USA > New York > Saratoga County > Our county and its people : a descriptive and biographical record of Saratoga County, New York > Part 32
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OUR COUNTY AND ITS PEOPLE.
Hill, 1861-1862; I. S. Bothwell, 1862-1864; C. G. Clark, 1864-1865; N. D. Bidwell, 1865-1866; Professor A. J. Robb, 1866-1874; P. E. Wager, 1874; E. E. Ashley, 1875-1887, and Charles N. Cobb, who be- came the first superintendent of the schools. Mr. Cobb remained two years. Mr. Cobb was succeeded by H. H. Loomis of Palatine Bridge, who remained three years and resigned to attend the law department of Cornell university.
The present union school system at Mechanicville was organized October 12, 1887. The first board of education was comprised of C. W. Keefer, M. D., W. B. Neilson, Thomas J. Sweeney, W. W. Smith, Charles F. Crosby, D. E. La Dow and George Rogers. Mr. La Dow has been president of the board since its organization. The school building was completed in the fall of 1888, and on November 5 of that year it was opened for instruction with the following corps of instruct- ors: L. B. Blakeman, principal; Miss Ella R. Church, assistant prin- cipal; Misses Mary A. Van Vleck, Amy S. Peet, Louise G. Franklin, Harriet A. Massey, Sarah M. Couch and Mary E. Hewitt. From a teaching force of eight persons, the growth has been such as to require at present (1898) nineteen teachers and a superintendent of schools. The appointment, October 7, 1897, of Mr. Blakeman to the position of superintendent left a vacancy in the principalship, which was filled by the election of Louis R. Wells.
The first schools in Stillwater were supported by subscription and were held in private houses. In 1804 the Masonic fraternity erected a building in the upper part of the village and donated the use of the lower portion as a public school room, the only restriction being that the village should keep it in repair. In 1847 an academy was organ- ized and was successfully conducted for many years. About the be- ginning of the civil war it failed, and after that time there were three public schools in the village for primary instruction.
May 30, 1873, the union free school of Stillwater was organized. The first board of education consisted of: Wm. H. Davenport, Ed- ward I. Wood, Matthew Pack, Egbert Gardner and Peter V. Wetsell. The first officers were: P. V. Wetsell, president; E. I. Wood, secre- tary; James Rundle, treasurer; John St. John, collector. C. A. Deyoe was elected principal and continued as such nearly four years. His successors have been William M. Whitney, T. O. Fisk, C. H. Stock- well, James R. Thompson, Ira H. Lawton, D. L. Kathan, F. H. Ames, Alexander Falconer, and the present principal, Willis U. Hin-
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1861-1898-SCHOOLS.
man, who has held the position since 1892. The present school build- ing was erected in 1883 at a cost of $12,000. It is of brick, three stories high, heated with steam, has six school rooms, two recitation rooms, library, and an auditorium on the third floor seating five hun- dred. The school is now rated by the University of the State of New York as a Senior Academic School, giving three years academic work. There are at present seven teachers employed.
The public school system of South Glens Falls has undergone radical changes in recent years. In the summer of 1880 another story was added to the union school building, making it a two-story structure. In 1893 and 1894 the present building was erected. The present school is a graded high school under the supervision of the Regents of the University of the State of New York, having been admitted as a Regents' school of junior grade December 12, 1894, and raised, after inspection, to the grade of high school December 7, 1897. Nine teach- ers are employed. The presidents of the board of education since 1877 have been :
1877, Rufus White; 1878-79, John Delaney; 1880-84, John Jackson ; 1885, Charles Robinson ; 1886-89, Herman B. Parks; 1890, George I. Jackson; 1891, Herman B. Parks; 1892, George I. Jackson; 1893, S. H. Van Derwerker; 1894-95, Theodore Comstock ; 1896, Herman B. Parks; 1897, Theodore Comstock.
