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THE  LIBRARY 

OF 

THE  UNIVERSITY 

OF  CALIFORNIA 
LOS  ANGELES 


(^6^<-^6C^ 


BIOGRAPPIICAL  AND  PORTRAIT 


CYCLOPEDIA 


OK 


CHAUTAUQUA  COUNTY,  NEW  YORK. 


WITH  A  HISTORICAL  SKETOH  OF  THE  COUNTY 

BY 

Hon.  OBED  EDSON. 


PUBLISHED    BY 


JOHN  m:.  oresh^m  &  CO. 

EDITED    BY 

BUTLER  F.  DILLEY. 

Nos.   1218   and    1220    Filbert  Street,    Philadelphia. 


JULY,   1891. 


press  of 

The  Jas.  B.  Kodgers  Printing  Company 
Philadelphia. 


r  • 

C  7.DS^ 


INTRODUCTION. 


\  I  /  HE  PUBLISHERS  of  tliis  volume  take  pleasure  in  presenting  it  to  their 
1.  ])atrons  in  ( !liautau(jua  County,  believing  that,  biographically,  it  is  much 
tlie  superior  ol'  anything  ever  offered  to  the  [)eople  of  Western  New  York,  and 
the  mechanical  workmanship  is  so  lar  beyond  anything  heretofore  attempted 
in  this  county,  that  no  comparison  is  possible.  While  we  have  paid  especial 
attention  to  biography,  the  interesting  '' Sketch  of  the  History  of  Chautauqua 
County,"  written  by  the  masterly  mind  of  the  Honorable  Obed  Edson,  of 
Sinclairville,  is  the  best  compact  account  of  the  county's  early  history  extant, 
and  cannot  fail  to  attract  a  deep  interest. 

It  was  originally  the  intention  to  present  the  work  in  the  old  style,  by 
grouping  each  town,  village  and  city  by  itself,  and  to  introduce  the  reader  to 
the  "History  of  the  County"  before  reaching  the  main  contents  of  the  book, 
but,  after  consideration,  we  decided  to  depart  from  the  rut  of  custom,  and  to 
insert  the  biographical  sketches  at  random  in  the  book,  and  supplement  it 
with  the  story  which  tells  of  early  times,  the  whole  to  be  preceded  by  a 
comprehensive  index,  by  means  of  which  the  reader  may  turn  to  any  desired 
place  at  will. 

Our  engravings,  it  will  be  noticed,  are  of  steel  and  photographic  repro- 
ductions made  by  the  superior  half-tone  process;  no  wood  cuts  are  inserted, 
consequently  the  likenesses  presented  are  accurate  and  correct.  The  residences 
portrayed  are  elegant  specimens  of  Chautauqua  County  homes,  and  the  old 
Court  House,  which  has  about  outlived  its  usefulness,  and  is  soon  to  be 
replaced,  would,  without  this  photograph,  soon  have  remained  to  memory  alone, 


1418178 


PREFACE. 


and  the  appearance  of  the  buildhig  in  which  justice  had  been  administered  for 
so  many  years,  woukl  not  be  known  to  the  coming  generations. 

Our  biographies  are,  in  the  main,  correct.  We  have  exercised  great  care 
in  securing  accuracy  of  names  and  dates,  and  have  submitted,  where  practicable, 
the  manuscript,  more  than  once,  for  correction.  Some  of  our  subscribers  failed 
to  return  corrections,  but  they  were  very  few.  Doubtless  some  errors  will 
appear,  but  there  will  not  be  many. 

Upon*  the  whole,  we  have  received  very  hearty  co-operation,  and  we  feel 
a  just  pride  in  the  results  of  our  labors.  Our  only  wish  is  that  the  book  will 
give  pleasure  to  the  pi'esent  generation  and  to  the  generations  to  come;  that 
when  the  future  historian  enters  Chautauqua  County,  he  can  begin  where  we 
concluded,  and  carry  the  chain  fifty  years  farther. 

The  Publishers. 

Philadelphia,  Pa.,  July  20tli,  1891. 


LIST   OF   ILLUSTRATIONS. 


Page 

Aldrich,  John  J 83 

Beebe,  Milton  E.  (House)          49 

Brewer,  Hon.  F.  B Ill 

Burns,  Andrew 194 

Burns,  Andrew  (House) 196 

Babcock,  Norman 230 

Babcock,  Alpheus 235 

Beebe,  Milton  E 284 

Burgess,  Kev.  Chalon 346 

Bloomquist,  Otto  L 499 

Chase,  Dr.  William 73 

Curtis,  Major  E.  A 132 

Gushing,  Addison  C 209 

Carpenter,  Col.  Elial  Foote 301 

Case,  Henry  R 319 

Corbett,  Hon.  Charles  H 372 

Gushing,  Com.  W.  B.,  U.  S.  N 483 

Chautauqua  County  Court- House 670 

Edson,  Hon.  Obed 220 

Evergreen  Cemetery 259 

Eureka  Factory  (Howes) 16 

Fuller,  Frederick  A.,  Jr 253 

Fenner,  Hon.  M.  M 391 

Haywood,  Col.  Rufus  • 91 

Howes,  Simeon 136 

Howes,  Simeon  (Residence) 139 

Hooker,  Hon.  W.  B 145 

Huntley,  W.  W 305 


Page 

Hungerford,  Se.xtus  II 621 

Kingsbury,  Henry  C 125 

Lockwood,  Clark  R 38 

Lord,  Bela  B 296 

Livermore,  Mrs.  R.  S 666 

Morgan,  Charles  W 240 

Morris,  Hon.  Lorenzo 247 

Ormes,  M.D.,  Cornelius 556 

Ormes,  Dr.  F.  D 560 

Patterson,  Hon.  George  W 54 

Patterson,  George  W 60 

Putnam,  Major  E.  P 59 

Peacock,  Judge  William 213 

Record,  John  G 106 

Ryckmau,  Ci.  E 444 

Smith,  Hon.  Hiram 20 

Stafford,  Austin  H 24 

Scofield,  Carl  W 31 

Saxton,  Isaac  A 182 

Sessions,  Hon.  Frank  E .    .  275 

Sherman,  lion.  Daniel 431 

Van  Dusen,  Hon.  A.  .\ 64 

Weeks,  Charles  E 46 

Watson,  Albert  S 385 

Waterhouse,  Dr.  John  A 422 

Waterhouse,  Dr.  John  A.  (Residence) 425 

Wright,  Reuben  G 536 

Wright,  Reuben  G.  (Resideuce) 539 


TABLE  OF  CONTP]NTS. 


Aldrich,  Jolm  J.  . 
Abbey,  Chauncey .  . 
Akliich,  Seth  .    .    . 
Aiulnis,  Wilson  S.  . 
Anderson,  Jolin  H.  . 
Adams,  D.  B.   .    .    . 
Allen,  Herbert  W.  . 
Arnold,  William  H. 
A  ppleyard,  Joseph  . 
Ames,  M.D.,  Edward 
Arnold,  Capt.  Joseph  S 
Andi-ews,  fieorge  . 
Allen,  Charles  (i.     ■ 
Albro,  Victor  A.  .    . 
Abbott,  Joseph    .    ■ 
Arnold,  George  M.  . 
Alford,  Dexter  . 
Avery,  Sherman  S.  . 
Andrews,  Joseph  H, 


Piige 

.  82 
113 
.217 
.  237 
.  269 
.  281 
.  290 
.  310 
.  344 
.  362 
.  364 
.  367 
.  368 
.  417 
.  435 
.  449 
.  470 
.  479 
624 


B. 

Bootey,  Edward  R 28 

Bemiis,  M.D.,  William  M 30 

Blackmarr,  Hamlin 42 

Breed,  DeWitt  C 44 

Barrows,  Henry  R 55 

Barrows,  Ransom  J 61 

lirowuell,  Peter  R 81 

Bnrritt,  Dr.  Franklin 88 

Bemus,  M.D.,  William  V 98 

Benson,  John  B 99 

Brewer,  Hon.  Francis  B 110 


Pa^'P 

Bonghton,  Joseph  T 

.    115 

Bolton,  Stephen  N 

.  118 

BurlamKl,  tiust.  .    . 

.  127 

Brown,  .Vrthur  L 

.  134 

I'.in-lin,  .\nson  A 

143 

r.ull,  .\brahain 

.  152 

Barker,  Hon.  fieorge 

161 

195 

Bratt,  Anthony 

,  207 

Bemis,  I'hi  lander  W. 

.  226 

Babcock,  Norman 

.  231 

Babcock,  .\Ipheus 

.  234 

Broadhead,  William  .... 

.  .249 

.  261 

Blanchard,  Dr.  Robert  N.  .    . 

.  271 

Beebe,  Milton  E.  (Residence,  4 

9)  285 

Barlow,  Byron  A 

.  294 

Bcmis,  llarvey  .  . 

.  311 

Brown,  Nathan 

.  313 

.  315 

Blood,  Charles 

.  332 

Butler,  Capt.  James    .... 

.  334 

Burcli,  Hiram 

.    .341 

.    .  342 

Brownell,  Smith  H 

.    .  343 

Burgess,  Rev.  Chalon  .... 

.    .  347 

Bird,  Alberto 

.    .  363 

Bennett,  Capt.  James  P.  .  .    . 

.    .  376 

.    .  376 

.    .  380 

.    .  387 

Briggs,  Carey 

.    .  389 

Bissell,  D.D.S.,  J.  K.  W.  .  .    . 

.    .  396 

Brockway,  Hon.  Charles  B. 
Ba.xter,  J<dMi  P.  .    . 
Blanchard,  IHiiit 
Brooks,  Iloratioti. 
Brown,  Marshall  . 
Bacon, < ieorge  R. 
Bennett,  Lyman  . 
BloonKjuist,  ( )tto  L.    . 
Bookslavcr,  Hon.  Willi 
Beebe,  Charles  Vincent 
Barker,  Corringtou  . 
Bentloy,  Fred.  A. 
Bond,  Orlando.    .    .    . 
Baumgart,  Gustav  .    . 
Bandinalli,  Rev.  John. 
Benjamin,  M.D.,  Mirza  N 

Bourne,  Jiihn 

Bailey,  Clayton  E. 
Babcock,  Hon.  Jerome 
Burgess,  Celin      .    .    . 
Blanchard,  James  C. 
Brown,  Rush    .... 
Barris,  Michael    .    .    ■ 
Brown,  Donald  S.    .    . 
Barnes,  Alpha .... 
Bosworth,  William  A. 
Bilsborrow,  fieorge  .  . 
Baker,  Dermouth  R. 
Birdsey,  Capt.  Comfort 
Birdsey,  Phineas  .  . 
Burnnia.ster,  Henry  . 
Barnes,  Calvin  W.  .    . 


Page 
.  400 
.  408 
.  414 
.  474 
.  476 
.  486 
.  496 
.  498 
.  498 
.  501 
502 
543 
.  551 
.  553 
582 
.  584 
.  585 
.  593 
.  601 
.  605 
.  606 
.  607 
.607 
.  608 
.  609 
.  610 
.  611 
.  625 
.  625 
.  626 
.  626 
.  627 


10 


TABLE    OF   CONTENTS. 


€. 

C'ady,  Sylvester  f? ^2 

Chace,  Dr.  William "2 

Cranston,  Frederick  L.  ...    79 

C'ramlall,  William  A S7 

Cluney,  Col.  Thuma.s  T 102 

Cobb,  Alberts 116 

Codington,  S.  O U" 

Clark,  Hiram  C 119 

Crissey,  Samuel  Sbepard       ...  1 29 

Curtis,  Major  Enoch  A 133 

Clark,  Josejilius  II 157 

Colbum,  Charles  D 174 

Cobb,  William  .1 185 

Coffin,  Benjamin  J 186 

Clark,  Whitman 202 

Cushing,  .\<Uli.sou  C 208 

Catlin,  Ashbill  K 255 

Cobb,  Charles  E 257 

Cronyn,  Dr.  W^illiam  J 262 

Crosgrove,  Rol>ert  E. 278 

Calhoun,  Archibald 279 

Colbum,  Charles  K 299 

Carpenter,  Col.  Elial  Foote  ...  300 

Caldwell,  Samuel 312 

Clinton,  Simeon 316 

Ca«-,  Henry  K 31S 

Cochrane,  James 322 

Coveney,  Thomas  K 361 

Curtice,  Charles  S 399 

Corbctt,  Hon.  Charles  H.       ...  373 

Clurk,  W'illiamT 412 

Case,  Hon.  Theodore  .\ 413 

Colvin,  Jwl 429 

Cassclmun,  Benjamin 430 

Candee,  William  K 447 

Calvert,  Itcv.  Thomas  E 450 

Crocker,  Washington 467 

Covin,  William 409 

Cushing,  Com.  Wm.  Marker,  II.S.N.482 

Cidver,  Stephen 495 

Cramlail,  Jay  E 503 

triwiey,  Ivlward.I  .    .504 

Case,  Kreil.  W.  .  .  504 

CushiMnn,  Mason  .  .    .  500 


Page 

Cole,  William  H 506 

Cro.ssnian,  Phineas 507 

Chapman,  Charles  F 508 

Carlson,  Samuel  S 508 

Collins,  .John  B 609 

Curtis,  Kinaldo  1 550 

Cipperly,  Clarence  P 553 

Cowing,  Ransom  F 599 

Coates,  Leroy  P 600 

Camp,  Wilson 601 

Cliristy,  Henry  R 603 

Chapin,  Charles  B 603 

Coleman,  William  F 604 

Crosby,  Charles  R 605 


D. 


Dean,  Benjamin  S.  . 
Douglas,  ( jeorge  B.  . 
Day,  Ralph  B.  .  .    . 
Dorsett,  Daniel  B.  . 
Dotterweich,  Andrew 
Derby,  Silas  S.  .  .    . 
Douglas,  William  R. 
Douglas,  Charles  M. 
Douglas,  George  B  . 
Derby,  John  K.  .    . 
Davis,  (iilbert  L  .    . 
DeVoe,  Eugene  E.  . 
Dean,  M.D.,  Hernion 
Dudley,  Eugene  E.  . 
Davenport,  Ellen  M. 
Davis,  Ely    .... 
Dorn,  Dexter  D.  .    . 
Dawson,  .lolni  W. 
Donclson,  John   .    . 
Duds,  M.D.,  A.  Wilso 
Dewey,  Lester  R.    . 
Davis,  .loseph  .    .    . 
Dennison,  Edward 
Dean,  OKuK.  .    .    . 
Doly,  .Vle.xandcr  II. 
Drake,  l'',<lwin  .    . 
Dickcrman,  Iv  II.   . 
Dickson,  Dwiglil 
Dean,  (icorge  K. 


78 

80 

80 

103 

121 

128 

1.33 

152 

153 

107 

286 

329 

330 

349 

306 

378 

402 

403 

410 

478 

490 

510 

,  547 

.  577 

,  578 

.  597 

.  598 

.  598 

.  012 


P«ge 

Duraud,  (  arllsle 628 

E. 

Ellis,  Francis*!) 89 

Endres.s,  '\\'illiani  Fries      ....    95 

Edson,  Obed 221 

Ewell,  Carlos 251 

Evergreen  Cemetery 258 

Edmuud.s,  Fred.  AV 266 

Ely,  John  H 287 

Evarts,  Dr.  Raymond  N.       .        .  317 

Eaton,  Alfred 4.i7 

EULs,  Hollis  Fay 471 

Ellis,  James  S 570 

Edmunds,  Joseph  Wilson  ...  577 

Ehlers,  Charles 580 

Elkius,  Hon.  Harvey  S 596 

F. 

Field,  Frank  B 43 

Fenton,  Emery  W 154 

Frey,  Rev.  Andrew 171 

Fuller,  Arad 170 

Forbes,  Elias 187 

Fitch,  Rufus 222 

Fuller,  Frederick  A 252 

Fink,  Ellis 262 

Flagler,  James  H 281 

Frisbee,  Sardius .  322 

Fenton,  Gov.  Reuben  E.  .  326 

Fay,  Elisha  II 334 

Fargo,  Orange  A 338 

Feuner,  Hon.  Milton  M.       ...  390 

Fentiin,  Martin  L 397 

Fuller,  Mathew 403 

Fenton,  Bicknell  D 415 

Forbes,  Colonel  I>avi<l  S 454 

Freeman,  I'lof.  Andrew  Vatos.    .  468 

Felton,  John  W 472 

Falconer,  William  T      476 

Fuller,  David  M 510 

Flisher,  Jarcd  B 511 

Fuller,  (ienrgeW 511 

Fuller,  (iuy  II 512 

Faringlon,  Daniel  M 538 

Fenton,  Rev.  William  II.      ...  503 


TAIIIJ':    OF    CONTENTS. 


13 


rrondergrist,  Dr.  William      .    .      502 

I'auliis,  Michael,  J  I- 5«0 

I'ickard,  Major  Aldli/.ci •'lOS 

I'elton,  Marcus  Al|ili(>ii/.(i  .  (120 

I'alnuT,  Daniel  N fi42 

I'eirie,  Alboi-t  1' (M2 

Palmer,  K.  K •    ■       013 

I'rallier,  Abraham  S 644 

l{. 

Keeuril,  Israel 104 

Record,  John G 107 

Rykei-t,  (iilbert  M 108 

Roesch,  Lewis 168 

Rugg,  Corydon  A 19'J 

Russell,  David 238 

Rossitei',  George  1 273 

Reynolds,' Henry 323 

Rowley,  Ira  D 374 

Rathlnm,  D.D.8.,  Channcey  M.  .  .  3S)<) 

Reed,  William  V.  L.  F 416 

Root,  Will  M 428 

Roberts,  Thomas  H 439 

Ryckman,  G.  E 445 

Rider,  Delos  J 480 

Randall,  Nelson 487 

Risley,  Laurens  G 645 

Ross,  M.D.,  Artenius 646 

Reed,  Richard 647 

Kdbinsim,  William  11 647 

Riish,.!(ihu  B 648 


S. 
Smith,  lion.  Hiram   . 
Sheldon,  Hon.  Porter 
Staflbrd,  Austin  II  .    . 
Scolield,  Carl  W  .   .    . 
Strong,  M.D.,  Thomas  D 
Simmons,  Harvey  . 
Stearns,  Crawford    . 
Slolboon,  John  A   . 
Starring,  Alfred  A  . 
Skinner,  Edward  A 
Sheldon,  Hon.  Albert  V, 


21 
22 
25 
31 

86 
101 
129 
149 

lt!S 
173 
179 


I'llgO 

Smith,  D.D.,  Rev.  (Iharles  E.  .    .  ISl   i 
Shearman,  Col.  Silas,   R.  P.   and 

A.P 189 

Sly,  W.  S 190  1 

Severance,  Henry 200 

Shattnck,  Lawrence  K '^05 

Skidmorc,  S.  M 226 

Saxton,  Isaac  .\ 182 

Sherman,  David  O 245 

Sterueberg,  John  J  256 

Swezey,  Samuel  N 258  | 

Shaw,  Horace  H 270  I 

Sessions,  Hon.   Frank  E      ...  274 

Shaw,  Robert 290 

Sterling,  Charles  H 298 

Skinner,  Homer  J 314 

Stoddard,  Oren 316 

Sturdevant,  Charles  1! 330 

Smith,  William  L 332 

Skinner,  George  L 349 

Sherman,  AVinslow 350 

Strong,  William  O 354 

Shaw,  Dr.  Orrin  C 355 

Swetland,  M.D.,  Benjamin  S  .    .  359 

Sheldon,  Cliarles  E 360 

Scott,  J.  Frank 427 

Sherman,  Judge  Daniel  .    .  430 

Shaver,  James  II 430 

Spencer,  Frank  G  .    .    .  441 

Sherman,  Charles  II 455 

Stetson,  Oliver 458 

Smitli,  M  D.,  Charles 465 

Scofield,  Dr.  Era  M 473 

Snyder,  Julius  L 491 

vSinnnons,  Alexander 496 

Sexton,  William 522 

Sike-s,  Iddo  A 520 

Shaw,  Frank  E 527 

Seymour,  M.D.,  George  W  .    .    ■  528 
Sykes,  Lieutenant  William  .    .    .  529 

Stoneberg,  John  A 529 

Stone,  Anson  A 530 

Strong,  Walter  E 532 

Sackett,  Marcus  533 

Stcbbins,  Charles        534 


I'agc- 

Smitli,  Daniel  C 541 

Sawin,  Horace  C 542 

Stebbins,   Albert   II        545 

Strunk,   William   K 545 

Smiley,  Joliii 548 

Shearer,  John,  Jr 549 

Sixbey,  Herman 564 

Stapf,  Frank  F 581 

Stapf,  John  A 582 

Stearns,  Hon.  L.   I''  .    .    .  .  688 

Simmons,  Franklin 589 

Solomonson,  Andrew,  Jr  ...  589 

Strong,  Gilbert  W 644 

Skinner,  John  A 64!) 

Simpson,  Rev.  Charles  ...  650 

Spear,  John  T 650 

Spear,  Thomas 651 

Stearns,  E.  P 651 

Sears,  Hirian 662 

Smith,  David,  J  r 652 

Stevens,  M.D.,  Allen  A 653 

Sloeura,  J(mathau  II.  .       .    .  ()53 

Shults,  Charles  J 654 

Sweeney,  Michael  W 655 

Sweet,  James  H 656 

Skinner,  lOlial  W 656 

T. 

Tucker,  Rev.  (  liavles  1'.  .    .  34 

Thompson,  Norman  R 35 

Tousley,  John  H 62 

Thompson,  Hugh  W 160 

Taylor,  David  H 172 

Thomas,  Fred.  W 172 

Tower,  Elislia,  .1  r 223 

Thayer,  J.  L 232 

Toomey,  Daniel  F  .    .    .    .'   .    .    .291 

Tiftany,  Albert  J 293 

Talcott,  Chauncy  G 308 

Towne,  Hon.  (Jeorge  E   .    .    .    .  325 

Taylor,  James 490 

Taylor,  John 491 

Taylor,  Seymour  A 41)1 

Taylor,  Edgar  S 4yi 

!   Tennant,  Delos  G  .    .       .'■).52 


14 


TABLE    OF   CONTENTS. 


Tennant,  Alvin  J 

Tennant,  Joliu  A  .    . 
Torrey,  David  A    .    . 

TeHt,  Asa 

Tlionijisou,  Lewis  B.  .    . 
Taylor,  A.M.,  Almou  N. 

Tallnian,  John 

Tolles,  Edgar  B 

Trucsdell,  Zebedee  . 
Taylor,  Erastus  H 

U. 

Usborne,  William 

V. 

Van  Dusen,  Theodore  F  . 
Van  Dusen,  lieorge  C  .    .    • 

Vincent,  James 

^'an  Dnsen,  Hon.  Almon  A 
Van  Bnren,  James  Lyman  . 
Vandergrift,  William  K.,  Jr 
Valentine,  Peter  F   .    . 
Vandergrift,  Theophilus  J    . 


Page 

.  554 
.558 
.  613 
.  657 
.657 
.658 
.  658 
.  669 
.  660 
.  660 

.  661 

.  26 
.    32 

156 
.  65 
.  355 
.  384 

584 
.  661 


W. 

Page 

Warner,  Lucius  Bolls 17 

Weeks,  Charles  E 47 

Walker,  William  II 163 

Widraan,  Albert  C 165 

Wheeler,  Frauk  S 180 

Waggoner,  Daniel  L 206 

Wilson,  David  A .222 

Woleben,  Marvin  H 225 

Wilcox,  Charles  N 245 

Wilson,  F.  B      267 

Weaver,  George  K    .  272 

Ward,  James  H 273 

White,  Dr.  Squire 288 

Warr,  Jesse 311 

Winch,  Jay 321 

Walker,  James  C 338 

Weeden,  Lyman  F 353 

Williams,  Samuel  P 362 

Watson,  Albert  S 384 

Wilson,  LydeU  L 409 

Waterhouse,  M.D.,  John  A  .    .      423 


Ftige 

Watrous,  Justin 493 

Wright,  Reuben  G 537 

Wilson,  W.  Thomas 563 

White,  Charles  F 587 

Woodbury,  Hon.  Egbert  E  .    .    .  590 

Wade,  Arthur  C 591 

Woodward,  John 595 

Walter,  Joseph  M 597 

Wilson,  James 623 

Wallace,  Matthew 624 

Wicks,  Charles  H 662 

Wilson,  William  H 663 

Wiggins,  Elmer  H 663 

Wood,  Samuel 664 


York,  Stephen  H 437 

Young,  William  B 434 


Z. 


Zahn,  John  M 667 


Sketch  of  the  Early  History  of  Chautauqua  Counti 


673 


BIOGRAPHY  AND    HISTORY 


z 


OF 


CHAUTAUQUA  COUNTY, 


T  .  UCIUS  BOLLS  WARNER.     It   may  be 

-'"^  said  of  Lucius  Bolls  Warner,  without 
detracting  aught  from  any  other  whose  name 
stands  high  on  the  roll  of  Jamestown's  useful 
citizens,  that  his  honesty  and  integrity,  his  career 
of  industry  and  his  public-spirited  services  and 
liberal  contributions  for  the  development  and 
the  prosperity  of  his  town,  furnish  an  example 
that  may  be  profitably  followed  by  every  young 
man  who  aspires  to  a  position  of  thrift,  useful- 
ness and  respectability.  He  was  born  at  Mill- 
ington,  Middlesex  county,  Connecticut,  March 
3,  1828,  and  is  a  son  of  Ephraim  and  Mary 
Spencer  (Miner)  Warner. 

In  1850  he  came  to  Jamestown,  where  he  es- 
tablished himself  in  the  furniture  and  chair 
business.  After  five  years  of  unremunei-ative 
returns  in  that  line  of  business,  Mr.  Warner, 
having  faith  in  a  rapid  future  development  of 
Jamestown,  resolved  to  deal  largely  in  lumber. 
He  then  commenced  the  planing-raill  and  lum- 
ber business  on  Baker  street,  south  of  the  Outlet. 
After  fourteen  years  of  successful  business,  his 
mill  was  destroyed  by  fire,  August  23,  1867. 
He  then  purchased  the  property  on  Baker  street 
south  of  the  Outlet,  known  as  the  Baker  mill, 
where  his  mill  and  lumber  yards  are  at  present 
situated. 
2 


For  over  thirty-three  years  his  business  has 
increased  with  the  growth  of  the  town,  until  now 
his  lumber  plant  is  one  of  the  important  and 
essential  enterprises  of  Jamestown.  His  plant 
covers  three  and  one-half  acres  in  extent,  em- 
bracing large  storage  yards,  a  saw-mill,  56  x  90 
feet  in  dimensions,  and  a  planing-mill  56  x  106 
feet  in  dimensions. 

One  who  is  well  acquainted  with  Mr.  Warner 
and  his  works  states  that  every  facility  known 
to  the  trade  is  afforded  the  customers  of  this 
house,  and  its  high  rejjutation,  maintained  for  a 
third  of  a  century  in  the  same  location,  is  the 
best  evidence  of  its  popularity  and  stability. 

Mr.  Warner  is  a  man  of  good  judgment  in 
financial  matters.  In  politics  he  is  a  rej^ublican, 
but  takes  no  active  part  in  political  affairs,  and 
desires  no  office.  Unsolicited,  he  has  held  a  num- 
ber of  offices  of  public  trust,  where  he  rendered 
good  service  with  credit  to  himself.  No  citizen  of 
Jamestown  has  ever  been  more  interested  in  its 
prosperity,  or  contributed  more  freely  to  any 
object  calculated  to  advance  its  material,  mental 
or  moral  welfore  than  Lucius  Bolls  Warner. 
Commencing  life  as  a  poor  boy,  he  has  won  both 
ample  fortune  and  honorable  position,  by  ability, 
energy  and  inflexible  honesty.  In  1887  he  sup- 
plied a  great  need  in  Jamestown  by  erecting 

17 


18 


BIOGRAPHY  AND  HISTORY 


what  is  known  as  the  Warner  block.  It  is  an 
imposing  five-story  brick  building,  of  80  x  156 
feet  in  dimensions.  It  is  occupied  by  large 
stores  and  business  offices.  He  enjoys  the 
good  will  and  respect  of  the  citizens  of  James- 
town, and  is  recognized  by  all  who  know  him  as 
a  public-spirited  citizen.  He  possesses  those 
characteristics  which  clearly  define  a  strong  in- 
dividuality, self-reliance,  even  temper  on  trying 
occasions,  and  uniform  kindness.  Honesty,  in- 
tegrity, generosity  and  public-spiritedness  are 
some  of  the  pronounced  traits  of  character  on 
which  Mr.  Warner  has  built  a  symmetrical  man- 
hood of  substantial  moral  worth. 


-pLK.VZKK  GKEEX,    a     member     of     the 

•'■^  Chautauqua  county  bar,  was  born  at 
Eemsen,  Oneida  county.  New  York,  INIarch 
16,  1846,  and  is  the  youngest  son  of  Eleazer, 
Sr.,  and  Sylviua  (Kent)  Green.  His  paternal 
grandfather,  Ezra  Green,  was  a  native  of 
Litchfield,  Connecticut,  where  he  was  a  hotel 
keeper,  served  in  the  Revolutionary  war,  re- 
movetl  to  Oneida  county,  X.  Y.,  where  he  fol- 
lowed farming,  was  a  Presbyterian  and  married 
Amy  Church  of  his  native  State,  by  whom  lie 
had  thirteen  children.  His  maternal  grand- 
father, Silas  Kent,  was  born  in  New  England, 
removed  to  Oneida  county,  this  State,  married 
Anuis  Dayton,  by  whom  he  liad  seven  children; 
he  was  a  farmer  and  died  when  comparatively 
a  young  man. 

Eleazer  (ireen,  Sr.,  was  born  in  Oneida  county, 
May  16,  LSOO,  and  removed  in  1847  to  Ciiau- 
tauqua  county,  where  he  died  September  12, 
1884.  He  was  a  man  of  inlelligeiice  and  edu- 
cation, served  for  several  years  as  superintendent 
of  the  |)iib]ic  schools  of  Oneida  county,  and  was 
also  a  t«»cher  for  many  years  in  the  schools  of 
tiiat  county.  He  was  one  of  the  early  aboli- 
tioninu,  and  after  the  Rcpui)lici^in  party  came 
into  existence  he  supported  its  principles.  He 
wa«  a  prominent  and  u.sof'ul  citizen  of  the  town 
of  IJii^-ti,  ill  f'hantauipia  county,  owning  a  large 


farm  in  that  town,  which  he  managed  success- 
fully for  many  years.  He  married  Sylvina 
Kent,  and  they  passed  over  sixty  years  of  a 
happily  married  life  together.  They  were  the 
parents  of  six  children  :  Broughton  W.,  a  farmer 
of  Busti ;  Sophia  (deceased),  who  was  the  \^  ife 
of  George  W.  Smith,  of  Ohio ;  Betsy  S.,  wife 
of  Elias  Hurlbut,  of  Kansas;  Amy  C,  wife  of 
Amos  Palmer,  of  Jamestown  ;  William  E.,  who 
died  at  the  age  of  sixteen  years,  and  Eleazer. 

Eleazer  Green  was  reared  in  the  towns  of 
Busti  and  Harmony,  and  received  his  education 
in  the  common  schools  and  Westfield  academy. 
Leaving  school  in  1867,  he  entered  the  Albany 
Law  School,  graduating  therefrom  in  1868,  when 
he  was  admitted  to  the  bar;  he  then  entered  the 
law  offices  of  Cook  &  Lockwood,  where  he  read 
for  two  years;  he  then  opened  an  office  in  James- 
town, where  he  has  since  practiced  his  profes- 
sion. In  1882  he  became  a  member  of  the 
present  law  firm  of  Sheldon,  Green,  Stevens  & 
Benedict.  In  addition  to  his  law  practice  he  has 
dealt  in  real  estate.  He  is  the  founder  of  "  Green- 
hnrst,"  upon  Lake  Chautauqua,  where  the  hotel 
known  as   "The  Greenhurst"   is  situated. 

On  November  5,  1873,  Eleazer  Green  mar- 
ried Mary  E.  Brown,  daughter  of  Samuel  and 
Clarissa  Brown,  who  tbrmerly  lived  at  Ashville, 
Chautauqua  county.  Tliey  have  three  children : 
Edward  James,  born  April  6,  1875;  Ella  AV., 
born  November  15,  1876,  and  Clara  L.,  born 
August  24,  1879.  Mr.  Green  is  a  republican 
and  an  attendant  at  the  Cong-reKational  church. 

Aside  from  the  duties  of  his  law  practice,  Mr. 
Green  has  interested  him.self  in  the  subject  of 
fish  culture,  and  has  devoted  much  time  and 
attention  to  the  subject  of  increasing  the  supply, 
in  Lake  Chautauqua,  of  the  famous  food  and 
game  fish — the  muskallonge.  The  nuiskallonge 
had  never  been  propagated  artificially,  and  it 
was  necessary  to  study  its  habits  in  order  to  suc- 
cessfully and  intelligently  do  so.  ISEr.  Green^ 
believing  in  the  practicability  of  the  idea,  raised 
a  fluid  with  which  to  pay  tliee.\j)ense  of  experi- 


0/ '  CIIA  I  'TA  I  'V I  '.I    CO  USTV. 


21 


ments,  contributing";  hirgcly  of  his  own  means  to 
the  enterprise,  corresponded  with  Setii  (Jreen, 
one  of  tiie  fish  commissioners  of  the  State  of 
New  York,  and  a  noted  fish  cnlturist,  soiidiii<;; 
Mr.  Green  nuisivalh)nge,  from  time  to  time,  for 
his  examination,  that  lie  mif^ht  learn  more  of 
their  habits,  time  of  s]iawnin<i,  etc.,  and  such  an 
interest  was  awakened  that  the  commissioners 
of  fisheries  of  the  State  of  New  York,  took  hold 
of  the  enterj)rise,  and,  with  the  fund  raised  by 
Eleazer  Green,  augmented  by  State  funds,  pro- 
secuted experiments  until  it  has  been  demon- 
strated that  muskallonge  can  be  snccessfidlv 
hatched  artificially. 


I 


HON.  HIRAM  SMITH,  ex-membcr  of  the 
General  Assembly  of  New  York  ,and 
a  highly  respected  citizen  of  Jamestown,  is 
a  son  of  Rodney  B.  and  Achsah  (Blodgett) 
Smith,  and  was  born  in  tiie  town  of  Han- 
over, Chautauqua  county,  New  York,  October 
25,  1819.  Plis  paternal  grandfather,  Isaac 
Smith,  of  English  descent,  was  a  native  of 
Massachusetts  and  removed,  in  1802,  to  the 
town  of  Gorham,  Ontario  county.  Eight  years 
later  he  came  to  Sheridan  and  soon  afterwards 
removed  to  Hanover,  this  county.  He  was  a 
farmer,  served  in  the  war  of  1812  antl  partici- 
pated iu  the  disaster  at  Buffalo.  The  forced 
march  home  from  that  city  induced  a  fever 
which  resulted  in  his  death.  Ha  married  a  Miss 
Morton  and  had  nine  children :  Henry,  Hiram, 
Matilda,  Rodney  B.,  Roxanna,  Esther,  Atilla, 
Benjamin  and  one  whose  name  is  forgotten. 

Rodney  B.  Smith,  the  third  son,  and  father  of 
Hon.  Hiram  Smith,  was  boru  February  3, 1799, 
in  Whately,  Hampden  county,  Mass.,  and  died 
at  "Smith's  jMills,"  in  jNIay,  1873, aged  seventy- 
four  years.  At  fifteen  years  of  age  he  volunteered 
to  take  his  eldest  brother  Henry's  place  in  the 
army  and  was  iu  the  battles  of  Chippewa,  Black 
Rock  and  Williamsville.  Henry,  who  was  but 
eighteen  years  of  age,  returned  from  the  army 
to  care  for  his  seven  younger  brothers  and  sisters, 


who  were  orphaned  within  one  year  l)v  th(!(i('alli 
of  ijotii  fatii(;r  and  mother.  Jiodncy  15.  Smitli, 
after  the  war  of  1812,  engaged  in  business  with 
good  success.  In  182-1  he  became  a  sub-con- 
tractor under  'J'hompsou  &  Bird,  for  tiie  con- 
struction of  the  Black  Rock  dam,  in  connection 
with  the  Erie  canal,  and  afterwards  was  a  con- 
tractor on  the  canal  until  its  completion.  He 
then  returned  to  this  county,  where  he  purcha.sed 
a  small  mill  of  his  brother  and  enlarged  it  into 
what  is  now  known  as  Smith's  Mills.  He  also 
erected  a  distillery,  tannery  and  store,  and  for 
thirty  years  was  actively  engaged   in  these  dif- 

j  ferent  lines  of  business.  He  was  a  mcndjcr  for 
several  years  of  the  iMethodist  Episcopal  church 
and  a  usei'ul  citizen  of  the  community  in  which 
he  resided,  but  foi-  the  last  thirty  years  of  his 
life  he  became  entirely  liberal  in  his  theological 
ideas.  He  married  Achsaii  Blodgett,  and  to 
tiiem  were  born  .seven  sons  and  .seven  dau<rhters, 
of  wiiom  four  are  living:  Hon.  Hiram;  Lyman 
B.,  a  lawyer  of  BuiFalo;  Myron,  an  officer  of 
the  Third  Wisconsin  Cavalry  during  the  late 
war,  and  now  engaged  in  farming  in  Kani^as; 
and  Byron,  who  resides  on  the  homestead. 

Hiram  Smith  was  reared  on  a  liu'm  and 
thoroughly  trained  to  an  active  business  life. 
He  iTceivcd  his  education  at  Frcdonia  academv, 
and  at  an  early  age  entered  into  the  general 
business  of  milling,  distilling,  merchandising 
and  farming  at  "  Smitii's  Mills."  During  the 
late  civil  war  he  entered  the  Federal  service, 
was  appointed  by  President  Lincoln  as  a  United 
States  quartermaster,  and  at  the  end  of  nearly 
four  years'  active  service  was  honorably  mus- 
tered out  with  the  rank  of  major.  After  the 
war  Major  Smith  went  to  St.  Louis,  where  he 
was  engaged  in  business  one  year.  In  18(57  he 
returned  to  Jamestown,  where  he  embarked  in 
merchandising,  which  he  followed  during  18G7. 
Three   years   later  he  engaged   in   his  present 

'  prosperous  and  extensive  life  and  fire  insurance 
business. 

September  10,  1844,  he  married  Melissa  P. 


22 


BIOGRAPHY  AND    HISTORY 


Love,  daughter  of  Major  George  Love,  of  For- 
estville.  They  are  the  parents  of  two  children  : 
Mary,  wife  of  Masou  M.  Siiiff,  a  graduate  of 
Union  college,  and  now  commissioner  of  public 
works ;  and  Major  George  R.,  who  graduated 
from  West  Point  Military  academy  in  1875, 
afterwards  married  Corinne  Barrett,  grand- 
daughter of  Major  Samuel  Barrett,  of  James- 
town, and  is  now  stationed  with  United  States 
troops  at  Leavenworth,  Kansas,  having  been 
appointed  paymaster  in  the  United  States  army 
by  President  Arthur  in  1882. 

In  political  opinion  Hiram  Smith  was  a  dem- 
ocrat until  185G,  after  which  he  affiliated  with 
the  Republican  party  until  1872.  In  1859 
and  1860  he  was  elected  as  a  member  of  the 
New  York  Legislature  from  the  Second  Assem- 
bly District  of  Chautauqua  county,  and  served 
in  that  body  as  chairman  of  the  committee  on 
roads  and  bridges,  besides  being  a  member  of 
the  committee  on  railroads,  revision  of  towns 
and  counties,  and  several  other  important  com- 
mittees. He  received  the  nomination  of  the 
Democratic  party  for  Congress  in  1884,  but  was 
not  successful,  as  at  that  time  the  republicans 
had  a  majority  of  ten  thousand  votes  in  the 
Thirty-fourth  Congressional  District.  Mr. 
Smith  is  regarded  as  one  of  the  reliable  busi- 
ness men  and  substantial  citizens  of  Jamestown. 
In  1890  Mr.  Smith  was  the  democratic  nominee 
for  Congress  in  the  Thirty-fourth  Congressional 
District. 


HON.  POllTKU  SHKLDON  is  one  of 
Jamestown's  most  distinguished  citizens, 
and  Chautauqua  county's  most  eminent  lawyers. 
AVith  Chief  Justice  Fuller,  of  the  Supreme 
Court  of  the  United  States,  Long  John  Went- 
worth,  and  other  able  and  talented  men,  he  took 
prominent  part  through  the  many  stormv  .ses- 
sions of  the  Illinois  Constitutional  Convention 
of  18G1  that  gave  to  Illinois  I>er  present  State 
Constitution.  Porter  Sheldon  was  born  at  Vic- 
tor, Ontario  county,  New  York,  September  29, 


1831,  and  is  a  son  of  Gad  and  Eunice  (Hors- 
ford)  Sheldon.  The  genealogical  record  of  the 
Sheldon  family  in  western  New  York  begins 
with  Capt.  Sheldon,  M'ho  was  a  descendant  of 
the  Sheldons  who  emigrated  from  Germany  to 
England,  and  from  thence  came  to  Vermont,  and 
afterwards  settled  in  New  York.  Capt.  Sheldon 
(grandfather)  was  an  officer  in  the  war  of  1812, 
and  after  its  close  removed  to  Monroe  county,  this 
State.  His  son,  Gad  Sheldon  (father),  was  born 
in  Vermont,  reared  iu  Monroe  county,  and 
early  in  life  became  a  resident  of  Ontario  coun- 
ty, whei'e  he  died  in  1874.  He  was  a  farmer, 
and  married  Eunice  Horsford,  a  native  and 
resident  of  New  York.  Their  family  consisted 
of  five  sons  and  one  daughter :  Mary  E. ; 
Charles  H.,  a  real  estate  dealer  of  Rochester, 
N.  Y.  ;  Carton  ^X.,  of  Rockford,  Illinois,  and 
secretary  of  a  large  insurance  company  having 
its  principal  office  at  that  place ;  Alexander,  a 
prominent  lawyer;  Porter  and  Ogilvie. 

Porter  Sheldon  received  his  education  in  the 
common  schools  of  Ontario  county,  and  Fre- 
donia  academy  of  Chautauqua  county,  from 
which  he  was  graduated  iu  the  class  of  1852. 
After  graduation  he  took  up  the  study  of  law 
with  George  Barker,  afterwards  read  with  Alvah 
Warden,  a  prominent  lawyer  of  Ontario  county 
and  a  brother-in-law  of  William  H.  Seward, 
and  was  admitted  to  the  bar  of  the  Supreme 
Court  at  Batavia  in  1854.  Immediately  after 
admission  he  formed  a  partnership  with  his 
brother  Alexander,  at  Randolph,  Cattaraugus 
county,  where  he  remained  until  1856,  when  he 
came  to  Jamestown  and  opened  an  office.  The 
next  year  he  removed  to  Rockford,  Illinois, 
where  he  secured  a  lucrative  practice,  and  at- 
tained such  favorable  standing  with  the  peojJe 
of  Winnebago  county  that  he  was  elected  in 
1861  from  that  county  as  a  delegate  to  the  State 
Constitutional  Convention  of  that  year.  He 
was  one  of  the  twenty-two  republican  niembers 
of  that  notable  body,  which  contained  many  of 
the  leading  meu  and  ablest  jurists  of  that  State. 


Ol 


-€, 


OF  CHAUTAUQUA   COUNTY. 


25 


Convened  aniidsl.  tlic  oi)ening  scenes  of  the 
greatest  war  of  modern  times,  tlie  convention 
was  agitated  in  its  deliberations  by  tlie  intro- 
ductiou  of  sectional  topics  and  tlie  exliibition 
of  sectional  prejudice.  He  took  a  prominent 
part  in  some  of  its  stormy  sessions,  and  thus 
became  well  known  throngliout  the  State.  Five 
years  later — in  August,  18(56^he  returned  to 
Jamestown,  and  formed  a  la\\'-partncrshi|)  witii 
his  brother  Alexander,  wiio  died  shortly  after- 
wards. From  that  time  until  the  present  he 
has  practiced  continuously,  i)ut  al)out  five  years 
ago  he  retired  from  the  main  part  of  his  com- 
mon practice,  and  since  then  has  only  appeared 
in  some  of  the  most  important  cases  that  have 
come  before  the  courts.  In  1868  he  was  elected 
a  member  of  the  Forty- first  Congress  to  repre- 
sent the  then  Thirty-first  District  of  New  York, 
composed  of  the  counties  of  Chautauqua  and 
Cattaraugus.  His  services  in  that  body  were  of 
such  a  character  as  to  win  the  approval  of  his 
entire  constituency  of  all  parties. 

May  12,  1858,  he  married  Mary  Crowley, 
daughter  of  Hon.  Rufus  Crowley,  of  Randolph, 
Cattaraugus  county,  N.  Y.,  who  was  a  promi- 
nent republican  leader  of  that  county,  and  has 
served  several  terms  as  a  member  of  the  State 
Legi.slature.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Sheldon  are  the 
parents  of  three  children:  Cora,  wife  of  Her- 
bert W.  Tew,  cashier  of  the  City  National  Bank  ; 
Ralph  C,  engaged  iu  busine.ss  with  his  father ; 
and  Harry,  a  clerk  in  the  City  National  Bank. 

Mr.  Sheldon  is  a  large  man,  of  fine  personal 
appearance  and  agreeable  manners.  He  is  pres- 
ident of  the  American  Aristotype  Company  of 
Jamestown,  and  in  various  other  ways  is  inter- 
ested in  the  thrift  and  advancement  of  his  city. 
No  man  iu  the  State  has  made  a  better  I'eputa- 
tion  as  a  lawyer,  and  no  man  in  the  county  is 
more  popular  with  his  fellow-citizens  than  Mr. 
Sheldon.  His  reputation  is  lasting  and  his  popu- 
larity is  enduring,  for  the  one  is  founded  on  his 
acknowledged  ability  as  a  lawyer,  and  the  otlier 
upon   his  useful    services  rendered  this  county. 


T\  USTIN  H.  STAFFORD,  ex-clerk  of  the 
^^*-  courts  of  Chautanqua  county,  commander 
of  James  M.  Brown  Post,  (Jrand  Army  of  the 
Republic,  and  a  member  of  the  reliable  and 
successful  pension  attorney  firm  of  Walter  & 
Stafford,  of  Jamestown,  wa.s  born  in  the  town 
of  Ellington,  Chautauqua  county,  New  York, 
August  27,  1843,  and  is  a  .son  of  Lieut.  John 
A.  and  Polly  (Rubblce)  Stafford.  Among  the 
carlv  .settlers  of  the  town  of  Ellin<iton,  this 
county,  was  John  Stafford,  the  paternal  grand- 
father of  Austin  H.  Stafford.  He  was  a  car- 
penter and  contractor  and  married  Sophia  Ran- 
dall, who  bore  him  nine  children  :  Abel,  Sophia, 
Electa,  Isaac,  Sally,  Orinda,  Ru.s.sell,  Martin  and 
John  A.  On  the  maternal  side,  Austin  H. 
Stafford's  grandfather  was  Rolli  Rubblee,  a  na- 
tive of  Lanesboro',  Massachusetts,  who  settled 
in  the  town  of  Ellington  in  an  early  day — 1823. 
When  he  first  came  he  traded  his  hor.se  ou  his 

j  land  and  then  walked  back  to  Lanesboro'  and 
brought  out  his  family.  His  wi  fe  was  Betsy  Green. 
He  M'as  a  farmer  and  one  of  the  founders  of  the 

!  old  Christian  church  of  Ellington.  Lieut.  John 
A.  Stafford  (father)  was  born  in  1817  and  died 

j  in  his  native  town  of  Ellington  in  1844.  He 
was  a  carpenter  by  trade,  a  well-respected  citi- 

!  zen  of  the  community  in  which  he  resided  and 
was  a  lieutenant  iu  the  New  York  militia.  His 
wife  was  Polly  Rubblee,  and  they  had  three 
children :  Martin  J.,  who  enlisted  in  Company 
A,  112th  regt.,  N.  Y.  Vols.,  in  July,  1862, 
fought  at  Fort  Sumter,  in  the  Wilderness  cam- 
paign and  at  Fort  Fisher,  and  died  at  home  in 
1872  from  the  effects  of  exposure  ;  Joseph,  who 
was  the  first  man  in  April,  1861,  to  enlist  in 
Company  H,  37th  regt.,  N.  Y.  Vols.,  served 
two  years,  re-enlisted,  became  a  memlier  of  Com- 
pany K,  9th  N.  Y.  Cavalry,  served  till  the  close 
of  the  war  and  now  resides  at  Midland  City, 
Michigan,  where  he  is  an  oil  producer;  and 
Austin  H.  Mrs.  Stafford,  after  her  husband's 
death,  married  Joseph  Nestle,  and  is  now  sev- 
eutv  three  vears  of  atre. 


26 


BIOGRAPHY  AND  HISTORY 


Austin  H.  Stafford  received  his  education  in 
the  common  schools.  When  a  boy  he  worked 
in  a  woolen  factory  until  he  was  thirteen  years 
of  age.  He  then  learned  the  carpenter  and 
cooper  trades,  and  in  1867  became  proprietor  of 
a  butter-tub  and  cheese-case  manufacturing  es- 
tablishment at  Ellington.  In  18(i9  he  was  un- 
fortunate enough  to  have  his  left  hand  so  badly 
crushed  in  the  factory  as  to  be  unable  to  work 
auy  longer  at  that  business.  He  then  engaged 
in  the  produce  business,  which  he  followed  until 
1885,  when  he  was  elected  county  clerk  by  the 
Republican  party  of  Chautauqua  county,  and 
ran  700  votes  ahead  of  his  ticket.  He  served 
very  satisfactorily  in  that  office,  and  at  the  end 
of  his  term  in  1888  he  took  one  year's  vacation 
from  business,  which  he  spent  in  traveling.  In 
January,  1890,  he  and  Joseph  M.  Walter  formed 
a  partnership  under  the  firm-name  of  Walter  & 
Stafford,  and  became  United  States  pension  at- 
torneys and  notaries  public  in  Jamestown.  In 
a  few  months  they  have  handled  a  large  number 
of  cases  and  have  been  very  successful. 

On  Feln'uary  0,  1809,  he  married  Louise  M., 
daughter  of  Warren  Arnold,  of  Ellington.  They 
have  two  children  :  De  Leo  and  James  P. 

The  military  career  of  Mr.  Stafford  com- 
menced on  August  4,  1862,  when  he  enlisted  in 
Company  B,  112th  regt.,  N.  Y.  Vols.  He 
served  in  the  Army  of  the  James,  Army  of  the 
Potomac  and  under  Sherman  in  North  Carolina. 
He  participated  in  many  battles  and  numerous 
skirmishes  with  his  regiment.  He  was  in  the 
very  front  of  the  storming  of  Fort  Fisher,  and 
was  honorably  discharged  June  13, 1865.  Wiien 
the  Grand  Army  of  the  Republic  was  organized 
in  the  county  he  became  prominent  in  the  move- 
ment and  has  served  as  coniniander  of  three 
different  posts.  He  is  a  member  of  the  A.  (). 
U.  W.,  Royal  Arcanum,  Odd  Fellows  and 
Jamestown  Methodist  Episcopal  church.  Mr. 
Stafford  has  always  been  a  republican,  is  proud 
of  the  fact  of  casting  his  first  vote  for  Abraham 
Lincoln  in  1861  mid  has  been  chosen  rei)eatedly 


by  his  party  as  a  delegate  to  State  and  county 
conventions.  In  addition  to  his  Jamestown 
agency  Mr.  Stafford  has  a  controlling  interest  in 
a  very  profitable  real  estate  business  in  the  city 
of  Buffalo,  N.  Y.  Active,  energetic  and  reli- 
able in  whatever  he  undertakes,  he  is  now  in  the 
midst  of  a  very  successful  business  career. 


^HEODOKE  F.  VAX  DUSEN,  an  active 
-*-  business  man  of  Jamestown  and  one  of  the 
coroners  of  Chautauqua  county,  is  a  son  of  Ben- 
jamin F.  and  Mehitable  (Lovell)  Van  Dusen, 
and  was  born  in  Jamestown,  Chautauqua  county, 
New  York,  June  8,  1846.  His  remote  ances- 
tors on  the  paternal  side  were  natives  of  Hol- 
land. Several  members  of  this  Van  Dusen 
fan)ily  came  from  their  home  in  that  country 
and  settled  at  an  earlj'  day  at  Claverick,  in  what 
is  now  Columbia  county.  New  York.  In  1720 
Abraham  Van  Dusen,  a  descendant  of  one  of 
these  Van  Dusens,  went  to  Connecticut,  where 
he  settled  at  Salisbury.  He  was  the  father  of 
John  Van  Dusen,  who  was  the  grandfather  of 
Theodore  F.  Van  Dusen.  John  Van  Dusen 
had  a  son,  John  Van  Dusen,  Jr.,  who  married 
Mary  Forbes  and  reared  a  family  of  six  chil- 
dren :  Alonzo,  IMarshall,  Harry,  Elizabeth, 
Benjamin  F.  and  Edwin,  who  enlisted  as  a  sol- 
dier in  the  Federal  army  during  the  late  war 
and  was  killed  in  one  of  the  battles  of  that 
great  struggle.  Benjamin  F.  Van  Dusen,  the 
fourth  son  and  fifth  child  of  the  family,  was 
born  in  Perry,  Wyoming  county,  New  York, 
January  3,  1815.  He  learned  the  trade  of  cab- 
inet-maker and  came  in  1842  to  Jamestown, 
where  he  was  engaged  for  many  years  in  the 
cabinet-making  business  and  wiiere  he  has  re- 
sided ever  since.  He  is  a  re[)ublican  in  jiolitics 
and  a  member  of  the  Baptist  church.  He  mar- 
ried Mehitable  Lovell,  who  is  a  daughter  of 
William  Lovell,  a  native  of  Maasachusetts. 
Their  children  are:  Judge  Almon  A.,  whose 
iiiography  appears  in  this  volume  in  connection 
with  the  Mayville  sketches;  'I'hcodore  F.  and 


OF  CHAUTAUqVA    COUNTY. 


27 


<jreorge  C,  an   attorncy-at-law  (sec  Ins  sketch).  ' 
Theodore  F.  Van  Diisen  was  reared  at  James- 
town, wlirre   he   reeeived   his  education,  in  tlie 
public  scliools  of  tliat  city.     Leaving  sciiool,  lie 
learned   the   trade   of    eabinct-nniker   with    his 
father,  and   in   1870  removed  to  Sugar  Grove,  I 
Warren  county,  I'a.,  where  he  embarked  in  the 
undertaking  business.     Four  years  later  he  re- 
turned to  Jamestown,  where  he  formed  a  jjart-  ' 
nershipwith  his  brother,  George  C.  Van  Dusen, 
in  their  j)resent  undertaking  business,  under  the 
firm-name  of  Theodore  F.  Van  Dusen  &  Bro. 
Mr.  Van  Dusen  gives  a  considerable  portion  of 
his  time  to  his  well-established  and  prosperous 
business,  and  is  amply  prepared  to  furnish  any- 
thing  to  be  found  in  a  first-class  undertaking  ' 
establishment.     He  is  secretary  of  the  Chautau- 
qua County  Undertakers'  Association,  and  was 
elected  coroner  of  the  county  in  1887. 

He  married,  February  20,  1866,  Frances  A. 
Smith,  a  daughter  of  Ezra  Smith,  a  farmer  of 
the  town  of  Poland.    To  their  union  have  been 
born  four  children:  Vesta  M.,  Nellie  G.,Theo-  \ 
dore  E.  and  Alice  L.,  who  died  young.  ! 

Theodore  F.  Van  Dusen  is  a  member  of  the 

I 

First  Baptist  church  and  a  member  and  Past  i 
Grand  of  Ellicott  Lodge,  No.  221,  I.  O.  O.  F. 
In  political  matters  he  is  a  republican.  For 
the  last  ten  years  he  has  been  a  member  and  the 
secretary  of  the  board  of  health  of  Jamestown. 
He  is  also  serving  his  city,  at  the  present  time, 
as  register  of  vital  statistics. 


■\  >EKXOX  E.  PECKHAM,  a  member  of  the 

•■'  Chautauqua  county  bar  in  successful  prac- 
tice in  Jamestown,  is  a  descendant,  through 
one  of  his  ancestors,  of  Capt.  John  Smith,  the 
real  founder  of  the  Virginia  Colony,  and  the 
first  thorough  explorer  of  the  New  England 
coast,  and  whoso  meteor-like  career  in  America 
for  the  benefit  of  English  civilization  made  a 
lasting  impression  on  the  world's  history. 

Vernon  E.  Peckham  was  born  in  Alleganv 
county.  New  York,  October  1,  1849,  and  is  a 


son  of  Lauriston  and  Mary  J.  (Bacon)  Peck- 
ham.  His  paternal  grandfather,  Josej)h  Peck- 
ham,  was  boi'u  in  1786,  in  Ithode  Island,  and 
removed  in  early  life  to  near  Boston,  Massachu- 
.setts,  which  he  soon  left  to  settle  in  New  York. 
He  first  located  temporarily  in  Cortland,  lint 
soon  settled  permanently  in  Allegany  county, 
where  he  died  in  1873,  at  the  ri])e  (jld  age  of 
eighty-seven  years.  He  was  a  farmer  by  occu- 
pation, a  carpenter  by  trade,  a  Ba])tist  in  church 
membershi]),  and  a  republican  in  political  senti- 
ment. He  married  Julia  Smitii,  who  traced 
her  ancestry  back  to  Capt.  John  Smith,  the  hero 
of  Virginia's  early  history.  Their  family  num- 
bered four  sons  ami  four  daughters.  One  of 
these  sons,  Lauriston  Peckham  (father),  was 
born  February  5,  1823,  at  Homer,  N.  Y.,  and 
now  resides  at  Angelica,  this  State.  At  twenty- 
one  years  of  age  he  learned  the  carpenter's 
trade,  but  soon  afterwards  jjurchased  a  large 
farm,  which  he  tilled  up  to  1871,  when  he  sold 
it  and  retired  from  active  life.  He  is  a  re- 
markably industrious  and  very  even-tempered 
man,  and  supports  the  Republican  party.  He 
mari'ied  Mary  J.  Bacon,  and  they  have  but  one 
child,  the  subject  of  this  sketch.  Mrs.  Peck- 
ham is  a  woman  of  unusual  good  judgment  and 
business  ability,  and  her  husband  and  son 
ascribe  much  of  their  success  in  life  as  due  to 
her  wise  counsels,  judicious  suggestions  and  in- 
spiriting words.  She  was  born  February  10, 
1824,  and  is  a  daughter  of  Thomas  Bacon,  who 
was  the  son  of  a  Mr.  Bacon,  a  merchant  wlio, 
in  the  early  histor}'  of  Boston,  had  a  store  on 
Bacon  street,  now  called  Becon,  although  spelled 
Bacon.  Thomas  was  left  an  orphan  at  the  age 
of  nine  years  and  went  to  .sea,  which  he  followed 
for  many  years,  until  shipwrecked  off  the  coast 
of  Nova  Scotia ;  he  was  one  of  only  three  of 
the  whole  crew  that  succeeded  in  reaching  shore. 
Among  the  .sailors  he  was  known  as  honest 
Scotch  Bacon,  and  was  an  honorably  discharged 
soldier  of  the  war  of  1812.  He  married  Betsy 
Woodcock,  of  Vermont,  and  came  to  Allegany 


28 


BIOGRAPHY  AND  HISTORY 


county,  this  State,  where  they  reared  a  family 
of  six  ehildreu,  one  son  and  five  daughters. 
Thomas  Bacon  was  a  man  of  great  will  power, 
scrupulous  honesty  and  uutiring  energy. 

Vernon  E.  Peckliam  received  liis  education 
in  district  schools,  and  the  Belfast  academy, 
Allegany  county.  New  York.  After  finishing 
his  course  in  the  Belfast  Academy,  he  followed 
teaching  for  three  or  four  years,  and,  in  1873, 
commenced  the  study  of  law  M-ith  Hon.  D.  P. 
Eichardson  at  Angelica,  New  York,  and  was 
admitted  to  the  baron  April  7, 1878,  at  Roches- 
ter, N.  Y.  In  the  following  August  he  went 
to  Attica,  Wyoming  county,  where  he  purchased 
the  office  and  books  of  ex-Judge  M.  Thrall, 
and  commenced  the  practice  of  his  profession. 
He  remained  five  years,  and  then  was  compelled 
to  leave  a  very  flattering  practice  on  account  of 
failing  health.  After  one  year  spent  at  Omaha,  j 
he  returned  to  his  father's,  where  he  continued  j 
to  gain  in  health.  In  February,  1885,  he 
deemed  himself  sufficiently  recuperated  to  re- 
sume his  profession,  and  came  to  Jamestown, 
where  he  has  been  in  active  practice  ever  since. 
He  is  a  republican  politically,  and  while  in 
Attica,  in  1880,  he  was  elected  justice  of  the 
peace,  and  served  for  one  year,  resigning  when 
he  went  to  Omaha.  He  is  a  Royal  Arch  Mason, 
and  a  member  of  the  Presbyterian  church,  of 
which  his  wife  is  also  a  member. 

January  28, 1880,  he  united  in  marriage  with 
Helen  Cogswell,  of  Attica,  who  is  a  graduate  of 
Attica  Collegiate  Institute,  and  the  Musical 
Conservatory  of  Cleveland,  Ohio.  She  is  a 
daughter  of  Moses  Cogswell,  who  was  a  station 
agent  on  the  Lake  Erie  railroad  for  many  years, 
but  resigned  that  position  to  accept  the  office  of 
general  freight  agent  of  the  T.  K.  M.,  having 
his  headquarters  at  the  city  of  Chicago,  111. 
Returning  from  a  visit  to  his  family  at  Attica, 
he  lost  his  life  on  the  ill-fated  passenger  train 
that  went  down  on  the  Ashtabula  bridge  in  187G. 
Mr.  and  Mr.?.  Peckliam  hnve  two  children,  Mary 
and  John. 


A  list  of  Jamestown's  able  and  successful 
lawyers  is  almost  a  catalogue  of  its  entire  num- 
ber of  attorneys,  and  among  this  uncommonly 
able  array  of  legal  talent  ]\Ir.  Peckham  has 
found  no  trouble  in  securing  and  holding  a  high 
rank.  He  was  associate  counsel  in  the  noted 
Gecirge  W.  Foster  murder  trial,  and  has  taken 
part  in  many  other  important  cases ;  he  has  won 
and  retained  the  good-will  and  respect  of  all 
who  know  him. 


ipDAVAKD  R.  BOOTEY,  who,  in  addition 
-*"^  to  the  reputation  of  being  a  successful  ad- 
vocate, enjoys  popular  distinction  as  one  of  the 
ablest  criminal  lawyers  of  western  New  York,  is 
a  .son  of  Simon  and  Ann  (Convoyne)  Bootey,  and 
was  born  in  Jamestown,  Chautauqua  county, 
N.  Y.,  April  16,  1839.  The  Bootey  name  has 
been  well  and  favorably  known  for  several  gen- 
erations in  Cambridgeshire,  England,  while  the 
Convoyne  family  traces  its  remote  American 
ancestor  back  to  honorable  parentage  under  the 
rule  of  the  "  Grand  IMonarque "  of  France. 
John  Bootey  (grandfather)  was  born  and  reared 
near  Ely,  in  Cambridgeshire,  England,  where 
he  lived  a  quiet  and  honest  life,  and  where  he 
died  the  serene  and  peaceful  death  of  a  Chris- 
tian. His  excellent  character  and  consistent 
walk  in  life  so  recommended  him  as  being  a 
man  safe  to  trust  that  he  was  appointed  as  su- 
perintendent of  a  large  landed  estate,  which 
position  he  held  until  well  advanced  in  years, 
when  by  an  accident  he  was  disabled  for  the 
remainder  of  his  life.  He  was  a  member  of 
one  of  the  churches  which  were  in  opposition  to 
the  established  Church  of  England.  His  chil- 
dren were:  John,  Edward,  William,  Elizabeth, 
Fannie,  Mary,  Philis,  and  Simon.  Of  these 
Edward  and  Simon  (father)  came  to  the  United 
States.  Simou  Bootey  was  born  in  1801,  and 
came  in  1834  to  Jamestown,  where  he  resided 
until  liis  death  in  1875.  The  farm  which  lie 
owned  and  tilled  is  now  within  the  borough 
limits,  iuid   most  of  the  land   is  covered   with 


OF  CHAUTAUQUA   COUNTY. 


29 


buildings.  He  was  an  old-lino  wliig  until  tbo 
Republican  party  was  organized,  wlicu  be  joined 
its  rauks  and  supported  its  ])rinciples  as  long  as 
be  lived.  He  was  a  life-long  opponent  of  bu- 
mau  servitude,  denounced  negro  slavery,  and 
was  one  of  the  early  abolitionists  of  Chautauqua 
county.  He  married  Ann  Convoyue,  a  daugh- 
ter of  llobert  Couvoyne,  and  they  had  seven 
children.  The  three  oldest  were  named  Rebec- 
ca, Nathan  and  Edward,  and,  dying  in  infancy,  | 
the  next  three  children  were  given  respectively 
the  names  of  the  deceased  ones.  The  seventh 
child  was  called  INIary  Ann. 

Edward  R.  Bootey  was  reared  at  Jamestown, 
where  he  received  bis  education  in  the  academy 
at  that  place.  Leaving  school  in  the  spring  of 
1860,  he  entered  the  office  of  Cook  and  Lock- 
wood,  and  commenced  the  study  of  law,  which 
he  had  prosecuted  but  one  year,  when  the  late 
civil  war  burst  in  all  its  fury  and  desolation 
upon  the  laud.  When  President  Lincoln's  call 
for  troops  was  issued,  ]\Ir.  Bootey  left  the  law  | 
office,  and  on  September  10,  1861,  enlisted  in 
Company  C,  Ninth  New  York  Cavalry.  He 
served  in  the  Peninsular  campaign,  under  Gen- 
eral McClellan,  and  was  honorably  discharged 
on  December  8,  1862.  He  then  returned  home, 
resumed  his .  interrupted  law  studies,  and  was 
admitted  to  the  Chautauqua  county  bar  in  1865. 
Immediately  after  admission  he  commenced  the 
practice  of  his  profession  at  Jamestown,  which 
he  has  followed  ever  since.  His  political  career 
commenced  with  his  election,  in  1865,  as  justice 
of  the  peace,  which  office  his  increasing  law 
practice  soon  compelled  him  to  resign.  In  1871 
ho  was  elected  by  his  party  as  district  attorney, 
and  at  the  close  of  his  term  of  office  he  was 
placed  on  what  was  known  as  the  people's  tick- 
et. His  personal  popularity  pi-oved  a  very  im- 
portant factor  in  the  campaign,  and  he  was 
triumphantly  re-elected  by  the  largest  majority 
of  any  of  the  successful  candidates  in  the  field. 
When  his  second  term  as  district  attorney  ex- 
pired, in  1878,  he  declined  all  oilers  of  a  renom- 


ination,  and  resumed  his  law  practice,  which 
had  tiien  iMH'ome  so  extensive  as  to  require 
nearly  all  of  Ids  time.  While  devoted  to  his 
profession,  and  giving  his  undivided  attention 
and  best  thought  to  the  interests  of  his  many 
clients,  yet  no  man  takes  a  deeper  interest  in  the 
political  athiirs  or  the  material  prosperity  of  the 
Empire  State  than  Edward  R.  Bootey. 

In  1876  he  united  in  marriage  with  Emma 
Young,  of  Busti,  this  county,  and  they  have 
one  child,  Edward  R.  Bootey,  Jr.,  born  No- 
vember 25,  1878. 

In  politi('s  Mr.  Bootey  has  always  been  an 
unswerving  republican.  Not  only  does  he  com- 
mand the  full  support  ot  his  own  l)arty,  but  lie 
also  has  a  strong  following  independent  of  po- 
litical consideration,  which  has  been  drawn  to 
him  by  his  integrity  of  character,  his  honesty  of 
purpose,  and  his  efficient  services  when  em- 
ployed in  a  public  capacity.  He  is  a  member 
of  James  M.  Brown  Post,  No.  286,  Grand 
Army  of  the  Republic.  As  a  criminal  lawyer 
Mr.  Bootey  has  been  very  successful,  and  i-anks 
with  the  ablest  of  that  class  in  the  southwestern 
part  of  the  State.  For  the  last  score  of  years 
there  has  not  been  an  important  criminal  case 
in  the  courts  of  the  county  but  what  he  has  ap- 
peared in  for  either  the  prosecution  or  the  de- 
fence. He  was  di.stricl  attorney  in  1872,  at  the 
time  of  the  celebrated  Charles  Mario w  trial. 
He  thoroughly  studies  his  cases,  clearly  grasps 
every  important  point,  and  closely  scans  every 
fact  however  apparently  trifling.  By  these 
means  he  often  constructs  a  plea  of  seeming  ir- 
resistible force,  and  with  swiftness  or  ease,  as 
the  case  demand.s,  frequently  detects  falsehood 
and  confounds  villainy.  His  success  as  a  plead- 
er has  been  remarkable,  his  standing  as  a  citi- 
zen is  very  high,  and  his  popularity  with  the 
people  is  foundeil  upon  the  integrity,  energy, 
honesty  and  fearlessness  in  the  cause  of  right, 
for  which  he  has  always  been  distinguished. 
His  house  is  a  plea.sant  one  and  he  enjoys  life 
abiuidantlv. 


30 


BIOGRAPHY  AND  HISTORY 


TiMLLIAM    aiARVKS'    BEMUS,    M.  D.— 

J**^  One  who  has  kept  pace  with  the  march 
of  i^rogress  which  lias  characterized  medical  sci- 
ence for  the  last  quarter  of  a  ceutury,  is  William 
Marvin  Bemiis,  M.D.,  a  young  and  rising  phy- 
sician and  surgeon  of  Jamestown,  and  Chautau- 
qua couuty.  He  was  born  atMeadville,  Craw- 
ford couuty,  Pennsylvania,  September  2,  1855, 
and  is  the  eldest  son  of  Colonel  George  H.  and 
Julia  (Prendergast)  Bemus.  The  Bemus  and 
Prendergast  families  were  of  New  Euoland  an- 
cestry,  and  located  iu  the  valley  of  the  Hudson 
river  at  an  early  day  in  the  history  of  its  settle- 
ment. Dr.  Bemus'  great-grandfather,  William 
Bemus,  was  born  probably  in  ^Massachusetts, 
and  served  iu  the  Revolutionary  war.  His 
son,  Charles  Bemus,  was  born  on  the  historic 
battle-ground  of  Bemus  Heights,  which  were 
uamed  in  honor  of  the  Bemus  family.  He 
served  as  captain  in  the  war  of  1812.  Dr. 
Daniel  Bemus  (paternal  grandfather)  was  a 
graduate  of  Pennsylvania  University,  and 
served  as  a  surgeon  in  the  war  of  1812.  In 
one  of  the  battles  along  the  Canadian  frontier 
he  was  shot  through  both  knees.  He  lived  to 
be  eighty-six  years  of  age.  Colonel  George  H. 
Bemus  was  born  at  Russellburg,  Warren  Co., 
Pa.  He  read  law,  was  admitted  to  the  bar,  and 
in  1855  located  at  Meadville,  Crawford  Co., 
Pennsylvania,  for  the  pnictice  of  his  profession. 
When  the  late  war  broke  out  he  enlisted  in  the 
Ninth  Penn.sylvania  Reserves,  and  was  com- 
missioned as  first-lieutenant  of  Company  F,  of 
that  regiment.  He  was  successively  promoted 
until  he  attained  the  rank  of  colonel,  and  was 
placed  in  command  of  the  Fifty-eighth  Regi- 
ment Pennsylvania  Volunteers,  which  made  an 
enviable  record  (or  bravery  and  efficient  service. 
After  the  close  of  the  war  he  returned  to  !Mcad- 
ville,  where  he  has  been  engaged  in  tiie  jtrao 
tice  of  law  ever  since.  During  his  residence  in 
Crawford  county  he  has  been  sent  twice  by  his 
fellow-citizens  to  rcpre.seiit  them  in  the  Penn- 
.sylvania House  of  ]^epresentatives. 


\  William  M.  Bemus  passed  his  boyhood  years 
at  Meadville,  and  received  his  elementary  edu- 
cation in  the  jjublic  schools  of  that  place.  At 
sixteen  years  of  age  he  entered  Allegheny  col- 
lege, where  he  remained  two  years,  and  had 
passed  into  the  sophomore  class,  when  he  left 
to  study  medicine  with  tlie  late  Dr.  AVilliam 
Church,  an  eminent  and  highl}'  successful  phy- 
sician of  Meadville.  After  completing  a  full 
course  of  reading  under  Dr.  Church,  he  entered 
the  University  of  Pennsylvania,  in  1876,  and 
was  graduated  from  that  well-known  institution 
in  the  class  of  1878.  He  then  came  to  James- 
town, where  he  has  practiced  his  profession  ever 
since.  In  1887,  he  was  appointed  United 
States  Pension  Examiner  for  the  district  in 
which  he  resides,  and  at  the  present  time  is  a 
surgeon  and  staff-officer  of  the  Fourth  Brigade, 
of  New  York.  For  the  last  eleven  years  he 
has  served  as  health  officer  of  Jamestown,  but 
increasing  practice  has  caused  him  lately  to  re- 
sign his  insurance  positions.  He  is  a  member 
of  Mt.  Moriah  Lodge,  No.  145,  Free  and  Ac- 
cepted Masons,  of  Jamestown. 

On  April  30th,  1881,  he  united  in  marriage 
with  Minnie  ]\I.  Barrows,  daughter  of  R.  J. 
Barrows,  a  leading  lumber  dealer  of  Jamestown. 
Their  union  has  been  blest  with  one  child : 
Selden  Bemus,  born  May  0,  1884. 

Strongly  attached  to  his  profession,  and  de- 
voting his  wliole  energies  to  its  ex.icting  re- 
quirements. Dr.  Bemus  has  deserved  the  success 
whi(^h  he  has  won  by  his  knowledge  and  skill 
as  a  physiciau.  He  lias  been,  during  his  jiro- 
fessional  career,  an  earnest  and  constant  student, 
and  has  kept  well  abreast  of  the  rapid  advances 
of  medical  science.  Of  quick  perception  and 
s(jiuid  judgment,  he  entertains  a  contcmjit  for 
all  slianis  and  pretences  in  his  profession,  He 
is  well  read,  progressive  and  successful  as  a 
])iivsician  and  surgeon,  and  tiie  field  of  his  fu- 
ture distinction   and   usefulness   in  the  medical 

\  profession  will  by  no  means  be  limited  to  the 
lidundaries  of  his  town  or  rouiitv. 


CARL  W,   SCOFIELD, 


OF  CHAUTAUQUA    COUNrV. 


31 


•V.VHLW.  SCOFIKLI),  (iiic  of  tlio  most  siic- 

^^  cp.ssfiil  business  men  tliat  tlic  "  Empii'e 
State "  lias  ever  produced  and  tlie  second 
largest  oil  producer  in  the  woi'ld,  is  a  promi- 
nent and  respected  citizen  of ■  Jamestown  and 
Cliautan(pui  county.  lie  was  born  at  tiie 
village  of  Peterboro,  Madison  county,  New 
York,  November  21,  1838,  and  is  a  son  of  Rev. 
Abislia  and  Elizai)etli  (Marvin)  Scofield.  The 
Scofield  family  of  New  York  is  a  branch  of 
the  Connecticut  Scofield  family.  David  Scofield 
(paternal  grandfiither)  was  born  and  reared  in 
the  vicinity  of  Stamford  in  tiie  ''  Land  of 
Steady  iiabits."  He  was  a  soldier  of  the  war 
of  1812  and  afterwards  settled  in  Greene 
county,  New  York,  where  he  died.  He  was  a 
farmer  and  married  and  reared  a  large  family 
of  children.  His  son,  Rev.  Abisha  Scofield 
(father),  was  born  about  1805  in  Greene  county. 
He  completed  a  full  academic  course  and  then 
entered  one  of  the  foremost  eastern  colleges 
from  which  he  was  graduated  witii  honors.  He 
then  entered  the  theological  school  of  Auburn 
and  was  graduated  from  that  institution  with 
high  standing  in  his  class.  He  was  ordained  to 
the  ministry  of  the  Congregational  church  and 
given  a  charge.  During  the  early  years  of  his 
ministerial  life  he  met  and  became  acquainted 
with  Gerritt  Smith,  who  was  then  entering 
upon  his  life-work  of  proclaiming  chattel 
slavery  as  a  sin  against  God  and  man  and  dc- 
mandino;  immediate  and  unconditional  eniauci- 
pation  of  the  negroes  of  the  south.  Rev.  Sco- 
field warmly  supported  Smith's  advanced  posi- 
tion on  the  slavery  question.  He  accompanied 
Smith  through  the  ditterent  counties  of  the 
State  where  they  spoke  in  denunciation  of 
human  servitude  and  formed  anti-slavery  so- 
cieties. As  an  abolitionist  speaker  and  lecturer 
Abisha  Scofield  aided  largely  in  educating  the 
public  mind  iu  New  York  and  preparing  the 
Empire  State  for  the  important  part  which  it 
was  to  take  in  the  disruption  of  tiie  Whig 
party  on  account  of  its  anti-abolition  tendencies 


and  tiie  estaldishment  of  tlu;  Rejiublican  party 
pledged  to  iiiimi;diate  liiiiitatioii  and  ultimate 
extinction  of  slavery.  For  his  radical  course 
in  agitating  the  slavery  question  Rev.  Si'ofield 
was  called  before  the  Onondaga  conference  of 
his  church  and  silenced  as  a  minister  of  the 
Congregational  church.  He  then  began  the 
work  of  organizing  independent  churches  in 
which  he  was  very  successful.  His  learning, 
earnestness  and  eloquence  made  him  very  power- 
ful in  any  cause  which  he  advocated.  He  now 
resides  at  Spencerport,  west  of  Rochester,  in 
Monroe  county,  on  the  New  York  Central 
Railroad,  and  although  eighty-five  years  of 
age,  retains  much  of  his  old  time  vigor  and 
energy.  He  married  Elizabeth  Marvin,  daugh- 
ter of  a  Mr.  Marvin,  who  was  a  native  of 
Colchester,  Connecticut,  and  served  in  the  war 
of  1812.  He  was  a  ship  owner  and  had  one 
of  his  vessels  destroyed  by  the  English  while 
he  was  in  the  service  of  the  United  States. 
Mrs.  Scofield  died  in  1842  and  left  three  child- 
ren:  Henry,  Carl  W.,  and  William.  Rev. 
Scofield  for  his  second  wife  married  Jeannette 
^Marvin,  sister  to  his  former  wife.  By  his 
second  marriage  he  has  six  children. 

Carl  W.  Scofield  obtained  a  common  school 
education  and  at  fifteen  years  of  age  became  a 
clerk  in  a  bookstore  at  a  very  low  salary.  At 
eighteen  years  of  age,  by  careful  economy,  he 
had  saved  fifty  dollars  and  with  that  small  sum 
embarked  in  the  book  business  for  himself. 
His  venture  was  successful  and  in  a  few  years 
by  his  business  ability,  honesty  and  judicious 
management  he  had  laid  the  foundations  of  his 
future  financial  prosperity.  In  1872  he  ac- 
cepted a  position  on  the  New  York  Lulependent 
but  soon  sought  a  wider  sphere  of  operations 
than  was  afforded  by  his  position  and  organ- 
ized an  advertising  agency  which  he  rai)idly 
developed  until  it  furnished  business  for  over 
8000  newspapers.  After  six  years  of  unceas- 
ing and  toilsome  labor  in  the  advertising  busi- 
ness  his  health   became  impaired  and  he  paid 


32 


BIOGRAPHY  AND  HISTORY 


a  visit  to  his  father-in-law,  Elijah  Bishop,  of 
Jamestowu.  He  then  saw  the  great  future 
possibilities  of  business  and  wealth  that  existed 
in  the  oil  fields  of  western  New  York  and 
northwestern  Pennsylvania.  Having  success- 
fully demonstrated  his  capability  to  organize, 
control  and  direct  a  great  enterprise  of  intricate 
combinations,  he  resolved  upon  embarking  in 
the  production  of  oil  upon  a  large  scale.  With 
him  to  think  was  to  act,  and  he  immediately 
I'emoved  to  Jamestown  and  engaged  in  oil  pro- 
duction and  dealing  in  oil  wells.  As  he  became 
better  acquainted  with  the  great  industry  which 
he  was  developing,  he  enlarged  the  field  of  his 
operations  and  perfected  the  organization  of  his 
vast  business  until  to-day  in  size  and  import- 
ance his  oil  interests  are  second  only  to  those  of 
the  Standard  Oil  Company.  All  his  operations 
in  oil  have  been  of  a  strictly  legitimate  charac- 
ter and  will  bear  the  most  rigid  scrutiny.  His 
career  has  been  so  far  an  illustration  of  the 
wonderful  achievements  of  American  ability 
and  energy.  From  the  lowest  rung  of  the 
ladder  he  has  passed,  by  his  own  exertions,  to 
an  honorable  and  lofty  position. 

In  1870  he  married  Anna  Bishop,  a  daugh- 
ter of  Elijah  Bishop,  of  Jamestown.  They 
have  one  child,  Carl  Wilbour  Scofield,  who  was 
born  June  11th,  1873. 

Although  not  a  church  member,  INIr.  Scofield 
aids  all  the  churches  and  is  president  of  the 
Congregational  society  in  Jamestown.  Being 
a  self-made  man  his  sympathies  are  always  en- 
listed in  favor  of  the  laboring  classes  with 
whose  true  wants  he  is  well  acquainted  from 
personal  experience. 

^fr.  Scofield's  name  has  been  mentioned  as  a 
candidate  fur  Congress,  and  if  he  could  be  in- 
duced to  tiirow  aside  business  cares  for  a  time 
an<l  turn  his  attention  to  public  life,  this  dis- 
trict might  .secure  a  representative  in  Congress 
of  sagacity  and  enterprise.  Mr.  Scofield,  at 
his  handsome  and  elegant  country  residence, 
"  tiie  Bungalow,"  greets   his  friends  cordially 


and  entertains  them  royally.  Decision  of  char- 
acter, honesty  of  ])urpose,  tact  and  sagacity  are 
indicated  in  every  line  of  his  strong,  earnest 
and  intelligent  face,  and  he  seems  to  have  been 
a  man  born  to  achieve  success  and  to  command 
the  respect  and  confidence  of  his  fellow-men. 


/^EORGE  C.  VAK  DU.SEX,  a  member  of  the 

^^  Chautauqua  county  bar  and  a  resident  of 
Jamestown,  is  a  son  of  Benjamin  F.  and 
Mehltable  (Lovell)  Van  Dusen,  and  was  born 
in  Jamestown,  Chautauqua  county.  New  York, 
December  8,  1851.  The  Van  Dusen  family, 
of  Chautauqua  county,  is  descended  from  Abra- 
ham Van  Dusen,  who  is  a  descendant  of  the 
Van  Dusen  family  of  Columbia  county.  New 
York,  who  came  from  Holland.  Abraham 
Van  Dusen  removed,  in  1720,  from  New  York 
to  Salisbury,  Connecticut,  where  he  resided 
until  his  death.  His  son,  John  Van  Dusen, 
was  the  father  of  John  Van  Dusen,  Jr., 
whose  son,  Benjamin  F.  Van  Dusen,  now  resi- 
dent of  Jamestown,  is  the  father  of  the  subject 
of  this  sketch.  For  a  more  detailed  history  of 
the  Van  Duseu  family,  which  is  one  of  the  old 
families  of  New  York,  see  the  biography  of 
Judge  Almon  A.  Van  Dusen,  of  Mayville,  in 
connection  with  that  of  Theodore  F.  Van  Dusen, 
of  Jamestowu.  The  Lovells  (maternal  side) 
are  descendants  of  the  Lovell  family  of  New 
England. 

George  C.  Van  Dusen  received  his  education 
in  the  High  school  of  Jamestown.  He  read 
law  with  his  brother,  Judge  Almon  A.,  was 
admitted  to  the  Chautauqua  county  bar  in  1877 
and  commenced  the  practice  of  law  at  Sherman, 
where  he  remained  for  ten  years.  He  tiien 
came  to  Jamestown  (1887)  and  has  continued 
there  ever  since  in  the  active  ])ra('tice  of  his 
profession.  He  is  a  member  of  the  First  Bap- 
tist church  and  Olive  Lodge,  No.  .'")75,  F.  &  A. 
M.,  at  Sherman.  On  October  27,  1888,  he 
united  in  mart-iage  witii  Lucinda  M.  Sheldon, 
daughter  of  M.  B.  Sheldon,  of  Siiermau. 


OF  CHAUTAUQUA   COUNTY. 


33 


In  politics  George  C  Van  Diisen  has  always 
been  a  strong  (Icmocrat.  Wliil«  residing  at 
Sherman  lie  was  noiiiinatod  by  his  ])arty  for 
justice  of  tiie  peace  and  altiiough  tlie  town  was 
republican  by  two  hundred  majority,  yet  he 
came  witiiin  twelve  votes  of  being  elected. 
Under  President  Cleveland's  administration  he 
served  as  postmaster  of  Siierman  until  1887 
when  he  resigned  and  removed  to  Jamestown. 
He  was  elected,  in  1882,  as  a  delegate  to  the  | 
Democratic  State  Convention  at  Syracuse,  and 
has  the  honor  of  being  one  of  the  sixty-six 
delegates  M'ho  cast  their  votes  on  the  first  ballot 
for  Grover  Cleveland  for  governor  of  New 
York.  In  the  ensuing  gubernatorial  contest 
he  took  an  active  part  as  well  as  four  years  | 
later  when  he  sjtoke  in  tlie  interests  of  Cleve- 
land for  the  presidency.  In  1888  his  time  and 
services  were  freely  given  in  the  presidential 
campaign  of  that  year,  during  which  he  took 
the  stump  and  made  many  speeches  throughout  ; 
western  New  York  in  favor  of  the  claims  of 
Grover  Cleveland  and  Allen  G.  Thurman,  for 
the  presidency  and  vice-presidency  of  the 
United  States.  In  addition  to  his  law  practice 
he  takes  considerable  interest  in  business  aifairs 
and  is  a  partner  witli  his  brother,  Theodore  F., 
in  the  undertakiuo;  business  at  Jamestown. 


ITrNDREW  JOHN  LANSTES,  editor  of  the 
-'^*-  Swedish  paper,  "  Our  New  Home,"  is  a  son 
of  Andrew  and  Louise  Lannes,  and  was  born 
in  the  county  of  Ydre,  Sweden,  November  8, 
1860.  His  grandfather,  Andrev/  Lannes,  Sr., 
was  a  native  of  Sweden,  a  soldier  in  the  stand- 
ing army  of  that  country,  dying  on  the  battle- 
field in  the  wars  against  Napoleon  I.  He  be- 
longed like  his  progeny  to  tiie  Evangelical 
Lutheran  church.  He  married  Margerita  Hak- 
anson,  with  whom  he  had  six  ciiildren,  all  of 
M'hom,  except  one  son,  came  to  America,  where 
the  Lannes  family  is  quite  numerous  in  differ- 
ent states.  Andrew  Lannes  (father)  was  born 
in  Sweden  in   1805,  and  served   dnring  a  long 


life  in  the  army  of  that  country.  In  1859  he 
abandoned  Ijachelorsliip  and  married  Louise 
Larson,  Ijy  wliom  he  had  one  child,  a  son,  the 
subject  of  tliis  sketci).  Andrew  Lannes  (fath- 
er) died  in  Sweden  in  1871,  when  he  was  six- 
ty-eight years  old  ;  his  widow  is  in  her  si.xty- 
fourth  year  and  still  lives  in  Sweden. 

Andrew  John  Lannes  received  his  education 
in  the  colleges  of  Eksjo  and  Linkoping,  Swed- 

I  en,  and  in  a  three  years'  course  at  the  Univer- 
sity of  Upsala,  Sweden.  The  curriculum  fol- 
lowed in  these  seats  of  learning,  copes  suc- 
cessfully with  any  college  in  that  country, 
both  in  deptii  and  variety  of  subject.  In 
October,  1885,   he  emigrated   from  Sweden  to 

I  the  United  States,  stopping  first  at  Kane, 
McKean  county,  Pa.,  where  he  obtained  a  po- 
sition as  clerk  with  a  dry  goods  firm,  bat  in  six 
or  seven  months  afterward,  he  moved  to  Buf- 
falo, N.   Y.,  where  he  followed  the  trade  of 

j  machinist  for  three  years.  In  1889,  he  re- 
moved to  Jamestown,  since  which  time  he  has 

... 
filled   the    position    of  editor   of  "  Vart  Nya 

Hem"  formerly  "Fo/kets  Host,"  a  well-known 
organ  of  national  repute  among  the  Swedish- 
Americans.  The  "  Folkets  Ragt,"  or  the  "  Peo- 
ple's Voice,"  was  established  in  1874  by  a  stock 
company  composed  of  prominent  Swedes  in  that 
section  of  New  York.  Being  a  paper  of  great 
influence,  it  now  follows  the  principle  of  inde- 
pendency to  any  political  influence.  The  paper 
was  published  under  the  title  of  Folkets  Most 
for  nine  years.  In  1883  the  name  was  changed 
to  Vart  Nyn  Hem,  which  title  it  still  bears. 
When  first  issued,  it  was  a  folio,  seven  columns 
to  a  page,  but  when  the  title  was  changed  to 
Our  New  Home,  it  was  enlarged  to  a  quarto  in 
size.  It  is  a  large  weekly  paper  and  has  a 
great  circulation  all  over  the  United  States. 

Andrew  J.  Lannes  is  well  fitted  by  educa- 
tion and  experience  for  the  position  which  he 
now  occupies  as  editor  of  a  paper  published  in 
the  interests  of  the  Swedish-American  citizens 
in  their  adopted  country.     Especially  in  west- 


34 


BIOGRAPHY  AND  HISTORY 


ern  New  York  and  western  Pennsylvania  is  its 
influence  felt. 


nEV.  CHARLES  E.  TUCKER.  "From 
grave  to  gay,  from  lively  to  severe,"  has 
been  aptly  illustrated  in  the  career  of  this  gentle- 
man, and  each  phase  has  been  a  successful  one. 
He  is  a  son  of  George  W.  and  ^lary  (Reed)  Tuck- 
er, and  was  born  in  Bath,  Maine,  December  26, 
1848.  His  paternal  grandfather,  John  Tucker, 
was  a  native  of  Bath,  of  Scotch-English  par- 
entage, and  spent  his  whole  life  in  the  city 
where  he  was  born.  He  was  a  large  real  estate 
owner  there,  and  iu  politics  was  an  old-line 
democrat,  and  in  religion  a  member  of  the 
Methodist  church.  He  married  a  Miss  Payson 
and  tliev  had  three  sons  and  five  daugjliters. 
]\Ir.  Reed  (maternal  grandfather)  was  a  na- 
tive and  life-long  resident  of  Maine.  He  was 
of  Scotch  descent,  was  formerly  a  contractor 
and  builder,  and  iu  politics  a  democrat.  He 
married  and  had  four  sons  and  two  daughters. 
He  served  in  the  war  of  1812,  and  his  widow 
is  still  living,  at  the  advanced  age  of  ninety- 
four  years.  George  W.  Tucker  (father)  was 
born  in  Bath,  and  spent  his  life  there,  where  he 
was  a  large  real  estate  owner.  He  was  a  dem- 
ocrat and  a  member  of  the  Universalist  churcli. 
In  1826,  he  married  Mary  A.  Reed,  and  to 
them  were  born  three  sons  and  two  daughters. 
One  son,  George  W.,  was  for  many  years  a  sea 
captain  in  the  merchant  marine,  but  has  re- 
tired, and  resides  in  Brooklyn,  N.  Y.  Another 
son,  Henry  S.,  is  a  stock  broker  in  Rochester, 
N.  Y. 

Charles  E.  Tucker  was  educated  in  tlic  jjub- 
lic  schools  of  Bath,  and  at  St.  Jjawrence  uni- 
versity, at  Canton,  tliis  State.  He  entered  the 
Universalist  ministry  and  occupied  pulpits  for 
tliirteen  years,  in  Maine,  Massachusetts,  New 
Haven,  Conn.,  and  Titusville,  Pa.  In  1880 
he  exchanged  theology  for  business,  and  en- 
gaged in  tiie  i)roduction  of  oil  in  Bradford,  Pa., 
where  he  remained  ten  years.     In  tlic  spring  of 


1890  he  came  to  Jamestown,  and  entered  into 
partnership  with  F.  N.  Marvin,  in  the  manu- 
facture of  shoes,  the  firm  name  being  Tucker  & 
Marvin.  They  manufacture  the  finest  grades 
of  ladies  and  mi.s.ses'  shoes.  Mr.  Tucker  still 
retains  his  interest  in  the  oil  business  in  Brad- 
ford, Pa.,  and  also  owns  a  plantation  of  eight 
hundred  and  sixty-two  acres  on  the  James  river 
in  Virginia,  where  he  breeds  and  raises  blooded 
stock. 

On  December  16,  1874,  Rev.  C.  E.  Tucker 
was  united  in  marriage  with  Mary  Drullard,  a 
daughter  of  Solomon  Drullard,  of  Buffalo,  this 
State,  who  was  the  first  general  freight  agent  of 
the  N.  Y.  C.  &  H.  R.  R.,  occupying  that  posi- 
tion twenty  years,  being,  also,  a  member  of  the 
board  of  directors,  and  also  engaged  in  the  iron 
business,  at  which  he  accumulated  a  lai'ge  for- 
tune. This  union  has  been  ble.s.sed  with  three 
sous  and  one  daughter  :  Charles  M.,  Eddie  D., 
Alice  and  Solomon. 

In  politics  Mr.  Tucker  is  a  prohibitionist,, 
and  is  still  a  member  of  the  Universalist 
church.  He  is  an  accomplished  gentleman,  of 
easy  and  pleasing  address,  suave  in  manner, 
very  approachable,  and  a  genial,  interesting, 
entertaining  companion,  and  his  life's  record 
gives  evidence  of  his  great  versatility. 

© 

■JOEXJAMIX  XICHOLS  is  a  .son  of  Andrew 
■*"^  and  Cordelia  (Holcomb)  Nichols,  and  was 
born  January  1, 1835,  iu  Jefferson  county,  N.  Y. 
His  paternal  grandfather,  David  Nichols,  was 
also  a  native  of  Jefferson  county,  where  he  died 
in  1830.  He  married  Jerusha  Sjtinning,  who 
bore  him  these  children :  Elijah,  Andrew  (father), 
Ijucretia,  George,  Dimick  and  Juliann.  His 
maternal  grandfiither,  Sullivan  llolcomb,  was 
born  in  (tuilford,  Connecticut,  and  emigrated  to 
Jelfcrson  county.  New  York,  where  he  resided 
until  his  death.  He  was  born  in  1776.  He 
was  a  farmer  by  occupation,  i)ut  served  as  a  sol- 
dier during  the  war  of  1812-15.  lb;  was  in 
the   battles  of    Lundy's  Lane  and    Ciiippewa, 


OF  CHAUTAUQUA   COUNTY. 


35 


being  captured  by  the  enemy  in  tiie  lattor  cn- 
gageuieut.  He  married  Abigail  Leo,  who  bore 
him  a  sou  and  four  daughters.  The  son,  Seth, 
located  in  Jefferson  county.  The  father  of  Ben- 
jamin was  born  in  Oneida  couuty,  New  York, 
in  180G,  and  removed  to  Chautauqua  county 
about  1870,  locating  in  Poland,  wiierc  he  is  now 
living.  He  is  a  I'armcr  by  occupation,  in  poli- 
tics a  stanch  republican  and  in  religion  a  Meth- 
odist, being  a  consistent  member  of  the  i\[e(lio<l- 
ist  Episcopal  church.  He  married  Cordelia 
Holcomb,  who  still  lives,  aged  eighty.  They 
had  five  sons  and  three  daughters,  all  living 
except  the  eldest  daughter.  Of  the  others,  Ira 
C.  is  a  mill-man,  residing  in  Kennedy ;  Seth  L. 
is  a  stock-dealer,  who  makes  a  specialty  of  fine 
horses,  in  Minnesota ;  Andrew,  stock-dealer  in 
Minnesota,  and  Isaac  C,  who  lives  in  Ashland, 
Wisconsin,  and  is  a  miner,  owning  and  operating 
extensive  iron-mines. 

Benjamin  Nichols  was  educated  in  the  com- 
mon schools  and  in  Jamestown  academy.  He 
learned  tiie  trade  of  millwright  and  labored  in 
that  vocation  from  1852  until  ISSo,  in  the  latter 
year  engaging  in  the  machinery  and  foundry 
business  in  Jamestown,  and  has  been  interested 
in  that  business  to  the  present  time.  When  he 
entered  the  business  he  had  as  partner  a  Mr. 
Babcock,  whose  interest  he  purchased  in  1887,  ' 
his  son,  C.  M.,  being  admitted  as  partner.  Mr.  I 
Nichols  in  politics  is  a  republican  and  has  served 
the  city  of  Jamestown  as  alderman.  He  and  his 
wife  are  members  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
church.  Mr.  Nichols  located  in  Jamestown  in 
June,  1852,  and  has  been  a  resident  of  that  city 
ever  since,  esteemed  and  re.spected  by  all  who 
know  him. 

On  November  10, 1856,  Mr.  Nichols  married 
Jane  A.  Taylor,  a  daughter  of  Eli  Taylor,  by  ; 
whom  he  has  had  the.se  children  :  Delia,  married 
to  Celestus  Wilcox,  of  Kennedy,  Chautauqua 
couuty,  by  occupation  a  painter,  still  residing  in 
that  town  ;  Melvin  C.  (deceased) ;  Charles  M.,  ^ 
in  business  with  his  father  in  Jamestown  ;  Myr- 


tle; Maud  C.  (deceased),  who  married  Selam 
Parker ;  and  Pearl  L.,  married  to  F.  H.  Oaks, 
(irandcliild — Maude  Allene,  daughter  of  Selam 
and  Maud  Parker. 


jUoit.^IAN  H.  TIIO.MI'SON,  a  veteran  sol- 
4  dier  of  tiic  Army  of  the  i'otomac;,  who 

served  his  country  well  and  honorably  in  the 
trying  times  of  war  and  equally  as  well  in  the 
piping  times  of  peace,  is  a  .son  of  Milliard  C. 
and  Samantha  (Bailey)  Thompson,  and  was 
born  in  Stockton,  Chautauqua  county,  New 
York,  Septemi)er  10,  18.37.  His  paternal 
grandfather,  Abel  Thomp.son,  emigrated  from 
the  eastern  part  of  New  York  to  Stock- 
ton and  erected  the  first  house  in  that  town, 
where  he  resided  until  his  death.  By  occupa- 
tion he  was  a  farmer.  The  maternal  gran<]- 
father  of  Norman  II.  Thomp.son,  was  a  native 
of  the  central  part  of  New  York  State,  but  re- 
moved to  and  settled  in  Stockton  where  he 
resided  until  his  death.  The  father  of  Norman 
R.  Thompson  was  born  in  1811,  in  the  central 
part  of  the  State  of  New  York,  and  was  about 
eight  years  of  age  when  his  parents  removed  to 
Stockton.  After  receiving  such  education  as 
the  common  .schools  of  that  day  afforded,  he 
learned  the  tailor's  trade,  continuing  in  that 
business  during  his  active  life.  In  politics  he 
was  a  stanch  republican,  and  was  honored  with 
the  several  offices  w"ithin  the  gift  of  his  towns- 
men, conscientiously  discharging  the  duties  of 
each.  In  his  early  youth  and  manhood,  he  was 
a  Presbyterian,  but  later  became  a  believer  in 
the  tenets  of  the  Methodist  church.  He  mar- 
ried Samantha  Bailey,  and  she  bore  him  the 
following  children :  Harriet  C,  who  married 
W.  W.  Seeley,  a  carpenter  and  joiner,  residing 
in  Delanti,  N.  Y. ;  Byron  W.,  who  married 
Louisa  Bisell,  and  resides  in  Spartausburg,  Pa. 
He  served  three  years  in  the  army  during  the 
Rebellion,  enlisting  in  1862,  in  Co.  I,  112th 
New  York  Volunteers,  and  took  part  in  the 
battles  of  Cold   Harbor,  siege  of  Suffolk  and 


36 


BIOGRAPHY  AND  HISTORY 


through  the  campaign  in  Florida.  He  was 
■wounded  in  battle,  but  recovered  ;  Frederick,  a 
clerk  in  a  drygoods  store  in  Cleveland,  Ohio; 
Almedia  E.  (dead);  Sarah  J.  (died  young);  ! 
Ella  M.,  married  to  Samuel  Riddle,  who  lives 
in  Bradford,  Pa.,  where  he  is  superintendent  of 
an  oil  lease ;  jNIary  F.,  married  to  Hiram  Hart, 
a  painter  in  Delanti,  N.  Y. ;  George  jNI.,  mar- 
ried to  Hattie  Miller,  and  living  in  Jamestown, 
where  he  is  a  night-watchman;  Eva  (dead);  and 
Norman  R. 

Norman  R.  Thompson  acquired  his  educa- 
tion, mainly  at  Westfield  academy,  this  county. 
After  graduating  therefrom,  he  worked  by  the 
month  on  a  farm,  for  a  season,  and  then  engaged 
in  the  more  congenial  vocation  of  teaching 
school,  in  which  he  continued  for  forty  consecu- 
tive terms.  He  was  apjjoiuted  superintendent 
of  schools  of  Warren  county.  Pa.,  by  State  j 
superintendent  J.  P.  Wickersham,  in  March, 
1876,  to  fill  a  vacancy  for  two  years,  at  the  end 
of  which  time  the  people  were  sufficiently  ! 
appreciative  of  his  indefatigable  eiforts  in  pro- 
moting the  interests  of  the  hundreds  of  school 
districts,  to  elect  him  for  the  succeeding  full 
term.  After  serving  successfully  the  entire 
term,  he  removed  to  Jamestown  in  1883,  and 
engaged  in  book-keepiOg  until  the  spring  of 
1890,  when  he  was  appointed  city  treasurer  of 
Jamestown.  He  never  aspired  to  political 
office,  believins  the  ofGce  should  seek  the  man, 
not  the  man  the  office,  and  his  belief  has  been 
strengthened  by  the  popular  vote  in  each  case 
where  he  has  been  an  office  holder  at  the  re- 
quest of  his  constituents.  In  religion  he  is  an 
Inde]K!iKlent  Congregational ist.  His  record  as 
a  soldier  is  commensurate  to  that  of  his  life  as  a 
citizen.  He  obeyed  the  summons  of  his  coun- 
try when  .she  was  in  peril,  and  enlisted  in  Co. 
G,  49th  regt.  New  York  Volunteers,  in  August, 
1861,  Col.  D.  D.  BidwcU  commanding,  and 
served  three  years.  He  entered  as  a  private 
soldier  and  was  soon  ])romoted  to  sergeant  and 
when  honorably  disciiarged,  was  regimental  and 


commissary  sergeant.  He  participated  in  every 
battle  from  the  time  of  his  enlistment,  in  which 
the  Army  of  the  Potomac  was  engaged,  until 
his  discharge.  Three  times  he  was  wounded, 
but  he  declined  to  leave  his  post  of  duty.  He 
several  times  narrowly  escaped  being  captured 
by  tlie  enemy.  He  is  an  enthusiastic  secret 
society  man,  being  an  active  member  of  Mount 
Moriah  Lodge,  No.  145,  F.  and  A.  M.,  James 
M.  Brown  Post,  No.  285,  G.  A.  R.,  Jamestown 
Lodge,  No.  34,  A.  O.  U.  W.,  Chaut.  Lake  Lodge, 
No.  46,  Knights  of  Honor,  Eureka  Lodge,  No. 
20,  Royal  Templars  of  Temperance;  all  in 
Jamestown.  Thus  the  record  of  his  life  offers 
the  best  evidence  of  his  usefulness  as  a  citizen, 
of  his  worth  as  a  man,  and  of  the  esteem  which 
is  justly  his. 

He  married,  August  18,  1868,  Kate  Swift,  a 
daughter  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Gordon  Swift,  natives 
of  New  Entrland,  but  residents  of  Carroll  and 
Jamestown,  Ciiautauqua  county,  N.  Y.,  at  the 
time  of  their  death. 


^IL^RLES  LYON  is  a  sou  of  Alexander  and 
^^  Olive  (VanBerger)  Lyon,  and  was  born 
February  12,  1819,  at  Oxford,  Chenango 
county,  New  York.  His  paternal  grandfather, 
was  a  native  of  Washington  county,  this 
State,  but  emigrated  to  Chenango  county 
where  he  died.  Charles  Lyon's  maternal 
grandfather,  who  was  a  native  of  Holland, 
emigrated  to  America  and  settled  in  Cau- 
andaigua,  this  State,  where  he  resided  until  his 
death.  He  was  a  patriotic  man  and  served  his 
country  well  and  nobly,  doing  his  full  duty  as 
a  soldier  during  the  Wi\r  of  the  Revolution. 
He  married  Hannah  Knapp.  Alexander  Lyon 
(father)  was  born  in  Chenango  county,  N.  Y., 
in  1776,  and  removed  to  Tompkins  county, 
this  State,  in  1825,  where  he  died.  Pic  was  a 
farmer  by  occupation,  and  during  the  exciting 
times  following  the  disajjpearance  of  William 
INforgnn,  he  was  an  intense  anti-lMa^on  and 
alterward  affiliated  witli  tlie  Whig  and   Repub- 


^.  <€.  I^nt 


■'-^-^^J~ir-rXj 


OF  CHAUTAUQUA   COUNTY. 


39 


lican  parties,  nnver  taking  an  active  part,  how- 
ever. In  religion  he  was  a  consistent  nieinber 
of  the  Baptist  eliurcli  and  licld  tiie  ofliee  of 
(leanon  for  a  s(;ore  of  years.  He  was  married 
but  once,  and  iiad  born  to  iiini  thirteen  eiiildren, 
ten  sons  and  three  daugiiters. 

Charles  Tjyon  was  educated  in  the  common 
schools,  and  ai'terwards  tilled  his  father's  farm 
in  Tompkins  county  until  the  autumn  of  1844, 
when  he  emigrated  to  Pennsylvania  and  en- 
gaged in  the  lumber  business.  In  1848  he  re- 
turned to  New  York,  locating  in  Jamestown. 
In  politics  Charles  Lyon  was  a  Whig  until  tlic 
formation  of  the  Republican  party,  in  iSTjiJ, 
when  he  became  a  member  of  that  party  and 
still  continues  firmly  grounded  in  the  faith. 
His  first  vote  was  cast  for  Gen.  William  Henry 
Harrison,  of  "  'J'ippecanoe  and  Tyler  too''  fame, 
the  grandfather  of  the  present  president,  and  he 
has  steadily  voted  the  straight  Whig  or  Repub- 
lican ticket  ever  since.  His  standard  of  charac- 
ter is  above  the  average  and  he  has  the  reputa- 
tion ot  fully  living  up  to  that  standard,  exem- 
plifying in  his  private  and  business  life  all  that 
a  good  citizen  of  the  best  republic  in  the  world 
should  be. 

Ou  September  11,  1839,  Mr.  Lyon  united  in 
marriage  with  Hester  A.  Chapin,  a  daughter  of 
Roderick  and  Sarah  (Clough)  Chapin.  She 
was  born  in  1817.  Her  paternal  grandfather, 
Roderick  Chapin,  was  a  native  of  Washington 
county,  this  State,  and  was  of  English  ancestry. 
He  removed  to  Chautauqua  county  and  lived 
with  the  father  of  Mrs.  Lyon,  who  came  to  this 
county  and  settled  in  tlie  town  of  Kiantone 
{then  Carroll),  in  1828,  when  there  were  not 
more  than  four  houses  south  of  the  creek  that 
runs  through  Jamestown.  He  was  a  farmer 
and  extended  his  usefulness  to  mankind  by 
officiating  as  a  preacher  in  the  Methodist  Epis- 
copal church.  In  the  year  preceding  the  War 
of  the  Rebellion,  he  was  a  stanch  and  uncom- 
promising abolitionist.  Mrs.  Lyon  was  one  of 
a  family  of  seven  children.  To  their  union 
3 


have  been  born  three  children,  two  sons  and 
one  daughter:  Chapin  J.,  who  died  at  the  age 

of  forty-four  ;  Stj)timus,  who  inairied  Charlotte 
Howard,  and  is  now  a  painter  and  paper-hanger 
in  St.  ( 'harles,  Iowa;  and  Sarah,  who  resides 
w  ilir  licr  pai'ents. 

© 

/>^T.ARK  RAWSON  LOCKWOOI),  of  sturdy 
^^  and  honorable  New  England  ancestry, 
has  been  for  about  forty  years  before  the  public 
as  a  prominent  lawyer  of  Chautai^jua  county, 
New  York,  where  he  now  resides.  He  was 
lioru  in  the  town  of  Schroou,  Essex  county, 
New  York,  June  (i,  1827,  and  is  a  son  of  Jere- 
miali  and  Amanda  (Rawson)  Luckwood.  .ler- 
emiah  Lockwood,  Jr.,  (for  that  was  his  father's 
name)  was  born  at  Lanesborough,  Berk.shire 
county,  Mass.,  May  17,  1797.  His  mother  wa.s 
born  at  the  head  of  Schroon  Lake,  Essex  coun- 
ty, N.  Y.,  February  4,  1800,  and  is  .said  to  have 
been  the  first  white  female  child  born  in  the 
town  of  Schroon.  Jeremiah  Lockwood,  Sr. 
(paternal  grandfather  of  C.  R.  L.),  came  from 
Massachusetts  to  Schroon  in  the  year  1810. 
His  birth-place  was  Norwalk,  Conn.,  but  when 
quite  young  he  moved  to  Massachusetts,  where 
on  January  19,  1776,  he  was  united  in  mar- 
riage with  Mehitable  Clark.  At  the  time  of 
their  removal  to  Schroou  they  had  three  sons 
living,  of  whom  Jeremiah,  Jr.,  was  one.  Jere- 
miah, Jr.  and  Amanda  Rawson  were  married 
at  Schroon  Lake  about  the  year  1819,  and  con- 
tinued to  reside  in  the  town  of  Schroon  down 
to  the  death  of  Amanda,  which  occurred  June 
22,  1850.  The  permanent  home  of  Jeremiah, 
Jr.,  and  family  was  about  two  miles  north  of 
Schroon  Lake,  where  for  many  years  they  kept 
what  was  known  as  "  Lockwood's  Tavern." 
November  20,  1856,  Jeremiah,  Jr.,  married 
Mrs.  JNIargaret  ^IcCafl're  Allen,  a  widow  lady, 
with  whom  he  continued  to  live  down  to  her 
death,  which  occurred  May  15,  1868,  and  about 
June  1,  1868,  he  removed  to  Chestertowu, 
Warren  county,  N.  Y.,  where  he  continued  to 


40 


BIOGRAPHY  AND  HISTORY 


reside  with  his  daughter  Harriet  (who  was  the 
wife  of  Charles  Fowler,)  down  to  his  death, 
which  occurred  April  19,  1869.  Of  the  nine 
children  born  to  Jeremiah,  Jr.,  and  Amanda 
(Rawson)  Lockwood,  thei-e  are  now  living : 
Harriet  R.,  Henry  F.,  Pamelia  J.  and  Clark 
R.  Amanda  (Rawson)  Lockwood  was  the 
daughter  of  Simeon  and  Anna  (Holden)  Raw- 
son,  who  moved  from  Shrewsbury,  Vt.,  to 
Schroon,  in  the  year  1798,  and  where  both  re- 
mained dowq  to  their  deaths  which  occurred 
many  years  since.  There  were  born  to  them 
eleven  children,  the  last  of  whom,  Saffoi'd  Raw- 
son,  of  Leroy,  Genesee  county,  N.  Y.,  died  in 
May,  1891,  being  ninety-six  years  of  age  De- 
cember 9,  1890.  If  there  be'  credit  in  adding 
multitudes  to  the  human  family,  then,  indeed, 
both  the  Lockwoods  and  Rawsons  are  entitled  to 
very  much,  for  from  their  households  have 
sprung  numerous  children  who,  to  greater  or 
less  extent,  have  made  their  mark  in  the  world. 
Clark  R.  Lockwood  received  his  early  edu- 
cation in  the  common  schools  of  his  native 
town.  At  the  age  of  about  sixteen  years  he 
entered  the  wagon-shop  of  Jonathan  Stevens, 
of  Castleton,  Vt.,  for  the  purpose  of  learning 
the  trade.  His  health  was  not  good,  and  after 
remaining  in  the  shop  about  eighteen  months, 
he  was  obliged  to  leave  the  business,  which  he 
did  and  returned  to  his  home.  After  recruiting 
in  health,  and  as  soon  as  able,  he  commenced 
attending  school  with  the  view  of  fitting  him- 
self for  other  duties.  For  several  winters  he 
taught  school  in  his  native  district  and  adjoin- 
ing towns,  and  summers  attended  school  at  Ti- 
conderoga,  N.  Y.  and  Poultney,  Vt.  Con.sid- 
erable  of  his  time  was  devoted  to  the  learning 
of  the  French  language;  and  hoping  to  make 
greater  proficiency  therein,  he  went  to  Canada 
where  he  remained  in  a  French  family  for  quite 
a  time,  learning  to  speak  the  language,  which 
he  did  so  well  as  to  enable  him  to  in.struct  oth- 
ers. During  these  several  years  his  jihysical 
health   was   very  mych  improved,   and   he  re- 


solved to  engage  in  something  for  permanent 
business,  and  through  the  assistance  of  Mr.  A^ 
R.  Catlin,  then  of  Jamestown,  he  secured  an 
opportunity  for  reading  law  in  the  office  of  Or- 
sell  Cook,  at  that  time  an  active  and  jiopular 
lawyer  also  residing  in  Jamestown.  Almost 
penniless  and  with  but  little  eucouragement,  ex- 
cept through  his  own  resolutiou,  in  August, 
1S49,  he  left  home  for  Jamestown  where  he 
arrived  August  24,  and  on  the  next  day  com- 
menced as  a  law  student  with  Mr.  Cook.  This 
proved  to  be  a  very  favorable  opportunity  for 
learning  law,  as  Mr.  Cook  had  an  e.\:tensive  cli- 
entage and  the  field  for  practice  in  the  lower 
courts  was  such  that  theoretical  and  practical 
knowledge  were  constant  aids  to  each  other. 
Mr.  Cook,  too,  was  an  industrious  worker  and 
gave  to  his  students  the  fullest  opportunities  for 
improvement,  so  that  the  main  things  needed 
for  professional  success,  were  willingness  of  and 
actual  application,  all  of  which  C.  R.  Lock- 
wood  possessed.  Poverty  of  circumstances  com- 
pelled constant  labor  and,  after  reading  and 
office  work  for  less  than  a  year,  he  commenced 
trying  cases  in  Justice's  court,  from  which  he 
derived  a  sufficiency  to  nearly  support  him,  in 
that  great  economy  in  dress  was  exercised,  and 
he  boarded  himself  in  the  office  where  he  kept 
"  bachelor's  hall"  for  several  years.  During 
this  time  he  taught  a  term  of  school  in  what 
was  known  as  the  Pine  street  school-house,  then 
located  on  the  corner  of  Fourth  and  Pine 
streets  in  Jamestown.  Diu-ing  the  winter  of 
1852  and  1853,  Mr.  Lockwood  attended  the 
Fowler  law  school  at  Ballston  Spa,  N.  Y.,  and 
in  the  spring  of  1853,  at  a  general  term  of  the 
Supreme  Court,  he  was  admitted  to  practice  in 
all  the  courts  of  the  State,  and  subsecpicntly  in 
the  United  Statues  Courts.  After  his  first  ad- 
mission, in  1853,  he  returned  to  the  office  of 
Mr.  Cook  where  he  remained  but  a  short  time, 
and  then  entered  into  a  law  partnership  with 
William  M.  Newton,  under  the  name  of  "  Ijock- 
wood  &  Newton."     This  firm   lasted   to  about 


OF  ailMJTAVQUA    COUNTY. 


41 


August  25,  1855,  wlion  the  fornu'i-  principal  and 
student  formed  a  partnership  icnown  as  "  (Jooic 
&  Lockwood."  Under  this  name  tliey  ])rac- 
ticed  their  profession,  down  to  August,  18X0, 
when  Mr.  Jerome  B.  Fislier  was  admitted  into 
the  firm,  whicli  then  assumed  and  continued 
practice,  under  the  name  of  "  Cook,  Lockwood 
&  Fisher."  About  this  time  Mr.  Lockwood's 
health  began  to  fail  and  became  so  ]>oor  that  in 
1881,  under  the  advice  of  his  physician,  he  re- 
tired from  the  firm,  and  for  many  months  re- 
frained almost  entirely  from  the  practice  of  his 
profession. 

On  July  6,  185.3,  Clark  R.  Lockwood  aud 
Miss  Eunice  E.  Wheeler,  of  the  town  of 
Schroon,  were  united  in  marriage,  and  soon 
thereafter  they  commenced  housekeeping  in 
Jamestown,  where  they  have  ever  since  resided. 
Nehemiah  and  Olive  (Fentou)  Wheeler  were 
the  parents  of  Eunice  E.  Their  residence  was 
at  the  head  of  Paradox  Lake,  town  of  Schroon, 
where  Mr.  Wheeler  had  for  many  years  been  a 
prosperous,  and  for  that  country  an  extensive 
lumber  dealer.  Their  family  consisted  of  three 
daughters  and  one  son,  Eunice  E.  being  the 
oldest.  All  the  children  are  now  living  :  Car- 
oline F.  and  Laura  W.  residing  in  Jamestown  ; 
and  Eliza  A.  and  Edward  A.  residing  in  Col- 
orado. Their  parents  died  several  years  since. 
Nehemiah  was  quite  a  prominent  man  in  his 
town,  for  many  years  holding  important  offices. 
His  wife,  Olive  Fenton,  was  a  native  of  Con- 
necticut, and  born  in  the  year  1805,  March  5. 
To  Clark  and  Eunice  E.  have  been  born  three 
children  :  Olive  Amanda,  wife  of  A.  E.  Allen, 
now  residing  in  Jamestown  ;  Lizzie  W.,  who 
died  in  her  childhood  ;  and  Clark  W.,  who  con- 
tinues to  live  with  his  parents. 

It  was  during  the  year  1881  that  Clark  R. 
built  the  "  Opera-house  block"  which  is  located 
on  East  Second  street,  Jamestown.  This  block 
is  87 J  feet  on  East  Second  street,  and  extends 
back  in  depth  150  feet  to  East  First  street.  On 
East  First  street  it  is  six  stories  in  height,  and 


on  Ivist  Second  street  four  stories,  liuildinsr  is 
of  brick  and  stone,  and  was  constructed  under 
the  general  superintendence  of  his  .'ion-in-law, 
Mr.  A.  E.  Allen.  In  the  block  is  "Allen's 
Opera-house,"  which  has  become  quite  noted  in 
the  theatrical  world.  Indeed  the  building  is  a 
bee-hive  of  industry,  and  to  say  that  it  is  an 
ornament  to  the  now  "  city  of  Jamestown,"  is 
no  more  than  its  merits  de.serve. 

After  about  eighteen  months  Mr.  Lockwood's 
health  had  so  much  improved  that  he  re-engaged 
in  professional  work  and,  establishing  his  office 
in  his  block,  he  continued  in  practice  under  the 
name  of  different  partnershi|)s  down  to  the  year 
1888,  when  he  formed  a  partnership  with  Fred. 
R.  Peterson,  under  the  name  of  "  Lockwood  & 
Peterson,"  which  yet  exists.  Believing  in  the 
integrity  of  creation  and  liberal  in  opinion,  0. 
R.  Lockwood  has  ever  repudiated  the  monstros- 
ities and  absurdities  of  "  popular  religion,"  and 
to-day  rejoices  that  advancing  years  verify  his 
l)elief  and  justify  his  course.  Unyielding  in  the 
belief  that  freedom  is  the  natural  and  should  be 
the  governmental  right  of  every  American  citi- 
zen, regardless  of  color  or  sex,  he  was  active  in 
republican  Tanks,  aud  no  one  more  gloried  at 
the  emancipation  of  the  slave  than  did  he  ;  but 
when  the  party  re[)udiated  the  well-earned  and 
equal  rights  of  citizen  women,  he  regarded  it  as 
having  violated  plighted  faith  and  no  longer 
entitled  to  the  fidelity  of  one  whose  principles 
of  Liberty  knew  no  distinction  of  right  thereto 
between  man  and  woman.  Latterly  he  has  de- 
voted his  energies  to  "  political  equality,"  be- 
lieving it  the  sublimi*ty  of  American  6itizen- 
ship,  as  it  will  be  the  ultimate  result  from  in- 
tellectual growth,  personal  need  and  State  and 
National  demand. 

Though  nearly  sixty-four  years  of  age,  Mr. 
Lockwood  has  much  of  mental  and  physical 
vigor  remaining,  and  with  the  exercise  of  ordi- 
nary energy,  there  is  considerable  yet  in  store 
for  him  to  perform  ;  and  judging  the  future 
from  the  past,  we  may  rest  assured  that  it  will 


42 


BIOGRAPHY  AND  HISTORY 


bear  the  impress  of  wouted  perseverance  and 
industry. 

e 

PETER  H.  HOYT,  a  prominent  and  re- 
spected citizen  of  Jamestown,  and  who  is 
a  successful,  self-made  man,  having  begun  the 
battle  of  life  with  comparatively  nothing  and 
accumulated  a  comfortable  fortune,  is  a  son  of 
John  and  Phcebe  (Stiles)  Hoyt,  and  was  born 
July  22,  1838,  at  Mt.  Salem,  Sussex  county, 
New  Jersey.  '  His  paternal  great-grandfather, 
Ebenezer  Hoyt,  was  born  in  Stamford  county, 
Connecticut,  in  1712,  and  married  Mary  Green, 
of  the  same  State.  He  served  in  the  war  of 
1812  and  assisted  in  drawing  a  chain  across  the 
Hudson  river  at  Newburg,  to  prevent  the  Brit- 
ish vessels  further  ascending  that  river.  Peter 
Hoyt  (paternal  grandfather)  was  born  in  Stam- 
ford county,  October  24,  1764,  and  removed  to 
Orange  county,  N.  Y.,  where  he  died.  He  was 
a  farmer,  and  married  Obedience  Haines,  a 
daughter  of  John  Haines,  of  Dutchess  county, 
this  State.  Lewis  Stiles  (maternal  great-grand- 
father) was  a  native  of  Connecticut  and  removed 
to  Orange  county,  N.  Y.,  where  he  died.  John 
Hoyt  (father)  was  born  in  Stamford  county.  May 
7,  1786,  removed  to  Orange  county,  then  in 
1810  to  Sussex  county,  N.  J.,  where  he  pur- 
chased a  tract  of  three  hundred  acres  of  land, 
and  two  years  later  enlisted  and  served  in  the 
war  of  1812.  He  was  a  very  active  democrat, 
a  member  of  the  Baptist  church  and  died  in 
1847,  at  the  age  of  sixty-one  years.  His  brother 
Peter  also  served  in  the  war  of  1812.  He  mar- 
ried Phoebe  Stiles,  by  whom  he  had  ten  chil- 
dren— six  sons  and  four  daughters.  Of  the 
sons,  Archibald  is  a  farmer  in  Orange  county, 
N.  Y. ;  Joel  is  a  merchant  in  Newport,  R.  I., 
but  resides  in  Jamestown  ;  John  T.  is  a  specu- 
lator in  live-stock  in  Orange  county  ;  Peter  H. ; 
Jerard  R.  is  also  a  speculator  in  live-stock  at 
Clinton,  Pa. ;  and  Louis  S.  is  a  coal  dealer,  iron 
manufacturer  and  railroad  man  in  New  Castle, 
Pennsylvania. 


Peter  H.  Hoyt  was  educated  in  the  common 
schools  of  Mt.  Salem,  N.  J.,  and  at  the  early 
age  of  fourteen  years  was  left  to  do  for  himself. 
After  leaving  school  he  began  business,  at  twenty 
years  of  age,  on  his  own  account,  and  opened  a 
grocery  in  Jersey  City,  where  he  remained  seven 
years.  In  1865  he  went  to  New  Castle,  Pa., 
and  engaged  in  the  dry-goods,  carpet  and  grocery 
business  with  his  bother,  L.  S.  Hoyt,  under 
the  firm-name  of  P.  H.  Hoyt  &  Bro.,  where  he 
remained  three  years.  In  January,  18G9,  he 
came  to  Jamestown  and  opened  a  dry-goods, 
carpet  and  clothing  store  at  No.  32  Main  street, 
which  building  he  now  owns.  He  continued  in 
this  business  until  the  autumn  of  1882,  when 
he  sold  his  stock  and  leased  the  buiklino-  in- 
tending  to  go  to  Texas,  but  abandoned  the  idea 
and,  purchasing  some  real  estate  on  West  Third 
street,  built  a  fine  brick  block  of  tenement- 
houses  known  as  the  Hoyt  block,  extending  one 
hundred  and  twenty  feet  front  and  forty-five 
feet  deep,  comprising  five  four-story  houses,  each 
containing  twelve  rooms  finished  throughout  in 
cherry,  maple  and  oak  and  supplied  with  the 
modern  conveniences.  He  has  a  fine  barn  in 
the  rear  and  keeps  a  half-dozen  good  horses. 
He  is  somewhat  interested  in  real  estate  in 
Jamestown.  In  April,  1861,  he  enlisted  in 
Co.  C,  2d  regt..  New  Jersey  Vols.,  going  out  as 
corporal,  but  was  afterwards  promoted  to  first 
lieutenant  of  Co.  K.  He  participated  in  the 
first  battle  of  Bull  Run.  Politically  ]Mr.  Hoyt 
is  a  democrat,  is  at  present  a  member  of  the  city 
council  of  Jamestown  and  is  a  member  of  Blue 
Lodge,  No.  243,  F.  and  A.  M.,  at  New  Castle,  Pa. 

In  December,  18G5,  Mr.  Hoyt  united  in  mar- 
riage with  Jennie  E.  Hogen,  a  daughter  of  John 
D.  Hogen,  a  real  estate  broker  of  Patcrson,  N.  J. 


HAMLIN  BT.ACKMARR  was  a  son  of 
JiansoMi  L.  and  F^jliza  (Bowo)  Blackmarr, 
and  was  born  in  IJusti,  Ciiautan(pia  county.  New 
York,  September  3,  1813,  and  died  February 
25,  1886. 


OF  <  1 1 A  IJTA  UQ I 'A    C  '0  ( 'NTY. 


43 


Hamliu  Blackmarr  was  a  man  of  good  edu- 
cation, wliicli  lie  acquired  at  the  Allegheny  col- 
lege, in  Mcadville,  Pa.,  and  then  engaged  in 
the  mereantile  business  in  Perrysburg,  N.  Y., 
with  his  fatiier,  afterwards  going  to  Ohio, 
where  he  continued  in  the  same  business.  Suc- 
ceeding this  he  returned  to  Pennsylvania,  and 
began  drilling  for  oil,  some  of  his  ventures  be- 
ing tlie  wonder  and  admiration  of  his  less  astute 
contemporaries.  While  a  mendjcr  of  the;  P)rad- 
ford  Oil  Exchange,  it  is  recorded  that  he  made 
the  heaviest  deals  on  record  at  that  time.  Mis 
ability  ranked  with  the  highest,  and  he  was  en- 
abled to  secure  a  fortune  in  a  few  years.  The 
fine  residence  at  No.  417  East  Second  street, 
where  Mrs.  Blackmarr  now  lives,  was  purchased 
by  him. 

In  May,  1870,  Mr.  Blackmarr  united  in 
marriage  with  Maiy  Gray,  a  daughter  of  Dr. 
Henry  and  Mary  (Parkman)  Gray.  This  fam- 
ily were  natives  of  New  York  city,  but  came  to 
Perrysburg,  Cattaraugus  county,  where  Dr. 
Gray  practiced  medicine.  He  was  the  father 
of  five  sons  and  three  daughters.  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Blackmarr  had  but  one  child,  Frank  Hamlin 
Blackmarr,  who  was  born  February  16,  1871, 
and  at  present  is  attending  the  Allegheny  col- 
lege, where  he  is  preparing  for  a  professional 
life. 

In  political  matters  Mr.  Blackmarr  was  a 
republican,  and  a  member  of  the  Ancient 
Order  of  United  Workmen.  He  stood  high  in 
his  community,  and  was  recognized  as  a  man  of 
good  business  ability.  His  loss  was  deeply 
felt  by  his  many  friends,  and  his  remains  are 
interred  in  Lake  View  Cemetery,  Jamestown. 


FIi.\JfK  B.  FIELD,  of  Jamestown,  now 
actively  engaged  in  the  undertaking  and 
picture-frame  business,  is  a  son  of  Chauucey  T. 
and  Emeline  (Rice)  Field,  and  was  born  in  the 
city  of  Jamestown,  Chautauqua  county.  New 
York,  April  4,  1852.  His  grandfather,  Tyler 
Field,  was  a   native  of  Brattleboro,   Vermont, 


fi'om  which  place  he  came  to  Jamestown  in 
182'J.  He  was  a  tanner  by  trade,  but  after  fol- 
lowing the  tanning  business  in  Jamestown  for 
some  years,  he  opened  a  lioot  and  shoo  store, 
which  he  continued  until  his  death.  Jle  was  a 
democrat,  and  married  a  Miss  Dean,  wlio  died 
and  loft  one  child,  the  father  of  the  subject  of 
this  sketch.  He  married  for  his  second  wife  a 
Miss  Cunningham,  who  bore  him  nine  children. 
Cniauncey  T.  Field  (father)  was  born  in  Ver- 
mont, in  1828.  He  was  reared  at  Jamestown, 
where  he  engaged,  at  an  early  age,  in  the  mer- 
cantile business.  JTe  was  successively  a  mem- 
ber of  the  dry  goods  firms  of  Sawdrey  &  Field, 
and  Field  &  lugersoll,  on  Main  street.  On 
January  18,  1875,  he  associated  his  son,  the 
subject  of  this  sketch,  with  him  in  the  l)Oot  and 
shoe  business,  which  he  conducted  until  July 
18,  1885,  when  he  disposed  of  his  stock  of 
goods,  and  retired  from  active  business  life. 
He  is  a  democrat  in  politics,  and  a  prominent 
'  member  of  Mt.  Moriah  Lodge,  No.  145,  Free 
and  Accepted  Masons,  of  which  he  was  treasu- 
rer for  many  years.  November  25,  1850,  he 
married  Emeline  Rice,  and  they  have  two  chil- 
dren :  Frank  B.  and  M.  Genevieve.  The  lat- 
ter died  March  30,  1891,  and  Mrs.  Emeline 
Field  died  May  25,  1891.  Both  mother  and 
daughter  were  favorably  known  in  the  social 
circles  of  Jamestown,  and  their  death  was  uni- 
versally motn-ued. 

Frank  B.  Field  grew  to  manhood  in  his 
native  city,  where  he  received  his  education  at 
the  Jamestown  academy.  Leaving  school  he 
became  a  clerk  in  a  dry  goods  store,  and  at 
twenty-one  years  of  age  went  to  Colorado,  where 
he  spout  some  time  in  gold  and  silver  mining. 
He  then  became  a  salesman  in  the  wholesale  dry 
goods  house  of  Field  &  Lyter  (now  Marshall, 
Field  &  Co.),  of  Chicago.  In  1875,  he  returned 
to  Jamestown,  where  he  became  a  partner  with  bis 
father  in  the  boot  and  shoe  business  until  1885, 
when  they  sold  their  store,  and  he  engaged  as  a 
travcliui>-  salesman   with   tlie  Jamestown  Cane- 


44 


BIOGRAPHY  A}iD  HISTORY 


seat  Chair  Company.  lu  1890,  he  left  their 
employ,  and  on  May  15,  of  that  year,  became 
a  member  of  the  present  undertaking  and  pic- 
ture-frame firm  of  Reed  &  Field.  In  this  line 
of  business,  ^Ir.  Field  has  been  attended  with 
his  usual  good  success,  and  is  rapidly  building 
up  a  fiue  trade. 

On  December  21,  1875,  Mr.  Field  united  in 
marriage  with  Kate  A.  Parsons,  daughter  of 
Dr.  A.  B.  Parsons.  To  their  union  has  been 
born  one  child,  a  daughter,  named  Lilla  K., 
born  December  29,  1876. 

He  is  a  democrat  in  political  opinion,  and  a 
member  of  Mt.  Moriah  Lodge,  No.  145,  Free 
and  Accepted  Masons,  of  which  he  was  Worship- 
ful Master,  in  1885.  He  is  a  charter  member, 
and  was  tlie  first  treasurer  of  Jamestown  Com- 
mandery,  Xo.  61,  Knights  Templar,  which  was 
organized  in  1887. 


VnE  WITT  CLTNTOX  BREED  came  from 
-*^  a  good  old  Puritan  family.  The  first  and 
only  man  by  the  name  of  Breed  (or  Bred,  as  it 
was  then  spelled)  known  to  have  come  to  America 
was  Allen  Breed,  who  emigrated  from  England 
in  1630  with  John  Winthroj),  the  first  governor 
of  Massachusetts,  who,  with  eleven  vessels, 
landed  in  Salem,  Mass.,  only  a  decade  later  than 
the  landing  of  the  Pilgrims.  Mr.  Breed  settled 
in  Lynn,  Mass.,  a  few  miles  from  Boston,  which 
is  now  oue  of  the  largest  shoe  manufacturing 
cities  in  the  world.  In  Salem  he  had  married 
Elizabeth  Kuight,  and  four  sons  resulted*  from 
this  union:  Allen,  Timothy,  Joseph  and  John. 
Alien,  Sr.,  received  a  grant  of  land  comprising 
two  hundred  acres,  which  is  situated  in  what  is 
now  the  north  side  of  the  city,  and  is  known  as 
"  Breed's  End."  His  family  multiplied  greatly 
upon  the  face  of  the  earth,  and  a  little  over  two 
ceiituri&s  from  the  time  he  landed  in  Salem 
(1839),  there  were  two  hundred  and  forty-three 
persons  named  Breed  residing  in  Lynn,  and  it 
is  a  fact  that  one  of  the  family  arose  in  his  seat 
in   licpresentative  Hall,  in  the  State  House  in 


Boston,  a  few  years  ago,  and,  with  a  twinkle  in 
his  eye,  gravely  moved  that  the  city  be  re-chris- 
tened Breedville.  The  name  was  formerly 
spelled  Bread,  occasionally  Breade,  sometimes 
Bred,  and,  back  in  the  sixteenth  century,  Le 
Bred.  During  the  reign  of  Canute,  of  the 
Saxon  heptarchy,  in  1100,  a  Breed  family  left 
Germany  and  settled  in  Sussex  county,  England, 
and  the  place  of  settlement  is  still  known  as  the 
town  of  Breed.  Allen  Breed's  son,  Allen, .had 
a  son  named  John,  who  is  the  ancestor  of  nearly 
all  the  Breeds  who  settled  in  New  York,  Penn- 
sylvania, and  other  Western  States.  He  died 
March  17,  1791,  aged  ninety.  John  Breed 
married  for  his  first  wife  Mary  Kirtland.  They 
had  one  daughter.  John's  second  wife  was 
Mary  Palmer,  and  she  bore  him  six  daughters 
and  four  sons.  One  of  the  son.s,  John,  married 
Mary  Prentice,  and  to  them  were  born  six 
daughters  and  three  sons.  One  of  the  sous, 
Nathan  (great-grandfather  of  De  Witt  C),  was 
born  December  13,  1731,  in  Stonington,  Conn. 
He  married  Lucy  Babcock,  of  Stonington,  and 
by  her  had  four  daughters  and  five  sons.  One 
of  the  sons,  Thomas,  was  the  grandfather  of 
De  Witt  C.  He  was  born  January  3,  1764,  in 
Stonington,  and  married  Elizabeth  Clements, 
.settling  in  Saratoga,  N.  Y.,  on  the  farm  famous 
as  the  place  of  the  surrender  of  Gen.  John  Bur- 
goyne  during  the  war  of  the  Revolution.  He 
died  in  1826,  leaving  a  family  of  seven  sons 
and  five  daughters.  One  of  the  sons  was  Wil- 
liam, father  of  De  Witt  C,  and  he  was  born 
December  24,  1795,  on  the  farm  in  Saratoga. 
The  maternal  grandfather  of  De  Witt  C, 
Solomon  Jones,  was  born  in  Wadsburg,  Ver- 
mont, and  emigrated  to  Chaufanipia  county 
about  1810,  locating  near  Stillwater,  where  he 
purchased  a  large  farm,  now  known  as  "  the 
old  Jones  Farm."  He  afterwards  moved  to 
Jamestown,  and  engaged  in  hotel-keeping  for 
several  years,  and  served  as  justice  of  the  jjcace, 
in  those  days  a  mucii  more  important  and 
liDiiorablc    ollice    than    in    (Iknc     latter    times. 


4>  S  -/kiJi^ 


OF  (JIIAUTAUQUA    COIJSTT. 


47 


Politic-ally  lie  was  an  old-lini!  wliifr,  and  in  rdi- 
eion  a  member  of  the  (.'otijrreirational  clitirei). 
He  married  Clarissa  Howard,  and  had  fourteen 
children,  all  livin<j;  to  malnrity  exoe]it  one,  who 
died  in  infancy.  Tiie  ilither  of  De  Witt  C. 
emigrated  to  Pittsburg,  Pa.,  and  from  thence 
removed  to  Jamestown,  where  he  married  Clara 
Jones,  and  eno-asjed  in  tiie  furniture  and  car- 
pentering  business.  At  this  time  (1823)  James- 
town was  a  very  small  village.  Politically  he 
was  a  whig,  and  later  was  the  only  abolitionist 
in  Jamestown.  W'iieu  tiie  Republican  l)arty 
was  organized,  in  Fremitnt  and  Dayton's  timCj 
he  affiliated  with  it,  and  voted  that  ticket  the 
rest  of  his  life.  For  several  years  he  was  cap- 
tain of  the  Lightfoot  Infantry  of  Jamestown. 
He  was  an  active  and  prominent  member  of  the 
Baptist  church.  By  his  marriage  he  had  one 
son  and  three  daugiiters. 

De  Witt  Clinton  Breed  was  born  in  James- 
town, September  20,  1826.  De  Witt  Clinton 
Breed  was  educated  in  tiie  common  schools  of 
Jamestown,  and  afterward  made  himself  prac- 
tically and  thoroughly  acquainted  with  every 
detail  of  furniture  manufacturintr,  and  took  the 
business  of  his  father,  wliich  he  has  most  suc- 
cessfully managed  to  the  present  time  (1891). 
He  makes  specialties  of  chamber  suits,  side- 
boards and  book-ca^es,  and  employs  seventy 
men,  besides  a  half  dozen  traveling  salesmen. 
In  politics  he  is  a  republican,  having  come  from 
the  Whig  party.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Bap- 
tist church,  of  which  he  is  one  of  the  deacons. 
An  honorable,  successful  business  man  and  a 
res2)ected  citizen,  lie  occupies  an  enviable  posi- 
tion in  the  community  in  which  he  resides. 

De  Witt  C.  Breed  married  for  his  first  wife 
Lucy  A.  Aldrich,  of  Kiantone,  by  whom  he 
had  four  children  :  Clara  I.,  who  married  John 
Aldrich,  a  retail  furniture  dealer  of  Jamestown  ; 
George  W.,  married  and  resides  in  Denver, 
Colorado  ;  Anna  L.,  married  to  Albert  A.  Moore, 
a  merchant  at  Rockwell,  Iowa  ;  Ida  May,  mar- 
ried William  A.  Young,  an   insurance  agent  in 


Jamestown,  and  bo()k-k('e])er.  For  his  second 
wife  he  married  Mrs.  Mary  L.  JIaughwout,  of 
New  York  city,  widow  of  Rev.  B.  P.  Haugh- 
wout,  a  noted  Baptist  minister  of  Fall  Riv(;r, 
Mass.,wliere  he  occupied  a  pulpit  for  fi  fte(,'n  years. 

o 

^HAltLl^S  1<:.  AVKKK.S,  an  active  Ijusiness 
^^  man  and  a  po])nlar  democrat  of  James- 
town, was  born  at  Blossburg,  Tioga  county,  Pa., 
December  3,  1834,  and  is  a  son  of  James  and 

'  Betsy  (.Jennings)  Weeks.  His  paternal  grand- 
father, Samuel  Weeks,  who  was  of  English 
extraction,  was  a  resident  for  many  years  of 
Vermont  and  New  York.  His  son,  Jame.s 
Weeks,  the  father  of  Charles  E.  Weeks,  followed 
wool-carding  for  several  years  in  tiie  "  Keystone 
State,"  at  the  end  of  which  time  he  removed  to 
New  York,  where  he  settled  in  Orleans  county, 
and  lived  a  retired  life  until  his  death  in  1847, 
at  fifty-six  years  of  age.  He  was  a  democrat  in 
politics,  married  Betsy  Jennings,  and  reared  a 
family  of  four  sons  and  three  daughters  :  Mary, 
Walter  J.,  enn;a<jed  in  the  grocerv  business  on 
the  corner  of  Pine  and  Second  Streets,  James- 
town ;  Andrew  J.,  a  real  estate  agent  of  the 
same  city  ;  Charles  E.,  Eliza,  Laura  and  Henry, 
who  is  in  the  grocery  business  in  Jamestowu 

,  with  his  brother,  Walter  J. 

;  Charles  E.  Weeks,  although  born  in  Penn- 
sylvania, yet  was  reared  principally  in  New 
York,  where  he  was  educated  at  Albion  academy. 
At  the  end  of  his  schooldays  he  determined  upon 
a  business  career,  and  in  1856  became  a  merchant 
at  Ellington,  this  county,  where  he  remained 
two  years.  He  then  came  to  Jamestown,  which 
he  has  made  his  permanent  residence  and  place 
of  business  until  tlie  present  time.  The  principal 
lines  of  business  to  which  he  has  devoted  his 
attention  since  becoming  a  resident  of  Jamestown 
have  been  real  estate,  groceries  and  manufactur- 
ing. His  many  real  estate  transactions  and  his 
large  grocery  trade  are  evidences  of  his  business 
ability  and  adaptability  to  commercial  pur- 
suits. 


48 


BIOGRAPHY  AND  HISTORY 


On  December  8,  1856,  he  married  Eunice 
Woodworth,  daughter  of  Erastiis  C.  Woodworth, 
a  native  of  Orleans  county  and  resident  of  Ell- 
ington, now  deceased.  To  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Weeks 
have  been  born  four  children,  three  sons  and 
one  daughter:  Francis  (died  in  infancy),  James 
L.,  Bertha  E.  and  Charles  E.,  Jr.  James  L. 
completed  a  high  school  course,  read  law,  was 
graduated  from  Albany  law  school,  and  married 
Clara  C.  Kingsbury,  of  Westfield.  He  then 
formed  a  partnership  with  his  former  legal  pre- 
ceptors, Bootey  and  Fowler,  under  the  lirm  name 
of  Bootey,  Fowler  &  Weeks,  and  did  the  demo- 
cratic party  good  service  as  a  public  speaker  in 
the  presidential  campaigns  of  1884  and  1888  by 
stumping  the  counties  of  Chautauqua  and  Catta- 
raugus. "  Bertha  E.  is  a  student  at  Wells  college, 
New  York;  and  Charles  E.,  Jr.,  is  engaged  in 
the  real  estate  business  with  his  father. 

As  a  democrat  Mr.  Weeks  has  always  held 
firm  to  the  time-honored  and  cardinal  j)rinciples 
of  his  party,  whose  standard-bearers  have  never 
failed  to  receive  his  earnest  support.  In  July, 
1885,  he  was  appointed  by  President  Cleveland 
as  postmaster  of  Jamestown,  and  served  with 
satisfaction  to  the  citizens  of  the  city  during 
his  term  of  four  years  and  eight  months.  He 
also  served  Ids  city  as  a  member  of  the  school 
board  and  board  of  trustees.  He  was  nomi- 
nated by  his  party  in  1881  as  one  of  their  candi- 
dates for  assemblv,  and  notwithstaudinff  the 
county  was  republican  that  year  by  a  majority 
of  twenty -five  hundred,  yet  he  lacked  but  four 
hundred  votes  of  being  elected,  and  carried  his 
own  city  by  four  hundred  and  twenty-five 
majority.  Owing  to  his  popularity  he  was  made 
the  democratic  nominee,  in  1882,  for  State 
Senator  in  the  Twenty-second  district,  composed 
of  the  counties  of  Cattaraugus  and  Chautauqua, 
and  altiiough  unsuccessful,  yet  ran  far  aiiead  of 
iiis  ticket  in  the  former  as  well  as  in  the  latter 
county,  where  he  not  only  received  his  large! 
vote  of  1881,  but  almost  succeeded  in  carrying 
Jamestown,    whidi    is    one  of    the    republican 


strongholds  of  western  New  York.  Charles  E. 
Weeks  is  a  prominent  representative  of  the  real 
estate  business  of  Jamestown,  which  has  been 
commensurable  in  its  increase  with  the  other 
industries  of  the  city. 


lU  ATHAND.  I^EWIS,  a  member  of  the  Chau- 
\  ^  tauqua  count}-  bar  and  an  active  prohibi- 
tionist of  Jamestown,  was  born  at  West  Win- 
field,  Herkimer  county,  New  York,  February 
15,  1842,  and  is  a  sou  of  Nathan  and  Mary 
(Benjamin)  Lewis.  His  paternal  grandfather,. 
Nathan  Lewis,  was  of  New  England  ancestry, 
and  died  in  Connecticut,  where  he  married  a 
Miss  Richmond,  who  lived  to  the  remarkable 

j  age  of  one  hundred  and  one  years.  His  mater- 
nal grandfather,  Jesse  Benjamin,  served  in  wars 
of  the  Revolution  and  of  1812.  He  served  as  a 
musician  at  Valley  Forge  and  Monmouth,  and 
after  the  close  of  the  Revolutionary  struggle, 
married  a  Miss  Bunn,  by  whom  he  had  thirteen 

'  children.  He  was  a  native  of  New  York  and 
died  in  Jefferson  county,  that  State,  when  nine- 

;  ty -three  years  of  age.  Nathan  Lewis,  the  father 
of  Nathan  D.  Lewis,  was  born  in  Connecticut, 
where  his  father  died  when  he  was  quite  small, 
and  the  young  man  was  reared  b}'  his  uncle. 
In  early  life  he  owned  and  operated  a  foundry 
at  Clayville,  N.  Y.  In  1859  he  came  to  the 
northern  ]iart  of  the  town  of  Harmony,  where 
he  purchased  a  farm  which  he  cultivated  until 
his  death,  in  1881,  at  seventy-nine  years  of  age. 
He  \vas  a  member  of  the  Baptist  church  and 
voted  the  democratic  ticket  until  1844,  after 
whicli  year,  he  supported  the  Abolition  and 
Republican  parties.  He  married  Mary  Benja- 
min, and  reared  a  family  of  four  sons  and  two 
daughters.  Two  of  these  sous,  Charles  C,  and 
Fernando  C,  .served  in  the  Union  Army  during 
the  late  war,  in  wiiicii  tlie  former  was  a  corporal 
in  tiie  112th  New  York,  and  the  latter  was  for 
two  years  a  member  of  tlie  21st  New  York 
reginient. 

Nathan  D.   Lewis  received  his  eilucatiou  at 


o 

Q 

LU 


UJ 
CD 
LlJ 
LU 

m 
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O 


Ll_ 

o 

UJ 

O 

LU 

9 

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CC 


OF  CHAUTAUQUA    COUNTY. 


51 


Arcade  ac:ulemy,  in  Wyotiiiiig  coiiiity,  N.  ^'. 
He  coiniiK'iicod  the  stiuly  of  law  at  Arcade  in 
1862,  but  liaviiig  to  make  his  (iwii  way  in  liCe 
lie  learned  dentistry  tiie  next  year  and  l)y  fol- 
lowing that  profession  acquired  means  enough 
to  complete  his  academi(r  course,  and  to  prose- 
cute his  legal  studies.  He  read  law  with  J.  L. 
Wiiite,  of  Jamestown,  was  admitted  to  practice  , 
in  the  United  States  District  and  Circuit  courts 
of  western  New  York,  in  July,  1882,  and  has 
made  a  specialty  of  bankruptcy  cases. 

