Washington county, New York; its history to the close of the nineteenth century, Part 46

Author: Stone, William Leete, 1835-1908, ed; Wait, A. Dallas 1822- joint ed
Publication date: 1901
Publisher: [New York] New York history co.
Number of Pages: 1000


USA > New York > Washington County > Washington county, New York; its history to the close of the nineteenth century > Part 46


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).


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In April, 1821, at a Quarterly Conference held in North Greenwich, a missionary society was organized, auxiliary to the Missionary So- ciety of the Methodist Episcopal Church. The constitution was signed by many, among others by John G. Taylor, a local preacher, and Ichabod Davis of Argyle, and Titus Hall, Jonas Somes and Lyman Hall of Greenwich, John G. Taylor, Ichabod Davis and Lyman Hall were on the board of managers. In the autumn of 1823 Lorenzo Dow again preached one Sunday in Argyle. He attended services at the U. P. Church in the morning, and after the close of the service there gathered the people at the liberty pole, near where the county clerk's office now is, and, standing on some dry goods boxes, preached from Ezek. xxxiii, 11. Both Mrs. Lucy Taylor and William Clapp distinctly remember hearing Dow preach on this occasion, and remember the text. In 1832 the Troy Conference was organized, and Cambridge Circuit was on Troy District. January 27, 1835, Edward B. Crandall, and Jane, his wife, made an assignment of a lease of parsonage prop- erty to Thomas Haskin, Jason Langworthy and Oliver Ross, trustees of the Methodist Episcopal church, for $322. The following year, April 26, 1836, Simon Flagler and Elizabeth, his wife, who seem to have come into possession of a dower right to the property, for $35.72, gave the trustees a deed of the same parsonage property. Rev. Elijah B. Hubbard, one of the preachers on Cambridge Circuit, was living in the parsonage at this time, as the deed states in describing the


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WASHINGTON COUNTY: ITS HISTORY.


premises. In 1837 Belcher and Argyle were taken off from Cambridge Circuit and constituted a separate circuit, under the name of Hebron, the church at Belcher being the only Methodist church in the town of Hebron at that time. In 1838 Greenwich was set off from Cambridge Circuit. and made a separate appointment. Rev. Wright Hazen was the preacher, and November 12 of that year he died in the triumphs of faith in the old parsonage at North Greenwich. Rev. David Poor, a supernumerary preacher who had been living at Chester, came and supplied the rest of the year. November 4, 1840, the trustees in Argyle purchased the old Dutch church which had been unoccupied for several years, for $368. Ransom Stiles, of whom the trustees purchased it, had previously bought it at sheriff's sale. Previous to this time meetings were held in barns, private houses, and sometimes in the hall of J. C. Rouse's tavern, as well as in school houses. In the earlier part of this period meetings were held in Thomas Carl's house, and in his barn when his house would not hold the congrega- tion. April 1, 1842, the trustees sold the parsonage at North Green- wich for $300. The proceeds went to help pay for the new church at Union Village. On March 9, 1842, the North Greenwich church was. reincorporated. Nathaniel Rood and George Stover presided at the meeting, and Jonas Somes, John W. Clark and Jesse Spencer were elected trustees. The only year that North Greenwich appears in the minutes as a charge by itself was in 1850, and David Osgood was the preacher. In 1847, April 22, the trustees in Argyle, James Carl, James Pollock and Gerritt L. Miller, purchased the parsonage prop- erty of Ransom Stiles for $150. November 20, 1850, the church in Argyle was re-incorporated. James Pollock, Edward Hunt and Charles .C. Mack were elected trustees. In 1851 Argyle and North Greenwich for the first time came together as one appointment. Wil- liam W. Foster was the preacher. In 1854 the appointment appears in the minutes as Argyle, North Greenwich and Adamsville, to be supplied. "The charge was supplied that year by a local preacher by the name of Richard Mooney. In 1855 the preacher was Thomas W. Harwood, and the present church edifice at North Greenwich was erected at a cost of nearly $2,000. The land, one acre, including the dwelling house on the corner, was purchased for $450. Archibald Lendrum, of South Argyle, was the contractor and builder. The building committee was Daniel M. Barber, George Stover and William Reid. The success of the enterprise was largely due to the efforts of


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GAZETTEER OF TOWNS-ARGYLE.


the faithful committee, and the zealous young pastor. The church was dedicated November 27, 1855. Rev. Stephen D. Brown, D. D., then pastor of Hudson Street M. E. church at Albany, preached the dedicatory sermon from Haggai ii-9, and Dr. J. E. King of Fort Edward preached in the evening. In 1859 W. W. Foster was ap- pointed to this charge for his second pastorate. During this year the church in Argyle was remodeled and enlarged at an expense of nearly two thousand dollars. From 1870 to 1875 North Greenwich went with Union Village, and Argyle, for the only time during its history, was an appointment by itself.


