USA > New York > Washington County > Washington county, New York; its history to the close of the nineteenth century > Part 49
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The celebration took place in Fuller's Grove in Cambridge village, and the day was a perfect one. It is estimated that 10,000 people were present, almost all of whom were, or had been, residents of the old town. Many who had not visited the town before in fifty years were there, and the general good cheer, also the bound-to-laugh-not-cry expression on the faces of many was quite amusing. All the day through old times were talked over by gray haired veterans, elders,
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deacons and ministers. In these stories it was noticeable that boys in . other days were just like the boys of today. The farmer who had the best melons, pears, grapes, or nuts, was the butt of many a good story.
CAMBRIDGE WASHINGTON ACADEMY.
In the autumn of 1799 a subscription was raised for the purpose of building a house suitable for an academy, or school house, to be erected within thirty or forty rods of the new dwelling house of William Hay. With the money thus raised, a building was erected and a school opened in the year 1800, and maintained till the year 1814. In the latter year a further subscription of $2, 300 was secured, and a charter was secured from the Regents of the University of the State of New York, and on the 16th of August, 1815. the Cambridge Washington Academy was opened, although it was not formally dedi- cated until September 5th of the same year. It opened with fifty-one scholars. From 1824 till 1827 the school was closed, because of lack of funds. In 1844 a new building was erected, just north of the site of the old one, and in 1863 an addition was built at the rear. In 1873 the trustees finding themselves financially embarrassed, the school property was leased to the Union School district. It had a classical as well as an English department, and was well managed by its trustees, in the face of financial and other difficulties. The institution contin- ued from 1815 until 1873, doing splendid work and achieving a high reputation, but in the latter year the trustees were unable to sustain it longer, lacking an adequate endowment fund, and it was merged into the regular schools. The Academy existed for fifty-six years, and not a few men of today refer with commendable pride to this Academy as their alma mater.
The following were the principals of the school during its existence as an academy :
David Chassel, 1815-18; Rev. Alex. Bullions, 1818-19; David Chas- sel, 1819-24; Rev. N. S. Prime, 1827-30; Rev. John Monteith, 1830-32; William D. Beattie, 1832-39: Addison Lyman, 1839-41; Russell M. Wright, 1841-42; Rev. Thomas C. McLaurie, 1842-43; Rev. E. H. Newton, 1843-48; Rev. A. M. Beveridge, 1848-50; Rev. Charles I. Robinson, 1850-52; Charles H. Gardner, 1852-54; John Henry Burtis, 1854-55; Alden P. Beals, 1855-65; William S. Aumock, 1865-67; Rev. George I. Taylor, 1867-68; Daniel March, Jr., 1868-70; J. P. Lansing, 1870-71 ; Miss Amelia Merriam, 1871-72.
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GAZETTEER OF TOWNS-CAMBRIDGE.
From 1873 until 1889 the school was maintained by the Union School district, its official title being Cambridge Washington Academy and Union School. In the latter year a union was effected between this district and the Union School district, known as Putnam Institute dis- trict, which comprised the eastern part of the village of Cambridge; and in the year 1891 a new and commodious building was erected in a central location, where the united schools have since been accommo- dated. The school, since entering the new building, has been under the charge of the following principals:
James E. Potter, from 1891 to 1894; Charles Perrine, from 1894 to 1895; and from 1895 to the present time, Ernest E. Smith has very acceptably and satisfactorily held the position.
The Union School Library in the building, a large free circulating and splendidly selected collection, is very freely patronized by the villagers.
The United Presbyterian Church of Cambridge, for the first twenty years of its existence, has no record of where meetings were held, or who were its ruling elders. Its early history shows three distinct religious elements, but agreeing on the same doctrines of faith, they joined together, notwithstanding the difference in their views on church government.
