USA > New York > Saratoga County > Our county and its people : a descriptive and biographical record of Saratoga County, New York > Part 37
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
332
OUR COUNTY AND ITS PEOPLE.
John S. Leake; 1866-69, J. H. White; 1870-71, James H. Wright (appointed January 7, 1870, to succeed J. H. White, resigned); 1872-73, Caleb W. Mitchell; 1874-75, Charles A. Allen; 1876-77, Stephen H. Richards: 1878-79, Thomas Noxon ; 1880-81, James R. Chapman; 1882-83, R. F. Milligan; 1884-85, P H. Cowen ; 1886-87, Lewis Wood; 1888-91, Deyoe Lohnas; 1892-94, Caleb W. Mitchell; in 1895 Mr. Mitchell was legislated out of office and Charles H. Sturges took office May 6, 1895, serving to May 1, 1897, when Adelbert P. Knapp, the present president, came into office.
CLERKS.
1826, P. V. Wiggins; 1827, Miles Taylor; 1828, William C. Waterbury ; 1829, Dan- iel T. Reed; 1830, Miles Taylor; 1831-32, Daniel D. Benedict; 1833, James H. Robin- son ; 1834-37, Henry P. Hyde ; 1838, John C. Hulburt; 1839-40, Carey B. Moon; 1841, Samuel Pitkin; 1842-43, William H. Andrews; 1844, James H. Wescott; 1845, Will- iam H. Andrews; 1846, Samuel Pitkin ; 1847, George W. Spooner; 1848-51, John W. Crane; 1852, Jesse L. Fraser ; 1853, J. R. Rockwell; 1854, Charles H. Hulbert; 1855- 56, C. C. Morehouse ; 1857, James H. Huling ; 1858-60, William L. Putnam; 1861-62, John Gunning, jr. (resigned in 1862 and L. B. Putnam appointed to fill unexpired term); 1863, Ferdinand Height; 1864-65, Lorin B. Putnam; 1866-69, F. Height; 1870, William L. Grahame; 1871, Charles A. Tefft, jr .; 1872-75, Patrick McDonald; 1876- 79, W. D. Grahame; 1880-89, Samuel F. Corey; 1890-91, Amos S. Browne; 1892-94, John T. Dillon ; 1896-98, James D. McNulty.
In addition to the numerous world-famed hotels at Saratoga Springs, the village has two handsome public buildings. The town hall, which stands on North Broadway, was built by the town authorities in 1871. The Convention hall, one of the handsomest and most commodious structures of its kind in the United States, was built in 1892 and 1893, at a cost of about $100,000, principally for a headquarters for the many conventions which are held annually in the village. It is a large brick structure, located on South Broadway, below Congress Park, and is an imposing structure. It was completed in the fall of 1893.
Saratoga's fame rests principally upon its wonderful mineral springs and magnificent hotels, some of which for many years have ranked among the most elegant, in appointment and service, in the world. These have been described in preceding pages.
The oldest church in town is the First Baptist church, organized in 1791 by ten members of the First Baptist church of Stillwater. The First Presbyterian church was organized in 1816, Bethesda Protestant Episcopal church in 1830, the First M. E. church in 1830-1831, St. Peter's Catholic church in 1839, the First Congregational church in 1865, the Second Presbyterian church in 1869, the Second Baptist church in 1873, the First Free Methodist church in 1865, the African M. E. Zion church in 1863, the Universalist church about 1840, the
333
GAZETTEER OF TOWNS-SARATOGA SPRINGS.