In the spring of 1877 Rev. John W. Shank was appointed to Argyle and North Greenwich, and measures were immediately taken for building a new church at Argyle. At the first Quarterly Conference, held May 26, 1877, it was voted to build a brick church. Daniel Baker, Charles W. Taylor and Rev. J. W. Shank, were chosen as the building committee. The contracts for the building were made as follows: The plans and specifications were drawn by Nichols & Hal- cott of Albany, and cost $50.00. The carpenter work by Hall Brothers of Sandy Hill for $4,330; mason work, Bennett Brothers of Fort Ed- ward, $3,268; frescoing, George W. Bennett, of Manchester, Vt., $200; slating, Egery & Edwards, of Salem, N. Y., $445; windows, Belcher & Povey, of New York City, $275. The bell was made by the Meneely Company, of Troy, and weighs 615 pounds. The pulpit set was the gift of Mrs. Daniel Baker. The furnace, carpets, chairs, chandeliers, cushions, etc., were provided by the Ladies' Aid Society of the church and cost nearly nine hundred dollars. The contract price of the church was not over $8,000, but the entire cost, including extras, and interest on the debt, until it was finally paid several years after, amounted to some, eleven thousand dollars. The dedicatory sermon was preached by Bishop Simpson, April 10, 1878. His text was John xvii-22. In the autumn of 1878 Rev. J. W. Shank was transferred to the Nebraska Conference, and Rev. Henry S. Rowe, a local preacher supplied the rest of the year. We have only sufficient space to close this outline by giving the names of the pastors from the beginning, with the date of their appointment. From 1788 to 1837 Argyle and North Greenwich were included in the old Cambridge Circuit, and the preachers were appointed as follows: 1788, Lemnel Smith; 1789, Darius Dunham; 1790, Darius Dunham and Philip Wager; 1791, David Valleau; 1792, John Crawford and Thomas Wool-


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WASHINGTON COUNTY: ITS HISTORY.


sey; 1793, Joel Ketchum and Elijah Woolsey; 1794, Robert Green and Joseph Mitchell; 1795, Samuel Fowler and Ezekiel Canfield; 1796. Shadrack Bostwick, Smith Weeks and Roger Searle; 1797, Timothy Dewey, Eber Cowles; 1798. Timothy Dewey. Lorenzo Dow; 1799, Jacob Rickhow, Billy Hibbard. Three months after Conference Riekhow became discouraged and left the Circuit, and Henry Ryan took his place; 1800, Ezekiel Canfield, Ebenezer Stevens; 1801, Roger Searle, Ebenezer Stevens; 1802, Roger Searle; Smith Arnold; 1803, David Brown, Luman Andrus; 1804. Elias Vanderlip, Phineas Cook; 1805, Elijah Chichester, Nehemiah U. Tomp- kins; 1806, Noble W. Thomas, Nathaniel Gage; 1807, Daniel Brumley, Francis Brown; 1808, Mitchell B. Bull, Lewis Pease ; 1809, Mitchell B. Bull, William Swayze and Stephen Sornborger; 1810, Samuel Draper, Samuel Howe; 1811, John Finnegan, Samuel Weaver; 1812, Datus Ensign, Samuel Weaver; 1813, Datus Ensign, Gershom Pierce; 1814, Gershom Pierce, Stephen Beach; 1815, Andrew McKain, Peter Busing; 1816, Andrew McKain, Jacob Hall; 1817, Friend Draper, Tobias Spicer; 1818, Tobias Spicer, Sherman Miner; 1819, Samuel Draper, Sherman Miner; 1820, David Lewis, Daniel I. Wright; 1821, David Lewis, George Smith; 1822 and 1823, Samuel Draper, John Lovejoy; 1824, Samuel Howe, Edward Soullard; 1825, Samuel Howe, Elias Crawford; 1826 and 1827, Daniel Brayton, Henry Eames; 1828, Roswell Kelly, James B. Houghtaling; 1829, James B. Houghtaling; 1830, Roswell Kelly; 1831, Roswell Kelly, Theodosius Clark; 1832, Stephen Remington, Henry Smith; 1833, Joel Squires, John LaGrange; 1834, Joseph Eames, Bishop Isbell: 1835, Joseph Eames, Elijah B. Hubbard; 1836, Samuel Covel, Elijah B. Hubbard. From 1837 to 1850, inclusive, Argyle and Belcher went together; from 1837 to 1845, inclusive, under the name of Hebron, and from 1846 to 1850 inclusive, under the name of Argyle. The following were the preachers: 1837, Daniel Brayton; 1838, Ezra Sprague ; 1839, Samuel Young ; 1840, William P. Gray ; 1841 and 1842, William Henry ; 1843, Paul P. Atwell; 1844, Ensign Stover; 1845, Ensign Stover and Thomas Dodgson ; 1846, William A. Miller and John L. Cook; 1847, Aaron Hall; 1848 and 1849, Amos Osborn; 1850, John Fassett. From 1838 to 1850, inclusive, the preachers at North Greenwich were as follows: 1838, Wright Hazen; 1839, David Poor; 1840, Benjamin Marvin ; 1841 and 1842, Elijah B. Hubbard; 1843 and 1844, Desevignia Starks: 1845, Clark Fuller; 1846 and 1847, Jacob Leonard; 1848 and