On  December  28,  1873,  he  united  in  marriage 
with  Emily  Pelton,  who  is  now  the  matron  of 
the  W.  C.  A.  Hospital,  Jamestown,  N.  Y. 

N.  D.  Lewis  is  a  member  of  the  Baptist 
church  and  a  prohibitionist  in  politics.  He  has 
been  active  in  the  work  of  his  party,  whose  vote 
materially  increased  in  Chautauqua  county 
while  he  served  as  secretary  of  the  County  Pro- 
hibition Committee  (1884-88),  and  in  1885 
when  he  was  the  nominee  of  his  party  he  re- 
ceived a  large  vote  and  carried  the  town  of 
Villenova.  In  1885  he  commenced  the  publi-  ' 
cation  of  a  monthly  prohibition  jiaper  called 
TheAffil(lfor,^\'\nch  he  changed  during  the  next 
year  to  a  weekly  sheet.  In  1889  he  retired  from  its 
jiublication,  and  assumed  charge  of  the  temper- 
ance department  of  the  Chautauqua  Democrat. 
He  is  a  member  of  Brooklyn  Lodge,  No.  416, 
Independent  Order  of  Good  Templars,  in  which 
organization  he  is  a  lodge  deputy  and  county 
deputy  for  Chautauqua  county. 


VICTOR  HOLMES.  In  the  great  cause  of 
temperance  each  locality  has  its  advocate 
who  stands  out  prominently  as  the  champion  glad- 
iator of  the  forces  arrayed  against  the  Bacchanalian 
devotees.  Prominently  identified  with  the  tem- 
perance cause  through  the  third  party  move- 
ment is  Victor  Holmes,  a  son  of  Jens  and 
Elizabeth  ]M.  (Ailing)  Holmes,  who  was  born 
in  Denmark,  February  18,  1850.  His  grand- 
father, Jens  Holmes,  was  a  native  of  Denmark, 
where   he   was   born,  reared   and  died,  his   life 


|)ro(c;ssiiiu  being  school  teaching.  He  was  con- 
nected with  the  State  church  in  the  latter  ca- 
]>acily,  and  was  a  man  of  extraordinary  educa- 
tion, lie  married  a  daughter  of  P>islio[)  Chris- 
tian Trause,  a  renowned  ecclesiastical  scholar 
and  a  divine  of  great  power.  Mr.  Holmes  was 
well  read  upon  law  points,  and  was  in  demand 
by  the  people  of  his  locality  as  a  drawer  of 
legal  documents.  He  married  and  had  eight 
children,  one  of  the  daughters,  Angncthe,  being 
the  mother  of  Lucianns  Kofod,  who  became  re- 
nowned in  Danish  politics  and  the  army.  He 
served  as  a  member  of  the  Reichstag  and  is  now 
an  officer  in  the  Danish  Army.  The  maternal 
grandfather,  Mongesp  Ailing,  also  lived  and 
died  in  Denmark.  He  was  a  farmer  and  ship- 
per, and  reared  a  family  of  eight  children. 
Jens  Holmes  was  born  in  Denmark,  March  31, 
1819,  where  he  still  resides.  For  many  years 
he  conducted  a  mercantile  business,  but  some 
time  since  retired  and  is  now  living  at  Ronne, 
Denmark.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Lutheran 
church,  and  has  been  twice  married  :  first  to 
Elizabeth  M.  Ailing,  who  died  in  1878,  aged 
sixty-two  years.  She  was  the  mother  of  six 
children,  three  of  whom  are  in  Jamestown  :  a 
son,  M.  C,  is  an  awning  manufacturer  in 
this  city  ;  and  a  daughter,  Betty,  was  married 
to  Christian  Gronberg,  who  is  deceased ;  and 
Victor.  Two  sons,  Peter  and  \  aldemar,  are 
living  in  Denmark,  engaged  in  the  mercantile 
business. 

Victor  Holmes  was  educated  in  the  schools 
of  the  Fatherland  and  came  to  America  in  1873, 
locating  at  Jamestown,  where  he  has  since  lived, 
engaged  in  the  sign  painting  and  lettering  busi- 
ness. He  carries  a  stock  of  paints  and  a  fine 
line  of  artists'  materials,  which  is  conducted 
in  connection  with  his  manual  profession. 

He  married  Fannie  A.  Crumb,  of  Union 
City,  Pa.,  April  22,  1875,  and  they  have  had 
three  children  :  Victoria  F.,  V.  Frank  and  V. 
Elucy,  who  died  in  infancy. 

Victor  Holmes  is  a   member  of  the  Presbv- 


52 


BIOGRAPHY  AND  HISTORY 


terian  churc-h,  in  which  he  is  a  deacon.  He  is  a 
member  of  Samaritan  Lodge,  No.  37G,  I.  0-  of 
G.  T.,  of  New  York,  and  is  an  active  supporte'" 
of  the  Prohibition  party.  His  connection  with 
the  Temperance  society  is  one  of  responsibility, 
and  it  is  largely  due  to  his  energetic  work  that 
the  cause  has  met  with  its  success  in  this  sec- 
tion. He  attended  the  State  convention  held 
at  Syracuse,  and  the  Supreme  Lodge  on  three 
different  occasions  at  Saratoga  and  in  1889  at 
Chicago.  Through  Mr.  Holmes'  efforts,  a 
German  Grand  Lodge,  in  Germany,  was  organ- 
ized. The  society  numbers  over  700,000  in  the 
world.  In  addition  to  these  societies,  Mr. 
Holmes  belongs  to  Ellicott  Lodge,  I.  O.  O.  F., 
in  which  he  is  secretary,  and  is  a  member  of, 
director  and  vice-president  in  the  Scandinavian 
Loan  &  Building  Association,  which  was  formed 
in  Jamestown  in  1890.  The  society  is  a  strong 
one,  numbering  a  large  percentage  of  the  6000 
Scandinavian  population  of  Jamestown  in  its 
membership. 


C'YLVESTEK  S.  CADY"  is  one  of  James- 
'^^  town's  old  residents,  having  beaun  mer- 
chandising  here  in  1844.  He  was  born  in 
Chatham,  Columbia  county.  New  York,  near 
the  Massachusetts  line,  June  8,  1817,  and  is  a 
son  of  Sylvester  and  Abigail  (Adams)  Cady. 
His  grandfather,  Aaron  Cady,  came  of  English 
stock  and  was  related  to  Judge  Daniel  Cady, 
an  eminent  jurist  of  Albany,  this  State.  Li 
politics  he  was  identified  with  the  old-line 
whigs.  Sylvester  Cady  was  a  native  of  Chat- 
ham, this  State,  where  he  was  born  March  25, 
1777.  He  spent  his  early  life  on  a  farm,  and 
in  1845  removed  to  Kiantone,  this  county,  still 
pursuing  farming  as  a  means  of  procuring  a 
livelihood.  In  1805  he  married  Abigail  Adams 
and  reared  a  family  of  eight  children,  all  of 
whom  are  dead  excepting  Sylvester  S.,  and  one 
daughter,  Mariah,  who  married  Ebenezer  Cha- 
pin,  a  farmer,  (now  dead)  and  .she  lives  in  Cali- 
fornia.    The  names  of  the  others  were:  Sappro- 


nia,  who  died  in  Iowa ;  Loui.sa,  Ichabod,  Ann 
Adelia  and  Clarissa.  In  life  Mr.  Cady  was  a 
whig  and  died  on  his  farm  at  Kiantone,  in 
1850. 

Sylvester  S.  Cady,  as  will  be  seen,  comes  of 
good  stock;  originally  from  the  English,  he  is 
thoroughly  American.  He  attended  the  "  Dees- 
trict"  schools,  two  miles  from  home,  and  .secured 
such  knowledge  as  was  usually  taught  there. 
He  was  brought  up  under  the  old  regime  of 
farming,  by  main  strength,  no  foolish  machin- 
ery about  it,  consecjuently,  by  over-work  his 
health  failed,  and  he  was  .sent  to  Georgia  with 
the  prospect  of  dying  with  consumption  ;  but 
the  climate  and  favorable  treatment  restored 
him  to  good  health,  and  after  two  years  returned, 
.just  after  his  brother's  death  in  Canaan,  N.  Y. 
In  1844  we  find  him  in  the  grocery  busine.ss  at 
Jamestown,  in  which  he  was  engaged  without 
intermission  until  1873,  when  he  began  to  de- 
vote his  attention  to  buying  and  shipping  but- 
ter, continuing  in  this  work  for  about  twelve 
years,  when  he  retired  from  active  business  and 
has  since  been  enjoying  a  quiet  life,  the  reward 
of  work  well  done.  It  must  also  be  mentioned 
that  Mr.  Cady  was  the  first  resident  insurance 
agent  located  at  Jamestown. 

On  the  1st  day  of  October,  1847,  he  united 
in  marriage  with  Ann  Eliza  Vanderburg,  a 
daughter  of  INIartin  Vanderburg,  and  had  one 
daughter,  Mary  E ,  now  dead,  who  married 
AVillis  Tew,  for  some  time  a  banker  and  now 
vice-president  of  the  City  National  Bank,  of 
Jamestown  ;  and  a  son  Jay,  who  is  li\'ing  in 
New  York  City. 

Having  lived  here  uninterruptedly  for  more 
than  forty-five  years,  Mr.  Cady  has  had  o]>por- 
tunities  of  ob.^crving  Jamestown's  growth,  as 
have  had  few  others  of  her  (Mtizcns.  From  a 
country  village,  he  has  seen  her  advance  to  a 
magnificent  city  ;  from  comparative  insignifi- 
cance, to  her  present  proud  eminence  among  the 
sisterhood  of  cities.  A  re|)ubli(;an  in  j)olitics, 
he   is   also  an  active  and    honored    member  of 


(2^^^^^?^:^^^^ 


OF  CHAIITAUQI'A    f'Ol'.XTV. 


55 


Mount  Moriuh  Lodfro,  No.  145,  V.  uiul  A.  iM., 
witli  -whicli  lie  lias  been  connected  for  numy 
years,  and  is  now  enjoying  the  evening  of  life 
with  his  companion  of  so  many  years,  at  the 
beautiful  home  of  their  son-in-law,  Mr.  Tew, 
No.  204  West  Fifth  street. 


HKXKY  11.  BAKIJOYVS,  a  roprcsentafive 
of  one  of  the  old  and  most  resi)ecte(l 
families  of  Chautauqua  county,  is  a  .son  of  Levi 
and  Abigail  Putnam  (Ransom)  Barrows,  and 
was  born  in  Jamestown,  Chautauqua  county. 
New  York,  January  20, 1836.  His  grandfather 
was  Abner  Barrows,  who  was  a  native  of  the 
Green  Mountain  State,  from  which  he  came  to 
this  State  and  located  near  Saratoga  Springs, 
where  he  farmed  until  his  death.  One  of  his 
sons  was  Levi  Barrows,  who  became  the  father 
of  our  subject.  He  was  born  at  Luzerne,  N.  Y., 
on  March  26,  1804,  and  came  to  Stockton,  this 
county,  in  1832.  He  remained  at  the  latter 
place  only  about  one  year,  and  then  removed  to 
Jamestown,  where  he  i-esided  until  his  death, 
which  occurred  March  10,  18G3.  At  the  latter 
place  he  entered  into  partnership  with  a  Mr. 
Scott,  the  firm  being  engaged  in  the  manufacture 
of  sash,  blinds,  doors,  etc.  They  also  owned 
and  conducted  several  farms  in  adjoining  towns 
at  the  same  time.  Politically  he  was  originally 
a  democrat,  but  when  the  slavery  question  arose 
he  transferred  his  sympathies  to  the  abolitionists, 
and  was  one  of  the  most  energetic  stockholders 
in  the  underground  railroad  which  ran  through 
this  county.  Later  he  belonged  to  the  republican 
party.  He  was  popular  in  his  town,  and  for 
several  years  held  the  office  of  justice  of  the 
peace.  Up  to  1861  he  was  active  in  the  man- 
agement of  his  business,  but  advauciug  years 
coming  upon  him,  he  transferred  his  business 
to  his  sons,  Heury  R.  and  Ransom  J.,  who  con- 
tinued it.  Mr.  Barrows  was  a  deacon  in  the 
Presbyterian  church  to  which  he  was  attached 
for  many  years.  In  1828  he  married  for  his 
first  wife  Mrs.  Abigail  Putnam  (Ransom),  who 


became  the  mother  of  six  children  :  Miiry  .T. 
(deceased) ;  Maria  (deceased),  wife  of  Alexander 
Hawley,  who  comes  from  one  of  the  oldest 
families  in  Chautauqua  county;  Ransom  J.; 
Sallie  (dead) ;  Henry  R.,  and  (Jrton,  who  died 
young.  His  first  wife  died  in  1846,  and  he 
then  married  Sallie  Canfield,  in  1847,  by  wlir)m 
he  hail  three  children  :  Halbert  A.,  resides  in 
Jamestown  ;  Herbert  L.,  lives  in  California,  and 
Antoinette  (dead).  He  was  on  the  charter  of 
the  original  Masonic  Lodge  instituted  in  James- 
town, and  took  an  active  part  in  its  hist(jry. 

Henry  R.  Barrows  was  reared  in  the  city  of 
.Jamestown,  and  acquired  an  education  fitting 
him  to  succeed  his  father  in  busines.s,  which  he 
did  when  twenty-five  years  of  age,  in  connection 
with  his  brother.  Ransom  J.,  their  association 
lasting  twelve  years. 

In  1857  Henry  R.  Barrows  married  Lucy  A. 
Ross,  an  estimable  woman  of  Jamestown,  and 
their  union  has  been  blest  with  three  children  : 
Abbie,  died  youug;  Kittie,  w-ife  of  Henry  C. 
Hitchcock,  a  prominent  manager  of  a  wholesale 
furniture  hou.se  in  Pittsburgh,  Pa. ;  and  Maude 
(dead). 

When  the  great  strife  caused  our  martyred 
president  to  call  on  the  States  for  troops,  Henry 
R.  Barrows  enlisted  July  29,  1862,  in  Co.  A, 
ir2th  regiment,  N.  Y.  infantry,  as  a  private. 
He  soon  received  promotion  to  second  lieutenant, 
and  before  being  mustered  out,  on  November 
26,  1863,  was  advanced  to  first  lieutenant.  Most 
of  his  term  of  service  was  spent  at  or  uear 
Suffolk,  Va.,  and  he  was  three  times  sun-struck, 
which  foi'ced  him  to  resign.  Since  the  war, 
Mr.  Barrows  has  been  engaged  as  a  carpenter 
and  joiner.  He  is  a  reptiblican,  and  a  member 
of  James  M.  Brown  Post,  No.  285,  G.  A.  R. 
o 

HOX.  GEORGE  WASHIXGTOX  PAT- 
TERSOX,  speaker  of  the  House,  lieu- 
tenant-governoi'and  congressman,  was  born  at 
Londonderry,  New  Hampshire,  November  11, 
1799,  and  died  at  his  home  in  Westtield,  Octo- 


56 


BIOGRAPHY  AND  HISTORY 


ber  15,  1879.  He  was  a  sou  of  Thomas  and 
Elizabeth  (Wallace)  Patterson,  and  the  grand- 
son of  Peter  and  Grisel  (Wilson)  Patterson,  of  j 
Londonderry,  N.  H.  Peter  Patterson,  in  1737, 
emigrated  from  Bush  ISIills,  conuty  Antrim, 
Ireland,  to  Londonderry,  N.  H.,  and  was  the 
g'reat-g'randsou  of  Johu  Patterson,  who  came 
from  Argyleshire,  Scotland,  in  about  1612, 
with  a  colony  of  Scotch  emigrants.  He|  and 
his  family  were  at  the  siege  of  Derry  where 
one  of  his  sous  died  from  starvation.  The 
homestead,  at  Bush  Mills,  of  .John  Pattei'son, 
passed  from  father  to  sou  for  six  generations. 
Many  of  his  descendants  of  the  third  and 
fourth  o-enerations  came  to  America  with  the 
Scotch-Irish  emigrations.  Gov.  Patterson's 
paternal  ancestors  were  farmers,  linen-weavers 
and  dealers,  holding  prominent  local  positions. 
They  were  Scotch-Irish  Presbyterians,  strong 
in  body  and  mind  and  able  to  defend  them- 
selves in  their  opinions.  Gov.  Patterson  was  a 
ready  speaker  and  writer,  with  a  wonderful 
memory  of  facts  and  dates,  full  of  anecdotes, 
ever  cheerful,  hojiing  and  looking  for  the  right 
to  succeed.  He  was  of  commanding  presence, 
a  fine  parliamentarian,  a  particularly  good  pre- 
siding officer,  which  position  he  held  two  years 
as  speaker  of  the  Assembly  and  two  years 
as  president  of  the  Senate  of  !New  York. 
As  a  speaker  at  political  campaign  meet- 
ings, his  services  were  always  in  demand. 
Among  the  legislative  measures  originated 
V)y  him  way  the  free  banking  law  of  New 
York,  the  original  bill  of  which  he  drew,  and 
which  afterward  became  a  law.  The  main 
provisions  of  the  free  baidcing  laws  of  the 
United  States,  giving  the  j)cople  a  secured  cur- 
rency under  governmental  supervision,  were 
taken  from  the  New  York  law.  I  Te  closed  his 
congressional  term  in  his  eightieth  year,  the 
year  of  his  death.  In  politics  he  was  a  whig 
and  a  republican.  In  business  he  was  succe.ssful. 
Thurlow  \\'oed,  his  political  and  personal  friend 
ibr  over  half  a  century,  the  eminent  journalist 


and  politician  of  New  York,  in  an  article  in  the 
New  York  Tribune,  writes :  "  All  the  elements 
and  qualities,  which  elevate  and  adorn  human 
life  were  harmoniously  blended  in  the  character 
of  George  W.  Patterson.  His  life  was  not  only 
entirely  blameless,  but  eminently  useful.  To 
those  who  knew  him  as  I  did  no  form  of  eulo- 
gium  will  be  deemed  inappropriate.  As  a  citi- 
zen, as  the  head  of  a  family,  and  as  a  public 
servant,  he  was  a  model  man.  In  the  discharge 
of  legislative  duties,  he  was  con.scientious  and 
patriotic.  He  was  always  in  his  seat,  and  no 
bad,  defective,  equivocal,  or  suspicious  bill  ever 
evaded  or  escaped  his  vigilant  and  watchful  eye. 
He  had  troops  of  friends,  and,  .so  far  as  I  know 
or  believe,  was  without  an  enemy.  In  ])rivate 
life  he  was  exceptionally  faidtle.ss.  Without 
making  a  proclamation  of  temperance,  he  was 
always  a  cold  water  drinker." 

He  married  Hannah  W.,  a  daughter  of  John 
Dickey,  merchant  of  West  Parish,  Londonderry. 
The  last  of  his  school  education  was  received  at 
the  Pinkerton  academy,  Derry,  N.  H.,  and  the 
first  printed  catalogue  of  this  institution,  shows 
his  own  and  (then)  future  wife's  name.  He  was 
a  school  teacher  at  Pelham,  New  Hampshire, 
in  1817,  but  in  the  following  year,  he  engaged 
in  the  manufacture  of  fanning  mills.  In  this 
business  he  was  Jarg-aly  interested  for  twenty- 
six  years,  in  the  ro.vn  of  Leicester,  Livingston 
county,  N.  Y^.  Here  he  resided  until  1841, 
when  he  removed  to  Westfield,  to  accept  the 
agency  of  the  Chautauqua  Land  Office,  as  suc- 
cessor of  Gov.  Seward.  When  the  lands  be- 
came reduced  by  sales,  Mr.  Patter.son  bought 
the  residue  of  lands  and  securities  of  the  Hol- 
land Comp:  .)  and  continued  the  sales  at  the 
Westfield  ofL>c  until  his  death,  when  the  title 
to  the  unsold  lands  passed  to  his  only  son, 
George  W.  Patterson.  Gov.  Patterson  com- 
menced holding  public  office  soon  after  his  resi- 
dence began  at  Leicester,  in  1824,  and  from 
that  time  until  his  death,  it  was  the  exception 
that  he  was  not  in   public  service.     At  no  time 


OF  CHAUTAUQUA   COUNTY. 


57 


did  he  ever  ask  for  an  a])])ointiiieiit,  or  noinina- 
tion,  but  they  came  unsolicited.  Wheu  justices 
of  the  peace  became  elective,  he  was  chosen  to 
that  office,  which  he  retained  by  successive  elec- 
tions until  he  i-onioved  to  Westfield.  He  was 
commissioner  of  highways,  school  commissioner, 
justice  of  the  peace,  brigade  paymaster  and  su- 
pervisor of  Leicester  ;  a  member  of  the  Assembly 
of  New  York  for  (Mglit  years,  the  last  1839  and 
1840,  he  was  twice  speaker  of  the  House.  After 
his  removal,  in  1841,  to  Westfield,  he  was  ap- 
pointed basin  commissioner  at  Albany,  l)y  Gov. 
Seward,  harbor  commissioner  at  New  York,  by 
Gov.  Clark,  and  quarantine  commissioner  for 
the  port  of  New  York  by  Gov.  TNIorgan  ;  was 
a  delegate  to  the  National  convention  that  nomi- 
nated John  C.  Fremont  for  president,  and  to 
the  National  Republicau  convention  that  nomi- 
nated Abraham  Lincoln;  was  supervisor  of 
Westfield  for  three  years,  president  of  Westfield 
academy  and  president  of  the  board  of  education 
of  Westfield  for  many  years ;  represented  the 
county  of  Chautauqua  in  the  State  Constitu- 
tional convention  of  184G  ;  was  elected  lieuten- 
ant-governor of  the"  State  of  New  York  in  1848, 
and  in  1876  was  elected  to  the  Forty-fifth  Con- 
gress as  a  Republican.  He  was  a  director  in 
the  Butfalo  and  State  Line  Railroad  from  its 
organization,  in  June,  1849,  till  its  consolida- 
tion in  May,  1867,  and  was  from  that  date  un- 
til June,  1868,  a  director  in  the  BuflPalo  and 
Erie  Railroad,  now  a  part  of  the  Lake  Shore 
and  Michigan  Southern. 


Ti^ILLlAM  HALL  was  born  in  Wardsboro', 
"*^  Vt.,  August  17,  1793.  He  was  the  sev- 
enth of  twelve  children  born  to  Wm.  Hall  and 
Abigail  Pease. 

Both  his  parents  were  natives  of  Massachu- 
setts, and  were  characterized  by  great  energy, 
industry  and  enterprise.  His  father  was  a  sol- 
dier in  the  Revolutionary  war,  holding  the  rank 
of  captain. 

Soon  after  he  attained  his  majority  he  started 


for  western  New  York,  where  several  from  his 
native  town  had  already  gone. 

He  passed  his  first  winter  in  (Jhautauqua 
county,  with  his  older  brother  James,  who  had 
already  located  in  that  part  of  the  town  of  Car- 
roll which  is  now  Kiantone. 

He  at  onqe  began  to  make  shingles,  working 
far  into  the  niy-ht  with  the  frow  and  shave 
which  were  the  tools  then  used,  instead  of  the 
modern  shingle-machine. 

In  the  spring  he  took  the  products  of  his 
labor  down  the  river  to  a  soutiiern  market,  and 
thus  began  his  career  as  a  lumber  dealer,  a  busi- 
ness in  which  he  was  quite  extensively  engaged 
in  later  years. 

In  1816  he  came  to  Jamestown,  which  then 
contained  less  than  a  dozen  families,  and  was 
for  a  time  connected  with  tiie  store  and  hotel  of 
Elisha  Allen. 

In  the  year  1822  he  bought  of  Nathan  Kid- 
der, for  $300,  the  lot  on  the  corner  of  Main  and 
Third  streets,  where  the  Preudergast  block  now 
stands,  on  which  was  an  unfinished  frame  build- 
ing; this  he  completed  and  opened  as  a  liotel, 
having  entered  into  partnership  with  Solomon 
Jones,  Esq. 

In  the  year  1828  he  removed  to  the  south 
side  of  the  outlet,  where  he  had  purchased  a 
farm,  but  continued  the  business  of  a  lumber 
merchant,  buying  large  quantities  of  boards  and 
timber,  which  he  sold  in  southern  markets. 

In  the  year  1857  he  bought  of  A.  F.  Hawlcy 
the  building  and  lot  on  the  southwest  corner  of 
Main  and  Third  streets. 

The  building,  which  was  of  wood,  having: 
burned  in  1860,  he  replaced  it  with  a  substantial 
brick  structure  now  known  as  the  Hall  block. 

He  was  identified  with  most  of  the  various 
enterprises  for  improving  the  business  facilities 
of  the  town  in  which  he  lived. 

He  was  prominent  in  all  efforts  to  secure  rail- 
way communication  w^th  the  outer  world. 

As  director  and  vice-president  of  the  Erie  & 
New  York  City  Railroad  comj^any,  which  is 


58 


BIOGRAPHY  AND  HISTORY 


now  merged  in  the  N.  Y.,  P.  &  O.  Kailroad,  he 
spent  much  time  and  money  in  the  prosecution 
of  that  enterprise. 

He  was  a  stockholder  in  the  Dunkirk  and 
Jamestown  Plank-Road  company. 

He  was  also  for  a  number  of  years  a  director 
in  the  Chautauqua  County  National  Bank,  and 
a  stockholder  in  the  Cane-Seat  Chair  company. 

When  already  far  advanced  in  years  he  en- 
tered into  the  project  of  building  an  alpaca-mill, 
an  enterprise  comparatively  new  in  this  country. 
This,  from  a  business  standpoint,  was  the  great- 
est undertaking  of  his  life.  Although  not  the 
originator  of  the  enterprise,  it  is  safe  to  say  no 
one  contributed  more  to  its  success  than  he. 

His  knowledge,  acquired  by  long  experience 
in  building,  his  sound  judgment  and  energy,  to- 
gether with  his  cajtital,  were  all  devoted  to  the 
success  of  the  undertaking. 

While  yet  a  young  man  he  attained  the  rank 
of  colonel  in  the  New  York  State  militia,  but 
being  without  military  ambition,  he  soon  re- 
signed the  office. 

Although  deeply  interested  in  the  politics  of 
his  country,  as  every  good  citizen  should  be,  he 
had  no  sympathy  with  the  methods  of  the  poli- 
tician, and  having  acceptably  filled  the  office  of 
town  supervisor,  his  political  ambition  was  sat- 
isfied. 

Personally  he  was  characterized  by  great 
physical  strength,  temperate  habits  (using  neither 
liquor  nor  tobacco  in  any  form),  untiring  indus- 
try, indomitable  energy  and  perseverance  and 
unswerving  integrity  ;  these,  combined  with  pru- 
dence, economy  and  sound  judgment,  achieved 
for  him  a  large  measure  of  success  as  a  business 
man. 

He  was  a  friend  of  education,  of  temperance, 
of  human  rights  and  religion.  ' 

He  contributed  liberally  for  the  erection  of 
houses  of  worship,  and  for  the  support  of  the 
gospel,  and  was  always,  when  able,  in  his  seat 
on  the  Sabbath,  in  the  Congregational  church. 

He  was  greatly  attached  to  his  home  and   his 


friends,  though  not  wont  to  make  great  demon- 
stration of  his  feelings. 

He  was  married,  July  4, 1824,  to  Julia,  daugh- 
ter of  Solomon  Jones,  Esq.,  by  whom  he  had  five 
children,  three  of  whom, — William  C.  J.,  Clara 
M.  and  Elliot  C, — together  with  his  wife,  sur- 
vived him.  He  died  July  6,  1880,  haviug  been 
a  resident  of  Jamestown  sixty-four  years.  His 
wife  followed  him  to  the  grave  January  18, 1888. 

William  C.  J.  Hall  was  born  in  Jamestown, 
N.  Y.,  August  8,  1828;  graduated  from  Yale 
college  in  1851  ;  was  successively  a  civil  engi- 
neer on  the  Atlantic  and  Great  Western  Rail- 
way, principal  of  the  Ellington  academy,  and  a 
druggist  and  chemist  in  Jamestown.  In  1861 
he  entered  the  army  as  first  lieutenant  of  a  com- 
pany of  sharpshooters.  He  was  appointed  major 
of  the  23d  U.  S.  Colored  Troops,  and  brevetted 
colonel.  After  nearly  four  years'  service  he  re- 
signed on  account  of  his  health.  He  was  for  a 
time  superintendent  of  the  public  schools  of 
Mead  ville,  Pa.,  and  afterwards  returned  to  James- 
town to  engage  with  his  father  in  the  manufac- 
ture of  worsted  goods.  He  was  a  man  of  ex- 
tensive knowledge,  and  his  advice  was  sought  on 
many  different  matters.  He  was  a  member  of 
the  faculty  of  Chautauqua  university  and  pro- 
fessor of  microscopy.  He  died  October  30, 
1887,  leaving  a  wife  and  two  children. 

Clara  M.,  wife  of  Rev.  William  A.  Hallock, 
a  Congregational  minister  not  in  active  service 
in  the  ministry,  now  resides  in  Jamestown.  They 
have  two  children. 

Elliot  C.  Hall  was  born  in  Jamestown,  N.  Y., 
April  29,  1838  ;  graduated  from  Yale  college  in 
1862,  and  from  Union  theological  seminary.  New 
York,  in  1805.  After  fourteen  years'  service  in 
the  ministry  he  was  called  iiome  on  account  of 
his  father's  feeble  health,  and  since  his  father's 
death  has  remained  in  charge  of  his  business 
atVairs.  Mr.  Hall  was  married,  July  24,  1867, 
to  Tirzah  S.,  daughter  of  Prof.  E.  S.  Snell,  of 
Andierst  College,  Massachusetts.  They  have 
three  children,  and  occupy  the  family  homestead. 


y^u>.Or,  ^oTz^^ 


(r>t^ 


OF  CIlAUTAUqUA    (XJUN'rV. 


61 


nANSOM  J.  BARROWS,  the  son  of  Levi 
C.  and  Abiirail  (I'utnani)  llan.soni  Bar- 
rows, was  born  in  Luzerne,  Warren  county,  New 
York,  August  24, 183 1 .  His  grandfatiicr,  Abner 
Barrows,  was  a  native  of  Vermont,  but  removed 
to  this  State,  located  near  Saratoga  Springs  and 
pursued  farming  until  iiis  death,  in  1849.  lie 
married  a  Miss  Call  and  had  four  sons  and  two 
daughters.  Levi  C.  Barrows  was  born  at  IjU- 
zerne,  this  State,  in  1804,  and  came  to  this 
county  in  1832,  locating  at  Stockton  for  about 
one  year  and  then  removed  to  Jamestown,  where 
he  engaged  in  the  lumber  business  and,  in  part- 
nership with  a  Mr.  John  Scott,  under  the  firm- 
name  of  Scott  &  Barrows,  manufactured  doors, 
sash,  blinds  and  lumber.  In  politics  he  was  a 
democrat,  but  became  a  whig  and  later  a  repub- 
lican, being  a  strong  sympathizer  of  the  aboli- 
tionists. When  the  underground  railway  was 
carrying  the  blacks  through  to  Canada,  Mr. 
Barrows  took  pride  in  being  known  as  one  of 
its  conductors  and  did  much  in  advancing  aboli- 
tion principles.  For  some  years  he  was  a  jus- 
tice of  the  peace,  serving  in  that  capacity  at  the 
time  of  his  death,  March  10,  1863.  In  1861 
he  transfeiTcd  his  business  to  his  sons,  Ransom 
J.  and  Henry  R.,  who  continued  it  about  two 
years.  He  was  a  member  of  the  Presbyterian 
church — for  many  years  a  deacon.  In  1828  hc: 
married  for  his  first  wife  Abigail  (Putnam)  Ran- 
som, who  bore  him  six  children  :  Mary  J.,  mar- 
ried to  M.  W.  Hutton,  of  Jamestown,  and  is 
now  dead ;  Maria,  wife  of  Alexander  Hawley 
who  is  tlie  representative  of  one  of  the  oldest 
families  of  this  county;  Ransom  J.,  Sallie  ' 
(dead),  Henry  R.,  who  served  as  lieutenant  of 
Co.  A,  112th  regt.,  N.  Y.  Infantry  ;  and  Orton,- 
who  died  young.  After  Mrs.  Barrows'  death, 
in  1846,  he  married  Sallie  Canfield  and  had 
three  children  :  Halbcrt  A.,  a  resident  of  James- 
town ;  Herbert  L.,  who  lives  in  California ;  and 
Antoinette  (deceased).  He  was  a  prominent 
and  respected  Mason,  being  one  of  the  organizers 
of  the  first  lodge  of  that  fraternity  established 


in  Jamestown,  and  to  the  time  of  his  death  was 
active  and  entiiusiastic  in  its  work. 

Ransom  J.  Barrows  received  a  common- 
school  education,  and  married  for  his  first  wife 
Mary  J.  Putnam,  daughter  of  Union  Putnam, 
of  Stockton,  in  18o4,  and  she  died  in  1859, 
leaving  two  children  :  Jennie  M.,  wife  of  M.  P. 
Hatch,  of  Buiiido,  and  Minnie  M.,  wife  of  Dr. 
W.  M.  Bemus,  of  Jame-stown.  His  second  wife 
was  Ellen  A.  Breed,  a  daughter  of  Deacon  J. 
C.  Breed,  who  died  in  1869.  In  1873  he  mar- 
ried Minerva  C.  Williams,  and  this  last  marriage 
has  been  blest  with  three  children  :  Pollen  A., 
Elma  M.  and  R.  Jay. 

He  is  a  Mason,  and  has  held  continuous  mem- 
bership for  thirty-eight  years  in  Mount  Moriah 
Lodge,  No.  145,  of  Jamestown.  Jlr.  Barrows 
h;is  held  many  offices  of  honor  and  trust  in 
Jamestown,  where  he  has  resided  for  nearly 
sixty  years. 


X>EORGE    W.    PATTKRSOX,  one  of  the 

^^  prominent  and  public-spirited  citizens  of 
Westfield,  is  a  son  of  Hon.  George  W.  and 
Hannah  W.  (Dickey)  Patterson,  and  was  born 
on  his  father's  farm  in  Livingston  county,  New 
York,  ■  February  25,  1826.  His  paternal  and 
maternal  ancestry  is  given  in  the  sketch  of  his 
iather  which  is  published  in  this  volume.  At 
fourteen  years  of  age,  he  came  with  his  fatiier 
to  Westfield  where  he  has  remained  principally 
ever  since.  He  entered  Dartmouth  College, 
New  Hampshire,  from  which  he  was  graduated 
in  1848,  afterwards  read  law  for  two  years  in 
Buffalo,  but  with  no  intention  of  practicing  and 
only  as  an  accomplishment.  From  1850  to 
1853,  he  was  engaged  in  the  manufacture  of 
steel  tools,  and  in  1854,  in  company  with  J.  N. 
Hungerford,  organized  the  Geo.  Washington 
bank  at  Corning,  which  had  a  successful  career 
until  1873,  wiien  it  went  down  with  hundreds 
of  other  banks  in  the  great  panic  of  that  year. 
Since  1875  he  has  resided  at  Westfield,  where 
he  has  a  pleasant  home  and  has  given  his  time 


62 


BIOGRAPHY  AND  HISTORY 


to  the  management  of  his  lands,  fifteen  hundred 
acres  originally  owned  by  the  Holland  Land 
Company  in  Chautauqua  county.  He  is  one  of 
the  board  of  water  commissioners  of  Westfield, 
president  of  the  board  and  the  chief  engineer  of 
the  waterworks.  He  served  as  president  of  the 
board  of  education. 

Ou  September  17,  18(31,  he  united  in  mar- 
riage with  Frances  D.  Todd,  a  native  of  Todd- 
ville,  Otsego  county,  New  York,  which  was 
founded  by  her  grandfather,  Lemuel  Todd. 
Their  union  has  been  blessed  with  four 
children:  Catherine,  a  graduate  of  Vassar  col- 
lege, the  wife  of  Frank  W.  Craudall ;  George 
"VV.,  born  February  1,  1864,  who  graduated  at 
Yale  college,  and  at  the  Institute  of  Technol- 
ogy, Boston,  and  since  1889  has  beeu  instructor 
of  electrical  engineering  at  the  University  of 
Michigan ;  Hannah  W.,  a  graduate  of  the  art 
department  of  Vassar  college ;  and  Frances 
Todd,  who  was  graduated  from  Vassar  in  the 
class  of  1888. 

Mr.  Patterson  has  been  for  several  years  a 
vestryman  of  St.  Peter's  Protestant  Episcopal 
church  at  Westfield. 


JOHN  H.  TOUSLEY,  a  descendant  of  ante- 

^  Revolution  fathers,  is  living  in  retirement, 
having  disposed  of  his  baking  and  confectionery 
business  about  three  years  ago.  His  parents 
Mere  William  and  Charlotte  (Haughton)  Tons- 
ley,  who  reared  ten  children.  John  H,,  the 
subject  of  our  sketch,  who  was  born  in  Madison 
county,  New  York,  December  28,  1827,  is  the 
youngest.  John  Haughton  (maternal  grand- 
father) came  from  England  to  Madison  county, 
but  we  have  not  the  date  of  his  arrival,  except 
that  it  was  some  years  before  the  Revolution — 
probably  between  1760  and  1765.  At  the  be- 
ginning of  the  war  for  iiidc])eiidencc  ho  was  im- 
pressed in  Rurgoyne's  army,  but  escaped  as  soon 
as  possible  and  joined  the  colonial  troops,  serv- 
ing with  them,  sharing  the  privations  and  dan- 
gers of  the  isolated  camp-lile  and  a  skidking 


Indian  enemy  until  the  close  of  the  war,  wheu 
he  returned  to  his  plow  and  followed  it.  lu 
politics  a  democrat,  he  was  a  warm  supporter  of« 
JeiFersonian  principles.  William  Tousley  was 
born  in  Connecticut  and  came  of  old  New  Eng- 
land stock,  but  early  in  life  came  to  Madisou 
county,  this  State,  where  he  conducted  a  black- 
smith-shop and  followed  farming.  He  married 
and  had  a  family  consisting  of  three  sons  and 
three  daughters  :  Sarah  (now  Mrs.  Conian)  lives 
in  Madison  county ;  Hiram,  died  iu  Madison 
county  in  1890  ;  Lucinda  (Mrs.  Ames  Belknap) 
moved  to  Michigan,  where  she  died  ;  Edmund 
O.,  lived  eighteen  years  in  Jamestown,  but  re- 
moved to  Madison  county,  where  he  now  resides; 
Deborah,  married  Leonard  Leland  (now  dead), 
of  Madison  county;  and  John  H. 

John  H.  Tousley  received  the  usual  early 
education  of  a  country  boy  and  after\\ards  took 
an  academic  course,  and  upon  leaving  school 
learned  to  be  a  carpenter,  which  trade  he  fol- 
lowed until  1855,  when  he  opened  a  bakery  and 
confectionery  store.  In  1864  he  came  to  James- 
town and  continued  his  business,  following  it 
uninterruptedly  until  1889,  when  he  was  suc- 
ceeded iu  the  business  by  his  sons. 

In  January,  1855,  he  mai'ried  Mary  E.  Par- 
ker, of  Allegany  county,  New  York.  Three 
children  have  blest  this  union  :  Charles  P.,  mar- 
ried to  Addie  Turlow,  is  conducting  the  baking 
and  confectionery  business  in  Jamestown ;  John 
H.,  Jr.,  is  also  engaged  in  business  with  his 
brother  and  lives  at  home  with  his  father ;  and 
Ruth  C,  a  teacher  in  the  Jamestown  public 
schools. 

Of  a  retiring  and  modest  disposition,  Mr. 
Tousley,  while  being  a  snpporter  of  the  Demo- 
cratic party,  has  never  sought  office  or  permitted 
his  name  to  be  ased  as  a  candidate,  and  has  now 
arrived  at  an  age  where  he  can  take  a  retrosjicc- 
tive  view  of  life  and  feel  satisfied  with  his  life's 
work.  He  is  a  member  of  Mount  Moriah  Lodge, 
No.  145,  Free  and  Accepted  Masons,  and  is  held 
in  high  esteem  by  the  fraternity. 


LJ~,UhJdAAjSLu^»^^ 


OF  CHAUTAUQUA   COUXTl'. 


65 


TSIJAEL  JAMES,  an  ajijecl  gentleniaii  and 
-*■  respected  citizen  of  Jamestown,  was  born  in 
Cumington,  iierUsliire  county,  Massachusetts, 
Marcli  IS,  1814,  and  is  tlic  son  of  Moses  and 
Polly  (Vining)  James.  The  stock  were  natives 
of  that  State  for  at  least  two  generations  ])rior 
to  these  mentioned,  and  may  have;  been  among 
tile  first  arrivals.  Moses  James,  Sr.  (grand- 
father), was  a  native  of  Massachusetts,  but 
emigrated  to  Ohio  1812,  and  purchased  one 
thousand  acres  of  land,  a  part  of  which  he 
cleared  and  began  farming.  He  was  married, 
before  leaving  Massacliusetts,  to  Kebecca  Ketts, 
and  reared  a  family  of  twelve  children,  one 
dying  while  an  infant.  Mr.  James  was  a  whig, 
and  took  an  active  interest  in  the  political  idfairs 
of  the  early  republic.  Moses  James  (father) 
was  a  native  of  IMassachusetts,  but  went  to  Ohio 
alxnit  1813,  where  he  followed  his  trade  (tan- 
ning) until  he  died.  He  was  a  whig,  and  a 
member  of  the  Presbyterian  cluirch.  He  was 
twice  married  :  first  in  1813,  to  Polly  Vining, 
by  whom  he  had  three  children  (the  name  of 
but  one  is  remembered,  Israel) ;  and  after  lier 
death,  in  1822,  he  married  for  his  second  wife 
Catherine  Williams,  who  bore  him  one  child, 
Lucretia,  who  married  Hem-y  Wales. 

Israel  James  has  been  an  energetic  and  very 
active  business  man.  After  receiving  tlie  edu- 
cation commonly  given  in  the  schools  in  the 
early  half  of  this  century,  he  was  apprenticed 
to  and  learned  bhieksmithing,  which  he  follovved 
for  a  number  of  years,  and  then  began  the 
development  of  the  iron  industry,  which  since 
has  grown  to  such  magnitude  in  Ohio.  His 
work  in  this  line  was  done  at  Cuyahoga  Falls, 
Ohio,  it  being  the  manufacture  of  wrought  iron. 
With  the  acquisition  of  experience  car  axles 
were  attempted,  and  the  first  that  were  used  by 
the  New  York,  Pa.  and  Ohio  li.  R.,  now  a  divis- 
ion of  the  Erie  railway,  was  turned  out  by  Mr. 
James,  and  used  in  the  manufacture  of  cars  by 
a  car-building  firm  doing  business  at  Cleveland, 
Ohio.  Mr.  James  was  engaged  in  the  rolliug- 
4 


mill  business  about  thirty-five  years,  and  came 
to  Jamestown  in  1885,  and  purchased  .six  acres 
of  land,  which  at  that  time  was  covered  with 
wood.s,  and  which  he  cleai-ed  and  built  upon. 

On  September  5th,  1835,  ^Ir.  James  married 
Hannaii  T.  Steele,  who  bore  him  two  children: 
the  eldest  <li(il  in  infancy;  and  Henry,  a  travel- 
ing salesman,  who  resides  in  Jainest<jwn,  and 
married  Kate  Bush.  Mrs.  James  died  in  1847, 
at  Cuyahoga  Fails,  Ohio,  and  Mr.  James  mar- 
ried Mary  E.  Randall,  daughter  of  Elias  Ran- 
dall, of  Jefferson  county,  this  State,  by  whom 
he  has  two  children :  Laurel  E.,  married  to 
Minnie  E.  Pryor,  and  resides  in  Ohio;  and 
IMinnie  L.,  wife  of  E.  J.  Squire,  who  is  em- 
2)loyed  in  a  shoe  factory  in  Jamestown  where 
they  reside. 

Politically  ^Ir.  James  is  a  rejjublican,  and 
has  been  since  ei<rhteen  vcars  of  a<re  a  member 
of  the  Methodist  church,  in  which  he  was  a 
steward  for  thirtv-e;o;ht  vears  at  Cuvahoga 
Falls,  and  has  also  been  a  trustee.  Many  years 
ago  he  joined  the  Masonic  fraternity  at  the 
above-named  place,  which  membership  he  still 
retains. 


HOX.  ALaiOX  A.  V.AV  DUSEN,  judge  of 
the  courts  of  Chautauqua  county.  New 
York,  is  the  eldest  son  of  Benjamin  F.  and 
Mehitable  (T/Ovell)  Van  Dusen,  and  was  born 
in  Jamestown,  Chautauijua  county.  New  York, 
Jan.  3rd,  1843.  The  family  of  A'au  Dusen  in 
New  York,  is  descended  from  ancestors  who 
were  anciently  established  in  Holland,  and  came 
to  New  York,  then  New  Netherlands,  some  time 
during  the  early  part  of  the  seventeenth  century. 
They  settled  at  Claverick,  in  what  is  now  Colum- 
bia county,  and  in  1720  Abraham  Van  Dusen,  a 
descendant  of  one  of  these  Van  Dusens,  I'emoved 
to  Connecticut  where  he  settled  at  Salisbury.  In 
lineal  descent  from  liira  was  John  Van  Dusen, 
the  father  of  John  Van  Du.sen,  Jr.,  whose  son, 
Benjamin  F.  Van  Dusen,  is  the  father  of  Judge 
Almon  A.  Van  Dusen.     John  Van  Dusen,  Jr. 


66 


BIOGRAPHY  AND  HISTORY 


(grandfather)  resided  during  the  latter  part  of 
his  life-time  iu  Michigan  where  he  died  about 
1875.  He  married  Mary  Forbes,  by  whom  he 
had  thirteen  children  ;  Alonzo,  Marshall,  Harry, 
Elizabeth,  BenjaminF.,  Mary,  Rachel,  Charlotte, 
Emih',  Theodore,  Eliza,  Charles,  and  Edwin, 
who  was  killed  while  serving  as  a  soldier  iu  the 
late  civil  war.  The  second  son,  Benjamin  F. 
Van  Dusen  (father),  was  born  in  Locke,  Cayuga 
county.  New  York,  June  4th,  1817,  and  learned 
the  trade  of  cabinet-maker.  In  1841  he 
removed  to  Jamestown  where  he  now  resides 
and  where  he  was  successfulh'  engaged  for  many 
years  in  the  cabinet-making  business.  He  is  a 
member  of  the  Baptist  church  and  a  republican 
in  politics.  He  married  Mehi table  Lovell. 
They  are  the  parents  of  three  children ;  Judge 
Almon  A.,  Theodore  F.,  a  successful  business 
man  of  Jamestown  and  George  C,  a  well 
known  lawyer  of  the  same  city,  Mrs.  Van 
Dasen  is  a  daughter  of  Jonathan  Lovell 
(maternal  grandfather),  who  was  born  in  Wor- 
cester, jNIa.ssachusetts  and  died  in  Jamestown, 
N.  Y.  in  1854,  at  eighty-five  years  of  age.  He 
was  a  democrat  in  politics  and  married  Mehita- 
ble  Knight,  who  bore  him  seven  children  :  Mary, 
Moses,  Jonathan,  Cyrus,  David,  Eliza  and 
Mehitable. 

Almon  A.  Van  Dusen  was  reared  at  James- 
town and  received  his  education  in  the  James- 
town, academy  and  Chamberlain  institute  at 
Randolpii,  Cattaraugus  county,  this  State. 
Having  made  choice  of  the  legal  profession  as 
his  life  vocation  he  commenced  the  study  of 
law  in  1863  with  Alexander  Sheldon,  of  James- 
town and  completed  his  course  with  the  firm  of 
Alexander  and  Porter  Sheldon,  the  latter  of 
whom  afterwards  served  as  a  member  of  Con- 
gress. He  was  admitted  to  the  bar  on  Novem- 
ber 19,  1860.  Shortly  after  this  he  was 
admitted  and  licensed  to  practice  in  the  United 
States  District  court  for  the  Northern  District  of 
New  York.  After  admission  to  the  bar  lie 
opened  an  office  at  May  ville  and  soon  obtained 


a  respectable  clientage  which  increased  in  num- 
bers as  long  as  he  was  in  practice  at  the 
Chautauqua  county  bar  and  in  the  United 
States  District  court.  The  Democratic  party 
made  him  their  nominee  several  times  for 
county  .Judge  but  in  the  face  of  an  adverse 
majority  of  from  four  to  five  thousand  votes, 
his  election  upon  each  occasion  that  he  ran,  was 
an  impossibility  although  he  always  reduced 
the  republican  vote.  In  1890,  Judge  Lambert, 
county  judge  of  Chautauqua  county,  was 
elected  as  a  justice  of  the  Supreme  Court  of 
New  York  and  for  his  position  as  county  judge 
many  of  the  ablest  lawyers  of  the  bar  were 
applicants.  Judge  Van  Dusen  was  nominated 
by  the  democratic  party  of  this  county  as 
their  candidate  for  county  judge  in  October, 
1890,  to  succeed  him,  and  although  the  coun- 
ty has  a  republican  majority  of  from  4,000 
to  6,000,  he  was  elected  over  Jerome  B.  Fisher, 
republican,  by  a  plurality  of  899,  for  the 
term  of  six  years. 

In  February,  1871,  h»  united  in  marriage 
with  Juliet  E.  Merchant,  daughter  of  William 
G.  Merchant,  of  Boone,  Iowa.  They  have  one 
child  living,  a  son :  Vernon,  who  is  eighteen 
years  of  age. 

During  the  short  time  Judge  Van  Dusen  has 
been  on  the  bench,  he  has  discharged  the  many 
important  duties  of  his  responsible  position  in  a 
manner  that  has  been  acceptable  to  the  members 
of  the  bar  and  the  general  public.  He  has  pre- 
sided over  the  few  courts  which  he  has  held  with 
ability,  impartiality  and  faithfulne.ss.  As  a 
lawyer  he  has  met  with  good  .success  in  both 
the  county  and  the  supreme  court  of  the  State, 
and  at  the  present  time  is  a  retained  attorney 
for  the  Western  New  York  and  Pennsylvania 
Railroad  company.  He  takes  an  active  interest 
in  educational  matters  and  has  served  for  .several 
years  as  president  of  the  Sherman  and  Mayville 
Boards  of  Education.  Socially  Judge  Van 
Dusen  is  affiible  and  approachable  alike  to  high 
or  low,  yet    reserved    and    dignified   when   the 


'*/'  ('n.\rr.\r(jfA  (fiuiiTY. 


67 


occasion  requires.  lie  lias  been  a  democrat  in 
politics  since  187G.  In  addition  to  his  profes- 
sion and  work  iu  edncational  matters,  he  has 
taken  a  dee)>  interest  in  the  history  of  the  State 
and  is  a  member  ot"  the  ancient  and  well  known 
Holland  Historical  Society  of  New  York. 


Q'II»fl'^Y  31.  IIOSIKR,  treasurer  of  Chau- 
^^  tanqtia  tounty  and  a  wounded  veteran  of 
the  late  civil  war,  is  a  son  of  Isaac  and  Arvilla 
(Rogers^ Hosier,  and  was  born  near  Blocksvilie, 
in  the  town  of  Harmony,  C'hautauqna  county, 
New  York,  October  21,  1843.  His  maternal 
grandfather,  Elisha  Rogers,  moved  to  near 
Garrett,  I)e  Kalb  county,  Ind.,  where  he  fol- 
h)wed  farming  until  his  death.  He  mar- 
ried and  had  four  children,  one  son  and  three 
daughters;  Harris,  who  is  engaged  in  farm- 
ing near  Garrett;  Arvilla,  Sophia  and  Orrilla. 
Isaac  Hosier  (father)  was  born  October  13, 1810, 
and  died  at  Boomertown,  thisoounty,  April,  1 884, 
aged  seventy-four  years  and  six  months.  He 
was  a  carpenter  and  joiner  by  trade,  a  repub- 
lican in  politics  and  a  member  of  tiie  JNIethodist 
Episcopal  church.  His  wife  was  Arvilla  Rogers, 
daughter  of  Elisha  Rogers,  and  to  their  union 
were  born  three  sons  and  two  daughters  :  EfBe, 
who  died  in  infancy;  Elislui,  who  was  one  of 
the  first  of  New  York's  sons  to  respond  to 
President  Lincoln's  call  for  troops  in  1861,  en- 
listed iu  Co.  B,  72nd  regiment  New  York  Vols., 
and  was  killed  in  the  early  part  of  the  Penin- 
sular campaign,  at  the  battle  of  Williamsburg  ; 
Sidney  IM. ;  Walter  E.,  engaged  in  farming  in 
the  town  of  I'ortland  ;  and  Ada  A.,  wife  of  M. 
D.  Carpenter,  of  Boomertown. 

Sidney  M.  Hosier  passed  his  boyhood  days 
in  his  native  village  and  received  a  good  com- 
mon school  education.  He  then,  in  order  to 
more  fully  fit  himself  for  some  business  pursuit 
in  life,  went  to  Butti:ilo  and  entered  Bryant  and 
Stratton's  Commercial  and  Business  college,  of 
that  city.  He  learned  telegraphy  and  book- 
keeping and  devoted  some  time  to  penmanship. 


In  tiie  second  year  of  the  late  war  he  enlisted 
(.\ugust  2nd,  1802)  in  Co.  1),  112th  regiment, 
N.  Y.  Infantry,  and  served  in  tiie  many  severe 
marclies  and  numerous  hard  battles  of  the  Army 
of  the  Potomac  until  the  siege  of  Petersburg, 
where  on  the  29th  of  September,  18C4,  lie  lost 
liis  right  arm  by  a  gun-shot  wound.  He  was 
sent  to  Hampton  Roads  hosj)ital,  where  he  re- 
mained for  some  time,  and  then  transferred  to 
New  York  Central  Park  hospital  and  from 
there  to  Buffalo  High  Street  hospital,  and  was 
honorably  discharged  from  the  United  States 
service  at  Buffalo,  N.  Y.,  on  the  eighth  day  of 
July,  I860.  He  then  returned  home  and  be- 
came a  telegraph  operator  at  Randolpii,  ou  the 
Atlantic  and  Great  Western  railroad,  where  he 
remained  for  about  six  months,  and  then  re- 
signed to  have  an  ojjeration  performed  on  his 
shoulder  to  remove  loose  bones.  After  leaving 
the  service  of  that  railway  company  he  was  em- 
ployed on  several  other  railroads  until  about 
1872,  when  he  was  appointed  agent  and  tele- 
graph operator  at  Clymer  station,  on  the  West- 
ern New  York  &  Pennsylvania  railroad,  which 
position  he  held  until  the  .spring  of  1886,  when 
he  resigned  on  account  of  health.  In  the  fall 
of  1887  he  was  elected  treasurer  of  Chautau- 
qua county  for  a  term  of  three  years,  which 
expired  December  31st,  1890.  The  only  office 
previous  to  this  which  he  ever  held  was  that  of 
collector  of  the  town  of  Harmony,  for  the  year 
1868. 

June  20, 1871,  he  married  Ani.se  E.  Gilmore, 
daughter  of  James  Gilmore,  of  Portage  countv, 
Ohio. 

Sidney  M.  Hosier  is  a  member  of  Mayville 
Lodge,  No.  284,  Independent  Order  of  Odd 
Fellows,  of  ^layville;  Chautauqua  Lodge,  No. 
3,  Ancient  Order  of  United  Workmen,  at  West- 
field,  and  William  Sackett  Post,  No.  324,  Grand 
Array  of  the  Republic,  of  Westfield.  He  is  a 
republican  from  jjrinciple  and  has  always  giveu 
a  full  and  cordial  support  to  his  party.  As  a 
business  man  he  has  financial  ability  and  many 


68 


BIOGBAPHY  AND  HISTORY 


years  of  commercial  experieuce.  As  treasurer 
of  this  county  he  has  discharged  the  duties  of 
his  office  with  fidelity  and  intelligence,  and  as 
a  soldier  his  military  record  is  one  of  faithful 
and  willing;  service. 


IflT AJOK  EDGAK  P.  PUTXAai,  clerk    of 
4  the  courts  and  county  clerk  of  Chautau- 

qua county  and  who  was  an  efficient  cavalry 
officer  under  General  Sheridan  during  the  war 
of  the  "  Great  Rebellion,"  is  a  son  of  James  R. 
and  Maria  L.  (Flagg)  Putnam,  and  was  born 
in  the  town  of  Stockton,  Chautauqua  county. 
New  York,  May  4,  1844.  James  R.  Putnam 
was  a  member  of  one  of  the  several  Putnam 
families  who  v/ere  early  settlers  of  Chautauqua 
county,  and  who  all  seem,  without  exception,  to 
have  come  from  Massachusetts,  where,  in  1740, 
eighty  males  were  registered  as  bearing  the 
name  of  Putnam,  and  of  whom  two,  Israel  and 
Rufus,  were  conspicuous  American  generals  in 
tiie  Revolutionary  war.  James  R.  Putnam  was 
a  son  of  Gilbert  Putnam  and  was  born  in  tlie 
town  of  Stockton  in  1821.  He  was  a  farmer 
by  occupation  and  died  in  Busti  wlien  only 
twenty-six  years  of  age.  •  He  was  a  whig  in 
politics  and  married  Maria  L.  Flagg,  by  whom ' 
he  had  one  child,  the  subject  of  tliis  sketch. 
Mrs.  Maria  L.  (Flagg)  Putnam  is  a  daugliter  of 
Eleazer  Flagg  (maternal  grandfather),  who  was 
a  native  of  Rutland,  Vermont,  where  he  was  a 
prominent  politician  for  many  years  and  served 
as  sheriff  of  his  county.  He  removed  with  his  \ 
family  to  Chautauqua  county,  where  lie  settled 
in  tlie  town  of  Stockton. 

Edgar  P.  Putnam  attended  the  common 
schools  until  he  was  seventeen  years  of  age, 
when  lie  entered  the  Union  army.  He  enlisted 
on  September  11,  18G1,  as  a  private  in  Co.  D, 
9t}i  New  York  cavalry,  and  served  as  such  un- 
til 18G2,  when  he  was  promoted  corporal.  In 
the  same  year  he  became  sergeant,  and  in  18G4 
was  commissioned  first  lieutenant  of  his  com- 
pany.    In  April,  ]80o,  lie  was  promoted  to  a 


captaincy  and  commissioned  as  captain  of  Co.  I 
of  his  regiment.  He  was  breveted  major  when 
mustered  out  on  July  17,  1865,  as  his  commis- 
sion states,  "  for  gallant  and  meritorious  ser- 
vices." He  participated  in  the  battles  of  York- 
town,  Second  Bull  Run,  Antietam,  Fredericks- 
burg, Chancellorsville  and  Gettysburg,  and  was 
witii  McClellan  on  the  Peninsula.  He  w^as  on 
detached  service  and  carried  important  dispatches 
at  Chancellorsville  and  Gettysburg  for  Generals 
Geary,  Slocum  and  ileade,  also  in  the  battles 
of  Mine  Run  and  Brandy  Station.  He  partici- 
pated in  the  terrible  battles  of  the  Wilderness, 
Spottsylvania  Court-house  and  Cold  Plarbor. 
After  the  last  named  battle  his  regiment  was 
ordered  back  to  Washington  for  tiie  protection  of 
that  city,  but  was  soon  after  transferred  to  the 
Shenandoah  Valley  and  rendered  Sheridan  valu- 
able service  in  the  great  battles  of  Winchester, 
Fi.sher's  Hill  and  Cedar  Creek.  Capt.  Putnam 
led  his  company  in  Sheridan's  raids  round  Rich- 
mond and  in  the  closing  scene  of  the  war  at 
Appomattox  Court-house.  During  his  entire 
term  of  service  Major  Putnam's  regiment  was 
in  one  hundred  and  fifty-six  skirmishes  and  battles 
in  which  he  was  always  present  for  duty.  He 
was  twice  wounded  in  battle,  first  at  Travillion 
Station  and  second  at  Five  Forks,  Va.  After 
the  close  of  the  war  he  was  aj) pointed  as  a  deputy 
United  States  surveyor,  and  had  charge  until 
1875  of  government  surveys  in  Minnesota, 
where  his  iieadquarters  were  at  Minneapolis. 
From  1875  to  1888  he  was  engaged  in  the  book 
and  drug  busine.ss  in  Jamestown  as  a  member  of 
tiie  firm  of  Henderson  &  Putnam.  In  1884  he 
was  appointed  postmaster  of  Jamestown  by 
President  Arthur.  In  1888  lie  was  cho.sen 
clerk  of  the  courts  and  county  clerk  of  Chautau- 
qua county,  New  York,  for  a  period  of  three 
years,  by  a  majority  of  six  thousand  votes,  and 
entered  upon  the  duties  of  his  office  January  1, 
1889,  and  has  ably  and  honorably  fulfilled  the 
same  until  tlu'  ]in'sent  tiine. 

In   1875   he   united    in    marriage  with   Epi)a 


i^?*i      -*i^- 


//tfi^at^i. 


OF  CJIAUTACQUA   VOCyTi: 


71 


Mace,  daughter  of"  William  ^race,  a  nicrcliant  of 
Jamestown.  Tliey  have  une  child,  a  daughter, 
named  Edna  P. 

Major  Edgar  P.  Putnam  is  a  rnemhei  of  tlu; 
Jamestown  Club,  Knights  ot"  Honor,  Order  of" 
Maccabees  and  James  M.  Brown  Post,  No.  285, 
Grand  Army  of  the  Republic;.  He  is  a  member 
of  Mount  Moriah  Lodge,  No.  145,  F.  and  A.  ] 
Masons,  and  Jamestown  Commandery,  No.  fil. 
Knights  Templar.  He  is  genial  and  pleasant 
and  hospitable,  and  has  always  been  public- 
spirited  and  ]u-ogressive.  In  politics  he  is  a 
strong  republican,  but  not  an  extremist,  and  has 
some  of  his  warmest  personal  friends  in  the 
Democratic  party.  He  is  an  attendant  of  the 
Protestant  Episcopal  church,  of  which  his  wife 
and  daughter  are  members  and  communicants. 
Major  Putnam  is  well  informed  in  regard  to 
military  matters,  and  especially  upon  the  hi.story 
of  the  late  war,  in  which  he  was  an  active  par- 
ticipant for  over  four  years.  His  military  record 
is  one  of  remarkable  interest  for  the  unusually 
hirge  number  of  (156)  skirmishes  and  battles  in 
which  he  honorably  participated  with  his  regi- 
ment, and  for  the  immunity  which  he  seemed  to 
possess  against  bullets  on  the  battle-field  and 
disease  iu  unhealthy  camps.  Both  as  a  soldier 
and  officer  he  was  faithful  in  the  discharge  of 
his  regular  duties  and  the  performance  of  any 
special  work  that  was  assigned  to  him. 

■ cSi 

HON.  WILLIAM  G.  MARTIN,  special  sur 
rogate  of  Chautauqua  county  and  a  mem- 
ber of  the  well  known  law  firm  of  Van  Dusen 
&  Martin,  of  Mayville,  was  born  at  Witham, 
county  Essex,  England,  September  15,  1848 
and  is  a  son  of  Rev.  Robert  and  Hester  (Beard) 
JNlartiu.  The  original  name  of  the  family  was 
Erskine,  they  tracing  their  descent  from  a 
branch  of  the  ancient  Scottish  family  of  that 
name,  which  descended  in  an  unbroken  line 
from  a  Henry  De  Erskine  who  lived  in  the 
twelfth  century.  The  change  of  name  was  the 
result  of  circumstances  connected   witii  the  Ja- 


cobite IMxllion  of  1715  in  Scotland.  The 
paternal  grcat-grcat-grandfathcr  of  William  G. 
^fartin  was  an  l^rskine,  who  was  born  in  1()88 
and  died  in  17.30.  He  joined  in  tlie  Rebellion 
of  1715,  the  objeitt  of  which  was  to  restore  the 
Stuart  family  to  the  throne  of  Great  Britain. 
When  the  army  of  the  Earl  of  Mar  was  defeated 
in  November  of  that  year,  Erskine,  with  many 
others,  fled  to  France,  where  he  remained  in 
exile  until  ]7I8,  when  he  returned  to  Scotland 
under  the  assumed  name  of  Myreton,  that  being 
his  motiier's  family  name.  He  had  two  sons, 
A^'illiam  and  George,  the  latter  of  whom  came 
to  New  York  about  1750  and  .settled  near  the 
Hudson  river.  The  former,  William  Myreton, 
was  born  in  Fifeshire,  Scotland,  in  1720,  and 
married  Jane  Morris,  a  cousin  of  Robert  Morris, 
of  revolutionary  fiime. 

About  this  time  the  family  changed  the  spell- 
ing of  the  name  to  its  present  form.  William 
Myreton  (great-grandfather),  commanded  the 
coast  guard  station  on  the  Isle  of  May,  .seven 
miles  from  the  mainland  of  Scotland.  He  was 
a  schoolmate  of  Paid  Jones,  and  once  carried 
important  despatches  to  Franklin  at  Paris, 
which  Jones  had  brought  from  America.  He 
was  drowned  at  sea  in  1790,  and  left  an  only 
son,  William  Martin  (grandfather),  born  in 
1760  and  died  in  1822.  He  succeeded  his 
father  in  command  of  the  Isle  of  May  Station 
and  married  his  cousin,  Jane  Morris,  by  whom 
he  had  .seven  sons  and  four  daughtei-s.  His 
youngest  son,  Robert  ]\Iartiu  (father),  was  born 
in  Fifeshire,  Scotland,  in  1820.  He  was  edu- 
cated at  Edinburgh,  went  to  England  where  he 
resided  for  .several  years,  and  was  an  active  par- 
ticipant in  the  Chartist  Movement  from  1842 
to  1847.  He  married  Hester  Beard,  born 
1818,  who  is  a  daughter  of  George  Beard,  Esq., 
late  of  Coggeshall,  Essex,  and  came  to  the 
United  States  in  1854,  entered  the  Baptist  min- 
istry and  located  in  western  New  York. 

He  became  deeply  interested  in  the  great  auti- 
slaverv   movement    of  that   day    and    preached 


72 


BIOGRAPHY  AND  HISTORY 


aud  lectured  extensively  agaiust  the  institution 
of  African  slavery  and  the  curse  of  human 
bondage.  He  resided  in  western  New  York 
until  1880  when  he  removed  to  Michigan,  where 
he  now  resides  He  has  six  children — William 
G.,  Jemima  J.,  Hester  M.,  Duncan  McLaren, 
Jean  E.  and  Mary  E.;  the  last  three  of  whom 
were  born  in  the  United  States.  William  G. 
Martin  received  his  education  in  the  common 
schools  of  New  York  aud  commenced  reading 
law  in  tlie  office  of  Hon.  Walter  L.  Sessions,  of 
Panama  (now  of  Jamestown),  this  State.  In 
1882  he  came  to  Mayville  when  he  entered  the 
office  of  A.  A.  Van  Dusen,  completed  his  course 
of  reading  and  was  adnlitted  to  practice  in  the 
courts  of  this  State  in  March,  1884.  January 
1,  1886,  he  formed  his  present  law  partnership 
with  A.  A.  Van  Dusen,  nnder  tlieiirm-narae  of 
Van  Dusen  &  Martin.  In  1887  he  was  elected 
special  surrogate  of  Chautauqua  county  for  a 
term  of  three  years  and  is  serving  in  that  capac- 
ity at  the  present  time.  On  January  1,  1873, 
he  married  Frances  Isabel  Graves,  daughter  of 
Henry  M.  Graves,  of  Friendship,  New  York. 
Mr.  Martin  is  a  republican  in  politics,  is  a  mem- 
ber of  Peacock  Lodge,  No.  696,  F.  aud  A.  M., 
and  Westfield  chapter.  No.  239,  Royal  Arch 
Masons.  He  has  been  successful  in  the  practice 
of  his  profession  and  is  disciiargiug  very  credit- 
ably the  duties  of  his  present  office. 


TA>ILTAA3I  CHACE,  M.D.,  a  well-known 
^*  physician  of  Mayville,  of  thirty-two 
years'  continuous  practice,  was  born  at  St.  Cath- 
erines, in  Lincoln  county,  province  of  Ontario, 
Canada,  January  4,  183.'],  and  is  a  son  of  Dr. 
William  C.  and  Celinda  (Holden)  Chace.  Tlie 
Chace  family  was  one  of  tlie  early  settle<1  fami- 
lies of  New  York  and  in  every  generation  from 
its  first  settlement  in  the  Empire  State  to  the 
present  time  it  has  numbered  among  its  mem- 
bers one  or  more  pliysicians.  Dr.  William 
Chace  (grandfather)  was  born  in  Coventry, 
Octoljer,  1754,  and  became  a  resident  of  Wash- 


ington county,  this  State,  where  he  practiced 
medicine  for  many  years.  He  served  as  a  pliy- 
sician  and  surgeon  in  the  Continental  armies 
during  the  Revolutionary  war  and  after  its 
termination  resumed  his  practice  in  Washington 
county,  where  he  afterwards  died.  One  of  his 
sons  was  John  Chace,  who  was  a  lawyer,  prac- 
ticed at  Mayville  for  some  time  and  then  went 
South.  Another  son,  Dr.  William  C.  Cliace 
(fatlier),  was  born  in  Easton,  Washington 
county,  N.  Y.,  August  19,  1795,  and  came 
about  1814  to  this  county  where  he  studied 
medicine  under  Dr.  Jedediah  I'rendergast,  of 
Mayville,  and  attended  Geneva  Medical  college 
from  which  he  was  graduated.  After  gradua- 
tion he  went  to  southern  Indiana  where  he 
remained  two  years  and  then  went  to  St.  Cath- 
erines, Canada,  upon  the  urgent  solicitation  of 
Hon.  W.  H.  Merritt,  who  married  a  daughter 
of  Dr.  Jedediah  Prendergast,  and  who  was  at 
that  time  largely  interested  in  various  business 
enterprises  and  quite  prominent  in  Canadian 
political  affiiirs.  Mr.  jNIerritt  desired  Dr. 
Chace's  assistance  as  a  partner  in  the  manufac- 
ture of  salt  on  a  large  scale,  but  about  this  time 
salt-brine  was  found  in  abundance  at  Syrac^use, 
New  York,  and  its  subsequent  manufacture  into 
.salt,  with  whicli  the  market  was  filled  rendered 
the  Canadian  salt  wells  unprofitable  property. 
Dr.  Chace  soon  withdrew  from  the  company  in 
which  he  was  interested  and  engaged  in  the  gen- 
eral mercantile  business  which  he  followed  for 
several  years.  While  engaged  in  salt  manufac- 
turing he  made  the  discovery  of  the  medicinal 
properties  possessed  by  the  water  wliicli  is  left 
after  extracting;  the  .salt  from  the  .salt-brine.  Dr. 
Chace  was  engaged  in  the  mercantile  business 
and  practice  of  medicine  at  St.  ( 'atiiorines  until 
1855,  when  he  returned  to  Mayville,  where  he 
])racticed  for  some  years  aud  where  he  died  in 
1876,  at  eiglity  years  of  age.  He  was  a  repub- 
lican and  a  vestryman  of  the  Protestant  J'^pis- 
(wpal  church.  He  was  married  three  times.  His 
first  wife  was  Mary  Brundigc,  who  died  and  left 


OF  CHAUTAUQUA    CO r STY. 


him  one  oliild  :  Jaiiu's  ]>.,  now  (Iccca.sod.  ITo  ' 
married  for  iii.s  "tfcond  wife  Ccliiida  IIo1<1l'H 
aud  after  iier  doatli  wedded  Hii.saii  Evans.  By 
his  seeond  marriage  lie  liad  live  children  :  Wil- 
liam and  Mary,  who  died  in  infancy;  Eliza 
(deceased) ;  Dr.  William,  and  John  (dead). 
Mrs.  Celinda  (Ilolden)  Chace  was  born  August 
30,  1802,  aud  passed  away  in  the  spring  of 
1834.  She  was  a  daughter  of  William  Ilolden 
(maternal  grandfather),  who  was  a  native  far- 
mer and  life-long  resident  of  Tompkins  county. 

William  Chace  received  his  literary  education 
in  St.  Catherines  academy  and  read  medicine 
with  his  fiither.  He  entered  the  College  of 
Physicians  and  Surgeons,  of  New  York  city, 
and  was  graduated  from  that  institution  in  the 
class  of  1858.  Immediately  after  graduation 
he  came  to  Mayville  where  he  remained  ever 
since  and  has  been  engaged  successfully  in  tlie 
practice  of  his  profession.  August  7,  1861,  lie 
married  Mary  L.  Green,  daughter  of  William 
Green,  of  Mayville.  They  are  the  parents  of 
four  children  :  three  of  whom  are  of  age  and 
graduates  of  Hobart  college,  Geneva,  N.  Y.  ; 
Dr.  William  H.,  a  j-esident  physician  of  Buffido, 
who  read  meilicine  with  his  father,  was  gradu- 
ated from  Buffalo  IMedical  college  in  the  cla.ss 
of  1887,  and  is  the  physician  in  the  fourth  gen- 
eration of  the  Chace  family  of  New  York; 
Clarence  H.,  read  law  with  Williams  &  Potter, 
was  admitted  to  the  bar  in  1888,  married  Alice, 
daughter  of  William  P.  Taylor,  of  Buffalo,  and 
is  a  member  of  the  bar  of  that  city  ;  John  O., 
book-keeper  for  the  Buffalo  Storage  company, 
and  George. 

Dr.  William  Chace  is  a  vestryman  in  the 
Protestant  Episcopal  church — the  church  of  his 
forefathers.  He  is  a  democrat  and  a  Fellow  of 
the  New  York  State  Medical  As.sociatioii.  He 
has  a  large  and  remunerative  practice  at  May- 
ville and  the  surrounding  country.  He  is  in- 
terested, to  some  extent,  in  agricultural  pursuits 
and  owns  farms  in  the  immediate  vicinity  of  tiie 
county  seat.     He  belongs  to  an  old  aud  worthy 


family,  and  his  ('liristian  name,  William,  ap- 
j)oars  in  each  one  of  its  generations  since  it  w;l* 
founded  in  tin;  Emj)ire  State,  and  in  every  in- 
stance has  been  borne  by  a  physician  of  ability 
and  reputable  standing.  Dr.  William  ('hace  is 
a  Past  INIaster  of  Peacock  Lodge,  No.  690,  F. 
and  A.  M.,  a  Pa.st  Master  and  High  Priest  of 
Westfield  Cha]iter,  No.  23!),  H.  R.  A.  M.,  and 
a  member  of  Duidcirk  Comniandcry,  No.  40, 
Knights  Templar. 

© 

■^UWAV  J'HILLII'S.  The  first  Philip 
^-  Phillips  to  live  in  Chautauqua  county 
was  born  in  Massachusetts,  July  2!J,  1704.  In 
181(5  he  moved  to  Ca.ssadaga.  Five  children 
made  up  his  family,  and  the  fourth,  an  uncle  of 
the  subject  of  this  sketch,  was  the  second  Philip 
Phillips  to  live  in  the  county.  To  his  elde.st 
brother.  Sawyer,  born  in  1791,  was  gi%-en  a  fam- 
ily of  fourteen  children,  ten  of  whom  lived  to 
attain  maturity.  One  of  these,  the  subject  of 
this  sketch,  was  born  August  13,  1834,  and 
has  lived  to  be  more  famed  at  home  and  abroad 
than  any  man  Chautauqua  county  has  given  to 
the  world.  He  was  the  seventh  of  the  family  of 
iiiurtcen  which  blessed  tlie  luinii)le  farm-house 
near  (Aissadaga,  at  that  time  doing  duty  its  the 
Phillips  homestead.  Whether  his  infant  lungs 
were  exercised  to  any  greater  degree  than  those 
of  his  brothers  and  sisters  is  not  recorded ;  cer- 
tain it  is,  that  at  a  very  tender  age  his  musical 
proclivities  asserted  them.selves.  Once  the  village 
choir — by  no  means  an  accomplished  body  of 
sinsiei-s — tried  a  new  tiuie  to  the  words  "  Wheu 
I  can  read  my  title  clear."  A  moment  the  mel- 
ody went  along  smoothly  enough,  then  somebody 
struck  a  false  note  and  somebody  else  followed, 
and  the  rout  became  general.  The  minister — a 
Ilev.  Mr.  Peckham — had  chanced  to  hear  youug 
Master  Philli|is  sing  the  same  tune  a  few  days 
before,  so  he  called  on  him  to  lielp  the  choir  out, 
and  up  stood  the  future  "Singing  Pilgrim," 
scarce  ten  years  of  age  then,  and  rendered  the 
new  tune  all  alone,  from  beiiiunina:  to  end.     In 


BIOGRAPHY  AND  HISTORY 


a  short  time  he  was  a  member  of  the  choir  to 
whose  rescue  he  had  so  chivah-oiisly  come  a  few 
years  before.  When  nine  years  of  age  he  lost 
his  mother,  but  the  memory  of  lier  blessed  teach- 
ings and  tender  thoiiu-htfulness  toward  her  child- 
ren  in  the  midst  of  manifold  household  cares,  has 
remained  with  him  as  a  benediction  in  after  life. 
As  can  thousands  of  others,  to  whom  the  memo- 
ries of  sainted  motherhood  have  proved  peren-  i 
nial  springs  of  comfort,  he  can  say, 

"  Happy  he 
Witli  such  a  mother;  faith  in  womankind 
Beats  with  his  blood,  and  ho[ie  in  all  things  high 
Comes  easy  to  him." 

At  about  the  age  of  fourteen  young  Phillips 
was  apprenticed  to  a  farmer  of  the  vicinity,  a  ! 
jS[r.  B.  W.  Grant.     The  terms  of  his  ajipreu- 
ticeship  stipulated  that  he  was  to  assist  in  ordi- 
nary farm  work  as  required,  in  return  therefor  1 
receiving  his  board,   being  allowed   to    attend  I 
school  during  the  winter  months,  and  when  he  | 
became  of  age  to  be  "  set  off"  with  one  hundred  | 
dollars  cash  and  two  suits  of  clothes.      It  was 
while  serving  this  apprenticeship  to  ]Mr.  Grant, 
that  Philip  Piiillips  had  iiis  first  opportunity  of 
attending  singing   school.       Here,   during  the  I 
winter  of  1850,  he  mastered   the  rudiments  of 
music.     Tlie  winter  of  1851  proved  one  of  the 
most  important  of  his  life,  for  with  it  came  an 
old-fasiiioned  revival  of  religion  in  the  region, 
and  with  the  revival  young  Piiillips'  conversion.  , 
The  light  that  came  into  his  heart  tho.se  winter 
months  has  grown  brighter  ever  since,  and  more 
than  once  the  Singing  Pilgrim  has  proved  its 
power  when  darkness  sought  to  reign  over  his 
pathway.     Too  poor  to  purchase  a  musical   in- 
strument himself,  tiu?  young  apprentice  found  a 
syrnpatiiizing  friend  in  his  employer,  Mr.  (Jrant, 
wiio  purchased   for  his  use  one  of  tiie  old-fasii- 
ioned  mclodeons  tlicn  just  coining  into  vogue,  j 
It  proved  tiie  fruitl'ul  friend  of  his  leisure  hours, 
for  they  were  all  spent  in  its  corapaniouship,  and 
here  the  "Singing  Pilgrim,"  largely  self-taught, 
acquired,  or  ratiier  developed,  tiiat  originality 


which  is  the  handmaiden  of  renins.  Noting- 
this  restlessness  under  farm  duties  when  his 
heart  was  really  in  musical  work,  Mr..  Grant  re- 
leased young  Phillips  from  the  remainder  of  his 
apprenticeship,  and  at  the  age  of  nineteen  the 
young  singer  opened  his  first  singing  school  in 
Allegany,  N.  Y.  This  work  set  the  pattern  for 
his  career,  although  it  was  not  until  some  years 
later  that  all  his  talents  were  directed  in  the 
channel  of  Gospel  singing.  Fame  soon  came  to 
him,  and  in  1858  he  responded  to  an  invitation 
to  visit  Marion,  Ohio.  It  was  while  here  that 
he  found  one  of  his  music  pupils  peculiarly  in- 
teresting, and  on  the  27th  of  September,  1860, 
he  was  united  in  marriaoe  to  Olive  M.  Clark. 
To  her  loving  help'  and  companionship,  Mr. 
Phillips  owes  much  of  his  success;  and  no  sketch 
of  his  life  would  be  complete  whicli  failed  to 
mention  that  other  star  that  through   the  long 

years 

"  has  shone  so  close  beside  him 
That  they  make  one  light  together." 

From  1861  to  1866  Mr.  Phillips  was  in  busi- 
ness in  Cincinnati,  O.,  having  associated  with 
him  Messrs.  William  Summer  and  John  R. 
Wright,  two  of  the  most  able  and  respected 
financiers  of  the  west.  Here  they  built  up  an 
extensive  trade  in  music  books  and  instruments, 
but  the  large  and  well-arranged  store  burned 
down  in  1865.  Then  the  "Siugiug  Pilgrim"  gave 
his  attention  solely  to  the  writing  and  singing 
of  his  songs  and  the  sale  of  his  books.  Of 
these  latter,  while  the  "  Musical  Leaves," 
"Hallowed  Songs,"  and  "Singing  Pilgrim," 
have  been  most  popular,  the  aggregate  of  all 
sales,  largely  in  foreign  countries,  has  reached 
over  six  million  copies. 

In  January,  18()5,  at  the  great  anniversary  of 
the  United  States  Christian  Commission,  lu'ld 
in  the  Congressional  chamber  at  Washington, 
just  a  few  da^'s  after  its  completion,  Philip 
Phillips  sang  "Your  Mission."  President 
Lincoln  was  there;  all  the  cabinet  advii-ers  who 
had  held   uj)  his  hands  st)  ftiithfully  during  the 


OF  ClIACTAUOUA    fOUXrV. 


77 


war;  the  Cliief  Justice  and  Justices  of  the  Su- 
pretue  Court,  senators  and  representatives,  sol- 
diers, sailors,  commoners ;  tliese  all  united  to 
make  up  that  vast  and  brilliaut  assemblage. 
Never  was  the  power  of  a  single  song,  rich  with 
music-se't  gems  of  truth,  so  demonstrated  before ; 
and  when  at  quarter  before  twelve  President 
liincoln  sent  to  the  Hon.  William  H.  Seward, 
chairnian  of  the  meeting,  the  written  request, 
still  in  yiv.  riii Hips'  po.ssession,  "  Near  the  close 
let  lis  have  '  Your  Mission '  repeated  by  Mr. 
riiiiiips.  Don't  say  I  called  for  it.  Lincoln," 
the  great  President  had  only  voiced  the  desire 
of  every  other  auditor,  and  again  the  .soul- 
stirring  words  left  tiie  singer's  lips  to  seal  their 
mission  of  renewed  inspirations  and  determina- 
tions to  more  helpful  liviug.  When  the  sad 
shock  of  the  Pi'esident's  assassination  followed 
in  April  of  that  year,  calls  came  from  every 
hand  for  Mr.  I'liilli])s  to  sing  the  song  which 
had  so  pleased  the  martyred  Pi-esitlent  while  yet 
he  was  in  the  active  fulfillment  of  his  mission. 
Since  that  time,  with  slight  variation,  the  Sing- 
iog  Pilgrim's  life  has  been  spent  in  answering 
these  calls  to  sing  the  story  of  Jesus  and  His 
love  over  every  part  of  the  world.  He  has 
traveled  more  than  any  other  man.  Ira  D. 
Sankey  caught  his  first  inspiration  from  him, 
and  through  his  direct  influence  became  associ- 
ated with  ilr.  Moody  ;  he  has  given  over  forty- 
five  hundred  evenings  of  song,  leaving  behind 
him  a  net  profit  to  different  churches  and  chari- 
ties of  well-uigh  one  hundred  and  fifty  thousand 
dollars  ;  he  has  belted  the  world,  and  many 
times  traveled  throughout  Europe;  he  has 
enjoyed  the  friendship  of  such  men  as  Spurgeon, 
Lord  Shaftsbury,  Dr.  Bonar,  Bee(;her,  and  many 
oth(!rs  of  the  most  noteil  ecclesiastics  and  phil- 
anthropists both  sides  of  the  water ;  and  at  the 
time  of  this  writing,  the  fifty-sixth  year  of  his 
age,  seems  to  have  lost  none  of  that  power  and 
originality  in  sacred  song  which  has  made  him 
a  master  in  his  work.  The  intricacies  of  clas- 
sical   music   would   never   reveal    their   hidden 


beauties  if  no  hand  more  skilled  or  voice  of 
j  larger  compass  or  finer  training  than  Piiilij) 
Phillip.s'  attempted  them.  Of  the  two  great 
teachers,  earlier  surroundings  limited  him  to  but 
one — that  one,  fortunately,  the  greater — and  art 
can  claim  but  little  honor  for  the  developed  gifts 
with  which  nature  wa.s  here  so  lavish.  As  a 
farm-boy,  he  heard  the  brooks,  the  birds,  the 
sighing  winds;  and  the  low  purling  of  the  one, 
the  lighter  strains  of  the  other,  the  sad  mono- 
tones of  the  third — all  the  myriad  voices  of 
nature  which  to  many  a  lower  heart  than  David's 
have  only  chanted  the  praises  of  their  Creator, 
were  not  more  spontaneous  outpourings  than  the 
simple,  stirring  melodies  that  have  eoaie  from 
the  pen  of  this  "  Singing  Pilgrim." 

Philip  Phillips'  residence  at  "  Ft.  Hill  Villa," 
Fredonia,  is  a  most  beautiful  one,  and  it  is  evi- 
dent from  its  comfort  and  cosiuess  that  years  of 
traveled  life  have  not  made  its  owner  in  the 
least  oblivious  to  the  joys  and  allurements  of 
home  life.  It  was  while  resident  here,  in  Feb- 
ruary, 1884,  that  he  lost  his  eldest  son,  James 
Clark  Phillips,  a  young  man  whose  musical  gifts 
were  of  tiie  highest,  and  whose  genial  character 
made  him  the  favorite  of  all  wi:o  knew  him. 
He  lies  buried  in  Forest  Hill  cemetery,  and  ou 
the  plain  headstone  are  his  last  words :  "  Tell 
everybody  I  die  a  Christian."  His  loss  was  a 
peculiarly  severe  one  to  his  father,  for  he  had 
been,  and  would  have  been,  his  associate  and 
co-worker  for  many  years.  His  youngest  son, 
Piiilip  Phillips,  Jr.,  the  fourth  of  the  name  to 
live  in  Chautauqua  county,  is  to  enter  the  min- 
istry of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church.  lu 
1890  he  graduated  from  the  Ohio  Wesleyan 
University,  the  largest  western  institution  under 
the  control  of  that  denomination ;  and  in  the 
spring  of  1891  he  was  married  to  Mary  Semans, 
only  daughter  of  Prof.  W.  O.  Semans,  of  the 
faculty  of  his  (dm<i  mater. 


78 


BIOGRAPHY  AND  HISTORY 


-fc>EXJA:;>ny  S.  »EAX. — As  journalism  for 
-^^  the  last  quarter  of  a  centur}-  lias  broad- 
ened its  scope  and  elevated  its  aims,  the  editors 
of  New  York  have  never  been  found  laggards 
in  the  march  of  jirogress,  and  the  press  of 
Jamestown  has  kept  fully  abreast  of  the  papers 
of  any  other  city  in  the  western  jiart  of  the 
State.  One  of  their  number  that  is  worthy  of 
particular  mention  is  T/ie  3Iorning  News,  edited 
by  Benjamin  S.  Dean.  He  is  the  eldest  son 
and  second  child  of  Philo  N.  and  Rosella  S. 
(Fisher)  Dean,  and  was  born  at  Randolph,  Cat- 
taraugus county,  New  York,  May  10,  18(J0. 
His  paternal  grandfather,  Norman  Dean,  was  a 
resident  of  Allegany  county,  New  York,  where 
he  married  and  reared  a  family  of  three  sons  i 
and  two  daughters.  His  matei'nal  grandfather,  j 
Simeon  Fisher,  was  a  native  of  Vermont,  where 
for  many  years»  he  was  a  very  prominent  and 
influential  citizen  and  a  trusted  whig  leader. 
At  one  time  he  was  a  candidate  for  governor  of 
the  "Green  ]\Iountain  State,"  and  his  delicate 
sense  of  honor  was  such  that  he  would  not  vote 
for  himself,  and  thereby  lost  tiie  governorship, 
as  the  election  resulted  in  a  tie  between  him  and 
his  opponent,  and  was  tlirown  into  the  legisla- 
ture, which  decided  against  him.  About  1836 
he  moved  to  Waterborough,  this  county,  but 
afterwards  removed  to  Randolph,  in  Cattarau- 
gus county,  where  he  died  in  1864,  aged  .sixty- 
three  years.  He  was  a  cabinet-maker  by  trade, 
a  congregationalist  in  religion,  and  an  old-line 
whig  in  politics  until  the  agitation  of  the  slavery 
question,  when  he  became  a  strong  and  leading 
abolitionist.  He  was  one  of  the  founders  of  the 
Re]>ublicau  party  in  the  State,  and  was  actively 
advocating  its  principles  at  tiie  time  of  his 
death.  He  was  of  English  descent,  and  mar- 
ried a  Mi.ss  Brookins,  who  bore  him  three  sons 
and  five  daughters.  Philo  N.  Dean  (father)  | 
was  born  at  Centrcville,  Allegany  county,  | 
N.  Y.,  in  1832,  and  in  1858  removed  to  Ran-  | 
dolph,  in  Cattaraugus  county,  where  he  has 
resiiled  ever  since.     He  is  a  shoemaker  by  trade, 


and  a  republican  in  politics.  He  married 
Rosella  S.  Fisher,  who  was  born  in  1830. 
Their  children  are  :  Emma  L.,  wife  of  Edward 
May,  a  banker  of  Artesian  City,  South  Dakota; 
Benjamin  S. ;  Odel  H.,  married  Martha  Turner, 
of  Addison,  and  is  a  clerk  in  a  dry  goods  house; 
Daniel  W.,  who  is  city  editor  of  the  Morning 
News  of  Jame.stown ;  and  Louella  A.,  wife  of 
James  Tanner,  a  lumber  dealer  of  Artesian 
City,  S.  D. 

Benjamin  S.  Dean  received  a  common  .school 
education,  which  he  lias  supplemented  by  read- 
ing, observation  and  .self-study.  At  thirteen 
years  of  age  he  began  life  for  him.self  in  Michi- 
gan as  a  wood  .sawyer,  wiiich  he  followed  for 
one  year.  He  then  (1874)  entered  the  office  of 
the  Randolph  Register,  of  Randolph,  N.  Y., 
to  learn  the  printing  business.  After  three 
years  of  faithful  work  on  that  paper,  he  went 
to  Pennsylvania,  where  he  worked  for  two 
years  on  the  Emlcnton  Register.  Later  he  pur- 
chased the  Register,  and  enjoyed  a  large  patron- 
age until  one  of  his  correspondents  furnished 
an  article  whose  publication  incensed  the  busi- 
ness men  of  the  town.  Some  si.xty  of  them  in 
a  body  visited  Mr.  Dean  and  demanded  the 
correspondent's  name,  but  actuated  by  tliat 
sense  of  honor  which  lost  his  grandfather  Fisher 
the  governorship  of  Vermont,  he  declined  to 
accede  to  their  request,  although  he  knew  his 
denial  would  result  in  the  downfall  of  his  i)aper. 
They  withdrew  their  advertisements  and  used 
their  influence  .sp  effectively  against  him  that  he 
was  comjielled  to  suspend  publication  two  weeks 
afterwards.  In  a  short  time  he  became  foreman 
of  a  New  York  city  Sunday  paper,  and  then 
served  as  city  editor  of  the  Olean  3Iorntng 
Herald,  and  associate  editor  of  the  Sunday 
Mirror  of  the  .same  place.  Late  in  1882  he 
purchased  an  interest  in  the  Randolph  Register, 
which  he  edited  until  1885.  In  the  latter  year 
he  came  to  Jan)cstown,  where  he  became  a  part- 
ner in  the  publication  of  the  Morning  News, 
and    immediately   assumed    editorial   charge    of 


OF  ClIAUTAUqUA    CDrXTV. 


its  columns,  wiiicli  lie  lias  rctaiiiitd  ever 
since. 

On  the  27tli  of  Jnno,  1(S8'{,  he  nniteil  in 
marriage  with  Eniil  C.  Blaisdell,  daughter  of 
the  late  lliehard  Blaisdell,  of  (Jawanda,  Catta- 
raugus county,  New  York.  To  their  union  has 
been  born  onecliild,  a  daughter  named  Blanche  B. 

In  political  afl'airs  Mr.  Dean  takes  an  active 
part,  and  his  pen  is  always  wielded  vigorously 
in  behalf  of  the  principles,  the  prosperity  and 
the  progress  of  the  Republican  party.  His 
paper,  the  Mornivg  News,  is  a  power  in  the 
cause  of  Republicanism  in  Chautauqua  county. 

o 

TKKO^n':  I.A  DITE,  who  has  been  identified 
^^  with  tlu'  business  interests  of  Westfield 
since  1870,  is  a  son  of  Joshua  and  Julia  Ami 
(Cowles)  La  Due,  and  was  born  in  the  town  of 
Chautauqua,  Chautauqua  county,  New  York, 
December  12,  1839.  The  La  Dues  of  New 
York  are  of  French  Hutruenot  origin,  and  are 
descended  from  a  La  Due  family  that  settled  in 
Lower  Canada  during;  the  last  century.  Joshua 
La  Due  was  born  in  Dutchess  county  in  1794, 
and  died  in  the  town  of  Portland  in  1865.  He 
came  to  Chautauqua  county  in  1819,  where  he 
settled  in  what  is  now  the  town  of  Sherman,  but 
afterwards  became  a  resident  of  Miua.  He  was 
a  farmer  by  occupation,  served  as  keeper  of  a 
government  light-house  for  four  years  under 
President  James  K.  Polk,  and  was  a  supervisor 
and  afterwards  a  justice  of  the  peace  in  the  town 
of  Miua.  He  married  Julia  Ann  Cowles,  who 
was  a  native  of  Farmington,  Connecticut,  and 
of  New  England  ancestry. 

Jerome  La  Due  was  reared  from  four  years 
of  age  at  Westfield,  where  he  attended  the  acad- 
emy of  that  place  and  then  (1858)  entered  the 
iaw-office  of  H.  C.  Kingsbury.  After  readuig 
for  two  j-ears  he  M-ent  west,  and  completed  his 
legal  studies  in  the  ofBce  of  his  brother,  Joshua 
La  Due,  who  was  prosecuting  attorney  of  the 
city  of  Milwaukee,  Wisconsin.  In  18(J7  he  was 
admitted  to  the  bar  of  ^lilwaukee,  at  which  he 


])racticed  for  three  years,  at  the  end  of  which 
time  he  went  to  Winona,  Minnesota,  where  he 
practiced  for  nearly  a  year  and  attended  to  a 
part  of  the  legal  business  of  the  M.  &  St.  P. 
liailroad  company,  of  which  his  brother  had 
cliarg('.  In  1870  he  returned  to  Chautauqua 
county,  where  he  established  him.self  at  West- 
field  in  the  real  estate  and  insurance  Itusiness,  in 
which  he  has  continued  successfully  ever  since. 
Under  President  Cleveland's  administration,  in 
1885,  he  was  appointed  postmaster  of  Westfield, 
which  ])osition  he  held  until  1890. 

Ill  18(j7  he  united  in  marriage  with  Ada 
Wells,  daughter  of  S.  V.  R.  Wells,  a  resident 
of  Westfield. 

I  le  represents  two  important  branches  of  busi- 
ness which  are  necessary  to  the  growth  and  pros- 
perity of  any  place.  Beside  handling  desirable 
residence  and  valuable  business  properties,  he 
also  has  good  farm  lands  for  sale  and  is  the  rep- 
resentative of  the  most  solid  and  reliable  insur- 
ance companies. 


FmCDKKICK  L.  CRAXSOX,  one  of  the 
enterprising  and  bound-to-be  successful 
business  men  of  Silver  Creek,  is  a  member  of 
the  firm  of  Huntley,  Cranson  &  Hammond, 
manufacturers  of  grain  and  corn  cleaning,  and 
buckwheat  machinery,  at  the  large  establishment 
known  as  the  Monitor  Works,  which  was  organ- 
ized by  Giles  S.  Cranson  (father)  and  his  son,  F. 
L.  Cranson,  in  1885.  He  was  born  in  Rome, 
Oneida  county.  New  York,  March  16,  1855, 
and  is  a  son  of  Giles  S.  and  ]Mary  E.  (Bligh) 
Cranson.  The  fact  that  their  guarantee,  which 
states  that  their  machinery  is  unequalled  in  fin- 
ish, that  nothing  but  the  very  best  material  is 
employed  in  its  construction,  that  none  are  per- 
mitted to  lea%-e  their  M'orks  unless  absolutely 
perfect  in  every  detail,  is  endorsed  by  commen- 
dation of  the  best  millers  from  the  Hudson 
river  to  the  Rocky  mountains  and  from  Lake 
Erie  to  the  Rio  Grande,  is  sufficient  proof  that 
the  tirni  knows  its   imsiness  and  deserves  their 


80 


BIOGRAPHY  AND  HISTORY 


reputation.  Among  the  useful  and  inJiirpen-  i 
sable  machinery  made  at  the  Monitor  Works  < 
are :  The  Crauson  Scouring,  Polishing  and  Sep-  [ 
arating  machine,  single  and  double,  with  mag- 
netic attachment ;  the  Oat  Clipper,  the  Monitor 
Dustless  Receiving  Separator,  the  Monitor 
Dustless  INIilling  Separator,  the  Monitor  Aspi-  ! 
rator,  tlie  Monitor  Dustless  Warehouse  and  Ele- 
vator Separator,  the  Crauson  Corn  Scouring, 
Polishing  and  Separating  machine,  the  Diamond 
Dustless  Corn  Shellerand  Separator,  the  Crauson 
Buckwheat  Scouring,  Polishing  and  Separating 
machine,  theCranson  RollerBuckwheatShucker, 
the  Monitor  Scalping  and  Receiving  Shoe,  and 
the  Buckwheat  Bolt.  Giles  S.  Crauson  (father) 
was  born  in  1821,  in  Venice,  Cayuga  county, 
this  State,  and  after  residing  in  several  towns, 
came  to  Silver  Creek,  a  thriving  incorporated 
mauufacturiuo-  village  in  the  town  of  Hanover. 
In  1846  he  married  Mary  E.  Bligh,  a  daughter 
of  E.  Bligh  and  a  native  of  Clockville,  by 
whom  he  had  five  children.  On  his  removal  to 
Silver  Creek  in  1879  he  engaged  in  tiie  mauu- 
facture  of  buckwheat  hullers.  In  1885  he  and 
his  son  organized  the  Monitor  Works,  and  iu 
1886  they  associated  with  them  W.  W.  Hunt- 
ley and  C.  L.  Hammond.  G.  S.  Crauson  re- 
tired from  the  firm  in  1888. 

Fi'ederick  L.  Crauson  received  his  education 
in  the  common  schools  and  afterwards  acquired 
the  art  of  telegrapliy,  and  was  employed  as  a 
telegraph  operator  for  seven  years.  He  has  full 
charge  of  the  correspondence  and  advertising 
department,  and  also  directs  tlic  movements  of 
the  octette  of  indefatigable  traveling  salesmen. 
It  goes  without  saying,  that  the  productions  of 
the  firm  find  a  ready  market.  He  is  an  active 
and  influential  member  of  Dunkirk  Conunan- 
dery,  No.  40,  Knights  Templar,  has  received  the 
thirty-second  degree,  A.  and  A.  Scottish  Rite,  and 
is  a  member  of  the  Order  of  the  Mystic  Shrine, 
Ismalia  Tom])le,  Buffalo;  N.  Y. 

Mr.  Crauson  united  in  luarriage  with  Eliza- 
beth   A.     I'arkiiurst,    wiio   was   a  (laughter   of 


Wm.  Parkhurst,  of  Clockville,  this  State. 
Their  union  has  been  blest  with  one  child,  a 
daughter,  named  Ethel  D. 


in^EOKGE  B.  DOUGLAS  was  boin  iu  the 
^^  city  of  New  York,  December  25,  1846, 
and  is  a  sou  of  George  and  ^lary  (Barton) 
Douglas.  He  received  his  education  in  the 
public  schools  of  his  native  city,  and  now  lives 
in  Buffalo,  this  state. 

& 

^  AL,PH  B.  DAY.  A  man  whose  life  has  uot 
-*- >  only  been  one  of  usefulness  aud  business 
activity,  but  of  genial,  quiet  manner  and  kindly 
deeds,  is  Ralph  B.  Day,  a  prominent  and  highly- 
respected  citizen  of  the  town  of  Dunkirk.  He 
was  born  on  the  farm  where  he  now  resides, 
one  mile  from  Dunkirk  city,  in  the  town  of 
Dunkirk  (then  Pomfret),  Chautauqua  county, 
New  York,  March  10,  1831,  aud  is  a  son  of 
Edmund  aud  Maria  (Drake)  Day.  The  Days 
are  of  Scotch  descent,  aud  the  founder  of  the 
American  branch  of  the  family  caiue  in  the 
second  ship  load  of  Pilgrims  that  landed  on 
Plymouth  Rock  to  face  the  unbroken  forest 
depths  and  the  many  warlike  Indian  tribes  of 
New  England.  One  of  his  numerous  descen- 
dants iu  western  Massachusetts  was  Edmund 
Day,  Sr.,  grandfather  of  Ralph  B.  Day.  He 
was  a  native  and  life-long  resident  of  Spring- 
field, Massachusetts,  where  his  son,  Edmund 
Day  (fiither),  v.as  born  October  29,  1802,  aud 
remained  until  he  was  twenty-four  years  of  age. 
Edmund  Day,  in  1826,  joiueil  in  the  steady 
tide  of  New  England  emigration  that  then  had 
for  several  years  been  pushing  westward  towards 
the  Genesee  Valle3-an(l  southwestern  New  York. 
He  settled  upon  the  fine  farm  where  the  subject 
of  this  sketch  now  resides,  and  devoted  all  his 
energies  for  a  time  to  the  clearing  and  improv- 
ing of  his  land.  He  erected  good  farm  build- 
ings, and  built  a  saw-mill  which  was  greatly 
needed  iu  his  coinniunity  iu  that  early  ([-.iy  i)f  its 
settlement,      lie  was  successful    iu   his   iiu'niing 


OF  ClfAVrAUQUA    COUNTY. 


81 


operations  and  liiinbi'iMn}^'  business,  wiiicii  Ik^ 
followt'il  many  years.  He  was  a  proniineiit 
member  of  the  Presbyterian  eliurcli,  was  an 
active  demoerat  in  local  polities,  and  liol<l  sev- 
eral of  the  most  important  oilices  in  iiis  town. 
His  life  was  well  worthy  of  imitation.  It  was 
.straii;litforward,  unfalterin<>j  and  unstained.  He 
died  April  18,  187;3,  and  rested  from  his  many 
earthly  labors  when  one  year  pa.st  the  allotted 
threescore  and  ten  years  of  man's  life.  His  wife 
was  Maria  Drake,  daughter  of  Eli  Drake,  of 
Conneetieut.  She  was  born  I'^ebruary  18,  IXOO, 
and  pas.setlaway  March  4,  1847.  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Dav  were  the  parents  of  three  children  :  llalph 
B. ;  Mrs.  George  (Jerrans,  of  l^ineoln,  Nebraska  ; 
and  Mrs.  B.  B.  Hill,  of  Leadville,  Colorado. 

Ralph  B.  Day  was  reared  on  the  Day  home- 
stead, and  received  his  education  at  Fredonia 
academy.  Leaving  school,  his  first  employ- 
ment in  active  life  for  himself  was  in  the  lum- 
bering and  farming  business,  in  which  he  , 
engaged  with  his  father.  He  was  successful  in 
both  those  lines  of  business,  and  in  I8fil  ])ur- 
chased  an  interest  in  a  wine  house  at  Brocton, 
where  he  was  engaged  ibr  eighteen  years  in  the 
manufacture  of  wine.  He  then  engaged  in  the 
cultivation  of  the  grape  and  the  manufacture  of  ' 
wine  ou  a  large  scale  upon  his  home  farm.  He 
also  invested  in  a  chemical  works  at  Warren, 
Pennsylvania,  besides  purchasing  a  considerable 
bodv  of  choice  farming  lands  in  Wisconsin. 
Each  and  every  one  of  these  different  lines  of 
business  has  received  his  personal  attention  and 
careful  supervision  for  several  years,  and  to-day, 
as  the  result  of  his  able  management,  are  in  a 
very  prospei'ous  condition.  The  products  of 
the  chemical  works  at  Warren,  Pa.,  are  of  first 
class  character,  and  the  average  annual  produc- 
tion amounts  to  $25,000  in  value.  His  vine- 
yards are  extensive,  and  are  amply  ])rovided 
with  all  modern  machinery  used  in  the  manu- 
facture of  wine.  His  extensive  packing  house 
is  two  stories  in  height,  M'ith  a  large,  dry  wine- 
cellar  extending  under  it.     His  wine  is  popular 


in  the  niark(;t,  and  is  kncjwn  as  an  absolutely 
])Uiv  and  wholesome  ailicle. 

Aj)ril  17,  1855,  he  married  Prudence  J. 
Gates,  of  Dunkirk,  who  was  a  daughter  of 
Phineas  and  Eliza  A.  (iates,  and  died  A[>ril  25, 
1890,  when  in  the  ibrty-ninth  year  of  her  age. 
To  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Day  were  born  two  sons : 
Edmund  L.  and  ilalph  D.,  now  aged  respec- 
tively twenty-one  and  fourteen  years. 

In  agricultural  matters  Mr.  Day  takes  a  great 
interest,  and  his  fertile  and  highly  ini|)roved 
home  farm  of  two  hundred  and  twenty-five 
acres  bears  witness  to  his  extensive  knowledge 
and  good  taste  as  a  farmer.  In  politics  he  is 
l)ronounced  in  his  demoei'acy,  and  always  active 
in  supporting  the  principles  and  advocating  the 
interests  of  the  party  of  Jefferson,  Jackson  and 
Cleveland.  During  his  long  business  career, 
and  in  all  his  extensive  business  dealings,  Ralph 
B.  Day  has  never  failed  to  meet  every  financial 
engagement  promptly,  and  has  never  been 
known  to  deny  an  honest  and  deserving  aj)peal 
in  favor  of  any  worthy  enterprise  calculated  to 
benefit  his  fellow-men  or  advance  the  interests  of 
his  town.  He  has  been  for  many  years  a  useful 
member  of  Dunkirk  Lodge,  No.  767,  Free  and 
Accepted  Masons. 


"I^KTKB  1{.  BKOWNKF^L,  of  Jamestown,  is 
-*-  a  son  of  Joshua  and  Elizabeth  (Reasoner) 
Brownell,  and  was  born  in  Dutchess  county, 
New  York,  April  20, 1806.  His  fiither,  Joshua 
Brownell,  was  a  native  of  Long  Island,  N.  Y., 
and  was  a  man  of  much  more  than  ordinary 
prominence.  About  1812  he  left  Long  Island 
and  settled  at  a  point  near  Elmira,  this  State, 
and  engaged  in  the  purchase  and  sale  of  cattle 
for  the  New  York  and  Piiiladelphia  markets. 
He  was  a  large  dealer,  and  bought  and  sold  a 
great  many.  An  active  whig,  he  was  an  ardent 
supporter  of  De  Witt  Clinton  when  he  was  a 
!  candidate,  and  was  probably  one  of  his  strongest 
workers.  He  married  Elizabeth  Reasoner  and 
had  nine  children.  He  died  near  Elniira  in  1822 


BIOGBAPHY  AND  HISTORY 


Peter  E.  Browuell  received  his  education  in 
the  public  schools  of  Jamestown,  and  when  he 
left  his  paternal  home  he  began  life  as  a  laborer, 
working  by  t<lie  moiitii  until  twenty-eight  years 
of  age,  when  he  bought  a  farm  in  the  town  of 
Ellery,  upon  which  he  lived  until  1870,  a  total 
of  thirty- six  years.  After  this  he  bought  a 
property  consisting  of  three  houses  and  lots  in 
the  city  of  Jamestown,  and  moving  in  one  of 
them  has  lived  there  ever  since.  Some  years 
ago  lie  retired  from  business  and  is  now  enjoy- 
ing the  fruits  of  the  labor  of  his  early  life. 

On  August  31,  1834,  P.  E.  Brownell  married 
Ehoda  Putnam,  who  bore  him  three  children  : 
Smith  H.,  whose  first  wife  was  Mary  Strong, 
and  after  her  death  he  married  Minerva  Dunn ; 
Mary  Ann,  married  to  John  B.  Eush,  a  promi- 
nent farmer  living  at  Jamestown;  and  Bessie 
M.,  wife  of  the  well-known  Jamestown  livery- 
man, John  Peregrin.  After  Mrs.  Brownell's 
death  Mr.  Brownell  married  for  his  second  wife 
Mrs.  Mary  Van  Dusen. 

In  politics  he  adheres  to  the  tenets  of  the 
Eepublican  party,  and  with  a  kindly  disposition 
he  has  many  friends,  and  is  a  member  of  the 
Methodist  Episcopal  church. 


JOHX  J.  ALDKIC^H,  the  leading  furniture 
dealer  of  Jamestown  and  Chautauqua 
county,  IS  a  son  of  George  and  Maria  (Munger) 
Aldrich,  and  was  born  in  the  town  of  Stockton, 
Chautauqua  county,  New  York,  November  23, 
1841.  His  grandfather,  Tillotson  Aldrich, 
was  a  native  of  Ivliode  Island,  where  he  was  a 
prominent  manufacturer  of  cotton  goods  for 
many  years.  He  then  removed  to  Tompkins 
county,  this  State,  and  afterwards  settled  in  the 
town  of  Ellery,  where  he  resided,  and  was  a 
farmer  until  his  deatii.  Among  his  possessions 
was  a  fine  farm  on  the  East  side  of  Lake  Chau- 
tauqua, lie  was  a  Quaker  or  Friend  in  relig- 
ious belief,  reared  a  family  of  five  sons  and  one 
daughter,  and  sold  his  farm  to  his  son  William, 
who  afterwards  became  prominent  in   the   poli- 


tics of  his  town.  Another  of  his  sous  was 
George  Aldrich,  the  father  of  the  subject  of  this 
sketch,  and  who  was  born  April  1, 1806,  in  the 
City  of  Providence,  E.  I.  He  removed  from 
Eliode  Island  with  his  father  to  Tompkins 
county,  and  thence  to  Ellery,  tiiis  county.  He 
is  a  farmer  by  occupation,  and  in  politics  sup- 
ports the  Eepublican  party,  but  was  formerly 
an  old-line  whig.  He  married  Maria  Munger, 
wlio  died  in  1873,  aged  sixty-nine  years,  and 
since  that  time  has  lived  in  Jamestown  with  his 
son,  John  J.  They  were  the  parents  of  two 
children,  who  lived  to  maturity:  John  J.  and 
Orin  T.,  now  a  resident  and  commercial  travel- 
er of  St.  Louis,  Missouri.  Mrs.  Aldrich  was  a 
daughter  of  James  Munger  (maternal  grand- 
father), a  farmer  and  resident  of  Tompkins- 
county. 

John  J.  Aldrich  was  reared  in  the  town  of 
Eilery  where  he  received  his  education.  When 
fifteen  years  of  age  he  became  a  clerk  in  a  gen- 
eral mercantile  store  in  which  he  served  five 
years  and  then  bought  out  his  employer.  He 
conducted  this  store  for  over  four  years,  and 
during  his  connection  with  it  for  nine  years  as 
clerk  and  proprietor  he  acquired  a  thorough 
knowledge  of  merchandising,  and  laid  the  foun- 
dations for  his  future  success  in  business  life. 
In  connection  with  his  mercantile  business  he 
purchased  butter  and  eggs  for  a  produce  firm 
in  New  York  city,  and  when  he  disposed  of  this 
store  in  1866,  he  came  to  Jamestown,  where  lie 
was  engaged  for  ten  years  in  the  dry  goods  bus- 
iness. At  the  end  of  that  time,  in  1876,  he 
was  elected  county  clerk  and  at  the  expiration 
of  his  term  was  re-elected,  being  the  only  clerk 
duriuo-  the  last  fortv  vears  who  was  elected  for 
a  second  term.  During  tiie  last  three  years  of 
the  time  which  he  served  as  county  ch^rk  at 
INlayviile,  he  was  a  member  of  tiie  Hrccd  Fur- 
niture Manufacturing  Company,  of  Jamestown. 
When  his  second  term  of  ollice  expired,  lie  soon 
after  retired  from  his  association  witii  tiic  Breed 
Furniture    CV)mpany,   returned    to  Jamestown,. 


OF  CIIAUTA  I/QUA    COUNT)'. 


85 


and,  ill  January,  1887,  lie  establislied  liis  piTs- 
eiit  fiirnitiiro  estal)lisliiii(!nt  on  j\Iain  street. 
lie  is  carrying  on  tlii.s  hnsincss  under  tlie  lirm 
name  of  Joiin  J.  Aldrieli,  and  i<ee|is  constant- 
ly on  hand  a  full  stock  comprising  all  lines  of 
furniture  from  tlie  best  down  to  the  cheapest. 
His  trade  extends  to  nearly  every  section  of  the 
United  States  east  of  the  Mississippi  river. 
Hi.s  business  establishment  is  conveniently  locat- 
ed and  well  iitted  up  and  arranged  for  the  dis- 
play of  his  diirerent  styles  of  useful  and  elegant 
furniture. 

In  1860  Mr.  Aldrich  married  I>izzie  Foster, 
of  the  town  of  liiiiden,  Cattai'angus  county, 
who  died  and  left  one  child  :  Claia  M.,  now  the 
wife  of  Dr.  D.  R.  Redgers,  of  New  York  City. 
He  married  for  his  second  wife  Ilattie  S.  Coe, 
of  the  town  of  Ellery,  who  bore  him  two  chil- 
dren :  Minnie  C,  and  John  D.  She  died  Au- 
gust 2,  1871,  and  on  October  23,  1872,  he 
united  in  marriage  with  Clara  I.  Breed,  daugh- 
ter of  Dewitt  C.  Breed  (see  his  sketch),  and  of 
the  two  children  born  to  them,  one  died  in 
infancy  and  the  other  is  named  Lucy  Gene- 
vieve. 

Mr.  Aldrich  has  always  been  a  republican  in 
politics  and  is  now  serving  his  fourth  consecu- 
tive term  as  supervisor  of  the  city  of  James- 
town, and  is  cluiirman  of  the  Board  of  Suj)er- 
visors  of  Chautaucpui  county.  He  is  a  member 
of  the  Jamestown  First  Baptist  Church,  James- 
town Lodge,  No.  34,  Ancient  Order  of  United 
Workmen  ;  Chautauqua  Lodge,  No.  40,  Knights 
of  Honor  ;  and  Chautauqua  Council,  No.  73, 
Royal  Arcanum.  He  was  chairman  of  the  fi- 
nance committee  of  the  Supreme  Lodge  of  the 
Knights  of  Honor  of  the  United  States  for 
four  years,  has  been  a  member  of  the  Supreme 
Council  of  the  Royal  Arcanum  for  one  term 
and  served  as  a  ])residiiig  officer  of  the  Grand 
Council  of  the  Royal  Arcanum  of  the  State  of 
New  York  for  two  terms,  as  well  as  being  a 
member  of  the  New  York  Grand  Lodge  of  the 
Knights  of  Honor  for  several  years.     He  is  at 


])reseiit  President  of  the  Board  of  Trade  of 
the  city  of  Jamestown,  and  is  proujineully 
identified  with  the  growth  and  prosperity  of  the 
city. 


/^LOF  A.  OLSON,  a  lucuiiiir  ui'  the  Chatau- 
^^  qua  (^)unty  bar,  is  a  son  of  Olof  H.  Svens- 
son  and  Johanna  (Anderson)  Svensson,  and  was 
born  in  Skarbolstorp,  Kil  Parish,  Verinland, 
Sweden,  December  17,  1851.  He  attended  the 
common  schools  in  Sweden,  and,  in  1808,  emi- 
gi'ated  from  that  country  to  the  United  States, 
and  located  at  Jamestown,  New  York,  where 
he  read  law  with  Barlow  &  Green,  and,  in  1874, 
he  entered  the  Albany  (New  York)  law  school, 
from  wliirh  he  was  graduated  the  next  year, 
having  studied  nearly  .seven  years.  He  returned 
to  Jamestown,  intending  to  practice  his  profes- 
sion, but  clientage  coming  slowly,  he  joined  the 
ranks  of  the  pedagogues,  in  order  that  he  might 
add  to  his  income  while  he  established  a  prac- 
tice. In  1883  he  was  appointed  a  notary  public 
at  Jamestown,  and  the  performance  of  the  duties 
thereby  incumbent  upon  him,  together  witli  his 
legal  practice,  leave  him  but  little  time  to  con- 
duct his  private  classes  in  his  evening  school. 
In  1874  lie  took  the  first  step,  and  a  prominent 
part,  in  the  organization  of  a  company  whose 
object  was  to  publish  a  Swedish  weekly  paper 
in  the  interests  of  the  Swedish  citizens  of  James- 
town. He  was  manager  of  the  paper,  called 
the  People's  Voice,  from  July  1  to  December 
31,  1875.  The  name  was  afterward  changed  to 
Our  Xew  Home,  and  the  journal  is  now  ranked 
among  the  prominent  Swedish  papers  published 
in  the  country,  and  has  a  circulation  of  about 
five  thon.sand.  He  w'as,  in  1873,  one  of  the 
originators  of  the  scheme  to  establish  a  circu- 
lating library  among  his  fellow-countrymen. 
This  library,  which  was  established  in  1873, 
was  much  used  for  a  time  in  Jamestown,  and 
has  l)een  productive  of  much  good  among  the 
cla.ss  whom  it  was  intended  to  benefit.  By 
these  philanthropic  eftbrts  to  advance  their  etlu- 


86 


BIOGRAPHY  AND  HISTORY 


cational  interests,  Olof  A.  Olsou  has  endeared 
himself  to  the  hearts  of  his  countrymen,  and 
so  thoroughly  have  they  appreciated  his  en- 
deavors, that  wiien,  in  1878,  his  health  became 
so  much  impaired  that  his  medical  advisors 
insisted  on  a  sea  voyage  as  the  only  means  of 
its  restoration,  the  expenses  of  his  trip  to  Paris, 
which  he  himself  would  have  been  unable  at 
that  time  to  meet,  were  defrayed  by  his  Swedish 
friends  and  admirers,  who  were  well  pleased  to 
have  an  opportunity  to  show  how  highly  they 
valued  his  labors  in  their  behalf  He  returned 
much  benefited  in  health,  and  threw  himself 
with  zealous  interest  into  the  practice  of  law  and 
teaching,  and  the  fickle  goddess  of  fortune  has 
opened  wide  her  arms  to  receive  him.  His 
abilities  are  recognized  as  of  a  high  order,  and 
his  time  is  now  fully  engaged.  Mr.  Olson 
also  ranks  high  as  a  violin  player.  His  prac- 
tice in  the  law  consists  chiefly  of  office  work. 
An  only  brother,  Johan,  is  a  teacher  in  Sweden. 
Mr.  blsoD  is  a  gentleman,  and  is  a  recognized 
leader  among  his  countrymen,  and  is  also  re- 
spected and  honored  by  the  entire  population  of 
Jamestown,  who  recognize  in  him  one  worthy 
of  it. 

<3 

THOMAS  DAVIS  STRONG,  M.  D.,  a 
prominent  and  well-known  physician  of 
"Westfield,  was  born  in  the  town  of  Pawlct, 
Rutland  county,  Vermont,  November  22,  1822, 
and  is  a  son  of  Return  and  Laura  (Davis) 
Strong.  Many  New  England  families  have 
taken  a  justifiable  pride  in  tlie  preservation  of 
their  genealogies,  and  among  that  number  is  the 
Strong  family,  which  was  founded  at  Nortliamp- 
ton,  Massachusetts,  by  Elder  John  Strong,  from 
whom  Dr.  Thomas  D.  Strong  is  lineally  de- 
scended. Elder  John  Strong  was  a  member  of 
the  Plymouth  colony,  and  afterwards  removed 
to  Nortliampton,  where  he  reared  a  respectable 
family.  Within  two  centuries  and  a  half  thirty 
thousand  of  his  descendants  have  lived  in 
various  parts  of  New  England  and  the  Union, 


and  iheir  names  are  recorded  in  a  large,  two- 
volume  history  of  the  "  Strong  family,  founded 
by  Elder  John  Strong,"  which  was  j)ublished 
some  ten  years  ago.  It  is  said  to  be  one  of  the 
most  accurate  and  carefully  kept  foraily  records 
that  is  to  be  found  in  the  United  States.  Return 
Strong  (father)  came  in  1851  to  We.stfield,  where 
he  Mas  eng-ag-ed  in  the  mercantile  bu.siness  for 
.several  years,  and  died. 

Thomas  Davis  Strong  prepared  for  college  at 
Burr  seminaiy  in  Manciiester,  Vermont,  then 
under  the  charge  of  the  celebrated  Rev.  Joseph 
AYickhara,  D.D.,  who  is  now  in  tlie  ninety-sixth 
year  of  his  age.  He  then  entered  the  University 
of  Vermont,  from  which  he  was  graduated  in 
1848.  Leaving  college  he  read  medicine  with 
his  cousin,  Dr.  P.  H.  Strong,  of  Buff;ilo,  this 
State,  and  attended  his  first  course  of  lectures  at 
Castleton  medical  college,  of  VernKjnt,  while 
his  second  and  third  courses  he  took  at  the 
medical  department  of  tlie  University  of  Buffalo, 
which  was  then  under  charge  of  Prof.  Hamilton 
Flint,  afterwards  of  Bellevue,  and  from  which 
he  was  graduated  in  1851  with  the  degree  of 
M.D.  In  the  same  year  he  came  to  Westfield, 
where  he  has  enjoyed  a  remunerative  practice 
ever  since.  Dr.  Strong  served  as  surgeon  of  the 
Sixty-eighth  regiment  of  New  York  State  troops, 
and  made  a  trip  in  1871  to  the  Rocky  Mountains 
and  the  Pacific  .slope,  in  whose  development  he 
takes  a  deep  interest. 

On  May  25,  1852,  Dr.  Strong  married  Lucy 
M.  Ainsworth,  of  Williamstown,  Vermont. 

Dr.  T.  D.  Strong  has  been  for  twenty-five 
years  a  member  of  the  boards  of  trustees  of 
\ye.stfield  academy  and  Westfield  Union  schools. 
He  was  one  of  the  commi.ssioners  for  locating 
the  western  New  York  asylum  for  the  insane  at 
Buffido.  lie  is  a  member  and  has  served  as 
president  of  the  Chautau(pia  and  the  Lake  Erie 
medical  .societies.  He  is  an  honorary  member 
of  the  California  State  medical  society,  was  vice- 
president  of  the  New  York  medical  association 
1  in  1889,  and  has  been  for  the  last  twentv-five 


UF  CJIA  IJTA  I  'Q  ? '.  1    CO  I  'XTV. 


87 


years  I'liratdr  ol'  tlie  iiieilical  department  of  the 
Uiiiver.sily  of  Biittalu. 


QUOrSTUS  IIOLSTKIX,  jnstiee  of  tlie 
•*■  ■*■  jjcace  of  Dunkiik,  was  born  in  the  inanu- 
facluring  city  of  Ca.ssel,  tlie  capital  of  the  pro- 
vince of  Jlesse-Nassan,  Prussia,  March  4, 1828, 
and  was  a  son  of  Peter  and  Elizabeth  (Burger) 
Ilolstein.  His  father,  Peter  Holstein,  was  an 
educated  military  man,  who  had  accumulated  a 
snug  fortune,  married  Elizabeth  Burger,  in 
1800,  by  whom  he  had  six  children,  and  spent 
seventeen  years  in  the  military  service  of  Ger- 
many, being  colonel  of  the  Fifth  Pni.ssiaii  regi- 
ment under  Gen.  Blucher  at  the  battle  of  Wat- 
erloo which  practically  ended  the  career  of  the 
Emperor,  Napoleon  Bonaparte,  of  France.  The 
battle  of  Leipsic  and  the  burning  of  Moscow 
had  also  seen  him  an  active  participant  and  for 
his  gallant  conduct  he  had  bestowed  upon  him 
the  gold  medal  and  iron  cross,  the  most  honor- 
able and  distinguished  decorations  won  by  army 
officers  in  Germany.  In  religious  matters  he 
was  a  protestant  as  was  also  his  wife.  He  died 
at  his  home  in  Cassel,  in  his  native  country,  in 
1858,  aged  seventy-nine  years  ;  his  wife,  a  na- 
tive of  the  same  place,  passing  away  three  years 
previously,  at  the  age  of  sixty-five  years. 

Augustus  Holstein  was  reared  in  Cassel  and 
graduated  from  the  Polytechnic  institute  there. 
He  spent  a  year  in  traveling  over  Europe,  and 
in  1847  came  to  America,  lauding  in  Quebec  but 
left  that  city  in  a  week  on  account  of  the  epi- 
demic of  cholera  and  smallpox,  which  was  car- 
lying  off  hundi'eds  of  victims,  and  by  steam 
and  rail  journeyed  until  he  reached  Carbondale. 
Pa.,  where  he  remained  five  years  during  which 
time  he  learned  the  carpentering  business.  In 
1852  he  came  to  Dunkirk  and  entered  into 
jiartnershii)  with  Joseph  P.  Eider  under  the 
firm  name  of  Kider  &  Holstein,  and  enoagred  in 
carpentering  and  contracting,  in  which  business 
they  continued  until  1867  when  he  lost  his  right 
hand  in  an  accident.  In  the  latter  year  he  was 
5 


electe<l  a  nieniber  of  theboai'd  of  education  and 
in  ]  87(3  justice  of  the  peace  and  has  held  the 
last  named  office  ever  since,  in  his  jiulitieal 
principles  he  was  a  republican  and  takes  an  ac- 
tive part  in  politics.  Mr.  llolsteiu  was  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Methodi.st  cliurcli  and  a  member  of 
Lake  Erie  lodge,  No,  85,  A.  O.  U.  W. 

On  July  9, 1851,  Mr.  Holstein  united  in  mar- 
riage with  Mary  J.  Earl,  a  daughter  of  Beeciier 
Earl,  of  Carbondale,  Pa.  To  this  marriage 
were  born  six  children,  four  of  whom  died 
young:  James  A.,  who  married  Julia  J.  Dra- 
per, has  one  son  and  resides  in  Dunkirk;  James, 
Auguta,  Charlc.=;  E.,  George,  Charles  B.,  and 
Joseph  E.,  who  died  July  15,  1887,  at  the  age 
of  twenty-eight  j'ears,  leaving  a  widow  and 
three  children,  wdio  now  reside  in  Dunkirk. 
Mrs.  Holstein  died  January  12,  18G5,  aged 
thirty-seven  years,  and  her  husband,  the  subject 
of  this  sketch,  followed  her  to  his  eternal  rest 
February  16,  1891,  aged  sixty-three  years. 

s> 

TA^ILLiIAJI  A.  CRANDAI.!.,  a  veteran  of 
■''*■  the  rebellion,  who  has  converted  his 
sword  into  a  plowshare  and  resumed  the  peace- 
ful vocation  of  his  forefathers,  is  a  sou  of  Paul 
and  Betsey  E.  (Scrivens)  Crandall,  and  was 
born,  in  1840,  at  Beaoh  Hill,  Chautauqua 
county,  New  York.  His  paternal  grandparents 
were  of  Puritan  descent,  and  born  in  Rhode 
Island,  where,  except  a  few  years  residence  in 
Berlin,  Rensselaer  county,  this  State,  they  spent 
their  lives.  Grandfather  Crandall  was  by  occu- 
pation a  farmer.  Paul  Crandall  (father)  was 
born  in  Berlin,  November  2,1802,  and  in  fS.'Jl 
went  to  Troy,  engaged  pas.sage  fiir  himself  and 
family  on  a  canal-boat,  and  came  to  Buffalo, 
the  journey  occujjying  nine  days,  it  being  then 
the  only  mode  of  public  travel.  Now  the  trip 
is  made  betwceu  the  two  cities  in  five  hours  by 
rail.  From  Buffalo  they  came  down  to  Fre- 
douia,  this  county,  a  section  wd)ich  was  then 
considered  as  the  far  distant  west  bv  the  people 
of  the  eastern  end  of  the  State,  three  hundred 


88 


BIOGRAPHY  AND  HISTORY 


miles  away.  Paul  Crandall  finally  settled  in 
Stockton,  hut  died  at  Beach  Hill,  in  Chautauqua. 
By  occupation  he  \va.s  a  farmer  and  in  religion 
he  was  a  member  of  the  Baptist  church.  In 
1823,  he  married  Betsey  E.  Scrivens,  a  daugh- 
ter of  William  Tracy  Scrivens,  by  whom  he 
had  eight  children,  five  sous  and  three  daugh- 
ters. 

William  A.  Crandall  was  educated  iu  the 
common  schools,  and  began  his  active  life  as  a 
farmer  at  Beach  Hill.  On  September  12, 1862, 
he  enlisted  iu  Co.  H,  One  Hundred  and  Twelfth 
Regiment,  New  York  Volunteers  ;  participated 
in  the  siege  of  Suffolk,  and  several  other  battles 
and  skirmishes,  and  finally  was  taken  sick  and 
sent  to  the  hospital.  He  was  mustered  out  of 
service  at  the  close  of  the  war,  and  resumed 
farming.  In  1877  he  came  to  Sherman,  where 
he  has  resided  ever  since,  owning  a  farm  of 
seven  acres  within  tiie  corporation.  Politically 
he  is  independent,  in  religion  he,  as  well  as  his 
■wife,  is  a  member  of  the  Methodist  church,  and 
is  also  a  member  of  Sheldon  Post,  No.  295> 
G.  A.  R.  at  Sherman. 

William  A.  Crandall  was  married  February 

23,    1865,    to    Mary  J.  Hunt,    a    daughter   of 

Aaron  and  Electa   (Maxim)   Hunt,  natives  of 

Vermont,    who    emigrated    to    Hartfield,    tiiis 

county,  where  the  father  died.     To  this  union 

have  been  born  six  children,  four  sons  and  two 

daughters. 

_^^ 

j^K.     FKANKT.IX    BURRITT,   who    was 

'^  ibr  many  years  a  promineut  business  man 
of  Fredonia,  is  a  son  of  Charles  and  Orpha 
(Tucker)  Burritt,  and  was  born  at  Fredonia, 
Chantau((ua  county,  New  York,  February  24, 
1827.  ('harles  Burritt  was  born  in  Coimecti- 
cut  and  came  in  1808  to  Fredonia,  whi're  lie 
owned  liir  some  years  a  log  shoe  shop  on  a  ])art 
of  the  site  of  tiie  Putnam  block.  Ill  hcaltli 
caused  him  to  al)andou  shoemaking  and  engage 
in  the  drug  business,  of  wiiich  he  was  the  pio- 
neer at  Fredonia,  where  he  had  a  drug  store  for 


nearly  fifty  years.  He  served  as  a  lieutenant 
in  the  war  of  1812,  and  was  a  whig  until  Fill- 
more's election,  after  which  he  became  succes- 
sively a  "  silver  gray ''  and  democrat.  He  was 
au  industrious  and  estimable  man  and  died 
March  9,  1866,  when  he  was  approaching  the 
close  of  his  eightieth  year.  Pie  married  Orpha 
Tucker,  daughter  of  Major  Samuel  Tucker,  and 
reared  a  family  of  two  sons  and  two  daughters. 
Captain  Samuel  Tucker  (maternal  grandfather) 
was  born  and  reared  in  Vermont,  where  he  was 
a  neighbor  of  Ethan  Allen,  and  served  under 
the  latter  at  the  capture  of  Ticonderoga.  He 
was  one  of  the  company  of  Continental  soldiers 
which  was  drawn  up  into  line  at  the  execution 
of  Major  Andre. 

Franklin  Burritt  grew  to  manhood  at  Fre- 
donia, where  he  received  his  education  in  the 
schools  and  academy  of  that  place.  Leaving 
school  he  went  to  New  Orleans,  Louisiana,  wiiere 
he  remained  three  j-ears.  He  then  returned  to 
Fredonia  and  engaged  in  the  drug  business, 
which  he  followed  until  1870,  when  he  retired 
from  active  business.  He  read  medicine  and 
practiced  considerably  in  connection  with  his 
drug  business  during  his  early  life.  He  served 
for  several  years  with  Gov.  Patterson,  of  West- 
field,  on  the  State  board  of  charities  and  was  a 
manager  of  the  Buffalo  State  hospital  for  the 
in.sane,  which  position  he  resigned  after  serving 
four  years. 

On  May  15th,  1849,  he  married  Ann  Norton, 
of  the  town  of  Pomfrec.  They  have  two  daugh- 
ters living:  Mrs.  F.  N.  Conn  and  Mrs.  P.  B. 
Gary.  Mrs.  Burritt  is  a  daughter  of  Elisha  and 
Harriet  (Lowell)  Norton,  who  came  from  Ver- 
non, Oneida  county,  about  1815,  and  .settled  two 
miles  southwest  of  Fredonia,  where  they  reared 
a  family  of  two  sons  and  two  daugiiters.  Elisha 
Norton  was  a  son  of  Isaac  Norton,  a  native  of 
Berksliire,  Massachusetts,  who  was  an  early  set- 
tler of  the  town  of  Pomfret. 

Diu'iiig  his  active  life  and  especially  in  his 
younger  days,  Dr.  Burritt  was  an  active  Demo- 


OF  ClIAUlAUqUA   COUNTY. 


89 


crat.  He  was  elected  .stipervi.sor  of  the  town  of 
Pomfret  in  1870,  when  the  llcpublieun  party 
had  a  majority  of  two  hundred  votes  in  tiie  town. 
He  served  very  creditably  in  that  position  for 
four  years  and  continued  in  the  Democratic 
party  up  to  1(S84,  and  then  connected  iiimself 
witli  tiie  proiiibitionists,  whose  principles  he  has 
supported  ever  since. 


FKAKCIS  D.  ELIuIS  is  the  oldest  merchant 
in  Forestville,  having  more  than  a  third 
of  a  century  ago  succeeded  his  father,  who  had 
been  a  prominent  cabinet-maker  and  furniture 
dealer  in  this  village  for  nearly  a  quarter  of  a 
century  before  him.  He  is  a  son  of  Thomas  G. 
and  Sophia  (Dickinson)  Ellis,  and  was  born  in 
Augusta,  Oneida  county,  JSiew  York,  October 
17,  1826.'  His  paternal  grandfather,  Moses 
Ellis,  was  from  Scotch  and  English  ancestry, 
and  several  of  the  family  have  scored  high 
marks  on  the  roll  of  fame  as  literary  and  eccle- 
siastical celebrities.  He  was  a  native  of  Barn- 
stable, in  the  county  of  the  same  name,  Mass., 
and  settled  in  Brookfield,  Madison  county,  this 
State,  in  1812.  where  he  engaged  in  cabinet- 
making,  an  occupation  which  has  been  followed 
in  his  family  for  over  eighty  years.  He  died 
in  Wayland,  Steuben  county,  this  State,  aged 
eighty-two  years.  Thomas  G.  Ellis  (father) 
was  born  on  Nantucket  Island,  Nantucket 
county,  ]\Iass.,  in  1803,  but  his  parents  moved 
to  the  mainland  during  the  war  of  1812.  Nine- 
teen years  later  (1831)  he  came  to  this  county, 
located  in  Forestville,  and  established  himself 
in  the  cabinet-making  business,  in  which  he 
continued  nntil  1855.  In  religion  he  was  a 
member  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church,  of 
which  for  forty  years  he  was  either  a  steward 
or  trustee,  and  during  many  years  held  both 
offices.  In  politics  he  was  a  straight  democrat, 
and  for  sixteen  years  was  justice  of  the  peace, 
also  serving  four  terms  as  associate  judge  of 
Chautauqua  county.  He  was  a  member  of 
Hauover  Lodge,  No.   152,  F.  and  A.  ]\I.,  and 


died  .January  22, 1882,  aged  seventy-nine  years. 
He  married  Soj)hia  Dickinson  in  182G,  by  whom 
he  had  two  sons  and  one  daugliter  :  Francis  D., 
Irvine  A.  and  Mary.  Irvine  \.  went  to  Cali- 
fornia in  1851,  where  he  was  inspector  in  the 
custom-house  of  San  Franci.sco,  assisted  in  sur- 
veying southern  California,  was  clerk  of  the 
California  Senate,  (piartermaster  in  the  army 
during  four  years  of  the  civil  war  and  then  re- 
turned to  the  San  Francisco  custom-house,  where 
he  was  employed  until  his  death  in  1866,  at  the 
age  of  thirty-three  years.  Mrs.  Ellis  was  born 
in  Fitchburg,  AVorccster  county,  Mass.,  in  1804, 
is  the  oldest  member  of  the  Methodi.st  Episco- 
pal church  at  Forestville,  where  she  now  re- 
sides, and  is  a  cousin  of  Hon.  Daniel  S.  Dick- 
inson, ex-governor  of  New  York. 

Francis  D.  Ellis  was  reared  in  Forestville, 
acquired  his  education  in  the  common  and  select 
schools  of  that  place  and  learned  the  trade  of  a 
cabinet-maker,  in  which  vocation  he  has  since 
continued,  succeeding  his  father  in  that  and  the 
furniture  and  undertaking  business  in  1855,  and 
supjjlemental  thereto  does  all  kinds  of  embalm- 
ing, having  in  all  branches  of  his  business  a 
well-established  and  good-paying  patronage. 
Politically  he  is  a  democrat  and  in  religion  is  a 
member  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church,  of 
which  he  has  been  a  trustee  for  twenty  years. 
He  has  been  treasurer  of  the  Equitable  Aid 
Union  since  1881. 

Francis  D.  Ellis  was  married  March  9,  1849, 
to  Abi  Phillips,  of  Forestville,  by  whom  he 
had  three  daughters  :  ilary  N.  Harriet  P.  and 
Jennie  L.,  all  living.  Mrs.  Ellis  died  in  1865, 
and  on  September  3d,  1867,  Mr.  Ellis  married 
Jennie  Hall,  of  Brocton,  Chautau(|ua  county, 
N.  Y. 


C'HKlt>IAN  U.  lliTEWTON,  one  of  the  earn- 
^^  est  young  business  men  of  this  section, 
who  is  bound  to  make  an  indelible  mark  as  a 
successful  and  honoral)lc  man,  is  a  sou  of  Har- 
rison   and   Jauette   (JMarsh)   Newton,  and  was 


90 


BIOGRAPHY  AND  HISTORY 


born  in  Irving,  Cliaatanqiia  county,  New  York, 
July  17,  1867.  Milo  Newton  (grandfather) 
was  also  a  native  of  Irving,  was  by  occupation 
a  farmer  and  died  in  1886,  in  the  village  where 
he  was  born,  aged  seventy-two  years.  In  re- 
liu-ion  he  wa-*  a  member  of  the  Methodist  church, 
and  in  politics  was  a  republican.  Harrison 
Newton  (father)  was  also  born  in  Irving,  in 
18-11,  and  has  been  a  resident  of  Buffalo,  Erie 
county,  since  1 870.  He  is  a  passenger  conductor 
on  the  L.  S.  M.  S.  R.  R.,  which  position  he 
has  held  for  thirty-three  years,  running  between 
Buffalo,  and  Cleveland,  Ohio.  In  politics  he  is 
a  stanch  republican,  is  a  member  of  Silver  lodge. 
No.  757,  F.  and  A.  M.,  of  Silver  Creek,  lodge 
No.  9,  A.  O.  U.  W.,  of  Buffalo,  and  of  the 
Conductor's  Life  Insurance  Company.  In  1863 
he  married  Janette  Marsh,  who  was  born  in 
Irving  in  1843,  and  by  her  had  two  children. 

Sherman  U.  Newton  was  reared  in  Buffalo, 
this  State,  and  was  graduated  from  the  high  school 
at  that  place  at  the  age  of  fourteen,  after  which 
he  took  a  thoi'ough  business  course  in  Bryant  & 
Stratton  college  of  that  city.  In  June,  1883, 
he  came  to  Silver  Creek  to  assume  the  position 
of  assistant  cashier  in  the  Excelsior  bank,  where 
he  discharged  the  duties  of  that  office  so  satis- 
factorily that  on  November  18,  1890,  he  was 
ajipointed  cashier  to  fill  the  vacancy  caused  by 
the  death  of  his  cousin,  Dana  C.  Swift,  who  had 
held  that  position  several  years.  In  politics  he 
is  independent,  is  a  charter  member  and  Sr.  Kt. 
Fin  Kr.,  of  Chau.  Tent,  No.  95  Knights  of 
the  IMaccabccs,  and  also  a  charter  member  of 
Huntley  Hose  and  Fire  Co.,  No.  1. 

Sherman  U.  Newton  was  married  October  21, 
1890,  to  Minnie  C.  Barnes,  a  daughter  of 
Charles  Barnes,  of  Silver  Creek,  N.  Y. 


COLONKL,  RUFUS  HAY  WOO  O.  A  man 
well-known  for  his  active  and  upright 
life,  and  also  by  reason  of  his  services  rendered 
to  the  Union  cause  during  the  late  civil  war, 
was  Col.   Ilufus  Haywood,  of  Fredouia,   who 


has  been  identified  during  the  last  half  century 
with  useful  and  important  business  iuterests  in 
New  Hampshire,  Massachusetts,  Illinois  and 
western  New  York.  He  was  a  son  of  Benjamin 
and  Polly  (Sawyer)  Haywood,  and  was  born  at 
Jaffrey,  Cheshire  county.  New  Hampshire, 
March  6,  1820.  The  territory  of  the  "  Granite 
State"  as  a  royal  province,  was  largely  settled 
by  thrifty  and  energetic  families  from  the  eastern 
part  of  Massachusetts  colony,  and  among  these 
pioneer  families  was  the  Haywood  familv.  One 
of  its  members,  wiio  was  born  in  Massachusetts, 
was  Benjamin  Haywood,  Sr. ,  grandfather  of 
Col.  Rufus  Haywood.  He  was  a  blacksmith  by 
trade  and. served  in  the  Revolutionary  war, 
during  which  he  was  severely  wounded  in  the 
breast  by  a  musket-ball  in  one  of  the  principal 
battles  of  that  great  struggle.  After  the  decla- 
ration of  peace,  he  returned  to  his  New  Hamp- 
shire home,  where  he  lived  a  respected  citizen 
until  his  death.  His  son,  Benjamin  Haywood 
(the  father),  was  born  in  1786,  and  died  in 
February,  1853.  He  inherited  the  industry  and 
perseverance  of  his  father,  and  judiciously  and 
successfully  improved  his  busine.ss  opportunities. 
His  life  was  devoted  to  agricultural  pursuits, 
and  while  confining  his  field  of  labor  to  his  own 
county,  yet  ranked  as  one  of  the  foremost  and 
most  substantial  farmers  of  the  State.  He 
married  Polly  Sawyer,  who  was  a  native  of 
New  Hampshire  and  a  member  of  the  well- 
known  Sawyer  family  of  tiiat  State.  She  passed 
away  in  1842,  at  forty-six  years  of  age. 

Rufus  Haywood  grew  to  manhood  on  the 
farm,  received  his  education  at  Jaffrey  academy, 
and  then  was  engaged  for  five  years  in  teaching 
in  the  district  .schools  of  New  Hampshire.  At 
the  end  of  that  time  he  went  to  Wiuchendon, 
Mass.,  where  for  over  one  year  he  conducted  a 
butcher  shop  and  livery  stable.  He  then 
returned  to  Jalfrey,  purcha.sed  property  on 
which  he  built,  and  embarked  in  farming  and 
merchandising.  After  three  years  he  removed 
to  Cambriilge,  Mass.,  where,  in  company  with 


OF  VJIAUTAUQUA   COUMT): 


93 


H.  0.  Hougliton,  lie  oi)gn<^c(l  in  jjiihlisliiiig  law- 
bodUs  for  one  year,  and  then  spent  several  years 
in  the  west.     While  in  Illinois  he  kept  a  hotel 
for  one  year  at  Belvidere,  and  acted  as  teller  for 
two  years  in  a  bank  of  that  plaec,  durinoj  which 
time    he    lost  over   seven  Ihonsand  dollars  by 
speculating    in    corn.       Leaving   Belvidere,   he 
purchased  a  larni  near  Chicago,  and  embarked 
in  the  cattle  business.     With  remarkable  fore-  ' 
siglit  he  looked   foi-ward   (o  a  brigiit  future  for  ! 
Chicago,  saw  in   its  commanding  position   the 
certainty  of  its  future  commercial  supremacy  as 
one  of  the  great  cities  of  the  American  continent, 
and  invested  in  that  city  largely  in  real  estate, 
which  yielded  him  handsome  returns  in  his  sales 
of  the  same.     In   ISilo  he  settled  in  Erocton, 
this  county,  and  engaged  for  several  years  in  the 
stock  business.     In   1S61   he  and   his  brother, 
Albert  Haywood,  and  a  Mr.  Hubbell,  formed  a 
partnership    and    purchased    several    thousand 
horses  for  the  frovernment.      In  Februarv,  1 86.3, 
he  retired   froia   this  partnership  to  enter  the 
Union  army  as  a  paymaster,  with  the  rank  of  ! 
major.     He  was  stationed  at  W^ashington  city, 
and   afterwards  sent  to   Rochester,   this  State.  ! 
He  paid  oft' the  first  regiment  that  was  discharged, 
was  brevetted  colonel  by  President  Johnson  for  i 
meritorious  services,  and  served  until  December 
31,   ISG.').      He  then  returned   to  Chautauqua 
county,   and    became    a    resident  of   Fredonia, 
wliere  he  has  resided  ever  since.     From   18G6 
to  187()  he  was  largely  engaged  in  mail  contract- 
ing in  a  dozen  different  States,  and  since  the 
last-named  year  has  been  more  or  less  interested 
in  various  lines  of  business. 

In  ]866  he  was  the  prime  mover  in  starting 
tiie  Fredonia  savings  bank,  of  which  he  was 
chosen  president.  In  1877  he  embarked  in  the 
oil  liusiness  at  Oil  City,  Pa.,  whei'e  he  did  a  large 
brokerage  business  for  several  years.  In  the 
oil  field  his  good  iudiiinent  and  clear  insiirlit 
into  every  possible  combination  rendered  him 
successful  in  many  ventures  where  old  and 
experienced  opei'ators  went  down,     ^^'llile   his 


star  was  still  in  the  nsccnchml,  and  lufbre  age 
could  impair  his  mental  powei-s,  he  left  the 
hazardous  ventures  of  oil  and  turned  his  atten- 
liim  to  dialing  in  leal  estate.  He  was  a  Knigiit 
Templar  in  Masonry,  iind  alwavs  took  a  deep 
interest  in  agricidtural  and  educational  matter.", 
as  well  as  having  been  active  and  prominent  in 
business  affairs. 

On  May  6,  1811,  Col.  Haywood  united  in 
marriage  with  Elizabeth  Prescott,  wiio  was  born 
within  one-half  mile  of  his  New  Hampshire 
birthplace.  They  had  three  sons,  two  of  whom 
died  in  infancy,  and  Edward  A.,  born  January 
2G,  1861,  died  February  10,  1881. 

He  was  hospitable  and  generous,  and  no  man 
greeted  or  entertained  his  friends  with  warmer 
cordiality.  He  was  intelligent,  honest,  genial 
and  strainhtforward,  of  strong  force  of  character, 
of  sound  judgment,  true  to  every  interest  in- 
trusted to  his  care,  and  a  good  citizen  in  the 
true  meaning  of  that  term. 

He  died  in  1891,  of  valvular  heart  disease. 


inriCH^VEL  K.  McDONOUCiH,  a  wholesale 
A  and  retail  dealer  in  coal,  wood  and  stone, 

of  Dunkirk,  was  born  in  County  Clare,  Ireland, 
September  25,  1842,  and  is  a  son  of  Michael 
and  Mary  (Kelley)  McDonough.  The  McDou- 
oughs  and  Kelleys  were  old  fiimilies  of  Coimty 
Chirc,  where  they  had  resided  for  several  gene- 
rations. Michael  McDonough  was  born  and 
reared  in  his  native  county,  where  he  passed  his 
life,  and  died  in  March,  1849,  w-hen  but  forty- 
tW'O  years  of  age.  He  was  a  farmer,  a  consistent 
member  of  the  Catholic  church,  and  a  careful 
and  hard-working  man.  He  married  Mary 
Kelley,  and  reared  a  family  of  seven  sons  and 
two  daughters.  Mrs.  ^McDonough  was  a  Cath- 
olic in  religious  belief,  and  in  1853  came  to 
Dunkirk,  where  she  passed  away  in  1869,  at 
sixty-five  years  of  age. 

