USA > New York > Saratoga County > Our county and its people : a descriptive and biographical record of Saratoga County, New York > Part 23
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).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78 | Part 79 | Part 80 | Part 81 | Part 82 | Part 83 | Part 84 | Part 85 | Part 86 | Part 87
-
REV. BERNARD J. MCDONOUGH.
197
BALLSTON SPA, 1831-1861.
organized until 1836, though a class existed in the village as early as 1823, when Ballston Spa and Saratoga Springs were together for one year, with William Anson and Elisha P. Jacobs, supernumerary, as preachers. After this nothing is known except that a preacher named Clark held class meetings until August 25, 1836, when a society was organized. It purchased the old academy building, which stood near the spot now occupied by the D. & H. railroad turntable, moved it to the corner of West High and Charlton streets and remodeled it into a house of worship. Rev. Noah Levings preached the dedicatory ser- mon. In 1845 a brick church was built on the site of the present edi- fice on Milton avenue, and the old academy building was sold to the Catholic congregation. 1
There is little to be learned by whom Catholic services were held in Ballston Spa prior to 1849, but at this date we learn that Father Haver- mans celebrated mass on Ash Wednesday. The meetings were held at this time in the old Methodist meeting-house which the Catholics had purchased. The cornerstone of a new church was laid in December, 1859, under the pastorate of Father Cull, and was at that time located on the east side of Church street, the property which is now owned by ex-Sheriff D. F. Winney, and subsequently removed to its present location, which property was purchased at a cost of $10,500. In 1867 Rev. Anthony McGough became pastor of this charge, prior to which it had been under the supervision of the Saratoga Springs pastorate. Father McGough remained in charge until 1873, when he was suc- ceeded by Rev. Father Bayard, who continued in charge until October 6, 1878, when Rev. Bernard J. McDonough commenced what has proved a most acceptable and fortunate pastorate for St. Mary's so- ciety. An idea of the wonderful and continuous growth of this society is gained from the fact that its membership now numbers more than two hundred and fifty families.
The new church edifice recently completed is one of the finest in Saratoga county, having cost over $60,000. It was designed by Archi-
1 In 1892-1893 a handsome new church, of brick, was built on the site of the old one, during the pastorate of Rev. Joseph C. Russum. Half the cost of its construction was contributed by ex- Congressman George West, a member of the church. The corner-stone was laid October 19, 1892, and the church was dedicated October 23, 1893. January 4, 1893, N. R. Vandenburgh, one of the contractors employed in building the church, fell from a plank in the incomplete building and fractured his skull, which caused his death January ? following. The first pastor who served this church exclusively was Rev. S. L. Stillman, who came in 1846 and remained one year. Dur- ing the pastorate of Rev. W. H. Washburn, 1883-1886, West chapel was built through the liber- ality of Hon. George West.
198
OUR COUNTY AND ITS PEOPLE.
tect E. W. Loth of Troy, N. Y., and erected under the supervision of Dennis Manogue of Ballston Spa. The foundation of this imposing structure was commenced July 29, 1895, this being the day that marked the close of a quarter of a century of active work in priesthood by the pastor, Rev. Father B. J. McDonough. The church is situated at the corner of Milton avenue and Van Buren street. Its dimensions are: Length, one hundred and twenty-five feet; width, sixty-eight feet ; gables, sixty feet high; tower, one hundred and seventy-eight feet high. Its style is Gothic and its furnishings are in hard wood.
The early schools of Ballston Spa and the establishment of the pres- ent Union school system under the direction of Prof. Thomas C. Bunyan have been described in a preceding chapter. In addition to the admirable public schools of the village, there is an excellent and well-patronized private school, which has been conducted for several years by Miss Almeda James.
