An Vicinity Written for Old Home Day, August 20, 1913 By: John J. Tracey, Historian Submitted By: Irena Wooton 
"Lives there a man, with soul so dead, These lines are equally applicable when applied locally. Where is the normally constituted man who, an absentee from the place of his birth, has not felt an added throb at his heart when by spoken or written word, his memory ha been recalled to the days, the place, the friends and companions of his youth; the home of his ancestors? He who feels no such emotion is without affection for place or pride of genealogy. He is utterly incapable of true patriotism. It is the existence of this sentiment, the homing instinct, so general observant of "Old Home" celebrations which have a distinct and laudable reason for their ever increasing vogue. They promote social communion, they stimulate local pride and awaken reverence and affection for those who have blazed the trails for advancing civilization and passed on and they invite introspection and comparison between ourselves and our predecessors between our times and theirs. The early history of Ketchum's is, in great part, lost in the mists of antiquity and the historian is obliged to reply largely upon tradition for the meager details given. All the early residents, without exception, who had any personal recollection of the original settlers of the immediate vicinity have passed away, and but little documentary evidence is still extant-which might give accurate information of the date and place of settlement of the first white inhabitants. While Saratoga (afterwards Schuylerville), Stillwater and Bemis Heights undoubtedly ante-dated Ketchum's by many years, it is altogether probable that Ketchum's and its immediate vicinity was at least sparsely settled at the time of the Revolution, yet the earliest settler of whom we find any authentic record was Joel Ketchum, from whom, or from some of his immediate family, the place takes its name. From Mr. Howard G. Ketchum of Saratoga Springs, a descendent of the family of E. H. Strang, these following facts have been obtained: Joel Ketchum settled here about the close of the Revolution. His name appears on the assessment roll of 1789. He had two sons, Richard and Nathaniel. Richard was a merchant, and Nathaniel was Sheriff of the County in 1811 and died in 1813 at the age of thirty-five. Nathaniel sleeps in the little family cemetery, opposite the residence of Dr. W. S. Donnelly, which is on the site once occupied by the homestead of Joel Ketchum, who died in 1822, at the age of eighty-five. Richard Ketchum and Abram J. Wright kept a store at Ketchum's Corners on the site since occupied by the old brick store which stood where Richard Kirkpatrick's house now stands. Richard Ketchum was Supervisor of Stillwater in 1823, '34, '35, '36, and '37. He was an Elder of the Presbyterian Church in Stillwater in 1818, and Justice of the Peace in Stillwater in 1837. Daniel Ketchum was a Town Officer in 1792, and Mathew Ketchum in 1791. Mr. Howard Ketchum further adds that his father's name was James C., who was a son of Van Rensselaer Ketchum, who resided at Ketchum's Corners. It will be noted from the foregoing family history that Ketchum's Corners early took a foremost place, not only in town affairs, but in the county, and this precedent, so early established, is still followed. Ketchum's is still prominent in town and county affairs, and still boasts the possession of the Supervisor, in the person of Dr. W. S. Donnelly, after an incumbency outnumbering by many years that of his early predecessor, Richard Ketchum. The Caldwells were also very early settlers of the neighborhood. Coming from Ireland in the closing years of the Eighteenth Century, Edward settled on the farm now occupied by his grandson, Emmett, in itself a noteworthy fact, showing three successive generations of the same family holding one farm. This Edward was also father of William C. and James Caldwell. Seth B. Caldwell was father of Mark, who was father of Joseph H. William B., the third Caldwell immigrant of the group, was the father of "Little Ed.," and Elizabeth, mother of Oscar Esmond. Abram Barber was another early resident, but of a later date than those already mentioned. His farm included that now owned and occupied by Dr. W. S. Donnelly, and the Davis farm adjoining on the north. An amusing anecdote of the coming of the Barber family was often gleefully recounted by Mrs. Lewis T. Perkins, who was a participant in the moving and in the novel scheme adopted. It seems there were several young women in the family, but unfortunately only one bonnet. It was evident