New England Congregational church in 1880, the Congregational Methodist church in 1896. The school from which Temple Grove Seminary sprang was started in 1854 by Mr. Carter. The present public school system was organized in 1867. Rising Sun lodge No. 103, F. & A. M., at first instituted in that part of the town now North- umberland during or before 1808, was finally revived under a charter granted in June, 1845. Saratoga lodge No. 15, I. O. O. F., was organ- ized November 17, 1843, with C. W. Burlingame as noble grand, and is the oldest lodge of Odd Fellows in the district. Grace lodge No. 413 was instituted December 8, 1874, with A. M. Boyce as noble grand. Saratoga Division, Sons of Temperance, was first instituted in 1843. Another division was organized in 1858. Several other prosperous secret and fraternal societies exist in the town. The Young Men's Christian Association was organized in 1866, with Prof. Hiram A. Wil- son as the first president. The Woman's Christian Temperance Union was organized March 17, 1874, with Mrs. Henry R. Lawrence as presi- dent. Empire lodge No. 74, Knights of Pythias, was instituted Febru- ary 28, 1872, with N. Waterbury as presiding officer. There are two posts of the Grand Army of the Republic in Saratoga Springs. The first of these, Post Luther M. Wheeler, No. 92, was chartered June 5, 1877, and was organized October 11, 1877. The second, Post James B. McKean, No. 498, was chartered April 16. 1891, and organized May 1 following.1 Crystal lodge, No. 512, I. O. G. T., was instituted June 15, 1882.2 Putnam lodge, No. 134, A. O. U. W., was organized March 9, 1878, with J. F. Lamberton as P. M. W., and Robert A. Hemingway as M. W. The Saratoga Musical association was organized in Febru- ary, 1869, with Samuel E. Bushnell as president and Dr. C. F. Rich as musical director. The first grand concert was given April 11, 1870, and the first grand musical convention was held in February, 1872, with L. O. Emerson as musical director.
Saratoga Springs has had four banks, two of which are now in ex-
1 The commanders of Post Luther M. Wheeler have been : E. T. Woodward, David F. Ritchie, Antoine De R. McNair, William H. Hall, Albert F. Mitchell, Hiram W. Hays, Robert F. Knapp, Charles H. Hodges, Winsor B. French, Hosea B. Ormsbee, Edward H. Fuller, Robert S. Riming- ton, Elias J. Pendrick, William F. Hall and John S. Fassett. The commanders of Post James B. Mckean have been : William M. Searing, 1891-1892; James H. Reagan, 1893; Augustus R. Walker, 1894; James R. Gibbs, 1895; Charles D. Thurber, 1896; Seth W. Deyoe, 1897; Porteus C. Gilbert, 1898. The latter died June 11, 1898.
2 The following have filled the position of Chief Templar : Arthur Crosby, John Barton, Will- iam Spencer, Emory Potter, J. H. Parks, F. S. Harlow, James D. Stiles, Frank Ames, M. Thomp- son, C. G. Monford, Spencer M. Sterns, Ira A. Brooks, James H. Myers, T. Perry, J. M. Fake, George Ramsey, Henry Cunningham, F. K. Barrett and F. H. Partridge.
334
OUR COUNTY AND ITS PEOPLE. 1
istence. These are the First National bank, organized in 1848, and the Citizens National bank, organized in 1881. The Commercial National bank, and the Union Savings bank, chartered in 1873, both failed in December, 1878. The Saratoga Gaslight Company was organized in 1854. The Saratoga Volunteer Fire Department was organized in 1826. This was succeeded by a paid department in 1883. The vil- lage has an excellent waterworks system, started in 1832 by Dr. John Clark and improved by the construction of a large reservoir in Green- field in 1847.
In 1831 the Saratoga Recorder and Anti-Masonic Democrat was established by D. Tehan. Since that time the village has supported several newspapers. The Saratogian, daily and weekly, and the Sara- toga Eagle and Saratoga Sun, weekly, are now published in the village.
Stafford's Bridge, Eddy's Corners, Ashley's Corners, Ellis Corners, Cady's Hill and The Geysers are the principal hamlets or localities in the town, aside from Saratoga Springs village. Ellis Corners and Cady's Hill in recent years have become known as The Geysers.