An institution which once gave promise of becoming an important feature among the many worthy enterprises of Saratoga county was the "State and National Law School," established by John W. Fowler in the old Sans Souci hotel at Ballston Spa in 1849. In his history of the Bench and Bar of Saratoga County Enos R. Mann refers to this school as follows:
Mr. Fowler opened it with a full corps of competent professors and secured an abundant patronage. Among the graduates may be mentioned the names of Col. Slocum of the 1st Rhode Island Infantry, who fell at the head of his regiment fight- ing at Bull Run; Governor Gilbert C. Walker of Virginia, Judge Abraham R. Law- rence, Surrogate Delano C. Calvin and Gen. Roger A. 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 latter 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 Gen. McCook called a " level head." He was very improvident, knowing nothing of the financial problems conducive to success, and, after three years of active and useful life, the institution went into bankruptcy.
Franklin lodge No. 90, F. & A. M., was chartered by the Grand lodge June 3, 1842. It succeeded and took the name of Franklin lodge No. 37, which, founded in Ballston in 1794, forfeited its charter in 1834. Some of its original members were also identified with Friendship lodge No. 118, of Milton, which surrendered its charter in 1836.1
1 These lodges are referred to more at length in a preceding chapter.
199
BALLSTON SPA, 1831-1861.
For a period of seven years, from 1835 to 1842, there was no Masonic organization in Ballston Spa. Nearly all the members of Franklin lodge, No. 37, and of Friendship lodge, No. 118, became members of the new lodge, which has maintained its regular communications in this village to the present time. In the proceedings of the Grand lodge, under date of June 3, 1842, is found the following:
The Committee on warrants reported in favor of granting a warrant to constitute a Lodge at Ballston, in the county of Saratoga, by the name of Franklin Lodge, of which Bro. Wm Saunders is to be first Master; Bro. Wm. Hawkins, S. W., and Bro. Joseph Jennings, J. W., and that the property of the late Franklin Lodge, No. 37, be returned to said new Lodge, on payment of the usual fee for the Warrant.
Franklin lodge has numbered among its members several brethren who have attained high positions among the fraternity, and in the civil walks of life. Of the latter Bro. James M. Cook, who received the Masonic degrees in this lodge, was for several years superintendent of the State Banking Department, and also represented his district in both houses of the State Legislature. He was buried with Masonic honors, and his remains now rest in the cemetery in this village. Among those whom the craft have delighted to honor, we find the names of W. Bro. George Babcock, at one time grand commander of the Knights Templar in this State; W. Bro. Seth Whalen, district deputy grand lecturer for two years, and master of the lodge for seven years; and R. W. Jonathan S. Smith, district deputy grand master.'
1 The first officers of Franklin lodge, at the time of its organization, were: William Saunders, W. M .; William Hawkins, S. W .; Joseph Jennings, J. W. In 1843 these officers held the same chairs, in addition to which William Ford was treasurer, Stephen Fox was secretary, Stephen Seaman was S. D., Reuben Thompson was J. D. and Joseph Kelso was tiler. Since that date the masters of this lodge have been: 1844, William Hawkins; 1845, Joseph Jennings; 1846, Abel Meeker; 1847, S. A. Emerson; 1848-1849, Reuben Westcot; 1850, Abel Meeker; 1851, Harvey N. Hill; 1852, Abel Meeker; 1853, George Babcock; 1854, Harvey N. Hill; 1855, Abel Meeker; 1856-1857, Harvey N. Hill; 1858, George H. Millham; 1859, George W. Ingalls; 1860-1862, Harvey N. Hill; 1863, S. H. Drake; 1864, P. G. Newcomb; 1865, Graham Pulver; 1866-1867, Seth Whalen; 1868, Benjamin Allen; 1869-1873, Seth Whalen; 1874, Jonathan S. Smith; 1875, Albert J. Reid; 1876, Jonathan S. Smith; 1877-1880. Edward F. Grose; 1881-1882, C. Fred Wheeler; 1883-1884, Frank Jones; 1885-1887, David Frisbie; 1888-1889, David H. Winnie; 1890, George W. Maxon; 1891, Davie Frisbie; 1892-1894, Will- iam Spencer; 1895-1896, Albert P. Miller; 1897, Edward F. Grose; 1898, David Frisbie.
