USA > New York > Saratoga County > Our county and its people : a descriptive and biographical record of Saratoga County, New York > Part 16
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village in these days. One of these was under the management of Rev. Deodatus Babcock. From 1822 to 1835 a ladies' seminary was located at High street. It subsequently was changed to a boys' school, and shortly afterward was abandoned.
To Gideon Putnam belongs the credit for starting the boom which made Saratoga Springs a formidable rival of the famous Ballston Spa, a movement which eventually gave to the former place the prestige and glory which originally accompanied the name of the latter. It was his capital which laid the foundations of the famed Grand Union hotel, and gave that village a name which it has ever since borne-the prince of watering places in America, and the peer of any in the world.
Gideon Putnam came to Saratoga Springs in 1789. He was a man of considerable wealth and experience in the world, and he foresaw the destiny of his new home, in part at least. Mr. Putnam was a son-in- law of Benjamin Risley, who came from Hartford, Conn. Mr. Risley's other son-in-law, who came with him, was Dr. Clement Blakesley. All began making investments in real estate soon after coming to Saratoga Springs. Mr. Putnam came of good stock, being of the same family as General Israel Putnam of Revolutionary fame. We have sufficient evidence of the energy and determination which formed so great a part of his character, as well as of his keen foresight. Though the country surrounding Congress Spring was little better than a wilder- ness in 1802, he seemed to have become imbued, and he alone, with the knowledge that it was destined to become in time a popular resort. Consequently, in that year, after clearing off the heavy timber on his land, he began the erection of the famous Grand Union hotel. This was the first commodious hotel erected at the Springs for the accommodation of visitors, and its erection marked the dawn of a new era for that community.
The building was of wood, three stories in height. On the day that the frame was raised, people gathered from the surrounding country for miles around to behold what was popularly called "Putnam's Folly." But they were doomed to disappointment, for immediately after the erection of this hotel, people began to flock to the springs in large numbers, and quickly purchased the lots which Mr. Putnam had laid out along the broad street which he had had surveyed. This
Principal Southwick the school was placed under the direction of the Regents of the University of the State of New York. The present members of the board of education are: President, Her- bert C. Westcot; clerk, Joseph Shaeffer; trustees, Frederick J. Wheeler, David Frisbie, James W. Verbeck, Tracy W. Nichols, Dr. Eben S. Lawrence.
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SARATOGA SPRINGS, 1800-1831.
street, then called Broad street, is now Broadway. Near it were located Congress, Columbian and Hamilton springs, and Mr. Putnam laid out the new village so these springs would be in public highways branching off from Broad street, and thereby remain public property. But after his death these streets, excepting Broad street, were narrowed down, bringing all these springs within private property. Thus it will be seen that Gideon Putnam, though not the pioneer, was in reality the founder of the village of Saratoga Springs.1
The wisdom of Gideon Putnam in erecting the Grand Union soon be- came apparent. Year by year the number of visitors to the springs in- creased, and by 1809 so great was the demand for accommodations that a rival hotel, called the Columbian, was erected on the site now occu- pied by the Ainsworth block. This hotel, which for many years was under the management of Jotham Holmes, was destroyed by fire many years ago.
Nine years after he had built the Grand Union, Gideon Putnam be- gan, in 1811, the erection of another commodious hotel, which he called Congress Hall. When its timbers were raised, one of them fell, killing Barney Souler and so injured Mr. Putnam that he died a few months later. His death resulted, doubtless, in a considerable change in the original plans for the operation of the hotel, for soon after its com- pletion it was used as a lodging house in connection with the Grand Union, which stood opposite. In 1815 it was sold to Guert Van Schoon- hoven, and under his ownership it became the most fashionable resort at the springs.
Still another large hotel was erected in 1819, by which time the vil- lage had become quite populous. This was the Pavilion hotel, which was built by Judge Walton on the site now occupied by the town hall.2 Nathan Lewis was its first proprietor. Succeeding him were Allen Murphy, John Ford, Asher Smith Taylor, John C. Dillon, John Cross, and Daniel McLaren. This hotel was one of the most elegant in the village.
