Our county and its people : a descriptive and biographical record of Saratoga County, New York, Part 10

Author: Anderson, George Baker; Boston History Company, Boston, pub
Publication date: 1899
Publisher: [Boston] : The Boston History Company
Number of Pages: 950

USA > New York > Saratoga County > Our county and its people : a descriptive and biographical record of Saratoga County, New York > Part 10

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

OUR COUNTY AND ITS PEOPLE.

in Ballston Spa was not founded until 1810. The Baptist church1 of this village was organized in 1791, the year which witnessed the hold- ing of the first Episcopal services in the county.

Masonry obtained a firm foothold in the village before the close of the century. In 1794 a number of members of the Masonic frater- nity who had settled in Ballston Spa and vicinity met at Ballston Centre for the purpose of organizing themselves into a lodge. May 16, 1794, the Grand Lodge, F. & A. M., of the State of New York

abandoned and the two congregations united for worship at Ballston Spa, St. Paul's being changed in name to that of the original society-Christ church. Its first vestry under the reorganization consisted of Joshua B. Aldridge and James Mann, wardens; Epenetus White, jr., Thomas Palmer, Samuel Smith, Thomas Smith, Eli Barnum and Daniel Starr, vestrymen. The church edifice at the Centre was taken down in this year, removed to the village and reconstructed on a lot ad- joining the old county clerk's office on Front street, about three hundred and fifty feet west of and opposite to the public spring. It was reopened by services conducted by Rev. Benjamin T. Onderdonk, subsequently bishop of New York. Rev. Joseph Perry was succeeded as rector by Rev. William A. Clark. In 1824 Rev. Deodatus Babcock became rector, serving as such for twenty- twoyears. The rectors since that time have been: George J. Geer, Robert G. Rogers, Charles Arey, George W. Dean, George Worthington, Joseph Cary, Walter Delafield; April 1, 1884, to the present time, Rev. Dr. Charles Pelletreau. With the exception of Dr. Babcock's, Dr. Pelle- treau's rectorship has been the longest in the history of the parish. In 1860, during the rector- ship of Mr. Dean, the cornerstone of the present handsome edifice was laid, and the church was dedicated in March, 1862. Its cost was about $11,000. Since that year thousands of dollars have been expended in repairing and beautifying the edifice, until to-day it has one of the most attract- ive interiors in the country. During the rectorship of Rev. Dr. Pelletreau handsome memorial windows have been put in, the chancel has been completely refurnished, at considerable expense, and other improvements of a rich and substantial nature have been effected. About 1875 the church purchased from the State the old armory building nearly opposite the church, which it remodeled and has since used as a parish house. Extensive alterations were made in 1876 under the direction of Dr. Pelletreau. The work was completed in time for the reopening of the church on Christmas day of that year.

1 The Baptist congregation first met in a school house situated just south of the village. Here services were held until 1802, when a church was built, during the third year of the pastorate of Rev. Elias Lee, on a part of the ground now occupied by the eastern part of the Protestant ceme- tery on Ballston avenue. Mr. Lee was the first regular pastor of the church, assuming charge in 1800. Prior to that time services were conducted by various ministers, including Rev. Mr. Lang- worthy and Rev. Mr. Mudge of Saratoga Springs. The society numbered ninety-four members in 1800. Mr. Lee's pastorate continued for a period of thirty years, or until his death. He was a man greatly beloved, not only by the members of his congregation, but by the inhabitants of Ballston Spa and vicinity, regardless of the religious proclivities or lack of the same. In 1820, owing to the more general settlement of that part of the village north of High street, the original edifice was moved to a point on Science street, near the line of the present railroad. In 1837 the new church, which still stands on Milton avenue at the head of Front street, and which was abandoned as a place of worship in 1896, was completed at a cost of $8,000. It was constructed of stone and was an imposing edifice for that day. A very handsome new stone edifice was erected on Milton avenue in 1896, at a cost of about $35,000 during the pastorate of Rev. Gove Griffith John- son. The church was known as the Second Baptist Church of Milton until 1802, when it was in- corporated as the First Baptist Church of Ballston Spa. Since the pastorate of Rev. Elias Lee, the following have served in that capacity : William E. Waterbury, S. S. Parr, Charles B. Keyes, Norman Fox, Orrin Dodge, Joseph Freeman, L. Y. Hayhurst, E. S. Widdemer, William Groom, William O. Halman, P. Franklin Jones, George W. Clark, E. H. Johnson, Robert T. Jones, 1875- 1879; William T. C. Hanna, 1880-1890; William T. Dorward, 1890-1894; Gove Griffith Johnson, 1894-1898.