·
Warren chapter No. 23, R. A. M., was organized March 30, 1809, in pursuance of a dispensation granted to Seth C. Baldwin and others. The preceding year the Mark Mason's lodge, to be known as Friendship No. 39, had been authorized. The latter ceased to exist when Friendship lodge, F. & A. M., surrendered its charter in 1835. No officers were elected by Warren chapter in 1813, and the Chapter remained dormant from 1828 to 1840, when William Hawkins was chosen H. P. for the balance of the year. The following is a list of the high priests of the chapter, with the year each was elected: 1809, Eliakim Corey; 1810, William Anthony; 1811, Amos Alcott; 1812, George H. Benham; 1814, Nathan D. Sherwood; 1815, Nathan Warden; 1816, Philo Hurd; 1817-1818, William Hawkins; 1819, Philo Hurd; 1820, Willian Hawkins; 1821-1822, Jonathan Edgecomb; 1823, William Clark; 1824-1826, L. B. Langworthy; 1827, John Dix; 1828, Jonathan Edgecomb; 1846, William Haw-
200
OUR COUNTY AND ITS PEOPLE.
A lodge of Odd Fellows was organized in Ballston January 9, 1844 as Kayaderosseras lodge No. 17, I.O.O.F. The charter members were David Maxwell, Samuel H. Cook, William T. Odell, James G. Stebbins, William Smith and Edward Gilborne. 1
Waterford made great industrial strides during the period from 1831 to the beginning of the war of the Rebellion. During these thirty years a large number of manufacturing industries were established in town, some of which are still maintained on the same lines as those on which they were founded, though under different management. At the opening of this period several concerns were located near the hydraulic canal and elsewhere. The stock, die and tool works founded in 1829 by Daniel B. King, brother of Fuller King, the projector of the hydraulic canal; and the Waterford soap and candle factory, opened about 1830 by Joshua and Elisha Morse, were among the most important enterprises here at this time, aside from those men- tioned in an earlier chapter. It was in the buildings occupied by the latter concern that the great fire of 1841 began. Some time between 1830 and 1834 the Franklin ink works were established. This plant subsequently was devoted to the manufacture of lamp black alone. The Button fire engine works, which since have become known as among the most celebrated in the United States, were established in 1834 by William Platt & Co., L. Button being a member of that firm. The first works were located on the King hydraulic canal, but the site was afterward occupied by the Gage machine shop. In 1850 the Button concern abandoned water power and adopted steam in its place, mov- ing the plant to the foot of Third street. The Gage machine works, founded in 1835 by George Gage, were operated by him up to the time
kins; 1847-1848, Reuben Westcot; 1849, Abel Meeker; 1850-1851, Harvey N. Hill; 1852, Reuben West- cot; 1853-1854, H. N. Hill; 1855, Abel Meeker; 1856-1864, H. N. Hill; 1865, Jesse S. L'Amoreaux; 1866- 1869, Graham Pulver; 1870-1884, Jonathan S. Smith; 1885, George E. Terry; 1886, Edward F. Grose; 1887-1891, William Spencer; 1892-1892, David Frisbie; 1894 to the present time, William Spencer.
1 The noble grands of this lodge, in the order of their service, were : Samuel H. Cook, David Maxwell, William P. Odell, P. H. Cowen, William Smith, Lorenzo Kelly, John J. Lee, Henry Wright, Edward Gilborne, G. V. Mix, Harrison Emerson, Squire Barrett, George Thompson, Sel- den A. Emerson, Spencer Twitchell, John McKown, John Wilder, James Aslıman, James W. Mor- ris, Amos W. Cook, Daniel W. Culver, Abraham Carey, Lawrence W. Bristol, George Babcock, H. P. Jones, A. J. Goffe, Isaac D. Gibbons, H. C. Hakes, Edson O. Arnold, William W. Simmons, Cornell M. Noxon, Nelson H. Huested, Isaac H. Sears, James W. Culver, C. H. Van Valkenburgh, E. C. Foster, John C. Sullivan, Henry A. Mann, Burdick F. Davis, Joshua B. Boss, William W. Day, John H. Westcot, Edwin Miller, Josiah B. Hall, John C. Newman, John F. Bortles, James S. Garrett, C. C. Hill, J. P. Weatherwax, E. A. Frisbie. This lodge was dissolved in 1865, and five years later Kayaderosseras lodge No. 270 was instituted. Ballston Encampment, No. 72, organ- ized November 9, 1854, was continued but a few years. The Odd Fellows' lodge at Ballston owns a handsome building, containing lodge rooms and a commodious hall, built in 1891.