1 Gideon Putnam was born in Sutton, Mass., in 1764, the son of Rufus and Mary Putnam. He married Doanda Risley, daughter of Benjamin Risley of Hartford, Conn. Soon after he re- moved to Middlebury, Vt., where he built a cabin on the site now occupied by the Middlebury college buildings. Subsequently he removed to Rutland, Vt., then to Bemus Flats, and finally to Saratoga Springs. His first purchase of land there was made in 1791, when he Lought three hundred acres from Dirck Lefferts. After building the Grand Union and laying out the village plots, in 1805, he retubed the Washington, Columbian and Hamilton Springs in 1806. He began the erection of Congress Hall in 1811. He died December 1, 1812, aged forty-nine years. The children of Gideon and Doanda Putnam were Benjamin, Lewis, Rockwell, Washington, Loren, Mrs. Betsey Taylor, Mrs. Aurelia Clement, Mrs. Nancy Andrews and Mrs. Phila Kellogg.
2 This hotel was burned in 1840.
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OUR COUNTY AND ITS PEOPLE.
The first United States hotel was not erected until 1824. In that year Elias Benedict, an uncle of Gen. James M. Marvin of Saratoga Springs, bought a tract of twenty-five acres lying between Franklin and Washington streets, on which he built the hotel called the United States. This was the first brick hotel built at the springs. It faced one hundred and twenty-five feet on Broadway, was thirty four feet deep, had a wing extending sixty feet on Division street, and was four stories in height. It was the most magnificent hotel of the day in Saratoga, and one of the most elegant in the country.1 John Ford, its first manager, continued in that capacity until 1830, when General James M. Marvin became proprietor. During his conduct of the United States, it became one of the most celebrated hotels in the world.
But while the enterprising inhabitants of Saratoga Springs were en- deavoring to do everything possible to make that place a celebrated summer resort, by the construction of handsome hotels, the improve- ment of its spring property and the development of new springs, they were not unmindful of the mental and spiritual welfare of the com- munity. The First Baptist church, organized late in the eighteenth century, though not yet permanently established in the village, had several members residing there, and the number of these increased as the population grew. In 1822 the church was finally located in the village. For many years this Baptist organization and a small society of orthodox Quakers were the only religious societies in the village. But in 1816 a number of the inhabitants adhering to the Presbyterian faith organized themselves into the First Presbyterian church of Sara- toga Springs. The organization was perfected January 15, 1816, by the election of Miles Beach, Ziba Taylor and Nathan Lewis as trustees. The first elders, Abijah Blanchard and Luman B. Smith, were not or- dained until December 11, 1817. The former was also ordained deacon. June 6, 1816, the society was incorporated, and August 19, 1817, it be- came a member of the Albany presbytery.2
Early in the century Episcopal services were held at Saratoga Springs. A chapel, given by Dr. John Clarke, stood on the northeast corner of Congress and Putnam streets, where Rev. Edward Davis of Ballston
1 The first United States hotel was burned in 1865.
2 This church had three houses of worship. December 6, 1820, the first, a frame building lo- cated at the corner of Church and Matilda streets, was consecrated. The second, dedicated in 1842, was a brick edifice located on the corner of Broadway and Caroline street. It cost $8,000, The third, which stands on North Broadway, was first occupied July 26, 1857. It cost about $30,- 000. Rev. Darius O. Griswold was the first pastor.
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SARATOGA SPRINGS, 1800-1831.
