Descendants of Banks Sturges, Lake Pleasant

Generation No. 1
1. BANKS¹² STURGES (ISAAC¹¹, DANIEL¹⁰, PETER⁹, JONATHAN⁸, JOHN⁷, EDWARD⁶, PHILIP⁵, ROBERT⁴ STURGIS, ROGER³ STURGES, RICHARD², ROGER¹ STURGIS)¹ was born Abt. 1779¹, and died February 18, 1867 in Greenfield, CT¹. He married DEBORAH STURGES¹ WFT Est. 1798-1828 in Westport, CT¹, daughter of AARON STURGES and SARAH MOREHOUSE. She was born August 30, 1783 in Fairfield, CT¹, and died March 06, 1857 in Greenfield, CT¹.
Child of BANKS STURGES and DEBORAH STURGES is:
2. i. AARON¹³ STURGES, b. November 05, 1803, Fairfield, CT; d. August 05, 1890, Fairfield, CT.
Generation No. 2
2. AARON¹³ STURGES (BANKS¹², ISAAC¹¹, DANIEL¹⁰, PETER⁹, JONATHAN⁸, JOHN⁷, EDWARD⁶, PHILIP⁵, ROBERT⁴ STURGIS, ROGER³ STURGES, RICHARD², ROGER¹ STURGIS)¹ was born November 05, 1803 in Fairfield, CT, and died August 05, 1890 in Fairfield, CT¹. He married CHARITY SQUIRE¹ April 02, 1826 in First Church of Fairfield¹. She was born February 21, 1809 in Fairfield, CT¹, and died November 14, 1858 in Lewey Lake, NY¹.
Notes for AARON STURGES:
TALES From An ADIRONDACK Co., by Ted Aber and Stella King, 1961;
"THAT FABULOUS FAMILY NAMED STURGES" pages 34 to 40
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......"Born 1806, Aaron Sturges was an itinerant shoemaker from Fairfield, Conneticut with a curiosity and a wanderlust that decried satiation. His business travels brought him at times to Ballston Spa, where he visited General Sturges, a relative, but his own personal interests brought him to Lake Pleasant."..
..."Aaron settled his family on fifty acres of land in Lot 22 north of the Corners and promptly set out to make hunting and fishing his career. page 34
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For deeds of prowess, Sturges had everyone stopped. Around Civil Was time, he used to hoist a pack basket brimming with lake trout on his shoulders, leave his cabin at Lewey Lake, and walk sixty-five miles to Amsterdam. There he would trade the fish for groceries and walk back the next day. Sometimes, he would be asked to ride in a passing wagon. "No thanks," he would reply, "I'm in a hurry." And he would out-distance the horses every time. It took a powerful man to keep up with him the last thirteen miles from the Corners to Lewey Lake. page 38 ****
..."Admired as he was for his courage and woodland skills, Sturges was not without his enemies. Before the Civil War, he and John Satterlee (who later went to war and never returned) were trapping and stopped at Sturges' camp beyond Cedar Lake. It was customary to keep provisions in these rough buildings for the use of trappers who might need food. There was evidence that someone had used the camp. Sturges believed it was a trapper from the village with whom he was at odds. The two men made biscuits from flour that was at hand and enjoyed a tasty meal. As they left, john Satterlee started out ahead and suddenly became violently ill, accusing Sturges of poisoning him. Sturges started at once to chew tobacco and swallow the juice, and made Satterlee do likewise. It saved the two from strychnine poisoning." ............. "Old Sturges continued to live at Lake Pleasant for some years after his wife's death. Then, characteristically, he packed his belongings one day and went back to Fairfield alone. There he died. He is buried at Fairfield."... page 39
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THE HISTORY OF HAMILTON COUNTY by Ted Aber and Stella King
A WAY OF LIFE
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Wallace in 1877 Characterized several ... guides ....Lake Pleasant Guides - ......Aaron Sturges, A. "Burr" Sturges, Alfred Sturges, Chester Sturges, Daviv Sturges, James Sturges, John Sturges, and George M. Sturges. .... Page 142
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Old Aaron Sturges of the Town of Lake Pleasant, who with his family, used to spend most of his time at his camp at Lewey Lake, was a professional hunter and fisherman. The occasional city sportsman was often brought to the locality, where Aaron's sons, David and James acted as guides. Aaron himself was more apt to gain family food and supplies by catching fish and killing forest animals for sale. Page 135
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ROAD BUILDING BEGINS
.... Yet when Aaron Sturges would refuse a wagon ride along the road from Lake Pleasant toward Amsterdam with the remark, "No thanks, I'm in a hurry," his judgement was sound. He could actually make the trip faster on foot. .... Page 179
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TOWN OF INDIAN LAKE
..... A limited supply of liquor was also smuggled to hime from Lake Pleasant by the woodsman, Aaron Sturges, who would bring bottles hidden in a pack basket at Ned's (Buntline) request. .... Page 470
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TOWN OF LAKE PLESANT
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The ernstwhile shoemaker, Aaron Sturges, had brought his family from Fairfield, Conn. to Lake Pleasant in March, 1832. Now he had given himself over to the life of a professional fisherman and hunter and was spending more and more time at the cabin he had erected at Lewey Lake. As sportmen began increasingly to come to the area, Old Sturge's sons, Burr and David, serving as guides, sought to bring the strangers to their father's fishing camp....... Page 631
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.... It was a quiet election during the three days beginning November 4, 1839. The voters were: ... Aaron Sturges,..... Page 632
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There were 56 families in Lake Pleasant in 1850 for a total population of 305. ......Five were engaged in hunting and fishing, notably the Sturges Family - Aaron, 46, and his sons, Aaron Burr, 24, David 18, and James, 16 .....