^lichael  Iv.  McDonough,  at  twelve  years  of 
age,  came  from  Ireland  to  the  United  States, 
and  lieeamo  a  resident  of  I)tiukirk  citv,  in  whose 


94 


BIOGBAPIIY  AND  HISTORY 


public  schools  he  received  his  education.  Leav- 
ing school  he  was  employed  f(jr  some  time  as  a 
hand  on  a  farm,  and  during  the  late  civil  war 
was  an  employe  in  the  freight  department  of 
the  Erie  railroad,  at  Dunkirk,  where  his  daily 
business  was  to  call  off  all  freight  for  shipment 
before  it  was  placed  on  the  cars.  In  INIay, 
1865,  he  established  his  present  wholesale  and 
retail  coal  and  wood  business,  to  which  he  has 
since  added  sewer  pipe,  stone,  sand,  gravel  and 
loam.  His  office  and  yards  are  at  130  Railroad 
avenue.  He  is  also  engay-ed  in  contracting  on 
public  works,  and  makes  a  specialty  of  excava- 
ting and  teaming.  Mr.  McDonough  commands 
a  good  trade  at  his  yards,  has  been  very  suc- 
cessful in  all  of  his  business  enterprises,  and 
owns  some  valuable  real  estate  in  Dunkirk,  be- 
sides a  good  farm  in  Sinclairville.  He  is  a 
member  of  St.  Mary's  Roman  Catholic  church, 
of  Dunkirk.  He  is  a  democrat  in  political 
opinion,  and  has  served  for  nine  years  as  a 
member  of  the  city  council,  besides  holding- 
other  municipal  offices.  Since  thirteen  years  of 
age  he  has  made  his  own  way  in  life,  and 
achieved  business  success  by  his  own  efforts. 

On  June  ."3,  1871,  he  united  in  marriage  with 
Bridget  Breen,  daughter  of  Miciiael  Breen,  of 
Dunkirk.  They  have  three  children,  two  sons 
and  one  daughter :  Joseph  M.,  George  W.  and 
Kate  A. 


TTKTHUK    B.    OTTAWAY,  a   resident   of 

■**■  Westfield,  and  ex-district  attorney  of 
Chantau(pja  county,  is  a  .son  of  John  E.  and 
Sarali  (Hoorman)  Ottaway,  and  was  born  in  the 
town  of  Mina,  Chautauqua  county,  New  York, 
May  8,  1854.  His  paternal  and  maternal 
grandfathers,  James  Ottaway  and  Benjamin 
Boorman,  were  among  the  early  settlers  in  the 
town  of  Mina.  James  Ottaway  was  a  native 
of  Kent  county,  England,  and  in  company  witli 
his  brother  Horatio,  came,  in  1823,  to  tiiat  part 
of  the  town  of'Clynier,  wiiich,  in  the  following 
year,  was  erected    into   the  town  of  Mina.     He 


was  a  miller  by  trade,  and  ran  a  mill  in  Eng- 
land, but  after  coming  to  Cliautauqua  county 
was  engaged  in  farming  until  his  dcatli,  which 
occurred  in  1870.  He  came  into  wiiat  is  Mina, 
when  it  had  but  few  settlers,  and  only  seven 
years  after  its  first  settlement  had  been  made 
by  Alex.  Findley.  James  Ottaway  settled  on 
lot  fourteen,  in  the  eastern  part  of  the  town, 
and  reared  a  family  of  nine  sons  and  two 
daughters:  James,  William,  Charles,  Edmund, 
Josepli,  Henry,  Horace,  John  E,,  Susan,  Ann 
and  Horatio.  The  seventh  son,  John  E.  Otta- 
way (father),  was  born  in  1827,  and  now  owns 
the  home  farm  of  two  hundred  and  thirty  acres, 
which  his  father  purchased  in  1823,  and  lived 
upon  until  his  death.  John  E.  Ottaway  has 
always  been  engaged  in  farminix,  and  married 
Sarah  Boorman,  daughter  of  Benjamin  Boor- 
man,  who  came  about  1823  to  Chautauqua 
county,  and  was  a  farmer  by  occupation. 

Arthur  B.  Ottaway  spent  his  boyhood  days 
on  the  farm.  Ijcaving  the  public  schools,  he 
spent  one  year  at  Sherman  academy,  and  then- 
entered  ^yestfield  academy,  where  he  remained 
two  years,  and  from  whicii,  at  the  end  of  tiiat 
time,  he  was  graduated  in  1875.  After  gradua- 
ting, he  entered  the  office  of  William  Russell  as 
a  law  student,  and  upon  the  completion  of  his 
legal  studies  was  admitted  to  the  bar  of  the  Su- 
preme Court  in  1879. 

After  his  admission  to  the  bar  he  entered 
upon  the  active  practice  of  his  profession,  and 
three  years  later,  in  1882,  was  elected  district 
attorney  of  Cliautauqua  county.  At  the  end  of 
his  term  of  office,  in  188'"),  he  resumed  the  prac- 
tice of  ills  profession  at  Westfield,  where  he  has 
remained  ever  since.  He  is  a  republican  in 
politics,  stands  well  in  his  profession,  and  en- 
joys a  good  practice. 

e. 

TA>IK.S  H.  MINTON,  ex-deputy-sheriff  and 

*^  coroner  of  Chautau(pia  comity,  and  the 
proprietor  of  the  wcll-kimwu  "  Minton  Mouse," 
of  Westlield,  is  a  son  of  .lames  and   Tiieotlosia 


or  en  A  ita  r(^rA  cousty. 


95 


(Roovcs)  ISIintoii,  and  vas  horn  in  Auhiirn, 
Cayuj^a  I'ounty,  New  York,  January  .'>,  l.SHJ. 
He  traces  his  paternal  ancestry  liaclc  to  liis 
grand fatlior,  Stejilion  iNfinton,  wiio  was,  in  all 
probability,  a  native  of  New  Jersey,  and  whose 
son,  James  Minton  (Catiier),  was  born  in  1783. 
James  Minton  was  a  stone-mason  by  trade,  and 
assisted  in  building  the  old  State  penitentiary  at 
Auburn.  He  \vas  an  excellent  mechanic  and 
died  in  182(),  aged  forty-throe  years.  He  mar- 
ried Theodosia  Reeves,  who  was  a  native  of 
Conneetieut,  and  whose  father,  Israel  Reeves, 
the  first  jailer  of  tiic  prison  at  Aiibiu-n,  served 
in  the  R<'volnfionary  war,  and  experienced  all 
the  hardships  of  being  a  British  prisoner  of 
war  for  several  months.  Their  eldest  daughter, 
Emily  C.  (now  eighty-two  years  of  age),  married 
Lewis  I'ullman,  and  three  of  her  sons  are : 
George  M.  Pullman,  inventor  of  the  "  Pullman 
Palace  Car,"  and  Revs.  James  Minton  and  Royal 
Henry  Pullman,  distinguished  ministers  of  the 
Universalist  church.  Another  daughter,  Han- 
nah M.  l)a  Lee,  resides  in  Illinois.  Mrs.  Theo- 
dosia Minton  survived  her  husband  until  1856, 
wlien  she  passed  away,  in  the  sixty-sixth  year  of 
her  age. 

James  H.  Minton,  at  fourteen  years  of  age 
came  witii  his  mother  to  Rrocton,  this  county, 
where  he  attended  school  for  some  time,  cut 
cord-wood  and  assisted  his  mother  in  maintain- 
ing her  family.  At  cigiiteen  years  of  age  he 
commenced  to  work  with  Lewis  Pullman  at  the 
trade  of  carpenter  and  joiner,  which  he  followed 
for  ten  years.  He  then  erected  a  hotel  building 
and  store-room  at  Broeton,  where  he  kept  hotel 
for  twenty  years,  and  was  engaged  for  fourteen 
years  of  the  time  in  the  mercantile  business  with 
his  brother,  William  L.,  who  was  postmaster  of 
that  village  for  seven  years.  During  the  late 
civil  war  he  served  as  a  revenue  assessor,  and 
was  also  deputy  marshal  of  Westfield.  He  was 
coroner  of  Chautauqua  county  for  fifteen  years, 
and  in  1875  held  the  inquest  on  the  twenty-two 
dead  bodies  which  were  recovered  from  the  rail- 


road disaster  at  "  Pros|iect,"  and  officiated  in  the 
saiiie  ca])acity  at  the  incpiisiticju  held  on  the 
itiidics  of  the  scvin  people  killed  by  the  explo- 
sion on  (,'haulauqua  lake  of  the  old  steamboat 
C/iaiitavfjuti.  In  1884  he  served  as  deputy- 
sheriff  undci'  Sheriff  L.  T.  Harrington. 

In  18.'>G  lie  married  Sarah  W.  Lake,  daughter 
of  Nicholas  and  Eunice  (Houghton)  Lake,  of 
Erie  county.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Minton  arc  the 
parents  of  five  children  :  Maria  A.,  William  L., 
who  is  in  the  real  estate  and  hotel  business  ; 
John  C,  of  Burlington,  Iowa;  James  V.,  drug- 
gist, of  Westfield,  and  Waldo  L. 

In  ])oliticaI  affairs  he  supports  the  Re|)id)licaii 
])arty,  and  in  every  jiositiou  of  trust  and  res])on- 
sii)ility  which  he  has  ever  occupied,  he  has 
always  faitiifully  ])erformed  his  duty.  He  is 
one  of  the  old  and  well-respected  citizens  of 
southwestern  New  York,  and  bis  hotel  is  well 
arranged  and  specially  fitted  u])  for  the  accom- 
irn)dation,  convenience  and  comfjrt  of  his  numer- 
ous guests. 


TA>IMJ  \:\r  FUIICS  KNDIJKSS,  the  origi- 
natorand  ])r('sideiit  of  the  Endress  Fuel 
and  Building  Su])ply  Company,  of  .lamestown, 
New  York,  was  born  at  Dansville,  Livingston 
county.  New  York,  August  "2,  1855,  and  is  the 
only  child  of  Judge  Isaac  Lewis  and  Helen 
Elizabeth  (Edwards)  Endress.  William  Fries 
Endress  is  descended  from  the  German  family 
of  Endress  Im  Hof,  which  was  the  name  given 
in  the  latter  part  of  the  fifteenth  century  to  a 
branch  of  the  Franconian  family  of  Im  Hof,  a 
noble  family  of  Swabia,  now  Bavaria.  His 
great-grandfather,  John  Zacharia  Endress,  was 
ediicatcd  at  the  university  of  Tobingen  (now 
Wiirtcmberg),  and  at  Geneva  under  Voltaire. 
He  raiiie  to  America  in  1766,  settled  in  Phila- 
del])hia  and  was  an  oflicer  in  the  Continental 
army  tluring  the  war  for  Independence,  in  the 
course  of  which  much  of  his  property  was  burned 
by  the  British.  His  son.  Christian  Frederi 
Ltwis  Endress,  was  educated  at  the  L^uivei-sity 


96 


BIOGRAPHY   AND  HISTORY 


of  Pennsylvania,  and  became  a  Lutheran  min- 
ister.    He  had  charge,  for  many  years,  of  the 
Lutheran  Churcli  at  Lancaster,  Pa.,  then  one  of 
the  largest  and  wealthiest  parishes  in  the  country. 
His  soil,  the  late  Judge  Isaac  Lewis  Endress, 
the  father  of  the  subject  of  the  present  sketch, 
was  born  in  1810,  educated  at  Dickinson  college, 
Carlisle,  Pa.,  and  practiced  law,  first  at  Rochester 
and  after  1832  at  Dansville,  New  York.     He 
was  ajijiointed  judge  of  Livingston  county  by 
Gov.  William  H.  Seward  iu  1840  ;  was  a  promi- 
nent member  of  the  State  Constitutional  Con-  I 
vention  of  1868  ;  was  several  times  a  presiden-  ; 
tial  elector,  and  delegate  to  the  national  nomi-  ' 
nating  conventions,  and  at  the  time  of  his  death 
in  1869  was  a  member  of  the  Republican  State  i 
committee.     He  was  married  in  1849  to  Helen 
Elizabeth  Edwards,  whose  father  was  a  direct 
descendant  of  Pierpont  Edwards,  a  brother  of 
Jonathan   Edwards,  the  distinguished   Puritan 
divine,  and  whose  mother  was  a  Fitzhugh,  of 
the  well-known  family  of  Virginia.  Theonlyson  \ 
of  this  marriage  was  the  subject  of  this  sketch.    1 

William  Fries  Endress  received  his  early 
education  at  the  Dansville  seminary,  and  in 
1872  entered  the  Pennsylvania  military  academy 
at  Chester,  Pa.,  in  preparation  for  the  United 
States  naval  service.  The  following  year  he 
secured  iiis  commission  as  cadet  midshipman 
and  entered  the  United  States  naval  academy  at 
Annapolis,  Md.,  where  he  remained  until  Decem- 
ber, 1876,  when  continued  ill  health  obliged  him 
to  resign.  For  the  next  year  he  gave  his  atten- 
tion almost  entirely  to  the  recovery  of  his  health, 
merely  occupying  a  part  of  his  time  as  instructor 
and  commandant  of  the  military  battalion  at 
Dansville  Seminary.  In  the  fall  of  1877  he 
entered  the  so[)homore  class  of  Rensselaer  Poly- 
technic Institute  at  Troy,  and  was  graduated  in 
June,  1879,  with  the  degree  of  civil  engineer, 
being  the  fiturth  in  the  direct  line  of  his  (lunily 
ancestry  who  have  been  college-bred  men.  Soon 
after  graduating  he  becauK!  a  resident  of  James- 
town and  entered  the  coal   business,  which  he 


rapidly  developed  into  a  wholesale  business  of 
some  magnitude  and  of  which,  under  the  name 
of  the  Endress  Fuel  and  Building  Supply  Com- 
pany, he  is  still  at  the  head  at  the  date  of  this 
writing,  1891.  During  1883  he  owned  and 
managed  a  bituminous  coal  mine  at  Hilliards, 
Butler  county.  Pa.,  and  shipped  coal  to  James- 
town, Buffalo  and  the  east.  As  chairman  of 
the  railway  committee  in  1886,  he  was  instru- 
mental in  bringing  the  Chautauqua  Lake  rail- 
road to  Jamestown.  In  1887  he  organized  the 
Jamestown  Electric  Light  and  Power  Company, 
installed  its  plant  and  managed  its  aifairs  for  the 
first  year  of  its  operations.  During  1889  and 
1890  he  was  located  at  Havana,  Cuba,  and  was 
engaged  in  organizing  companies  and  putting 
into  operation  electric  light  plants  iu  the  prin- 
cipal cities  of  the  "Queen  of  the  Antilles." 
Returning  to  Jamestown  on  January  1,  1891, 
he  agjain  took  the  active  management  of  his 
present  extensive  and  important  coal  and  build- 
ing interests. 

On  August  27,  1879,  iSIr.  Endress  united  in 
marriage  with  Dora  Elizabeth  ^^'illev,  of  Ger- 
man  and  Puritan  descent,  and  a  resident  of 
Dansville,  N.  Y.,  and  on  July  7,  1880,  was 
blessed  with  a  son,  named  after  his  father  and 
great-grandmother,  William  FitzHugh  Endress. 
By  priority  of  birth  this  boy  became  the  child 
of  the  "Class  of  1879"  of" the  R.  P.  I.  In 
recognition  of  this  fact  he  was  presented  with 
the  class  cup,  a  beautifully  chased  silver  cup, 
lined  with  gold  and  emblazoned  with  devices 
emblematical  of  .the  various  branches  of  eugineer- 
intr  science. 


^TvOF  TA'XDQl'LST,  the  proprietor  of  a  fine 
^^  clotiiiuL!;  and  irents'  furnishing  store  at  No. 
112  Main  street,  Jamestown,  is  a  .sou  of  Samuel 
and  Brita  (Baling)  Lundtpiist,  and  was  born  in 
Sweden,  Oi^'tobcr  21,  18  41.  His  parents  were 
also  natives  of  Sweden,  and  reared  a  ramiiy  of 
six  sous  and  three;  daughters,  but  none  of  tJiem 
excepting  Olof  ever  came  to  America. 


OF  CIIAUTAUC^UA   VUUNTY. 


Olof  LiMuIijui.sl  receivai  liis  odiiciitidii  in  t!ii' 
scliools  of  his  native  land.  W'liilu  still  in  lliu 
mother  eountry  he  had  learned  tlie  lialtcr'.s  trade 
and  upon  arriving  in  the  United  States  settled 
at  Boston  where  he  iullowed  this  ealling,  remain- 
ing only  one  year.  After  this  he  went  to  Illi- 
nois, which  at  that  time  was  considered  pretty 
far  west,  and  visited  various  parts,  finally  com- 
ing haclc  and  locating  at  Jamestown,  which  he 
considered  the  most  advantageous  business  open- 
ing he  had  seen,  and  commenced  the  manufac- 
ture of  silk  hats.  This  ociaipation  he  continues 
in  a  le.sser  degree  at  present,  i)ut  is  principally 
engaged  with  his  line  store  where  he  now  lias  a 
large  [jatroiiagc  from  first-class  customers.  Mr. 
Ijund(juist  is  the  owner  of  valuable  real  estate 
iu  the  city,  No.  211  Preudergast  avenue  belong- 
ing to  h'un. 

On  the  16th  of  October,  1868,  before  emi- 
grating to  America,  he  married  .Anna  C 
Anderson,  and  with  her  made;  the  long  journey 
in  1809.  Their  inariiage  has  been  blest  with 
eight  children,  of  whom  five  are  living  :  Ellen 
B.,  O.  Samuel,  A.  C'celia,  Arvid  N.  and  Rob- 
ert, while  those  dead  are  :  John,  Joseph  and 
Robert. 

In  polities  Mr.  Lundquist  adheres  to  the 
principles  of  the  Republican  party,  and  while 
not  a  politician,  is  sufficiently  interested  m  tin; 
elections  to  desire  the  best  men  obtainable.  He 
is  a  member  of  the  Swedisli  Mission  church 
besides  being  connected  with  the  Swedish  Tem- 
perance and  Benevolent  Society  of  Jamestown, 
which  have  for  their  purpose  the  relief  of  all 
unfortunates  of  that  nationality. 


y^AXIKI.  OKl.SWOLl>,  ])resident  of  the 
•'■^  Chantauipia  County  National  Bank,  and 
a  member  of  the  lumbering  firm  of  Griswoid  & 
Townsend,  is  a  son  of  Daniel,  Sr.,  and  Mary 
(Hills)  Griswoid,  and  was  born  in  what  was 
then  Genesee  (now  Wyoming)  county.  New 
York,  February  18,  1830.  His  paternal  grand- 
father,  Daniel   Griswoid,  was   a  descendant  n{' 


the  r'onnectic'ut  (ii'iswold    family,  but   lived   in 
Washington  county,  this  State,   where  he  died 
j  ofsmall-po,\  in  17!i.j,  while  hisinaternal  grand- 
father, Moses   Hills,  was  a  native  and  life-long 
resident  of  Massachusetts.     His  father,  Daniel 
j  Griswoid,  Sr.,  was  bom  in  Washington  county, 
j  September  28,  1788,  and  went   in   early  life  to 
Bennington,  Vt.,  where  he   was  engaged  fur  a 
time  in   manufacturing.      He   then   removed   to 
j  Gene-sce  county,  this  State,  and   about  18.U   or 
!  1832  came  to  the  town  of  Poland  and  settled  on 
h)t  "24,  on   the  Ellington   town   line.      He  fol- 
lowed iarmiii";  and  himberino:  until  his  death  iu 
1854.     He  was  an  old-line  whig  and  held  sev- 
eral town  offices.     In  Burlington,  Vt.,  on  May 
25,  1815,  he  married  Mary  Hills,  who  was  born 
at  Upton,  Mass.,  November  25,  1795,  and  died 
in   tlie  town   of  Poland,  September   24,  1844. 
After  her  death   he  married   a  Mrs.    Bentley. 
By  his  first   wife  he   had    two  .sons   and   fiiur 
daughters:  Mary  L.,  Hiram  H.,  Sarah,  Fanny, 
Alvira  and  Daniel. 

Daniel  Griswoid  was  fourteen  years  of  age 
when  his  mother  died,  and  soon  after  her  death 
commenced  life  for  himself.  He  had  obtained 
a  good  common  school  education,  and  working 
for  .some  time  on  a  farm  he  engaged  in  the  bus- 
iness of  buying  up  at  Jamestown,  scythe  snath.s, 
window-sashes,  doors  and  other  manufactured 
articles.  He  loaded  liis  purcha.ses  during  the 
winter  on  "  Yankee  notion  boats,"  which  in  the 
.spring  he  ran  down  the  Allegheny  and  Ohio 
rivers,  and  by  the  time  of  his  arrival  at  Mem- 
phis, Tennessee,  had  generally  disposed  of  his 
cargoes  at  the  different  towns  along  the  rivers. 
He  was  very  successfully  engaged  in  this  line  of 
business  until  the  late  war  broke  out,  when  he 
disposed  of  his  last  cargo  to  the  Uni(jn  army. 
He  then  turned  his  attention  to  lumbering:, 
which  he  has  followed  with  his  usual  good  suc- 
cess until  the  present  time.  He  is  now  a  mem- 
ber of  the  well-known  lumbering  firm  of  Gris- 
woid &  Townsend,  of  Kiantone.  He  is  a  re- 
puiilican    in    jiolities,    was  a  supervisor    of  the 


98 


BIOGRAPHY  AND  HISTORY 


town  of  Polaud  from  1865  to  1869,  was  super- 
visor of  tlie  town  of  Elllicott  for  two  years 
(1884-1885),  and  supervisor  one  year  (1880)  of 
tlie  soutii  side  of  tlie  city  of  Jaaiestown,  X.  Y., 
and  is  now  a  member  of  the  board  of  piiblio 
works  of  Jamestown.  In  1881  Mr.  Griswold 
became  a  director  of  the  Chautauqua  County 
National  Bank,  of  which  he  was  elected  pres- 
ident, May  8,  1890.  He  succeeded  Robert 
Newland,  who  had  served  in  that  capacity  for 
many  years.  He  removed  from  the  town  of 
Poland  in  1871,  to  Salamanca,  Cattaraugus 
county,  and  two  years  later  came  to  Jamestown 
where  he  has  resided  ever  since. 

On  November  18,  1868,  he  married  Martha 
TowDsend,  daughter  of  the  late  Joiin  Town- 
send,  of  the  town  of  Carroll.  They  have  two 
children  living  :  Martha  Townsend  and  Harry. 
They  had  three  children  who  died :  Grace,  1 
Hugh  and  Daniel  T.  Mrs.  Griswold  is  a  lineal 
descendant  of  the  old  Townsend  family  of  Eng- 
land. Three  members  of  this  family,  who  were 
brothers,  came  from  Rumney  Marsh  to  New  j 
England.  A  descendant  of  one  of  these  broth- 
ers was  Rev.  Jonathan  Townsend  (the  great- 
great-grandfather  of  Mrs.  (iriswold),  who  was 
pastor  of  the  Congregationalist  church  at  Need- 
ham,  Mass.,  from  March  23,  1719,  until  his 
death  September  30,  1762.  He  was  a  graduate 
of  Harvard  college  and  married  Mary,  daughter 
of  Capt.  Gregory  Sugars,  of  Boston,  by  whom 
he  had  seven  children,  one  of  whom,  Samuel, 
was  born  in  Needhara  May  15,  1729,  and  d'ed 
in  Tyringham,  Mass.,  September  11,1822.  He 
was  married  to  Ruth  Tolman  in  1757.  One  of 
their  eight  children  was  William  Townsend 
(grandfather),  wlio  was  born  December  11, 
1765,  an<l  married  Rlioda  Hall,  by  whom  ho 
had  four  sons  and  one  daughter.  One  of  their 
sons  was  John  Townsend  (the  lather  of  Mrs. 
Griswold),  who  was  born  January  28,  1796, 
came  to  near  Kciuicdy  in  1817,  and  afterwards 
purcliased  a  fai'ni  in  Carroll  on  which  he  dicil 
in  186(J.     He  was  a  whig  and   republican,  fol- 


lowed farming  and  lumbering  and  married 
Adelia  Hitchcock,  who  was  born  May  4,  1810, 
a  member  of  the  okl  Hitchcock  family  whieh 
came  into  the  county  about  1817,  by  whom  he 
had  four  sons  and  six  daughters.  Two  of  the 
sons  died  early  in  life  and  one  of  the  daughters 
is  Mrs.  ]\Iartha  T.  Griswold. 


TA^ILLIAM    PKENOEROAST    BEMUS, 

M.  D.,  a  descendant  of  one  of  the  early 
pioneer  families  of  southern  Chautauqua  county, 
was  a  successful  physician  of  Jamestown  for 
nearly  forty  years.  He  was  the  fifth  son  and 
seventh  child  of  Lieutenant  Charles  and  Relepha 
(Boyd)  Bemus,  and  was  born  at  Bemus  Point, 
Chautauqua  county.  New  York,  October  4, 1827. 
The  Bemus  family  settled  at  an  early  day  in 
Saratoga  county,  at  Bemus  Heights,  which  were 
named  after  the  family,  and  on  whicii  Arnold 
and  Morgan  defeated  Burgoyne,  and  prevented 
the  British  conquest  of  New  England  and  New 
York.  Dr.  Bemus'  great-grandfather.  Major 
Jotham  Bemus,  was  reared  at  Bemus  Heights 
and  served  as  an  officer  in  the  Revolutionary 
war,  and  died  at  Pittstown,  Rensselaer  countv. 
His  son,  William  Bemus,  was  born  at  Bemus 
Heights,  February  25,  1762,  and  removed  in 
early  life  to  Pittstown,  where,  on  January  29, 
1782,  he  married  Polly,  daughter  of  WMlliam 
Prendergast,  Sr.  In  1805  he  accompanied  his 
father-in-law  and  the  families  of  the  latter's 
sons  and  daughters,  twenty-nine  persons  in  all, 
in  their  removal  to  Tennessee,  and  came  back 
with  them  to  Chautauqua  county,  where  he 
settled  in  1806  at  Bemus  Point  (which  was 
named  for  him),  on  Lake  Chautauqua,  in  the 
town  of  Eilcry.  He  died  January  2,  1830, 
aired  si.\tv-ci<rht  years,  and  his  wife,  who  was 
born  March  13,  1760,  passed  away  July  11, 
1845,  at  ei^rlitv-five  years  of  a<re.  Their  cliil- 
dren  were:  i)r.  Daniel,  I'^li/abcth  Silsby,  Try- 
phena  Griffith,  William  Thomas,  Lieutenant 
Charles,  Mehilaixd  Hazclline  and  James.  Lieu- 
tenant Charles  Jicmns  (father)  was  born  at  Pitts- 


OF  CIIM'TAUqUA   COUNTY. 


town,    Aiii^iist   .")1,    17i)l,  and   died   at   Beniiis  in    18H5,   read    medicine   with    lii.s   father,   and 

Point,  October  10,  ISIil.     He  served  as  a  first  entered  tlie  College  of  Physieian.s  and  .Surgeons 

lieutenant  in   the  war  of  1812,  and  was  a  spec-  of  New  Yorit  city,  from  wiiich  leading  medical 

tator  at  the  burning  of  Hulfalo.     On  February  institution  he  was  graduated  in  1888.     He  tiien 

28,1811,  he  married   Relepiia  JJoyd,  wlio  was  took  a  full  post-graduate  course,  after  which  he 

born  July  20,  1790,  and  died  January  2,  181:!.  beeanie  a  partner  with   his  father,  and  since  the 

They  were  the  parents  of  ten  children  :  James,  dcaili  of  the  latter,  in  1800,  has  continued  sue- 

Ellen    Smiley,    JMattlicw,    Daniel,   Jane   Copp,  cessfully    in   the    practice  of   his   profession    in 

John,  Dr.    William   P.,    Mehilabel   P.  Strong,  Jamestown  until  the  present  time.      Mr.s.  Bemus 

Dr.  E.  M.  and  George  H.,  a  lawyer.  died   March   7,    1.S74.     On  June  ;J,   1870,  the 

M^iiliam    P.    Bemus   ol)tained    a    good    high  doc^oi- married  Sarah  E.,  daughter  of  Abram  C. 

school  education  at  Fredonia,  and  also  receive<l  and  S:irali  M.  Prather.     Sarah  K.  Prather  was 

instruction  under  private  tutors  of  ability  and  burn  in  Venango  county,  Pa. 

qualification.     Ho  then  road  medicine  with  Dr.  Dr.  William  Prendergast  Bemus  was  active 

Shanahan,  of  Warren,  Pa.,  attended  lectures  at  in   his  prof(!ssional   labors   until   his   summons 

Oberlin  college,  and   was  graduated  from  the  came  to  lay  down  the  cares  of  earthly  life.     He 

Berkshire    medical    institute,    of    Springfield,  sank  to  sleep  on  September  19,  18!)0,  and   his 

Mass.     After  graduation  he  opened  an  oilice  at  remains  were  interred  in  Lake  View  cemetery. 

Ashville,    New    York,    but   soon    removed    to  ® 

Jamestown,  where  he  practiced  his  profession  TOIIX  B.  BICX.SOX,  a  son  of  Bernhard  and 
sueccssfully  and  continuously  for  forty-two  years.  ^  Anna  C.  (Anderson)  Benson,  was  born  in 
He  held  a  prominent  ])osition  in  the  ranks  of  Gothenburg,  Sweden,  March  4,  1866.  His 
his  profession,  was  a  liberal  and  sympathetic  paternal  grandfather,  John  Benson,  was  a  native 
physician  and  his  "  free  j)raetiee "  was  large,  as  of  Gottenburg,  Sweden,  where  he  was  a  re- 
he  rendered  his  services  to  all  who  asked  them  sjiected  and  pros])erous  farmer  and  owner  of 
of  hira.  He  stood  high  with  the  people,  whose  about  three  hundred  and  seventy  acres  of  land, 
confidence  he  enjoyed  to  the  fullest  extent.  He  He  also  served  for  a  time  in  the  Swedish  army, 
never  went  to  law  during  his  lifetime  to  collect  His  wife  was  Louise  Oman,  of  Sweden  ;  they 
any  account  for  medical  services  rendered  by  had  six  children,  three  boys  and  three  girls, 
him.  He  was  an  ardent  democrat  in  jwlitics.  The  maternal  grandfather  of  John  B.  Benson 
served  as  president  of  the  Cleveland  democratic  also  lived  and  died  in  Sweden.  Bernhard  Ben- 
club,  and  although  always  active  in  the  interests  son  (father)  was  born  in  Gothenburg,  Sweden, 
of  his  party,  yet  never  aspired  to,  nor  would  September  8,  1832  ;  he  came  to  America  about 
accept  of,  any  political  office.  He  was  secretary  1SG8,  and  lived  about  six  months  in  Fredonia, 
of  the  board  of  pensions  at  Jamestown,  and  a  tiiis  county,  after  which  he  came  to  Jamestown, 
member  of  the  Protestant  Episcopal  church  of  lie  was  a  carver  and  furniture  maker  in  Swcd- 
that  city,  which  was  organized  in  18;')3.  en  and  also  followed  that  trade  here.     He  is  a 

In  1855  he  married  Helen  O.  Norton,  daugh-  repul)lican  in  politics,  and  an  active  member  of 

ter  of  Squire  Morris  Norton,  of  Ashville,  New  the   Methodist  church.     His  wife  was  Anna  C. 

York.     They   had  two  children,  a  son  and  a  Anderson,  and  they  are  the  parents  of  four  cliil- 

daughter.     The  daughter,  Helen,  is  the  wife  of  dren  :  John  B.,  Anna  C,  Frederic  C.  and  Jeu- 

Frederick  E.  Hatch,  who  is  engaged  in  the  drug  nie    F.     Anna    married    William    Peterson,  a 

and  book  business;  and  Dr.  Morris  N.,  theson,  mechanic    of    Jamestown;    Frederic    lives    in 

was  <;ra(lu;:ted  from  Rutgers  col lesc,  New  Jersey,  Jamestown  :   Jennie  is  still  a  chihl  at  home. 


100 


BIOGRArHY  AND  HISTORY 


John  B.  Benson  received  his  education  in  tlie 
common  schools  of  Jamestown,  tliis  county,  ijut 
was  ol)ii<;;ed  to  leave  school  at  an  early  age. 
However,  he  has  since  devoted  much  of  his 
time  to  study  and  has  thus  gained  a  great  deal 
of  general  information.  He  learned  the  trade 
of  piano  finishing,  but  when  seventeen  years  of 
age,  he  placed  himself  under  the  instructions  of 
a  tutor,  preparatory  to  becoming  an  actor.  At 
the  age  of  nineteen  he  went  on  the  stage  and 
played  for  four  years — first  with  F.  C.  Bangs, 
tl-.en  with  Thomas  W.  Keene,  both  of  whom 
presented  ])lays  of  the  highest  order,  such  as 
"Hamlet,"  "Othello,"  "Kichard  III,"  etc., 
in  all  of  which  Mr.  Benson  took  heavy  parts, 
giving  entire  satisfaction.  When  about  to  re- 
tire from  the  stage,  he  appeared  at  Jamestown 
in  the  play  of  "  Damon  and  Pythias,"  in  the 
performance  of  which  he  was  sustained  by  Mr. 
Keene's  entire  company.  The  play  was  given 
on  three  nights  before  highly  appreciative  aud- 
iences ;  the  third  jjerformauce  was  by  special 
request.  Since  leaving  the  profession,  Mr.  Ben-  I 
son  has  devoted  very  little  time  to  theatrical 
pursuits,  but  frequently  recites  on  special  occa- 
sions or  at  social  gatherings  in  Jamestown,  I 
where  his  ability  and  merit  are  fully  appreci- 
ated. He  left  the  stajje  to  engasire  in  the  manu- 
facture  of  desks  in  Jamestown,  and  still  ecu-  i 
tinues  in  that  business.  He  manufactures  all 
kinds  of  office  desks  in  the  factories  on  Steel 
street  and  ^^'^est  First  street.  Mr.  Benson  is  a 
Republican  in  politics,  also  a  member  of  the 
"  Knights  of  Pythias."  On  June  27,  1889,  he 
was  married  to  Ida  L.  IMajilestiJue,  a  daughter 
of  Page  Maplestone,  of  Sliippcnville,  Pa. 
© 

O-AMUET.    KIDDKlt,    of    Kiantonc,    lives 

"^^     Li]ion    the    farm    originally  bought    and 
cleared   by  his   father  in   181(5,  and    which   has 
never  been  out  of  the  family.     He  was   born  ! 
where  he  now  lives  on  Octol)er  12,  1825,  in  I 
wliat    was    then    Carroll,  Chanlaiiqua    county. 
New  York,  and  is  a  son  of  Ezbai   and    Tjonisa, 


(Sherman)  Kidder.  The  Kidders  were  orig- 
inally from  Dudley,  ]M:\ss.,  Samuel  Kid<ler 
(grandfather)  being  born  and  reared  there,  and 
afterwards  moving  into  Vermont,  where  he  died 
in  January,  1805.  By  occupation  a  farmer,  he 
married  Zilpha  Bacon  and  became  the  father  of 
four  sons  and  three  daughters.  Noah  Siierman 
(maternal  grandfather)  was  a  native  of  Wards- 
boro,  Vermont,  and  married  Laura  Hubbard, 
of  Brimfield,  Massachusetts.  Both  himself 
and  wife  died  many  years  ago.  Their  children 
all  came  to  the  "  Holland  Purchase"  "  when  the 
country  was  new,"  as  local  custom  termed  it. 
Ezbai  Kidder  (father)  was  born  in  Dudley, 
Mass.,  in  1787,  and  was  carried  to  Wardsboro 
in  infancy  where  he  spent  several  busy  years 
lielping  his  widowed  mother  rear  a  large  family. 
He  came  to  this  county  in  1813,  but  soon  after 
went  to  Vermont,  and  again  returned  to  this 
county  and  settled  in  Carroll,  now  Kiantone,  in 
181G.  He  married  Louisa  Sherman  in  1824, 
and  had  four  children,  one  son  and  three 
daughters,  one  daughter  (Mrs.  Mitchell)  now 
residing  at  Busti  ;  two  are  dead.  A  carpenter 
by  trade,  he  conducted  Iniilding  in  c<innection 
with  his  farming,  and  many  of  the  old  frame 
houses  and  barns  of  the  towns  of  Carroll  and 
Kiantone  are  specimens  of  his  skill.  The  farm 
mentioned  at  the  opening  of  our  sketch  was  one 
hundred  acres  of  a  plot  known  as  the  Blowers' 
Lot,  having  been  located  by  and  bought  from  a 
Mr.  Blowers,  one  of  the  first  .settlers  of  James- 
town. Originally  a  whig,  he  afterwards  be- 
came a  repui)lican,  and  at  the  first  town  meet- 
ing helil  March  6,  182(3,  was  elected  commis- 
sioner of  highways.  In  1838  he  was  sui)ervis- 
or  of  Carroll  town,  and  at  the  formation  of 
Kiantone,  the  cleeiion  being  held  February  21, 
1854,  he  was  made  the  first  supervisor  of  the 
new  town.  ]\[r.  Kidder  was  a  member  of  the 
Congregational  church  at  Jamestown,  and  died 
in  1879,  aged  ninety-two  years  and  three 
months,  Mrs.  Kidtler  passing  away  November 
14,  18()7. 


OF  CHAUTAUQUA    COUNT)'. 


101 


Snimiel  Kidiler  was  reared  on  Iiis  father's 
farm,  and  received  liis  eihu^ation  in  tlie  seliools 
of  liis  neit;!il)orliood  and  Jamestown  academy. 
Tlie  ring  cf  tise  axe  in  ilie  forest  was  familiar 
to  liis  ears  and  the  hooting  of  the  owls  at  night 
was  not  unfamiliar.  Farming  was  eondueted 
without  the  help  of  improved  maehinery,  hay 
being  cut  with  a  scyth(;.  Schools  were  not  con- 
venient, and  the  boy  wlio  got  an  education 
worked  for  it.  Life  on  his  father's  farm  in 
summer  was  changed  for  labor  and  school  at~ 
tendance  in  winter,  later  the  Jamestown  acad- 
emy opened  her  fount  and  he  drank  knowledge 
from  it.  Although  always  a  farmer,  the  time 
spent  in  securing  an  education  was  not  lost,  for 
the  intelligent  man  is  needed  in  agricultural 
pursuits  as  well  as  in  the  counting-room.  Mr. 
Kidder  has  added  to  the  farm  his  father  owned, 
and  to-day  is  the  possessor  of  three  hundred 
acres  of  as  good  land  as  may  be  found  in  the 
county,  and  has  at  least  twelve  acres  of  lots  in 
the  city  of  Jamestown. 

On  October  17,  1854,  he  was  married  to 
Eleanor  A.  Partridge,  a  daughter  of  Joel  Part- 
ridge, cf  Jamestown,  N.  Y.  To  this  union 
have  been  born  ten  children  :  Ida,  wife  of  W. 
C  Parker,  a  hardware  merchant  residing  at 
Little  Valley,  Cattaraugus  county,  this  State  ; 
Willard,  a  farmer  of  Kiantone,  and  married  to 
Anna  Miller  ;  J.  Edward  ;  died  wiien  eighteen 
years  of  age ;  Henry  E.,  married  to  Grace 
Sherrod,  and  resides  in  Kno.xville,  Tenn.,  where 
he  follows  carpentering,  building  and  dealing  in 
real  estate  ;  George  C,  wiio  married  Lilian  Van 
Duzee,  and  is  a  farmer  of  Kiantone;  Dora, 
Samuel  P.,  Mary  L.  and  Fannie  E.  at  home; 
Jay  H.  is  dead. 

Samuel  Kidder  atHliates  with  t!ie  democrats, 
but  was  a  whig  before  the  advent  of  the  Repub- 
lican party.  He  has  served  the  people  of  Ki- 
antone three  terms  each  as  su|icrvisor  and  as- 
sessor, and  belongs  to  the  Congregational  church 

at  Jamestown. 

© 


H 


AKVIOV  SI.AIMONS,  who  has  been  a  resi- 
dent of  Jamestown  for  over  forty  years, 
uid    Mary  Ann  (Waid) 


is  a  son   of  Phiiandei 
Simmons,  and  was  born  in  the  town  of  Port- 
land, Chaiitau(|ua  county,  New  York,  July  11, 
1827.      The   Simmons,    for   three   generations 
back,  are  to  be  traced  as  residents  of  Washing- 
ton   county,    of    which    Ziiriel    Simmons,    tiie 
paternal  grandfather  of  Harvey  Simmons,  was 
a  native  and   life-long  resident.     He  owned  a 
large  farm,  and  being  of  good  education   and 
well    versed   in   legal    matters,   was   constantly 
employed  in  conducting  civil  cases  before  the 
magistrates.      He  was  a  whig  in   politics  and 
married  Sallic  Hunt,  by  whom  he  had  five  sons 
and  four  daughters,  who  grew  to  manhood  and 
womanhood.     One  of  the  sons,  Philander  Sim- 
mons (father),  was  born   iu   1797,  and  died  in 
j  Jamestown  in  1862.     At  an  early  age  he  came 
to  the  town  of  Portland,  in  which  he  purchased 
I  and  cleared  out  a  large  farm  in  a  section  that 
then  was  in  the  woods.      In   1855  he  removed 
i  to  Jamestown  where  he  lived  a  retired  life.     He 
1  was  a  whig  and   republican   in   politics,  and  a 
I  member  and  deacon  of  the  Free  Will  Baptist 
I  church.    Mr.  Simmons  died  December  13, 1882. 
He  married  ]\Iary  Ann  Waid,  and  they  reared  a 
family  of  ten  children  :  Eliza,   wife  of  Frank 
Colt,   of    Jamestown  ;    Leander,   who  died  at 
!  Ashville,  N.  Y.,  iu  1888,  aged  si.\ty-five  yeai-s; 
I  Franklin,  a  lumber  dealer ;  Harvey;  Clarissa, 
i  widow  of  Hugh  Mosier,  of  Brocton  ;  Martha, 
j  widow  of  J.  W.  Clements,  and  wife  of  William 
Cobb,  of  Jamestown ;  Ira,  who  married  Sarah 
E.  Wilson,  and  served  in  Co.  F,  112th  N.  Y. 
I  Vols.,  from  August  25, 1862,  to  June  13, 1865 ; 
William  H.,  a   Union  soldier  in   the  late  war 
and  now  a  farmer ;  Add bert  P. ,  who  akso  served 
in  the  Union  army,  and  Adaline,  wife  of  Stej)heu 
Whitcher,    of    Mt.    Vernon,    Illinois.       Mrs. 
Simmons  was  a  daughter  of  Pember  Waid  who 
was  born  at  Lyme,  in  Litchfield  county,  Con- 
necticut,   January    21,    1774,    married    Anna, 
daughter  of  Samuel  Lord,  and  died  February 


102 


BIOGRAPHY  AND  HISTORY 


15,  1852,  in  Crawford  county,  Pennsylvania, 
where  he  had  owned  aud  cultivated  a  farm  for 
many  years.- 

Harvey  Simmons  received  the  meagre  educa- 
tion of  his  boyhood  days  in  western  New  York, 
and  commenced  life  for  himself  in  the  business 
of  manufacturing  scythe  suatlis  and  otiier  tool 
handles.  In  live  years  he  sold  out  and  worked 
for  some  time  with  the  manufacturing  firm  of 
Chase  &  Son.  He  then  purchased  seven  acres 
of  land  in  Jamestown,  which  he  has  continued 
to  cultivate  and  improve  until  the  present  time. 
Mr.  Simmons  is  a  republican  in  politics,  but  has 
never  aspired  for  any  oiBce  within  the  gift  of 
his  fellow-citizens. 

On  March  15,  1851,  he  married  Mary  Ann 
Southwick,  who  was  born  in  1829,  and  is  a 
daughter  of  Herman  Southwick,  a  native  of 
Cayuga  county  (wlio  married  Achesa  Wellman), 
reared  a  family  of  ten  children,  came  to  Busti 
in  185G,  and  afterwards  died  at  Oil  Creek,  Pa. 
To  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Simmons  have  been  born  five 
children  :  Mary,  wife  of  Allen  R.  Manbert,  a  I 
shoemaker  and  dealer  in  boots  aud  shoes  on 
Brooklyn  avenue;  H.  Adelbert;and  Cora,  who 
married  G.  D.  Andruss,  a  photographer,  of 
Jamestown,  and  has  one  child,  Pearl  I.  Two 
others  died  in  ciiildhood. 


AVOL.  THO!>IAS  T.  CIA'NKY,  the  present 
^^  eflicient  chief  of  the  Jamestown  fire  de- 
partment, who  rose  from  a  private  in  the  ranks 
of  the  Federal  army  to  the  grade  of  colonel, 
and  who,  when  the  war  closed,  was  in  the  line 
of  promotion  to  a  generalship  and  the  command 
of  a  brigade,  was  born  in  Montreal,  Canada, 
October  30,  1838,  and  is  a  son  of  Sergeant  John 
and  Mary  (McNickcl)  Chiney.  His  grand- 
fathers, Cluney  and  McNickel,  were  natives  and 
life-long  residents  of  (jreat  Britain,  the  former 
of  England  and  tiie  latter  of  Ireland.  His 
father,  Sergeant  John  Chiney,  was  Ikiiii  in 
England,  cntereil  the  British  army,  rose  to  the 
rank  of  sergeant,  and   was  stationed   with   his 


company  at  Montreal,  Canada,  during  the  War 
of  1812.  He  was  afterwards  honorably  dis- 
charged from  the  English  service,  drew  a  pen- 
sion for  over  a  quarter  of  a  century,  and  died 
in  Toronto,  Canada,  in  1840.  He  married 
Mary  McNickel  and  had  six  children:  Col. 
Thomas  T.,  Charles,  who  is  superintendent  of  a 
coal-wharf  at  Perth  Amboy,  N.  J. ;  three  who 
died  young,  aud  John,  who  enlisted  in  a  Xew 
York  regiment,  was  wounded  in  the  shoulder 
at  the  battle  of  Chickahominy  and  taken  prisoner 
by  the  Confederates,  who  held  him  for  three 
months.  After  being  exchanged  he  died  in  a 
hospital  in  Philadelphia  from  the  effects  of  his 
wound,  which  had  never  been  dressed  during 
the  time  that  he  was  a  prisoner. 

Thomas  T.  Cluney  was,  about  1849,  brought 
by  George  Flint  to  Jamestown,  where  he  received 
a  good  practical  business  education  in  the  schools 
of  that  place.  In  1859  he  went  to  Pennsylvania, 
where  he  was  a  successful  operator  in  the  oil- 
producing  business  until  the  spring  of  1861, 
when  the  life  of  the  nation  was  menaced  by  the 
most  gigantic  rebellion  of  modern  history.  He 
immediately  raisKl  and  equipped,  at  his  own 
expense,  a  company  of  one  hundred  and  five 
men  at  Tidioute,  Pa.,  for  the  Fifth  Excelsior 
regiment  of  New  York  volunteers,  and  for- 
warded them  to  Staten  Island,  N.  Y.  His 
colonel  then  ordered  him  to  Jamestown  to  recruit 
more  men.  He  enlisted  and  forwarded  sixty 
men  from  that  place,  and  had  sixty  more  secured, 
when  he  received  notice  that  his  services  were 
not  needed  any  longer  and  that  the  command  of 
his  company  had  been  given  to  another.  This 
base  treatment  had  been  brought  about  by  a 
couple  of  lieutenants  in  his  company.  He  tiien 
enlisted  as  a  private  on  July  5,  18()1,  in  Co.  A, 
49th  N.  Y.  vols.,  took  part  in  all  the  battles  of 
the  Army  of  the  Potomac  fi'om  Yorktown  to 
Appomattox  Court-house,  was  wounded  slightly 
in  live  battles  l)ut  never  disabled  from  duty,  and 
was  honorably  discharged  on  July  H),  ISdo. 
He  was  ])romoted  to  second  lieutenant  on  August 


OF  VIIAUTAl-QL'A    COUNTY. 


103 


8, 18G1,  made  first  lieutenant  Novcml^or  6, 1 801 , 
commissioned  captain  Api-il  14,  J8(!2,  and  pro- 
moted to  major  May  lli,  18().'5,  for  gallant  and 
meritorious  conduct  on  tlic^  hattle-tield  of  Fred- 
ericksJHirg.  In  18(i  I  lie  receiveil  his  commission 
as  lieutenant-colonel,  and  on  July  10,  1865,  he 
was  mustered  out  with  the  rank  of  colonel. 
After  the  war  lie  took  charge  of  the  Johnson 
House  at  Fredonia,  and  then  went  to  Mayville, 
where  he  had  charge  successively  of  the  Van 
Vaulkenburg,  Mayville  and  Chautauqua  hotels. 
From  there  he  came  to  Jamestown,  where  he 
opened  and  run  the  Giffbrd  house  for  six  years, 
then  was  a  hotel  clerk  for  some  time.  He  next 
opened  the  Milwaukee  bottling  works,  which  he 
sold  in  1888,  to  become  proprietor  of  the  ^\'hit(• 
Elephant  hotel  and  restaurant,  which  hasattained 
wonderful  pojuilarity  and  immense  patronage 
under  his  management.  In  1867  Col.  Cluney 
connected  himself  with  the  fire  department  of 
Jamestow'ii.  He  was  foreman  of  Deluge  com- 
pany, No.  1,  for  sixteen  years,  then  (1883)  was 
elected  assistant  chief,  and  in  1884  he  was 
appointed  chief,  and  has  served  as  such  ever 
since.  Under  his  management  the  Jamestown 
fire  department,  comprising  seven  companies  and 
two  hundred  and  twenty-five  men,  is  now 
regarded  as  one  of  the  best  regulated  and  most 
efficient  volunteer  services  in  the  State  of  New 
York.  Three  years'  drilling  in  the  New  York 
militia  under  Captain  James  M.  Brown  well 
fitted  Col.  Cluney  for  his  active  service  in  the 
late  war.  His  company  furnished  twenty-two 
officers,  all  of  whom,  except  two  or  three,  were 
killed,  or  died  from  effect  of  wounds  or  exposure- 

On  August  28,  1867,  he  married  Hannah  P. 
Benson,  daughter  of  Rev.  Henry  Benson,  a 
Presbyterian  minister  of  Jamestown,  who  .served 
as  chaplain  of  the  49tli  regiment,  New  York 
Vols.  He  was  killed  near  Wilson's  Mills, 
August  7,  1883. 

In  politics  Col.  Cluney  has  always  been  a 
republican,  and  is  a  stanch  and  liberal  supporter 
of  his  party.     He  is  a  member  of  James   M. 


Brown  Post,  No.  285,  Grand  Army  of  the 
Re|)ui)lic,  and  captain-general  of  Jamestown 
CoMiniandery,  No.  1,  Knights  Templar, 


f^.XMKL  B.  I>()USI>;TT,  a  capitalist  and 
^"^  real  estate  owner,  who  is  helping  to  build 
up  this  city,  (having  just  completed  "  De  Orsay," 
a  handsome  compartment  building  on  we.st 
Third  street,)  is  a  son  of  Jose[)h  and  Abigail 
(Hanks)  Dorsett,  and  was  born  June  12,  1816, 
in  the  town  of  Union,  Tolland  county,  Connec- 
ticut. The  name,  originally  De  (Jrsay,  coming 
from  the  French,  shows  the  grandfather's  ex- 
traction, although  he  was  born  in  Connecticut, 
where  he  died.  He  was  a  farmer  by  occupa- 
tion. Joscpii  Dorsett  (father)  w^as  born  in 
Connecticut,  where  he  followed  farming  and 
died.  Politically  he  was  independent.  He  was 
twice  married;  first,  to  Abigail  Hanks,  who 
bon!  him  two  sons  and  six  daughters,  and  after 
her  death  he  married  Mary  Hitchcock,  who  had 
two  sons  and  one  daughter. 

Daniel  B.  Dorsett  was  educated  in  the  com- 
mon country  schools  of  Connecticut.  He  began 
life  humbly — his  first  work  being  peddling. 
In  1838  he  was  jiroprietor  of  a  store  at  East- 
ford,  Conn.,  and  in  1849  came  to  Chautauqua 
county,  locating  in  Sincrlairville,  where  he  man- 
ufactured shoes  and  cultivated  a  farm  of  sixteen 
acres  during  the  ensuing  ten  years  and  for  nearly 
twenty  years  thereafter  bought  liutter  and 
cheese  through  the  country.  In  October,  1890, 
Mr.  Dorsett  came  to  Jamestown  to  reside  and 
look  after  his  real  estate  interests. 

On  November  16, 1841,  Mr.  Dorsett  married 
Harriet  F.  Preston,  a  daughter  of  Earl  Clapp 
Preston,  a  native  of  Windham  county.  Conn., 
where  lie  resided  until  1874,  since  which  time 
and  until  his  death,  that  occrurred  at  the  advanced 
a<re  of  94,  he  made  his  home  with  Mr.  Dorsett 
at  Sinclairville.  Mr.  I'reston,  in  early  life,  had 
been  a  farmer  and  later  a  school  teacher  in 
Connecticut  and  v.'as  an  active  worker  in  educa- 
tional   matters    until    nearly   eighty  years  old. 


104 


IlIOGEAPHY  AND  HISTORY 


having  served  as  superintendent  of  schools  in 
his  native  State.  He  was  a  republican  and  a 
particularly  strong  abolitionist.  Religiously 
he  had  strong  affinities  with  tiie  Congregational 
church,  taking  a  leading  part  for  nearly  eighty 
years,  and  was  familiarly  known  to  his  friends 
as  Deacon  Preston.  He  married  Harriet  Fox 
and  had  four  children.  ]\Ir.  and  Mrs.  Dorsett 
have  four  children  :  Calista,  now  the  wife  of 
Edwin  Williams,  a  merchant  living  in  Sinclair- 
ville;  Daniel  H.,  who  wedded  Ellen  R.  Shep- 
herd, of  Iowa,  is  now  living  in  Chicago.  He 
is  the  inventor  of  Dorsett's  system  of  electrical 
conduits  in  use  in  our  principal  cities,  and  is 
vice-president  and  manager  of  the  National 
Subway  Co.,  of  Chicago,  111.,  manufacturers  of  ; 
conduits — he  has  two  children — Rae  and  Leon- 
ard ;  Charles  W.,  married  ^lartha  Angle,  ' 
of  Randolph,  N.  Y.,  and  now  resides  at  Minne- 
apolis, Minn.,  where  he  is  a  caterer  and  con- 
fectioner. They  have  two  children  :  Gretchen 
and  Hattie,  and  three  adopted:  Karl,  Ralph  and 
Lucy  ;  and  INIinnie  F.,  wife  of  G.  F.  Smith,  I 
M.D.,  livesat  Sinclairvilleaud  has  two  children,  j 
Charles,  and  Daniel. 

D.  B.  Dorsett  was  originally  a  whig,  but  with  i 
the  advent  of  the  Republican  party  he  trans-  | 
ferred  his  allegiance  to  it  and  was  a  strong  anti- 
slavery   member.      Wiiile    in    Connecticut    he  j 
served  as  deputy -sheriif  and  was  a  notniy  public 
for  over  twenty  years.     Both  he  and  his  estima- 
ble   wife   are  members  of  the   Congregational  j 
church.  I 


TSRAEL,     RECORD.       The    democracy    of 
-*■     Chautauqua  county  lost  one  of  its  strongest 
adherents  when,  on   the   IGtli   of  July,   1887.  I 
Israel  Record,  of  Silver  Creek,  clo.sed  ids  eyes  I 
in  their  last  sleep  and  passed  over  into  the  un- 
known world.     Israel  Record  descended  from  a  ' 
line  of  ancestors  who  were  thorongiilv  Ameri- 
can  in  tiieir  character  and  <lcn;cici-ati('  in   their 
liai)its.     A  hundred  years  spent    in   tiie  valleys 
of  the  Hudson  were  but  the  sequel  of  their  earlier  i 


residence  in  the  colonial  settlements,  and  the 
sixty  years  of  life  passed  in  Chautauqua  county 
completed  to  the  present  generation  an  unbroken 
citizenship  in  the  new  world  of  ahnost  two  cen- 
turies, during  which  the  brain  and  muscle  of 
this  family  were  devoted  to  tlie  development 
of  the  vast  and  unlimited  resources  of  our 
country. 

Israel  Record  was  a  son  of  Reverend  John 
Record,  who  was  a  prominent  citizen,  proprie- 
tor of  the  village  grist-mill  and  pastor  of  the 
Baptist  church  at  Poughkeepsie,  N.  Y.  In  the 
old  family  Bible,  the  title  page  of  which  bears 
the  date  of  17G6,  is  the  quaint  and  curious, 
though  laconic  and  succinct,  entry  :  "  Between 
the  hours  of  ten  and  eleven  o'clock,  Friday, 
October  12,  one  thousand  seven  hundred  and 
ninety-eight,  then  was  Israel  Record  born  in 
Poughkeepsie."  Israel  Record  passed  twenty - 
five  years  of  his  early  life  in  eastern  New  York 
and  then  married  Mary  Gardner,  in  Dutchess 
county.  Eight  years  afterward  (1830),  with  his 
wife  and  two  children  he  followed  the  course  of 
the  setting  sun  until  he  reached  Chautauqua 
county,  and  soon  found  a  home  in  the  town  of 
Sherman.  A  few  years  later  he  moved  to  Han- 
over town  and  lived  there  until  he  died.  His 
marriage  resulted  in  nine  children,  four  of 
whom  are  still  living:  Mrs.  Emily  Wood,  and 
William  Record,  of  Versailles,  Cattaraugus 
county  ;  John  G.,  a  lawyer  of  Forestville;  and 
Mrs.  N.  Babcoek,  of  Silver  Creek,  at  whose 
home  he  died. 

Israel  Record  was  less  than  two  years  of  age 
u  hen  the  present  century  began,  and  kind  nature 
seeming  to  realize  that  a  man  of  that  day  must 
be  iiossessed  of  great  bodily  and  mental  strength, 
endowed  him  with  a  massive  physique  and  a 
mind  and  will  commensurate.  His  memory  was 
a  wonderful  store-house  of  knowledge,  and  it  is 
said  that  within  a  lew  days  after  President 
Ch^veland's  inaugural  address  was  published  he 
repeated  it  verbatini  and  reniemberrd  it  per- 
fectly  until   he  died.     Dates  and  places,  laws 


OF  ('IIACTAUUIA    COI'NTY. 


107 


and  State  fiuistitutioiis,  anieiulniciits  and  the 
men  wlio  advocated  llieni  were  as  familiar  to 
his  memory  wiicii  past  eighty  years  of  age  as  to 
the  eye  of  an  oi'dinary  man  when  looking  attiie 
printed  page  of  an  open  book,  and  when  lie  onee 
asserted  the  correctness  of  a  statement  it  was 
useless  to  refer  to  a  book  f()r  corroborative  pi'oof 
— he  was  always  found  to  be  correct. 

His  fiiilh  in  deiuocriicy  was  as  strong  as  the 
most  devout  Christian's  in  religion.  An  ex- 
pression once  made,  referring  to  liim,  said  : 
"Counter  arguments,  however  good  or  impres- 
sive, fall  as  powerless  as  i-aindrops  on  a  granite 
boulder."  He  endured  the  twenty-eight  years 
of  republican  rule  with  outspoken  condtMiination 
and  contempt,  and  probably  no  man  in  the 
country  more  sincerely  welcomed,  or  was  made 
so  supremely  happy  by  the  democratic  victory 
of  1884  and  the  change  of  administration  in 
1885.  He  was  tender  towards  his  family  and  l 
the  atfcetion  he  felt  for  his  wife  bordered  on  I 
adoration.  Of  her  he  would  say  :  "  She  knew 
something,"  in  a  tone  that  indicated  that  to  him 
all  other  women  were  as  common  clay.  He 
died  as  he  had  lived,  unflinching  and  unterrified, 
and  he  went  into  eternity  "  like  one  who  wraps 
the  drapery  of  his  couch  about  him  and  lies 
down  to  pleasant  dreams,"  when  he  had  reached 
the  unusual  age  of  eightj'-eight  year.s,  ten  months 

and  four  days. 

& 

JOHN  G.  IJECORD,  a  strong  democrat  of 
*^  Forestville,  and  a  member  of  the  Chau- 
tauqua county  bar,  was  born  at  Smith's  Mills, 
in  the  town  of  Hanover,  Chautauqua  county, 
New  York,  October  2,  1836,  and  is  a  sou  of 
Israel  and  Maiy  (Gardner)  Record.  During 
the  last  century  his  ancestors  Nvere  settled  in  the 
rich  and  fertile  valley  of  the  Hudson  river, 
which  has  been  made  famous  for  all  time  to 
come  by  the  pen  of  Washington  Irving,  the 
prince  of  American  writers.  Rev.  John 
Record,  the  paternal  grandfather  of  John  G. 
Record,  was  an  active  mini.ster  of  the  Baptist 
6 


chiu'ch.  He  ran  a  grist-mill,  and  was  a  man  of 
prominence  as  well  as  of  usefulness  in  thecom- 
nninity  in  which  he  resided.  His  .son,  Lsrael 
Record  (see  his  sketch),  the  father  of  the  sub- 
ject of  this  sketch,  was  born  and  reared  at 
Poughkeepsie,  and  came  to  the  town  of  Sher- 
man about  1830.  He  afterwards  removed  to 
the  town  of  Hanover,  of  which  he  was  a  resi- 
dent until  his  death  in  1887,  at  eighty-nine 
years  of  age.  He  was  a  cattle  dealer  during 
the  active  ])art  of  his  life.  His  wife  was  Mary 
Gardner,  who  was  born  in  Dutchess  county,  in 
the  Hudson  river  valley,  and  passed  away  in 
1880,  when  in  the  eighty-fourth  year  of  her 
age. 

John  G.  Record  spent  his  boyhood  days  in 
his  native  county,  and  received  an  academical 
education  at  Middlebury  and  Wyoming  acad- 
emics. Leaving  school  he  read  law  in  1858 
with  Sherman  Scott,  of  Forestville,  was  ad- 
mitted to  the  Chautaucpia  county  bar  in  Decem- 
ber, 1859,  and  has  practiced  successfully  at 
Forestville  ever  since,  cxceptingtwo  years  when 
he  had  an  office  at  Silver  Creek. 

He  was  married  in  18G2,  to  Mary  Farnham, 
of  Fore,stville,  who  died  in  March,  1886,  and 
left  four  children.  On  October  2d,  1887, 
Mr.  Record  united  in  marriage  with  Flora  M. 
Haywood,  of  A'ersailles,  New  York.  To  this 
second  union  have  been  born  two  children. 

In  addition  to  his  law  practice  Mr.  Record 
gives  some  little  time  to  the  management  of  his 
farm  of  one  hundred  and  fifty  acres  of  land, 
which  is  situated  one  and  one-half  miles  from 
Forestville.  Thirty  acres  of  this  land  is  devot- 
ed to  the  culture  of  grapes,  and  shows  this  sec- 
tion of  the  county  to  be  well  adai)tcd  to  the 
cultivation  of  the  vine.  In  politics  Mr.  Record 
is  a  zealous  democrat  of  Jetfersonian  views,  has 
always  stood  upon  the  platform  of  the  old-time 
genuine  principles  of  his  party,  and  advocated 
honesty  and  economy  in  State  as  well  as  Na- 
tional affairs.  John  G.  Record  has  served  his 
town  as  supervisor,  and   has  several   times  ac- 


108 


BIOGRAPHY  AXD  HISTORY 


cepted  a  nomination  from  his  party  in  its 
plucky,  but  hopeless  fights  against  the  over- 
whelming republican  majority  in  Cliautauqua 
county. 


JOHX  W.  O'BKIKX  had  an  unexpectedly 
hard  battle  to  fight  in  life,  but  he  fought 
it  nobly  and  won  a  victory  of  wliich  any  one 
might  be  justly  j^roud.  He  was  born  in  county 
Carlow,  province  of  Leinster,  Ireland,  July  20, 
1842,  and  is  a  son  of  William  and  Ann  (Keiley) 
O'Brien.  His  fother,  William  O'Brien,  was  a 
native  of  the  same  jilace,  a  farmer  by  occupation, 
a  member  of  the  Catholic  church  and  died  in 
1852,  at  forty  years  of  age.  He  married  Ann 
Keiley,  of  county  Wicklow,  a  mining  and  pas- 
toral district  in  the  province  of  Leinster,  by 
whom  he  had  eight  children,  three  sous  and 
five  daughters:  John  W. ;  James,  who  died  in 
Ireland  ;  Thos.  B.,  is  foreman  in  a  large  manu- 
facturing establishment  in  Erie,  Pa.;  Ellen, 
wife  of  James  Carroll ;  Jane,  married  Bartholo- 
mew Cavanaugh ;  Annie,  married  to  P.  C. 
Mulligan  ;  Bridget  and  Mary,  who  resides  with 
John  W.  All  the  daughters  reside  in  Dunkirk. 
Mrs.  O'Brien  came  to  America  in  1858  and 
located  in  Dunkirk,  where  she  is  now  residing 
with  her  son,  John  W.,  in  the  seventy-fifth 
year  of  iier  age.  She  is  also  a  member  of  the 
Catholic  church. 

John  W.  O'Brien  received  a  portion  of  his 
education  by  a  brief  attendance  in  the  common 
schools,  but  it  came  mainly  by  studying  at  home 
in  the  evenings.  His  father  was  in  reduced 
circumstances  at  the  time  of  his  death,  and  John 
W.,  at  the  age  of  thirteen,  with  his  sister  Ellen, 
aged  eleven,  came  alone  to  America  in  1855, 
and  from  New  York  City  to  Dunkirk,  wiierc 
they  expected  to  meet  an  uncle,  Thomas  O'Brien, 
but  foinid  he  had  died.  He  then  went  to  work 
on  a  farm,  remained  tiicre  two  years  and  then 
secured  a  position  in  tlie  flour  and  feed  house  of 
William  O'Xcil,  who  was  an  old  friend  of  (he 
O'Briens  in  Ireland.     He  continued  to  clerk  for 


Mr.  O'Neil  until  1879,  when  he  entered  into 
partnersiiip  with  Thomas  O'Neil,  under  the 
firm  name  of  O'Neil  &  Co.,  and  bought  out 
William  O'Neil.  This  firm  continued  two  years, 
when  his  partner  died  and  he  bought  his  inter- 
est of  the  heirs,  and  since  then  has  continued 
the  business  alone.  He  carries  a  large  stock  of 
all  kinds  of  flour,  feed  and  seeds  and  enjoys  a 
fine  paying  trade.  He  has  reared  and  educated 
his  brothers  and  sisters  and  has  also  accumu- 
lated a  moderate  co^npetency.  In  politics  lie  is 
a  democrat  and  in  religion  is  a  member  of  the 
Catholic  church.  He  enjoys  the  respect  of  all 
who  know  him  and  is  satisfied  with  his  experi- 
ence in  his  adopted  country. 


/^ILBERT  31.  KYKEKT  was  born  in  Atti- 
^^  ca,  Wyoming  county.  New  York,  October 
G,  1840,  and  is  a  son  of  Rev.  Gilbert  and  Sarah 
A.  (Nichols)  Rykert.  His  father,  Rev.  Gilbert 
Rykert,  was  a  native  of  Washington  county, 
this  State,  a  minister  of  the  Free- Will  Baptist 
church,  and  in  politics  a  republican.  He  mar- 
ried Sarah  A.  Nichols,  a  native  of  the  town 
where  her  son  was  born,  who  is  a  member  of 
the  Methodist  Episcopal  church,  and  now  re- 
sides with  her  son  in  Westfield,  in  the  seventy- 
sixth  year  of  her  age.  They  were  the  pareuts 
of  three  children.  Rev.  Gilbert  Rykert  died 
in  Evans,  Erie  county,  this  State,  where  he  had 
lived  for  several  years,  ou  June  12,  1804,  at  the 
age  of  fifty- three  years. 

Gilbert  M.  Rykert  was  reared  prineij)ally  in 
Erie  and  Chautauqua  counties,  and  received  a 
common-school  education.  In  July,  1862,  he 
enlisted  in  Co.  C,  154tli  regiment,  New  York 
Vol.  Infantry,  and  was  honorably  discharged  in 
February,  18G4,  on  account  of  a  wound  re- 
ceived at  the  battle  of  Gettysburg,  on  July  1, 
1863,  wliilo  he  was  color-bearer.  His  comrade, 
also  acolor-bcarcr,  had  been  j)reviously  shot,  and 
Mr.  Rykert  had  taken  his  colors  in  addition  to 
his  own.  He  was  struck  in  his  right  arm  by  a 
niinie-ball,    permanently    disabling    the    arm. 


OF  CIUUTAUQUA   COUNTY. 


109 


After  leaving:;  tlio  army,  lie  entered  tlie  employ 
of"  tlie  L.  S.  ct  M.  S.  R.  Jl.  company,  wliere  lie 
has  remained  ever  since.  From  1876  to  1887 
he  was  telegraph  operator  at  Westfield,  and  in 
the  latter  year  he  was  appointed  station-agent, 
which  position  he  still  retains.  He  also  devot- 
ed some  attention  to  the  cultivation  of  the  grape. 
Politically  he  is  a  prohibitionist,  in  his  religions 
convictions  a  Baptist,  of  which  church  he  is  a 
meml^er  and  a  trustee,  and  is  a  member  of  Sum- 
mit Lodge,  No.  219,  F.  and  A.  M.;  Chautau- 
qua Lodge,  No.  3,  A.  O.  U.  W.;  Westfield 
Council,  No.  81,  Royal  Arcanum,  and  William 
Sackett  Post,  No.  324,  G.  A.  R.  He  has 
serv(!d  three  years  as  a  trustee  of  the  town  of 
Westfield. 

November  10,  1868,  Gilbert  M.  Rykert  unit- 
ed in  marriage  with  Arietta  H.,  daughter  of 
Leonard  Smith,  of  Brocton,  this  county,  and 
their  union  has  been  blest  with  three  children  : 
Homer  S.,  Charles  E.  and  William  C. 

G.  M.  Rykert  is  a  gallant  soldier,  an  hon- 
est, faithful,  conscientious  employe,  and  au  up- 
right, honorable  and  respected  citizen,  ever  doing- 
all  in  his  power  for  the  prosperity  of  the  town 
in  which  he  resides. 


THTYROX  W.  PARDEE,  a  sou  of  James  and 

■^'-'-  Phoebe  (Chandler)  Pardee,  was  born 
April  15,  1856  and  died  at  Jamestown,  Nov. 
22,  1S89.  Myron  W.  Pardee  was  a  grandson 
of  Woodley  W.  Chandler,  a  native  of  the  Old 
Dominion  State  where  he  was  born  February 
14,  L800,  and  was  on€  of  the  earlier  of  James- 
town's settlers,  arriving  here  in  1826.  Prior 
to  this  date  he  lived  for  a  while  in  Dexterville, 
Chautauqua  county,  where  he  married  Phoebe 
Winsor,  daughter  of  Abraham  Winsor,  by 
whom  he  had  five  children.  Upon  his  advent 
hero,  in  partnership  with  his  brother-in  law,  he 
bought  a  ])iece  of  land  near  the  outlet  formerly 
owned  by  Judge  Foote,  and  built  upon  it  a 
cloth-dressing  and  carding  mill.  Its  site  is  now 
covered  by  a  much  larger  similar  establishment. 


At  about  this  season  he  was  also  interested  in 
lumbering.  He  afterwards  removed  to  Levant, 
Chautauqua  county,  where  lie  died  April  22, 
1854.  Chandler  .street,  Jamestown,  derives  its 
name  from  this  family.  Grandfather  Pardee 
was  a  native  of  Connecticut. 

Myron  W.  Pardee  was  educated  in  the  James- 
town schools,  graduating  from  the  normal  de- 
partment in  1876,  and  from  the  high  school  in 
1879.  Previous  to  his  graduation,  however, 
he  had  left  school  several  times  for  the  purpose 
of  teaching.  The  first  time  when  only  seven- 
teen years  of  age  he  was  principal  of  the  school 
at  Kennedy,  N.  Y.,  for  a  year  and  at  later 
periods  had  charge  of  .schools  at  Falconer,  N. 
Y.,  and  at  Farmington,  Fayette  county,  Pa. 
Immediately  after  graduation,  in  1879,  he  reg- 
istered with  Hon.  Orsell  Cook  and  began  the 
study  of  law.  He  also,  at  the  same  time  kept 
books  for  two  Jamestown  firms  in  order  to  pro- 
cure means  witii  which  to  go  through  with  his 
studies.  He  afterwards  entered  the  Albany 
law  school,  from  which  he  graduated  in  1881, 
and  settled  in  Jamestown  for  the  practice  of  his 
profession.  Being  bright,  active  and  energetic 
he  soon  gained  a  luci'ative  practice,  and  at  the 
time  of  his  death  was  one  of  the  leading  young 
attorneys  of  Jamestown. 

On  September  19,  1883,  he  was  united  in 
marriage  to  Eudora  E.  Klock,  the  accomplished 
daughter  of  Hiram  and  Margaret  (Quinn) 
Klock.     Mrs.   Pardee  is  a   musician  of  reco£r- 

o 

nized  merit.  An  expert  instrumentalist,  she 
has  also  rare  natural  endowments  of  voice  which 
she  has  cultivated  by  thorough  courses  at  Mead- 
ville.  Pa.,  and  in  New  York  city  under  instruc- 
tions from  the  best  artists  in  the  profession. 
She  has  sung  in  nearly  all  the  city  church 
choirs. 

Politically  Mr.  Pardee  was  a  republican  and 
with  his  wife  was  a  member  of  the  Methodist 
church. 


110 


BIOGRAPHY  AND  HISTORY 


HO^.  FRANCIS  BEATTIE  BREWER,  \ 
M.I>.,  a  resident  of  Westfield  for  over  j 
thirty  years,  and  an  ex-member  of  Congress, 
who  conceived,  planned  and  developed  the 
present  methods  of  producing  and  utilizing  pe- 
troleum, one  of  the  great  sources  of  national 
■wealth  and  revenue,  was  born  at  Keene,  New 
Hamjjshire,  October  8,  1820,  and  is  a  son  of 
Capt.  Ebenezer  and  Julia  (Emerson)  Brewer. 
Francis  Beattie  Brewer  is  a  descendant  of  Rev- 
olutionary stock,  his  grandfather,  Ebenezer 
Brewer,  having  held  the  rank  of  colonel  and  \ 
participated  in  the  struggle  of  the  old  Thir- 
teen Colonies,  or  "  sea-shore  republics,"  for  in-  ' 
dependence.  His  father,  Ebeuezer  Brewer, 
was  familiar  with  the  trying  scenes  of  Revolu- 
tionary days  and  afterwards  held  a  captain's 
commission  during  the  War  of  1812,  in  which 
he  served  with  credit  and  distinction.  He  and 
his  father  were  both  nativ'es  and  lifelong  resi- 
dents of  New  Hampshire. 

Francis  B.  Brewer  spent  his  earlier  years  at 
Barnet,  Vermont,  where  his  father  was  engaged 
in  lumbering  and  the  mercantile  business.     His 
preparation  for  college  was  made  at  Newbury 
seminary,   Vt.,   and   Meriden  academy,  N.  H. 
After  graduating   from   Dartmouth   college  he  : 
was  engaged  in  teaching  for  several  months  at 
Barnet   and    in    Peacham    academy,   Vt.,    and 
then  (184.3)  commenced  the  study  of  medicine 
with  Dr.  W.  G.  Nelson.     In  1844  he  attended 
lectures  at  Dartmouth  Medical  college  where  he  i 
also  studi(!d  nine  months  with  the  faculty,  and 
then  completed  his  medical  course  with  Dr.  ^y. 
W.  Gerhart,  of  Philadelphia,  Pa.     He  received  [ 
his  degree  of  M.D.   from   Dartmouth  Aledical  ' 
college    in    1846,    practiced    at    Barnet    until 
December,  1849,  and  then  removed  to  Plym- 
outh, Mass.,  where  he  remained  for  two  years. 
In  1851   he  went  to  Titusville,  Pa.,  where  he 
was  actively  and  extensively  engaged   ibr  ten  ' 
years  in  lumbering  and  the  general  mercantile 
business.     He  was  a   member  of  the   firm  of 
Brewer,  \Vat.?on   &    Co.,    who    owned    several  i 


thousand  acres  of  timbered  land  along  Oil 
creek  and  its  tributaries.  Ou  their  land,  and 
near  one  of  their  lumber  mills  was  an  old 
Indian  well,  remarkable  for  producing  oil. 
This  oil  was  extensively  used  as  a  medicine, 
and  was  collected  by  absorbing  the  oil  from  the 
surface  of  the  water  with  woolen  blankets.  In 
1852  the  idea  occurred  to  Dr.  Brewer,  of  using 
this  oil  in  the  lumber  mills,  both  as  an  illumi- 
nator and  a  lubricator.  The  well  was  tiien  en- 
larged and  deepened ;  a  pump  was  worked  in  it 
by  wires  attached  to  the  machinery  of  the  mill, 
and  in  this  way  a  large  quantity  of  oil  was  ob- 
tained. Thus  commenced  the  oil  business. 
From  this  date  Dr.  Brewer  gave  his  time, 
means  and  efforts  to  discover  the  best  manner 
of  producing  and  utilizing  this  valuable  pro- 
duct. Although  di-scouraged,  but  never  dis- 
heartened, success  finally  crowned  the  enter- 
prise which  he  justly  claims  to  have  conceived, 
planned  and  developed,  and  which  has  jjroved 
to  be  one  of  the  great  discoveries  of  the  age. 
The  oil  business  which  he  inaugurated  as  a 
branch  of  commerce,  has  attained  gigantic  pro- 
portions and  has  added  immensely  to  the 
wealth  of  the  world.  The  first  oil  lease  on 
record  was  made  July  4,  1853,  between  Brew- 
er, Watson  &  Co.,  and  J.  D.  Angier,  and  the 
first  oil  company,  "  The  Penna.  Rock  Oil  Co.,'' 
was  organized  in  New  York  City,  in  1854,  of 
which  Dr.  Brewer  was  one  of  the  incorporators 
and  directors,  and  this  territory  formed  the 
basis  of  the  company's  operations. 

On  July  20,  1848,  he  married  Susan  H. 
Rood,  daughter  of  Rev.  Prof.  Heman  Rood,  of 
Haverhill,  N.  H.,  but  formerly  of  Gilmanton 
Theological  seminary.  Dr.  and  Mrs.  Brewer 
have  four  children:  Eben,  born  May  14,  1849; 
Francis  Beattie  and  Frances  Moody  (wife  of 
W.  C.  Fitch  of  Buffalo,)  born  October  16, 
1852;  and  George  Emerson,  born  July  28, 
1861. 

In  1861  Dr.  ]3rewer  came  to  Westfield  to  re- 
side.    He  owns  a  beautiful  farm   on  tiie  shore 


OF  CHAUTAUQUA   COUNTY. 


113 


of  Lake  Erie.  IIl'  is  interested  in  several  |  nearly  four  linn(lre<l  niillion  l»arrels  of  oil  and 
large  business  enterprises,  outside  of  petroleum,  i  yield  an  aminal  i-cvi'ime  of  many  million  dol- 
iu  wliieli  he  has  large  investments  and  does  a     lars. 

large  eommission  business  in  Pittsburg,  Pa.,  as  I  ^ 

a  member  of  the  firm  of  Brewer,  Burke  &  Co.  AVir.Vl'Xf'ICV  AlUiKV,  president  of  the  Fre- 
In  18()4  Dr.  Brewer  organized  the  First  Nat-  ^^  donia  National  bank,  is  one  of  (hat  lionor- 
ional  Bank  of  Westfield,  and  was  made  presi-  able  and  distinctive  cla.ss  called  ".self-made" 
dent  of  the  same,  which  position  he  held  for  men,  who  have  fought  the  battle  of  life  to 
ten  years.  He  was  also  president  of  tiie  T<jwn-  financial  success  by  their  own  energy  and  skill, 
send  Manufacturing  Co.  His  various  business  He  was  born  in  the  town  of  Virgil,  Cortland 
interests  iiave  caused  liim  to  travel  widely  in  county,  New  York,  April  1,  I8I0,  and  is  a  son 
the  United  States  and  Europe.  During  the  of  David  and  Hannah  (Woods)  .\bbey.  He  is 
late  war  he  was  appointed  by  the  Governor  of  of  New  England  ancestry,  and  his  grandfathers, 
NewYork  as  a  special  State  agent,  with  the  rank  John  Abbey  and  Nathan  Woods,  were  both  of 
of  Major,  to  visit  the  hospitals  connected  with  English  descent  and  served  in  the  Continental 
the  Army  of  the  Potomac,  and  in  that  capac'ily  armies  during  the  Revolutionary  struggle  of  the 
rendered  valuable  aid  to  the  sick  and  wounded  Thirteen  Colonies  for  independence.  His  father, 
sons  of  the  Empire  State.  In  1873  he  was  David  Abbey,  was  a  native  of  Bellows  Falls, 
elected  a  member  of  the  New  York  Assembly  on  the  Connecticut  river,  in  the  State  of  Con- 
and  after  serving  creditably  throughout  two  iiecticut  aiul  married  Hannah  Woods,  of  Ben- 
terms  was  appointed  as  a  government  director  of  nington,  Vermont,  after  which  he  came  to  New 
the  Union  Pacific  i-ailroad,  which  position  he  ,  York,  where  he  finally  settled  in  the  town  of 
held  for  four  years  under  Presidents  Grant  and  Villanova  (now  Arkwright)  in  1823.  He  was 
Hayes.  He  served  for  some  time  by  appoint-  a  farmer  in  moderate  circumstances  at  the  time 
ment  of  Gov.  Cornell  as  a  manager  of  the  |  of  his  death  in  1876,  wiien  he  was  in  the  eighty- 
State  asylum   at  Buffalo,   and   was  afterwards  ''  seventh  year  of  his  age. 

elected  in  1873,  as  a  republican  member  of  the  Chauncey  Abbey  grew  to  manhood  on  the 
Forty-eighth  Congress  from  the  thirty-third  '  hnmc  farm  and  attended  the  ordinary  schools  of 
congressional  district  of  New  York,  receiving  his  neighborhood,  in  which  he  received  a  limited 
12,123  votes,  against  9,r)91  received  by  Low-  1  education  in  the  common-school  branches  except- 
ery,  the  democratic  candidate,  1,020  for  Sellers,  ing  mathematics;  in  this  science  he  became 
prohibitionist;  and  85()  for  Randall,  (ireen-  quite  proficient.  Leaving  school  he  engaged  in 
backer.  At  the  expiration  of  his  term  of  ser-  farming,  which  he  followed  successfully  for 
vice  in  Congress,  Dr.  Brewer  returned  to  West-  sixty  years  on  his  Arkwright  farm  of  one  hun- 
field,  where  he  has  been  ever  since  prominently  dreil  and  ninety-six  acres.  This  farm  he  has, 
identified  w  ith  various  leading  and  successful  \  by  persistent  and  intelligent  effort,  brought  into 
business  enterprises.  From  the  small  begin-  a  high  state  of  cultivation  and  prcductiveness. 
ningofDr.  Brewer  in  the  oil  business,  in  the  He  is  one  of  the  representative  farmers  in  a 
backwoods  of  Venango  county,  Pa.,  has  grown  county  noted  for  its  fertile  farms  and  large 
the  great  petroleum  industry  which  now  gives  crops.  Besides  general  farming  and  grain  rais- 
employment  to  thousands  of  men  in  its  differ-  ing  he  has  engaged  extensively  for  many  years 
ent  departments  of  production,  piping,  refining  in  stock-dealing.  Li  the  latter  business  his 
aud  shipping,  in  the  oil-fields  of  Pennsylvania  ellorts  have  been  rewarded  with  the  same  ample 
and  New  York,  whith    have   produced   already     measure  of  success  which  has  been  his  in  all  of 


114 


BIOGRAPHY  AND  HISTORY 


his  other  business  enterprises.  In  1856  he  and 
Stephen  M.  Clements,  with  others,  were  mainly 
instrumental  in  organizing  the  Fredonia  bank 
which,  in  1865,  became  the  Fredonia  National 
banif,  of"  which  Mr.  Abbey  has  been  president 
since  1882.  He  was  a  heavy  stockholder  and  a 
prominent  director  in  the  old  as  well  as  the  new 
bank,  and  in  their  management  his  good  judgment 
and  safe  business  methods  added  much  to  their 
uniform successand  general  prosperity.  The  Fre- 
donia National  bank  has  a  capital  of  one  hun- 
dred thousand  dollars,  with  average  deposits 
of  five  hundred  thousand  dollars  and  a  surplus 
of  forty  thousand  dollars.  This  bank  is  recog- 
nized as  one  of  the  best  managed  and  most  reli- 
able banks  in  the  State,  and  has  the  reputation 
of  having  never  extended  or  skipped  the  time 
of  any  payment  of  its  dividends.  The  bank 
has  been  con.stantiy  increasing  its  volume  of 
business  under  the  conservative,  safe  and  reli- 
able management  of  Mr.  Abbey,  whose  business 
relations  have  brought  him  in  contact  witii  and 
secured  for  him  the  good  will  of  the  leading 
business  men  of  western  New  York.  The 
directors  of  this  bank  stand  high  as  business 
men  and  financiers,  and  most  of  them,  like  Mr. 
Abbey,  are  identified  with  other  important  in- 
terests of  the  county. 

He  married  Elizabeth  Chase,  who  died,  and 
then  he  united  in  marriage  with  Mrs.  Esther  A., 
the  daugiiter  of  Judge  Allen,  of  Tiowanda,  this 
State.  To  his  first  union  were  born  thi-ee  ciiild- 
ren,  one  of  whom,  Ella  E.,  is  the  wife  of  Hon. 
W .  B.  Hooker,  member  of  Congress  from  the 
Thirty-fourth  Congressional  district  of  New 
York,  whose  sketch  appears  elsewhere  in  this 
volume. 

In  addition  to  his  farm  in  the  town  of  Ark- 
wright  he  owns  several  valuable  tracts  of  land 
in  other  ])arts  of  the  county,  and  has  a  well- 
improved  fiirm  in  Ohio,  fur  whicii  he  paid  ten 
thou.sand  dollars.  At  an  early  age  Mr.  Abbey 
develo));'(]  those  business  hal)it9  which  became 
the  ii>undation  of  his  after  success  in  life.      He 


was  slow  and  careful  in  the  beginning  of  his 
business  career,  but  daily  widened  out  the  sphere 
of  his  operations  and  eventually  became  a  potent 
factor  in  the  many  business  enterprises  with 
which  he  is  identified  to-dav. 


nOWLAXD  W.  GARDNER  is  a  most 
worthy  disciple  of  Ceres,  Pomona  and 
Flora,  and  was  warmly  welcomed  as  a  member 
of  the  Order  of  Patrons  of  Husbandry,  where 
he  found  the  representatives  of  these  three 
mythological  goddesses  occupying  chairs  at  the 
head  of  the  hall.  Rowland  W.  Gardner  is  a 
son  of  William  J.  and  Sarah  (Durfee)  Gardner, 
and  was  born  in  South  Kingston,  Rhode  Island, 
October  12,  1819.  His  paternal  grandfather, 
Rowland  Gardner,  was  also  born  in  South 
Kingston,  Rhode  Island,  where  he  owned  a 
farm  of  one  hundred  acres  on  which  he  spent 
his  entire  life.  He  was  married  in  1770  to 
Deborali  James,  by  whom  he  had  five  children: 
James, a  farmer;  John,  who  moved  to  New  York 
State,  settled  in  ^Yyoming  county,  and  married 
Wealthy  Bentley ;  Nicholas,  a  foreman  in  a 
factory  in  Norwich,  Conn.,  who  married  Betsey 
Hazard  :  William  J.,  father  of  Rowland  W. ; 
and  Rowland,  who  died  at  twenty-one  years  of 
age.  Their  fiither  died  in  1805,  while  the 
mother  passed  away  fifteen  years  l)efore.  Both 
are  interred  in  South  Kingston,  R.  I.  The' 
maternal  grandfather,  Joseph  Durfee,  was  born 
in  Connecticut  in  1775,  but  after  reaching  his 
majority  he  removed  to  Rhode  Island,  where  he 
bought  a  farm  and  remained  there  until  1821, 
when  he  removed  to  Wyoming  couuty,  N.  Y., 
and  purchased  a  farm,  having  sold  his  large 
property  in  Rliode  Island.  The  farm  in  Wyo- 
ming county  he  occui)icd  and  cultivated  until 
his  death  in  1845.  He  married  twice.  His 
first  wife  was  Esther  Wood,  by  whom  he  had 
six  children,  four  sons  and  two  daughters: 
William  was  a  laborer;  Xewell  was  a  liirmer  in 
lliiode  Island,  and  married  Sarah  Moore; 
Thomas  was  a  cripple;  Sarah   was  the  mother 


OF  ciiArTA  r<>r.\  ('(jiwrv. 


Ho 


of  Rowland  \\'.;  Eiitiice  iiiai  rietl  I'^-ancis  Hamil- 
ton, of  li-olaiul,  who  was  a  Motliodist  minister; 
Joscpli  was  a  fiirmer  in  WyoTning  county,  N.  Y., 
and  marriod  Maitlia  I'ollard.  The  motiicr  of 
these  children  died  in  1805,  and  Joseph  Durfce 
married  for  his  second  wife  Elsie  Wilcox,  and 
by  this  union  had  seven  children,  four  sons  and 
three  daughters  :  Benjamin,  a  farmer  in  Wvd- 
ming  county,  N.  Y.,  married  Eliza  Sparr ; 
Estlier,  unmarried  ;  Eliza,  married  Noble  Fair- 
child,  a  farmer  in  Michigan  ;  \Vhi]>p]c,  bachelor 
and  farmer;  Anthony,  also  a  bachelor  and 
farmer;  Mariamnc,  married  Abram  Pickard  ; 
and  Charles,  who  died  when  a  young  man. 
William  J.  Gardner,  (father)  was  born  in  South 
Kingston,  R.  I.,  iu  1794.  He  worked  on  the 
farm  with  his  father  until  he  was  twenty-one 
years  old,  when  he  leased  a  farm  and  cultivated 
it  until  1821  ;  then  he  moved  to  Genesee  county 
(now  Wyoming),  N.  Y.,  and  bought  a  farui  of 
fifty  acres,  partially  improved.  He  remained 
here  until  1829,  when  he  removed  to  ^Monroe 
county,  N.  Y.,  and  leased  a  farm  on  which  he 
lived  two  years,  and  then  bought  a  farm  of 
twenty-five  acres  in  the  corporation  of  Eredonia, 
on  which  he  lived  until  his  death  in  18(33.  He 
married  Sarah  Durfee,  a  daughter  of  Joseph 
Durfee,  of  South  Kingston,  R.  I.,  by  whom  he 
had  five  children,  two  sous  and  three  daughters  : 
Rowlaud  W.,  Joseph,  a  hardware  merchant  and 
seedsman  at  Eredonia,  who  married  Abigail 
Hewitt,  by  whom  he  has  had  three  children; 
Deborah,  uumaiTied  ;  Mary  and  Martha,  both 
dea<l.  The  mother,  Sarah  (Durfee)  Gardner 
died  in  1870. 

Rowland  W.  Gardner  acquired  his  education 
in  the  common  schools  of  Chautauqua  county 
and  iu  the  Eredonia  academy.  After  leaving 
school  he  began  his  life's  vocation  of  raising  and 
selling  garden  seeds,  to  which  he  afterward 
added  fruit  trees.  Eor  two  years  he  raised  the 
seeds  on  leased  laud,  and  then  with  his  brother 
Joseph  bought  a  farm  of  fifty  acres  in  the  village 
of  Eredonia  and  continued  the  business  for  eight 


years.  In  18o2  they  divided  the  inisiness  and 
each  continued  to  raise  on  his  own  fiirm.  He 
raised  and  papered  the  seeds  until  18G1,  wiien 
he  discontinued  papering  them  and  has  sinw 
raised  them  for  the  wiiolesalc  trade.  He  i.s 
widely  known  as  a  most  reliable  .seedsman, 
nurseryman  and  florist.  He  imports  large  quan- 
tities of  trees  and  bulbs  for  his  local  trade,  and 
in  the  last  thirty  years  has  .sold  over  one  million 
trees,  plants  and  bulbs  of  his  own  injj)ortation. 
He  has  been  very  successful  and  accumulated  a 
han<lsome  com|)etency.  He  is  a  charter  mem- 
ijcr  of  Eredonia  Grange,  No.  1 ;  a  mendjer  of 
Chautauqua  Lodge,  No.  283,  I.  O.  O.  E. ;  of 
Eorest  Lodge,  No.  16G,  E.  and  A.  M. ;  of  Ere- 
donia Chapter,  No.  76,  R.  A.  M. ;  and  of  Dun- 
kiik  Council  and  Dunkirk  Commandery,  No. 
40,  K.  T.  Pie  was  a  member  of  the  board  of 
trustees  and  board  of  assessors  of  Eredonia  .sev- 
eral times  and  is  highly  r&spected  as  a  useful, 
honoraljle  and  upright  citizen. 

Rowland  W.  Gardner  was  married  July  19, 
1863,  to  -Jane  Carpenter,  daughter  of  Ezra  and 
Minerva  (Nichols)  Carpenter,  her  father  being 
a  farmer  in  Sheridan,  this  county,  and  has  one 
daughter,  Sarah  M.,  wiio  resides  with  her 
parents. 


JOSEPH  T.  BOVOHTOX  is  a  son  of  Noah 
^  E.  and  Polly  (Todd)  Roughton,  and  was 
born  in  Delaware  county,  New  York,  July  4, 
1837.  His  grandfather,  Avery  Boughton,  was 
a  native  of  New  York  and  resided  in  Greene 
county,  where  his  son,  Noah  E.  Boughton 
(father),  was  born  in  1799.  Noah  E.  Boughton 
was  a  farmer  by  occupation,  residiifg  in  Greene 
and  Delaware  counties,  N.  Y.,  until  1870,  when 
he  removed  to  Kansas  and  purchaseil  a  large 
farm,  on  which  he  lived  until  his  death,  which 
occurred  January  17,  1890.  He  was  a  member 
of  the  ^letiiodist  Ej)iscopal  church  and  voted 
the  republican  ticket.  His  wife,  Polly  Todd 
Boughton,  a  daughter  of  Dudley  and  Irene 
Todd,    was   born    in  Greene  county,  N.  Y.,  in 


116 


BIOGRAPHY  AXD  HISTORY 


1821  and  died  August  1,  1851,  at  the  age  of 
thirty  years.  She  was  a  consistent  member  of 
the  Methodist  Episcopal  church. 

Joseph  T.  Boughtou  was  reared  on  his 
father's  farm  in  Delaware  county  and  attended 
the  subscription  schools  of  that  period.  He 
began  life  as  a  iireman  in  the  employ  of  a  rail- 
road, and  ^^•as  afterward  promoted  to  the  posi- 
tion of  engineer  running  ou  tiie  New  York  & 
Lake  Erie  and  the  Alton  &  St.  Louis  railroads,  ' 
until  1SG3,  when  he  enlisted  in  Co.  F.,  39th  reg- 
iment, New  York  Vols.  He  served  until  the 
close  of  the  war.  After  he  was  mustered  out  of 
service,  he  engaged  in  farming  in  Chautauqua 
county,  but  in  1867,  lie  removed  to  Butler, 
Missouri,  and  run  a  saw-mill  for  two  years,  at 
the  end  of  which  time  he  returned  to  New 
York,  locating  in  Dunkirk  township,  where  he 
has  since  made  his  home.  In  18G9,  he  entered 
the  employ  of  tlie  Brooks'  Locomotive  company, 
one  of  the  important  industrial  companies  in 
Dunkirk,  and  remained  with  them  for  fourteen 
years.  On  account  of  failing  health  he  was 
compelled  to  retire  from  their  service  in  1883, 
and  has  since  that  time  lived  a  retired  life.  He 
has  a  pleasant  home  in  the  suburbs  of  Dunkirk, 
just  outside  the  borough  limits.  Mr.  Bough- 
ton  is  a  member  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
church,  and  an  active  democrat.  He  is  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Koyal  Templars  of  Temperance  and 
is  regarded  as  one  of  the  straightforward,  relia- 
ble citizens  of  the  town  of  Dunkirk. 


rr  MJ1<:KT  S.  COBB,  a  wholesale  and  retail 
"'*■  liquor  dealer  of  Dunkirk,  was  born  in 
the  town  »f  Gorham,  Cumberland  county, 
Maine,  June  21,  1815,  and  is  a  son  of  David 
and  Sallie  (Watson)  Cobb.  In  the  hitter  part 
of  the  last  century  three  brothers,  David, 
Ebenezer  and  Jonathan  Cobb  came  from  Scot- 
land to  tliis  country,  wiiere  David  located  in 
Oiiio,  lOljenezer  in  New  York,  and  Jonatlian  in 
Massadiusetts.  Jonathan  Cobb,  who  was  tlic 
grandfatiicr  of  Albert  S.  Cobb,  resided  in  Mas- 


sachusetts until  his  death.  His  sou,  David 
Cobb,  was  born  in  Barnstable,  that  State,  and 
removed  to  Gorham,  Maine,  when  tliat  State 
was  a  part  of  Massachusetts.  He  was  a  tanner 
and  currier  which  trade  he  left  to  engag-e  in  the 
mercantile  business  in  Gorham  and  died  in 
1837,  at  the  age  of  sixty-three  years.  He  was 
an  old-line  whig,  served  as  town  collector  for 
seven  years  besides  filling  other  offices,  and 
while  energetic  vet  was  a  modest  and  unassuming 
man  whose  generosity  and  kindness  to  the  poor 
were  distinguishing  traits  of  his  character.  He 
married  Sallie  Watson,  who  was  a  native  of 
Gorham,  where  she  died  in  1843,  when  in  the 
sixty-fifth  year  of  her  age. 

Albert  S.  Cobb  was  reared  in  Gorham  where 
he  received  a  common  scliool  and  academic 
education  and  wliere  he  was  enijay-ed  in  the 
general  mercantile  business  for  two  years.  In 
1840  he  went  to  Great  Falls,  New  Hampshire, 
and  was  employed  for  nine  years  and  six  months 
in  doing  all  of  the  painting  of  the  Great  Falls 
Cotton  Manufacturing  company.  At  the  end  of 
this  time,  in  1850,  he  came  to  Hornellsville,  this 
State,  and  run  for  one  year  as  a  brakesman  on 
the  Erie  railroad  from  Hornellsville  to  Cuba. 
In  1851  he  was  a  brakesman  on  the  first  train 
that  ran  into  Dunkirk  and  was  afterwards  em- 
ployed by  the  New  York  &  Erie  railroad,  as  a 
brakesman  and  freiglit  and  passenger  conductor 
for  twenty-one  years  and  ten  months.  As  a 
passenger  conductor  he  run  for  seven  years 
from  Hornellsville  to  Dunkirk  and  for  five 
years  from  Dunkirk  to  Oswego.  From  1864 
to  1868  he  was  a  member  of  the  wholesale  and 
retail  liquor  firm  of  Cobb  &  Smith,  of  Dun- 
kirk, then  for  two  years  was  in  that  business  by 
himself  and  in  1870  became  a  member  of  the 
liquor  firm  of  Cobb  &  CiilTord  wliich  lasted  two 
years,  when  IVlr.  Col)l)  established  liis  present 
wholesale  and  retail  iicjuor  house.  He  removed 
to  Dunkirk  in  l.sijl  and  resigned  as  jiassenger 
conductor  in  1871.  He  is  a  democrat,  cast  iiis 
first  vote  for  Martin  Van  Buren  and  lias  beeu  a 


OF  ( 'IIA  UT. \r</rA    ( ■III' STY. 


117 


trustee  of  his  city  lor  six  years.  lie  served  as 
a  storc-Uoeper  in  the  State  Arsenal  at  Dunkirk 
when  John  T.  IliiU'inaii  was  i;ovcriioi' and  in 
1860  was  interested  in  the  oil  production  of 
N(nv  Yoi'k  and  JVruisyivania. 

In  the  year  1(S40,  he  married  Ahhy  (J. 
Libhy,  of  the  town  of  Gorhani,  Maine,  and  tliey 
liave  had  witii  them  for  tliirty-five  years  as  a 
domestic  Barbara  Iliilei',  a  native  of  Germany. 

A.  S.  Cohb  has  in  his  j)ossession  tliree  silver 
dollars  which  he  prizes  very  hij^hly.  The  first 
one  is  a  Spanish  milled  dollar  of  1797,  received 
for  driving  a  widow's  cow  and  was  tlii'  lirst 
dollar  which  he  ever  earned.  The  next  one  is  a 
Mexican  dollar  of  1829  and  was  the  first  money 
he  ever  earned  after  becoming  of  age,  while  the 
third  one  is  of  the  United  States  issue  of 
18-14,  and  was  the  first  dollar  which  he  received 
as  a  railroad  employe. 

— ^ s. 

Q'A^IUKL  0SI50KXK  C<)I>IXGT<)X,  a 
'^^  manufacturer  and  contractor  of  Fredouia, 
was  born  at  Geneva,  Ontario  county,  New  York, 
December  20,  1847,  and  is  the  eldest  sou  of 
John  S.  and  Bertha  (Monroe)  Codington.  He 
was  educated  at  Edinboro  State  Normal  school, 
aud  is  now  a  member  of  the  firm  of  Sly  & 
Codington.  He  is  a  master  mason  of  Forest 
lodge,  No.  166,  F.  and  A.  M.,  aud  on  September 
17,  1878,  united  in  marriage  with  Mary  Stanley, 
of  Fredonia. 

His  father,  Joliu  S.  Codington,  was  born  at 
Geneva,  N.  Y.,  September  12,  1824,  is  an  archi- 
tect and  contractor,  and  has  been  superintendent 
of  two  divisions  of  the  A.  &  (!.  \\ .  \\.  R., 
married  Bertha  IMonroe  April  16,  1846,  by 
whom  he  had  six  children :  Clara  (Irviri), 
Samuel  O.,  Acie  B.,  Ada,  Theodore  aud  John: 
aud  removed  io  Ohio  in  1874.  John  S.  Coding- 
ton is  a  son  of  Samuel  O.  Codington  (grand- 
father), who  was  bprn  at  Newburg,  ^larch  17, 
1791 ,  married  Martha  White,  January  1 1 ,  1818, 
aud  died  JMay  23,  1844.  He  was  the  contractor 
who  l)uilt  the  first  frame  buildiny:  at  Geneva  ; 


was  a  Free  .Mason  and  his  fiither,  William 
Codington  (great-grandfather),  was  a  sea-captain 
who  died  many  years  ago.  Captain  William 
Codington  was  a  descendant  of  Sir  William 
Codington,  the  fir.st  governor  of  Rhode  Island, 
M'ho  was  born  in  Lincolnshire,  England,  in 
1601,  came  in  1630  to  Rhode  Island,  where  he 
became  the  founder  of  the  Codington  familv  of 
tills  country,  and  where  he  died  Novend)cr  1, 
1678.  The  name  of  Codington  is  found  on  the 
records  of  England  as  far  back  as  the  thirteenth 
century. 

Samuel  O.  Codington's  mother.  Bertha  (Mon- 
roe) Codington,  was  born  in  Aubin'u,  N.  Y., 
April  3,  1827,  and  her  father,  Ansel  Monroe 
(maternal  grandfather),  was  an  officer  in  the 
State  i)rison  at  that  place,  and  was  last  at  Green 
Bay  in  the  "Patriot  War"  of  1837.  Her 
grandfather,  Major  John  G.  Perry,  was  killed 
at  (iueenstown  in  1812,  and  one  of  her  great- 
grandfathers, a  (Jencral  Busch,  of  the  German 
army,  was  killed  in  a  battle  during  the  reign  of 
Napoleou  Bouai)arte,  aud  his  widow  and  children 
came  (o  America. 

Samuel  O.  Codington's  wife,  Mary  (.Stanley) 
Codington,  only  child  of  Caleb  and  Cordelia 
(Crane)  Stanley,  was  born  at  Fredonia,  where 
she  received  her  education  at  the  academy  of 
that  place.  Her  father,  Caleb  Stanley,  was  born 
at  Herkimer,  N.  Y.,  December  25,  1813,  came 
in  183o  to  Fredouia,  where  he  married  Cordelia 
E.  Crane  on  September  19,  1844,  aud  where  he 
died,  June  22,  1884.  He  w.is  a  son  of  Isaac 
Stanley,  a  merchant,  who  was  born  in  Coventry, 
Conn.,  May,  177.5,  married  Tinev,  daughter  of 
Jeremiah  Smith,  a  merchant  of  Albany,  on 
October  3,  1802,  and  died  in  Ohio,  October  22, 
1849.  Isaac  Statdcy  was  a  sou  of  Hon.  Caleb 
Stanley,  born  July  31,  1741,  married  Martha 
Robinson,  July  9,  1772,  aud  represented  Coven- 
tr)-  in  1784.  His  father,  Caleb  Stanley,  was 
born  at  Hartford,  Conn.,  May  25,  1707,  came 
as  a  clothier  to  Coventry,  where  he  married 
Hanuah,  daughter  of  Deacon  Joseph  Olmstead, 


lis 


BIOGRAPHY  AND  HISTOMT 


and  died  June  28,  1789.  He  was  a  son  of 
Caleb  Stanley,  who  was  born  September  6, 1674, 
married  Hannah  Spencer,  May  16,  1696,  was 
secretary  of  Connecticut  in  1709,  and  died 
January  4,  1712.  His  father.  Captain  Caleb 
Stanley,  was  ijorn  in  March,  1642,  and  married 
Hannah,  daughter  of  John  CowldS.  His  father, 
Timothy  Stanley,  was  bom  in  England  in  1602, 
settled  at  Hartford,  Connecticut,  in  1636,  was  a 
selectman  in  1644,  and  died  in  1648.  The 
Stanley  family,  whose  armorial  bearings  are 
three  stags'  heads,  gold  on  field  argent,  bend 
azure,  with  motto  "  Sans  Changer,"  had  its 
origin  as  follows  :  Two  Norman  knights  who 
came  with  William  the  Conqueror  in  1066  were 
Adam  and  William  De  Alditheley,  who  married 
Arabella  and  .Joanne,  daughters  of  the  Saxons, 
Sir  Henry  and  Thomas  de  Stoneley.  William 
received  as  his  wife  dower  the  manor  of  Thalk, 
which  he  exchanged  with  Adam  for  the  manor 
of  Stoneley,  in  Stalfordshire,  and  in  honor  of 
his  lady  and  the  great  antiquity  of  her  family, 
assumed  the  surname  of  Stanley,  and  became 
the  recognized  founder  of  the  Stanley  family. 

Mrs.  Codington's  mother,  Cordelia  E.  (Crane) 
Stanley,  was  the  eldest  child  of  Henry  and  Eliza 
(Cassety)  Crane,  was  born  at  Iviton,  N.  Y.,  July 
4,  1823,  was  educated  at  Fredonia  and  Eaton 
academies,  married,  September  19,  1844,  to 
Caleb  Stanley,  of  Fredonia,  and  died  February 
9,  1878.  Her  father,  Henry  Crane,  was  born 
at  Weathersfield,  Conn.,  November  23,  1785, 
made  several  voyages  as  supercargo  to  the  West 
Indies,  married  in  1817  Eliza,  daughter  of  Col. 
Thomas  Cassety,  one  of  the  prominent  and  most 
highly  educat(!(l  men  in  the  State,  and  in  183.") 
came  to  Fretlunia,  where  ha  died  March  9,  1807. 
He  was  a  Royal  Arch  Mason,  ami  his  j)arents 
were  Cajjtain  Curtis  and  Elizabeth  (Palmer) 
Crane.  Captain  Crane  in  the  early  part  of  his 
life  was  a  sea  captain  during  the  Revolutionary 
war,  and  was  for  seven  years  connected  with  the 
commissary  department.  He  al'terward  reuKn'ed 
to  Eaton,  N.  Y.,  where  he  died. 


C'TEPHEN   if.    BOLTOX.     One   who  has 

'^^  seen  Jamestown  grow  from  a  country  vil- 
lage to  a  live  wide-awake  city,  is  the  gentleman 
whose  name  heads  this  sketch.  He  came  to 
Jamestown  in  1851,  where  he  lias  lived  ever 
since.  Stephen  JN.  Bolton  is  a  son  of  Hollis 
and  Betsy  (Sawin)  Bolton,  and  was  born  at 
Westminster,  Worcester  county,  Massachusetts, 
August  20,  1829.  The  Boltons  were  among 
the  earliest  white  people  who  came  to  the  cold 
and  dreary  winter  climate  of  New  England,  but 
when  the  verdure  of  .spring  and  summer  burst 
forth,  found  the  home  pleasant  and  nature  hos- 
pitable. Our  indisputable  record  is  when 
William  Bolton  married  Elizabeth  White,  at 
Middlesex,  Mass.,  in  1720.  It  is  supposed  that 
he  came  up  from  the  settlement  made  on  the 
James  river  in  Virginia.  He  died  at  Reading, 
Massachusetts,  September  10,  1725,  leaving  a 
young  widow  with  two  little  sons.  The  mother 
was  of  New  Eug-land  orijj-in  and  these  sous 
laid  the  foundation  of  the  Bolton  family  of 
the  present.  One  of  the  sons  mentioned,  Wil- 
liam Bolton,  was  the  direct  ancestor  of  Stej)hen 
N.  He  married  iVIary  Roberts,  who  was  born 
Novendjer  30,  1725,  and  they  had  ten  children  : 
one  of  them,  Ebenezer  Bolton,  born  June  12, 
1749,  was  the  great-grandfather  of  our  subject. 
He  was  married  at  Reading,  on  February  20, 
1771,  to  Elizabeth  Damon,  a  daughter  of 
David  Damon,  and  who  was  born  May  3,  1749. 
Ebenezer  Bolton  enlisted  in  the  Colonial  army 
during  the  Revolution  and  served  as  acorjtoral. 
He  was  present  at  the  battle  of  Bunker  Hill, 
and  was  one  of  the  minute-men,  ready  for  im- 
mediate service  all  through  that  struggle.  He 
had  liiur  children,  oi'  whom  Ebenezer  IJoltou, 
Jr.,  was  the  grandfather  of  Stephen  N.  He 
was  burn  February  14,  1778,  married  Linda, 
dauixhter  of  Simeon  Leland,  and  .servt'd  as  a 
clerk  in  the  W'av  of  1812.  His  family  consist- 
ed of  lour  sons  and  two  daugliters.  Ilollis 
Bolton  was  born  Decendjer  1,  1799,  and  is  still 
living  (May  1,  1891).     He  is  a   iitrmer,  living 


(IF  ('II A  [•'I'.iri/IA    COIWTV 


IHI 


iiiiur  M()iiii(  Waclmsett,  Mass.,  and  is  t'lijoyiii};' 
excellent  liealtli  (iir  (ine  of  liis  years.  Jle  mar- 
ried Betsy  Sa win,  .Jnnc  J,  1821,  and  had  ten  cliii- 
-dren  :  Charles  11.,  bom  Jnne  24,  1822,  lived 
in  Massachiisetls  and  Maryland  nntil  1852,  and 
then  went  to  California,  and  has  lived  there  and 
in  Oregon  and  Washington  ever  since,  and  was 
the  first  treasurer  of  Douglas  county,  Washing- 
ton;  Simeon,  born  Novt'uiber  27,  1823,  lives  at 
Lome  will)  his  father;  Franklin,  born  May  24, 
1825,  has  l)een  a  selectman  of  his  town  ;  Al- 
mond A.,  born  December  28,  182(),  lives  in 
Akron,  Ohio;  Aaron  S..  born  April  3,  1828, 
served  in  the  late  war  luider  Gen.  Banks; 
Stephen  Nelson  ;  Eveline  E.,  born  May  6, 1831, 
died  October  14,  1853;  Andrew  J.,  born  Janu- 
ary 17,  1833,  now  living  in  Massachusetts,  a 
carpenter;  Henry  Clay,  born  May  20,  1834, 
married  Anise  Phillips,  entered  the  Union 
army  with  Co.  B,  100th  regiment,  N.  Y.  In- 
fantry, and  was  present  at  Drury's  Bluff,  in 
1864,  captured  and  taken  to  Andersonville 
where  he  was  held  from  May  until  December. 
He  took  ])art  in  the  Seven  Days  fight,  AVhite 
Oaks  and  other  battles,  and  was  promoted  to 
corporal ;  and  Alonzo  D.,  the  youngest,  enlisted 
from  Massachusetts,  but  was  discharged  on 
account  of  poor  health. 

Stephen  N.  Bolton  lived  in  Massachusetts 
until  twenty-two  years  of  age,  when  he  came 
to  Jamestown  and  worked  as  a  wood-turner  and 
chair-maker  for  nearly  a  score  of  years,  and  the 
subsequent  five  or  six  years  was  spent  in  the 
grocery  business.  Since  that  time  he  has  been 
living  a  coni])aratively  retired  life.  He  was 
a  sergt.  in  Co.  B.,  G8th  N.  Y.  S.  M.,  wliit'h 
was  called  out  by  Gov.  Seymour  during  the 
invasion  of  Penna  ,  by  Gen.  Lee's  army  ;  enlist- 
ed in  the  U.  S.  service  for  thirty  days  and 
served  their  term  of  enlistment.  Mr.  Bolton  has 
always  voted  with  the  Republican  party,  and 
served  the  city  as  assessor  for  nine  years.  He 
is  a  member  of  Ellicott  Lodge,  Xo.  221,  Inde- 
pendent Order  of  Odd  Fellows. 


HII{A.A1  C.  CLAHK,  a  literat.'ur  of  note, 
has  been  living  in  Jamestown  since  1872. 
lie  was  born  at  Norwich,  Chenango  county. 
New  York,  on  July  9,  1816,  his  parents  being 
Lot  and  Lavina  (Crosby)  Clark,  both  of  whom 
came  from  old  and  distinguished  families.  His 
grandfather,  Watroiis  Clark,  was  born  in  the 
State  of  Massachusetts  in  1759,  and  with  liis 
two  brothers  serveil  in  the  naval  department  of 
thccolciiiial  i'orces  during  the  struggle  for  Amer- 
ica's indej)eiidence.  His  two  brothers  were 
lost  at  .sea.  At  the  close  of  the  war,  Watrous 
migrated  into  Ot.sego  county,  in  this  State,  and 
followed  farming,  and  being  of  a  mechanical 
turn  also,  usi'd  fiirm  tools  of  his  own  manufac- 
ture, until  his  death  which  occurred  in  1831. 
Politically  Mr.  Clark  was  a  ([uiet  voter  and  of 
unassuming  demeanor,  and  w:is  a  meirtber  of 
the  Baptist  church,  lie  w'as  not  a  politician. 
His  wife  was  Saraii  Saxton,  of  Columbia 
county,  this  State,  and  tlicy  had  three  sons  and 
five  daughters.  David  Crosby  was  the  mater- 
nal grandfather  of  our  subject,  who  came  from 
Knglish  stock  but  was  born  in  Connecticut  and 
removed  to  Broome  county,  New  York,  where 
he  owned  large  tracts  of  land  which  he  tilled. 
He  died  in  Chenango  county,  in  1820,  aged 
eighty  years.  Lot  Clark,  father  of  Hiram  C, 
and  second  son  of  M^atrous  Clark,  was  born  in 
Columbia  county,  near  Kinderhook,  this  State, 
in  the  year  1788.  Securing  as  thorough  an  ed- 
ucation as  the  times  afforded,  he  studied  law, 
and  after  being  admitted  to  the  bar,  practiced 
for  twelve  years  in  the  town  of  Norwich,  Clie- 
nango  comity,  and  was  some  years  district 
attorney  of  that  county.  Succeeding  his  law 
practice  he  became  a  projector  of  large  enter- 
prizes,  and  among  others  of  note,  was  the  first 
original  railroad  wire  suspension  bridge  which 
crosses  the  Niagara  river  below  the  falls  and 
\vas  completed  about  1848.  He  became  and 
was  president  of  that  bridge  company  until  his 
death  in  18(J2.  At  one  time  he  was  perhaps 
the  lary-est  individual  land-hokler   in    the    Em- 


1^0  BIOGRAPHY  AND  HISTORY 


pire  State,  being  a  proprietor  of  one-third  in-  '  edited  in  1849,  a  history  of  his  native,  Ciicnan- 

terest  in  a  ninety  thousand  acre  tract,  and   as  go  county,  and  in  the  same  year  went  to  San 

manv  otlier  acres  in  other  states  in   the   west.  Francisco   California,  where  he  remained   and 

PoHticallv  Mr.  Clarli  was  an  old-time  democrat  practiced  law  until  1865,  when,  returning  to  New 

and  was  elected  by  his  party  to  a   seat   in  tlie  York    in  1866   he   decided   upon   a   European 

eio'hteeuth  Congress  of  the  United  States,  serv-  tour  and  went  to  London,  where  six  out  of  the 

ing  there  in  1823-24 ;  but  upon  the  sub-treas-  ten  ensuing  years  were  spent.     During  this  .so- 

urv  issue,  he  was  not  in  accord   with  his  party  journ  abroad  the  columns  of  the  San  Francisco 

and  in  1840,  voted  for   William  Henry  Harri-  (California)  Daily  Bulletin,  were  enlivened   by 

son    for   president.      While    in    Congress    iSIr.  regular    correspondence    from    his    facile    pen. 

Clark  became  very  popular  and  was  the  leader  Returning  from  England   in    1S72,  he  selected 

of  the   New   York   delegation,  at  least  at   the  Jamestown  for  his  future  home  and    has  since 

time  so  stvled.     In   1840  he  became  an  inti-  resided  here  devoting  his  attention   to  literary 

mate  and  a  permanent  friend,  socially  and  poll-  recreation,    travel    and    newspaper    correspon- 

tically    of    Henry    Clay    and    other   whigs    of  deuce. 

prominence,  whose  reputation  have  survived  On  November  2-3,  1857,  Mr.  Clark  was  uni- 
them.  He  was  elected  in  1846  to  the  leg-  ted  in  marriage  to  Mrs.  Sarah  Thompson,  a 
islature  of  New  York,  to  compel  the  demo-  native  of  Nottingham,  England,  and  after  her 
crats  to  complete  the  enlargement  of  the  Erie  death,  in  1869,  in  1871  he  wedded  Jane,  the 
canal.  When  Gen.  Jackson  was  president  he  daughter  of  Samuel  Dixiou,  a  resident  of  New 
invited  Mr.  Clark  into  his  cabinet,  by  offering  York  but  who  came  of  Scotch  parentage.  It 
to  him  the  appointment  of  attorney-general,  but  should  not  be  overlooked  that  while  stopping 
this  was  declined.  His  first  wife  was  Lavina  in  Augusta,  Ga.,  when  the  Seminole  war  of 
Crosbv,  who  bore  him  four  children,  all  sous,  1835  broke  out  and  men  were  scarce,  Mr.  Clark, 
who  became  prominent  in  localities  where  they  then  a  very  young  man,  joined  the  Richmond 
lived  :  Hiram  C.  ;  Lot  C,  who  held  the  office  Blues,  a  famous  organization,  and  served  six 
of  district  attorney  on  Staten  Island  for  eleven  months  as  a  United  States  soldier  and  received 
years  and  was  private  counsel  on  the  island  to  160  acres  of  government  land.  It  was  not,  how- 
Commodore  Vanderbilt  for  a  number  of  years;  ever,  with  the  sword  but  with  his  pen,  (hat  he 
Joseph  B.  Clark  became  an  alderman  in  the  achieved  prominence,  and  many  articles  of 
city  of  Detroit,  Michigan;  and  William  C,  great  merit  have  originated  in  his  brain.  In 
moved  to  Illinois,  and  was  owner  of  a  fine  journalism  and  its  circles  he  has  been  recog- 
land  estate.  nized  as  a  prolific  newspaper  correspondent  of 
Hiram  C.  Clark  was  educated  in  private  his  day,  and  among  his  interesting  collection 
schools  and  advanced  to  higher  education  of  papers,  are  letters  showing  correspondence 
through  the  aid  of  professors  and  private  tu-  and  intercourse  with  the  prominent  public  men 
tors.  He  was  appointed  cadet  at  West  Point  of  days  agono.  INfr.  Clark  is  an  interesting, 
but  resigned,  considering  that  his  nervous  dis-  iutt'lligcnt  and  able  man  who  has  seen  the 
position  unfitted  him  for  -the  strain  incumbent  American  Rci)ublic  develop  from  childhood  in- 
on  the  routine  of  a  successful  maitinet  or  col-  to  its  present  stature.  He  is  ])ossessed  of  a 
lege  life.  From  1833  to  1837  he  lived  in  store  ol'  infornialiou  sufficient  to  fill  a  valuable 
Augusta,  Ga.,  as  a-ssistant  to  his  brother-in-law  book  of  reminiscences.  Mr.  Clark,  though  jjos- 
in  a  grocery  store.  Returning  to  New  York  sessed  of  personal  convictions  in  regard  to  poli- 
he  was,  in  1840,  admitted  to  the   bar,  and  also  tics,  is  in  no  sense  a  politician.     That  is  to  say, 


OF  CHAUTAL-QUA    CoryTV. 


121 


he  lias  never  yet  sal  as  a  meniber  (jf  a  political 
convention  ;  has  never  assisted  a  jiolitieiaii  or 
himself,  to  ol)tain  a  nomination  for  public  office. 
He  regards  knowledge  of  the  law  a  ftdl  occu- 
pation f()r  th'.;  common  mind  without  any  ad- 
mixture of  politics.  Law,  divinity,  statecraft, 
pure  and  sejuu-ate  are  praiseworthy  and  useful  ; 
but  when  amalgamated  are  too  often  otherwi.se, 
not  to  say,  sometimes  mi.schievous  to  the  public 
welfare.  His  creed  has  been,  that  great  char- 
acters may  over  multiply  their  abilities  to  the 
injury  of  their  reputation. 


rjNDltEW  DOTTKKWEICH,  a  public- 
■*^^-  spirited  citizen,  an  energetic  and  success- 
ful business  man,  and  the  popular  proprietor  of 
the  well-known  "  City  Brewery"  of  Dunkirk, 
was  born  near  the  city  of  Bamberg,  in  Bavaria, 
Germany,  September  7,  1834,  and  is  a  son  of 
Joseph  and  Catherine  (Scheitz)  Dotterweich. 
Joseph  Dotterweich  and  his  wife  were  natives  of 
Bavaria,  and  consistent  members  of  the  Cath- 
olic church.  He  was  a  brick  manufacturer  and 
farmer,  and  made  a  specialty  of  raising  hops  in 
which  he  was  very  successful.  He  was  ener- 
getic and  persevering,  served  as  mayor  of  a  vil- 
lage near  the  city  of  Bamberg  for  several  years 
aud  died  in  1879,  aged  seventy-eight  years, 
while  his  widow  survived  him  until  1887,  when 
she  passed  away  at  the  age  of  eighty-five  years. 
Andrew  Dotterweich  received  his  education 
in  the  public  .schools  of  Germany,  and  at  twelve 
years  of  age  left  his  father's  farm  to  learn  tlie  i 
brewery  business.  He  worked  in  the  brewer- 
ies of  all  the  larger  cities  of  Germany,  where 
he  became  practically  conversant  and  himiliar 
with  all  the  details  of  successful  brewing,  and 
received  a  diploma  as  being  a  .scientific  and  prac- 
tical brewer.  While  working  at  the  brewing 
business  he  added  to  the  education  which  he 
luid  received  in  the  public  schools,  by  attending 
night  schools.  In  1857  he  came  to  Dunkirk, 
and  became  foreman  in  the  brewery  of  his 
brother,  George  Dotterweich,  who   had  located 


in  tiiat  city  about  184IJ.  He  helped  his  broth- 
er to  build  up  a  large  trade,  while  the  superior 
(piality  and  general  popularity  of  their  beer 
necessilateil  the  fn'quent  eidargement  of  tlieir 
brewery  plant.  In  1884,  at  the  death  of  his 
brother,  George  Dotterweich,  who  was  a  liberal 
and  public-spirited  citizen,  he  succeeded  to  the 
entire  business,  wiiicli  lie  has  .so  conducted  as  to 
constantly  increa.se  the  number  of  his  patrons 
and  give  his  beer  a  wide  reputation. 

On  October  13, 18fiO,  in  Diudvirk,  he  married 
Mary  Teresa  Boettinger,  a  daughter  of  Albert 
Boettinger,  who  was  tiie  King's  foreman  of 
woods  in  Bavaria.  For  the  purpose  of  bring- 
ing his  bride  to  Dunkirk,  he  re-visited  his  na- 
tive laud  in  the  early  part  of  the  year  of  his 
marriage.  To  their  union  have  been  born 
eight  children,  five  sons  and  three  daughters  : 
George  A.  J.,  Andrew  Charles,  Mary  S.,  Ellen, 
Edward,  Frank,  Emma,  who  died  at  eleven 
years  of  age  ;  and  Robert. 

I  Andrew  Dotterweich  is  an  active  democrat  in 
politics,  and  an  earnest  member  of  the  Catholic 
church  of  the  Sacred  Heart  of  Jesus  whose 
corner-stone  was  laid  June  11,  187G.  He  is 
also  a  member  of  the  Catholic  Mutual  Benefit 
Association,  which  was  organized  in  187G  at 
Niagara  Falls,  and  holds  membership  in  Dun- 
kirk Branch,   No.   21,  of  that  organization  at 

'  Dunkirk.  ]\Ir.  Dotterweich  owns  a  very  hand- 
some brick  residence  opposite  his  brewery,  be- 
sides some  valuable  real  estate  in  the  city,  and 
two  good  farms  between  Dunkirk  and  Fre- 
donia. 

The  City  Brewery  is  located  on  the  corner  of 
Sixth  and  Dove  streets,  and  the  entire  plant 
covel's  a  large  area  of  ground.  The  main 
building  is  a  substantial  three-story  brick 
36x110  feet  with  cellar  and  sub-cellar.  A 
wing  extending  from  it  is  35x120  feet.  At- 
tached to  this  wing  and  running  parallel  with 
the  main  building  are  the  brick  brewery  barns 
and  a  brick  ice-house  connected  witli  a  double 
walled  woodou  reserve  ice-house,  which 


c;ip- 


122 


BIOGRAPHY  AND  HISTORY 


able  of  preserving  ice  for  five  years.  The  area 
inclosed  on  three  sides  by  these  extensive  build- 
ings is  occupied  by  a  drive-way,  fountain  and 
lawn.  Adjacent  to  the  brewery  Mr.  Dotter- 
weich  has  constructed  two  ice-houses  40x70 
feet,  and  an  artificial  lake,  of  one  acre  in  area, 
at  a  cost  of  over  one  thousand  dollars,  which 
furnishes  a  never-fliiling  supply  of  ice.  In 
1890  he  added  two  ice  plants  of  forty  tons 
each,  and  put  in  two  boilers  of  fifty  horse- 
power to  his  thirty  horse-power  engine.  He 
also  uses  two  smaller  pumping  engines,  and  em- 
ploys fi'om  twelve  to  twenty  hands.  Hisbrew- 
ing  and  malting  buildings,  ice-houses,  vaults, 
cellars  and  storage  rooms  have  all  been  care- 
fully planned  and  built.  He  uses  yearly 
twenty  tliousand  bushels  of  barley  and  eighteen 
thousand  pounds  of  native  and  Bavarian  hops. 
His  annual  output  is  over  seven  thousand 
barrels  of  beer,  which  is  largely  u.sed  in  Dun- 
kirk and  western  New  York.  A  gentleman 
well  acquainted  with  the  different  business 
enterprises  of  the  cities  of  New  York,  sa3's  of 
Mr.  Dotterwoich  and  his  establishment,  that 
brewers  from  all  other  parts  of  the  State  have 
been  unable  to  compete  with  ^Ir.  Dotterweich,  and 
that  his  beer  is  to-day  the  most  popular  bever- 
age in  his  section  of  the  country.  Andrew 
Dotterweich  is  popular  as  a  citizen  and  a  busi- 
ness man  on  account  of  his  generosity,  affability 
and  integrity.  His  life  has  been  one  of  activ- 
ity and  u.sefulness,  during  which  he  has  been 
remarkat)lc  for  his  energy,  perseverance,  pru- 
dence and  business  sagacity.  He  has  been  em- 
phatically the  architect  of  his  own  fortune,  and 
with  the  characteristic  energy  of  the  grand  old 
German  race,  has  won  his  way  from  compara- 
tive obscurity  to  a  prominent  position  in  busi- 
ness circles. 


ni>'>I«fW  A.  and    WILSON    A.   PUTCF. 

■**■  are  sons  of  Charles  and  JSTary  (NcfF) 
Price,  the  former  born  June  2G,  1814,  and  the 
latter    September    24,    181fj,  in    the    town    of 


Homer,  Cortland  county.  New  York.  Their 
grandfather  was  Stephen  Price,  a  native  of  New 
.Terscy,  where  he  was  born  December  28,  IT-'iS. 
His  occupation  was  .school  teaching,  and  in  that 
capacity  he  went  to  the  town  of  Homer  where 
he  died  June  1,  18.31.  He  bought  a  farm  at 
that  place  which  remained  in  the  family  for  many 
years.  Mr.  Price  gave  seven  years  of  service 
during  the  Revolutionary  war.  He  married 
Elizabeth  Hall  and  had  eight  sons  and  five 
daughters.  Several  of  the  former  were  eno;a!j;ed 
during  the  war  ot  1812.  The  maternal  grand- 
father, Abram  Neff',  was  born  in  Holland, 
October  18,  1772.  Emigrating  to  America  he 
settled  in  Cortland  county,  this  State  and  mar- 
ried Eunice  Beck  with,  who  bore  him  five  sons 
and  the  same  number  of  daughters.  Charles 
Price  (faiher)  was  born  April  20,  1786,  in  the 
town  of  Clarendon,  Morris  county,  N.  J.,  and 
came  to  Cortland  county,  this  State,  in  1808. 
In  1826  he  removed  to  Chautauqua  county  and 
settled  in  Portland  town.  Two  years  later  he 
went  to  Chautauqua  town  and  in  1851  he 
moved  into  the  city  of  Jamestown  where  he  re- 
sided until  his  death,  November  20,  1868.  His 
early  years  were  spent  farming  but  later  he 
began  to  do  carpenter  work,  a  trade  he  had 
mastered  years  before.  When  a  young  man 
Mr.  Price  was  a  .Jacksonian  democrat  but  after- 
wards turned  whig  and  then  republican.  For 
twenty  years  he  was  a  member  of  the  Baptist 
church.  Mary  Neff  was  born  October  18, 
1792,  and  lived  to  be  over  ninety-one  years  of 
age.  The  date  of  her  death  was  November  4, 
1883.  She  married  Charles  Price  in  1809,  and 
became  the  mother  of  twelve  children,  .seven 
sons  and  five  daughters  :  Two  died  in  infancy; 
Eunice  married  Abel  Kimberly,  who  lives  on 
Lake  View  avenue,  and  is  a" carpenter  and 
joiner ;  Addison  A.,  Wilson  A.,  Anna  M., 
married  Reuben  S.  Green  (deceased) ;  Charles 
II.,  lives  in  Stockton  town,  this  county;  Cla- 
ris.si  B.,  wife  of  Jonathan  Pennock,  a  prominent 
Jamestown  groceryman  ;  Caroline  and  Eveline 


OF  viiA  UT.  I  /  v  'I  '  ■'ii'xrr. 


123 


were  twins,  the  foi'iiier  married  Phinons  Cross- 
luaii,  wlio  is  a  real  estate  man  of  Jamestown; 
the  latter  murried  Charles  II.  Lewis,  who  is  a 
tailor  in  l'hila(lel|iliia  ;  Orlando  L.  died  when 
fourteen  years  old  ;  Silas  C,  married  first  time 
to  Charlotte  Evans  and  then  to  Sarah  Sampson, 
and  he  now  lives  on  Lincoln  street,  Jamestown  ; 
Cheston  B.,  is  dead  ;  he  married  Mrs.  Catherine 
Gaggin  ;  and  Adam  N.  (dead),  was  twice  mar- 
ried, first  to, Helen  Lowe  and  then  to  Harriet 
Wright. 

Addison  A.  Price  received  a  good  education 
at  the  common  schools  and  learned  the  trade  of 
a  carpenter  and  joiner.  He  is  a  republican  and 
has  filled  various  city  offices.  He  came  to 
Jamestown  in  1839,  and  has  been  actively  em- 
ployed there  ever  since.  In  1866  he  built  the 
residence  where  he  now  resides.  He  has  been 
twice  maiTied.  His  first  wife  was  Charlotte  D. 
Green,  a  daughter  of  David  Green,  who  lived 
near  Mayville.  They  had  six  children  :  Oscar 
F.,  at  present  mayor  of  Jamestown;  Caroline  A., 
married  Van  Buren  Weeks,  a  son  of  Liscom 
Weeks,  of  Ellery  town ;  Henry  C,  married 
Florence  Cook,  a  daughter  of  Judge  Cook,  of 
Jamestown  ;  Henry  C,  is  a  carpenter  and  lives 
in  New  York  city  ;  Cora  is  the  wife  of  Walter 
J.  Wayt,  and  lives  in  Vancouver,  B.  C,  where 
her  husband  is  employed  as  a  draughtsman  ; 
Fred  A.,  is  a  joiner  and  lives  with  his  father; 
and  Clayton  E.,  is  a  merchant  on  Main  street, 
Jamest(nvn,  and  is  married  to  Mary  Rush.  Ad- 
dison A.  Price  married  the  second  time  to 
Cynthia  A.  Hiller,  Avho  is  still  living. 

^A^ilson  A.  Price  came  to  Jamestown  with  his 
brother  in  1839,  and  has  been  employed  with 
him  at  the  same  trade,  carpentering.  lu  1865  he 
erected  the  home  where  he  now  lives.  Politi- 
cally a  republican  ;  he  married  Amy  E.  But- 
ler, a  daughter  of  Caleb  Butler,  in  1840,  and 
they  have  one  child  :  Charles  H.,  who  married 
Mai-y  B.  Kimberl}'.  He  lives  at  home  with 
his  father  and  follows  the  trade  of  a  printer. 

Addison  A.  and  Wilson  A.  Price,  arc  honor- 


able and  i(spcctai)le  gentlemen  whose  labor  and 
minds  have  gone  i'ar  toward  developing  tlie 
city  of  Jamestown. 


j^ANII)    K.   MKKKILL,    a  meiidjcr  of  the 

-*"^  widely  known  firm,  Empire  Washer  Co., 
manufacturers  of  washing  machines,  also  (jf  the 
W.  T.  Falconer  Manufacturing  company,  is  a 
son  of  Joshua  S.  and  (Jlive  E.  ((iriggs)  Meri'ill, 
and  was  born  in  the  town  of  Sheridan,  Chautau- 
qua county,  New  York,  Septeml)er  6,  1809. 
Lyman  B.  Merrill  was  born  in  eastern  New 
York.  He  was  our  subject's  gramlfather,  and 
follows  his  liniuige  to  1632,  when  Jonathan  and 
Nathaniel  Merrill  settled  at  New  London,  Con- 
necticut, as  the  original  locators.  The  family 
drifted  into  Vermont,  thence  to  Cherry  Valley, 
N.  Y.,  and  finally  to  Chautauqua  county. 
Lyman  B.  Merrill  was  a  blacksmith  by  trade 
and  pursued  this  occupation  for  many  years  in 
this  (!ounty.  Politically  he  was  a  dcmoci-at  and 
when  eighty-nine  years  of  age  died  at  Laona, 
this  county.  David  Griggs  was  the  maternal 
grandfather.  He  was  a  native  of  Connecticut 
but  came  to  this  county  in  1810,  and  followed 
farming  until  about  1878,  when  he  moved  to 
Mishawaka,  Ind.,  and  died  in  1889.  Mr. 
Griggs  was  a  whig  and  republican,  and  served 
as  a  private  in  the  war  of  1812,  participating  in 
;  the  engagements  at  Stony  Point,  Lundy's  Lane 
and  the  burning  of  Buffalo.  Tiie  renowned  and 
wily  vvarrior,  Red  Jacket,  was  a  familiar  ac- 
quaintance of  Mr.  Griggs,  with  whom  he  spent 
many  days  in  the  forest.  He  was  a  relative  of 
Governor  Clinton,  and  had  other  eminent  con- 
nections. After  reaching  the  advanced  age  of 
ninety-nine  years  he  died  at  jNIishawaka,  Ind., 
in  1890.  Joshua  S.  Merrill  was  born  in  the 
town  of  Sheridan,  April  12,  1 835,  and  spent  his 
boyhood  about  the  vi  llage.  He  attended  school  and 
acquired  sufficient  education  to  carry  him  through 
life,  and  then  learned  the  trade  of  blacksmith 
and  carriage-maker,  and  worked  at  it  in  Fre- 
douia,  Titusville,   Pa.,  and  other  places,  in  his 


124 


BIOGRAPHY  AND  HISTOEl 


younger  days.  Later  in  life  he  became  an  ex- 
tensive manufacturer  of  line  carriages  and  owned 
extensive  works  at  Titusville,  and  Erie,  Pa., 
where  he  ■employed  about  cue  hundred  and 
twenty-five  men.  In  1854  he  married  Olive  E. 
Griggs  and  had  a  family  of  three  children : 
David  E.,  Efiie  M.,  who  married  Frank  A. 
Stilson,  and  lives  in  Jamestown  ;  and  George 
J.,  a  clerk  in  this  city.  Politically  he  was  a  re- 
jjublican  and  was  a  member  of  the  Methodist 
church,  and  the  Odd  Fellows;  F.  and  A.  M., 
and  Knights  of  Pythias  fraternities.  In  busi- 
ness Mr.  Merrill  was  conservative  but  astute, 
energetic  and  active,  but  careful,  and  was  liberal- 
minded  and  public-spirited  in  his  notions  as  to 
the  administration  of  the  government.  He 
died  August  23,  1877,  and  is  buried  in  Erie 
(Pa.)  cemetery,  while  Mrs.  Merrill  resides  at 
present  (1891)  in  Jamestown. 

David  E.  Merrill  changed  his  residence  in 
youth  as  his  father  moved  his  business  and 
spent  his  days  and  attended  school  at  Fredonia, 
Titusville  and  Erie.  He  graduated  from  the 
high  school  of  the  latter  place  and  attended  the 
Normal  school  at  Fredonia.  He  began  his 
business  life  as  a  bill  clerk  for  a  wholesale 
grocery  firm  in  Erie,  Pa.,  and  was  then  ap- 
pointed paymaster's  clerk  in  the  navy.  Suc- 
ceeding this  he  was  attached  to  the  signal  ser- 
vice and  was  afterwards  for  a  number  of  years 
book-keejjeriu  various  large  institutions.  In  1882 
he  came  to  Jamestown  and  soon  after  with 
a  company  began  the  manufacture  of  the 
Empire  ^\'ashing  machines.  His  company  em- 
ploys above  one  hundred  men  and  their  annual 
product  equals  one  hundred  tiiousand  dollars, 
.shipments  being  made  to  all  parts  of  the  world. 

In  1882,  he  married  Anna  H.  Merrill,  of 
Willoughby,  Oiiio,  and  they  have  one  son  :  John 
Claybornc,  born  August  20,  1888. 

Politically  Mr.  Merrill  identifies  himself  with 
the  llej)ubli('an  party;  he  is  very  public-spirited 
and  is  connected  with  several  prominent  organ- 
izations. 


HENKY  C.  KIXGSBURY,  a  successful  law- 
yer of  AVestfield  who  has  been  in  active 
practice  in  tlie  courts  of  the  county  for  nearly 
thirty-three  years,  was  born  at  Homer,  Cortland 
county.  New  York,  November  6,  1830,  and  is  a 
son  of  William  and  Hilpah  (AYinchell)  Kings- 
bury. His  grandfathers,  William  Kingsbury 
and  Rensalear  Winchell,  were  natives  of  Con- 
necticut. His  father,  William  Kingsbury,  was 
born  in  "  the  land  of  steady  habits "  during 
the  latter  part  of  the  eigliteenth  century,  served 
as  a  soldier  in  the  war  of  1812,  and  removed 
from  iiis  native  State  to  Cortland  county.  New 
York,  in  the  year  1817. 

Henry  C.  Kingsbury  grew  to  manhood  at 
Homer  where  he  attended  the  public  schools  for 
several  years.  He  then  entered  Hamilton  col- 
lege from  which  he  was  graduated  in  1849.  Im- 
mediately after  graduation  he  commenced  the 
study  of  law  with  William  Northup  of  Homer, 
read  two  years  and  was  admitted  to  practice  in 
the  Supreme  Court  of  New  York  in  1851,  at 
twenty-one  years  of  age.  Two  years  later  he 
removed  to  Sherman  where  he  practiced  his 
profession  successfully  until  1859,  when  he 
came  to  Westfield  and  soon  built  up  a  good 
practice  in  tlie  courts  of  Chautauqua  county, 
which  he  has  gradually  increased  from  j'car  to 
year.  He  is  a  democrat  in  politics.  Though 
for  that  reason  debarred  from  political  office, 
his  fellow-citizens  have  honored  him — with 
many  non-partisan  positions,  and  for  twenty 
years  he  has  been  president  of  the  Board  of 
Education.  He  owns  nearly  four  hundred 
acres  of  good  farming  and  grazing  land,  a  part 
of  which  is  well  adapted  to  grapes  and  small 
fruits. 

On  September  3,  1855,  he  united  in  marriage 
with  Mary  A.  La  Due,  daugliter  of  Josluia  La 
Due,  a  native  of  Auburn,  New  York,  who  held 
several  important  offices  in  the  town  ni'  Sher- 
man, Westfield  and  Portland,  and  died  in  1865, 
aged  seventy-one  years.  To  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Kingsbury   have  been  born  five  children,  three 


C- 


^i^^-Z^^ 


OF  CHAUTAUQUA   COUyTY. 


127 


sons  and  two  dau<;litcr.s :  Carlton,  wlio  read  law, 
was  admitted  to  the  bar  and  is  practicing  witii 
his  father  ;  Edward  P.,  a  lawyer  of  Ogdens- 
bnrg,  New  York  ;  Clara  K.,  wife  of  James  L. 
Weeks,  an  attorney-at-law  of  Jamestown  ;  Julia 
H.,  and  Henry  C,  Jr. 


TOXATHAX  P.  PEXXOCK,  who,  with 
^^  his  son,  is  conducting  a  first-class  grocery 
store  in  Jamestown,  was  born  in  Lyme,  Graf- 
ton county.  New  Hampshire,  October  12,  1824, 
his  parents  being  Alvin  and  Zilpha  (Kidder) 
Pennock.  Adonijah  Peunock  (paternal  grand- 
father) .was  a  native  of  the  Green  Mountain 
State  and  passed  most  of  his  days  within  its 
borders  but  a  kw  years  before  his  death  he  re- 
moved to  this  county.  He  was  a  carpenter  by 
trade  and  followed  it  until  advanced  age  for- 
bad. His  wife  was  Elizabeth  Bacon  and  they 
had  seven  children.  Alviu  Pennock  was  boru 
in  Vermont  in  1800  and  came  from  there  to 
Jamestown  in  1827  whei-e  he  was  employed  as 
a  laborer  at  the  woolen  mills,  which  were  es- 
tablished in  1817.  He  married  Zilpha  Kidder, 
who  came  from  the  family  of  Kidders  who 
were  among  Jamestown's  first  settlers,  in  1823, 
and  had  eight  children,  two  of  whom  died 
young.  Mr.  Peunock  was  a  whig  and  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Methodist  church,  in  which  faith  he 
departed  from  life  in  1842. 

Jonathan  P.  Pennock,  upon  arriving  at 
school  age,  began  his  education  and  when  suffi- 
ciently advanced  attended  the  Jamestown  acad- 
emy where  he  completed  the  course  of  instruc- 
tion taught,  and  leaving  school  secured  employ- 
ment in  the  Jamestown  woolen  mills,  where  he 
worked  until  twenty  years  of  age  and  then 
employed  himself  at  chair  manufacturing. 

On  August  31,  1848,  he  married  Clarissa 
B.  Price,  who,  like  his  mother,  came  from  oue 
of  the  oldest  families  of  the  county.  They 
have  been  the  parents  of  four  children :  one 
who  died  in  infancy  ;  Charles  P.,  died  when 
fifteen  years  old ;  Frank  A.,  in  business  with 
7 


his  father,  married  May  Martin,  daughter  of 
Dr.  W .  B.  Martin,  a  prominent  physician  of 
Busti,  and  they  have  two  children:  William  J., 
and  Marjorie ;  and  Lee  J.  wiio  is  a  machinist 
and  draughtsman  is  the  youngest  son  rjf  J.  P, 
Pennock. 

J.  P.  I'enuock  is  an  active  republican  and 
served  as  constable  and  deputy  sheriff  for  a 
number  of  years.  He  also  filled  the  office  of 
tax  collector  for  a  i)eriod  of  twelve  years.  For 
about  one  year  during  the  war  he  conducted  a 
grocery,  and  since  1877  has  been  in  that  busi- 
ness with  his  son,  their  store  being  located  on 
the  corner  of  Main  and  Sixth  streets.  They 
have  a  large  trade  and  are  doing  an  excellent 
business.  Mr.  Peunock  is  a  Baptist  and  for 
the  past  twenty-seven  or  twenty-eight  years  has 

\  been  an  active  member  of  Mt.  iloriah  Lodge, 

I  No.  145,  F.  and  A.  M. 


/^VST.  BUULAUXT),  a  member  of  the  con- 
^^  traeting  and  building  firm  of  Mahoney 
Bros.  &  Burlaund,  and  a  native  of  Sweden,  is 
the  son  of  Abraham  and  Anna  (Swanson)  Bur- 
laund, and  was  boru  on  the  21st  day  of  .Sep- 
tember, 1854,  near  Ginsiping.  John  Burlaund 
(grandfather)  was  a  well-to-do  farmer  and 
mason  and  never  came  to  America,  being  em- 
ployed until  his  death  in  the  work   mentioned 

[  and  as  a  contractor.    Andrew  Swanson  (mater- 

\  nal  grandfather)  was  a  farmer  and  during  Swe- 
den's last  war,  in  her  struggle  with  Russia  and 

[  Finland,  he  served  the  king  as  a  soldier. 
Abraham  Burlaund  was  born  in  Sweden. 
December  10,  1821,  and  followed  farming  in 
his  native  country  until  1868,  when  seeing 
gi-cater  inducements  in  the  new  world  than  the 
fatherland  offijred,  he  left   his  home  and  came 

;  to  America.  On  his  arrival  he  at  once  came  to 
Jamestown  and  engaged  in  farming  and  stock- 
dealing,  but  died  very  shortly  after  his  arrival, 
on  September  10,  1868.  He  left  his  wife  with 
eight  children,  five  of  whom  are  still  living. 
Clarence  H.  is  engaged  in  the  livery  business. 


128 


BIOGRAPHY  AND  HISTORY 


After  the  death  of  Mr.  Burlaund,  Mrs.  Bur- 
laund  again  married,  this  time  to  Peter  Swan- 
son. 

Gust.  Burlaund  received  his  early  education 
in  the  public  schools  of  Sweden  and  after  his 
father's  death  he  was  apprenticed  to  and  learned 
the  mason's  trade  which  he  followed  from  1872 
to  1883. 

In  1879  he  married  Matilda  Stonfaldt,  a 
daughter  of  Andrew  Stonfaldt,  of  Morlunda. 
To  this  union  have  been  born  three  children, 
one  son  and  two  daughters  :  Archie  F.  (dead) ; 
Anna  R.  (dead) ;  and  Ellen  Matilda. 

From  1883  until  1885  he  was  a  contractor 
and  builder,  but  during  the  latter  year  he  asso- 
ciated himself  with  the  well-known  firm  of 
Mahoney  Bros.,  and  the  company  is  now  known 
as  Mahoney  Bros.  &  Burlaund,  contractors  and 
builders.  Their  reputation  stands  equal  with 
the  best  in  Jamestown  and  as  specimens  ot 
their  handiwork,  they  point  with  pride  to  the 
Gifford  block,  Gokey  house  and  the  Swedish 
Orphanage,  which  are  among  the  largest  and 
finest  buildings  in  the  city.  The  company  em- 
ploys during  the  busy  season  as  many  as  eighty 
workmen.  Politically  Mr.  Burlaund  is  a  re- 
publican, but  is  known  as  one  that  is  indepen- 
dent, feeling  that  country  is  before  party,  and 
patriotism  should  be  before  partisanship.  He 
is  a  communicant  of  the  Lutheran  church  and 
takes  an  interest  in  his  church  work. 


