USA > New York > Washington County > Washington county, New York; its history to the close of the nineteenth century > Part 44
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WASHINGTON COUNTY: ITS HISTORY.
corporated themselves into a society under the style of "the rector, church wardens and vestrymen of St. Paul's church." This was the result of a year or more of tentative organizing and on the two Sun- days previous, services had been held in the upper room of the old court house, the first conducted by the Rev. H. C. Potter and the second by the Rev. J. Scarborough, both of Troy. On the 9th of the following May the sacrament of baptism and rite of confirmation were administered by the Right Rev. Horatio Potter, bishop of New York at which time ten persons were confirmed. On July 22d of the sami. year the Rev. Charles Purviance accepted a call to the rectorship of the newly organized church and during his incumbency the corner stone of the present edifice was laid. He remained in Salem, how- ever, but a short time, and it was not until after the election of his successor, the Rev. Francis Mansfield, that the church (consisting of only the nave of the present structure) was consecrated by Bishop Potter. Mr. Mansfield after a few months was succeeded by the R.ev. Francis C. Wainwright, who continued as rector until August ast, 1862. On February 28th, 1864, the Rev. Henry M. Davis accepted a call to the rectorship of St. Paul's and remained in charge of the pa"* ish until his deathı. The Rev. John Henry Houghton, who succeede 1 him, remained for fifteen years and during his term the transcepts and tower were added to the former church structure, a" the rectory and parish-house were built. A parish-school was als established which under the principalship of Mr. Houghton devinoped into a boarding-school for boys and was continued until 1891. T The term :of the present rector, the Rev. Harris C. Rush, began in 1890.
Up to the year 1855 when the Catholic church at Cambridge was; completed, the residents in the vicinity of Salem had no church where they could attend mass nearer than Schaghticoke, Rutland or Troy. Services were held from time to time in private houses but no regular services were held in Salem until 1859, when the Rev. º ohn McDer- mott, then settled in Cambridge, supervised the erection of a Roman Catholic church in this place and attended it for four Fears, during which time it was dedicated by the Bishop of Albany. In 1863 the church passed into the hands of the Augustinian Fathers a' d remained under their control for about ten years, as an out-mission tended by the priests who lived in Cambridge. In 1873 the church was trans- ferred from the control of the priests of the Order of St. Augustine to that of the Bishop of Albany who appointed the Rev. Jam O'Sulli-
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403
GAZETTEER OF TOWNS-SALEM.
van as the first resident pastor at Salem. He was followed succes- sively by the Rev. David Sheehan, the Rev. P. H. Delehanty and the Rev. John F. Donahoe. During the pastorate of Father Donahoe the present church edifice and priest's house were built. Father Barrett is now in charge.
Methodist meetings were held at irregular intervals in the central part of the town as early as 1821. A society was formed in 1825 and down to 1839 preaching was maintained regularly by circuit appoint- ient. For the two years preceding 1841 no activity seems to have been shown by the Methodists in the neighborhood, but in that year three former Salemites, who were then living in Troy, returned to their earlier residence for a time, and being greatly interested in Methodism held some meetings in the school house. These gather- ings resulted ultimately in a very wide and successful revival and in 1844 the Rev. John Fassett was appointed by the bishop presiding over the Troy Conference to labor in Salem. From this time on ser- vices were regularly held and in 1846 a small house of worship was erected on the site of the present church. After thirty years of use his building was taken down and in 1876 work was begun on the ( lifice which now serves as a house of worship to the Methodists of Salem.
" The Ban1- of Salem " was organized largely through the efforts of the late B. I Bancroft, as a state bank, in 1854, with Bernard Blair as president. Tr 1865 when the national system came in this bank was. closed and . 'he National Bank of Salem " was formed with the Hon. C. L. Allen as president and B. F. Bancroft as cashier. In 1885 at the expiration of its charter this bank closed and the "First National Bank of Salem " was formed with B. F. Bancroft as president and M. L. Sheldon as cashier. On Mr. Bancroft's death in 1886 Mr. Sheldon succeeded to the presidency, which office he now holds. The bank has a capital f $50,000, and a surplus of $27,000.
"The Peoples' National Bank of Salem" was organized in 1884 under the 1 sidency of the Hon. Lonson Fraser, with Robert M. Stevenson a cashier. Judge Fraser was followed in office successively by Charles Lyon, William C. Larmon and Warren Kenyon, who is now the " sident. Benjamin C. Haggert is at present the cashier and Otis Wicon the teller. The bank has a capital of $50,000 and a surplus of $7,900. The undivided profits are more than $3,000.