In 1765, by request, the Burgher Synod of Scotland sent Rev. David Telfair and Samuel Kinlock, probationer, to America, to look after a congregation in Philadelphia and the petitioners in Cambridge. Both of these men preached in Cambridge, beginning in 1766. In 1769 Rev. Dr. Thomas Clark, of the Presbytery of Pennsylvania, formally organized a congregation, and ordained and installed ruling elders. Having no regular pastor, the pulpit was mostly supplied by Presby- terian ministers during the next twenty years. Il 1775 William Smith, an original patentee of Cambridge patent, gave, conditionally, a glebe lot to the congregation, upon which they at once began to erect a church. The lot is situated about one-eighth of a mile north of · the Old Burying Ground, south of the village, on the turnpike. When partly built, the war of independence broke out, and the church was not completed till after the war was over. It was then finished, and on January 5, 1785, the congregation organized itself into a corporate body, with the name, "The First Protestant Presbyterian Congrega- tion of Cambridge." This is still its civil title. The first trustees of this newly organized body were elected in May, 1785, and were as
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follows: Josiah Dewey, John Morrison, Edmund Wells, Phineas White- side, John Younglove, James Ashton, John McClung, John Welsh and Joseph Wells. Many of the most prominent and influential men of today trace their ancestry easily to the sturdy founders of this church. The pastor, in those early days, received a subscription salary-each member signing a " salary list," promising to pay such certain amounts as they elect to set opposite their own names. The preamble set forth that " wheat, rye or corn will be accepted at Lansingburgh cash price, deducting the cost of transportation."
In 1845 the new brick church was built in the village, and with the money obtained from the sale of the old church and lot, a parsonage was erected next to the church. Since the regular incorporation of the church in 1785, the following clergymen have received calls and accepted the pastorate :
Revs. John Dunlap, 1791 to 1816; Donald C. McClaren, 1820-28; William Howden, 1829-34; Peter Gordon, 1835-40; T. G. Lowry, 1842-52; William B. Short, 1853-86; S. J. Kyle, 1887-95, and A. A. Graham, 1895 to the present date.
The present trustees are: John Maxwell, Michael Kerr, James W. Ashton, Robert W. Davidson, Thomas Livingston, Mitchell McFar- land, William McClay, Thomas Thompson and H. H. Parrish.
Four churches have branched out from this original congregation, namely East Salem, South Argyle, Coila, and the (now) First Presby- terian Church of Cambridge.
The church has kept steadily along, the membership naturally increasing. The congregation is made up mostly of the staunch descendants of English, Irish and Scottish ancestors, who have ever been foremost in the annals of American history.
The Congregational Church of Cambridge began to hold meetings April 15, 1883, although not formally organized until May Sth. At that date eighty-five members met, adopted a constitution and filed a certificate of incorporation; elected J. D. Weir, John H. Johnson, J. Hill Palmer, H. G. Howe, E. P. Cramer and J. E. Porter as trustees, and deacons Morris L. Wright, B. C. Bishop and William P. Robert- son. Rev. H. G. Blinn was called as pastor, and meetings were held in Hubbard Hall for six months.
It then being thought advisable to build a church edifice, a lot was purchased of H. G. Howe; ground was broken October 11, 1883, the corner stone was laid with appropriate ceremonies November 2, 1883,
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GAZETTEER OF TOWNS-CAMBRIDGE.
and the church was dedicated May 20, 1884. The church edifice is of brick, with chapel attached, seating four hundred. The cost of church and furnishings was $10,000.
July 14, 1894, the Rev. H. G. Blinn, D. D., died at the age of ser- enty-five years, after a pastorate of eleven years.
The church called Rev. Percival F. Marston, November 4, 1894; he continued pastor for two years, resigning November 30, 1896. Rev. George E. Sweet accepted a call February 11, 1897, and preached till January 1, 1899. On March 14, 1899, Rev. William Excell, D. D., was called to the pastorate, which promises to be a successful one.
The present board of trustees is: John L. Pratt, Jr., S. E. Spauld- ing, George Lytle, Mrs. Mary N. Hubbard, Mrs. Alice W. Stoddard, Miss Helena M. Wright. The deacons are: William P. Robertson, William A. Allen and George L. Sherman.