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Farming continued the principal occupation in 1870. The farmers were: A. Burr Sturges,43; ....Chester Sturges, 32; .... and Aaron Sturges, 67. ....
The hotel keepers were: ... and David Sturges, 38. ... Page 648
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The Town of Lake Pleasant, with its 73 families and 346 people, remained at low economic ebb as the 1880's began. .... and Aaron Sturges, 76, counted himself by his original occupation of shoemaker though he had been engaged as professional huntsman and fisher the greater part of his life. Page 649
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..... had just received the report dated January 1, 1847 from the trustees of (school) District 4. It was signed by Isaiah F. Cannon, Clark Satterlee, and Aaron Sturges. .....Names of parents residing in the Town of Lake Pleasant were Aaron Sturges with five children, Andrew Benedict with four, Isaiah F. Cannon with six and Alden Lowden with four. Page 662 & 663
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... held November 12, 1847. Clerk Rufus Dunning wrote: ...."Lyman Holmes chosen to the office of Termster in place of Aaron Sturges. Page 664
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.... January 4, 1847 ...and Aaron Sturges, trustees of School District 4. .... Page 665
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The Indian, Sabael Benedict, living from about 1777 to 1855 just north on the west shore of Indain Lake, to which Lewey Lake is joined by a shorter stream, ... Visits were often paid to Lewey Lake by the settlers at Lake Pleasant, but the first known resident on its shores was the professional hunter, Aaron Sturges, who had come with his family from Fairfield, Conn. to the Town of Lake Pleasant late in March, 1832. While maintaining permanent resident in the locality that was to become Netwon's Corners, "Old Sturges" took the trail to the north and in 1836 built a cabin, with cellar on Lewey Lake's shore. Here he lived for some years with his family, soon establishing a hunting and fishing camp. His nearest neighbor was Jude Hastings and his family, living at times on the spot on the old military road where the trail branched off to Lewey. Around 1845, Sturges was employed by Jonathan I. Coddington, land owner in the vicinity, to survey lands in the nearby Maxwell Tract. He was assisted by his young son, David. Over the years, Sturges cleared a sizable piece of land surrounding his house and planted apple trees and kept a cow. On October 29, 1847, the commissioners of highways of the Town of Lake Pleasant - Henry Burton, Isaiah F. Cannon and Nathaniel Morril - caused a road to be surveyed by William B. Peck for the accommodation of their fellow townsman. It extended "from the shantee of Aaron Sturges standing on the bank of Lewey Lake to the state road, intersecting said road at a place known as the Hasting Place ... five miles and 65 1/2 chains." The way was prepared for Aaron Sturges' son, "Burr" and David, serving as guides at the Lake Pleasant House and at Clark Satterlee's inn, to bring city sportsman to their father's camp. .... Charity Squires Sturges, wife of Aaron, died at the Sturges cabin on Lewey Lake on November 14, 1858 and her body was taken over the coarse woods road to Newton's Corners for burial in a casket fashioned by her husband's own hand. When confronted with the fact that the box was too small, Sturges is said to have solved the problem by cutting off his decesased wife's legs and placing them beside her in the casket. It was from his Lewey Lake cabin that Aaron's sons, Chester and Alfred, together with Jude Hastings' son, Charles, made their way to Indain Lake Village in July, 1862 to enlist for the Civil War. It was from here that they bid goddbye to Aaron, as they left with their sparse belongings slung over their shoulders in burlap bags. "Bring me back my sacks full of onions," was Sturges' parting call to his boys. Page 723 & 724
More About AARON STURGES:
1: 1877, Guide at Lake Pleasant
Burial: Fairfield, CT
More About CHARITY SQUIRE:
Burial: Newton's Corners (Speculator), Hamilton Co., NY
Children of AARON STURGES and CHARITY SQUIRE are:
i. CHESTER¹⁴ STURGES.