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WASHINGTON COUNTY: ITS HISTORY.
Following is a list of the supervisors of the town of Salem from 1787 to 1900:
1787-SS, John Rowan ; 1789, James Tomb; 1790, Hamilton McAllister ; 1791-1795, John Williams; 1796, Alex. T. Turner: 1797-1800, David Thomas; 1801-1803, Ed- ward Savage; 1804, Abner Stone; 1805-06, John Savage; 1807, Andrew Lytle; 1808- 09, John Gray; 1810-11, David Woods; 1812, Alex. McNish; 1813, John Savage ; 1814-15, John Williams; 1816-17, Philo Curtis; 1818-20, John Crary; 1821-22, James Harvey; 1823-33, John McMurray : 1834-35, Bernard Blair; 1836, James B. Steven- son ; 1837-38, Aaron Martin, Jr .; 1839, James B. Stevenson; 1840, Stephen Ransom ; 1841, John McMurray ; 1842, Alex. Robertson ; 1843, Marvin Freeman ; 1844, William McKie; 1845-46-47, John McNaughton ; 1848-49-50. Jarvis Martin ; 1851-52-53-54, Jose- phus Fitch ; 1855-56, John R. Lytle; 1857-58, James M. Thompson ; 1859-60, Josephus Fitch; 1861-66, Alex. B. Law; 1867, James M. Thompson; 1868, James Gibson; 1869-70, Robert M. Stevenson : 1871, Edward G. Jolinson; 1872-73, William McFar- land; 1874, James M. Thompson ; 1875, Robert McFarland; 1876, Smith H. Brownell ; 1877, Daniel B. Cole; 1878-79, John Edwards; ISSo, Robert M. Stevenson; 1881-2, James M. Thompson ; 1883, Robert M. Stevenson; 1884, Thomas W. Stevenson ; 1885-86-87-88, Charles W. Larmon; 1889-90-91, Frederick Fraser; 1892-93, Brommie Copeland; 1894-95-96-97, N. Austin Baker; 1898-99-1900, James H. Chamberlin.
The town clerks of Salem for the same period were:
1787-1805, James Tomb; 1806. James Hawley; 1807. James Tomb; 1808, Alex. Simpson, Jr. ; 1809-10-II D. Matthews, Jr. ; 1812-13, Henry Matthews; 1814-15, James McNish; 1816, Henry Matthews; 1817, James McNish; 1818-19, Joseph Haw- ley; 1820-25, James McNish; 1826-32, Henry Matthews; 1833, John W. Proudfit; 1834-39, Alonzo Gray; 1840-41, James A. McFarland; 1842, John M. Martin ; 1843-44- 45, William B. Harkness; 1846, William R. Austin; 1847, James A. MeFarland ; 1848-49, William R. Austin; 1850-53, Orrin Austin; 1854, Dirck C. Russell ; 1855-56, WV. McFarland, 2nd: 1857-58, James M. Crawford; 1859, Orrin Austin; 1860, James Blashfield; 1861, John Liddle; 1862-67, William McFarland; 1868, Stockwell Liddle; 1869, Edwin McNaughton; 1870, William B. Bool; 1871-72, Edwin McNaughton; 1873-79, John W. Dobbin; 1880-83, John S. Beattie; 1884, John J, Ryan ; 1885, A. M. Young; 1886-87. Joseph Hafert; 18SS, Brommie Copeland; 1889-90, Harvey B. Cruikshank; 1891-93, Alex. Smart; 1894-98, B. J. Abbott; 1899-1900, Thomas R. Lewis.
The presidents of the village of Salem since 1803 have been:
1803, James Harvey; 1804-05, John Williams; 1806-07, Anthony J. Blanchard; 1808-09, James Harvey ; 1810, John Gray; IS11, David B. Gray; 1812-13, John Gray; 1814, David Wood; 1815-16, James Nichols; 1817-20, Joseph Hawley; 1821-22, James Harvey; 1823, Anthony J. Blanchard ; 1824, John Williams; 1825, John MeLean, Jr. ; IS26, Anthony J. Blanchard; 1827, John Willard; 1828-31, Cornelius L. Allen; 1832-33, Major James Harvey ; 1834-35-36, Joseph Hawley; 1837, John Williams, Jr. ; 1838-40, John Creary; 1841, Henry Matthews; 1842, Alex. Robertson; 1843, Cornelius L. Allen; 1844, Joseph Hawley; 1845, Abner Austin : 1846-47, Josephus Fitch ; 1848, Oliver Whitcomb; 1849, James W. Peters; 1850-51, Cornelius L. Allen; 1852-53,
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405
GAZETTEER OF TOWNS-GRANVILLE.