BALLSTON AND MILTON, 1783-1800.

granted a charter to the new lodge, which was named Franklin Lodge No. 37.1

The public spring? was by no means the only magnet which attracted visitors to this famous resort in the early days. At least three other springs whose waters possessed a distinct medicinal value were in ex- istence. One was on the west side of Bath street, at the foot of the hill. One, called the Jack spring, was located on the opposite side of the street, and flows to waste to this day. Another was located in what is now the rear yard of the Hotel Medbery. These three had a somewhat similar taste, and all differed greatly from the public spring. Travel to them increased year by year, additional boarding houses and hotels were erected for the accommodation of visitors, stores were established and permanent residences built, so that at the opening of the present century the village was a hustling little community, with evidences of thrift and enterprise on all sides, bidding fair to become one of the most popular and celebrated summer resorts on the Ameri- can continent.

The village of Ballston Spa, having been located partly in Ballston and partly in Milton, those two towns naturally shared in the pros- perity attending the early days of this once famous resort. The agri. cultural community was greatly benefited by the near-by market, now increasing in importance so rapidly, and its fame spreading, settlers continued to flock to the adjoining country, improve the land and take their products to the markets at the now thriving village.

Among those who located in the town of Ballston while the war was in progress was Samuel Wood, who came about 1780 and built a home on the east side of Ballston lake. Thomas Weed was also an early set- tler. Peter Williams built a small tannery at the close of the war, and in connection therewith operated a shoe shop on the banks of the Mourning Kill near-by. John, Azor, Samuel and Eliakim Nash and David Clark were also here about the same time, but little is known of them. Miles Beach came from Connecticut in 1786 in company with his father, Zerah Beach. The former was married in 1807 to Cynthia Warren. William A. Beach, the famous lawyer, was their second son. Asa Waterman, and his son, Asa Waterman, jr., came to Ballston

1 This lodge met for several years at Ballston Centre. In 1834 the warrant was forfeited and declared to be not legally capable of being revived.

2 This spring, called the " iron spring," is located at the west end of Front street, on the north side of the street, and its waters are free to all.

OUR COUNTY AND ITS PEOPLE.

about 1790 and lived at Ballston Centre, opposite the Presbyterian church. Later they removed to the old Larkin farm. The father fought in the Revolutionary war and was present at Burgoyne's sur- render. In 1786, while residing in Montgomery county, Governor Clinton commissioned him a lieutenant colonel in the State militia. Seth C. Baldwin located on the well-known Colonel Young farm before 1793, for in that year he had become well enough known to be chosen supervisor of his town. In 1797 he was elected to the Assembly; in 1800 and 1801 he was again elected supervisor, and in the latter year was appointed sheriff of the county. After serving in that capacity three years he was elected county clerk, his office, in the absence of a county office, being located in his residence. Edward A. Watrous was another prominent man of this period, he having served as supervisor during the years 1794, 1795 and 1796. Jabez Davis was supervisor in 1797 and Henry Walton in 1798. Among others who were prominent during the latter days of the century were Caleb Benedict, Lloyd Wakeman, Robert Leonard, Gideon Luther, Thaddeus Patchen, Amos Larkin and Bushnell Benedict.

Until 1796 the county had no fixed place for the transaction of its official business. In that year the first court house was erected on the site on the Middle Line road which even to this day is known as Court House Hill. This continued to be the county seat until March, 1816, when both the court house and the jail adjoining were burned.