The town of Saratoga Springs was set off from Saratoga April 9, 1819. The first town meeting was held at Union hall March 7, 1820, when these officers were elected :
Supervisor, Ashbel Andrews; town clerk, Harmon J. Betts; assessors, Walter Crawford, Richard Searing, Nathan Lewis; commissioners of highways, Daniel Crawford, Samuel Stafford, Samuel S. Wakeman ; overseers of the poor, John Eddy, Gilbert Waring; collector, John Bemus; commissioners of common schools, John Glean, George Peck, Rockwell Putnam; inspectors of common schools, Rev. Francis Wayland, Rev. James O. Griswold, William L F. Warren; constables, Solomon Spaulding, Joseph White, Frederick Avery ; poundmaster, Richard Searing ; inspec- tors of weights and measures, George Peck, John Bryan, Richard Searing.
The following is a list of the principal officers of the town since the date of its organization :
SUPERVISORS.
1820, Ashbel Andrews; 1821-1822, Esek Cowen; 1823-1827, George Peck; 1828- 1829, John H. Steel; 1830-1834, James R. Westcot; 1835, Rockwell Putnam; 1836- 1838, Samuel Chapman; 1839, James R. Westcot; 1840-1843, Samuel Chapman; 1844, Joel Clement ; 1845, James M. Marvin; 1846-1848, John L. Perry; 1849, John A. Corey ; 1850, Samuel Chapman: 1851, Samuel Pitkin; 1852, Thomas J. Marvin ; 1853, Samuel Freeman; 1854, Cruger Walton; 1855, Franklin Hoag; 1856, Cruger Walton; 1857, James M. Marvin; 1858, Henry H. Hathorn; 1859, John H. White; 1860, Henry H. Hathorn; 1861, Hiram H. Martin; 1862, James M. Marvin; 1863, John W. Crane; 1864-1865, Charles S. Lester; 1866-1867, Henry H. Hathorn; 1868-
335
GAZETTEER OF TOWNS-SARATOGA SPRINGS.
1869, John W. Crane; 1870-1871, James P. Butler; 1872-1873, James I. Wakefield; 1874, James M. Marvin; 1875-1876, Anson M. Boyce; 1876, Patrick H. Cowen (ap- pointed to succeed Boyce, resigned); 1877, Thomas Noxon ; 1878-1881, Joseph Baucus; 1882, Thomas Noxon; 1883-1884, Joseph Baucus; 1885-1886, Isaac Y. Ouderkirk ; 1887-1888, Augustine W. Shepherd, 1889, Frank M. Boyce; 1890, Davis Coleman ; 1891-1895, James M. Ostrander; 1896-1897, Harry Crocker; 1898, Frank H. Hathorn.
TOWN CLERKS.
1820-1821, Harmon J. Betts; 1822, Joel Clements; 1823, Harmon J. Betts; 1824- 1829 James R. Wescott ; 1830-1832, Washington Putnam; 1833-1834, Rockwell Put- nam; 1835, Abel A. Kellogg; 1836, John A. Corey; 1837, Joseph M. Wheeler; 1838, Ezra Hall; 1839, Rockwell Putnam; 1840, S. R. Ostrander; 1841, Horace Fonda; 1842, Patrick H. Cowen; 1843, Horace Fonda; 1844, William H. Andrews; 1845, William E. Castle; 1846, William S. Balch; 1847, Charles S. Lester; 1848, John T. Carr; 1849, William L. Griswold; 1850, William S. Balch; 1851-1852, C. W. Burlin- game; 1853-1854, Robert Nichols; 1855, Charles H. Hulbert; 1856, George L. Stearns; 1857, Charles C. Morehouse; 1858, C. W. Burlingame; 1859-1860, Lorin B. Putnam ; 1861-1863, Abram B. Jenner; 1864-1866, James M. Ostrander; 1867, Daniel T. Rock- well; 1868, Henry Marshall; 1869, L. L. Brintnall; 1870, Frederick N. Owen; 1871, George H. Gillis; 1872, William M. Searing, jr .; 1873, Patrick McDonald; 1874, George H. Gillis; 1875-1877, Daniel Eddy; 1878-1879, Isaac Y. Ouderkirk; 1880- 1893, Michael S. Cummings; 1894-1895, Daniel S. Woodworth; 1896-1898, Michael S. Cummings.