Joseph Fitch; 1854 56, David T. Archibald; 1857, Marinus Fairchild; 1858-61, Timo- thy Cronan; 1862, Alex. McDougall; 1863-64, John Howe; 1865, Matthias Bartlett ; 1866-68, James McNaughton; 1869-96, Col. Solomon W. Russell; 1896 97, A. K. Broughton ; 1897-98, John C. McNaughton; 1898-99. Frank Wright; 1899-1900, James Gibson, Jr. ; 1900-01, Delbert J. Abbott.
The village clerks of Salem during the same period have been :
1803-07, J. Bostwick; 1808.30, Philo Curtis; 1831-32, Henry W. Dodd: 1833-36, C. Stevens; 1837-47, James Gibson; 1848, S. B. Shipley; 1849-50, James Gibson; 1851-54, S. B. Shipley; 1855-57, Charles A. White; 1858-61, B. F. Robinson; 1862-68, John W. McFarland; 1869-70, George N. Arnott, (resigned in 1870 and Joseph Oliver ap- pointed to fill out term); 1871-82, Joseph Oliver; 1883-4, Charles E. Blashfield ; 1884-5, Harry E. Cole; 1886-95, Solomon W. Russell, Jr. ; 1895-6, B. C. Haggart; 1896-7. Frank A. Hill; 1897-8, George B. McCartee, Jr .; 1898 1901, Frank A. Hill.
TOWN OF GRANVILLE.
"This town is noted for its great slate quarries which are the basis of its immense slate industry. It lies on the eastern side of Washing- ton County, touching the state of Vermont by which it is bounded on the east. Its northern boundary touches Whitehall and Hampton; on the west are Hartford and Fort Ann; Hebron is on the south.
Granville is a hilly town, but those hills are ribbed with valuable slate and although the town has its rugged aspect, it also has its beau- tiful and fertile valleys. The principal stream is the Pawlet or Met- towee river which with its tributaries drains this part of the county.
There are no authentic records of the dates of the first settlements. Hollister says that there were settlements before the Revolutionary War, but does not attempt to fix exact dates for the incoming of the first pioneers, and when settlers began to take up land in this tract they came slowly because of the Revolutionary War and also on account of territorial disputes between the states of New York and Vermont, which interfere with land titles. The first settlers seem to have come mostly from New England and after the settlement of the boundary question, which is fully treated of under its proper head, the progress of settlement became more rapid.
The first settlement must have been as early as 1770, perhaps some- what earlier, for on September 11, 1764, two brothers, Alexander and Thomas Menzies were each granted a patent of 2,000 acres of land in the northern part of the town, and on September 5th of the same year Erick Sutherland received 2,000 acres, and it is not improbable that
406
WASHINGTON COUNTY: ITS HISTORY.
some settler or settlers, located on these tracts within the next few years.
On March 7. 1771, John Maunsell received a grant of 5, 000 acres in the northeastern part of the town. Later patents were the Watkins, Berry, Hutchinson, Farquar, Dupason, Byrnes, Campbell and Grant tracts. It is improbable that any of these men became actual settlers; it is almost certain that they secured the land for speculative pur- poses. Hough says that the land of this town was embraced in " grants made to about thirty captains and lieutenants who had served in the French war," and army officers have not been conspicuous as laborers in the history of any country. Besides it is a matter of his- tory that the Byrnes Patent in the southeast corner was sold to Kenneth McKenneth of New York who disposed of it to Donald Fisher, a tailor of that city.