that the lone bonnet could be worn by but one at a time, and it being equally evident that each was fully determined to wear that particular bonnet when coming to her new home, feminine ingenuity solved the problem in the following manner: One young woman accompanied the first load, proudly wearing the coveted bonnet. There were many loads to follow, so the bonnet was returned by team to the starting place, when it was as proudly worn by the next daughter of the house and by the next and the next, until all had experienced the satisfaction, so dear to the feminine heart, of knowing that she had journeyed to the new residence appropriately and fashionably costumed. In 1826 David Myers located at the Corners north of here, where C. H. McOmber now resides, where he established a blacksmith shop; a shop, by the way, which was famous and widely known for many years. From David Myers the Corners takes its local designation and is still known by that name. He had a large family of seven sons and daughters, but three of whom are left, the solo local survivor being Mrs. William H. Dodd of Quaker Springs. Other descendants in the third and fourth generations, are Mrs. Emmet Caldwell and children, and Mrs. Charles Handy and daughter. The four families so far named are particularly mentioned because not only are they among the earliest residents, but by name and history they have been most intimately connected with the name and history of the place itself. To hear the Ketchums of "War-time" mentioned is to recall at once a mental picture of "Tall Ed." Caldwell and his physical opposite, "Little Ed."; of William C. and Hamlin; of Mark T., father of Joseph H. Caldwell; of the Barbers, Reuben and Lewis and Cicen, the latter now of Dunning Street; and of the Myers, David and Edward and Nicholas. Of the latter name there was another family mostntimately associated with the history of Ketchums; that of Thomas Myers, still represented locally by Isaac Myers, Mrs. Rensselaer Davis, Mrs. Samuel Strang and a grandson, Elon Myers, and in Mechanicville by Charles, Morris, Jane and Clarence Myers. To mention by name all the residents of Ketchums and vicinity during the immediately preceding the War of Secession is, of course, impossible in a history of this kind, but some few it seems necessary to recall for the reasons given above. Ketchums and its neighborhood is not entirely devoid of connection with the incidents of the Revolutionary War. Just north of Myers' Corners is the strip of land conveyed by deed of gift from General Philip Schuyler to Captain John Copeland, Captain John Tubbs and Captain John Ward, aides and personal body guard of the General. Choice of the different plots was decided by lot, that plot known as the Perry Baker farm falling to Copeland, Tubbs drawing the farm now owned by E. P. Rogers, while Captain Ward's grant now forms part of the Betts farm. The grants were made because of the General's gratitude for the heroic services of these three men, ho, when his mansion at Albany was raided by a band of tories who hoped to effect his capture, bravely met and fought the midnight invaders until General Schuyler had effected his escape. During the fight Captain Ward received a severe bayonet wound. Captains Tubbs and Copeland, overpowered by numbers, were seized and taken to Canada, while Ward, more fortunate, managed to secrete himself after his General's escape, and so avoided capture. The last Ward to occupy the old Ward farm was Daniel, locally famous for his activities at barn raising, for which purpose he always supplied the pike poles used in hoisting the heavy bents and timbers, and acted as captain of the raising gang by giving the necessary calls. He was also noted as a hair cutter, always carrying shears and comb in his walks abroad, ready to cut hair at a moment's notice. He was a bachelor, and has been dead many years. Mrs. Oscar Moody of Saratoga Springs, and Mrs. Zilpha Whitlock and son, Nate, are lineal descendants of Captain John Ward. Mrs. Whitlock and son are also direct descendants of John Arnold, one of the earliest white residents on the east side of Saratoga Lake. There are no descendants of Captain Copeland in this vicinity, so far as known, and Simon and George Tubbs were the last of that name to occupy the old homestead. They, too, were unmarried, and long since passed away. Simon was for many years master of ceremonies at neighborhood funerals, performing the usual duties of undertaker. Ephraim Hunt was also a soldier in the Continental Army, holding a commission at the time of the Revolution; and Jeremiah Hart, grandfather of