The church is in a flourishing condition and has a membership of about one hundred and twenty-five.
The First United Presbyterian Church was organized August 17. 1793, but the congregation seems to have had a meeting house a year or so earlier. Rev. Gershom Williams was the first pastor. In 1832 a second church building was erected, and in 1872 a third and hand- some edifice. A fine parsonage is also owned, and the congregation is strong and influential.
St. Patrick's Catholic Church was organized in 1853, by Rev. Dr. Hugh Quigley, and work on the church edifice was begun the same year. In 1892 the building was enlarged to its present proportions. Rev. Thomas Field is the present pastor.
The First Baptist Church of Cambridge was organized July 3, 1843, at the house of Benajah Cook. Their church edifice was completed in 1845. Rev. Levi Parmely was the first pastor.
St. Luke's Episcopal church was organized September 23, 1866, under the Rev. Clarence Buel.
Woodlands Cemetery was surveyed in 1858 and dedicated June 2d of that year. In 1865 it was enlarged to about twenty-two acres. Among its beautiful monuments are the Soldiers' Monument, and that erected to the memory of Philip Embury, the founder of Metho- dism in America; and of whom an extended sketch is given, under the head of Methodism in the town of Argyle.
The Whiteside Church is one of the most notable churches of the
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county. It was erected in 1800, by the Whiteside family, and thus received its name. Mrs. Phineas Whiteside left, by will. £1oo for the purpose of building a church in this locality. Other members of the family contributed enough more to complete it, and the church was built. The original building was of the high, steep roof style ; the pulpit was high, and there were galleries on three sides. In 1825 the building was remodeled, the roof was lowered and the pulpit was replaced by a desk. The congregation was at first a branch of the United Presbyterian Church of Cambridge village. Rev. Mr. Dunlap was the first minister who preached in this church.
Ashgrove Methodist Episcopal Church was once a notable and influ- ential society in the town of Cambridge. The church stood about two miles east of the village of Cambridge, and received its name from a combination of Ashton and its sylvan surroundings. Thomas Ashton and his wife settled in this locality in 1769. They came from Ireland and had been members of John Wesley's society there. In 1770 the celebrated Philip Embury formed a class at Ashgrove. A church edifice was erected in 1789. The second church building was dedi- cated in the winter of 1839-40, but in 1858 it was sold to the people in West Hebron, and removed there in 1859, and used as a Methodist church for some time.
The village of Coila lies partly in the town of Cambridge and partly in Jackson. It has been known by different names during its history; first it was Green settlement, so called because of early settlers of that name in the locality; subsequently it became Stevenson's Corners, in honor of William Stevenson, a prominent resident. Finally the name Coila was adopted by the inhabitants, who are mostly of Scotch descent. William Stevenson had a store here at an early day, and is reputed to have done a large business. After him came McNeil & McNaughton. John Gow was in business here in 1840. In 1806 a small tannery was erected by a man named Rich. The business passed into the hands of the Robertson family in 1816.
Buskirks Bridge derived its name from Martin Buskirk, one of the early settlers. He kept the pioneer tavern and built the first bridge across the stream at this point. Col. Lewis Van Wort, of Revolution- ary fame, was an early settler here. The growth of the place has been on the Rensselaer side.
North Cambridge is a hamlet about four miles west of Cambridge. Esek Brownell was an early settler and storekeeper here. The
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Methodist Episcopal society of the locality is connected with the Eastern circuit.
Center Cambridge lies about the center of the town, on the old "shunpike" road, and is surrounded by a rich and beautiful country. Among the early settlers in this part of the town were the Kenyons, Whitesides, Shermans, Allens, Skinners, Pratts, Hills, Willetts, Bur- rows and Millers. Joseph Palmer was an early storekeeper, and J. H. Hall was long connected with the place, and was the first postmaster, when the postoffice was established there in 1829. The station on the Greenwich & Johnsonville Railroad is about a mile west of this place.