Notes for CHESTER STURGES:
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"They examined the ugly wounded jaw of Chet Sturges, now covered by a thick growth blond beard, and learned how he ahd lain helpless on the battlefield in the Battle of the Wilderness, his face full of maggotrs." page 84
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It was from his Lewey Lake cabin that Aaron's sons, Chester and Alfred, together with Jude Hastings' son, Charles, made their way to Indain Lake Village in July, 1862 to enlist for the Civil War. It was from here that they bid goddbye to Aaron, as they left with their sparse belongings slung over their shoulders in burlap bags. "Bring me back my sacks full of onions," was Sturges' parting call to his boys. Page 724
More About CHESTER STURGES:
1: 1877, Guide at Lake Pleasant

ii. ALFRED W. STURGES.
Notes for ALFRED W. STURGES:
From "THE HISTORY OF HAMILTON COUNTY" by Aber & King, copyright 1965
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In 1892 the need for guides was reflected in that nine of Lake Pleasant's men devoted themselves wholly to the occupation: Oscar Howland, 42; Perry C. Page, 32; John Sturges, 32; James C. Sturges, 28; Chester Sturges, 53; Alfred W. Sturges, 21; George Burton, 51; Frances C. Courtney, 31; and William Cowles, 45. page 679
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It was from his Lewey Lake cabin that Aaron's sons, Chester and Alfred, together with Jude Hastings' son, Charles, made their way to Indain Lake Village in July, 1862 to enlist for the Civil War. It was from here that they bid goddbye to Aaron, as they left with their sparse belongings slung over their shoulders in burlap bags. "Bring me back my sacks full of onions," was Sturges' parting call to his boys. Page 724
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"The disease struck the home of George M. Sturges, where George and his brother Howard were confined (smallpox)...Meantime, holding the strong-willed Sturges brothers in rein was proing troublesome.....More difficult was the decision on how to handle the case of Alfred sturges who has been accused of breaking quarantine...and visiting with Howard and george Sturges, said smallpox victims." page 683
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More About ALFRED W. STURGES:
1: 1877, Guide at Lake Pleasant
2: 1860, Civil War Co. C 93 Regt.

iii. MEAD STURGES.
Notes for MEAD STURGES:
FROM THE "HISTORY OF HAMILTON COUNTY" by Aber and King copyright 1965
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The 1899 Sacandaga Lake Hotel listed guides at the rate of $3 per day - Warren Courtney, Hugh Call, Edwin Courtney, George Burton, Chauncey Courtney, Fred Kaufman, Bert Danforth, Abe Lawrence, Chet Sturges, Benajah Page, George Perkins, Jim Sturges, John Sturges, Mead Sturges, Al Sturges, Perry Page, Richard Davenport, Willet Lawrence and rene Lawrence.... page 639
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In 1915 ...The Adirondack guides were George M. Sturges, 46; Mead Sturges, 42; James Sturges, 50; Calvin Wilber, 47; Abe Lawrence, 54,; and James Lawrence, 19. page 699
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... In 1925 ... Guiding continued as the occupation of James Sturges, 60, ....and Mead Sturges, 58, on Page Hill road, .... Page 728
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More About MEAD STURGES:
1: 1915, Helped dig French Louie's grave with Nathan Slack

iv. AARON BURR STURGES, b. 1826; m. SARAH THOMPSON.
