev. Parker Adams having resigned Oct. 12, 1818. The remaining pastors have been Henry Stebbins, George B. Eastman, Joshua Morss, Joseph J. Nicholson, Edward Edwards, Richard S. Adams, William Walsh, Joseph Carey, George F. Ferguson, Charles I. Lancaster, F. A. Shoup, and the present incumbent, Walter Thompson.

Among the incidents of the church history may be men- tioned the gift of a Bible by P. S. Van Rensselaer, March 27, 1815.

This old Methodist chapel, remodeled into Grace church, continued until the great fire of 1841, when it was burned. Indeed, the fire originated just in the rear of it, and it was the first to be destroyed. The society, rallying with energy, built of brick, not long after, at an expense of $6000. In 1865 this was enlarged, remodeled, thoroughly refitted, and furnished with a new organ,-the whole cost- ing nearly $10,000. In these later efforts, Richard D. Davis was a noted benefactor. There have been several cases of very long official service in the church. John Higgins has served as vestryman or warden about forty years, and to him we are indebted for the facts given in this sketch. The present officers are James Holroyd and John Higgins, wardens; J. B. Enos, John Lawrence, F. S. Waldron, Thomas Breslin, Win. Ilohroyd, Joseph Har- raman, Emanuel Mead, and Wm. McDonald. The latter is also clerk.

PRESBYTERIAN CIIURCH.

The history of this society is taken from their " Manual," issued in 1876. The earliest Presbyterian congregations in this vicinity were organized in 1792, in the villages of Lansingburg and Troy. Neither congregation being strong enough in itself to support a minister, the two united in calling Rev. Jonas Coe, of New York. He came to Lan- singburg to reside in 1793, and ministered in each village

on alternate Sabbaths. Before the close of the last century a Presbyterian organization was formed in the village of Waterford. It was the germ of the present church, but was too weak, numerically and financially, to carry out its plans, and the organization was dormant for several years. The Reformed Dutch church, the venerable organization of' earlier times, in 1799 erected their house of worship at the southwest corner of Middle and Third streets, the society paying for the lot 8500. The Presbyterians then united with this church, and co-operated with it in all of its interests.

In the year 1803 the union was dissolved between the church of Troy and that of Lansingburg. Dr. Coe re- moved to Troy, and the church there became his sole charge. Just at this time the pastorate of the Dutch church in Waterford became vacant, through the failing health of the Rev. John Close, who had been pastor since 1797. Ac- cordingly the Presbyterian church of Lansingburg invited the Presbyterians of Waterford, who had united with the Dutch church, to join with them in calling and supporting Rev. Samuel Blatchford, of Bridgeport, Conn., as pastor of' the congregations in the two villages. This invitation was cordially accepted. The Presbyterian church of Water- ford was again organized and formally established on a separate basis, - ecclesiastically distinct from the Lan- singburg church, and also from the Waterford Dutch church. Mr. Blatchford accepted the united call on an annual salary of $1250 and forty loads of wood. He was installed pastor of the two churches by the presby- tery of Columbia on July 18, 1804. Residing in Lan- singburg, it was his habit during the first part of his ministry to spend each alternate Sabbath in Waterford, preaching in the morning and afternoon. Afterwards he gave a part of every Sabbath in both villages. On Tuesday evening in each week he lectured in Waterford, and on Thursday evening in Lansingburg. In addition to his church work, Mr. Blatchford was preceptor of the Lansing- burg Academy ; and under his charge it became a large, flourishing, and famous school.

In 1804 the Dutch church of Waterford placed its house of worship at the service of the Presbyterians; and having no pastor, nuited with them in Mr. Blatchford's support, and in attendance on his ministry. This union continued most harmoniously until the year 1825, when discussions arose regarding the title and use of the edifice. As the Dutch wished to revive their church organization, Dr. Blatchford relinquished his claim upon their pulpit, and on the second Sabbath in January, 1826, led the Pres- byterians to Classic, now Knickerbocker hall, on First street, where services were held on that day, and continued to be held on the Sabbath for several months following. The lot on the corner of Third and Division streets was at once purchased, and the erection of the present church building immediately began. General Stewart, the archi- tect of the town in those days, drew the plans, and per- sonally supervised the work. It was completed in 1826, at a cost of $4000, and was opened with dedicatory services in September of that year. A half-century has elapsed, and the old walls yet stand within which the fathers wor- shiped, and where their children still count it their highest

331

HISTORY OF SARATOGA COUNTY, NEW YORK.

privilege to assemble. Dr. Blatchford continued to be pastor until the time of his death, March 17, 1828. His pastorate was nearly a quarter of a century in its duration. His labors were abundant, untiring, and successful, and he is regarded as the founder of Presbyterian institutions in Waterford.