These persons have served, during that period, as principals of the schools :
1877-78, Herman B. Parks, Jennie A. Payne; 1879, Margaret M. Kelly, George M. Watkins; 1880, Margaret M. Kelly, H. B. Parks; 1881, H. B. Parks; 1882-1884, Michael A. Breen; 1885, M. A. Breen, Margaret Keenan; 1886, Margaret Keenan ; 1887, Margaret Keenan, Jeanette Reynolds; 1888-89, George M. B. Bradshaw; 1890, G. M. B. Bradshaw, James Mace Smith; 1891-92, J. M. Smith ; 1893-98, James E. Kelley.
The Corinth union school is the outgrowth of the earlier district schools. It was organized as a union free school in 1889, and a hand- some and commodious new school building was erected in 1891. In 1892 the school was placed under the supervision of the Regents, and a training class department was organized in September, 1894. William H. Harris, the first principal of the school, served one year. In 1892 he was succeeded by W. C. Franklin, who also served one year. In 1893 A. M. Hollister was chosen principal, and still serves in that capacity. The board of education consists of Warren Curtis, T. Elix- man, Michael Carey, A. C. Hickok, C. H. Pitts, Joseph B. Ross and James A. Dayton.
286
OUR COUNTY AND ITS PEOPLE.
NEWSPAPERS OF THE COUNTY.
The first newspaper in Saratoga county was issued more than a cen- tury ago. June 14, 1798, the Saratoga Register or Farmers' Journal was published at Court House Hill in the town of Ballston, by Increase and William Child. It was a small sheet, four pages, and almost abso - lutely devoid of local news. The first issue of the paper made the an- nouncement that the office of publication was " over the store of Messrs. Robert Leonard & Co., nearly opposite the Court House." The Jour- nal, as it was commonly known, supported the administration of Presi- dent John Adams, then the head of the Federal party. This paper has undergone many changes, and is now known as the Ballston Journal, published at Ballston Spa by H. L. Grose & Sons.
The second newspaper printed in this county was the Waterford Gazette, which was established at Waterford October 27, 1801, by Hor- ace L. Wadsworth. The Gazette was continued until 1816, when pub- lication was suspended. Following the founding of the Waterford Gazette, these newspapers have been established:
The Waterford Reporter, published in 1822 by William L. Fisk.
The Anti-Masonic Recorder, published at Waterford in 1830 by J. C. Johnson.
The Waterford Atlas, founded December 1, 1832, by William Holland & Co. In 1834 it was changed to
The Waterford Atlas and Manufacturers', Mechanics' and Farmers' Journal.
The Democratic Champion, published at Waterford in 1840 by H. Wilber.
The Waterford Sentinel, established May 18, 1850, by Andrew Hoff- man. In 1858 it was sold to J. H. Masten, afterward to William T. Baker, in 1870 to Hayward & Palmateer, and in 1871 to S. A. Hathaway. In April, 1872, R. D. Palmateer began the publication of the
Waterford Advertiser. In July, 1873, he purchased the Waterford Sentinel, the publication of which was then discontinued. From Octo- ber 1, 1882, to June, 1891, the Advertiser was published by Palmateer & Smith. Since then J. W. Smith has been sole proprietor.
The Saratoga Advertiser was established at Ballston Spa in 1804 by Samuel B. Brown. It was soon after changed to
The Aurora Borealis and Saratoga Advertiser, and published by Brown & Miller. In 1810 it again passed into the hands of Samuel B. Brown, and was called
287
THE NEWSPAPER RECORD.
The Advertiser, continuing as such for several years.
The Independent American was started September 27, 1808, by William Child. In 1818 it appeared as
The People's Watch Tower, published by James Comstock, and in 1820 as
The Saratoga Farmer, published by H. G. Spafford, author of Spaf- ford's Gazetteer of the State of New York. In 1821 it was changed to The Ballston Spa Gazette and Saratoga Farmer, and in 1822 to
The Ballston Spa Gazette, published by J. Comstock. April 20, 1847, it appeared as
The Ballston Democratic Whig Journal, edited by J. O. Nodyne. In 1848 it was changed to
The Ballston Journal, and was published by Albert A. Moore. In 1860 it passed into the hands of H. L. Grose & Sons, who ever since have been its publishers.
The Saratoga Courier was published at Ballston Spa in 1818 by Ulys- ses F. Doubleday.
The Saratoga Journal was published for a short time at Ballston Spa by Josiah Bunce.