Notes for AARON BURR STURGES:
TALES From An ADIRONDACK Co., by Ted Aber and Stella King, 1961;
"THAT FABULOUS FAMILY NAMED STURGES"
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..."As a growing boy, Aaron's oldest son, "Burr", was chopping wood for the kitchen stove one day. An unfortunate glancing stroke of his axe sent the sharp blade through his heavy boot and cut off a substantial chunk of his big toe. The frightened Burr put up a howl. "I've cut off my toe!" he shouted, as the pain began to swell and the blood started to flow. Old Sturges strode vigorously out of the house toward his injured son. "Hm," he murmured as he inspected the severed fragment. "It'll make good bait for mink." page 38
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THE HISTORY OF HAMILTON Co.
A WAY OF LIFE
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.... Even as late as February 17, 1896, .....12 rods west of the western boundary line of lands known as the Burr Sturges place and ...... Page 131
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.... as the 1880's emerged ..... Burr Sturges, 52, ......were the areas only guides .... A post office was established at the corners on September 7, 1848 with Lyman Holmes as postmaster. Aaron B. Sturges was his replacement on April 26, 1855 at his combination of primitive general store and small inn. Page 650 & 651
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Land-owners in the Newtonn';s Corners School district in 1879 were ...A. B. Sturges, ....David Sturges, ...Chester Sturges, Page 665
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More About AARON BURR STURGES:
1: 1877, Guide at Lake Pleasant
2: Bet. 1853 - 1855, Lake Pleasant Town Clerk

v. DAVID STURGES, b. March 24, 1832, Cranberry Creek, Hamilton Co., NY; d. September 15, 1920, Lake Pleasant, Hamilton Co., NY; m. (1) IRENE MATILDA HOLMES; b. 1833; d. 1868, Hamilton Co., NY; m. (2) IDA M. WEAVER, 1896.
Notes for DAVID STURGES:
TALES From An ADIRONDACK Co., by Ted Aber and Stella King, 1961;
"THAT FABULOUS FAMILY NAMED STURGES"
...Despite his impatience, a delay was required when the lumbering old wagon reached Cranberry Creek. There it was on March 24th that Charity presented her husband with a baby boy whom they promptly named David. The wagon continued up the road to Northville and into the mountains to Lake Pleasant, while Charity Sturges held the infant David in her arms and the young "Burr" romped and played at the back of the wagon."..... page 35
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..."Hotel business always held a fascination for Daivid Sturges. His duties as guide kept him in close contact with the hotels of the area, allowing him to observe the details of their operation, giving him confidence in dealing with their guests. He was especially familiar both with Clark Satterlee's small esttablishment at Newton's Corners and with John C. Holmes' Lake Pleasant Hotel. This, he decided was for him.
John C. Holmes' daughter, Irene Matilda, the young school-teacher whom Dave was courting, was equally interested. Dave thought he saw a likely location. HIs oldest brother, Aaron Burr Sturges, had married Sarah Thompson, daughter of John and Anna Dunham Thompson, whose family owned the land directly across the road from Clark Satterlee at Newton's Corners. ....
The year 1858 was an important one for Dave Sturges. At the age of twenty-six, he married Irene Matilda Holmes. At the same time, the construction of his Sturges House was begun. For ten years, David and Irene Matilda worked to build their new business. On December 11, 1868, Irene M. Holmes Sturges died at the age of thirty-five.
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THE HISTORY OF HAMILTON COUNTY
TOWN OF LAKE PLEASANT ..... as the 1880's were emerging .... and David Sturges, 47, at Newton's Corners, continued the only hotel keepers at hand. .... Page 650
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Meantime, young David Sturges who had been living with the Clark Satterlees while serving as guide for the guets at their small hostelry, had had ideas for developing an inn of his own. His work as guide for Satterlee and for John C. Holmes at the Lake Pleasant Hotel had offered hime a close look at the business and he was fascinated with it. John Holmes' niece, Irene Matilda, the young school teacher whom Dave was courting, was equally interested. Dave thought he saw a likely location. His oldest brother, Aaron B. Sturges, had married Sarah Thompson, daughter of John and Anna Dunham Thompson, whose family owned the land directly across the road from Clark & Satterlle at Newton's Corners. ......