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GAZETTEER OF TOWNS-GREENWICH.


1849, Stephen L. Stillman; 1850, David Osgood. From 1851 to the present time the preachers at Argyle and North Greenwich have been as follows: 1851 and 1852, William W. Foster; 1853, Ward Bullard; 1854, supplied by Richard Mooney; 1855 and 1856, Thomas W. Har- wood; 1857 and 1858, David Lytle; 1859, William W. Foster; 1860 and 1861, John M. Webster; 1862 and 1863, James L. Slason; 1864 and 1865, Amos Osborn; 1866 and 1867, Peter M. Hitchcock; 1868 and 1869, Jesse F. Craig; 1870 and 1872, Daniel Rose; 1873, Damas Brough; 1874 and 1876, Aaron Hall; 1877 and 1878, John W. Shank; 1879 and 1881, Charles F. Noble; 1882 and 1884, Elam Marsh; 1885 and 1887, John S. Bridgeford; 1888 and 1892, George H. Van Dusen ; 1893, Joseph W. Presby; 1894 and 1896, Marcus M. Curry; 1897 and 1900, Adam C. McGilton.


Argyle is mainly an agricultural town and has large cheese inter- ests. The villages of the town are Argyle. North Argyle and South Argyle. The latter two are hamlets. In Argyle village there is a starch factory, two saw mills and a cider mill.


The Argyle Academy was an institution long associated with the history of this town, although it has passed out of existence. It was incorporated May 4, 1841, and was equipped with a library and school apparatus. It was a mathematical and classical school for both sexes.


North Argyle was at first called Stevenson's Corners after Daniel Stevenson, the first postmaster, in 1830. South Argyle was founded in 1824 and in 1874 the South Argyle Dairy Association erected its. cheese factory there, the first one built in the county.


TOWN OF GREENWICH.


In primeval days what is now the town of Greenwich was covered with a heavy forest of hard woods and the "murmuring pines and the hemlocks;" and here the red man had a noble hunting ground; his wigwam was in the shady woods, his canoe upon the river. The early inhabitants found no war paths, no military trails; in a county whose early history is redolent with war, its victories, defeats and massacres, Greenwich seems to have been an idyllic spot.


The first known permanent settler upon this domain was a man named Rodgers, said to have been a lawless character, who erected a


[ 53 ]


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WASHINGTON COUNTY: ITS HISTORY.


house on the flats of the Battenkill, above the mouth of Cossayuna creek in 1764, or perhaps a year earlier.


Greenwich had many natural advantages to attract settlers, and those looking to secure patents were not slow to observe this. The first patent which included a part of this town was the Saratoga pat- ent, which was granted November 4, 1684, and which covered Easton and part of Greenwich on the east side of the Hudson, besides two towns in Saratoga county. On November 11, 1763, a grant of ten thousand acres of land, now included in the town of Greenwich, was made to Donald, George and James Campbell, their three sisters and four others. This land was sparsely settled during the Revolution- ary war.


On May 21, 1764, the Argyle patent was granted to Laughlin Camp- bell and his colonists. This patent covered the portion of the town of Greenwich not included in the aforementioned patents, and all patents, except the Saratoga patent, were subject to the same condi- tions regarding mines and timber as the Argyle patent.