Following is a list of pioneer settlers prior to 1790: Daniel Curtice. Nathaniel Spring, Moses Sawyer, Ebenezer Gould, David Doane, John Bateman, John Spring. Asaph Cook, James Otis, Timothy Allen, David Skinner, Deacon Skinner, Joseph Herrington, Christopher Potter, Captain John Stocking, Gurdon Johnson, Major Thomas Con- vers, Captain John MeWhorter, Lieutenant Henry Watkins, Jonathan Hernden, Daniel H. White, Solomon Baker, John Walker, Benjamin Wait, Hephon Austin, F. S. Hodge, Timothy Case, Joseph Andrews, Reuben Graves, Daniel Porter, Joseph Woodworth, Zacheus Patter- son, Benjamin Marsh, Joseph Northup, John Crary, Joseph Cook, Ebenezer Chapin, Jonathan Wright, Amos Beard, Peter Parker, Ben- jamin Parker, Cornelius and Joshua Whitney, Nathan Day, Luther Cady, Ezra Lee. Lemuel Barber, Amasa Cook, Nathaniel Parker, Coomer Mason.
After 1790 when the disputes between New York and Vermont were settled so that land titles were safe, immigrants came in rapidly and the population soon became large.
No record exists of the organization of Granville, but the town was formed by act of legislature in 1786 and the first town meeting of which there is any record was held in 1787.
Following is the complete list of the supervisors of the town of Granville from 1787 up to 1900:
1787-1789, Daniel Curtis: 1790-1801, Timothy Leonard; 1802, Jacob Holmes; 1803, John Kirtland: 1804-5, Jacob Holmes: 1806-1812, John Kirtland; 1813-1815, Isaac Bishop; 1816-17, William Raymond; 1818-19, Salem Town; 1820-1822, Martin Lee;
407
GAZETTEER OF TOWNS-GRANVILLE.
1823-24, Samuel Standish ; 1825, Isaac Bishop; 1826-1833, Jonathan Todd; 1834, John C. Parker; 1835, James W. Parker; 1836-37, Jonathan Todd; 1838-1849, Reuben Skinner; 1841, Isaac Munroe, Jr. ; 1842-3, Isaac W. Bishop; 1844, B. D. Utter; 1845, Edward Buckley; 1846, Fayette L. Spencer; 1847, James Norton; 1848, James Hop- kins; 1849, Alfred Buckley; 1850, Isaac Norton; 1851-2, Oscar F. Thompson; 1853, Isaac Norton; 1854, Nathaniel Mason; 1855-1857, Oscar F. Thompson; 1858-9, Ervin Hopkins; 1860, William H. Allen; 1861, Edward Beecher ; 1862-3. William H. Allen; 1864, George N. Bates; 1865, William II. Allen; 1866-7, Samuel Thomas; 1868-9, Royal C. Bates; 1770, John Watkins; 1871, Silas Ifall; 1872. David Brown; 1873, Pal- mer D. Evarts; 1874, David Brown; 1875-1877, David B. Temple; 1878-9, Asbury H. Merriam; 1880-81, M. K. Wait; 1882, Marcus B. Allen; 1883, George W. Henry; 1884, E. J. Brown; 1885-6, George W. Henry; 1887, Henry Dillingham: 1888, John S. War- ren; 1889-1891, John M. Hulett; 1892-3, Edwin B. Temple; 1894-5, Frank E. Hicks, (one term of two years); 1896-97-98, Eugene B. Norton; 1898, E. C. Whittemore, still in office, 1900.
The town clerks for the same period were:
1787-1789, Gordon Johnson; 1790, Daniel Curtis; 1791, Timothy Leonard; 1792- 1794, Daniel Curtis; 1795, Gordon Johnson; 1797-1801, Daniel Curtis; 1802-1807, Asa Reynolds; 1808-1815, William Raymond, Jr .; 1816-1820, John Wells; 1821-22, Robert Sackrider; 1823-24, John Wells; 1825, Jonathan Todd; 1826-33, John C. Parker; 1834- 35, Philander Hitchcock; 1836, Nathan Doane; 1837, John C. Parker; 1838-41, George N. Bates; 1842-43, S. H. Cowan: 1844, Alfred Buckley; 1845, H. D. Sargent; 1846- 47, Alfred Buckley; 1848, F. A. Barker; 1849-1860, Benjamin F. Ottarson; . 1861-62, George N. Bates; 1863, Robert J. Humphrey; 1864, Benjamin F. Ottarson; 1865, William H. Cowen; 1866-69. Benjamin F. Ottarson; 1870-1872, William Lyons; 1873. Benjamin F. Ottarson; 1874-1876, Michael Welch; 1877, S. K. Potter; 1878-79, Lewis F. Stickney; 1880-1883, E. B. Norton; 1884, Ellis Williams; 1885, E. R. Norton; 1886- 1889, A. T. Hughes; 1890-1892, William Amidon; 1893-94, James M. Potter; 1895, Will E. Roberts, who is still in office in the year 1900.