One of the first to come to Milton after the close of the Revolution was Sanborn Ford, who formerly resided in Sand Lake, Rensselaer county. He had served throughout the war, first as musician, then in the infantry and finally in the cavalry. He was at Bunker Hill and also at the surrender of Lord Cornwallis, having witnessed the begin- ning and ending of the great conflict. For many years after coming to Milton he kept a public house. He had a family of four sons and four daughters. His homestead was located at what was known for many years as Spear's Corners, and in earlier days as Whalen's Cor- ners. The latter name was given to the community in honor of Abel Whalen, a former resident of Sand Lake, who located there about the same time as Ford. He had two sons, Abel and Ezekiel. John Lee, from Connecticut, migrated to Milton in 1793 and settled a short dis- tance west of Rock City Falls. His children were Joel, Elias, Noah, Ruth and Abigail. Joel Lee removed to Ballston Spa, and served as postmaster there for half a century. He was appointed to the office by

BALLSTON AND MILTON, 1783-1800.

Gideon Granger, postmaster-general. His son, Elias W. Lee, was for many years a merchant in that village, and another son, John J. Lee, was an officer of the Ballston Spa bank for nearly forty years. Joseph Shearer located near West Milton, perhaps before the Revolution. That he was here during the early days of the war is certain, as a stone in the old family burial ground states that three of his sons died re- spectively in 1777, 1787 and 1796. Joel Mann came from Hebron, Conn., in 1793 or 1794 and settled on the Nathaniel Mann farm. Of four sons, Rodolphus settled in Ballston; Jeremiah on the old home- stead, which subsequently was occupied by his son Nathaniel; Joel in Galway, and Hiram in Wayne county, N. Y., where he subsequently became sheriff. A daughter, Mrs. Hanchett, removed to Troy. James Mann, his brother, had preceded him three or four years, having set- tled in 1790 on a farm of one hundred acres about a mile west of Balls- ton Spa. He, too, came from Hebron, Conn., whence he returned shortly after his settlement here and married Tryphena Tarbox. His children were Electa, James and Joseph. James settled on the home- stead. John Bentley located in the town about 1778 and leased one hundred and fifty acres of land. John Cole and Henry Cole were liv- ing near him at that time. Mr. Bentley was twice married. His chil- dren by his first wife were Sarah, Mrs. Snyder, of Milton; Catharine, Mrs. Green, of Clifton Park; Elizabeth, Mrs. Tillinghast Bentley, of Milton; Charity, Mrs. Southwick, of Greenfield; and Patience, Mrs. John P. Bentley, of Troy. By his second wife he had eight sons: Otis, David, Pardon, Stephen, Adams, Elias, Gregory and Reuben. Otis settled in Milton; the remainder removed to Oswego county. Reuben Weed, Jonathan Morey, Benjamin Peck, Samuel Reed, Silas Adams, Jacob Ambler, Isaac Webb, -- Howard, John Ball, Elisha Powell, Henry Frink, Benjamin Gregory, Joshua Jones, Joel Keeler and Ben- jamin Grenelle were all here before 1800. Mr. Keeler was the first postmaster at West Milton.

Before the year 1800 several saw mills and grist mills had been con- structed along the banks of the Kayaderosseras at or in the vicinity of what is now Rock City Falls. The place was then known as Hatch Mills, and the mills were owned principally by a man named Swan. Mr. Rathbone, the first permanent settler at Rock City Falls, had mills there about 1800. His brother located there about the same time and started a store. Before that year John Whitehead had a saw mill at Craneville, at the upper end of the pond. At Factory Village an iron

OUR COUNTY AND ITS PEOPLE.

forge and a saw mill were in operation about the same time. At Mil- · ton Centre General James Gordon established a grist mill just after the war.1 Some time before 1800 Daniel Campbell of Schenectady erected a grist mill at West Milton, and left it in charge of Simon P. Vedder. Ezekiel Whalen had a mill near that of Campbell, but when it was built is not known. He also had the first store at what was then known as Clute's Corners.