SIT^AS  S.  DKKBY,  an  old  and  highly  re- 
spected citizen  of  Jamestown,  is  a  son  of 
Joseph  and  Elizabeth  (Kenyon)  Derby,  and  was 
born  April  29,  1820,  in  Monroe  county,  New 
York.  His  grandfather,  Phineas  Derby,  was 
born  in  Vermont,  where  he  quietly  pursued 
farming  and  died.  The  Kenyon  branch  of  the 
family  came  from  Rhode  Island  and  settled  near 
Batiivia,  in  Genesee  county,  this  State.  Joseph 
Derby  was  born  in  the  Green  Mountain  State 
but  while  yet  a  young  man,  went  to  Monroe 
county,  this  State,  and  later  to    Warnin  county. 


Pa.,  locating  near  Sugar  Grove,  where  he  died 
March  14,  1837.  While  nominally  a  farmer  he 
was  essentially  a  mechanic,  conducting  his  farm, 
as  did  many  artisans  of  that  day,  to  keep  em- 
ployed. He  was  a  democrat  and  a  member  of 
the  Free  Baptist  church.  He  married  Elizabeth 
Kenyon,  in  1811,  and  had  five  children,  all 
sons :  Phineas,  who  removed  to  Michigan, 
where  he  died  in  1889,  at  the  age  of  eighty 
years  ;  Sylvanus  was  a  resident  of  Saginaw, 
Michigan,  where  he  died  in  1883,  at  sixty-nine 
years  of  age  ;  John  K.,  is  a  painter,  residing  at 
Jamestown  (see  his  sketch) ;  William  R.,  who 
for  many  years  followed  farming,  and  is  now 
buying  and  dealing  in  stock  at  North  Warren, 
Pa. ;  and  Silas  S.  Derby. 

Silas  S.  Derby  was  educated  in  the  schools 
near  his  early  home  and  at  the  age  of  eighteen 
came  to  Jamestown,  from  Warren,  Pa.,  and  has 
resided  here  ever  since.  Soon  after  his  arrival 
he  established  himself  as  a  painter  and  in  1839 
opened  a  paint  store  in  partnership  with  his 
brother,  Jno.  K.  Derby,  which  they  conducted 
for  at  least  twenty  years,  but  for  the  last  sixteen 
years  he  has  laid  aside  the  cares  of  active  busi- 
ness and  only  attends  to  his  investments  made 
from  the  accumulations  of  earlier  toil.  He  is 
now  the  owner  of  considerable  real  estate. 

On  December  17,  1840,  Mr.  Derby  married 
Huldah  E.  Frask,  a  daughter  of  Elijah  Frask, 
who  resides  adjacent  to  Busti,  this  county, 
although  they  came  originally  from  Penfield,^ 
near  Rochester,  this  State.  They  have  been 
the  parents  of  but  two  children  :  Agnes  D. ; 
and  Sylvia  A.,  who  wedded  Darwin  E.  Hay- 
ward,  a  railroad  conductor  living  at  Buffalo, 
this  State. 

S.  S.  Derby  was  a  republican  and  as  such 
held  the  office  of  street  commissioner  in  this 
city,  but  of  late  years  his  sympathies  have  been 
with  the  prohibitionists.  He  belongs  to  the 
Royal  Templars  of  Temperance  and  is  a  member 
of  the  Weslcyan  Metholist  church 


OF  <  ■!!.  I  /  v.  I  /  -Q  r.  I    <  'O  liXTY. 


V2'.) 


/^KAWr01{T>  STKAKNS  is  oneof  tlie  most 
^^  siu'cesst'ul  ianiiers  and  cattle  dealers  in 
this  county.  He  was  born  in  Arkwright, 
Chautanqua  county,  New  York,  I\Iay  9,  IS.^O, 
and  is  a  son  of  Benjamin  and  Electa  (Halstead) 
Stearns.  Benjamin  Stearns  was  of  English  de- 
scent and  was  born  in  Vermont,  in  1803,  and 
came  to  this  county  in  1820,  where  he  became 
an  extensive  farmer  and  stock-dealer  and  was 
successful  iu  gathering  together  a  goodly  share 
of  riches.  In  politics  he  v.-as  a  democrat  and 
held  the  office  of  county  commissioner  for  sev- 
eral years.  His  religious  convictions  prompted 
him  to  become  a  member  of  the  Baptist  church, 
of  which  his  wife  was  also  a  member.  He  died 
in  Villanova,  this  county,  in  1866,  aged  sixty- 
three  years.  In  1825,  he  married  Electa  Hal- 
stead,  a  native  of  Canada,  who  is  now  in  her 
eighty-fifth  year  and  resides  at  Villanova. 
They  had  si.x  ciiildren. 

Crawford  Stearns  was  reared  on  the  farm 
and  received  his  education  iu  the  public  schools. 
He  has  always  been  occupied  in  agricultural 
pursuits,  and  now  owns  a  fine  farm  of  four 
hundred  and  fifteen  acres  iu  Villanova,  besides 
being  largely  interested  in  cattle-dealing.  In 
188.3,  he  came  to  Forestville  and  built  a  fine 
residence  which  he  still  occupies.  Full  of  push 
and  energy,  he  has  as  a  natural  consequence 
been  very  successful  and  now  in  the  autumn  of 
life  is  enjoying  tlie  fruits  of  his  efforts.  Politi- 
cally he  is  a  republican  and  has  held  several 
village  offices.  In  religion  he  is  a  member  of 
the  Methodist  Episcopal  church  of  which  he  is 
also  a  steward  and  trustee.  He  is  a  member 
of  Hanover  Grange,  No.  594,  Patrons  of  Hus- 
bandry, and  Hanover  Lodge,  No.  10,  A.  O.  U. 
W.  Strong  in  his  convictions,  pleasant  and 
kindly  in  temperament  and  disposition,  he  is 
respected  and  esteemed  by  all  who  come  in  con- 
tact with  him. 

In  1854,  Mr.  Stearns  was  united  in  marriage 
with  Louisa  White,  a  daughter  of  Joel  White, 
of  Arkwright  this  county,  and  they  have  been 


the  parents  of  two  children  :  Lester  F.,  district 
attorney  at  Dunkirk,  this  county  ;  andAllie  M., 
married  to  Irving  Powers,  who  is  engaged  iu 
the  railroad  business  and  resides  at  I'liffalo. 
]Mrs.  Stearns  is  also  a  member  of  the  Methodist 
Episcopal  church. 


^A.iiui:i.  siii:faki>  CKIS.SEY  is  a  well 
'*^  educated  man  of  advanced  ideas,  and  in 
addition  to  his  labors  in  his  nurseries,  frequent- 
ly contributes  to  the  newspapers  valuable,  in- 
teresting and  instructive  jjapers  on  the  subject 
of  farm  work.  He  is  a  son  of  Harlow  and 
Anna  (Shepai-d)  Crissey  and  was  born  in  Stock- 
ton, Chautautjua  county.  New  York,  August 
13,  1833.  His  paternal  great-grandfather, 
John  Crissey,  was  born  in  Massachusetts  iu 
17UL)  anil  married  Martha  Davenport  in  July, 
1731,  at  Boston,  Massachu.setts.  By  this  mar- 
riage there  were  six  sous,  and  three  of  them 
came  to  Stockton,  this  county,  in  1816.  The 
names  of  these  six  sons  were  :  John  Jr.,  James 
Gould,  Nathaniel,  Samuel  and  Sylvauus.  Sam- 
uel Crissey  (grandfather)  was  the  fifth  son  of 
John  (great-grandfather),  and  was  born  in  Fair- 
fax, Franklin  county.  In  1816  he  settled  in 
the  north  part  of  the  town  of  Stockton,  on  lot 
thirty-nine,  where  he  resided  until  his  death 
March  1,  1848,  having  just  passed  his  seventy- 
seventh  birthday.  This  lot  comprised  one  hun- 
dred acres  of  wilderness,  which  he  cleared  and 
cultivated.  He  was  one  of  the  founders  of  the 
Baptist  church  in  Delanti,  and  served  it  occa- 
sionally as  a  preacher.  Samuel  Crissey  wa.s 
married  in  1799  to  Lucy  Grosvenor  of  Fairfax, 
A'"ermont,  by  whom  he  had  seven  children, 
three  suns  and  four  daughters  :  Almira,  born  in 
1800,  married  Ethan  Covley,  both  dead,  (she 
died  in  1868)  whose  daughter,  Generva,  is  the 
wife  of  Mortimer  Ely  ;  Harlow  (father)  born 
in  December,  1802;  Jason,  born  in  1805,  mar- 
ried Roxanna  Winsor  and  died  in  1875,  leav- 
ing four  children  :  a  son,  Jirah  ;  a  son,  Edward 
J.,    living    in    Fredonia    N.    Y.  ;   a    daughter, 


130 


BIOGRAPHY  AND  HISTORY 


Jlary,  wife  of  Lucieu  C.  Warren,  of  Stockton  ;  j 
and  Sardis,  who  served  in  the  army,  and  is  in 
the  department  of  the  Interior  at  Washington, 
District    of  Columbia;    Lucy,   born    in    1808, 
married   Chauucey  Winsor  of  Delauti,  whose 
children   are   Wealthy  Ann,    widow   of  B.  W.  ] 
Fields,  of  Siuclairville,  N.  Y. ;   Cynthia,   born 
in  1812,  married  Zalmon  Jennings,  removed  to 
Pennsylvania  where  she  died  in   1836;  Patty, 
born  in  1809  and  died  in   1821;   Samuel,  born 
in  1816,  married  Julia  Grant  of  Fredonia  and 
resides  in  Stockton,  and  has  a  daughter   Lucy, 
the  wife  of  Cassius  Perrin,  for  several  years  a 
justice  of  the  peace;  a  daughter  Myra,  wife  of 
Georoe  Putnam ;    and  a  son    Forest.     Of  the  | 
seven  children  of  Samuel  Crissey,  Sr.,  none  are  i 
living,  except  Harlow.     Xathauiel  and  Sylva- 
nus    Crissey,    of  Vermont,    were    brothers   of 
Samuel  Crissey,  Sr.     Nathaniel  had  two  sons, 
Alson,  who  died  at  the  age  of  thirty-one  years  ; 
and  Merrill,   who  married  Eunice  Tracy,  has 
been  supervisor  of  Stockton,  and  had  five  chil- 
dren :    Thomas,  and  two   pair  of  twin  broth- 
ers of  whom  one  is  dead.     Sylvanus  Crissey 
removed  with  his  family  to  the  west.     Samuel 
Shepard   (maternal  grandfatiier)   was    born   in 
Ashfield,  Franklin  county,  Massachusetts,  Feb- 
ruary  13,   1778,  and  came   to  Stockton,  this 
county,  July  9,  1819,  and  was  the  first  justice 
in    Stockton.       He    married    Rachel    Cobb    in 
June,  1798,  by  whom  he  had  five  children,  two 
sons    and    three    daughters:    Ezra,    Pamelia, 
Anna,  Polly  and  Madison,  all   boi-u  in  Massa- 
chusetts.    Samuel  Shepard  died  June  5,  1862, 
in  the  eighty-fifth  year  of  his  age  ;  Mrs.  Shep- 
ard preceded  him  to  the  better  land  November 
8,    1860.      Harlow   Crissey   (father)   came   to 
this    country    with    his    father   and    settled   in 
Stockton,  taught  school  a  few  years  and  then 
purchased  two  hundred  acres  of  land  which  he 
cultivat(;d,  and  also  started  one  of  tiie  first  dairy 
farms  in  this  section,  owning  forty  cows.     He 
was  supervisor  a  few  terms  and  was  elected  jus- 
tice of  the  peace  in  1850  on  the  AViiig  ticket  for 


one  terra  of  three  years.  In  religion  he  was  a 
member  of  the  Baptist  church.  Harlow  Cris- 
sey was  married  November  2,  1862,  to  Anna 
Shepard,  a  daughter  of  Samuel  Shepard  of 
Stockton,  this  county,  by  whom  he  had  four 
children,  all  sons:  Newton,  born  April  6, 1828, 
married  Cynthia  R.  Miller  and  is  a  farmer  in 
Stockton  ;  Samuel  S. ;  Seward  M.,  born  April 
9,  1839,  married  Lucy  Wood  and  is  also  a  far- 
mer in  Stockton  ;  and  Elverton  B.,  born  June 
23,  1843,  married  Mary  Langworthy  and  is  a 
banker  in  Jamestown,  this  county. 

Samuel  Shepard  Crissey  was  educated  in  the 
district  school  of  Stockton  until  he  was  eighteen 
years  of  age,  after  which  he  attended  the  Fre- 
donia academy  for  three  years,  and  then  taught 
school  three  terms.  He  then  engaged  in  the 
nursery  business  and  fruit  growing,  having 
now  eleven  acres  of  most  excellent  land,  four 
acres  of  which  are  devoted  to  grapes,  and  last 
year  those  four  acres  produced  seventeen  tons 
of  the  best  quality  of  that  esculent  fruit.  Grow- 
ing grape  roots  for  market  is  anotiier  specialty 
in  which  he  indulges.  For  seven  years  he  has 
been  secretary  of  the  Chautauqua  Horticultural 
society.  In  religion  he  is  a  Baptist,  being  a 
member  of  the  church  of  that  denomination  in 
Fredonia.  He  has  been  a  member  of  the  board 
of  trustees  of  Fredonia  for  several  terms. 
Samuel  Shepard  Crissey  was  married  in  Decem- 
ber, 1859,  to  Mary  A.  Leonard,  a  daughter  of 
George  V.  and  Anna  Leonard  of  Fredonia,  by 
whom  he  has  had  three  children,  all  sons :  Jay, 
born  January  15,  1861,  who  is  principal  of  tiie 
academy  at  Belmont,  Allegany  county.  New 
York,  and  who  married  Alice  Kennedy;  George 
H.,  born  December  24,  1862,  and  now  a  resi- 
dent of  California;  and  Howard  B.,  born  Feb- 
ruary 22,  1864  and  died  October  11,  1889, 
while  a  junior  at  Cornell  University,  Ithaca, 
New  York.  Mrs.  Crissey  died  May  31,  1868, 
and  S.  S.  Crissey  married  January  15,  1871, 
Mrs.  Ella  K.  Wright,  widow  of  A.  J.  Wright, 
D.D.S.,  of  Fredonia  and   by  her   has   had  two 


MAJOR   E.  A,   CURTIS. 


OF  CHAUTAUQUA  COUNTY. 


133 


children,  sons:  Newton  K.,  horn  -Inly  12,  1873; 
ami  Lester,  horn  in  1877  but  died  in  inCisncy. 

e 

TUr.V.IOK  ENOCH  A.  CUUTIS,  a  successful 

"*■  architect  of  Fredonia  and  a  prominent 
post  and  encampment  commander  in  the  Grand 
Army  of  the  Republic,  is  a  son  of  Isaac  C.  and 
Susan  H.  (Hunter)  Curtis,  and  was  born  in  the 
town  of  Busiti,  Ciiautaurpia  county,  New  York, 
July  19,  1836.  Enoch  A.  Curtis  is  of  Scotch- 
Irish  descent  on  his  paternal  side  and  his  grand- 
father. Rev.  Enoch  Curtis,  was  born  in  New 
Hampshire.  He  was  an  itinerant  minister  of 
the  Methodist  Episcopal  church,  removed  to 
Pennsylvania  and  afterwards  died  in  Cattarau- 
gus county,  this  State.  His  sou,  Isaac  C.  Cur- 
tis, the  father  of  Enoch  A.  Curtis,  was  born  in 
Tioga  county,  Penusylvania,  where  he  married 
Susan  Hunter,  a  native  of  the  same  county.  In 
1834  he  settled  on  a  farm  in  the  town  of  Busti. 
and  died  in  1881,  aged  seventy-two  years. 

Enoch  A.  Curtis  was  reared  on  Iiis  father's 
farm.  He  received  his  education  at  Jamestown 
academy  from  which  he  graduated  in  1848.  He 
then  learned  the  trade  of  carpenter  and  joiner, 
whicli  he  followed  until  the  breaking  out  of  the 
late  civil  war,  excepting  a  part  of  the  winter 
seasons  during  which  he  taught  in  the  publip 
schools.  On  July  13,  1862,  he  enlisted  in  the 
112th  regiment,  N.  Y.  Infantry,  under  Presi- 
dent Lincoln's  call  of  that  year  for  three 
hundred  thousand  volunteers,  for  tiiree  years 
.service.  On  August  12,  1862,  he  was  commis- 
sioned captain  of  Co.  D,  whicli  he  commanded 
in  the  various  skirmishes  and  battles  in  wiiich 
his  regiment  was  engaged  until  the  fearful  strug- 
gle at  Cold  Harbor  where  lie  received  such 
severe  wounds  as  to  unfit  him  for  further  mili- 
tary service.  He  was  houorably  discharged  on 
September  12,  1864,  on  account  of  his  wounds, 
and  on  June  27,  1867,  was  brevetted  major  by 
Governor  Fenton  for  "  gallantry  at  the  battle 
of  Cold  Harbor."  After  the  war  he  settled  at 
Fredonia,  where  he  resumed  his  studies  in  archi- 


tecture, wliirli  Ii;i(|  been  interrupted  by  the  war, 
and  in  a  short  time  had  erected  several  fine  and 
tasteful  buildings  which  I'ecommended  him  to 
the  public  fjivor  as  being  a  competent  and 
skilled  architect.  He  has  prosecuted  the  study 
of  his  profession  for  over  thirty  years  and  his 
experience  as  an  architect  has  specially  fitted 
iiim  for  the  responsibilities  of  this  most  exacting 
of  all  the  art  sciences.  The  structures  which 
he  has  designed,  stand  as  evidence  of  his  skill, 
and  ])rominent  among  them  we  may  mention  : 
the  fine  residence  of  A.  O.  Putnam,  of  Fredonia, 
R.  G.  Wright,  of  Westfield,  and  M.  L.  Hiu- 
nian,  of  Dunkirk  ;  National  Transit  company 
building,  Oil  City  and  the  Fredonia,  and  Oil 
City  Town  Halls" 

On  Sept.  12,  1859,  he  married  Jennie  Nor- 
ton, of  the  town  of  Harmony.  They  have  two 
children  :  Isabella  and  Edith. 

Major  (.Curtis  is  kept  very  busy  in  his  pro- 
fession, and  does  a  large  and  lucrati%'e  business. 
He  is  a  republican  in  politics,  and  has  been 
jiresident  of  the  village  corporation.  He  is  a 
member  and  has  been  ])resident  of  the  Chautau- 
qua County  Veteran  union.  He  is  past  comman- 
der of  Northern  Chautauqua  Encampment  and 
commander  of  E.  D.  Holt  Post,  No.  403, 
Grand  Army  of  the  Republic. 


TA>^TLLIA3I  K.  DOVOLAS,  who  owus  and 
-**-  conducts  the  largest  grocery,  crockery  and 
queensware  house  of  Westfield,  was  born  in 
county  Down,  Ireland,  January  30,  1847,  and 
is  a  son  of  Thompson  and  Anna  J.  (Shaw) 
Douglas.  His  parents  were  both  born  in  county 
Down  and  became  members  of  the  Presbyterian 
church.  His  father  was  engaged  in  the  grocery 
business  and  in  farming,  and  died  in  1889,  at 
eighty  years  of  age.  His  mother  is  a  daughter 
of  James  Shaw,  who  was  a  prominent  linen 
manufacturer  of  Ireland  (see  sketch  of  Robert 
Shaw).  She  is  now  in  the  seventy-fifth  year  of 
her  age  and  resides  on  the  home  farm  in  county 
Down. 


134 


BIOGRAPHY  AND  HISTORY 


William  R.  Douglas  passed  his  boyhood 
days  ou  the  farm  and  attended  the  national 
schools  at  Ireland.  At  sixteen  years  of  age  he 
left  his  native  land  and  came  (December,  LSGS) 
to  Westfield,  where  he  learned  the  trade  of 
stone  and  marble-cutter,  wliicii  he  had  to 
abandon  at  the  end  of  his  apprenticeship,  on  ac- 
count of  ill  health,  occasioned  by  the  stone 
dust.  He  then  learned  the  trade  of  moulder, 
which  he  followed  in  the  Lock  factory  until  it 
shut  down  in  1870.  Duringthissame  year  hese- 
cured  a  clerkship  in  a  grocery  store,  where  he 
remained  until  1874,  when  he  became  a  partner 
with  Robert  Shaw  and  J.  R.  S.  Cosgrovein  the 
o-rocerv  business,  under  the  firm  name  of  R. 
Shaw  &  Co.  The  firm  was  changed  several 
times  during  the  next  eiglit  years,  but  he  re- 
mained a  member  of  it  during  all  of  that  time. 
In  1882  he  purchased  the  interests  of  all  his 
partners,  and  since  that  year  has  conducted  a 
verv  extensive  and  lucrative  business.  His  es- 
tablishment is  at  No.  3  and  4,  on  Main  street, 
and  is  divided  into  two  large  departments.  His 
trade  is  now  of  such  proportions  as  to  require 
the  .service  of  five  clerks.  He  deals  largely  in 
groceries,  provisions,  glassware,  china,  crockery, 
.standard  proprietary  medicines  and  notions. 
Mr.  Douglas  has  been  a  republican  since  coming 
to  this  country,  and  is  now  serving  as  a  member 
of  the  school  board  of  Westfield.  He  is  a  mem- 
ber and  deacon  of  the  Presbyterian  church.  In 
addition  to  his  mercantile  interests,  he  owns 
some  valuable  real  estate,  is  a  stockholder  of 
the  "Pulley  Works"  and  has  a  promising 
young  vineyard.  Nov.  19,  1874,  he  united  in 
marriage  with  Mary  Wiusor,  daughter  of  David 
AVinsor,  of  Westfield.  To  their  union  have 
been  born  seven  children  :  John  R.,  Harry  W., 
William  M.,  Elizabeth  A.,  James  R.,  Alice  R., 
and  Grace. 


jni  KTHUIt  I..  liUOWX,  one  of  the  euter- 
■*•■  prising  young  men  of  Silver  Creek,  is  a 
.sou   of  Carlton   S.  and   Caroline  S.  (Bancroft) 


Brown,  and  was  born  July  10,  1854,  in  Dun- 
kirk, Chautauqua  county,  New  York.  His 
grandfather,  Eleazer  Brown,  was  of  English 
ancestry,  and  born  in  Massachusetts  in  1798  in 
which  State  he  was  a  life-lung  resident,  dying 
in  1853  at  tiie  age  of  fifty-five  years.  He  was 
a  hotel-keeper  and  manufacturer  of  oyster  and 
powder  kegs.  Carlton  S.  Brown  (father)  is  a 
native  of  Massachusetts,  born  in  1827,  and  re- 
moved to  Dunkirk,  this  county,  in  1850,  where 
he  resided  ten  years  and  then  removed  to 
Westfield,  remaining  there  until  1867,  and 
again  changed  his  local  habitation  by  removing 
to  Silver  Creek,  where  he  has  since  lived.  At 
Dunkirk  and  Westfield  he  operated  a  bakery 
and  for  twenty  years  thereafter  was  in  the  em- 
])loy  of  the  L.  S.  &  M.  S.  R.  R.  He  is  now  in 
his  sixty-third  year  and  has  retired  from  active 
business.  In  religion  lie  is  a  member  of  the 
Presbvterian  church,  and  in  politics  is  a  demo- 
crat. Carlton  S.  Browu  married  Caroline  S. 
Bancroft,  by  v.'hom  he  had  five  children.  Mrs. 
Brown  is  a  native  of  Massachusetts,  born  in 
1829,  is  a  member  of  the  Presbyterian  church 
and  is  still  living,  being  in  her  sixty-first  year. 
Arthur  L.  Brown  was  reared  iu  Dunkirk, 
Westfield  and  Silver  Creek  and  attended  the 
public  schools  of  each  place.  After  leaving 
school,  which  he  did  at  the  early  age  of  four- 
teen, he  was  employed  as  a  clerk  iu  a  store  in 
Silver  Creek  until  1873,  when  he  went  west, 
remaining  a  year  or  more,  where  he  was  em- 
ployed as  a  clerk  and  also  travelling  salesman 
for  the  Iowa  Paper  Co.,  of  Davenport,  Iowa. 
After  returning  to  Silver  Creek  he  was  em- 
ployed as  clerk  and  bookkeeper  for  O.  L. 
Swift  &  Co.,  until  1876,  and  iu  the  following 
year  was  engaged  in  the  grocery  business  on 
his  own  account  in  Buffalo,  in  which  he  contin- 
ued a  year  and  then  sold  out  to  return  to  Silver 
Creek  and  enter  the  oilice  of  roadmastcr  of  the 
L.  S.  &  M.  S.  R.  R.,  as  a  clerk,  where  he  re- 
mained three  and  one-half  years.  In  tiie 
spring  of  1882  he  entered  the  olliee  of  Howes, 


^ 


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^ 


<y&::,<:j^-i-^^^^^ 


3^^ 


OF  CHAUTAUQUA   COUNTY. 


137 


Babcock  &  Co.,  manufacturers  of  tlie  widely 
celebrated  Eureka  Siiiiit  and  Separating  Ma- 
chine, where  he  held  a  clerksliip  for  six  years, 
and  then  (March  1,  1888)  bought  a  third  inter- 
est in  the  parlor  furniture  frames  factory  of 
Kofoed  &  Bro.,  in  Silver  Creek,  the  firm  name 
being  changed  to  Kofoed,  Bros.  &  Brown,  in 
which  firm  he  still  continues.  They  employ 
thirty  operatives,  their  average  sales  being 
three  luindred  suits  per  month.  In  politics  he 
is  a  democrat,  and  was  a  member  of  the  board 
of  trustees  of  Silver  Creek  for  two  years  and  in 
March,  1891,  was  elected  president  of  the  Vil- 
lage. He  is  a  past-master  of  Silver  Lodge, 
No.  757,  F.  and  A.  M.  of  Silver  Creek. 

Arthur  L.  Brown  was  married  November 
17,  1880,  to  M.  Cora  Norton  a  daughter  of 
Heury  S.  Norton,  of  Belmont,  Allegany 
county,  this  State,  by  whom  he  has  one  son  and 
two  daughters:  Ralph  A.,  Florence  N.,  and 
Alice  M. 


Q'IMEOX  HOWES.  Probably  the  one  man 
'*^  who  has  done  more  to  advance  the  mate- 
rial welfare  of  the  village  of  Silver  Creek  than 
any  other  is  the  venerable  and  aged  gentleman 
whose  name  appears  at  the  head  of  this  sketch. 
He  became  identified  with  this  place  in  1856, 
and  since  New  Year's  Day,  1866,  has  been  at 
the  head  of  our  leading  manufacturing  estab- 
lishment. 

Simeon  Howes  is  a  son  of  Sylvanus  and 
Persis  (Crittenden)  Howes,  and  was  born  in 
Franklin  county,  Massachusetts,  INIarch  28, 
1815,  and  is  now  seventy-six  years  old.  He  is 
a  direct  descendant  of  rugged  and  long-lived 
ancestry  and  traces  his  family  back  to  a  very 
early  day,  when  three  brothers  emigrated  to 
North  America,  settling  at  Cape  Cod.  When 
he  was  about  one  year  of  age  his  parents  re- 
moved to  Middlebnry,  Wyoming  county,  this 
State,  where  they  tilled  the  soil  for  subsistence 
for  themselves  and  family.  While  he  was  still 
a  boy  his  parents  died  and   left    him  to  battle 


with  the  world  alone.  Fortunately  for  him, 
his  grandparents  were  still  living,  and  he  re- 
turned t(j  Massachusetts  and  spent  three  years 
with  them  near  the  scene  of  his  birth.  His  life 
during  this  period  was  ])r()bably  not  materially 
different  from  that  of  other  boys  of  that  time. 
He  went  to  school  and  worked  hard  on  the 
farm  in  his  spare  hours,  and  considered  it  the 
climax  of  earthly  bli-ss  to  go  to  "  general  train- 
ing" with  a  couple  of  shillings  in  his  pocket  to 
spend.  When  he  was  sixteen  years  old,  Mr. 
Howes  returned  to  Wyoming  county,  and  from 
that  time  on  he  has  had  to  "  paddle  his  own 
canoe."  Three  months  at  the  academy  at 
Middlebnry,  then  fpiite  a  noted  educational  in- 
stitution, finished  his  schooling  and  placed  him 
in  a  position  to  impart  to  others  the  education 
he  had  himself  received.  For  eight  years  he 
earned  his  living  teaching  school  in  winter,  and 
working  on  a  farm  during  the  summer  months. 
Then  in  1838,  he  married  Augeline  Ewell  and 
settled  down  to  farming.  The  issue  of  this 
union  was  eight  children,  five  of  whom  are  still 
living.  The.se  are :  Mrs.  Geo.  P.  Brand,  Mi.ss 
Charlotte  L.  Howes,  Mrs.  R.  J.  Quale,  and 
Mrs.  W.  H.  Merritt,  of  Silver  Creek,  and  Mrs. 
L.  F.  W.  Arend,  of  Buffalo.  At  this  occupa- 
tion he  continued  for  fourteen  years,  and  appar- 
ently had  found  his  life  work.  But,  fortunate- 
ly, as  it  afterwards  proved,  his  health  began  to 
fail  and  he  decided  that  he  would  give  up  farm- 
ing and  turn  his  hand  to  something  el.se.  A 
fortunate  determination  indeed.  On  the  farm 
he  had  only  made  his  living  and  a  trifle  more. 
In  his  new  business  he  was  to  make  a  reputa- 
tion and  a  fortune. 

In  the  spring  of  1853  Mr.  Howes  went  to 
Miami  county,  Ohio,  and  joined  with  Benja- 
min Rutter  and  Henry  Rouzer  in  placing  upon 
the  market  a  combined  smut  and  separating 
machine.  This  embodied  in  a  crude  form  the 
principles  of  the  Eureka  machine,  which  has 
proved  so  successful,  but,  as  is  generally  the 
case  with  new    inventions,  the   first    machines 


138 


BIOGRAPHY  AND  HISTORY 


made  were  of  comparatively  little  value  for  the 
use  iDtended.  Still  it  was  the  pioueer,  and  as 
such  is  worthy  of  i-espect.  Some  fifty  machines 
were  made  and  sold  during  the  continuance  of 
his  partnership.  The  work  of  introducing  them 
to  millers  was  done  entirely  by  Mr.  Howes. 

In  October  of  that  year  a  patent  was  granted 
to  Rntter  &  Rouzer,  and  then  it  was  decided  to 
stop  making  machines  and  to  sell  the  patent  in- 
stead. Accordingly,  in  the  spring  of  1854, 
Mr.  Howes  and  Gardner  E.  Throop,  acting  as 
asreuts  for  Messrs.  Rutter  &  Rouzer,  sold  the 
patent  under  which  the  machines  were  made  to 
Ezekiel  Montgomery  and  his  two  sons,  of  Sil- 
ver Creek,  and  the  right  of  selling  in  fourteen 
counties  in  western  New  York  ;  while  Alpheus 
Babcock  purchased  the  right  of  selling  in  nine 
counties  of  western  Pennsylvania.  ]Mr.  Howes 
then  went  to  AVatertown,  Xew  York,  where  he 
devoted  considerable  time  to  improving  the 
machine;  at  the  same  time  the  other  parties 
who  had  purchased  the  right  to  manufacture 
were  striving  iu  the  same  direction,  and  the  re- 
sult naturally  was  much  improvement.  Not 
many  machines  were  built,  however,  until  in 
185G  ]Mr.  Howes  moved  to  Silver  Creek  and 
joined  hands  with  the  Montgomerys  in  building 
the  machines.  In  that  year  and  the  next  about 
120  machines  were  built,  and  they  were  re- 
ceived with  favor  by  millers. 

In  1858,  after  a  considerable  delay  in  the 
patent  office,  a  patent  was  granted  INIessrs. 
Howes  and  Throop  for  improvements  iu  com- 
bined smut  aud  separating  machines.  The 
principal  points  of  novelty  claimed  in  this  pat- 
ent were,  first ;  the  placing  of  the  separators 
side  by  side,  and  second ;  the  enclosing  of  the 
perforated  case  within  an  outside  casing  and 
connecting  the  space  thus  formed  by  means  of 
tubes  with  an  exhaust  fan  for  the  purpose  of  re- 
moving the  dust.  Tliis  j)atent  was  subsequent- 
ly held  to  be  the  foundation  j)atent  on  oonibined 
smut  and  sejiarating  machines,  and  Howes  ami 
Throop  claim  to  be  its  original  inventors. 


At  its  expiration,  in  1872,  it  was  re-issued 
and  its  term  extended  for  seven  years.  In  1879 
it  finally  expired. 

In  1859  Mr.  Howes  sold  out  his  interest — 
one-third — to  his  partners,  and  retired  from  the 
grain-cleaning  machine  business  for  a  time,  and 
during  the  interim  between  that  date  and  1864, 
the  business  was  carried  on  by  the  Montgom- 
erys and  also  by  the  Babcocks,  who  each  manu- 
factured a  machine  differing  in  some  respects 
from  that  of  the  other.  In  1864  Mr.  Howes 
joined  the  Babcocks,  and  they  carried  on  their 
1  business  under  the  style  of  Howes,  Babcock  & 
j  Company.  The  Messrs.  Babcock  had  already 
made  some  improvements  in  the  machine,  and 
]\Ir.  Howes  now  suggested  certain  others. 

On  January  1,  1866,  Howes,  Babcock  &  Co., 
bouo-ht  for  S20,000,  the  business  of  the  Messrs. 
I  Montgomery,  and  the  firm  changes  since  that 
!  date  have  consisted  in  the  addition  of  Mr. 
Albert  Horton,  in  1866,  who,  the  same  year 
'  sold  his  interest  to  Mr.  Carlos  Ewell ;  the  re- 
moval by  death  of  Messrs.  Babcock  and 
Ewell,  and  the  purchase  of  the  interests  of  the 
estates  of  those  gentlemen  by  Mr.  Howes, 
who  now  for  nearly  three  years  has  been  the 
sole  proprietor  of  this  immense  business. 
How  steadily  the  business  has  grown  may 
be  judged  by  the  constant  enlargement  of 
the  buildings,  and  the  great  increase  of  the 
working  force.  In  1865  employment  was 
given  to  only  fifteen  men  ;  subsequently  this 
number  was  increased  to  fifty.  In  1873,  large, 
new  brick  shops  were  erected  and  another  addi- 
tion to  the  workmen  was  made,  so  that  now 
about  130  men  are  kept  steadily  employed  in 
the  factory  which  is  220x50  feet  on  the  ground 
and  is  four  stories  high. 

In  1865  about  2()0  machines  were  made. 
All  the  work  was  done  by  hand,  and  the  cast- 
ings were  made  outside.  The  next  year  the 
output  was  increased  to  700  machines,  and  after 
thai  tlir  nnmln'r  averaged  about  1000  aniuialiy. 
At  first  indy  the  conii)ined  snuit   and   scpiu'ator 


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OF  CHAUTAUQUA   COUyi'Y. 


143 


was  built,  but  begiuning  in  1874  other  iiKicliiiics 
were  added,  until  now  a  full  line  of  grain  clean- 
ing luaehinery  is  nuule  and  tlie  total  sales 
amount  to  upwards  of  2000  machines  per  year. 
We  have  not,  nor  can  we  obtain,  the  figures 
relative  to  the  number  of  men  employed  and 
the  amount  paid  out  in  wages,  prior  to  1865, 
•but  we  have  figures  beginning  with  that  year, 
when  Mr.  Howes  re-acquired  an  interest  in  the 
business,  and  a  brief  study  of  them  will  prove 
not  only  interesting,  but  highly  in.structive  as 
well : 


YEAK. 

NO.    MEN. 

VEARLY    WAGES. 

YEAR.      1 

flu.   ME.V. 

YEARLY  WAGES. 

1865 

11 

.'S18,979.27 

1878 

66 

$47,424.33 

1866 

29 

33,594.80 

1879 

66 

47,456.11 

1867 

39 

37,209.30 

1880 

75 

53,777.15 

1868 

52 

35,161.42 

1S81 

89 

57.819.99 

1869 

55 

43,337.55 

1882 

105 

68,250.62 

1870 

53 

44,946.88 

1883 

131 

74,650.34 

1871 

53 

48,093.78 

1884 

121 

70,718.69 

1872 

58 

50,198.63 

1885 

112 

71,601.37 

1873 

61 

53,356.21 

1886 

113 

74,757.76 

1874 

67 

55,005.42 

1887 

113 

71,227.56 

1875 

64 

53,277.22 

1888 

106 

68,124.77 

1876 

67 

48,668.43 

1889 

128 

79,813.98 

1877        71 
Total  wa 

48,756.43 
ges  in  twenty 

-five  ye 

lars 

$1,356,208.01 

Making  an  average  annual  pay-roll  of  §54,248. 
32  ;  an  average  monthly  roll  of  $4,520.69  ;  and 
an  average  amount  of  §151.71,  paid  out  for 
every  day. 

In  all  these  years  Mr.  Howes  has  had  sole 
control  of  the  financial  and  busine.?s  manage- 
ment of  this  company  and  the  manner  in  which 
he  has  discharged  his  duties  needs  no  com- 
ments. 

No  man's  word  stands  higher  than  his;  a 
promise  is  never  forgotten  nor  in  the  least  de- 
gree abated  from.  Financially,  none  in  Silver 
Creek  ranks  higher  than  Simeon  Howes; 
socially  he  is  esteemed  by  a  large  circle  of 
friends  and  acquaintances,  and  in  genera!  popu- 
larity it  is  douljtful  if  a  man  could  be  found  in 
Chautauqua  county  who  possesses  a  larger  de- 
gree of  the  people's  confidence. 


He  is  a  lil)eral  sujjporter  of  the  Pre.sbyterian 
and  ^lethodist  Epi.scopal  churches  of  Silver 
Creek,  and,  although  allied  with  neither,  is 
now,  and  for  fifteen  years  past,  has  been  a  trus- 
tee of  the  latter. 

In  political  adherence  he  is  a  standi  republi- 
can, and,  although  four  times  a  delegate  to 
the  State  conventions  of  his  party,  ha.s  steadily 
refused  other  political  distinction. 


TT  NSON  A.  BUKLIX  is  one  of  the   nation's 

-**■  brave  defenders,  who  responded  when 
the  second  call  was  .sounded,  and  remained  until 
Union,  one  and  inseparable,  was  acknowledged 
by  our  southern  brothers.  He  is  a  son  of  Brad- 
ford and  Amelia  R.  (Standish)  Burlin,  and  was 
born  in  Jamestown,  Chautauqua  county,  New 
York,  December  18,  1842.  His  ancestors  were 
long  to  the  manor  born,  the  paternal  side  com- 
ing from  the  Green  Mountain  State,  while  his 
mother's  early  fathers  were  Puritans,  and  she  a 
direct  lineal  de.scendant  of  the  renowned  Cap- 
tain Miles  Standish.  His  grandfather,  John 
Burlin,  lived  and  died  a  citizen  of  Vermont, 
and  the  maternal  grandfather,  Samuel  Standish, 
was  reared  and  resided  in  Washington  county, 
this  State.  His  father  was  a  soldier  in  the  war 
of  1812,  and  served  with  credit  and  di.sfinetion. 
Bradford  Burlin  came  to  Chautauqua  county  in 
1 832,  and  built  a  house  in  the  vicinity  of  Broc- 
ton,  afterwards,  in  1838,  coming  into  James- 
town where  he  died,  November  10,  1864. 
While  living  at  Brocton  he  kept  a  hotel,  but 
his  business  in  this  city  was  the  manufacture  of 
wagons  until  the  year  1859,  when  he  sold  out 
and  engaged  in  milling  at  Dexterville,  besides 
owning  and  cultivating  a  farm  in  the  town  ol 
Poland.  Mr.  Burlin  was  a  democrat,  and  a 
prominent  member  of  Ellieott  Lodge,  No.  221, 
I.  O.  O.  F.  He  was  married  to  Amelia  R. 
Standish  in  1832,  and  had  six  children  :  George, 
died  in  infancy ;  Robert  H.,  is  a  contractor  of 
Cleveland,  Ohio.  He  served  in  Co.  H,  6th 
regiment,  Indiana  Infantry,  entering   in   1861, 


144 


BIOGRAPHY  AND  HISTORY 


and  remaining  three  years,  a  portion  of  the  time 
a  non-commissioned  officer,  and  being  attaclied 
to  the  Army  of  the  Cumberland,  was  present  at 
the  battle  of  Chattanooga,  where  he  was 
wounded  ;  Anson  A. ;  Charles,  who  died  young  ; 
Louisa  I.  and  Samuel  P.,  who  left  home  in 
1883,  and  has  not  since  been  heard  of. 

Anson  A.  Burlin  received  a  college  education 
and,  when  iu  his  twentieth  year,  enlisted  in  Co. 
A,  112th  regiment,  New  York  Infantry,  serv- 
ing until  the  close  of  the  war.  The  greater 
portion  of  his  active  service  was  rendered  along 
the  Atlantic  coast,  being  with  his  regiment  until 
December  20,  1863.  He  was  then  detailed  for 
recruiting  service,  and  coming  north,  was  in 
New  York  until  May  4,  1864.  Eeturning  to 
the  front  and  rejoining  his  regiment,  he  was 
again  detailed,  this  time  for  service  as  orderly 
at  brigade  headquarters,  remaining  there  until 
February  20,  1865,  when  he  again  joined  his 
company,  but  four  days  later  he  was  sent  to 
headquarters  of  the  20th  army  corps,  and  en- 
gaged in  the  printing  department,  where  he 
stayed  until  discharged  at  the  close  of  the  war. 
Being  mustered  out  of  service,  he  came  back  to 
Jamestown  and  soon  opened  an  establishment 
for  the  manufacture  of  wagons  and  carriages, 
running  it  for  one  year,  and  then  went  into  the 
oil  business  at  Oil  Creek,  Pa.,  afterwards  re- 
turning to  Jamestown,  and  entered  mercantile 
life,  following  it  about  ten  years.  This,  in  turn 
was  succeeded  by  a  news  and  stationery  store, 
continued  for  five  years,  and  then  lie  went  to 
Virginia  and  luml)ered,  subsequently  running  a 
steamboat  for  one  year  on  Lake  Chautauqua. 
He  then  returned  to  manufacturing,  this  time 
wood  seat  chairs,  when  in  1889  he  quit  that  and 
has  since  been  living  in  retirement. 

In  political  matters  Mr.  Burlin  is  a  demo- 
crat and  a  prominent  secret  society  man,  being 
a  member  of  Mount  Moriah  Lodge,  No.  145, 
F.  and  A.  M.,  Western  Sons  Chapter ;  and 
Jamestown  Coramandery,  and  is  also  connected 
with  James  M.  Brown  Post,  No.  285,  G.  A.  R. 


HONORABLE  WAKREX  B.  HOOKER. 
They  who  have  won  prominent  position 
and  honorable  distinction  in  life  are  not  all  old 
men.  In  political,  as  in  business  or  military 
life,  those  who  win  the  rank  of  leaders,  do  so 
at  an  early  age,  or  else  give  decided  earnest  of 
future  achievement.  Of  that  class  of  young 
men  in  Chautauqua  county,  who  have  won  suc- 
cess by  their  own  efforts,  is  Hon.  Warren  B. 
Hooker,  the  present  member  of  Congress  from 
the  Thirty-fourth  congressional  district  of  New 
York,  composed  of  the  counties  of  Allegany, 
Chautauqua  and  Cattaraugus.  He  is  a  son  of 
John  and  Philena  (Waterman)  Hooker,  and 
was  born  at  Perrysburg,  Cattaraugus  county, 
New  York,  November  24, 1856.  John  Hooker 
was  a  native  of  Vermont,  and  settled  in  Cattar- 
augus county,  where  he  was  a  leading  farmer  at 
the  time  of  his  death,  June  24,  1888,  when  in 
the  eighty-second  year  of  his  age.  He  married 
Philena  Waterman,  of  Massachusetts,  who 
passed  away  in  1883,  aged  seventy  years. 

Warren  B.  Hooker  was  reared  on  the  farm 
and  received  his  education  at  Forestville  acad- 
emy, from  which  he  was  graduated  in  the  class 
of  1872.  At  the  close  of  his  academic  course, 
he  determined  upon  law  as  a  life  vocation,  and 
pursued  his  legal  studies  with  J.  G.  Record,  of 
Forestville,  this  county.  He  was  admitted  to 
the  bar  in  1879,  and  practiced  in  Chautauqua 
county  until  1882,  when  he  went  west.  At  the 
end  of  two  years  he  returned  to  Chautauqua 
county,  and  established  himself  in  active  prac- 
tice at  Fredonia,  where  he  has  remained  ever 
since.  His  political  career  commenced  in  1878, 
when  he  was  elected  special  surrogate  of  Chau- 
tauqua county,  which  jiositiou  he  held  for  three 
years.  In  1890  he  received  the  nomination  of 
his  party  for  Congress  over  several  popular  and 
able  republican  leaders,  and  at  the  ensuing  elec- 
tion had  a  majority  of  5,726  votes  over  his 
democratic  oj)ponent. 

On  September  11,  1884,  he  united  in  mar- 
riage with  Etta  K.  Aliboy,  daughter  of  Chaun- 


OF  CHAUTAUQUA  COUNT!'. 


147 


cey  Abbey  (see  his  sketch  in  tliis  volume). 
They  have  two  children  :  Sherman  A.  anil 
Florence  E. 

In  addition  to  the  duties  of  liis  ])rofession 
and  the  calls  upon  him  iu  the  political  field,  he 
has  always  found  time  to  serve  his  feilow- 
townsmeu,  or  to  labor  iu  any  movemeut  for  the 
benefit  of  Frcdonia  or  the  county.  When  Mr. 
Hooker  was  elected  to  Congress  from  his  dis- 
trict, he  was  a  member  of  tiie  Board  of  Super- 
visors of  Chautauqua,  which  position  he  held 
two  years,  the  second  time  being  tlie  nominee  of 
both  the  Republican  and  Democratic  parties. 
In  politics  Warren  B.  Hooker  has  steadily  sup- 
ported the  Republican  party  and  its  cardinal 
priucipies,  wliile  the  part  he  has  taken  and  the 
measures  which  he  has  advocated  in  political 
affairs  has  always  met  with  the  popular  ap- 
proval of  his  own  party,  and  never  failed  to 
command  the  respect  of  his  opponents. 


"TTHOMAS  J.  NEWELL  is  a  son  of  Harvey 
-*"  C.  and  Jane  E.  (Buck)  Newell,  and  was 
born  in  Sherman,  Chautauqua  county,  New 
York,  February  29th,  1848.  His  grandfather, 
Jesse  Newell,  was  a  native  of  Connecticut  and 
emigrated  to  Genesee  county,  this  State,  when 
in  1822  he  came  to  Sherman,  in  this  county, 
where  he  owned  and  cultivated  a  farm  of  two 
hundred  acres,  and  where  he  died,  aged  ninety- 
one  years.  In  politics  he  was  a  democrat.  He 
took  great  delight  in  military  affairs  and  was  a 
captain  in  the  New  York  State  militia.  Jesse 
Newell  married  Amarias  Cole,  by  whom  he  had 
eleven  children,  six  sons  and  five  daughters,  all 
living  but  Harvey  C.  (father).  One  of  the 
sons,  Thomas,  served  in  the  army  in  the  late 
war.  The  maternal  grandfather  of  Thomas  J. 
Newell  was  Lansing  L.  Buck,  a  native  of  Con- 
necticut, who  came  to  Sherman,  in  this  county, 
about  the  time  the  Newells  did  (1822),  when 
this  locality  was  a  dense  forest.  He  was  a  far- 
mer by  occupation,  and  an  influential  man 
among    the  pioneers  here.     Lansing  L.    Buck 


married  Ijydia  Lewis  and  had  four  children, 
one  son  and  three  daughters  ;  the  son  and  one  of 
the  daughters  are  still  living.  Wallace,  the 
!  son,  is  engaged  in  manufacturing  in  Bellville, 
N.  J.  Harvey  C.  Newell  (father)  was  born  in 
Connecticut,  January  28,  1816,  and  died  in 
Sherman,  this  county,  in  18(J7,  aged  fifty-one 
years.  His  j)rincipal  occupation  was  that  of  a 
farnier.  In  religion  he  was  a  member  of  the 
Methodist  church,  as  was  also  his  wife,  and  in 
politics  he  was  a  republii:an. 

Harvey  C.  Newell  was  married  to  Jane  E. 
Buck,  by  whom  he  had  four  children,  three 
sons  and  one  daughter  :  James  H.,  who  is  in 
mercantile  business  at  Belvidere,  Nebraska ; 
Thomas  J. ;  Mary  A.,  who  married  G.  W.  Tas- 
sell,  a  merchant,  and  lives  in  Iroquois,  South 
Dakota  ;  and  Ziba  J.,  who  is  a  railroad  con- 
ductor and  lives  in  Brocton,  this  county. 

Thomas  J.   Newell  in    1869,  ensjaged  in  the 

/  Do 

mercantile  business  at  North  Clymer,  this 
county,  where  he  kept  a  general  store  for  eleven 
years,  and  in  1880  came  to  Sherman  and  opened 
;  a  grocery  store,  in  which  he  still  continues.  In 
politics  he  is  a  republican,  and  is  now  on  his 
sixth  term  as  town  clerk,  and  is  also  village 
clerk.  While  he  was  at  North  Clymer  he  was 
appointed  postmaster  there.  Thomas  J.  Newell 
was  married  November  24,  1870  to  Sarah  E. 
Pitt,  a  daughter  of  N.  Pitt,  and  has  two 
children,  a  sou  and  daughte)-:  Edith  E.  and 
Clifford  H. 


JOHN  W.  PITTS  was  the  sou  of  John  and 
^  Charlotte  Pitts,  and  was  born  iu  England 
August  29,  1829.  John  Pitts  (father)  was  a 
native  of  England,  and  came  from  there  to 
America,  settling  at  Chatham,  Columbia  county, 
j  N.  Y.,  removing  from  thence  to  the  State  of 
Iowa,  where  both  himself  and  wife  died. 

John  W.  Pitts  secured  his  education  while 
young  and  went  into  a  store  when  a  mere  boy, 
and  after  a  clerkship  of  several  years,  established 
himself  in  a  store,  first  at  Canaan,  N.  Y.,  wliere 


148 


BIOGRAPHY  AND  HISTORY 


he  was  a  general  mercliant  and  postmaster  for 
a  number  of  years,  and  in  1866  he  came  to 
Jamestown  and  opened  a  grocery  store  at  No. 
209  Main  street,  which  he  conducted  for  several 
years,  then  built  a  brick  store  on  Third  street 
and  removed  there,  but  failing  health  compelled 
him  to  give  up  all  business  three  years  before 
his  death,  which  occurred  in  December,  1881. 
In  1850,  he  married  Lucy  E.  Bristol,  a  daughter 
of  George  and  Sarah  (Hutchinson)  Bristol. 
This  gentleman  was  a  native  of  Columbia 
county,  but  removed  to  Oswego,  Tioga  county, 
where  he  died. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Pitts  had  nine  children  (five 
living),  four  sons  and  one  daughter :  Henry, 
married  Allie  Bassett,  and  lives  in  Washington, 
D.  C,  wliere  he  is  engaged  in  handling  dressed 
beef;  Sarah  B.,  is  the  wife  of  Henry  Anderson 
and  lives  in  Brooklyn,  N.  Y.,  where  her  hus- 
band is  employed  as  an  instructor  in  the  gym- 
nasium of  the  Adelphi  academy  ;  J.  Edwin  is 
employed  in  the  U.  S.  Railway  Mail  service,  and 
married  Agnes  Kretch,  of  Corrj^,  Pa.  ;  William 
is  emploj'ed  in  Jamestown,  by  A.  D.  Sharp, 
who  is  in  the  dry  goods  business  ;  and  George  is 
a  book-keeper  in  the  hardware  store  of  Clark  & 
Co.,  of  Jamestown. 

Mr.  Pitts  was  a  meniljer  of  the  Congrega- 
tional church  in  this  city  and  belonged  to  the 
Knights  of  Honor  and  Royal  Templars.  He 
was  a  sterling  gentleman,  and  his  death,  when 
but  fifty-two  years  of  age,  was  mourned  by  his 
sorrowing  widow  and  a  large  circle  of  friends. 
His  remains  were  interred  in  Lake  View  cem- 
etery at  Jamestown. 


FRANK  Hl'XT,  D.V.S.,  comes  from  a  long 
line  of  farmers,  his  great-grandfather,  of 
whom'  we  are  first  apprised,  following  that 
occupation  in  New  England,  and  he  was  fol- 
lowed in  tiic  same  work  iii  turn  by  each  suc- 
ceeding generation  ;  Dr.  Hunt  being  so  em- 
ployed until  1884.  But  while  agriculture  is 
among  the  noblest  of  man's  pursuits,  an  active 


mind  and  ambitious  disposition  often  seeks  a 
broader  field,  and  this  is  what  our  subject 
decided  to  do  in  1884.  Leaving  the  farm  he 
came  to  Jamestown  and  entered  the  insurance 
business,  which  he  followed  for  two  years,  when 
he  decided  to  attend  the  Ontario  Veterinary 
College  of  Toronto.  He  matriculated  in  1886, 
and  pursuing  the  .study  with  interest,  he  gradu- 
ated in  1887,  since  which  time  he  has  been  suc- 
cessfully practicing  his  profession  in  the  city  of 
Jamestown,  but  retains  his  interest  in  his  farm 
just  inside  the  city.  Mr.  Hunt  was  born  at 
Ellicott  (now  within  the  limits  of  the  city  of 
Jamestown)  on  the  twenty-eighth  day  of  Janu- 
ary, 1857,  and  is  a  son  of  John  L.  and  Orilla 
Hunt.  John  L.  Hunt  is  a  son  of  Elvin  Hunt, 
whose  father  came  from  New  England.  Orilla, 
wife  of  John  L.  Hunt,  was  a  daughter  of 
George  R.  Nelson,  a  native  of  England,  but 
who  came  to  America,  and  located  in  Chautau- 
qua county,  New  York.  He  left  there  in  1860 
and  went  to  Minnesota,  where  he  settled  and 
afterwards  died.  Elvin  Hunt  was  born  in 
Washington  county,  New  York,  but  located 
near  Jamestowu,  on  what  is  now  known  as  the 
Hunt  road.  He  was  a  farmer,  and  in  politics 
affiliated  with  the  whigs,  although  like  his 
children  since,  he  never  aspired  to  be  an  office 
holder.  He  married  Sylvia  Lee,  and  witii  lier 
raised  a  family  of  six  boys  and  four  girls, 
nearly  all  of  whom  settled  adjacent  to  James- 
town. Of  this  large  family  all  were  farmers, 
excepting  one  who  was  a  machinist.  John  L. 
Hunt  was  born  in  Washington  county,  New 
York,  in  1840,  and  moved  to  Chautauqua 
county  witii  his  ])arcnts  when  a  small  boy, 
where  he  died,  when  forty-four  years  of  age. 
He  was  the  fatlierof  fonrchildren,  oneof  whom 
died  young.  Of  the  others  George  E.  married 
Lizzie  Loucks,  and  is  living  in  tlic  city  of 
Jamestown  on  the  Hunt  road.  He  has  two 
children :  John  L.  and  George  E.  Jr. ;  and 
William  H.,  wlio  is  employed  in  Jamestown. 
Dr.    Hunt    led    to    the    altar     Miss     Kate 


OF  CHAUTAUQUA  COUNTY. 


149 


L.  Crosby,  whose  iatlier,  Eliakam  Crosby, 
one  of  the  earliest  settlers  of  the  county, 
served  the  people  acceptably  as  justice  of  the 
peace,  and  died  in  the  town  of  Poland,  of 
which  ])lace  he  was  one  of  the  original  settlers. 
Dr.  Hunt  is  a  rejuiblicaii,  but  the  ollice-liolding 
bee  does  not  buzz  in  his  hat.  He  is  satisfied 
that  those  who  desire  them  shall  have  the  trials 
and  cares  of  political  life,  and  is  glad  to  see 
them  secure  all  the  honor  and  emoluments  they 
honestly  can.  His  veterinary  practice,  which  is 
constantly  growing,  takes  all  of  his  time.  Be- 
ing a  good  friend,  he  is  popular  with  all  his 
acquaintances. 

TOHX  A.  SLiOTBOOX  is  a  son   of  Garrett 

^  J.  and  Scena  (Huytiuk)  Slotboon,  and 
was  born  in  Holland,  May  22,  1841.  His  pa- 
ternal grandfather  was  also  a  native  of  Hol- 
land, where  he  lived  and  died.  John  Huytink 
(maternal  grandfather)  was  likewise  a  native  and 
life-long  resident  of  Holland,  and  died  there. 
His  wife,  after  his  death,  came  to  America  and 
died  in  Albany,  this  State,  aged  ninety  years. 
Garrett  J.  Slotboon  (father)  was  born  in  Hol- 
land, February  G,  1802,  emigrated  to  America, 
spending  his  first  winter  in  Albany,  aud  came 
to  this  county  in  1847,  locating  in  Mina. 
Afterwards  he  came  to  Clymer  about  1850, 
where  he  died  September  6,  1885.  He  was  a 
farmer  by  occupation,  in  politics  was  a  republi- 
can, and  in  religion  was  a  member  of  the  Re- 
formed church.  While  in  Holland  he  had,  in 
compliance  with  the  laws  of  that  country, 
served  his  time  in  the  regular  army.  In  1832, 
he  married  Scena  Pluytink,  a  daughter  of  John 
Huytink,  by  whom  he  had  five  children,  four 
of  whom  are  living,  all  in  this  county ;  three 
of  them  in  the  town  of  Clymer. 

John  A.  Slotboon  was  educated  in  the  com- 
mon schools  of  Clymer,  this  county,  and  begau 
life  as  a  farmer.  He  enlisted  August  11, 1862, 
in  Co.  D,  112th  regiment,  N.  Y.  Vols.,  and 
served  until  the  close  of  the  war,  when  he  was  , 


honorably  discharged  Juuc  8,  1865.  He  was 
promoted  to  corporal,  and  particii)ated  in  the 
siege  of  Suffolk  an<l  the  battle  of  Blackwater, 
siege  of  Charleston,  capture  of  Ft.  Wagner  aud 
bondMrdmcnt  of  Ft.  Sumter,  went  into  Floi-ida 
during  the  campaign  there,  thence  to  Bermuda 
Hundred,  and  was  wounded  at  the  battle  .of 
Cold  Harbor,  Va.,  June  1,  1804.  In  A])ril, 
ISGG,  he  entered  the  mercantile  business  at  Cly- 
mer Hill,  continuing  in  the  same  for  about 
twenty-five  years,  and  then  moved  to  Clymer 
village,  where  he  has  been  in  business  ever 
since,  owning  and  running  a  first-class  general 
store,  and  doing  a  large  business.  Politically 
he  is  a  republican,  and  served  as  a  justice  of 
the  peace  of  Clymer  four  years,  declining  a  re- 
election, aud  has  also  served  as  supervisor  of 
Clymer  seven  years. 

John  A.  Slotboon  was  married  on  January 
13,  1866,  to  Magdalene  Kooman,  a  daughter 
of  Peter  Kooman,  of  Dutch  extraction,  but 
born  near  Antwerp,  and  emigrated  to  Buffalo, 
this  State,  in  1847,  where  he  resided  eleven 
years,  and  then  came  to  this  county,  settling  in 
Clymer,  where  he  died  January  6,  1879,  aged 
seventy-three  years.  To  ]Mr.  aud  Mrs.  Slot- 
boon  have  been  born  five  children  :  Sarah  W., 
wife  of  Abram  Beckrink,  a  gardener  in  James- 
town, near  Falconer,  they  have  one  child,  a 
son,  Marvin  Edward  ;  William  Leonard,  w'ho 
lives  in  Clymer,  and  is  in  business  with  his 
father ;  Ada  Paulina,  at  home ;  one  who  died 
in  infancy  ;  and  Lydia  Louisa. 


TT  JOHX  PETERSOX  was  born  a  subject 
•**■•  of  the  King  of  Sweden,  on  June  18, 
1844,  and  is  a  son  of  Andrew  and  Anna 
(Thranck)  Peterson,  of  the  town  of  Kaulstarp. 
His  grandfather,  Peter  Peterson,  was  a  life-long 
resident  of  his  native  land,  Sweden,  but  his 
maternal  grandfather,  John  P.  Thranck,  emi- 
grated to  America  and  settled  in  Jamestown, 
where  he  resided  until  his  death.  He  was  a 
carpenter  and  farmer,  in  politics  a  republican, 


150 


BIOGRAPHY  AND  HISTORY 


and    in    religion    a   Methodist. 


He  married 
and  reared  eiiildren.  His  father,  Andrew 
Peterson  a  native  of  Sweden,  was  born  about 
1815.  He  came  to  America  in  1858,  located  in 
Jamestown,  but  subsequently  removed  to  Sugar 
Grove,  Pa.,  where  he  remained  one  year,  and 
then  returned  to  Jamestown,  where  he  passed 
the  remainder  of  his  life.  By  trade  he  was  a 
carpenter  and  joiner,  and  was  also  a  contractor 
and  builder.  He  was  a  republican  in  politics, 
a  member  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church, 
and  married  Anna  Thranck,  by  whom  he  had 
nine  children  :  Theodore,  enlisted  in  the  Union 
army,  July,  1862,  in  Co.  A,  112th  regiment, 
N.  Y.  Vols.,  and  .served  until  the  close  of  the 
war.  He  was  wounded  in  the  arm  at  the  battle 
of  Cold  Harbor,  but  this  did  not  prevent  his 
engaging  in  several  other  battles,  and  died  in 
Jamestown,  July  27,  1881  j  Louisa  married 
Peter  Morgan,  who  was  drowned  in  Lake  Chau- 
tauqua, aud  after  his  death  married  John 
Kofod,  of  Jamestown  ;  Matilda,  wife  of  George 
Howard,  of  Jamestown  ;  Christina,  married  to 
James  Holmes,  of  Jamestown  ;  Josephine,  wife 
of  Gustavus  Carlson,  a  tailor  of  Jamestown  ; 
William  0.,  married  to  Aleoia  Tiugwall  for  his 
first  wife  and  after  her  death  married  Dora 
Fox,  and  resides  in  Jamestown  ;  and  Edward 
A.,  married  to  Edith  Kirkpatrick,  and  is  a 
salesman  in  his  brother's  store. 

A.  John  Peterson  received  a  common  school 
education  in  Jame.stown,  supplemented  by  a  prac- 
tical business  experience  and  by  wide  reading 
and  observation.  He  began  life  on  his  own  ac- 
count as  a  contractor  and  builder  with  his  fiither 
and  brother,  and  after  his  father's  death  he 
Ibrmed  a  partnership  with  his  brother  under 
the  firm  name  of  T.  &  A.  J.  Peterson,  continu- 
ing therein  fifteen  years.  During  the  latter 
part  of  that  period  they  also  engaged  in  the 
grocery  business  at  No.  110  Main  street,  and 
finally  abandoned  contracting  and  building  and 
<levoted  their  attention  to  the  grocery  business 
until  1885,  when  ho  sold  out,  and  the  following 


year  purchased  the  clothing  business  in  which 
Mr.  Peterson  still  continues,  his  brother  having 
died.  As  merchant  tailor,  clothier,  hatter  and 
gentlemen's  furnisher,  he  transacts  a  large  and 
paying  business.  He  is  a  republican  in  politics 
and  has  served  on  the  board  of  aldermen  of 
Jamestown  two  terms.  He  enlisted  with  his 
brother  Theodore  in  the  .same  company  in  Julv, 
1862,  serving  until  the  close  of  the  war,  partici- 
pating in  all  the  battles  in  which  the  Army  of 
the  Potomac  was  engaged  and  never  received  a 
scratch,  although  at  the  battle  of  Chapin  Farm, 
he  found  seven  bullet  holes  through  his  clothes 
at  the  clo.se  of  the  engagement. 

On  Aug.  16,  1866,  A.  J.  Peterson  united  in 
marriage  with  Clara  Lanson,  of  Lottsville,  Pa., 
and  after  her  death  espoused  Sophia  Jones,  of 
Jamestown.  Their  union  has  been  blest  with 
four  children,  three  sons  and  one  daughter: 
James  C,  a  clerk  in  his  father's  store  ;  Conrad 
(dead) ;  Mabel  Jenevieve,  and  John  T. 

Loyal  to  his  adopted  country  and  his  friends, 
yet  having  an  affection  for  his  native  land, 
liberal  in  his  ideas  and  broad  in  his  sympathy ,^ 
he  is  an  excellent  type  of  an  ideal  naturalized 
American. 


TOHX   M.    1LA.KDEXBURG  is  an  honest, 

^  industrious  and  hard-working  man,  who 
has  successfully  conducted  .several  farms,  mak- 
ing money  out  of  each,  and  after  a  more  than 
average  life-time,  spent  in  agricultural  pursuits, 
has,  in  the  sere  and  yellow  leaf  of  life,  turned 
his  attention  to  horticulture  aud  enjoys  it,  for  it 
is  healthful,  keeps  one  in  touch  with  advancing 
methods,  and  is  pecuniarily  compensating  for 
the  time  and  labor  employed.  At  least  four 
generations  of  the  family  of  Hardenburg  have 
been  Americans  by  birth,  so  that  the  more 
moderate  Teutonic  blood  neutralizes  the  swifter 
and  more  nervous  fluid  which  pulsates  through 
the  veins  of  an  American,  who.se  ancestors 
])eoj)led  iVil)ioii  or  Scotia.  The  paternal  grand- 
father of  John  M.  Hardenburg  was  a  native  of 


OF  VHAUTAmiUA   COUNTY. 


151 


Ulster  county,  New  York,  being  born  in  1775. 
He  became  a  farmer  and  removed  to  Oneida 
county,  N.  Y.,  locating  on  a  farm  tiiere,  but  not 
being  satisfied  with  his  environments,  he  went 
to  Tom|)kins  county,  where  he  bought  a  farm, 
which  he  a  few  years  after  sold  and  moved  to 
Chautauqua,  this  county,  where  he  purchased  a 
farm,  which  he  subsequently  sold  to  his  son 
Volkert,  father  of  John  M.,  about  1835.  It  is 
located  nearly  four  miles  from  Mayville  and  is 
now  owned  by  Nelson  Crandall.  He  married 
Jane  Vedder,  by  whom  he  had  six  children  : 
Maria,  who  married  Jacob  Mowers  ;  Betsy,  who 
married  Israel  Denman  ;  John  ;  Judith,  who 
married  Adam  Hoffman ;  Volkert,  father  of 
John  M. ;  Cornelius,  whose  wife  was  Adeline 
Tucker;  and  James.  The  father  of  these  chil- 
dren died  in  1S40,  and  the  mother  in  1858. 
The  maternal  grandfather  of  John  M.  Harden- 
burg,  John  Miller,  was  a  life-long  resident  of 
Oneida  county.  New  York.  The  father  of  John 
M.  was  born  in  Oneida  county.  New  York, 
January  25,  1799,  and  came  to  this  county  in 
1834.  He  purchased  a  fifty  acre  farm  three 
miles  east  of  Mayville,  worked  it  a  short  time 
and  selling  it,  bought  the  farm  of  his  father 
above  alluded  to  and  lived  there  two  years. 
Tiience  he  removed  to  the  south-western  part 
of  Stockton,  this  county,  where  he  bought  a 
farm  of  one  hundred  and  sixty-seven  acres  and 
continued  investing  in  land  until  he  became 
possessed  of  three  hundred  acres.  He  now  lives 
in  Portland,  Chautauqua  county,  a  hale,  hearty 
and  happy  nonogenarian.  He  married,  October 
4,  1818,  Susan  Miller,  daugliter  of  John  Miller, 
of  Oneida  county,  New  York,  by  whom  he  had 
six  children,  three  sons  and  three  daughters,  of 
whom  Jane  A.,  the  first-born,  married  George 
Munger,  a  blacksmith  in  Portland,  this  county; 
Jacob  is  a  farmer  and  dealer  in  cattle  in  West- 
field,  and  married  Antoinette  Hassett,  Dec.  30, 
1851  ;  Catharine,  now  dead,  married  Thomas 
Ralph,  a  farmer  in  Stockton  ;  Cornelia,  also  de- 
ceased,   married  Stephen  Reinhart,  January  9, 


1850.  He  is  a  farmer  in  Stockton,  this  county  ; 
and  Henry,  a  farmer  in  Westfield,  married 
Diana  Pane.  The  mother  of  these  children  died 
I  August  1st,  1868,  and  was  buried  at  Westfield. 
John  M.  Hardenburg,  a  son  of  Volkert  and 
Susan  (Miller)  Hardenburg,  was  born  in 
Oneida  county.  New  York,  October  4th,  1823, 
and  was  educated  in  the  common  schools  of 
Stockton,  which  he  continued  to  attend,  but 
only  a  few  months  in  each  year,  until  he  was 
twenty-four  years  old,  when  he  rented  a'farm  in 
Stockton,  where  he  remained  two  years  and 
then  bought  a  farm  of  one  hundred  acres,  which 
he  cultivated  a  brief  time  lyid  sold  it,  only  to 
buy  another  comj)risiug  one  hundred  and 
fifteen  acres,  on  which  he  remained  fourteen 
years.  He  then  disposed  of  it  and  removed  to 
Portland,  where  he  purchased  a  smaller  farm, 
some  sixty  acres,  and  lived  three  years.  He 
bought,  occupied  and  sold  these  farms  success- 
ively and  after  the  disposal  of  the  third,  he  re- 
moved to  Westfield,  where  he  conducted  a  dairy 
farm  for  one  year.  Returning  to  Portland  he 
purchased  a  farm  of  one  hundred  and  sixty 
acres  and  occupied  it  sixteen  years,  after  which, 
he  sold  it  and  came  to  Fredonia,  wheie  he  now 
owns  seven  acres  in  the  village  on  which  he  raises 
choice  grapes.  In  religion  he  is  a  member  of 
the  Baptist  church. 

John  M.  Hardenburg  was  married  to  Julia 
A.  Denton,  September  12,  1848.  She  was  a- 
daughter  of  Fowler  and  Sophia  (Col  well) 
Denton  (her  father  being  a  farmer  in  Stockton), 
and  by  her  had  two  sons  and  two  daughters,  of 
whom  Sophia,  the  eldest,  married  Homer  Burr, 
a  farmer  in  Portland,  the  union  resulting  in 
eight  children  ;  Medora  married  A.  J.  Walker, 
a  grape-grower  in  Portland,  and  they  have  one 
child ;  Warren  died  in  infancy  ;  and  Fowler 
Denton,  a  grape-grower  in  Portland,  who  mar- 
ried Lizzie  Burrows,  and  they  have  thi'ee 
children. 


1.52 


BIOGRAPHY  AND  HISTORY 


CHAKLES  31.  DOUGLASS,  a  descendant 
of  one  of  the  jnoueer  families  of  Chau- 
tauqua county,  is  a  son  of  Zattu  and  Elizabeth 
(Frazier)  Douglass,  and  was  born  in  the  town 
of  Dunkirk,  Chautauqua  county,  N.  Y.,  June 
21,  1839.  The  Douglass  family  is  of  Scotch 
descent,  and  one  of  its  members,  Riciiard  Doug- 
lass (grandfather),  was  a  native  of  Connecticut, 
but  removed  early  in  the  present  century  to 
Chautauqua  county,  and  bought  a  farm  in  the 
town  of  'Dunkirk,  which  embraced  part  of  the 
present  site  of  Dunkirk  city.  He  was  a  prom- 
inent Freemason,  and  although  his  "clearing" 
did  not  consist  of  over  fifty  acres,  yet  he  was 
considered  one  of  the  rich  men  of  Chautauqua 
county  at  that  time,  for  his  fai'm  was  one  of  the 
few  to  sup2)ly  provisions  to  the  new  settlers 
until  such  time  as  their  land  would  be  cleared 
and  become  productive.  One  of  his  sons,  Zattu 
Douglass  (father),  was  born  in  the  State  of  Ver- 
mont, and  was  engaged  in  fiirming  during  the 
most  of  his  life.  He  was  a  stanch  supporter  of 
the  Republican  party  until  he  died  in  October, 
1862.  In  1835  he  married  Elizabeth  Frazier, 
daughter  of  Fill  Frazier,  of  Chautauqua  county, 
by  whom  he  had  seven  children. 

Charles  IM.  Douglass  was  reared  on  his  father's 
farm,  and  attended  the  subscription  schools  of 
the  town  of  Dunkirk.  He  owns  a  valuable 
farm,  about  one-half  mile  southeast  of  the  city, 
on  which  he  has  resided  all  his  life.  In  addition 
to  his  own  farm  he  cultivates  the  lauds  of  several 
of  his  neighbors. 

On  April  27,  1867,  he  married  Dinah  Harri- 
son, a  native  of  England.  To  their  union  have 
been  born  five  children  :  Frederick  and  Diana, 
twins,  were  born  January  27,  1868  ;  Charles 
M.,  Jr.,  born  March  20,  1869;  Clarence  E., 
born  July  27,  1872;  Arthur,  born  April  15, 
1878;  and  Walter,  born  October  7,  1886. 

Charles  M.  Douglass  is  a  republican  in  poli- 
tics, and  is  ranked  among  the  energetic  farmers 
of  his  town. 


TT  BRAHAIH  BULL,  the  sexton  at  Lake  View 
^^-  cemetery,  is  a  son  of  Benjamin  and  Ann 
(Lyons)  Bull,  and  was  born  in  the  city  of 
London,  England,  November  5,  1836.  His 
grandfather,  Abraham  Bull,  was  a  native  of 
England,  but  emigrated  to  America  and  settled 
at  Jamestown,  remaining,  however,  but  a  short 
time,  when  he  returned  to  his  native  land  and 
died.  He  gained  a  livelihood  by  following  the 
sea.  The  maternal  grandfather,  John  Lyons, 
came  from  Ireland,  ^^'hen  Napoleon  was  lead- 
ing his  seemingly  irresistible  forces  to  victory 
after  victory,  until  he  met  with  disaster,  dis- 
grace and  a  banishment  to  end  in  death  at  St. 
Helena,  Mr.  Lyons  joined  the  army  that  defeated 
him  and  was  never  heard  of  after  the  battle. 
Benjamin  Bull  was  born  in  England  in  1812, 
and  came  to  America,  settling  at  Jamestown 
about  1849,  where  he  still  resides.  He  married 
Ann  Lyons,  who  is  still  living,  and  by  whom 
he  had  ten  children,  five  sons  and  five  daughters. 
Politically,  Mr.  Bull  affiliates  with  the  Repub- 
lican party. 

Abraham  Bull  received  such  education  as  his 
own  efforts  would  secure  him,  and  in  early  life 
was  a  day  laborer.  Mr.  Bull  is,  and  since  April 
19,  1864,  has  been,  the  sexton  at  Lake  View 
cemetery,  performing  the  trying  and  responsible 
duties  satisfactorily. 

On  November  30,  1857,  he  married  Lucy 
Cossart,  daughter  of  Peter  and  Roxanna  Cos- 
sart,  of  Jamestown.  They  have  had  five  chil- 
dren :  Jennie,  married  Perry  Goodwin,  a  son  of 
Augustus  Goodwin,  and  lives  in  Jamestown  ; 
Nellie,  wife  of  Darwin  Clark,  a  farmer ;  Fannie 
(dead) ;  Lucy,  wedded  Frank  Dickerson,  a  resi- 
dent of  Jamestown  ;  and  Clyda  (dead). 

Politically,  Mr.  Bull  is  a  republican,  belongs 
to  the  Methodist  church,  and  is  a  member  of 
Jamestown  lodge,  No.  34,  A.  O.  U.  W.,  and  of 
Chautauqua  Lake  lodge.  No.  46,  Knights  of 
Honor.  The  Jamestown  Journal,  speaking  of 
the  beautiful  Lake  View  cemetery,  says : 
"  Twenty  years  have  elapsed   since  Abraham 


OF  CHAUTAUQUA   COUNTY. 


153 


Bull  was  first  appointed  sexton  of  Lake  View 
cemetery,  which  is  nearly  ever  since  it  was  first 
nsed.  It  is  now  one  of  the  best  kept  concerns 
in  the  country,  nicely  laid  out  in  wiilks  and 
drives.  He  has  always  been  reliable,  and  | 
carried  out  his  portion  of  every  contract  to  the 
letter." 


n  H.  OBBY,  who  served  for  twenty-one 
^^-  •  years  as  foreman  of  the  H.  G.  Brooks 
Locomotive  works,  of  Dunkirk,  was  born  in  | 
the  town  of  Gorham,  Cumberland  county, 
Maine,  December  20,  181i),  and  is  a  son  of 
Daniel  and  Martha  Ann  (Morton)  Libby.  The 
Libby  family  is  of  English  descent  and  some  of 
its  members  were  among  the  earliest  and  fore- 
most settlers  of  the  province  of  Maine.  In  a 
book  compiled  and  published  by  Charles  T. 
Libby  of  Portland,  jNIaine,  the  history  of  the 
Libby  family  is  accurately  traced  from  1(502  to 
1881.  Simeon  Libby,  the  grandfather  of  Al- 
bert H.  Libby,  was  a  Maine  farmer,  born  Sep- 
tember 3,  1755,  and  served  as  a  soldier  in  one 
of  the  Indian  wars  of  the  frontier  and  in  the 
War  of  1812.  He  died  March  11,  1830,  when 
considerably  past  his  four-score  years  of  age. 
His  son,  Daniel  Libby  (father),  was  born  on  the 
home  farm,  March  18,  1792,  and  learned  the 
trade  of  wheel-wright  and  carpenter,  which  he 
followed  for  some  vears  before  turning  his  at- 
tention  to  farming.  He  was  an  attendant  of 
the  Methodist  Episcopal  church,  a  strong  dem- 
ocrat, like  his  father  before  him,  and  died  in 
Gorham,  Maine,  May  11,  1826,  at  the  early 
age  of  thirty-four  years.  His  wife,  Martha 
Ann  Morton,  Mas  a  Methodist  and  a  native  of 
Gorham,  where  she  died  in  1821,  when  but 
twenty-one  years  of  age. 

Albert  H.  Libby  grew  to  manhood  in  his 
native  town.  As  his  parents  died  when  he  was 
quite  small  he  was  compelled  to  do  for  himself 
at  an  earlv  age,  and  thus  was  able  to  secure  but 
a  limited  education.  He  learned  tiie  trade  of 
blacksmith  and  upon  attaining  his  majority  re- 
8 


moved  from  (idiiiain  to  Portland,  in  tlie  same 
State,where  he  was  foreman  of  the  I'ortland 
Company's  locomotive  and  machine  works  for 
twelve  years.  In  1860  he  left  his  native  State 
and  came  to  Dind<irk  where  he  became  fore- 
man of  the  H.  G.  Brooks  Locomotive  works, 
now  the  largest  manufacturing  establishment  of 
the  city,  which  position  he  held  until  1881, 
when  he  resigned.  Since  leaving  the  locomo- 
tive works,  Mr.  Libl)y  has  been  engaged  to 
some  extent  in  the  real  estate  business,  in  which 
his  investments  have  been  reasonably  profitable. 
He  now  resides  with  his  son,  Frank  L.  Libby. 

On  the  12th  of  August,  1845,  he  married 
Eliza  A.  Woodward,  a  daughter  of  Samuel 
Woodward,  of  Gorham,  Maine,  and  who  died 
in  January,  1881,  leaving  three  children,  one 
son  and  two  daughtefs  :  Josephine  A.,  wife  of 
Francis  Lake  ;  Clara  I.,  married  to  Arthur  J. 
Scott  ;  and  Frank  L.,  who  married  Margaret 
J.  Morris,  and  resides  in  Dunkirk.  Mr.  Lib- 
bv  has  seven  grandchildren:  Florence  I.,  daugh- 
ter of  Mrs.  Lake;  Emma  L.,  Nettie  L.,  and 
Gertrude  A.,  daughters  of  Mrs.  Scott ;  and 
Mabel  S.,  Alice  Gertrude,  and  Albert  W.  H., 
children  of  Frank  L. 

Politically  Mr.  Libby  is  a  democrat  like  his 
father  and  grandfather  before  him,  and  has 
been  a  member  of  the  common  council,  besides 
serving  several  terms  as  assessor  of  Dunkirk 
City.  He  is  a  Knight  Templar  in  ]\Iasonry 
and  holds  membership  in  Irondequoit  Lodge, 
No.  301,  Free  and  Accepted  Masons,  Dunkirk, 
N.  Y.,  Dunkirk  Chapter,  No.  191,  High  Royal 
Arch  Masons  and  Dunkirk  Commandery,  No. 
40,  Knights  Templar,  and  is  a  past  master  and 
a  past  high  priest. 


/^EORGE  B.  DOUGLASS,  a  descendant  of 
^^  the  Scotch  family  of  Douglass,  who  were 
among  the  earliest  settlers  of  Chautauqua  coun- 
ty, is  a  son  of  Arnold  and  Naney  (Baldwin) 
Douglass,  and  was  born  on  the  farm  on  which 
he  now  resides,  in  the  town  of  Dunkirk,  Chau- 


154 


BIOGRAPHY  AND   HISTORY 


tauqiia  county,  New  York,  January  14,  1833. 
His  grandfather,  Richard  Douglass,  the  pioneer, 
was  a  native  of  Connecticut  and  removed  with 
his  family,  in  1806,  to  Chautauqua  county, 
this  State.  He  purchased  a  large  tract  of  land, 
to  which  he  added  from  time  to  time,  until  he 
owned  750  acres  of  the  finest  farming  land  in 
the  county.  He  was  a  Free  Mason,  a  member 
of  the  Baptist  church,  and  died  in  1845.  His 
son,  Arnold  Douglass  (father),  was  born  in 
Connecticut,  December  14,  1802,  and  accom- 
panied his  parents  to  Chautauqua  county  in 
180(5.  He  was  a  successful  farmer,  a  suj)porter 
of  the  Democratic  party,  and  died  July  6, 1838, 
when  in  the  thirty-sixth  year  of  his  age.  He 
married  Nancy  Baldwin,  daughter  of  Samuel 
Baldwin,  of  Pawlet,  Vermont.  They  had  three 
childi-en :  George  B.,  Sarah,  wife  of  Russell 
Jones,  of  Dunkirk  ;  and  Betsy,  who  died  at  the 
age  of  five  years. 

George  B.  Douglass  was  reared  on  his  father's 
farm,  attended  the  subscription  schools  of  Cliau- 
tauqua  county,  and  learned  the  trade  of  carpen- 
ter. In  185G,  he  went  to  Illinois  and  entered 
the  employ  of  the  Illinois  Central  Railroad 
Company,  in  the  capacity  of  delivery  clerk. 
He  remained  with  them  some  time  and  then 
engaged  in  farming  and  afterwards  in  carpen- 
tering, until  1861,  when  he  returned  to  Dun- 
kirk, where  he  bougiit  a  productive  farm  of 
sixty-five  acres  (the  old  homestead),  on  which 
he  has  since  resided,  and  has  erected  a  good 
house,  barn,  and  other  necessary  out-buildings. 
He  has  also  a  vineyard  of  four  acres. 

In  1850  he  married  Aurelia  E.  Blakely, 
daughter  of  David  Blakely,  of  Springville,  Erie 
county.  New  York  ;  she  was  the  twelfth  child 
of  fifteen  children.  They  have  four  children: 
George  M.,  a  resident  of  Dunkirk,  in  the  em- 
ploy of  the  American  Express  Company; 
Frank  E.,  who  is  engaged  in  farming  near  his 
father;  Clarence  E.,  baggage  master  on  the 
Dunkirk  &  Warren  R.  R.;  and  Lilly  V.,  who 
died  in  1808,  at  the  aye  of  eleven  years. 


George  B.  Douglass  is  a  member  of  the  Bap- 
tist church  of  Dunkirk,  and  an  active  republi- 
can. He  has  held  several  of  the  most  impor- 
tant of  the  offices  of  his  town.  He  is  a  pros- 
perous farmer  and  law-abiding  citizen  of  the 
town  of  Dunkirk. 


T^MERY  W.  FEXTOX,  the  senior  member 
-■■^  of  the  well-known  firm,  Fentoti,  Robert- 
son &  Co.,  of  Jamestown,  is  a  son  of  William 
H.  and  Hannah  (Tracy)  Fenton,  and  was  born 
in  the  village  of  Fluvanna,  Chautauqua  county^ 
New  York,  March  23,  1836.  The  family  on 
either  side  were  natives  of  New  England  for 
some  generations.  The  paternal  grandfather, 
Jacob  Fenton,  came  to  Jamestown  in  1811,  and 
being  a  potter  by  trade,  he  established  a  kiln 
and  pottery  between  what  is  now  First  and 
Second  Streets,  and  manufactured  all  kinds  of 
earthenware.  His  wife  was  Lois  Hurd,  and 
she  bore  him  nine  children.  Jacob  Fenton  died 
in  1822.  Elias  Tracy  (maternal  grandfather) 
was  a  native  of  Vermont,  and  came  to  this- 
State,  locating  on  the  Conewago  flats,  in  1814,, 
where  he  followed  farming  until  he  died. 
William  H.  Fenton  was  born  in  New  England 
in  1796,  and  came  to  Jamestown  when  sixteen 
years  of  age,  and  entered  the  earthenware 
manufacturing  house  with  his  father.  They 
worked  together  until  the  old  gentleman's  death 
in  1822,  when  William  H.  Fenton  continued 
the  business  alone  until  1826,  and  then  took 
Samuel  Whittemore  as  a  partner.  They  moved 
their  business  to  Fluvanna.     This  jiartnersliip 

i  remained  effective  until  1839,  when  they  dis- 
.solved,  and  W.  H.  Fenton  moved  back  to 
Jamestown,  and  shortly  after  was  dieted  justice 
of  the  peace,  a  position  that  iie  held  for  fifty 
years.  The  old  gentleman  is  still  living,  hale 
and  hearty,  and  although  ninety-five  years  of 
age  is  as  enthusiastic  a  republican  a.s  can  be 
fi)und  in  the  county  of  Chautauqiia.  Prior  to 
the  inception  of  this  party  he  was  a  whig.     INIr. 

[  Fenton    is   a    member    of    the    Congregational 


OF  CHAUTAUQUA  COUNTY. 


155 


church,  being  the  oldest  member  in  the  State. 
In  1816  he  married  Hannaii  Tracy,  who  bore 
him  fourteen  ehiklrcn,  eij^iit  of  wlioni  are  still 
living:  Erasmus  D.  is  living  in  Minnesota; 
Elias  J.  is  a  farmer  in  Iowa ;  Harriet  is  the  I 
wife  of  John  Harvej-,  of  Iowa ;  Carlos  lives  in 
Austin,  Minn. ;  Merriette  is  Mrs.  Charles 
Jeffords,  and  resides  in  Jamestown  ;  Dana  is  i 
engaged  in  the  lumber  business  here  ;  and  Emily 
H.  married  James  Smith,  and  lives  in  this  city. 

Emery  \V.  Fenton  spent  his  boyhood  days  at 
Fluvanna  and  Jamestown,  and  attended  the  j 
public  schools  and  academy  at  the  latter  place. 
He  began  to  work  in  a  pail  factory  when  about 
eighteen  years  of  age,  and  followed  that  line  of 
business  for  a  number  of  years,  but  at  present 
is  engaged  in  the  furniture  manufacturing,  being 
the  senior  member  of  the  firm  of  Feuton,  ; 
Robertson  &  Co.,  of  Jamestown.  Their  factory 
employs  from  fifty  to  seventy-five  men,  and  the 
output  of  the  factory  is  about  fifty  thousand 
dollars  per  year.  The  plant  is  equipijed  with 
all  modern  improvements,  and  is  one  of  the 
business  enterprises  to  which  Jamestown's  citizens 
may  point  with  pride. 

In  1861  E.  W.  Fenton  married  Louise  ]Myers, 
a  daughter  of  Peter  Myers,  of  Frewsburg, 
N.  Y.,  and  has  two  daughters  living  :  Lulu  E., 
born  August  10, 1868  ;  and  Grace  J.,  born  May 
5,  1871.  Both  of  these  young  ladies  were  edu- 
cated at  the  Jamestown  high-school,  and  are 
charming  entertainers. 

Emery  W.  Fenton  is  a  democrat,  and  belongs 
to  Jamestown  lodge.  No.  13,  A.  O.  U.  W.,  and 
to  the  Equitable  Aid  Union.  He  has  been 
throughout  his  life  a  straightforward  and 
thoroughgoing  man,  and  by  his  earnest  will  and 
untiring  industry  has  risen  to  opulence.  He  is 
a  good  citizen  and  successful  business  man. 

e 

TllTELVIN  J.  KSTOX,  who  has  been  a  suc- 
4  cessful  contractor  and  builder  for  many 

years,  has  erected  many  of  the  fine  residences  in 
Silver  Creek,  and  is  one  of  the  most  enterprising  ; 


citizens  of  tiiat  village.  He  was  born  near 
Wattsburg,  Erie  county,  Pemisylvania,  March 
13,  1853,  and  is  a  son  of  Charles  and  Ann 
(Beart)  Knox.  His  grandfather,  James  Knox, 
was  born  in  1794,  in  Connecticut,  and  was  a 
soldier  in  tiie  War  of  1812.  He  resided  in 
Sheridan,  this  county,  several  years,  and  died 
in  1866,  aged  seventy-two  years.  Charles  Knox 
(father)  was  born  in  Cortland  county,  this  State, 
on  August  24, 1 824.  For  several  years  he  lived 
in  Erie  county,  Pa.,  but  removed  to  this  county 
in  1854,  locating  in  Sheridan,  where  he  remained 
until  1868,  when  he  came  to  Silver  Creek,  where 
he  has  since  resided.  He  is  a  carpenter  by  trade, 
but  has  been  a  contractor  and  builder  mo.st  of 
his  life,  and  politically  is  a  republican.  In 
1850  he  married  Ann  Beart,  who  was  born  in 
England  in  1827,  and  she  bore  him  five  chil- 
dren. 

Melvin  J.  Knox  was  reared  in  this  county, 
receiving  his  education  in  the  common  schools, 
and  after  leaving  school  at  the  age  of  fourteen 
years  learned  the  trade  of  a  carpenter,  and  has 
worked  at  it  ever  since,  although  he  has  largely 
added  to  it  by  taking  up  contracting  and  build- 
ing. He  came  to  Silver  Creek  in  1868,  and 
worked  at  his  vocation  until  1884,  when  he  built 
the  large  plant  he  now  owns  on  Buffalo  street, 
known  as  the  Silver  Creek  plauing-mill,  where 
he  manufactures  doors,  sash,  blinds,  shutters, 
mouldings,  lumber,  lath,  shingles  and  deals 
largely  in  builders'  hardware  and  general  sup- 
plies. He  is  a  large  contractor  and  builder,  and 
has  built  all  the  way  from  three  to  twenty-three 
houses  a  year  for  several  years,  and  g»nerally 
has  a  very  flourishing  and  steadily  increasing 
business.  Politically  he  is  a  republican,  and  is 
assistant  chief  of  the  fire  department. 

Melvin  J.  Knox  was  married,  September  8, 
1875,  to  Lily  Holcomb,  of  Silver  Creek.  Their 
marriage  has  been  blest  with  three  children,  one 
son  and  two  daughters :  Edith,  Porter  and 
Drusilla,  aged  thirteen,  eleven  and  two  years 
respectively. 


156 


BIOGRAPHY  AND  HISTORY 


JOHN  T.  GREEN,  who  has  been  a  leading 
citizen  and  merchant  of  Sherman,  this 
county,  for  twenty-seven  years,  was  born  Janu- 
nary  31,  1829,  in  Lincolnshire,  a  pastoral 
county  on  the  east  coast  of  England,  and  is  a 
son  of  AVilliam  and  Martha  (Tonilinsou)  Green, 
both  natives  of  the  same  place.  His  parents 
came  to  America  in  1830,  locating  near  Utica, 
this  State,  for  a  short  time,  thence  coming  to 
Chautauqua  town,  and  finally  settled  in  Sher- 
man, this  county,  whex'e  the  father  spent  the 
remainder  of  his  life.  He  was  a  carpenter  and 
joiner  by  trade,  was  supervisor  of  the  town  of 
Sherman  from  1856  to  1857,  and  in  1858, 
married  Martha  Toralinson,  by  whom  he  had 
five  children.  He  died  March  25,  1862,  at  the 
age  of  fifty-nine  years. 

John  T.  Green  was  reared  on  a  farm,  and  re- 
ceived his  education  in  the  common  schools. 
After  leaving  school  he  learned  the  carpenter 
trade,  at  which  he  worked  for  a  short  time, 
when  he  bought  out  the  firm  of  Adams  &  Har- 
rington, and  engaged  in  the  mercantile  business, 
associating  with  him  W.  F.  Green,  now  cashier 
of  the  bank  of  Sherman,  the  firm  name  being 
J.  T.  &  W.  F.  Green,  which  was  dissolved  in 
1886,  since  which  time  John  T.  Green  has  car- 
ried on  the  business  alone.  He  also  owns  two 
hundred  acres  of  good  land  near  Sherman,  was  [ 
supervisor  of  that  town  from  1870  to  1872,  and 
was  again  elected  in  1874.  In  politics  he  is  a 
republican,  and  when  the  village  of  Sherman 
was  formed,  he  was  elected  its  first  president,. 
in  October,  18'JO,  and  at  the  spring  election  in 
1891,  he  was  re-elected.  This  is  a  distinction 
of  which  any  man  might  feel  proud. 

John  T.  Green  was  married  January  7, 1851, 
to  Livia  P.  Hall,  a  daughter  of  Ahira  Hall,  a 
farmer  of  Portland,  this  county.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  i 
Green  have  been  blest  with  three  children,  two 
.sons  and  one  daughter :  William  A.,  the  eldest 
.son,  is  now  in  Australia,  liaving  been  sent  there  | 
by  a  niainifacturing  syndicate  to  rcj)rcsent  them  ; 
Frederick  K.,  who  is  the  2)re.sent  cashier  of  the  I 


Fredonia   National    Bank,    this    county ;    and 
Florence,  is  at  home. 


T.-O-IES  VINCENT  is  one  of  the  largest 
^^  dealers  in  cattle,  and  is  one  of  the  prosper- 
ous and  enterprising  farmers  of  this  county. 
He  is  a  son  of  Sampson  and  Rhoba  (Smith) 
Vincent,  and  was  born  in  Herkimer  county, 
New  York,  December  14,  1818.  His  srand- 
father,  Caleb  Vincent,  was  a  resident  of  Herk- 
imer county  for  a  number  of  year.s,  but  was 
born  in  Providence,  Rhode  Island.  By  occu- 
pation he  was  a  farmer,  and  died  in  Crawford 
county,  Pennsylvania.  He  married,  and  had 
five  children,  four  sons  and  one  daughter.  The 
maternal  grandfather  of  James  Vincent  was  a 
Mr.  Smith,  who  was  born  near  Utica,  Oneida 
county,  this  State,  whore  he  died.  Sampson 
Vincent  (father)  was  born  in  Rhode  Island, 
and  came  to  this  county  in  1825,  and  located 
on  a  farm  of  three  hundred  and  fifty  acres  in 
Sherman,  which,  with  the  help  of  a  few  hired 
men,  he  cultivated,  in  connection  with  running 
a  saw-mill,  the  remainder  of  his  life.  In  re- 
ligion he  was  a  member  of  the  Free  Will  Bap- 
tist church,  and  in  politics  belonged  to  the  Mhig 
party  first,  then  became  an  abolitionist,  and 
later  on  joined  the  republican  party.  He  .served 
a  short  time  in  the  war  of  1812,  being  sta- 
tioned at  Sackett's  Harbor,  this  State,  on  the 
east  shore  of  Lake  Ontario.  Sampson  Vin- 
cent married  Rhoba  Smith,  In*  whom  he  had 
eleven  children,  eight  sons  and  three  daughters, 
all  the  daughters  and  two  of  the  sons  being 
dead.  Of  the  sons  living,  Dressor  B.  lives  in 
Cold  Water,  a  manufacturing  city  in  Branch 
county,  Michigan,  and  having  studied  medicine, 
is  a  practicing  j)hysician  there;  Jeremiah  H.  is 
a  farmer  in  Wyoming  county,  this  State  ; 
AValker  B.,  William  B.,  and  Stephen  R,  are 
all  farmers  in  Sherman  ;  also  James. 

James  Vincent  was  educated  in  the  common 
schools,  and  began  his  business  career  as  a  (iirm- 
er  and  a  cattle   dealer,   having    nearly  always 


OF  CHAUTAUQUA   COUNTY. 


157 


dealt  pxteusivfly  in  cuttle.  JIu  owns  a  farm  of 
four  liniulrcd  acres  in  Sherman,  which  he  oper- 
ates. Some  years  he  has  boiioht  and  sold  two 
thousand  head  of  cattle.  When  the  Sherman 
bank  was  organized  in  1883,  he  was  one  of  the 
first  board  of  directors,  and  has  been  a  promi- 
nent member  of  the  directorate  ever  since. 
In  politics  he  is  a  republican,  and  has  served 
two  terms  as  road  commissioner.  When  he 
■was  twenty-five  years  old  he  was  elected  a  jus- 
tice of  the  peace,  but  would  not  serve.  James 
Vincent  was  married  in  1845  to  Ann  Price,  a 
daughter  of  Alexander  Price,  of  Owasco, 
N.  Y.,  and  by  her  has  had  three  children,  one 
son  and  two  daughters  :  Jay  S.,  who  is  a  grad- 
uate of  Eastman's  business  college  in  Pough- 
keepsie.  New  York,  and  a  hotel-keeper  at 
Eureka  Springs,  Ark.  He  is  married,  and  has 
one  son,  Claude;  Mary,  married  to  Cornelius 
Myrick,  formerly  a  hardware  merchant,  and 
now  owns  two  large  farms  in  Sherman ;  they 
have  one  child,  a  son,  Preston  R. ;  Adelaide,  a 
graduate  of  Syracuse  University,  who  is  mar- 
ried to  Almon  Taylor,  the  principal  of  the 
Union  school  at  Westfield,  and  has  one  son  and 
one  daughter  :  Vincent  and  Katheryn. 


Republican  party  in  Jamestown,  and  lias  served 
as  one  of  the  Board  of  village  trustees,  of  which 
board  he  was  president.  For  twenty-one  years 
he  had  been  prominently  connected  with  the 
educational  interests  of  Jamestown,  and  for  fif- 
teen years  has  been  president  of  the  Board  of 
education.  He  attends  the  Baptist  church  and 
has  been  one  of  the  trustees  of  that  church  for 
over  thirty  years. 


TOSKPHUS  H.  CLARK,  well  known  to 
^  the  citizens  of  Jamestown,  for  a  number 
of  years  as  jiresident  of  the  Board  of  Education, 
was  born  in  Worcester  county,  Massachusetts, 
December  1,  1819.  He  attended  the  common 
schools  of  the  Commonwealth  of  Massachusetts, 
and  in  1830  removed  to  Chautauqua  county,  to 
the  town  of  Carroll.  Five  years  later  he  came 
to  Jamestown  and  learned  the  trade  of  foundry- 
man,  at  which  he  worked  for  about  eight  years 
as  a  day  workman.  In  1851  he  purchased  the  i 
foundry  on  Fourth  street  and  has  run  it,  and  a 
machine-shop  in  connection  with  it  ever  since,  | 
employing  some  fifteen  men.  July  13,  1851,  [ 
he  married  Jane  Marsh,  a  daughter  of  Moses 
Marsh,  formerly  of  Sutton,  Massachusetts.  Jo- 
sephus  H.  Clark   is  an  active  member  of  the 


nEV.  WILLIAM  LYMi\Jif  HYDK,  a  min- 
ister of  the  Presbyterian  church  and  a 
graduate  of  Bowdoin  college,  is  a  son  of  Capt. 
Henry  and  Maria  (Hyde)  Hyde,  and  was  born 
at  Bath,  Maine,  December  27, 1819.  The  first 
record  that  we  have  of  the  Hyde  family  in  the 
United  States  is  in  1636,  when  the  name  of 
William  Hyde  appears  in  the  municipal  affairs 
of  Hartford,  Connecticut.  He  soon  thereafter 
removed  to  Norwich,  that  State,  where  he  was 
frequently  elected  and  served  as  a  selectman. 
From  him  was  descended  General  Elijah  Clark 
Hyde,  the  paternal  great-grandfather  of  Rev. 
W.  L.  Hyde,  who  was  born  on  June  14, 
1735,  at  Lebanon,  Connecticut,  where  he  died 
on  the  last  day  of  the  first  year  of  the  present 
century.  He  was  the  confidential  friend  of 
Gov.  Trumbull  and  served  as  Washington's 
quartermaster-gencial  during  the  Revolutionary 
war.  His  son  Zabdial  (grandfather)  was  born 
June  4,  1762,  at  Lelianon,  served  at  eighteen 
years  of  age  in  the  closing  struggles  of  the  revo- 
lutionary contest  and  afterwards  removed  to 
Bath,  Maine,  where  he  died  ^May  15,  1842. 
He  married  Mary  Lyman  and  reared  a  family 
of  eleven  children,  one  of  whom  was  Capt. 
Henry  Hyde  (father),  who  was  born  at  Lebanon 
in  1792,  and  died  at  Bath,  Maine,  November  4, 
1873.  He  was  a  book-seller  by  occupation, 
served  as  captain  of  an  artillery  company  in  the 
Maine  militia  for  several  years,  held  the  office  of 
notai'v  public  for  several  terms  and  was  a  whig 
in  politics.  He  was  twice  married.  His  first 
wife   was    ^Nlaria    Hyde,    his   third   cousin,   by 


158 


BIOGRAPHY  AND  HISTORY 


whom  he  had  one  child — Rev.  W.  L.  Hyde, 
and  after  her  death  he  married  Elizabeth  Lov- 
ett,  of  Beverly,  Massachusetts,  who  bore  him 
three  children — Henry,  of  Maine,  and  two  who 
died  young. 

William  Lyman  Hyde  received  his  education 
at  Bowdoiu  college,  from  wliich  he  was  gradu- 
ated in  the  class  of  1842.  Leaving  college  he 
completed  his  theological  studies,  entered  the 
ministry  of  the  Presbyterian  church  and  was 
ordained  May  4,  1849.  He  was  first  settled  as 
a  minister  over  the  church  at  Gardner,  Maine, 
in  1849,  where  he  remained  until  1856,  when 
he  accepted  the  call  of  the  Presbyterian  church 
of  Dunkirk,  this  county,  of  which  he  had  charge 
for  six  years.  At  the  end  of  that  time  (1862) 
he  became  chaplain  of  the  112th  regiment.  New 
York  Vols,  and  served  until  the  close  of  the  ' 
war,  when  he  accepted  a  call  from  the  Presby- 
terian church  at  lli})ley.  He  left  Ripley  in 
1871  to  become  pastor  of  Sherman  Presbyterian 
church,  with  which  he  labored  until  1874: 
For  the  next  ten  years  he  was  princii)al  of  the 
high  school  at  Ovid,  N.  Y.  In  1884  he  came  to 
Jamestown,  where  he  has  been  principally  en- 
gaged in  journalism  ever  since.  Mr.  Hyde  is  a 
republican  in  politics  and  a  member  and  the 
chaplain  of  James  M.  Brown  Post,  No.  285, 
Grand  Army  of  the  Republic. 

On  May  4,  1852,  Rev.  W.  L.  Hyde  married 
Frances  E.  Rice,  granddaughter  of  Dr.  Thomas 
Rice,  circuit  court  Judge  of  Wiscas.sett  county, 
Maine.  To  their  union  have  been  born  three 
.sons — Dr.  Henry  Warren,  a  practicing  physi- 
cian of  Omaha,  Nebraska,  who  married  Nancy 
Plato,  of  Siierman  ;  Wallace  E.,  who  died  in 
infancy,  and  Captain  Frederick  W.,  born  at 
Dunkirk,  N.  Y.,and  who  is  in  command  of  the 
Fenton  (iuards  of  Jamestown,  where  he  has 
been  editor  of  the  Jamestown  Evening  Journal 
for  fourteen  years. 


^OBNEHUS   \V.    MYRICK    is   a    son   of 

^^  Nehemiah  and  Abba  D.  (Reed)  My  rick, 
and  was  born  May  31st,  1846,  in  Chautauqua, 
Chautauqua  county,  N.  Y'.  His  grandfather 
was  John  Myrick,  who  was  a  native  of  Putnam 
county,  N.  Y.,  where  he  was  a  life-long  resi- 
dent and  a  furraer  by  occupation.  John  ^lyrick 
married  Hannah  Mcrritt,  by  whom  he  had  six 
children,  three  .sons  and  three  daughters.  The 
maternal  great-grandfather  of  C.  W.  Myrick 
was  John  Reed,  who  was  a  native  of  Middlesex 
county,  Connecticut,  where  he  spent  his  entire 
life,  being  by  occupation  a  farmer  and  black- 
smith. He  married  Abbie  Whitney  and  by 
her  had  four  children,  three  sons  and  a  daugh- 
ter. One  of  the  sons  was  Moses  Whitney 
Reed  (maternal  grandfather  of  C.  W.  Myrick), 
a  native  also  of  INIiddlesex  county,  where  he 
ended  his  days.  He  studied  for  the  ministry, 
but  was  compelled  to  abandon  the  idea  of 
preaching  on  account  of  ill  health  and  turned 
to  teaching  school  for  a  few  years.  In  his 
religious  views  he  was  a  Presbyterian,  being  a 
member  of  the  church  of  that  denomination. 
Moses  Whitney  Reed  married  Polly  Middle- 
brook  and  they  had  one  child,  a  daughter.  His 
wife  dying,  he  married  for  his  second  choice 
Hannah  Haight,  whose  father  was  a  soldier  in 
the  Revolutionary  war,  and  by  her  he  had  two 
children,  both  daughters:  Miriam,  married  to 
William  Dougherty,  who  is  in  business  in  New 
Y'ork  ;  and  Abba  D.  The  mother  of  these  two 
children  died  November  17th,  1886,  aged 
ninety-three  years.  Nehemiah  Myrick  was 
born  in  Putnam,  New  York,  September  ;kl, 
1806,  and  for  a  few  years  was  engaged  in  the 
river  business  on  the  Hudson,  coming  to  this 
county  in  May,  1838,  and  settling  in  Sherman, 
where  he  died  August  Gth,  1876.  He  entered 
the  mercantile  business  in  Sherman,  but  for 
several  years  followed  farming  in  the  town  of 
Chautauqua.  Politically  he  was  a  republican, 
and  firm  in  his  convictions.  Nchemiaii  Myi'ick 
was  married  October  24tii,  1831,  to  Abba  D. 


OF  CHAUTAUQUA   COUiXTX'. 


159 


Reed,  a  daughter  of"  Moses  Whitney  Rood,  and 
a  native  of"  Connecticut,  wiiere  she  was  born 
January  16th,  1814,  this  union  being  blessed 
witli  four  ciiildren,  three  sons  and  a  daugiiter  : 
Sylvanus  H.,  who  was  horn  June  5th,  1833, 
married  Mary  Ij.  Hawley,  and  lives  on  the  old 
homestead  in  Chautauijua,  where  he  cultivates 
the  farm  ;  lie  served  in  the  112th  regiment  New 
York  Volunteers  a  few  months  during  the  late 
civil  war;  Elmore,  born  March  l(»th,  1830, 
marrieil  to  Martha  Duttoii,  and  lives  in  Sharps- 
burg,  Pennsylvania,  where  he  is  a  retired  mer- 
chant;  Marion  E.,  born  December  Dti),  1840; 
and  Cornelius  W. 

Cornelius  W.  Myriek  was  educated  in  the 
common  schools  of  this  county,  and  began  his 
business  life  as  a  hardware  merchant  in  Sharps- 
burg,  Pennsj'lvania,  where  he  remained  five 
years,  and  then  came  to  Sherman  and  continued 
in  the  same  business  an  equal  length  of  time. 
He  is  now  engaged  in  farming,  owning  two 
large  farms.  Politically  he  is  a  republican. 
Cornelius  W.  ^lyrick  is  married  to  jNlary  P. 
Vincent,  a  daughter  of  James  Vincent  of  Sher- 
man, by  whom  he  has  one  son,  Preston   R. 


T  D.  aiAYKAKD  is  one  of  the  leading  drug- 
^  •  gists  and  pharmacists  in  Fredouia,  and 
has,  by  his  own  exertions,  accumulated  a  very 
comfortable  competency.  He  was  born  in  On- 
tario county,  New  York,  June  19,  1820,  and  is 
a  son  of  John  and  Sarali  (Putney)  INlaynard. 
His  paternal  grandfather,  John  Maynard,  had 
four  sons  and  one  daughter  :  Elisha  ;  Needham  ; 
John  (father);  Permelia  and  Joseph.  Tlie  last 
named  .son  was  a  hou.se  joiner  in  Loekport, 
Niagara  county,  this  State,  acquired  considerable 
property  and  was  one  of  the  influential  men  in  his 
section.  Joiin  Maynard  (father)  was  born  in 
Goshen,  Plampshire  county,  Massachusetts,  in 
1783,  and  was  a  mechanic  and  contractor  until 
1830,  when  he  came  to  this  county  and  settled 
in  Charlotte,  where  he  bought  a  farm  of  one 
hundred  and  forty  acres.     Prior  to  this  trans- 


action he  had  built  a  mile  and  a  half  of  the 
Erie  canal  under  the  administrati(jn  and  super- 
vision of  Governor  UeWitt  Clinton.  He  oc- 
cupied and  cultivated  tliis  farm  iinlil  iiis  death, 
in  18G2,  aged  seventy-six  years.  He  was  col- 
onel of  a  regiment  in  the  war  of  1812,  and  wor- 
shipful ma.ster  in  a  lodge  of  F.  &  A.  M.  in 
Niagara  county.  In  religion  he  was  a  member 
of  the  Christian  church,  first  in  Niagara  county 
and  then  in  Sinclairville,  this  county,  of  wiiich 
he  was  a  deacon  for  several  years.  He  was 
always  a  conscionlious  and  able  man  and  filled 
local  offices  in  his  town.  John  ^Maynard  mar- 
ried Sarali  Putney,  in  1805,  and  by  her  had 
seven  children,  four  sons  and  three  daughters  : 
Abigail,  who  married  Pascal  Darling,  a  farmer 
in  Michigan  ;  Almeda,  married  to  Daniel  Bur- 
ge.ss,  a  merchant  and  extensive  farmer  in  Wis- 
consin, where  he  owns  eight  hundred  acres  ; 
Needham,  a  farmer  in  Niagara  county,  this 
State,  where  he  owns  one  hundred  and  sixty- 
five  acres,  was  keeper  of  Ijockport  poor-house 
two  years,  married  fir.st,  Polly  Buzbee,  second, 
Elmira  Culver;  Addison,  a  farmer  in  Gerry, 
and  merchant  in  Ellington,  this  county,  and  re- 
moved to  Michigan,  married  to  Amanda  Bron- 
son  ;  Adeline  married  Evison  Maynard,  a  far- 
mer and  .speculator  in  Milwaukee,  Wisconsin  ; 
Elisha,  who  died  young  ;  and  J.  D.  ]\Irs.  May- 
nard died  in  1823,  and  John  Maynard,  the  fol- 
lowing year,  married  Charity  Andrew,  a  daugh- 
ter of  Loudon  Andrew  of  Royalton,  Niagara 
county,  this  State,  by  whom  he  had  six  children, 
tiiree  sons  and  three  daughters  :  John,  a  farmer 
in  Iowa,  married  to  Lydia  Smith ;  Harriet 
married  James  Lacker,  a  farmer  in  Niagara 
county  ;  Daniel,  a  farmer  in  Wisconsin,  married 
to  Mary  King  of  Niagara  county,  this  State; 
Eliza  married  Joel  Fletcher,  a  farmer  of 
Greeley,  Colorado;  Perry,  farmer,  but  now  a 
merchant  in  Iowa,  married  to  Mary  Fletcher ; 
IMartha  married  to  Job  Reynolds,  a  wealthy  re- 
tired gentleman  in  Iowa.  The  second  wife  of 
John  Maynard,  died  in  1870. 


IGO 


BIOGRAPHY  AND  HISTORY 


J.  D.  Maynard  was  educated  at  Sinclairville, 
this  county,  attending  tlie  common  schools 
until  he  was  eighteen  years  old  and  spending 
two  years  in  the  select  schools.  Being  brought  . 
up  on  a  farm,  he  worked  at  farming  until  he  i 
left  school  in  1840,  and  then  labored  at  the  bus- 
iness of  carpenter  and  joiner  in  summer  and 
taught  vocal  music  in  winter  for  eighteen  years, 
two  years  in  Pennsylvania  and  the  remainder 
in  this  State.  In  18G2  he  enlisted  in  Co.  B., 
1 12th  regimeut,  New  York  Volunteers,  of  which 
he  was  first  lieutenant,  and  served  one  year, 
during  which  time  he  was  besieged  twenty  days 
by  General  James  Longstreet's  army,  and  par- 
ticipated in  the  battle  of  Deserted  House,  where  i 
the.first  mail  of  the  112th  regiment  was  killed. 
Lieuteuaut  Maynard's  health  failing  so  as  to  in- 
capacitate him  for  service,  he  was  honorably 
discharged  May  28th,  1863,  and  in  the  follow- 
ing September  he  engaged  in  selling  musical 
instruments,  which  business  he  continued  for 
three  years,  then  bought  an  ajjothecary  store  in 
Fredonia,  a  very  fine  three-story  brick,  now 
known  as  Maynard's  drug-store,  and  has  con- 
tinued in  the  drug  business  ever  since,  having 
one  of  the  best  selected  and  most  complete  lines 
of  drugs,  chemicals,  etc.,  in  the  county,  his 
average  stock  being  woi'th  seven  thousand  dol- 
lars. A  farm  of  one  hundred  and  thirty-eight 
acres  in  Sinclairville,  is  also  owned  by  him.  In 
religion  he  favors  the  Presbyterian  church, 
(Mrs.  Maynard  being  a  member),  is  a  constant 
attendant  upon  its  meetings,  and  contributes 
toward  its  support.  He  is  a  member  of  Holt 
post,  G.  A.  R.  in  Fredonia. 

J.  D.  ]\Iaynard  was  married  September  30, 
1845,  to  Amelia  Bronson,  a  daughlcr  of  Samuel 
Bronson,  a  farmer  and  mechanic  of  Sinclairville, 
tills  county,  and  this  union  was  blessed  by  the 
birth  of  a  daughter,  Margaret,  who  was  born 
Feb.,  1847.  She  married  Charles  P.  Ingersoll,  a 
merchant  at  Jamestown,  who  is  now  in  politics, 
liaving  been  in  the  Assembly  for  several  years. 
He  is  also  interested  in  tlie  insurance  business 


in  New  York  city.  Margaret  was  drowned  in 
Cassadaga  lake  with  her  three-year-old  son,  July 
3,  1876.  Mr.  Maynard  then  took  an  orphan 
boy,  three  years  old,  who  is  a  bright  young 
man  and  has  taken  the  name  of  Maynard. 


HOX.  HENKY  C.  L.VItE,  a  successful  fiuan- 
cier  of  Fredonia  and  an  ex-member  of  the 
Assembly  of  New  York,  from  the  Second  dis- 
trict of  Chautauqua  county,  was  born  in  that 
part  of  Gerry  which  is  now  included  in  the 
town  of  Charlotte,  Chautauqua  county.  New 
York,  May  30,  1823,  and  is  a  son  of  Calvin 
and  Sarah  (Mathers)  Lake.  The  upmerons 
Lakes  throughout  the  United  States  are  de- 
scended from  three  I^ake  families,  one  of  which 
was  of  English  origin,  another  of  German  lin- 
eage and  the  third  of  Irish  descent.  The  sub- 
ject of  this  sketch  traces  his  paternal  ancestry 
back  to  three  brothers  by  the  name  of  Lake, 
who  came  from  England  to  Massachusetts  soon 
after  the  voyage  of  the  "Mayflower"  and  the 
landing  of  the  Pilgrims  at  Plymouth.  Two  of 
these  brothers  returned  to  England,  while  the 
third  brother  remained  and  was  afterwards 
killed  by  Indians.  One  of  the  descendants  of 
this  third  brother  was  Henry  Lake,  grandfather 
of  Hon.  Henry  C.  Lake.  Henry  Lake  was  a 
resident  of  New  Hampshire,  and  served  in  the 
Revolutionary  war,  and  his  son,  Calvin  Lake 
(father),  was  born  in  1792  and  died  in  Septem- 
ber, 1851.  Calvin  Lake  was  a  native  of  New 
Hampshire,  and  in  1819  removed  to  the  town 
of  Gerry.  Some  years  previous  to  his  death  he 
lost  his  sight.  He  married  Sarah  Mather, 
daughter  of  Eusebius  Mather,  of  Vermont,  who 
was  a  Revolutidiiaiy  .soldier  and  a  lineal  tlc- 
.scendant  of  the  celebrated  Rev.  Cotton  Mather, 
who  figured  so  conspicuously  in  the  early  history 
of  Massachusetts  and  New  England. 

Henry  C.  Lake  was  reared  on  the  farm,  at- 
tended Fredonia  academy,  and  after  leaving 
school  taught  several  terms  in  the  public  schools. 
While  teaching  he  read  law  for  the  purpose  of 


OF  CHAUTAUQUA   COUNTY. 


161 


fully  (|iialifying  liiai.self  for  business  pursuits 
and  not  with  any  intention -of^'ntcrinj;;  tiie  legal 
profession.  In  ISol  lie  removed  to  Ciiarlotte 
Ceutre,  in  the  town  of  Charlotte,  where  he 
opened  a  general  raereantile  store  and  engaged 
in  the  manufacture  of  a  wood-sawing  machine 
for  cutting  railroad  wood,  besides  giving  some 
attention  to  various  other  lines  of  business.  In 
1865  he  came  to  Fredonia,  where  he  has  resided 
almost  uninterruptedly  ever  since  and  been  en- 
gaged in  various  business  enterprises.  He  was 
weigher  for  two  years  at  the  New  Yoric  custom- 
liouse,  and  tiien  was  appointed  assistant  surveyor 
of  that  port,  which  position  lie  lield  for  over 
four  years.  Mr.  Lake  was  interested  for  some 
years  in  financial  matters.  He  was  one  of  the 
proprietors  of  the  Union  bank  of  Fredonia.  He 
was  also  interested  in  the  Chautauqua  County 
Savings  bank  for  several  years  as  vice-president 
and  director. 

On  August  31,  1847,  he  married  Margaret 
M.  Ames,  who  is  a  native  of  New  Hampshire. 
Their  childi-en  are  :  Clarence  H.,  assistant  cash- 
ier of  the  Chautauqua  County  National  bank 
and  ex-sheritf  of  Chautauqua  county  ;  Nellie  C. 
and  Mary  M. 

In  political  matters  Mr.  Lake  is  a  republican 
and  has  held  the  various  offices  of  his  native 
town.  He  was  elected  in  1862  as  a  member  of 
the  Assembly  from  the  Second  district  of  Chau- 
tauqua county,  was  re-elected  in  1863  and  served 
two  full  terms  as  an  assemblyman  at  a  very  try- 
ing and  stormy  period  in  the  history  of  New 
York,  when  the  duties  and  responsibilities  of 
that  position  were  as  numerous  and  important 
as  at  any  other  time  within  the  career  of  the 
Empire  State  since  its  colonial  days. 


HONORABLE  GEORGE  BARKER,  who 
served  as  a  justice  of  the  Supreme  Court 
of  New  York,  in  the  Eighth  Judicial  District, 
from  1868  to  1889,  is  one  whose  career  well  il- 
lustrates the  great  lesson  that  there  are  few  ob- 
stacles which  industry,  energy,  integrity  and  in- 


tellectual ability  cannot  overcome.  He  was  born 
at  Venice,  Cayuga  county,  New  York,  Novem- 
ber 6,  1823,  and  is  a  son  of  John  A.  and  Phebe 
(Ogden)  Barker.  His  parents  were  both  of 
English  ancestry,  and  his  paternal  grandfather 
served  in  the  llevolutiouary  war,  in  Connecti- 
cut, and  removed  to  Long  Island,  where  he  was 
widely  known  for  his  kindness,  generosity  and 
hospitality.  His  son,.  John  A.  Barker  (father), 
was  born  in  1787  and  died  in  Cayuga  county  in 
.1858.  He  learned  the  tanning  business,  which 
he  followed  in  connection  with  farming,  after 
removing,  in  1810,  to  New  York.  "  He  w^a.s  a 
man  of  activity  and  energy,  of  great  force  of 
character,  prosperous  in  his  business  pursuits,  of 
good  repute  and  of  considerable  local  influence 
in  public  affairs."  In  1810,  at  Chenango  Forks, 
Broome  county,  he  married  Phebe  Ogden,  who 
was  born  at  Elizabeth,  N.  J.,  and  passed  away 
in  1860  in  Cayuga  county.  She  was  a  member 
of  that  Ogden  family  of  New  Jersey,  which  has 
produced  so  many  eminent  and  distinguished 
men.  One  of  the  able  jurists  of  this  family  was 
David  Ogden,  a  graduate  of  Yale  college  and  a 
judge  of  the  Supreme  Court  of  New  Jersey, 
whose  sou,  Hon.  Abraham  Ogden,  one  of  the 
great  jury  lawyers  of  his  day,  was  the  founder 
of  Ogdensburg,  New  York,  and  the  father  of 
Thomas  Ludlow  Ogden,  who  was  the  law  part- 
ner of  Alexander  Hamilton  and  the  legal  ad- 
viser of  the  Holland  Land  company.  Among 
the  many  other  Ogdens  of  New  Jersey  who 
were  distinguished  divines,  inventors  and  states- 
men, was  United  States  Senator  Aaron  Ogden, 
who  graduated  at  Princeton  and  served  tnider 
Washington  in  the  Revolutionary  war. 

George  Barker  grew  to  manhood  on  his 
father's  farm  and  received  his  education  in  the 
common  and  select  schools  of  his  neiy-hborhoud 
and  Aurora  academy.  He  commenced  the  study 
of  law  in  1844,  with  David  Wright,  of  Auburn, 
and  was  admitted  to  the  bar  of  that  place  in 
Noveml)er,  1847.  In  January,  1848,  he  came 
to  Freilonia,  where  he  entered  upon  the  practice 


162 


BIOGRAPHY  AND  HISTORY 


of  his  profession  and  where  he  has  resided  ever 
since.  He  was  clerk  of  the  village  in  1850, 1851  ! 
and  1852,  and  served  as  president  of  the  village 
in  1853,  1857  and  1858.  In  1853  he  was 
elected  district  attorney  of  Chautauqua  county 
and  again  in  1862,  but  resigned  before  the  ex- 
piration of  his  second  term.  He  devoted  his 
time  assiduously  to  the  practice  of  his  profession 
with  good  success  until  1867,  when  he  served  as 
a  member  of  the  Constitutional  convention  of 
New  York,  of  that  year,  and  rendered  good  ser- 
vice on  the  committee  of  '■  the  judiciary  "  and 
"tlie  legislature  and  its  organization."  His 
colleague  from  Chautauqua  county  was  Augustus 
F.  Allen.  After  the  close  of  his  labors  in  the 
Constitutional  convention,  he  returned  home  and 
was  elected  during  the  same  year  as  a  justice  of 
the  Supreme  Court  of  New  York  in  the  Eighth 
Judicial  District,  composed  of  the  counties  of 
Allegany,  Cattaraugus,  Chautauqua,  Erie,  Nia- 
gara, Genesee,  Orleans  and  Wyoming,  to  suc- 
ceed Hon.  Martin  Grover,  whose  second  terra 
was  then  expiring.  Judge  Barker  served  his 
full  term  of  eight  years,  was  re-elected  in  1875 
for  a  term  of  fourteen  years,  and  at  its  expiration, 
in  1889  retired  from  the  bench.  In  the  fol- 
lowing year,  1890,  he  was  appointed  and  served 
as  a  member  of  the  commission,  consi-sting  of 
thirty-eight  members,  created  by  an  act  of  the 
legislature,  to  propose  amendments  to  the  article 
of  the  constitution  relative  to  the  judiciary  sys- 
tem of  the  State,  and  to  report  their  recommend- 
ations to  the  legislature  for  their  action. 

On  Octo!)er  1.3,  1857,  Judge  Barker  married 
Achsah  Elizabeth  Glisau,  of  Frederick  county, 
Maryland.  'I'iiey  have  one  child,  a  daughter, 
Mary  E.,  wiio  is  the  wife  of  John  Woodward, 
of  Jamestown. 

Judge  Barker  has  never  been  a  politician  in 
the  pojiular  sense  of  the  term,  and  while  quiet 
and  unostentatious  in  manner,  he  has  never  been 
lacking  in  the  courage  to  express  his  convictions 
on  |)ubli('  questions. 


T4  >-Al,TER  W.  HOLT,  a  lawyer  of  over  forty 
^*-  years  active  practice  before  all  the  courts 
of  the  State  of  New  York  and  senior  member 
of  the  legal  firm  of  Holt  &  Holt,  of  Duiddrk 
city,  was  born  at  Springfield,  Otsego  county, 
New  York,  September  24,  1821,  and  is  a  son  of 
General  Walter  and  Sarah  (Van  Beuschoten) 
Holt.  The  Holts  of  New  York  trace  their 
English  lineage  through  the  Connecticut  faniilv 
of  that  name,  of  which  their  family  is  a  branch, 
and  was  founded  by  Deacon  George  Holt  (grand- 
father), who  removed  from  Connecticut  to  Ot- 
sego county,  where  he  followed  farming  until 
his  death,  when  eighty-six  years  of  age.  He 
was  a  democrat  and  an  active  member  of  the 
Baptist  church.  His  son.  Gen.  Walter  Holt 
(father),  was  born  in  1791  and  came  w-ith  his 
parents  about  1796  to  Otsego  county,  where  he 
died  in  1867.  Gen.  Holt  was  an  extensive 
farmer  and  a  large  stock-raiser.  He  was  a 
deacon  of  the  Baptist  church,  served  as  a  major- 
I  general  in  the  New  York  Militia  and  was  a  man 
of  energy  and  unusual  will-power.  He  was  a 
democrat  until  1856,  when  he  became  a  repub- 
lican and  afterwards  served  for  seven  years  as  a 
justice  of  the  peace.  His  wife,  Sarah  Holt,  was 
a  member  of  the  Van  Beuschoten  family  of  Ot- 
sego county,  and  a  Baptist  in  religious  belief; 
she  died  in  1857,  aged  fifty-six  years. 

Walter  W.  Holt  spent  his  boyhood  days  on 
the  farm  and  received  his  early  education  in  the 
common  schools.  He  then  entered  Gilbertsville 
academy,  but  completed  his  academic  cour.se  at 
Clinton  academy  of  Oneida  county,  where  the 
principal  gave  him  charge  of  several  classes 
while  he  attended  there.  Leaving  Clinton 
academy  he  became  jMincipal,  in  1845,  of  xVkron 
Hiwh  school,  Ohio,  and  while  there  that  year  he 
aided  in  establishing  a  union  sciiool,  and  organ- 
ized the  first  teachers'  institute  ever  held  in  the 
State  of  Ohio. 

In  1847,  wiiile  on  his  way  to  visit  ins  fatiier, 
he  was  taken  sick  at  Fredonia,  and  after  recov- 
ering from  his  sickness  he  was  so  iiivorably  im- 


OF  CHAUTAUQUA   COUNTY. 


163 


jiressed  with  this  county  that  he  decided  ti^ricttlc 
in  it.  He  then  read  law  with  Stephen  Snow,  of" 
Fredonia,  was  admitted  to  practice  in  tlio  Su- 
preme Court  of  New  Yorlc  iu  1849,  and  four  j 
years  later  opened  an  ofBce  at  Fredonia,  where 
he  practiced  until  1861.  In  that  year  he  came 
to  Diudvirk,  where  he  soon  acquired  a  lucrative 
practice,  and  where  he  now  stands  in  the  front 
rank  of  the  resident  lawyers  of  the  city.  He  is 
an  active  democrat  and  was  city  counselor  for 
several  years,  but  resigned  in  1882  in  favor  of 
his  son,  Walter  I).  Holt, 

He  married,  iu  1845,  Mary  S.,  daughter  of 
Stephen  Stewart,  of  Warren,  N.  Y.,  and  who 
died  in  1853,  leaving  one  child,  a  daughter, 
Isabella  S.  On  October  3,  1855,  he  united  in 
iuarria»e  with  Sarah  S.  Brown,  daujrhter  of 
Euos  Brown,  of  Utica,  New  York.  To  this 
second  union  was  born  one  child,  a  son,  Walter 
D.,  who  read  law,  was  admitted  to  the  bar, 
served  as  city  counselor  since  1883,  and  since 
1879  has  been  a  partner  with  his  father  iu  the 
practice  of  law. 

In  early  life  Mr.  Holt  was  engaged  in  several 
extensive  business  entei'prises,  and  furnished  the 
stone  used  in  the  construction  of  several  sections  , 
of  the  Erie  &  Lake  Shore  railroads,  besides 
building  a  plank  walk  from  Dunkirk  to  Fre- 
donia. He  has  been  the  counsel  of  the  Chau- 
tauqua Assembly  for  over  twelve  years,  and  is 
also  counsel  of  the  Free  Association  of  Cassa- 
dasa  Lake. 


TA^ILLIAM  H.  WAL,KKK,  postmaster  of 
-^*-  Wcstfield,  and  a  past  commander  of 
Wm.  Sackett  Post,  No.  324,  Grand  Army 
■of  the  Republic,  was  born  at  Warsaw,  Wyo- 
ming county,  New  York,  July  18,  1838,  and 
is  a  son  of  William  and  Abigail  E.  (Ensign) 
Walker.  His  parents  were  natives  of  St. 
Albans,  Vermont,  where  his  father,  William 
Walker,  learned  the  trade  of  harness-maker. 
He  served  as  a  soldier  from  Vermont,  iu  the 
War  of  1812,  and  afterwards  came  to  Warsaw, 


where  he  followed  fiu-ming  and  hdrness-making 
and  where  he  died  in  1885,  at  the  advanced  age 
of  ninety  years. 

AYilliam  IL  Walker  was  reared  at  Warsaw, 
where  he  received  an  academic  education.  In 
1861  he  enlisted  in  Co.  K,  17th  New  York  as 
a  ])rivate  and  was  afterwards  promoted  to  ser- 
geant major  of  his  I'egimcnt.  He  was  at  Han- 
over Court-house,  Second  Bidl  linn  and  Autie- 
tam,  and  was  honorably  discharged  iu  June, 
1863,  having  served  the  full  term  of  his  enlist- 
ment. He  returned  to  Warsaw  where  he  was 
in  business  until  1866,  when  he  came  to  West- 
field  and  became  a  partner  of  L.  Parsons 
iu  the  drug  business.  Mr.  Parsons  died 
eighteen  months  later  and  Mr.  Walker  pur- 
chased the  interest  of  Mr.  Parsons'  heirs  in  the 
business  and  since  then  has  successfully  eon- 
ducted  his  drug  store.  He  has  a  laro-e  stock 
of  pure  aud  carefully  selected  drugs,  and  en- 
joys a  liberal  patronage.  Having  I'eceived  the 
a[)pointmeut  by  President  Harrison,  as  post- 
master of  Westfield,  he  assumed  the  duties  of 
the  office  on  March  3,  1890,  which  ofSce  he  has 
held  with  credit  to  himself  ever  since. 

On  September  3,  1863,  he  married  Jeannette 
A.  Taber,  of  Warsaw,  New  York.  They  have 
two  children  :  Charles  T.,  a  graduate  of  Wil- 
liams college,  now  a  teacher  in  the  ''Berkely 
school,"  New  Y'ork  City  ;  and  Edward  T., 
book-keeper  of  the  National  Bank  of  Westfield. 

William  H.  Walker  is  a  republican  in  poli- 
tics, but  was  never  an  office  seeker,  and  as  post- 
master of  Westfield  has  endeavored  to  discharge 
faithfully  every  duty  of  his  office.  The  West- 
field  postoffice  is  the  successor  of  Chautauqua 
postoffice,  the  first  postoffice  in  the  county,  and 
was  established  on  May  6,  1806,  on  the  west 
side  of  the  creek,  with  Col.  James  McMahau  as 
postmaster.  It  continued  until  June  15,  1818, 
when  it  was  discontinued,  and  Westfield  post- 
office  was  established  as  its  successor,  with  Fenn 
Dcmmiiig  as  postmaster.  The  postmasters  since 
then  have   been  :   Orvis  Nichols,  William  Sex- 


164 


SWOMAPHl'  AND  HISTORY 


ton,  Eev.  H.  W.  Beers,  Dr.  M.  Kenyon,  David 
Mann,  Byron  Hall,  F.  C.  Borger,  W.  E. 
Wheeler,  C.  U.  Drake,  F.  A.  Hall,  J.  La  Due, 
and  the  present  incumbent,  W.  H.  Walker. 
Mr.  Walker  is  an  active  member  of  Wm.  Sack- 
ett  Post,  No.  324,  Grand  Army  of  the  Eepub- 
lic,  and  the  present  secretary  and  past  regent  of 
Westfield  Council,  No.  81,  Royal  Arcanum. 


HAR^'EY  3IOXTGOMERY  is  a  descen- 
dant of  a  very  old  family  in  Ireland, 
which  has  sent  several  representatives  to  Amer- 
ica, who  have  become  distinguished  in  military, 
naval,  religious  and  political  fields.  He  is  a 
son  of  Ezekiel  and  Fidelia  (Martin)  Montgom- 
ery, and  was  born  in  Hanover,  Chautauqua 
county,  New  York,  October  8,  1843.  His 
father  was  a  native  of  the  eastern  part  of  New 
York,  born  in  1800,  and  came  to  Chautauqua 
county,  locating  in  Hanovor  in  1832. 

By  trade  he  was  a  mill-wright,  and  for  a 
number  of  years  was  engaged  in  the  manufac- 
ture of  milling  and  grain-cleaning  machinery, 
in  partnership  with  two  of  his  sons,  Henry  and 
Martin,  under  the  firm  name  of  E.  Montgom- 
ery &  Co.  They  continued  in  this  business  un- 
til 186C).  He  died  in  18G8,  aged  sixty-eight 
years.  Politically  he  was  a  republican.  Eze- 
kiel Montgomery  married  Fidelia  Martin,  by 
whom  he  had  eight  children.  One  son,  Bald- 
win, lives  in  Silver  Creek;  another,  Henry, 
died  in  Buffalo,  October,  1887;  and  a  third, 
Martin,  in  Newark,  Ohio.  jNIrs.  Montgomery 
was  a  native  of  eastern  New  York,  born  in 
1800,  and  died  in  tiie  autumn  of  1886,  aged 
eighty  y(?ars.  She  was  a  member  of  the  Pres- 
byterian church. 

Harvey  Montgomery  was  brought  up  in  Sil- 
ver Creek,  this  county,  and  received  a  common 
.school  education.  After  leaving  .school  he 
learned  the  machini.st's  trade,  which  he  followed 
for  the  last  thirty  years.  In  March,  1886,  he 
engaged  as  foreman  in  the  establishment,  where 
he  still   holds  that   position,  and   is  considered 


an  expert,  skillful  and  reliable  workman  with 
excellent  executive  ability.  He  is  a  member  of 
the  fire  department,  and  also  of  Silver  Creek 
Council,  Royal  Arcanum,  No.  139. 

Harvey  Montgomery  was  married  Novem- 
ber, 1871,  to  Helen  Hortou,  a  daughter  of 
Albert  Horton  of  Silver  Creek. 


JOSEPH    AV.      HUNTLEY    is    a    son     of 

^  ^Michael  and  Mercy  R.  (Higgins)  Hunt- 
ley, and  was  born  in  Lyme,  Connecticut,  April 
21,  1812.  His  grandfather,  Reuben  Huntley, 
was  also  a  native  of  Connecticut,  but  emigrated 
to  Chenango  county,  this  State,  where  he  passed 
the  remainder  of  his  days  as  a  farmer.  In 
politics  he  was  a  democrat.  Sylvamis  Higgins 
(maternal  grandfather)  was  a  native  of  Lyme, 
where  he  spent  his  life  on  a  farm.  Michael 
Huntley  (father)  was  born  in  Lyme  on  October 
27,  1777,  arid  for  a  few  years  followed  farming 
as  an  occupation.  He  then  sought  the  sea  for  a 
livelihood,  and  became  captain  of  a  merchant 
vessel  running  between  New  York  city  and  the 
West  Indies,  and  during  a  passage  home  from 
the  latter  port,  died  of  yellow  fever,  January 
23,  1818.  Politically  he  was  an  old-line  whig. 
In  1800  he  married  Mercy  R.  Higgins  and  had 
five  children,  all  of  whom  are  dead  except 
Joseph  W. 

Joseph  W.  Huntley  was  educated  in  the  com- 
mon schools  of  his  native  town,  and  after  leav- 
ing school  began  the  li.fe  of  a  sailor,  which  he 
followed  until  twenty-three  years  of  age,  when, 
in  1836,  he  exchanged  the  tempestuous  king- 
dom of  Neptune  for  the  more  quiet  and  |ieace- 
ful  realm  of  Ceres  by  coming  to  Sherman,  this 
county,  and  buying  a  farm  of  two  hundreil 
acres  in  the  primeval  forest,  where  an  axe  had 
never  been  seen,  which  he  cleared  and  cultivated 
until  April,  1881,  when,  fi'eling  he  was  justly 
entitled  to  dijoy  the  harvest  of  his  labors  in  a 
serene  old  age,  he  moved  into  the  village  of 
Sherman,  where  he  has  since  resided.  Jti  his 
j)i)lilical   opinions   lie  is  a  republiciin,  and  has 


OF  CHAUTAUQUA   COUNTY. 


165 


held    tlie    offices    of    ro;ul    commissioner    and 
assessor  several  terms. 

Joseph  W.  Huutley  was  married  on  October 
10,  ]83r),  to  Mary  E.  lieed,  a  daughter  of  Ely 
Reed.  To  this  union  have  been  born  three 
children,  two  sons  and  one  daughter:  Sylvanus 
H.,  who  died  at  seven  years  of  age;  William 
R.,  who  married  Delia  Frost,  of  Cherry  Creek, 
and  is  a  farmer  in  Sherman;  and  Elizabeth  M. 


TTLBEBT   C.   WI1>MAN,    one  of   the  suc- 

■**■  cessful  and  enterprising  young  business 
men  of  this  city,  was  born  in  Dunkirk,  Chau- 
tauqua county,  N.  Y.,  September  15,  1860,  and 
is  a  son  of  Charles  and  Sabina  (Hiller)  Wid- 
man.  His  father  was  a  native  of  Heiningen, 
Germany,  and  was  bora  in  1827.  He  was 
brought  up  in  his  native  country,  receiving  his 
education  in  the  schools  there,  after  which  he 
taught  school.  He  then  learned  the  trade  of  a 
pattern-maker,  and  in  1853  emigrated  to  Can- 
ada, where  he  resided  in  Quebec  for  one  year. 
He  came  to  the  United  States  in  1854  and 
located  at  Dunkirk,  where  he  sj)ent  the  re- 
mainder of  his  life.  As  a  pattern-maker  he 
worked  in  the  Brooks  locomotive  works  for 
twenty  years,  at  the  expiration  of  which  time 
he  engaged  in  the  grocery  business  with  William 
Wyman,  the  firm-name  being  Widman  &  Wy- 
mau.  At  the  end  ot  two  years  he  withdrew 
from  the  firm  and  went  into  the  same  business 
alone,  in  which  he  remained  during  the  rest  of 
his  life.  He  was  a  very  successful  business 
man,  and  built  a  handsome  two-story  brick 
block,  using  the  ground  floors  for  his  business  | 
and  the  second  story  as  his  private  residence. 
The  block  was  erected  in  1874  at  the  corner  of  ; 
Railroad  Avenue  and  Courtney  Street.  Politi- 
cally he  was  a  democrat,  and  died  July  25, 
1889.  In  1847  he  married  Sabina  Hiller,  a 
native  of  Ulm,  Germany,  who  was  born  July 
21,  1822,  and  nmv  resides  in  Dunkirk  with 
Albert  C.  They  were  the  parents  of  four  chil-  , 
dren,  two  sons  and  two  daughters.  I 


Albert  C.  Widman  was  reared  in  Dunkirk, 
received  his  education  in  the  public  schools,  and 
in  1889  bought  his  father's  saloon  and  grocery 
business  and  still  contimies  at  the  old  stand. 
He  not  oidy  has  a  most  excellent  trade,  i)ut 
adds  materially  to  his  revenue  by  handling 
flour  and  feed.  In  politics  lie  is  a  democrat, 
has  served  as  inspector  of  election  boards,  and 
is  a  promising  and  [lopular  young  man. 

Albert  C.  Widman  was  married,  IMay  28, 
1889,  to  Nellie  Westerberg,  daughter  of  S.  J. 
Westerberg,  of  Hartfield,  this  county.  This 
union  has  been  blest  with  one  child,  Barbara 
L.,  who  was  born  September  IG,  1890. 


TOHX  MILLIARD   is   one    of  the    men   to 

^  whom  several  of  the  best  citizens  and 
firms  of  Dunkirk  owe  the  solidity  and  durabil-- 
ity  of  their  residences  and  places  of  business. 
He  was  born  on  Staten  Island,  New  York, 
October  26,  1842,  and  is  a  son  of  Samuel  and 
Elizabeth  (Tims)  Hilliard.  His  father,  Samuel 
Hilliard,  was  of  Quaker  ancestry,  born  in  New 
Jersey,  in  1808,  spending  his  early  youth  in 
that  State  and  in  Philadelphia,  Pa.  He  was  a 
contracting  mason  by  occupation,  moved  to 
Staten  Island  in  1839,  where  he  worked  at  his 
trade  until  1844,  moved  to  and  resided  in 
Buffalo  until  1849  and  then  came  to  Duukii-k 
to  comjjlete  the  Loder  House,  which  was  opened 
to  the  public  late  in  1850,  when  the  Erie  rail- 
road was  completed  to  Dunkirk.  He  moved 
his  family  here  in  1850,  and  for  twenty-three 
years  was  foreman  of  the  masons  in  the  employ 
of  the  western  division  of  the  Erie  railroad. 
In  religion  he  was  an  attendant  at  the  Episcopal 
church  and  politically  was  a  democrat.  He 
was  a  member  of  the  Board  of  Education  at 
Dunkirk  for  two  vears  and  was  a  verv  enero-etic 
man.  In  1839  he  married  Elizabeth  Tims,  a 
native  of  England,  who  came  to  America  when 
quite  young,  and  they  were  the  parents  of  ten 
children,  six  .sons  and  four  daughters.  Mr. 
Hilliard  died  in  1882,  at  the  age  of  seventy-four 


166 


BIOGRAPHY  AND  HISTORY 


years,  and  Mrs.  Hilliard  in  1884,  aged  sixty- 
three  years. 

Jolin  Hilliard  came  to  Dunkirk  with  his 
parents  in  October,  1850,  and  received  his  edu- 
cation in  the  common  schools  of  that  place. 
He  then  learned  the  trade  of  a  mason  and  for 
the  last  twenty  years  has  been  engaged  in  con- 
tracting and  building,  and  among  the  buildings 
which  show  his  handiwork  are  the  Avery,  Book- 
staver,  Brooks  and  Hinman  residences,  St. 
Mary's  Retreat,  the  offices  and  additions  of  the 
Brooks  Locomotive  Works  and  scores  of  others. 
Since  the  organization  of  the  Brooks  Locomo- 
tive Works  in  1869,  he  has  done  all  their  mason 
work  and  is  accounted  as  skilled  a  workman  as 
this  section  affords.  He  is  a  member  of  St. 
John's  Episcopal  church,  of  which  he  is  also  a 
vestrvm-an,  is  a  democrat  in  politics  and  has 
been  a  member  of  the  common  council.  He  is 
a  member  of  Dunkirk  Chapter,  Xo.  191,  R. 
A.  M.,  and  Dunkirk  Council,  Xo.  25. 

John  Hilliard,  on  May  1st,  1872,  was  mar- 
ried to  Alice  Cruser,  a  daughter  of  Samuel 
Cruser,  of  Dunkirk,  and  to  their  union  have 
been  born  three  children,  one  son  and  two 
daughters :  Maud,  Ethel,  and  John,  whose  ages 
are  respectively,  eighteen,  sixteen  and  nine  years. 


FRANK  EDWAR1>  (ilFFOKD,  a  son  of 
Horace  H.  and  Rhoda  (Steward)  Giffcird^ 
was  born  Xovember  6,  1845,  at  Wrightsville, 
Warren  county,  Pennsylvania.  His  paternal 
grandfather  was  William  GifTord,  one  of  the  pio- 
neers of  Chautauqua  county,  and  one  of  its 
most  respected  citizens. 

Frank  E.  Gifford  received  his  education, 
after  the  common  schools,  at  the  Fredonia 
Academy,  and  at  Fort  Edward,  New  York.  He 
develop(;d  marked  business  tastes  early  in  life, 
and  at  the  age  of  sixteen  began  a  career  for 
hiinself.  During  the  war  he  held  a  respon- 
sible position  in  the  quartermaster's  dejmrt- 
mont  at  Albany,  X.  Y.  After  business  ven-  ; 
turcs  in    Xcw  York    City  and    elsewhere,  he  ; 


returned,  in  1870,  to  Jamestown,  where  his 
family  all  reside,  giving  his  attention  to  the 
Jamestown  Cane-seat  Chair  Works.  In  1880 
he,  with  his  brothers  Charles  H.  and  William 
S.  Giff()rd,  bought  the  entire  plant,  and  F.  E. 
Giff()rd  became  president  of  the  company, 
which  office  he  still  holds. 

On  June  29,  1881,  Mr.  Gilford  was  married 
to  Miss  Josephine  Fenton,  daughter  of  Gov- 
ernor R.  E.  Fenton,  of  New  York.  To  them 
have  been  born  two  children.  Governor  Fenton 
died  August  5,  1885,  leaving  a  large  estate, 
of  which  Mr.  Gifford  was  executor.  He 
succeeded  Governor  Fenton  to  the  presidency 
of  the  First  National  Bank  of  Jamestown, 
and  still  retains  the    office. 

Mr.  Gifford  is  a  democrat  politically,  a  man 
of  large  ideas  and  wide  influence. 
o 

HUGH  W.  THOMPSON,  editor  and  pro- 
prietor of  the  Westfield  Republican,  the 
seventh  established  and  now  oldest  newspaper 
of  Westfield,  is  a  son  of  Hugh  W.,  Sr.,  and 
Eliza  (McDowell)  Thompson  and  was  born  at 
Westfield,  Chautauqua  county.  New  York, 
October  2,  1858.  His  parents  are  natives  of 
County  Down,  Ireland,  and  came  in  1851  to 
^^'^estfield,  where  his  father  has  followed  car- 
pentering. 

Hugh  W.  Thompson  was  reared  at  West- 
field,  where  he  attended  the  academy  of  that 
place  until  he  was  eighteen  years  of  age,  when 
he  went  to  Mayville  and  learned  the  trade  of 
printer  in  the  office  of  the  Sentinel.  In  July, 
1885,  he  returned  to  Westfield  and  worked  on 
the  Itcpuhlicnn  until  May  13,  1889,  when  he 
purchased  the  paper  of  A.  E.  Rose,  then  its 
proprietor,  and  has  published  it  ever  since. 
The  Republioan  was  started  April  25,  1855, 
by  a  company  com])osed  of  G.  W.  Patterson, 
W.  H.  Seward,  Alvin  Plumb  and  Austin 
Smith.  Its  first  editor  was  M.  C.  Rice,  and 
its  circuhation  under  his  charge  was  about  one 
thousantl  copies. 


OF  CHAUTAUQUA   COUNTY. 


167 


Hugh  W.  Thompson  has  always  been  inde- 
pendent in  politics,  and  is  a  niombur  and  for 
the  last  three  years  has  been  an  elder  of  the 
Westfield  Presbyterian  church.  His  paper  is 
a  folio,  30  by  44  inches  in  size,  has  a  circu- 
lation of  one  thousand  copies  and  is  a  reliable 
weekly  ;   crisp,  attractive  and  interesting. 