The year 1858 was an important one for Dave Sturges. At the age of 26, he married Matilda Holmes and at the same time, started building his Sturges House. For ten years, David and Irene Matilda worked to build their business. Then onDecember 11, 1868, Irene M. Holmes died at the age of 35. It was aterrible loss to Dave, who could not possibley hope to carry on alone. But he thought he had an answer. Susan Mahala Fountain had worked for years at the Lake Pleasant Hotel and was well schooled in the business. She was his sister-in-law in any case, through the marriage of Dave's sister, Sarah, to Mahala's brother, David Fountain. ......... On December 9, 1872, the Newton's Corners post office moved to the Sturges House, with David Sturges as postmaster. but Dave's easygoing ways caused him to be accused of carelessness in allowing liquor to be sold too close to the offical premises. The post office was removed. Page 652 & 653
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The summer season of 1915 was a busy one at Speculator. The venerable old hotelman, David Sturges, 85, had a cement platform and steps laid in front of the Sturges House as the season opened. .... The Adirondack guides were: ....George M. Sturges, 46, Mead Struges, 42; James Sturges, 50; .... Page 698
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More About DAVID STURGES:
1: 1877, Guide at Lake Pleasant
2: 1872, Newton's Corner Postmaster
3: 1867, Lake Pleasant Supervisor

vi. JIM STURGES, b. November 25, 1830, Hope, Hamilton Co., NY; d. October 12, 1926, Buffalo, Minnestota.
Notes for JIM STURGES:
TALES From An ADIRONDACK Co., by Ted Aber and Stella King, 1961;
"THAT FABULOUS FAMILY NAMED STURGES"
...'The Sturges family was to be found almost everywhere. As guides, Aaron "Burr" Sturges was most frequently at the Lake Pleasant House, while Dave and Jim made their headquarters at Clark Satterlee's Inn."... page 38
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In 1850....Five were engaged in hunting and fishing, notably the Sturges family - Aaron, 46, abd his sons, Aaron Burr, 24, David, 18, and James 16 - as well as Silas Call, 21. John S. Satterlee, 52, was in the lumbering business,...... page 643
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..... by 1892 ... The need for guides was reflected in that nine of Lake Pleasant's men devoted themselbves wholly to the occupation: ....John Sturges, 32; James C. Sturges, 28; Chester Sturges, 53; Alfred Sturges, 21; .... Page 679
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NOTE: There may have been another family of Sturges in the area. There is mention of a James C., John T., and Howard C. Sturges that do not fit in with Aaron's family.
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More About JIM STURGES:
1: 1877, Guide at Lewey Lake
2: 1877, Guide at Lake Pleasant
3: 1901, Lewey Lake bridge construction director

vii. SARAH ALVINA STURGES, b. January 11, 1847, Hamilton Co., NY; d. September 25, 1925, Sacandaga Park, NY; m. DAVID H. FOUNTAIN, JR., November 28, 1863; b. December 16, 1839; d. October 03, 1918, Hamilton Co., NY.
Notes for SARAH ALVINA STURGES:
TALES From An ADIRONDACK Co., by Ted Aber and Stella King, 1961;
"THAT FABULOUS FAMILY NAMED STURGES"
..."Old Sturges and his wife and daughter were at the Lewey Lake shanty in November, 1858, when Charity Squires Sturges was taken ill and died. There had been a snowfall and Sturges had the job of breaking a way down the lonesome mountain road th the Corners. Leaving his twelve-year-old daughter, Sarah, to take cate of the lonely, isolated cabin, he laid his wife's body in the sled and started for town."... page 39
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More About SARAH ALVINA STURGES:
Burial: Wells Cemetery, Hamilton Co., NY
Notes for DAVID H. FOUNTAIN, JR.:
THE HISTORY OF HAMILTON Co.
TOWN OF WELLS
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..... In 1905 .... On Weat Hill were: .....David H. Fountain, 64; .... Page939
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... In 1925George H. Swift occupied the old D. H. Fountain Farm, with Henry Pickering of Gloverville as a neighbor. .... Page 975
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More About DAVID H. FOUNTAIN, JR.:
Burial: Wells Cemetery, Hamilton Co., NY

viii. IDA ELLEN STURGES¹, b. June 10, 1851, Newtons Corners, (Speculator) Hamilton Co., NY¹; d. January 08, 1871¹; m. ALVAH GREENE DUNNING; b. June 14, 1816, Hamilton Co., NY; d. March 14, 1902, Utica, NY.
Notes for ALVAH GREENE DUNNING:
The following information was copied from "HISTORY OF HAMILTON COUNTY.", by Frederick C. Aber, Jr. and Stella King copyright 1965. Information contained here is applicable only to Alvah Dunning around the Speculator, NY area of the Adirondack mountains. Pictures are included in another section of Alvah Dunning information. written by John Henry Houck, 4/6/2000.