Spa voluntarily conducted services. October 4, 1830, the congregation worshiping here formally organized Bethesda Protestant Episcopal church, Rev. Edward Davis at that time being the missionary and rector in charge of that station. At this meeting Henry Walton and Wallace Crawford were elected wardens, and Hon. John H. Steele, Dr. John Clarke, Daniel D. Benedict, Esek Cowen, Rockwell Putnam, Joel Clement, Jonathan Williams and Daniel Wait vestrymen. Rev. Ed- ward Davis continued to serve the church, but in the capacity of mis- sionary, being assisted by Rev. Mr. Babcock.1
As early as 1812 the inhabitants of Saratoga Springs were wide awake to the necessity of proper school accommodations for the young. On March 12 of that year a meeting of citizens was held at the house of Moses Stickney for the purpose of devising means for the construc- tion of the needed school house. It was decided to erect a suitable building on land belonging to Gideon Putnam on the north side of Washington street; said building to be thirty by twenty-six feet. It was built by Jesse Morgan, at a cost of $400, under the direction of Gideon Putnam, Miles Beach and Nathan Lewis. The house was paid for by issuing shares of five dollars each, which appear to have been quickly subscribed. The general school system of the State was in- augurated in 1813, and the new school became the regular legal school for the newly organized District 15. May 22, 1813, Nathan Lewis, Miles Beach and Jotham Holmes were chosen the first trustees of the new district, and Daniel D. Benedict was elected secretary and col- lector. At the meeting held November 12, 1818, the district was divided into two districts.2 November 24, 1831, it was resolved to
1 The first regular rector was Rev. William F. Walker, who had been rector of Christ church in Troy, N. Y. The first church edifice was built in 1842-1844, and stood on the south side of Wash- ington street, on a lot purchased of Rockwell Putnam. This was enlarged and improved in 1859. Rev. Mr. Walker, the first regular rector, was succeeded September 2, 1843, by Rev. Samuel Han- son Cox. The successive rectors since that year have been : Rev. John Henry Hobart, March 28, 1845, to June 9, 1846 ; Rev. Philip E. Milledoler, M. D., June 9, 1846, to June 19, 1850 ; Rev. B. H. Whicher, supplied for Dr. Milledoler, 1849-1850, by reason of the illness of the latter ; Rev. S. F. Wiley, September 13, 1850, to November, 1852; Rev. Dr. Deodatus Babcock, supply during part of 1852-1853 ; Rev. John S. Kidney, February 23, 1853, to April, 1858; Rev. Robert C. Rogers, May 10, 1858, to July, 1861 ; Rev. Edmund Rowland Deacon, July 5, 1861, to October, 1863; Rev. Francis C. Wainwright, November 12, 1863, to May, 1865; Rev. G. C. V. Eastman, officiating clergyman from May, 1865, to April, 1866; Rev. John B. Gibson, April 20, 1866, to 1869; Rev. Dr. Norman W. Camp, 1869 to 1873; Rev. Joseph Carey, D. D., 1873 to the present time,
2 The existing public school system in Saratoga Springs was organized in pursuance of a special act of the Legislature passed April 12, 1867, consolidating all school districts in the village into the Union Free school district of Saratoga Springs. The law named Oliver L. Barbour, Augustus Bockes and John Shipman as trustees of the first class; Joseph A. Shoudy, Thomas Flanigan and Aaron Hill as trustees of the second class, and John Woodbridge, John Palmer and
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OUR COUNTY AND ITS PEOPLE.
move the school house " to R. Putnam's lot next north of James Cald- well's lot, No. 61."