The  Westfield  Republican,  as  its  name  im- 
plies, has  always  been  and  is  republican  in 
politics.  It  has  always  been  aggrcssivttly  re- 
publican, and  has  never  been  neglectful  of  the 
interests  of  Westfield  or  Chautauqua  county. 
It  has  been  so  edited  and  conducted  by  Mr. 
Thompson  as  to  command  attention  and  re- 
spect from  his  political  opponents,  as  well  as 
to  win  support  and  advocates  within  his  own 
party.  He  has  succeeded  in  giving  his  county 
a  clean  and  newsy  sheet  while  establishing  a 
fearless  and  successful  organ  in  the  interests  of 
the  party  of  Lincoln,  Grant  and  Garfield. 


TOHN    K.     DERBY,    an     aged     citizen   of 

^^  Jamestown,  Chautauqua  county,  New 
York,  has  resided  here  since  1836,  and  for 
many  years  was  a  painter,  and  conducted  a  ! 
paint  and  oil  store  here  until  186(j ;  he  then 
sold  out  the  business  to  his  brother  Silas  S. 
Derby,  who  had  been  a  partner  for  a  number  of 
years.  Mr.  Derby  is  the  third  son  of  Joseph 
and  Elizabeth  (Kenyon)  Derby,  and  was  born 
near  Batavia,  Genesee  county.  New  York,  Feb- 
ruary 9,  181G.  He  comes  from  two  very  old 
families.  Phineas  Derby  (paternal  grandfather) 
was  one  of  two  brothers  who  came  from  Eng- 
land and  settled  in  Vermont  ;  he  followed 
farming  until  his  death.  He  was  active,  politi- 
cally, and  served  in  the  Colonial  army ;  the 
maternal  grandfather.  Rouse  Kenyon,  was  a 
native  of  Rliode  Island,  but  removed  to  Gene-  ' 
see  county,  near  Batavia.  Joseph  Derby  was 
born  in  the  State,  whose  bosom  holds  the  form  ! 
of  the  glorious  Ethan  Allen,  and  he  remained 
there  until  reaching  manhood,  when  he  left  the 
place  of  his  nativity  and  saw  it   no   more.     He  [ 


first  went  to  Genesee  county,  New  York,  and 
there  married  Elizabeth  Kenyon,  and  a  few 
years  after  they  removed  to  Monroe  county, 
this  State,  and  still  later  he  removed  to  Warren 

[  county,  Pennsylvania,  and  died  there  March 
14,  1837.  Mr.  Derby  gained  a  livelihood  by 
farming  and  stone  mason  work.  His  marriage 
resulted  in  five  children  :  Phineas,  died  October 
0,1887;  Sylvanus,  died  in  1886;  John  K. 
and  Silas  S.  Derby  (.see  his  sketch)  reside  in 
Jamestown,  New  York ;  William:  R.  Derby 
resides  in  North  Warren,  Pennsylvania,  where 
he  is  engaged  in  the  l)utcliering  business. 

John  K.  Derby  was  educated  in  the  common 
schools  of  Monroe  county,  acquired  the  paint- 
ing trade  at  Rochester,  New  York,  and  was  em- 
ployed in  that  city  five  years.  He  afterward, 
in  1836,  (^arae  to  Jamestown,  and  for  twenty- 
eight  years   was  jiroprictor  of  a  paint  and  oil 

I  store.     He  then  went  out  (jf  active  business,  but 

I  since  then  has  not  been  idle,  but  has  been  en- 
gaged in  building  and  repairing  his  hou.ses 
and  has  done  considerable  joiner's  work  and 
painting,  besides  building  two  steam  yachts  and 

I  a  fevr  row-boats  for  his  own  use  on  Chautau- 
qua lake. 

He  has  been  twice  married,  first  to  Ruth 
Smith,  of  Busti,  New  York,  December  13, 1837, 
by  whom  he  had  two  children,  a  son,  Ami,  died 
at  the  age  of  thirteen  months  ;  and  a  daughter, 
Edna,  who  married  N.  A.  Arnold  and  died 
when  twenty-three  years  of  age.  His  second 
was  L.  Antoinette  Dill,  by  whom  he  has  one 
child,  I.  Frederick  Derby,  born  May  30,  1882. 
J.  K.  Derby  is  in  moi-e  than  comfortable 
circumstances,  owning  considerable  real  estate, 
houses  and  lots.  Politically  he  is  a  repub- 
lican, his  first  vote  being  cast  for  Martin 
Van  Buren,  when  that  gentleman  ran  for  Presi- 
dent. He  has  held  no  office  except  that  of 
poor-master  for  ten  years,  and  a  trustee  of  the 
Jamestown  schools.  Mr.  Derby  is  a  member 
of  Ellicott  lodge.  No.  221, 1.  O.  O.  F.,  of  which 
he  has  been  a  member  for  eighteen  years. 


168 


BIOGRAPHY  AND  HISTORY 


TT  LFRED  A,  STABRING,  a  member  of  the 
-**■     well-known  and  enterprising  firm  known 
as  the  Silver  Creek  Step-Latkler  company,  is  a 
son  of  Sylvanus  S.  and  Grace  A-  (Stearns)  Star- 
ring, and  was  born  in  Barry  county,  an  agri- 
cultural region  in  southwest  central  Michigan, 
Sejjtember  24,  18G0.     His  father,  Sylvanus  S. 
Starring,  is  a  native  of  Utica,  Oneida  county, 
this  State.    When  a  young  man  he  followed  the 
avocation  of  a  sailor  on  the  lakes  for  seven  years, 
until  he  was  wrecked  on  Lake  Erie  by  tiie  burn- 
ing of  the  boat  on  which  he  was  employed.    He 
then  started  for  the  west,  but  fell  in  with  a  party 
expecting  to  work  for  the  Detroit  ct  ^Milwaukee 
railroad,  then  being  constructed.     He  worked 
on  the  road-bed  until  it  passed  through  Lowell, 
where    he   quit   and,   going    five    miles    south, 
he  cleared  a  farm  from  the  wilderness  in  Barry 
county,   Michigan,    which    he  cultivated   until 
1861,  and  then  enlisted  in  Co.  D,  3d  regiment, 
Michigan  Infantry,  serving  until  the  close  of  the 
war,   when    he  was   honorably  discharged,   on 
June  3,  1865,  at  Washington,  D.  C.     He  Was 
■with  Berdan's  Sharpshooters  one  and  one-half 
years,  and  rose  to  the  rank  of  captain,  and  while 
with  them  was  wounded  in  front  of  Petersburg,  ' 
Va.    In  18G6  he  moved  to  Irving,  this  county, 
with  his  family,  where  he  remained  until  1879, 
engaged  in  the  blacksmith's  business.     In  that 
year  he  came  to  Silver  Creek  and  resumed  the 
.same  trade,  which  he  followed  until  1884,  and 
then  organized  the  Silver  Creek  Step-Ladder 
company,  which  manufactured  the  Starring  pat- 
ent truss  stej^-laddur,  the  shelf-lock  and  half- 
truss  step-ladder,  the  folding  wash-bench  and 
wringer  stand,  and  the  standard  ironing-table, 
in  which  business  he  is  at  present  engaged.     In 
polities  he  is  a  republican,  and  in   1890  was 
elected  a  coroner,  which  oflice  he  is  now  holding. 
In  religion  he  is  a  Methodist,  being  a  member 
and  .steward  of  the  church  of  that  denomination,  j 
He  is  a  member  of  liodge  No.  757,  F.  &  A.  M.  \ 
In  185f)  he  married  Grace  A.  Stearn.s,  a  native 
of  Bergen,  Genesee  county,  this  State,  by  whom  ■. 


he  had  five  children.  Three  are  deceased.  Mrs. 
Starring  is  a  member  of  the  M.  E.  church,  and 
is  now  in  the  forty-ninth  year  of  her  age. 

Alfred  A.  Starring  came  to  this  county  with 
his  parents,  was  educated  in  the  public  schools, 
learned  the  trade  of  a  blacksmith  with  his  father 
and  in  1880  became  his  father's  partner  in  that 
business.  In  the  spring  of  1885  he  bought  out 
his  father's  interest  and  continued  the  business 
alone  until  1888,  when  he  bought  a  half-interest 
in  the  Silver  Creek  Step-Ladder  company,  the 
firm-name  remaining  the  same.  Thev  have  a 
large  and  rapidly-increasing  trade,  will  double 
their  capacity,  and  are  now  erecting  new  build- 
ings for  the  purpose  of  manufacturing  fine  parlor 
furniture.  They  expect  to  have  this  plant  in 
operation  July  15,  1891,  and  will  then  employ 
fifteen  additional  men.  They  have  a  branch 
office  in  Baltimore.  About  fifteen  men  are 
emploj'ed.  Mr.  Starring  is  a  member  of  the 
Methodist  Episcopal  church,  politically  is  a 
republican  and  takes  an  active  part  in  politics. 

Alfred  A.  Starring  was  married,  on  October 
26,  1881,  to  Jennie  M.  Fuller,  a  daughter  of 
Ali)ert  C.  Fuller  (deceased),  of  Silver  Creek. 
To  this  marriage  have  been  born  four  children, 
one  son  and  three  daughters:  Albert,  Beulah, 
Gertrude  and  Vera. 


T  ^EWIS  KOESCH  was  born  in  Baden,  Ger- 
^^  many,  January  4th,  1851,  and  is  a  son  of 
Philip  and  Mary  (Glaser)  Roesch.  His  parents 
are  both  natives  of  Baden,  where  his  fatiier  was 
born  in  1825.  His  youth  was  spent  in  his 
native  home  among  the  foot-hills  of  the  Black 
Forest,  in  the  beautiful  valley  of  the  Wiese, 
celebrated  for  the  numerous  large  cotton,  wool 
and  other  mills  that  line  its  banks,  as  well 
as  by  its  own  native  ]ii)ct,  J.  Peter  Hebcl,  the 
Robert  Biu-ns  of  that  country. 

There  Mr.  Roe.sch  received  a  common-school 
education  and  in  1868  came  to  Albany  county, 
N.  Y.,  and  the  year  following  to  Fredonia, 
where  he  has  resided  ever  since.     Having  no 


OF  CHAUTAUQUA  COUNTY. 


169 


particular  trade  or  occupation,  he  followed  his 
natural  bent  and  soon  drifted  into  the  growing 
of  fruit  and  vegetables,  which  business  ho  started 
with  a  capital  of  two  hundred  and  eighty  dol- 
lars. TJiis  he  soon  developed  beyond  the  re- 
quirement of  the  home  market,  and  he  oj)ened  a 
line  of  trade  along  the  Erie. and  D.  A.  V.  &  P. 
railroads.  This  trade  in  turn  was  pushed  l)e- 
yond  the  ability  of  his  own  gardens  to  supply, 
and  he  became  a  dealer  in  country  produce, 
which  trade  by  the  year  1880  amounted  to  over 
$10,000  a  season. 

The  growing  of  strawberries,  raspberries,  etc., 
incidentally  got  him  into  the  small  fruit  plant 
trade,  which  he  also  developed  and  added  to  it, 
dealing  in  general  nursery  .stock.  In  1879  Mr. 
Roesch  contracted  to  grow  grape-vines  for  an- 
other nursery  on  a  larger  scale  for  four  years, 
at  the  expiration  of  which  term  he  continued 
the  business  on  his  own  account.  This  trade 
flourished  and  in  a  couple  of  years  became  of  such 
magnitude  that  he  decided  to  droj)  tliat  of  grow- 
ing and  dealing  in  fruit  and  vegetables,  which 
by  the  way  had  grown  poorer  and  more  unsatis- 
factory every  year,  owing  to  over-production, 
southern  competition  and  the  failure  of  canning 
factories.  Mr.  Roesch  continued  to  increase  the 
grape-vine  and  small  fruit  nursery,  and  has  re- 
cently extended  the  same  to  include  general 
nursery  stock.  At  present  Mr.  Roesch's  busi- 
ness consists  of  forty  acres  of  grape-vines,  cur- 
rant and  gooseberry  plants,  etc.,  ten  acres  of 
fruit  and  ornamental  trees,  four  acres  in  experi- 
mental and  sample  vineyard  and  some  two  acres 
of  lawn  and  ornamental  grounds,  fruits  and  vege- 
tables, etc.,  all  in  a  high  state  of  cultivation  and 
fertility. 

He  has  a  fine  office ;  a  cellar  60  by  100  feet 
for  the  storage  of  grape-vines  and  other  nursery 
stock  ;  a  large  packing-house  and  grading-room 
connected  and  under  one  roof.  He  employs 
from  ten  to  forty  men  and  boys,  according  to 
the  season.  His  market  extends  all  over  this 
country  and  Canada,  but  principally  in  the 
9 


grape-growing  section  east  of  the  Rocky  Moun- 
tains. 

In  1879  Mr.  Roesch  married  Sophia  ]\Iiller, 
of  Dunkirk,  N.  Y.  To  their  union  have  been 
born  three  children,  two  .'ions  and  one  daftghter : 
Flora  M.,  Sidney  C.  and  Milton  E.  Without 
l)olitical  aspirations,  ]\Ir.  Roesch  is  a  business 
man  ;  he  gives  most  of  his  attention  to  business 
and  personal  affairs,  is  careful,  patient  and 
methodical,  and  never  embarks  in  any  enter- 
prise without  a  thorough  investigation  embrac- 
ing every  possible  detail  of  the  same.  To  these 
qualities  as  well  as  to  his  enterprise  and  push  is 
due  the  large  degree  of  success  attained  in  a 
business  for  which  he  had  no  special  education 
or  preparation. 


TAflLLIAM  L.   HI3IEBAUGH.      The  term 

-***■  German-American  is  usually  syuonj'mous 
with  success.  William  L.  Himebaugh  began 
life  with  nothing,  and  to-day,  although  less  than 
forty  years  of  age,  is  at  the  head  of  a  manufac- 
turing business  employing  not  less  than  twenty- 
five  men.  He  was  born  in  Venango,  Crawford 
county,  Pennsylvania,  April  14,  1854,  and  is  a 
son  of  Joseph  and  Susan  (Sherrard)  Himebaugh. 
The  ancestors  of  W.  L.  Himebaugh  were  all  of 
sturdy  German  stock,  his  grandparents  emigrat- 
ing to  this  country  from  the  fatherland.  The 
paternal  grandfather  was  the  parent  of  three 
children  :  Polly,  Jacob  and  Joseph.  These 
children  were  born  in  the  northwestern  part  of 
Pennsylvania,  near  Erie.  Joseph,  the  father  of 
William  L.,  died  at  Venango,  Pa.,  where,  up  to 
the  time  of  his  death,  he  was  a  farmer  and  car- 
penter, and  also  filled  the  office  of  justice  of  the 
peace  for  many  years.  He  was  a  popular  man 
in  his  locality,  had  recognized  good  judgment, 
and  after  once  occupying  the  office  the  peojjle 
continued  to  re-elect  him  to  it,  until  advanced 
age  compelled  him  to  peremptorily  decline  to 
asain  serve.  Like  most  of  the  Germans  of  his 
day  he  \^as  an  uncompromising  democrat,  but 
was  also  a  deeply  religious  man  and  a  communi- 


170 


BIOGBAPHY  AND  HISTORY 


cant  of  the  German  Lutherau  church.  Susan 
Sherrard  was  Mr.  Hiiuebaugh's  second  wife, 
and  she  bore  him  seven  children ;  with  a 
former  wife,  Matilda  Grear,  he  had  five  chil- 
dren. They  were  :  Jacob,  David,  Gusta,  Delila 
and  Sarah ;  and  JIatilda,  now  Mrs.  Lesher, 
living  at  A^enango,  Pennsylvania  ;  Ahuira,  liv- 
ing at  Ediuboro',  Erie  county,  Pennsylvania,  is 
the  wife  of  Alex.  A.  Torrey ;  Hiram,  who  mar- 
ried Orlina  Hotchkiss,  lives  at  Venango,  Pa. ; 
Joseph,  whose  wife  was  Anna  Beystone,  lives  at 
Jamestown  and  is  connected  with  William  L. 
in  the  manufacture  of  woven-wire  bed-springs, 
cots  and  spiral  springs ;  John,  also  living  at 
Venango,  Pa ,  married  to  Lydia  Hotchkiss ; 
Eansom,  married  Emma  Baker  and  moved  to  a 
point  in  Kansas  near  Shiloh ;  and  William  L. 

William  L.  Himebaugh,  like  many  of  our 
best  men,  got  his  education  in  the  public  schools, 
and  when  grown  to  manhood  began  to  toil  as  a 
day  laborer  in  a  saw-mill,  alternating  with  farm 
work.  This  he  continued  for  a  while  and  then 
moved  to  the  oil  region,  where  for  a  season  he 
continued  to  labor,  but  later  took  an  interest  in 
two  wells  while  working  by  the  day.  This 
continued  until  1886,  when  he  came  to  James- 
town, and  with  his  brother  Joseph  began  the 
manufacture  of  bed-springs,  in  which  they  are 
still  engaged.  Politically  Mr.  Himebaugh  is  an 
unswerving  prohibitionist,  theoretically  and  | 
practically,  and  also  is  a  member  of  the  Method- 
ist church. 

On  the  22d  of  May,  1877,  he  married  Henri- 
etta Standish,  daughter  of  Alonsou  and  Lora 
Stand  ish,  who  resided  near  Northeast,  Pa.  This 
union  has  been  blest  with  three  children  :  Bertha 
E.,  Neal  and  Henry. 

William  L.  Himebaugh  is  .still  a  young  man, 
and  the  goods  he  manufactures  are  of  recognized 
merit,  so  it  may  be  expected  that  the  business 
he  has  already  made  prominent  may,  in  the 
future,  become  vast. 


j^EARL  C.  KIMBALL,  a  respected  geutle- 
^-  man,  advanced  in  years,  living  at  Xo.  338 
Allen  street,  Jamestown,  is  a  son  of  Sylvester 
and  Lydia  (Atwater)  Kimball,  of  Montgomery 
county.  New  York,  where  he  was  born  Dec. 
16,  1818.  His  great-grandfather,  Richard 
Kimball,  came  from  English  parents ;  lived  in 
Novia  Scotia  for  a  time  and  afterwards  came  to 
the  State  of  Connecticut,  where  he  died.  His 
paternal  grandfather,  Lebbeus  KimballjCame  to 
Ames,  Montgomery  county,  this  State,  and  fol- 
lowed the  trade  of  stone-cutting  in  early  life. 
Prior  to  his  removal  inland,  he  had  been  a 
sailor.  He  married  Sarah  Crafts  and  had  three 
children,  two  sons  and  one  daughter.  Caleb 
Atwater  (maternal  grandfather)  was  born  in 
New  England,  but  came  to  this  State,  first  to 
Columbia  county,  and  later  to  Ames,  Montgom- 
ery county,  where  he  died,  a  farmer.  S^vlves- 
ter  Kimball  was  born  in  Connecticut,  but  came 
to  New  York  and  settled  at  Ames,  where  he 
was  employed  as  millwright.  He  married 
Lydia  Atwater  and  had  four  children  :  ]Matilda, 
died  young ;  Norman  (dead)  lived  at  Cherry 
Creek  at  the  time  of  his  death  ;  Jane,  married 
Geo.  N.  Frost,  and  is  living  at  Cherry  Creek  j 
and  Pearl  C.  Mr.  Kimball  was  a  democrat  and 
a  Mason,  standing  high  in  the  councils  of  the 
lodge. 

Pearl  C.  Kimball,  after  receiving  his  educa- 
tion, apprenticed  himself  to  a  carriage-maker 
and  learned  the  trade.  In  1836  he  went  to 
Cherry  Creek  and  worked  at  his  trade  for  a 
number  of  years  and  was  also  engaged  here  in 
the  mercantile  business  for  a  time.  In  1847  he 
came  to  Jamestown  and  established  a  carriage 
manufactory,  continuing  it  until  1873,  when  he 
sold  out  and  lived  quietly  for  two  or  three 
years,  but  he  was  too  energetic  to  remain  idle 
longer,  so  he  opened  a  grocery  store,  which  he 
conducted  until  1887,  when  having  reached 
nearly  threescore  years  and  ten,  he  sold  out  and 
has  since  lived  quietly  and  in  retirement. 

On  May  27,  1838,  he  married  Lucy  Shuttuck,. 


OF  CHAUTAUQUA   COUNTY. 


171 


a  daughter  of  riiuy  Shattuck,  and  tliey  liave 
been  the  parents  of  five  children,  four  of  whom 
arc  living:  Matilda,  now  a  widow,  married 
Willard  Smith  ;  Corolin,  wife  of  Fred  L.  Far- 
lee,  a  traveling  man  for  the  Jamestown  Plush 
mills ;  Maurice  was  twice  married,  first  to 
Rhoda  Williams,  by  whom  he  had  one  child, 
Ernest ;  his  second  wife  was  Anna  Spies,  who 
bore  him  one  child,  Frances;  and  Allen,  who 
married  Julia  Macy,  a  daughter  of  William 
Macy,  of  Poland,  and  has  one  child.  Pearl  L. 
P.  C.  Kimball  is  a  republican  in  politics  and 
has  been  town  clerk  for  three  years,  in  the  town 
of  Cherry  Creek. 


nEV.  .\NDREW  FRKY,  pastor  of  the 
Church  of  the  Sacred  Heart  of  Jesus  of 
Dunkirk,  was  born  in  the  city  of  Cassel,  Ger- 
many, February  26,  1S56,  and  is  a  son  of 
George  and  Christine  (Baker)  Frey.  George 
Frey  was  a  member  of  the  Catholic  church, 
served  in  a  civil  capacity  under  his  government 
for  several  years,  and  died  in  his  native  city  of 
Cassel  in  1886,  at  sixty-seven  years  of  age. 
His  widow,  who  is  a  consistent  member  of  the 
Catholic  church,  was  born  in  1827,  and  still 
resides  in  Cassel. 

Father  Andrew  Frey  was  reared  in  Cassel, 
.where  he  received  a  collegiate  education,  and 
then  took  a  five  years'  course  in  theology  at 
Louvain  University,  Belgium.  Upon  complet- 
ing this  course  in  October,  1879,  he  was  ordained 
priest,  and  came  to  Buffalo,  New  York,  where 
he  had  been  appointed  by  Bishop  Ryan,  as  as- 
sistant pastor  of  St.  Louis  church  of  that  city. 
He  served  in  this  capacity  until  June,  1884, 
when  he  came  to  Dunkirk,  and  assumed  his 
present  pastoral  charge  of  the  Church  of  the 
Sacred  Heart  of  Jesus. 

This  church,  which  is  the  second  in  age  of 
the  three  flourishing  churches  of  Dunkirk,  is 
the  successor  of  St.  George's  church,  which  was 
built  by  the  German  catholics  of  Dunkirk,  in 
1857,  and  used  for  church  purposes  until  1877. 


The  Jesuit,  Franciscan  and  Passionist  orders 
had  charge  of  St.  (ieorge's  church  until  1874, 
when  it  was  made  an  independent  parish,  and 
on  June  11,  1876,  the  corner-.stone  was  laid  of 
its  successor,  the  present  handsome  Church  of 
the  Sacred  Heart  of  Jesus,  which  was  dedicated 
on  November  18,  1878.  It  is  a  fine  brick 
structure,  admirable  in  architectural  design,  and 
beautiful  and  rich  in  all  of  its  interior  furnish- 
ings. It  was  erected  at  a  cost  of  twenty  thous- 
and dollars,  and  one  who  contributed  liberally 
towards  its  erection  was  the  late  George  Dotter- 
weich  (died  in  April,  1884),  who  also  jjaid  for 
the  town  clock  in  the  steeple,  the  chime  of  bells, 
and  gave  the  beautiful  five  thousand  dollar 
marble  altar,  which  was  con.secrated  .July  23, 
1882. 

Since  1884,  the  membership  of  the  Church 
of  the  Sacred  Heart  of  Jesus  has  increased  rap- 
idly under  Father  Frey's  charge,  and  now  num- 
bers two  hundred  and  .seventy-five  families. 
In  1885  he  erected  the  present  handsome  brick 
parsonage,  which  is  gothic  in  design,  conveni- 
ently arranged,  and  cost  over  five  thousand  dol- 
lars. After  the  completion  of  the  parsonage  he 
turned  his  attention  to  the  educational  needs  of 
his  congregation,  and  carried  out  the  long  cher- 
ished design  of  erecting  a  first-class  school 
building  adjokiing  the  church.  This  three- 
story  brick  structure — St.  George's  Hall — was 
erected  in  1884  at  a  co.st  of  nine  thou.sand  dol- 
lars, and  is  fitted  with  gas,  steam  and  water. 
The  fir.st  floor  is  divided  into  three  large  school- 
rooms, the  second  floor  is  St.  George's  Hall  and 
.stage,  while  the  third  floor  is  occupied  by  the 
Catholic  Mutual  Benefit  As.sociation.  Father 
Frey  has  labored  faithfully  in  Dunkirk  for  his 
people  and  the  cause  of  Christianity,  and  his 
efforts  have  been  duly  appreciated  by  his  con- 
gregation and  all  who  know  him.  He  is  a 
pleasant  gentleman  of  classical  education,  gen- 
eral information  and  good  address. 


172 


BIOGRAPHY  AND  HISTORY 


DAVID  H.  TAYLiOR  is  one  of  the  promi- 
nent grape-growers  of  Chautauqua  county. 
He  was  born  in  Murray,  Orleans  county,  New 
York,  September  4,  1822,  and  is  a  son  of  Jona- 
than H.  and  Polly  (Hendrick)  Taylor.  He 
comes  from  an  old  and  honored  family,  his 
ancestor,  a  Taylor,  coming  from  England  to 
America  in  1630  and  settling  in  Massachusetts. 
His  grandfather,  Theophilus  Taylor,  was  born  in 
Connecticut,  .January  28,  1760,  and  died  No- 
vember 24,  1831.  He  was  a  farmer  by  occu- 
pation, and  one  of  his  sous,  Jonathan  H.  Taylor 
(father),  was  born  at  New  Fairfield,  Connecticut, 
1792.  He  was  stationed  with  the  State  militia, 
of  which  he  was  a  member,  at  New  Loudon, 
during  the  blockade  of  that  port  by  the  British, 
and  in  (1814)  received  a  commission  of  lieuten- 
ant from  Gov.  John  Cotton  Smith.  He  came 
to  Westfield  in  1831  and  built  the  first  foundry 
in  this  town.  In  religion  he  was  a  member  and 
a  deacon  of  the  Presbyterian  church,  and  died 
April  28,  1846,  aged  fifty- four  years,  at  "West- 
field,  where  he  had  resided  fourteen  years.  He 
married  Polly  Hendrick,  a  native  of  Fairfield, 
Conn.,  by  whom  he  had  two  children.  She  was 
a  member  of  the  Presbyterian  cimrch  and  died 
in  1860,  at  sixty-six  years  of  age. 

David  H.  Taylor  was  reared  principally  at 
Westfield  and  received  his  education  in  the  com- 
mon schools  and  in  the  Westfield  academy.  In 
1860  he  began  operations  as  a  farmer,  adopting 
the  latest  and  most  improved  methods,  and  has 
continued  to  keep  pace  witli  the  strides  in  im- 
provement. He  has  fifty  acres  in  the  village  of 
Westfield  devoted  to  the  cultivation  of  grapes. 

On  November  22,  1851,  D.  H.  Taylor  united 
in  marriage  with  Harriet  P.,  the  only  daughter 
of  Judge  Thomas  B.  Campbell,  who  had  been 
a  prominent  citizen  of  Westfield  and  Chautau- 
qua county  since  1817,  when  he  came  to  this 
town  from  Batavia,  and  built  a  saw  and  grist- 
mill. Westfield  was  then  known  as  Portland. 
Judge  Campbell  was  born  in  1788  in  Alexan- 
dria, Grafton  county,  N.  H.,  a  town  now  some- 


what famous  for  its  extensive  mica  mines.  He 
continued  the  milling  and  flouring  business  for 
forty-seven  j'ears.  He  owned  hundreds  of  acres 
of  farm  lands  and  in  1860  sold  sixty  acres  in 
the  southern  part  of  the  village  for  fair  ground 
purposes.  In  1819  he  was  appointed  clerk  of 
this  county,  associate  judge  in  1826,  and  first 
judge  in  1845,  which  ofiSce  he  held  until  the 
election  of  judges  under  the  constitution  adopted 
in  1846.  He  was  supervisor  eight  years,  1819- 
'27,  a  member  of  Assembly  from  1822  to  1836, 
and  a  member  of  the  board  of  commissioners 
for  building  the  present  county  court-house. 
He  had  two  sous  and  three  daughters,  all  of 
whom  are  dead  but  Mrs.  Taylor.  Judge  Camp- 
bell died  at  the  house  of  Mr.  Taylor,  on  Presi- 
dent Cleveland's  inauguration  day,  aged  ninety- 
seven  years,  in  full  possession  of  all  his  facul- 
ties. Mr.  and  Mrs.  Taylor  have  been  the  parents 
of  four  children,  three  of  whom  are  living,  one 
son  and  two  daughters — Mary  L.,  wife  of  Dr. 
Charles  G.  Stockton,  one  of  the  most  prominent 
physicians  in  Buffalo  ;  Anna,  wife  of  Henry  W. 
Hunter,  of  Canton,  Ohio,  and  Thomas  B.  C. 
married  to  Charlotte  Flower,  of  St.  Lawrence 
county,  this  State. 

In  politics  Mr.  Taylor  is  an  uncompromising 
democrat,  a  good  substantial  citizen,  honorable 
and  enterprising,  broad  and  liberal-minded  and 
a  very  pleasant  and  agreeable  gentleman.  A 
community  which  possesses  such  citizens  gener- 
ally feels  a  just  pride  in  them,  and  the  more  they 
have  of  such  men  the  greater  is  their  material 
advantage  and  advancement.  Mr.  Taylor  occu- 
pies a  high  place  in  the  respect  and  esteem  of 
the  people  among  whom  he  has  dwelt  so  long. 


FRED.  W.  TH03IA.S.  The  press  to-day 
is  a  factor  of  potential  power;  has  a 
wonderful  influence  over  the  people  among 
whom  it  circulates,  and  molds  public  opinion 
to  a  large  degree.  The  gentleman  whose  name 
heads  this  sketch  is  the  proprietor  and  editor  of 
the  Hanover  Gazette,  tlie  successor  of  a  ]«iper 


OF  CHAUTAUQUA  COUNTY. 


173 


called  the  Silver  Creek  Local.  Fred.  "W. 
Thomas  is  a  uative  of  Wales,  where  he  was 
born,  December  28,  1853,  and  comes  from 
Cymric  ancestors  as  far  remote  as  the  family 
can  be  traced.  His  parents  were  James  and  '■ 
Ann  Elizabeth  Thomas,  honorable  and  respect- 
ed people  of  their  native  country. 

Fred.  W.  Thomas  was  reared  and  educated 
in  the  old  country  and  remained  close  to  the 
scene  of  his  birth  until  he  reached  his  twenty- 
fourth  year,  having  been  trained  and  practiced 
in  the  art  of  book-keeping.  As  was  customary 
with  those  who  aspired  to  the  higher  employ- 
ments, he  received  a  good  classical  and  com-  i 
mercial  education,  in  a  prominent  grammar 
school.  After  his  arrival  iu  America  Mr. 
Thomas  found  employment  in  various  capaci- 
ties until  1885,  when  he  embarked  iu  the  fire  ; 
insurance  business  in  Silver  Creek,  and  his  suc- 
cess in  this  line  has  been  pronounced.  In  Feb- 
ruary, 1890,  his  business  mind  saw  that  a  news- 
paper here  would  be  a  good  investment,  and 
although  it  might  not  at  once  net  large  returns, 
the  succeeding  years  would  increase  its  value, 
and  he  bought  the  Hanover  G-azette,  the  name  ; 
to  which  the  Silver  Creek  Local  had  been 
changed.  This  paper  was  founded  by  J.  I. 
Spears,  who  was  attached  to  tlie  Neiv  York 
Sun's  recent  expedition  to  explore  Greenland. 
The  circulation  of  the  Gazette  is  constantly  in- 
creasing; under  the  new  management  and  it  is 
entering  into  the  confidence  of  its  readers  in  a 
way  that  is  gratifying  and  creditable  to  Mr. 
Thomas. 

Journalism  in  Silver  Creek  has  had  a  check- 
ered career  for  thirteen  years,  but  the  Gazette  ' 
is  founded  on  a  solid  basis,  is  a  clean  and  care- 
fully edited  paper  such  as  commends  itself  to 
every  home,  and  whilst  its  future  is  full  of 
promise,  it  may  truthfully  be  asserted,  that  to 
the  present  editor  belongs  the  honor  of  estab- 
lishing the  most  successful  newspaper  ever  pub- 
lished iu  Silver  Creek. 

October  18,  1882,  he   married   Hattie  Wells 


Ward,  a  daughter  of  Dr.  Spencer  Ward,  who 
was  a  pioneer  physician  of  northeastern  Chau- 
tauqua county,  and  lived  in  this  village.  Dr. 
Ward  was  a  native  of  Vermont,  from  which 
State  he  came  and  settled  here.  Fred.  W.  and 
Mrs.  Thomas  have  been  blessed  with  three 
children,  all  daughters  :  Helen  Elizabeth,  An- 
nie Spencer  and  Marian  Ward,  who  are  yet, 
young  and  live  with  their  parents. 


"PDWARD    A.    SKINNER,  a  well-known 

^"^  business  man  and  president  of  the  Na- 
tional Bank  of  Westfield,  was  born  in  the  town 
of  Aurora,  Erie  county.  New  York,  May  10, 
1841,  and  is  a  son  of  Rev.  Levi  A.  and  Laura 
(Patterson)  Skinner.  His  paternal  grandfather, 
Levi  Skinner,  \\as  a  farmer,  and  a  native  of 
Massachusetts,  from  which  he  came  to  Oneida 
county,  this  State,  where  he  died  iu  1850.  He 
was  of  English  origin  and  had  been  a  member 
of  the  Pi-esbyteriau  church  for  many  years  be- 
fore his  death.  His  son,  Rev.  Levi  A.  Skin- 
ner (father),  was  reared  in  the  faith  of  the 
Presbyterian  church,  in  which  he  became  a 
minister  in  early  life.  After  preaching  for  sev- 
eral years  in  Erie  county,  this  State,  his 
voice  failed  him,  and  he  was  thus  compelled 
to  retire  from  the  pulpit.  He  then  (July 
1,  1854)  came  to  Westfield  and  succeeded 
J.  N.  Huugerford  as  cashier  of  the  Bank 
of  Westfield,  which  position  he  held  un- 
til 1864,  when  he  became  a  stockholder  and 
director  of  the  First  National  Bank  of  West- 
field.  In  October  the  bank  commenced  busi- 
ness and  he  was  elected  cashier,  which  position 
he  held  until  1875,  when  he  was  elected  presi- 
dent and  served  in  that  capacity  until  his  death, 
April  12,  1876,  at  sixty-five  years  of  age.  He 
was  a  man  of  moderate  means,  stood  well  in 
financial  circles,  and  married  Laura  Patterson, 
a  daughter  of  John  Patterson,  who  was  of 
Scotch-Irish  descent. 

Edward    A.    Skinner    was    reared    in    Erie 
county  until  lie  was  twelve  years  of  age,  when 


174 


BIOGRAPHY  ASJJ  HISTORY 


he  came  with  his  parents  to  Westfield  where  he 
completed  his  education  in  the  Westfield  acad- 
emy, from  which  he  was  graduated.  At  six- 
teen vears  of  age  he  went  into  the  Westfield 
Bank  as  book-keeper,  remained  two  yeai's  and 
then  was  engaged  in  mercantile  business  until 
1861,  when  he  enlisted  in  Co.  G,  9th  N.  Y. 
cavalry,  and  served  as  second  lieutenant  several 
mouths.  In  1862  he  was  promoted  to  first 
lieutenant  and  shortly  afterwards  was  commis- 
sioned regimental  quartermaster,  which  position 
he  held  until  March,  1864,  acting  as  brigade 
quartermaster  much  of  the  time.  He  was  then 
discharged  on  account  of  physical  disability,  re- 
turned to  Westfield  where  he  became  assistant 
cashier  of  the  First  National  Bank  of  Westfield, 
which  position  he  held  until  1870,  when  he 
helped  organize  the  First  National  Bank  of 
Ottawa,  Kansas,  with  which  he  is  still  identi- 
fied. He  returned  from  Ottawa  in  1874,  was 
elected  in  1875  vice-president  of  the  First  Na- 
tional Bank  of  Westfield,  which  position  he  held  | 
until  1886,  when  at  the  death  of  his  father  he 
succeeded  him  as  president,  and  has  acted  in 
that  capacity  ever  since.  This  bank  was  organ- 
ized in  1848  as  the  Bank  of  Westfield,  has  a 
capital  of  fifty  thousand  dollai's  and  its  dejjosits 
average  over  two  hundred  thousand  dollars. 
A  well  established  and  well  conducted  bank  is 
a  marked  feature  of  progress  in  any  community 
and  the  National  Bank  of  Westfield  has  been  so 
conducted  that  it  has  always  commanded  pub- 
lic confidence. 

In  1864  jNlr.  Skinner  married  Frances  M. 
Barger,  who  died  in  June,  1872.  On  August 
19,  1874,  he  married  Augusta  Wheeler,  of 
Portville,  New  York,  who  is  a  daughter  of 
Hon.  William  F.  Wheeler,  president  of  the 
First  National  Bank  of  Olcan,  this  State.  By 
liis  second  marriage  he  has  three  children : 
Flora,  Egbert  and  Frances. 

Edward  A.  Skinner  is  a  republican  in  poli- 
tics and  was  supervisor  of  Westfield  several 
years.     He  has  served  since   1880  as  treasurer 


of  the  Supreme  Council  of  the  Royal  Arcanum, 
and  disijurses  nearly  three  million  dollars  per 
year  of  the  funds  of  tiiat  organization  which 
numbers  over  one  hundred  thousand  members 
in  the  United  States  and  Canada. 

& 

^HARLES  D.  COLBURX  is  a  farmer  of 
^^  prominence  and  was  born  to  David  L. 
and  Ann  (Walter)  Colburn  in  the  towu  of 
Poland,  Chautauqua  county.  New  York,  Dec. 
2,  1841.  David  Colburn  (grandfather)  was  a 
native  of  Otsego  county,  but  died  in  Chautauqua 
county.  David  L.  Colburn  was  born  in  Otsego 
county,  this  State,  and  removed  to  the  town  of 
Poland,  where  he  worked  by  the  day  as  a 
common  laborer  for  a  number  of  years,  begin- 
ning when  eighteen  vears  of  age.  He  after- 
wards  became  a  landed  farmer.  He  married 
Ann  Walter  and  reared  three  children  :  William 
entered  the  Federal  army  in  1861,  joining  the 
42d  regiment,  Illinois  Infantry,  where  entering 
as  a  private  he  was  discharged  at  the  close  of 
the  war  with  a  captain's  commission.  Return- 
ing to  his  home  in  Michigan,  he  died  in  1873. 
He  carried  a  number  of  scars  of  wounds  re- 
ceived, none  of  which  were  permanently  dis- 
abling; Mary  married  a  farmer  named  John 
Smith,  and  lives  in  Villanova,  this  county;  and 
Charles  D.,  who  married  Elizabeth  lugersoU, 
a  daughter  of  Peter  Ingersoll,  who  was  a  native 
of  Chenango  county,  and  from  there  removed 
into  Chautauqua  county,  locating  in  the  towu  of 
Ellington,  where  he  died  in  1872,  aged  seventy- 
two  years.  When  a  young  man  he  engaged  iu 
merchandising,  but  later  became  a  farmer. 
Politically  a  democrat,  he  was  elected  justice  of 
the  peace  soon  after  his  arrival  in  Ciiautauqua 
and  held  tlie  oflico  almost  all  his  life.  His  wile 
was  Lois  M.  Smith,  who  became  the  mother  of 
tiie  following  children.  Martin  V.  B.,  a  farmer 
residing  in  the  town  of  Ellington  ;  Erastus  S., 
resides  at  Randolph,  Cattaraugus  county,  and  is 
a  prominent  merchant.  He  was  a  member  of 
the    New  York    State    Assembly    two    years ; 


OF  CHAUTAUQUA   COUNTY. 


175 


•Charles  P.,  also  represented  his  district  in  the 
Assembly,  and  has  until  lately  resided  at  West- 
field,  Imt  now  lives  in  New  York  city,  holding 
the  jjosition  of  grand  dictator  of  the  Kniglits  of 
Honor ;  J.  Lambert  was  a  lawyer  and  died  at 
Jamestown,  in  1881  ;  and  Martha,  married 
Perry  Slater ;  she  is  now  dead  ;  before  her  mar- 
riage she  was  a  teacher  in  the  public  schools. 
They  were  all  members  of  the  Methodist 
Episcopal  church.  Mr.  Colburn  married  the 
second  time  to  Theda  M.  Lily,  and  had  a  large 
family,  four  of  whom  are  living. 

Charles  D.  Colburn  has  always  followed  farm- 
ing and  owns  a  farm  of  one  hundred  and  eight 
acres,  a  portion  of  it  being  in  the  corporate 
limits  of  Jamestown,  and  has  recently  pur- 
chased one  hundred  acres  on  the  shore  of  Chau- 
tauqua lake. 

On  February  15,  1865,  he  married  Elizabeth 
E.  IngersoU  and  their  union  has  been  blest 
with  three  children  :  Mina  B.,  is  a  very  popular 
teacher  in  the  Jamestown  Kindergarten  schools, 
having  graduated  from  the  Jamestown  High 
school  and  prepared  especially  for  teaching  j 
Martha  died  when  fourteen  years  and  five 
months  old  ;  and  B.  Vincent.  The  maternal 
grandmother  of  Mrs.  Colburn  was  among  the 
oldest  inhabitants  of  Ellington,  and  lived  to  the 
advanced  age  of  one  hundred  and  two  years. 

Mr.  Colburn  is  a  republican,  and  with  his 
wife  and  entire  family  are  members  of  the 
Methodist  church.  He  is  also  a  member  of 
Lodge  No.  3i,  Ancient  Order  of  United 
Workmen. 


T  .EVERETT  BARKER  GREEXE,  of  Fre- 
■'^  donia,  is  a  grandson  of  General  Leverett 
Barker,  and  a  lineal  descendant  of  the  brother 
of  General  Nathaniel  Greene,  of  Revolutionary 
memory.  He  is  a  son  of  Rosell  and  Eliza 
(Barker)  Greene,  and  was  born  at  Fredouia, 
Chautauqua  couuty.  New  York,  November  23, 
1830.  The  Greenes  are  of  English  origin,  and 
the  founder  of  the  American    branch  of  the 


family  was  a  Quaker,  among  whose  descendants 
were  General  Natiianiel  Greene  and  his  ijrother, 
from  whom  Rosell  Greene  (father)  was  descended. 
Rosell  Greene  was  born  in  Herkimer  county  in 
1815,  and  came,  about  1830,  to  Mayville,  where 
he  attended  school.  He  afterwards  i-emoved  to 
Fredonia,  learned  the  trade  of  tanner  with  Gen. 
Leverett  Barker,  and  tiieu  took  charge  of  the 
tannery  of  the  latter.  He  continued  in  the 
tannery  business  until  his  death,  in  1859,  when 
he  owned  the  Fredonia  tannery,  besides  a  large 
tannery  and  mills  in  Cattaraugus  county.  He 
married  Eliza  Barker,  the  second  child  and 
eldest  daughter  of  Gen.  Leverett  Barker,  and 
had  two  sous  and  three  daughters,  all  of  whom 
are  dead  except  Leverett  B.,  the  subject  of  this 
sketch.  General  Leverett  Barker  (maternal 
grandfather)  was  a  son  of  Russel  Barker,  of 
Branfort,  Connecticut,  where  he  was  Ijorn 
May  6,  1787.  He  came  to  Chautauqua  county 
in  1817,  and  on  March  3, 1811,  married  Desire, 
daughter  of  Hezekiah  Barker,  who  had  come  to 
Canadaway  in  1806.  He  built  at  Fredonia  the 
first  tannery  in  the  county,  had  an  interest  in  a 
large  tannery  afterwards  erected  at  Jamestown, 
and  died  in  1848.  He  was  one  of  the  prime 
movers,  in  1831,  in  establishing  the  first  bank 
in  the  county — the  Chautauqua  County  Bank — 
of  which  he  \\"as  president  for  several  years. 
He  served  in  the  war  of  1812,  and  was  succes- 
sively commissioned  lieutenant,  adjutant,  lieu- 
tenant-colonel (1818),  colonel  (182-3),  brigadier- 
general  of  the  43d  brigade  (1824),  and  major- 
general  of  the  26th  division  of  New  York 
Infantry  (1826).  He  left  a  family  of  two  sous 
and  six  daughters. 

Leverett  Barker  Greene  spent  his  boyhood 
days  at  Fredouia,  where  lie  received  his  educa- 
tion in  the  old  academy  of  that  place.  At  the 
death  of  his  father  he  assumed  charge  of  the 
estate,  and  is  now  engaged  in  the  tanning  busi- 
ness and  looking  after  his  real  estate  interests  in 
Chautauqua,  Cattaraugus  and  Ei-ie  counties. 

On  February  27th,  1868,  Mr.  Greene  married 


176 


BIOGRAPHY  AND  HISTORY 


Isabella  Burnham,  a  native  of  Madison  county, 
and  they  have  cue  adopted  daughter,  Kate. 
Mrs.  Greene  is  a  lineal  descendant  of  the  De 
Burnham,  who  was  lord  of  the  Saxon  village 
in  England  which  was  afterwai'ds  known  as 
Burnham. 

L.  B.  Greene  is  a  republican  in  politics,  and 
has  been  for  several  years  a  member  of  the 
^Masonic  fraternity.  He  is  a  stockholder  of  the 
Fredonia  National  Bank,  the  successor  of  the 
Fredonia  Bank  of  which  his  father  was  the  first 
president.  He  owns  some  valuable  property  at 
Fredonia,  which  is  his  present  home.  The 
General  Leverett  Barker  homestead  was  bought 
by  his  uncle,  Darwin  R.  Barker,  who  willed 
this  property  to  the  village  to  be  used  for  a 
public  library. 


Q  KAD  FULLER.  The  material  wealth  of 
■**■  a  community  is  largely  advanced  by  the 
possession  of  good  live  stock.  Chautauqua 
county  is  justly  renowned  for  the  superior  stock 
she  raises,  and  to  Arad  Fuller  the  credit  is 
largely  due  for  its  introduction.  This  gentle- 
man, a  son  of  Amos  and  Charity  (Roberts) 
Fuller,  was  born  November  13,  1822,  at  Nor- 
wich, AVindsor  county,  Vermont.  His  gi'eat- 
grandfather,  William  Fuller,  was  born  in  Bos- 
ton, Mass.,  where  he  married  Persis  Paine, 
either  a  sister  or  niece  of  Robert  Treat  Paine. 
Their  children  were:  William,  Persis,  Witt  and 
a  daughter  (name  forgotten). 

Witt  Fuller  was  born  in  Massachusetts  and 
married  Deborah  Garfield,  by  whom  he  had 
eight  children:  Persis,  Betsey,  Lucy,  Laura, 
Waldeii,  Nathan,  Arad  and  Amos.  He  re- 
moved to  Vermont,  where  he  died  in  1809  or 
1810.  Amos  Fuller  was  born  in  Vermont,  but 
in  1833  he  emigrated  to  Chautaufjua  county  aud 
settled  in  the  town  of  Poland,  where  he  lived 
until  his  death,  which  occurred  September  27, 
1879,  aged  eighty-one  years.  By  occupation  he 
was  a  lumberman  and  farmer,  in  politics  a  whig 
anil  republican,  and  was  a  member  of  the  Metli- 


odist  church,  but  before  his  death  he  became  a 
Universalist.  Amos  Fuller  married  Charity 
Roberts  and  had  six  children,  two  sons  and  four 
daughters,  of  whom  Arad  is  the  oldest.  The 
daughters  died  when  young,  and  the  other  son, 
Danford  D.,  went  to  Iowa  and  afterwards  to 
Dakota,  where  he  died  in  1885. 

Arad  Fuller  was  educated  in  the  early  public 
schools  aud  began  life  as  a  lumberman,  subse- 
quently purchasing  a  small  farm  in  Poland,  to 
which  he  added  until  his  death,  when  he  owned 
about  six  hundred  acres  of  land.  He  early  de- 
voted his  attention  to  raising  fine  stock,  and 
brought  some  fine  blood  to  Chautauqua  county. 
A  clipping  from  a  Jamestown  paper,  published 
at  the  time  of  his  death,  April  11,  1887,  says: 
"All  these  years  Arad  Fuller  has  been  one  of  the 
representative  men  of  southern  Chautauqua, 
full  of  ambition,  possessed  of  great  industry,  and 
loving  his  work  he  has  lived  for  a  purpose  and 
filled  it  well.  He  was  a  great  lover  of  fine  stock 
and  always  spent  his  money  freely  in  any  in- 
vestments that  tended  to  elevate  and  develop 
the  .same. 

"  Chautauquans  owe  much  of  their  celebrated 
stock,  to-day,  to  the  good  judgment  exercised  in 
the  past  by  Arad  Fuller. 

"It  is  proper  here  to  say  that  no  man  was 
better  or  more  favorably  known  to  this  commun- 
ity than  jSIr.  Fuller.  He  was  genial  and  always 
glad  to  meet  his  fellow -citizen.s,  they,  in  return, 
ever  had  for  him  a  warm  and  cordial  reception. 

"He  will  be  greatly  rai.s.sed.  His  coun.sel  and 
advice  will  no  more  encourage  his  friends,  but 
his  memory  will  remain,  and  in  future  years,  as 
now,  many  of  us  will  recall  the  grandeur,  tlie 
integrity  and  the  association  of  Arad  Fuller." 

Arad  Fuller  married  Malvina  Bill,  on  March 
4,  184(5.  She  was  a  daughter  of  Norton  B.  and 
Cementha  (Ransom)  Bill.  The  father  of  Mrs. 
Fuller  was  a  native  of  New  England,  and  came 
to  this  county  from  Oneida  county,  N.  Y.,  in 
1830,  and  located  in  Poland,  where  he  followed 
farmiuir  until  his  death,  in   1871.     Mrs.  Fuller 


OF  CHAUTAUQUA   COUNTY. 


177 


was  the  second  child  of  a  family  of  seven.  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Fuller  had  throe  children  :  Sophia, 
married  John  Ely,  a  fanner  living  in  Kennedy, 
Poland  town,  this  county;  Martha  A.,  at  home; 
and  Frank,  who  wedded  Elizabeth  Phillips,  of 
Villanova,  and  lives  in  South  Dayton,  Catta- 
raugus county. 

Politically  he  was  a  republican,  a  kind  friend 
anil  a  devoted  husband  and  father. 


JOHN  JAY  LIVINGSTON  is  a  venerable 

^  and  dignified  old  gentleman  of  James- 
town, who  was  familiar  with  the  use  of  the 
compass,  tripod  and  chain  for  more  than  half  a 
century.  He  is  a  sou  of  William  and  Sarah 
(Tracy)  Livingston,  and  came  into  the  world  at 
Hebron,  Washington  county,  X.  Y.,  on  October 
19th,  1798.  His  grandfather,  John  Livingston, 
was  a  native  of  Mouaghan,  Ireland,  and  from 
there  came  to  America,  locating  in  Saratoga 
county.  New  York,  where  he  lived  three  years, 
and  during  this  period  subject's  father,  William 
Livingston,  was  born,  the  scene  of  his  birth 
overlookiug  the  now  renowned,  but  then  un- 
known, historical  battle  ground  where  General 
Burgoyne,  the  haughty  Briton,  was  compelled 
to  acknowledge  defeat  aud  surrendered  his 
sword  and  entire  army.  The  elder  Livingston 
moved  to  Salem,  Washington  county,  N.  Y., 
while  subject's  father  was  a  toddling  infant. 
His  wife  was  a  Miss  Boyd,  who  bore  her  hus- 
bend  a  family  of  six  sons  and  one  daughter. 
Two  of  the  former,  Francis  aud  John,  served 
in  the  Continental  army  aud  were  present  at 
the  surrender  of  Burgoyne.  William  Living- 
ston was  born  in  1768,  and  early  in  manhood, 
or  soon  after  the  close  of  the  war,  he  studied 
medicine  aud  was  a  practicing  physician  for 
about  fifty  years.  He  was  a  republican  in  poli- 
tics, and  represented  Washington  county  iu  the 
State  Legislature  four  terms.  Later  he  went  to 
Essex  county,  this  State.  About  1830  he  re- 
moved to  Chautauqua  county,  residing  at  Hart- 
field  for  a  few  years ;  then  returned  to  Essex 


county,  where  he  died  in  his  ninety-second 
year.  William  Livingston  married  Sarah 
Tracy,  who  was  born  in  Connecticut,  and  was 
twelve  years  old  when  Benedict  Arnold  betrayed 
New  London. 

John  Jay  Tjivingston  was  born  and  educated 
iu  Washingtou  county,  aud  then  went  to  Essex 
county,  where  he  remained  until  1830,  and  then 
he  came  to  Chautaucpia  couuty  and  stayed  two 
years.  In  1832  he  went  to  Venango  county, 
Pennsylvania.  Eight  years  later  the  county 
was  divided  and  Clarion  county  was  erected 
from  the  detached  portion.  Mr.  Livingston 
was  a  citizen  of  that  county,  the  town  being 
called  Shippenville,  for  fifty-eight  years.  He 
was  a  student  of  languages,  and  attained  a 
wonderful  2)roficieucy  in  French  and  German, 
and  was  also  well  informed  on  general  subjects, 
particularly  mathematics,  and  observing  the  de- 
maud  for  proficient  surveyors,  he  took  up  the 
study  of  that  profession  and  followed  it  more 
or  less  since  1832  until  1883.  After  his  eigh- 
tieth birthday  he  performed  field  work  with 
transit  and  chain  for  twenty-seven  consecutive 
days.  He  was  married  first  to  Mary  Ball,  aud 
for  his  second  wife  he  took  Maria  Rice,  of 
Washington  couuty.  New  York.  By  that 
union  be  had  seven  children,  four  of  whom  yet 
live :  James  B.  is  a  physician  at  West  Middle- 
sex, Pennsylvania ;  William  R.  lives  at  Silver 
Lake,  Minnesota,  and  is  a  farmer.  He  served 
four  years  in  the  10th  regiment  Pennsylvania 
Reserves,  and  was  wounded  in  battle;  jNIary 
married  I.  G.  Lacey,  a  lumberman  at  Warren, 
Pennsylvania ;  and  Harriet  E.,  still  unmarried. 
.John  Jay  Livingston,  for  his  third  wife,  mar-  ' 
ried  Elizabeth  J.  Whitehill.  Her  father  was  a 
native  and  citizen  of  Centre  county,  Pennsyl- 
vania, until  late  in  life,  when  he  moved  up  into 
Clarion  county,  aud  was  a  blacksmith  by  trade. 
He  died  at  the  latter  place.  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Livingston  lived  happily  together  during  more 
than  thirty-eight  years,  until  June  7th,  1886, 
when  the  latter  died.     She  had  one  child,  a  son. 


BIOGRAPHY  AND  HISTORY 


Alfred  T.,  who  is  now  a  practicing  physician  at 
Jamestown,  New  York.  He  married  Catherine 
Packer,  of  AVilliamsport,  Pennsylvania.  Al- 
fred T.  Liviny-stou  was  born  io  Clarion  couutv, 
Pennsylvania,  and  educated  at  the  Jamestown 
academy  and  Allegheny  college.  He  then 
studied  medicine  with  his  half-brother,  Dr. 
James  B.  Livingston,  and  then  attended  the 
medical  department  of  the  University  of  Buf- 
falo, after  graduating  at  Mhich  he  began  the 
practice  of  medicine  in  that  city  in  1873,  but 
staid  there  less  than  a  year  before  he  was  ap- 
jjointed  assistant  ])iiysiciau  of  the  State  Insane 
Asylum  at  Utica,  where  he  remained  for  live 
years.  After  this  he  went  to  Philadelphia, 
Pennsylvania,  and  established  a  home-kospital 
for  the  treatment  of  mental  disorder.?,  which  he 
conducted  for  eight  years  and  then  he  came  to 
Jamestown,  where  he  is  now  established. 

John  Jay  Living.ston  is  one  of  the  oldest  citi- 
zens of  western  New  York,  and  his  virtuous 
and  upright  life  has  gained  him  the  confidence 
and  respect  of  all  his  acquaintances.  He  is  now 
living  at  the  home  of  his  son  Alfred,  with 
whom  he  has  resided  for  seven  years.  Rapidly 
approaching  his  ninety-third  year,  he  realizes 
that  his  time  upon  earth  is  short  at  the  longest, 
but  he  is  at  peace  with  his  Maker  and  worships  i 
Him  in  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church,  of  [ 
whicli  Mr.  Livingston  has  been  a  member  since 
183-3. 


TA^IL,LIA3r  Br.  M:WT0N.  Many  of  our 
-**■  mo.st  brilliant  men  are  cut  down  in  the 
prime  of  life,  .seemingly  becau.se  the  physical  \ 
man  is  too  weak  to  sustain  the  mental  strain 
under  which  it  labors-  William  M.  Newton 
was  of  tliis  class.  His  early  life  was  passed 
with  toil  and  hard  .study  to  attain  an  eminence 
which  he  finally  reached.  Hi><  maturer  years 
were  marked  l)y  close  application,  that  his 
client's  interests  should  not  suffer,  and  he  had 
tiic  confidence  of  those  who  emj)loyed  his  talent, 
and  the  respect  and  consideration  of  his  brother 


barristers,  even  though  they  were  opposed  to 
him  at  the  bar,  becau.se  he  disdained  subterfuge 
and  petty  advantages.  William  ]M.  Newton  was 
a  son  of  John  and  Sally  (Loomer)  Newton,  and 
was  born  in  Norwich,  New  York,  October  30, 
1827,  and  died  at  Jamestown  April  11,  1887, 
aged  fifty-nine  years  and  six  months.  His 
father,  John  Newton,  went  to  Bu.sti  town  in 
1832  and  settled  as  a  farmer,  and  died  a  num- 
ber of  years  ago. 

William  M.  Newton  early  gave  evidence  of  a 
bright  mind,  which  developed  rapidly  as  he  ap- 
proached manhood,  but  his  parents  were  strug- 
gling to  maintain  a  family  of  five  children,  and 
tire  young  man  got  naught  but  such  advantages 
as  the  common  schools  afforded.  He  early  de- 
termined to  master  the  law  for  his  life  pi'ofes- 
sion,  and  his  studies  were  directed  to  attain  this 
end.  Various  labor  was  performed  to  secure 
means,  and  he  spent  the  winters  teaching  school, 
principally  in  Chautauqua  county. 

On  June  3,  1848,  he  married  Prudence  Bar- 
ber, a  daughter  of  Eliiui  Barber,  an  old  resident 
and  farmer  of  Poland,  who  served  as  a  drum- 
mer boy  in  the  war  of  1812.  He  had  two 
children  :  Agues,  who  married  Ed.  D.  Warren  ; 
and  Otis  J.,  who  wedded  Mary  E.  Wilcox,  and 
has  two  children,  Burt  and  Maud.  Mrs.  New- 
ton was  of  great  assistance  to  her  young  husband 
in  h-is  studies.  Iu.stead  of  being  a  burden  to 
him,  she  was  the  bright  star  which  led  him  on- 
ward, and  Mr.  Newton,  in  later  years,  gave  her 
great  credit  for  his  attainment  in  legal  studv. 

In  1850  he  entered  the  office  of  ]Madison 
Burnell,  of  Jamestown,  who  was  one  of  the 
most  ])i-ominent  lawyers  of  western  New  York. 
His  practice  was  extensive,  and  the  young  stu- 
dent had  excellent  opportunities  for  practice  in 
the  justices  court  long  before  his  admission  to 
the  bar.  After  spending  two  years  with  Mr. 
Burnell,  he  attended  the  law  school  at  Ball.ston 
Spa,  Saratoga  county,  tiiis  State,  where  he 
rapidly  improved  in  legal  knowledge  and  style 
ol' oratory.     Naturally  gifted  willi  an  eloijuence 


OF  ciIArTAUQUA   COUNTY. 


179 


which  swept  away  all  doubt,  iiu  soon  auiiuired 
a  reputation  for  effective  advocacy.  He  was 
admitted  to  practice  in  all  the  courts  of  tiie 
State  early  in  1853,  and  on  the  6tii  of  Decem- 
ber, following  year,  he  formed  a  partnership 
with  the  Hon.  C.  R.  Loclcwood,  of  Jamestown, 
which  continued  only  a  year,  when  Mr.  Newton 
went  to  Waterloo,  Black  Hawk  county,  Iowa, 
where  he  remained  about  seven  years,  and  was 
elected  district  attorney.  During  the  sixties  he 
returned  to  Jamestown  and  followed  his  profes-  ! 
siou  with  great  success  until  his  death,  which 
occurred  in  1887.  Mr.  Newton's  death  cast  a 
gloom  on  the  legal  fraternity  of  Chautauqua 
county.  Probably,  excepting  his  family,  none 
missed  him  so  completely  as  his  brother  lawyers, 
who  were  wont  to  listen  to  his  eloquence  and 
wit.  Politically,  Mr.  Newton  was  originally  a 
democrat,  but  being  of  large  ideas  he  saw  the 
fallacy  of  parties  and  expressed  himself  as  a  , 
rigid  adherent  of  no  party.  His  integrity  of  | 
purpose  and  regard  for  the  people,  induced  him 
to  act  for  the  maintenance  of  right."  "To  his 
conscience,  there  were  inconsistencies  in  the 
prevalent  teaching  of  orthodox  religionists, 
which  he  regarded  as  inconsistent  with  divine 
goodness,  and  from  a  sense  of  duty,  although 
not  allying  himself  to  any  particular  denomina- 
tion, he  advocated  the  more  liberal  sentiment  of 
the  time.''  "He  regarded  superstition  and 
bigotry  as  relics  of  darkest  ages,  which  should 
succumb  to  the  purer  light  and  higher  educa- 
tion of  the  present."  He  was  devoted  to  his 
family,  to  his  friends  and  to  his  profession,  and  ! 
although  nearly  sixty  years  of  age,  was  still 
a  young  man,  for  age  cannot  be  numbered  by 
years.  He  is  survived  by  his  wife,  one  son 
and  a  daughter,  Agnes, — Mrs.  Warren. 

Ed.  D.  Warren  was  a  journalist  of  extraor- 
dinary abilit}-.  He  was  born  in  Trenton,  Onei- 
da county,  N.  Y.,  July  1,  1849,  was  educated 
at  Jamestown  academy  and  learned  the  printer's 
trade.  He  then  took  up  editorial  work  and 
was  soon  recognized  as  a   brilliant    writer  and 


a  successful  jnurnalist.  The  Jamestown,  and 
Springfield,  Mass.,  papers  were  well  acquainted 
with  him  and  prized  the  products  of  his  pen. 
The  Union  of  the  last  named  city  was  his  home 
for  ten  years.  He  then  went  to  Concord,  N.  H., 
and  took  charge  of  the  Blade.  It  was  there 
tliat  lie  did  the  best  work  of  his  life.  In  1884 
he  returned  to  Springfield  and  in  the  fall  of 
1888,  assumed  the  editorship  of  tlie  Fapcr 
World,  a  monthly  publication  devoted  to  the 
news  of  periodicals  and  paper  production,  which 
position  he  held  until  a  tew  weeks  before  his 
death  when  exhausted  vitality  compelled  him  to 
relinquish  his  pen  and  surrender  his  desk.  He 
died  at  Boston,  Massachusetts,  March  9,  1890, 
leaving  a  young  wife  in  sorrow.  His  health 
had  never  been  ruo-ged.  For  vears  he  had  been 
a  sufferer  and  many  daj's  were  spent  at  work  by 
force  of  will  only.  His  employers  respected, 
and  fellow  employees  admired  him  for  the  de- 
termination not  to  give  up,  which  though  un- 
spoken was  displayed,  and  it  was  only  when 
completely  exhausted  that  he  quit. 

Ed.  D.  Warren  was  a  republican,  a  member 
of  De  Soto  lodge.  No.  155,  I.  O.  O.  F.,  and  an 
active  Christian  worker  in  Sabbath-school  and 
church.  His  wife  is  now  living  at  her  home, 
on  Luke  View  avenue,  Jamestown. 


HOX.  ALBERT  B.  SHELDON,  one  of  the 
leading  representatives  of  business,  politi- 
cal and  social  life  of  central  Chautauqua  county, 
is  a  son  of  Franklin  and  Eliza  (Brigham) 
Sheldon,  was  born  in  the  town  of  Westfield, 
this  county,  ou  April  7,  1 842.  The  parents  of 
our  subject  came  from  Pawlet,  Vermont,  and 
reached  this  county  about  1830.  Franklin 
Sheldon  settled  in  the  town  of  Westfield  and 
began  to  farm  and  deal  in  cattle,  which  he  has 
tbllowed  to  a  greater  or  less  extent  until  witiiin 
the  past  few  years.  He  is  now  eighty-two  3'ears 
of  age,  and  for  many  years  was  assessor  in  the 
town  of  ^^'esttield,  and  he  filled  the  office  in  a 
most  commendable  manner. 


180 


BIOGRAPHY  AND  HISTORY 


Albert  B.  Sheldon  was  boru  and  reared  on  a 
farm,  and  received  his  education  at  the  district 
schools.  Although  the  facilities  for  securing  an 
education  were  far  inferior  to  those  of  the 
present  day,  before  he  had  reached  the  age  of 
twenty-one  he  was  the  possessor  of  a  teacher's 
State  certificate  of  proficiency,  and  it  is  doubtful 
if  there  is  another  parallel  instance.  At  fifteen 
years  of  age  he  began  to  teach  and  followed  the 
profession  during  the  winter  seasons  for  ten 
years.  The  summers  were  passed  in  the  pur- 
chase and  sale  of  stock,  from  the  proceeds  of 
which  he  accumulated  considerable  money.  In 
1863  he  became  a  produce  dealer,  and  although 
now  interested  in  many  other  matters,  he  still 
is  identified  as  a  drover.  Butter  and  cheese 
form  a  large  part  of  his  annual  business,  and 
he  is  one  of  the  very  few  who  have  made  it  a 
success.  Between  forty  and  fifty  thousand 
dollars  worth  of  these  staple  commodities  pass 
through  his  hands  yearly.  In  1881  he  was 
elected  to  the  State  legislature,  and  was  re-elected 
the  following  year,  and  served  as  chairman  of 
the  committee  on  agriculture.  Mr.  Sheldon  was 
supervisor  of  the  town  of  Sherman  for  three 
years,  and  is  now  vice-president  of  the  State 
Bank  of  Sherman,  that  was  organized  in  Feb- 
ruary, 1890,  and  of  which  Enoch  Sperry  is 
president.  The  towns  of  Sherman,  Kiantone, 
Westfield  and  Chautauqua ,  and  the  city  of 
Jamestown,  contain  valuable  real  estate  that 
belongs  to  him.  He  also  has  large  real  estate 
interests  at  Buffalo.  ; 

Hon.  A.  B.  Sheldon  lias  a  tine  house  at  Sher- 
man, in  which  he  takes  much  comfort  and 
pleasure.  In  1872  lie  married  Maria  Slocum, 
a  lady  from  Frewsburgh,  this  county,  and  they 
had  one  child,  which  unfortunately  died.  He 
is  a  hard  worker  and  pays  close  attention  to 
business  for  nine  months  each  year,  but  during 
the  cold  winter  mouths  he  takes  a  vacation  for 
amusement,  rest  and  pleasure,  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Sheldon  have  traveled  very  extensively  l:)oth  in 
Europe  and   America,  and   are   well   informed 


regarding  the  mannei's  and  customs  of  foreign 
countries,  and  the  current  news  of  American 
politics  and  the  affairs  of  State  and  nation  come 
to  them  daily  through  the  medium  of  periodicals 
published  at  Buffalo. 


FRAXK  S.  WHEELER,  a  member  of  the 
Chautauqua  county  bar,  is  a  son  of  Silas 
and  Maria  (Camp)  Wheeler,  and  was  born  in 
the  town  of  Ellington,  Chautauqua  county. 
New  York,  December  16,  1864. 

His  great-grandfather,  Seth  Wheeler,  was 
born  in  New  Hampshire,  in  which  State  he 
lived  dimng  his  life  time ;  he  was  a  farmer  by 
occupation.  INIoses  Wheeler  (grandfather)  was 
born  in  New  Hampshire,  but  removed  to  El- 
lington, Chautauqua  county.  New  York,  in 
1824  or  1825.  He  was  a  farmer  by  occujia- 
tion,  and  a  whig  in  politics  until  the  disruption 
of  that  party,  when  he  joined  the  republican 
ranks.  When  the  Free  Will  Baptist  church 
of  Ellington  was  organized  in  1824,  Moses 
Wheeler  was  one  of  the  eight  original  mem- 
bers. He  had  four  children,  two  sons,  Albert 
and  Silas,  and  two  daughters,  Emily  and  ISfary 
Jane.  One  of  his  sons,  Silas  Wheeler  (father), 
was  born  in  the  town  of  Ellington  in  1834,  and 
is  a  prosperous  farmer  of  the  town  of  Poland, 
owning  about  three  hundred  acres  of  land  in 
the  towns  of  Ellington  and  Poland.  He  is  a 
republican,  and  always  votes  that  ticket.  In 
1862  he  married  Maria  Camp,  daughter  of 
AVilliam  and  Eliza  Camp,  of  the  town  of  Po- 
land. jNIr.  and  Mrs.  Wheeler  have  had  one 
child,  Frank  S.  WMieeler.  W^illiam  Camp, 
Mrs.  W'heeler's  father,  was  born  in  Onondaga 
county,  New  York,  and  removed  to  Chautaucpia 
county  about  1831,  and  settled  in  the  town  of 
Poland.  He  is  a  farmer  by  occupation,  and  a 
republican.  He  married  Eliza  Wheelock, 
daughter  of  Eliab  WHieelock,  of  the  town  of 
Poland.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Camp  had  three  chil- 
dren :  Maria,  .Tulia  and   Martha. 

Frank  S.  Wheeler  received   his  education  in 


OF  CHAUTAUQUA  COUNTY. 


181 


the  public  schools  of  the  town  of  Ellington,  in 
the  Ellington  academy  and  the  Chaniberlain 
institute  at  Randolph,  Cattaraugus  county,  from  I 
which  latter  institution  he  was  graduated  in 
1883.  In  the  fall  of  1884  he  began  the  study 
of  law,  reading  first  with  Theodore  Case,  of  1 
Ellington,  and  with  Bootey,  Fowler  &  Weeks, 
of  Jamestown,  and  then  attended  the  law  school 
at  Albany,  from  which  he  was  graduated  in 
1887,  and  was  admitted  to  the  bar  as  attorney 
and  counsellor  of  the  State  in  1887,  since  which 
time  he  has  been  actively  engaged  in  the  prac- 
tice of  his  profession,  fii'st  at  Ellington,  but 
since  July,  1890,  at  Jamestown,  where  he  has 
decided  to  make  his  permanent  home. 

He  votes  the  Republican  ticket,  but  avoids  all 
political  complications.  During  the  Harrison 
campaign  he  unfortunately  lost  his  left  leg  by 
the  bursting  of  a  cannon.  He  is  a  member  of 
Lodge  97,  A.  O.  U.  W.,  of  Ellington,  and  I. 
O.  O.  F.,  No.  522,  of  Kennedy. 


nKVEKEXD  CHARLES  EDWARD 
SMITH,  D.D.,  pastor  of  the  First 
Baptist  church  of  Fredonia,  is  of  New  Eng- 
land birth  and  parentage.  He  is  a  son  of 
Philip  and  Roby  (Simmons)  Smith,  and  was 
born  in  Fall  River,  Bristol  county,  Massachu- 
setts, January  22d,  1835.  His  graudfatlier, 
Edward  Smith,  was  born  at  Newport,  Newport 
county,  Rhode  Island,  in  1770,  and  was  a 
farmer  by  occupation.  One  of  the  beaches  on 
the  sea-coast  near  Newport  is  named  Smith's 
Beach  in  honor  of  his  ancestors,  who  settled 
there  when  they  came  from  England.  He 
moved  to  Massachusetts  in  1822,  and  settled  in 
Fall  River,  and  there  lived  a  retired  life,  being 
of  a  theological  turn  of  mind  and  an  acute 
reasoner.  He  died  in  1834,  in  his  sixty-fourth 
year.  Brown  Simmons,  the  maternal  grand- 
father of  Rev.  C.  E.  Smith,  was  born  in 
Somerset,  Bristol  county,  Massachusetts,  where 
he  spent  his  whole  life  in  the  occupation  of  a 
farmer.     In  religion  he  was  a  member  of  the 


Baptist  church.  His  ancestors  were  Engli.sh 
people,  who  reached  Massachusetts  not  long 
after  the  "  Mayflower."  Brown  Simmons  was 
married  to  Huldali  Brown  in  177G,  and  for 
that  reason  was  excused  from  servinsr  as  a 
soldier  in  the  Revolutionary  war.  By  tiiis 
marriage  there  were  seven  children,  two  sons 
and  five  daughters.  The  father  of  these  chil- 
dren died  in  1838,  and  the  mother  in  1848,  in 
her  ninety-third  year.  Philip  Smith  (fatlier) 
was  born  in  Newport^  Newport  county,  Rhode 
Island,  in  1804,  and  worked  on  the  farm  until 
he  was  eighteen  years  old.  Being  ingenious  to 
an  unusual  degree,  and  to  develop  this  gift,  he 
went  to  Fall  River,  Alassachusetts,  served  three 
years'  apprenticeship  in  a  machine-shop,  event- 
ually became  a  contractor  for  buiJdingcotton-mill 
machinery,  and  continued  in  this  business  the 
remainder  of  his  life.  In  religion  he  was  a 
member  and  deacon  of  the  First  Baptist  church 
of  Fall  River,  of  high  moral  character,  and 
very  highly  respected.  Politically  he  w-as  a 
member  of  the  so-called  Liberty  party.  Philip 
Smith  was  married  (1828)  to  Roby  Simmons, 
and  had  three  children,  two  sons  and  a  daughter: 
Philip  B.,  born  in  1830,  and  died  at  the  age  of 
twenty-three  years;  Roby  M.,  born  in  1832, 
and  died  in  1834;  and  Charles  Edward. 

C.  E.  Smith  graduated  from  the  Fall  River 
(Massachusetts)  High  school  in  1856,  then  went 
to  the  university  of  Rochester,  New  York, 
where  he  graduated  in  1860,  and  then  entered 
the  Rochester  Theological  Seminary,  graduating 
therefrom  in  1863.  He  was  licensed  to  preach 
by  the  church  the  night  after  he  left  home  for 
college,  and  that  summer  had  been  assistant 
editor  of  the  Fall  Biver  News.  His  first  pas- 
toral charge  was  in  Pawtucket,  Providence 
county,  Rhode  Island,  where  he  was  ordained 
in  August,  1863,  as  pastor  of  the  first  Baptist 
church.  In  1868  he  became  pastor  in  Cincin- 
nati, Ohio,  which  pastorate  he  was  compelled  to 
resign  in  1870  on  account  of  ill-health.  He 
then  spent  a  year  at  Fulton,  Oswego  county, 


132 


BIOGRAPHY  AND  HISTORY 


this  State,  where  he  was  assistant  engineer  on 
the  Erie  canal,  at  the  same  time  being  active 
pastor  of  the  church  there.  From  1871  to 
1875  he  was  pastor  of  Calvary  Baptist  church 
in  New  Haven,  Connecticut,  a  large  church 
M'ith  a  seating  capacity  of  twelve  hundred.  In 
the  latter  year  he  came  to  Syracuse,  this  State, 
where  he  was  pastor  of  the  First  Baptist  church 
for  six  years,  when  he  was  again  forced  to  resign 
on  account  of  ill  health.  While  recuperating, 
he  wrote  and  published  the  book  known  as 
"The  Baptism  in  Fire."  In  1885  he  came  to 
Fredonia  as  pastor  of  the  Baptist  church,  where 
he  has  since  resided  and  occupied  that  pulpit. 
This  church  was  organized  October  8th,  1808, 
and  is  believed  to  be  the  second  church  organ- 
ized in  the  county,  and  the  present  brick  edifice 
.was  built  in  1853.  Rev.  Mr.  Smith  has  just 
published  another  book  entitled,  "  The  World  i 
Lighted,"  a  study  of  the  Apocalypse. 

On  June  16,  1891,  the  University  of  Roches-  , 
ter,  X.  Y.,  conferred  upon   him  the  honorary  ' 
degree  of  Doctor  of  Divinity,  a  title  which  he 
is  well  (pialified  to  su.stain  with  dignity. 

Rev.  C  E.Smith  was  married  February  17th, 
1864,  to  Catherine  A.  Kimball,  a  daughter  of 
Morris  and  Louisa  C.  Kimball,  of  Fulton,  New 
York,  her  father  being  a  civil  engineer  all  his 
life  on  the  Erie  caual.  By  this  marriage  there 
is  one  daughter,  who  is  married  to  Dr.  Nelson  G. 
Richmond,  a  prosperous  physician  of  Fredonia. 


TSAAC  A.  SAXTON.  Within  the  last  half- 
■'■  century  several  citizens  of  Chautauqua 
county  have  been  very  successful  in  the  gold- 
fields  of  the  Pacific  slope  and  prominent  in  the 
founding  and  early  progress  of  some  of  the 
leading  cities  of  tiie  great  west.  Among  these 
was  the  late  Isaac  A.  Saxton,  of  Fredonia.  He 
was  a  son  of  Major  Isaac  and  Lucy  (Ciiapin) 
Saxton  and  was  born  in  Oneida  county.  New 
York,  June  24,  1818.  Major  Isaac  Saxton  re- 
moved with  his  family  from  Oneida  county  to 
near  Brocton,  in  the  town  of  Fortlaud,  where 


he  afterwards  died.  He  married  Lucy  Chapin, 
who  was  a  descendant  of  the  Massachusetts 
family  of  that  name. 

Isaac  A.  Saxton,  after  completing  his  academic 
course,  was  engaged  for  a  short  time  in  teaching 
in  Kentucky,  where  he  received  one  thousand 
dollars  per  year  and  was  furuisiied  a  negro  page 
to  attend  him.  Af\er  returning  from  Kentucky 
he  entered  Hamilton  college,  from  which  he  was 
graduated  at  the  close  of  his  senior  year.  He 
then  went  to  Shreveport,  Louisiana,  and  was  in 
business  for  some  time,  after  which  he  became 
a  resident  of  New  Orleans,  but  his  place  of 
business  burned  soon  after  its  establishment. 
To  repair  his  loss,  he  sought  the  then  new  dis- 
covered gold-fields  of  California,  where  numer- 
ous ventures  in  locating  and  developing  gold 
territory  were  successful,  although  at  various 
times  he  met  with  reverses  and  had  his  residence 
and  business  buildings  burned.  Returning  from 
California  to  Chautauqua  county,  he  read  medi- 
cine for  a  short  time,  but  then  abandoned  all 
idea  of  that  profession  and  applied  himself  to 
tiie  study  of  law  at  Fredonia  in  order  to  fully 
fit  himself  for  a  business  career  as  well  as  for  a 
pi'ofessional  life.  He  was  admitted  to  the  Chau- 
tauqua county  bar  and  did  a  large  amount  of 
real  estate  and  other  business  during  his  life. 
At  au  early  day  in  the  liistoiy  of  Chicago  he 
had  strong  faitii  in  the  future  development  of 
that  then  mere  town.  He  invested  largely  in 
Chicago  I'eal  estate,  which  advanced  rapidly  in 
value,  as  he  had  anticipated,  and  yielded  him  a 
wonderful  increase  of  ju'ofit  on  his  investments. 
He  purchased  western  lands  which  became  val- 
uable and  had  various  other  profitable  Inisiness 
interests  in  this  county  and  in  the  western  States, 
besides  forty  acres  of  laud  within  seven  miles  of 
the  heart  of  the  city  of  Chicago.  He  accumu- 
lated a  fortune  of  large  proportions  by  his  un- 
ceasing activity,  unwearied  energy  and  successful 
investments.  While  cool,  calculating  and  con- 
servative, while  heeding  carefully  boom  and  lull 
in  business,  yet  he  was  fiir-seeing  and   able  to 


OF  ClIAUTAfiil'A   CUlWTr. 


185 


predict  tlie  future  successful  results  of  various 
investments  in  wliich  many  substantial  business 
Dien  were  afraid  to  become  interested.  In  polit- 
ical matters  he  supported  the  Rcpul)lican  party. 
After  nearly  half  a  century  of  active  and  suc- 
cessful business  life  he  died  on  ^March  4,  1884, 
when  in  the  sixty-sixtli  year  of  his  age.  His 
remains  were  entombed  with  appropriate  cere- 
monies in  Foi'est  Hill  cemetery. 

Ou  January  2,  1855,  Isaac  Saxton  married 
Louisa  W.  Pier,  of  this  county.  Their  union 
was  blessed  with  four  children,  of  whom  one 
son  still  lives:  Isaac  Henry,  who  is  married  and 
resides  in  Chicago  when  not  engaged  on  his  horse 
ranch  of  nearly  four  thousand  acres  in  the  State 
of  Kansas. 

At  the  time  of  her  marriage  Mrs.  Saxton  was 
teaching  in  the  city  of  Xew  York.  She  resides 
at  Fredonia,  where  she  has  a  beautiful  and 
pleasant  home.  Mrs.  Saxton  is  a  daughter  of 
Daniel  Pier,  who  was  boru  at  Cooperstowu,  New 
York,  and  removed  to  the  site  of  Dunkirk  city 
in  January,  1814,  whei'e  he  engaged  in  farming. 
He  and  his  father-in-law,  Amon  Gaylord,  two 
of  his  brothers-in-law  and  four  other  parties 
sold  their  farms  to  a  company  who  laid  out  on 
their  purchase  the  village  of  Dunkirk.  Daniel 
Pier  had  purchased  the  larger  part  of  the  site  of 
the  village  for  seventy  dollars  and  sold  it  to  this 
company  for  twenty-four  hundred  dollars.  He 
died  in  1837,  aged  fifty-four  years.  Before 
removing  to  Dunkirk  he  had  followed  merchan 
dising,  although  by  trade  a  hatter.  He  was  a 
public-spirited  man,  and  married  Caudace  Gay- 
lord,  daughter  of  Amon  Gaylord,  by  whom  he 
had  seven  children,  of  whom  three  are  living: 
Amelia  S.,  Mrs.  Aveline  H.  Morey  and  Mrs. 
Louisa  W.  Saxton. 


TA^ILL,I.\3I  J.  COBB,  a  prosperous  merchant 

-'**■  and  retired  agricultural  implement  man- 
ufacturer of  Jamestown,  is  a  son  of  Adam  B. 
and  Thetis  (Bishop)  Cobb,  and  he  first  saw  the 
light  of  day  February  17, 1823,  inElizabethtown, 


Essex  county,  New  York,  where  his  father  w-as 
I  married.  Zachariah  Cobb,  grandtiither  of  the 
subject  of  our  sketch,  was  a  native  of  Connec- 
ticut, but  early  in  manhood  emigrated  to  Essex 
county,  this  State,  where  he  followed  iarming 
until  his  death.  During  the  Revolution,  like 
Putnam,  he  left  iiis  plow  and  with  musket  on 
his  shoulder,  remained  in  the  Colonial  service 
until  the  contest  was  decided,  and  again,  at  the 
breaking  out  of  the  second  war  with  England, 
he  went  to  tiie  front.  He  married  a  Miss 
Brady  and  reared  a  family  of  four  sons  and 
three  daughters.  Elijah  Bishop  (maternal 
grandfather)  although  of  English  extraction 
was  born  in  New  Milfijrd,  Connecticut,  1760. 
While  young  he  emigrated  to  Vermont  and 
later  came  to  New  York  where  he  died.  He 
was  a  man  of  considerable  ingenuity,  wiiich  he 
employed  to  good  advantage.  During  the  v,-ar 
of  1812  he  served  as  major  with  distinction. 
When  interested  in  politics  he  was  identified 
with  the  democrats.  He  was  twice  married, 
his  first  wife  being  Dorcas  Holcomb,  who  bore 
him  eight  children,  of  wiiom  Elijah  Bishop  and 
the  mother  of  William  J.  Cobb,  ai-e  the  only- 
ones  now  living.  Adam  B.  Cobb  (father)  was 
born  in  1801,  in  Essex  county,  and  when  tiiirty- 
two  years  of  age,  with  his  family,  came  to  this 
county  and  died  in  Jamestown,  in  1883.  Like 
his  son  he  was  a  whig  and  afterwards  a  republi- 
can. For  a  number  of  years  he  was  associated 
with  his  son,  William  J.  Cobb,  in  the  manufac- 
turing business,  but  several  years  before  he  died 
he  disposed  of  the  business.  He  was  a  member 
of  the  Congregational  church  in  which  faith  he 
died.  In  1822,  he  married  Thetis  Bishop,  who 
w^as  born  March  4,  1800,  and  who  bore  him 
four  children  :  William  J.,  Norval  B.,  now 
dead,  who  served  on  the  Union  side  during  the 
Rebellion;  Sheldon  B.,  (dead);  and  Lucy,  who 
is  the  wife  of  William  Broadhead,  and  resides 
in  Jamestown. 

William  J.  Cobb  received  his  early  education 
in  the  common  schools  of  his  home,  and  early  in 


186 


BIOGRAPHY  AXD  HISTORY 


life  engaged  with  his  father  in  the  manufacture 
of  agricultural  tools,  from  which  he  retired 
about  twenty-five  years  ago  and  since  then  has 
been  engaged  in  the  grocery  business.  An  en- 
thusiastic republican  he  is  also  a  patriotic  cit- 
izen, and  enjoys  seeing  the  government  properly 
conducted,  and  is  with  his  wife  an  active  mem- 
ber of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church.  Mr. 
Cobb  has  a  very  pleasant  home  whicli  it  is 
hoped  he  will  yet  enjoy  for  many  years. 

On  Dec.  23,  18-46,  Mr.  Cobb  married  for  his  ! 
first  wife  Miranda  Woodward,  a  daughter  of 
Reuben  Woodward,  a  resident  of  Chautauqua 
county,  who  was  the  mother  of  two  children  : 
Ordello  W.  was  a  merchant  tailor  of  James- 
town, but  is  now  in  the  insurance  business,  and 
was  married  to  Clara  Brooks  ;  and  Orlando  W. 
(dead).  The  youngest  son,  George  D.,  a  conduc- 
tor on  the  electric  street  cars,  is  a  child  by  Mr.  j 
Cobb's  second  wife,  and  is  also  married,  his 
wife  being  Yesta  A.  Fox.  After  the  death  of 
the  first  Mrs.  Cobb,  he  married  Mrs.  Martha 
T.  (Simmons)  Clements,  with  whom  he  had  a 
very  happy  home  for  many  years.  Martha  T. 
Cobb  died' June  11,  1891. 


-iOEXJAMIN  J.  COFFIN,  a  prominem  resi- 
^^  dent  of  Siierman,  who  at  first  became  well 
known  as  a  gallant  soldier,  and  later,  through 
his  business  abilities,  was  born  at  Nantucket, 
Massachusetts,  on  July  30, 1821,  and  is  a  son  of 
John  G.  and  Rebecca  (Joy)  Cofiin.  The  Coffin 
family  is  of  English  extraction  and  the  Ameri- 
can branch  are  all  descended  from  Tristam  Cof- 
fin, who  landed  from  the  mother  country  about 
1642.  His  first  residence  was  at  Salem,  Massa- 
chusetts, but  during  the  persecutions  he  removed 
to  Nantucket,  where  he  might  enjoy  his  Quaker 
religion  without  being  molested.  Tristam  Cof- 
fin was  remote  from  our  subject  nine  generations. 
He  married  Dionus  Stevens.  The  o;reat-o;rand- 
father  of  our  subject  was  James  Coffin,  who  en- 
tered the  world  at  Nantucket,  lived  there,  served 
as  justice  of  tlie  peace  and  a   member  of  the 


General  Assembly  of  Massachusetts,  and  died 
in  the  town  of  his  birth.  His  son,  Samuel 
Coffin,  was  born  at  the  same  place  and  learned 
tailoring.  The  hitter's  wife  was  Eunice  Folger, 
and  belonged  to  the  same  family  as  Ex-Secretary 
of  the  Treasury,  Folger.  They  had  six  children. 
The  maternal  gi-andfather,  Obed  Joy,  was  of 
English  descent,  although  born  in  the  town  of 
Nantucket,  and  his  father's  name  was  Moses 
Joy.  Obed  Joy  was  a  skillful  mariner  and  fol- 
lowed the  sea  throughout  his  life.  He  married 
Ann  Cartwright  and  reared  seven  children. 
John  G.  Coffin  was  born  at  the  town  of  Nan- 
tucket in  1797.  While  yet  young  he  went  to 
sea  and  followed  it  all  his  life.  He  rose  to  the 
dignity  of  a  master  and  died  while  on  a  voyage. 
His  remains  were  interred  at  Torabos,  South 
America. 

Captain  Coffin  was  a  member  of  the  Pres- 
byterian church  and  married  Rebecca  Joy, 
who  was  born  October  29,  1798,  and  is  still 
living  (1891),  and  enjoying  good  health.  They 
had  three  children — subject,  and  two  daughters: 
Keziah  J.  now  lives  at  Nantucket  with  her 
mother  on  the  old  homestead ;  and  Mary  A.,  who 
married  George  Simpson,  now  dead,  and  she, 
too,  is  living  with  her  mother. 

Benjamin  J.  Coffin  was  educated  in  the  com- 
mon schools  of  his  native  town,  and  as  they 
ranked  with  the  average  of  their  day,  the  extent 
of  his  instruction  may  be  imagined.  When  he 
left  home  he  went  to  New  York  city  and  Brook- 
lyn and  learned  sash  and  blind  making.  In 
March,  1843,  he  united  in  marriage  with  Eliza- 
beth G.  Paddock,  a  daughter  of  George  Pad- 
dock, a  Bay  State  mariner.  He  was  master  of 
a  vessel  and  while  at  New  Orleans  was  attacked 
with  yellow  fever  and  died.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Cof- 
fin have  been  blessed  with  two  children :  John 
G.,  who  married  Adaline  Miller,  now  lives  in 
Westfield,  where  he  owns  and  operates  a  saw- 
mill— he  has  five  children  :  George,  Ruth,  Eli- 
zabeth A.,  ]\Iary  and  Lucretia  ;  and  Rel)ecca, 
now  the  wife  of  A.  Jerome  Peck,  a  gents'  fur- 


OF  CJJAUTACQrA   COUNTY. 


187 


nisher  and  clotliing  dealer  at  Slicriiiaii — they 
have  a  daughter  Louise. 

Benjamin  J.  Coffin  first  worivcd  at  carjM'nter- 
iug  in  Sherman  and  Westfield  uj)  to  LSOO,  and 
theu  went  to  the  oil  regions  of  Pennsylvania 
and  lived  at  Rouseville  for  one  year,  l)ut  in 
July,  1861,  he  i-eturncd  to  Sherman  and  re- 
cruited Company  E,  Dth  regiment,  New  York 
Cavalry,  and  they  were  mustered  out  of  service 
in  October,  1864.  Mr.  Coffin  was  captain  of 
his  company  for  two  years  and  eiglit  months. 
After  leaving  the  army  he  returned  to  tlie  oil 
regions  and  engaged  as  a  superintendent  for  two 
or  three  years,  and  theu  came  hack  to  Siieriuan, 
where,  soon  after,  he  was  elected  justice  of  the 
peace  on  the  Republican  ticket,  and  he  has  been 
re-elected  at  every  election  since.  Tiiis  is  com- 
plimentary to  the  gentleman's  integrity  and  per- 
sonal popularity.  In  addition  to  his  office  of 
trust  he  does  a  large  business  in  conveyancing 
and  settling  up  estates,  most  of  that  work  in  this 
community  coming  to  him.  He  has  been  super- 
visor of  his  town  for  eight  yeai's — first  in  1856, 
and  for  the  last  seven  years  has  served  consecu- 
tively. Benjamin  J.  Coffin  is  a  member  of 
Sheldon  Post,  No.  295,  G.  A.  E.,  and  also  be- 
longs to  the  Equitable  Aid  Union. 


T^LiIAS  FORBES,  who  is  now  enjoying  a 
■'■^  well-earned  and  comfortable  repose  in  the  ! 
evening  of  life,  was  born  in  Greene,  Chenango 
county,  N.  Y.,  January  10,  1819,  and  is  a  son 
of  John  and  Statira  (Phelps)  Forbes.  Nothing 
is  known  of  his  paternal  grandfather,  except 
that  he  M'as  a  sailor  and  passed  to  the  world 
beyond  when  his  son  John,  (father)  was  nine 
years  old.  Jonathan  Phelps,  maternal  grand- 
father of  Elias  Forbes,  was  a  native  of  Con- 
necticut and  a  sea-faring  man,  who,  became  a  ; 
captain  of  a  privateer  during  the  Revolutionary 
war  and  captured  several  prizes.  "With  the 
money  thus  gained,  added  to  the  pension  which 
was  awarded  him,  he  was  enabled  to  live  in  j 
luxury  in  his  old  age.  He  came  to  this  conntv 
"  10  " 


in  lH'-jO  and  settled  in  Fredonia,  where  he  re- 
sided until  1850,  when  he  went  to  Rutledge, 
Cattaraugus  county,  to  live  with  his  daughter 
and  sulisequently  died  tiiere  at  the  age  of  ninety- 
six  years.  In  religion  he  favored  the  Baptists, 
being  an  attendant  at  a  ciiurch  of  that  denomina- 
tion, of  which  his  wife  was  a  member.  Jona- 
than Phelps  married  Charity  Beekwith,  by 
whom  he  had  twelve  children,  of  whom  Rodney 
is  a  farmer  in  Chenango  county ;  Beekwith  is  a 
hatter  in  Central  New  York ;  Newell  is  a  farmer 
at  Bear  Lake,  Penna.;  Statira  (mother),  .lulia, 
married  Lyman  Shattuck ;  Susan,  married 
Jonathan  Thompson  ;  Celestia,  married  a  Mr. 
Wheeler;  Asenatli  married  David  Shattuck, 
and  China  Maria  married  Edwin  Adams.  The 
mother  died  in  1870  in  her  ninety-sixth  year ; 
husband  and  wife  by  a  singular  coincidence  each 
lacking  just  four  years  of  completing  a  century 
of  life.  John  Forbes  (father)  was  born  in 
New  Haven,  Conn.,  in  1790,  and  being  left 
fatherless  at  the  age  of  nine  years,  was  thus 
early  in  life  compelled  to  aid  his  mother  in  the 
maintenance  of  the  family,  which  moved  to  Che- 
nango county,  this  State, and  settled  in  Greene; 
John  having  learned  the  trade  of  a  tanner  and 
currier.  Afterward  he  purchased  a  farm  of  two 
hundred  acres,  which  he  cultivated  in  connection 
with  operating  a  tannery.  In  the  fall  of  1831 
he  was  compelled  to  dispose  of  his  farm  and 
tannery  on  account  of  ill  health,  and  in  the 
spring  of  1832  he  moved  to  this  county  and 
bought  a  farm  of  one  hundred  acres  (now  owned 
by  Clinton  Ball)  in  the  corporation  of  Fredonia, 
where  he  remained  two  years  and  then  sold  it, 
shortl}'  afterward  engaging  in  the  mercantile 
business  at  Fredonia,  in  which  he  continued 
until  1843.  In  1852  he  moved  to  Batavia, 
Genesee  county,  where  he  I'esided  eleven  years, 
and  then  went  to  Rochester,  Monroe  county, 
where  he  died  May  2,  1878,  aged  eighty-eight 
years.  He  was  colonel  of  a  regiment  in  Che- 
nango county  and  was  drafted  for  the  war  of 
1812,  but  peace  was  declared  before  he  was  or- 


1S8 


BIOGRAPHY  ASl)  HIS  TOR  V 


dered  iuto  service.  In  freemasonry  he  was  W. 
M.  of  a  Lodge  in  Greene.  In  religion  he  M'as 
a  member  of  the  Baptist  church,  of  which  he 
was  a  trustee  nearly  all  his  life,  and  always  a 
very  prominent  man  in  church  affairs.  John 
Forbes  was  married  in  1814  to  Statira  Phelps, 
the  union  resulting  in  the  birth  of  five  children, 
three  sons  and  two  daughters  :  .Julia  A.,  born 
in  1815  and  married  Louis  B.  Grant,  a  merchant 
at  Forestville,  aud  later  at  Fredonia ;  David  S., 
a  retired  merchant  of  Fredonia,  who  married  i 
Catherine  J.  Abell ;  ]Maria,  died  at  the  age  of 
three  years ;  and  John  B.  The  mother  died 
January  8,  1850,  and  John  Forbes  married  for 
his  second  wife  Lavinia  M.  Grant,  a  daughter 
of  Jared  Grant,  of  Chenango  county,  in  June, 
1850.  She  is  still  liviug  in  Rochester,  Monroe 
county,  at  the  age  of  eigiity-three. 

Elias  Forbes  was  educated  at  the  Fredonia 
academy  and  left  .school  when  he  was  eighteen 
years  old  to  work  as  a  clerk  in  his  father's  store, 
in  which  position  he  remained  four  years.  In  j 
1844  he  bought  his  father's  interest  in  the  store  j 
and  formed  a  partnership  with  his  brother  David 
S.,  under  the  firm-name  of  D.  S.  &  E.  Forbes ; 
but  David  was  later  afflicted  with  inflammatory 
rheumatism  and  his  father  purcha.sed  his  inter- 
est, which  he  subsequently  sold  to  Elias  and  L. 
B.  Grant,  the  firm  then  being  known  as  Grant  | 
&  Forbes.  This  firm  continued  eight  years, 
when  Mr.  Forbes  sold  his  interest  to  Mr.  Grant,  ^ 
remained  inactive  for  a  year  and  a  half  and  then 
formed  a  partnership  with  Robert  ^NlcPhersou, 
under  the  firm-name  of  McPherson  &  Forbes, 
with  whom  he  continued  two  years  and  then 
bought  him  out  and  conducted  the  business  alone 
until  his  healtli  failed  in  1858,  when  he  sold  to  j 
Horace  Pemberton,  and,  in  connection  with 
Pre-ston  Bar  more,  formed  a  gas  company  for  the 
pur] io.se  of  lighting  the  village  and  streets  of 
Fredonia.  Tlie  u.se  of  natural  gas  iu  Fi'edonia 
was  begun  in  1821,  and  among  the  public  places 
info  wiiicli  it  was  introduced  was  the  hotel  that 
occui)icd  the  site  of  the  present  Taylor  House, 


which  was  illuminated  when  Gen.  La  Fayette 
pa.ssed  through  the  village  by  the  first  gas  used 
in  the  United  States,  and  the  gas-works  then 
established  were  the  first  of  their  kind  in  the 
country.  The  spring  first  discovered  and  from 
which  this  gas  was  used  is  located  on  the  north 
bank  of  Canadaway  creek  at  the  bridge  crossing 
the  stream  on  Main  street.  The  gas  from  this 
well  was  sufficient  for  thirty  burners  and  was 
used  until  1858,  when  Preston  Barraore  sunk 
another  well  in  the  northwest  part  of  the  vil- 
lage, the  shaft  being  thirty  feet  deep,  six  feet  in 
diameter  at  the  top  and  fourteen  feet  at  the  bot- 
tom, with  two  vertical  bi>rings,  one  one  hundred 
and  the  other  one  hundred  and  fifty  feet  deep. 
It  was  this  well  in  which  Mr.  Forbes  purchased 
a  half  interest.  At  first  the  well  supplied  two 
thousand  cubic  feet  per  day,  through  three  miles 
of  mains.  In  1859  the  company  put  in  a  gas 
receiver  of  twelve  thousand  cubic  feet  capacity 
and  supplied  private  houses.  In  1871  Albert 
Colburn  sunk  a  well  twelve  hundred  feet,  for 
the  purpose  of  supplying  fuel  for  generating 
steam,  but  it  proved  inadequate  and  he  bought 
out  Mr.  Barmore's  interest  in  the  gas  company, 
connected  his  with  the  company's  receiver,  thus 
enabling  tiiem  to  supply  the  whole  village.  Of 
tills  company  Mr.  Forbes  was  elected  president 
and  held  that  ofBce  until  1878,  when  he  sold 
out  his  interest  aud  retired  from  business  to 
spend  the  remainder  of  his  days  amid  the  sur- 
roundings of  a  most  comfortable  home.  In  re- 
ligion he  is  au  Episcopalian.  In  1858  he  was 
elected  one  of  the  wardens  of  Trinity  Episcopal 
church  in  Fredonia  and  still  holds  the  same  ])0- 
sitiou.  He  has  been  trusted  of  the  village  of 
Fredonia  and  held  the  office  of  treasurer  for 
many  years,  and  trustee  of  the  old  Fredonia 
academy  here. 

Elias  Forbes  was  married  November  5,1843, 
to  Rebecca  E.  Walworth,  a  daughter  of  Benja- 
min and  Charlotte  (Eddy)  Walworth,  her  father 
being  one  of  tiie  most  ])i'omincnt  physicians  and 
surgeons  in  western  New  Yoriv,  and  for  thirteen 


OF  CHAUTAUQUA   COUSTY. 


189 


yeai's  was  judge  of  CliautaiKiiia  county,  and  for 
several  years  was  examiner  in  chancery.  He 
resided  in  Fredonia,  wliitiior  lie  came  from  i 
Hoosic  Falls,  N.  Y.,  in  1824.  By  this  mar- 
riage there  were  three  children  :  Kosciusko  W., 
born  December  14,  1844,  married  to  Nellie  A. 
Payne,  by  whom  he  has  three  daughters,  and 
lives  in  liuffitlo ;  Charlotte  E.,  born  November 
26,  1846,  married  Isaac  S.  Kingsland,  a  civil 
engineer,  and  was  J.  Contlit  Smith's  chief  en- 
gineei' — he  died  in  188.'),  leaving  a  widow,  one 
son  and  three  daughters  ;  and  John  11,  born  Au- 
gust 19,  1855  and  died  May  30,  1862. 


ry-OL..  SILAS  SHEAK^IAX  &  SONS,  of 
^^  Jamestown,  have  been  prominent  iu  the 
manufacturing  interests  of  that  city  for  many 
years,  and  the  sons,  Rufus  P.  and  Addison  P., 
are  t!ie  members  of  the  present  upholstering  aud 
furniture  firm  of  Shearman  Brothers.  The 
Shearmans  are  of  English  descent,  and  the 
family  was  founded  iu  New  England  by  three 
brothers,  who  settled  respectively  in  Massachu- 
setts, Connecticut  aud  Rhode  Island.  From 
the  family  is  descended  Col.  Silas  Shearman, 
who  was  born  at  Tiverton,  Rhode  Island,  De- 
cember 11,  1803,  and  is  a  son  of  Silas  and 
Elizabeth  (Perry)  Shearman.  Silas  Shearman, 
Sr.,  removed,  in  1808,  from  Rhode  Island  to 
Cazenovia,  Madison  county.  New  York,  where 
ten  years  later  he  died.  He  was  a  cabinet- 
maker and  an  excellent  workman,  and  his  two 
brothers,  John  and  Carletou,  learned  cabinet- 
making;  with  him  in  Rhode  Island.  He  was  a 
democrat,  and  married  Elizabeth  Perry,  who 
was  a  daughter  of  Godfrey  Perry,  of  Rhode 
Island  ;  he  was  a  son  of  Stafford  Perry,  and  a 
relative  of  the  famous  Commodore  Oliver 
Hazard  Perry  of  American  naval  fame.  They 
reared  a  family  of  nine  sons  aud  one  daughter : 
Perry,  a  lumberman  of  Pennsylvania,  where 
he  died ;  Noble  (deceased),  a  farmer  of  near 
Mayville;  Eliza  (dead);  Silas,  David,  who  is 
farming  near  Hart  field ;  Edward,  of  Ohio,  on 


part  of  whose  farm  the  town  of  Plymouth  is 
built;  William,  who  went  to  Virginia  about 
the  commencement  of  the  civil  war,  and  of 
whom  nothing  has  been  heard  since ;  Godfrey 
P.,  who  died  in  Detroit,  Michigan  ;  Johu  P., 
of  Jamestown,  where  he  died  ;  and  Elias,  who 
removed  from  Jamestown  in  1890,  and  from 
whom  nothing  has  been  heard  since  he  left. 
Col.  Silas  Siienrman  attended  the  schools  of  his 
boyhood  days  in  Madison  and  Chautauqua 
counties.  He  learned  tiie  trade  of  saddler  aud 
harness-maker,  worked  for  a  time  at  Fredonia, 
aud  in  1827  commenced  iu  that  line  of  business 
for  himself  in  Jamestown,  where  he  opened  a 
shop  inthcBudlong  building,  afterwards  known 
as  the  Hawley  block.  In  December,  1832,  he 
removed  to  a  brick  building,  which  he  had 
erected  on  Third  street  opposite  the  Allen 
house.  He  dealt  to  some  extent  in  saddlery 
and  hardware,  and  gradually  enlarged  his  busi- 
ness. In  1854  he  associated  his  son,  Rufus 
P.,  and  afterwards  his  son,  Addison  P.,  with 
him  under  the  firm  name  of  S.  Shearman  & 
Sons,  in  which  partnerships  he  was  an  active 
member  uutil  1870,  when  he  retired  from  busi- 
ness life.  The  sons  were  in  various  business 
operations  until  1881,  when  they  engaged  in  the 
upholstery  business,  and  iu  1882  erected  their 
present  large  furniture  factory.  In  early  life 
jNIr.  Shearman  took  considerable  interest  in  the 
military  affairs  of  his  State,  from  which  he 
held,  at  different  times,  five  commissions  under 
Governor  Troop  and  Governor  Marcy, — three 
in  the  cavalry,  and  those  of  major  aud  colonel 
iu  the  field.  He  cast  his  first  presidential  vote 
for  Andrew  Jackson,  and  was  a  Democrat  until 
the  close  of  Polk's  administration,  when  he  be- 
came an  abolitionist,  and  acted  as  a  conductor 
on  the  underground  railroad  in  assisting  slaves 
to  reach  Canada.  Since  the  late  war  he  has 
been  a  Republican.  He  has  been  a  remarkably 
strong  man  physically  as  well  as  mentally;  and 
to-day  at  eighty-seven  years  of  age  is  still  active 
in  both  mind  and  bodv.     He  has  alwavs   been 


190 


BIOGRAPHY  AXn  HISTORY 


strictly  temperate  as  to  his  use  of  food  and 
drink,  and  during  the  last  sixty  years  of  his 
life  has  used  no  stimulants  of  any  kiud.  He 
has  witnessed  the  erection  of  every  building  in 
Jamestown  except  one,  and  still  resides  in  the 
house  which  he  built  in  1829.  "While  no  poli- 
tician, Col.  Silas  Shearman  expresses  the  hope 
that  he  may  live  to  see  the  day  when  the 
elective  franchise  will  be  extended  to  women.      j 

Ou   the  29th  of  March,   1829,  he  married  , 
INIary  C.  Marsh,  daughter  of  Ebenezer  Marsh, 
of    Windham   county,   Vermont.     They  have 
been  the  parents  of  six  children  :  Rufus  P.,  j 
Addison  P.,  and  four  that  died  in  infancy.  [ 

Rufus  P.  Shearman  is  the  eldest  son  of 
Col.  Silas  and  Mary  C.  (I\Iarsh)  Shearman,  and 
was  born  in  Jamestown,  !May  31,  1831.  He 
received  his  education  at  the  Jamestown  acad- 
emy, and  embarked  in  1854  with  his  father  in  J 
the  harness  business,  in  which  he  continued 
until  1870.  In  1880  he  became  a  member  of  , 
the  present  upholstery  and  furniture  firm  of 
Shearman  Brothers.  On  October  19,  1854,  he 
married  Sophronia  M.,  daughter  of  Adam 
Neil,  of  Cortland  county.  They  have  two  chil- 
di'eu  :  Fred  J.,  a  locomotive  builder  who  mai'- 
ried  Ella  IMcCullough,  who  died  and  left  him 
one  child,  M.  Evelyn,  after  which  he  married 
Minnie  Rugg ;  and  Frank  E.,  who  has  charge 
of  his  fiither's  office,  and  married  Catherine 
Derry,  by  \vhom  he  has  three  children :  Lulu 
C,  Frank  E.  aud  Florence  M.  He  is  a  Repub- 
lican in  politics,  but  never  takes  any  active  part 
in  political  affairs.  j 

Addisox  p.  Shearman,  the  second  son  of 
Col.  Silas  and  Mary  C.  (Marsh)  Shearman,  was 
born  in  Jamestown,  June  25,  1843.  He  at-  j 
tended  the  Jamestown  academy,  and  then  en-  i 
tered  the  Jamestown  office  of  the  A.  &  G.  W. 
R.  R.,  in  which  he  learned  telcgra])hy,  and 
served  as  a  telegraph  operator  until  1SG2.  On 
August  25th  of  that  year  he  enlisted  in  Co.  F, 
112th  regiment,  X.  Y.  Vols.,  and  served  under 
Grant  at  Cold  Harbor  and   Petersburg  ;  Terry 


at  Ft.  Fisher ;  Gilmore  at  Charleston,  and 
Sherman  in  his  capture  of  Johnston's  army  at 
Raleigh,  X.  C.  He  returned  home  in  1865, 
and  was  engaged  with  his  father  in  the  manu- 
facture of  harness  aud  various  other  lines  of 
business  until  January  1,  1870.  In  1881  he 
became  a  partner  with  his  brother  in  their  pres- 
ent upholstery  aud  furniture  business.  He  is  a 
republican  in  politics,  and  a  member  of  James 
M.  Brown  Post,  No.  295,  G.  A.  R.  He  mar- 
ried Caroline  L.  Havens,  of  Elmira,  X.  Y., 
October  1,  1867,  by  whom  he  had  one  son, 
William  Brown  Shearman,  who  died  March 
20,  1877. 

The  furniture  factory  of  the  Shearman 
Brothers  is  located  at  Shearman  Place,  opposite 
the  Union  R.  R.  Depot.  It  is  a  five-story 
building  40x100  feet  in  dimensions  with  an  L 
32x40.  It  is  equipped  with  all  necessary 
machinery  aud  modern  appliances,  and  the  firm 
gives  employment  to  a  force  of  one  hundred 
workmen.  In  addition  to  the  factory  there  is 
a  large  storage  building.  They  make  a  spec- 
ialty of  lounges  and  couches,  of  which  they  are 
probably  the  largest  manufacturers  in  the 
United  States.  They  keep  six  traveling  sales- 
men constantly  on  the  road,  fill  all  orders 
promptly,  and  have  an  extensive  wholesale  trade 
throughout  this  and  adjoining  States. 


\Kt  ^'  ^^^  ^®  ^  ^°"  ^^  William  H.  and 
-*'*■  •  Maria  (Smith)  Sly,  and  was  born  at 
Parish,  Oswego  county,  New  York,  March  20tli, 
1847.  His  grandfather,  John  Sly,  was  born  in 
London,  England,  in  1784,  and  came  to  Amer- 
ica with  an  uncle,  when  he  was  eight  years  old, 
who  settled  in  De  Kalb,  St.  Ivawrence  county. 
He  remained  with  his  uncle  until  he  was  twelve 
years  of  age  aud  then  he  went  to  live  with  a 
Captain  Fowler,  with  whom  he  resided  until  he 
was  eighteen  years  old,  when  he  went  to  Canada. 
In  1812  he  returned  to  the  United  States  aud 
enlisted  with  Captain  Fowler  in  the  Amei-icau 
army  and   was  stationed  at  Sackett's  Harbor 


OF  CHAUTAUQUA   COUJS'TY. 


191 


during  the  war.  Forty-two  years  after  the 
close  of  the  war  he  received  a  land  grant  for  his 
services.  After  the  war  he  was  engaged  for  a 
few  years  in  running  lumber  from  Oswego  to 
Montreal  and  Quebec.  He  tlien  purchased  a 
farm  in  De  Kalb,  St.  Lawreucc  county,  New 
York,  which  lie  occupied  and  cultivated  until 
his  death,  which  occurred  in  his  eighty-ninth 
year.  He  was  twice  married.  First  to  Ellen, 
daughter  of  Hiram  Lovejoy,  by  whom  he  had 
four  children,  two  sons  and  two  daughters : 
William  H.,  father  of  W.  S. ;  James,  Julia,  who 
married  Philip  Fellows,  of  Parish,  N.  Y. ;  and 
Laura,  M'ho  married  Bradley  Taylor,  of  Michi- 
gan. His  first  wife  died,  and  in  1842  he  mar- 
ried Mrs.  ^Nlaria  (Fordham)  Eelden,  daughter  of 
Theodore  Fordham,  but  had  no  children.  The 
maternal  grandfather  of  \Y.  S.  Sly  was  named 
Harvey  Smith,  who  was  born  at  Cobleskill, 
Schoharie  county,  N.  Y.,  and  was  of  German 
descent.  He  lived  all  his  life  and  died  on  a  ; 
farm  in  Parish,  Oswego  county,  New  York,  i 
where  he  owned  three  large  farms.  He  died 
March,  1871,  aged  77  years.  He  was  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Baptist  church  and  was  a  C[uiet,  I'e- 
served  man,  attending  strictly  to  his  own  affairs, 
and  accumulated  considerable  wealth,  as  fortunes 
were  counted  in  those  days.  He  was  married 
in  1822  to  Catherine,  daughter  of  Charles 
Simonds,  and  had  five  children,  three  sons  and 
two  daughters :  Maria  (mother) ;  Nancy,  who 
married  C.  H.  Davy,  of  Parish ;  Hiram,  a 
farmer  and  lumberman  in  Oswego  county ;  and 
David,  who  died  while  a  young  man,  just  after 
graduating  from  Fredonia  academy.  Mrs.  Smith 
died  in  1874  aged  76.  William  H.  Sly  (father)  \ 
was  born  at  Antwerp,  October  18,  1825,  and 
was  educated  in  the  public  schools,  supplemented 
by  two  years  in  Gouverncur  academy.  After 
leaving  school  he  served  an  apprenticeship  of 
seven  years  as  a  carpenter  and  joiner,  which 
trade  he  followed  the  remainder  of  his  life, 
working  as  a  contractor  in  Oswego  and  St. 
Lawrence  counties.  New  Yurk,  building  mills, 


business  blocks,  etc.  In  religion  he  was  a 
Methodist,  being  a  member  of  the  church  of  that 
denomination,  and  also  a  trustee  for  a  number 
of  years.  He  was  married  in  September,  1844, 
to  Maria  Smith  and  had  seven  children,  five 
sons  and  two  daughters.  The  first-born  died  in 
infancy ;  the  second  was  AV.  S. ;  then  came 
George  W.,  a  carpenter  and  joiner  in  Philadel- 
phia, Pennsylvania,  who   was   married  first  to 

I  Frances  Redman,  second  to  ^lary  Eason,  and 
third  to  (name  forgotten);  jNIary  J.,  married  to 
T.  H.  Wolfers,  a  carpenter  and  joiner,  now  fore- 
man in  a  shop  in  Buffalo ;  Laura,  who  died 
aged  twelve  years ;  Charles  died  at  four  years 
of  age;  Harvey,  a  sewing  machine  agent,  who 
married  Ada  Corlett  and  died  September  20th, 
1888.  Mrs.  Sly  is  still  living  at  the  age  of  6.5 
years. 

W.  S.  Sly  received  his  education  in  the  public 
schools  of  St.  Lawrence  county,  this  State.  At 
sixteen  years  of  age  he  entered  the  shop  of  G. 

I  W.  Burhaus  at  Jamesville,  Onondaga  county, 
New  York,  manufacturer  of  doors,  sash,  blinds 
and  broom  handles,  where  he  remained  al)Out  a 
year  and  then  enlisted  January  6th,  1864,  in 
Company  C,  9th  New  York  Heavy  Artillery. 
He  participated  in  the  battles  of  Cold  Harbor, 
Monocacy  Junction,  Winchester,  Cedar  Creek, 
and  Petersburg.  In  the  last  named  battle  he 
was  wounded  in  the  right  arm  between  the  elbow 
and  shoulder.  He  was  honorably  discharged 
September  20th,  1865,  and  returned  to  the  shop 
of  G.  W.  Burhaus  at  Jamesville,  remaining 
there  until  the  ne.xt  s])ring,  when  he  went  on  a 
farm  in  De  Kalb,  St.  Lawrence  count)'.  Sep- 
tember 6th,  1866,  he  came  to  Fredonia  and 
worked  at  his  trade  of  carpenter  and  joiner  for 
Robert  Wolfers  for  three  years.  He  then  went 
to  Forestville  and  formed  a  partnership  with 
Robert  Wolfers,  under  the  firm  name  of  Wolfers 
&  Sly,  contractors  and  builders.  ^Ir.  Wolfers 
retired  from  the  firm  after  a  year  had  passed 
and  Mr.  Sly  carried  on  the  business  for  two 
vears  alone.      Li  187C)  lie  returned  to  Fredonia 


192 


BIOGRAPHY  ASD  HISTORY 


and  entered  the  employ  of  White  &  Wells, 
manufacturers  of  doors,  sash,  etc.,  with  whom 
he  remaiued  until  May  loth,  1890,  when  he 
entered  into  partnership  with  S.  O.  Codington, 
bu3'ing  the  White  &  Wells  plant,  which  firm  is  ' 
still  doing  business,  manufacturing  sash,  doors, 
blinds  and  building  material,  etc.,  and  coutract- 
iny:  and  building.  W.  S.  Slv  is  a  member  of 
Temple  No.  49,  Fredonia,  Temple  of  Honor,  at 
Fredonia,  of  which  he  is  Select  Templar.  He 
is  also  a  member  of  Lodge  No.  314,  American 
Legion  of  Honor;  No.  104,  Equitable  Aid 
Union,  and  the  Life  Union,  all  at  Fredonia.  | 
In  religious  matters  he  is  a  consistent  member 
of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church  at  Fredonia,  \ 
of  which  he  has  been  steward  three  years. 

W.  S.  Sly  was  married  September  IGth,  1869, 
to  Ella  B.  Smith,  daughter  of  La  Fayette  and 
Arabella  (Hinkley)  Smith,  her  father  being  a 
dealer  in  live  stock  in  Laona,  this  county.  By 
this  union  there  have  been  three  children,  all 
sons  :  G.  Eugene,  M'ho  is  a  clerk  for  the  grocery 
firm  of  Belden  O.  Leworthy,  of  Fredonia ; 
Fred.  S.,  who  is  at  school ;  and  J.  Sidney,  de- 
ceasetl. 


TTRIOCH   LAPHA:>I.      Of   the    many    old 

■**■  families,  of  which  Chautauqua  county 
has  an  abundant  supjjly,  none  has  kept  its  record 
more  accurately,  nor  extends  farther  into  anti- 
quity with  indisputable  clearness  than  that  of 
Arioch  Lapham,  whose  grandfather  of  the 
seventh  generation,  John  Lapham,  was  a  weaver 
at  Devonshire,  England,  and  came  from  there 
about  1650  and  settled  in  Providence,  Rhode 
Lsland.  He  married  Mary  Mann,  a  daughter 
of  William  Mann,  who  lived  at  the  future  cap- 
ital of  the  little  state,  and  after  beginning  to 
keep  house,  had  it  l)urned  on  the  night  of 
March  29th,  1676,  by  a  band  of  Indians  who 
belonged  to  King  Philip's  red-skinned  warriors. 
He  was  the  father  of  four  sons  and  one  daugh- 
ter: Thomas;  William;  John  ;  Nicholas  (six  gen- 
erations remote   from   our  subject);  and  Mary, 


who  married  a  Charles  Dyer.  Nicholas  Lap- 
ham married  Marcy  Arnold,  who  bore  him  five 
children:  Nicholas;  Abigail;  Arnold;  Rebec- 
ca; and,  following  the  line  of  succession,  Solo- 
mon, who  was  born  August  1st,  1730,  and  died 
June  24th,  1800.  He  married  his  second  cousin, 
Sylvia  Lapham,  and  reared  seven  children : 
Diitee,  married  first,  Mary  Caldwell,  second, 
Mrs.  Amanda  Wheeler;  William  united  with 
Susannah  Ballon,  of  Burrillsville,  Rhode 
Island ;  Ruth  ;  Rhoda  became  the  wife  of  Mar- 
tin Harris;  Rebecca  was  first  the  wife  of  Ben- 
jamin Smith  and  then  of  Elisha  Brown;  Zodock, 
born  in  1764,  died  when  five  years  old;  and 
Thomas. 

Arioch  Lapham  is  the  son  of  Arioch  and  Eu- 
nice (Sherman)  Lapham  and  was  born  near 
Sherwood,  Cayuga  county,  New  York,  January 
16th,  1821.  His  grandfather,  before  mentioned, 
Thomas  Lapham,  was  born  at  Smithfield, 
Rhode  Island,  on  April  3d,  1761,  and  moved 
to  Cayuga  connty.  New  York,  some  thirty-four 
years  after.  About  1 800  he  bought  a  farm  of 
two  hundred  and  fifty  acres  of  land  near  Sher- 
wood and  followed  farming  all  his  life,  dying 
between  1835-40.  Thomas  Lapham  was  a 
member  of  the  Bajitist  church,  in  which  he  was 
a  deacon.  He  married  Thankful  Smitii,  a 
daughter  of  John  Smith,  of  Gloucester,  Rhode 
Island,  and  by  this  union  there  came  nine  child- 
ren :  Cynthia  married  Elijah  Kemp ;  Sally 
wedded  Benjamin  Waldrou;  Amalek  united 
with  Charlotte  Ballard;  Sinai  became  the  wife 
of  Nathaniel  Tibbels ;  Winsor  married  Elmina 
Dunham  ;  Sidney  was  the  husband  of  Jane  Mc- 
Comber;  Cyrene  was  the  wife  of  Jesse  jSIoss; 
■  Alva  married  Laura  Hauna ;  and  Arioch,  father 
of  subject.  The  maternal  grandfather  of 
Arioch  Lapham,  Jr.  was  Charles  Sherman,  a 
native  of  Massachusetts.  He  moved  from 
Dartmouth  about  ISOO  and  settled  in  the  town 
of  Venice,  Cayuga  counts-,  where  he  owned  a 
farm  of  one  hundred  acres.  He  also  had  a 
tract  of  four   hundred   acres   in   Ohio,  in   what 


OF  CHAUTAUQUA    COUSTY. 


195 


was  known  as  the  Connecticut  Fire  Land.  He 
spent  his  life  in  farming  and  died  aljoiit  1820. 
Mr.  Sherman's  wife's  maiden  name  was  Lois 
West,  who  Ijecame  tiie  mother  ot"  six  children  : 
Jonathan  was  a  farmer  in  Indiana;  Charles  died 
young ;  Benjamin  was  an  agriculturist  in  Erie 
county,  New  York;  Eunice  is  subject's  mother; 
Edith  became  Mrs.  Dorcey  Roberts ;  and  Lois 
married  Samuel  Rogers.  Arioch  Lapham,  Sr., 
was  born  in  Smithfield,  Rhode  Island,  and, 
moving  with  his  ])arents  to  Cayuga  county, 
New  York,  worked  upon  his  father's  farm  until 
he  was  twenty-one  years  of  age.  He  afterward 
joined  David  Thomas'  engineer  corps,  then  en- 
gaged in  the  construction  of  the  Erie  canal. 
While  this  work  was  in  progress  he  sickened 
and  died  at  Middleport,  Niagara  county,  in  No- 
vember, 1820,  two  months  before  the  birth  of 
our  subject.  He  married  Eunice  Sherman  about 
1815  and  three  children,  all  sons,  were  born  : 
Charles,  a  farmer  in  Iowa,  married  Olivia  Win- 
ship,  but  is  now  dead ;  George  was  a  farmer  of 
Erie  county,  New  York,  living  in  Eden.  He 
married  first,  Lurena  Newell  and  second,  Mrs. 
INIary  A.  Rogers.  ]\Iany  years  after  the  death 
of  her  husband,  Mrs.  Lapham  married  Deacon 
Benjamin  Seamons,  and  died  in  1868. 

Arioch  Lapham  was  educated  in  the  public 
schools  of  Cayuga  and  Erie  counties  and  at  the 
age  of  twenty,  entered  the  store  of  Thomas  Rus- 
sel,  of  Collins,  Erie  county,  as  a  clerk.  After 
working  two  years  he  bought  his  former  em- 
ployer out  and  conducted  the  business  himself 
for  four  years  and  then  selling  out  to  B.  W. 
Sherman,  he  went  to  Buffalo  and  clerked  for 
Pratt  &  Co.  One  year  after  he  moved  to  Green- 
wich, Huron  county,  Ohio,  and  embarked  in 
mercantile  life,  continuing  for  four  years.  He 
then  came  back  to  Erie  county,  where,  in  con- 
nection with  his  brother-in-law,  Charles  Smith, 
he  built  a  large  tannery.  A  year  after,  he  sold 
out  to  Mr.  Smith  and  returned  to  Ohio,  the 
scene  of  his  first  home,  and  again  followed  mer- 
cantile pursuits  uutil  1859.    Then  Mr.  Lapham 


bought  a  farm  of  fifty  acres  in  Erie  county. 
For  eighteen  years  he  was  a  member  of  the  firm 
of  Smith  &  Lapham,  wholesale  grocers,  on  Sen- 
eca street,  Buffalo.  In  1882  he  purchased  a 
handsome  projjerty  in  Fi'cdonia  and  moved  into 
it,  where  he  now  lives  a  retired  life.  While 
living  in  Ohio,  he  served  as  j)ostniaster  under 
both  Presidents  Pierce  and  Buchanan. 

On  December  ;30th,  1842,  Mr.  Lapham  mar- 
ried Sylvia  Smith,  a  daughter  of  Hum])hrey 
and  Deborah  (Kniffen)  Smith,  a  farmer,  tanner 
and  currier,  at  Collins.  Erie  county,  New  York, 
and  bv  this  marriage  there  has  been  one  daugch- 
ter,  Ella  C,  a  graduate  of  Vassar  College  in 
the  class  of  1870. 

Arioch  Lapham  is  a  member  of  the  Univer- 
salist  church  and  a  gentleman  of  upright  char- 
acter. Few,  if  any,  families  of  the  United 
States  can  produce  an  ancestral  tree  with  the 
trunk  so  strongly  intact,  or  with  its  escutcheon 
so  ir&&  from  blemish. 


QNDREW  BURNS,  a  resident  of  West- 
■^^  field,  and  one  of  the  largest  manufac- 
turers in  the  United  States  of  grape  baskets 
and  fruit  barrels,  was  born  in  Hanover,  now 
one  of  the  northwestern  provinces  of  the  great 
German  empire,  June  3,  1853,  and  is  a  son  of 
Theodore  and  Sophia  (Caring)  Burns.  Theo- 
dore Burns  was  a  native  of  Hanover,  one  of 
whose  electors  became  king  of  England  and 
founded  the  present  royal  family  of  that  king- 
dom, and  was  born  in  the  first  half  of  that 
period  which  is  known  in  the  history  of  Ger- 
many as  the  Interregnum,  which  extended  from 
the  subversion  of  the  German  empire  by  Napo- 
leon Bonaparte  in  1806  until  its  re-establish- 
ment in  1870  by  William  I.,  Bismark  and  Von 
Moltke.  Theodore  Burns  was  a  cooper  by 
trade,  served  as  a  soldier  in  the  German  array, 
and  married  Sophia  Caring,  who  was  a  native 
of  the  same  electorate  as  himself.  He  came  in 
1853  to  Batavia,  Genesee  county,  where,  after 
remaining  a  few  months,  he  went  to  Cattarau- 


193 


BIOGRAPHY  AND  HISTORY 


gus  county,  and  afterwards  removed  to  West- 
field,  where  he  uow  resides,  aged  sixty-four 
years.  His  wife  was  born  in  1828,  and  they 
have  reared  a  family  of  four  sons  and  three 
daughters. 

Andrew  Burns  was  reared  in  Hauover,  Ger- 
many, luitil  lie  was  six  years  of  age,  when  his 
parents  brought  him  to  Batavia.  He  received 
his  education  in  the  public  schools  of  Cattarau- 
gus village.  He  learned  the  trade  of  cooper 
with  his  fatiier,  with  whom  he  worked  for  some 
time  at  Cattaraugus.  He  then  (1871)  removed 
to  Westfield,  where  he  worked  at  his  trade  until 
1875,  M'hen  he  and  J.  F.  Wass  engaged  in  the 
manufacture  of  staves,  headino-s  and  fruit  bar- 
rels.  In  1880  they  started  a  branch  factory  at 
Sherman,  N.  Y.,  and  at  both  jilaces  employed  a 
total  of  sixty-five  hands.  In  1883  they  dis- 
solved partnership  and  Mr.  Burns  continued 
alone.  lu  188(3  he  added  to  his  business  the 
manufacture  of  grape  and  berry  baskets.  ]SIr. 
Burns  is  the  patentee  of  some  very  valuable 
machinery  for  the  manufacture  of  staves  and 
baskets,  by  the  use  of  which  much  labor  is 
saved  and  the  work  considerably  expedited. 

He  has  served  his  village  for  the  last  few 
years  as  one  of  its  trustees  and  is  a  member  of 
the  Junior  Order  of  American  Mechanics.  He 
owns  one  hundred  and  ten  acres  of  land  in  tiie 
towns  of  Westfield  and  Sherman. 

On  September  16,  1874,  he  united  in  mar- 
riage with  Eva  Page,  daughter  of  Calvin  Page; 
a  carpenter  of  "Westfield.  To  this  union  have 
been  born  three  children,  two  daughters  and  one 
son  :  Jennie  ;  Adelbert ;  and  Mabel. 

His  present  fine  residence  on  Union  street, 
which  he  erected  at  a  cost  of  over  five  thousand 
dollars,  is  a  frame  structure  of  modern  style  with 
slate  roof.  Mr.  Burns'  plant  for  the  manufac- 
ture of  grape  and  berry  baskets,  and  fruit  bar- 
rels covei's  nearly  three  acres  of  ground.  He 
employs  a  regular  force  of  thirty  iiands,  and 
does  a  business  of  thirty  thousand  dollars  per 
year.     Tlie   basket    making  dcpai'tmcnt  of  ids 


works  has  a  capacity  of  one  million  per  year, 
while  his  barrel  mills  and  shops  are  run  steadily 
during  the  entire  year.  His  baskets  and  bar- 
rels are  largely  used  thi-ougliout  Chautauqua 
county,  which  is  rapidly  becoming  oue  of  the 
foremost  grape  and  fruit  counties  of  the  United 
States.  His  orders  also  come  from  many  other 
counties  of  New  York,  and  from  adjoining 
States,  and  at  times  tax  the  utmost  capacity  of 
his  works  to  fill  them.  He  is  one  of  the  lead- 
ing pioneers  in  a  manufacturing  industry  that 
must  ere  many  years  assume  pi-oportions  of  con- 
siderable magnitude,  as  large  orchards  and  vine- 
yards are  being  planted  in  every  section  of  the 
Union  wiiicli  has  been  found  adapted  to  fruit 

and  grapes. 

© 

T^H03rAS  C.  JONES  is  one  of  the  enter- 
-*■  prising  and  successful  citizens  of  Dunkirk, 
who  has  an  undoubted  right  to  feel  an  honest 
and  just  pride  in  the  success  he  has  achieved  in 
his  business  career,  as  he  practically  began  the 
battle  of  life  at  the  age  of  eleven  years  without 
a  dollar.  ,  He  was  born  in  Buifalo,  Erie  county, 
New  York,  September  1(5, 1840,  and  is  a  son  of 
Thomas  and  Elizabeth  (Dear)  Jones.  His 
father  was  a  native  of  London,  England,  and 
was  born  in  1797.  He  married  Elizabetii  Dear, 
of  Bedfordshire,  England,  and  had  twelve 
children.  He  came  to  the  United  States  in 
1835,  located  at  Buffalo,  this  State,  and  worked 
at  making  soap  and  candles.  In  1851  he  came 
to  Dunkirk,  and  engaged  in  the  same  business 
for  Camp  Bros.  Politically  he  was  independent, 
and  in  religion  was  a  member  of  the  Episcopal 
church,  as  was  also  his  wife,  who  died  October, 
1881,  aged  seventy-three  years.  In  August, 
1886,  he  joined  her  in  another  and  a  better 
world  at  tiie  age  of  eighty-nine  years. 

Tiiomas  C.  Jones  attended  the  public  schools 
in  Buft'aio  until  he  was  eleven  years  old,  and 
tlicn  received  employment  in  a  grocery  store, 
where  he  remained  one  year,  and  then  began  to 
learn  the  butdier's  trade,  at  whicli   he  worked 


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OF  CHAUTAUQUA   COUNTY. 


109 


until  1862,  wlieu  lie  enlisted  in  coni[)any  D, 
72d  New  York  Volunteers,  served  until  the 
close  of  the  war,  and  was  honorably  discharged 
at  Kingston,  New  York.  In  1866  he  opened  a 
butcher  shop  in  Dunkirk,  in  which  business  he 
still  remains,  and  now  has  the  largest  and  best- 
equipped  shop  and  the  largest  trade  in  Dunkirk. 
He  also  owns  some  valuable  real  estate  hei'e. 
In  politics  he  is  a  Republican,  has  once  been 
mayor  of  Dunkirk,  and  has  served  four  years 
in  the  City  Council,  where  he  now  has  a  seat. 
In  the  fire  dfi)artnient,  where  he  has  been 
seventeen  years,  he  has  held  every  position  from 
ladderman  to  chief  engineer.  In  religion  he  is 
a  member  of  the  Episcopal  church.  He  is  a 
member  of  Dunkirk  Chapter,  191,  R.  A.  M., 
Dunkirk  Commaudery,  No.  40,  and  has  received 
the  thirty-second  degree  A.  and  A.  Scottish  Rite. 
Thomas  C.  Jones.,  in  1869,  married  Alary  L. 
Andrews,  a  daughter  of  Horatio  Andrews,  of 
Pomfret,  this  county,  by  whom  he  has  had  two 
children  (sons),  George  H.  and  Charles  C. 


^OKYDOX  A.  KUGG,  a  citizen  of  James- 
^^  town  and  assistant  superintendent  of  the 
knitting  mills  of  A.  F.  Kent  &  Co.,  is  a  son  of 
Dr.  Corydon  C.  and  Fidelia  (Goodell)  Rugg, 
and  was  born  at  Irving,  Chautauqua  county. 
New  York,  April  1,  1853.  The  Ruggs  point 
to  Scotland  as  the  land  of  their  origin  where 
thsir  ancestors  were  known  as  the  "  Strong 
Men  of  Scotland."  Isaac  Rugg,  the  great- 
grandfather of  the  subject  of  this  sketch,  was 
born  near  Bloody  Point,  in  Vermont,  served  in 
the  Revolutionary  war  and  died  in  his  native 
State  at  Ruggtown,  whicii  was  named  in  honor 
of  his  family.  He  was  a  Methodist  and  was 
married  three  times.  His  first  wife  was  Katie 
Gates,  who  bore  him  one  child,  Jonathan 
(grandfixther),  and  after  her  death  he  wedded 
Emma  Matoon,  who  died  and  left  two  children, 
John  and  Aurclia.  His  third  wife  was  Abigail 
Skinner,  by  whom  he  had  ten  children.  Jona- 
than Rugg  (grandfather)  was   born  at  the  head 


of  Bloody  Point,  on  Lake  George  and  after  a 
residence  of  some  years  in  Genesee  county,  he 
removed,  in  1818,  to  what  is  known  as  the 
Rugg  settlement  near  Perrysburg,  Cattaraugus 
county,  where  he  was  a  large  landholder.  He 
was  a  farmer  and  a  Democrat  and  served  in  the 
war  of  1812  during  which  he  distinguished 
himself  at  the  battle  of  Sackett's  Harbor.  He 
married  Maria  Tousey  and  reared  a  family  of 
four  sons  and  two  daughters :  Carlos  A.,  of 
Silver  Creek,  a  veterinary  surgeon  in  the  Union 
Army  ;  Milton  V.,  was  one  of  the  California 
forty-niners  and  died  in  1853  ;  Dr.  Jonathan  G., 
of  Gowanda,  N.  Y. ;  ^lariette,  wife  of  Dr.  C. 
G.  Cowell,  of  Meadville,  Pa.,  who  is  a  graduate 
of  Hahnneman  Medical  college,  of  Chicago ; 
Dr.  Corydon  C,  died  January  14,  1891  and 
Ann  M.,  who  died  August  20,  1888.  Dr. 
Corydon  C.  Rugg  (father)  was  born  at  Rugg- 
town, Cattaraugus  county,  May  3,  1822.  \t 
twenty  years  of  age  he  commenced  the  study  of 
medicine  under  the  Thompson  who  founded  the 
Thompsouian  Eclectic  system  of  ^Medicine  and 
was  graduated  in  1848,  from  the  Cincinnati 
Medical  College.  He  practiced  at  Gowanda 
in  his  native  county  for  twenty-five  years  and 
then  in  Rutland,  Vermont,  for  four  years,  after 
which  he  came,  in  1877,  to  Jamestown  where 
he  has  practiced  ever  since.  He  was  surgeon  of 
154th  regiment,  N.  Y.  Vols.,  was  taken  pris- 
oner at  Gettysburg  and  after  his  release  served 
at  Lookout  Mountain  and  under  Sherman  in  his 
march  to  the  sea.  Dr.  Rugg  married  Fidelia 
Goodell  and  to  their  union  have  been  born  two 
sous  and  four  daughters  :  Adella  D.,  married 
John  F.  Clark,  a  real  estate  dealer  of  Detroit, 
Michigan  ;  Loclla  V.,  wife  of  Orris  F.  John- 
ston ;  Corydon  A.  ;  Estella  F.,  wife  of  AValter 
D.  Russell,  formerly  of  New  York  City  ;  Clay- 
ton A.,  who  married  Catherine  INI.  O.  Donnell 
and  is  engaged  in  the  clothing  business ;  and 
Minnie  M.,  wife  of  Fred.  Jay  Shearman,  son  of 
Rufus  Shearman  of  Jamestown. 

Corvdon  Rutro;  attended  Oneida  college  and 


200 


BIOGRAPHY  AND  HISTORY 


upon  completing  his  course  read  medicine  for 
some  time  with  Jiis  fother.  He  then  entered 
Hall's  worsted  mill  where  he  remained  for  ten 
years  and  served  successively  as  shipping  clerk, 
inspector  of  cloth,  and  travelling  salesman. 
During  the  next  two  years  he  was  in  the  Rey-  [ 
nolds'  knitting  mill  and  upon  the  mill  shutting 
down  he  practiced  medicine  with  his  father  for 
a  short  time.  On  September  1,  18 — ,  he  be- 
came assistant  superintendent  of  the  knitting 
mills  of  A.  F.  Kent  &  Co.,  which  position  he 
still  holds.  He  is  a  Democrat  in  politics.  Mr. 
Rugg  well  understands  every  part  of  the  busi-  j 
ness  in  which  he  is  now  engaged  and  discharges 
efficiently  the  duties  of  his  important  position. 

On   April   30,   1887,  he  united  in   marriage  ; 
with  Jennie  ]M.  Merrit,  daughter  of  Benjamin 
G.  Merrit,  of  Vermont.     Their  union  has  been 
blessed  with  one  son  and  one  daughter  :  Louise, 
and  Corydon  Harrold. 

© 

HEXRY  SEVERAXCE,  of  Dunkirk,  author 
of  "John  Bull  in  America,"  and  a  forth- 
coming work  entitled  "  Chautauqua,"  was  born 
in  the  town  of  Cazenovia,  Madison  county,  New 
York,  January  30,  1808,  and  is  a  son  of  Elihu 
and  Triphena  (Gunn)  Severance.  The  Sever- 
ance family  is  of  French  descent,  and  came  from 
France  to  New  England  about  the  time  of  the 
Revocation  of  the  Edict  of  Nantes,  or  a  little 
later,  say  1635.  Elihu  Severance  was  a  native 
of  INIontague,  Massachusetts,  where  he  married 
Tripiiena  Gunn  and  in  1799  removed  to  Madi- 
.son  county,  in  which  he  died  on  March  7, 18;'>4, 
aged  sixty  and  a  half  years.  He  cleared  out  a 
farm  in  the  woods,  was  an  unassuming  man  and 
.served  his  town  for  a  number  of  years  as  sujier- 
visor.  His  widow  survived  him  twenty  years, 
and  passed  away  in  1854,  when  in  tiie  seventy- 
nintit  year  of  her  age. 

Henry  Severance  grew  to  niiuihood  in  his 
native  county,  and  attended  the  limited  schools 
wliicii  a  new  country  could  oidv  affijrd.  Leav- 
ing school  he   served  an   a])prenticeshij>  at  wool 


carding  and  cloth  dressing,  and  in  1835  came 
to  Dunkirk  during  the  boom  of  the  New  York, 
Lake  Erie  and  Western  railroad.  In  a  short 
time  he  went  back  to  IMadison  county,  but  in 
1851  returned  to  Dunkirk,  where  he  has  resided 
ever  since,  and  followed  the  trade  of  carpenter, 
excepting  eight  years  that  he  served  as  keeper 
of  the  Dunkirk  light-house. 

May  23,  1833,  he  married  Helen  J.,  daugh- 
ter of  Alford  and  Mary  Wooley,  of  Madison 
county.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Severance  have  two 
children  :  Harriet,  wife  of  E.  M.  Lucas  ;  and 
Emma  H.,  principal  of  the  Intermediate  de- 
partment of  School  No.  2,  of  Dunkirk. 

He  is  a  Republican,  and  was  three  times 
elected  justice  of  the  peace,  twice  in  Cazenovia 
and  once  in  Dunkirk,  which  last  office  he  re- 
signed after  holding  the  office  for  a  short  time. 
He  also  served  as  corporal  in  the  New  York 
militia.  Mr.  Severance  has  devoted  a  portion 
of  his  leisure  time  to  literary  pursuits,  and  has 
written  and  published  an  interesting  and  in- 
structive book  entitled  "  John  Bull  in  America," 
and  has  in  press  his  forthcoming  work  of 
"  Chautauqua,"  which  is  intended  to  give  the 
world  at  large  an  adequate  idea  of  the  resources 
and  advantages  of  this  county  which  is  now  so 
largely  attracting  public  attention.  In  an  epic 
poem,  published  in  1891,  he  tells  in  verse  the 
story  of  the  races  past  and  gone  who  dwelt  in 
Chautauqua  county,  narrates  present  facts  and 
indulges  in  speculations  for  the  future  that  are 
acceptable  to  Chautauquans. 


JOSEPH  LANDSCHOOF,  JR.,  isanative  of 

^  Holstein,  Prussia,  a  territory  over  the  pos- 
session of  whicli  much  blood  and  treasure  has 
been  spent.  It  was  a  duchy  of  Denmark,  but 
now  is  a  ])art  of  Schleswig  Holstein,  Prussia. 
He  was  born  August  17,  183<),  and  is  a  son  of 
Joseph  and  jMargaret  (Kadden)  Landschoof. 
His  father  and  mother  were  natives  and  life- 
Iiing  residents  of  the  same  ])la('e,  and  tiiey  were 
tiie  parents  of  three  ciiildren,  two  sons  and  one 


OF  CIIArTAUQl-A    COVNTY. 


201 


<laut;'liter.  Mr.  Laudsclioof  was  a  rooter  by 
trade  at  which  ho  worked  until  his  death, 
which  occurred  in  1864,  iu  his  native  land,  at 
sixty-seven  years  of  age,  and  Mrs.  Landschoof 
died  in  1848,  in  her  fiftieth  year.  In  religion 
he  was  a  member  of  the  Lutheran  church. 

Joseph  liandschoof,  Jr.,  was  reared  iu  his 
native  country,  and  his  education  was  received 
in  her  common  schools,  after  leaving  which 
he  served  an  apprenticeshij)  for  four  years  iu 
a  mercantile  store.  By  the  laws  of  the  country 
he  was  then  drafted  for  the-  army,  and  had 
scarcely  had  time  to  be  drilled  when  the  war 
with  Denmark  broke  out,  and  he  was  ordered 
to  the  front.  In  a  year  Holsteinwas  conquered, 
and  he  was  forced  into  the  Danish  army,  where 
he  served  five  years,  and  after  his  discharge  he 
was  employed  as  a  clerk  in  a  dry  goods  store 
until  1857,  in  which  year  he  emigrated  to  Can- 
ada, where  he  remained  but  a  few  raonthsi 
coming  to  the  United  States,  landing  in  Buffalo' 
whence  he  traveled  to  Silver  Creek,  this  county' 
where  he  worked  on  a  farm  by  the  mouth  until 
1861,  when  he  came  to  Dunkirk  and  secured 
employment  in  the  car  repair  shops  of  the  Erie 
railroad  with  which  he  remained  until  1869, 
being  steadily  promoted  from  one  responsible 
position  to  another.  In  the  latter  year  he  was 
employed  by  the  Brooks  Locomotive  Works,  as 
foreman  of  the  lumber  yard,  which  position  he 
held  until  the  panic  of  1873.  In  May,  1874, 
he  was  placed  in  charge  of  the  store-room  in  the 
Brooks  Locomotive  Works,  where  he  has  been 
ever  since. 

In  1884  he  engaged  in  the  mercantile 
business  in  Dunkirk,  which  is  managed  by 
his  wife,  and  they  have  built  up  a  very  flourish- 
ing trade.  Iu  ])alitics  he  is  a  Democrat,  and  in 
relig-iou  a  member  of  the  Lutheran  church.  He 
has  been  an  Odd  Fellow  since  1862,  and  is  now 
a  member  of  Point  Gratiot  Lodge,  No.  181,  of 
that  order.  In  November,  1863,  he  made  a 
visit  to  his  native  country,  renewing  old  friend- 
ships and  returned  in  the  spring  of  1864.     He 


is   a   genial   gentleman   and  commands  the  re- 
spect and  esteem  of  all  wiio  know  him. 

October  27,  1861,  Mr.  Land.schoof  united  in 
marriage  with  Minnie,  daughter  of  Frederick 
Peters,  a  retired  watchmaker  of  Silver  Creek, 
this  county,  and  their  union  has  been  blest  with 
three  children,  two  sons  and  one  daughter : 
Emma,  Charles  and  William,  who.se  ages  are, 
twenty-nine,  twenty-seven  and  twenty -two  years 

respectively. 

© 

SAM.  J.  GIFFOUl),  who  is  the  proprietor 
of  the  oldest  insurance  agency  of  Dunkirk 
and  Chautauqua  county,  and  who  dispatched  the 
first  train  ever  run  over  the  Lake  Shore  road  by 
telegraphic  orders,  was  born  at  Ashtabula,  Ohio, 
May  14,  1834,  and  is  a  .son  of  Samuel  and  Rose 
(Eraser)  Gifford.  Samuel  Gifford  was  born  iu 
1797  at  Banbridge,  near  Belfast,  Ireland,  where 
he  learned  the  trade  of  cutter  in  the  tailoring 
business.  He  came  to  the  United  States  iu 
1831  and  settled  at  Ashtabula,  where  he  con- 
ducted a  large  shop,  and  at  one  time  employed 
twenty-two  journeymen  tailors.  He  was  a 
member  of  the  Protestant  Epi.scopal  church, 
had  been  a  freemason  for  sixty-two  yeai's,  and 
died  at  Ashtabula,  November  11,  1877.  He 
married  Rose  Eraser,  a  native  of  Belfast,  Ire- 
land, who  was  an  Episcopalian,  and  died  Feb- 
ruary 16,  1874,  aged  .seventy-four  years. 