Rev. Ammi Rogers, who conducted the first Episcopal services in Ballston Spa, organized St. James' church 2 at Milton Hill in 1796. Five years earlier, June 2, 1791, the Presbyterian church 3 at Milton was incorporated, and its organization may have taken place at an earlier date. The Baptist society long known as " the stone church, " 4 located east of Rock City Falls, was organized some time before 1800. The Presbyterian church of West Milton was organized soon after the Revolution by Scotch immigrants, as the Covenanters, or Reformed Pres- byterian. The first house of worship was located about a mile and a half west of Spear's Corners. 5

STILLWATER.

The settlement of Stillwater and the development of its resources

1 It is said that his materials for building were gathered before the war broke out, that the millstones were left leaning against trees during the troublous period, and that they had sunk by their weight half way into the ground before peace enabled the general to complete his plans. -Sylvester's History of Saratoga County.

2 The first vestry of the parish consisted of the following : Wardens, James Henderson, David Roberts; vestryman, Abel Whalen, William Bolt, Joel Mann, Hugh McGinness, William Johnson, Henry Whitlock, John Ashton, Thomas Shepherd. Rev. Charles McCabe, pastor of the Presby- terian church in Milton, entered the Episcopal ministry and for a while was rector of St. James'. Among the other pastors were Rev. Mr. Adams and Rev. Joseph Perry. About 1815 separate services there were discontinued and the members united with Christ church of Ballston Spa, the property being sold in 1849 to Nathaniel Mann. Services have been held afternoons for sev- eral years by the rector of Christ church.

3 The first trustees were William Williamson, Ebenezer Couch, Benajah Smith, Silas Adams, Stephen Wood and Esquire Patchin. The meeting-house was at Milton Hill. Among the early pastors were Rev. Messrs. Hovey, Wright and Hermance. The society dissolved about 1841.

4 The first house of worship was built in 1801 by Elder Lewis. In 1826 a stone edifice was erected. Among the early pastors were Jonathan Nicols, Samuel Plum, -- Clay, E. Tucker, F. Powell, A. Seamans, J. B. Wilkins, J. Goadby, W. B. Curtis, Caleb Gurr. The Milton branch of the Stillwater Baptist church, organized about 1785 by members of the churches at Stillwater, Stephentown and White Creek, was constituted as an independent church June 22, 1793.

5 This church was abandoned in 1840 and a new one erected immediately thereafter. The first pastor was James McKinney, who came from Ireland in 1798. The celebrated Gilbert Mc- Master succeeded him. Other early pastors were Samuel Wilson, John N. McLeod, A. S. McMas- ter (son of Gilbert McMaster), Samuel Stephenson, R. H. Beattie, David G. Bullions and others. The first elders were John Willson, Alexander Glen, John Burns, Joseph Shearer and Alexander Donnon.

STILLWATER, 1783-1800.

was very rapid after the close of the Revolution. Even during that conflict a number of persons were attracted to that town by the favora- ble reports regarding the advantages it offered to new settlers. John Taylor, who resided in Albany, owned a place there during the Bur- goyne campaign, but did not make it a permanent place of residence. Asa Chatfield was there at the same time, but little is known of him. Philip Munger, Joseph Munger and Benjamin Munger were also there, but the time of their coming is uncertain. Thomas Hunt resided in the eastern part of the town. Captain Ephraim Woodworth's house was located about a quarter of a mile south of the Neilson barn which was converted into a fort just before the arrival of Burgoyne's forces, and his residence was used by General Gates as his headquarters during the battle of October 7, 1777. Woodworth came from New England and did business as a weaver. John Hunter. who came to the county 'with the church colony from Connecticut, first located in Malta, but removed to Stillwater about the close of the war. Heran a blacksmith shop, and also was a practical surveyor. Many maps made by him are still in existence. He became a large land owner, purchasing exten- sively of Jonathan Frisbie, Eben Patrick and others. Joel Ketchum located in town about the close of the war. One son, Nathaniel, was elected sheriff of the county in 1811. The other son, Richard, was a merchant many years at Ketchum's Corners, which was named in his honor. Amos Hodgman came from Weston, Mass., about 1788. John Fellows came with the Connecticut church colony in 1762 to 1764, and built a house about a mile west of the "yellow meeting-house." But he returned to Connecticut, like many other members of that colony, during the period of the Revolution, and did not permanently settle in Stillwater until the close of the war. He was active in religious work and a man of great usefulness in the community. He left three sons- William, Ezra and Thomas. William settled in Stillwater and became the father of Abiram Fellows of Mechanicville. Ezra also settled in town. Thomas married a daughter of William Seymour and emigrated west with the Seymour family. The senior Fellows's daughter Eldula married Joel Seymour. Another daughter became Mrs. Depew and and another married a Dr. Day. William Seymour, Jonathan Morey and Cyprian Watson also were members of the Connecticut colony. All were God-fearing men and all became prominently identified with the welfare of the town of their adoption. Mr. Morey married a daughter of Rev. Robert Campbell, sr., the pastor of the Connecticut congrega-