TOWN OF FORT ANN.
Fort Ann is one of those historic towns of Washington County, whose soil was the theatre of human strife when the "Old French War" disturbed this region, and again when Burgoyne's devastating invasion swept from Whitehall to Fort Edward. The history of all the military operations, which occurred in this tract, have already been chronicled in the general history of the county, in our earlier pages, and here we trace the civil growth of the community. This town derives its name from the old fort built here in the early days and named after Queen Anne, the then reigning sovereign of England.
The fortification known as Fort Ann was erected in 1757, at the junction of Halfway Creek and Wood Creek, and was constructed on the stockade plan. The battle of July 8, 1777, occurred about a mile to the northeast. Upon the retreat of the Americans the fort was burned.
The present village of Fort Ann includes the place where the fort stood. Another fort, known as the Mud Fort, was built in 1769. It consisted merely of earthworks, and was abandoned shortly after it was constructed.
Besides the great military road from Fort Edward to Lake Cham- plain, another road was built from Queensbury to Fort Ann, during the later French wars, and a trail led from the latter place to the head of South Bay.
Fort Ann lies on the west side of the county, toward the northern part, and is the largest town in the county, containing 56,386 acres.
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It is bounded on the north by Dresden, Whitehall and Lake George; on the east by Dresden, Whitehall and Granville; on the south by Hartford and Kingsbury, and on the west by Warren county and Lake George. The southern part of the town is rolling land, but the remainder is mountainous. Three ranges of hills traverse its surface and between them lie two fertile valleys. On the eastern side of the town is the range of hills known as the Fort Ann mountains. They begin near the Wood Creek valley, and run in a northerly direction to the head of South Bay; thence along the southeast shore of this bay to its junction with Lake Champlain. Prominent peaks in this range are Battle Hill, Pinnaele, Ore Bed and Saddle Mountains. All of these are rocky and precipitous. On this range is a large pond which lies one thousand feet above sea level. The Putnam Moun- tains traverse the central part of the town. This range rises just east of Fort Ann and runs north by northeast to the head of South Bay, continuing toward the north into' Dresden. The principal peaks of this range are Mount Nebo, Peaked Mountain, Mount Hope and High Knob. Between this range and Fort Ann lies the beautiful valley of Welch Hollow, formerly known as Turtle Hollow.
The Palmertown Mountains run along the west side of the town and the eastern shore of Lake George. Sugar Loaf Mountain, on the line of Queensbury, and Buck Mountain, on the north, are the principal peaks. The latter is the highest peak in the town, rising to an alti- tude 2,500 feet. Diameter Precipice, on the north shore of South Bay, runs up to 1,300 feet, and is a rocky, almost perpendicular, precipice.
Several ponds, of various sizes, are scattered over the western part of the town. These are Ore Bed, Sly, Haddock, Copeland, Trout, Forge, Lake, Bacon, Round, Crossets, Thunder, Little and Three ponds. The principal streams in the town are Furnace Hollow Creek, Podunk Brook, Halfway Creek and Wood Creek. Kane's Falls are on Wood Creek, about a mile north of Fort Ann. The fall is about sev- enty feet in a distance of one hundred and fifty yards. These falls were named after Charles Kane, who secured this water power for a mill site in the early days. Iron ore is found in this town, and a large bed lies at the foot of Mount Nebo. This mine was worked from the year 1825 up to about 1877. Of late years iron mining has not prom- ised a profit here, owing to the low price at which ore is laid down at manufacturing centers.
HENRY S. ROOT.
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GAZETTEER OF TOWNS-FORT ANN.
The territory of Fort Ann embraces all of the "Artillery Patent," which was granted to Joseph Walton and twenty-three other officers of the English army, October 24, 1764; this forms the southern part of the town; a part of the Lake George tract, lying in the western part; a portion of the Saddle Mountain tract, in the northeast, and the Westfield, Fort Ann and Ore Bed tract, in the central part of the town.