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They were preceded many years before by another race of men. It was always understood that the Indians roamed the area. Pestles, arrowheads, pipes, and primitive honing stones are among the relics found. But evidence exists that a prehistoric race preceded the redman. At Indian Lake, the late Portus Burgess once unearthed fragments of a dish, which was proclaimed the oldest piece of pottery exhibited at an archeological meeting. At Blue Mountain Lake in the early 1860's, the noted hermit, Alvah Dunning, felled a cedar tree, three feet in diameter and judged to be between four and five hundred years old. Beneath it, he found an ancient hearth with bits of three earthen pots. Again, the hermit came upon finely decorated bits of pottery, and a handsome axe of greenish stone, judged of great antiquity. page 4
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Raquette Lake Guides John Ballard, William Ballard, Wesley Bates, Phillip Bell, George W. Bentley, Richard Bennett, Joseph A. Bryere, William Cornell, John Crogan, Alvah Dunning, James Harrington, Samuel Jenkins, George Jenkins, John A. Jones, "Doc" Francis LaPrairie, "Cal" Alexander LaPrairie, Edward Martin, Clifton Pierce, Seth M. Pierce, Seth M. Pierce, Jr., John J. Richards, Arthur Sheldon, Hiram Steaves, Andrew Syms, Paul Tibhets, Alonzo Wood, Jerome Wood, William Wood. page 142
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It was about this time that the hermit, Alvah Dunning, having left Piseco Lake to settle at Lewey Lake, finally migrated to Blue Mountain Lake. Ned hired him as guide. The two men, so different in characteristics, never got along. The final quarrel came over the killing of game. Ned Buntline, well able to buy all the supplies he needed, championed the few game laws then existing. Alvah Dunning, without money and subsisting by his rod and gun, claimed the right to take fish and game whenever he was hungry. At last, the two parted, each threatening to shoot the other on sight. page 470
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The hermit, Alvah Dunning of Lake Pleasant and Piseco, in his eternal search for solitude, chose Eighth Lake around 1880. There on the north shore, he built a cabin of sorts and fished and hunted as his needs required. Constantly, he was annoyed by the encroachments of civilization in the form of guideboat parties from Fourth Lake. His stay on Eighth Lake was no longer than in the other locations he had sought at Lewey, Blue Mountain, and varied sites on Raquette Lake. page 560
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TOWN OF LAKE PLEASANT
.... On October 13, 1848, William and Betsey Ann Schuyler transferred 2,400 square feet of land for one dollar to Alvah Dunning, Michael Dunning, and William Schuyler, trustees of joint School district 6, "part of said district lying in the Town of Lake Pleasant, and the other in the Town of Arietta." Page 666
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TOWN OF LAKE PLEASANT
Lewey Lake gained other residents within the next few years. In 1860, the renowned hermit, Alvah Dunning, left his wife and home at Piseco Lake and took to the woods. Alvah first settled at Lewey Lake, building a camp to which he guided fishing and hunting parties for several years. Then the hermit moved to the Eagle's Nest vicinity beyond Blue Mountain Lake.....
The lumbermen had gained most of the land around Lewey Lake in the early 1870's. Then it was that William Ferguson, the blacksmith, a native of Glens Falls who had been living since about 1848 at Long Lake, came to live in Alvah Dunning's old camp while attending to horseshoeing. Phebe Stevens, 57, was his housekeeper and it is assumed that the house was open to lumbermen who required lodging. page 725
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TOWN OF LONG LAKE
Then in 1865 arrived Alvah Dunning, woodsman supreme, who had left his home at Piseco five years earlier after a violent disagreement with a wife he accused of being unfaithful. Intent on the life of a hermit, he had gone first to Lewey Lake in the northern part of the Town of Lake Pleasant, building a hunter's cabin there. Then he had moved to Blue Mountain Lake and became engaged in a serious battle with the writer, Ned Buntline, who was then living at Eagle's Nest. Now it was time to withdraw from any semblance of civilization and Alvah had selected the wilds of Raquette Lake. It was just one year before "Adirondack" Murray began frequenting the locality during summers. Alvah later told that, at the time of his arrival, Mike McGuire and Bill Nash were at hand, making a living by providing deer and trout to the fashionable hotels at Saratoga Springs. page 789
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Murray made his headquarters on Osprey Island in Raquette Lake, where he erected two or three camps and occupied them during the summers of 1867, 1868, and 1869. Alvah Dunning first settled on Indian Point. Then he took possession of Murray's camps on Osprey Island and lived there, winters and summers, for several years.