A Masonic lodge existed at Saratoga Springs as early as 1821. Rising Sun lodge had been organized several years before in that part of the town of Northumberland which subsequently became the town of Wil- ton. The first known records of the lodge bear date of October 4, 1808, when Nicholas Angle was worshipful master, Daniel Wicks was senior warden and Jonas King was junior warden. The lodge then probably was working under a dispensation, as the charter now in the possession of Rising Sun lodge is dated September 6, 1809, when Nicholas Angle was still worshipful master, Stephen King senior warden, and Jared Palmer junior warden. In 1821 it was decided to remove the lodge to
Charles S. Lester as trustees of the third class. This, the first board of education, was organ- ized April 16, 1867, by the election of Charles S. Lester as president. The Union School employs fifty-six teachers and occupies ten different buildings. The High school building was erected in 1885. There are four comparatively new buildings-No. 3, built in 1890; No. 1, built in 1891; No. 7, built in 1893, and the annex to the High school, built in 1894. The presidents of the board of edu- cation since its organization have been:
Charles S. Lester .April 16, 1867 to October 4, 1869
James L. Cramer. October 6, 1869 to October 28, 1869
Hiram A. Wilson October 28, 1869 to September 21, 1871
Lewis E. Whiting September 21, 1871 to October 24, 1872
Paoli Durkee.
. October 24, 1872 to October 27, 1873
George F. White
. November 10, 1873 to October 28, 1874
John B. Hulbert
October 28, 1874 to October 26, 1875
Lemuel B. Pike
.November 8, 1875 to August 13, 1877
Charles H. Tefft, jr.
August 13, 1877 to October 26, 1877
John Shipman.
. October 26, 1877 to October 22, 1878
Isaac Y. Ouderkirk.
November 9, 1878 to October 27, 1879
John Foley
. November 3, 1879 to October 24, 1882
Levi S. Packard.
October 31, 1882 to November 6, 1882
Bostwick Hawley
November 6, 1882 to October 24, 1883
Charles F. Fish
. October 24, 1883 to October 26, 1887
William R. Waterbury
October 26, 1887 to October 24, 1888
Thomas Douglass.
.October 24, 1888 to October 23, 1889
John Shipman, jr.
. October 23, 1889 to October 29, 1890
Charles M. Davison.
October 29, 1890 to October 29, 1891 . October 29, 1891 to October 29, 1892
William McNamara
. October 29, 1892 to October 29, 1893
George M. Crippen
October 29 1893 to October 24, 1894
A. de R. McNair
October 24, 1894 to October 23, 1895
C. B. Thomas
October 23, 1895 to October 28, 1896
D. J. Tynan. October 28, 1896 to October 27, 1897
E. D. Starbuck
October 27, 1897 to
The superintendents of schools and secretaries have been :
James N. Crocker. August 1, 1867 to February 1, 1869
David L. Rouse
. February 12, 1869 to September 6, 1869
Levi S. Packard.
.September 6, 1869 to August 31, 1882
George T. Church. September 1, 1882 to August 15, 1885
Edward N. Jones August 15, 1885 to August 31, 1893 Thomas R. Kneil. .September 1, 1893.
Charles O. Van Dorn.
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SARATOGA SPRINGS, 1800-1831.
Saratoga Springs, but the Grand lodge did not approve of the removal until June 5, 1824. Before this, however, as early as 1823, lodge meet- ings had been held in the old Congress Hall, then known as Drake's building. Subsequently meetings were held in the Columbian hotel, corner of Broadway and Lake avenue, and elsewhere.
The earliest cemetery in the vicinity of Saratoga Springs, as far as known, was the old Sadler burying ground, which stood on the hill in the northeast part of the village. Interments were made here as early as 1785 probably, as a stone inscribed with that date stood in the cem- etery before its destruction. In 1810 Gideon Putnam gave to the village a tract of land in the heart of the village, which was used as a cemetery for many years. Dr. John Clarke, Nathan Lewis and his family, and several other prominent persons of the olden time were interred there.
This village was plentifully supplied with stores in the early days, with here and there a small manufactory or mill. In 1812 John and Ziba Taylor had a well stocked store, which had been in existence several years, and - Gleason had a blacksmith shop. The year following, or a little later, Palmer & Waterbury started a bakery. About that time Beach & Farlin opened another grocery store. Hendrick & Knowl- ton began business as merchants in 1815, Nathan Lewis in 1816, Ash- bel and Ferdinand Andrews in 1818, Robert McDonald in 1819 or 1820, and Joseph Westcot in 1820. McDonald soon afterward abandoned the grocery business to start a hardware store. Mr. Langworthy also had a hardware store. Asa Wright and Mr. Reynolds were also early mer- chants. John Swain had a lime kiln near the Empire spring.