Dr. Hart, was a scout during the Burgoyne campaign, doing good service for the patriot cause. He lived and died in a log cabin near Snake Hill, and is buried not far from the same spot. Of the early amusements of the inhabitants, the written records give no information, but local tradition tells of neighborhood merry-makings, during the intervals between the busy seasons, such as cady-pullings, apple-paring, quilting, and husking-bees; and that the terpsichorean art was not entirely neglected we have ample testimony. Mrs. Wm. H. Dodd tells of a school for dancing at the old hotel, taught by a gentleman of color from Saratoga Springs named Dalton in 1852. The class of which Mrs. Dodd was a member numbered thirty odd pupils among whom she recalls several sons and daughters of David Myers, Eugene Perkins and Sister, Daniel Arnold and sister (Mrs. Whitlock), Mrs. Daniel Ellsworth and sister, Charles Hart and John Whitlock. No undignified "Turkey Trot" or bacchanalian "Tango" was taught by this old time dancing master, but the good old contra-dances, Money Musk, Flowers of Michigan, Tempest and Virginia Reel. Also the popular old time Lanciers and Quadrilles were danced with all the hilarity and enjoyment which usually accompanied those old time dances. The first local physician of whom we have record was Dr. Hart, who practiced medicine and was in his prime some 90 years ago. His house stood just south of the Corners, on the Bush farm, and was destroyed by the same fire which swept away the old store, the predecessor of the well known and locally famous brick store, which was reconstructed by Lewis T. Perkins after the fire, having as its first occupant Wallace Anibal, a near relation of Oscar Esmond. It is said that Mark T. Ferris and John H. Brightman were clerks for Wallace Anibal, while some maintain that Mossrs. Brightman and Ferris also conducted the store as partners, finally going west where they continued in the same business at different places in the Mississippi Valley, in the years just preceding the war. This famous old store was for many years the favorite meeting place of the men from the surrounding farms, who combined pleasure with business by meeting their cronies and doing their trading at the same time, and there the politics and prominent public men of town and county, of state and nation were thoroughly and freely discussed and criticized, while plans were laid for many a local political campaign. Through its many years of existence it had many proprietors but no history of it would be complete without mention of perhaps the most widely known of all, Frank Thomas. Big, bustling and breezy, a brave soldier in his day, one of that famous fighting family whose name is perpetuated by Post Gilbert Thomas of Stillwater, he was in a business sense, the best type of country merchant, and with his partner, Renesselaer Davis, still a resident, successfully conducted the store for many years; but its old-time enemy, fire, again attacked the old building, this time so successfully that the old landmark was completely destroyed and so made its final disappearance, the last proprietor being George Perkins, now of Saratoga Springs, who with his sister, Mrs. E. H. Strang of Mechanicville, are the only surviving children of Lewis Perkins. In writing a history of Ketchums and its people a short sketch of Lewis Perkins becomes absolutely necessary. He was the son of Gamaliel Perkins who lived on the farm where Albert Baker now lives, and which Lewis purchased from his father, afterwards passing it on to his son, George. Lewis removed to Ketchum's, and built the house now owned by Wm. Miller, in 1855, and resided there until his death. His was a familiar figure in the community, respected by all for his sterling integrity, noted for his dry wit, quaint, kindly humor, and fund of humorous anecdote. He was especially beloved by the children and many a bare-footed urchin and calico gowned little miss was treated to a ride to or from school, when he made his daily trips to his farm, driving his well known long spring wagon or old-fashioned buck-board. Peace to his ashes; when he passed away there was general and sincere mourning. There is another humorous story connected with the marriage of Mr. and Mrs Perkins, which occurred about 1838. It is said that on Mrs. Perkins' first visit to church after the ceremony, she proceeded up the aisle, the observed of all, and had reached her pew before she discovered that she had forgotten to lower her parasol. Of course there was much merriment and probably a co-incidental embarrassment for the blushing bride but tradition relates