The Saratoga Recorder and Anti-Masonic Democrat was published at Saratoga in 1831 by D. Tehan.
The New York Palladium was published in 1831 by Ansel Warren.
The Schenectady and Saratoga Standard was published at Ballston Spa in 1832-3 by Israel Sackett.
The Ballston Democrat was started in 1843 by Newell Hine. In 1853 it was united with the Northern Mirror and published as
The Ballston Democrat and Mirror. It was subsequently published as
The Ballston Atlas, by Seymour Chase, until 1863, when it passed into the hands of E. W. Reynolds, who removed it to Saratoga.
The Gem of the North was started in 1850 by Curtis & Lee, and published about one year, when it was changed to
The Northern Mirror, and in 1853 it was united with the Ballston Democrat.
The Saratoga Gazette was published at Saratoga Springs in 1810.
The Saratoga Patriot was started by Samuel R. Brown. In 1812 it was removed to Albany.
The Saratoga Sentinel was founded in 1819 by G. M. Davidson. In 1845 it was merged in the Republican.
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OUR COUNTY AND ITS PEOPLE.
The Saratoga Whig was started in 1839 by Huling & Watts. In 1840 it passed into the hands of G. W. Spooner, and afterwards was owned by E. G. Huling. In 1851 it was changed to
The Saratoga County Press. A daily edition started in 1844 was published in 1855 as
The Saratoga Daily News. Huling & Morehouse were the publish - ers.
The Daily Sentinel was started in 1842 in Saratoga Springs by Wilbur & Palmer. From 1855 to 1857 it was issued as
The Daily Post, and then was changed back to the Sentinel. Jan- uary 1, 1879, it was united with the Republican.
The Republican was started in 1844 and issued daily and weekly by John A. Corey. In 1853 it passed into the hands of Thomas G. Young, and January 1, 1859, it was united with the Sentinel and published as
The Republican and Sentinel, daily and weekly, by Thomas G. Young. The Old Letter was published at Saratoga in 1849 by A. H. Allen.
The Advent Review and Sabbath Herald was published semi-monthly in 1850, by James White.
The Temperance Helper was started in January, 1850, by the Sara- toga County Temperance Alliance. In 1855 it was purchased by Potter & Judson, and in 1856 it was changed to
The Saratogian. A daily edition was published for several years during the summer season, but it is now continued through the year. The firm of Potter & Judson was composed of Waldo M. Potter and Benjamin F. Judson. Upon Mr. Potter's withdrawal in September, 1870, his place was taken in the firm by David F. Ritchie, and the firm of Judson & Ritchie was thus formed, which conducted the paper for some time, until Mr. Judson's interest was purchased by Charles F. Paul and the firm of Paul & Ritchie was then formed. About 1881 this firm was dissolved by judgment of the Supreme Court and the partnership assets afterward sold and purchased by a corporation formed in Janu- ary, 1882, known as "The Saratogian." This corporation has con- tinued as the publisher of "The Saratogian," a weekly edition, and " The Daily Saratogian " since that time.
The Saratoga Sentinel was started in 1854, by Allen Corey, and sold in May, 1855, to Clark & Thayer. In 1859 it was united with the Re- publican.
JOHN W. HOWE.
289
THE NEWSPAPER RECORD.
The Schuylerville Herald was published at Schuylerville in 1844 by J. L. Cramer.
Old Saratoga was started in 1848 at Schuylerville by J. L. Cramer, and continued until 1852.
Battle Ground Herald was published at Schuylerville from August, 1853, to July, 1857, by R. N. Atwell & Co.
The Saratoga County American was started in December, 1857. It was afterwards published at Schuylerville by J. R. Rockwell.
The Stillwater Gazette was started at Stillwater in 1845 by Isaac A. Pitman, and was published three years.
The Cold Water Battery was published at Stillwater in 1845 by Isaac A. Pitman.
The Hudson River Chronicle was published at Mechanicville from October, 1856, to March, 1858, by Samuel Heron.
The Crescent Eagle was published in 1852 by C. Ackerman.
The Morning Star was published at Mechanicville in 1854-5 by C. Smith & Co.