In 1765 Alexander McNaughton, Archibald Livingstone, Duncan Campbell and Roger Reid settled near the Battenkill upon the Argyle patent and finally drove out the first settler, Rodgers, who was really a squatter, and in having him removed brought about the first civil process in the county. In 1766 Stanton Tefft, son of Judge Nathan Tefft, settled here, his father and brother Nathan locating in Easton. In 1769 Captain Foster came into the town from Rhode Island and about this time a settler named Bryant located at the foot of Bald Mountain. Other early settlers were Samuel Dickinson in 1769, Daniel Rose and Robert Kenyon in 1770, James Rogers 2d in 1772, Thomas Bentley, David Tefft, John Rogers, Rip Van Dam Sybrant and his brother John, Jeremiah Newberry, Eber Crandall, Robert Perrigo, Francis Robinson, David Sprague, Phineas Kenyon, John Edwards, Lemuel Foot, Ebenezer Woodworth and Phineas Lang- worthy


Greenwich was at first within the limits of the town of Argyle, but in 1803 it was ereeted into a separate town and named Greenwich, after Greenwich, R. I. It is bounded on the north by Fort Edward and Argyle, on the east by Salem and Jackson, on the west by Sara- toga county, from which it is separated by the Hudson, and on the south by Jackson and Easton. The surface of the town is level, except in the eastern part, where it breaks into high hills. The Bat-


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GAZETTEER OF TOWNS-GREENWICH.


tenkill is the principal stream; it rises in Vermont, and flows with a westerly course through this town to form its confluence with the Hudson. This stream has a fall of seventeen feet at Center Falls, of forty feet at Galesville, and of seventy feet a short distance below the latter place. When there is high water these cataracts assume Niag- ara-like proportions. Cossayuna creek, the outlet for the lake of the same name, flows through the eastern part of the town. Bald moun- tain is a notable peak in Greenwich. It stands somewhat west of the center of the town and rises to a height of nine hundred and twelve feet above the surrounding plain. The first town meeting in Green- wich was held in April, 1803, Robert Perrigo acting as moderator. John Hay was elected supervisor and Araspaces Folsom, town clerk. The supervisors and clerks of the town, since its organization up to 1900, were .


Supervisors-1804, Robert Kenyon; 1805, John Hay; 1806, David Sprague; 1807, John Hay; 1808-09, Simon Stevens, Jr. : 1810-12, Francis Robinson; 1813, Jonathan Sprague; 1814-15, John Campbell; 1816, Israel Williams; 1817, Peleg Bragg: 1818, Seth Sprague; 1819, Thomas McLean; 1820, Francis Robinson; 1821, Joseph Boies ; 1822, Thomas McLean; 1823, Seth Sprague; 1824, Gardner Phillips; 1825-28, Jonathan K. Norton; 1829. Gardner Phillips; 1830-32. Jonathan K. Horton; 1833, Moses Robinson ; 1834, Jason Langworthy ; 1835, Moses Robinson; 1836, Jason Langworthy; 1837, William Reid; 1838-39, Oliver Ross; 1840-41, Lyman Woodard; 1842-43, Francis Robinson, Jr. ; 1844-45, David S. Adams; 1846-47, Morgan Heath; 1848, Le Roy Mowry; 1849, Orson Salisbury; 1850-51, Edwin Andrews; 1852, Simon Pratt; 1853-54, William Reid; 1855-58, Morgan Heath; 1859-60, Perry M. Selleck; 1861-63, John Stewart: 1864-66, Isaac G. Parker; 1867, James C. Shaw; 1868-69, Monroe Conlee; 1870-71, Edgar S. Hyatt ; 1872, Robert W. Lowber; 1873, George L. Robinson ; 1874-76, Edwin Andrews; 1877-82, William Walker; 1883, Robert Hamil- ton; 1884, Watson N. Sprague; 1885-86, Horton A. Barber; 1887, Homer B. Bates; 1888, Walter N. Sprague: 1889-90, William R. Hobbie: 1891-92, Adley Reynolds; 1893-95, Nelson Pratt; 1896-97, D. W. Read: 1898-1900, Judson Edie.


Town Clerks-1804-13, Araspaces Folsom; 1814-15, Israel Williams; 1816, Aras- paces Folsom; 1817-21, Israel Williams; 1822-37, John Barnard; 1838-39, Edwin An- drews; 1840-51, John Barnard; 1852-54, William C. Allen; 1855-56, H. A. Thompson ; 1857, Sidney Morse; 1858-83, Edwin Wilmarth; 1884-95, C. H. Van Ness; 1896-97, Claude P. Bender; 1899-1900, William A. Van Kirk.