201
WATERFORD, 1831-1861.
of his death, a period of nearly half a century. They afterward became the property of members of his family. In the same year the man- ufacture of nuts was begun in a building owned by Mr. Gage, by a man named Brooks, and continued after the latter's death by his son. The year 1847 was also marked by the establishment of three impor- tant industries in the village. These were the stock and die factory founded by James Holroyd, for the manufacture of dies for the use of blacksmiths and machinists, and for gas and steam fitting ; the Rock Island flouring mills, established by J. B. Enos & Co., and the iron and brass foundry and machine shop founded by C. W. Eddy (afterward the Mohawk & Hudson Manufacturing Co.'s plant). The first mills of J. B. Enos & Co. were burned in 1862 and new mills erected. Hol- royd's first buildings were torn down in 1864, when new ones were built.
About four o'clock on the afternoon of Saturday, July 11, 1841, fire was discovered in a stable in the rear of the Episcopal church on the west side of Third street, between Broad and Middle streets. A strong wind was blowing from the northwest and the sparks and flaming brands were carried across Third, Second and Broad streets. The village fire department had a hand engine, but its efforts to stay the ravages of the fire were futile. When it was seen that the greater part of the village was doomed unless help were forthcoming, the near-by cities and villages were notified, and soon nine engines from Troy, Lansingburgh, Cohoes and West Troy were in the village directing their efforts toward subduing the flames. The fire was under control about six o'clock that evening, but not until the Episcopal church, twenty-eight stores, thirty residences and seventy other buildings had been reduced to ashes. The loss was estimated at over $150,000-not a large amount for these days, but a tremendous loss to Waterford in 1841.
Half a century ago-in 1848-a number of Masons residing in Water- ford, applied for and obtained a dispensation from the grand master of the State of New York and proceeded to organize a lodge of Master Masons. Of those who formed the new lodge, which was instituted December 28, 1848, as Clinton lodge, No. 140, F. & A. M., seven were members of Phoenix lodge No. 58 of Lansingburgh and two were brethren from Old Orange lodge No. 43, which was in existence long before the great anti-Masonic excitement which followed the mysterious disappearance of William Morgan of Batavia in 1826. James M.
202
OUR COUNTY AND ITS PEOPLE.
Austin was the first master of the newly organized lodge. His great ability and untiring zeal for the welfare of the new lodge singularly qualified him for the position, which he held for four consecutive years. He afterward became grand secretary of the Grand lodge of the State of New York. The other officers on the foundation were: John Hinde, S. W .; John Fulton, J. W .; F. W. Allen, secretary; John Higgins, treasurer; Joseph H. Cudworth, S. D .; John Mulliken, J. D .; Samuel Landsborough, S. M. C .; Joseph M. King, J. M. C. ; John Roe, tiler. Following is a complete list of the masters of Clinton lodge, in the order in which they held office:
James M. Austin, John Fulton, John Higgins, Rev. R. L. Schoonmaker (after- ward grand chaplain of the Grand lodge), D. M. Van Hovenberg, Edward Lansing, Thomas Breslin, Russell Porter, S. A. Northrup, Horace T. Stiles, William Hum- phreys, Marvin T. Scott, John E. Gage, John Polhamus, Henry De Freest, Emanuel Mead, George L. Rogers, Frank B. Barnfather, Roland H. Stubbs, M. D., Charles L. Mitchell, George E. Holroyd, William A. Dennis, John W. Ford, Samuel Snyder, William Roberts, Samuel Snyder, William Saxe.