It was about this time that Dr. Thomas C. Durant, building his Adirondack Railroad from Saratoga to North Creek in the late 1860's, began occasional explorations to Raquette Lake. But it was not until the arrival of his son, William West Durant, in 1876, that the hermit Dunning had cause for concern for the solitude he had sought. page 790
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At the Forked Lake House of George Leavitt, 53, lived "Captain" Calvin S. Parker, 70, with his wife, Permelia, 54. Listed as boarders and guides at the establishment were Robb Hartson, 32, Thomas Cary, 64, and Alvah G. Dunning, 65. Alvah, incidently, had had his last brush with organization when he was elected game constab1e of the town of Long Lake on March 19,1878. He served for one year only and was replaced by Warren W. Cole. page 792
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The location of the village of Durant, reached by old woods road in winter and by boat in summer, proved remote for the march of progress. The hermit Alvah Dunning was living on the southwest shore of the lake, having been induced by the Charles Durants to relinquish Osprey Island so that they might build their "Fairview" Camp there. Always retreating from civilization's inroads, Alvah felt safe in this wild setting until he was approached by a young lawyer asking him to sign documents that would release his uncertain claim on his new location. The hermit was stunned to learn that the spot was needed for a railroad station. Alvah left for the Rocky Mountains for a few years. page 796
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OLD TIMES IN THE ADIRONDACKS by Seneca Ray Stoddard 1873, pages 109, 110 & 111.
....At the foot of one of these giants old Alvah Dunning has built a bark shanty, and with his dogs lives there-a modern Robinson Crusoe. Two or three dogs came out with their master to see us. I cannot say welcome, for the dogs growled, and the old hunter growled, and our suddenly concieved idea of stopping there until the next day was changed by his surly permission when our desire was made known. So we continued on toward the east inlet.
Old Alvah was in his normal condition-suffering from ill treatment. He has always been a sufferer, because he doesn't always look at things in the same light as others, and he believes to this day that it was only by chance, aided somewhat by an overruling Providence, that his life is spared, for did not "Ned Buntline," the terrible, chase him all over Blue Mountain Lake with intent to deposit lead in his venerable cuticle? It is said that he hunted for Ned one summer and a misunderstanding arose, to settle which, Alvah felt called upon to embezzle a boat of the novelist's, and after perforating it in various places to sink it in the lake. This manner of procedure struck Ned as being out of order, so as a preliminary move he shot the old man's dog, one while the latter was standing between his master's legs. Alvah was grieved thereby, and with a longing to indulge in cremation, threatened to set the "Eagle's Nest" on fire. When asked about the affair, Ned said, "I drove him out of that section when I was there because he threatened my life. The Old Rip steered clear of me after he found that I was as ready to throw lead as he was threats."
It is said that the first house at Raquette Lake was built on Indian Point, then one nearly opposite by a Mr. Wood, who lived there about twenty years, then became discouraged and left. Now the sole occupant of this fair land is old Alvah Dunning, the hermit of the Raquette.
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TALES From An ADIRONDACK Co. by Ted Aber and Stella King 1961 pages 24-29
"Perhaps it was his love for the woods that interfered with Alvah's domestic life, In any case, the hunter felt obliged to leave Piseco Lake in 1860, when he outraged public feeling by beating his wife, who had been unfaithful to hime. His marriage had lasted two years. Immediately he wennt deeper into the Adirondack heartland."...
"He was back (from the West) in a year at Raquette Lake, but he was a changed Alvah, bitterly disappointed with the changing world. He travelled more frequently. In his last years, he spent his winters principally with his sister, Mrs. Charles Potter, in Syracuse.
In view of his distaste for modern inventions, the manner of his death proved a crowning irony. In March 1902, he attended the Sportsmen's show in New York City. On his return, he spent the night of March 14th at the Dudley House in Utica. The next morning, he was found asphyxiated in his bed. The gas jet had been leaking all night. Alvah had blown out the light."
More About ALVAH GREENE DUNNING:
1: His body was moved by Emily Dunning Houck to Onondaga Co.
2: 1843, School Commissioner
Burial: Onondaga Cemetery, Onondaga Co., Syracuse. NY

Endnotes
1. Brøderbund Software, Inc., World Family Tree Vol. 17, Ed. 1, (Release date: December 11, 1997), "CD-ROM," Tree #2051, Date of Import: Apr 25, 2000.