that in after years she could laugh most heartily over the incident. There was another local practitioner whose name was a house-hold word to the generation that grew up in the war-time. He was Dr. Moses Colby, who lived where Mr. Stenstrom now resides. Few of that generation who lived within a radius of five miles of his residence but can see with his mind's eye the stout, steady-going old horse, the strong, roomy vehicle and the solid figure ensconced within, topped by the rosy, good-humored face and snowy hair. The steady going horse was seldom in a hurry and the Doctor usually had time for a joke and a laugh with those he met, be they young or old, rich or poor. It is quite possible that, viewed from the standpoint of modern medical science, the Doctor's professional attainments were of the slightest, yet it is the consensus of opinion among those who know him best, that he effected many cures thro the sheer force of his magnetic personality. It is said that when the good old Doctor entered a sick room he fairly radiated health and strength and his cheerful face, buoyant greeting and jolly laugh acted like a tonic upon his patients when mere drugs seemed to have no effect. To be sure there were calumonious ones who said that he carried nothing but calomel, quinine and epsom salts, but what of that, so long as he effected cures. The good old Doctor's later years were clouded by the early death of his only son in 1874, the brilliant and capable "Dr. Jim." The latter was a class mate of the lamented Dr. Grant of Saratoga, and by a strange coincidence both became victims of the dreaded tuberculosis of the lungs, a disease which modern medical science has robbed of much of its fatality. Soon after the death of his son Dr. Moses Colby discontinued his practice and removed to Saratoga Springs, where he died a few years later. His adopted daughter, Miss Anna Colby, still resides at that place. A Day Book, kept by Dr. Hart, covering the years of 1824 to 1832, has been kindly furnished by Dr. W. S. Donnelly, which gives much interesting information about the methods of treatment used by practitioners of that early day. Of robust physique and sturdy stock indeed, must have been the patients who could withstand and survive the heroic treatment given by that Doctor of a century ago. In the accounts kept with the head of each family bleeding, pukings, physickings and drenchings with blisters of Spanish fly, form the usual written record of each visit. This old Doctor cannot be said to sacrifice strength of expression to nicety but boldly uses the 'plain, unvarnished English of his day and generation. He was plainly a man of strong personality and that he did not lack for nerve is shown by the record of what surgeons term a major operation, the removal of a cancer, for which service his charge was five dollars. It would probably be nearer to five hundred dollars at the present day. His other charges are also worthy of note. Where the physician of today would charge ten to fifteen dollars, his charge was three dollars. His charge for visits, medicines, physic and "puke," included, through the surrounding country ranged from two to five shillings and in many instances, presumably within the burgh itself, it was a low as one shilling and it is to be noted that in charging up the shillings he carefully gives and takes the half cent. Nor was this old time Doctor always paid in cash. Some of his patients are credited with help at hog-butchering, some paid-by-planting and hoeing corn, some by chopping wood and invariably the wage allowed was one dollar per day, by which it is soon that the Doctor was a generous employer. Many are credited with merchantable commodities or articles of food such as lumber, beef, fish, etc., leading the reader to infer that real money was scarce and hard to get in this community ninety years ago. Many, very many, of the names on that ancient Day Book are no longer heard or even remembered and such names as Bartvand, Vanvoort, VanSchaick and Vanbenthuysen show that Holland contributed largely to our early citizenship. We subjoin a few of the names found in this ancient account book: John Miller, Paul McBride, Thomas Agerson, Levi Reynolds, Benj. Toms, Thomas Arnold, Isaac Anable, Gabriel Robbins, Dan'l D. Rogers, Caleb Wright, Rensselaer Ketcham, Abraham Deuel, John Webster, Benj. Hicks, Chas. Kilgore, Isaac Patrick, Daniel Carthy, Cornelius Rowley, Joshua Olmstead, William Cooper, Henry Howland, William Ward, William Decker, John R. Mott, Simeon Roler, Samuel More, John Ward, Edward Robinson, Thomas Clement, Samuel Hammond, Hiram Gould, Widow