Dr. Blatchford's successor was Rev. Ebenezer Cheever, who was installed April 9, 1828, and continued to serve the church as pastor until March, 1830, when he resigned. The pulpit was then supplied by Rev. Lawrence L. Van- Dyke for a short time. He was followed by Rev. George Bush, the well-known commentator, who was stated supply until May, 1831, when Rev. Reuben Swith was formally installed as pastor. During Mr. Smith's ministry the church was largely increased, two memorable revivals occurring. On the occasion of the March communion in 1843, fifty-six persons were received into membership, the largest number added to the church at any time until the March communion of the present year. Mr. Smith was pastor nearly seventeen years, resigning the office on April 1,1848.

On the 14th of September, 1848, Rev. Alexander B. Bullions was installed pastor, and ministered here until the year 1853. It was at his suggestion, and with his aid, that the ladies of the church undertook the purchase of the par- sonage property at the head of First street. This was done in 1852. Purchased through their exertions, the parson- age has since been under their charge. In 1869, at an expense of $2000, they enlarged the house, and added generally to its convenience. In 1874, they expended $1000 in other improvements.

Mr. Bullions having resigned early in 1853, Rev. David King, of Stillwater, was called to succeed him. But ere the time carue for him to enter upon his pastorate here, the Lord ealled for his services in the Upper Temple, and he departed this life June 1, 1853.

Rev. Lewis HI. Lee was the next pastor. Ile pronounced the oration at the grave of Colonel Ellsworth, and the effort will long live in the minds of those who heard it as a mas- terpiece of oratory. His brilliant career was suddenly closed by his death in 1863. It was during his pastorate that the old session-house was torn down and in its place the present one erected. The new building was the gift of John House, now deceased, and father of Dr. Samuel R. House, for thirty years engaged in mission work in Sian, but now returned to his native village.

Rev. Arthur T. Pierson was installed pastor Oet. 6, 1863. In 1865 it was determined to enlarge and remodel the church building. The closing services in the old house were held Sept. 17 of that year, Mr. Pierson preaching in the morning, and Rev. Clarence Eddy in the evening. The work of enlargement began on the following day. Some $20,000 were expended in the reconstruction and adorn- ment of the building. It was carried on under the imme- diate supervision of the pastor and Mr. Geo. Il. Stewart, whose uncle, General Stewart, had supervised the building of the house forty years before. The costly organ was the gift of the venerable John Cramer, and the elegant pulpit furniture and communion-table were the offering of the Sabbath-school. On Thursday evening, May 10, 1866, the

spacious and beautiful house was reopened with dedicatory services, in which many clergymen of the presbytery took part.

Early in the year 1869, Dr. Pierson accepted a call to the Fort Street Presbyterian church, of Detroit, Mich., where he now ministers. In June of the same year, R. II. P. Vail, a licentiate of the presbytery of Troy, was called to the vacant pastorate, and was installed on the 14th of Sep- tember following. At the communion in March, 1876, seventy-two persons united with the church. The service will be long remembered by all who were privileged to attend.

Mr. Vail closed his ministry in Waterford on the last day of March, 1876, being released by the presbytery to take charge of the Presbyterian church of Stamford, Conn. Rev. A. B. Riggs, the present pastor, succeeded him.

The following is a list of all who have hekt the offices of elder and deacon from the first, with the date of their in- stallation :

Ruling Elders .- Joseph Haswell,* 1805 ; Moses Seott,* 1811; John llouse,* 1811; John Hazard,* 1814; Adam Edso,* 1814; John Haswell,* 1820; Nathan D. Sher- wood,* 1833; Henry James,* 1833; Xenophon Ilay- wood,* 1833; Lysander Button, 1842; lorace Fisk,* 1844; John V. S. Hazard, ; 1844; John C. House, 1858; James R. Blake,+ 1858; D. M. Van Hovenburg, 1865; Stephen Viele,* 1872; John H. Dennis,* 1872; M. D. Schoonmaker, 1875; Milton C. Jones, 1875; Theodore E. Button, 1875.