The Ballston Democrat was started in 1865 by Curtis & Mann, and published by them until August 16, 1866, when it passed into the hands of J. M. Waterbury, by whom it was published until February, 1868, when it passed into the hands of William S. Waterbury. In 1888 it was purchased by M. P. Morse, its present proprietor.
The Saratoga Sun was started in September, 1870, by Albert S. Pease. December 11, 1882, it was purchased by Edward P. Howe. January 14, 1892, the latter associated with him his son, Lewis Mc- Henry Howe.
The Saratoga Eagle was founded in 1879 by John Johnson and Tim- othy Harrington. In May, 1889, Frank M. Cozzens and Frederick M. Waterbury purchased it. In May, 1897, Mr. Waterbury bought the interest of Mr. Cozzens and is now sole proprietor.
The Mechanicville Mercury was established in 1881. It is now pub- lished by Farrington L. Mead.
The Upper Hudson Mail was established about 1890 at Mechanic- ville by Mr. Snell. It ceased publication in 1893.
The Ballston Spa Daily News was founded in 1888 by M. P. Morse. The Corinthian is published at Corinth by C. H. Wyman.
The Ballston Daily Journal, a daily edition of the Ballston Journal, was started by H. L. Grose & Sons in 1892.
The Saratoga Union was founded in 1872. It became extinct in 1894.
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OUR COUNTY AND ITS PEOPLE.
The Stillwater Journal was founded in June, 1892, by Robert Har- court, the present proprietor.
The Round Lake Season was published at Round Lake from June 1 to September 28, 1895, by Rev. Edward C. Hoyt.
The Round Lake Enterprise was published weekly at Round Lake, by Rev. Edward C. Hoyt, from May 1, 1896, to August 27, 1897.
The Register, a monthly paper, was established at Ballston Spa, by Rev. Dr. Charles Pelletreau, in 1897.
BANKS.
Several important changes in the banking institutions of Saratoga county have occurred in the period of which we are writing. Soon after the close of the war the Commercial National bank of Saratoga Springs was organized under the State banking laws. Judge John Willard was its president for several years. It was reorganized later as a national bank. At the time of its reorganization and for several years thereafter Charles S. Lester was its president. He was succeeded by John T. Carr. In 1873 the Union Savings bank of Saratoga Springs was chartered by an act passed March 28. The new bank began busi- ness April 1, 1873, with J. S. Leake as president and S. H. Richards as secretary and treasurer, Deposits were received at the First Na- tional and Commercial National banks. April 16, 1874, Charles H. Hulbert was chosen to fill the vacancy caused by the resignation of Mr. Richards as treasurer and trustee. July 1, 1875, the bank located in quarters at the south end of the United States hotel. Its career was short, however. In December 1878, both the Commercial National and the Union Savings banks failed and never were reorganized.
The Citizens National Bank of Saratoga Springs was organized Sep- tember 1, 1881, with a capital of $100,000. The first officers were: President, Daniel A. Bullard; vice-president, Henry S. Clement; cashier, John H. De Ridder. January 2, 1882, Mr. De Ridder was succeeded as cashier by Lester A. Sharp. In February, 1889, Charles D. Thurber succeeded Mr. Sharp. In March, 1892, Mr. De Ridder again succeeded to the cashier's desk and is now filling the position. Mr. Bullard retired from the presidency in February, 1889, and John Foley was elected to succeed him. Mr. Foley is still the official head of the institution. In February, 1883, Henry S. Clement was succeeded as vice-president by William H. Clement, who was succeeded by Hiram Newell in January, 1888. William T. Rockwood became vice-president
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BANKS.
in February, 1890, and occupies the position at present. The bank has leased for thirty years of Abel Putnam, Jr., the brick block on the northeast corner of Broadway and Phila street. It has been elaborately remodeled and the corner store converted into a modern banking house. Theatre Saratoga is included in the bank's leased property.