Sally Handy, Benj. Denton, Abraham Wing, Robert Shain, James McNeal, Acha Betts, Pamela Tubbs, John Black, Geo. Griggs, Wm. Midkif, Jos. Cluche, Solomon Taler, Elisha Coller and many others which sound equally strange to our ears as the majority of the foregoing. During the years from 1835 to 1849 the store at Ketchums was kept by a Mr. Barrett, whose first name is believed to have been Henry. James Caldwell, uncle of Emmett, acted as clerk for Mr. Barrett and a Day Book and Ledger kept by him are now in his nephew's possession. The business of the country store of that date seems to have been done chiefly by barter and butter and eggs formed the principal medium of exchange. The prices allowed for butter ranged from 12 to 14 cents, and of eggs about 10 cents per doz. was the average. Occasionally a customer would bring in some other commodity for exchange, as for instance, where we find a customer being credited with a half barrell of dried apples, and there are many entries which excite interest because of their oddity. It seems that the store keeper must have conduced a blacksmith shop as there is an entry charging a customer with one dollar for setting tires "because of the spokes becoming loose in the hub." Troy was apparently the place where much of the goods received in trade were taken for disposal, as entries crediting D Newland with two dollars for teaming to Troy would show. And do not be too surprised to learn that there were dandies in those days and ladies who loved fine apparel. Jos. Wilcox paid 80c for a ruffle stock and Mrs. Gabriel Robbins parted with $1.60 for a dress handkerchief, while James Caldwell felt that he could not afford to pay more than $1.50 for his handkerchief. It is possible though that special terms were made for "Jim." Ladies could also buy bonnets at this store and the materials for building the same, as one entry records the sale of a bonnet frame, and another charges a customer with 40 cents for foundation material. Who can imagine now-a-days the existence of a millinery establishment in staid old Ketchums. But should that fact excite any more wonderment than that the beaux of the surrounding country squandered their wealth on vest patterns at from 60 cents to $1.50 each. Here are some of the prices quoted by this merchant of the olden time:
1 doz. shoe laces, 8c.; fustain, 20c yd.; raisins, 15c lb.; pr. shoes, 50c.; green veil, $1.40; sugar, 12c. lb.; bonnet foundation, 10c. yd; bonnet wire, 2c. yd; candle wick, 13c. ball; candles, 11c. lb.; bleached Jean, 19c. yd.; moleskin, 65c. yd.; black teapot, 10c. Some of the customers received credits thus:
1 1/2 bbks, dried apples, $1.06. By mending coat Ferguson was allowed 40c. and for five weeks' board, $10.00. The customers of the store at Ketchums during include, among those recorded, names of residents of the vicinity of Schuylerville. A partial list of those of this immediate vicinity is here given; and by-the-way, it is well to note that the earlier entries in the old Day Book show no sales of flour or of illuminating oil and but comparatively few sales of sugar, from which it is to be inferred that farmers of that day milled their own grain, made their own candles and found the price of sugar, 14cts., to be practically prohibitive. Molasses, however, seemed to be an article of general consumption. Names of customers:
Also the Caldwells, Arnolds, Harts, Hunts, Wings, Stranges, Shearers, Deuels, Wagmans, Mclanethons, Rogers, Freemans, Motts, and Stranges. There are very many other names too numerous by far for reproduction here, but all of those given were, it is believed, of this vicinity. Ketchums boasted another store at the time that Henry Barrett conducted the brick store. It was kept by Stephen Weston in the old Phillips house (which by the way is the oldest dwelling now standing in Ketchums.) and groceries and liquors were dispensed therein. Stephen Weston was the maternal uncle of John Milton Wright and an odd coincidence is that both Stephen Weston and Henry Barrett, his chief business competitor, failed the same year, 1849. David Weston, whose name occurs so often in the old records, was a harness maker and Martin Luther served his apprenticeship with him. On the inner cover of a trunk, now in the possession of Elon Myers, appears this inscription: "D. Weston, Saddles, Harness and Trunk Maker, at Ketchums Corners, Stillwater, where he keeps on hand the above Articles of the best Quality. Military work at the shortest notice. Stillwater, October, 1832." It is believed that David Weston lived in the house now occupied by Elon Myers. Martin Luther, familiarly known