JUSTICES OF THE PEACE.
1831, Wm. A. Langworthy; 1832, Ransom Cook, Eli Holbrook; 1833, John B. Gil- bert; 1834, Wm. A. Beach; 1835, Daniel T. Reed, John A. Waterbury ; 1836, Ransom Cook; 1837, John B. Gilbert; 1838, Sidney J. Cowen; 1839, George W. Wilcox ; 1840, Shelemiah R. Ostrander; 1841, Ransom Cook; 1842, Joseph White; 1843, John C. Hulbert; 1844, Augustus Bockes; 1845, Abel A. Kellogg; 1846, Joseph R. Plunkett, 1847, Wm. E. Castle; 1848, Chas. S. Lester; 1849, Abel A. Kellogg; 1850, Seymour Gilbert, John T. Carr; 1851, John T. Carr; 1852, John H. White; 1853, Lemuel B. Pike; 1854, John B. Felshaw; 1855, John T. Carr; 1856, John R. Putnam; 1857, Joseph D. Briggs; 1858, John H. White; 1859, Wm. C. Barrett; 1880, Jerome B. Buckbee; 1861, Esek Cowen; 1862, Joseph D. Briggs; 1863, Wm. C. Barrett; 1864, Silas H. Peters, Lewis Varney; 1865, Lewis Varney, John B. Fin- ley ; 1866, J. S. B Scott; 1867, Wm. C. Barrett; 1868, Elias H. Peters (appointed); 1869, Anson W. Boyce, James M. Andrews; 1870, Phineas F. Allen; 1871, John Foley; 1872, Lewis Wood; 1873, Wm. C. Barrett; 1874, Phineas F. Allen; 1875, Augustine W. Shepherd; 1876, Thomas G. Young; 1877, Chas. M. Davison, Wm. C. Barrett (long term); 1878, Lewis Wood; 1879, Michael G. Berrigan; 1880, John L. Henning; 1881, Wm. C. Barrett; 1882, Frank M. Jenkins; 1883, David Maxwell; 1884, Wm. A. Pierson ; 1885, Daniel E. Wing; 1886, Frank M. Jenkins; 1887, David Maxwell; 1888, James F. Swanick; 1889, George A. Swart; 1890, Frank M. Jenkins (long term), James T. Brusnihan (short term); 1891, John F. Sullivan; 1892, Joseph P. Brennan ; 1893, Wm. D. McNulty; 1894, Frank M. Jenkins; 1895, Frank H. Mc- Donald; 1896, Frank Gick; 1897, John H. Morris; 1898, Charles B. Andrus.
336
OUR COUNTY AND ITS PEOPLE.
POLICE JUSTICES.
1848-1849, Abel R. Plunkett; 1850-1853, Abel A. Kellogg; 1854-1861, Matthias A. Pike; 1862-1863, John H. White; 1864-1865, Wm. H. Searing; 1866-1867 Patrick H. Cowen; 1868-1869, Wm. C. Barrett; 1870-1875, James S. B. Scott; 1876, John H. White (died in office); 1877-1879, Charles H. Tefft, jr. (appointed to fill vacancy; and regularly elected in 1878); 1880-1883, Augustine W. Shepherd; 1884-1887, John L. Barbour; 1888-1889, Wm. A. Pierson; 1890-1893, Chas. Allen; 1893, George A. Swart (appointed vice Allen resigned); 1894-1895, John M. Fryer; 1896-1897, George A. Swart; 1897, Wm. D McNulty (appointed Dec. 1, 1897, to fill vacancy caused by death of George A. Swart; served till March, 1898); 1898, Wm. J. Delaney.
COLLECTORS.