Sam.  J.  Gitford  was  reared  at  Ashtabula  until 
he  was  eighteen  years  of  age,  received  his  edu- 
cation in  the  public  schools  and  then  was  engaged 
for  a  short  time  in  grinding  bark  iu  a  tannery. 
Ou  October  1,  1848,  he  became  the  first  devil 
in-  the  office  of  the  Ashtabula  Weekly  Telegrapli, 
which  was  established  on  the  above  named  day. 
He  learned  telegraphy  ou  the  old  Speed  line 
while  in  that  printing  office,  which  he  left  on 
June  1,  1852,  to  become  a  telegraph  operator  in 
the  New  York  and  Erie  railroad.  He  was  first 
stationed  at  Dunkirk,  but  worked  all  along  the 
line,  and  ou  June  1,  1854,  he  was  appointed  as 
night  train-dispatcher  and  operator  of  the  Erie 


202 


BIOGRAPHY  AND  HISTORY 


road  at  Dunkirk,  which  he  left  iu  February, 
185-5,  to  accept  the  position  of  cashier  and 
operator  in  the  freight  department  of  the  Butfalo 
and  Erie  (now  Lake  Shore  and  Michigan 
Southern)  railroad.  He  was  the  first  operator 
on  this  road,  on  which  he  dispatched  the  first 
train  ever  run  over  it  by  telegraphic  orders. 
Ou  February  26,  1869,  he  resigned  and  acted 
as  agent  of  the  Mutual  Life  Insurance  Comjjany 
of  New  York  until  1872,  when  he  became  a 
member  of  the  Skinner  &  Gifford  Manufacturing 
Company,  which  erected  a  large  iron  works  at 
Dunkirk  for  building  engines,  boilers  and  rail- 
road fixtures.  In  1875  and  1876  this  firm  built 
the  Texas  and  New  Orleans  railroad  (now 
Southern  Pacific),  after  wiiich  they  failed  in 
business  and  sold  their  iron  works.  From  1876 
to  1879  Mr.  Gilford  assisted  iu  running  these 
iron-works,  and  then  became  a  partner  with  his 
brother-in-law,  J.  H.  Van  Buren,  in  the  insur- 
ance business.  Their  partnership  lasted  until 
1882,  when  he  agaiu  became  cashier  on  the 
L.  S.  &  M.  S.  R.  R.,  and  served  as  such  until 
April  1,  1885.  He  then  formed  a  second  in- 
surance partnership  with  his  brother-in-law 
which  existed  until  1888.  In  that  year  "he  pur- 
chased the  insurance  business  of  the  late  Otis 
Stillman,  which  was  the  first  insurance  business 
established  (1850)  in  the  county. 

Sam.  -J.  Gilford  represents  some  of  the  most 
economical  and  reliable  life  and  fire  insurance 
companies  of  the  world.  His  agency  represents 
the  ^tua,  Phoenix,  and  Orient  companies,  of 
Hartford,  Conn. ;  the  German- American,  Conti- 
nental, Fidelity,  and  United  States  comjjanies, 
of  New  York  city ;  the  California,  aud  Fire- 
men's Fund  coiii|)anies,  of  San  Francisco;  the 
Liverpool,  London  and  Globe,  and  Laucashire 
companies  of  England  ;  tiie  American  Central 
company,  of  St.  Louis,  and  the  Mutual  Life 
Insurance  company,  of  New  York  city,  which 
has  assets  of  over  one  hundred  and  fifty  mil- 
lions. 

In  politics  Mr.  (jilliird  isastraigiit  Iicj>ublican. 


He  is  a  member  and  vestryman  of  St.  John's 
Protestant  Episcopal  church,  of  whose  Sunday- 
school  he  was  superintendent  for  several  years. 
He  has  been  a  member  of  the  ^Masonic  fraternity 
since  1861,  aud  holds  active  membership  in 
Irondequoit  Lodge,  No.  301,  Chapter  and  Com- 
raandery  No.  40,  and  Ismalia  Temple. 


T*>HIT3IAX  CLARK  comes  from  English 
-*'*■  ancestry  ou  the  paternal  side  of  the 
house,  and  running  with  it  in  his  veins,  is  the 
cool  and  conservative  Scotch  blood  of  his  mater- 
nal ancestors.  He  was  born  in  Erie  county, 
New  York,  July  16,  1S26,  and  is  a  sou  of 
Simeon  Jr.  aud  Hannah  (Stone)  Clark.  Sim- 
eon Clark  (grandfather)  was  a  native  of  Ver- 
mont, served  as  a  soldier  throughout  the  war  of 
the  Revolution,  and  then  moved  to  Erie  county, 
this  State,  and  engaged  in  farming.  He  died  in 
1837,  aged  seventy-four  years.  Simeon,  Jr. 
(father)  was  also  a  native  of  A  erniont,  and, 
emulating  the  patriotic  example  of  his  fiither, 
served  his  country  as  a  soldier,  enlisting  among 
the  first  troops  summoned  to  fight  the  British 
iu  1812,  and  after  that  war  ended,  he  too,  set- 
tled in  Erie  county,  this  State,  and  engaged  in 
the  manufacture  of  chairs  and  wheels,  and  also 
in  the  occupation  of  a  millwright.  The  latter 
part  of  his  life  was  spent  in  Clarksburg,  Erie 
county,  a  tov;u  named  iu  his  honor,  where  he 
operated  a  saw  and  grist-mill.  In  politics  he 
was  a  whig:  and  in  religion  was  a  devout  mem- 
ber  of  the  Baptist  church.  He  was  a  very  en- 
ergetic man  and  respected  by  all  who  knew 
him.  Simeon  Clark,  Jr.,  married  Hannah 
Stone,  by  whom  he  had  five  children.  IMrs. 
Clark  was  born  in  Rhode  Island,  in  1794,  was 
a  member  of  tiie  Baptist  church,  and  died  iu 
Erie  county,  this  State,  May  28,  1828,  aged 
tliirty-four  years.  Mr.  Clark  died  iu  Clarks- 
burg, March  22,  1859,  aged  seventy-three 
years  and  twenty-two  days. 

A\'hitman  Clark  was  reared   in   Erie  county 
and     received    a     common    school    education. 


OF  CHAUTAUQUA   COUNTY. 


203 


After  his  scliool  days  had  ended,  lie  learned  the 
trade  of  a  carpenter  and  joiiiei',  and  iu  1852 
went  to  work  as  a  millwright,  whieii  vocation 
he  has  since  pursued,  and,  in  connection  tliere- 
with,  handles  a  large  amount  of  mill  machinery 
of  all  kinds  on  commission.  May  2,  1870,  he 
came  to  Dunkirk  and  has  resided  here  ever 
since.  In  politics  he  is  a  straight  Democrat, 
and  takes  a  very  active  interest  in  local,  State 
and  general  political  matters.  In  the  election 
of  the  spring  of  1887,  he  was  chosen  justice  of 
the  peace,  and  was  re-elected  in  March,  1891, 
for  four  years.  He  is  a  very  public-spirited 
man  and  always  ready  to  aid  any  movement 
beneficial  to  the  city,  and  is  a  member  of  Phoe- 
nix Lodge,  No.  262,  F.  &  A.  M. 

Whitman  Clark  married  in  1840,  Emily 
Beardsley,  a  daughter  of  Solomon  Beardsley,  of 
Eden,  Erie  county,  by  whom  he  had  four  chil- 
dren, two  sons  and  two  daughters:  Simeon,  who 
was  born  in  1846  and  died  in  December,  1854; 
Jennie,  born  in  1850  and  died  August  18, 
1871 ;  Hattie  M.,  born  iu  1863  and  died  May 
19,  1879  ;  and  Newton  L.,  born  December  25, 
1867,  who  is  a  clerk  in  Dunkirk. 


TllTATTHEW  S.  XOXON.     Industry,  ecou- 
4  omy  and  good  management  will  secure  a 

competency  for  any  man.  This  is  strikingly  '■ 
proven  in  the  case  of  our  subject,  who  was  left 
an  orphan  when  one  year  of  age,  and  started  in 
life  without  a  dollar.  Matthew  S.  Noxou  is  a 
son  of  Claudius  and  Loduuia  (Fariugton) 
Noxon,  and  was  born  iu  Delaware  county.  New 
York,  April  12,  1822.  The  maternal  grand- 
father, Matthew  Fariugton,  lived  in  Fishkill, 
Dutchess  county,  N.  Y.,  where  subject's  mother 
was  born.  He  had  a  son,  Daniel  M.  Fajing-  , 
ton,  who  came  to  Westfield  town  iu  1832,  and 
died  in  1881,  aged  eighty-six  years.  He  was 
the  foster-father  of  Matthew  S.  Noxon.  Clau- 
dius Noxou  was  a  native  of  Dutchess  county', 
N.  Y.,  married  there  and  followed  farming  until  | 
his  death  in  1823.     His  wife  was  born  iu  1799, 


and  lived  until  1881.  She  was  a  member  of 
the  Baptist  church. 

Matthew  S.  Noxon  lived  in  Dutchess  county, 
until  nine  years  of  age,  when  he  was  sent  to  live 
with  his  uncle,  Daniel  M.  Fariugton,  who 
reared  him.  He  attended  the  Westfield  schools 
where  he  received  his  education  and  having 
learned  practical  farming  with  liis  uncle,  when 
grown  to  manhood  he  began  to  farm  on  his  own 
account.  One  of  the  finest  farms  in  Portland, 
consisting  of  one  hundred  and  ten  acres,  upon 
which  is  eighteen  acres  of  neat  vineyard,  is  his 
property,  where  he  has  a  pi-etty  home. 

On  March  28,  1860,  he  married  Ermina 
Weaver,  who  was  born  in  Allegany  county, 
February  21, 1832,  a  daughter  of  John  Weaver, 
who  still  lives  in  AVestfield  town,  aged  eighty- 
seven  years.  The  latter's  wife  was  Ann  Benton, 
a  gentle  Christian  woman  who  died  in  1850, 
when  but  forty-five  years  of  age.  ]\Ir.  and 
Mrs.  Noxon  have  an  adopted  daughter  :  Lizzie, 
ag-ed  twentv-two  vears. 

M.  S.  Noxon  affiliates  with  the  Republican 
party  and  has  served  the  town  as  school  trustee. 
His  success  has  been  due  entirely  to  his  indivi- 
dual efforts.  Without  a  dollar's  capital  when  he 
began  life,  he  is  now  one  of  the  town's  sub- 
stantial citizens,  a  position  he  has  attained  by 
incessant  toil  'and  good  management.  He  is 
proud  of  the  fact  that  a  blacksmith  shop  or 
store  has  never  carried  his  name  on  their  books, 
it  being  his  rule  to  pay  cash.  Being  just  and 
exact  in  his  business  transactions  he  has  never 
been  called  to  answer  to  a  law  suit.  Having 
reached  nearly  seventy  years  of  age  he  has 
retired  from  active  labor  and  is  enjoying  the 
reward  of  his  labors. 


T4 Mllt.S  D.  LEET,  one  of  the  proprietors 
^^  in  the  large  tanning  business  at  Laona, 
is  a  sou  of  William  and  Harriet  (Belden)  Leet, 
and  was  born  at  Point  Chautauqua,  this  county, 
October  29, 1856.  The  Leet  family  came  from 
the  eastern  states,  and  grandfather  Anson  Leet 


20-1 


BIOGRAPHY  ASD  HISTORY 


settled  in  the  town  of  Stockton  in  18J1,  coming 
there  from  Connecticut  and  remaining  two  years, 
when  he  moved  to  tlie  shore  of  the  lake.  The 
father  of  our  subject  was  born  there  and  has 
been  engaged  in  the  produce  business  for  the 
past  thirty  years,  and  during  that  time  has  been 
twice  elected  treasurer  of  the  county. 

Willis  D.  Leet  was  reared  in  Chautauqua 
town,  acquired  a  good  common-school  educa- 
tion and  then  entered  the  produce  business  with 
his  brother,  George  E.,  and  followed  it  for  eight 
or  nine  years.  Being  of  a  genial,  good-natured 
disposition,  Mr.  Leet  became  very  popular,  and 
when  only  twenty-eight  years  of  age  he  was 
elected  treasurer  of  Chautauqua  county  and  filled 
the  office  during  the  term  of  three  years.  In 
1889  he  came  to  Laona  and  bought  a  third 
interest  in  the  White  tannery,  one  of  the  largest 
in  the  county.  The  buildings  are  very  exten- 
sive and  the  product  exceeds  -$100, 000  annually, 
the  princiiJal  sales  being  made  in  Boston,  and 
the  works  give  employment  to  about  twenty-five 
hands. 

Willis  D.  Leet  led  Carrie  White  to  the  mat- 
rimonial altar  in  1884,  and  their  union  has  been 
blessed  with  three  children  :  Arthur  W.,  Willis 
D.  and  Harvey  E.  In  addition  to  this  Laona 
property  'Sir.  Leet  owns  a  fine  home  at  Mayville. 
Willis  D.  Leet  is  a  gentleman  of  recognized 
integrity  and  of  strong  force  of  character.  His 
business  ability  stands  out  prominently  in  the 
mercantile  Avorld,  and  the  older  men,  who  have 
passed  their  experimental  stage,  warmly  grasp 
his  hand  and  welcome  him,  for  they  recognize 
an  equal. 


T4>ILI.IAM  F.  <;ilEKX.  The  prosperity  of 
■*"'■  a  community  is  often  rcficcted,  as  a  face 
in  a  mirror,  by  the  condition  of  tlie  local  bank; 
and  the  banking  facilities  of  a  loc^ality  often 
decide  whether  business  shall  be  active  or  slug- 
gish. William  F.  Green,  the  venerable  but 
active  an<l  energetic  cashier  of  the  bank  of  Sher- 
man, realizes  all  this  and  does  much  to  promote 


the  business  interests  of  his  village.  He  is  a 
son  of  William  and  Martha  (Tom linson)  Green, 
natives  of  Lincolnshire,  England,  and  was  born 
in  the  town  of  Chautauqua,  this  county,  March 
3, 1832,  two  years  after  the  anival  of  his  jjarents 
from  their  mother  country.  William  Green 
was  a  carpenter  by  trade,  and  when  he  first 
reached  America  he  made  a  short  sojourn  near 
the  city  of  Utica  and  followed  his  trade,  but  in 
1831  he  came  to  this  county,  and  after  a  short 
residence  in  the  town  of  Chautauqua  he  settled 
permanently  in  Sherman.  He  was  born  in  1803, 
and  married  Martha  Tomliuson  in  England. 
In  1856  and  1857  he  was  supervisor  of  the  town 
of  Sherman,  and  he  died  ^larch  25,  1862,  when 
fifty-nine  years  of  age,  leaving  five  children. 
William  F.  Green  spent  the  first  fourteen 
i  years  of  his  life  in  Chautauqua  county,  and  was 
!  then  sent  to  Oneida  county,  where  he  lived  with  an 
uncle.  He  was  educated  at  the  public  schools  and 
the  Oneida  Castle  academy,  and  such  was  his 
proficiency  and  aptitude  for  absorbing  knowl- 
edge that  he  was  among  the  foremost  scholars 
of  the  school.  He  attended  there  for  six  years 
and  then  took  a  clerkship  in  Henry  Ransom's 
grocery  and  dry-goods  store  at  Sherman.  He 
remained  there  until  about  twenty  years  of  age 
and  then  went  to  work  for  Isaac  E.  Hawley,  a 
I  prominent  dealer  at  Sherman.  Upon  attaining 
'  his  twenty-third  year  he  embarked  in  the  gen- 
eral dry-goods  business  on  his  own  account  and 
conducted  it  for  about  five  years,  at  Oneida 
Castle  and  Taberg. 

He  married  Martha  T.  White,  of  Taberg, 
Oneida  county,  and  they  have  had  one  son, 
I  Israel  \V.  They  left  Oneida  county  and  came 
I  to  Sherman  and  engaged  in  the  dry-goods  busi- 
ness witli  his  brother,  I.  T.  Green,  tor  several 
years;  afterwards  moved  to  Northeast,  Pennsyl- 
vania, and  (hen  returned  to  this  comity  and 
settled  again  in  Sherman,  wliero  he  engaged  in 
the  butter,  cheese  and  grocery  business,  after- 
wards moving  to  Jamestown  and  remaining 
some  two  years,  where  Mrs.  Green  died  in  1883; 


OF  CHAUTAUQUA   COUNTY. 


205 


he  then  again  i-eturned  to  Sherman,  and  in  1884 
Mr.  Green  married  Ilattie  S.  Underhili,  of 
Rochester,  Minnesota,  and  from  that  date  until 
1889  he  was  engaged  in  the  wholesale  produce 
business.  Mr.  Green  assumed  the  duties  of 
cashier  in  the  Bank  of  Sherman  during  the 
month  of  February,  LSSM),  suceeeding  Mr.  W. 
F.  Smalhvood,  who  had  otiticiated  as  such  since 
its  opening,  on  November  6,  1884.  It  has 
always  been  a  prosperous  institution  and,  al- 
though an  individual  corporation,  it  represents 
a  capital  of  §200,000.  Associated  are  A.  Cal- 
houn, Hiram  Parker  and  James  Vincent — all 
solid  and  responsible  men. 

William  F.  Green,  although  l)ecoming  ad- 
vanced in  years,  retains  the  vigor  of  his  earlier 
days  and  transacts  the  business  of  his  bank  with 
the  system  and  skill  of  a  National  bank.  He  is 
punctual  and  prompt  in  all  his  business  trans- 
actions, and  the  increasing  volume  of  business 
of  the  institution,  whose  business  he  directs, 
attests  the  appreciation  and  confidence  of  the 

public. 

e 

T  .  AWBENCE      EUGENE     SHATTUCK. 

'^  One  of  the  pioneers  of  Chautauqua  coun- 
ty, who  spent  his  mature  life  here  and  gave 
most  valuable  aid  in  reclaiming  its  fertile  lands 
from  the  wilds  of  nature  was  Lawrence  Eugene 
Shattuck,  who  was  the  son  of  Pliny  and  Dolly 
(Rice)  Shattuck,  born  in  the  State  of  Massachu- 
setts, July  20,  1816,  and  died  at  his  home  in 
Cherry  Creek,  January  20, 1890,  aged  seventy- 
three  years  and  six  months.  The  Shattucks 
were  for  several  generations  natives  and  resi- 
dents of  New  England. 

Pliny  Shattuck  was  born  in  jMassachusetts, 
and  after  marrying  Dolly  Rice,  in  1820  moved 
to  Virginia ;  he  was  a  blacksmith  by  trade,  and 
followed  that  business  in  the  Old  Dominion, 
where  he  remained  for  four  years  and  came  to 
Sinclairville,  and  worked  at  blacksmithing, 
where  he  lived  for  eight  years  and  then  came 
to  Cherry  Creek,  at  which  place  he  made  his 


home  until  his  death.  By  his  union  with  Dolly 
Rice  ]\Ir.  Shattuck  became  the  fiither  of  eight 
children,  as  follows :  Jerome  B.,  Dolly  H., 
Oliver,  rre(leri<'k,  Lucy,  Eugene,  Harriet  and 
Philemon.     Five  of  these  are  yet  living. 

Lawrence  Eugene  Shattuck  was  sixteen  years 
of  age  when  his  father  came  to  Cherry  Creek 
and  located  upon  a  wild  farm  about  one  mile 
west  of  the  village,  where  his  father  built  a 
blacksmith  shop  and  carried  on  the  trade.  The 
other  members  of  the  family  cleared  up  a  small 
farm  and  tilled  the  soil,  while  L.  E.  Shattuck 
worked  in  the  shop  with  his  father,  and,  having 
learned  the  trade,  succeeded  to  his  father's 
business  when  the  latter  died.  He  was  the 
only  blacksmith  for  some  distance  around  that 
could  shoe  oxen,  and  had  all  the  work  that  he 
could  do,  but  as  he  became  older  he  found  the 
work  uncongenial,  and  gradually  lessened  his 
business  until  some  years  before  his  death  he 
discontinued  it  entirely. 

On  April  13,  1836,  Mr.  Shattuck  married 
Amy  Angeliue  Ames,  a  stirring,  energetic 
young  lady,  who  was  born  at  Trenton,  Oneida 
county,  New  York,  February  26, 1817.  Their 
union  was  blessed  with  five  children,  two  sons 
and  three  daughters:  L.  E.  Jr.,  born  April  11, 
1838;  Lydia,  born  September  7,  1839;  Amy 
A.,  born  February  10,  1843;  Jerome  B.,  born 
May  27,  1847  ;  and  Rosella,  born  November 
12,  1851. 

The  old  gentleman's  farm  was  located  at  four 
corners  of  the  road  one  mile  west  of  Cherry  Creek 
village,  and  the  place  is  still  known  as  Shattuck 
Corners. 

Amy  Angeline  Ames  was  a  daughter  of  Amos 
Ames,  who  was  born  in  Vermont,  and  married 
Lydia  Franklin.  She  was  the  daughter  of 
Stephen  Franklin,  and  the  latter  was  a  great- 
grandson  of  the  renowned  philanthropist  and 
American  statesman,  Benjamin  Franklin.  Ste- 
phen Franklin  married  Rachel  Carpenter, 
whose  father  came  from  England.  Mr.  Frank- 
lin was  a  minister  of  the  Gospel,  an   earnest, 


206 


BIOGRAPHY  AND  HISTORY 


devout  and  self-sacrificing  iireacher,  whose 
thought  was  not  of  dollars  but  the  faithful  ser- 
vice of  his  Master.  He  became  the  father  of 
five  children,  three  sons  and  two  daughters: 
John,  Ebenezer,  Eleazer,  Hester  and  Lvdia. 
The  latter,  the  mother  of  Mrs.  Shattuck,  died 
May  15,  1830,  after  which  Mr.  Ames  married 
Mrs.  Phcebe  Burnett.  He  was  a  farmer  and  ' 
cleared  one  hundred  acres  of  laud  on  the  banks 
of  West  Canada  Creek,  in  Oneida  county,  just 
two  miles  below  Trenton  Falls,  and,  building  a 
commodious  bouse,  he  kept  a  hotel  for  a  num- 
ber of  years.  His  children  by  his  first  wife 
were  Lydia  F.,  Luther  Loreu  and  Amy  Angel- 
ine,  and  to  his  last  wife  was  born  one  son,  who 
did  not  reach  manhood.  Amos  Ames  died 
May  27,  1847,  the  same  day  that  Mrs.  Shat- 
tuck's  youngest  son  was  born. 

Mrs.  Amy  Ames  Shattuck  has  always  l)een 
characterized  by  energy,  good  judgment  and 
force  of  character.  "While  she  was  yet  a  young 
girl,  becoming  dissatisfied  with  the  arbitrary  ac- 
tions of  her  step-mother,  she  left  her  father's 
home  and  supported  herself  until  she  was  mar- 
ried. While  yet  very  young  she  spent  three 
years  in  succession  spinning  wool  for  Pliny 
Shattuck  and  for  a  number  of  succeeding  years 
she  did  this  and  other  .service.  The  winter 
following  her  marriage,  after  having  spent  the 
summer  in  preparing  household  linen  and  other 
necessary  comforts,  she  jiut  what  goods  she 
could  command  in  boxes  and  barrels,  and  took 
them  to  the  canal  where  she  ship]ied  them,  by 
way  of  Eochester  and  Buifalo,  to  Chautauqua 
county.  During  the  journey  she  met  a  Mr. 
Beverly,  who  was  going  to  the  same  place  with 
his  family,  and  he  assisted  her  in  hiring  teams 
at  Buffalo  to  coiivey  them  to  their  new  home, 
where,  after  a  tiresome  journey,  she  arrived, 
and  the  following  spring  herself  and  husl)and 
began  keeping  house,  at  that  time  a  lonely 
place  in  the  woods,  one  half  mile  from  the 
nearest  neighbor.  Mr.  Shattuck  and  his  sons, 
who  are  now  gray-haired  old  men,  have  always 


said  that  their  success  in  life  was  entirely  due  to 
the  advice,  counsel  and  encouragement  received 
from  their  wife  and  mother. 

The  oldest  .son  is  L.  E.  Shattuck,  Jr.,  now 
living  at  Stanbury,  Missouri,  where  he  is  a 
sheep  and  cattle  breeder,  and  is  well  known  iu 
that  line  all  over  the  Uuited  States  and  Canada  ; 
the  youngest  son,  J.  B.  Shattuck,  is  a  successful 
farmer  living  in  the  town  of  Cherry  Creek,  this 
countv.  It  is  to  such  mothers  as  Mrs.  Shat- 
tuck that  the  county  of  Chautauqua  owes  its 
development  and  the  United  States  of  America 
its  greatness. 


j^AMEL,  LKWIS  WAGGONER,  although 
^^  for  the  past  decade  he  has  been  living  on 
borrowed  time  beyond  the  allotted  span  of  man, 
enjoys  a  serene,  happy  and  vigorous  old  age, 
and  well  deserves  it.  He  is  a  son  of  Calvin 
and  Rebecca  (Babcock)  Waggoner,  and  was 
born  in  Cayuga  county,  Xew  York,  August  4, 
1809.  His  paternal  grandfather,  George  Wag- 
goner, was  born  in  17-56,  was  a  farmer  by  oc- 
cupation, and  served  as  a  good  soldier  iu  the 
war  of  the  Eevolutiou,  enlisting  for  a  short 
term  and  re-enlisting  at  the  expiration  of  that 
term.  At  the  close  of  the  war  he  resumed 
farming  in  Cayuga  couuty,  whither  he  moved, 
and  eventually  moved  to  Canada,  where  he 
spent  the  rest  of  his  life,  dying  in  18*27.  He 
married  Mary  Counor  in  1783,  and  had  four 
sons  antl  four  daughters :  Margaret,  Israel, 
George,  Calvin,  Cyrus,  Charlotte,  Polly  and 
Electa.  Calvin  Waggoner  (father)  was  born 
in  Cayuga  county,  this  State,  iu  1785,  and  was 
a  farmer  there  until  1810,  when  he  removed  to 
Canada,  leased  .some  land  and  resumed  iiis  oc- 
cupation, continuing  as  tiller  of  the  soil  until 
his  death  in  1835.  He  married  Rebecca  Bab- 
cock in  1808,  and  she  bore  him  six  children, 
two  sons  and  four  daughters :  Daniel  Lewis ; 
Caroline,  who  married  John  Vaughn,  a  farmer 
'  and  tanner  in  Canada;  INIatilda,  who  married 
Rose!  Mcichaiit,  a  farmer   in  Crawford  county. 


OF  aiAUTAUQUA   VOUyTY. 


207 


Pennsylvania;  Cliarlotte,  who  marriGil  Mir-liael 
Baugber,  a  lumberman  in  Crawford  county, 
Pennsylvania ;  Charles  A.,  a  farmer  in  Char- 
lotte, this  county,  who  married  Sarah  Johnson ; 
and  Rebecca,  who  married  John  Williams  and 
lives  in  Canada.  Tlie  motlier  of  these  children 
died  in  1828. 

D.  L.  Wao-ooner  was  educated  in  the  com- 
man  schools  of  Canada.  No  better  facilities  for 
an  education  then  being  offered  him,  he  was 
obliged  to  finish  his  education  at  home.  He 
worked  on  a  farm  until  a  young  man,  when  the 
farm  was  to  be  sold  for  unpaid  taxes  and  rent,  it 
being  a  leased  farm.  He  borrowed  money, 
paid  the  debts,  cultivated  the  land  a  few  years 
and  tlien  sold  to  a  Mr.  Hall,  who  came  from 
England  and  moved  to  this  county  in  1832, 
and  bought  a  tract  containing  ninety  acres  of 
land  on  the  line  between  Cherry  Creek  and 
Ellington,  about  twelve  miles  from  Jamestown. 
Subsequeutly  he  sold  this  and  bought  one  hun- 
dred and  fifty  acres  farther  west,  and  afterward 
purchased  two  hundred  more  in  Cherry  Creek, 
part  of  which  he  gave  his  children.  In  Sep- 
tember, 1889,  he  moved  to  Fredonia,  bought 
five  acres  of  land,  built  himself  a  nice  house 
and  enjoys  the  fortune  he  has  accumulated. 
Beside  the  land  given  away,  he  still  owns  one 
hundred  and  sixty  acres  of  land  in  Ellington 
village,  a  lot  in  Jamestown  and  a  house  and  lot 
in  Chautauqua.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Meth- 
odist church  and  politically  is  a  stanch  prohibi- 
tionist. 

D.  L.  Waggoner  was  married  August  14, 
1831,  to  Mary  Millspaw,  a  daughter  of  Jere- 
miah and  Margaret  Millspaw,  of  Canada,  and 
has  had  by  her  six  children,  three  sons  and 
three  daughters  :  Calvin  M.,  died  young  ;  Dan- 
iel Marshall,  married  to  Mira  B.  Woodward,  is 
retired  from  business  and  lives  in  Fredonia ; 
Jane  A.,  married  Ezra  Greeley,  who  is  dead, 
and  she  lives  at  Jamestown  ;  George  N.,  mar- 
ried to  Victoria  Ferguson,  is  retired  from  busi- 
ness and  lives  in  Jamestown  ;  Mary  M.,  mar- 
11 


ried  to  William  Hitchcock,  a  farmer  in  Cherry 
Creek  ;  and  Emily,  married  to  Pen-y  Slater,  a 
farmer  in  Ellington. 


TTXTHOXY  BRATT,  an  aged  and  venerable 
■'^*-  gentleman,  now  leading  a  quiet  and  re- 
tired life,  was  born  to  Christopher  and  Elizabeth 
(Lee)  Bratt,  in  the  town  of  Stillwater,  Saratoga 
county.  New  York,  February  3,  1821.  His 
grandfather,  Daniel  Bratt,  was  a  native  of 
Holland,  but  came  to  America  and  settled  on 
the  bank  of  the  Hudsou  river,  between  Albany 
and  Schenectady  and  established  a  hotel,  but 
later,  about  the  year  1834,  emigrated  to  Chau- 
tauqua county,  and  shortly  afterwards  died. 
His  principal  occupation,  besides  keeping  hotel, 
was  farming.  He  was  a  democrat  politically, 
like  most  of  the  early  settlers  of  his  nationality. 
His  wife  Mas  a  Dutch  woman  and  they  reared 
a  family  of  five  sons  and  two  daughters.  Chris- 
topher Bratt  (father)  was  born  near  the  Hud- 
son river  above  Albany,  in  1793,  and  later 
moved  to  Stillwater,  which  is  located  on  the 
same  stream  a  number  of  miles  above.  About 
1834  he  moved  to  Jamestown  and  farmed  in 
connection  with  his  other  business  until  1871, 
when  he  died  on  October  12th.  Sir.  Bratt 
married  Elizabeth  Lee,  and  she  bore  him  three 
children  :  Elzada,  married  George  Nelson  and 
moved  to  Minnesota :  Erastus  (dead) ;  and 
Anthony. 

Anthony  Bratt  received  his  education  at  the 
schools  of  the  localities  in  which  his  early  life 
was  passed,  and  after  coming  to  Chautauqua 
county,  in  1834,  he  pursued  farming  until  ten 
or  twelve  years  since  when  advancing  years 
caused  him  to  relinquish  this  heavy  work. 

Anthony  Bratt  has  been  married  three  times. 
His  first  wife  was  Eliza  Lee,  whom  he  married 
in  1844,  and  who  bore  him  two  children  : 
Charles,  now  living  at  Bradford,  is  in  a  paper 
store;  and  Jeauette,  wife  of  Harvey  Davis,  a 
carpenter  of  Jamestown.  For  his  second  wife 
he  married   !Mary  Lee,  and  had  two  children  : 


208 


BIOGRAPHY  AND  HISTORY 


Orsimus,  who  married  Maria  Jiiden.  Mr. 
Bratt  married  for  bis  third  wife  Elvira  Bailey, 
and  by  her  has  two  children  :  Bailey,  married 
and  resides  in  Jamestown  ;  and  3Iary,  wedded 
Fred.  Moon  and  died. 


RDDISOX  C.  CUSHING,  an  uncle  of  the 
renowned  heroic  Lieutenant  Gushing,  one 
of  the  pioneer  grape  culturists  of  the  town  of 
Pomfret,  and  one  of  the  most  prominent  of 
that  town's  progressive  men,  is  a  son  of  Judge 
Zattu  and  Eunice  (Elderkin)  Gushing  and  was 
born  near  the  site  of  his  present  home  in 
Fredouia,  May  4,  1820.  His  grand-parents 
were  honorable  Puritans  who  lived  in  the  New 
England  States.  Judge  Zattu  Gushing  was 
born  at  Plymouth  Rock,  Massachusetts,  in  1770, 
and  was  one  of  thirteen  children  born  to 
Nathaniel  and  Lydia  Gushing.  He  received 
but  a  meager  education,  the  schools  of  that  day 
being  primitive  and  their  course  of  study 
limited  in  extent,  but  his  natural  industry, 
energy,  self  reliance  and  integrity  were  of  more 
value  to  him  than  schools.  At  an  early  age  he 
was  apprenticed  to  a  ship  carpenter,  and  when 
he  had  mastered  that  trade,  he  followed  it  for 
some  time  at  Boston.  The  work,  however,  was 
not  congenial  to  his  nature  and  he  decided  to 
exchange  it  for  a  farmer's  life  and  for  the  jiur- 
pose  moved  to  Ballston,  Saratoga  county,  where 
he  married  Rachel  Buckingham  and  then  re- 
moved to  Paris,  Oneida  county,  and  took  up  a 
tract  of  land  in  the  forest,  from  which  he  made 
a  farm.  In  1799  he  was  employed  to  go  to 
Presque  Isle,  adjacent  to  Erie,  Pennsylvania, 
for  tiie  purpose  of  superintending  the  con- 
struction of  a  ship.  When  it  was  completed  it 
wiis  christened  the  "  Good  Intent  "  and  was  the 
first  vessel  of  note-worthy  size  built  on  Lake 
Erie.  She  was  los*  with  all  on  board  in  18D5. 
In  returning  from  the  scene  of  his  labors,  one 
of  his  horses  strayed,  and  while  attempting  to 
secure  it,  night  came  upon  him  and  he  passed 
the   niglit   ujion    the  lands  where  forty  years 


later  he  built  him  a  home.  Having  had  excel- 
lent opportunities  for  examining  the  lands  of 
that  locality,  he  determined  to  locate  there,  and 
in  February,  1805,  he  moved  his  family  to  the 
site  where  now  stands  the  town  of  Fredouia. 
Two  yoke  of  oxen,  each  drawing  a  sled,  were 
the  conveyances  used  and  it  took  three  weeks  to 
perform  the  journey  that  may  now  be  made  in 
twice  as  many  hours.  At  the  time  Mr.  Gush- 
ing had  eight  children:  Walter;  Lydia, 
married  Dr.  Squire  White  ;  Milton  B ;  Zat- 
tu; Gatharine,  married  Philo  H.  Stevens; 
Lucinda,  the  widow  of  William  Barker  • 
Alouzo ;  and  Rachel,  who  married  Mr.  Tup- 
per.  All  are  dead.  When  they  arrived  at 
Buffalo,  they  started  down  the  Pike  upon  the 
ice,  intending  to  camp  nigiits  on  the  shore,  but 

I  a  driving  storm  coming  on,  they  were  compelled 
to  stop,  and  were  only  rescued  by  two  men  who 
heard  their  signals  of  distress.  At  daybreak 
the  ice  was  broken  up  so  that  escape  would 
then  have  been  impossible.  Upon  his  arrival 
here,  he  was  much  disappointed  to  find  that  his 
choice  of  lots  was  taken  by  Thomas  McGlintock 
and  he  took  another,  upon  which  he  cleared 
fifty  acres  during  the  ensuing  two  years.  In 
1807  he  sold  to  ^Nlr.  :\Iarsh,  father  of  the 
present  occupant,  and  bought  from  ^Nlr.  Mc- 
Glintock, for  one-hundred  dollars,  the  farm  that 
he  originally  desired.  He  then  paid  the  land 
claim  at  Batavia  and  on  November  7,  1807, 
received  a  title  to  about  six  hundred  acres,  a 
great  portion  of  which  is  now  covered  by  the 

j  village  of  Fredouia.  About  the  last  mentioned 
date  he  erected  the  log -house  on  Eagle  street, 
where  A.  F.  Taylor  now  lives.  Zattu  Gushing 
was  eminently  a  pious  man,  a  Baptist  of  un- 
swerving devotion,  and  his  first  thought  upon 
reaciiiny;   here  was  to  establish  a  church.     In 

'  1811,  when  the  organization  of  the  county  was 
completed,  ^Ir.  Gusiiing  was  appointed  tiie  first 
judge  and  he  wore  tiic  ermine  until  1822.  At 
the  battle  of  Buffalo  he  served  as  a  private  and 
was  highly  indignant,  feeling  that  with  a  com- 


OF  CHAUTAUQUA   COUNTY. 


211 


petent  commauder,  tlie  result  might  li.ive  lieeii 
different.     On  the  fourth  of  July  1812,  a  cele- 
bration was  held  at  Judge  Cushing's  farm,  he 
himself  beiug  the  orator.     Ere  long  the  report 
of  a  oannou  and  the  rattle  of  musketry  showed 
the  presence  of  an  enemy  at  the  mouth  of  the 
creek.     Jumping  from  his  rough  rostrum,  the 
speaker   was   the   first    at    the  scene   of  action 
ready  for  defense.     In  August,  1816,  a  great 
sorrow  fell  upon   his  houseiiold,  the  mother  of 
his  children,   who    iiad    been   the   light  of  his 
home  and  shared  his  trials,  his  joys,  his  sorrows 
and  his  hopes,  was  called  away.     Never  before 
in  the  history  of  the  village  had  so  large  and 
sorrowing  a  funeral  been  known.     In  1817,  he 
married  Eunice  Eklerkin,  a  native  of  the  town 
of  Burlington,  Otsego  county.     In  1826,  just  ! 
after  the  Erie  canal  was  opened  for  navigation,  ' 
in  company  with  Joseph  Sprage,  Mr.  Gushing  j 
built  a  canal-boat.     It  was  built  on  the  flats  at  ' 
the    foot    of    Fort    hill    and    was    named    the 
"  Fredouia  Enterprise."     To  draw  the  boat  to 
the  water  required  one  hundred  yoke  of  oxen,  ^ 
and  after  it  was  launched,  they  loaded  it  with  I 
wheat,  and  the  steamer  "  Lake  Superior"  towed 
it    to  Buffalo.     In   1823,    he  was   foremost  in 
establishing   the  Fredonia    academy  and  nntil  ' 
his  death,  was  one  of  its  most  liberal  support- 
ers.     January  13,  1839,  after  a  long  experience 
of  physical    suffering    which    he    patiently  en- 
dured. Judge  Zattu  Gushing  passed  peacefully 
away.     When  the  battle  of  life  was  over,  his 
peaceful    triumph    commenced.     At    the    next 
terra  of  court,  upon  the  motion  of  Judge  Wal- 
lace, the  bar  of  this  county  procured  his  portrait 
to  be  suspended  in  the  court-house  above  the 
bench  where  judges  sit.     Guarded  with  tender  \ 
care,  it  still  remains  there  and  will  for  ages  to 
come,  as  a  proper  memorial  of  as  pure  a  man 
and  upright  a  judge  as  ever  dispensed  justice  in 
any  tribunal.     By  his  second  marriage  Judge 
Gushing    had   four  more    children.     The  onlv 
daughter,  Sarah  jNI.  L.,  died.     The  oldest  boys 
were  living  in  the  west  and  his  daughters  by 


his  fir:^t  wife  were  happily  married  and  lived 
near  him.  The  youngest  sous,  Judson  E., 
Addison  G,  and  Frank  were  at  home,  the  pleas- 
ure of  his  declining  years.  All  of  them  are 
now  passed  away  excepting  Judson  and  Addison 
C.  Zattu  Gushing  was  the  grandfather  of 
Alonzo  H.  Gushing,  who  was  killed  at  the 
battle  of  (xetty.sburg,  who,  although  twice 
wounded,  was  standing  by  his  gun  until  the 
fatal  leaden  missile  struck  him  down,  and  (jf 
Lieutenant  Gommander  William  15.  Gushing 
(see  his  sketch),  who  by  repeated  and  successful 
deeds  of  valor  and  patriotic  devotion  stands 
bi'east  to  breast  with  Paul  Jones  and  Gommo- 
dore  Perry,  and  whose  name  will  stand  bright 
and  fresh  in  the  hearts  of  the  American  people 
as  long  as  marble  and  metal  hold  their  shape 
and  this  great  Republic  remains  intact. 

Addison  Gushing  was  educated  at  the  district 
.schools  of  Fredonia  until  sixteen  vears  of  age 
and  then  entered  the  academy  and  took  a  three- 
years  course.  He  then  employed  himself  on  his 
father's  farm  until  his  marriage  to  Elizabeth 
King,  which  occurred  April  9th,  184(),  when 
his  father's  estate  was  divided  and  he  moved  on 
a  farm  of  his  own.  Agriculture  has  been  his 
life-long  pursuit,  and  in  1860  he  began  the  cul- 
tivation of  small  fruits.  Forming  a  mutual 
company,  he  erected  a  canning  factory,  which 
prepared  the  product  of  their  orchards  for  the 
market.  After  running  one  year,  this  factory 
was  destroyed  by  fii'c.  Addison  Gushing  was 
one  of  the  pioneers  of  grajie  culture  and  was 
the  second  man  to  conduct  the  business.  He  is 
a  democrat  and  although  the  town  is  strouslv 
republican,  he  has  been  re-elected  president  of 
the  village  oftener  than  any  one  man.  Mr. 
Gu.shing  has  served  twelve  years  as  justice  of 
the  peace  and  when  the  Xormal  school  was  or- 
ganized, he  was  elected  one  of  its  trustees.  He 
is  a  member  of  the  Episcopal  church  and  since 
188-4  has  been  a  warden;  for  nearly  forty  years 
he  was  a  member  of  the  vestry.  Adilison 
Gushing  is  exemplary  in   his  habits  and  is  an 


212 


BIOGRAPHY  A XI)  HISTORY 


excellent  exam])le  for  young  men  to  follow. 
His  first  wife  was  a  daughter  of  General  Na- 
thaniel (and  a  Miss  Grey)  King.  Mr.  King 
was  a  lawyer  and  literateur  of  Hamilton, 
Madison  county,  this  State.  To  this  union  were 
born  two  daughters:  INIargaret  married  J.  J. 
Servoss,  a  lumberman  living  at  Portsmouth, 
Va.,  and  they  had  one  daughter  ;  and  Elizabeth 
K.,  now  the  wife  of  P.  H.  Gumming,  a  fruit 
raiser  of  Fredonia ;  they  had  two  sons  and  two 
daughtei's.  Mr.  Cushiug's  wife  died  August 
2oth,  1848,  and  on  October  9th,  1849,  he  was 
united  to  Ellen  Gumming,  a  daughter  of  Robert 
and  Lydia  Gumming.  Mr.  Gumming  was  a 
Scotch  gentleman  who  went  to  Australia,  en- 
gaged in  farming  and  died  there.  To  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Gushing  were  born  Mary,  who  married  S. 
D.  L.  Jackson,  a  lawyer  j)racticiug  at  Youngs- 
town,  Ohio;  she  died  in  1885;  and  Frank  C.,  a 
merchant  tailor'  of  Fredonia.  Frank  G.  Gush- 
ing married  Jennie  Glisan,  May  7th,  1884,  and 
he  died  September  22d,  of  the  same  year.  Mrs. 
Addison  C.  Gushing  died  ISIarch  8th,  1884,  and 
on  June  3d,  1886,  Mr.  Gushing  took  for  his 
third  wife  Esther  G.  Pritohard,  a  daughter  of 
Daniel  G.  and  Abigail  (Godfrey)  Pritchard, 
living  in  Fredonia. 

Addison  G.  Gushing  has  passed  the  allotted 
three-score  and  ten  of  man,  but,  owing  to  his 
temperate  life  and  good  constitution,  he  still  en- 
joys fine  health,  and  it  is  hojied  will  live  for 
many  years  to  continue  the  good  which  has  been 
characteristic  of  his  life. 


JUDGE  AVILLTA3I  PEACOCK.     The  roll 

^  of  the  prominent,  influential  and  public- 
spirited  citizens  of  western  New  York,  as  M-ell 
as  Ghautanqua  county,  M'onld  be  incomplete 
without  especial  mention  of  the  long  and  useful 
career  of  Judge  William  Peacock,  whose  name 
will  be  honorably  preserved  from  oblivion  in 
the  history  of  the  Erie  canal,  the  surveys  of  the 
Holland  land  company,  and  the  material  devel- 
opment of  Dunkirk,   Mayville  and  the  county. 


He  was  born  in  Ulster  county.  New  York, 
February  22,  1780,  and  was  a  son  of  Thomas 
and  Margaret  (Anderson)  Peacock.  His  father 
served  under  Washington  in  the  Revolutionary 
war,  and  shortly  after  the  treaty  of  ])eace 
removed  with  his  wife  and  family  to  a  farm 
which  he  owned  near  Geneva,  this  State.  He 
had  three  children,  two  sons  and  one  daughter. 
The  sons  were :  Judge  William,  John  and 
Absalom ;  and  the  daughter,  Geneva,  who 
married  Samuel  Hughinson,  who  lived  in  M'ash- 
ington,  D.  G. 

William  Peacock  was  reared  on  his  father's 
farm,  received  a  good  education,  and  studied 
surveying.  In  1803  he  went  to  Batavia  with 
the  intention  of  going  to  New  Orleans,  but  was 
dissuaded  from  his  contemplated  trip  ])y  Joseph 
EUicott,  agent  of  the  Holland  Land  company, 
and  entered  the  employ  of  that  company  as  a 
surveyor.  He  surveyed  large  bodies  of  their 
lands  on  the  Genesee  river  and  the  western 
part  of  the  State.  He  surveyed  a  large  part  of 
the  site  of  Buffalo,  where  he  purchased  several 
lots,  as  well  as  buying  from  the  company  some 
valuable  tracts  of  land  in  Ghautauqua  county. 
In  1810  he  came  to  Mayville,  when  there  were 
but  two  or  three  cabins  there,  and  where  he 
acted  as  agent  for  the  Holland  Land  company 
until  it  disposed  of  the  last  of  its  unsold  lauds 
in  1836,  when  his  office  was  destroyed  l)y  a  mob 
of  debtors  of  the  company,  who  sought  l)y  this 
unlawful  measure  to  obliterate  all  record  of  their 
indebtedness  to  tiie  company,  but  in  which  they 
were  signally  foiled,  as  he  had  sent  copies  of  all 
his  papers  to  the  general  oftioe  of  the  company. 
A  full  account  of  this  trouble  will  be  found  in 
the  history  of  the  Holland  Land  company  which 
is  given  in  another  ])laoe  in  this  volume.  Judge 
Peacock  was  a  very  accurate  surveyor  and  busi- 
ness man,  and  had  often  exposed  iiimself  to  great 
dangers  while|in  the  service  of  the  Holland  Land 
company.  After  1830  he  devoted  his  time 
mostly  to  the  management  of  the  valuable  real 
and  personal  estate  which  he  possessed  at  Moy- 


■CcOC^StyZyTyiy     t0/^CUy6^^^C^ 


OF  CHAUTAUQUA   COUNTY. 


215 


ville  aiul  elsewlierc  in  south-westeru  New  York.  | 
Ho  was  aj)puinted  as  one  of  tlie  cuinniissioners  , 
for  biiildiug  the  first  court-liouse  at  Mayville,  | 
and  was  one  of  the  most  liheral   [)atrons  of  the 
academy  at  that  phice. 

He  was  one  of  the  early  associate  judges  of  j 
the  county  court,  and  in  1821  served  as  treasurer 
of  Chautauqua  county.     Prior  to  his  removal 
from  Batavia  Judge  Peacock  took  great  interest 
in  the  conception  and  subsequent  construction  of 
the  Erie  canal.     He  gave  Jesse  Hawley,  the 
eutrinecr  in  charoe  of  the  work,  valuable  informa- 
tion,  and  tlie  route  he  marked  out  for  the  canal 
through  western   New  York  was  adopted  witii 
but  little  variation.     In  1816  he  surveyed  and 
located  the  western  part  of  this  canal,  and  two 
years  later  was  appointed  to  survey  and  report 
on    the   construction    of  a   harbor   at   Buffalo. 
Judge  Peacock  was  a  strong  democrat,  and  a  j 
great  admirer  of  General  Jackson  and  all  demo-  ; 
cratic  leaders  of   the  Jacksonian  school.      He 
was  a  Free  and  Accepted  Mason   from   1803  i 
nntil  his  death.  [ 

Ou  October  3,  1807,  he  married  Alice  Evans, 
a  niece  of  Joseph  Elliott,  and  who  passed  away 
after  a  short  illness  ou  April  19,  1859,  when  in 
the  seventy-ninth  year  of  her  age.  They  had 
no  children,  and  the  Mayville  Sentinel  stated 
that  Mi's.  Peacock  was  no  ordinary  woman,  and 
that  her  mental  and  physical  powers  were  alike 
vigorous  and  active.  Her  numerous  deeds  of 
chai'ity,  the  lives  she  saved,  and  the  aid  which  j 
she  rendered  to  the  sick  and  sorrowful  have  been  ' 
handed  down  from  parent  to  child.  Her  hand,  ; 
her  heart  and  her  purse  were  ever  open  to  aid 
any  Christian  enterprise.  Her  remains  were 
interred  in  tiie  family  lot  in  the  May  ville  ceme- 
tery, where  over  them  was  erected  a  plain  but 
costly  monument.  Being  witiiout  other  heirs, 
the  Judge's  nearest  relatives  were  the  ciiildren  of 
his  brother  Absalom,  who  married  Jane  Nichols, 
of  Newburg,  this  State,  and  in  1814  came  to 
VVestfield,  where  he  followed  farming  until  his 
death   in   1830.      Al)saioni  Peacock   had  eioht 


children,  one  of  M'hom,  Jlrs.  Sarah  J.  Birdsall, 
of  Mayville,  is  the  widow  of  Judge  John 
Birdsall,  a  native  of  eastern  New  York,  who 
was  a  well-known  lawyer  and  served  on  tiie 
bench . 

Eighteen  years  after  the  death  of  his  wife, 
Judge  Peacock  entered  upon  iiis  final  rest  on 
the  21st  of  February,  1877,  when  he  had  attained 
nearly  to  his  ninety-seventh  year.  His  body 
was  laid  to  rest  witii  the  impressive  ceremonies 
of  the  Masonic  ritual.  He  left  no  will,  and 
his  large  estate  was  inherited  by  his  nephews 
and  nieces.  He  sleeps  by  the  side  of  his  wife, 
and  although  tiie  monumental  marble  above  his 
resting-place  only  records  his  age  and  the  day 
of  his  death,  yet  his  memory  and  virtues  are 
written  in  the  hearts  of  the  people  among  whom 
he  lived  and  labored. 


TOY  LOVE,  was  born  in  Gerry,  Chautauqua 
^  county,  on  the  28th  day  of  June,  1829. 
His  grandfather,  John  Love,  was  born  in  Con- 
necticut, in  1769.  He  came  to  Chenango 
county  when  a  young  man,  and  afterwards, 
became  an  early  settler  of  the  town  of  EUery,  in 
Chautauqua  county,  where  he  came  to  reside  in 
February,  1811.  He  died  in  Illinois,  in  his 
ninety-first  year.  His  son  John,  the  father  of 
Joy  Love,  was  born  .January  2!>,  1789.  He 
married  jNlary  S.  ^^'ard.  He  was  one  of  the 
earliest  settlers  of  the  town  of  Gerry,  and  during 
his  life,  a  well-known  citizen  of  that  part  of  the 
county.  In  1812,  he  purchased  the  farm  first 
owned  by  Amos  Atkins,  situated  about  one 
mile  south  of  Sinclairville,  on  the  Old  Chau- 
tauqua road.  He  afterwards  erected  buildings 
thereon,  which  were  long  known  as  the  Love 
Stand.  He  kept  this  inn  for  over  thirty  years, 
and  afterwards,  for  about  four  years,  the  hotel 
in  Sinclairville.  He  died  upon  liis  old  farm, 
March  18,  18-57. 

Joy  Love  followed  the  business  of  farming 
during  the  early  part  of  his  life,  upon  the  old 
homestead,  in  Gerrv,  owned  bv  his  father  in  his 


216 


BIOGRAPHY  AXI)  HISTORY 


life-time,  and  afterwards  to  some  extent  in  Port- 
laud,  Chautauqua  county.  In  1882,  he  formed 
a  co-partnership  in  the  business  of  banking  and 
milling,  at  Sinclairville  with  E.  B.  Crissy,  now 
of  the  Farmers  and  Mechanics  Bank  of  James- 
town, under  tlie  name  of  E.  B.  Crissy  &  Co., 
which  continued  six  years.  He  then  formed  a 
co-pai-tnership  in  the  same  business  witli  iiis 
son,  John  A.  Love,  under  tlie  style  Joy  Love 
&  Sod,  in  which  business  he  has  continued  at 
Sinclairville,  until  this  time.  May  24,  1854,  he 
married  Rosina  Flagg,  daughter  of  Alouzo  and 
Caroline  Flagg.  John  A.  Love,  who  was  born 
February  24,  1861,  is  their  only  child.  He  re- 
ceived his  education  at  the  Fredonia  Normal 
school,  and  the  Poughkeepsie  Commercial  col- 
lege. His  business  has  always  been  Ijaniiing. 
He  now  has  principal  charge  of  the  business  of 
the  firm  of  Joy  Love  &  Son,  and  is  the  present 
supervisor  of  the  town  of  Charlotte.  October 
29,  1884,  he  married  Fanny  A.,  the  tiaugliter 
.of  Obed  and  Emily  A.  Edson.  Their  children 
are:  Allen  J.,  born  in  Sinclairville,  August  23, 
1885;  and  Nellie  E.,  born  in  Sinclairville,  Jan- 
uary 2,  1887. 


TAJVIES  3IULGKKAV  is  a  man  who  has,  by 

*^  his  own  untiring  energy  and  industry, 
accumulated  a  competency,  and  commands  the 
respect  of  all  who  honor  a  successful  man.  He 
was  born  in  Dimcannon.Countv  Tyrone,  Ireland, 
June  6,  1843,  and  is  a  son  of  James  and 
Catherine  (Gough)  Mulgrew.  His  father  was 
a  native  of  the  same  town,  and  was  born  in 
1806.  He  pursued  the  calling  of  a  fai'mer  on 
a  rented  farm,  and  also  transacted  an  agent's 
business  for  the  queen's  warehouse,  being  a  good 
business  man,  highly  resjjected  by  all  classes. 
In  religion  he  was  a  member  of  tiie  Roman 
Catholic  church.  He  died  on  Christmas  day, 
1870,  and  his  wife  (mother)  is  now  living  on 
the  old  homestead,  in  her  seventy-fifth  year. 

James  Mulgrew  was  reared   on  a   farm,  and 
received  his  education  in  the  common  schools  of 


his  native  town.  He  learned  the  carpenter's 
trade,  and  in  1866  he  came  to  America,  putting 
his  feet  on  American  soil  May  1st  of  that  year, 
and  shortly  afterward  located  in  Silver  Creek, 
where  he  was  employed  on  the  construction 
train  on  the  L.  S.  &  M.  S.  R.  R.  He  worked 
fifteen  years  on  this  train,  being  steadily  pi'o- 
moted  until,  in  1881,  he  was  given  full  control. 
It  is  his  pride  that  he  never  had  a  pair  of  trucks 
leave  the  track  in  the  twenty-two  years  he  spent 
on  that  train.  While  in  Indiana,  in  1888,  he 
resigned  his  position,  and  left  the  employ  of  the 
road  December  10th  of  that  year.  Since  then 
he  has  lived  on  his  farm  in  Hanover,  one  mile 
from  Silver  Creek,  where  he  has  opened  a  rock 
quarry,  and  finds  a  quick  and  ready  market  for 
all  the  paving-stones  and  material  for  macad- 
amizing which  he  can  quarry.  He  also  has  a 
good-sized  tract  of  land  devoted  to  grape  culture. 
In  National  electious  he  votes  the  Democratic 
ticket,  but  in  local  elections  he  is  independent, 
voting  always  for  the  man  he  considers  the  best 
qualified  for  the  office  in  question.  Religiously, 
he  is  a  member  of  the  Roman  Catholic  church. 
He  has  two  brothers,  Barney  and  John  F., 
engaged  in  gold  mining  in  Montana. 

James  Mulgrew  was  married,  in  1866,  to 
Margaret  L.  Mulgrew,  daughter  of  Peter  ]\Iul- 
grew,  of  Duncannon,  Ireland,  and  they  have 
three  children,  one  sou  and  two  daughters : 
John  F.,  Mary  E.,  and  IMargaret  S.,  all  attend- 
ing school  at  Silver  Creek. 


T  .  KVI  J.  I'lEKCE,  the  well-known  dealer 

"*"^  in  agricultural  machinery,  residing  at 
Forestville,  is  a  son  of  Levi  II.  and  Electa 
(Ingells)  Pierce,  and  was  born  in  the  village  of 
Cooperstown,  Otsego  county.  New  York,  Octo- 
ber 3, 1830,  and  is  now  in  his  sixty-first  year. 
The  parents  of  Mr.  Pierce  were  both  New  Eng- 
land emigi'ants,  the  father  having  come  from 
the  Granite  State,  and  the  nidthcr  from  Cou- 
necticut.  Levi  H.  Pierce  came  to  Otseiro 
county  and  was  engaged  in  the  business  oi  dis- 


OF  CHAUTAUQUA   CO U STY. 


217 


tillin^ 

is    from    the    English 


wliich 
Graudfather,  Stephen 
Ingells,  served  witii  bravery  and  valor  iu  the 
lievolutionary  war,  and  was  honorably  dis- 
charged at  its  elose. 

The  condition  of  his  parents  being  humble, 
Levi  J.  Pierce  was  early  taught  habits  of  in- 
dustry, and  passed  his  boyhood  and  youth  in 
his  native  county.  He  was  sent  to  the  public 
schools  and  acquired  such  education  as  the 
fountain  affordeil.  ^^'hen  a  young  man  he 
secured  a  clerkship  in  a  store  at  Cooperstown, 
and  remained  there  until  1852,  when  he  came 
to  Forestville  and  engaged  in  business  with  J. 
G.  Hopkins  and  N.  B.  Brown,  and  the  firm  re- 
mained intact  for  twelve  years.  About  the  date 
of  the  close  of  the  war,  Mr.  Hopkins  dropped 
out,  and  jNIessrs.  Pierce  &  Brown  continued  the 
business  for  seven  years  longer,  when  they  dis- 
solved partnership.  Mr.  Pierce  then  opened  a 
hardware  store,  which  he  conducted  until  1889, 
and  since  that  time  he  has  been  haudlino;  all 
kinds  of  farming  machinery  and  implements. 

On  Jan.  17,  18G0,  he  married  Fi-auces  Hop- 
kins, a  daughter  of  Joseph  G.  Hopkins,  the  latter 
being  one  of  the  early  settlers  and  business  men 
of  Villanova,  this  county,  over  fifty  years  ago. 
He  was  a  native  of  Hartford,  Connecticut,  and 
died  in  1.S76,  aged  sixty-eight  years.  Air.  and 
Mrs.  Pierce  have  been  blessed  with  a  family  of 
four  children  :  Charles  H.,  resides  in  Oregon; 
Albert  L.,  is  in  the  lumber  business  at  Irvona, 
Clearfield  county,  Pa. ;  Jcseph  G.,  lives  in 
]\Iadford,  Oregon,  also  engaged  in  the  lumber 
business ;  and  Ophelia. 

I>evi  J.  Pierce  is  the  owner  of  considerable 
valuable  property  in  Forestville,  and  Mrs. 
Pierce  owns  two  farms  M'ithin  a  couple  of  miles 
of  the  village.  They  have  a  plea.sant  and  hap- 
py home,  and  by  their  business  ability  and  good 
management  have  risen  to  the  position  of  re- 
spect and  comfort  they  now  occupy. 


O'l'TIf  ALDKfCII.oneof  the  most  prosperous 
^^  farmers  in  this  section,  came  from  sterling 
Quaker  ancestry  on  both  sides  of  the  house.  He 
was  born  in  Hamburg,  Erie  County,  N.  Y.,  Oc- 
tober 7,  1827,  and  is  a  son  of  Scott  and  Eliza 
(White)  Aldrich.  Senator  Nelson  W.  Aidrich 
of  Rhode  Island  is  a  family  connection.  The 
paternal  grandfather  of  Seth  Aldrich,  Nathan, 
mariied  i'ha'be  Apjjlebee,  each  a  member  of 
the  Society  of  Friends,  and  to  them  seven  chil- 
dren were  born,  six  sons  and  one  daughter  : 
James,  Sayles,  Simeon,  Nathan,  Thomas,  Scott 
(father;,  and  Esther.  Scott  Aldrich,  was  born 
iu  Smithfield,  Providence  county,  Rhode  Island, 
June  6,  1801.  When  eighteen  years  of  age  he 
went  to  learn  the  trade  of  shoemaking,  and  .so 
aj)t  was  he  that  it  might  be  said  he  made  a  pair 
of  shoes  the  first  day.  After  .serving  his  full 
time  as  apprentice,  he  worked  for  some  time  as 
!  a  journeyman.  In  1S20,  having  married,  he 
and  his  wife  drove  from  their  Rhode  Island 
home  to  Evan.s,  Erie  county,  this  State,  carry- 
ing all  their  earthly  possessions  with  them  in  a 
one-horse  covered  wagon.  His  brothers,  James 
and  Sayles  had  preceded  him,  and  he  spent  the 
winter  of  1823-24  with  them.  In  the  spring 
he  purchased  a  farm  of  one  hundred  acres, 
located  east  of  Hamburg,  Erie  county,  paying 
ten  dollars  an  acre  for  it,  and  cleared  and  im- 
proved it  with  the  aid  of  an  ox-team  and  a 
wooden  plow,  adding  to  it  until  he  owned  three 
hundred  and  seventy-five  acres.  In  1849  he 
bought  a  farm  on  the  flats  of  Buffalo  creek, 
containing  one  hundred  and  eighty-five  acres,  for 
which  he  paid  one  hundred  dollars  per  acre, 
and  in  1853,  only  four  years  later,  he  sold  it 
for  two  hundred  dollars  ])er  acre,  netting  him 
eighteen  thousand  five  hundred  dollars,  which 
■was  a  big  business  transaction  in  those  davs, 
involving  an  output  on  the  part  of  the  j)ur- 
chaser  of  thirty-seven  thousan<l  dollars,  a  liand- 
•some  fortune  then.  This  was  the  best  invest- 
ment he  ever  made,  and  profits  of  one  hundred 
per  cent,  were  extremely  rare  in  any  business. 


218 


BIOGRAPHY  AND  HISTORY 


He  was  oue  of  the  original  promoters  and  man- 
agers of  the  plauk-road  from  Hamburg  to  Buf- 
falo, acting  as   the  chief  executive  in   its  cou- 
structiou.     Some  of  the  directors  becoming  dis- 
satisfied, Thompson  Culbertson   offered  him  a 
farm  near  Forestville,  this  county,  in  exchange 
for  his  plauk-road  stock,  and  he  accepted.     He 
had  then   (1857)  resided   in  Hamburg  thirty- 
three  years.     After  a   year's  residence  ou  his 
Forestville  farm,  he  moved  to  Fredonia  (1858) 
aud  bought  the  place   where  Chas.  Z.  Webster 
now  resides.     This  lot  of  laud  he  soou  sold  to 
T.  Z.  Higgius,  and  bought  the  place  known  as 
"  Sunset   Hill,"  and  most  of  the  territory  en- 
closed by  Central  avenue,   Division,  Free  and 
Day  streets,  where  he  built  the  house  in  which 
T.  S  Hubbard  now  resides,  but   after  a  while 
exchanged    his  "  Sunset  Hill  "  place  for  a  farm 
on  the  main  road,  just  west  of  the   corporation 
line,  but  after  a  short  time  returned  to  the  vil- 
lage and  built  a  house  on  the  corner  of  Free 
and  Day  streets.      At  the  time  of  his  death  he 
owned  thirteen  hundred  acres  of  laud,  but  had 
previously  at   one  time  possessed   twenty-eight 
hundred  acres.     Some  time  before  he  was  sum- 
moned to  a  higher  sphere,  he  disposed  of  a  jjor- 
tion  of  his  land  to  his  sous,  giving  to  each  one 
three   thousand  dollars   to  be  applied  on  these  ' 
ljurchases,   aud   an   equivalent   in   cash   to    the 
other  children,  who  did  not  take  land.     He  was 
a  member  of  the  Free  Will   Baptist  church  in 
Hamburg,  but  in  his  later  years  practiced  the 
simple  usages  of  his  Quaker  ancestors.     The 
poor   had  in  him   a   most  excellent  friend  and 
benefactor,  and  in  all  his  business  transactions 
he  \vas  honest  and  upright.     He  will  be  re- 
membered kindly  by  many  who,  in  their  early 
struggles  for  the  possession  of  a  home,  experi- 
enced  his  generous  and   forbearing  treatment. 
Just  in  all  his  dealings,  his  word  was  as  good  as 
a  bond,  and  when  once  he  had  made  a  bargain, 
even  vcrliaily,  he  never   in  any  way  retreated. 
When  the  board  of  comnii.ssioners  was  appointed 
to  appraise  the  lands  for  the   Lake  Shore  rail- 


road between  Buffalo  and  Eighteen  Mile  Creek, 
he  was  a  member.  He  dieel  October  16,  1885, 
iu  his  eighty-fifth  year.  Scott  Aldrich  was 
married  April  1.3,  1823,  to  Eliza  White,  by 
whom  he  had  seven  children,  four  sons  aud 
three  daughters  :  Amos,  a  farmer,  who  married 
Cordelia  Culbertson ;  Mason,  a  farmer,  who 
married  Licena  Clark  ;  Seth ;  Ira,  a  farmer, 
who  married  Louisa  Taylor ;  Mary,  who  mar- 
ried Benjamin  Miller,  a  farmer  and  gardener  at 
Hamburg  ;  Ann,  who  married  Isaac  Long ;  and 
an  infant,  Amy,  who  died  September  28,  1838. 
The  mother  of  these  children  died  iu  April, 
1855.  July  26,  1855,  he  was  married  to  Anna 
jMeal,  of  Boston,  Erie  county,  this  State.  Of 
their  children,  the  eldest,  David,  died  in  Sheri- 
dan, May  6,  1872.  The  others  are  still  living, 
namely  :  George,  a  farmer,  who  married  ]\Iar- 
tha  Dye,  of  Sheridan ;  Nathan,  a  farmer,  who 
married  for  his  first  wife,  ^lary  Prescott,  and 
for  his  second  El  leu  Dye ;  Sayles,  a  farmer, 
who  married  Virginia  Sweet  ;  Simon,  a  farmer, 
who  married  Carrie  Spink  ;  Eliza,  who  married 
Carmie  Daily  of  Fredonia  ;  Martha,  who  mar- 
ried J.  J.  Kelly  ;  and  ]Maria,  who  married  Jasper 
K.  Aldrich.  The  second  wife  of  Scott  Aldrich 
died  May  14,  1857,  in  her  forty-fourth  year, 
aud  he  married,  July  29,  1858,  Lydia  A.  Suell, 
of  Waterford,  Pennsylvania,  who  bore  him  oue 
child  who  died  iu  infancy. 

Seth  Aldrich  was  educated  in  the  common 
schools  of  Erie  county,  this  State,  and  also  at 
the  select  schools  of  Hamburg,  in  the  .same 
county,  attending  at  these  founts  of  learniug 
until  he  was  twenty-two  years  of  age.  Iu  1 851, 
in  company  with  his  brother,  Mason,  he  bought 
the  stage  line  ruiuiing  from  White's  Corners, 
now  in  Hamburg,  to  Ijutlklo,  carried  it  a  year, 
aud  in  the  fall  of  1852  sold  dut.  In  tlie  fall 
of  1853  he  moved  to  Wyoming  county,  where 
he  and  his  brother,  ^lason,  bought  a  farm  of 
one  hundred  and  ten  acres,  located  near  Weth- 
ersfield  Springs.  Here  he  remained  luitil  tlie 
spring  of  1855,  when  he  removed  to  Sheridan, 


^,^9cje.^ 


OF  CJIAUTAUQUA   COUNTY. 


221 


this  couuty,  on  a  farm  owned  by  his  fotlier, 
wiiere  he  stayed  two  years,  and  then  went  to 
Hamburg  and  bought  a  farm  of  forty-four  I 
acres,  on  which  he  lived  a  year  and  then  went 
to  Wethersfield  Springs,  and  traded  his  Ham- 
burg farm  for  the  one  he  formerly  owned,  his 
brother  having  sold  it.  On  this  farm  he  resided  \ 
four  years,  after  which  time  ho  sold  it  and 
moved  to  Pomfret,  this  county,  where  he  culti- 
vated a  leased  farm  for  five  years.  Then  his 
father  disposed  of  his  property  and  he  bought 
the  .so-called  "  Old  Tarbo.x;  tarm,"  four  miles  , 
south  of  Fredouia,  containing  two  hundred  and 
fifty  acres.  Here  he  remained  until  March, 
1887,  when  he  bought  a  farm  of  eighteen  acres 
one  mile  east  of  Fredonia,  situated  on  the  main 
road,  on  which  was  a  fine  residence,  which  he 
now  occupies  and  raises  grapes  and  small 
fruits. 

He  is  a  member  of  the  Methodist  church  of  i 
Fredonia,    of  which  he  is  a  class  leader,  and 
has  been  trustee,  steward    and    Sunday  school 
superintendent.      All  his  life  he  has  retained 
the    many  excellent    qualities    taught    him  by 
his   good    Quaker    father    and    mother.      Seth 
Aldrich  was  married  May  10,   1853,  to  Mar- 
tha M.  Clark,  a  daughter  of  Levi  and  Sallie  ' 
(Fisk)    Clark,  the  father    being  a  farmer  and  ' 
blacksmith    of    Hamburg,    Erie    county,    this 
State,    and    this  union    has  been   bles.sed  with  j 
two  children,  a  daughter  and  a  son  ;  the  former 
died  July  26,  18(30,  in  her  third  year. 


^BED  EDSOX,  was  born  in  Sinclairvillc, 
^^  Chautauqua  county,  February  18,  1832. 
He  is  a  descendant  of  the  seventh  generation, 
from  Samuel  Edson,  ^yho  was  born  in  England, 
in  1612,  came  over  to  Salem,  Mass.,  in  the 
year  1638  or  1639,  and  afterwards  became  an 
original  proprietor,  and  first  settler  of  Bridg- 
water, Plymouth  county,  Mass.  His  father 
Judge  John  ^I.  Edson,  was  born  in  the  town 
of  Eaton,  Madison  county,  New  York,  July  30, 
1801.     He  came  to  Siuclairville  in  1810,  with 


his  step-father,  Samuel  Sinclair,  from  whom 
that  village  derives  its  name. 

Obed  Edson  obtained  his  education  at  the  com- 
mon schools  and  Fredonia  academy.  He  in  1851 
commenced  the  study  of  law  in  the  office  of  Hon. E. 
H.  Sears,  in  Siuclairville;  in  1853  heatteuded  the 
Albany  Law  university ;  was  admitted  to  the 
bar,  April  8,  1853,  and  since  that  time  has  fol- 
lowed the  pi'actiee  of  his  profession  at  Sinclair- 
ville,  Chautautpia  county.  He  commenced 
practice  as  a  partner  of  Judge  E.  F.  AV^arren  ;  at 
a  later  period  for  a  few  years,  was  a  co-partner 
of  C.  F.  Chapman.  He  has  at  intervals,  fol- 
lowed the  business  of  civil  engineering.  When 
eighteen  years  of  age,  he  served  as  chainman  on 
the  New  York  &  Erie  railroad,  the  year  before 
its  completion  to  Dunkirk.  He  has  since  been 
engaged  in  the  survey  of  several  railroads  in 
New  York  and  Pennsylvania.  He  ran  the  lo- 
cating line  of  the  Dunkirk,  Allegheny  Valley  & 
Pittsburgh  railroad,  in  the  State  of  New  York, 
in  1867. 

He  was  for  several  years  supervisor  of  his  na- 
tive town,  and  has  held  atdifferent  times,  various 
other  official  positions  in  the  town  and  county. 
In  1874,  he  was  elected  to  the  Assembly  from 
Chautauqua  county,  and  is  the  only  democrat 
that  has  ever  been  chosen  to  fill  that  position, 
in  its  second  assembly  district. 

Mr.  Edson,  has  been  a  contributor  to  The 
Continent,  The  Chautauqua n,  and  other  leading 
magazines  ;  generally  upon  historical  subjects. 
He  first  gathered  and  collated  the  facts  respect- 
ing the  expedition  of  Colonel  Daniel  Broad- 
head,  which  was  sent  against  the  Indians  of  the 
Upper  Allegheny  river  by  General  Washington, 
during  the  war  of  the  Revolution,  to  operate  in 
conjunction  with  General  Sullivan.  Mr.  Edson 
prepared  a  full  history  of  this  expedition,  which 
was  published  as  the  leading  article,  in  the 
November  number  of  the  magazine  of  American 
History,  for  the  year  187'J.  He  is  one  of  the 
founders  of  the  Chautauqua  County  Historical 
Society,  and  has  made  to  it,  many  original  con- 


222 


BIOGRAPHY  AND  HISTORY 


tributions,  usually  of  a  historical,  geological,  or 
ai'cheological  nature.  He  is  the  author  of  sev- 
eral local  histories,  among  which  is  a  poi'tion  of 
Young's  History  of  Chautauqua  county,  and 
all  of  that  part  of  it  which  relates  to  its  Indian, 
French,  and  early  history. 

He  was  married  ]\Iay  11,  1859,  to  Emily 
A.  Allen,  the  daughter  of  Hon.  Caleb  I.  and 
Emily  E.  (Haley)  Allen.  She  was  boru  in 
New  Loudon,  Connecticut,  November  27, 1835. 
The  children  of  Obed  and  Emily  A.  Edson, 
were  born  in  Siuclairville,  and  are  :  Fanny  A.^ 
born  April  28,  1860;  married  John  A.  Love, 
who  is  a  banker  in  Sinclairville  ;  John  M., 
born  September  29,  1861,  married  Alma  B. 
Green — he  lives  at  New  Whatcom  in  the  State 
of  Washington,  and  is  a  printer  and  publisher; 
Samuel  A.,  born  September  15,  1863,  died 
November  16,  1872  ;  Mary  U.,  boru  September 
11,  1865,  died  November  27,  1872;  Hannah, 
born  February  15,  1869,  died  December  10, 
1881;  Walter  H.,  born  January  8,  1874; 
Ellen  E.,  born  April  21,  1875,  died  March  31, 
1887  ;  and  Alleu  O.,  born  September  3,  1880, 
died  January  1 6,  1 882. 


nUFU.S  FITCH.  jNIuch  study,  a  great  deal 
of  WLalth  and  many  lives  have  been  ex- 
pended uiJon  the  theory,  and  in  a  practical  search 
for  the  north  ]iole.  The  gentleman  whose  name 
heads  this  sketch  devoted  a  great  amount  of 
thought  and  wrote  many  articles  upon  this  sub- 
ject. He  was  a  son  of  Edwin  and  Lucy  (Billings) 
Filch,  and  was  born  in  Norwich,  Connecticut, 
in  1830.  The  Fitch  family  were  indigenous  to 
New  England  for  more  than  a  century,  a  re- 
nowned ancestor  being  Rev.  John  Fitch,  a 
preacher,  contemporaneous  with  Revolutionary 
times.  Rufus  Fitch's  early  life  was  spent  on  a 
farm  in  Connecticut,  where  he  secured  an  edu- 
cation in  tlie  district  scliools,  whicli  was  supple- 
mented by  a  course  in  the  city  of  New  Haven. 
Prior  to  1850  he  went  to  St.  Louis,  wiiere  a  few 
vears  later  he  was  (  iignsrcd  in  the  wholesale  sta- 


tionery, paper  and  book  business,  his  partner 
being  an  intimate  friend,  Robert  Patterson. 
Tills  business  was  continued  for  fifteen  years, 
when  declining  health  demanded  a  change  of 
climate  and  atmosphere.  Some  years  were 
passed  in  seeking  a  location  congenial,  and  in 
1874  Jamestown  was  selected,  where  four  years 
later  he  died.  The  house  where  Mrs.  Fitch 
now  resides  was  erected  by  him.  On  October 
7th,  1863,  he  married  Mary  Churchill,  daugh- 
ter of  Crispen  and  Hannah  Churchill.  ^Irs. 
Fitch's  grandfather  on  maternal  side,  William 
Churchill,  was  from  England,  bringing  a  large 
fortune  with  him,  and  settled  in  Newbern, 
North  Carolina.  She  is  a  lady  of  an  unusual 
degree  of  intelligence  aud  exceedingly  entertain- 
ing, being  an  accomjilished  conversationalist. 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Fitch  had  five  children  :  Dabney 
C,  boru  September  3l)th,  1864,  prepared  for 
college  and  is  now  in  New  York  city  engaged 
as  a  manufacturer's  representative  ;  Mary  C, 
was  born  in  August,  1866,  and  graduated  from 
the  Jamestown  High  school,  aud  Houghton 
Seminary;  Edwiu  R.,  born  June  19th,  1869; 
Lucy  B.,  born  September,  1870,  is  attending 
the  Boston  Conservatory  of  Music,  being  an 
accomplished  musician  of  marked  ability  ;  aud 
Ciuirchill,  l>orn  in  September,  1873.  Mr.  Fitch 
was  a  republican,  but  paid  little  attention  to 
politics.  He  was  a  writer  of  prominence,  his 
articles  attracting  most  attention  being  uj)ou  the 
subject  mentioned  at  the  opening  of  this  sketch 
and  the  .scieuce  of  fishing  and  huutiug.  His 
death,  which  occurred  in  1878,  was  deeply  re- 
gretted and  mourned  by  many  friends. 


-i^AVlO  A.  WILSOX,  the  projirietor  of  the 
-^^  well-known  "  ^\'iison  House,"  of  West- 
field,  and  a  veteran  Union  soldier  of  the  late 
civil  war,  is  a  son  of  M'illard  W.  and  Nancy 
(Knight)  \\'ilson,  and  was  born  in  Oswego 
county,  New  Y''ork,  March  13,  1838.  The 
M'ilsou  family  is  of  Scotch  descent  aud  settled 
in  the  United  States  at  au  early  day  in  its  colo- 


OF  CHAUTAUQUA   COUNTY. 


2-23 


nial  history.  Willard  W.  Wilson  was  born  in 
A'eriuont,  where  he  learned  the  trade  of  shoe- 
maker. In  1830  he  removed  to  Oswego  county, 
from  which  he  went  in  1851  to  Livingston 
county,  jMichigan,  where  he  died  in  1853,  aged 
forty- four  years.  He  was  a  farmer  by  occupa- 
tion, an  old-line  whig  in  politics  and  a  Uui- 
versalist  in  I'eligious  belief  and  church  member- 
ship. His  wife,  Nancy  (Knight)  Wilson,  wiio 
was  of  English  extraction  and  a  native  of  Ver- 
mont, was  a  member  of  the  Universalist  church 
and  passed  away  in  Livingston  county,  Michi- 
gan, in  February,  1888,  at  seventy -seven  years 
of  age. 

David  A.  Wilson  received  his  education  in 
the  common  schools  of  New  York  and  Michi- 
gan. At  seventeen  vears  of  age  he  left  the  farm 
to  become  a  clerk  in  a  hotel.  Six  years  later, 
in  1861,  he  enlisted  as  a  soldier  in  Co.  D,  4th 
Michigan  Infantry,  but  at  the  end  of  five  months 
.service  had  a  severe  hemorrhage  of  the  lungs 
and  was  honorably  discharged.  He  returned 
home,  where  he  soon  regained  his  health  and 
enlisted  as  a  sergeant  in  Co.  G,  Third  Michigan 
Cavalry,  in  which  he  served  three  years.  After 
being  honorably  discharged  in  Detroit,  Michi- 
gan, in  1864,  he  returned  home  and  for  the 
next  ten  years  was  employed  as  a  clerk  iu  dif- 
ferent hotels  in  the  county  and  at  Titusville, 
Pa.  In  1875  he  engaged  in  the  hotel  business 
at  Westfield,  where  he  conducted  the  Lake 
Shore  hotel  for  four  years.  He  then  went  to 
Erie,  Pa.,  where  he  purchased  the  ^lansion  house 
but  soon  disposed  of  it  on  account  of  sickness 
and  bought  the  Brocton  house  and  restaurant 
at  Brocton,  this  county,  which  he  conducted 
thirteen  months.  At  the  end  of  this  time  he 
sold  his  Brocton  projjerty,  re-purchased  the 
Mansion  house,  of  Erie,  Pa.,  which  he  conducted 
successfully  for  four  years,  when  he  sold  it  and 
returned  to  Westfield,  where  he  erected  during 
tlie  summer  of  1887  his  present  hotel,  the  "  Wil- 
son House."  Probably  no  feature  of  a  place 
is  more  conducive  to  a  favorable  impi-ession  on 


visitors  than  that  represented  by  hotel  accom- 
modations. In  this  respect  the  "  Wilson  House  " 
has  attained  a  reputation  equal  to  any  hotel  iu 
the  State  outside  of  the  leading  cities.  Its  com- 
fortable and  neatly  furnished  rooms,  excellent 
table  and  courteous  attendants  are  highly  a]ipre- 
ciatod  by  tlie  ti'aveling  public.  The  house  is 
furnished  throughout  in  good  taste  and  style, 
while  its  ])roprjetor  brings  to  its  successful  luan- 
agement  over  a  quarter  of  a  century's  experi- 
ence as  a  clerk  and  manager  of  some  of  the  fore- 
most hotels  of  southwestern  New  York  and 
northern  Pennsylvania.  Mr.  Wilson  is  ])leasant, 
courteous  and  accommodating.  He  is  a  repub- 
lican in  politics,  a  Universalist  in  religion  and  a 
member  of  Council  No.  8,  Ancient  Order  of 
United  Workmen. 

On  :May  12, 1867,  Mr.  AVilson  married  Delia 
Connelly,  of  Westfield,  and  their  union  has 
been  blest  with  one  ciiild,  a  daughter  named 
Ella  M. 


"CLISHA  TOWKK,  JK.,  came  from  a  line 
'^^  of  ancestors  who,  with  the  exception  of 
his  paternal  grandfather,  had  followed  man's 
first  occupation — that  of  tilling  the  soil,  leaving 
it  only  to  serve  their  countiy  when  she  sum- 
moned her  loyal  sons  to  her  aid.  Elisha  Tower 
was  born  iu  Ellery,  Chautauqua  county.  New 
York,  .January  1-3,  1818,  and  is  a  son  of  Elisha 
and  Phileua  (]SIorgan)  Tower.  Isaiah  Tower 
(grandfather)  was  a  native  of  Massachusetts, 
being  born  in  1760,  and  was  a  captain  of  a 
whaling  vessel  sailing  from  New  Bedford, 
which  occupation  he  left  to  serve  as  a  .soldier 
under  General  Washington,  during  the  entire 
war  of  the  Revolution.  About  1800  he  re- 
moved to  Duanesburg,  Schenectady  county,  this 
State,  and  located  on  a  farm  which  he  occupied 
until  his  death.  In  religion  he  was  a  Baptist, 
of  which  church  he  was  an  influential  member. 
Isaiah  Tower  was  married  in  1786  to  Sylvia 
Toby,  by  whom  lie  had  eleven  cliilijren,  eight 
sons  and   three  daughters  :    Eheuamy,  born  in 


224 


BIOGRAPHY  AND  HISTORY 


1790,   and    married    ^Ir.    Bowles;    Benjamin, 
born  in  1792,  was  a  farmer  by  occupation,  and 
died  while  a  young  man  ;  Isaiah,  born  in  1795, 
was  a  millwright  by  occupation,  and   married 
Mary  Sherburu  ;  Sylvanus,  born  in   1797,  was 
a  farmer;  John,  born   in  1799,  was   a  farmer, 
and  married  Mary  Shauber ;  Jeremiah,  born  in 
1801,  and  Joseph,  born  in  1803,  were  farmers; 
Sylvia,   born    in    1806,  and    married    Thomas 
Beal ;  Stephen,  born   in    1808,  became  a  min- 
ister of  the  Baptist  denomination,  and  married 
Martba  Ruddock;  and  Zaccheus,  born  in  1811. 
Isaiah    Tower    died    in    January,  1846,    aged 
eighty-six  years,  and  Mrs.  Tower  died  Decem- 
ber 3,  1848,  aged  eighty-two   years.     Simeon 
Morgan   (maternal    grandfather)    was    born  in 
1765,   and    spent   most   of   his    life    in    Berne, 
Albany  county,  this  State,  where  he  owned  and 
cultivated   a   farm,   and   conducted   a   general 
store.      He  married  Rhobe  Allyn,  by  whom  he 
had  five  children,  one  son  and   four  daughters  : 
Clarissa,  who    married    Ezra    (aallup  ;  Nancy, 
wife  of  Nathan  Gallup,  and  died  young,  leav- 
ing two  children  ;    Philena  (mother),  born  in 
Preston,   Connecticut,   June    1,   1792;   Rhoda, 
wife  of  John  ^Yheeler,  and  Simeon,  Jr.,  a  law- 
yer   in    Gallupville,    Schoharie    county,    this 
State,  who  married  Jane  Lee.     Simeon  Morgan 
died  in  1814,  aged  forty-nine  years,  and  Mrs. 
Morgan  died   in    1826.     El isha  Tower  (flither) 
was  born  in  New  Bedford,  Bristol  county,  ^las- 
sachusetts,  May  10,  1788,  and  went  to  Duanes- 
burg,  Schenectady  county,  New  York,  with  his 
father,  where  he  remained  until  1810,  when  he 
came  to  this  county  with  his  knapsack,  pro- 
visions,   a   change   of    clothing    and    an   axe, 
coming  by  way  of  Cross  Roads  to  ]Mayville, 
where  he  worked  a  short  time  to  replenish  his 
nearly  exhausted  exchequer.     In  the  fall    he 
took  a  job  of  chopping  at  the  Inlet,  now  in  the 
town   of  Hartfield,  wliich   he  completed   about 
the  first  of  April,  1811,  having  boarded  himself 
in  a  shanty,  whicii    lie  built   by  a   fallen   tree, 
having  little  else  than  a  Ijlanket   and  a   fiying- 


pau,  his  board   being  chiefly  Johnnie  cake  and 
fried    pork.     In   December,   1811,  he  took  an 
article  for  the  east  half  of  lot  four,  township 
three,  range  tVelve,  comprising    one  hundred 
and  seventy-six  acres,  lying    between   what  are 
now  the  towns  of  Ellery  and  Gerry,  and  eight 
miles    northwest   of  Jamestown,  for  which  he 
paid  less  than  three  dollars  an  acre,  it  being  all 
forest  land,  which  he  cleared  and  improved,  and 
occupied  most  of  the  time   until   his  death,  ex- 
cepting   from    1839   until   1842,  during  whicli 
time   he   resided  in  Jamestown.     In  1812  he 
built  a  log  house  in  M'hich  he  lived  alone  for 
awhile,  and  in  1813  was  drafted  into  the  array, 
and  participated  in   the  battle  of  Black  Rock, 
and  was  also  present  at  the  burning  of  Buffalo, 
in   December,  1813.     Cornelius  De  Long,  who 
built  a   house  in   Gerry,  near  the   Ellery  line 
where  James  McAlister  now  lives,  was  severely 
wounded  in   the  head   by  a  grape-shot  at  the 
battle  of  Buttido,  and  was  taken  to  the  cabin  of 
a  settler  and  cared  for  by  his  fellow-soldier  arid 
neighbor,  Elisha    Tower.     De  Long  afterward 
went  West  and  participated  in  the  Black  Hawk 
war  in  1832,  in  which  he   received   a  captain's 
commission.      After  the   war  of    1812,  Elisha 
Tower  received  a  pension  and  a  land  grant.    In 
the  autumn  of   1814  he  returned  to  Duanes- 
burg,  Schenectady  county.     In   1817,  with  his 
wife  and  one  child  he  returned   to   Ellery,  but 
the  child   being  taken   ill,  they  were  forced  to 
stop  at  the  bouse  of  "William  Barrows,  where 
it  died.     He  removed  to  his  log  cabin,  where 
he  lived   until  he   could    build    a   commodious 
I  frame   house,  to  which    he   moved,  and  resided 
there  until    1837,  when   lie  again  moved   to  a 
lai'ge  two-story  house  which  he  had  built.     He 
held  several  town  offices  in  Ellery,  including 
that  of  justice  of   the   peace.     In   religion  he 
was  a  Baptist,  being  a  member  of  the  church  of 
that   denomination    in    Sinclairville,   a    village 
near   the  depot  in   Gerry,  named    in    imndr  ot' 
Major   .Sinclair.       Elisjia    Tower    was    married 
June  1,  1815,  td    Pliilena    Morgan,  a  daughter 


OF  CHAUTAUQUA   COUNTY. 


225 


of  Simeon  and  Rhobe  (Allyn)  Morgan,  of 
Berne,  Albany  county,  this  State,  by  whom  he 
liad  seven  children,  three  sons  and  four  daugh- 
ters :  Emily,  bom  March  11,  181(j,  in  Berne, 
Albauy  county,  and  died  in  childhood  in 
EUery ;  all  the  rest  were  born  in  this  county, 
Elisha;  Rhobe  Allyn,  born  May  4,  1820,  wife 
of  Ebeuezer  Moon,  a  farmer  in  Stockton,  at 
Moon  station  ;  Simeon  M.,  born  September  11, 
1822,  married  Sarah  Denison,  owns  and  occu- 
pies the  south  part  of  his  father's  homestead, 
and  resides  ou  the  east  side  of  the  town  line  of 
Gerry;  Clarissa,  born  June  14,  1S26;  Emily 
M.,  born  June  19,  1829,  and  married  Franklin 
Denison,  a  farmer  and  dealer  in  live  stock; 
and  Corydon  L.,  born  Oct.  26,  1834,  married 
Harriet  Felt,  and  resides  on  the  old  homestead, 
by  occupation  a  farmer.  Elisha  Tower  sick- 
ened while  on  a  visit  to  his  daughter  in  Stock- 
ton, and  died  January  9,  1866,  in  his  seventy- 
eighth  year.  Mrs.  Tower  died  December  17, 
1860.  ' 

Elisha  Tower,  Jr.,  acquired  a  common  scliool 
education  by  attending  the  winter  terms  of  the 
school  of  his  neighborhood,  being  obliged  to 
M'ork  on  the  farm  the  rest  of  the  year  until  he 
attained  his  majority.  He  remained  ou  his 
father's  farm  until  he  was  twenty-seven  years 
old,  when  he  bought  a  farm  of  fifty  acres  in 
Gerry,  on  which  he  resided  seven  years,  M'hen 
he  sold  it  and  removed  to  Portland,  where  he 
bought  a  farm  of  sixty-five  acres  located  three 
miles  east  of  Westfield,  on  which  he  resided 
twenty-seven  years,  and  then  disposed  of  it  and 
came  to  Fredonia  in  1884,  M'here  he  purchased 
twenty-five  acres  on  the  aveuue,  ten  acres  of 
which  he  devotes  to  the  cultivation  of  grapes. 
He  is  enjoying  the  fruit  of  his  labors  in  a  se- 
rene old  age,  having  the  respect  of  the  com- 
munity and  tlie  love  of  a  host  of  friends. 
Elisha  Tower,  Jr.,  was  married  January  3, 
1854,  to  Electa  Moon,  her  father  being  a 
farmer  and  mill-owner  in  Gerry.  They  have 
had  one  son  and  one  daughter.     The  sou,  Har- 


lan, resides  with  his  father,  and  the  daughter, 
Emma  C,  married  Daniel  Farrington,  a  tanner 
wlio  lives  on  the  farm  in  Portland,  formerly 
owned  by  her  father.  She  died  Xovember  28, 
1890.  Mrs.  Tower  died  in  December,  1874, 
aged  forty-five  years,  and  was  buried  in  Port- 
land. 


lUTARVIN  H.  WOLEBEX  comes  from  Ger- 
4  man  ancestors,  is  the  son  of  Abraham 

and  Minerva  A.  (Fuller)  Woleljen,  and  was 
born  in  Portland  town,  Chautauqua  county. 
New  York,  August  lo,  1846.  His  grand- 
fatlier,  John  Woleben,  was  a  native  of  Herki- 
mer county,  and  came  from  the  latter  place  to 
Portland,  this  county,  in  1833.  He  lived  in 
this  town  and  followed  farming  until  1852,  and 
then  went  to  Illinois,  where  he  died  in  1852, 
having  reached  the  age  of  fifty-nine  years.  He 
served  as  a  soldier  through  the  War  of  1812,  mar- 
ried Catherine  Iseman,  and  had  five  children. 
Abraham  Woleben  was  a  native  of  Herkimer 
county,  this  State,  and  came  to  the  town  of 
Portland  in  1833,  where  he  began  to  farm  cou- 
tinuiug  uutil  his  death  in  the  fall  of  1878,  when 
in  his  fifty-fifth  year.  He  married  [Minerva  A. 
Fuller  who  was  born  iu  Dutchess  county,  this 
State,  in  1820.  She  is  still  living,  now  the 
wife  of  David  Granger,  whom  siie  married  in 
1885.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Woleben  had  two  chil- 
dren, of  whom  both  are  still  living. 

Marvin  H.  Woleben  attended  the  schools  of 
his  district  and  there  received  his  education. 
His  early  life  was  spent  on  his  fatlier's  farm 
and  when  he  attained  his  manhood  assumed 
control  of  its  management.  His  place  is  loca- 
ted four  miles  east  of  the  village  of  Westfield, 
where  lie  gives  considerable  attention  to  raising 
grapes. 

Ou  December  29,  1869,  ^h:  Woleben  united 
in  marriage  with  Mavy  J.  Muuson,  a  daughter 
of  Chester  Muuson,  mIio  resides  in  Portland 
town.  They  have  only  one  child.  Jay.  whom 
they  adopted. 


226 


BIOGRAPHY  AND  HISTORY 


M.  H.  AVolebeii  is  a  democrat,  a  generous 
citizen,  and  came  from  one  of  the  most  respe^it- 
ed  families  in  the  county. 


T  .  lEUT.    PHILANDER   W.   BE3IIS,    one 

-■-*■  of  Piiii.  Sheridan's  cavalry-men  in  tlie 
late  Mar,  was  born  in  the  town  of  French 
Creek,  Chautauqua  county,  Xew  York,  Feb- 
ruary 0,  1842,  and  is  a  son  of  David  and  Beth- 
iah  (Vanostrand)  Bemis.  David  Bemis  left 
his  native  State  of  Vermont  when  a  boy,  and 
settled  in  French  Creek,  where  he  followed 
farming  until  his  death  in  1867,  at  sixty-five 
years  of  age.  He  was  accompanied  by  his 
father,  Stephen  Bemis,  who  was  also  a  native 
of  Vermont.  David  Bemis  married  Bethiah 
Vauostrand,  who  was  a  native  of  New  York 
and  died  in  1850,  aged  forty-six  years. 

Philander  W.  Bemis  grew  to  manhood  on 
the  farm,  attended  the  public  schools,  and  in 
1861,  enlisted  in  Co.  I,  8th  Illinois  Cavalry. 
He  was  promoted  to  sergt.-major  of  his  regi- 
ment, by  reason  of  his  efticiency  and  soldierly 
conduct,  and  was  mustered  out  of  that  regiment 
during  the  latter  part  of  1862,  by  order  of  the 
war  department  as  a  supernumerary  officer. 
He  re-enlisted  in  1863,  in  the  fifteenth  New 
York  Cavalry  and  served  until  June  17,  1865, 
when  he  was  discharged  on  account  of  a  wound 
received  at  the  battle  of  Five  Forks,  where  he 
was  struck  in  the  left  arm  and  shoulder  by  a 
minie-ball,  which  he  carried  in  his  body  fif- 
teen months.  Lieutenant  Bemis  made  an  en- 
viable war  record  of  which  he  may  be  justifi- 
ably proud,  as  he  served  under  Sheridan  in  all 
of  that  great  commander's  famous  cani])aigus  in 
Virginia,  and  participated  in  thirty-five  en- 
gagements and  battles.  After  the  close  of  the 
war  he  came  to  Westfield  where  he  has  resided 
ever  since,  and  where  he  has  served  five  years 
as  a  lieutenant  in  the  New  York  State  troops. 
He  has  been,  since  boyhood,  a  member  of  tiie 
Metnodist  Episcopal  church  and  is  now  class 
leader  and  cliairmaii  of  the  board  of  trustees  of 


the  Westfield  churcli  of  that  denomination,  in 
which  he  served  in  an  official  capacity  for 
twenty-five  years.  He  is  a  republican  in  poli- 
tics, has  been  active  in  the  temperance  cause  for 
many  years,  served  several  terms  as  town  clerk 
and  as  a  member  of  the  board  of  education 
and  is  now  deputy  sheriff  of  the  county.  He 
is  a  Past  Master  of  Summit  Lodge,  No.  219, 
Free  and  Accepted  Masons.  He  has  been  con- 
nected with  the  Chautauqua  Assembly  ever 
since  it  was  organized  and  has  had  entire  charge 
of  the  ticket  department,  in  which  he  handles 
from  thirty  to  fifty  thousand  dollars  every  year 
and  in  connection  with  which  he  has  served  for 
five  years  as  chief  of  police  of  the  grounds. 
After  coming  to  Westfield  he  engaged  in  the 
mercantile  business,  from  which  he  retired  three 
years  ago. 

August  14,  1866,  he  married  Jennie  A  ,  a 
noble  Christian  woman,  daughter  of  Alexander 
and  Malinda  McCollom,  of  Westfield.  Lieut, 
and  ^Nlrs.  Bemis  have  two  children :  Ernest 
W.,  a  printer,  who  is  also  a  fine  musician ;  and 
Pearl  A.,  aged  respectively  twenty-two  and 
thirteen.  Pearl  A.  could  read  in  the  Bible  at 
two  and  one-half  years  of  age,  and  when  eight 
years  of  age,  wrote  the  prize  poem  for  which 
fifty  competitors  under  seventeen  years  of  age 
were  contesting.  She  is  a  good  musician  and 
has  ah'eady  written  poems  which  have  been 
published. 

O  M.  SKTDMOllE,  a  well-known  grower 
'*^*  of  small  fruits,  was  born  in  Charlotte, 
two  miles  from  Sinclairville,  Chautauqua  coun- 
ty, July  22,  1831,  and  is  a  son  of  Ira  and 
Lydia  S.  (iSIann)  Skidmore. 

Luther  M.  Skidmore  (grandfather)  moved  to 
Otsego  county,  this  State,  settling  in  Morris, 
where  he  owned  a  store,  and  a  half  interest  in  a 
cotton  factory.  He  was  married  and  liad  three 
sons:  Wolcot,  whti  was  a  clothier,  and  came  to 
Forestville,  this  county,  and  kept  a  hotel,  after- 
ward dying  in  T(ilcdo,  (Jliio;  Ira  (fatiier),  and 


OF  CHAUTAUQUA   COUNTY. 


227 


Russell,  who  died  while  young.  The  maternal 
grandfather  of  S.  ^M.  Skidmore,  Samuel  Mann, 
moved  to  Otsego  county,  where  he  was  a  car- 
penter and  joiner.  About  18;!8  he  came  to  tliis 
county  and  settled  at  Laona,  where  he  contin- 
ued working  at  his  trade.  He  was  niarried  and 
had  four  chiidreu,  one  son  and  three  daughters: 
Olive,  married  William  Johnson ;  Lydia  S. 
(mother),  married  Ira  Skidmore.  Samuel  Mann 
died  in  1860,  aged  about  eighty  years.  Ira 
Skidmore  (father)  was  born  in  Morris,  Otsego 
county,  this  State,  in  1796.  AVhile  a  young 
n)an  lie  came  to  Chautauqua  county,  settling  in 
Charlotte,  where  he  bought  a  farm  of  one  hun- 
dred acres.  Ten  years  later  he  sold  that  farm 
and  nioved  to  Sheridan,  where  he  bought  an- 
other larm,  remained  on  .it  a  year,  then  sold  it 
and  bought  still  another  of  one  hundred  acres, 
which  is  now  within  the  corporation  of  Dun- 
kirk, this  county.  He  was  a  Mason  until  the 
William  Morgan  trouble,  in  1826,  when  he  left 
them.  Ira  Skidmore  married  Lydia  S.  Mann, 
in  1823,  and  by  this  union  had  eight  children, 
six  sons  and  two  daughters,  seven  of  whom 
reached  maturity  :  Martha  F.,  married  to  Sam- 
uel Tolles,  a  lumber  dealer  and  oil  operator, 
who  lives  in  Dunkirk  ;  Thomas  J.,  a  contractor 
and  coal  dealer,  who  married  Marion  Johnson, 
and  lives  at  Lily  Dale ;  S.  S. ;  Frances  D., 
married  to  Stephen  Veasey,  a  locomotive  engin- 
eer, who  lives  at  Hornellsville,  Steuben  county  ; 
Henry  H.,  was  assistant  freight  agent  of  the 
W.  N.  Y.  &  E.  R.  R.,  and  now  lives  at  Corry, 
Pennsylvania,  married  ]Martha  Eaton,  now 
dead ;  George  E.,  died  in  infanc}^ ;  Oscar  W., 
a  locomotive  engineer,  who  married  Sarah 
Keyes  and  lives  in  Thornton,  Illinois;  and 
Charles  W.,  a  locomotive  engineer,  who  died  on 
the  Erie  railroad  at  Dayton,  this  State;  mar- 
ried Mary  Le  Roy.  The  father  of  these  children 
died  when  sixty-eight  years  old,  and  the  mother 
died  in  1850,  aged  forty-seven  years.  Both  are 
buried  in  Laona. 

S.  M.  Skidmore  was  educated  in  the  common 


schools  at  Fredonia  and  the  academic  depart- 
ment at  Dunkirk.  After  leaving  school  he 
learned  the  trade  of  a  tinsmith  with  Hart  & 
Lester,  sei-ving  three  years,  after  which  he 
worked  at  this  vocation  until  1857,  when  he 
entered  into  i)artnership  with  M.  J.  Relloiis  in 
the  hardware  business,  in  Dunkirk,  the  firm 
name  being  Bellous  &  Skidmore.  He  contin- 
ued in  this  firm  one  year  and  then  sold  out  to 
R.  L.  Carey,  accepting  the  position  of  foreman 
in  their  large  shop,  which  he  held  five  years. 
In  1863  he  went  in  partnership  with  J.  B. 
Gardner,  dealing  in  field,  garden  and  flower 
seeds,  at  Fredonia.  Here  he  remained  twenty 
years,  and  then,  in  1883  they  closed  up  the 
business.  In  addition  to  the  seed  business  he 
had  also  engaged  in  growing  small  fruits, 
grapes,  berries,  etc.,  and  now  devotes  his  entire 
attention  to  the  raising  of  small  fruits,  having 
eleven  acres  devoted  to  their  cultivation. 
'  S.  M.  Skidmore  was  married  in  January, 
:  1853  to  Annette  Hewitt,  daughter  of  Cyrus 
and  Lucia  Hewitt,  of  Fredonia,  the  father  be- 
ing a  carpenter  and  joiner.  By  this  union 
there  were  two  children,  a  son  and  a  daughter  : 
Nellie  H.  and  Henry  H.,  the  latter  being  a 
locomotive  engineer,  married  to  Emma  Beaver, 
of  Huntington,  Indiana,  where  he  lives.  The 
mother  of  these  children  died  in  1868,  and  in 
1870  Mr.  Skidmore  married  Alice  Roberts,  a 
daughter  of  Deacon  Eli  and  Julia  (Sheldon) 
Roberts,  of  Fredonia,  by  whom  he  has  one 
daughter,  Maude  A.,  who  resides  with  her  pa- 
rents. His  second  wife  dying  in  1882,  in  1884 
he  married  Hattie  J.  Saiford,  a  daughter  of 
Justus  and  Charlotte  (Cha])mau)  SatFord,  of 
Fredonia. 

j e 

;  ■pUGENE  K.  HOUGH  has  passed  through 
^"^  many  shifting  scenes  on  the  stage  of  life, 
and  has  imprinted  on  the  plates  invented  by 
Daguerre,  and  bv  those  later  who  have  improved 
on  his  process,  the  counterfeit  presentment?  of 

.  the  representatives  of  many  nations.     He  was 


228 


BIOGRAPHY  AND  HISTORY 


born  at  Potsdam,  St.  Lawrence  county,  New 
York,  December  24, 1834,  and  is  a  son  of  E.  A. 
and  Susan  (Pierce)  Hough.  E.  A.  Hough  was 
a  native  of  Connecticut,  a  builder  and  contractor 
bv  occuiMtion,  and  served  as  a  volunteer  in  the 
war  of  1812.  He  was  married  in  1829  to 
Susan  Pierce,  who  was  a  native  of  Vermont  and 
a  cousin  to  Franklin  Pierce,  the  fourteenth 
president  of  the  United  States.  They  had 
seven  children,  of  whom  E.  K.  was  the  oldest 
but  one,  who  died  in  infancy. 

Eugene  K.  Hough  was  reared  in  St.  Lawrence 
county,  and  was  educated  in  the  academy  of 
Potsdam  and  the  High  school  of  Lockport,  this 
State.  He  left  school  at  the  age  of  seventeen  to 
learn  the  then  newly-discovered  art  of  daguer- 
reotyping,  which  he  practiced  for  some  years 
successfully  in  the  villages  of  Canton  and 
Malone,  county-seats  of  St.  Lawrence  and 
Franklin  counties.  When  twenty-three  years 
of  age,  partly  to  oblige  his  cousin,  S.  E.  Buttolph, 
and  partly  to  see  more  of  the  world,  he  exchanged 
his  Malone  gallery  for  a  travelling  daguerreo- 
type car,  in  which  his  cousin  had  traveled  from 
St.  Lawrence  county  to  Brocton,  in  Chautauqua 
county.  Mr.  Hough  operated  but  a  short  time 
in  this  county  before  he  sold  the  car  to  accept  a 
situation  ofiered  him  in  a  house  for  the  supply 
of  daguerreotype  and  ambrotype  materials, 
estalilished  in  New  York  city.  In  1859  he  was 
sent  by  the  house  to  Petersburg,  Va.,  and  thence 
to  South  Carolina,  where  he  was  during  the 
exciting  time  of  John  Brown's  raid  and  Lincoln's 
canvass.  Realizing  the  gravity  of  the  coming 
trouble,  he  returned  north,  reaching  New  York 
tlie  day  after  Lincoln's  election.  He  remained 
in  New  York  city  during  the  war,  accepting  a 
situation  as  photographic  operator  with  Meade 
Bros,  on  Broadway,  and  afterward  with  11.  A. 
Lewis,  who  had  galleries  at  Chatham  square, 
and  at  19th  Street  and  Broadway.  In  18G5, 
still  desiring  to  see  more  of  the  world,  he  went 
to  Barbadoes,  in  the  West  Indies,  for  a  winter, 
and    found    his    business   .so   profitable    in   the 


tropics  and  life  so  pleasant  that  he  visited,  with 
his  photograjjhic  art,  some  of  the  largest  cities 
in  South  America,  remaining  a  year  in  Per- 
nambuco,  afterward  visiting  Bahia  and  Rio 
Janeiro,  the  capital  of  Brazil.  In  1869  he 
returned  to  the  United  States,  and  opened  a 
gallery  in  New  York  city. 

In  1870  he  was  married  to  Frances  Mason, 
of  Ripley,  this  county.  Then,  for  more  than 
ten  years,  he  maintained  a  successful  business  of 
his  own  amid  the  intense  competition  of  New 
York  city,  meanwhile  continuing  his  art  studies 
in  the  Academy  of  Design,  and  being  a  regular 
joaid  correspondent  of  tiie  photographic  maga- 
zines. The  winter  of  1879  he  left  his  gallery 
in  New  York  in  cliarge  of  his  brother  and  went 
to  Trinidad,  in  the  English  West  Indies,  witli 
his  wife,  mainly  for  her  health,  she  having  been 
ill  several  winters  with  severe  neuralgia,  com- 
plicated with  heart  trouble,  and  her  physician 
advised  a  milder  climate.  They  went  to  Trini- 
dad because  they  had  fi-iends  there.  Shortly 
after  their  arrival  the  two  sous  of  the  Prince  of 
Wales  stopped  there  on  their  voyage  around  the 
world.  The  governor  of  the  island  honored 
Mr.  Hough  with  an. invitation  to  photograph 
the  princes  amid  the  tropical  foliage  surround- 
ing the  governor's  palace.  This  proved  an 
excellent  advertisement ;  hundreds  of  their  pic- 
tures were  sold  among  the  loyal  population, 
and  a  profitable  business  immediately  flowed  in 
upon  liim.  The  business  continued  so  good, 
and  his  wife's  health  so  improved,  that  in  1881 
his  brother  sold  the  gallery  in  New  York  and 
joined  him,  with  tiie  intention  of  remaining 
until  they  made  a  fortune,  as  they  iiad  every 

I  prospect  of  doing ;  when  suddenly  in  the  height 
of  their  prospei-ity,  a  severe  epidemic  of  yellow 
fever  .struck  the  island  ;  there  had  not  been  one 
before  for  nearly  twenty  years,  and  the  Hough 
brothers  and  their  families  barely  escaped  witii 

I  their  lives,  while  hundreds  were  dying  around 
them.  At  one  time  they  were  given  up  to  die, 
but    finally    recovered    to    find    tiicir    business 


OF  (■IIAI'T.\('(^r.\    COtWTY. 


2?.l 


mined  for  the  time,  and  (lieir  liealthso  impaired 
tliat  tliey  were  (•()ni])elled  (o  return  to  tlie  States. 
Tn  1883,  shortly  after  his  return,  Mi-.  Ilougli 
pureliased  forty  aeres  of  graju;  hind  in  lliph'V, 
and  plaeed  it  in  oare  of  his  wife's  brotiier, 
George  Mason,  to  plant  a  vineyard,  the  Chau- 
tauqua grape  interest  iiaving  then  just  begun. 

When  lie  l)onght  the  grape  farm  it  was  Mr. 
Hough's  intention  to  continue  his  business  south 
in  winter  and  <iniy  visit  the  farm  in  snnmier. 
Ou  that  plan  he  spent  a  winter  in  New  Orleans 
in  charge  ol"  an  exiiiijit  at  the  world's  fair,  and 
two  winters  in  North  Carolina,  where  his 
business  was  profitable  and  his  wife's  health 
seemed  to  improve.  But  she  decided  that  she 
would  rather  live  a  few  years  less  among  friends 
and  kindred  than  to  be  always  among  strangers; 
and  his  main  endeavor  being  to  place  her  in  a 
condition  most  conducive  to  her  health  and 
happiness,  he  bought  a  house  in  Fredonia  next 
to  her  sister's,  and  was  just  fitting  it  up  as  a 
(piiet  home,  when  his  wife  was  taken  worse  and 
died  of  heart  failure  in  May,  1887.  Shortly 
after  her  brother,  (iet>rge  Mason,  died  with 
bilious  inflammation,  thus  leaving  two  broken 
homes,  with  the  incomplete  vineyard,  in  Mr. 
Hough's  care. 

In  November,  188i»,  to  continue  their  strojig 
ties  of  family  affection  and  unite  their  broken 
homes,  Mrs.  Fannie  Mason,  the  widcnv,  ami 
Mr.  Hough  were  married,  and  now  reside  in 
the  Fredonia  home. 

The  vineyard  now  has  twenty  acres  of  bear- 
ing vines  under  good  management,  and  promises 
to  be  a  profitable  investment.  He  also  has  a 
photograph  gallery  in  Fredonia,  which  keeps 
him  pleasantly  ooeupied  in  line  with  his  life 
work.  Mr.  Hough  is  a  (piiet,  unassuming  gen- 
tleman, with  no  tendency  to  ostentation  or 
display,  and  while  he  sometimes  entertains  his 
friends  with  descriptions  of  the  countries  he  lias 
visited,  his  residence  so  many  years  in  the  active 
centres  of  life  and  business,  has  satisfied  his 
desire  for  bustle  and  excitement,  and  he  now 
12 


bus  settled  down,  like  (ioldsmith's  traveler 
returning  iiome,  his  remaining  yiiars  "in  ease 
and  rest  to  spend."  He  has  chosen  this  Chau- 
taucpia  grape  region  as  having  more  that  is 
pleasant  and  less  that  is  disagreeable  for  a 
permanent  residence  than  any  jiart  of  the  world 
he  has  visited. 


lUoKMAN    BABCOCK.— Thoughts  for  his 

4  fellow-man,  feelings  for  the  needy,  aspira- 

tions to  be  useful,  and  a  determination  to  wiu 
deserving  and  enduring  success  ;  these  were  the 
materials  out  of  which  Norman  Babcoek  built 
his  active  and  honorable  life.  He  was  the 
youngest  son  of  Samuel  and  Polly  (Cleveland) 
Babcoek,  and  was  born  at  Forestville,  in  the 
town  of  Hanover,  Chautauqua  county,  New 
York,  April  19,  1838.  Samuel  Babcoek  was  a 
descendant  of  one  of  five  Babcoek  brothers, 
who,  according  to  tradition,  came  over  in  the 
"  Mayflower."  He  was  born  at  Mansfield, 
Connecticut,  October  31,  1793.  lu  1795  his 
parents  removed  t<j  Bridgewater,  near  Wood- 
stock, Vermont,  where  he  was  reared  and  re- 
j  ceived  a  good  education.  lu  early  life  he  came 
1  to  central  New  York  and  afterwards  was  en - 
I  gaged  in  teaching  in  Montgomery,  Monroe,  Al- 
legany and  in  this  county,  of  which  he  was  one 
of  the  pioneer  teachers.  After  a  residence  of 
some  years  at  Ellington  and  Forestville  he  re- 
moved, in  1841,  to  Silver  Creek,  where  he  re- 
sided until  his  siuhlen  death  in  1882.  In  his 
I  thirty-fourth  year  he  learned  cabinet-making  in 
which  he  soon  became  a  skilled  wnrkman.  He 
j  followed  making  cabinet  furniture  for  several 
'  years  at  Silver  Creek,  after  which  he  resided 
with  his  children.  In  1825  he  married  Polly 
Cleveland,  who  was  a  native  of  Windsor  countv, 
Vermont,  and  died  in  1867.  Their  children 
were:  Paraelia,  Alpheus  (see  his  sketch),  Martha, 
Laura  and  Norman.  Mr.  Balwock  and  his 
wife  were  both  members  of  the  Presbvteriau 
church.  On  Sunday  afternoon  June  11,  1882, 
wliile  taking  his   accustomed   walk   arouud  the 


232 


BIOGRAPHY  AND  HISTORY 


depot,  he  stepped  from  the  right-hand  railroad 
track  to  let  a  train  pass  and  in  attempting  to  cross 
the  other  ti'ack  was  struck  and  instantly  killed 
by  a  west-bound  train.  He  was  a  constant 
reader  and  was  well  informed  in  political  and 
religious  affairs  and  in  philosophy  and  literature. 
He  was  popular  with  the  employees  of  the 
Eureka  works  who  attended  his  funeral  in  a 
body  and  the  Silver  Creek  Local,  in  an  extended 
account  of  his  life  said,  "  He  has  taught  us  by 
his  sunny  temper  '  How  far  the  gulf  stream  of 
our  youth  may  flow  into  the  Arctic  regions  of 
our  lives.' " 

Norman  Babcock  was  reared  from  four  years 
of  age  at  Silver  Creek,  where  he  attended  the 
public  schools  and  received  a  good  business  edu- 
cation. Leaving  school  he  went  into  his  father's 
shop  where  he  first  learned  to  handle  tools.  He 
aflerwards  entered  the  iron  foundry  of  Hawkins 
&  Greenleaf,  learned  the  trade  of  pattern-maker 
and  followed  that  business  for  several  years, 
during  which  time  he  was  foreman  of  a  large  shop 
in  Erie,  Pa.  In  January,  1864,  he  formed  a 
partnership  with  his  brother,  Alpheus  Balxjock, 
who  had  been  engaged  for  some  time  in  the 
manufacture  of  a  smut  and  separating  machine, 
and  whose  successive  improvements  developed 
into  the  present  justly  celebrated  and  widely 
known  Eureka  smut  and  separating  machine, 
whose  history  is  given  in  the  sketch  of  the  late 
Alpheus  Babcock.  In  July,  1883,  Norman 
Babcock  withdrew  from  the  firm  of  Howes, 
Babcock  &  Ewell,  then  owning  and  operating 
the  Eureka  Smut  Machine  works.  From  that 
time  on  until  his  death  he  was  not  engaged  in 
any  line  of  business. 

On  March  2, 1865,  he  married  Ursula  Record, 
a  native  of  Cattaraugus  county,  and  a  daughter 
of  Israel  and  Mary  (Gardner)  Record,  natives 
of  Dutchess  county,  N.  Y.  To  Norman  and 
Ursula  Baljcoek  were  born  two  children — Cleve- 
land, born  in  1873  and  now  attending  Exeter 
(•<jllegein  Now  Hampshire;  and  (iraci^,  wiio  was 
bom  in   1876.     Mrs.  Babcock  still  resides  in 


her  beautiful  and  well-appointed  home  at  Silver 
Creek,  to  which  is  attached  sixty-five  acres  of 
productive  laud. 

Norman  Babcock  had  served  once  as  president 
of  his  village  but  resigned  as  his  time  was 
chiefly  needed  for  his  work,  although  he  was 
never  too  busy  to  assist  a  friend  or  relieve  the 
distress  of  the  needy.  As  a  member  of  his  firm 
he  had  special  charge  of  the  mechanical  depart- 
ment, aud  like  his  other  partners  always  favored 
in  dull  times  enough  machines  to  keep  all  the 
hands  fully  employed.  About  1881  he  had  an 
attack  of  hemorrhage  of  the  stomach  aud  con- 
tinued in  ill-health  until  Christmas,  1883,  when 
a  series  of  hemorrhages  commenced  which  proved 
fatal  on  the  next  day  at  ten  o'clock.  On  the 
succeeding  Sabbath  his  funeral  occurred  which 
was  attended  by  the  employees  of  the  Eureka 
works  in  a  body  and  after  simple  but  very  im- 
pressive funeral  rites  his  remains  were  entombed 
in  Glenwood  cemetery.  Fitting  tributes  to  his 
memory  appeared  in  the  newspapers  of  western 
New  York,  one  of  which  said,  "  Few  men  have 
ever  died  whose  departure  has  called  forth  such 
universal  expressions  of  deep  regret,  or  caused 
so  much  sorrow  in  so  many  breasts."  One  who 
knew  him  intimately  for  forty  years  bore  testi- 
mony of  him  in  the  wish  that  ''  we  had  more 
like  him  with  as  many  virtues  even  if  they  had 
to  have  more  faults.'' 

The  swift-flying  years  as  they  grow  full- 
orbed  and  wane  and  die  in  the  future,  may 
sweep  from  human  sight  the  sculptured  marble 
that  stands  in  memory  of  Norman  Babcock,  but 
the  mighty  and  slow-rolling  ages  of  time  will 
preserve  his  name  and  perpetuate  his  virtues  as 
long  as  knowledge  or  memory  of  Silver  Creek 
shall  exist  in  history,  or  be  repeated  in  tradition. 


T      lj.  THAYER,  stands  well  up  in  the  front 

^  •  rank  of  the  prominent  business  men  of 
Chautan<(ua  county,  and,  although  compara- 
tively a  young  man,  has  rushed  ahead  imtil  he 
has  reached  an  eminence  of  which  many  an  older 


01'  CIlAlJTAUqUA   COUNTY. 


233 


man  might  feel  proud.  J.  L.  Tliayor  was  born 
in  the  town  of  Mina,  Cliautauqua  county,  New 
York,  February  9th,  1851,  and  is  a  son  of 
Ichabod  and  Fidelia  (I.a  Due)  Thayer.  The 
former  was  a  native  of  Milford,  Massaehusetts, 
while  his  wife  eanie  from  this  State.  Ichabod 
Thayer  came  to  the  Empire  Stiite  before  tlie 
first  .score  had  been  (U)unted  in  the  years  of  this 
century,  and  in  1824  he  .settled  in  Mina,  Chau- 
tauqua county  and  followed  farming  until  1864, 
when  he  retired  and  moved  to  We.stfield,  wliere 
lie  lived  until  he  died  in  1888,  when  he  had 
passed  his  eightieth  year.  Although  not  a  poli- 
tician, as  the  word  is  usually  understood,  Mr. 
Thayer  held  many  of  the  town  offices  and  dis- 
charged their  duties  well.  Grandfather  La  Due 
carried  French  blood  in  his  veins  and  came  to 
the  town  of  Mina  early  in  its  history,  lie  was 
a  popidar  man  and  was  one  of  its  first  supervi- 
sors. 

J.  L.  Thayer  spent  his  early  life  on  a  farm  in 
the  town  of  Mina  and  completed  his  education 
at  the  Westfield  academy.  His  first  business 
experience  was  clerking  during  the  year  1866  at 
Brooklyn,  but  he  staid  there  less  than  a  year  and 
then  went  to  school  for  about  the  same  length  of 
time,  afterwards  coming  to  Dunkirk  and  clerk- 
ing in  a  store  in  18()9.  The  two  succeeding 
years  were  passed  in  the  employ  of  B.  Feuiier, 
at  Sherman,  and  then  Mr.  Thayer  bought  an 
interest  in  his  employer's  Ijusiness.  Two  years 
later  he  purcha.sed  the  entire  establishment  and 
embarked  in  business  for  himself.  Mr.  Thayer 
has  added  to  and  enlarged  his  place  until  now  he 
conducts  a  double  store  and  carries  a  line  of 
drugs,  jewelry,  wall-papers  and  other  stock  equal 
to  the  best  iu  the  county.  One  store  is  sixty- 
five  feet  deep,  the  other  forty-three.  Mr. 
Thayer  was  active  with  Mr.  Sperry,  Mr.  Cor- 
bitt  and  others  iu  establishing  the  new  State 
Bank  and  he  was  one  of  the  first  village  tru.s- 
tees.  j 

In  1873   he   married  Julia  PI  Ilorton,  who  I 
came  from   Erie  county,   and   their  union  has  \ 


been  blessed  with   two  children — one   son  and 
one  daughter  :     Amos  II.  and  Susie  C. 

Politically,  J.  L.  Thayer  is  a  democrat  and 
has  been  secret^iry  of  the  Union  school  and 
academy  since  1881,  which  rank  well  with  any 
.school  in  the  county.  He  is  an  astute  business 
man,  a  good  financier  and  an  agreeable  comj)au- 
ion.  No  store  bears  a  better  reputation  than 
his  and  it  but  refleiits  his  own  private  character. 
© 

TOHN  (JKASIIO  is  a  man  who  presents  in 
^^     himself  an  example  of  what  can  be  accom- 
plished l)y   hard    work,  energetic  and   well  di- 
rected efforts  aud  a  steady  accumulation  of  sav- 
ings.    He  was  born  in  that  part  of  the  German 
empire  known  as  Prussia,  May  28,  18.">7,  being 
a    son    of    Frederick    and     Loui.sa    (Lempky) 
Grasho.       Frederick    (jrasho    (father)     was    a 
native  of  Germany,  born  in  1809,  and  emigrated 
to  America  iu  1858,  locating    iu    Chautauqua 
county,  this  State,  where  he  obtained  employ- 
ment as  a  day  laborer.     He  died  in  April,  1889, 
in    the  eightieth  year   of  his    age.     Frederick 
Grasho    married   Ijouisa  Lempky   and  by    her 
had  children.     She  was  born    in   Germany,  in 
1817,  aud  now  resides  in  Hanover,  this  county. 
John  Grasho  spent  the  first  two  decades  of 
his  life  iu  his  native  land,  and  received  an  edu- 
cation  iu  the  common  .schools  of  Baden.     In 
1857,  during  the  second  great  finaucial   panic 
which    agitated    America,    he    came   to    these 
shores  and  located  temporarily  in  Erie  county, 
this  State,  where  he  remained  six  months.     He 
admits  an  intimate  acquaintance  with  impecu- 
niosity,  for  he  walked  from  Buffalo  to  Hanover, 
this   county,  because   he    lacked   the  nece.s.saiy 
funds  wherewith  to  pay  his  fare.     Immediately 
on  his  arrival  here  in  Hanover,  he  began  work 
by   the  day,   then  .secured  employment  by  the 
month  on  a  farm  where  he  remained  about  five 
years,  and  then  lea.sed  a  farm  and  cultivated  it 
on  shares.     In  1867  he  had  acctnuulated  enough 
money  to   purchase  a  part  of  the  farm  he  now 
occupies,  and  two  more  payments  for  additional 


234 


BIOGRAPHY  AND  IHSTORY 


portions,  made  him  the  owner  of  one  hundred 
and  ibrty-eiglit  acres.  Beside  this  farm  he 
owns  anotlier  comprising  ninety-two  acres, 
located  in  Hanover  Centre.  The  farm  on 
which  he  resides,  is  well  improved,  and  a  por- 
tion of  it  is  within  the  corj)oration  boundary  of 
Silver  creek,  which  materially  enhances  its 
value.  In  addition  to  his  farming  operations 
he  buys  immense  amounts  of  hay,  which,  with 
several  tons  he  cuts  on  his  own  land,  he  sells  to 
the  stock-yards  in  Buffalo.  He  is  now  in  the 
enjoyment  of  a  comfortable  bank  account,  and 
is  a  successful  man.  In  political  matters  he  is 
a  democrat,  and  in  religion  is  a  member  of  the 
German  Lutheran  church. 

John  Grasho  was  married  in  1862  to  Minnie 
Loss,  of  this  county,  by  whom  he  has  three 
children,  one  son  and  two  daughters  :  Charles  ; 
Ellen,  who  married  C.  J.  Neuendorf,  of  Silver 
Creek  ;  and  Lizzie. 

© 

TQLPHEU.S  BABCOCK,  the  pioneer  of  the 

■**•  smut  machine  in  modern  milling  machin- 
ery and  the  inventor  of  the  celebrated  Eureka 
Combined  Smutter  and  Separator,  of  which 
Simeon  Howes  is  now  proprietor,  was  born  in 
Pike,  Allegany  county,  New  York,  October 
27,  1827,  and  the  oldest  son  of  Samuel  and 
Polly  (Cleveland)  Babcock.  According  to  fam- 
ily tradition  five  Babcock  brothers  came  from 
England  in  the  "  Mayflower"  and  Samuel  Bab- 
cock was  descended  from  one  of  these  brothers. 
Samuel  Babcock  was  born  at  Mansfield,  Con- 
necticut, October  31, 1793,  was  reared  and  edu- 
cated at  Bridgewater,  Vermont,  and  became  one 
of  the  pioneer  teachers  of  this  county.  He  re- 
sidefl  at  Ellington  and  Forestville  and  in  1841 
came  to  Silver  Creek  whore  he  followed  cabinet 
making  f<)r  some  years  and  whore  he  was  acci- 
dentally struck  and  killed  byh  railway  train  on 
Sunday,  June  1 1,  1X82.  He  was  a  groat  reader 
and  an  exemplary  member  of  the  Presbyterian 
church  and  married  Polly  Cleveland,  a  native 
of  Vermont,  who  died   in   18(i7.     They  reared 


a  family  of  five  childi-en:  Pamelia,  Alpheus, 
Martha,  Laura  and  Norman,  in  whose  sketch  a 
more  extended  history  of  the  family  is  given. 

Alpheus  Babcock  received  a  common  school 
education  and  learned  the  trade  of  mill-wriglit 
which  he  followed  for  some  years.  Being  of  an 
ingenious  turn  of  mind  and  possessing  good  in- 
ventive ability,  he  gave  some  thought  to  the 
subject  of  improving  mill  machinery  while  he 
was  busily  engaged  in  erecting  flouring  mills  in 
difl^erent  parts  of  western  New  York.  In  1854 
he  bought  of  G.  E.  Throop  the  right  of  the 
Rutter  &  Rouzer  smut  cleaning  and  separating 
machine  for  nine  counties  in  Pennsylvania.  It 
was  very  imperfect  and  after  some  time  spent 
in  studying  its  defects  he  was  enabled  to  gel  up 
a  far  superior  machine  for  which  he  obtained  a 
patent  in  1861  and  after  several  years  of  suc- 
cessful manufacturing  he  sold  his  interest,  and 
the  machine  was  afterwards  made  by  Huntley, 
Holcomb  &  Howes.  In  January,  1864,  he  as- 
sociated his  brother  Norman  with  him  in  the 
manufacture  of  his  machine,  and  in  the  follow- 
ing year  Simeon  Howes  became  a  partner  with 
them  and  the  firm  name  was  changed  to  Howes, 
Babcock  &  Co.  During  1865  they  manufac- 
tured and  .sold  two  hundred  machines.  On 
January  1,  1866,  they  took  possession  of  the 
Montgomery  maciiine  works  which  they  had 
purchased  the  preceding  fall  for  twenty  thous- 
and dollars.  They  refitted  this  wooden  estab- 
lishment and  used  it  until  1873,  when,  to  fill 
their  increase  of  orders,  larger  buildings  were 
demanded  and  a  three-story  brick  building, 
80x110  feet  in  dimensions,  was  erected  at  a 
cost  of  twenty  thousand  dollars,  besides  a  large 
and  carefully  planned  foundry.  The  entire 
plant  was  now  christened  ''  Tlio  Eureka 
Works"  by  which  name  it  has  become  known 
wherever  improved  milling  machinery  is  used  in 
the  civilized  world.  In  the  fall  of  1865  .Albert 
Horton  became  a  partner,  but  in  1X68  sold  his 
interest  to  Carlos  Ewell  who  died  in  1887, 
when  Mr.  Howes  purchased  the  interest  of  hia 


^/yi/^^^!M^  .  Sa£Lc^'/i 


OF  CHAUTAUQUA   COUNTY. 


237 


heirs  and  already  having  the  interests  of  Alpheus 
and  Norman  Babeock,  became,  in  1888,  tlie  sole 
propi-it'tor  of"  tile  Eureka  worUs.  Tn  1870  a 
suit  for  infringement  ot  patent  was  brought 
against  Howes,  Babcoek  &  Co.,  which  they  suc- 
cessfully contested  and  won  at  a  cost  of  eight 
thousand  dollars.  The  result  of  this  suit  was 
in  the  interest  of  millers  and  purchasers  as 
the  Babcocks  could  have  saved  all  this  cost  by 
paying  a  royalty  to  the  prosecuting  shar])ers  and 
then  adding  it  to  the  price  of  their  machines. 
Another  fact  deserving  of  notice  in  the  business 
career  of  Alpheus  Babcoek  is  that  the  founda- 
tion of  Silver  Creek's  present  prosperity  was 
laid  by  the  establishment  of  the  Eureka  works, 
which  is  the  pioneer  of  the  numerous  plants 
that  send  out  thousands  of  smut  and  separating 
machines  to  all  parts  of  the  world.  During  Mr. 
Babcock's  connection  with  these  works,  the 
force  of  hands  was  increased  from  fourteen  to 
sixty-six,  the  pay-roll  went  up  from  eighteen  to 
nearly  fifty  thousand  dollars  per  year,  and  the 
annual  output  of  machines  ran  up  from  hun- 
dreds to  thousands. 

In  1867  Alpheus  Babcoek  married  Sarah 
Pierce  who  died  some  years  afterwards  and  left 
no  children. 

The  labors  of  his  active  and  useful  life  came 
to  a  close  on  Decenjber  11,  1878.  His  death 
was  caused  by  softening  of  the  brain  from  over- 
work. His  remains  were  entombed  in  Glenwood 
cemetery  amid  a  vast  and  silent  throng  who 
gathered  to  witness  the  last  sad  rites  of  one  who 
had  been  deservedly  popular  in  the  community 
in  which  he  had  resided.  Alpheus  Babcoek  has 
aided  largely  in  developing  Silver  Creek  from  a 
quiet  village  into  a  great  manufacturing  center, 
where  many  years  of  his  active  life  were  spent 
in  perfecting  the  machine  which  will  preserve 
his  name  from  oblivion  throughout  the  world  as 
long  as  improved  milling  machinery  is  used  by 
the  human  race. 


rrjILSON  S.  ANDRUS  is  of  English  an- 
^■^^  cestry  and  he  and  his  father  have  been 
well-known  and  highly  respected  citizens  of 
this  immediate  section  for  three-quarters  of  a 
century.  He  is  the  son  of  Sylvester  and  Rachel 
(Harris)  Andi'us,  and  was  born  in  the  town  of 
Portland,  Chautauijua  county,  New  York,  Sep- 
tember 20,  1819.  His  father  was  a  native  of 
Connecticut  and  married  Rachel  Harris  of  Rens- 
selaer county,  New  York,  by  whom  he  had 
eight  children.  While  a  young  man  he  came 
to  this  county  and  located  near  Brocton,  1814, 
where  he  engaged  in  farming  imtil  1828,  with 
the  exception  of  one  year  (1815)  w^hich  he  spent 
in  Connecticut  on  account  of  a  severe  attack  of 
nostalgia.  In  1828,  he  came  to  the  town  of 
Hanover,  where  he  followed  farming  the  re- 
mainder of  his  life  and  was  a  very  prosjjerous 
farmer.  He  was  an  old-line  whig  until  the 
agitation  of  the  slavery  question,  when  he 
became  a  stanch  democrat.  He  was  poor- 
master  for  several  years.  In  religion  he  was  a 
Baptist,  being  a  member  and  deacon  of  the  first 
church  of  that  denomination  organized  in  Port- 
land. He  died  in  1865,  aged  seventy-four 
years.  His  wife  (mother  of  W.  S.)  was  also  a 
consistent  member  of  the  Baptist  church  and 
died  in  1883,  aged  eighty-eight  years. 

Wilson  S.  Andrus  was  brought  up  on  the 
farm  and  received  a  common  school  education. 
He  has  been  engaged  in  agricultural  pursuits 
all  his  life  and,  in  connection  therewith,  has 
also  handled  thousands  of  feet  of  lumber,  hav- 
ing for  five  years  been  in  that  business  in 
Buffalo.  He  now  owns  a  farm  of  one  lanidred 
and  twelve  acres  near  the  village  of  Silver 
Creek,  and  has  for  sixty-three  years  lived  in 
what  is  now  the  village  corporation.  He 
has  been  very  successful  and  has  accumulated 
a  snug  fortune.  He  owns  the  first  mill-stone 
made  in  this  town.  It  was  made  from  a  boul- 
der taken  from  the  hillside  about  one  hundred 
rods  from  where  the  first  grist-mill  was  erected 
in  1804,  by  Abel  Cleveland  and  David  Dickiu 


238 


BIOGRAPHY  AND  HISTORY 


son.  It  was  afterwards  used  in  a  mill  built  by 
Thomas  Kidder  aud  Nehemiah  Heatou  in  1806, 
on  Walnut  creek,  near  where  the  famous  great  | 
black  walnut  tree  stood,  and  also  on  the  spot 
where  his  saw-mill  now  stands  in  the  south  part 
of  the  village.  The  stone  is  still  in  an  excellent 
state  of  preservation.  Mr.  Andrus  also  owns  a 
cane,  which  was  made  from  this  black  walnut 
tree,  from  which  the  creek  takes  its  name,  aud 
whicii  stootl  on  his  farm.  The  tree  was  blown 
down  April  22,  1S24.  It  was  twenty-seven 
feet  in  circumference,  nine  feet  in  diameter  and 
the  lowest  limb  was  seventy  feet  from  the 
ground.  Being  hollow  at  the  butt,  about  twelve 
feet  was  cut  otf  from  the  lower  end  and  the 
inside  worked  down  and  smoothed  out,  leaving 
a  shell  four  inches  thick.  A  man  on  horse- 
back rode  through  it.  It  was  raised  on  end 
and  used  for  a  grocery  and  ou  one  occiision,  for 
a  ladies'  tea-party.  It  was  sold  for  two  hundred 
dollars  to  two  men  named  Roberts  and  Stearns, 
who  lost  money  by  exhibiting  it  along  the  Erie 
canal.  It  was  bought  by  New  York  city 
parties  in  1S26,  fitted  aud  splendidly  fournished 
as  a  drawing-room  and  proved  fairly  successful 
as  an  exhibit.  Some  idea  can  be  formed  of  its 
inside  measurement  when  it  is  stated  that  thirty- 
nine  persons  standing  and  fourteen  sitting  have 
been  in  its  interior  at  one  time.  It  was  sold  to 
London  parties  for  three  thousand  dollars  in 
1828,  and  placed  in  a  museum,  where  it  was 
afterward  destroyed  by  fire.  Tiie  London 
Lilrniry  Gazette  said  that  three  thousand  vol- 
umt^s  could  be  placed  in  its  interior  on  shelves 
proje<;ting  not  more  than  six  inches.  Mr. 
Andrus  is  a  straight  democrat  and  has  been 
urged  several  times  to  accept  office,  but  has  de- 
clined, lie  is  the  oldest  member  of  the 
Masonic  Lodge  in  Silver  Creek.  Firm  in  his 
convictions,  withal  he  i.s  a  kindly  man  aud  gen- 
erally esteemed. 

AVilson  S.  Andrus  has  been  married  three 
times.  In  1844  he  espoused  AzuJ)ah  Trask,  of 
Silver  Creek,     She  died,  leaving  one  diild,  a 


son,  the  Hon.  Leroy  Andrus  of  Buffiilo,  this 
State.  For  his  second  wife,  he  chose  Percy  E. 
Tucker,  of  Silver  Creek.  His  third  wife,  was 
Mrs.  Aliuena  (O'Donaghey)  Smith,  a  daughter 
of  William  S.  O'Donaghey,  who  came  from 
Batavia,  Geuesee  county,  this  State,  to  this 
county  and  was  a  farmer  in  the  town  of  Stock- 
ton. He  died  in  Silver  Creek  in  1878,  in  his 
eighty-seventh  year.  He  was  in  his  latter  years 
a  democrat.  The  present  Mrs.  Andrus  has 
also  been  married  three  times.  Her  first  hus- 
band was  Tracy  Walker  of  Hartfield,  this 
county.  Aud  her  second  Porter  B.  Smith,  of 
Hanover. 


I^.WID  RUSSET.,L  is  a  sturdy,  self-reliant 
'^  son  of  the  land  of  Robert  Bruce  and 
Robert  Burns,  and  has,  by  his  own  merits, 
reached  the  position  he  now  occupies — that  of 
superintendent  of  the  largest  manufacturing 
establishment  in  Dunkirk,  and  one  of  the  largest 
in  the  State  of  New  York,  an  establishment 
which  employs  a  thousand  men,  who.se  earnings 
are  more  than  twelve  thousand  dollars  a  week, 
whose  annual  output  of  various  kinds  of  loco- 
motives and  cars  is  valued  at  two  and  a  half 
millions  of  dollars,  and  the  excellency  of  whose 
work  is  not  surpassed  by  any  other  manufactory 
of  its  kind  in  the  world. 

David  Russell  was  born  in  St.  Andrews,  Scot- 
laud,  May  .'W,  182G,  and  is  a  son  of  Thomas 
and  Jane  (Russell)  Russell.  His  father  was  a 
native  of  historic  old  Edinboro'  Town,  Scotland, 
aud  was  a  tinsmith  by  trade,  which  business  he 
followed  in  his  native  laud  until  his  death.  He 
wa.s  a  member  of  the  Scotch  Presbyterian  church. 
His  wife  (mother)  was  a  native  of  St.  Andrews, 
and  she  was  born  in  1802.  She  now  lives  in 
St.  Andrews,  Scotland,  aud  is  a  member  of  the 
Presbyterian  church. 

David  Russell  was  reared  in  his  native  town 
and  received  a  common  sciiool  education.  After 
leaving  school  he  learned  the  trade  of  a  machin- 
ist, und  has  always  worked  in  that  useful  Indus- 


OF  CHAUTAUQUA   COUNTY. 


239 


trial  pursuit.  In  1845  he  came  a(;nws  tlie 
Atlantic  to  America,  and  located  in  Paterson, 
New  Jersey,  where  he  at  once  secured  work. 
Here  he  remained  until  1852,  when  he  came  to 
Dunkirk,  this  county,  and  went  to  work  as  a 
machinist  in  the  Erie  railroad  shops,  and  con- 
tinued in  their  employ  until  October,  1869,  when 
H.  G  Brooks,  the  general  manager,  suddenly 
received  an  order  from  the  president  of  the  road 
to  permanently  close  the  works.  Instead  of 
doing  so,  however,  he  immediately  reorganized 
them  under  the  name  of  the  Brooks  Locomotive 
Works,  with  himself  as  president,  and  by  that 
name  they  are  now  known  all  over  the  civilized 
world.  Mr.  Russell  entered  their  employ,  and 
was  steadily  and  deservedly  promoted  from  one 
position  to  another,  going  a  stride  or  two  each 
time,  until  he  was  appointed  superintendent,  a 
position  in  which  he  commands  the  universal 
respect  of  the  employees  and  the  commendation 
of  his  employers.  Politically  he  is  a  republi- 
can, and  in  his  religious  principles  is  a  Scotch 
Presbyterian,  of  which  church  he  is  a  member 
and  trustee.  He  is  a  member  of  Irondequoit 
lodge,  F.  &  A.  M.  He  is  a  member  of  the 
board  of  water  commissioners  of  Dunkirk  and 
also  a  member  of  the  school  board.  A  man  of 
firm  convictions  and  of  a  kind  and  generous 
disposition,  he  is  ever  ready  to  devote  his  best 
efforts  in  aid  of  any  movement  conducive  to  the 
welfare  of  his  fellow-citizens.  He  owns  a  fine 
residence  and  understands  how  to  get  the  most 
out  of  life  in  a  practical  and  sensible  manner. 

David  Russflj  was  married,  March  15,  1847, 
to  Eliza  Russell,  daughter  of  James  Russell,  of 
Montrose,  Scotland,  and  by.  her  has  seven  chil- 
dren, five  sons  and  two  daughters :  Thomas, 
James,  Mary  J.,  David,  George,  John  and  Nellie. 


I^HOS.  A.  JONES,  a  Union  veteran  of  the 
-*■  late  civil  war  and  a  gallant  soldier  in 
the  Army  of  the  Potomac,  who  was  wounded 
at  the  terrible  battle  of  the  Wilderness,  where 
in  the  three  days  fight.  May  fifth,  sixth   and 


seventh,  thirty-seven  tliousand,  seven  hundretl 
and  thirty -seven  others  of  tho.  army  to  which 
he  was  attached,  were  either  killed,  wounded, 
or  made  prisoner,  is  a  son  of  Robert  and  Mary 
(Manning)  Jones  and  was  born  May  10,  1845, 
in  the  village  of  Westfield,  Chautauqua  county, 
New  York.  The  Jones  family  is  of  English 
extraction,  the  immediate  ancestors  upon  both 
sides  being  ciiildren  of"  tlie  mother  of  the  new 
world."  Robert  Jones  was  born  in  England 
about  1800,  and  came  to  America  about  1825. 
He  first  located  at  Lyons,  Wayne  county,  then 
came  to  Westfield  and  then  went  to  Ohio, 
where  he  died.  Upon  familiarizing  himself 
with  our  political  institutions,  he  allied  himself 
with  the  republicans  and  was  a  factor  in  local 
politics.  In  1820  he  married  Mary  Manning, 
by  whom  he  had  eleven  children,  six  of  whom 
are  still  living.  Jacob  H.,  entered  Co.  G,  49th 
regiment  New  York  Infantry,  August  17,  1861, 
and  was  killed  April  2, 1865,  at  the  storming  cjf 
Petersburg.  He  .served  with  his  regiment  all 
through  the  war  and  lost  his  life  just  one  week 
before  General  Lee  made  his  final  capitulation  of 
the  Confederate  armies  under  his  immediate 
command.  The  battle  in  which  he  fell,  while 
not  as  disastrous  to  either  side  as  many  others, 
was  hard  fought  and  fiercely  contested,  no 
less  than  three  thousand  of  his  comrades  at 
arms  falling  in  the  struggle,  either  killed  or 
wounded. 

Thomas  A.  Jones  was  educated  at  the  com- 
mon schools.  When  the  49th  regiment  New 
York  Infantry  was  organized  he  joined  Co.  G, 
August  17,  1861,  and  served  until  1864,  a  total 
of  three  years  and  eleven  months.  Being  at- 
tached to  the  Army  of  the  Potomac  he  was  en- 
gaged in  nearly  all  of  the  important  battles  of 
this  renowned  organization.  He  was  wounded 
the  first  day  of  the  battle  of  the  Wilderness, 
May  5,  1864,  and  was  confined  to  the  hospital 
until  the  following  February.  Mr.  Jones  was 
a  valiant  soldier  and  made  an  honorable  record. 
Upon  returning  home  at  the  close  of  his  enlist- 


240 


BIOGRAPHY  AXD  HISTORY 


ment  he  settled  back  to  farming  and   has  been 
so  engaged  ever  since. 

On  December  17,  1.S64,  T.  A.  Jones  married 
Maria  Perdue,  a  daughter  of  William  Perdue, 
and  reared  a  family  of  five  children  :  Frances, 
wife  of  Michael  Decker,  a  Ripley  farmer ;  Fred 
L.;  Addie  A.,  married  John  Burgen,  who  tills 
the  soil  at  Northeast,  Erie  county.  Pa, ;  Belle 
and  Roy  A. 

T.  A.  Jones  has  been  identified  with  the  Re- 
publican party  and  is  now  a  postmaster  at 
South  Ripley,  receiving  his  appointment  April 
1, 1891.  Having  served  so  long  and  so  loyally 
in  the  Federal  army,  it  is  not  surprising  that 
he  is  an  enthusiastic  member  of  John  Braiden 
Post,  No.  488,  Grand  Army  of  the  Republic, 
which  meets  at  Northeast,  Erie  county,  Pa. 
He  is  a  good  citizen  and  has  the  confidence  and 
esteem  of  his  neighbors  and  townsmen. 
o 

/>-HARLES  W.  MORGAN  is  one  of  those 
^^  practical,  sagacious,  enterprising  business 
men  who  constitute  a  very  welcome  and  import- 
ant factor  in  the  material  welfare  and  progress 
of  a  community,  and  Jamestown  is  fortunate  in 
possessing  such  a  man.  He  is  a  son  of  Harvey 
and  Amy  (Crawford)  Morgan,  and  was  born  in 
Randolph,  Cattaraugus  county,  New  York, 
August  12, 1855.  Caleb  Morgan,  (great-grand- 
father) was  born  July  K',  1740,  and  died  at 
Raudol))h,  Vt.,  September  9.  1810,  iu  the  sev- 
enty-first year  of  his  age.  He  married  Ann 
Brooks,  who  was  born  March  18,  1745,  and 
died  December  11,  1816,  by  whom  he  had  sev- 
eral children.  Rufus  Morgan  (graudfatliei') 
was  born  in  Brattleboro,  Vt.,  May  4,  1781,  and 
died  in  Ran.l<.lpli,  Vt.,  October  H,  1827.  He 
married  Ruth  Kibbe,  who  was  born  April  it, 
1783,  by  whom  he  had  eleven  children  :  Laura, 
born  Siptember  5,  180<);  Maria,  born  March 
22,  1H08;  Norman,  born  June  .'50,  1809;  Cath- 
erine, born  February  2.3,  1811  ;  Caleb,  born 
Jidy  19,  1812;  Frederick,  born  October  12, 
1814;  Nancy,  Ikmii   March   12,   181  (J;  lOlijah, 


:  born  September  29,  1817  ;  Heman,  born  Sep- 
tember 2,  1819;  Harvey  (father),  born  August 

I  13,  1821  ;  and  Israel,  born  February  12,  1825. 

i  The  maternal  grandfather,  William  Crawford, 
was  born  in  Hebron,  W'ashingdui  county,  this 
State,  April  6,  1798,  was  a  iiirmer  by  occupa- 
tion and  died  in  Napoli,  Cattaraugus  county, 
same    State,  October    27,  1875.       He  married 

'  Betsy  Shaw,  of  White  Creek,  N.  Y.,  by  whom 
he  had  thirteen  children,  all  of  whom  were  born 
in  this  State:  Susan,  born  in  Hebron,  Wash- 
ington county,  April  19,  1820,  and  died  in 
Middleburg,  Schoharie  county,  September  12, 
1859;  Matilda  ]M.,  born  in  Hebron,  February 
20,    1822,    and    died    in    Napoli,    Cattaraugus 

I  county, October  15, 1880;  John,  born  in  Hebron, 
December  10,  1823;  Amy  (mother),  born  in 
Hebron,  August  30,  1825;  William,  Jr.,  born 
in  Bethan}',  Genesee  county,  August  23,  1827, 
and  died  in  Java,  AVyomiug  county,  April  5, 
1849;  Harriet,  born  iu  Bethany,  January  1, 
1829;  Phoebe  R.,  born  in  Bethany,  September 
1,   1831  ;    James,    born    iu    China,    Wyoming 

i  county,  July  21,  1833  ;  Dolly  B.,  born  in  China, 
July  2,  1835;  Cornelius,  born  in  Java,  May  5, 

I  1837  ;  Ira,  born  December  23,  1842,  and  died 
in  Napoli,  September  10,  1857;  Franklin  C, 
born  in  Java,  November  3,  1845  :  and  Daniel 

j  S.,  born  in  Java,  December  26,  1847.  Mrs. 
Crawford  was  born  in  White  Creek,  Washing- 
ton couuty,  August  15,  1802, and  died  in  Napoli, 
November 4, 1878,  both  husband  and  wife  being 
in  their  .seventy  seventh  year  when  summoned 
(o  join  the  silent  majority.  Harvey  Morgan 
(father)  was  born  in  Randolj)h,  Vt,,  August  13, 
1821,  and  when  a  young  man  emigrated  to 
Cat(ai'augns  county,  this  State,  and  tlicnc(!  to 
Allegany  county,  whert^  he  still  resides,  having 
retired  from  business,  his  profession  being  (hat 
of  a  denti.st.  In  |)oli(i<'s  he  is  a  republican,  and 
on  June  G,  18  ll,  he  married  .\my  Crawford, 
a  daughter  of  William  Crawford,  by  whom  he 
had  four  children:  Henry,  born  January  3, 
1840,  died  February  22,  18(37,  who  entered  (he 


OF  CHAUTAUQUA  COUNTY. 