The Saratoga County Bible Society was organized August 24, 1815, nearly a year before the organization of the American Bible Society. Its first officers were: President, Rev. Samuel Blatchford, D. D. ; vice- presidents, Rev. Dirck C. Lansing, Rev. James Mairs; corresponding secretary, Rev. Reuben Sears; treasurer, Elisha Powell.
An early libel suit in Saratoga Springs is thus referred to in the Ballston Spa Gazette of January 7, 1823. The item was printed among the advertisements upside down :
Davison's Confession .- Some time in the month of January, 1821, Mr. Davison, editor of the Saratoga Sentinel, published a gross libel on Samuel M. Hopkins, Esq. of the Western District, and although he was furnished with the evidence that what he had published was a wilful falsehood, he had not the candor to retract it, until COMPELLED to do so, by a prosecution in the Supreme Court-when Mr. Davison
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OUR COUNTY AND ITS PEOPLE.
"gladly " compromised the suit, by signing a humble " confession," thereby admit- ting what he had published was a lie.
While the village of Saratoga Springs was prospering as a summer resort, the neighboring village of Ballston Spa was developing rapidly along the same lines; but it was also taking a prominent and substan- tial position as a commercial and industrial centre as well. By the end of the period of which we are now writing, when the first steam rail- road to Ballston Spa was opened for traffic, the latter village had be- come one of the most thriving communities, considering its population, in New York State; while Saratoga Springs was glorying in its world- wide reputation as the greatest of all American summer resorts-and with prospects of a future even a thousand times more brilliant than its past !
Little remains to be said regarding the progress of the town of Sara- toga Springs during this period. The village seemed to attract nearly everything and everybody. Outside the village, the town pursued the the even tenor of its way. The development of the farming lands was pushed, school houses were erected, and various business interests were established; but the latter were so closely identified with those of the village that it is difficult to separate the two.
One of the most important events occurring in the southern part of the county in the early part of the century was the construction of the bridge across the Hudson river at Waterford, connecting Waterford and Lansingburgh, in 1804.1 When the bridge was constructed it was deemed a marvel of engineering skill. How the public looked upon - the structure at that time is manifested by the elaborate character of the exercises which attended its opening. The Lansingburgh Gazette, in its issue of December 4, 1804, said :
Union bridge, lately erected over the Hudson, between this village and Water- ford, was yesterday opened for passengers. The particulars of the celebration of this event will be given in our next paper.
The next issue of the paper, December 11, 1804, devoted more than a column to a description of the event. Among the interesting clauses it contained were these:
This handsome structure, which promises to be of durable and important public utility, was commenced early the present season, and is now so far completed as to be adjudged by the proper authority fit for the uses of travelers. The work was exe- cuted under the direction of Theodore Burr, principal architect; by James McElroy,
1 This is said to be the oldest wooden bridge in the United States.
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WATERFORD, 1800-1831.
head mason, and Samuel Shelly, master carpenter, and unites a degree of strength and elegance which reflects the highest credit on these gentlemen.