The National Bank of Schuylerville originated in a private bank es- tablished in 1853 by William Wilcox. Its capital was $50,000. Three years later it was merged into an organized institution known as the . Bank of Old Saratoga, which started business in 1856 with a capital stock of $100,000. William Wilcox became its president and Giles C. Brisbin, cashier. In 1865 this bank was succeeded by the National bank of Schuylerville, which started business with a capital stock of $100,000. The concern was reincorporated in 1885, its capital being reduced to $50,000. D. A. Bullard, for many years president of this bank, established the Citizens National bank at Saratoga Springs in 1881-1882. The first president of this bank was C. W. Mayhew. He was succeeded by George L. Ames and the latter by D. A. Bullard, who still holds that office. The cashiers of the bank in the order of their service, have been: George Watson, John H. De Ridder and C. E. Brisbin.
The First National bank of Ballston Spa was organized and began business April 1, 1865, with a paid-in capital of $100,000, and an author- ized capital of $250,000; but it has never been increased to that figure. The first president was Hiro Jones, who served until March 5, 1879, resigning on account of continued ill health. George West, who was vice-president when Mr. Jones resigned, acted as president until Feb- ruary 2, 1880, at which date he was elected president. He still serves in that capacity. James W. Horton was the first vice-president of the bank, serving until February 15, 1870, when Henry A. Mann was chosen. December 6, 1875, he was succeeded by George West. The first cashier was John D. Bancroft; he served until December 18, 1871, when he was succeeded by Stephen C. Medbery. Mr. Medbery, at that time but twenty-four years of age, enjoyed the distinction of being the youngest bank cashier in New York State, if not in the United States. He still continues to act in that capacity, and to his great dis- cretion and financial ability much of the success of the bank is due. George C. Beecher was the bank's first teller. He was succeeded in turn by Stephen C. Medbery, Egbert T. Clute, Mr. Durkee, Charles H. Cook and Charles E. Fitcham, who has occupied that position since
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OUR COUNTY AND ITS PEOPLE.
March 1, 1895. R. M. Medbery has been clerk since June 18, 1888. The bank has a surplus of $100, 000.
The First National bank of Mechanicville was chartered May 1, 1884, with these directors, which had been elected March 6 preceding: John C. Greene, George Rogers, Charles H. Cory, Ephraim C. Ellsworth, Edgar Holmes, William W. Smith, George R. Moore, J. Frank Terry, Henry Newland, George B. Perry, John J. Beattie, John Hall and Thomas Coleman. They elected John C. Greene president, George Rogers, vice-president and S. C. Bull cashier. Mr. Greene served as president until May 3, 1887, when George Rogers was elected to the office. His successors as president have been: William W. Smith, elected January 17, 1888 (died January 20, 1891); Edgar Holmes, elected January 24, 1891; Ben B. Smith, elected January 24, 1892. The latter is still in office. S. C. Bull was cashier until March, 1888, when Adelbert J. Harvey, the present cashier, succeeded him. The vice-presidents have been: George Rogers, 1884 to 1887; William W. Smith, elected May 3, 1887; David Akin, elected January 17, 1888; Ben B. Smith, elected January 24, 1891; David Akin, elected January 19, 1892. The latter is still the incumbent of that office. The original capital stock of this institution, $50,000, remains unchanged. The bank is carrying on business in the building it erected the year the concern was organized.
Mechanicville's industries increasing in number and extent very rap- idly, it was deemed advisable to establish a new bank in 1896, and April 16 of that year the Manufacturers' National bank was chartered, with a capital stock of $60,000. This institution began business May 4, 1896, in the building at the corner of Main street and Park avenue. The present officers are the same as at first elected. They are: Pres- ident, Edgar Holmes; vice-president, John C. Duncan ; cashier, Charles D. Thurber; directors, Edgar Holmes, Edward H. Strang, William L. Howland, W. B. Neilson, O. Tompkins, Adelbert B. Orcutt, Joseph H. Packer, John C. Duncan, George Rogers, J. E. Lamb, W. R. Palmer.