Charles H. Vanderwerker, secretary of Clinton lodge, has served in that office for sixteen consecutive years. During that time he has also been secretary of Waterford chapter.
Waterford chapter No. 169, R. A. M., connected with Clinton lodge, was organized February 14, 1860.
The most important venture in the industrial line in the village of Mechanicville during this period was the establishment of the American Linen Thread company's plant in 1850 by a company of which Samuel Chase was president and Lewis E. Smith secretary, treasurer and gen- eral manager. Power was derived from Anthony's kill, which also supplied a grist mill owned by this company. A preparing mill, a saw mill, with sixteen acres of land and about forty-five tenement houses, were also owned by this company, the location of whose plant at that point undoubtedly did more toward the upbuilding of the village of Mechanicville than any other enterprise up to that period. The village as it stands to-day is of practically modern growth, and more extended reference to its industries has been left for a succeeding chapter.
The town of Halfmoon, in which part of Mechanicville is situated, had excellent educational facilities in these days. Among the town superintendents of common schools, under the then existing laws, were: James B. Mckean, 1844; Reuben Stewart, 1845; Nathan F. Philo, 1846; George W. Peake, 1847-1850; Nathan F. Philo, 1851; John O.
203
MECHANICVILLE, 1831-1861.
Mott, 1852; John Cassidy, 1854-1856. Beginning with June, 1856, supervision by assembly districts followed. The most noted school in Mechanicville in these days was the Mechanicville academy, which was founded in 1860. This institution was situated on Main street, near the Hudson river, and was at first surrounded by a beautiful grove. Lewis Smith, prominent as a manufacturer and a public spirited cit- izen, was the first president of the academy, Rev. Edward Noble the secretary, J. Wesley Ensign the treasurer, and the remaining trustees were Isaac Clements, B. B. Hutchins, Isaac M. Smith, Joseph Baker, John C. Holmes, Samuel B. Howland, E. A. Lindley, Bloom Baker and Robert Moon. The school enjoyed a prosperous career for many years. 1
The First Baptist church of Halfmoon, at Middletown, which was organized about 1835, was one of the successors of the old church at Newtown. The latter society had ceased to exist and its house of worship had been torn down several years when the society at Middle- town was organized. Rev. Elisha D. Hubbell first served the Middle- town church as pastor. The house of worship was built in 1834-1835 and dedicated in the latter year. St. Paul's Roman Catholic church of Mechanicville was organized in 1845, and a church edifice was erected in 1852. The Presbyterian church of Mechanicville sprang from the Congregational church of Stillwater, which worshiped in the old "yellow meeting-house " referred to more at length in an earlier chap- ter. The two societies worshiped together for many years.
In 1852 the Crescent Methodist Episcopal church was organized by the election of these trustees: William Carey, John B. Schermerhorn, Silas H. Sweetland, Seymour Birch and Nathan F. Philo. The first house of worship was dedicated in the winter of 1853 by Bishop Janes. Until 1859 Crescent was alone as a pastoral charge, but in the latter year it was united to the Halfmoon circuit. In 1865 it was again made a distinct charge.
The earliest secret society in Halfmoon was the Odd Fellows' lodge,
1 Bernice D. Ames, for many years principal of the Mechanicville academy, was born at Shore- ham, Vt., December 26, 1817, and died at Mechanicville, January 5, 1876. He was graduated from Middlebury college, Middlebury, Vt., when twenty-six years old. During the next three years he was professor of Latin and Greek in the seminaries at Fort Plain and Fort Edward, N. Y. During 1863 and 1864 he was principal of the Providence Conference seminary at East Greenwich, R. I. He became principal of the Mechanicville academy in 1868 and continued in that position until his death in 1876, when his widow, Sarah E. King-Ames, was elected to succeed him. She remained as principal until 1889, when the academy building was burned and the career of the in- stitution closed.