1820, John Bemus; 1821-1826, Joseph White; 1827-1828, Joshua Bliven; 1829-1831, Eli Holbrook; 1832, Joshua Bliven; 1833, Joseph White; 1834, Lucien Hendrick; 1835-1836, Daniel Wait; 1837, Joseph Brisbin; 1838, Marvin S. Putnam; 1839-1840, Amasa Patrick; 1841 Daniel Potts; 1842, Clement Gibbs; 1843-1844, William C. Owen; 1845, William Wait; 1846, William A. Muredell; 1847, John B. Felshaw ; 1848, Hiram Owen; 1849, George Burnham; 1850, Daniel D. Eddy; 1851, George Burn- ham; 1852-1854, Gardner Bullard; 1855, Riley V. Surdam; 1856, John Rouse; 1857- 1858, Joseph H. Hodgeman; 1859, Ezra Hall; 1860, Charles W. Whitford; 1861, Charles H. Brown; 1862, Alfred P. Mallory; 1863, Thomas Eldredge; 1864, Charles W. Whitford; 1865, A. P. Mallory; 1866, Daniel T. Rockwell; 1867, Calvin M. Avery ; 1868, John Foley; 1869, Harmon S. Hoyt; 1870, Jonathan S. Howland; 1871, Will- iam F. Calkins; 1872, William E. Dexter. 1
RECEIVERS OF TAXES.
1872-1874, William E. Dexter; 1875-1878, Lewis Wood; 1879-1881, L. H. Cramer; 1882-1885, Lewis Wood; 1886-1887, Thomas Douglas; 1888-1891, Byran J. Town; 1892-1894, Patrick F. Roohan; 1895-1897, Byron J. Town; 1898, William B. Milliman.
TOWN OF MILTON.
The town of Milton is second in importance to Saratoga Springs in point of population and wealth, but probably the first town in the county in the extent and value of its manufactures. Milton is bounded on the north by Greenfield, on the east by Saratoga Springs and Malta, on the south by Ballston and Charlton, and on the west by Galway. It contains 20,935 acres. The Revised Statutes describe the town as fol- lows:
The town of Milton shall contain all that part of said county bounded northerly by Greenfield, easterly by the east line of the fourteenth allotment of the Kayadrossera patent and the same continued to the north line of the sixteenth allotment, southerly by a line beginning in the southeast corner of the fourteenth allotment of the Kaya-
1 The office of collector was abolished in 1872, and was succeeded by that of receiver of taxes.
337
GAZETTEER OF TOWNS-MILTON.
drossera patent and running thence west along the bounds of the said allotment to the middle of the south bounds of lot number nine in the subdivision of the allot- ment aforesaid, and westerly by a line running from thence due north to the south- west corner of the town of Greenfield.
The surface of the town is undulating in the south and moderately hilly in the north. The Kayaderosseras creek flows southeasterly through the center of the town, turning at Ballston Spa and flowing easterly through Saratoga Springs into Saratoga lake. Gordon creek, which joins Kayaderosseras from the west at Ballston Spa, is one of its principal tributaries. The water power furnished by the Kayaderos- seras has been employed from the days of earliest settlement, and along its banks are nearly a score of extensive mills and factories. The Delaware and Hudson Canal Company's railroad passes westerly and northeasterly through the southeast corner of the town.
The earliest settlements in Milton were made at Milton Hill and a short distance north of that point. Just before the Revolution David Wood and his sons, Stephen, Benjamin, Elijah, Nathan and Enoch, pur- chased 600 acres at Milton Hill and moved into the town. Justus Jennings, a Revolutionary soldier, settled near Hop City about 1783. About the same time Sanborn Ford located at Spier's Corners. Abel Whalen built a home near him about the same time. Benajah Douglas, grandfather of Hon. Stephen A. Douglas, built a log house in 1787 near the old public spring at Ballston Spa, for the accommodation of visitors. This spring was discovered in 1769 while men were at work surveying the Kayaderosseras patent. Several other springs were subsequently discovered near by in the same valley. In 1817 four springs, within twenty feet of one another, were discovered in the bed of the stream (Gordon creek). Soon afterward their water became fresh.