In 1773, two families-the Harrisons and Braytons-settled in the town of Fort Ann, and these were the only permanent settlers in the town prior to Burgoyne's raid, so far as there are authentic records. It is true that Major Skene had erected mills at Kane's Falls prior to the Revolution. but he was simply represented there by an agent, who could not be considered a permanent settler. As a matter of fact he did not become one. In the winter of 1781 Joseph Henegan, Isaiah Bennett, Hope Washburn, Ozias Coleman, John Ward, Joseph Bacon, George Scranton, Caleb Noble, Josiah Welch, Samuel Ward and Samuel Hurl- burt, had settled on the "Artillery Patent." In 1784 we find the follow- ing settlers had joined the young community in this town: Silas Tracey, Elijah Backus, Andrew Stevenson, Joseph Kellogg and James Sloan. In 1785 came Mead Harvey, Nathaniel Osgood and Zephan- niah Kingsley; and the following year Silas Child, Alpheus Spencer, Samuel Wilson, Elijah Bills, Israel Brown and Samuel Chapman were added. Other prominent early settlers were Benjamin Copeland, Anthony Haskins, Samuel Winegar, Thaddeus Dewey, George Wray, Daniel Comstock and Prentiss Brown. In 1791 Ephraim Griswold came into the town, looking for water power, and bought a large tract of land in the southwest corner of the town, and in that year, or the following one, he erected a gristmill. Some time afterwards this mill was moved farther down stream, and in a few years he built a forge for the manufacture of chains and anchors, which was operated by Elisha M. Forbes, his son-in-law. This was the nucleus of the pres- ent Griswold's Mills. A postoffice was established here in 1833, and Elisha M. Forbes was the first postmaster.
About the close of the Revolutionary War Jacob Van Wormer set- tled on the site of West Fort Ann, and built the first sawmill on Podunk Brook. In 1815 a gristmill was built by Stephen Palmer, which was burned down. In 1827, Mix, Haskins & Spalding erected a forge and anchor shop, which was continued in operation for a long time. A tannery was built by Warren Kingsley in 1843. The settle-
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ment increased to a village, at first called Van Wormer's Village, but now West Fort Ann.
Fort Ann abounded in quaint names in the early days. The west- ern part of the town was called "Hogtown," because the farmers turned their hogs into the woods to feed on acorns and nuts. Johnny- cake Corners is said to have received its name from the fact that the first mill ground little, if any, grain but corn. The southern part of Furnace Hollow was called "Podunk," from a tribe of Indians who came from the east and settled beside the ponds.
Fort Ann was formed, as the town of Westfield, March 23, 1786, and at that time included Putnam, Dresden and Hartford, as well as its present territory. Hartford was set off in 1793, and Putnam and Dresden, as one town, in 1806. In 1808 the name of Westfield was changed to Fort Ann, in memory of the old fort at the village.
The first town meeting was held January 22, 1781, at the house of John Ward, in the "Artillery Patent," and the first town officers were there elected, Isaiah Bennett being the first supervisor, and also the first town clerk. In 1784 another meeting was held and Ozias Cole- man was elected supervisor, while Isaiah Bennett was re-elected town clerk. In 1785 Medad Harvey was chosen supervisor and Isaiah Ben- nett again was made town clerk.