The day was a holiday in both Waterford and Lansingburgh. A "very numerous procession " was formed at noon at Johnson & Jud- son's hotel in Lansingburgh, marched to the bridge, and thence across into Waterford, " under the discharge of seventeen cannon," where a dinner had been provided at Gerardus Van Schoonhoven's hotel at the expense of the stockholders of the bridge. Among the prominent per- sons in attendance were Governor Morgan Lewis, Thomas Tillotson, secretary of state; Elisha Jenkins, state comptroller; Simeon Dewitt, the surveyor-general, " and a large number of the respectable gentle- men from Albany and adjacent villages," who "partook in much har- mony and conviviality." The bridge was rebuilt in 1812-1814, at an expense of $20,000.1
The village of Waterford was extensive enough in 1801 to support a newspaper, the second published in Saratoga county. It was called the Waterford Gazette, and was started either in 1800 or 1801 by Horace L. Wadsworth. It was continned until after the close of the war of 1812- 14. After a lapse of several years another newspaper, the Waterford Reporter, was started in 1822 by William L. Fish. This paper had a short career. The third venture was the Anti-Masonic Recorder, which was established in 1830 by J. C. Johnson, as the local organ of the Anti-Masonic party. It ceased to be published soon after the sub- sidence of the Anti-Masonic agitation.
The village was incorporated in 1801. It was then a prosperous community, with several important manufacturing concerns and a num- ber of mercantile establishments. Flouring mills were started there at an early date, and two or more grist mills and saw mills were located on the banks of the creek at the beginning of the century. Before 1815 these merchants were doing business in town: Wynant Vanden- burgh, Foster & Vandenburgh, Henry Ten Broeck, House, Myers & Co., Stewart & Knickerbacker, John Vibbard, Scott & Fowler, King & Foster, Davis & Thorn, Moses Scott, Close & Vandecar, all of whom were doing a general business; Horace Hudson, hardware merchant; Samuel Drake, druggist; George Edson, leather store; Roger Evans, jeweler; James Fowler, tailor and Mr. Grant, hatter. Among the man-
! This structure is eight hundred feet long and thirty feet wide, comprising four arches which are supported by three pillars and two abutments. It is owned by the Union Bridge Company, of which Thomas A. Knickerbacker is president and John Knickerbacker treasurer.
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OUR COUNTY AND ITS PEOPLE.
ufacturers, James Oliphant ran a tannery, Mr. Grant had a flouring mill, John Robinson made boots and shoes, James Hale had a forge and blacksmith shop. There were several lawyers in town, including James Van Schoonhoven, Samuel Huntington, William Given and John Cramer. Dr. Whitmore and Dr. Porter had offices in town about this time. Taverns were kept by Gerardus Van Schoonhoven, Samuel Demarest, Mr. Smith and Mr. Haight. Between 1815 and 1820 other business enterprises were established, including the store of Todd & Comstock, Isaac Bailey and D K. Lighthall. N. B. Doe opened a law office about 1816.
For many years, beginning about 1825, the cooperage business was an important industry in Waterford, where thousands of barrels and tubs of all kinds were turned out annually. Among the early man- ufacturers were men named Brewster, Driscoll, Preston and Sheridan.
In 1828 the industrial standing of Waterford was greatly enhanced by the construction of a hydraulic canal. This canal was designed and built by John Fuller King, of Coleraine, Mass., an inventor of canal locks and a genius of great value to the community. The work was called, in his honor, "the King canal." It began above the falls in the Mohawk river and extended to the edge of the hill in the western part of the village. The construction of the fine water-power induced numerous manufacturers to locate in Waterford. At the lower end of the canal a cotton factory was located for many years. Kilby & Van- dewerker had a furnace there, Colonel Olney had a machine shop, and others had a twine factory, an ink factory and a flour and grist mill. The canal was lengthened in 1831, and numerous other manufactories availed themselves of the advantages it offered.
1
It was at Waterford that one of the most noted schools for young ladies in the United States was first located. This was the Emma Willard Female Seminary (now known as the Emma Willard School). Mrs. Emma Willard was the wife Dr. John Willard. In 1814 she established a boarding school for girls at Middlebury, Vt. While act- ing as principal of that school she conceived a plan for the incorpo- ration and endowment of an institution for the higher education of young women. Believing that New York State offered superior ad- vantages for the location of such a school, she communicated an out- line of her plan to Governor De Witt Clinton, who at once agreed to assist her. According to his promise, the governor caused to be passed a legislative enactment incorporating a female seminary at Waterford
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