Benajah Douglas's house was the first tavern in Milton. In 1792 Nicholas Low built a tavern just east of that of Douglas. Mr. Douglas built a more commodious house in 1792 and 1793, and the year follow- ing summer visitors from all sections began to pour into the village to drink of the waters of the then famous mineral springs. In 1803 Mr. Low built the Sans Souci hotel, a spacious and elegant hostelry for those days.1 Several other hotels were built after this, and several boarding houses were also opened. The Sans Souci hotel entertained
1 This hotel underwent many changes. The last hotel was torn down in 1887, and the follow- ing year the Sans Souci Opera House block was built in the western part of the site it had occu- pied.
22
338
OUR COUNTY AND ITS PEOPLE.
many of the most noted men of those days, including Joseph Bona- parte in 1827. While he was visiting here a messenger brought him the letter announcing the death of Napoleon Bonaparte at St. Helena.
Hezekiah Middlebrook built a grist mill in 1799 or 1800 above the site of the present blue mill on the Kayaderosseras. Saw mills and grist mills were located at Rock City Falls, then known as Hatch's Mills, before 1800. This was the first use of the fine water power at that point. Epenetus White, Mr. Warren and Mr. Sears had stores early in the century on the low ground near the original spring at Ballston Spa.
Beside the five churches at Ballston Spa, there have been in the town St. James' Protestant Episcopal church at Milton Centre, founded in 1796; the Presbyterian church at Milton Hill, organized in 1791, be- came extinct in 1840; the Baptist church near Rock City known as the "stone church," organized about 1798; the Presbyterian church of West Milton, organized soon after the Revolution; the M. E. church at Rock City Falls, organized in 1844, and the Catholic church of Rock City Falls, organized in 1872.
Ballston Spa, the county seat of Saratoga county, is the principal village in Milton, though a part of the corporate limits of the village extend into the town of Ballston. Its early settlement has been re- ferred to in the foregoing. The village is located in the extreme south- eastern part of the town. The village was incorporated March 21, 1807, and at the first village election, held the first Tuesday in May following, these officers were elected:
Trustees, Joshua B. Aldridge, Stephen H. White, Nathan Lewis; assessors, John Warren, David McMaster, Archy Kasson; treasurer, Epenetus White, jr. ; collector, Eli Barnum; clerk, William Shepherd; constables, Elihu Roe, Samis Blakely.
Previous to 1842 no president was elected, the three trustees being equal in authority. In 1842 the number of trustees was increased to five, and thereafter a president was elected annually by the board at its first meeting. Subsequently the presidents were, and now are, elected annually by the people. The following have been the presidents of the village since 1842:
1842-43, James M. Cook; 1844, Reuben Westcot; 1845,, James M. Cook; 1846-47, Abel Meeker; 1848, Samuel H. Cook; 1849, Abel Meeker; 1850, George Thompson; 1851, Reuben Westcot; 1852, George Babcock; 1853, William P. Odell; 1854, Law- rence W. Bristol; 1855, Reuben Westcot; 1856, Edward H. Chapman ; 1857, James O. Leach; 1858, Edward Gilbourn; 1859, Seymour Chase; 1860, Hiro Jones; 1861, John
339
GAZETTEER OF TOWNS-MILTON.
H. Westcot; 1862, David Maxwell; 1863, Levi Weed; 1864, John Wait; 1865, David Maxwell; 1866-67, John H. Westcot; 1868-69, George G. Scott; 1870-73, Henry A. Mann ; 1874, Albert P. Blood : 1875, Henry A. Mann; 1876-77, Stephen C. Medbery ; 1878-81, Alonzo M. Shepherd; 1882, Jeremiah Griffin ; 1883-84, Alfred N. Wiley ; 1885, Stephen C. Medbery; 1886, Rush H. Young; 1887-89, Stephen C. Medbery; 1890, Alonzo M. Shepherd; 1891, Abijah Comstock ; 1892, Douglas W. Mabee; 1893, Charles O. McCreedy ; 1894-95, Eben S. Lawrence; 1896, Thomas Finley; 1897-98, Douglas W. Mabee.