On April 4, 1786, the first regular town meeting was held, and fol- lowing are the names of the supervisors and town clerks from that time down to the year 1900:
Supervisors-1786, Stephen Spencer and Silas Child; 1787-1792, George Wray; 1793, Daniel Mason ; 1794-95. George Wray; 1796, Ralph Coffin ; 1797, Charles Kane ; 1798, George Wray ; 1799, Charles Kane; ISoo, George Wray; 1801-05, Isaac Sargent ; 1806-10, Zephaniah Kingsley; 1811, Reuben Baker; 1812-17, Zephaniah Kingsley ; 1818-24, Lemuel Hastings; 1825-26, William A. Moore : 1827-29, Henry Thorn; 1830- 31, Benjamin Copeland; 1832-37, Salmon Axtell; 1838, William Baker; 1839-40, Eben Broughton; 1841-42. James Rice ; 1843, James Farr; 1844, George Clements; 1845, Eben Broughton ; 1846, John Hillebert; 1847, Robert Hopkins; 1848, Salmon Axtell ; 1849, Samuel Corning; 1850, Israel Thompson; 1851-52, John H. Thompson; 1853, William Weller; 1854, John M. Barnett; 1855. Isaac Clements; 1856, Hosea B. Farr; IS57, William S. Gardner; 1858, Hosea B. Farr; 1859-60, Alanson B. Axtell; 1861, A. H. Wheeler and Willis Swift; 1862-65, Alanson B. Axtell; 1866-67, William E. Brown; 1868-69, Alanson B. Axtell; 1870-71, Lyman Hall; 1872-73, Orson W. Shel- don: 1874-75, John C. Patterson; 1876, H. G. Sargent; 1877-79, Orson W. Sheldon ; 1880-81, J. H. Garmon; 1882-83, Albert Johnson; 1884-86, John Hall; 1887, Orson W. Sheldon; 1888, Albert Johnson; 1889-90, Morris L. Robinson; 1891, Martin H. Adams; 1892-93, John H. Benton; 1894-96, Albert Johnson; 1897-98. M. W. Wood- ruff ; 1899-1900, C. F. Goodman.
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GAZETTEER OF TOWNS-FORT ANN.
Town Clerks-1786, Isaiah Bennett; 1787-88, George Wray: 1789-90, Nathaniel Bull; 1791-92, George Wray; 1793, Asahel Hodge; 1794-97, Charles Kane; 1798, Isaac Sargent; 1799, Leonard Gibbs; 1800-11, Lemuel Hastings; 1812-16, Henry Thorn; 1817. Lemuel Hastings; 1818-29, Joseph M. Bull ; 1830-32, Erastus D. Culver ; 1833-35. John Sargent; 1836-38, John Sargent, Jr. ; 1839, Albert L. Baker; 1840, Isaac Clements: 1841, Leander N. Burnell; 1842-43, John T. Cox; 1844-46, Horatio G. Shumway : 1847, Reuben Baker; 1848-52, Pelatiah Jakway ; 1853, George S. Brought- ton; 1854, Elijah Stevens; 1855-56, George W. Miller; 1857, Henry Thorn; 1858, Lyman V. Davis; 1859, Leonard Corning; 1860, William E. Brown; 1861, Leonard Corning; 1862, James F. Thompson; 1863-65, William E. Brown; 1866, Orson W. Sheldon; 1867. William H. Piersons; 1868, Low Washbourne; 1869-71, Horatio W. Brown; 1872-73. Edward Corning; 1874, James E. Skinner; 1875, Edward Corning ; 1876, Patriek Gill: 1877-78, A. H. Farrington; 1879-80, William Pitt Moore; 1881-89, Stephen C. Gibbs; 1890-93, Leonard Corning ; 1894-1900, Clark E. Woodard.
It is interesting to note the change in franchise which has taken place since the close of the eighteenth century, and the records of the town of Fort Ann furnish material for such comparison. In 1795 Ozias Coleman and James Sloan took a census to ascertain the num- ber of electors in the town, and also to establish what electors could vote for senators and assemblymen. At that time electors qualified to vote for senators had to be possessed of a freehold to the value of £100, and to vote for assemblymen the elector must have a freehold of the value of £20, or a rented property paying annually therefor the value of forty shillings.
FORT ANN VILLAGE was incorporated by an act of the legislature March 7, 1820, and its boundaries have been enlarged twice since that date. The first charter election was held at the schoolhouse, May 9, 1820, and thereat the following officers were chosen: William A. Moore, president; Lemuel Hastings, Henry Thorn, George Clark and John Root, trustees, in conjunction with the president; Amos T. Bush, treasurer. Following is the complete list of the presidents of the vil- lage from that date down to 1900:
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