sanger began to sell or lease lots to settlers and built the first sawmill there on oriskany creek in 1793 in what became the village of waterville. in 1795, the town of sangerfield was created by the state legislature and named to honor sanger, who in turn agreed to donate "to the church of any religious denomination which should build the first house for public worship." he also agreed to donate a "cask of rum" to the first town meeting. he provided the rum and donated to the congregational society as the first religious organization formed in town and 25 acres to the baptists who built the first church. many of the original settlers had disagreed with the town name, wanting it to be called "new lisbon" instead; they later chose lisbon for the name of the congregation.