The first saw mill at Granville was erected in or prior to 1784 by Elijah White and in 1787 Nathaniel Spring built a grist mill. In 1795 a Mr. Jenks had a store at North Granville.
The people of the town generally spun wool and even flax in the early days. The first carding machine was brought here from Eng- land about the beginning of the nineteenth century. Potash and pearl ash were extensively exported from Granville during the cut- ting down and consumption of the forests, and tanneries were numer- ous while the supply of bark existed.
In 1850 slate was discovered in Granville and this date also marks the beginning of the influx of the Welsh population. Several strong companies and individuals prosecute this great industry and the quar- ries produce unlimited quantities of roofing slate, school slates and a
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WASHINGTON COUNTY: ITS HISTORY.
superior article for marbleized work. The green slate of some of the quarries is particularly valuable.
The cheese interests of Granville are large and the factories at Granville, Middle Granville and South Granville are in a flourishing condition and stimulate the dairy interests over a large section of country.
The Mettowee Agricultural Society was organized April 4, 1874, and has done much to stimulate the farming interests.
The village of Granville is the largest in the town and is also one of the notable business centers of the county. John C. Bishop is accredited with being the first settler on its site and also its first mer- chant. There was a grist mill, saw mill and fulling mill here at an early date. A hemp mill came soon after these. This was replaced by a woolen mill in 1840 and this subsequently became a knitting mill.
Prominent business men who helped to develop the village were Reuben Skinner from 1811 to 1830; Jonathan Todd and Colonel Lee T. Rowley from 1828 to 1840, Rufus Graves and Dr. McClure opened a store about 1825, Dr. John E. Strong, Alfred Bulkley, Rufus G. Fordish, Joseph Allen, Charles W. Potter, Henry D. Sargent, Ira Marks and Morgan Duel.
The National Bank of Granville was organized April 21, 1875. Trinity Episcopal Church of Granville was organized July 15, 1815, the Wesleyan Methodist church on June 15, 1843, and the Methodist Episcopal church in 1827. The Wesleyan Methodist church went out of existence in the early fifties. The First Baptist church was estab- lished in 1876.
The village of Granville was incorporated in 1885, although for some years previous there had been a partial incorporation for the purpose of fire protection.
Following is a list of the presidents and village clerks since the vil- lage incorporation :
Presidents-1985-86, Daniel D. Woodard; 1887, Byron H. Sykes; 1888, Stacey K. Potter; 1889, Alonzo H. Morton; 1890-91-92. Eugene R. Norton; 1893, Henry Dil- lingham; 1894-95 96-97, William H. Hughes; 1898-99-1900, James E. Goodman.
Village Clerks-1885 to 1893 inclusive, John S. Warren; 1894-95-96, Jurden E. Seeley; 1897 to 1900 inclusive, John Gilroy, who still holds office.
North Granville lies in the northwestern part of the town. The river at this point is capable of furnishing considerable power.
409
GAZETTEER OF TOWNS-EASTON.
The North Granville Baptist church was organized August 18, 1784, and the Presbyterian church, February 22, 1810, as a congrega- tional society. It became Presbyterian in 1823. The Methodist Episcopal church was formed in 1860. St. Patrick's Catholic church was founded about 1852, but meetings had been held for some time previous to that date at the house of Miles Cahoes.
The North Granville National Bank was established in 1871. It was first organized in Fort Edward in 1855 and was known as the Farmer's Bank of Washington County.
Middle Granville was the earliest business point in the town. Tradition credits Captain David Rood with building the first house there. He also put up a saw mill. Other early business men were William Hollister, Captain Abraham Dayton, Captain Cowan and Kingsley and Goodrich.
In 1860 two Welch societies were formed, one Presbyterian and the other Congregational, at Middle Granville.
The Catholic church' at Middle Granville, known as "Our Lady of Mount Carmel" was founded in 1867. St. Patrick's church at North. Granville was established in 1852.
TOWN OF EASTON.