The prosperity of the village was due at first to the presence of the excellent mineral springs discovered there; but, secondly, and most important, to the splendid water power of the Kayaderosseras creek. Along this creek numerous mills and factories were built at an early day, grist mills and saw mills being located there before 1800. Early in the century other industries were established there. The paper mills, which afford a means of livelihood to the town, were started before and during the war of the Rebellion. In 1836 Jonathan S. Beach and Har- vey Chapman started a woolen mill on the island in the Kayaderosseras, and four years later they built a cotton mill near their first mill. In 1844 they built a third mill, for cotton manufacture. The second mill mentioned was operated until 1861. Their third mill finally became the property of George West, who converted it into a paper mill. In 1850 Beach & Chapman built the Glen woolen mill, which subsequently manufactured cloths and blankets. In 1875 George West, who already owned four paper mills, bought of Jonas A. Hovey the island mill he had purchased in 1861 of Beach & Chapman, and converted it into a plant for the manufacture of paper. He also bought the first mill re- ferred to, the Union mill, and the woolen mill; converted the latter into a paper bag mill, and leasing the cotton mill. The tannery of Haight & Co. was removed from Milton Centre to Ballston Spa in 1882 and its facilities greatly increased. The axe and scythe shops at Blood- ville, a suburb of Ballston Spa, were established by Isaiah Blood in 1824.
The county seat was removed from Court House Hill in Ballston to Ballston Spa after the burning of the original court house and jail in 1817. The new court house in Ballston Spa was opened in the spring of 1819. The present court house was built in 1889. The first county clerk's office was built in 1824 on Front street. The present office west of the court house was erected in 1865-1866 and first occupied in the summer of that year.
A new union school building was erected on Bath street in 1873-1874. Plans are now [1898] being made for increasing the school facilities of
340
OUR COUNTY AND ITS PEOPLE.
the village. A "State and National Law School " was established in the old Sans Souci hotel in 1849 by John W. Fowler, but closed after a career of three years.
There are five churches in Ballston Spa-Christ Protestant Episcopal church, founded at Ballston Centre in 1787, and removed to Ballston Spa in 1817, seven years after the organization of the original St. Paul's parish in this village; the First Baptist church, founded in 1791; the First Presbyterian church, founded in 1834; the M. E. church, founded in 1836, and St. Mary's Roman Catholic church, whose first edifice was erected in 1859. A new M. E. church was built in 1892- 1893, and a new Baptist church in 1895-1896, and a new Catholic church in 1896.
The Ballston Spa National bank was established in 1838, and the First National bank in 1865.
Franklin lodge No. 90, F. & A. M., was instituted in 1842. It is the successor of Franklin lodge No. 37, instituted in the town of Balls- ton in 1794, and of Friendship lodge No. 18, instituted at Milton Hill in 1805, both of which early lodges had forfeited their charters. Among the numerous other thriving fraternal organizations in the village are Kayaderosseras lodge No. 17, I. O. O. F., instituted January 9, 1844; Post William H. McKittrick No. 46, G. A. R., organized in May, 1875; Hermion lodge No. 90, K. of P., organized in December, 1873; the Utopian club; Ballston Spa Castle No. 3, K. of G. E .; Home lodge No. 135, A. O. U. W .; the Royal Templars of Temperance. The Ballston Spa fire department consists of Eagle Fire company No. 1, Union Fire company No. 2. and Matt Lee Hook & Ladder company No. 1.
Factory Village and Bloodville are suburbs of Ballston Spa, and are inhabited, for the most part, by employes of the axe and scythe shop and the other industries of that locality. Factory Village was so named because of the two paper mills located there soon after the war. The paper mill there now is owned by the National Folding Box and Paper company of Hartford, Conn. Bloodville, which contains the immense plant of the American Edge Tool company, manufacturers of scythes and axes, was named after Isaiah Blood, the founder of the industry. Craneville, a hamlet, is located further up the Kayaderosseras. The paper mill at that point was purchased by George West soon after the war. Milton Centre is located in the centre of the town. Here Gen- eral James Gordon built a grist mill at the close of the Revolution.
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.