The banking house of S. C. Bull & Co. of Waterford is the successor to the old Saratoga County bank, which was incorporated May 29, 1830, with a capital stock of $100,000. John Knickerbacker was the first president, and Jonathan H. Douglas the first cashier. In Decem- ber, 1856, the capital stock of this bank was increased to $150,000. In May, 1865, it was reorganized as a national bank, in 1871 again became a State bank and in 1880 a national bank again. In 1885 it went into
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PUBLIC INSTITUTIONS.
voluntary liquidation. Those who served as its presidents were John Knickerbacker, John Cramer, Hugh White, William Scott and Chaun- cey Boughton. April 1, 1886, the banking house was purchased by S. C. Bull. In October, 1887, F. F. Follet entered into a copartnership with Mr. Bull, under the firm name of S. C. Bull & Co., which has existed to the present time. The bank is a private institution, and the only one in Waterford.
PUBLIC INSTITUTIONS.
The first county clerk's office1 was erected at Ballston Spa in 1824, while Thomas Palmer was serving as county clerk.2 In 1824 the State Legislature passed a law authorizing the erection of a suitable building for the preservation of the county records, at an expense of $1,000, and named Edward Watrous, Eli Barnum and Moses Williams as a com- mittee of construction. The result of the work was the erection of a small but substantial stone building at Ballston Spa. In 1865 the board of supervisors, finding this building inadequate and inconvenient in its location, decided to erect a more commodious house on the ground adjoining the site of the court house to the west, on the north side of High street. The board appointed Arnold Harris, Joseph Baucus, David T. Lamb, James W. Horton, Edwin H. Chapman, Charles S. Lester and William V. Clark a committee to erect the new building, at a cost of $10,000. The work was completed and the new officers first occupied it in the summer of 1866, Mr. Horton previously having re- moved the county records to the State armory3 on High street.
The Saratoga waterworks are operated under what is known as the Holly system, the water being pumped from Loughberry lake, which is in the town of Saratoga Springs. When the works were set in mno- tion July 10, 1871, a gang pump supplied a million gallons of water daily. Three years after the pumping machinery was increased to the capacity of two and a half millions of water daily. In 1882 a Gaskell engine4 capable of furnishing five millions daily was added, and in 1890
1 This venerable relic still stands on the south side of Front street at Ballston Spa, just east of the Delaware & Hudson railroad bridge.
2 Mr. Palmer was county clerk from 1818 to 1833.
3 This building for many years has been used by Christ P. E. church as a chapel.
4 The purchase of the first Gaskell engine in 1882 was the occasion for a bitter legal and polit- ical struggle. This engine was the first of its type and a considerable departure from preceding types of pumping engines. Its performances werc so remarkable that they excited distrust in the minds of experts. The engine was condemned as a fraud, the commissioners who had pur- chased it accused of corruption and suits brought to prevent the completion of its purchase. The
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OUR COUNTY AND ITS PEOPLE.
a $50,000 Holly engine, with a capacity of eight millions every twenty- four hours, was purchased. The two later engines now constitute the sole pumping machinery, the others having been removed. David Holland was chief engineer from the time the works were started until 1887, when his assistant, George F. Bacon, was appointed to the posi- sition, and Charles J. Traver was appointed assistant. Messrs. Bacon and Traver hold their respective positions at present.
The Saratoga Springs fire department originated in an organization formed after the first fire in 1825 by Nathaniel H. Waterbury. It con- sisted of ten young men who volunteered their services. Soon after the incorporation of the village, which occurred April 17, 1826, two fire companies were formed, and the first organization of the old volun- teer system was effected. The first fire wardens of the village were William A. Langworthy, Miles Beach and Joseph White. Rockwell Putnam was chief engineer and Ransom Cook assistant. Mr. Lang- worthy was made captain of Company No. 1, and Nathaniel H. Water- bury captain of Company No. 2, which were organized at that time. May 1, 1827, the board of trustees were sworn into office, and Wash- ington Putnam, John A. Waterbury and Eli Holbrook were appointed fire wardens. Rockwell Putnam was continued as chief engineer and Samuel Holbrook was made assistant. During the year Dr. John Clark was authorized to buy a fire engine for the village, and $400 was ap- propriated for that purpose. The engine was a small one worked by hand brakes, and the pipe holder stood on top of it and directed the stream on the fire. In 1830 another hand engine was purchased for $500. April 16, 1836, a hook and ladder company was organized.
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