This is the second largest town in Washington County and contains 38,834 acres. It was originally a part of the Saratoga patent of 1684 and was afterwards a part of the towns of Stillwater and Saratoga which were then included in Albany County. On March 3, 1789, it was erected into a separate town and was named Easton because it was the most eastern town of the patent. It became part of Wash- ington County February 7, 1791. It is the southwest town of Washi- ington County and is bounded on the north by Greenwich, on the east by Jackson and Cambridge, on the south by Rensselaer County and on the west by the Hudson river.
The surface of this town is diversified being level along the Hud- son and slightly rolling towards the east where it breaks into hills. The principal peaks are Willard's mountain, Swan mountain, Whel- den hill, Harrington hill and Cement mountain. Willard's mountain derives its name from the act of a Mr. Willard making a reconnoisance of the British position from the top of this hill during Burgoyne's,
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WASHINGTON COUNTY: ITS HISTORY.
campaign. This gentleman owned a tract of land including this mountain at that time. The town is drained by the Hudson and the Battenkill. Quite a portion of the latter stream is very picturesque in this locality and that part of it close to the " Devil's Caldron " is a great attraction to sight-seers and its beauties have been depicted by not a few writers. A large swamp called the "Fly " covers quite an area in the eastern part of the town.
The western part of Easton touching the Hudson caused it to be traversed by war trails and to be the scene of nearly all the struggles that have been enacted upon the upper Hudson. Some of the mili- tary expeditions of the inter-colonial wars passed through this town, but all these and the military posts and forts have been treated of in the earlier part of this work, under their proper head.
Regarding the early settlement of Easton nothing is known which can be stated as an historic fact prior to 1760. It is probable that there were settlers previous to the war of 1744 and it is just as proba- ble that some of these returned between 1746 and 1754 when the last French war broke out, but there are no authentic records of either. This war closed in 1760 and soon afterwards several settlers came into the town and located upon the fertile lands along the Hudson. These, however, had hardly become established in their primitive homes when the Revolutionary War broke upon them and again the develop- ment of the town was delayed. Many families fled to safer localities, as they did from Kingsbury and other towns, and did not return until peace was established. Among the early settlers of whom we have record there were Nathan Tefft who came in 1766 and Killian DeRid- der who came in 1767. He was a Hollander. From 1773 to 1789 quite a number of settlers cast their lot in this town. Among them were Thomas Beadle, Elijah Freeman, Thomas Dennis, Jacob Haner, Jonathan Wilbur, John Fish, Charles Russell. George Deuel, Abner Fuller, Richard Davenport, Peter Becker, William Abeel, Abraham Wright, Rensselaer Schuyler, William Thompson, Gerrett Wendell, Garrett Van Buren, Peter Rundel, Captain Van Vost, Samuel Shel- don, James Storms, Rufus Hall, Zebulon Hoxsie, William Foster, David Pettys and his son, David Pettys, Jr., Stephen Anthony, Ben- jamin and Ephraim Fish, Samuel Cook, Morton and Henry Van Buren, Gideon Bowditch, Joseph Potter, Abel Coon, Elihu, Edmund and Jedediah Robinson, Robert Dennis, Richard Macomber, Brazilla and Abraham Pease, Benjamin Starbuck, James, Philip and Joseph
411
GAZETTEER OF TOWNS-EASTON.
Smith, Eleazer Slocum, Elisha Freeman, Sylvester Satterlee, Jacob Benson, Tyler Wilcox, Abraham Russell, Greeve Hall, Garrett Lansing, Squire Thomas Smith, Sterling Waters, Asa and Ezra Cran- dall, Roswell Osborn, Alexander Case, Francis Brock, John Pettys and David Remington.
The first merchant in the town was Garrett Lansing. In 1810 John Gale built a grist mill at Galesville and in 1846 he put up a woolen mill at the same place.
The town of Easton has several thriving villages and communities, notably Easton, North Easton, South Easton, Crandall's Corners and Fly Summit. Easton is the oldest village in the town. Jacob Benson was the first settler. A blacksmith shop was erected in 1800 by George Allen and soon afterwards different business enterprises were started.
North Easton was formerly called Easton Corners and prior to that Starbuck's Corners, after Nathaniel Starbuck, the first business man there and the founder of the place. It was finally called North Eas- ton as a distinguishing name.
Easton has always been abreast of the times in schools and churches. The first school in the town was opened near Greenwich in 1787 and the first school commissioners were elected in 1814. They were James Mallory, Charles Starbuck and Philander Tobey.
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