GREENWICH VILLAGE


Is one of the most important business centers in Washington County and has the service of both steam and electric railroads. In addition to its mercantile activity the village is attractive in itself as a place of residence and is well taken care of by its officials. The


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WASHINGTON COUNTY: ITS HISTORY.


business life of the place began in 1780, when a Mr. Carbine built a dam across the river at this point and erected a sawmill and a small dwelling. He was succeeded by Job Whipple in 1791. From him the place derived the name of Whipple City which was supplanted by the name of Union Village in 1809, when the community was incorporated under that name. The corporation was partly in Greenwich and partly in Easton, hence the name.


Mr. Whipple had for his assistant William Mowry and they set up spinning frames about the year 1800, and did an extensive business with families far and near. In 1817 Mowry put in operation at Green- wich, the first double spinner used in America. He had previously gone to England, with a mechanic named Wild, and after much difficulty obtained an idea of such machines there. This industry was the foundation of the industrial life of Greenwich, and this was also the first attempt to manufacture cotton goods in New York state. About the close of the century Perry Miller began the manufacture of plows at Greenwich, and in 1832 Eddy, Reynolds, Langdon & Com- pany established a large plow works. From 1848 to 1870 the manu- facture of shoes was carried on and in 1862 the Battenkill Knitting Works were erected. In 1851 tea-tray stamping was begun and in 1870 William Weaver embarked in the manufacture of wood-working machines.


The manufactures at Greenwich at present are: the Dumbarton Flax Spinning Company, the Eddy Plow Company, the Van Zile Knitting Company and a shirt factory.


The First National Bank of Greenwich was organized March 16, 1881, with a capital of fifty thousand dollars. Judson Edie is presi- dent and Thomas J. Eldridge vice-president.


Araspaces Folsom was the pioneer merchant and opened a store in the year 1800. Moses Cowan and Lewis Younglove were also early storekeepers. Today almost every branch of mercantile business is represented.


The post office was established in 1800, or soon after that date, and John Herrington was the first postmaster.


The name of the village was changed from Union Village to Greenwich in 1867 as the growth was nearly all on the Greenwich side of the line between that town and Easton.


Following is the list of presidents of the village from 1809 :


1809, Job Whipple; 1810, John P. Becker; 1811, Job Whipple; 1812-13, Robert


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GAZETTEER OF TOWNS-GREENWICH.


Monroe; 1814, E. Wells; 1815, William Mowry; 1816-17, Horace W. Bowers; ISIS, Henry Robinson: 1819, Moses White; 1820, Edmund Rowland; 1821, William Mowry; 1822, Cornelius Holmes; 1823, Percy Miller; 1824-25. Moses White; 1826, Simon Kittle; 1827, Joseph Boies ; 1828, Moses White ; 1829-31, Marmaduke Whipple ; 1832, Alexander Mosher; 1833, John Barnard; 1834, Moses White; 1835-36, Jonathan K. Horton ; 1837, Joseph Boies; 1838, Moses White; 1839, Wendell Lansing; 1840-41, Moses White; 1842-43, Abraham Cornell; 1844, Moses White; 1845-46, Daniel Frost ; 1847-48, Moses White : 1849, Leonard Gibbs; 1850-51, Charles R. Ingalls; 1852-53, P. M. Sellecke; 1854, O. K. Rice: 1855, C. P. Johnson; 1856-57, Aaron Selleck; 1858, Charles J. Gunn; 1859, Perry M. Selleck; 1860-63, Simeon M. Chubb; 1864, Rufus A. Lamb; 1865-66, Simeon M. Chubb; 1867, William M. Holmes; 1868-69, Harvey Wilcox; 1870, William H. Norton; 1871-73, A. G. Pierce; 1874-76, Abram Reynolds; 1877, Aaron Griffin: 1878-79, William Weaver; 1880, James H. Thompson; 1881-83, W. S. Langdon ; ISS4, O. H. Eddy ; 1885, G. J. Fenton ; 1886-89, J. Sherman ; 1890-91, W. S. Langdon; 1892 until 1898, J. C. Sherman; 1898-99, Robert Hamilton; 1899- 1900, Daniel Crandall.