204
OUR COUNTY AND ITS PEOPLE.
established at Mechanicville September 4, 1845, as Mechanicville North Star lodge No. 174. James Lee was the first noble grand. This lodge ceased to exist after a career of about ten years. A division of the Sons of Temperance was organized at Mechanicville about 1848. This, too, ceased to exist after a few years.1
The village of Stillwater always has been more or less noted for its manufactures, though these were limited in number until after the middle of the present century. The mills of the Schuyler family lo- cated at this point were of considerable importance for many years. After they were burned in 1817 Philip J. Schuyler built a new mill, part of which was used as a grist mill and part as a clothing mill. A new saw mill was also erected there about the same time. In 1838 Ephraim Newland and John F. Wetsell purchased the entire Schuyler property at that point and continued the mills this family had owned for so many years. At this time Stillwater had been a place of consid- erable importance for several years. In 1832 a wooden bridge 2 had been erected across the. Hudson, and this brought to the village a great deal of trade from the east side of the river, which up to that time had gone to Fort Edward, Schuylerville or Troy. About 1847 the local indus- tries were increased by the erection of a paper mill by William Mosher and Elihu Allen. They employed about a dozen hands, beginning their work by manufacturing wall paper. These were the principal industries of the place until after the beginning of the war of 1861-1865.
During this period an academy was conducted for several years in Stillwater. This institution, known as the Stillwater academy, was founded about 1847, and for a while was under the care of the Regents of the University of the State of New York. The brick building it occupied stood near the Baptist church. Almon Richards was its principal for a long term of years. This finally became a private semi- nary, which declined, and the building was used for the occupancy of select schools until the organization of the union school system in 1873.
The Second Baptist church of Stillwater was the only religious soci- ety organized during this period of three decades. The society was organized by members of the First Baptist church in 1836, and the first
1 In 1866 another division was organized with E. O. Howland as W. P., Dr. F. K. Lee as W. A., George R. Moore as secretary, and J. Frank Terry as conductor. The charter was surrendered February 25, 1869, when Union lodge No. 836, Independent Order of Good Templars, was organ- ized, with J. Frank Terry as chief templar. This lodge gave up its charter at the end of a year.
2 This bridge, with the hotel near by, was burned in 1875. The following year an iron bridge was erected in its place.
1
205
SCHUYLERVILLE, 1831-1861.
house of worship, in the village of Stillwater, was dedicated February 23, 1837, Rev. Dr. Weatch of Albany preaching the sermon.1
Three Masonic bodies existed in Stillwater between 1791 and the anti-Masonic movement of 1830. Reference is made to them in an earlier chapter. Montgomery lodge No. 504, F. & A. M., was in- stituted June 27, 1860, by a dispensation from the Grand lodge. The charter officers were: Rev. W. J. Heath, W. M. ; P. Mosher, S. W. ; D. F. Wetzel, J. W. ; John A. Quackenbush, treasurer; H. H. Mont- gomery, secretary ; John V. W. Vandenburgh, S. D .; H. Badgley, J. D. ; Nathan Taylor and George K. Deming, masters of ceremonies; J. W. Buffington, tiler.2
Schuylerville, like Stillwater, is and for many years has been princi- pally noted for its manufactures. Nearly, perhaps quite a century and a half have passed since the pioneer Schuylers established their first mills on the site of the historic village which has since borne the name of that noted family. Philip Schuyler, a descendant of the original manufacturer, built a large mill a little further south in 1828, which, in 1857, was purchased by the Saratoga Victory Manufacturing com- pany and for many years operated as a cotton factory by this corpora- tion. This company established its first mills at Victory Mills in 1846, the original capital invested being about $425,000. The works have been greatly increased and improved since that year, over half a cen- tury since.3 Lawrence's old woolen factory was another important in- dustry of these days. It was located in Philip Schuyler's old distillery building. In a part of the same building and the basement of the woolen factory adjoining, David B. French of Argyle, N. Y., estab-
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.