Deacons .- William H. Scott, 1831; Xenophon Hay- wood,* 1831; Elias Dummer, 1833; John W. Stewart, 1872.

The following are the present officers :

Ruling Elders .- Lysander Button, John C. House, clerk ; D. M. Van Hovenburg, M. D. Schoonmaker, Milton C. Jones, Theo. E. Button.

Deacons .- W. H. Scott, Elias Dummer, John W. Stewart.

Trustees .- Win. T. Seymour, president ; J. C. House, secretary and treasurer ; Geo. W. Eddy, Geo. H. Stewart, William Gordon, Milton C. Jones, Isaac C. Ormsby, Jos. C. Platt, Jr., Edward 11. Powell.

THE BAPTIST CHURCHI OF WATERFORD.

This society was organized in 1821, united with the Shaftsbury Association in 1822, and left to join the Saratoga Association in 1834. The ministers of this church have been Elders Willey, Lamb, Green, Andrews, Duncan, Brand, Rouse, Eastwood, Carr, Baker, Cannon, Burroughs, Gar- field, Harvey, Lucas, Corwin, Cheshire, Lloyd, Judson, Ashton, Chivers, Dunsford, and Jones.

The first Baptist gatherings in Waterford were held at the house of Deacon Whitney. This was from 1812 to 1815. These services became the foundation of the church. The society worshiped in the old school-house, dividing the time with other denominations.

It was not until 1842 that a meeting-house was erected, a brick structure, due principally to the energy of Deacon

* Deceased.

+ Removed.

332

HISTORY OF SARATOGA COUNTY, NEW YORK.

George Hurd, T. J. Eddy, and Merritt Potter. This house was remodeled twice, the last time in 1867, when the present beautiful church was completed, at a cost of nearly $20,000. The first Sunday-school was opened in the old school-house, under Deacon IIurd, about the year 1835. The present officers of the church are : Pastor, Rev. Arthur Jones; Dea- cons, T. J. Eddy and J. Husted ; Trustees, Dr. C. Boughton, Jr., R. D. Palmateer ; Clerk, B. F. Flandreau.

THE METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH.

The general view of Methodist work in this county, given in the chapter upon the town of Malta, shows that the appointment of Methodist ministers to Waterford does not appear under that name until 1830; but it was a point of Methodist work thirty years earlier than that. A chapel was erected soon after 1800, for they gave up the use of it and soll it to the Episcopalians in 1810.

In later years the church has had a vigorous and pros- perous existence. The congregation is large, and they have a spacious and convenient house of worship, and the church work is well sustained.

THE CATHOLIC CHURCHI.

This is understood to be a flourishing congregation under the charge of the Catholic pastors of Cohoes. They have a convenient church, located upon a fine site.

VIII .- BURIAL-GROUNDS.

The principal burying-ground in old times was on land donated by the Vandewerker family. This was super- seded by the new cemetery. As in other towns, there are some private burial-places. The Decker and Clute families are buried on the present Sanders farm; the families of Vandekar and Frye on the present Anderson place.

In the old village burial-place there are some graves with the common rough stones, showing them to be very old, but there are only a few dates earlier than 1800.

IX .- SOCIETIES, BANKS, AND THE PRESS.

Thirty years ago, 1848, a band of brother Masons, having applied for and obtained a dispensation from the Grand Master of the State of New York, proceeded to or- ganize a lodge of Master Masons in this village. Of that number, seven were members of Phoenix Lodge, No. 58, Lansingburg, and two were brethren from Okl Orange Lodge, No. 43, which was in existence long before the great anti-Masonic excitement of nearly half a century ago. James M. Austin was the first Master of the newly organized lodge, under dispensation. Ilis great ability and untiring zeal for the welfare of the new lodge singularly qualified him for the position, which he held during four consecutive years. Brother Austin is the present Grand High Priest of the United States, and Grand Secretary of the State of New York. The other officers on the foundation were Brothers John Hinde, S. W .; John Fulton, J. W .; F. W. Allen, Sec .; John Higgins, Treas. ; Joseph II. Cudworth, S. D .; John Milliken, J. D .; Samuel Lands- borough, S. M. C .; Joseph M. King, J. M. C .; John Roe, Tyler. The charter members, besides the officers above mentioned, were G. C. Schoonmaker, William H. Scott,

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History of Saratoga County, New York, with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers., Part 82

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