24» 


army  during  the  late  civil  war,  was  taken  pris- 
oner and  imprisoned  at  C'aliawba,  Alabama, 
during  the  la.st  eighteen  months  of"  the  war,  from 
the  effects  of  whieii  inearceration  he  died  shortly 
after  his  release;  Aii(H',  born  May  IS,  1850, 
married  to  CJeorge  T.  Herry,  had  two  children, 
Fred.  N.,  born,  Dec.  8,  18()7  ;  and  Lewis  A., 
born  April  14,  1870,  who  died,  and  she  mar- 
ried for  her  second  husband  C.  II.  Kilburn,  who 
is  one  of  the  members  of  the  North  American 
Photo  Co|)ying  Co.,  of  Jamestown  ;  Charles  W.; 
and  Julia,  born  Nov.  8,  1857,  died  Feb.  6, 
1862. 

Charles  W.  Morgan  was  educated  in  the 
common  schools  of  Randolph,  this  State,  sup- 
plemented by  a  commercial  course  in  Chamber- 
lain Institute,  from  which  he  graduated  when 
sixteen  years  of  age,  and  afterwards  accepted  a 
position  as  book-keeper  and  clerk  in  a  grocery 
store  in  Randol]>h,  where  he  remained  until 
February,  1874,  when  he  went  to  Blue  Rapids, 
Kansas,  and  engaged  in  the  grocery  busines.s, 
but  becoming  dissatisfied  returned  to  Randolph 
in  the  autumn  of  the  same  year,  taking  a  posi- 
tion as  clerk  and  book-keeper  in  a  hardware 
store,  where  he  remained  several  years.  In 
January,  1881,  he  came  to  Jamestown  and  en- 
gaged in  the  plumbing  and  steam-heating  busi- 
ness in  which  he  was  very  successful.  In  May, 
1885,  his  health  being  seriously  impaired,  he 
sold  out  and  remained  inactive  until  January, 
1S8(J,  when  he  organized  the  Maddox  Reclining 
Chair  Co.,  which  was  afterwards  reorganized 
under  the  firm  name  of  Morgan,  Maddox  &  Co., 
and  engaged  in  the  manufacture  of  polished 
centre  tables,  with  wood,  marble  and  plush  tops, 
which  he  also  maiie  an  emphatic  success;  but 
being  interested  in  three  laud  companies  in 
Buffalo,  owning  twelve  lots  of  valuable  real 
estate  in  Jamestown  and  a  farm  of  one  hundred 
and  twenty-five  acres  hi  Cattaraugus  county,  he 
was  unable  to  devote  an  adequate  amount  of 
time  to  the  table  business  and  therefore  sold  out 
his   interest  in   that  firm   in  July,   1890.      In 


October  of  the  same  year  he  commenced  the 
erection  of  a  large  factory  to  be  devoted  to  the 

I  manufacture  of  furniture,  the  building  being 
located  midway  belwecMi  tiie  Erie  and  the  Ciian- 
tanqua  lake  railways,  and  on  the  bank  of  the 
( 'hautaiKjua    lake  outlet,  a  few  rods  from   the 

I  wharves  of  the  large  steamboats,  rendering  the 
facilities  for  receiving  material  and  shipping 
pnxlucts  unsurpassed.  He  then  organized  the 
Morgan  Manufacturing  Co.,  associating  with 
him  L.  C.  Jagger,  thus  forming  one  of  the 
.strongest  practical  business  firms  in  wijstern 
New  York.  Their  .specialty  is  the  finest  grades 
of  library  and   parlor  tables  and   their  factory, 

,  which  is  50x120  feet  and  five  .stories  in  height, 

I  with  an  addition  of  thirty-one  feet  for  the  boiler, 
engine  and  dry  kiln,  is  equipped  with  the  most 
modern  and  best  makes  of  machinery,  mostly 
located  on  the  second  floor,  which  is  four  inches 
thick  and  so  rigid  that  there  is  scarcely  a  tremor 
when  all  the  machinery  is  in  motion.  The 
bench    work    is   done    on   the  third    floor,  the 

I  tops  finished  and  the  tables  set  up  on  the  fourth 
floor  and  the  frame  finishing  on  the  fifth  floor. 

i  Everything  has  been  done  to  facilitate  the  busi- 
ness which  large  practical  experience  and  in- 
genuity could  suggest.     The  firm  employs  from 

i  one  hundred  to  one  hundred  and  fifty  men,  ac- 

I  cording  to  the  season,  and  are  bound  from  the 
nature  of  things,  their  enterprise  and  experience 
and  their  reputation,  lo  achieve  a  phenomenal 
success.  In  the  winter  of  1889-90  Mr.  Morgan 
aided  in  organizing  the  Tousley  Harvester  Co., 
of  which  he  is  president. 

On    May  26,  1875,  Mr.  Morgan   united  in 

I  marriage    with    Stella,  daughter   of  Thaddeus 

I  Cornell,  of  Randolph,  Cattaraugus  county,  by 
whom  he  has  two  children  :  Ray  Hart,  born 
March  17,  1876,  and  Alice  Marie,  born  De- 
cember 11,  1885. 

In  politics  Mr.  Morgan  is  an  independent 
republican  and  in  religion  is  a  member  of  the 
Independent  Congregational  church.  He  is  a 
member  of  Randolph  Lodge,  No.  448,  I.  O,  O. 


244 


BIOGRAPHY  AND  HISTORY 


F.,  of  Randolph ;  Mt.  Moriah  Lodge,  No.  145, 
F.  and  A.  M.;  Western  Sun  Chapter,  No.  67, 
R.  A  M. ;  and  Jamestown  Commaudery,  No.  61, 
K.  T.,  of  Jamestown.  Having  cared  for  him- 
self since  he  was  fifteen  years  of  age  and  accu- 
mulated a  handsome  property  by  his  own  un- 
aided efforts,  he  may  be  safely  ranked  as  a  most 
successful  self-made  man,  who  enjoys  the  con- 
fidence, respect  and  esteem  of  all  who  know  him. 


I^R.  JOSEPH  C.   OIFFORD,  a  successful 

^^  and  one  of  the  oldest  dentists  of  \yest- 
field,  Chautauqua  county,  has  been  successful 
in  three  widely  different  kinds  of  business,  ex- 
hibiting a  versatility  and  powers  of  application 
quite  unusual  in  a  single  individual.  He  is  a 
son  of  William  and  Phoebe  (Cornell)  Gifford, 
and  was  born  in  the  town  of  Ellery,  Chautau- 
qua county.  New  York,  September  I8th,  1826. 
His  paternal  grandfather,  Jeremiah  Gifford,  was 
one  of  the  early  settlers  of  this  county,  remov- 
ing hither  from  Washington  county,  this  State, 
and  settling  on  lot  No.  23,  in  the  town  of  Busti, 
where  he  pursued  farming  until  his  death.  Wil- 
liam Gifford  (father)  was  a  prominent  man  of 
Chautau(jua  county  ;  he  was  born  in  Washing- 
ton county  in  1797,  and  came  here  iu  1824, 
settlinsr  in  the  town  of  Ellerv  the  followius: 
year,  where  he  engaged  in  farming  and  hunber- 
ing.  In  1832  he  was  appointed  keeper  of  the 
poor-house,  and  held  that  position  until  1841, 
and  then  moved  to  Mayviile,  where  he  lived 
until  death  called  him,  in  1885,  when  he  had 
reached  the  age  of  eighty-eight  years.  He  held 
f  lie  offices  of  county  superintendent  of  the  poor, 
1840-1813;  county  treasurer,  1847-56,  a  pe- 
riod of  nine  years,  and  was  tluMi  elected  justice 
of  the  peace,  and  held  that  office  for  a  number 
of  years.  (Jrigiiially  he  w:us  a  whig,  but  after 
the  war  he  voted  with  the  democrats.  When  a 
young  man  he  becainc  a  member  of  the  Method- 
ist church,  and  tiirougiiout  his  life  held  many 
offices  in  that  body,  being  always  an  active  and 
influential   member,  and    making  his  house  the 


temporary  home  of  every  traveling  preacher. 
He  married  Phrebe  Cornell,  of  White  Creek, 
Washington  county,  by  whom  he  had  five  sous: 
Edson,  Horace  H.,  George  W.,  Joseph  C.  and 
James.  His  wife,  Phrebe  Cornell  Gifford,  sur- 
vived her  husband  three  years,  and  died  in 
1888,  aged  eighty-five  years. 

Joseph  C.  Gifford,  after  receiving  his  educa- 
tion in  the  common  schools  and  the  Jamestown 
academy,  left  the  farm  to  engage  with  his  bro- 
ther, Horace  H.  Gifford,  in  the  carding  and 
cloth  dressing  business  at  Panama,  this  county, 
and  they  afterward  moved  to  Wrightsville, 
Warren  county,  Pennsylvania,  of  which  latter 
place  he  was  a  resident  for  eight  years.  In 
1852  he  came  to  Westfield  and  engaged  in  the 
hardware  business ;  he  followed  it  for  four 
years,  in  the  meantime  studying  dentistry,  and 
began  to  practice  this  profession  in  1856,  and 
by  close  application  to  business  in  a  few  years 
he  succeeded  in  establishing  an  extensive  prac- 
tice, which  he  has  maintained  ever  since.  Iu 
religion  Dr.  Giflbrd  is  a  member  of  the  Method- 
ist  Episcopal  church  at  Westfield,  in  which  body 
he  has  been  recording  steward  for  thirty-nine 
years.  Politically  he  is  a  democrat,  and  is  a 
member  and  Past  Master  of  Summit  Lodge, 
No.  219,  F.  and  A.  M.,  of  Westfield;  he  is 
also  chaplain  and  Past  High  Priest  of  Westfield 
Chapter  Royal  Arch  Masons. 

Joseph  C.  Gifford  is  one  of  Westfield's  best 
citizens  in  every  sense  of  the  word,  broad  and 
liberal-minded,  kind,  genial  and  generous,  fore- 
most iu  good  works  and  with  a  large  array  of 
friends. 

On  Jatuiary  19,  1848,  he  married  Rachel  R. 
Messenger,  a  daughter  of  Chauncey  Messenger, 
of  Wrightsville,  Warren  (bounty.  Pa.  Their 
oiilv  child,  Clarence,  wiio  was  a  young  man  of 
bright  promise,  died  upon  the  eve  of  his  gradu- 
ation from  Amhei'st  College,  in  1877,  when  in 
the  twentieth  year  of  his  age.  1 1  is  untimely 
death  was  a  source  of  great  and  lasting  .sorrow 
to  his  parents. 


OF  CHAUTAUQUA  COUNTY. 


245 


■♦^.\^'ID  O.  SHKRWIAN,  tlie  only  sou  of 
^^  Merritt  aiul  Laura  (Barnes)  Sherman, 
was  born  in  We.stfielil,  (Jliautaiiqua  comity,  New 
York,  May  7th,  1833.  His  grandfather  was 
Ahram  S.  Sherman,  a  native  of  Albany  county, 
this  State.  From  there  he  went  to  Cayuga 
county,  and  then  came  to  Ciiautauqua  at  an 
early  date,  where  he  followed  farming  and  be- 
came prosperous.  lie  affiliated  with  the  Whig 
party,  which  at  that  time  was  dominant.  He 
married  and  reared  a  family  of  six  sous  and 
two  daughters.  Merritt  Sherman  was  born 
during  his  parents  sojourn  in  ('ayuga  county. 
He  learned  farming  and  followed  it  through  life. 
He  came  to  Chautauqua  county  and  settled,  and 
lived  for  a  number  of  years,  but  died  in  James- 
town in  1891.  His  sympathies  and  votes  were 
cast  with  the  followers  of  Hamilton,  but  he 
refrained  from  active  political  life.  He  mar- 
ried Laura  Barnes,  a  daughter  of  John  Barnes, 
who  lived  at  Ashville,  Harmony  P.  O.,  this 
county.  They  were  the  parents  of  three  chil- 
dren, two  daughters  and  (jne  son.  One  daugh- 
ter married  W.  W.  Eddy,  and  lives  at  James- 
town, N.  Y. ;  the  second  sister  married  Samuel 
Cowing,  and  resides  at  Lakewood,  N.  Y. 

David  O.  Sherman,  the  subject  of  our  sketch, 
was  reared  on  the  farm  and  passed  his  early 
days  in  the  usual  manner  which  country  boys 
do.  The  public  schools,  that  bulwark  of  the 
nation's  safety,  furnished  him  an  education 
which  has  stood  him  in  good  stead  throughout 
his  long  and  honorable  life.  In  April,  1857, 
he  married  for  his  first  wife  Miss  Amanda 
Currier,  who  was  a  native  of  Arcade,  AVyoming 
county,  this  State,  and  after  her  death  he  mar- 
ried Mrs.  Carrie  (Bailey)  Sabin,  a  daughter  of 
Gambriel  Bailey,  of  Hadden,  Conn.,  who  died 
in  Holyoke,  Mass.,  in  1826.  He  was  a  shoe- 
maker by  trade,  at  which  he  worked  iu  connec- 
tion with  his  farming.  Politically  Mr.  Bailey 
was  a  Connecticut  democrat  and  married  Lucy 
Phelps.  They  reared  a  family  of  nine  children, 
two  sons  and  seven  daughters.     Mrs.  Sherman 


has  been  three  times  married:  first  to  Hector 
L.  Bodwell ;  second  to  David  Sabin,  by  whom 
she  had  one  ilaughter,  Nettie,  now  the  wife  of 
Martin  Harrington,  a  fiirmer  in  the  town  of 
Ripley;  and  last  to  David  O.  Sherman,  on 
September  a'lth,  1889.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Sherman 
have  a  very  happy  and  pleasant  home.  He  is 
courteous,  hos|)itable  and  generous,  and  a  man 
of  well-known  integrity  both  in  public  and 
private  life. 

For  twenty  years  he  was  in  mercantile  life  at 
No.  207  Main  Street,  Buffalo,  in  the  wholesale 
grocery  trade,  and  for  the  same  length  of  time 
at  other  places.  He  established  himself  in 
Buffalo  in  1857,  and  remained  until  the  year 
following  the  nation's  Centennial  of  Indepen- 
dence. 


^HAKLES  N.  WILCOX,  was  born  in 
^^  Charlotte,  Chautauqua  county,  New  York, 
October  2,  1851,  and  is  a  son  of  Elisha  and 
Caroline  (Barnum)  Wilcox.  His  paternal 
grandfather,  Samuel  Wilcox,  was  born  in 
Chenango  county,  New  Y'ork,  and  at  an  early 
age  he  learned  the  trade  of  mill-wright  and 
worked  at  it  until  1830,  when  he  moved  to 
this  county,  and  settled  in  the  town  of  Char- 
lotte, where  he  bought  a  farm,  which  he  culti- 
vated in  connection  with  his  trade  until  1840, 
in  which  year  he  went  to  Kentucky  to  build  a 
mill,  where,  in  a  short  time,  he  died.  He  was 
married  to  Amanda  Savage  and  had  eight 
children,  five  sons  and  three  daughters  :  Alonzo ; 
Eliab  ;  Joseph  ;  Elisha  (father)  ;  Louis  ;  Abi- 
gail, who  married  first.  Freeman  L.  Link,  then 
Charles  Ripley  ;  Louisa,  married  Morgan  Link  ; 
and  Amanda,  who  married  Albert  Warner. 
Mrs.  Wilcox  died  in  1849,  aged  fifty-five  years. 
The  maternal  grandfather  of  C.  N.  Wilcox  was 
Eliakim  Barnum,  who  was  born  in  Chenango 
county.  New  Y'ork,  in  1800  and  in  1816  came 
to  this  county  and  settled  in  the  so-called 
"  Pickett  District "  in  Charlotte,  being  one  of 
the   first  settlers   in  that  town.     The  original 


246 


BIOGRAPHY  AND  HISTORY 


Barnums  of  America  came  from  England.  Two  ' 
brothers  were  stolen,  placed  on  board  a  man-of- 
war  and  sent  to  Virginia,  and  from  these  sprang 
the  family.  Phineas  T.  Barnum,  the  famous 
showman,  was  a  relative  of  Eliakira  Barnum, 
who  bought  one  hundred  and  fifty  acres  of  land  j 
in  the  Pickett  district,  cultivated  it  for  thirty 
years  and  sold  it  to  his  son.  His  grandson, 
Charles  H.  Barnum,  now  owns  the  place. 
Eliakim  Barnum  was  considerable  of  a  specula- 
tor in  real  estate  and  made  large  sums  of 
money.  He  died  April  25,1875,  and  Mrs.  Bar- 
num died  iu  February,  1878,  aged  seventy-seven 
years.  He  was  married  in  1824  to  Sophia 
Underwood  and  by  her  had  five  children,  three 
sons  and  two  daughters  :  Eliab  ;  Noah  ;  Charles ; 
Caroline  (mother)  ;  and  Mary,  who  married 
Brainard  Kappell.  Elisha  Wilcox  (father)  was 
born  in  Chenango  county,  this  State,  September  \ 
15,  1827,  and  came  with  his  parents  to  this 
county,  in  1830,  settling  in  Charlotte.  He 
worked  on  his  father's  farm  until  he  was  four-  : 
teen  years  old,  when  his  father  died  and  the  | 
farm  was  sold  April  1,  1851  ;  when  he  was 
twenty-four  years  of  age  he  bought  a  farm  of 
cue  hundred  and  twenty-one  acres  in  the  Pickett 
district  in  Charlotte,  and  lived  there  until  1871,  ' 
when  he  moved  to  Pomfret,  where  he  bought  a 
farm  of  fifty-nine  acres,  lived  on  it  eighteen 
years  and  then  moved  to  Cassadaga  and  bought 
a  house  and  lot,  where  he  now  resides.  In  re- 
ligion he  is  a  member  of  the  Christian  church  , 
at  Ark  Wright,  of  which  he  was  trustee  several 
years.  Elisha  Wilcox  was  married  December 
22,  1850,  to  (Airuiine  Barnum  ;  by  her  he  had 
two  sons,  Elisha  and  George  O.,  the  latter  being 
a  iiicrcliaiit  in  Cherry  Creek,  this  county,  who 
married  first,  Lizzie  Todd  and  second,  Mira 
Hartley,  and  has  two  children.  Both  parents 
are  still  living. 

Charles  N.  Wih^ix  was  educated  in  the  dis- 
trict schools  of  Charlotte,  until  he  was  eighteen 
years  of  age,  when  he  entered  the  State  Normal 
school  at  Fredonia  for  a   term,  after  which,  he 


taught  school  for  one  term.  After  his  marriage 
he  .settle<I  on  his  father's  farm  in  Charlotte, 
where  he  lived  four  years  and  then  moved  to 
Cas.sadaga,  and  bought  a  half  interest  in  the 
hardware  store  of  C.  S.  Shepard,  with  whom  he 
remained  a  year,  when  he  bought  him  out  and 
has  since  continued  the  business,  carrying  four 
thousand  dollars  worth  of  stock  on  an  average, 
and  having  a  patronage  of  twelve  thousand  dol- 
lars a  year.  He  has  a  general  line  of  hard  and 
tin-ware,  stoves  and  everything  one  would  ex- 
pect to  find  in  a  first-class  hardware  store.  As 
a  secret  society  man,  he  is  a  member  and  W.  M. 
of  Sylvan  Lodge,  No.  303,  F.  and  A.  M.  of 
Sinclairville,  and  a  charter  member  of  Cassa- 
daga Lake  Lodge,  No.  28,  A.  O.  U.  W.  of 
Cassadaga. 

Charles  N.  Wilcox  was  married  to  Alice 
Sears,  a  daughter  of  Lyman  and  Anna  (Pier- 
pont)  Sears,  the  father  being  a  farmer  in  Gerry, 
this  county,  whither  he  came  from  Franklin 
county,  Massachusetts,  in  1868.  By  this  union 
there  has  been  one  son,  Ernest  H.,  who  is  now 
in  school. 


HON.  LORENZO  MORRIS,  a  prominent 
lawyer  of  Fredonia  and  an  (.'x-State 
.senator  of  New  York,  was  born  in  Madison 
county,  New  York,  August  14,  1817,  and  is  a 
.son  of  David  and  Abigail  (Blodgett)  Morris. 
David  Morris  and  his  wife  were  both  natives  of 
New  England,  and  .settled  in  the  town  of  Chau- 
tauqua, this  county,  in  1829.  After  some  years 
they  removed  to  Sherman,  where  Mr.  Morris 
died  in  1S().S,  aged  seventy-seven  years.  His 
wife  passed  away  in  1873,  at  eighty  years  of 
age. 

Lorenzo  Morris  attended  the  common  .schools, 
then  entered  the  old  Mayville  academy,  from 
which  he  was  graduated  in  183(i,  and  was  after- 
wards engaged  in  leaching  for  a  few  years.  In 
1837  he  turned  his  attention  to  the  .study  of  law, 
and  read  for  two  years  with  Hon.  Thomas  A. 
Osborne,  one  of  the  five  jutlges  of  wliic^h  the 


^ 


'^^^TD 


^, 


■^ 


OF  aHATITM'QlIA    COPNTY. 


249 


court  of  common  pleas  of  Cliautaiiijua  coimty 
then  consisted.  In  1840  lie  went  to  Jamestown 
where  he  read  for  one  year  with  Jndge  Cooke, 
and  after  being  admitted  to  practice  in  the  court 
of  common  pleas  became  a  partner  of  his  pre- 
ceptor. The  law  tiien  recpiircd  seven  years  of 
practice  as  a  requisite  for  admission  as  an  attor- 
ney before  the  supreme  court  of  the  State,  but 
made  a  reduction  of  time  in  favor  of  those  who 
had  pursued  classical  studies,  and  Mr.  Morris 
having;  a  certificate  of  a  classical  course  of  read- 
ing,  was  admitted  as  an  attorney  of  the  supreme 
court  in  1844,  at  the  end  of  only  three  years 
practice  in  the  lower  courts.  In  the  same  year 
he  removed  to  Mayville  and  practiced  until 
1852,  when  he  came  to  Fredonia  wher&  he  has 
been  in  active  and  successful  practice  ever  since. 
In  1838  he  was  commissioned  by  Gov.  William 
H.  Seward  as  lieutenant-colonel  of  the  207th 
regiment,  N.  Y.  militia,  in  which  he  had  served 
as  adjutant.  He  was  elected  colonel  during  the 
next  year  and  commanded  the  regiment  until 
1842,  when  he  resigned. 

On  October  5,  1843,  he  married  Fannie  E. 
Strong,  daughter  of  Walter  Strong,  an  early 
settler  and  proujinent  citizen  of  the  town  of 
Westfield.  She  died  June  2,  1873,  and  left 
three  children  :  Mrs.  Ellen  M.  Russel,  Mrs.  S. 
H.  Albro,  and  Walter  D.  Morris,  cashier  of  the 
Citizens  Bank  of  Watertowu,  South  Dakota. 
On  May  28,  1885,  he  united  in  marriage  with 
Mrs.  Marian  H.  (Hovey)  Stillraan,  of  Fredonia. 

In  politics  Senator  Morris  is  an  old-time 
democrat  who  is  opposed  to  measures  antago- 
nistic to  the  principles  of  Jefferson  and  Jackson. 
He  was  appointed  in  1871  as  one  of  the  trustees 
of  the  asylum  for  the  insane  at  Buffalo,  which 
position  he  resigned  in  1875.  His  political 
career  commenced  in  1867,  when  he  was  nomi- 
nated by  his  party  as  their  candidate  for  State 
senator  in  the  twenty-si.xth  district,  composed  of 
the  counties  of  Cattaraugus  and  Chautauqua. 
Although  the  district  was  largely  republican, 
yet  he  was  elected   by  two  hundred  and   three 


majority  over  his  two  republican  coni|)('ti(ors, 
■  and  served  (^'cditably  in  tiie  State  Senate  during 
its  ses,sion  of  1868-()it.  In  1872  he  was  a 
member  of  the  convention  wiiich  met  that  year 
in  Albany  to  revise  the  State  constitution. 
Senator  Morris  has  always  taken  great  interest 
in  the  common  schools  and  all  general  nialters 
of  public  itnprovement.  While  serving  in  the 
State  Senate  he  procured  the  abolition  of  the 
local  board  of  managers  of  the  Fredonia  Normal 
school,  the  school  having  closed  for  want  of 
harmony,  and  placed  the  .school  under  the  con- 
trol of  the  State  superintendent  until  1873, 
when  he  was  made  president  of  a  new  board  of 
trustees  which  has  been  harmonious  and  the 
school  prosperous,  and  is  now  justly  recognized 
as  one  of  the  best  of  the  normal  schools  in  the 
State. 


Ti^II^LIAM  BROADHEAD  was  born  in 
-*'■-  Thornton,  Yorkshire,  England,  Febru- 
ary 17,  1819.  While  still  a  lad  he  was  appren- 
ticed for  a  year  to  learn  the  trade  of  a  weaver. 
At  the  end  of  that  year  he  began  working  in 
the  smithy  with  his  father,  and  continued  with 
him  until  he  became  of  age. 

In  January,  1843,  being  dissatisfied  with  his 
])rospects  in  England,  he  emigrated  to  America, 
going  first  to  Busti,  where  his  uncle,  the  Rev. 
John  Broadhead,  was  living.  Seeing  that 
Jamestown  offered  a  much  more  favorable  open- 
ing to  a  young  man,  he  sought  employment 
there  and  found  it  in  the  shop  of  Safford  Eddy. 
But  he  was  too  ambitious  to  remain  a  day 
laborer  long.  Ever  on  the  lookout  for  .some- 
thing more  profitable,  he  soon  found  the  oppor- 
tunity of  forming  a  partnership  with  Adam 
Cobb,  whose  daughter  Lucy  he  had  married  in 
1845.  The  firm  of  Cobb  &  Broadhead,  scythe 
snath  manufacturers,  continued  in  existence  for 
nine  years,  and  was  then  dissolved,  Mr.  Cobb 
continuing  in  the  manufacture  of  snaths  and 
grain  cradles  and  Mr.  Broadhead  in  that  of 
axes  and  forks. 


250 


BIOGRAPHY  AND  HISTORY 


When  his  eldest  son,  Shelden,  was  about 
twenty  years  old,  Mr.  Broadhead  opened  a 
clothing  store,  taking  this  son  into  partnership 
with  him,  and  a  few  years  later  he  gave  his 
younger  son,  Almet,  an  interest  in  the  business. 
Under  the  firm-uame  of  William  Broadhead  & 
Sons  their  business  increased  rapidly,  until  they 
soon  had  the  largest  merchant  tailoring  estab- 
lishment in  Jamestown  or  the  surrounding 
country. 

In  1872,  Mr.  Broadhead,  accompanied  by 
his  wife  and  eldest  daughter,  visited  his  native 
home.  Great  changes  had  taken  place  dur- 
ing his  thirty  years  absence,  especially  in  the 
neighboring  city  of  Bradford,  whicli  had  be- 
come the  centre  of  the  worsted  manufactur- 
ing interests  in  England.  His  early  interest, 
awakened  when  as  a  boy  he  learned  to  weave 
at  a  hand-loom,  was  now  re-kindled  by  the 
signs  of  prosperity  and  success  due  to  these 
mills.  He  returned  to  Jamestown  thoroughly 
imbued  with  the  idea  that  the  establishment 
of  a  mill  for  the  manufacture  of  dress  good.s 
in  Jamestown,  was  feasible  and  would  be  most 
ijeueficial  to  the  town  as  well  as  profitable  to 
the  owners.  While  he  had  by  industry,  eco- 
nomical habits,  close  attention  to  business  and 
successful  investments  in  real  estate  acquired 
a  considerable  sum,  he  felt  that  so  large  an 
undertaking  demanded  more  money  than  he 
could  personally  command,  and  so  he  set  about 
to  interest  some  of  his  moneyed  townsmen  in 
his  project.  The  result  of  his  efforts  was  the 
formation  of  tiic  firm  of  Hall,  Broadhead  & 
Turner;  Mr.  \\'illiam  Hail  to  assist  him  in 
furnishing  the  money,  and  Mr.  Joseph  Turner, 
of  England,  who  had  had  some  experience  in 
tlie    business. 

The  ai|)aca  mill  erected  by  tiie  (irm  in 
1873,  continued  for  one  year  ami  a  liaH"  to  i)c 
owned  by  lliem,  and  then  Mr.  Broadhead 
withdrew.  A  sliort  time  afterward  he  erected 
another  mill,  for  the  manufacture  of  simi- 
lar cloths,  this  time    having    for  partners  his 


two  sons.  When  the  business  wa.s  well  es- 
tablished, William  Broadhead  &  Sons  disposed 
of  their  clothing  store  and  turned  their  entire 
attention  to  the  manufacture  of  ladies'  dress 
goods.  The  mills  have  been  enlarge<l  from 
time  to  time  as  the    business  demanded. 

Early  in  the  spring  of  1880  Mr.  Broad- 
head again  visited  England  for  the  purpose 
of  buying  some  of  the  latest  improved  ma- 
chinery for  his  mills. 

The  mills  in  their  present  condition  con- 
sist of  six  large  buildings,  covering  about 
four  acres  and  giving  employment  to  seven 
hundred  operatives.  Their  salesmen  traverse 
nearly  every  State  and  territory  in  the  Union, 
and  such  is  the  reputation  of  their  goods  that 
it  is  at  times  difficult  to  supply  the  de- 
mand. 

As  Mr.  Broadhead  foresaw,  these  mills  have 
contributed  immeasurably  to  the  growth  and 
prosperity  of  the  city.  Much  of  the  steady  in- 
crease in  population  is  due  to  their  continued 
demand  for  skilled  workmen.  The  good  wages 
and  constant  employment  have  attracted  hither 
family  after  family  of  intelligent  and  industri- 
ous English  people,  who  have  proved  them- 
selves most  acceptable  citizens. 

Mr.  Broadhead  is  politically  an  ardent  re- 
publican and  a  strong  protectionist,  believing 
that  policy  to  be  even  more  nece.ssary  for  the 
welfare  of  his  employees  than  for  himself 

In  his  native  town  Mr.  Broadhead  was  a 
member  of  the  Wesleyan  Methodi.st  churcii  and 
a  suju'rintendent  in  its  Sabbath  .school.  On 
settling  in  Jamestown,  he  joined  the  Methodi.st 
Epi.scopal  church  lus  the  denomination  nearest 
like  the  Wesleyan.  I'cforc  the  war,  when  the 
Methodist  church  was  divided  on  tlie  subject  of 
slavery,  quite  a  number  of  abolitionists,  among 
them  Mr.  Broadhead,  left  the  Methodist  church 
!  anil  formed  a  Wesleyan  organization  which 
continued  in  exi.stencc  luitil  1862,  when  the 
church  building  was  destroyed  by  fire.  Since 
then  Mr.  Broadhead  has  been  an  active  member 


OF  CHAUTAUQUA   COUNTY. 


251 


of  the  First  Congregational  cliurcli,  coiitri!)iit- 
iiig  liberally  to  its  support. 

To  William  aud  Lucy  Broadlicad  six  chil- 
dren have  been  born  :  Shelden  Brady,  associ- 
ated with  Mr.  Broadhead  in  l)usint'ss,  who  was 
married  in  1870  to  Mary  Woodworth  ;  Her- 
wood,  who  died  at  tiie  age  of"  seven  years  ; 
Aluiet  Norval,  also  a  partner  witli  his  father, 
who  was  married  in  1886  to  Margaret  Allen 
Bradshaw;  Mary  T.,  who  married  Adna  H. 
Reynolds  and  now  resides  in  Tacoma,  Wash- 
ington :  Stella  Florine;  and  Mertie  M.,  who  re- 
side with  their  parents. 


^ARLOS  EWELL.  One  of  the  foremost 
^^  business  men  in  the  village  of  Silver 
Creek  at  the  time  of  his  death  was  Carlos  Ewell, 
who  was  born  in  Middlebury,  Wyoming  county, 
New  York,  in  1833,  and  died  at  his  home  in 
Silver  Creek  about  noon  on  tiie  '27tli  day  of 
October,  1887. 

On  the  10th  day  of  January,  185(j,  he  mar- 
ried Annette  Wilson,  of  Wyoming  county,  and 
the  union  resulted  in  a  family  of  three  children: 
Mrs.  George  Moore  resides  in  Fredonia;  Ernesl 
graduated  at  the  Buffalo  Medical  University 
and  is  practicing  in  that  city  ;  and  Josephine,  a 
miss  now  six  years  of  age. 

Carlos  Ewell  came  to  Silver  Creek  in  1866 
and  bought  a  one-fourth  interest  in  the  manu- 
facturing establishment  of  Howes,  Babcock  & 
Co.,  and  the  style  of  the  firm  was  changed  to 
Howes,  Babcock  &  Ewell ;  later  Mr.  Babcock 
retired  and  the  hou.se  was  known  as  Howes  & 
Ewell.  During  the  first  ten  years  of  his  con- 
nection with  this  company  Mr.  Ewell  became 
quite  prominent  in  local  politics,  but  in  1877  he 
was  .severely  attacked  with  nervous  prostration, 
which  entirely  unfitted  him  for  business  of  any 
kind  for  a  period  of  six  years,  when  he  seemed 
to  secure  a  new  lease  of  health  and  from  tliat 
date  until  his  death  he  was  apparently  on  the  liigli- 
way  of  longevity;  and  he  again  assumed  the  ar- 
duous duties  of  purchaser  and  general  overseer  of 


the  works  that  had  grown  to  lai'ge  ])rop()rtions 
and  in  wliicii  he  had  acquired  a  half  interest. 
He  applied  him.self  diligently  to  business,  in 
fact  too  clo.sely,  and  it  was  not  long  before  his 
kidney  trouble  again  displayed  its  j)rcsencc  and 
soon  developed  into  acute  Brigiit's  disea.se,  which 
compelled  him  to  abandon,  one  after  the  other, 
the  duties  he  had  been  accustomed  to  perform 
until  exhausted  vilality  gave  way  and  his  life 
expiretl.  Carlos  Ewell  was  a  man  of  positive 
character,  as  exacting  in  his  requirements  upon 
those  whom  he  employed  as  he  was  rigiil  in  the 
discharge  of  those  duties  that  he  himself  was 
expected  to  perform,  yet  he  possessed  the  faculty 
of  commanding  the  respectful  attachment  of  his 
employees,  and  withal  was  popular  with  his 
men,  neighbors  and  fellow-townsmen.  By  his 
untiring  attention  to  business,  although  so  many 
years  compelled  to  relinquish  its  active  superin- 
tendence, he  secured  a  substantial  fortune.  So- 
cial pleasures  had  but  small  attraction  for  him, 
his  chief  happiness  appearing  to  centre  in  his 
business  and  his  family.  After  his'  decea.se  his 
interest  in  the  machinery  factory,  tlien  known  as 
the  Eureka  works,  was  disposed  of  to  his  for- 
mer associate,  Simeon  Howes,  who  still  contin- 
ues the  business. 

For  fifteen  years  Mr.  Ewell  was  a  member  of 
the  Presbyterian  church  and  was  a  lil)eral  con- 
tributor to  its  support.  In  1882  he  erected  at 
Silver  Creek  one  of  the  finest  residences  in 
Chautauqua  county,  a  model  of  convenience  and 
architectural  beautj',  in  which  his  widow,  who 
has  since  married  Gilbert  B.  Brewster,  now  re- 
sides. INIr.  Brewster  was  formerly  of  Addi.son, 
New  York.  He  was  born  in  Elmira,  Chemung 
county.  New  York,  in  1828,  removing  to  Ad- 
di.son in  1845.  Mr.  Brewster  has  been  enarasfed 
in  various  business  enterprises  in  Addi.son  but 
has  now  retired  from  active  business  and  resides 
in  Silver  Creek. 


252 


BIOGRAPHY   AND  HISTORY 


FKEDERIC^K  A.  FUL1.,KK,  an  old  and 
well-known  citizen  of  Jamestown,  who 
has  been  identified  with  tiie  progress  and  pros- 
perity of  that  thriving  city  for  over  fifty 
years,  is  a  son  of  Frederick  A.  and  Rachel 
(Gordon)  Fnller,  and  was  born  in  Rutland, 
Vermont,  May  24,  1813.  Frederick  A.  Fuller, 
is  a  lineal  descendant  of  Dr.  Samuel  Fuller, 
who  was  one  of  the  "Pilgrim  Fathers,"  who 
came  over  in  the  Mayflower  and  who  was  one 
of  the  signers  on  board  of  that  historic  bark  of 
the  immortal  civil  compact  of  the  Puritans,  the 
oldest  as  well  as  one  of  the  noblest  written  con- 
stitutions of  the  new  world.  Dr.  Fuller  was 
the  grandfather  of  Ebenezer  Fuller  of  Ply- 
mouth, whose  son,  Ebenezer  Fuller,  Jr.,  was 
born  in  1695,  and  died  in  1759.  He  settled  iu 
1731,  at  Hebron,  Connecticut,  where  his  farm 
is  still  in  the  hands  of  his  descendants.  He 
married  Joanna  Gray  and  had  one  child,  Eben- 
ezer Fuller  (great-graudfather),  who  was  born 
September  25,  1715,  in  Massachusetts  and  died 
at  Hebron.  He  married,  on  September  30, 
1 738,  Mary  Rowley,  by  whom  he  had  four  sons 
and  two  daughters.  One  of  these  sons,  Roger 
Fuller  (grandfather),  was  born  September  25, 
1773,  and  died  September  24,  1819.  He  was 
a  farmer,  lived  on  the  home  farm  at  Hebron  and 
was  married  four  times.  His  wives  were 
Martha  Plielj>s,  by  whom  he  had  five  .sons  and 
four  daughters ;  Violetta  Taylor,  who  bore  him 
one  son  and  two  daughters ;  Louisa  Taylor  and 
Jjouisa  Kenney.  The  third  son  by  the  first 
marriage  was  Frederick  A.  Fuller  (father),  who 
was  born  in  Tolland  county,  Conn.,  March  1, 
1775,  and  removed  to  Rutland,  Vermont, 
where  he  was  a  successful  merchant  and  wliei-e 
he  died  July  20,  1832.  He  was  a  federalist 
and  whig,  married  January  20,  1811.  Rachel 
Gordon  and   reared  a  family  of  five  children  : 


Samuel   G.,    l)orii  in    1811     and    lost, 


on 


The 


Home"  on  his  return  to  Cliarlcstdu,  S.  C, 
where  he  was  a  merchant;  Frederick  A.,  Frank, 
born    May  20,  1815;  Dudley    B. ;   and  Mary 


Ann.  Mrs.  Fuller,  who  died  in  Jamestown, 
October  28,  1856,  was  a  daughter  of  Capt. 
Samuel  Gordon,  a  Revolutionary  officer,  who 
was  at  YorktowD  and  afterwards  commanded  a 
company  in  the  war  of  1812.  He  died  at  Troy, 
this  State,  aged  ninety-four  and  was  a  son  of 
John  Gordon,  who  came  from  Scotland  to 
America  as  a  British  soldier  iu  the  French  and 
Indian  war,  and  afterwards  settled  at  Belch- 
town,  Conn,  where  he  died.  He  had  four 
children,  one  sou  and  three  daughters. 

Frederick  A.  Fuller  received  a  common 
school  education  at  Rutland,  Vermont,  where 
he  learned  the  jewelry  business  with  Benjamin 
Lord.  After  an  apprenticeship  of  five  years  he 
went  to  New  York  city,  where  he  was  employed 
for  three  years  in  the  jewelry  establishment  of 
H.  &  D.  Tarbox.  In  1836  he  returned  to 
Rutland  where  he  remained  three  years.  He 
then  returned  to  this  State,  and  in  July,  1841, 
came  to  Jamestown,  where  for  forty  vears  he 
conducted  one  of  the  leading  jewelry  houses  of 
western  New  York.  In  1881  he  transferred 
his  jewelry  business  to  his  eldest  son,  Frederick 
A.  Fuller,  Jr.,  in  order  to  retire  from  active 
life.  He  has  been  a  member  of  the  First  Pres- 
byterian church  of  Jamestown  since  1857,  and 
is  a  republican  in  politics. 

At  Rutland,  Vt.,  on  June  1 9,  1838,  he  married 
Emily  Rathbone,  who  was  a  daughter  of  Waite 
and  Betsy  Rathbone,  of  Tinmouth,  Vt.,  where 
Mr.  Rathbone  was  a  prominent  iron  manufac- 
turer. Mrs.  Fuller.died  February  5,  1886,  and 
on  October  3,  1890,  Mr.  Fuller  marrial  Mrs. 
Martha  B.  Marsh,  daughter  of  Dr.  Boyer,  of 
Clarendon,  Vt.  By  his  first  marriage  Mr. 
Fuller  had  four  children:  Frederick  A.,  Jr.; 
Dr.  Dudley  B.,  born  March  10,  1848,  served 
throughout  the  last  war  as  an  assistant  surgeon 
and  died  in  1889,  at  San  (inentin,  Califiiruia, 
where  he  iiad  practiced  meilicinc  f'nuii  I.S66; 
William  Kat!il)one,  born  February  1,  IS43; 
and  Dr.  (  hai'lcs  (Jdrddii,  wlm  was  l>orii  .Vugust 
7,  1856,  graduated    from   a   medical  college  in 


I 


OF  ('iiAr'r.\r(jn.\  cor  sty. 


V\wi\<^ii,  tlicn  took  a  full  course  at  a  leading 
medical  college  in  New  York  and  is  now  a 
practicing  physician  of  \\h\  loniier  city. 

Hon.  I'^rcderick  A.  l^'ullcr,  Jr.,  the  eldest  son, 
and  a  prominent  d(!niocrnt  of  western  New 
York,  was  born  in  Rutland,  Yeriiiont,  April 
10,  183'J,  hut  was  reared  al  -Inniestown  where 
lie  received  his  education  in  the  academy  of  that 
place  and  then  learned  the  trade  of  jewider 
with  his  father,  with  whom  he  remained  in 
business  from  18;")7  to  LS(5(i.  He  then  went  to 
New  York  city,  where  he  was?  engaged  for  nine 
years  in  im|)orting  and  in  doing  a  jobbing  busi- 
ness in  diamonds  and  fine  watches.  In  1X81  he 
returned  to  Jamestown  and  became  proprietor 
of  his  father's  large  and  important  jewehy 
establishment  which  he  has  (conducted  succes.s- 
fully  ever  since.  On  May  24,  18(i(),  ho  married 
Cornelia  Ivudlow  ]5cnedict,  of  Brooklyn,  a 
daughter  of  Ixoswell  S.  l»euedi<^t,  formerly 
senior  mend)er  of  the  old  and  well-known  sluie 
manufacturing  firm  of  Benedict,  Hall  S:  Co.,  of 
New  York  city,  and  a  member  of  the  English 
Benedict  fandly  of  Canaan,  Conn.,  which  came 
to  Brooklyn  in  an  early  day  and  is  one  of  the 
old  families  of  that  city.  Mr.  Benedict  is  one  of 
the  original  members  of  Plymouth  church, 
whose  influence  has  been  National  in  extent  and 
charat'ter.  To  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Fullei'  have  been 
born  three  sons:  Roswell  Seymour  and  Clif- 
ford Rathbonc,  liorn  in  Brooklyn,  August  1, 
1871,  and  Kel^ruary  17,  187o;  and  Gordon 
Carter,  born  in  Jamestown,  August  3,  1884. 
He  and  his  wife  are  members  of  the  First 
Presbyterian  church.  He  is  a  member  of  Mt. 
Moriah  Lodge,  No.  145,  F.  &  A.  M.,  and  a 
director  of  the  City  National  Bank  of  James- 
town, and  the  Rochester  Mutual  Relief  society. 
Freilerick  A.  Fuller,  Jr.,  has  always  been  a 
democrat  in  politics,  is  serving  his  third  con- 
secutive term  as  a  mendier  of  the  board  of  edu- 
cation and  has  frequently  been  a  delegate  to 
Democratic  State  conventions.  In  1884  he  was 
elected  as  the  Cleveland  and  Hendricks  presi- 
13 


dential  elector  rcjiresenting  the  Tliirty-fonrth 
Congressional  District,  ('omposed  of  tiie  coun- 
ties of  Chautauqua,  Allegany  and  Cattaraugus. 
At  the  meeting  of  the  Kloetoral  College  held  at 
the  Capitol  in  the  City  of  Albany,  on  thi'  third 
day  of  Dc(*nd)er,  1884,  Mr.  Fidlcr,  with 
Hon.  Eraslus  Corning,  of  .\li)any,  were  ap- 
|)i)inted  the  special  messenger's  to  convey  tin- 
sealed  Klec^toral  vote  of  the  State  of  New  York, 
for  President  and  \'ice  President  of  the  United 
States  to  the  seat  of  irovernment. 


TJSHBILLR.  C.VTLIN.  Among  the  gen- 
■**■  tlemen  of  the  old  scho(d  who  havi;  adopted 
and  jiut  in  active  pra(^tice  the  inodei-n  method 
of  transacting  an  honoi'able  and  legitimate  busi- 
ness Jamestown  is  pi()nd  to  nnndiei-  the  gentle- 
man whose  honored  name  stands  at  the  liead  of 
this  tribute  to  his  successful  careei'.  H(?  sprang 
from  an  honest,  rugged,  hard-working,  hoimred 
and  honorable  ancestry,  who  were  enrolled  in  the 
ranks  of  that  first  of  man's  viy-ations — tillers  of" 
the  soil.  He  was  lioin  in  North  Hiulson 
Essex  county.  New  York,  July  7,  1827,  when 
Taurus  was  in  the  midst  of  his  reign  among 
the  planetary  orbits,  and  is  a  son  of  Linus  and 
Sabrina  (Jone.s)  Catlin.  His  grandfather,  Theran 
Catlin,  was  a  native  of  Vermont,  but  during 
his  early  manhood  he  removed  to  and  purchased 
a  farm  in  Wyoming  county,  Pa.,  and  there  spent 
the  remainder  of  his  life.  He  married  and 
was  blessed  with  eight  children  four  sons  and 
four  daughters.  Peltiah  Joues  (maternal  grand- 
father) was  born  in  Schroon,  Essex  county,  this 
State,  where  after  reaching  man's  estate,  he 
bought  a  farm,  married,  reared  a  family  of 
children,  tilled  the  earth,  led  an  honest,  health}', 
happy  life,  and  obeyed,  without  a  murmur,  the 
summons  to  join  the  silent  majoritv-  Ijimis 
Catlin  (father)  was  a  native  of  VeruKint  and 
was  born  in  I  7!!!),  almost  at  the  very  blush  of  the 
dawn  of  the  nineteenth  century — that  era  which 
was  to  witness  the  most  gigantic  strides  in  the 
development  of  .science,  art,  education  and  labor. 


25G 


BIOGRAPHY  AND  HISTORY 


the  world  had  ever  seen.  When  he  attained  > 
liis  majority,  lie  removed  to  North  Hndson,  this 
State,  where  he  spent  the  prime  of  his  life  in 
the  vocation  of  his  immediate  ancestors,  and 
when  the  pulse  slowed  and  the  heart  beat 
serenely  even,  he  transferred  his  lares  and 
penates  to  Jamestown  and  there,  when  he  passed 
the  ninth  decadal  point  of  a  century's  life,  was 
gathered  to  his  fathers.     He  was  a  Jacksouian 

o 

democrat  and  was  steadfast  in  the  faith.  He 
married  Sabriua  Jones,  who  bore  him  one  son 
and  three  daughters,  and  only  the  son,  Ashbill 
R.,  survives. 

Ashbill  R.  Catlin  received  his  education 
mainly  in  the  Jamestown  academy,  and  resolved 
to  supply  a  portion  of  mankind  with  more  of  ; 
the  necessaries  of  life  than  did  even  his  ances-  i 
tors  and  in  pursuance  of  this  determination,  he 
opened  a  grocery  store  in  Jamestown  in  1850 
and  has  steadily  pursued  that  business  to  the 
present  time,  having  built  up  a  large  and  lucra- 
tive trade.  He  .also  sells  large  quantities  of 
salt,  provisions  and  grain.  He  inherited  the 
democratic  proclivities  of  his  father,  tempered 
withal  by  the  softening  and  broadening  influence 
of  the  generation  now  asserting  itself. 

On  November  20th,  1851,  Ashbill  R.  Catlin 
exercised  his  usually  sound  judgment,  when 
from  among  the  scores  of  womanly  women,  he 
chose  as  his  life  companion  Ruth  A.  South- 
wick,  a  daughter  of  Alwin  Southwick,  of 
Busti,  this  county.  She  bore  him  six  chil- 
dren, two  of  whom  were  early  enrolled  among 
tiie  angels.  Of  the  survivors,  Frank  L. 
married  and  resides  in  Denver,  Col.,  where  he  is 
a  wholesale  confection  manufacturer;  Ada 
E.,  wife  of  John  C.  Palmer,  who  is  in  the  oil 
well  supply  business  in  Pittsburgh,  Pa. ;  John  B., 
married  to  Maude  Steirly,  of  Jamestown,  and  is 
in  business  with  his  father  ;  and  Agnes,  wife  of 
Charles  W.  Warrington,  of  Denver,  Col.,  who 
is  engaged  in  the  meat  and  provision  business. 

A.  R.  Catlin  is  a  relative  of  George  Catlin, 
the  famous    delineator  and    historian    of    the 


Indian  races  of  North  America,  who.se  books 
are  read  wherever  the  English  language  is 
spoken. 


JOHN  .r.  STEKNEBKKG  is  a  worthy  ex- 
*^  ample  of  a  stranger  in  a  strange  land  who 
has  by  perseverance,  sound  business  methods 
and  close  application  won  an  enviable  position 
for  himself.  He  is  a  son  of  John  T.  and  Mary 
C.  (Smith)  Sterneberg,  and  was  born  in  Prussia, 
Germany,  March  3,  1841.  William  Sterneberg 
(grandfather)  was  also  a  native  of  the  same 
locality,  being  born  and  living  all  his  life  in  a 
house  which  had  been  owned  and  occupied  by 
the  Sterneberg  family  for  three  hundred  and 
fifty  years.  By  trade  and  occupation  he  was  a 
cooper  and  farmer.  He  married  Johanna  Hol- 
link,  by  whom  he  had  six  children,  two  sons 
and  four  daughters,  two  of  whom  came  to 
America;  also  John  T's,  father,  and  John  W., 
died  with  cholera  in  1850  in  Chicago ;  and  sis- 
ter Hannah,  also  died  in  Chicago  in  1849  with 
cholera.  The  maternal  grandparents  and  their 
auce,stors  were  Hollanders,  none  of  whom,  with 
the  single  exception  of  an  uncle  and  aunt,  (now 
living  in  Holland,  Michigan,)  of  John  J.,  came 
to  the  United  States.  This  uncle  was  James 
Smitli,  who  located  in  Milwaukee,  Wisconsin  ; 
the  aunt  Elizabeth  (Smith)  Bos,  eighty-three 
years  old;  mother  Mary  C.  (Smith)  Sterneberg, 
born  October  13,  1811,  died  December  28, 
1883 ;  John  T.  Sterneberg  (father)  was  born  at 
the  old  homestead  house  in  Prussia,  Germany, 
October  19,  1811,  came  to  America  in  1847, 
and  after  remaining  six  months  in  Chicago, 
located  in  Grandville,  seven  miles  below  Grand 
Rapids,  Kent  county,  Michigan,  where  he 
bought  a  farm  of  twenty  acres,  with  a  good 
house  and  barn  and  out-buildings  on  it,  and  to 
this  he  added  lots  in  the  suburbs  of  Grandville, 
until  he  owned  sixty  acres,  now  crossed  by  two 
railroads.  On  this  farm  he  lived  seventeen 
ycai-s  and  in  August,  1862,  he  came  ea.st  to 
Buffalo,  where  he  lived  one  year,  moving  thence 


OF  CHAUTAUQUA   COUNTY. 


257 


to  Mina,  this  (bounty,  where  he  died  February 
15,  1889.  He  had  been  a  r(!|)iiblicaii  in  pol- 
itics from  the  time  he  stepped  on  American 
soil,  and  in  religion  was  a  member  of  the 
Dut(Oi  Reformed  einireli  during  his  early  years, 
but  later  in  life  beeaiue  a  Baptist.  In  I  8.">7,  he 
married  Mary  C.  Smith,  l)y  whom  he  had  two 
children  :  John  W.,  who  was  born  March  '24, 
18.')1),  married  Christina  Terhauer,  by  wh(tm 
he  has  had  nine  children,  two  of  whom  are 
dead,  and  is  an  extensive  farmer  of  Mina,  this 
county  ;  and  John  J. 

John  J.  Sterneberg  acquired  a  common 
school  education,  but  considering  the  limited 
facilities  he  then  had,  sought  to  expand  his 
learning  more  thoroughly  and  succeeded  so  well 
that  few  of  our  adopted  citizens,  are  better  or 
more  widely  read,  and  more  conversant  with 
current  and  past  events.  He  writes  and  speaks 
Holland  (the  Dutch  language),  and  speaks  and 
reads  German  very  readily.  He  learned  the 
trade  of  a  (;arriage-maker  at  Grand  Rapids, 
Michigan.  Came  to  Panama  and  continued 
to  work  at  it  until  1883,  when  he  united  with 
it  the  hardware  business  and  conducted  both 
until  1888,  in  which  year  he  discontinued 
carriage-making  and  has  since  devoted  his  time 
and  attention  to  hardware,  cutlery,  paints,  pict- 
ure-framing and  undertaking,  having  a  fine 
trade  built  up  by  his  own  exertions.  He  is  an 
exceptionally  good  business  man,  buying  aud 
selling  for  cash,  and  is  affable  and  agreeable  in 
all  his  business  and  social  relations.  In  poli- 
tics he  is  a  republican,  has  served  as  excise 
commissioner  two  terms  in  Panama,  and  in  re- 
ligion is  a  member  of  the  Baptist  church.  He 
is  also  a  charter  member  of  liodge.  No.  52, 
Ancient  Order  of  United  Workmen. 

John  J.  Sterneberg  was  married  on  Febru- 
ary 21,  1864,  to  Joanna  G.  Terhauer,  a  daugh- 
ter of  Henry  aud  IMary  (Heller)  Terhauer,  of 
Mina.  This  union  has  been  blest  with  four 
children,  two  sons  and  two  daughters :  Mary, 
wife  of  Merle   D.  Powers,  a  salesmtfn  and  de- 


livery clerk  for  a  tea  house  in  Jamestown  ;  and 
H.  Romain,  Emma  C,  and  Raytnond  T.,  who 
died  of  diphtheria.  Mrs.  Sterneberg  is  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Baptist  church  and  belongs  to  the 
Equitable  Aid  Union. 

© 

/^-llAKLKS  K.  COIJIJ  is  a  son  of  Charles 
^^  and  Eliza  (Curtiss)  Cobb,  and  was  born 
in  Harbour  Creek,  Ei-ie  county,  Pennsylvania, 
October  18,  1850.  His  paternal  grandfather, 
Bassett  Cobb,  was  a  native  of  Connecticut,  was 
for  several  years  a  resident  of  this  couuty, 
whence  he  removed  to  Erie  county.  Pa  ,  spend- 
ing the  balance  of  his  days  there,  being  a  farmer 
by  occupation,  aud  in  politics  a  whig  and  later 
a  republican.  He  married  and  had  five  sons 
and  three  daughters.  Charles  Cobb  (father) 
was  born  on  March  3,  1826,  and  when  a  young 
man  came  to  this  county  aud  settled  in  Sinclair- 
ville,  town  of  Charlotte,  where  he  followed  the 
occupation  of  a  farmer.  He  served  in  the  army 
one  and  one-half  years  during  the  civil  war, 
enlisting  in  1862.  In  1852  he  married  Eliza 
Curtiss,  by  whom  he  had  two  children  :  Ida, 
wife  of  William  McKinley,  a  farmer  in  Ash- 
tabula, Ohio  ;  and  Charles  E. 

Charles  E.  Cobb  was  reared  on  the  farm  until 
he  was  nineteen  yeava  of  age,  and  received  his 
education  in  the  common  schools.  After  leaving 
school  he  went  to  the  oil  regions  and  worked  as 
a  contractor  in  developing  the  oil  territory,  for 
a  few  years  owning  aud  operating  iiis  own  terri- 
tory. He  came  to  Sherman  in  the  spring  of 
1884,  and  engaged  in  the  lumber  manufiicturing 
business,  purchasing  the  interest  of  a  Mr.  Burns, 
and  operated  the  plant  him.self  until  1887,  when 
he  associated  with  him  as  partner  William  Free- 
man, and  during  the  busy  season  emp]ove<l 
twenty  men,  making  a  specialty  of  heading, 
staves  and  fruit  barrels,  besides  all  kinds  of 
lumber.  He  also  owns  some  oil-producing  prop- 
erty in  Butler  couuty,  Pa.  In  politics  he  is  a 
republicau,  and  is  a  member  of  the  board  of 
trustees  of  Sherman.    He  is  a  member  of  Olive 


2)8 


BIOGRAPHY  AND  HISTORY 


Lodge,  No.  575,  F.  &  A.  M.,  and   Sherman 
Lodge,  No.  45,  A.  O.  U.  W. 

Charles  E.  Cobb  united  in  marriage  with 
Kate  M.  Russell,  a  daughter  of  Wilber  Russell, 
of  Cameron  county,  Pa.  This  union  has  been 
blest  with  one  daughter :  Nina  B.,  who  was 
born  March  2,  1882. 


SAMUEL  N.  SWEZEY,  a  leading  member 
of  the  Farmers'  Alliance  and  a  prosperous 
agriculturist  of  Ripley  town,  is  a  son  of  Daniel 
and  Clarissa  (Sperry)  Swezey,  who  was  horn  in  j 
the  town  of  Russia,  Herkimer  county.  New  ' 
York,  December  26,  1830.  Daniel  Swezey  was  a  j 
native  of  Long  Island,  this  State,  with  his 
grandfather;  the  latter  going  to  Herkimer 
county  from  his  birthplace  among  the  very  first 
pioneers.  It  took  them  tiiree  weeks  to  make 
the  trip  with  oxen  and  carts,  and  upon  their  ar- 
rival they  were  obliged  to  chop  a  home  out  of  i 
the  woods.  All  of  the  hardships  incident  to 
pioneer  life  were  known  to  them.  Before  leav- 
ing Long  Island,  he  had  married  Sarah  Beal 
and  they  reared  a  family  of  eight  children,  five 
sons  and  three  daughters.  The  maternal  grand- 
father, John  Sperry,  came  from  New  P^ngland. 
Daniel  Swezey,  Jr.,  was  born  on  Long  Island, 
Christmas  day,  1778,  and  went  with  his  father 
to  Herkimer  county,  but  afterwards  came  to 
Harmony,  this  county,  in  1836,  and  died  there 
in  1847.  He  was  a  singularly  successful  farmer, 
methodical  with  his  work  and  careful  of  all 
things  appertaining  to  his  business.  He  be- 
longed to  the  Whig  party  and  served  in  the  war 
of  1812.  On  December  25,  1805  he  married 
Claris.sa  Sperry  and  reared  a  large  family  of 
children,  seven  sons  and  seven  daughters,  all  of 
whom  lived  to  maturity  and  became  good  ami 
l)rosperous  citizens. 

Samuel  N.  Swezey  was  given  a  superior 
education  at  the  district  schools  and  the 
academy,  and  upon  leaving  them  lie  spent  a 
number  of  years  in  teaching,  being  very  suc- 
cessful in   this    work.     He    finally    decided  to 


adopt  farming  and  began  in  Harmony,  l)ut 
changed  his  residence  to  Ripley,  where  he  now 
lives  atid  owns  three  hundred  and  twenty-eight 
acres  of  good  farming  land  ail  in  one  body. 
When  troops  were  needed  to  suppress  the  Re- 
bellion he  was  drawn,  but  on  account  of  physi- 
cal disability  was  unable  to  serve.  It  is  on 
this  account  that  we  cannot  record  any  military 
history  under  his  name.  He  is  a  sharp,  shrewd 
and  sagacious  business  man  whose  ability  is 
recognized  by  his  farmer  associates. 

On  October  6,  1857,  he  married  Sarah  Shel- 
don, a  daughter  of  David  Sheldon,  of  Ripley 
town,  this  county,  and  they  have  four  children  : 
Sheldon,  living  at  home  ;   Flora,  Ida  and  Alice. 

Politically  Mr.  Swezey  now  favors  the  pro- 
hibitionists, although  formerly  a  republican  and 
has  served  a  number  of  years  in  local  offices. 
As  one  of  a  committee  of  three,  he  has  suc- 
ceeded in  securing  a  post  office,  to  be  known  as 
Sheldon's  Corners,  of  which  he  is  postmaster, 
the  office  being  in  his  house.  Mr.  Swezey  is  a 
member  of  the  Farmers'  Alliance  and  is  its 
asent   for    their    merchandize    business    in    the 

o 

town  of  Ripley. 


"  pVEKGKEEN  ("EMETEKY,  althougii 
-'■^  situated  near  a  little  fountry  village,  is 
one  of  the  most  beautifid  in  western  New 
York.  It  lies  within  the  corporate  limits  of 
the  village  of  Sinclairville,  yet  its  situation  is 
such  as  to  retire  it  from  the  localities  around  it. 
It  occupies  a  moderate  eminence,  which  termi- 
nates a  tongue  of  land  that  extends  nearly  aero.ss 
the  valley  of  Mill  Creek,  crowding  the  waters 
of  the  stream  into  a  narnnv  passage.  A  high 
and  precipitous  b;nil<  f'orius  the  southern  boun- 
dary of  the  valley  and  also  the  nortiiern  limits 
of  the  cemetery.  Mill  Creek  gathered  into  a 
pond  extends  along  the  base  of  tiie  bank  ;  liiere 
its  waters  darkly  gleam  from  out  the  shade  ot 
overhanging  elms  and  willows.  A  steep  bank 
bounds  the  cemetery  on  the  west,  along  which 
a  race,   issuing   (Voin    the  pond,  extends  to  an 


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Of  CHAUTAUQUA   COUNTY. 


261 


ancient  grist-mill.  A  sharp  declivity  substan- 
tially marks  its  soutlHu-ii  limit.  The  cemetery 
is  accessible,  without  hindrance,  from  the  eaiBt, 
where  a  villas^e  stroot  lies  between  it  and  the 
plea.sant  fields  Ixryond. 

"It  would  be  difficult  to  choo.se  a  burial  place 
•so  convenient  of  access,  with  such  interesting 
surroundings,  and  at  the  same  time  a  place  of 
retirement  so  well  sui(<'d  to  its  sober  uses.  The 
wild  gorge,  partly  hidden  by  twisted  birches 
and  ragged  hemlocks;  the  pond,  dindy  seen 
down  deep  in  its  shadows ;  the  stream,  the 
bridge  that  spans  it,  and  the  old  mill  are  pleas- 
ing oI)jects,  in  harmony  with  the  peace  and  re- 
po.se  that  pervades  tliis  abode  of  the  dead.  On 
every  side  aiv  green  fields  and  gently  rising 
hills.  As  yon  look  northward  tin'ongh  foliage 
that  fringes  this  Iwrder  of  the  cemetery  yon 
have  glimpses  of  the  narrow,  winding  valley  of 
Mill  Creek,  skirted  with  leafy  verdure,  leading 
to  the  dimly  visible  and  far  away  hills  that 
overlook  Lake  Erie.  (Southward,  and  near  at 
hand,  lies  the  plea.sant  village;  its  handsome 
academy  flanked  by  church  spires;  its  clean 
yards  and  painted  honses  among  shadows  of 
maples  and  elms,  lleyond  the  village  are  mea- 
dows and  pastures.  There  the  valley  broadens 
away  to  the  southwest,  until  the  distant  Ellery 
hills  bound  the  view. 

"In  the  midst  of  verdant  fields  and  inviting 
scenes  like  this,  it  is  proper  to  con.secrate  the 
spot  where  the  living  may  meet  the  dead  and 
sootlie  our  grief  at  the  loss  of  friends,  by  laying 
them  to  rest  in  pleasant  places." 


1^  KI.SON  Bl'TLER  was  a  pioneer  tailor  and 
\  ^  clothing  dealer  of  Jamestown,  and  was 
identified  with  her  earliest  secret  societies.  He 
was  a  son  of  .fames  and  Nancy  (Ward)  Butler 
and  was  born  at  Laona,  this  county,  August  2, 
1818,  and  died  in  the  city  of  Jame.stowu,  Feb- 
ruary 12, 1857.  His  father,  James  Butler,  was 
a  native  of  Massachusetts  and  came  from  there 
to  Laona,  New  York,  and  from  there  to  James- 


town, where  he  died.  He  followed  farming  as 
a  means  of  gaining  a  livelihood  for  himself  and 
family,  and  in  politics  was  a  whig.  While  in 
the  prime  of  life  he  married  Nancy  Ward,  who 
joined  the  Baptist  church  and  was  a  lifelong 
member.  The  result  of  this  union  was  eight 
children — five  sons  and  three  daughters. 

Nelson  Butler  was  educated  in  the  common 
schools  and  at  the  age  of  sixteen  years  he  was 
apprenticed  to  learn  tailoring,  which  he  followed 
for  a  number  of  years,  and  al.so  conducted  a 
clothing-house  in  this  city.  Politically  he  was 
a  republican  and  was  as.sociated  with  the  Meth- 
odist church  until  he  joined  the  Ma.sons,  when, 
the  poi>nlar  feeling  l)eing  opposed  to  secret  so- 
cieties, he  relinquished  his  membership  in  the 
church.  He  was  attached  to  the  New  York 
State  Militia  and  belonged  to  Mount  Moriah 
Lodge,  No.  145,  F.  and  A.  M.,  in  which  he  at- 
tained the  degree  of  Master  Mason.  He  was 
one  of  the  incorporators  of  the  Independent 
Order  of  Odd  Fellows  at  Jamestown  and  at- 
tained some  prominence  in  that  order. 

July  3,  1839,  he  married  Mary  A.  Story,  a 
daughter  of  Elisha  Story,  and  by  this  union 
became  the  father  of  seven  daughters — Nancy 
A.,  dead  ;  Adelaide  N.,  married  to  Allan  Smith, 
a  miller,  living  at  Boone,  Iowa  ;  Agnes  M.  is  a 
florist  and  resides  at  home;  Evelyn  is  the  wife 
of  Irving  Ells,  a  professional  book-keeper  in 
the  employ  of  Benjamin  Moore  &  Co.,  whole- 
sale dealers  in  paints  and  calcimining  at  Brook- 
lyn, New  York ;  Arabella,  dead  ;  Mary  E.,  a 
corapo.sitor  in  the  office  of  the  Jamestown  Journal; 
and  Sophie  D.,  also  a  florist,  living  at  home. 

Nelson  Butler  was  a  man  of  the  strictest  in- 
tegrity and  unquestionable  morals.  His  repu- 
tation and  private  character  were  untarnished 
and  he  passed  into  that  better  world  as  unblem- 
ished as  may  be  approached  by  man.  He  was 
a  kind  father  and  his  memory  is  cherished  with 
unabated  love  by  his  family  still  surviving. 

One  of  his  distinguishing  characteristics  was 
his  kindness  to  the  poor.     No  one  asking  him 


262 


BIOGRAPHY  AND  HISTORY 


for  help  ever  was  turned  away  without  a  kind 
word  and  generous  gifts. 


TJLLIS  FINK,  manager  of  the  well-known 
-'■^  Star  clothing  house  and  gent-s'  furnishing 
store  at  No.  315  Lyon  street,  is  a  son  of  Alex- 
ander and  Eva  Fink,  and  was  horn  in  Pittshurg, 
Allegheny  county,  Pennsylvania,  December  22, 
1856.  The  father,  Alexander  Fink,  is  a  native 
of  AVilna,  Russia,  and  came  to  America  when  a 
young  man,  locating  at  Apollo,  Armstrong 
county,  Pa.  He  was  one  of  the  first  men  to 
run  a  boat  on  the  old  Pennsylvania  canal  from 
Apollo  to  Pittsburg.  Mr.  Fink  was  the  owner 
of  the  boat.  He  lived  at  Apollo  until  184f», 
when  he  removed  to  Pittsburg,  and  engaged  in 
the  retail  clothing  business  until  1861.  From 
i'ittslnirg  he  went  to  New  York  city  and  estab- 
lished a  wholesale  clothing  house,  continuing  it 
until  1869,  when  he  retired  from  business,  and 
moved  back  to  Pittsburg  in  1870,  where  he  has 
since  resided.  Although  retired  from  business 
for  over  twenty  years  he  is  a  stockholder  in 
several  of  the  Pittsburg  banks,  and  in  the 
bridges  connecting  the  city  with  Allegheny  City 
and  other  suburban  points.  The  Benevolent 
H('i)rew  society  of  that  city  has  made  him  its 
j)rcsidenl  for  several  years.  He  is  a  rcj)ublican, 
and  is  seventy-five  years  old.  His  wife  is  a 
native  of  the  same  Russian  jirovince  from  which 
her  husband  came,  and  is  seventy-eight  years 
old. 

Ellis  Fink  was  educated  in  Pittsburg  and  the 
New  York  city  public  schools.  When  fourteen 
years  old  he  worked  in  his  brother's  clothing 
store  at  the  Smoky  City,  where  he  reniaiued  until 
twenty-two  years  of  age.  He  then  went  to 
Colorado,  at  the  time  when  things  were  liveliest 
there,  and  engaged  in  the;  mining  business  near 
Lea<lville.  lie  stayed  two  years  and  made 
several  locations,  one  of  which  has  recently  been 
sold  by  him  to  ex-Lieut. -Gov.  H.  W.  Tabor,  of 
Colorado,  and  I\[ajor  A.  V.  Bohn,  of  Lcadville. 
After  his  return  from  the  west  he  worked  fitr 


his  brother  until  1884,  and  then  went  to  Buffalo 
and  got  employment  with  the  large  clothing 
house  of  Altman  &  Co.,  where  he  remained  four 
years,  and  in  1888  came  to  Dunkirk  and  opened 
the  business  which  he  is  still  conducting  on 
Lyon  street.  He  has  a  fine  trade,  does  a  good 
business,  and  carries  the  largest  stock  of  clothing 
to  be  found  in  Dunkirk.  The  firm  name  is 
Brown,  Friend  &  Co.,  the  partners  being  Brown 
and  Friend,  of  Buffalo,  who  are  interested  in 
one  of  the  largest  clothing  establishments  in  the 
country.  Mr.  Fink  is  genial  and  frank  and, 
handling  good  clothing,  holds  the  trade  he 
once  secures. 

On  October  9,  1888,  he  married  Harriet 
Brown,  a  daughter  of  Henry  Brown,  of  Buffalo. 
They  have  one  child,  Beatrice,  an  interesting 
little  girl  of  nearly  two  years. 

He  is  a  republican,  and  takes  an  active  interest 
in  politics,  and  it  may  be  said  of  him  that  he 
is  one  of  Dunkirk's  truly  enterprising  business 
i  men. 


TTillAAAM  J.  CRONYN,  M.D.,  a  prom- 
^^^  inent  and  leading  physician  and  sur- 
geon of  Dunkirk,  and  Surgeon-General  of  the 
Grand  Army  of  the  Republic  of  the  State  of 
New  York  in  1885,  was  born  in  the  province 
of  Ontario,  Canada,  November  15,  1848,  and 
is  a  son  of  Robert  and  Margaret  Cronyn.  In 
the  history  of  L'eland,  as  far  back  as  the 
Cronyn  family  can  be  traced,  it  was  always  op- 
posed to  England  and  English  rule  in  the 
Emerald  Isle.  David  Cronyn,  the  |)aternal 
grandfather  of  Dr.  Cronyn,  was  a  large  land 
owner  in  County  Cork,  Ireland,  where  he  died 
in  1834,  aged  sixty  years.  One  of  his  sons  w:us 
Robert  (Jronyn  (father),  who  was  educated  at 
the  Dublin  University,  which  differed  in  one 
important  respect  from  its  great  sister  universi- 
ties of  Oxfoi'd  and  Cambridge,  for  while  they 
consisted  of  several  colleges,  it  has  but  one  col- 
lege, "The  College  of  the  Holy  and  Undivided 
Trinity."     It  was  foundeil   in   1591,  and   has 


OF  CHAUTAUQUA   COUNTY. 


263 


given  to  the  United  Kingdom  some  of  hei-  most 
illustrious  and  distinguished  sons.  Robert 
Cronyn,  after  he  left  the  University,  resided  in 
County  Cork  until  18o7  when,  on  account  of 
political  troubles  he  started  for  the  United 
States,  but  was  pr(!vailed  on  by  friends  whom 
he  found  in  Ontario,  Canada,  to  settle  in  that 
province,  where  he  died  in  1852,  aged  fifty-two 
years.  He  was  a  tine  classical  scholar,  a  pleas- 
ant and  courteous  gentleman,  and  a  Scottish 
Rite  Mason.  His  widow,  JNIavgaret  Crunyn, 
was  a  native  of  the  city  of  Bandon,  Ireland, 
and  died  in  Ontario  in  1882,  when  in  the  sixty- 
ninth  year  of  her  age. 

William  J.  Cronyn  was  educated  in  the 
Monks'  schools  of  his  native  province,  and  in 
1864,  at  fifteen  years  of  age  enlisted  in  Co.  A, 
30th  Michigan  Infantry,  in  which  he  served 
until  he  was  honorably  discharged  at  the  close 
of  the  late  war.  In  1867  he  commenced  to 
read  medicine  with  his  uncle,  Professor  John 
Cronyn,  now  president  of  the  Medical  Faculty 
of  Niagara  University,  and  entered  the  Sisters 
of  Charity  Hospital  and  the  medical  depart- 
ment of  the  University  of  Buffalo,  from  which 
he  was  graduated  in  1870.  In  the  same  year 
he  came  to  Dunkirk,  where  he  soon  established 
himself  in  a  good  practice,  which  has  been  con- 
tinually increasing  ever  since.  He  was  absent 
from  Dunkirk  from  1873  to  1876,  during 
which  period  he  was  an  assistant  surgeon  in  the 
United  States  Navy,  and  served  at  the  Boston 
navy  yard  ;  the  Norfolk  naval  hospital  ;  on  the 
U.  S.  Sloop  of  war  Constellation,  cruise  of  '74  ; 
and  had  the  full  medical  charge  for  some 
months  of  the  iron-clad  fleet  off  Pensacola, 
Fla.,  in  '75-'6.  Upon  his  return  in  1876  to 
Dunkirk,  he  established  the  Dunkirk  Tribune, 
which  he  edited  for  one  year.  He  resides  in  a 
beautiful  residence  on  the  corner  of  Deer  street 
and  Fifth  Avenue,  which  he  erected  in  1882. 

Dr.  Cronyn   is  a  republican  in  politics,  has 
been   a  member  of  the  common  council,  board  : 
of  education,  supervisor,  etc.,  and  has  frequently 


served  his  party  as  a  delegate  to  County  and 
State  conventions,  besides  having  been  favor- 
ably mentioned  in  the  county  Repuljlican  press 
of  late  years  as  a  suitable  and  desinil)le  candi- 
date for  Congress.  He  is  a  member  of  Dun- 
kirk Lodge,  No.  767,  F.  &  A.  M.,  and 
Rochester  Consistory  Scottish  Rite  Masonry,  in 
which  he  has  taken  the  thirty-second  degree. 
He  is  also  a  member  of  the  Mystic  Shrine, 
Ismalia  Temple,  Buffalo,  N.  Y.  Dr.  Cronyn, 
when  Stevens  Post,  No.  393,  G.  A.  R.,  of  Dun- 
kirk, was  organized,  was  elected  as  its  first 
commander,  and  afterward  served  a  second  term 
in  that  office.  During  1885  he  was  Surgeon- 
General  of  the  G.  A.  R.,  for  ihe  State  of  New 
York,  and  in  1886,  received  the  appointment 
of  Aide-de-Camp  on  the  national  staff  under 
Commander-in-Chief  Burdette.  The  following 
year  he  was  commissioned  as  aid  to  General 
Fairchild,  Commander-in-Chief.  He  has  served 
as  secretary  and  treasurer  of  the  Chautauqua 
County  Medical  Society,  and  was  also  chairman 
of  the  board  of  censors  of  that  body.  In  an 
account  of  Dr.  Cronyn,  which  appeared  in  the 
press  in  1890,  we  find  the  following  tribute  to 
him  as  a  man  and  a  physician  :  "  His  manly 
qualities  and  his  splendid  intellectual  gifts, 
deeply  rooted  in  his  character  shine  forth,  with- 
out any  effort  on  his  part  to  display  them,  and 
his  fellow  practitioners  of  Dunkirk  say  that  he 
is  the  leading  piiysician  and  surgeon  of  that 
city."  Dr.  Cronyn  is  a  man  of  fine  personal 
appearance,  who  favorably  impresses  all  who 
come  in  contact  with  him  by  his  honesty  and 
straightforwardness. 


^RLANDO  J.  HILER,  an  opulent  citizen 
^^  of  the  village  of  Silver  Creek,  is  a  retired 
merchant  and  a  large  holder  of  some  of  its  val- 
uable real  estate.  He  is  a  son  of  Silas  and 
Eunice  (Seager)  Hiler,  and  was  born  at  Penfield, 
near  Rochester,  Monroe  county,  New  York,  July 
3,  1842.  His  father,  Silas  Hiler,  too,  was  a 
native  of  Penfield,  where  he  followed  farming 


264 


BIOGRAPHY  ASD  HISTORY 


until  184(i,  when  he  moved  to  Ashtabula  county, 
Ohio,  and  still  resides  there.  He  has  grown 
grey  in  farm  lite  and  has  done  a  very  extensive 
business,  and,  although  now  in  his  eightieth  year, 
conducts  his  work  with  his  old-time  vigor.  Be- 
sides being  a  member  of  the  Methodist  Episco- 
])al  church,  he  is  [)romincntly  identified  with 
religious  and  educational  matters.  He  is  a 
Jacksonian  democrat,  and  throughout  his  active 
life  has  been  an  energetic  and  successful  business 
man.  Both  branches  of  our  subject's  family  are 
from  the  New  England  States,  and  came  to 
central  New  York  eai-ly  in  this  century.  He 
married  Eunice  Seager  in  lcS3(>,  and  she  is  now 
in  her  seventy-fifth  year. 

Orlando  J.  Hiler  was  reared  in  Ashtabula 
county,  Ohio,  and  received  his  educatidu  in  the 
common  schools.  After  leaving  .school  he  learned 
the  liarnes.s-making  and  saddlery  business  and 
conducted  a  shop  of  his  own  for  two  years  at 
Conneaut,  Ohio,  and  on  April  5,  18G5,  he  went 
to  Cincinnati,  Ohio,  and  enlisted  in  Co.  G,  198th 
regiment,  Ohio  Infantry  Vols.,  and  served  until 
the  close  of  the  war.  Upon  the  receij)t  of  his 
di.sciiarge  lie  returned  home  and  engaged  in 
business  for  one  year;  then,  in  1867,  he  went 
to  (iowanda,  Cattaraugus  count>',  N.  Y.,  and 
woriced  at  his  trade;  but  on  July  14,  18G'J,  he 
came  to  Silver  Creek  and  worked  for  six  months 
as  a  journeyman  and  tiien  bought  out  the  busi- 
ness, which  he  continued  for  fifteen  years.  The 
four  succeeding  years  were  .spent  out  of  business, 
and  then  he  opened  a  general  hardware  store, 
which  he  conducted  two  years  and  a  half  and 
then  retired.  Since  then  he  lias  spent  iiis  time 
quietly  but  not  idly.  His  large;  jjroperty  inter- 
ests both  here  and  in  Ohio  require  a  great  deal 
of  attention  and  keep  him  cm[)loyed. 

On  June  23,  1881,  he  married  Martha  R. 
Ward,  a  daiighter  of  l)oct(jr  Spencer  Ward  (de- 
cea.se(i),  late  of  Silver  Creek.  Sjjcnccr  Ward, 
M.D.,  was  born  at  Poultney,  Rutland  county, 
Vl.,  in  1807,  and  was  graduated  from  the  Ca-s- 
tlctun    Medical   college,  afterwards  coming  to 


Chautauqua  county,  in  October,  1836,  when  he 
located  in  Silver  Creek  and  soon  secured  a  large 
practice.  Being  singularly  successful  with  dif- 
ficult cases,  his  fame  spread  flu-  and  near,  and 
he  was  so  completely  overworked,  and  suffering 
from  cancer,  that  he  was  obliged  to  relinquish 
his  practice  a  couple  of  years  before  his  death. 
He  died  April  13, 1874,  leaving  much  property, 
the  accumulations  of  investments  made  from 
the  receipt.«  of  his  large  practice.  He  married 
Mrs.  Ann  (Wilmot)  Rice,  a  native  of  Fair 
Haven,  Vermont,  and  slie  bore  him  two  chil- 
dren :  Wilmot  and  Martha  R.  She  died  May 
•2il,  1854. 

Wilmot  Ward,  upon  attaining  his  majority, 
moved  to  Cincimiati,  Ohio,  and  engaged  in 
the  iundjcr  business,  but  died  in  the  prime 
of  life,  January  8,  1861,  when  but  twenty- 
six  years  of  age.  Dr.  Ward  married  a  second 
time,  in  1856,  to  Helen  dates,  of  Silver  Creek. 
This  union  resulted  in  one  daughter,  Hattie, 
who  married  F.  W.  Thomas  and  lives  in  this 
village.  Mrs.  Ward  resides  in  her  old  home- 
stead at  this  place. 

Orlando  J.  Hiler  is  a  democrat,  and  has 
served  as  a  trustee  of  this  town.  During  his 
term  of  office  he  labored  incessantly  to  im[)rove 
the  condition  and  advance  the  business  and 
social  interests  of  the  place.  He  is  a  gentleman 
of  strong  character  and  enjoys  the  confidence  of 
all  Silver  Creek's  people  who  are  ac(juainted 
with  him. 


/>-KOI{<;i':  S.  .lOSSEI.YN,  tlie  proprietor  of 
^^  the  well-known  grape-vine  and  small  liiiit 
ntu'.series  at  Fredduia,  was  boni  in  I'lymouth 
ci)unty,  Massachusetts,  June  17,  I.S  jii,  and  is  a 
.son  of  Stephen  and  Kli/a  (Studley)  Josselyn. 
His  paternal  grandfather,  Eleazer  Josselyn,  was 
a  resident  of  I'lymouth  coiuity  and  .sei'ved  in 
the  War  of  1812.  Stephen  Jos.selyn  was  born 
and  reared  in  Plymouth  county,  where  he  re- 
ceived his  education.  He  was  a  shoe  manufac- 
turer and  conducted  a  ireneral    mercantile  busi- 


OF  CHAUTAUQUA   COUNTY. 


265 


ness.  He  luai'rieil  Kliza  Studluy,  wlio  was  a 
native  of"  tlie  same  county  as  himself. 

George  S.  Josscly II  received  an  academic  edu- 
Ciition  and  at  seventeen  years  of  age  left  iiis  na- 
tive oonnty  and  worked  in  Boston  and  vicinity 
as  a  civil  engineer.  In  1S(I.">  lie  cain(^  to  Cliau- 
tini(|i!a  ci)nnty  wliero  lie  IxM'anic  a  civil  cngineei' 
on  the  Erie  raili-oad  with  hcad-cjuartcrs  at  i)nn-  | 
kirk.  l\v  remained  in  tiu!  eni[)l()y  of  the  Erie  | 
railroad  company  for  tiftecn  years,  and  (hiring 
seven  years  of  this  time  he  was  road  master  of 
the  western  division  of  the  road,  in  1870  he 
came  to  Fredouia,  where  eight  years  later  he 
estiiblished  his  present  grape-vine  and  small 
fruit  nursery. 

On  August  31,  1869,  he  united  in  marriage 
with  Mary  White,  danghter  of  Devillo  Wiiite, 
of  Fredonia. 

In  ])oIitics  Mr.  Josselyn  is  a  democrat  and 
has  served  as  supervisor  of  his  town  for  one 
term.  He  owns  and  has  under  lease  over  two 
hundred  acres  of  land  in  Fredonia  and  in  tiie 
town  of  Shcritlan,  near  Fredonia,  which  is  en- 
tirely occui)ied  by  his  graperies  and  small  fruit 
nurseries.  He  has  been  a  careful  experimenter 
with  new  fruits,  has  originated  and  introduced 
some  valuable  varieties  and  has  contributed  his 
share  toward  placing  horticulture  on  a  success- 
ful and  paying  basis.  He  has  the  largest  grape- 
root  cellar  in  the  TTiiite<l  States  and  ships  large 
quantities  of  grape-vines  and  small  fruit  [dants 
to  all  parts  of  the  countiy.  lie  individually 
conducts  and  personally  supervises  his  extensive 
business,  while  his  necessary  correspondence  in 
connection  with  it  recpiires  the  constant  services 
of  two  type-writers.  His  persistent  skill  and 
industry  has  brought  him  success  in  horticulture 
wiicre  others  have  failed. 

o 

/>I-;01KJI':  I).  1>IAW1I1K,  a  prominent 
^^  young  farmer  and  grajie  grower  ol  Port- 
land, is  a  son  of  Thomas  and  Mary  Mawliir, 
and  was  born  on  the  farm  in  Portland  town, 
Chautauqua  county,  New  York,  February  11, 


1857.  His  father,  Thomas  Mawhir,  was  a 
native  of  County  Down,  Ireland,  and  came  to 
the  United  States  about  1850.  He  first  made 
his  home  in  Westfield,  but  in  185o  he  came  to 
this  town  and  pursued  farming  until  the  grim 
reaper  called  him  away,  on  April  Hi,  188!),  at 
the  age  of  seventy-eight  yc'ars.  Mr.  Mawhir 
was  a  stirring  and  (Milhusiaslic  re})nblican,  ac- 
tive ill  all  his  party's  struggles.  He  was  mar- 
ried to  Mary  McLovy,  a  native  of  County  Down, 
Ireland,  in  18.']5,  who  is  still  living  with  her 
son  in  Portland  town,  and  an  active  member  of 
the  Methodist  church. 

George  D.  Mawhir,  when  arrived  at  a  school 
age,  alternated  summer  anil  winter  between  the 
farm  and  the  school-house,  and  thereby  secured 
a  good  common  school  education.  He  then 
began  farming  tiir  himself  and  now  owns  the 
one  on  which  he  resides.  He  is  engaged  exten- 
sively in  grape  culture  and  raises  a  fine  crop  of 
this  fruit. 

In  1882  Mr.  Mawhir  was  married  to  Hattie 
Barnes,  a  daughter  of  Alpha  Barnes  (a  sketch 
of  his  life  will  be  found  elsewhere  in  this  book). 
Their  niarriage  has  been  blest  with  one  child,  a 
son,  Albert. 

G.  D.  Mawhir  is  a  republican,  and  is  known 
as  a  representative  citizen  of  his  town. 

o 

T  .  UCIUS  I.<)]>1I$AI{I>.  Among  those  who 
-'■^  have  experienced  the  excitement  of  specu- 
lating in  oil,  enjoyed  the  -steady  income  of  a 
judiciously  managed  general  mercantile  busi- 
ness, and  then,  preferring  the  quiet  and  peace- 
ful life  of  an  independent  farmer,  returned  to 
the  scenes  of  his  earlv  manluwd,  is  the  gen- 
tleman  whose  name  heads  this  sketch.  Lucius 
Lombard  was  born  in  the  town  of  Ripley, 
ChautaiKpia  county,  New  York,  July  21,  1831. 
His  parents,,  Daniel  and  Nancy  (Ransom)  Iaiui- 
bard,  were  what  is  known  as  New  England 
Yankees.  Thomas  Lombard  was  his  paternal 
grandfather  and  lived  at  Brimfield,  Hampden 
county,  Massachusetts.      Leaving  the  place  of 


266 


BIOORAPHY  AND  HISTORY 


his  nativity  about  the  beginning  of  the  present  j 
century    he    moved    to    Madison    county,    this 
State,  where  he  died  in  1815.     The  subsistence 
of  himself  and  family  was  gained  by  farming. 
Thomas  Lombard   served    his  country   in   the  ! 
struggle  for  Independence,  and  rejoiced  with  his  j 
countrymen  in  their  success.     He  married  first 
Eunice  Bacon,  who  died,  leaving  five  children, 
and  after  her  death  he  married  Anna  Shaw,  of 
Brimfield,  Massachusetts,  by  whom  he  had  four 
children,   Daniel   Lombard   (father)   being    the 
eldest.      The    maternal    grandfather,    Thomas  i 
Ransom,  was  a  native  of  Otsego  county,  where 
he  spent  his  life  farming.     He  married  Sarah 
Temple   and    reared    eight    children.       Daniel  ' 
Lombard  was   born  in  Massachusetts  in  1794. 
When  his  father  removed  to  INIadison  county  he 
accompanied  him.     In  1828  he  and  his  brother  ■ 
Lucius  continued  the  westward  journey  until  they 
reached  the  town  of  Ripley,  where  they  settled 
on  lots  Nos.  34  and  .35.     Some  years  later  the  , 
latter  moved  into  Westfield,  where  he  died,  in 
1874.    Daniel  Lombard  continued  his  residence 
on  his  original  location  until  his  death,  in  1884. 
He  owned  at   the  time   about   three  hundred 
and   seventy -five   acres  of  land.     He    married  I 
Nancy  Ransom,  and  had  four  children  :  Lucius, 
Mary,  who  married   Rev.  (t.  W.  Moore,  a  min- 
ister  of  the    Methodist    Episcopal    church,    at  ' 
Minneapolis,  Minn. ;  Dwight  married  Catherine 
Ostcrnian,  and    is    farming    in    this  town,  and 
Sarah,  widow  of  Henry  W.  Dickson,  now  lives 
in  Tioga  county,  Pa. 

Lucius  Lombard  was  reared  at  Ripley,  and 
received  such  an  education  at  the  common 
schools  as  fitted  him  for  a  good  business  man.  j 
He  stuck  to  the  farm  until  thirty  years  of  ag(>, 
and  tiicn  went  down  into  the  oil  I'ountry  and 
passed  (lirougl)  IIk;  vicissitudes  of  an  oil  man's 
life  for  one  yc'ar.  Tiie  su(H'(;oding  four  years 
were  s|)ent  in  the  general  store  business  at  Rip- 
ley, wliieli  furnished  less  excitement  but  was  ' 
more  stable.  Tiien  two  years  more  were  passed 
in  tlie  oil  country,  followed  by  a  return  to  Rip-  , 


ley  and  a  repetition  of  mercantile  life,  but  the 
year  succeeding  the  Nation's  Centennial  cele- 
bration he  came  to  the  farm  on  which  he  still 
resides,  and  owns  one  hundred  and  twenty-two 
acres,  twenty  of  it  being  a  well-kept  vineyard. 

On  December  27,  1865,  he  united  in  mar- 
riage M'ith  Helen  Hall,  a  daughter  of  David 
Hall.  They  have  three  children :  Catherine, 
wife  of  Winfield  A.  Holcomb,  the  school  com- 
missioner-of  Chautauqua  county;  Grace  ;  and 
Alice.  Mrs.  Lombard  was  called  away  in  1890. 
Her  kindly  disposition  and  domestic  virtues 
made  her  loss  felt  and  deeply  mourned  by 
many  friends. 

Lucius  Lombard  stands  high  in  his  commu- 
nity, and,  while  not  an  ambitious  politician,  is, 
nevertheless,  a  good  democrat  upon  whom  many 
of  his  party  rely. 


FRED.  W.  EDMUNDS.  A  prominent  busi- 
ness man  and  one  of  the  leading  butter 
producers  of  Chautauqua  county  is  a  resident  of 
the  village  of  Sherman.  He  is  a  son  of  Salem 
and  Caroline  (Wright)  Edmunds,  and  was  born 
in  the  town  of  Villanova,  this  county.  January 
10, 1854.  The  ancestors  of  Mr.  Edmunds  came 
from  the  north  of  England  and,  coming  to 
America  in  1630,  they  settled  first  in  the  State 
of  Connecticut  and  lived  there  for  several  gen- 
erations. The  first  person  of  the  name  to 
come  to  this  county  was  Salem  Edmunds,  Si'., 
who  arrived  here  about  1830,  two  hundred 
years  after  tlie  name  was  first  planted  in  the 
new  world.  The  last  named  gentleman  located 
at  Dtuikirk  and  pursued  farming  in  connection 
with  his  trade — stone  masoning.  He  married 
Rachel  Sabin  and  became  (lie  father  of  nine 
children,  si.\  sons  and  three  daughters.  The 
malernal  grandfather  was  Orin  Wright,  who 
entered  tlie  woi'ld  at  I'Mwiustim,  Ot.sego  eounty, 
and  came  from  there  to  X'illanova  town,  Chau- 
tauqua county,  where  he  died.  He  was  a  farmer 
by  owupation  ;  married  Belinda  Underwood,  a 
native  of  (^t.sego  coimty.     She   was  a  lady  of 


OF  CHAUTAUQUA   COUNTY. 


267 


superior  attainments  and  attracted  some  atten- 
tion near  lier  home.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Wright 
were  the  parents  of  six  ciiildren,  three  sons  and 
tliree  daughters,  of  whom  Edwin  served  iu  the 
Ninth  regiment,  N.  Y.  Cavalry,  went  to  the 
front  as  a  private  September  20th,  1861,  and 
was  mustered  out  July  17th,  1865,  with  a  second 
lieutenant's  commission.  On  the  paternal  side 
Austin  Edmunds,  an  uncle  to  our  subject,  en- 
li.sted  in  the  112th  regiment,  N.  Y.  Infantry, 
and  was  taken  prisoner,  dying  in  the  horrible, 
loathsome,  notorious  Andersonville  prison.  He 
entered  the  army  early  iu  the  war  and  died  just 
before  it  closed.  Hosea  Edmunds  joined  the 
9th  New  York  Cavalry  and  served  one  year. 
Salem  Edmunds  was  born  in  Herkimer  county, 
New  York,  while  his  father  was  en  route  from 
Connecticut.  He  finally  located  iu  the  town  of 
Villanova  and  now  resides  in  Sheridan,  aged 
sixty-six  years.  He  was  a  farmer  by  occupa- 
tion and  in  politics  for  many  years  a  republican, 
but  is  now  in  the  ranks  of  the  prohibitionists. 
He  is  a  member  of  the  Methodist  church,  and 
is  the  father  of  three  sons  and  two  daughters  : 
Frank  died  in  infancy ;  Fred.  W. ;  Walter,  mar- 
ried Minnie  Daniels  and  is  living  on  the  old 
homestead  in  Sheridan;  Persis  died  June  17, 
1885;  and  Jennie,  now  the  wife  of  Fred.  C. 
Kruger,  a  farmer  of  Sheridan. 

On  the  2d  of  October,  1878,  Fred.  W.  Ed- 
munds married  Emma  R.  Swezey,  a  daughter 
of  Leonard  Swezey,  a  native  of  Herkimer,  but 
later  a  resident  of  Chautauqua  county. 

He  was  educated  in  the  common  schools  and 
academy  at  Forestville,  Chautauqua  county,  and 
went  to  work  in  a  cheese  factory  at  Arkwright 
in  1 873  and  stayed  one  year,  and  then  accepted 
the  management  of  a  cheese  factory  in  Chautau- 
qua town.  The  next  four  years  were  spent  in 
the  same  capacity  at  various  places  until  1878, 
when  he  opened  a  cheese  factory  near  the  village 
of  Sherman,  and  then  began  the  erection  of 
similar  establishments  all  over  the  county  until 
1885,  when  he  owned  thirteen  in  the  vicinity 


of  Sherman.  One  year  later  he  consolidated 
five  of  these  into  the  Sherman  creamery,  which 
is  devoted  to  the  manufacture  of  butter  and 
cheese,  principally  the  former.  Mr.  Edmunds 
has  pursued  this  business  longer  than  any  other 
who  has  ever  undertaken  it  in  that  community. 
In  1882  he  erected  a  fine  grist-mill  in  Sherman 
and  runs  it  in  connection  with  his  other  busi- 
ness. During  the  summer  of  1891  he  will 
operate  sixteen  creameries  adjacent  to  Sherman. 
The  output  of  butter  for  the  year  1890  aggre- 
gated three  hundred  and  sixty  thousand  pounds 
of  butter  at  the  Sherman  creamery  alone,  and 
during  the  summer  season  no  less  than  forty- 
five  men  are  employed  to  operate  the  different 
factories.  Politically  he  is  a  prohibitionist,  and 
belongs  to  the  Presbyterian  church.  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Edmunds  have  a  pleasant  family  of  three 
children,  Edith,  Bessie,  and  Raymond,  all  of 
whom  are  living  with  their  parents. 


FB.  WILSON  is  probably  the  most  exten- 
•  sive  dealer  in  meats  and  poultry  who 
transacts  business  in  this  section.  There  is 
nothing  in  the  line  of  meats  and  poultry  which . 
cannot  be  found  at  his  completely  equipped 
market  at  all  seasons.  He  does  an  average 
business  of  twenty  thousand  dollars  per  annum. 
F.  B.  AV'ilson  is  a  son  of  E.  P.  and  Julia  A. 
(Barber)  Wilson,  and  was  born  in  Pomfret, 
Chautauqua  county,  New  York,  August  11th, 
1860.  His  great-graudfather,  P^phraim  Wilson, 
was  born  in  Northbridge,  Worcester  county, 
Massachusetts,  in  1760.  When  sixteen  years 
old  he  enlisted  in  the  American  army  and 
assisted  in  the  capture  of  (Jeneral  John  Bur- 
goyne.  He  was  taken  prisoner  and  carried  to 
England  and  confined  in  that  most  infamous  of 
all  England's  cruelties,  the  Dartmoor  prison, 
until  the  close  of  the  war,  when,  with  the  hun- 
dreds of  other  emaciated  and  almost  dead  men, 
he  was  exchanged  and  returned  to  Boston.  He 
studied  metlicine  and,  after  his  marriage,  moved 
to  Princeton,  at  the  base  of  Wachusett  moun- 


268 


BIOGRAPHY  AND  HISTORY 


tain,  in  Worcester  couuty,  Massachusetts,  where  '  Harriet  P.,  born  September  25th,  1825,  and 
he  practiced  medicine,  surgery  and  dentistry,  married  August  31st,  1S47,  Jerome  B.  Lang,  a 
After  his  second  marriage  he  removed  to  Barre,  I  blacksmith  in  Sugar  Grove,  Pennsylvania  ; 
in  the  same  county,  where  he  engaged  in  farm-  |  Elizabeth  B.,  born  July  18th,  1828,  and  mar- 
ing  and  raising  beef  cattle,  which  he  dntve  to  '  ried  April  l.jtli,  1849,  C'iiarlcs  Tarbox,  a  farmer 
the  Boston  market,  located  where  the  famous  |  in  Pom  fret ;  Henry  G.,  burn  April  25th,  1831, 
Brighton  market  now  is.      After  the  death  of    a  farmer  in  Pomfret,  who  married  ISIarch  18th, 

1856,  Nancy  Corn  well ;  Ephralm  P.  (father); 
]\Iariette,  born  January  2d,  1837,  and  died  in 
the  early  bloom  of  youth ;  Nancy  J.,  born 
March  9th,  1840,  and  married  Lewis  L.  Crocker, 
November  ITth,  1857,  who  was  a  farmer  in 
Pomfret ;  Benjainin,  Jr.,  born  June  12th,  1842, 
and  died  in  infiuicy.  Mrs.  Wilson  was  born 
November  3d,  1796,  and  died  September  28th, 
1882.  Ephraim  P.  Wilson,  (father)  received  a 
common-school  education  iii  Pomfret  until  he 
was  twelve  years  old,  when,  on  account  of  his 
father's  disability,  he  was  obliged  to  remain  at 
home.     But  he  is  a  man  of  wond('rful  intellect 


his  second  wife  he  retired  from  active  life,  living 
to  a  ripe  old  age.  He  was  of  a  cheerful  dis- 
position and  very  successful  as  a  physician. 
For  his  first  wife  he  married  Persis  Gas.sett,  a 
daughter  of  Henry  Gassett,  a  wealthy  wholesale 
merchant  of  Boston.  By  her  he  had  five  child- 
ren, four  sons  and  a  daughter:  Jonas,  Henry, 
Lewis,  Sally  and  iienjamiu  (grandfather).  His 
second  wife  was  Clarissa  Gale,  by  whom  he 
had  eight  children,  six  sons  and  two  daughters: 
Leonard,  Ephraim,  Jr.,  Salome,  Sophia,  Luther, 
Charles,  William  and  Calvin.  The  grandfather 
of  F.  B.  Wilson,  Benjamin  Wilson,  was  boru  in 
Princeton,  Worcesttjr  county,  Ma.ssacluisetts,  and  exceedingly  well  read.  He  is  often  aiUed 
August  25th,  1794,  where  he  afterward  owned  j  u})on  to  settle  disputes  on  literary  and  historical 


a  farm  which  he  occupied  and  cultivated,  and 
also  dealt  in  live  stock  until  1828,  when  he  sold 
out  and  removed  to  this  State,  settling  in  Pom- 
fret, four  miles  from  Fredouia,  Chautauqua 
county,  on  what  is  known  as  the  Stockton  road. 
Here  he  purchased  a  farm  of  one  liundretl  and 
seventy-six  acres,  partially  improved.  Being 
seriously  injured  once  at  a  raising  aud  again 
while  driving  stock  to  Philadelphia,  Penu.syh 
vania,  ho  traded  this  farm  for  one  adjoining, 
containinsr  but  onc^  hundred  acres,  in  order  to 
lessen  his  labors,  and  on  this  latter  farm  he 
spent  the  renraindcr  of  his  life,  dying  October 
3()th,  1857,  having  nearly  comjiletrd  his  sixty- 
third  year.  He  was  married  May  2()th,  LSI 8, 
to  Sally  Perry,  of  J*rincct(ju,  Massachusetts,  and 
iiad  nine  children,  tlii'ce  sons  and  six  daughters: 
Sarah  A.,  born  l^Mji'iiary  17th,  1X21,  aud  mar- 
ried Blanchard  Derby,  April  2Uth,  1842,  who 
wa.s  a  farmer  in  Pomfret,  tliis  county;  Sally, 
born  April  22d,  1823,  and  married  William 
Derby,  a  farmer  and    teamster    in    Fredonia ; 


matters.  He  lived  on  the  farm  with  his  father 
until  the  death  of  the  latter  in  1867,  and  with 
bis  brother,  to  whom,  with  himself,  the  farm 
had  been  given  in  consideration  of  their  care  of 
their  ])arents  during  their  life.  In  IStJti  he  sold 
his  share  in  the  farm  to  his  brother  aud  pur- 
chased one  of  one  hundred  acres  in  Portland, 
four  miles  from  Brocton  aud  halfway  to  West- 
licld.  Here  he  lived  until  April,  1873,  when 
he  sold  the  farm  and  moved  to  Fredonia.  In 
connection  with  farming  he  had  been  an  exten- 
sive dealer  in  live  stock,  in  partnership  with 
Lewis  L.  Crocker,  under  the  firm  name  of 
Crocker  A'  Wilson,  which  business  they  con- 
ducted seven  years,  when  he  bought  Mr.  Crock- 
er's interest  aud  admitle<l  his  son,  V.  B.,  as 
partner,  and  sliorlly  afliTward  .sold  his  own 
interest  to  Linuan  S.  iiarber.  Sinc<'  then  he 
has  devoted  his  time  to  dealing  in  live  stock. 
He  also  owns  a  large  graj)cry  and  a  lot  of  pas- 
ture land.  lie  was  highway  ciimmissiouer  of 
Portland,  this  county,  and  also  of  Pomfret,  hold- 


or  CJIAIITAIK^I'A    COUNTY. 


269 


ing  that  ofl5cc  aud  also  that  of  assessor  four 
years.     lie  was  elected  on  the  republican  ticlcef. 

He  was  married, September  1(5,  l.sr)8,  to  .Iiili;i 
A.  Karber,  danghler  orClianiplin  and  Malanccy 
((jJreen)  l^arber,  her  iiitlier  being  a  fanner  in 
Pomfret  for  the  past  forty  years,  lie  had  by 
this  union  four  children — three  danfjjhtei's  and  a 
son,  Fred.  B.  The  daughters  were  JMartlia  C, 
who  married  Gilbert  P.  Marsh,  a  real  estate 
agent  in  Pittsburg,  Kansas;  Mary  J.  and  JnUa 
L.,  who  are  both  at  home. 

Fi'ed.  B.  Wilson  was  educated  in  (he  public 
schools  of  Pomfret  and  Portland  and  in  (Ik' 
State  Normal  school  at  Fredonia,  where  lie  re- 
mained three  years,  and  at  sixteen  years  of  age 
began  to  learn  the  butchering  business  with 
Crocker  &  Wilson,  remaining  with  them  five 
years.  Immediately  upon  attaining  Ids  majority 
he  bought  a  half-interest  in  the  business  (Mr. 
Crocker's),  and,  on  the  retirement  of  his  father, 
admitted  into  partnership  L.  S.  Barber,  under 
the  (irm-naine  of  Bar])er  it  Wilson.  In  A])ril, 
1890,  Mr.  Barber  sold  his  interest  to  Mi-.  Wilson, 
and  the  latter  now  owns  the  entire  btisint^ss. 
Conaing  from  English  and  Irish  ancestry,  he 
unites  the  best  business  qualities  of  botii  nation- 
alities. 

Fred.  B.  Wilson  was  married  October  2."], 
1881),  to  Augusta  C.  Schmeiser,  a  daughter  of 
Jacob  Schmeiser,  of  Fredonia,  and  lias  one  son, 
Edward. 


born  three  sons:  Clans,  John  H.,  and  Oscar. 
The  latter  still  lives  in  his  native  country,  and 
tlic  two  former  canu!  to  Am(^rica  in  18li3. 

John  li.  .Anderson  c^ime  to  Jamestown,  A'ew 
York,  on  June  20,  1871,  and  for  twenty  years 
has  been  a  resid(!nt  of  Chautauqua  county  at 
Poland  Centn;  and   Kennedy,  residing  now  at 

,  the    latter    place.     He    first   engaged    at    farm 

I  work,  and  then,  seeing  an  e.xeellent  opportunity 
for  handling  hay  and  fruit,  he  embarked  in  an 
independent  business,  and  about  1886  added 
general  nierchan<li/,ing.  In  February,  188G, 
lie  was  elected  commissioner  of  highways  for 
the  town  of  Poland,  and  was  re-elected  in  1887, 
serving  as  such  two  years.  He  was  educated  in 
the  Swedish  common  schools,  and  since  coming 
to    the    United    States    has   accpiired    a   good 

I  knowledge  of  English.  Politically  he  is  a 
republican,  and  is  now  holding  the  office  of 
postmaster  of  Kennedy,  N.  Y. 

In  1884  he  married  Olivia  Davenport,  and 

I  now  has  three  children  :  Maude,  Merrill,  and 
Hobait. 

John  H.  Anderson  is  a  careful,  active  and 
honorable  business  man,  wiio  by  his  own  efforts 
has  achieved  what  the  world  calls  success. 


JOHN  H.  ANl>KKSON,  a  firmly-established 
^^  hay  and  fruit  shipper  and  merchant,  is  a 
native  of  western  Sweden,  where  lie  was  born 
to  Andrew  and  Charlotte  (Jacobson)  Anderson, 
February  15th,  1855.  The  family  have  been 
natives  and  residents  of  Sweden  from  time  im- 
memorial. Andrew  Anderson  was  born  at 
Ulrecksham,  Sweden,  about  1828,  aud  served 
in  the  army  for  nearly  thirty-eight  years,  and 
then  took  up  the  business  of  farming,  at  which 
he  is  still  engaged.  About  184!)  he  married 
Charlotte    Jacobson,   and    to    theiu    have   been 


jA  ATHAN  J.  HOKTOX.  A  prominent  se- 
\  ^  cret  society  man  is  Grand  Recorder  Hor- 
ton  of  the  A.  O.  U.  W.,  whose  office  is  located 
in  Duidvirk.  Nathan  J.  Horton  is  the  son  of 
Triuuan  and  Betsy  E.  (Carr)  Horton  and  was 
born  at  Boston,  Erie  county,  New  York,  July 
25,  1841.  The  family  is  of  English  extraction 
but  long  established  in  America,  the  pioneer 
lauding  here  during  the  seventeenth  century. 
His  grandfather,  Jacob  Horton,  was  born  No- 
vember 5,  177t),  in  the  town  of  New  Lebanon, 
Columbia  county,  this  State,  and  died  in  1848. 
Truman  Horton  (father)  was  born  ]\Iay  29, 179G, 
at  the  last  named  town,  and  in  1818  went  with 
his  family  to  Boston,  Erie  county.  New  Yoj-k, 
where  he  lived  until  his  death  which  occurred 
iu  1869.     He  was  a  licensed   Baptist  preacher, 


270 


BIOGRAPHY  AND  HISTORY 


and  altliougl)  a  man  of  force  and  eloquence,  was 
never  ordained,  yet  he  worked  zealously  for  his 
church,  and  was  most  ably  supported  by  his  [ 
wife.  In  politics  he  was  a  whig,  abolitionist 
and  republican.  He  married  Betsy  E.  Carr,  of 
New  Lebanon,  on  December  2S,  1810,  by  whom 
he  had  ten  children.  Mrs.  Horton  died  at  her 
home  in  Boston,  Erie  county,  New  York,  in 
1886,  aged  eighty-six  years.  , 

Nathan  J.  Horton  was  reared  near  the  scene  j 
of  his  birth  and  received  a  common  school  edu- 
cation.    On    August  5,   1862,    he    enlisted    in 
Company  F,  116th  regiment,  New  York  infan- 
try (Col.  E.  P.  Chapin,  commanding), and  served 
until  the  close   of  the  war;  two  years  of  the 
time  Ixiing  spent  in  the  gulf  department,  partic- 
ipating at  the  siege  of  Port  Hudson  and  in  the  I 
Red  River  campaign.     In   the  spring  of  1864  , 
his  regiment  was  returned  to  Washington,  at-  i 
tached  to  Sheridan's  command  and  was  with  it  ! 
in  the  Shenandoah  Valley  campaign.     He  was  j 
wounded  at  the  battle  of  Fisher's  Hill,  Septem-  i 
ber  22,  1864,  which   prevented   him   from  fur- 
ther  active  service.     The  latter  part  of  1865 
and  early  part  of  1866  were  passed  in  the  Penn- 
sylvania  oil   region.     In   August,  1866,  he  re-  i 
turned  to  this  State  and  was  engaged  in  teaching 
school  and  in  taking  a  course  at  Bryant  <t  Strat- 
ton's  business  college,   Buflalo,  New  York,  the 
better  to  fit  himself  for  a  mercantile  life.     In 
March,  1868,  Mr.  Horton  located  at  Ripley, 
forming  a  partnership  with  Fletcher  Dawson, 
under  the  firm  nanie  of  Dawson  &  Horton,  and 
conducted  a  general  store  for  two  years,  when 
Mr.  Dawson  died  and   his   interest  was  bought 
by  our  subject,  who  continued  the  business  until 
1874.     After  this  date  the  ensuing  six   years 
were  profitably  s])ent  in   buying  and  shipping 
country  produce.     He  has  served   his  town    in 
the  capacity  of  .supervisor,  justice  of  the  peace 
and  town  clerk.      Mr.  Horton  went  to   Buttalo 
in  1881   and   became  a  mendier  of  the  firm  of 
Oatman  Bros.,  tiie  name  being  changed  to  Oat- 
man  Bros.  &  Co.,  doing  a  jobbing  and  commis- 


sion business.  They  continued  this  partnership 
until  September,  1883.  In  February,  1884, 
Mr.  Horton,  for  a  second  time,  attended  the 
Grand  Lodge,  Ancient  Order  United  Workmen, 
held  at  Syracuse,  New  York,  and  after  a  spirit- 
ed contest  was  elected  to  the  responsible  office  of 
(Jrand  Recorder  for  the  State  of  New  York 
and  has  been  re-elected  without  opposition  at 
every  session  held  since. 

Nathan  J.  Horton  married  Susie  E.,  a  daugh- 
ter of  Hon.  C  O.  Daughaday,  of  Ripley, 
Chautauqua  county.  New  York,  on  November 
11, 1869;  .since  which  the  village  of  Ripley  has 
been  their  home.  In  all  matters  of  a  public 
and  social  character  connected  with  the  village 
and  town,  both  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Horton  take  a 
lively  interest.  Mr.  Horton's  interest  in  fra- 
ternal societies  is  attested  by  his  position  in  the 
Grand  Lodge  A.  O.  U.  W.,  as  well  as  the  fact 
that  he  is  a  member  of  Bidwell-Wilkinson  Post, 
No.  9,  G.  A.  R. ;  Summit  Lodge,  No.  219,  F. 
&  A.  M.,  Dunkirk  Commandery,  No.  40, 
Knights  Templar  and  intermediate  orders  and 
a  thirty-second  degree  mason,  being  a  member 
of  Rochester  Grand  Consistory. 


HORACE  H.  SHAW.  One  of  the  repre.sen- 
tative  citizens  of  the  town  of  Westfield, 
who  has  sprung  from  a  family  who  settled  here 
early  in  Chautauqua  county's  history,  is  Horace 
H.  Shaw,  a  son  of  David  and  Sophia  (Barney) 
Shaw,  and  was  born  in  Cayuga  county,  New 
York,  April  16,  1820,  and  was  two  years  old 
when  brought  to  Westfield  by  his  parents.  The 
family  is  of  Scotch-English  extraction.  David 
Siiaw  was  born  in  1793,  in  Ma.ssachusetts  and 
moved  to  Cayuga  county  when  twelve  years 
old.  He  was  reared  a  farmer  and  when  twenty- 
two  years  of  age,  in  181o,  married  Sophia  Bar- 
ney, a  daughter  of  Daniel  Barney,  who  lived  in 
Cayuga  county.  They  had  seven  cliildri'n,  six 
of  whom  are  now  living ;  one  died  in  infancy. 
The  year  1882  saw  him  in  this  town  wliich  was 
then  in    Portland,  and  he  charred  a  small  tract 


OF  ClfAUTAUQUA   COUNTY. 


271 


of  land  (charring,  is  deading  the  trees  prepara- 
tory to  clearing),  when  lie  returned  to  (-ayiiga 
for  his  family  whom  he  soon  after  brought  htu-k. 
The  log  honse  was  hnilt  an<l  a  hoinecshihlished, 
clearing  continned  nntil  enough  land  was  con- 
verted into  fields  to  raise  food  for  the  family. 
Mr.  Shaw  continued  to  farm  until  within  a  few 
years  of  his  death,  which  occurred  in  1880, 
when  eighty-seven  years  of  age.  He  was  a  com- 
municant of  the  Universalist  church  and  a 
member  of  the  llepublican  party,  by  whom  he 
was  elected  to  the  office  of  assessor,  but  being  of 
an  unassuming  and  modest  disposition  he  never 
essayed  to  higher  political  honors.  Mr.  Shaw 
served  in  the  army  during  the  war  of  1812, 
and  drew  a  pension  until  his  death.  Mrs. 
Shaw,  too,  belonged  to  the  Universalist  church 
and  survived  her  octogenarian  husband  less  than 
one  year.  She  died  in  the  spring  of  1881, 
aged  eighty-six  years. 

Horace  H.  Shaw  was  reared  a  farmer  in 
Westfield  by  his  parents,  remaining  there 
with  the  exception  of  the  decade  between  1864 
and  1874,  whi<!h  time  he  lived  in  Hin'on 
county,  Ohio.  In  1874  he  returned  to  the  farm 
in  Westfield,  on  which  he  now  lives.  He  was 
educated  in  the  district  schools  and  prepared 
for  the  busy  life  which  has  followed. 

In  1849,  he  married  Sophrona  Chatsey,  a 
daughter  of  Benjamin  Chatsey,  a  respectable 
farmer  of  the  same  town,  and  they  had  one 
child,  a  daughter :  Adlade,  who  married,  and 
now  the  widow  of  William  Palmer,  who  died  in 
Fitchville,  Ohio,  in  1887.  They  had  two  chil- 
dren :  William  A.  and  Horace  D.,  who  with 
their  mother  now  lives  with  their  grandfather ; 
in  1850  he  lost  his  wife  and  in  1851  he  married 
Phoebe  Chatsey,  also  a  daughter  of  Benjamin 
Chatse^',  by  whom  he  had  two  daughters : 
Harriet  and  Mary  ;  Harriet  S.,  is  the  wife  of 
Eugene  Waterhouse,  M.D.,  a  successful  physi- 
cian of  St.  Louis,  Mo.  ;  and  Mary  I.,  is  at 
home. 

H.  H.  Shaw  is  a  republican  and   has  served 


the  town  in  several  offices.  He  is  upright  in 
character  and  his  name  is  synonymous  with  in- 
tegrity. 


JOHN  MAWIIIK  is  one  of  tlie  wi-le-awake 
^  horticulturi.sts  of  Portland  town.  He 
is  a  son  of"  Thomas  and  Mary  Mawhir,  and 
was  born  on  the  farm  adjoining,  where  he 
now  resides,  in  Portland  town,  Chautauqua 
county.  New  York,  August  31,  1858.  Thomas 
Mawhir  was  born  in  Ireland  in  1 810,  and  came 
to  America,  locating  at  Westfield.  In  18515  he 
moved  to  Portland  and  bought  the  farm  where 
his  son  now  lives,  and  followed  agriculture 
until  his  death,  April  16,  1889.  He  was  a 
stirring,  energetic  man,  and  favored  the  Repub- 
lican party.  His  wife  survives  him  and  lives 
in  Portland  with  her  sou.  She  is  seventy -seven 
years  of  age  and  is  a  member  of  the  Presbyte- 
rian church. 

John  Mawhir  was  reared  on  the  farm  and 
received  his  education  in  the  common  schools. 
He  has  always  resided  on  a  farm,  thirty  acres 
of  which  he  owns,  and  has  a  fine  grape  orchard 
in  the  culture  of  which  he  takes  great  interest. 

On  December  15,  1880,  Mr.  Mawhir  was 
wedded  to  Mary  Guest,  a  daugliter  of  William 
A.  Guest,  who  is  a  farmer  in  Portland.  They 
have  four  children,  one  son  and  three  daughters: 
Ella,  Mynferd,  Jennie  and  Anna. 

He  is  an  adherent  to  Republican  principles 
and  votes  with  that  party,  and  is  recognized  as 
a  most  progressive  farmer. 


nOBERT  NEWLAND  BLAXCHARD, 
M.D.,  a  prominent  aud  skillful  physician 
and  surgeon  of  the  city  of  Jamestown,  is  a  son 
of  Flint  and  Jane  (Allen)  Blanchard,  and  was 
born  in  the  town  of  Ellicott,  Chautauqua 
county.  New  York,  November  16,  1856. 

Robert  N.  Blanchard  was  educated  in  the 
common  .schools,  and  at  the  age  of  eighteen 
graduated  from  Jamestown  High  School,  after 
which   he  entered  the  ranks  of  .the  pedagogue. 


272 


BIOGRAPHY  AND  HISTORY 


and  taught  school  for  two  terms.  He  com- 
menced the  study  of  medicine  with  Dr.  H.  C. 
Bluncliard,  his  uncle,  with  whom  he  remained 
for  four  years,  and  entered  the  Medical  Depart- 
ment of  the  University  of  Buffalo,  froTu  whicii 
he  graduated  in  1880,  and,  returning  to  the  city 
of  Jamestown,  he  began  the  practice  of  medi- 
cine with  his  uncle,  who  died  August  G,  1884, 
when  our  subject  succeeded  to  his  j>racti(!c,  and 
has  since  built  up  the  patronage  of  a  large  and 
paying  class  of  people.  E,.  N.  Blanchard  is  a 
democrat  in  politics,  and  at  the  time  of  the  or- 
ganization of  the  city  of  Jamestown,  he  was  aj)- 
pointed  health  officer  of  the  city.  Dr.  Blanch- 
ard belongs  to  the  Independent  Order  of  Odd 
Fellows,  of  Jamestown,  and  is  a  member  of  the 
Iude])endent  Congregational  chiinii,  although 
both  his  father  and  grandfather  were  Presbyte- 
rians. The  latter  died  Jan.  15,  1891,  at  the  ad- 
vanced age  of  92  years.  Dr.  Blanchard  is  also  at- 
tached to  the  Knights  of  Maccabees,  American 
Legion  of  Honor  and  the  llo^'al  Arcanum. 

The  other  members  of  his  father's  family  are 
Dr.  Amos  Blanchard,  a  practicing  physician  at 
Frewsburg,  this  comity,  who  is  also  a  graduate 
of  the  Buffalo  University  ;  Charles,  a  farmer 
who  lives  upon  and  tills  the  old  homestead  ;  I 
Mary  E.,  who  married  Fred.  A.  Beiithy,  the 
vice-president  of  the  Chautauqua  County 
National  Bank,  and  a  prominent  financier  of  this  j 
city  ;  Henry  C,  who  marrie<l  a  Miss  Foster,  a 
ilaughter  of  Judge  Foster,  who  resides  in  (he 
State  of  Washington.  Henry  C.  Blanchard 
graduated  from  the  San  Francisco,  Califiirnia,  , 
Law  School,  and  is  now  living  and  practicing 
his  j)rofession  in  the  city  of  Seattle,  Washing- 
ton, where  lie  is  also  engaged  in  (he  iion  busi- 
ness. 

Robert  Newlaud  Blanchard  <>ii  llic  Mlli  {\a\ 
of  June,  1882,  married  iiclle  15.  Burfis,  a 
daughter  of  William  K.  Burtis,  who  was  an  old 
settlor  of  Chautaiujiia  county.  Dr.  and  Mis. 
l)huirliMr<!  have  one  son,  Robert  B.,  who  was  ' 
born  on  the  27tli  day  <<{'  Man-li,  188.'j. 


Dr.  Blanchard  is  an  intelligent,  educated 
physician  and  surgeon,  who  takes  much  pains 
to  keep  himself  fully  informed  upon  the  ad- 
vancement which  is  being  made  in  his  profes- 
sion, and  being  skillfid  and  uniformly  success- 
ful in  difficult  and  stubborn  cases,  he  has  the 
confidence  of  the  pcoph'  whom  he  serves.  So- 
cially he  is  a  ])leasant  gentleman,  and  he  is  pop- 
ular in  the  community  in  which  \v  resides. 


^KOi:<iK  I{.  WKANKK  is  a  son  of  John 
^^  and  Anna  (Benton)  Weaver,  and  was 
born  ill  Allegany  county,  Now  York,  April  9, 
1834.  John  Weaver  was  born  in  the  ea.steni 
part  of  the  Empire  State,  in  1804,  but  came  to 
Chautauqua  county  in  1840,  when  he  located 
in  Westfield  town.  He  has  made  his  residence 
at  this  place  continuously  for  fifty-one  years, 
and  still  lives,  aged  eighty-seven  years.  Fol- 
lowing farming  when  it  was  necessary  to  work 
hard  to  produce  the  same  which  improved  ma- 
chinery will  do  by  the  expenditure  of  much  less 
toil,  he  had  but  little  time  to  waste  with  poli- 
tics, although  his  sympathies  and  votes  were  for 
the  party  of  Jefferson,  Jackson  and  Tildeii. 
His  wife  was  Anna  Benton,  whom  he  married 
in  1827.  Slie  bore  him  eight  children  and  died 
in  1850,  when  only  forty-four  years  of  age. 

George  R.  Weaver  was  six  years  old  when 
he  came  to  Chautau(|ua  county  with  his  father. 
He  was  reared  on  a  farm  anil  received  the  edu- 
cation common  schools  could  confer.  Upon  a(- 
taiiiiiig  his  manhood  he  decided  upon  agricul- 
ture and  grape  growing  for  his  life's  work,  and 
now  owns  fifty-six  acres  lying  three  miles  east 
of  Westfield  village  admirably  adapted  for  his 
uses  in  grape  growing. 

On  Noveuiber  2,  1859,  Mr.  Weaver  married 
.Vugusta  Twing,  a  daughter  of  IjuIIkt  Twing, 
an  <ild  r(>sidcnt  oC  this  town,  by  whom  lie  had 
one  son,  Ernest  E.,  now  married  to  Lydia  .\. 
Boorn,  and  engaged  in  fiirming  near  the  village 
of  Westfield,  growing  grapes  and  other  fruits. 

rcjiticailv  Mr   Weaver  affiliates  wilii  the  de- 


Ol'    ('II.  1  / "/'.I  / 'g VA    (JO UNTV. 


273 


moorats,  but  is  a  strong  advocate  of  tlie  tem- 
perance cause,  and  belongs  to  the  E(|uitablc  Aid 
Union,  and  has  been  a  member  of  Westfieid 
Grange  since  1874.  lie  is  a  constant  attendant 
of  the  Baptist  cinii'cli  upon  wliosc  roll  of  mem- 
bership his  name  is  inscribed.  He  is  a  man  of 
integrity  and  honor. 


/>-l':<)K(iK  I.  KOSSITKK  is  a  prominent 
^^  young  druggist,  a  social  companion  and 
an  enternrisino;  business  man  of  Bro(;ton.  He 
is  a  son  of  Charles  and  Ellen  (Kisley)  Rossiter, 
and  was  born  in  Pomfret,  Chautauqua  county, 
New  York,  September  30, 1865.  The  paternal 
great-grandfather,  Elisha  Ro.ssiter,  was  a  native 
of  Roche.ster,  and  was  a  pioneer  of  Chautauqua  I 
county.  He  came  from  Rochester  with  an  ox 
team,  and  .settling  at  Pomfret,  tbllowed  farming 
until  his  death,  which  occurred  in  1883.  Charles 
Rossiter  was  born  in  Pomfret  town  in  1845, 
and  until  1887  pursued  farming  as  a  means  of 
gaining  a  livelihood.  He  still  owns  his  farm  in 
Pomfret,  but  moved  to  Brocton  four  years  ago, 
where  he  now  lives,  being  interested  in  a  vine- 
yard in  the  town  of  Portland.  He  married 
Ellen  Risley,  of  Pomfret  town  in  1864,  by 
whom  he  had  one  cliihl.  She  is  a  member  of 
the  Methodist  church,  and  is  now  46  years  old. 

George  I.  Rossiter  was  reared  on  a  farm  and 
educated  in  the  common  schools,  afterwards  at- 
tending the  State  Normal  School  at  Frcdonia. 
In  1886  he  engaged  in  the  general  mercantile 
business  at  Portland,  following  it  for  one  year, 
and  then  came  to  Brocton  and  opened  a  drug 
store  in  which  he  has  been  very  successful.  He 
carries  a  large  and  assorted  stock  in  the  fine 
brick  building  erected  in  1887  by  his  father, 
and  has  a  large  trade  wliicli  he  is  careful  to 
satisfy  with  superior  articles  and  drugs. 

Politically  he  affiliates  with  the  Republican 
party,  and  is  a  member  of  Brocton  Lodge,  No. 
284,  Knights  of  Pythias.  He  is  a  good  young 
business  man,  and  has  many  friends  around  the 
locality  in  which  he  lives. 
14 


TAMKS  H.  WARD  is  a  veteran  school- 
^  tea(^her,  who,  in  his  later  years,  has  turned 
his  energies  in  an  entirely  different  channel  and 
looks  after  the  ])ersonal  belongings  of  thousand 
of  travelers  each  year.  He  was  born  in  Ku])ci't, 
Bennington  .';ounty,  N'^ermont,  August  4th,  1821, 
and  is  a  .son  of  Reuben  and  Aziibah  (Taylor) 
Ward.  His  grandflither,  Humj)hrey  Ward, 
was  a  native  of  Connecticut  and  a  farmer  by 
occupation.  He  married  a  IMiss  (Jrise  and  had 
four  children,  two  sons  and  two  daughters.  He 
died  in  Washington  (uninty,  this  State.  The 
maternal  grandfather  of  J.  H.  Ward  was  Jona- 
than  Taylor,  who  died  in  Rutland  county,  \er- 
mont.  Reuben  Ward,  (father)  was  born  in 
Washington  county,  this  State,  in  1792. 

He  served  as  a  substitute  in  the  war  of  1812 
and  participated  in  the  battle  of  Plattsburg, 
September  11,  1814.  In  1826  he  came  to 
Cattaraugus  county  tiiis  State,  and  took  up  a 
farm  in  the  wilderness  in  the  town  of  Perrys- 
burgli,  being  one  of  the  earliest  settlers  there, 
cleared  it  and  lived  on  it  the  remainder  of  liis 
life.  One  of  his  .sons  now  lives  upon  that  farm. 
In  politics  he  was  a  democrat  and  held  the 
office  of  justice  of  the  peace  for  twelve  consecu- 
tive years  in  Perrysburgh.  He  married  Azubah 
Taylor  in  1818  and  had  ten  children — .seven 
sons  and  three  daughters,  one  .son  and  two 
daughters  dying  young,  the  others  reaching 
maturity. 

James  H.  Ward  was  educated  in  the  academy 
at  Springville,  Erie  county.  New  York,  and  at 
Fredonia,  this  county,  and  then  taught  school 
about  twenty  years  in  Cattaraugus  and  Chau- 
tauqua counties,  being  a  very  successful  and 
enthusiastic  teacher.  Locating  in  Versailles, 
Cattaraugus  county,  after  his  experience  as  an 
educator,  he  devoted  about  six  years  to  the 
manufiicture  of  shoes  and  tiicn  came  to  this 
county  and  engaged  in  tiie  railroad  and  express 
business,  first  at  Brocton,  where  he  had  charge 
of  freight  and  baggage  at  the  B.  P.  <&  W.  depot, 
and  theu  at  Mayville,  where  he  was  appointed 


274 


BIOGRAPHY  AND  HISTORY 


express  agent.  When  the  Chautauqua  Associa- 
tion was  organized  in  1875  he  was  appointed 
general  baggage- master,  which  position  he  held 
seven  years.  In  politics  he  was  a  democrat  up 
to  the  administration  of  Martin  Van  Buren  in 
1837,  when  he  became  a  free-soiler  and  in  1856 
a  republican.  He  has  held  the  office  of  justice 
of  the  peace  continuously  since  1877.  In  relig- 
ion he,  as  well  as  his  wife,  is  a  member  of  the 
Methodist  church.  He  is  Worthy  Master  of 
Peacock  Lodge,  (j96  F.  &  A.  M.,  named  in  honor 
of  Judge  William  Peacock,  and  secretary  of 
Westfield  Chapter,  No.  239,  R.  A.  M.,  in  which 
he  has  occupied  many  of  the  chairs. 

James  H.  Ward  was  married  September  29, 
1847,  to  Harriet  Blaisdell,  a  daughter  of  Rev. 
William  Blaisdell,  a  minister  in  the  Christian 
church,  who  went  to  Iowa,  enlisted  in  what 
was  known  as  the  "  Gray  Beard  Regiment  " 
and  entered  the  civil  war,  where  he  died.  By 
this  union  there  have  been  born  three  sons : 
William  T.,  who  married  Ellen  Fuller  and  is  a 
farmer  in  Kansas,  has  two  sons — Samuel  and 
Jonathan ;  Reuben  F.,  who  married  Mary 
Wing,  had  four  children — Lillian  M.,  James 
H.,  Hattie  M.,  and  Nellie  who  died  young  and 
was  killed  by  lightning  in  Kansas  at  the  age  of 
twenty-six  years  ;  George  F.,  married  to  Hattie 
Healey,  a  traveling  salesman  for  a  factory  supply 
company  and  lives  in  Jamestown. 

o 

HON.  FRANK  E.  SESSIONS,  ex-special 
county  judge  of  Chautauqua  county,  and 
tlie  present  secretary  of  the  New  York  State 
League  of  Loan  and  Building  associations,  is 
one  of  the  ablest  and  best  known  lawyers  of 
western  New  York.  He  is  a  son  of  Columbus 
and  Cordelia  (French)  Sessions,  and  was  born 
at  Chautau(juii,  on  the  celebrated  lake  of  the 
same  name,  in  Chautauqua  county,  New  York, 
May  22,  1847.  The  Sessions  family  is  of  hon- 
oraljje  New  Kngland  lineage  and  for  several 
generations  has  been  noted  for  the  cnterpri.se, 
intelligence  and  energy  of  ita   members.     Joiin 


Sessions,  the  great-grandfather  of  Frank  E. 
Sessions,  was  a  native,  in  all  probability,  of 
Massachusetts.  He  was  of  English  extraction 
and  for  a  time  resided  at  the  foot  of  the  Green 
mountains  in  Vermont.  He  afterwards  re- 
moved from  that  State  to  New  York,  where  he 
continued  to  follow  his  occupation  of  di'oving 
until  his  death.  His  son,  Schuyler  Sessions 
(grandfather),  was  born  in  the  "  Green  Moun- 
tain "  State  and  came  with  his  father  to  New 
York,  where  he  cleared  out  a  farm  in  Chau- 
tauqua county.  He  then  joined  in  the  west- 
ward tide  of  emigration  to  the  prairie  lands 
west  of  the  "  Father  of  Waters'"  and  settled  iu 
Iowa  where  he  remained  until  his  death,  which 
occurred  in  1857.  He  was  a  farmer  and  a 
democrat,  and  married  Sallie  Gi'een  by  whom 
he  had  five  sons  and  two  daughters.  All  of 
tliese  sons  are  living,  and  one  of  them,  Colum- 
bus Sessions  (father),  was  born  in  Vermont, 
March  31,  1818.  He  came  to  Ciiautauqua 
county  in  1832,  removed  to  Wisconsin  in  1852, 
returned  to  this  State  in  18G8,  and  in  1880 
went  to  Iowa  where  he  now  resides,  at  Algona, 
with  one  of  his  sous.  He  is  a  farmer  and  tau- 
ner  by  occupation  and  a  republican  in  politics. 
He  has  been  twice  married  ;  his  first  wife  was 
Cordelia  French,  who  died  in  December,  1863, 
aged  thirtv-six  years  ;  and  after  her  death  he 
married  Mrs.  Cordelia  Herrick,  widow  of  Cap- 
tain Herrick,  who  served  and  was  killed  iu  the 
late  war.  By  his  first  marriage  he  had  three 
sons :  H.  Alan.sou,  a  marble  dealer  and  insur- 
ance agent  of  Algona,  Iowa ;  Frank  E.  and 
Schuyler  S.,  a  prominent  lawyer  and  one  of  the 
nine  directors  of  the  State  Agricultural  Associa- 
tion, of  Iowa,  being  the  youngest  man  by  twen- 
ty years,  who  has  ever  been  elected  to  that 
position.  Mrs.  Cordelia  (French)  Sessions  was 
a  daughter  of  Samuel  French  (maternal  grand- 
father), who  was  born  in  Massachusetts  and 
settled,  about  1820,  at  French  Creek,  this 
county,  where  he  afterwards  died.  He  was  a 
farmer  by  occupation,  a  Baptist  in  religious  be- 


^"fbyJ^ypjts  Rnu.fi.^cmsri^^ 


J£J<U^^H^ 


OF  CHAUTAUQUA   COUNTY. 


277 


lief  and  an  old-line  whig  in  political  opinion. 
He  was  married  iu  Massacliii.sett.s,  and  was  the 
father  of  four  sons  and  two  danghters. 

Frank  E,  Sessions  left  the  common  schools 
of  Fon  du  Lac  county,  Wisconsin,  at  the  early 
age  of  fifteen  years  to  engage  in  teaching, 
which  he  followed  continuously  for  seven  years. 
Durinjr  that  time  lu^  tauy-ht  thirteen  terms  and 
spent  all  his  leisure  lioiwi;  in  reading  and  self- 
study.  He  then  .sought  for  a  wider  field  for 
the  exercise  of  his  powers  than  that  bounded 
by  the  walls  of  the  school-room,  and  entered  up- 
on the  study  of  law,  with  his  uncle,  Walter  L. 
Sessions,  of  Panama.  After  reading  steadily 
for  one  year  he  gave  his  attention,  partly,  dur- 
ing 18G9,  to  the  tanning  business,  but  with  the 
beginning  of  the  next  year  he  applied  himself 
with  renewed  assiduity  to  his  legal  studies  and 
was  admitted  to  the  New  York  bar  in  April, 
1873.  From  the  time  that  he  began  the  study 
of  law  until  his  admission  at  the  bar,  he  kept 
up  his  studies  and  maile  his  owi^  way  without 
pecuniary  assistance  from  any  one.  In  1876 
he  opened  an  office  in  Jamestown  where  he 
has  practiced  his  profession  successfully  ever 
since. 

He  was  appointed  by  Gov.  Cornell,  as  special 
county  judge  for  ChautaiKjua  comity  and  his 
services  as  such  were  so  well  and  ably  rendered 
that  at  tlie  end  of  his  term  he  was  elected  to 
the  same  office,  for  a  term  of  three  years.  At 
the  end  of  his  second  term  Judge  Sessions  re- 
sumed the  practice  of  his  profession  at  James- 
town and  iu  the  courts  of  the  ailjoining  coun- 
ties. Although  busily  engaged  in  an  extensive 
law  practice,  yet  he  always  gives  encourage- 
ment and  aid  to  any  enterprise  that  is  calculated 
to  be  of  real  benefit  in  any  way  to  his  fellow- 
citizens.  He  has  been  a  leading  spirit  in  the 
organization  and  management  of  the  Jamestown 
Permanent  Loan  and  l>uilding  Association,  and 
at  the  present  time  is  one  of  its  board  of  direct- 
ors and  its  attorney.  This  association  was  or- 
ganized  November   'I'l,   1881,   has   built   hun- 


dreds of  houses  already,  and  is  a  jjotent  fac^tor 
of  the  city's  present  prosperity. 

On  June  1,1876,  he  united  in  marriage  witii 
Julia  R.  Bush,  of  Jamestown.  To  their  union 
have  been  born  two  children  :  ( "lara  H.,  born 
December  28,  1  880,  died  April  11,  1890;  and 
Edgar  W.,  born  February  11,  1887. 

In  ])olitics  .Judge  Sessions,  while  always  a 
pronounced  rej)ublican  yet  has  never  been  a 
strenuous  or  bitter  partisan.  He  is  a  memi)er 
of  Mt.  Moriah  Lodge,  No.  145,  Free  and 
Accepted  Masons,  and  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
church  of  Jamestown,  of  which  he  has  long 
served  as  treasurer.  He  has  also  served  as 
superintendent  of  its  Sunday-school  and  is  now 
superintendent  of  the  senior  dc|)artrnent  of  the 
school.  Able  as  a  jurist  and  eminent  as  a  law- 
yer, he  ranks  liigh  in  his  profession  in  western 
New  York,  where  to  be  successful  and  attjiin 
standing  at  the  bar,  a  lawyer  must  have  decided 
ability  and  ])ossess  success-winning  qualities  of 
the  highest  order. 

© 

i^HAKLES  D.  ftllltKAV,  a  Cleveland 
^^  democrat  and  one  of  the  prominent  law- 
yers of  Dunkirk,  was  born  at  (Juilford,  Che- 
nango county,  New  York,  May  4,  1831,  and  is 
a  son  of  Dauj)hin  and  Sallie  (Seymour)  Murrav. 
His  paternal  grandfather,  Captain  Elihu  Mur- 
ray, commanded  a  company  of  Continental 
troops  during  the  revolutionary  war  anil  after- 
wards removed  from  his  native  State  of  Con- 
necticut to  Guilford,  where  he  died  in  1837,  at 
the  advanced  age  of  eighty-eight  years.  His 
son,  Dauphin  JNIurray  (father),  was  born  in  Con- 
necticut and  spent  the  early  part  of  his  life  as  a 
farmer  of  Guilford.  He  then  engaged  in  c(^n- 
tractingon  public  works  wiiicii  he  followed  until 
185o,  when  he  Wits  killed  in  a  railroad  accident 
at  Hinsdale,  Cattaraugus  county.  He  was  fifty- 
.seven  years  of  age  at  the  time  of  his  death,  and 
his  wife  had  preceded  him  to  tiie  tomb  in  1852, 
when  she  jiassed  away  at  Hin.sdale,  aged  fifty- 
four  years. 


278 


BIOGRAPHY  AM)  HISTORY 


Charles  D.  Murray  was  brought  by  his  parents, 
in  ,1839,  from  (Juilford  to  Hinsdale,  where  he 
remained  nntil  1845  and  attended  the  "Old 
Red  Scliool-house."  At  fourteen  years  of  age 
he  became  a  clerk  in  a  dry  goods  house  of  Nor- 
wich, New  York,  in  which  he  remained  until 
1850,  when  he  joined  in  the  westward  tide  of 
eraio-ration  to  the  Golden  State  of  the  Pacific 
slope.  Arriving  in  San  Francisco  and  finding 
no  business  opening  he  hired  as  a  drayman,  but 
soon  saved  enough  money  to  buy  himself  a  dray. 
He  followed  drayiiig  for  one  year,  during  which 
time  he  was  on  the  alert  for  a  business  opening 
and  found  it  in  the  jobbing  ])roduce  and  com- 
mission trade.  He  became  a  member  of  the 
firm  of  Murray  &  Foster,  and  handled  large 
amounts  of  produce  until  1855,  when  Mr.  Mur- 
ray was  called  home  by  the  death  of  his  father. 
During  his  business  career  in  California  he  mad« 
three  trips  to  Oregon  and  two  trips  with  cargoes 
of  luuiber  to  Sidney,  Australia.  On  his  return 
home  he  engaged  in  the  mercantile  and  lumber- 
ing business  at  Hinsdale,  which  he  followed 
uutil  1858,  when  lie  went  down  with  thousands 
ipf  other  business  men  in  the  pauic  of  that  year. 
la  the  last-named  year  he  was  appointed  route 
asient  in  the  mail  .service  from  Hornelisville  to 
Dunkirk,  on  the  Erie  railroad,  and  had  si.x 
hours  of  spare  time  every  day  at  Hornelisville 
which  he  s])ent  in  reading  law  in  the  office  of 
Ueynolds  tt  Brundage.  Tn  1860  by  a  change 
in  the  administration  he  was  removed  from  his 
position  in  the  mail  service  and  was  admitted  as 
an  attorney  and  counselor  of  the  Supreme  Court 
of  New  York  at  its  general  session  in  Bulfalo 
and  opened  an  office  at  Hinsdale  where  he  prac- 
ticed until  1864.  He  was  then  drafted  and  in 
order  to  procure  a  substitute  came  to  Dunkirk, 
with  whicii  he  was  so  favorably  impressed  that 
he  .secured  his  present  law-offiee  in  the  Gerrans 
blo<'k.  He  enjoys  an  extensive  and  remunera- 
tive practice  and  has  attained  a  prominent  stand- 
ing in  his  profession.  Mr.  Murray  has  been 
identified  for  several  years  with  the  financial. 


educational  and  religious  intere.sts  of  the  city. 
He  is  vice-president  of  the  Merchants  National 
Bank  which  was  organized  March  6, 1882;  was 
president  of  the  board  of  education  for  six  years 
and  is  a  senior  warden  of  St.  John's  Protestant 
Episcopal  church. 

Ou  the  20tii  of  May,  1860,  Mr.  Murray 
united  in  marriage  with  Orpha  A.  Banfield, 
daughter  of  George  D.  Banfield,  of  Hinsdale, 
Nevv  York.  They  have  three  children — Henry 
T.,  who  is  in  the  law-office  with  his  father ; 
Lewis  N.,  a  clerk  in  the  Merchants  National 
Bank,  and  Maud  M.,  wife  of  Henry  M.  Ger- 
rans, one  of  the  proprietors  of  the  Iroquois  hotel 
of  Buffalo,  N.  Y. 

Charles  D.  Murray  is  a  democrat  of  the  Jack- 
sonian  and  Cleveland  type  and  attended  the 
Baltimore  convention  of  1858,  and  has  been  a 
delegate  to  several  State  conventions,  and  the 
Democratic  National  convention  of  1884,  which 
nominated  Grover  Cleveland  for  president. 
He  served  as  jiresident  of  the  board  of  water 
commissioners,  and  was  mayor  of  Dunkirk  for 
one  term.  In  1870  Mr.  Murray  was  the  demo- 
cratic nominee  for  Congress  in  his  district  (the 
33d)  which  was  then  republican  by  six  thousand 
majority,  and  lacked  but  three  hundred  votes  of 
being;  elected.  . 


nOBEKT  E.  CROSOKOVE,  one  of  Ripley 
town's  leading  farmers  and  best  citizens 
was  born  at  Ripley,  Chautauqua  county,  New 
York,  November  15,  1851,  and  is  a  sou  of  John 
and  Mary  (Cochrane)  Crosgrove.  His  grand- 
father, William  Crosgrove,  was  a  native  of 
Ireland,  but  deciding  that  America  was  the  land 
of  promise,  he  said  good-by  to  the  green  fields 
of  his  childhood,  and  took  passage  for  New 
York,  where  he  landed  Noveml)er  17,  1801. 
A  few  years  were  s|)ent  in  various  places,  and 
in  1804  he  married  Rachel  Cochrane,  who  bore 
him  eigiit  chihlren.  William  Cro.sgrove  lived 
for  two  years  in  western  Pennsylvania,  but  in 
1808  he  came  to  Ripley  and  settled  on  the  farm 


OF  CHAUTAUQUA   COUNTY. 


279 


now  owned  by  \V.  A.  and  R.  E.  Crosgrove. 
Tlie  materniil  grandfather  was  Robert  Ooclirane, 
wlio  was  boru  in  County  Down,  Ireland,  Oct. 
22,  1786,  and  came  to  America  in  1812.  One 
year  later  lie  settled  in  the  nortliwcst  part  of 
Westfield,  on  lot  No.  4,  where  lie  lived  until 
his  death,  May  6,  1870.  Politically  he  was  a 
republican,  and  a  member  of  the  Presbyterian 
church.  His  wife  was  Jaiit!  Law,  whom  he 
married  in  Ireland,  and  they  had  eleven  chil- 
dren, the  eldest,  Mary,  being  the  mother  of  our 
subject.  John  Crosgrove  (father)  was  born  at 
Cold  Spring  station,  Pa.,  June  20,  180G.  When 
two  years  of  age  his  fatiier  brought  him  to  the 
town  of  Ripley  where  he  spent  his  life,  and  died 
at  the  age  of  seventy-eiglit  years.  William 
Crosgrove,  father  of  John  Crosgrove,  bought  of 
the  Holland  Land  company  one  hundred  and 
thirty-five  acres  of  land,  cleared  it,  and  lived  on 
the  place  until  his  death.  John  Crosgrove 
bought  his  father's  place,  and  lived  there  until 
his  death.  Early  in  life  he  experienced  the  need 
of  .spiritual  consolation,  and  joined  himself  to 
the  Presbyterian  church,  in  which  he  was  a 
deacon.  In  1842  he  married  Mary  Cochrane, 
and  their  union  was  blessed  witii  five  children  : 
Harriet,  born  June  1,  1844,  and  is  now  the  wife 
of  E.  T.  Kingsley,  a  reserve  operator  for  the 
L.  S.  &  M.  S.  R.  R.  at  Ripley ;  William,  born 
August  10,  1846,  is  a  farmer  and  lives  with  his 
father;  Alfred,  born  March  10,  1847,  married 
to  Mrs.  Hayden,  and  lives  at  Pilot  Point,  Texas, 
where  he  is  engaged  in  merchandizing ;  Nettie, 
born  August  30,  1849,  and  died  in  1890;  and 
Robert  E. 