OUR COUNTY AND ITS PEOPLE.

tion who removed to Stillwater. Thomas Morey, his son, was a prom- inent town officer and for many years a deacon of the church. Mr. Campbell spent his life in preaching to his flock, and his son, Robert Campbell, jr., took up his father's work and preached in Stillwater eight years. Mr. Watson and Mr. Seymour were also deacons in this Congregational church. The latter was a blacksmith by trade, but a man of great influence in the community. The Patrick family were also prominent for many years. Anthony Collamer, from Boston, set- tled south of Snake Hill on Saratoga lake just after the war, but finally removed to Malta, where several of his descendants still reside. He and two of his brothers fought at the battle of Bemus Heights. Thomas Collamer was his son, and Collins Collamer, his grandson. Isaac and Gabriel Leggett, brothers, were here during and probably before the war. They resided near each other, north of Wilbur's ravine. Near Wilbur's basin lived Reuben Wright. For many years he and his suc- cessors maintained a ferry known as Wright's ferry. The homestead of Simeon Barber was located on the famous battle ground. He may have been a resident before the opening of the war. Amariah Plumb and John Thompson also located in town. The latter was a man of great prominence and public spirit, and was elected a representative in Congress. Jeremiah Taylor, Elisha Andrews and -- Gleason lived in town during the Revolution.

Cornelius Vandenburgh, Christian Sackrider and Henry Metcalf were prominent in the legal profession several years before the close of the century. James Baker settled north of Mechanicville about 1800. His descendants are very numerous, many of them still residing in the county. Elias Palmer served in the patriot army and owned property during the Revolution. William Mead had a tavern at Stillwater vil- lage during the war, and soon after its close another was kept by Ezekiel Ensign on the river road. William Patrick had another in Stillwater village as early as 1800. Others were kept about the same time by Eli Stone, William Gleason and William Strong. The latter was located at what was known as Stillwater Centre. Hezekiah Rey- nolds also had an early tavern at the "yellow meeting-house corners." The first at Ketchum's Corners was kept by Noah Chapman.

Among the merchants who did business in town during this period were Palmer & Levins, who were succeeded by Reuben and Warren Smith. The stores of Ford & Hale, in 1790, and Terence O'Donnell are mentioned as existing in the north part of Stillwater village.

STILLWATER, 1783-1800.

Abram Q. Wright had the first store at Ketchum's Corners. Jesse Patrick was another early merchant at Stillwater village.

Among the early physicians were Dr. Elias Willard, Dr. Robert Patrick, Dr. William Patrick and Dr. Ephraim Otis. The latter lived at Quaker Springs in Saratoga, but practiced extensively throughout Stillwater. Daniel Hall, Increase Child and John Hunter are men- tioned as early surveyors.

Mills were built in Stillwater at a very early day. That of Isaac Mann has been referred to in a previous chapter. There were several others in town before the close of the century, but the ownership of most of them is a matter of doubt. Saw mills and grist mills were in operation during the same period at Gleason Hollow and on Mill Creek. On Wilbur Basin creek Ezekiel Ensign, who had one of the earliest taverns, had two or more mills.