The clerks of the village for the same period were:


1809, Jonathan K. Horton; 1810, Thomas Burrows; 1811-13, J. K. Horton ; 1814, J. Boies; 1815, C. F. Ingalls; 1816, J. Williams; 1817-19, J. Southworth; 1821-24, C. Lockwood; 1825, C. F. Ingalls; 1826, William Henry; 1827, Moses White; 1828, W. M. Norton; 1829, G. Tefft; 1830-32, J. Hemington, Jr. ; 1833, William H. Mowry ; 1834, Albert Boies; 1835-36, William M. Perine; 1837, Edwin Adams; 1838, Asa F. Holmes; 1839, Gilbert Bailey; 1840-42, C. R. Ingalls; 1843-44, Joseph Potter; 1845, (). K. Rice; 1846, Edwin Wilmarth ; 1847-48, P. L. Barker; 1849-54, William C. Allen ; 1855, Charles J. Gunn; 1856-57, Darwin W. White; 1858-66, Alanson H. Knapp; 1867, S. L. Stillman ; 1868-77, Alanson H. Knapp; 1878-84, H. C. Morhous; 1885-96, WV. T. Liddell; 1896-98, M. S. Potter; 1899-1900, Y. V. H. Gill.


The Baptist church at Greenwich dates back to anti-Revolutionary days and the year is variously given from 1767 to 1775. In 1783 the congregation built their first house of worship, one mile south of Greenwich. Elder Nathan Tanner was their first regular pastor. In 1795 they built a second church and a third in 1866.


The "Reformed Church of Union Village " was founded in 1807 with Rev. Philip Duryea as pastor. They built a church in 1810. In 1874 they completed a splendid church building.


The Orthodox Congregational church of Greenwich was organized March 15, 1837, with thirteen members, who withdrew from the Re- formed church because of a difference of opinion on the question of slavery.


The Methodist Episcopal church was founded at North Greenwich, April 20. 1818, and on April 21, 1838, a society was formed at Green- wich. The first church edifice was erected in 1839 and in 1870 their


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WASHINGTON COUNTY: ITS HISTORY.


fine house of worship was dedicated. Phineas Langworthy was the founder of Methodism in this town.


St. Joseph's Catholic church was organized in 1871, through the labors and under the direction of Father Waldron. The old Metho- dist Episcopal church was purchased and changed and refitted for a place of worship.


St. Paul's Episcopal church was inaugurated as a mission, and for some years services were held in the Congregational church.


Greenwich Academy was established in 1836, and in 1868 was affili- ated with the Union Free School, but retained its individuality and academical departments. These two institutions make Greenwich a prominent local educational center.


The village of Battenville is four miles from Greenwich, and was settled about 1815 by John MeLean, Pardon Tefft, Nathan Cottrell and others, and from the first has been a manufacturing point. The postoffice was established in 1829, with Daniel Anthony as the first postmaster. In 1872 the Phoenix Paper Company erected their mill, which is still running. The Methodist church here dates its his- tory from 1829, but the organization was not perfected until December 2, 1833.


Center Falls, two miles above Greenwich, was settled in 1790 by Smith Barber and Nathan Rogers. The Blandy Paper Company is located here.


East Greenwich on the Battenkill, near the Salem line, is one of the oldest places in the town. The postoffice was established in 1835, with Moses Robinson as postmaster. The United Presbyterian church of East Greenwich was organized May 30, 1849, and was composed, at that time, of members who had withdrawn from the South Argyle congregation.


Middle Falls, two miles below Greenwich, on the Battenkill, was settled in 1789. In 1790 A. G. Lansing built a house and mill here, and about 1810 John Gale put up a flour mill on the Easton side of the river. This place was known as Galesville until 1875, when J. H. Reynolds had the name of both the village and postoffie changed to Middle Falls. The falls on the Battenkill at this point afford unlimi- ted water power, and several industrial plants have been operated here. The manufactures here at present are the Bennington Falls Pulp Company, tbe Bossom Manufacturing Company, Washington Mills and the Mohican Pulp and Paper Company.


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GAZETTEER OF TOWNS-FORT EDWARD.


Clarks Mills lies at the first point of water power on the Battenkill, above its junction with the Hudson, and dates its first settlement far baek. It is a prosperous hamlet.


North Greenwich lies on the Argyle line, and was formerly known as Reid's Corners, from William Reid, an carly settler there. It was settled in 1800 and had a postoffie in 1825, William Reid being the postmaster. The Methodist Episcopal church here was organized April 20, 1818.




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