as "Mart," lived and conducted a harness shop in the old Phillips house prior to and after the war. He was well and favorably known to all the vicinity residents of that period. Benjamin DeLong lived and kept a shoeshop in a house standing at the corner south of the hotel. This house was removed or torn down in the early "sixties." Gilman Bush moved on the farm south of Ketchums now owned by Dr. Donnelly in the year 1853, where he resided until his death sometime in the "eighties." Lewis Perkins at one time owned all the land on the West side, with the exception of the Frank Thomas place, which he afterwards sold off for building lots. Ed Fuller's house and the parsonage were originally blacksmith or wagon makers' shops, and were converted into swellings. Among the residents of war time days were the Moodys and Walkers of whom Oscar Moody of Saratoga and Edward and John Walker of Troy and William Walker of Minneapolis survive. Others were Watts Esmond, Wm. Overocker, blacksmith and Mary Barrett. The old hotel was built by Henry Chapman, who was its first proprietor. The date of its erection is unknown but the traditions that cluster round its walls make it evident that it is ancient enough to be considered one of the very oldest buildings in the place. It was a noted hostlery in its day, among its proprietors being Hiram Ferguson, noted auctioneer, who kept it during the "forties;" Henry Myers, afterwards proprietor of the celebrated Cedar Bluff Hotel; John Myers, John Horton, the Woodworths and others. If the walls of this old hotel could speak what tales they could tell. Through its ancient portals passed the men of the community who were young a century ago. Pioneer and politician; merchant and mechanic; farmer and drover; rich and poor; "all sorts and conditions of men" have trodden its floor and partaken of its hospitality. Within its ancient ball-room youth and pleasure met "To chase the glowing hours with flying feet," while its walls resounded to the strains of reel and jig and contra-dance of the olden time. But its day has passed; after perhaps a century of time, the lights are out; the curtain down; its glory has departed. Quiet reigns where once was mirth and jollity, and Seward Carp, its present owner, has transformed the house of public entertainment into the quiet, sedate family dwelling. The history of Ketchums is closely entwined with the history of School District No. 10. The records in the District Book date back to 1839, and the neatly written pages and precise diction show that those men of a bygone generation took their responsibilities seriously and are in sharp contrast to the laxity and carelessness too often shown by their successors. Of the early country pedagogue, Josh Billings said: "He swept the floor and sawed the wood, Boarding round the neighborhood." We find by these records that in the early "forties" $2.00 per week was paid the teacher (a man), and that he "boarded round," and that from four to seven dollars was appropriated for providing fuel (wood) and "cutting and putting under cover." Wm. B. Caldwell was clerk of the District from '39 to '44 and was followed by John B. Wright, father of John Milton, who served the district in that capacity for fifteen consecutive years. The present school house is the original frame building erected on the site but has been several times re-sided and otherwise renovated. Among the names of teachers of ante-bellum days we find Mr. Servis, Henrietta Moody, Thomas Brightman, Leslie Rowley (afterwards Mrs. Seymour Gilbert); Peter Sickles, Miss Hicks, Mr. Ormsby, Miss Frank Post, (Mrs. Wm. Howland), and during and immediately following the war Jonathan Howland, Frank Losee and the Thurbers, John, Joseph and Jeanette. This necessarily incomplete history has reached a length undreamed of at its inception, but lengthly as it is, it has been found necessary to omit many details and individual and family references which might add to its interest. Thanks are due to Mr. E. H. Strang, Mr. Howard G. Ketchum, Mr. Emmett Caldwell, Mr. Nate Whitlock, Mr. John Milton Wright, Dr. W. S. Donnelly, Mrs. Zilpha Whitlock and Mr. Wm. H. Dodd for information and documents furnished.
Historian Here you will see how the Denton family is very much a part of the history of the area. Many of the names listed in the above article are married to the members of the Denton Family. ______________ Joel Ketchum, b. 9 Jan 1764, Huntington, NY, m. Mary Denton. She was the daughter of Richard Denton and Tabitha Rogers. The children of Richard and Tabita are as follows:
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