The following also resided in Stillwater prior to 1800: Dirck Swart, who served as county clerk; Colonel Daniel Dickinson, farmer and tanner; Joseph Leavans (or Levins), blacksmith; William Gill, Jesse Gage, Amos Milliken, Thomas Peterson, Ashbel Palmer, Amos Hodg- man, Joseph Rowe, Ashbel Meacham, Seth Turpin, shoemaker; Mar- tin Carrington, harness-maker; Gilbert Hooker, Reuben Smith, Warren Smith, Alpheus Eaton, Frederick Stewart, merchants or druggists; William Parsons, Abin Parsons, Heman Whitney, carpenters; James Hillson, shoemaker; Hezekiah Lord, Jonathan Reed, Hugh Harsha, James Biggles, farmers; Peter Olds, Isaac Dickinson, Henry Davis, Timothy Shipman, Abraham Valentine, Joseph Stephens, William Cooper, Benjamin Cole, John Wiggins, Joseph Rockwell, William Dunning, Foster Whitford, Isaac Fonda, James Verner, John Bleecker, Jehoida Millard, jr., Josiah Millard, Isaac Myers, George Taylor, Daniel Ashley, John Tuttle, John Reubottom, Ephraim Woodworth, Samuel Rogers, Reuben Moore, Zebulon Mott, Peter Clemens, Andrew Sprague, James Dickinson, Lewis Williams, Samuel Bacon, Ezra Buell, Thomas Hunt, James Green, Daniel Brooks, Cornelius Van Tassel, John McBride, John Carpenter, Stephen Sayles, Sylvanus Sayles, William Anderson, Joel Ketchum, Solomon Scidmore, Samuel Cooper, John Scidmore, Thomas, William and Frances West, William Bell, William Morris, Philip Rogers, Jacob Rogers, Robert Ellis, Mordecai Sayles, Kendrick Brewer, Seth Burgess, Jonathan Bassett, Nathaniel Cooper, Simeon Marshall, Thomas Higgins, Enoch Higgins, Ahab Sayles, Reuben Woodworth, Lemuel Powers, Abraham Webster,

OUR COUNTY AND ITS PEOPLE.

Royal Newland, Benjamin Rogers, Jacobus Swartout, Daniel Thomp- son, Killiaen Vandenburgh, Killiaen De Ridder, Hubbard Pemberton, Ebenezer Bacon, Ephraim Cook, Jethro Bennett, Arthur Caldwell, Richard Davis, Israel Newland, Thomas Black, William Black, John Rowley, Joseph Newland, Joshua Barber, Nathaniel Clapp, Nicholas Gordinier, Daniel, John and James McBride, Rowland Emery, Archi- bald Walker, Abraham, John and Francis Wilcox, Philip Munger, Jehial Parker, John Neilson, Holton Dunham, John and James Verner, Adam Comstock, Daniel Bull, James Warren, Edward A. Watrous, Hugh Robles, John Taylor, Sidney Berry, Epenetus Warren, Ebenezer Russell, Robert Campbell, John Bull, Zina Hitchcock, Moses Vail, Robert Yates, John Williams, David Thomas, Stephen Lusk and James Gordon. All these men were property owners in Stillwater before the end of the eighteenth century.

Before 1800 the town of Stillwater had flourishing church societies, good schools and a Masonic lodge. The first schools were supported by subscription, and though private, were in reality semi-public, as all children were given tuition, whether their parents contributed more or less to the maintenance of the school. On the hill in Stillwater village stood a school as early as 1795 or 1796. Among the early teachers was Walter Broughton, who combined with his profession that of singing master. He also worked as a stone-cutter, and after teaching awhile became proprietor of the old Patrick tavern. Leonard Hodgman, who was born in Stillwater in 1792, remembered a school house near his home when he was a boy, which may have stood there prior to 1800. Other school houses of that period were located on the bank of Wilbur's Basin creek and in the Thompson neighborhood. The latter was pat- ronized by the families of the Connecticut colony.

Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.

Our county and its people : a descriptive and biographical record of Saratoga County, New York, Part 10

Author: Anderson, George Baker; Boston History Company, Boston, pub Publication date: 1899 Publisher: [Boston] : The Boston History Company Number of Pages: 950

Author: Anderson, George Baker; Boston History Company, Boston, pub
Publication date: 1899
Publisher: [Boston] : The Boston History Company
Number of Pages: 950