Robert  E.  Crosgrove  received  his  education 
at  the  public  schools,  after  which  he  began 
fiirming,  and  has  continued  it  ever  since  on  the 
old  homestead,  to  which  they  have  added  one 
hundred  acres  more,  making  a  total  of  two 
hundred  and  thirty-five  broad  acres  of  as  fine 
land  as  one  could  wish  to  see.  A  vineyard  of 
ten  acres  in  extent  furnishes  fruit  for  the  table 
and  the  market — tons  having  been  sold  in  one 


year.      He  is  a  member  of  the  Presbyterian 
church,  and  votes  with  the  Republican  party. 


n  l{('llllt.\IJ>  C.M.HOUN  is  a  canny 
■**•  ScDtciiMian,  w  lio  lias  had  an  expcrince  in 
life  which  W(>ul<l  form  the  fbundatinu  for  a  very 
interesting  book.  He  was  born  in  Eilensboro 
on  the  Clyde,  October  25,  1828,  and  is  a  son  f>f 
Peter  and  Ellen  (McCauslan)  Calhoun,  a  branch 
of  the  family  of  which  John  C.  Calhoun,  the 
famous  southern  .statesman,  was  a  member. 
James  Calhoun  (grandfather)  was  a  native  and 
life-long  resident  of  Scotland  and  by  occupation 
was  a  farmer.  Humphrey  McCauslan  (maternal 
gran<lfatlier)  was  also  a  native  of  the  same 
country,  where  he  was  a  stock-rai.ser.  Peter 
Calhoun  (father)  was  l^orn  in  Scotland  in  1793) 
and  early  emigrated  to  the  land  of  freedom,  .set- 
tling in  Delaware  county.  New  York,  where  he 
died  in  1875,  at  the  age  of  eighty-six  years.  By 
occupation  he  was  a  farmer,  in  religion  he  vras 
a  member  of  the  Presbyterian  church,  and  in 
politics  was  an  active  worker  in  the  whig  party. 
Peter  Calhoun  was  married  to  Ellen  McCauslan, 
by  whom  he  had  ten  children,  six  sons  and  four 
dauirhters,  all  but  two  sons  and  one  daiiirliter 
being  born  in  Scotland.  Mrs.  Calhoun  died 
in  1883,  aged  eighty-three  years. 

Archibald  Calhoun  was  educated  in  the  com- 
mon schools  of  Delaware  county,  this  State,  and 
in  the  spring  of  1851,  when  he  was  twenty-one 
years  of  age,  went  to  Califijrnia,  the  El  Dorado 
of  the  Occident,  and  engaged  in  gold  mining, 
farming  and  stock-raising  for  twelve  years,  and 
then  went  to  Nevada,  where  he  devoted  two 
years  to  prospecting  for  silver  and  ten  years  of 
stock-raising.  He  then  drove  a  flock  of  thirty- 
six-hundred  sheep  from  Nevada  to  Montana, 
iiimself  riding  horseback,  and  .sold  them  at  a 
good  profit.  On  several  occasions  during  his 
residence  in  California  and  Nevada  he  was  sur- 
rounded by  hostile  Indians  with  arrows  drawn 
to  the  head,  but  always  succeeded  in  arguing 
them   out  of  a  desire  to  kill   or  harm   him,  and 


280 


BIOGRAPHY  AND  HISTORY 


not  infrequently  he  came  in  too  close  quarters 
with  grizzly  bears,  but  manageii  by  desperate 
fighting  to  get  off  practically  unharmed.  He 
crossed  the  Isthmus  of  Panama  four  times  and 
has  been  over  the  Rocky  mountains  thirteen 
times,  twice  in  a  stage-coach.  In  1877  he  came 
east  and  located  in  Sherman,  where  in  1878  he 
purchased  a  farm,  which  he  still  occupies.  After- 
ward he  bought  the  so-called  '' Old  Israel  Shel- 
don  place"  of  two  hundred  and  fifty-five  acres 
and  the  "  Henry  Sheldon  place  "  of  two  hun- 
dred and  thirty-seven  acres  and  has  made  a 
specialty  of  dairy  farming.  In  October,  1883, 
in  connection  with  W.  P.  Smallwood,  Hiram 
Parker  and  James  Vincent,  he  organized  tiie 
Bank  of  Sherman,  and  was  elected  president, 
which  office  he  has  since  held.  It  is  the  first 
organized  of  tiie  two  banks  now  in  Sherman, 
but  one  bank,  the  Sheldon,  preceded  this,  and, 
with  the  exception  of  Mr.  Smallwood,  who  has 
retired  from  the  board  of  directors,  the  same 
men  who  organized  it  stiil  manage  its  business. 
Outside  of  his  banking  operations  connected 
with  the  bank,  Mr.  Calhoun  derives  a  good 
revenue  by  making  independent  loans  on  un- 
questionable securities.  In  religion  he  is  a 
member  as  well  as  a  trustee  of  the  Presbyterian 
church  ;  and  in  |)o]itics  lie  is  a  standi  republi- 
can, taking  an  active  interest  in  tiie  success  of 
his  jiarty,  l)ut  always  declining  the  many  re- 
quests to  use  his  name  as  a  candidate  for  any 
office.  His  varied  ex|)ericnce  while  on  the 
Pacific  Slope  and  his  vast  fund  of  reminiscences 
make  him  a  very  interesting  companion,  being, 
naturally,  a  genial  gentleman. 

Archibald  Calhoun  was  marriccl  May  7, 
1871,  to  Alcda  Rose,  a  daughter  of  Itliainer 
Hose,  a  native  of  Schoharie  county,  this  State, 
by  whom  he  has  four  children,  three  sons  and 
one  dangiiter:  Rose,  Le  Roy,  John  and  Ma.x- 
well.  Mrs.  Calhoun  is  a  member  of  the  Pres- 
byterian church. 

o 


rTNDKEW  .T.    MERIt'LE,    at   one   time  a 
■^*     captain  on  a  lake  ve.ssel  running  between 

j  Buffalo  and  Chicago;  then  the  owner  of  a  line 
of  vessels  in  the  same  trade  ;  later,  and  now,  the 

,  proprietor  of  a  large  general  store   in   Brocton, 

I  at  present  preparing  one   of   the  largest  vine- 

1  yards  in  the  town,  is  a  son  of  Philip  and  Se- 
linda  (Briggs)  IMericle,  and  was  born  in  the 
town   of   Sardinia,    Erie    county,    New    York, 

1  May  1,  1829.  Philip  Mericle  was  a  native  of 
Schoharie  county,  where  he  was  born  in  the 
town  of  Sharon,  in  1799.  From  thence  he  re- 
moved to  Erie  county,  when  a  young  man,  and 
came  to  Chautauqua  county  in  1834.  He  lo- 
cated in  the  town  of  Portland,  began   to   farm, 

i  and  followed  that  vocation  until  his  death. 
Being  of  Dutch  extraction  he  inherited  the 
industry  and  economy  of  that  race.  He  mar- 
ried Selinda  Briggs  in  1828,  and  had  four 
children,  two  sons  and  two,  daughters :  Mr. 
Mericle  was  a  demc.crat  of  the  Jcffersoiiian 
type,  of  unquestioned  integrity  and  patriotism. 

I  He  died  in  1858,  aged  si.xty  years.  His  wife 
was  a  native  of  Rhode  Island,  and  living  to 
the  advanced  age  of  eighty-four  years,  died 
February  22,  1889. 

Andrew  Jackson  Mericle  was  reared  in  the 
town  of  Portland,  and  received  the  education 
afforded  by  its  common  schools.  When  but 
fifleen  years  of  age,  he  entered  a  sailing  vessel 
plying  the  great  lakes,  and  learned  to  be  a 
sailor.  It  is  unnecessary  to  recount  the  lianl- 
ships  the  young  man  had  to  undergo,  but,  in- 
stead we  will  record  the  triumph  he  achieved. 
When  manhood  cast  her  mantle  about  his 
shoulders,  he  found  him.self  possessed  with 
enough  to  buy  a  small  vessel.  This  he  as- 
sumed command  of,  carrying  freights,  and  the 
jirofifs  were  sufficient  to  buy  other  vessels,  until 
he  luis  become  the  owner  of  a  little  fleet,  all  of 
which  he,  excepting  one,  siiccessively  command- 
ed. Mr.  ^^criclc  engaged  in  this  traffic  until 
1879,  when  ho  disposed  of  his  slii])ping,  and 
gave  his  whole  attention  to  a  general  mercantile 


OF  CUA  UTA  U(f  VA    CO  UNT  Y. 


281 


business,  which  he  liad  estahlislied  in  Broeton, 
in  1869.  The  store  is  a  large  one,  and  carries 
a  stock  of  groceries,  boots  and  shoes,  dry  goods, 
clothing  and  drugs.  His  trade  is  inunense, 
and  is  drawn  for  miles  from  the  surrounding 
country.  He  owns  a  farm  of  ninety  acres  in 
Portland  town,  which  he  is  now  converting  into 
an  immen.se  vineyard. 

In  December,  1849,  Mr.  Mericle  married 
Sarah  M.  Martin,  a  daughter  of  Jason  Martin, 
of  Portland,  who  has  been  his  companion  for 
nearly  forty  years.  They  are  the  parents  of  two 
children  ;  Jay  P.  and  Frank  J. 

A.  J.  Mericle  is  a  democrat,  a  man  of  wealth, 
a  shrewd  business  man  and  a  leading  citizen. 


TAMES  H.  FLA(iLEK  is  a  .son  of  John  H. 
^  and  Adeline  B.  (Rhodes)  Flagler,  and 
was  born  in  Royalton,  Niagara  county,  New 
York,  March  8, 1835.  His  grandfather,  James 
Flagler,  was  a  descendant  of  one  of  two  broth- 
ers, who  came  to  America  from  Germany,  and 
was  born  in  Dutchess  county,  this  State,  from 
whence  he  removed  to  Washington  county, 
where  he  followed  the  occupation  of  a  farmer 
until  his  death  in  1825,  at  the  age  of  forty-five 
years.  He  married  Vincey  Hall,  and  by  her 
had  five  children,  four  sons  and  one  daughter, 
who  reached  maturity.  The  maternal  grand- 
father of  J.  H.  Flagler  was  named  William 
Rhodes,  born  in  Connecticut  and  removed  to 
Washington  county,  this  State,  where  he  fol- 
lowed farming  and  also  served  as  a  soldier  in 
the  war  of  1812.  He  died  in  Washington 
county  in  1869,  at  the  age  of  eighty-two  years. 
John  H.  Flagler  (father)  was  born  in  Wash- 
ington county,  this  State,  September  15,  1806. 
He  came  to  this  county  and  located  at  Summer 
Dale,  a  place  west  of  Mayville,  where  he  en- 
gaged in  farming.  In  politics  he  was  an  old- 
line  whig  and  took  an  active  interest  in  them- 
In  religion  he  was  a  member  of  the  Methodist 
Episcopal  church  and  also  a  local  preacher 
therein.      He  married  Adeline  B.  Rhodes,  Jan- 


uary 25,  1X3 1,  and  had  five  children,  three 
sons  and  two  daughters.  One  of  the  children 
died  quite  young ;  another  one,  Fletcher  J., 
lives  in  Kan.sas.  John  H.  Flagler  died  in 
September,  1887. 

James  H.  Flagler  was  educated  in  the  com- 
mon schools  of  Chautauqua  town,  and  West- 
field  academy,  and  began  to  earn  a  livelihood 
as  a  school  teacher.  He  taught  fourteen  years 
altogether,  including  two  terms  of  four  months 
each  in  the  corporation  of  May ville.  AVhen  he 
had  completed  his  experience  in  teachir)g  tiie 
young  idea  how  to  shoot,  he  moved  to  Chau- 
tauqua and  from  there  to  the  farm  of  his  father 
at  Summer  Dale,  which  originally  contained 
three  hundred  acres,  and  of  which  he  now  owns 
two  hundred  and  forty  acres.  In  1872  he 
0]ierated  a  dairy  farm  at  this  location.  He 
then  moved  to  Mayville,  where  he  has  since  re- 
sided, mainly  engaged  in  the  coal  business.  In 
politics  lie  has  been  a  republican  since  the  birth 
of  the  party,  voting  for  Fremont  and  Dayton  in 
1856,  and  has  been  a  member  of  the  board  of 
assessors  of  Mayville  for  six  years.  August  8, 
1890,  President  Harrison  appointed  him  post- 
master of  Mayville.  In  religion  he  is  a  mem- 
ber of  the  INIethodist  Episcopal  church.  He  is  a 
member  of  Mayville  Lodge,  No.  284,  I.  O.  O.  F., 
of  Mayville,  of  which  he  is  N.  G.,  and  has  been 
financial  secretary  of  Mayville  Lodge,  No.  25, 
A.  O.  U.  W.  for  eight  years. 

James  H.  Flagler  was  married  November  1, 
1859,  to  Nancy  A  Keyes,  of  Mayville,  by 
whom  he  has  two  sons  :  Elmer  E.,  who  is  mar- 
ried to  Frances  Van  Volkenburg,  and  is  in  the 
dry  goods  business  in  Westfield  ;  and  Grant  S., 
married  to  Alta  M.  Owen,  is  receiving  and  jMy- 
ing  teller  in  the  Westfield  National  Bank,  in 
which  town  he  also  resides. 


"^TS    B.   AT>AM.S,  one  of  the  substantial  agri- 

'^  •  cultm-ists  of  Fredouia,  is  a  son  of 
Bishop  and  Betsey  (Palmer)  Adams,  and  was 
born  in  Van  Buren,  Chautauqua  county.  New 


282 


BIOGRAPHY  ASB  HISTORY 


York,    November     5,  1829.     Justus    Adams  I 
(grandfather)  was  boru  iu  Dutchess  couuty,  this 
State,  in  1764,  and  moved  to  Delaware  county, 
where  he  bought  a  farm,  on  which  he  remainetl 
a  few  years  and  then  removed  to  tliis  couuty  in 
tiie  spring  of  1811,  where  he  jnirdiased,  iu  May 
of  that  year,  one-half  of  lot  No.  21,  in  township 
six,  now  Pomfret,  comprising  one  hundred  and 
eighty  acres,  which  he  cultivated  until  his  death, 
in  1848,  at  the  age  of  eighty-four  years.     The 
farm  was  then  occupied  by  two  of  his  sons,  later 
by  another  sou,  Bishop  (father)  and  now  by  his 
grandson,  D.  B.     He  married   Jemima  Bishop 
iu    1785,  by  whom   he   had  nine  children,  five 
sons  and  four  daughters  :  Bishop,  Morris,  Jes- 
sie, John   and  Thomas-;  Rebecca,  who  married 
a  Mr.  Ganung  ;  Eliza,  married  to  another  Mr. 
Gaiiung  ;  Jemima,  married  to  Wm.  Birch  ;  and 
Polly,    married    to    Thomas    Lacelles.       Mrs. 
Adams  (grandmother)   died   in    1837.     Joseph 
Palmer    (maternal    grandfather)    was    born    in 
Connecticut,  and  came  to  this  county  in  1810, 
settling  in  Pomfret,  near  Fredonia,  where  he 
took  up  a  large  farm,  which  he  cultivated  until 
1834,  when  he  sold  it  and  removed  to  Indiana 
and   took   up  a  tract  of  land  on  the  St.  Joseph 
river.     He   married  and  reared  seven  children, 
four  sons  and  three  daughters:  Daniel,  James, 
Asher,  and  one  whose  jiame  is   forgotten  ;  Bet- 
.sey  (mother);  Cynthia,  who  married  Mr.  Gier; 
and  another  who  married  Mr.  Stilsou.     Bishop 
Adams  (iiither)  was  boru  iu  Dutchess  county  in 
1789,  came  to  this  county  in  1809  and  bought 
a  tract    of    land   consisting  of  three   hundred 
acres,  for  which  he   paid  less  than  three  dollars 
an  acre.     This   he  sold  in    18S6  and   moved  to 
the   farm   now   owned   by  his  son,  D.  15 ,  one 
mile  northwest  of  Fredonia,  for  the  purpo.se  ol" 
assisting   and   caring   for    his   father,    who  had 
pa.ssed  the  three-score  and  fen  years  allotted  to 
man,  ami    remained    here    until    his    death,   in 
l.S()(i,  at  the  age  of  seventy-seven  years.    Bishdj) 
Adams  was  marriwl  in  the  fall  of  1811  to  Bet- 
sey Palmer,   by  wlioni  he  had   nine  children, 


five  of  whom  died  in  infancy  :  John  was  a  phy- 
sician in  this  county,  and  married  Chloe  Wil- 
bur ;  Elizabeth  marrietl  Smith  Wilbur,  a  far- 
mer iu  this  county  ;  and  Philinda  married 
Daniel  Ellis,  a  farmer  in  Panama,  this   county. 

D.  B.  Adams  was  educated  in  the  common 
.schools  of  this  county,  of  which,  happily,  the 
youth  of  the  present  generation  have  no  knowl- 
edge. He  worked  on  the  farm  during  the  [)lant- 
ing,  haying  and  harvesting  seasons,  and  winters 
he  sawed,  split  and  chopped  wood,  "  done 
chores,"  attended  to  the  live  .stock,  attended  the 
school  which  was  located  close  by,  on  one  cor- 
ner of  the  farm  on  whicli  he  lived,  until  he 
was  fifteen  years  old.  Fortunately  nature 
jiartly  compensated  for  this  pursuit  of  knowledge 
under  difficulties  by  endowing  him  with  a  phe- 
nomenal memory,  .so  that  his  mind  is  a  store- 
house of  kuowledge  gained  by  a  wide  range  of 
reading,  and  never  fails  to  honor  the  drafts 
made  upon  it.  He  worked  upon  his  father's 
farm  and  cared  for  him  when  the  infirmities  of 
age  grew  upon  him,  and  after  his  death  pur- 
cha.sed  tlie  interest  of  the  other  heirs,  the  entire 
farm  being  now  iu  the  very  centre  of  the  grape- 
growing  district,  which  materially  increases  its 
value.  He  has  eight  acres  devoted  to  the  cul- 
tivation of  that  succulent  fruit  of  the  vine,  and 
is  increasing  the  average  each  year.  In  June, 
1863,  he  enlisted  in  Company  A,  Sixty-eighth 
New  York  Vdlunteers,  but  \\as  lionorai)iy  dis- 
charged on  account  of  the  ex|)iratic»ii  of  his  en- 
listment, August  1st  of  the  same  year,  and  is  a 
member  of  IlOlt  Post,  No.  403,  G.  A.  K.  of  Fre- 
donia, also  of  Fredonia  (Jrange,  and  the  Temple 
of  Honor,  Select  Templars  and  of  Fredonia 
Lodge,  No.  338  I.  O.  O.  F.,  all  of  Fredonia,  and 
takes  an  active  interest  in  each.  In  politics  he 
is  rei)ublican. 

D.  B.  A(hims  was  marrietl  November  9, 
IS  18,  to  Mary  K.  Hyde,  a  daugliler  of  Jo.sc|)h 
and  Laura  (Woodcock)  Hyde,  her  liither  being 
a  farmer  at  Springville,  Erie  county,  this  State, 
which    nuiiiu     resulted    in  four    childiX'U,    two 


m^ 


'"r^^ittJ^ 


OF  CHAUTAUQUA   COUNTY. 


289 


forests  with  hisaxe,  sulxliied  the  natural  growth 
and  in  its  place  sowed  the  seeds  which,  sprouting 
and  maturing,  fed  the  hungry  mouths  of  stock 
and  children.  After  serving  in  the  Revolutionary 
war  he  returned  to  his  fiu-m,  where  he  (lie<l  in 
1852.  His  wife  bore  him  five  or  six  children 
that  grew  to  maturity.  Jn  politics  he  was  a 
whig.  Of  the  mother's  family  the  same  might 
be  said  ;  the  grandfather  came  to  America  and 
settled  in  the  same  county.  George  Phillips 
was  born  in  Rensselaer  county,  and  learned  the 
carpenter's  trade,  which  he  followed,  with  con- 
tracting and  building.  He  died  iu  1867,  aged 
seventy-eight  years.  Most  of  his  life  was  spent 
in  Rensselaer  county,  although,  for  a  time,  he 
lived  and  followed  his  trade  in  Dutchess  county. 
In  1811  he  married  Lydia  Shaver,  and  reared 
a  family  of  seven  children,  four  daughters  and 
three  sons.  Two  of  the  latter  and  one  daughter 
are  still  living:  George  E.  is  at  Stottville,  New 
York  ;  and  Sarah  A.  is  married  to  Alberton 
Hick,  of  Rensselaer  county,  New  York.  Mr. 
Phillips  was  a  democrat. 

Albert  L.  Phillips  passed  the  early  years  of 
life  and  received  his  education  through  his  own 
unaided  etiorts.  He  worked  hard  during  the 
day  and  studied  at  night  and  during  spare 
moments.  While  still  a  youth  he  learned  the 
secrets  of  milling,  and  before  he  was  legally  a 
man  he  was  a  master  miller.  Seven  years 
apprenticeship  was  passed,  and  he  then  took 
charge  of  a  mill  in  Chatham,  Columbia  county, 
this  State,  where  he  remained  until  August  22, 
1862,  and  then  enlisted  in  Company  I,  1st 
regiment,  New  York  Mounted  Rifles,  and  served 
as  private  and  corporal  until  the  close  of  the 
war,  his  discharge  being  dated  June  12,  1865. 
His  regiment  was  commanded  by  Col.  C.  C. 
Doilge.  He  was  mainly  on  detached  duty  ' 
during  his  service,  and  was  with  Generals  ! 
Spinola  and  Terry  at  Suffolk,  Va.,  Fort  Dar-  | 
ling,  Bermuda  Hundred,  City  Point  and  Peters- 
burg. While  Mr.  Phillips  was  engaged  in  | 
bearing   dispatches    from  Gen.    Terry   to   Col.  1 


^V'hite  he  was  pursued  by  Confederates  and  four 
bullets  jwssed  through  his  clothing.  Much 
danger  was  incurri^d  while  doing  duty  as  dis- 
patch-bearer, scout  and  spy,  but  he  seemed  to 
bear  a  charmed  life,  and  always  es(!aj)ed  un- 
injured. When  Richmond  capitulated,  his 
company  was  among  the  first  to  lide  trium- 
phantly through  the  streets  of  the  rebel  capital. 
Upon  returning  home,  he  was  employed  at  the 
following-named  places :  Phoenix  mills  and 
Revere  mills,  Rochester,  New  York  ;  Gowanda, 
New  York,  and  was  burned  out  in  the  latter  place 
in  March,  1870;  then  at  Versailles,  Otto,  New 
York;  Union  City,  Pa.,  and  in  1873  he  removed 
to  East  Randolph  and  remained  until  1 877.  From 
there  he  went  to  Dayton,  Ohio,  and  engaged  in 
the  grain  business  for  about  one  year,  then 
moved  to  Niles,  Ohio,  and  ran  a  mill ;  from  the 
latter  place  he  went  to  Meadville,  Pa.,  and  in 
1881  he  came  to  Kenuedy,  where  he  has  since 
remained,  and  conducts  one  of  the  largest  mills 
in  Chautauqua  county,  having  a  capacity  of  one 
hundred  and  twenty-five  barrels  of  flour  and  a 
car-load  of  feed  per  day,  and  employs  ten  men. 
Mr.  Phillips  is  associated  with  William  Thomas, 
a  resident  of  Meadville,  Pa.  Politically  he  is 
a  democrat,  and  belongs  to  Jamestown  Lodge, 
Knights  of  Honor. 

In  1869  he  married  Jennie  Barlow,  a  daughter 
of  Alauson  Barlow,  of  Gowanda,  New  York, 
and  they  have  one  daughter,  E.  Maud,  born 
March  14,  1876. 

Mrs.  Phillii)s  died  August  5,  1890,  after 
having  spent  considerable  time  in  Florida  search- 
ing for  health.  Albert  L.  Phillips'  success  in 
the  milling  business  is  a  proud  monument  to  his 
perseverance  and  skill.  Under  his  management 
the  business  has  expanded  to  its  present  projior- 
tious,  a  large  proportion  of  their  product  being 
consumed  by  local  trade.  It  is  not  alone  in 
business  that  he  is  successful  ;  socially  he  is  a 
pleasant  gentleman,  and  numbers  his  friends  by 
his  acquaintances. 


290 


BIOGRAPHY  AND  HISTORY 


HERBERT  AV.  ALT^EIV  is  a  young  and 
enterprising  manufacturer  of  Silver  Creek, 
having  a  business  which  is  known  and  patron- 
ized in  all  parts  of  the  United  States  and  is  rap- 
idly spreading  over  Europe,  his  machines  being 
in  demand  by  the  best  millers  in  the  world. 
Mr.  Allen  is  a  son  of  Hon.  Henry  F.  and  Lucy 
E.  (Woodbury)  Allen,  of  Buffiilo,  New  York, 
and  was  born  in  Gowanda,  Cattaraugus  county. 
New  York,  March  18,  1862.  John  F.  Allen, 
his  grandfather,  was  born  in  the  State  of  Ver- 
mont in  1799,  and  was  a  graduate  of  Amher.st 
college,  Amherst,  Massachusetts,  class  of  '29 
and  considered  a  finely  educated  gentleman.  He 
was  one  of  the  early  settlers  of  Gowanda,  this 
State,  where  his  son,  Hon.  Henry  F.  and  his 
grandson  Herbert  W.  were  born,  but  in  his 
later  years  he  removed  to  Buffalo,  Erie  county, 
where  he  died  in  1885,  in  the  eighty-sixth  year 
of  his  age,  honored  and  respected  by  all.  Hon. 
Henry  F.  Allen  (father)  was  born  in  Gowanda 
in  1836,  in  politics  is  a  democrat,  and  was 
elected  a  member  of  the  Assembly  from  Erie 
county  in  1878  on  the  democratic  ticket  and 
afterward  was  a  candidate  for  the  supreme  judge- 
ship again.st  Hon.  J.  S.  Lambert.  In  1879  he 
removed  to  Buffalo,  Erie  county,  and  formed 
the  law  firm  of  Allen,  Movious  &  Wilcox, 
which  has  a  large  and  lucrative  j)ractice,  and  he 
is  also  one  of  the  commissioners  of  the  New  York 
State  Board  of  Claims.  He  is  a  member  of 
Ancient  I^andmarks  Lodge,  F.  and  A.  M.  He 
married  Lucy  E.  Woodbury,  who  was  born  in 
Silver  Creek  in  1842,  and  by  lier  had  four  chil- 
dren. She  is  a  member  of  the  Lafayette  Pres- 
byterian chui'ch  in  Buffalo. 

Herbert  W.  Allen  was  reared  in  his  native 
town  of  Gowanda,  and  graduated  at  the  acad- 
emy there  in  1879.  He  then  read  law  with  his 
father  at  the  office  of  his  law  firm  in  Huflalo, 
and  w:ls  admitted  to  the  bar  in  188.'5,  after 
which  he  i)racti(H'd  two  years  in  fiowauda.  In 
the  latter  part  of  1 885  he  abandoned  Blackstone 
and  entered  the  office  of  his  fiitiier  in  law,  Au- 


gust Heine,  in  Silver  Creek,  this  county,  and 
engaged  in  the  more  congenial  business  of  man- 

'•  ufacturing.  In  1888,  in  addition  to  his  other 
duties,  he  commenced  the  manufacture  of 
middling  purifiers  for  flour  mills  and  is  rapidly 
building  an  extensive  trade.      He  is  a  democrat 

;  in  politics  and  is  a  member  of  one  secret  .soci- 
ety. Relief  Lodge,  I.  O.  O.  F. 

Herbert  W.  Allen  was  married  in  1882  to 
Mary  A.  Heine,  a  daughter  of  August  Heine, 
of  Silver  Creek,  by  whom  he  had  one  son, 
named  in  honor  of  his  father-in-law,  August. 


nOBERT  .SHAW,  senior  member  of  the 
boot,  shoe  and  rubber  firm  of  Shaw  & 
Hale,  of  Westfield,  was  born  in  County  Down, 
Ireland,  July  17,  18.33,  and  is  a  son  of  James 
and  Margaret  (Robinson)  Shaw.  His  paternal 
grandfather,  William  Shaw,  was  a  native  and 
life-long  resident  of  County  Down,  where  he 
followed  his  trade  of  cooper.  He  was  a  Pres- 
byterian in  religious  belief,  and  died  at  the  ad- 
vanced age  of  eighty-seven  years.  His  son, 
James  Shaw,  the  father  of  Robert  Shaw,  was 
one  of  the  large  linen  manufacturers  of  Ireland. 
He  owned  a  farm  of  one  hundred  and  sixty- 
seven  acres  of  land  in  Clounty  Down  where  his 
linen  factory  was  built.  He  employed  from  four 
hundred  to  six  hundred  hands  in  the  manufac- 
ture of  linen,  operated  a  general  store  and  was 
a  man  well-known  for  his  energy  and  enter- 
pri.se.  He  was  a  member  of  the  Presbyterian 
church  and  died  November  9,  1849,  aged  fifty- 
seven  years.  His  wife  was  a  native  of  County 
Down,  and  a  Presbyterian,  and  died  in  1837. 
Robert  Shaw  was  reared  in  his  native  county, 
received  his  education  in  the  National  schools  of 
Ireland,  and  in  1857,  at  twenty- four  years  of 
age,  came  to  New  York.  On  May  27th,  of 
that  year  he  came  to  Westlield,  where  he  iias 
resided  ever  since.  He  was  engaged  in  farming 
from  1857  to  June  1,  186."),  when  he  became  a 
clerk  in  a  grocery  house  of  Westfield,  which 
posilioh  he  iiiid  for  four  years  and  two  months. 


OF  CHAUTAUQUA   COUNTY. 


291 


On  July  27,  1867,  lie  formed  a  partnership     New  York,  February  G,  1855.    Daniel  Toomey 


with  Williaiu  Ellison,  and  they  |)ur(;hased  the 
establishment  in  whieli  lit;  had  served  as  a 
clerk.  This  firm  of  Shaw  and  Ellison  contin- 
ued one  year  when  Mr.  Shaw  purchased  the  in- 
terest of  ICllison  and  conducted  the  store  until 
April  1,  1872.  He  then  associated  his  two 
nejihews,  W.  R.  Douglas  and  J.  R.  S.  Cros- 
grove  in  business  with  him  uuder  the  firm  name 
of  R.Shaw  &  Co.  On  March  29,  1882,  he 
disposed  of  his  interest  in  this  firm  to  W.  R. 
Douglas,  and  for  tiie  next  three  years  was  not 
engaged  in  any  line  of  mercantile  business.  On 
April  14,  1885,  he  formed  his  present  partner- 
ship with  G.  \V.  Hale,  under  the  firm  name  of 
Shaw  &  Hale.  They  are  <lealers  in  boots,  shoes 
and  rubbers,  and  their  establishment  is  at  No. 
14,  Main  street.  They  have  well  arranged 
salesrooms,  carry  a  nice  stock  of  goods  and  do  a 
good  business. 

June  5,  1872,  Mr.  Shaw  united  in  marriage 
with  Nancy  Ard,  daughter  of  John  Ard,  Sr.,  of 
Westfield.  They  have  three  children,  one  son 
and  two  daughters :  Edith  May,  George  Pat- 
terson aud  Clara  Jane. 

Robert  Shaw  is  a  straight  republican  in  pol- 
itics, has  served  for  eighteen  years  as  a  member 
of  the  school  board  and  is  a  successful  business 
man  of  tweuty-eight  years  experience.  He  is  a 
member  of  the  First  Presbyterian  church  of 
Westfield,  Westfield  Lodge,  No.  591,  Indepen- 
dent Order  of  Odd  Fellows,  Olive  Lodge,  No. 
521,  Knights  of  Honor,  Chautauqua  Lodge, 
No.  3,  Ancient  Order  of  United  Workmen,  and 
Westfield  Union,  No.  63,  Equitable  Aid  Union. 
He  was  a  member  of  the  village  board  of 
trustees  for  seven  years,  also  town  clerk  for 
one  year. 


j^ANlEL  F.  TOOMEY,  the  proprietor  of 
■^^oue  of  the  largest  aud  foremost  flour,  feed 
and  grain  houses  in  Dunkirk,  is  a  son  of  Daniel 
and  Catherine  (Buckley)  Toomey,  and  was  born 
in    the    city   of  Dunkirk,   Chautauqua  county, 


was  born  in  1X11,  in  County  Cork,  where  he 
married  Catherine  IJuckhy,  a  member  of  the 
Catholic  ciiurcli  who  died  in  1«6(),  at  forty- 
four  years  of  age.  Daniel  'i'oomey  came  to  the 
United  States  in  1838,  and  .settled  at  Piermont 
on  the  Hudson  river,  from  where  he  removed 
to  Dunkirk.  He  is  a  democrat  aud  a  member 
of  the  Catholic  church  and  has  been  engaged 
for  some  years  in  the  local  freight  business  of 
the  Erie  railroad. 

Daniel  F.  Toomey  attended  the  public  schools 
of  his  native  city  for  a  few  terms  and  was 
engaged  for  two  years  on  a  farm  which  he  left 
to  enter  the  employ  of  Fraid<  May,  then  iu  the 
flour  and  feed  business  iu  Dunkirk.  At  the  end 
of  seven  years  he  lefl  the  employ  of  Mr.  May 
to  engage  in  the  flour  and  feed  business  for  him- 
self. His  office  is  at  No.  434-36  Lion  street, 
while  his  ware  and  salesrooms  are  on  the  corner 
of  Lion  and  Fifth  .streets.  He  handles  a  full 
line  of  flour,  feeil  and  grain,  has  the  Dunkirk 
agency  for  Higgins'  Eureka  salt  and  Coe's  bone 
fertilizers  and  enjoys  a  wide  trade. 

In  October,  1885,  he  united  in  marriage  with 
Margaret  A.,  daughter  of  Arthur  and  Ann 
Lascelies  of  Dunkirk.  To  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Toomey  have  been  born  two  childreu  :  Loretta 
and  Arthur  D.,  aged  re.spectively  four  and  two 
years  of  age. 

D.  F.  Toomey  is  a  njember  of  the  Catholic 
church,  has  always  been  a  strong  democrat,  is 
now  serving  his  filth  term  as  chairman  of  the 
Democratic  district  committee  aud  was  a  dele- 
gate to  the  Democratic  State  Convention  of 
1889.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Young  Men's 
associatiou,  which  is  limited  to  a  membership  of 
twenty-five  and  which  wa.s  organized  iu  1887  as 
a  philanthrojiic  organization  for  the  advance- 
ment of  Dunkirk.  This  as.sociation  has  given 
one  thou-saud  dollars  to  the  improvement  of 
Washington  park,  besides  donating  books  to 
the  liljrary  association  and  in  many  other  ways 
contributing  to  the  progress  of  Dunkirk.     Mr. 


292 


BIOGRAPHY  AND  HISTORY 


Toomey  lias  been  engaged  with  good  success  for 
the  last  three  years  in  the  real  estate  business  in 
Buffalo,  N.  Y.  He  and  his  younger  brother, 
Michael  P.,  are  the  proprietors  of  the  Dunkirk 
Stock  Improvement  farm,  where  they  keep  very 
fine  thoroughbred  horses.  Their  summer  head- 
quarters are  at  the  driving-park  between  Dun- 
kirk and  Fredonia,  while  their  winter  head- 
quarters are  in  Dunkirk.  They  also  buy  and 
sell  high-bred  horses  and  have  done  much 
toward  the  improvement  ol  the  trotting  stock 
of  western  New  York.  Mr.  Toomey  has 
achieved  business  success  by  his  own  unaided 
efforts  and  is  energetic  in  whatever  enterprise  he 

engages. 

& 

TTiU.TiAAJSl    W.    PETTIT    is    one   of  the 

^-^*-^  leading  grape  culturists  and  farmers 
of  Portland  town.  He  was  born  in  Pulaski, 
Oswego  county,  New  York,  January  l'.^,  1835, 
and  is  a  son  of  James  J.  and  Sarah  (Hill) 
Pettit.  The  family  is  of  French  Huguenot 
extraction  but  of  long  residence  in  the  United 
States.  The  paternal  grandfather,  Dr.  James 
Pettit,  was  a  native  of  Albany,  this  State, 
where  he  was  born  April  1,3,  1777.  Dr.  Pettit 
became  a  physician  of  renown.  j»aid  particular 
attention  to  optical  surgerv  and  gave  to  the 
world  the  eye  .salve  which  bears  his  name.  He 
came  to  Fredonia  in  1835  and  practiced  his  pro- 
fession until  his  death  May  24,  1849.  James 
J.  Pettit  was  born  in  Hamilton,  Madison  county, 
N.  Y.,  May  26,  18(»4.  He  was  a  lawyer  by 
profession  anil  in  18.'!8  became  to  Fredonia  and 
practiced  Ibr  a  number  of  years.  From  Fredo- 
nia he  went  to  Perry,  Wyoming  county,  and 
continued  practicing  law  until  1848,  when  he 
removed  to  Kenosha,  Wisconsin,  where  lie 
|>racticed  for  a  while  and  was  then  elected 
county  judge.  He  died  August  5,  1877.  Mr. 
Pettit  was  a  good  man,  a  member  of  the  Pres- 
byterian church  and  of  the  iicpul>lican  party, 
by  whom  he  was  elected  judge,  lie  married 
Sarah    Hill,    in    1829,  a    native   of  C'azenovia, 


Madison  county,  who  was  born  March  15,  1805. 
She,  too,  was  a  member  of  the  Presbyterian 
church.  They  were  the  parents  of  six  children, 
Mrs.  Pettit  died  May  30,  1 863. 

William  W.  Pettit  was  reared  at  Kenosha, 
Wisconsin,  and  educated  in  the  public  .schools. 
After  leaving  school  he  learned  the  machinist's 
trade  and  followed  it  until  1860.  In  1861  he 
joined  Co.  G,  1st  regiment,  Wisconsin  Infantry, 
and  entered  tlie  war  for  four  months  service, 
holding  a  first  lieutenant's  commission.  In 
1862,  he  re-enlisted  in  Co.  D,  34th  regiment, 
Wisconsin  Infantry,  and  I'emained  in  the  army 
until  1864.  At  the  expiration  of  his  enlist- 
ment Mr.  Pettit  came  to  Brocton  and  located  on 
the  farm  he  now  owns,  and  began  agriculture 
and  grape  culture  which  he  has  since  pursued. 

On  September  20,  1864,  he  married  Laura 
Reynolds,  a  daughter  of  Richard  Reynolds,  of 
Portland.  They  have  four  children,  two  sons 
and  two  daughters :  Henry  W.,  George  R., 
Edith  S.  and  Ruth  H.  They  lost  one  infant, 
Fred.  R.,  who  died  February  20,  1870,  aged 
foin-  years  and  one  month.  Mrs.  Pettit  is  a 
refined  and  cultured  lady  who  has  a  charming 
and  model  home. 

William  W.  Pettit  is  a  repuljlican,  a  gentle- 
man of  culture  and  is  respected  Jis  one  of  our 
best  citizens.  He  is  a  member  of  James  A. 
Hall  Post,  No.  292,  G.  A.  R.,  and  holds  the 
position  of  surgeon. 


yyjlLLIAM  K.  MINKH.  Like  many 
^-"^-^  other  citizens  of  Chautau([ua  county, 
William  R.  Miner  is  a  lineal  descendant  of  an 
old  New  England  family.  His  parent.s  were 
Justin  S.  and  Elvira  (Newell)  Miner.  He  was 
born  October  8,  1834.  (irandfather  John 
Miner  was  born  in  New  England  and  came  to 
Otsego  county.  New  York,  shortly  prior  to  the 
war  of  1812.  He  lived  but  a  short  time  in  the 
county  famous  in  literature  and  story,  for  he 
was  soon  called  upon  to  place  himself  upon  his 
country's  altar.     This  he  did  with  lare  freedom 


OF  CIIM'TMJQUA   COUNTi: 


293 


and  s('ll-s;uu-ifi('c  ;  liis  enli.stineiit  was  a  sad  fare- 
well to  frifiids  and  homo  ;  he  never  returned. 
Grandfatlier  Samuel  Newell  was  a  native  of 
Massachusetts,  and  came  to  Sheridan,  C'hautau- 
qua  eounty,  New  York,  about  1810.  Here  he 
pursued  his  oeenpation  as  conjoint  farmer,  stock- 
rai.ser  and  dislillcr.  In  busine.ss  affairs  he  was 
a  man  of  resources,  energy  and  care,  and,  con- 
sequently, eminently  successful.  He  married 
Miss  Sarah  Ranney,  by  wiiom  Ik;  iiad  .seven 
children.  His  political  caste  was  that  of  the 
old-line  whigs,  who.se  principles  he  supported 
with  becoming  ardor.  He  died  in  September, 
1854.  The  father  of  the  subject,  Justin  S- 
Miner,  was  born  in  the  year  18011,  in  Otsego 
county.  New  York,  came  to  Chautauqua  county, 
when  twenty  years  old,  and  died  there  at  the 
age  of  forty-six  years.  He  was  a  farmer  by  oc- 
cupation, owning  a  farm  of  .some  one  hundred 
and  twenty-eight  acres  in  fine  repair,  and  gave 
his  leisure  time  to  the  iMiblic  in  tiie  discharsreof 
charitable  and  j)hilanthropic  duties.  He  was  a 
member  of  the  Presbyterian  church  for  many 
years.  His  wife  still  siu-vives,  hale  and  hearty, 
at  the  advanced  age  of  eighty  years. 

William  R.  Miner  was  the  eldest  of  a  family 
of  three  boys  and  now  resides  on  a  portion  of 
the  old  home.stead. 

He  married  Lydia  A.  Gilford  and  has  three 
children  :  Ju.stin  P.  (married  toMi.ss  Martha  K. 
Mcsley),  a  graduate  of  Harvard,  class  of  '85, 
and  at  present  business  manager  of  To-Day, 
published  in  Bo.ston,  Ma.ssachusetts  ;  Harley 
G.,  and  Mertie  E.,  at  home. 

William  R.  Miner  is  a  member  of  the  Meth- 
odist Epi.scopal  church,  of  which  he  is  also 
trustee,  and  belongs  to  the  order  A,  O.  U.  W. 
He  is  a  good  business  man,  keen,  fore-sighted 
and  of  good  judgment,  always  ready  to  lend  a 
helping  hand  to  those  lei5S  fortunate,  always 
eager  to  amelicu'ate  those  weighted  down  by  a 
seemingly  forced  adversity.  He  is  republican 
in  politics,  and  has  served  six  years  successively, 
as  supervisor  of  the  town  of  Sheridan.  Heury 
15 


N.  (a  brother  of  subject)  was  married  to  Alzina 
Kilam,  and  is  at  present  engaged  in  farming  in 
the  State  of  Indiana.  His  children  arc  Nellie, 
J5ertha,  Archie  and  Fanny.  Herbert  S. 
(another  brother)  was  married  to  Susan  II. 
Einsign.  He  is  also  a  farmer  and  resides  in  the 
town  of  Sheridan.  His  children  are  Edward 
H.,  Burton  ().,  and  J.  Leslie. 

The  wife  of  subject  was  born  February  24, 
j  1839  and  married  December  30,  1857.  Her 
parents  were  natives  of  Rensselaer  county,  N.  Y., 
and  removed  to  the  town  of  Pomfret,  Chau- 
tauqua county.  Oliver  P.  Gilford,  iier  father, 
was  born  November  24,  1816,  and  learned  the 
trade  of  tanner,  which  occupation  he  followed 
until  his  death.  He  was  at  one  time  an  officer 
in  the  State  militia,  a  whig  in  politics  and  a 
member  of  the  Baptist  church.  He  died  in 
the  town  of  Sheridan,  Fel)ruary  14,  1852.  The 
maternal  grandfather  of  subject's  wife,  Abram 
Keech,  was  also  a  native  of  Ren.sselaer  county, 
and  was  born  about  1772.  His  father  was  a 
soldier  of  the  Revolution  and  was  killed  at  the 
battle  of  Bennington,  Vermont.  At  the  time 
of  his  death  he  held  the  rank  of  captain.  Abrani 
came  to  Chautaucjua  county  in  1834,  and  loca- 
ted in  the  town  of  Pomfret,  shortly  afterward  re- 
moving to  the  town  of  Hanover.  He  was  a  man 
of  fine  military  bearing,  and  was  commander  of 
a  company  of  State  militia.  His  wife  w'as  Naomi 
Taylor,  by  whom  he  had  six  daughters. 

© 

TTLBERT  J.  TIFFAJVY.  One  of  those, 
*^*~  who  have  expended  a  great  deal  of  energy 
an<l  is  deeply  interested  in  developing  the  prop- 
erty about  Falconer,  and  bringing  it  to  the  at- 
tention of  a  class  of  desirable  residents  from 
other  places,  is  A.  J.  Tiffany,  who  is  a  son  of 
Jehial  and  Sophronia  (Durkee)  Tiffany,  and 
was  born  in  the  town  of  Ellicott,  May  21,  1843. 
He  is  a  grandson  of  James  Tiffany,  who  came 
from  Vermont  to  Genesee  county,  this  State,  in 
1807,  where  he  followed  farming  and  mechani- 
cal   work     of    various    kinds     until    he   died. 


294 


BIOGRAPHY  AND  HISTORY 


Like  many  of  the  emigrauts  wlio  came  from  the 
"Green  Mountain  State,"  he  belonged  to  the 
Universalist  church  and  was  a  very  devout 
man.  New  Hampshire  furnished  the  other 
grandfather,  Silas  Durkee,  who  also  carae  to 
Genesee  county,  where  he  died.  Jehial  Tiffany 
was  born  at  Randolph,  Vermont,  in  1798,  and 
passed  his  early  boyhood  on  his  father's  farm. 
When  the  senior  Tiffany  removed  in  1807,  the 
young  son  remained  in  his  native  State,  mak- 
iue:  it  his  home  until  1818,  and  then  he 
came  direct  to  Chautauqua  county.  The  com- 
mon schools  of  Vermont  were  the  fountains 
from  which  he  drank  his  theoretical  knowledge, 
while  constant  rubbing  against  the  rough  edges 
of  an  unsympathetic  world  taught  him  the 
practical  lessons  of  life.  From  1818  until  his 
death  in  1867,  he  was  a  continuous  resident  of 
this  county,  with  the  exception  of  two  years 
spent  at  Randolph,  Vermont.  Shortly  after 
coming  h^re,  he  secured  one  thousand  acres  of 
land  and  began  the  business  of  changing  the 
standing  timber  into  manufactured  lumber,  for 
which,  at  that  time,  there  was  quite  a  demand. 
There  was  method  in  his  work  and  while  secur- 
ing the  logs  for  lumber,  he  also  cleared  the 
land  and  made  it  arable.  His  work  formed 
quite  a  little  settlement,  which  was  known  as 
Tiffanyville.  Jehial  Tiffany  was  a  prosperous 
business  man  and  builded  his  own  fortune.  He 
remained  single  until  twenty-nine  years  of  age, 
and  while  on  a  visit  to  his  parents  in  Genesee 
county,  met  Sopl)ronia  Durkee,  whom  he  soon 
afterward  married.  They  had  eight  children.  His 
first  wife  died  in  1848  and  he  married  a  second 
time  to  Charlotte  Hopkins,  in  1853.  She  bore 
him  two  children.  All  are  now  dead  except 
Albert  J.,  by  first  wife,  and  John  II.,  a  son  by 
the  second.  Jehial  Tiffany  affiliated  with  the 
Republif.'au  party  and  was  a  member  of  the 
Congregational  church.  While  he  was  a  push- 
ing an<l  energetic  business  man,  all  wrapped 
up  with  the  matters  in  hand,  he  was  conservative 
and  close  calculating,  always  seeing  where  he 


was  coming  out,  before  going  into  a  business 
speculation. 

Albert  J.  TiSany  was  born  and  reared  on  the 
old  homestead.  He  passed  an  uneventful  boy- 
hood and  was  educated  in  the  common  schools 
and  at  Jamestown  academy.  Upon  stepping 
out  into  the  arena  of  life,  he  began  improving 
some  land  which  he  owned  near  Falconer  and 
conducted  a  general  real  estate  business.  In 
1874  he  built  a  store  in  Falconer,  and,  with  his 
other  duties,  has  given  it  general  supervision. 

He  married  Coralyn  Conic,  a  daughter  of 
Ephraim  Conic,  of  Ellicott,  on  the  11th  day  of 
January,  1871. 

Mr.  Tiffany  belongs  to  the  Republican 
party,  and  is  a  member  of  Mount  Moriah 
Lodge,  No.  145,  F.  and  A.  M.,  and  of  James- 
town Commandery,  No.  61,  of  Jamestown. 


•to  YRON  A.  BARLOW,  an  active  and  suc- 
^^  ce&sful  lawyer  of  Jamestown,  is  a  son  of 
Rev.  Abner  and  Polly  (Strunk)  Barlow,  and 
was  born  in  the  town  of  Ellicott,  Chautauqua 
county.  New  York,  .August  10,  1835.  His 
grandfather,  Daniel  Barlow,  was  a  native  of 
New  England,  and  removed  to  Chautauqua 
county.  New  York,  in  1821,  or  '22.  He 
served  in  the  army  during  the  War  of  1812. 
He  was  a  farmer.  He  married  Elizabeth 
French,  and  had  seven  children,  three  sons  and 
four  daughters.  One  of  the.se  sons,  Rev. 
Abner  Barlow,  was  born  in  New  Hampshire  in 
1799,  removed  to  Chautauqua  county.  New 
York,  and  in  1836,  removed  to  Wisconsin, 
wiiere  he  died  May  8,  1881.  He  was  a  Con- 
gregational minister,  and  in  politics  was,  in 
early  nianhood,  a  whig,  but  after  the  disrup- 
tion of  that  party  iu  1853,  he  joined  the  repub- 
licans. He  married  Polly  Strunk,  a  descen- 
dant of  one  of  the  pioneer  families  of  Chautau- 
(|ua  county.  To  tlunr  union  were  born  eleveu 
chiidrcn  :  La  Fayette,  a  hotel  keeper  and  far- 
mer of  Metlford,  Minnesota,  who  married 
Maria    Wheeler;    Sophia,    wife    of     Edmund 


<~^^f^-- 


OF  CHAUTAUQUA    C'OUMTi'. 


297 


Aiulnis;  Elizabetli,  wife  of  Sylvester  Giles, 
wiio  WHS  poHtiiiiistci'  in  (ialvcst.oii,  Texas,  and 
(lied  there  of  yellow  fever  during  tiie  late  war; 
Mary,  wife  of  Lance  Estes,  a  stock  raiser  in 
California  ;  Margiiret,  wife  of  Henry  Janes  of 
Calif()rnia  ;  Eunice,  wife  of  David  MeNeal,  a 
farmer  in  Wisconsin;  Byron  A.;  Braiuard,  a 
hotel  keeper  in  Chicago;  Henry,  died  in  Colo- 
rado; Sylvester,  who  enlisted  in  18()1  in  the 
29th  regiment,  Wisconsin  Infantry,  and  served 
until  the  spring  of  18(j.'>.  He  aecomi)anied  the 
Red  River  expedition  and  died  from  exposure. 
Byron  A.  f(>und  him  sick  near  Vickshnrg,  pro- 
cured his  discharge  and  brought  him  home,  | 
where  he  died  soon  after;  and  Frances,  wife  of 
M.  P.  Strunk,  a  lawyer  of  Jamestown,  now 
deceased.  Their  mother,  Polly  Strunk  Barlow, 
was  a  descendant  of  Henry  Strunk,  who,  with 
his  sister  Katheriue,  emigrated  in  1750,  from  ' 
Lippe  Detniold,  in  the  north  of  Germany,  to  , 
Troy,  New  York,  where  they  suffered  from  the  \ 
ravages  of  the  British  soldiers  during  the  Rev-  1 
olutionary  war.  Henry  Strunk  died  in  1775, 
and  three  of  his  ten  children  removed  to  Elli- 
cottinl.SO!).  Jacob  "Strunk  (maternal  grand- 
father) the  eldest  of  these  ten  children,  died  in 
Ellicott  in  1836,  leaving  several  children, 
among  whom  was  Polly  Strunk,  the  wife  of 
Rev.  Abner  Barlow. 

Byron  A.  Barlow  received  his  education  at 
Albion  academy,  at  Albion,  Wisconsin,  from 
which  school  he  was  graduated  in  1861,  and 
for  three  years  was  a  teacher  in  the  academy. 
In  the  fall  of  18()3,  he  went  into  the  oil  region 
of  Pernisylvania  as  a  b<p()k-keej)er  for  a  firm 
dealing  in  oil,  and  afterward  became  a  partner 
in  the  firm.  He  remained  there  until  1865, 
when  he  removed  to  Jamestown  and  read  law 
with  Cook  &  Lockwood.  He  was  admitted  to 
the  bar  in  1867,  since  which  time  he  has  prac- 
ticed law  in  Jamestown.  He  married  Roxauna 
E.  Crane,  a  daughter  of  Gerard  and  Sarah  E. 
Crane,  of  Ft.  Atkinson,  Wisconsin.  Mr.  and 
Mrs.   Barlow    have  three  surviving;  children  : 


Belle  F.,  wife  of  Henry  C.  Marvin  of  James- 
town ;  lOdith  M.,  and  Byron  A.,  -Ir.  In  j)oli- 
tics,  Mr.  Barlow  is  a  rej)iil)li('an,and  has  served 
as  the  city  clerk  of  Jamestown  for  ffinr  terms. 
He  was  also  a  menihei'  of  the  board  of  educa- 
tion for  three  years,  and  from  I.SfiO  to  IHii'.i  he 
was  school  coramis.sioner  for  Dane  county, 
Wisconsin. 


JOELA  B.  L()K1>,  a  gentleman  who  has  be- 
^^  come  prominent  not  only  in  Chautautjua 
countv  and  the  State  of  New  York,  but  wliere- 
ever  the;  name  of  "  Holstein  cattle"  is  known, 
as  an  importer  and  breeder  of  the  black  and 
white  beauties,  as  well  as  "  French  Coach"  and 
"  Percheron"  horses,  was  born  October  7,  1840, 
on  the  farm  upon  which  he  now  resides,  within 
the  corj)orate  limits  of  Sinclairville,  Chautau- 
qua county.  New  York,  and  is  a  son  of  Bela 
B.  and  Polly  (Hall)  Lord,  both  of  whom  came 
from  Otsego  county.  New  York.  Bela  B.  Lord, 
Sr.,  came  to  this  county  in  1819,  jiurchased  the 
tract  of  land,. and  cleared  the  farm  upon  which 
his  son  now  resides.  When  he  arrived  the 
country  was  almost  in  its  virgin  creation,  and 
where  the  prolific  fields  now  feed  the  fiittening 
kine,  the  tall  monarehs  of  the  forest  then  stood 
in  majestic  grandeur,  and  many  of  them  fell 
beneath  the  blows  of  the  axe  which  his  strong 
arm  wielded.  Bela  B.  Lord,  Sr.,  was  a  son  of 
Sylveuus  Lord,  and  was  born  in  1799  ;  hedietl 
on  the  28th  of  November,  1874.  Sylvenns 
Lord,  like  Aaron  Hall,  was  a  descendant  from 
New  England  Yankees,  who,  in  turn,  traced 
their  ancestors  to  the  Pilgrims. 

Bela  B.  liord  was  reared  on  his  father's 
farm,  and  educ-ated  at  the  country  schools. 

On  March  11,  1862,  he  married  Elizabeth 
C  Kirlton,  of  Louisville,  St.  Lawrence  county. 
New  York,  with  the  understanding  that  they 
should  remain  with  her  invalid,  widowed 
mother  during  her  lifetime,  which  they  did  ; 
and  are  still  remembered  by  their  acquaintances 
there,  as  deserving  their  later  successes  for  their 


298 


BIOGRAPHY  AND  HISTORY 


devotion  to  their  aged  aud  helpless  relative. 
They  have  oue  son,  Clarence  J.,  who  associated 
himself  with  his  father,  and  when  twenty-one 
years  of  age  was  admitted  to  i)artnership. 
Clarence  J.  Lord  received  a  thorough  business 
education  at  Eastman's  Business  College,  of 
Poughkeepsie,  New  York,  and  is  now  cashier 
of  the  Capital  National  Bank,  of  Olympia, 
Washington.  He  returned  to  Sinclairville, 
Chautauqua  county,  New  York,  for  his  bride; 
marrying  September  3,  1890,  Mary  Elizabeth 
Reynolds,  only  daughter  of  Henry  and  Helen 
K.  Reynolds,  of  Sinclairville. 

In  1876,  Mr.  Lord  returned  to  Chautauqua 
county,  and  to  gratify  the  wish  of  his  mother, 
purchased  the  old  homestead,  and  in  1880, 
commenced  the  importation  of  Holstein  cattle, 
which,  from  the  first,  proved  a  \ery  successful 
venture.  Year  by  year  his  business  increased, 
and  in  1884  he  included  French  Coach  and 
Percheron  horses  in  his  importations,  and  at 
the  present  time,  the  importing  aud  breeding  of 
these  horses,  aud  the  breeding  of  standard 
bred  trotting  horses  constitute  the  larger  part 
of  his  stock  business,  although  the  handling  of 
Holstein  cattle  will  always  remain  with  him  a 
pleasant  special  work. 

Since  1880,  Mr.  Lord  has  made  seven,  and 
his  son  nine  trips  to  Europe,  visiting  Holland, 
Germany,  Scotland,  England  and  France  in  the 
interests  of  his  l)usiiiess.  Chautauqua  county 
is  known  far  and  near  for  the  excellence  of  its 
dairy  products,  and  the  "  Sinclairville  Stock 
Farm,"  the  home  of  B.  B.  Lord,  has  added 
Muicli  to  its  r<'])utation,  both  for  dairy  goods, 
large  milk  and  i)ntter  records  and  fine  stock. 
No  finer  lioi's<'s  and  cattle  can  be  found  in 
America  than  u|)on  this  farm,  for  Mr.  Lord's 
motto  has  always  been  to  purchase  only  the 
iiest,  and  he  attributes  all  his  success  to  this  fact, 
together  with  fair,  honorable  dealing.  His 
stables  and  herd  are  well  re|)resented  at  all  the 
|>rorainent  fairs,  and  win  their  .share  of  the 
l)rize3.       At    the    luternaticjnal     Fair    held  at 


Buffalo    in   1889,  every  horse    he   entered   re- 
ceived a  prize. 

Mrs.  B.  B.  Lord  is  a  woman  of  marked 
ability,  and  has  attained  an  eminence  in  the 
Grange  of  the  State  of  New  York,  which  has 
been  reached  by  no  other  of  her  sex.  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Lord  have  been  identified  with  the  move- 
ment for  fifteen  years,  and  are  enthusiastic  on 
behalf  of  the  Order  of  Patrons  of  Husbandry. 
Mrs.  Lord  (Elizabeth  C.  Kirlton)  was  .selected 
Master  of  Chautauqua  County  Pomona  Grange 
(fifth  degree)  in  1890,  aud  is  the  first  woman  to 
achieve  that  distinction.  She  is  also  Master  of 
Sinclairville  Grange,  and  has  several  times  rep- 
resented her  district  at  the  State  Grange,  being 
an  able  advocate  and  active  representative ; 
has  filled  nearly  all  offices  in  grange  work  in 
the  county,  being  at  the  present  time  a  member 
of  the  Executive  Committee  of  the  County 
Pomona  Grange ;  was  for  two  years  an  officer 
of  the  State  Grange,  filling  the  office  of  Flora 
(sixth  degree).  She  is  an  intelligent  parlia- 
mentarian with  a  fund  of  practical  knowledge 
of  important  subjects  and  ready  tact,  which  in- 
tuitively reads  human  character  aright ;  quali- 
ties that,  supported  by  a  firm  devotion  to  the 
best  interests  of  the  organization,  render  her  an 
able  delegate,  whose  assistance  is  counted  of 
great  value.  Mrs.  Lord  has  risen  to  tii  is  prom- 
inence becau.se  her  abilities  fitted  her  to  execute 
its  duties,  and  her  elevation  is  only  the  proper 
recognition  of  her  personal  value.  B.  B.  Lord 
and  son  attribute  much  of  their  success  in  life 
to  the  able  advice  and  earnest  co-operation  of 
this  devoted  wife  and  mother. 


/^■HAKLKS  H.  STKRLINtI,  a  son  of  Henry 
^^  ami  Cordelia  A.  (Clark)  Sterling,  was  born 
at  Atkinson,  Piscata((uis  county,  Maine,  August 
10,  1847,  and  has  made  his  home  in  Silver 
Creek  since  1872.  Ephraim  Sterling  (grand- 
father), of  Scotch  descent,  was  a  native  of  New 
England,  and  followed  the  .sea  in  various  posi- 
tions for  many  years.   Having  reached  the  rank 


OF  CHAUTAUQUA   COUNTY. 


299 


of  captain  lie  made  a  few  profitable  trips  and 
then  hiiih  a  boat  of  his  own.  Wliilo  making 
iiis  first  trip  in  tiiis  vessel  it  foundered,  disown- 
ing himself  and  oldest  son.  Henry  Sterling 
(father)  was  born  in  Kittery,  Maine,  in  1820, 
but  eame  to  Fredouia,  this  county,  in  1857  and 
engaged  in  the  manufacture  of  agricultural  im- 
plements and  foundry  work  which  he  continued 
for  ten  years.  In  1869  he  moved  to  Westville, 
Chariton  county,  Missouri,  where  he  li)llowed 
farming  until  June,  1876,  when  he  died.  Mr. 
Sterling  was  a  consistetit  member  of  tiie  Meth- 
odist E|)iseopal  church,  and  a  democrat,  but  a 
modest,  unassuming  and  upright  man.  He 
married  Cordelia  A.  Clark,  of  Maine,  in  1844, 
and  had  six  children.  Tiie  Sterling  family  is 
still  living  in  Scotland  ;  Lord  Sterling  being  a 
branch  of  the  tree  from  which  they  sprang, 
Mrs.  Sterling  is  still  living  and  enjoying  good 
health.  She  is  sixty-six  years  of  age.  and  makes 
her  home  witli  a  married  daughter,  Mrs.  M.  F. 
Ives,  of  soutiiern  Illinois,  and  is  a  member  of 
the  Methodist  Episcopal  church. 

Charles  H.  Sterling  lived  in  New  England 
until  eleven  years  old  and  then  came  with  his 
father  to  Chautauqua  county.  He  received  his 
education  in  the  public  schools  and  clerked  three 
years' in  a  store  at  Fredonia.  The  ensuing  two 
years  were  spent  learning  carriage  painting,  and 
in  1868  he  went  to  Iowa  where  he  spent  three 
years  employed  at  carpenter  work.  In  1871  he 
returned  to  Fredonia  and  in  1872  came  to  Sil- 
ver Creek  and  took  a  position  in  Howes  &  Bab-  j 
cock's  Grain  Cleaning  Machine  Factory.  He 
was  employed  in  the  wood-working  department 
until  1884,  and  then  resigned  to  accept  a  place 
with  G.  S.  Cranson,  who  was  developing  a  de- 
vice for  .scouring  grain.  Since  that  date  Mr. 
Sterling  has  been  foreman  of  the  (irain  Clean- 
ing Machinery  Factory  for  the  firm  of  Huntle^', 
Cranson  &  Hammond,  doing,  principally,  de- 
signing and  drafting. 

On  November  18, 1872,  he  married  Alice  G. 
Fuller,  a  daughter  of  Benjamin  Fuller,  of  Sil- 


ver Crec.'k.  This  lady  died  February  22,  1877, 
leaving  a  son — Royal  L.,  now  fifteen  years  of 
age.  On  February  IS,  18X0,  Mr.  Sterling  mar- 
ried for  his  .second  wifd.  Flora  Hall,  daughter 
of  S.  R.  Hall,  of  Perrysburg,  Cattaraugus 
county.  New  York,  with  whom  he  has  since 
happily  lived. 

C.  H.  Sterling  is  a  member  of  the  Piesby- 
terian  church  ;  of  Lodge  No.  10,  A.  O.  U.  W. ; 
and  is  a  republican,  now  serving  as  a  member  of 
the  school  board.  He  occupied  the  position  of 
vice-president  of  the  cemetery  board  Imt  the 
press  of  his  other  business  compelled  him  to  re- 
sign. He  is  plain  spoken  and  not  churlish,  but 
posses.ses  suavity  of  manner  and  is  a  pleasant 
man  to  meet.  He  is  a  skillful  workman  and 
possesses  such  originality  of  mechanical  ideas 
that  he  is  a  valuable  man  in  the  position  he  oc- 
cupies. His  wife  is  active  in  all  the  enterprises 
usually  engaged  in  by  ladies'  .societies,  and 
has  achieved  more  than  local  renown  as  an  artist. 
In  addition  to  this  her  literary  efforts  po.ssess 
much  merit. 


/^-HARLES    R.    COLBURN,    a    successful 

^^  former  and  grape  culturist,  of  the  town 
of  Westfield,  is  a  .son  of  Zenas  and  Statira 
(Gunn)  Colburn,  and  was  born  at  the  village  of 
Westfield,  in  the  town  of  Westfield,  Chautauqua 
county.  New  York,  February  3,  1833.  Zenas 
Colburn  was  born  in  Connecticut  in  1800,  came 
to  the  town  of  Westfield  in  1821,  and  died  at 
Westfield,  October,  1874.  He  was  a  carpenter 
by  trade  and  worked  in  various  parts  of  the 
county,  after  which  he  purchased  the  farm  now 
owned  by  the  subject  of  this  sketch,  and  upon 
which  he  resided  for  two  years,  when  he  removed 
to  Westfield,  but  still  cultivated  his  farm  and 
worked  some  at  his  trade.  He  was  an  active 
member  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church  ;  a 
strong  democrat  politically,  and  held  several 
of  his  town  and  village  offices.  Mr.  Colburn 
was  twice  married.  His  first  wife  was  Statira 
Gunn,  of  Chenango  county,  who  died  in  1844, 


300 


BIOGRAPHY  AND  HISTORY 


aged  forty-three  years;  and  in  1854  he  wedded 
for  his  second  wife  Sophia  Hough,  of  Westfield, 
who  survived  him  until  October,  1889. 

Charles  R.  Colburn  grew  to  manhood  at 
Westfield,  where  he  received  his  education  in 
the  common  schools.  He  commenced  life  for 
himself  as  a  farmer  on  the  homestead  farm 
wiiich  he  now  owns.  He  has  been  engaged  for 
several  years  in  the  culture  of  the  vine,  and  has 
a  very  fine  vineyard  of  thirty  acres.  He  also 
raises  some  stock  and  grain,  and  owns  a  half 
interest  in  his  father's  property  at  Westfield. 
Mr.  Colburn  is  a  member  of  the  Methodist 
Epi.scopal  church,  a  prohibitionist  in  politics 
and  a  substantial  and  reliable  citizen  of  his  town. 
He  is  a  member  of  Summit  Lodge,  No.  219, 
Free  and  Accepted  Masons,  of  Westfield. 

On  April  16,  186.3,  Charles  R.  Colburn  united 
in  marriage  with  Celestia  Peck,  of  the  town  of 
Portland,  and  they  have  one  child,  a  son,  Frank 
B.,  who  is  assisting  liis  father.  INIrs.  Celestia 
Colburn  is  a  daughter  of  Asael  Peck. 


♦^ F:\VITT  O.  JILI.SON.    Successful  farmers 

*"^  are,  as  a  rule,  intelligent  and  thoughtful 
people.  An  exceptionally  bright  and  entertain- 
ing example  of  to  what  condition  a  farmer  may 
rise  is  the  gentleman  now  under  consideration. 
Dewitt  G.  Jillson  is  a  son  of  Philander  and 
Elizai)eth  (Crini)  .lillson,  and  was  born  on  the 
farm  where  he  now  resides,  in  Westfield,  Chau- 
tau(jiia  county,  New  York,  November  19,  1849. 
Philander  Jillson  was  a  native  of  Herkimer 
county,  N.  Y.,  and  was  born  in  181 1.  Twenty- 
eight  years  later,  having  been  married  to  Eliza- 
beth Crim,  ho  came  to  Chautauqua  (iounty,  and 
settled  on  the  spot  where  his  son  now  lives,  and 
clearing  from  the  .soil  the  brush  and  briars  he 
made  in  their  stead  fertile  (ieids,  and  on  the  site 
of  tail  [line  trees  he  reared  buildings — a  house, 
\>\\r\\  an<l  granarj'.  l?eing  of  a  pushing  dispo- 
sition and  having  a  good  business  mind,  from  a 
small  beginning  he  became  one  of  the  most 
extensive  and  prosperous  fanners  in  that  section. 


When  he  died,  in  1873,  his  estate  was  valuable 
and  the  [)roperty  extensive.  His  wife,  a  gentle 
Christian  lady,  and  a  member  of  the  Methodist 
Episcopal  church,  was  Elizabeth  Crim,  whom 
he  married  in  1839,  and  by  whom  he  had  .seven 
children.  She  died  in  1880,  aged  sixty-two 
years. 

Dewitt  G.  Jillson  was  reared  a  farmer.  His 
education  was  secured  at  the  public  schools  and 
the  Westfield  academy.  Completing  his  course 
of  instruction  he  returned  to  the  farm,  and  has 
since  made  it  the  well-spring  from  which  he  has 
drawn  a  competence.  He  now  owns  the  part  of 
his  father's  farm  containing  the  old  homestead, 
and  an  additional  piece,  making  a  total  of  one 
hundred  and  fifty  acre.s,  located  three  miles 
southwest  of  W&stfield.  Supplementary  to  his 
farming,  Mr.  Jillson  has  a  magnificent  grape 
orchard  which  is  a  source  of  much  profit. 

On  May  27,  1872,  he  married  Lidie  Hoitink, 
a  daughter  of  Jonas  Hoitink,  of  Clymer.  Mrs. 
Jillson  is  a  kind  and  entertaining  woman,  a 
model  housekeeper  and  a  superb  cook.  She  is 
a  fitting  companion  for  her  husband,  and  together 
they  have  a  happy  and  beautiful  home. 

D.  G.  Jillson  is  a  member  of  three  societies : 
Lodge  No»  219,  Free  and  Accepted  Masons  ; 
Lodge  No.  3,  Ancient  Order  of  United  Work- 
men, and  the  Grange.  He  is  a  h(ispitable  enter- 
tainer, a  social  companion,  and  the  frifend  of 
every  one  who  deserves  his  friendship. 


/COLONEL  EM  A  L  F(  )<  )TE  CARPENTER, 

^^  the  subject  of  this  sketch  was  born  in 
Jamestown,  Chautauijua  county,  N.  Y.,  May 
8,  1826,  and  died  May  IS,  18G1,  near  Bermuda 
Hundred,  Va. 

He  was  the  third  .son  of  William  and  Nancy 
(Blake)  ('arpentcr.  William  (Jarpentcr  was 
born  in  the  city  of  London,  England,  and 
when  a  boy  was  bound  out  to  .service,  on  a 
liritish  man  of  war.  While  serving  in  the 
British  navy,  his  ship  was  wrecked  upon  the 
coast  of  Guinea.     With  the  destruction  of  his 


COL.    ELIAL   FOOTE  CARPENTER, 


OF  CHAUTAUQUA  COUNTY. 


303 


vessel,  his  sea  life  ended  and  he  came  to 
America,  going  to  the  State  of  Maine,  where  he 
married. 

The  Blakes  were  natives  of  New  England 
for  many  years.  When  the  present  site  of  ihe 
[)rosperoiis  city  of  Jamestown  was  a  dense 
forest,  William  and  his  wife  moved  to  what 
was  soon  after  called  Dextervillc,  but  now 
within  the  limits  of  the  city.  Here  he  resided 
until  his  death,  which  occurred  in  1869,  while 
on  a  visit  to  his  daughter  in  Oil  City,  Pa.  Mr- 
Carpenter  is  described  as  a  small,  but  stout 
man,  a  good  story  teller  and  a  great  favorite 
with  the  children.  For  many  years  preceding 
his  death,  he  was  a  devoted  member  of  the 
Methodist  church  of  Jamestown.  He  helped 
to  build  the  first  steam-boat  on  Chautauqua 
lake,  and  for  some  time  acted  as  Captain.  He 
was  the  father  of  twelve  children,  all  of  whom 
are  dead  except  three,  viz :  Mary  Ann  Tanner, 
Emeline  Follmer  and  Ijaura  Stock. 

Elial  Foote  Carpenter  was  reared  in  James- 
town and  educated  in  her  public  schools.  Soon 
after  leaving  school,  he  went  upon  a  visit  to  his 
sister  Mary  Ann,  who  resided  in  Kentucky, 
and  for  two  years  was  engaged  as  the  manager 
of  a  large  tobacco  plantation  ;  but  the  cruel 
and  inhuman  treatment  expected  by  his  em- 
ployer to  be  shown  toward  the  slaves  was  more 
than  his  nature  could  bear,  and  although  offered 
large  pay,  he  resigned  his  position  and  returned 
to  Jamestown,  where  he  engaged  in  the  lumber 
business,  buying  along  the  Allegheny  River  and 
its  tributaries  and  rafting  to  Pittsburg,  Cin- 
cinnati and  Louisville.  He  subsequently  be- 
came engaged  in  the  manufacturing  of  axes  at 
Jamestown,  and  the  breaking  out  of  the  war, 
found  him  in  the  oil  field  of  Pennsylvania  and 
one  of  the  then  most  successful  operators.  Lay- 
ing aside  the  private  pursuits  of  a  citizen,  he 
enlisted  August  16,  1861,  in  the  49th  N.  Y., 
Vol.  Inf.  and  was  elected  2nd  Lieut.,  Co.  K. 
at  its  organization.  Subsequently,  in  April, 
1862,  he   was   commissioned    1st    Lieut.     He 


participated  in  the  battles  on  the  peninsula 
under  Mc(/lellan,  and  after  the  battle  of  Malvern 
Hill,  he  was  promoted  to  be  major  of  the  112th 
N.  Y.,  Vols.,  a  new  regiment  then  being  re- 
cruited in  C'hautauqua  county.  He  was  con- 
stantly on  duly  with  this  n^giment,  and  was 
promoted  to  be  Lieutenant  Colonel,  January 
11,  1863.  He  was  in  coinmaiid  of  the  regi- 
ment after  its  transfer  to  the  Army  of  the 
James  from  M-ay  r)th  to  I\Iay  16,  1864.  He 
was  in  action  May  8th,  at  Walthal  Junction, 
and  at  the  battle  of  I'roctor's  Creek  was  mor- 
tally wouudetl  and  died  at  night.  He  was  a 
brave  man  and  greatly  loved  by  the  men  of  his 
command. 

Rev.  W.  L.  Hyde,  chaplain  of  the  112th 
Regt.  in  his  History  of  the  Regt.,  says  of  him. 
"Often  have  we  seen  him  during  a  hard  day's 
marching,  dismount  from  his  horse  and  place 
some  weary,  foot-.sore  soldier  upon  him,  and 
then  take  the  gun  of  another  who  was  hardly 
able  to  drag  himself  along,  and  then  march 
most  of  the  day  with  his  men.  The  result  was, 
his  men  loved  and  trusted  him." 

Carpenter  Post  G.  A.  R.,  of  Mayville,  N. 
Y.,  is  named  in  memory  of  the  Colonel.  In 
politics,  he  was  an  active  worker  in  the  Repub- 
lican party,  and  with  himself  and  wife  who 
survive  him,  were  devoted  members  of  the 
Methodist  church  at  Jamestown. 

July  3,  1848,  he  married  Julia  A.  daughter 
of  John  and  Phebe  (Wood)  Jeffords.  Three 
children  were  born  to  Col.  and  Mrs.  Carpenter  : 
Belle  E.  wife  of  T.  E.  Grandin  ;  Franc  C.  wife 
of  F.  A.  Brightraan ;  and  Addie  J.  wife  of  W. 
P.  Frink.  The  two  former  reside  in  James- 
town, and  the  latter  in  Lewis  Run,  Pa. 


TT ilUulAM  WAI^LACE  HUNTLEY,  in- 

^■^^  ventor  and  manufacturer  of  wheat, 
corn  and  buckwheat  cleaning  machinery,  and 
one  of  the  most  active  and  successful  business 
men  of  Silver  Creek,  is  a  son  of  Charles  and 
Polly  (Davison)   Huntley,  and  was    born  one 


304 


BIOGRAPHY  AND  HISTORY 


mile  east  of  the  village  of  Silver  Creek,  in  the 
town  of  Hauover,  Chautauqua  county,  N.  Y. 
Feb.  5,  1831.  Hk  ancestors  are  of  New  Eng- 
land origin,  and  among  those  sons  of  Connec- 
ticut who  went  west  before  the  middle  of  the 
present  century,  was  Seth  Huntley,  the  paternal 
grandfatlier  of  W.  W.  Huntley.  He  first  set- 
tled in  Michigan,  but  subsequently  removed  to 
Iowa,  where  he  died  in  1860.  One  of  the  sons 
born  to  him  in  his  native  city  of  New  Haven 
was  Charles  Huntley  (father)  who  learned  the 
trade  of  ship-builder  and  came  in  1829  to 
Silver  Creek,  where  lie  followed  boat  and  ship 
work  until  1855,  when  he  went  to  Sheboygan, 
Wisconsin.  Ten  years  later  he  removed  to  a 
farm,  purchased  for  him  by  the  subject  of  this 
sketch,  in  jNIichigan,  upon  which  he  died  in 
October,  1890,  aged  eighty-two  years.  Charles 
Huntley  was  industrious,  and,  though  a  good 
workman,  yet  never  was  very  successful  as  a 
business  man.  He  married  Polly  Davison,  a 
nati%-e  of  Rutledge,  Vermont,  and  a  daughter  of 
Henry  Davison,  who,  at  sixteen  years  of  a!^e, 
was  present  at  JJurgoyne's  surrender,  with  his 
father  Col.  Daniel  Davison,  one  of  the  bravest 
of  the  "  Green  Mountain  Jioys,"  who  then 
commanded  a  regiment  of  State  militia,  and 
served  throughout  the  Revolutionary  war. 
Col.  Davison  (maternal  great-grandfather)  cap- 
tured a  pair  of  large  iron  steelyards  at  Bur- 
goyne's  surrender,  whic'ii  have  descended  down 
through  liis  family  until  they  are  now  in  the 
possession  of  the  subject  of  this  sketch. 

W.  W.  Huntley  was  reared  on  the  fiirm  of 
his  grandfather,  Henry  Davison,  until  the 
death  of  the  latter  in  1810.  He  received  his 
education  in  the  schools  of  Silver  Creek,  which 
he  attended  fur  a  few  years  in  the  winter 
.season.s,  while  the  summers  were  spent  on  the 
lakes  and  in  the  ship-yards.  He  worked  at 
carriage  building  for  one  year  and  then  was  en- 
gaged at  blaeksmithing  at  intervals,  besides 
working  on  houses,  railroad  bridges  and  mills. 
In  185-'}he  antj  his  eider  brotinr,  .Albert,  pur- 


chased a  small  sailing  vessel  with  the  intentiou 
of  permanently  engaging  in  the  transportation 
of  freight  on  the  lakes,  but  the  low  freight 
rates  of  that  year  cost  them  all  that  they  had 
invested  in  their  ves.sel,  and  so  disgusted  thera 
that  they  left  the  lakes.  This  apparent  ill-for- 
tune was  the  controlling  circumstance  that 
drove  Mr.  Huntley  from  an  obscure  life  on  the 
lakes  and  shaped  his  subsequent  well-known 
career  as  a  manufacturer.  In  1858  he  com- 
menced working  for  K.  Montgomery  &  Co., 
w  ho  were  the  first  parties  to  establish  the  man- 
ufacturing of  smut  machines  in  Silver  Creek, 
and  while  workius;  for  the  first  named  firm   he 

j  also  built  patterns  for  W.  R.  Greenleaf,  an  en- 
gine builder  of  Silver  Creek.  In  18G1  Mr. 
Huntley    invented   his  bran   duster,  known  all 

i  over  the  world  as  the  Excelsior,  and  in  1862 
sold  one  half  interest  in  the  patent,  when  ob- 
tained, to  Alpheus  Babcock  for  the  amount  of 
I80.OO,  or  the  cost  of  obtaining  it.  This  Ex- 
celsior Bran  Duster  was  manufactured  by  j\Ir. 
Huntley  in  the  shops  of  E.  Montgomery  tt  Co., 
at  Silver  Creek,  until  the  close  of  the  year  1865, 
when  the  firm  of  Howes,  Babcock  &  Co.,  took 
possession  by  purchase  from  E.  Montgomery 
&  Co.,  January  1,  1866,  Mr.  Alpheus  Bab- 
cock, Huntley's  partner  in  the  manufacture, 
being  one  of  the  members  of  the  purchasing 
firm.  Mr.  Huntley  continued  manufacturing 
in  the  same  shops  until  lS(i,S,  when  Ik;  built 
new  shops  of  his  own,  whiili  are  known  now  as 
the  Excelsior  Works,  and  owned  by  Aug. 
Heine.  In  1869,  ]\Ir.  Alj)lieus  Babcock  .sold 
his  intei'cst  in  the  patent  to  Frank  Swift,  who 
in  1870  sold  the  same  to  A.  P.  Holcomb. 
Very  .soon  after  this,  INlr.  Huntley  connnenced 
to  construct  a  Middlings  Purifier,  which  proved 
a  great  succe,s.s,  and  has  been  one  of  the  original 
nuu'hines  to  work  out  the  manufacture  of  new 
process  flour,  known  all  over  the  world  as  the 
very  best  i)rand  ever  ])rodnced  I'imiii  wheat,  and 
fi)r  this  result  the  world  is  indebted  to  Mr. 
IFuntley  as  nuich,  if  not  more  than  any  other 


Ul  i. 


OF  CHAUTAUQUA   COUNTY. 


307 


man  living.  Messrs.  Huntley  &Hoicomb  in  1872 
sold  one-third  interest  in  the  Excelsior  Works, 
and  patents  tu  Aug.  Heine,  when  the  firm 
became  Huntley,  Holcomh  &  Heine,  which 
firm  continued  until  1882,  doing  a  large  busi- 
ness in  the  manufaeture  of  iJran  1  )usters,  Ex- 
celsior Middlings  Purifiei'  and  tiu^  importation 
and  selling  of  the  Excelsior  fJolting  Cloth,  at 
which  tinie  Mr.  Huntley  sold  his  interest  of 
one-third  to  Holcomb  &  Heine.  About  one 
and  one-half  years  after  this,  Mr.  Heine  bought 
out  Mr.  Holcomb,  and  now  owns  and  conducts 
the  shops  alone,  and  still  manufactures  the  Ex- 
celsior Bran  Duster,  together  with  other  mill- 
ing specialities.  In  1883,  Mr.  Huntley  bought 
of  Mr.  Heine  the  entire  stock  and  business  of 
importing  the  Excelsior  Bolting  Cloth,  and  as- 
sociated with  him.sclf  in  the  business,  Mr.  C. 
G.  Hammond,  aud  the.se  gentlemen  now  con- 
duct the  business  under  the  firm  name  of 
Huntley  &  Hammond,  and  they  have  estab- 
lished a  bi'ancli  hou.-^e  in  Minneapolis,  Minn., 
besides  having  stocks  to  sell  from  in  St.  Louis, 
Missouri ;  Portland,  Oregon  ;  and  in  the  provin- 
ces of  Canada,  and  do  a  yearly  business  of  over 
$100,000.  In  1861  and  18(!2  Mr.  Huntley  as- 
sisted Mr.  Alpheus  Babcock  in  the  remodeling 
of  his  smut  machine,  and  they  together  brought 
out  the  best  smut  machine  on  the  market  at 
that  time.  In  1863  Mr.  Huntley  assisted 
Messrs.  E.  Montgomery  &  Co.,  in  the  remodel- 
ing of  their  smut  machine,  in  which  instance  it 
was  largely  improved  by  them.  In  1863  Mr. 
S.  Howes  returned  from  the  seat  of  war  on  the 
Potomac,  and,  late  in  the  season,  became  a.s.socia- 
ted  with  Mr.  Alpheus  Babcock  in  the  manuu- 
facture  of  the  Babcock  smut  machine,  the  firm 
being  known  as  Howes,  Babcock  &  Co.,  Mr. 
Norman  Babcock,  a  brother  of  Alpheus  becom- 
ing a  partner  at  the  same  time  Mr.  Howes  was 
admitted.  In  1864,  a  purchase  of  the  Mont- 
gomery shops  and  the  patents  was  consummated 
by  Howes,  Babcock  &  Co.,  they  taking  posses- 
sion on  the  first  day  of  January,  1866,  at  which 


time  Alpheus  antl  Norman  Babcock  together 
with  Ml'.  Huntley,  combined  the  best  elements 
of  tiie  Babcock  Smutter  and  the-  Montgomery 
Smutter  together  in  one  machine,  and  the 
firm  of  Howes,  Babcock  &  Co.,  called  it  the 
Eureka  Smut  Machine. 

Mr.  Huntley  was  granted  l)y  the  Patent  Of- 
fice, at  different  dates,  two  |)atents  on  the  Ex- 
celsior Bran  Duster,  four  patents  on  the  Mid- 
dlings Purifier,  one  patent  on  a  sieve,  one  pat- 
ent on  a  machine  for  testing  rotating  parts  (or 
bodies)  and  two  i)atents  for  improvements  on 
smut  machines  and  one  on  a  ship's  rudder. 

Mr.  Huntley  has  never  had  any  political  a.s- 
pirations,  but  has  been  since  1860,  a  strong 
supporter  of  tiie  political  party  that  saved  the 
nation  from  disruption  by  the  Rebellion,  and  is 
a  strong  protectionist  in  his  views.  He  has 
served  six  years  as  one  of  the  village  trustees, 
and  two  consecutive  years  as  president  of  the 
village  of  Silver  Creek ;  during  which  two 
years  there  were  a  steam  fire  engine  and  ho.se- 
cart  bought  for  the  village.  Mr.  Huntley, 
being  president  at  the  time,  organized  a  fire  de- 
partment, which  has  since  proven  one  of  the 
finest  fire  departments  in  western  New  York. 
In  honor  to  Mr.  Huntley,  the  Hose  Company 
a.ssumed   the   name  of  "  Huntley  Hose  No.  1." 

In  1886,  Messrs.  Huntley  &  Hammond  pur- 
chased one-half  interest  in  the  business  of  man- 
ufacturing buckwheat  machines,  from  G.  S. 
Cranson  &  Son,  and,  by  the  retirement  of  G.  S. 
Cranson,  now  own  two-thirds  of  the  immense 
factory,  which  is  now  one  of  the  largest  of  its 
kind  in  the  world,  and  known  as  the  Monitor 
Works,  the  business  being  conducted  b}'  the 
firm  of  Huntley,  Cranson  &  Hammond.  At 
the  time  of  purchase  by  Huntley  Sz  Hammond, 
these  works  were  only  employing  eight  men, 
but  under  the  new  firm  their  orders  began  to 
increase,  and  they  were  compelled  to  enlarge 
their  works,  and  added  to  the  different  kinds  of 
grain  cleaning  and  buckwheat  machinery  which 
they    manufactured,  until  now    they   employ  a 


308 


BIOGRAPHY  AND  HISTORY 


force  of  80  meu,  pay  $60,000  yearly  in  wages 
aud  send  out  over  l,oOO  machines  per  year, 
and  their  yearly  sales  amount  to  over  $150,000. 
Many  of  their  machines  have  either  been  in- 
vented or  improved  by  Mr.  Huntley-,  and  they 
now  manufacture  the  following  patented  ma- 
chines: Cranson's  Wheat  Scouring,  Polishing 
aud  Separating  Machiues ;  Cranson's  Buck- 
wheat Scouring,  Polishing  and  Separating  Ma- 
chines ;  Cranson's  Corn  Scouring,  Polishing 
and  Separating  Machines ;  Cranson's  Roller 
Buckwheat  Shucker  ;  Monitor  Dustless  Receiv- 
ing and  Elevator  Separator ;  Monitor  Dustless 
]\Iilling  Separator  ;  IMonitor  Dustless  INIalt  and 
Barley  Separator  ;  Monitor  Malt  and  Barley 
Scourer;  Monitor  Oat  Scourer ;  Diamond  Dust- 
less Corn  Sheller  and  Separator ;  and  Diamond 
Corn  Sheller.  Mr.  Huntley  receives  orders  for 
his  machines  from  all  parts  of  the  United  States 
aud  from  England,  Australia  and  New  Zealand. 

On  November  24,  1854,  he  united  in  mar- 
riage with  Mary  Chapman,  of  Onondaga 
county,  New  York. 

W.  W.  Huntley  has  been  identified  with  the 
progress  of  Silver  Creek  since  1848.  He  is 
fully  imbued  with  the  New  England  spirit  of 
enterprise,  which  has  infused  itself  so  largely 
and  with  such  beneficial  results  into  the  social 
and  business  life  of  New  York  aud  the  great 
West. 


/^HAINCEY  G.  TAI.COTT.  A  farmer, 
^^  and  line  of  the  national  guards  who  or- 
ganized a  company  and  liclped  to  repel  Lee  at 
Gettysburg,  is  Chauncey  (J.  Talcott,  who  is  a 
son  of  William  D.  and  Persis  Brandgee  (Gage) 
Talcott,  and  was  born  in  Silver  Creek,  Chau- 
tauqua county,  New  York,  October  (i,  1834. 
Until  the  coming  of  William  D.  Talcott  to  Sil- 
ver Creek  in  1831,  the  family  had  lived  in  Con- 
necticut since  lfj32,  tiiat  l)cing  the  dale  when  an 
Englishman  named  .Idlm  'i'aicott  landed  at  Bos- 
ton, Mas.s.,  and  I  lieu  went  to  Hartford,  Conn. 
He  s<jon  after  aecpiired   a  large  tract  of  land. 


One  of  the  patentees  named  in  the  charter  of 
Charles  the  First,  granted  to  Connecticut,  1662, 
and  it  was  the  foundation  of  the  wealth  owned  by 
later  members  of  the  older  family.  The  Tal- 
cott mountains  were,named  for  ameml)erof  the 
family,  probably  for  Gov.  Joseph  Talcott,  who 
was  one  of  the  early  governors  of  the  colony — 
from  1724  to  1741.  David  Talcott  was  our 
subject's  grandfather  aud  he  spent  his  life  in  his 
native  State.  His  son,  William  D.  Talcott 
(father),  was  born  in  Glastonberry,  Connecticut, 
on  March  3,  l8ll,  where  he  lived  until  he  at- 
tained his  twentieth  year.  In  1831  he  set  out 
for  Buffalo  but  after  reaching  it  remained  only 
a  short  time  aud  then  went  to  Jamestown,  this 
county.  A  few  months  later  he  went  to  Silver 
Creek,  arriving  November  2d,  where  he  bought 
a  home  and  resided  until  he  died  December  15, 
1 880.  By  trade  he  was  a  harness  maker  and 
saddler,  which  he  followed  at  this  place  until 
!  1839  when  he  began  lumbering,  siiip  building, 
etc.,  contiuuiug  this  business  until  1876.  Wil- 
liam D.  Talcott  was  a  man  of  magnetic  influ- 
ence ;  with  good  judgment  and  rare  perepica- 
city,  and  conducted  his  business  in  a  systematic 
manner.  Politically  he  trained  with  the  demo- 
crats, and  held  the  offices  of  superintendent  of 
highways,  school  trustee  and  suj)ervisor  of  the 
town  of  Hanover.  He  was  a  liberal  contributor 
to  the  cause  of  Christianity,  and  in  1856  be- 
came a  member  of  the  Presbyterian  church. 
Five  years  later  he  was  created  an  elder  of  his 
church,  the  duties  of  which  he  filled  with  honor 
and  Chri.stian  humility  until  he  was  called  to 
join  the  great  congregation  above.  Sabbath- 
school  work  especially  was  the  recijiient  of  his 
attention  and  generosity.  In  1833,  he  married 
Persis  Brandgee  Gage,  a  native  of  Winfiehl, 
Madison  county,  this  State,  where  she  was  born 
in  1814,  but  when  three  years  of  age  her  i)a- 
rents,  Asa  and  Nancy  (Brace)  (iage,  brought  her 
to  Silver  ('reek.  Mrs.  Talcott  died  August  7, 
1878.  They  were  the  parents  of  seven  children, 
six  sons  and  one  daughter  :  Chauncey  G.,  Wal- 


OF  CHAUTAUQUA   COUNTY. 


809 


lace  W.  aud  William  S.  reside  in  Silver  Creek  ; 
Asa  G. ,  lives  in  Ktiffalo;  Walter  makes  liis 
home  at  Saiuliisky,  Oliiu  ;  and  Mrs.  l^lizabetli 
(Talcott)  Harroim,  of  New  York  city.  Mrs. 
Talcutt  was  a  woman  possossiiij;'  rare  motherly 
characteristies  and  erijoyed  the  peace  of  a  genu- 
ine Christian  spirit.  She  was  a  devoted  mem- 
ber of  the  Presbyterian  church  at  Silver  Creek, 
New  York,  and  her  body  is  laid  away  to  rest  in 
Glenwood  cemetery,  Silver  Creek.  Coming 
from  the  renowned  English  family  of  Gage,  the 
best  blood  of  that  country  flowed  in  her  veins. 
Viscount  (lage,  an  old  Irish  nobleman,  belonged 
to  the  same  family  and  she  was  closely  con- 
nected with  our  own  Revolutionary  hero.  Gen- 
eral Gage. 

Chauncey  G.  Talcott  was  reared  at  Silver 
Creek  and  after  graduation  in  the  public  schools 
he  was  sent  to  the  Brockjjort  Collegiate  Insti- 
tute, and  later,  in  1866,  he  graduated  from  Bry- 
ant &  Stratton's  business  college,  at  Butfalo. 
Being  thus  fitted  by  education  as  well  as  natural 
endowments  for  business,  he  walked  out  in  life 
and  began  as  an  accountant  for  a  lumber  firm  in 
Toledo,  Ohio,  but  after  a  stay  lasting  one  year 
he  went  into  his  father's  service,  kee[)ing  the  ac- 
counts of  his  large  lumlier  and  lake  transporta- 
tion business.  In  the  fall  of  1858  he  entered 
into  partnershij)  with  his  uncle,  John  H.  Tal- 
cott, the  firm  name  being  Talcott  &  Co.,  and 
their  business  in  wool  and  tanning.  The  part- 
nership continued  for  twenty  years  and  was  dis- 
solved in  1878  by  mutual  consent.  Since  that 
time  Mr.  Talcott  has  been  engaged  in  farming 
and  dealing  in  live  stock  and  real  estate.  The 
beautiful  home  where  he  resides  is  but  a  small 
portion  of  his  property  holdings.  In  1859  he 
organized  a  company  of  national  guards  and 
was  made  it.s  fir.st  lieutenant.  In  1863,  when 
the  Confederate  army  invaded  Penn.sylvania, 
Mr.  Talcott  was  commi.ssioned  captain  of  the 
company  and  took  it  to  Getty.sburg,  but  after 
the  rebel  army  was  repulsed  they  returned  home, 
having  seen  about  one  month's  active  service. 


On  December  7,  1858,  he  married  Maria  L. 
Lee,  a  daughter  of  Oliver  Lee,  iif  Silver  Creek, 
who  was  a  soldier  in  the  war  of  1812,  and  one 
of  the  earliest  settlers  in  this  town.  They  have 
an  adopted  daugliter:  Helen  M.  Abell,  a 
daughter  of  William  H.  and  Eliza  (Lee)  Abell. 

Chauncey  (i.  Takvjtt  is  a  member  of  the 
Presbyterian  church  and  serves  it  in  the  capa- 
city of  an  elder.  For  four  years  he  was  sui)er- 
intendent  of  its  Sabbath-school.  He  is  a  dem- 
ocrat and  has  held  some  of  the  responsible  offices 
in  the  gift  of  the  town.  When  Sylvan  Lodge, 
No.  757,  F.  and  A.  M.  was  chartered,  Mr.  Tal- 
cott was  a  member  of  it  and  was  elected  the  first 
secretary.  He  is  a  gentleman  of  more  than  or- 
dinary business  acumen,  of  undoubted  integrity, 
genial,  warmdiearted  and  generous. 


TTi  IM.IAI>I  flIARTTN,  the  head  of  one  of 
^-"^-^  the  largest  and  most  im|)ortant  busi- 
nesses in  Dunkirk,  aud  at  present  the  i)olitiral 
head  of  the  municipality,  was  born  in  the  city 
of  Exeter,  England,  on  the  first  day  of  March, 
1848,  and  is  a  son  of  George  and  Grace  (How- 
ard) INIartin. 

William  Martin  was  brought  to  this  country 
in  early  (childhood  and  in  youth  learned  the 
machinist's  trade.  He  was  educated  at  the  East 
Greenwich  Seminary,  Rhode  Island,  and  from 
thence  engaged  in  theological  study  and  in  1871 
came  to  Dunkirk  and  fitled  the  pulpit  of  the 
First  Methodist  cliurch  of  that  city.  He  en- 
gaged in  the  ministry  of  that  denomination  for 
twelve  years  and  for  two  years  laliored  in  the 
Presbyterian  cause. 

In  1872  he  married  Frances  Helen  Cary, 
daughter  of  David  E.  Cary,  and  their  union 
has  been  blessed  with  four  children :  Sarah ; 
Cary;  Grace;  and  Howard.  In  the  latter  part 
of  1872  Mr.  Martin  left  Dunkirk  and  returned 
in  1882  to  develop  the  present  immense  business 
which  he  now  directs.  About  this  time  an  ani- 
mated discussion  aro.se  regarding  the  feasibility 
of  replacing  the  car  stove  for  heating  railway 


310 


BIOGRAPHY  AND  HISTORY 


traius,  and  Mr.  Martin  believed  he  could  solve 
the  problem.  He  executed  a  model  and  induced 
the  officials  of  the  Dunkirk,  Allegheny  Valley 
and  Pittsburg  railroad  to  allow  him  the  privi- 
lege of  equipping  a  train,  and  by  experience  per- 
fect the  system.  The  first  model  worked  well, 
and  in  May,  1882,  they  applied  for  a  patent 
and  formed  a  stock  company  with  au  authorized 
capital  of  two  hundred  thousand  dollars.  He 
as.sociated  with  him  Frank  E.Shaw  of  Sinclair- 
ville,  and  Charles  A.  Clute,  then  assistant  su- 
perintendent of  the  D.,  A.  V.  &  P.  R.  R. 
Their  system  was  rapidly  improved  and  in  May, 
1884,  the  "  Bee  Line  "  was  equipped  and  to-day 
about  five  thousand  engines  and  cars  are  operat- 
ing this  mode  of  heating.  The  out  put  of  1888 
showed  about  five  hundred  thousand  dollars  and 
some  seventy-five  people  are  employed  in  their 
beautiful  buildings,  recently  erected  at  the  cor- 
ner of  Third  and  Dove  streets.  This  invention 
ranks  with  the  Westinghouse  brake  fur  safety, 
and  with  (ieorge  M.  Pullman's  famous  palace 
cars  for  comfort  and  convenience.  The  deadly 
car-stove  is  displaced  by  this  contrivance,  which, 
in  case  of  a  wreck,  automatically  shuts  olF  the 
steam  and  prevents  the  horrors  of  burning  in 
flames  or  scalding  by  steam. 


ryjILLIA3I    H.    ARNOLD.     One  of  the 

^^^  very  oldest  of  Portland's  successful 
agriculturists  and  grape  growers,  and  one 
who  has  exceeded  by  eight  years,  man's  quoted 
allotment  of  three-score  years  and  ten,  all  of 
which  have  been  spent  within  the  boundaries 
of  old  Chautauqua,  is  the  venerable  gentleman 
whose  name  appears  above.  William  H.  Ar- 
nold is  a  son  of  Elisha  and  Patience  (Potter) 
Arnold,  and  was  born  February  7,  ].S1.'5,  in 
the  little  State  of  Rhode  Island.  His  father, 
Elisha  Arnold,  was  born  in  Rlmdc  Island,  in 
1778  and  caiuc  from  Rhode  Island  to  Portland 
town  the  year  AVilliam  was  born.  Ills  occupa- 
tion was  distilling  and  he  followed  this  busi- 
ness in  Westficid  luitii  able  to  secure  one  of  his 


own.  In  those  days  the  business  was  not  over- 
crowded, and  he  operated  his  still  with  profit 
for  a  number  of  years.  He  married  Patience 
Potter,  of  Rhode  Island,  and  reared  a  family 
of  seven  sons  and  five  daughters,  of  whom 
our  subject  is  the  only  one  now  living. 
Mr.  Arnold  was  a  universalist  and  affiliated 
with  the  whigs.  He  was  learned  in  the  law 
and  was  a  member  of  the  Constitutional  Com- 
mittee appointed  to  alter  the  constitution  of  the 
State.  He  filled  several  of  the  local  offices 
in  his  county  and  was  a  prominent  man,  re- 
spected and  esteemed.  He  died  in  1841,  aged 
sixty-three  years.  Mrs.  Arnold  was  a  native 
of  Rhode  Island.  She  died  in  1854,  aged  sev- 
enty-five years. 

William  H.  Arnold  was  brought  to  Chau- 
tauqua county  an  infant  in  his  mother's  arms. 
The  educational  facilities  at  that  time  were 
meager,  and  farm  work  was  more  plentiful  than 
school  books.  He,  however,  managed  to  secure 
sufficient  knowledge  to  make  a  successful  busi- 
ness farmer,  as  is  attested  by  the  value  of  his 
property  to-day.  Mr.  Arnold  has  always  been 
a  farmer  and  the  old  homestead  which  he  now 
owns,  built,  and  for  many  years  occupied  by 
his  father,  contains  one  hundred  and  twenty- 
five  acres  of  tillable  laud.  In  addition  to  this 
valuable  property,  he  is  the  possessor  of  an- 
other of  two  hundred  and  forty-nine  acres  in 
Chautauqua  town,  where  particular  attention  is 
given  to  live  stock,  in  which  he  deals,  and  to 
grape  culture. 

On  December  3,  1840,  he  married  Mary  L. 
Spurr,  a  daughter  of  Amos  Spurr,  of  Portland. 
They  reared  three  sons  and  five  daughters : 
Eliza,  married  L.  H.  Kendall,  of  Eutllilo ; 
Sarah,  wedded  Warren  Dickson  and  lives  in 
Wilkinsburg,  Pa.;  Mattie,  is  the  wife  of  Ver- 
non Kent,  a  resident  of  Westfield;  William,  is 
a  citi/en  of  Chautauqua  town  and  is  married  to 
Etta  ilarclonhurg ;  Chester,  removed  (o  Dun- 
kirk, married  Nettie  Ruruell  and  is  engaged  in 
railroad  work;   Redmond,  Mary  and  Agues, 


OF  CHAUTAUQUA    COUNTY. 


311 


W.  H.  Arnold  lias  voted  with  the  Republi- 
can party  since  it  came  into  existence,  but  lias 
refrained  from  entering  active  politi;^al  life. 
He  is  now  far  advanced  in  years,  but  is  one  of 
the  most  highly  respected  and  honored  citizens 
of  the  county. 


old  gentleman,  who  has  the  esteem  of  his  neigh- 
bors and  acquaintances. 


HARVEY  BKMIS  is  a  son  of  Stephen  and 
Clarissa  (Huntley)  Bemis,  and  was  born 
at  Moscow,  Livingston  county.  New  York,  Sep- 
tember 15,  1814.  Stephen  Bemis  was  a  native 
of  Connecticut.  From  there  he  moved  to  Liv- 
ingston county,  thence  to  Genesee  county,  N. 
Y.,  and  iu  February,  1825,  he  came  to  Chau- 
tauqua county  and  located  in  the  town  of  Cly- 
mer,  and  engaged  in  farming  until  his  death, 
which  occurred  in  December,  1847,  after  he  had 
passed  the  •  age  of  seventy-four  years.  Mrs. 
Bemis  was  a  native  of  Vermont,  a  member  of 
the  Methodist  Episcopal  church,  and  died  in 
1859.  Both  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Bemis  were  of 
English  descent,  and  they  reared  a  family  of 
eight  children,  seven  sons  and  one  daughter. 

Harvey  Bemis  was  a  boy  of  eleven  years 
when  his  father  came  to  this  county.  He  was 
reared  on  the  farm  and  educated  in  the  public 
schools,  which  were  equal  to  any  of  the  country 
schools  of  that  day.  Farming  has  been  his 
life-long  occupation,  and  to-day  he  owns  seventy- 
two  acres  of  very  fine  land  lying  on  the  Nettle 
Hill  road,  two  miles  east  of  Westfield.  Grape 
culture  receives  a  portion  of  his  attention,  and 
in  the  spring  of  the  year,  for  sixty-five  years 
past,  he  says,  he  has  helped  to  make  maple-sugar 
and  syrup. 

On  May  8,  1837,  he  married  Melissa  Ann,  a 
daughter  of  Nathaniel  Dowley,  who  lived  in 
Greenfield,  Pa.  By  her  he  has  three  chil- 
dren, one  son  and  two  daughters :  Emma, 
wife  of  Perry  Saunders,  who  lives  iu  Wisconsin; 
Mary  is  the  wife  of  Charles  E.  Flitner,  who  lives 
in  St.  Paul  ;  and  Alton  is  an  attorney-at-law  in 
Cleveland,  Ohio. 

Harvey  Bemis  is  a  venerable  and  respected 


TESSK  VVAHK,  an  adopted  son  of  the  United 
^^  States,  who  bore  arms  in  her  defense  when 
her  misguided  sons  sought  to  rend  asunder  her 
time-honored  institutions,  is  a  son  of  John  and 
Jane  (Mould)  Warr,  and  was  born  in  Ailsbury, 
England,  near  the  palace  of  the  Duke  of  Buck- 
ingham, June  1,  1828.  For  generations  the 
Warrs  had  acknowledged  allegiance  to  the 
sovereign  of  Great  Britain,  and  James  Mould, 
the  maternal  grandfather,  was  iu  the  service  of 
the  duke  above  mentioned.  John  Warr  was 
born  at  Glancutt,  England,  and  came  to  America 
in  1833  and  settled  in  Durliamville,  Oneida 
county,  this  State,  and  soon  after  moved  into 
the  city  of  Utica,  where  he  made  his  home  until 
his  death  in  1852.  He  attained  the  age  of  sixty- 
seven  years.  When  he  identified  himself  with 
American  political  institutions,  Mr.  Warr  became 
attached  to  the  Democratic  party  ;  his  trade  was 
harness-making,  an  employment  that  he  followed 
in  the  mother  country,  and  for  many  years  in 
his  new  home.  While  in  England's  military 
service  he  belonged  to  the  cavalry,  and  was 
skilled  in  the  manual  of  arms  in  that  branch  of 
the  service.  Jane  Mould  was  born  at  Bucking- 
ham, England,  and  died  iu  Utica,  New  York, 
when  eighty-two  years  old.  She  was  a  very 
religious  lady,  and  was  thoroughly  conversant 
with  the  Bible,  which  was  her  constant  com- 
panion. 

Jesse  Warr  came  with  his  parents  to  America 
when  only  five  years  old,  and  the  passage  being 
made  in  a  sailing  vessel,  it  was  long  and  tedious. 
He  was  reared  principally  in  Utica,  and  secured 
his  education  at  the  public  schools  of  that  city, 
and  after  leaving  school  he  learned  shoemaking. 
During  the  month  of  August,  1862,  Mr.  Warr 
enlisted  in  Company  A,  112th  Regiment,  New 
York  Volunteers,  as  a  private,  and  served  two 
years  and  two  months,  when  he  was  discharged 
on  account  of  disability.      He  participated  in 


312 


BIOGRAPHY  AND  HISTORY 


raauy  of  the  principal  fights  of  his  regiment, 
and  conducted  himself  in  such  a  manner  as  to 
win  the  respect  of  his  comrades.  Jamestown 
first  knew  him  in  the  fall  of  185{t,  when  lie 
came  here  and  established  a  home,  where,  with 
"the  exception  of  the  time  spent  in  the  army,  he  \ 
has  lived  ever  since,  and  found  employment  at 
his  trade  until  1877,  when,  having  a  natural 
taste  for  floriculture,  he  opened  a  green-house 
and  took  front  rank  while  he  followed  it.  He 
is  now  retired  from  business  and  owns  some 
valuable  city  property. 

In  1851  he  married  Helen  T.  Osborn,  of 
Utica,  New  York,  and  is  now  the  father  of  three 
children  :  Mrs.  Anna  M.  ^\'ilcox  lives  in  James- 
town ;  Mrs.  Mary  E.  Rice  resides  here ;  and 
Emily  L.,  who  is  superintendent  of  the  training- 
school  for  nurses  in  the  hospital  at  8t.  Louis, 
Missouri. 

Jesse  Warr  is  a  member  of  the  Presbyterian 
church,  is  a  republican  and  belongs  to  James 
M.  Brown  Post,  No.  285,  G.  A.  R.  Mrs. 
Helen  T.  Warr  is  a  member  of  the  same  church  ' 
and  is  one  of  the  active  members  of  the  Woman's 
Relief  Corps,  No.  73,  attached  to  James  M. 
Brown  Post,  G.  A.  R.,  and  also  belongs  to  the 
Royal  Templars  of  Temperance.  Her  father, 
Henry  \\ .  Osborn,  was  in  the  War  of  1812, 
where  he  served  with  credit.  He  was  of  German 
descent,  a  native  of  Albany,  New  York,  and 
died  in  Utica,  this  State,  in  1882,  aged  ninety- 
one  years. 

e> 

0:AMIIKL  f  AI.1>W1:T.T..  It  is  said  of 
*^  Samuel  Caldwell  that  when  a  young  man 
he  could  do  a  bigger  day's  chopping,  out-jump 
or  throw  down  any  man  in  the  district.  He 
stands  six  feet  tall  and  to-day,  although  sixty- 
nine  years  of  age  is  still  active,  strong  and  vig- 
orous. Samuel  Caldwell  is  the  son  of  Samuel, 
Sr.,  and  Nancy  (Comari)  Caldwell,  and  was  born 
in  Salem,  Washington  (tounty.  New  York,  March 
17,  1822.  James  Caldwell  (grandfather)  came 
from  [.Londonderry,  Scotland,  and  served  in  the 


Revolutionary  war.  At  the  battle  of  Bunker 
Hill  he  was  twice  wounded  but  recovered  and 
died  in  Arlington,  Vt.  His  wife  was  Mary 
Clyde,  a  Scotch  lady,  who  was  remarkable  for 
her  historical  knowledge.  She  was  possessed  of 
a  fine  memory,  an  inveterate  reader  and  a  keen 
observer  whicli  made  her  of  more  than  ordinary 
interest.  She  lived  to  an  advanced  age  and  re- 
tained her  marvelous  memory  until  the  time  of 
her  death.  She  was  also  renowned  for  her  skill 
in  accouchement  cases.  Samuel  Caldwell,  Sr., 
was  born  in  Arlington,  Bennington  county,  Vt , 
in  1795,  and  removed  from  there  to  Washington 
county,  this  State,  in  1812.  Twenty  years  later 
he  came  to  Portland  town,  ari-iving  May  17, 
1832.  He  was  a  lifelong  farmer  and  lived  in 
this  town  until  his  death  in  1878,  when  he  was 
eighty- three  years  of  age.  Many  anecdotes  are 
told  of  Mr.  Caldwell.  He  was  of  striking  ap- 
pearance, six  feet  and  two  inches  ;  straight  as  an 
arrow  and  weighing  but  two  hundred  and  forty- 
five  pounds,  was  perfectly  proportioned.  He 
was  renowned  for  his  great  strength  and  many 
would  be  chami)ions  for  wrestling  honors  fell 
before  him.  Mr.  Caklwell  had  the  reputation 
of  being  the  best  and  neatest  farmer  in  the  town. 
He  was  a  member  of  the  Metiiodist  Episcopal 
church  and  officiated  in  the  capacities  of  class- 
leader  and  steward.  He  married  Nancy  Coman, 
who  wius  born  in  Warren  county,  N.  Y.,  in  1799. 
They  reared  a  family  of  twelve  children,  nine 
of  whom  are  still  living,  five  sons  and  four 
daughters.  Mrs.  Caldwell  was  a  gentle  Chris- 
titin  woman,  a  consistent  member  of  the  Metho- 
dist Episcopal  church  and  died  in  1884,  aged 
eighty-five  years. 

Samuel  Caldwell  came  to  Portland  with  his 
father  and  was  reared  on  the  fiirm  and  educated 
in  the  public  schools.  When  a  young  man  he 
learned  the  carpenter  trade  but  never  pursued  it 
steadily,  clinging  instead  to  the  farm.  Mr. 
Caldwell  is  now  the  owner  of  a  good  farm, 
which  he  secured  by  hard  work  and  pays  con- 
sideral)le  attention  to  grape  culture. 


OF  CHAUTAUQUA   COUNTY. 


313 


On  Christmas  day,  184;i,  he  werldcd  Jane 
Ann  Springstead,  iii  Portland,  wlio  died  two 
and  one-third  years  later  (April  21,  1846),  leav- 
ing him  two  sons — Dewitt  and  Isaac  W.  The 
first-named  died  an  infant  and  Isaac  W.  resides 
with  his  father.  Mr.  Caldwell  married  for  his 
second  wife  Martha  Ann  Wilbur,  of  Portland, 
in  1848,  and  she  died  in  18tJ8,  leaving  two 
daughters — Ellen  E.  and  Martha  J.  Ellen  E. 
is  the  wife  of  M.  W.  Brown,  a  Portland  farmer, 
and  Martha  J.  married  L.  A.  Bigelow,  similarly 
employed  in  the  same  town.  In  November, 
1889,  Mr.  Caldwell  re-married,  this  time  to 
Mrs.  Louisa  (Wilbur)  Smart,  who  came  from 
the  town  of  Chautauqua. 

He  is  a  member  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
church  and  Lodge  No.  32,  Equitable  Aid  ITnion. 
Politically  he  is  an  uncom})romisiug  democrat 
and  has  filled  the  office  of  road  commissioner 
for  two  years. 


jA  ATHAK  BKOWN.     One  of  the  oldest  of 

\  ^  Jamestown's  citizens,  and  in  his  active 
days  the  leading  and  most  enterprising  business 
man  of  that  section,  who  took  the  manufactured 
wares  of  that  city's  early  factories  down  the 
Ohio  and  Mississippi  rivers  and  exchanged  them 
for  cash,  is  Nathan  Brown.  He  is  a  son  of  the 
late  Nathan,  Sr.  and  Levia  (Smith)  Brown,  and 
was  born  in  Eaton,  Madison  (county.  New 
York,  November  19,  1812.  The  family  is  of 
English  extraction  in  both  branches;  the  pa- 
ternal grandfather,  Jo.sepli  Brown,  was  a  native 
of  Boston  and  was  born  about  the  middle  of 
the  eighteenth  century.  Following  the  .sea  for 
many  years,  he  rose  to  the  rank  of  (captain  of  a 
merchant  vessel,  plying  between  Boston  and 
Liverpool,  prior  to  the  Revolutionary  war,  and 
he  was  lost  at  sea  during  a  west  bound  voyage. 
He  married  a  Miss  Jones  and  had  three  chil- 
dren, Nathan  Brown,  Sr.  being  the  youngest. 
Samuel  Pomeroy  Smith,  the  maternal  grand- 
father, was  of  English  Puritan  stock  and  a 
native  of  New  Loudon,  Connecticut.     He  mar- 


ried Rebecc^a  Armstrong  and  emigrated  to 
Onondaga  county,  this  State,  and  settled  at 
what  was  then  Geddesburg,  now  Syracuse.  His 
union  gave  tlu'  world  ten  children,  five  sons  and 
five  daughters.  The  mother  of  Nathan  Brown 
was  born  in  178G.  Nathan  Brown,  Sr.  was 
born  in  Boston,  Mas.sachusetts,  June  30,  1782 
and  went  to  Madi.son  county  about  1806  ;  later, 
in  1822  he  came  to  Chautauqua  <;ounty  and 
bought  a  piece  of  land  of  the  Holland  Land 
Company,  in  the  town  of  Ellington,  and  followed 
farming  .so  successfully  that  he  became  one  of 
the  largest  land  owners  of  his  neighborhood. 
Mr.  Brown  pos.sessed  a  superior  education  for 
his  day,  and  it  enabled  him  to  reach  a  pinnacle, 
which,  without  it,  would  never  have  been  at- 
tained. Politically  he  was  a  whig,  without 
ambitious  aspirations.  In  1808  he  married 
Levia  Smith,  and  became  the  father  of  nine 
children,  two  of  whom  dieil  in  infancy  ;  all  are 
now  dead  except  Nelson,  the  twin  brother  of 
subject,  who  lives  in  Ellington,  this  county,  and 
has  I'etired  from  business  ;  Daphne,  living  in 
Minneapolis,  Minnesota,  the  widow  of  a  Mr. 
Waterman  ;  Albro  S.,  late  mayor  of  the  city  of 
Vineland,  N.  J.,  a  practicing  lawyer  for  twenty 
years  at  that  place,  died  December  16,  1890. 

Nathan  Brown  was  reared  and  passed  his 
early  life  in  the  uneventful  manner  usual  with 
country  boys.  In  1823  he  first  came  to  James- 
town, but  did  not  begin  a  permanent  residence 
until  1832,  when  he  engaged  in  manufacturing 
pails,  and  followed  that  line  of  business  until 
1843,  when  he  commenced  running  store-boat 
cargoes  of  building  materials  down  the  Alle- 
gheny, Ohioand  Mississippi  rivers  andsellingat 
the  larger  towns.  He  enlarged  his  business  until 
its  scope  included  agricultural  implements, 
doors,  sash  and  everything  manufactured  at 
Jamestown. 

August  17,  1841,  he  marrietl  Caroline  E. 
LeFevre,  a  daughter  of  Daniel  and  Henrietta 
L.  (Colson)  LeFevre,  who  was  born  in  Mead- 
ville,    Pennsylvania,    March    24,    1822.     Her 


314 


BIOGRAPHY  AND  HISTORY 


father  was  of  French  extraction  and  took  a 
prominent  part  in  the  politics  of  the  Keystone 
State  and  served  at  Harrisburg  in  the  Legishi- 
ture  ;  he  was  a  prominent  Mason,  having  at- 
tained the  degree  of  Royal  Arch  Mason.  The 
mother  of  subject,  is  still  living  with  her  daugh- 
ter, at  Jamestown.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Brown  are 
the  parents  of  children  as  follows:  Henry 
LeFevre,  born  May  30,  1842,  married  N. 
Aleesta  Fisher,  March  27,  18G5  and  now  lives 
in  Jamestown.  He  entered  the  United  States 
army  in  Co.  B,  72nd  regiment,  N.  Y.  Infantry, 
in  1861  ;  he  re-enlisted,  an<l  served  during  the 
entire  war.  Ijcon  G.,  was  born  July  18,  1844^ 
and  married  Lucy  Hayes,  January  31,  1870; 
he  now  resides  at  Huntingdon,  W.  Va.  He 
enlisted  September  12,  1862,  in  Co.  F,  112th 
regiment,  and  served  to  the  close  of  the  war 
Amelia  Marvin  was  born  May  15,  1848,  and 
married  Theodore  W.  McCiintock,  a  son  of  the 
late  Dr.  James  McCiintock,  of  the  Philadelpiiia 
College  of  Medicine.  Theodore  W.  McCiin- 
tock was  born  May  28,  1846  and  was  the 
author  of  "The  Analysis  of  Zell's  Encyclopedia," 
a  work  of  extensive  circulation,  consisting  of 
an  outline  of  universal  history.  He  died  May 
12,  1889.  Charles  N.,  was  born  October  21, 
1851,  and  married  Alice  Ross,  January  13, 
1881.  He  is  engaged  in  manufacturing  plush 
at  Jamestown,  the  firm  name  being  the  "James- 
town Plush  Mills  Company."  George  B.  W. 
was  born  September  15,  1853,  and  married 
Blanche  A.  White,  July  20,  1884.  He  resides 
at  Titusvillc,  Pa.,  and  conducts  a  pharmacy, 
lieing  a  graduate  of  the  Philadelphia  School  of 
Pharmacy  in  the  class  of  1.S78. 

Nathan  Brown  spent  forty-four  years  in  bus- 
iness and  did  not  retire  unlil  1885,  after  pass- 
ing three-score  and  ten  years  of  age.  During 
liis  career  he  took  one  hundred  and  fifty-four 
store  boats  down  the  river,  the  aggregate  value 
of  the  cargoes  Ijcing  over  half  a  million  dollars, 
and  most  of  it  was  manufacdired  articles  made 
in    Chautauqua  county.      With    the  advent  of 


the  railroads  in  the  South  and  other  conditions 
arising  soon  after  the  close  of  the  war,  the  busi- 
ness became  unremunerative  ;  prices  and  profits 
being  much  smaller  than  before.  Since  1885 
Mr.  Brown  has  led  a  retired  life.     He  is  a  re- 

j  publican  in  politics  and  has  been  a  member  of 
the  Presbyterian  church  since  1836  ;  he  is  the 
oldest  male  member  in  the  Presbyterian  church  of 
Jamestown ;  Mr.  Brown  also  out-ranks  all 
others  in  term  of  membership  in  Lodge  No. 
221,  I.  O.  ().  F.,  at  Jamestown,  having  been 
continuous  for  over  forty  years.  For  some 
years  past  he  has  devoted  much  time,  as  a  recre- 
ation, to  writing  the  local  history  of  James- 
town and  its  environments,  and  so  well  is  he 
posted,  that  he  is  considered  authority  upon 
local  historical  matters. 

Nathan  Brown's  has  been  a  life  well  spent ; 
public  confidence  rests  with  him  implicitly,  and 
it  may  be  truthfully  said  "  he  is  a  good  man," 
an  assertion  to  which  posterity  may  point  with 
pride.     Mrs.  Brown   came    to    this   county    in 

I  1827,  with  an  uncle,  Augustus  Colson,  who 
mai'ried  a  niece  of  Andrew  Ellicott,  named  Sarah 
Kennedy,  after  whose  family  the  village  bear- 
ing that  title  was  named.  Mrs.  Brown  lived  in 
Kennedy  but  a  short  time  and  then  went  to 
Buffalo,  where  her  young  ladyhood  was  passed 
and  she  remained  until  her  marriage.  Since 
that  time  she  has  lived  continuously  in  (he 
same  home,  in  Jamestown. 


HOMEK  J.  SKIXNKK  is  a  leading  farmer 
of  the  town  of  Portland,  and  owns  a 
property  eighty-four  acres  in  extent,  two  and 
one-half  miles  from  the  village.  He  is  a  son 
of  David  and  Betsy  (Hill)  Skinner,  and  was 
born  in  I'ortland,  Chautau(|ua  county,  New 
York,  June  6,  1829. 

Homer  J.  Skinner  traces  his  ancestry  to  the 
Emerald  Isle;  his  father,  David  Skinner,  was 
born  in  Chenango  county,  in  180.'!,  and  came  to 
Portland  when  sixteen  years  of  age,  located  in 
tiiis  town,  began  to   fai'ui,  and    lias    (bilowed   it 


OF  CHAUTAUQUA   COUNTY. 


315 


uninterruptedly  for  seventy-two  years.  The 
old  gentleman  still  lives,  aged  eighty-eight 
years,  is  a  prosperous  farmer  enjoying  fair 
health,  and  is  now  hapjiy  in  the  association  of 
his  grandchildren  of  the  fifth  generation.  On 
account  of  his  advanced  age,  as  would  be  ex- 
pected, he  is  not  actively  engaged,  but  is  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Methodist  chin-ch  at  Portland,  and 
belongs  to  the  Democratic  j)arty,  asdo  all  of  his 
sons.  On  December  25,  1825,  David  Skinner 
married  Betsy  Hill,  who  was  born  August  14, 
1803,  and  having  borne  her  husband  five  chil- 
dren, four  sous  and  one  daughter,  died  in  the 
faith  of  the  Methodist  church,  December  22, 
18oG.  He  then  married  for  his  second  wife, 
Mary  Williams,  who  is  still  living,  and  is  the 
mother  of  three  chiklren,  two  sons  and  one 
daughter. 

Homer  J.  Skinner  was  reared  on  the  old 
farm,  and  secured  a  district  school  education. 
He,  like  his  father,  has  made  fai-ming  his  life 
work,  and  is  now  the  proprietor  of  a  line  vine- 
yard twenty  acres  in  extent. 

On  October  20,  1851,  he  married  Martha 
Fuller,  a  daughter  of  Michael  Fuller,  of  Port- 
land, and  they  have  one  son,  Norman  Lester, 
who  is  united  in  marriage  with  Fanny  Secord, 
of  Erie,  Penna.,  on  the  2d  day  of  August, 
1888,  and  now  lives  with  his  father. 

Homer  J.  Skinner  is  a  member  of  the 
Ancient  Order  of  United  Workmen,  a  demo- 
crat, good  citizen  and  a  prosperous  farmer. 


TT  NDRUS  M.  HUYCK  was  one  of  the  earliest 
■**■  settlers  of  the  town  of  Arkwricjht,  havinu; 
located  here  in  182G.  The  following  spring  he 
built  a  log-house,  which  was  soon  occupied  by 
his  family  consisting  of  his  wife  and  sons,  Shad- 
rach  and  Oscar.  When  Mr.  Huyck  ar- 
rived there  were  no  neighbors  near  him  but  so 
rapidly  did  new  arrivals  come  in,  that  they 
erected  a  log  school-house  in  time  for  a  term  in 
the  winter  of  1827 ;  and  a  few  years  subsequently 
a  large  and  comfortable  frame  building  was 
16 


erected.  The  "Abbey  school,"  as  it  was  called, 
prospered,  became  a  popular  institution  and 
many  men,  who  afterward  became  prominent 
and  useful,  received  an  education  within  its 
walls.  Our  subject  was  a  successful  teacher  and 
to  him  in  a  large  measure  was  duo  the  credit  for 
this  successful  school-house.  He  filled  the  office 
of  commissioner  of  schools  and  for  a  number  of 
terms  was  justice  of  the  peace.  H<'  had  four 
children  born  in  tiiistown:  P^lijah  and  Avery 
and  two  daughters,  Tamar  and  Hester,  three  of 
whom  went  west.  The  youngest  sou  Avery  en- 
tered the  Union  Array  and  served  three  years, 
passing  through  several  battles  witliont  injniy. 


T  ^EVI  BALDWIN  was  a  prominent  man  in 

■*~^  the  town  of  Arkwright,  Chautauqua 
county.  He  was  a  son  of  Isaac  and  Parthcna 
Baldwin,  and  was  born  in  Pawlet,  Vermont, 
January  26,  1802.  Wlien  ten  years  of  age  he 
accompanied  his  father  to  this  county  and  they 
at  first  made  their  home  in  the  town  of  Siieridaii, 
whei'e  he  remained  until  after  his  marriage  witli 
Eliza  Ann  Putnam,  which  occurred  October  23, 
1831,  and  he  then  moved  into  this  town  and 
made  himself  a  home.  His  first  wife  died  No- 
vember 10, 1863,  having  borne  him  three  sons  : 
Oliver  T,,  who  went  to  California  about  the 
time  he  reached  manhood,  married  Nanc}^ 
Wright  ;  L.  Courtney,  who  married  Amoret 
Saunders  and  settled  in  this  town,  and  Orville 
D.,  who  married  Eglantine  Dawley,  and  for 
many  years  conducted  a  drug-store  in  Fredonia. 
For  his  second  wife  Levi  Baldwin  married 
Eleanor  B.  Phelps  on  March  26,  1866. 

Levi  Baldwin  was  quite  active  in  political 
matters  and  for  eight  years  held  the  office  of 
supervisor,  was  justice  of  the  peace  for  several 
terms,  and  town  superintendent  of  schools. 
The  duties  of  all  of  which  he  discharged  with 
fidelity  and  to  the  satisfaction  of  his  fellow- 
citizens. 


316 


BIOGRAPHY  AND  HISTORY 


Q'lIHEOiS'  CLrNTON  was  well  known  to  the 
■^^  early  citizens  of  Arkwright  town,  having 
for  many  years  followed  the  profession  of  sur- 
veying, and  thereby  coming  in  contact  with 
most  of  the  early  settlers.  He  was  born  in 
Saratoga  county,  this  State,  on  the  third  day  of 
February,  1779,  and  went  from  there  to  Otsego 
county,  from  whence  he  came  to  Chautauqua 
and  settled  in  the  town  of  Arkwright  in  1813. 
Being  a  bright  and  intelligent  man  and  of  a 
companionable  disposition,  he  attained  consider- 
able prominence  in  the  northeast  portion  of  the 
county  and  about  1825  it  is  said  that  he  made 
the  first  survey  and  plot  of  the  village  of  Dun- 
kirk ;  he  performed  a  similar  service  for  Sin- 
clairville  some  years  later.  Mr.  Clinton  kept 
the  first  tavern  in  the  town  of  Arkwright  and 
was  also  the  first  postmaster,  holding  the  posi- 
tion for  twenty  years;  politically  he  was  a  whig 
and  was  town-clerk  and  justice  of  the  peace  for 
several  terms.  In  1859,  during  a  thunder 
shower,  he  and  an  only  son  were  in  a  barn  and 
upon  leaving  the  building,  when  just  in  the  act 
of  closing  the  door,  he  was  struck  by  lightning 
and  killed.  The  son  was  prostrated  but  soon 
recovered.  Simeon  Clinton  had  a  family  con- 
sisting of  a  son  already  mentioned  and  five 
daughters.  The  last  of  the  latter  being  triplets, 
all  of  them  are  now  dead.  A  grandson  of  Mr. 
Clinton,  Charles  Cole,  a  son  of  Milton  Cole, 
has  been  town-clerk  of  Arkwright,  a  highly 
respectable  man. 


/^KKX  STODDARD.  A  ])rominent  agri- 
^^  cultnrist  of  the  town  of  IJusti,  who  was 
born  ill  the  "Green  Mountain  State,"  but  who 
has  been  identified  with  Chautauqua  county 
since  his  early  manhood,  is  the  gentleman  whose 
name  heads  this  sketch.  He  is  a  son  of  Alvin 
and  Rena  (Hall)  Stoddard  and  was  born  at  West 
Brattlcboro,  Windham  county,  Vermont,  July 
18th,  1818.  The  Stoddard  family  are  of  Eng- 
lish descent,  and  our  subject's  grand  father,  Jacob 
Stoddard,    achieved    distinction    by  serving  on 


General  Washington's  body  guard  during  the 
Revolutionary  war.  Until  his  enlistment  he 
was  a  farmer  in  his  native  State  and  at  the  close 
of  hostilities  returned  there  and  died  in  1812; 
his  wife  drew  a  Revolutionary  widow's  pension 
until  her  death.  Alvin  Stoddard  was  a  native 
of  the  same  State  and  by  trade  was  a  miller  and 
mill-wright.  When  a  young  man  he  was  em- 
ployed as  a  school  teacher,  and,  having  acquired 
a  superior  education,  was  offered  a  professorsiiip 
in  Yale  College,  which  he  declined.  He  was  a 
deacon  in  the  Baptist  church  and  died  when 
fifty-eight  years  of  age.  He  married  RenaHali, 
a  native  of  Brattleboro,  Vermont,  of  French 
extraction ;  she,  too,  was  a  member  of  the  Bap- 
tist church  and  died  on  April  5,  1853,  aged 
sixty-three  years. 

Oren  Stoddard  was  reared  near  the  scene  of 
his  birth  and  was  educated  in  the  common  schools 
of  his  native  State  until  nineteen  years  of  age, 
when,  failing  health  compelling  him  to  leave 
the  rigorous  climate  of  Vermont,  he  came  to 
Chautauqua  county  and  remained  three  years, 
and  although  he  returned  home  at  the  end  of 
that  time,  the  salubrity  of  the  climate  and  the 
natural  beauty  of  Chautaucpia  county  caused  him 
to  come  back  almost  immediately  and  he  has  re- 
sided here  ever  since.  He  learned  the  carpenter 
and  joiner's  trade  and  followed  it  for  some  time 
in  connection  with  his  farming.  In  1841  he 
moved  upon  the  farm  where  he  now  lives  aud 
has  resided  there  since  without  interruption — an 
unbroken  period  of  fifty  years. 

In  1842  he  married  Catherine  M.  Smith,  a 
daughter  of  William  Smith  of  the  town  of 
Busti,  this  county,  and  they  were  blessed  with  a 
family  of  five  children,  two  sons  and  three 
daughters:  Rena  is  llu^  wife  of  Charles  IT. 
Johnson,  a  prominent  manufacturer  of  this 
town;  Eugene  died  wlicn  oighl  years  and  nine 
mouths  old;  Ella  married  II.  M  Davis  and  re- 
sides at  Warren,  I'a.;  CooJcy  died  aged  twenty- 
two  years  and  four  months;  and  May  Belie  is 
inimarried  and  at  home.     Mr.  Stoddard  owns  a 


OF  CHAUTAUQUA   COUNTY. 


317 


fine  farm  of  well-improved  land,  and  his  resi- 
dence is  a  nice  brick  house. 

TIio  gnxpp  product  rwpiires  a  large  nuniherof 
basketis  in  which  to  market  it;  to  supply  this 
demand  Mr.  Stoddard  is  engaged  in  manufac- 
turing grape  baskets,  a  business  wliich  he  has 
conducted  in  connection  with  his  iarming  for 
the  past  twenty-five  years.  Politically  he  is  a 
republican  and  has  held  the  honorable  position 
of  |)residcnt  of  the  Chautau(iua  County  Agri- 
cultural Society  in  the  year  1882.  He  was  his 
])arty's  candidate  for  the  Assembly  at  one  time, 
but  was  not  elected.  Mr.  Stoddard  has  always 
taken  an  at^tive  ])art  in  politics  and  is  recognized 
as  a  very  intiueutial  man.  He  is  an  intelligent 
and  educated  gentleman,  fond  of  company  and 
au  excellent  entertainer. 


ir\K.  IlAYMONn  M.  EVARTS,  a  skillful 
■■^  physician  of  the  younger  school,  and  a 
graduate  of  Howard  Univei'sity,  of  Washington, 
D.  C,  is  a  son  of  Charles  H.  and  Lucy  (Kellogg) 
Evarts  and  was  born  August  27th,  1859,  at 
Leon,  Cattaraugus  county.  New  York.  The 
Evarts  family  have  risen  to  prominence,  a  citable 
example  being  the  Hon.  William  M.  Evarts, 
Ex-United  States  Senator  from  the  Empire 
State.  For  some  generations  they  were  homo- 
geneous to  New  England,  the  paternal  great- 
grandfather, Riualdo  Evarts,  being  a  native  of 
Conuecticut.  He  entered  the  ministry  of  the 
Methodist  Episcopal  church  and  after  coming  to 
New  York  State  was  for  a  number  of  years 
presiding  elder  of  the  Erie  Conference.  Riualdo 
Evarts  married  Eliza  Morley,  a  descendant  of 
one  of  the  most  distinguished  New  England 
families.  They  had  six  children,  three  sons 
and  tiu'ee  daughters.  The  maternal  grandfather. 
Captain  Galord  Kellogg,  was  born  in  the  eastern 
part  of  New  York;  he  followed  farming  and 
earned  his  military  title  by  several  years  service 
in  the  New  York  State  militia.  Early  in  life 
he  emigrated  to  Cattaraugus  county,  where  he 
established  for  himself  a  name  and  reputation 


second  to  none.  Politically  he  was  a  whig  and 
republican  and  he  married  Rosanna  Warner, 
who  bore  him  three  sons  and  two  dau<fhters. 
Charles  H.  Evarts  was  born  in  eastern  New 
York  about  1823.  He  has  always  been  identi- 
fied with  agricultural  work  and  now  lives  in 
Chautauqua  county.  Politically  he  is  a  repub- 
lican but  is  not  desirous  of  political  distinction, 
although  he  takes  an  active  interest  in  the  affairs 
of  his  party.  He  married  Lucy  Kellogg,  who 
is  yet  living,  aged  fifty-eiglit  years,  and  they 
have  had  six  children,  four  sons  and  two  daugh- 
ters: Julia  is  dead;  Raymond  ]\L ;  George,  who 
lives  at  Irving,  New  York,  and  is  engaged  as  a 
traveling  salesman  for  a  Saratoga  wholesale  drug 
house;  Estella  is  dead;  Grant  lives  at  Collins, 
Erie  county.  New  York ;  and  Charles,  who  is 
dead. 

Dr.  Raymond  M.  Evarts  married  Annie  Tully, 
a  native  of  Cortland  county,  this  State,  on  the 
6th  day  of  February,  1884,  and  they  have  tln-ee 
children:  Ruby  T.,  Lucy  and  Cora  Ruth. 

RayuKind  M.  Evarts  was  educated  at  the 
common  and  more  advanced  schools  of  the  lo- 
calities in  which  he  lived,  and  when  twenty 
years  of  age  he  entered  the  office  of  Dr.  A.  A. 
Hubbell,  then  located  at  Leon,  New  York,  but 
now  professor  of  diseases  of  the  eye  and  ear  at 
Niagara  University,  Buffalo.  After  the  usual 
term  of  reading,  our  subject  matriculated  at  the 
Buffalo  College  of  Physicians  and  Surgeons  and 
took  one  course  of  lectures.  He  then  went  to 
Howard  University,  Washington,  D.  C,  where 
he  took  his  graduating  course  in  the  medical  de- 
partment of  that  institution,  and  received  his 
diploma  March  7th,  1882.  He  first  located  for 
practice  at  Pine  Valley,  Cattaraugus  county, 
where  he  remained  one  year  and  three  months, 
and  July  23d,  188.3,  came  to  Irving,  Chautauqua 
county,  where  he  has  ever  since  resided.  Dr. 
Evarts  is  a  member  of  both  the  Chautauqua 
County  Medical  society  and  the  Lake  Erie 
Medical  society,  and  in  politics  is  a  republican, 
besides  being  a  member  of  the  Knights  of  the 


318 


BIOORAPHY  AND  HISTORY 


Maccabees.  He  is  an  interested  student  of 
archteology  and  has  in  his  possession  an  extensive 
and  valuable  collection  of  historical  relics,  both 
of  the  stone  or  Indian  age  and  the  early  Freucii 
explorations. 

Dr.  Evarts  is  a  skillful  physician,  is  thorough- 
ly familiar  with  his  profession,  because  he  loves 
it,  and  upon  the  appearance  of  every  new  and 
valuable  treatment  of  practical  value,  he  ac- 
quaints himself  with  it  at  once. 


HENRY  R.  CASE,  sheriff  of  Chautauqua 
county,  and  loan  commissioner  by  ap- 
pointment of  the  governor  of  New  York,  in 
1873,  for  four  years,  is  a  son  of  Gardiner  and 
Lucy  (Cutting)  Case,  and  was  born  in  the  town 
of  French  Creek,  Chautauqua  county.  New 
York,  April  28,  1839.  While  a  large  stream 
of  pioneer  settlers  came  direct  into  Chautauqua 
county  from  Massachusetts,  the  parent  colony 
of  New  England,  an  indirect  stream  of  consid- 
erable size  came  from  the  Bay  State  through  the 
minor  colonies  of  New  Hampshire,  Connecticut 
and  Vermont,  in  which  it  had  been  arrested  in 
its  westward  course  for  a  generation  in  the 
lives  of  the  fathers,  but  moved  forward  in  the 
adventurous  spirit  of  the  sons  who  crossed  the 
confines  of  eastern  civilization  and  made  homes 
for  themselves  in  (he  vicinity  of  the  great 
lakes.  Among  the  families  of  English  descent 
in  Massachusetts,  who  moved  to  Vermont,  were 
the  Cases  and  Cuttings,  and  of  the  next  gener- 
ation, wliich  was  born  in  the  Green  Mountain 
State,  Rev.  Joseph  Case  and  David  Cutting, 
the  grandfathers  of  Sheriff  Case,  became  early 
settlers  in  Chautauqua  county,  where  they  con- 
tinued to  reside  until  they  died.  Rev.  Joseph 
Case  was  a  minister  of  the  Baptist  church,  and 
served  as  a  soldier  in  the  war  of  1812,  while 
David  Cutting  was  a  farmer,  and  served  like- 
wise in  the  second  War  for  Intlepcndcnce. 
fiardiner  Case  (father)  was  born  on  his  father's 
Massacliiisctts  farm,  and  served  on  the  Canad- 
ian frontier  in  the  war  in  which  his  father,  and 


afterwards  father-in-law  were  soldiers.  Some 
time  after  peace  had  been  ratified  between  Great 
Britain  and  the  United  States,  he  came  to  Chau- 
tauqua county,  where  he  settled  in  the  town  of 
French  Creek,  in  which  he  was  a  resident  until 
his  death,  February  20,  I860,  at  seventy-one 
years  of  age.  His  wife  was  Lucy  Cutting,  who 
was  born  in  Vermont,  April  7, 1799,  and  passed 
from  earth  in  April,  1871.  To  Gardiner  and 
Lucy  Case  were  born  in  their  western  home, 
four  sons  and  two  daughters  :  Luther  H.,  a  car- 
penter of  Brocton,  who  owns  and  operates  a 
vineyard  ;  Homer,  a  farmer  of  Bremer  county, 
Iowa;  Joseph,  a  justice  of  the  peace  in  Mon- 
tana ;  Darwin,  who  is  engaged  in  farming  in 
the  town  of  Ripley  ;  Henry  R.  ;  Ziba,  widow  of 
Eli  N.  Brown ;  and  Lucy,  wife  of  P.  N. 
Cross,  now  of  the  town  of  French  Creek,  but 
formerly  a  merchant  of  Corry,  Pa. 

Henry  R.  Case  was  reared  on  a  farm,  attend- 
ed the  common  sciiools  of  his  town,  and  en- 
gaged in  farming  as  his  first  business  in  life. 
In  1801  the  oil  fields  of  Venango  county,  Pa., 
attracted  his  attention  as  offering  superior  ad- 
vantages to  investors,  and  as  being  far  n)ore 
profitable  than  investments  in  farming  could 
possibly  be  at  that  time.  He  leased  property 
in  that  countv,  and  for  four  vears  was  enofau-ed 
as  an  oil  producer.  During  the  early  part  of 
that  time  he  was  seriously  l)urned  and  lost  the 
siglit  of  one  of  his  eyes  at  a  Howing  well,  which 
caught  fire  and  l)urn(Ml  nineteen  others  to  death. 
These  injuries  which  he  received  prevented  his 
entering  the  late  war,  and  when  he  quit  operat- 
ing in  oil  in  1865,  he  embarked  in  the  feed  and 
grocery  business  at  Pioneer,  on  Oil  Creek, 
which  he  followed  for  about  five  years.  He 
then  became  a  mend)er  of  the  mercantile  firm 
of  Cross  &  Case,  at  Corry,  I*a.,  which  lasted 
for  (jight  years.  In  1878  he  returned  to  French 
Creek,  wliere  he  lias  been  engaged  in  the  lumber 
and  shingle  manufacturing  business  ever  since. 
In  Xuvcrnber,  1888,  h(>  was  elected  ])y  tlu!  Re- 
publican pnity  as  siicriif  of  C'hautauqua  coun- 


^f/f^^t^ 


OF  CHAUTAUQUA   COUNTY. 


321 


ty,  and  assumed  charge  of  tliat  office  January 
1,  1889.  Previous  to  this  lie  had  served  for 
nine  years  as  supervisor  of  Frencii  Creels,  and 
in  1873,  was  appointed  as  a  loan  commissioner 
by  the  governor  of  New  York. 

January  1,1861,  lie  married  Mary  Hubbard, 
daugiiter  of  Jonas  L.  ITuljbard,  of  tin's  county. 
In  1862  Mrs.  Case  dieci,  and  on  December  25. 
180G,  Mr.  Case  united  in  marriage  with  Susan- 
na Hubbard,  a  sister  to  his  former  wife. 

H.  R.  Case  has  always  been  identified  with 
tiie  Republican  party,  whieii  lias  always  re- 
ceived his  undivided  an<l  active  support.  His 
time  has  chiefly  been  devoted  to  his  various 
business  enterprises.  In  addition  to  lumbering 
he  is  largely  interested  in  dairying,  and  owns  a 
large  cheese  factory.  He  also  owns  a  valuable 
stock  farm  of  nine  hundred  acres,  which  is  till- 
able and  well  adapted  to  grazing.  He  is  a 
member  of  Columbus  liodge,  No.  I(i4,  F.  & 
A.  M.,  at  Columbus,  and  Clymer  Lodge,  No. 
51,  Ancient  Order  of  United  Workmen,  of 
Clymer,  N.  Y.  Sheriff  Case  has  always  been 
diligent,  energetic  and  active  in  every  business 
enterprise  in  which  he  has  been  engaged.  As 
a  business  man  he  has  been  successful,  as  a  citi- 
zen  he  has  liberal  ideas  as  to  pulJic  affairs,  and 
as  a  sheriff'  he  is  prompt  and  faithful  in  the  dis- 
charge of  every  duty  of  that  important  office. 


TAY  WINCH,  the  proprietor  and  manager 
^^  of  the  Clymer  butter  and  clicese  factories,  i 
is  a  son  of  John  S.  and  Sarah  (Si'luilster) 
Winch,  and  was  born  in  the  town  of  Marilla, 
Erie  county.  New  York,  November  3,  1867. 
The  Winches  and  Sch ulsters  are  both  of  Ena;- 
lish  ancestry.  The  paternal  grandfather  of  Jay 
Winch  was  William  Winch,  who  was  a  soldier 
of  the  war  of  1812,  and  died  in  Erie  county  ; 
while  his  maternal  grandfather,  Mr.  Schulster, 
was  a  resident  for  some  years  of  Wyoming 
county,  in  which  he  died.  John  S.  AVinch  i 
(father)  was  born  in  the  State  of  New  Jersey, 
and  in  1835  removed  to  Erie  county,  where  he  i 


died  in  1869.  He  wa.s  a  farmer  by  occupation, 
a  republican  in  politics,  and  a  presbyterian  in 
religious  faith.  He  served  as  supervisor  of  his 
town  for  a  mimber  of  years,  married  Sarah 
Schulster,  and  reared  a  family  of  five  sons  and 
three  daughters.  The  sons  are  Martin,  Frank, 
Alfred,  Andrew  and  Jay,  and  all  reside  in  Wy- 
oming county,  New  York,  except  the  last 
named  one. 

Jay  Winch  was  reared  on  the  farm,  obtained 
a  good  academic  education  at  Franklinville, 
Cattaraugus  county,  and  commenced  life  for 
himself  as  a  clerk  in  a  store  of  East  Aurora, 
Erie  county.  New  York.  After  some  time 
spent  at  the  latter  place  he  received  an  advan- 
tageous offer  and  went  to  Charleston,  the  me- 
tropolis of  South  Carolina,  where  he  was  a 
clerk  for  eighteen  months  in  a  large  store. 
From  Charleston  he  returned  to  his  native 
State  where  he  was  em])loyed  as  a  clerk  in  a 
mercantile  establishment  of  Warsaw  until  1886, 
when  he  went  to  Sherman,  where  he  occupied  a 
position  for  five  years  in  the  employ  of  Mr.  Ed- 
mund's butter  and  cheese  factories.  During  the 
time  spent  in  the  factory  office  he  learned  all 
the  details  of  the  successful  manufacture  of  but- 
ter and  cheese,  and  in  the  spring  of  1890  he 
came  to  Clymer  where  he  established  his  jires- 
ent  butter  and  cheese  factories,  the  one  at 
Clymer,  and  the  other  at  North  Clymer.  The 
Clymer  factory  has  an  annual  output  of  ninety 
thousand  pounds  of  butter,  while  the  North 
Clymer  factory  turns  out  sixty  thousand  pounds 
per  year.  Mr.  Winch  makes  a  very  fine  arti- 
cle of  butter  which  finds  a  market  in  the  larger 
cities  of  the  United  States. 

In  politics  Jay  Winch  is  rather  independent 
and  supports  the  man  or  tiie  measure  more  than 
the  party  or  the  nominee.  In  religious  matters 
he  is  a  presbyterian,  and  has  been  a  member  of 
the  church  of  that  denomination  at  East  Au- 
rora for  several  years.  Mr.  Winch's  present 
enterprise  has  added  much  to  the  business  pros- 
perity of  his  village,  and  from  its  present  pros- 


BIOGRAPHY  AND  HISTORY 


peroiis  condition  promises  to  be  an  assured  suc- 
cess in  the  future. 


SARniUS  FRISBEE,  a  descendant  from  an 
old  New  England  family,  and  one  of  the 
substantia],  wide-awake  merchants  of  Ellington, 
is  a  son  of  James  and  Eunice  (Harris)  Frisbee, 
and  was  born  at  DeWittville,  Chautauqua  county, 
on  the  twenty-fourth  day  of  September,  18o9. 
Subject's  father  came  from  the  State  of  Vermont, 
of  which  he  was  a  native,  to  the  county  of 
Chautauqua,  New  York,  when  but  a  mere  boy, 
being  accompanied  by  his  mother.  He  learned 
the  tradeof  brickmaker  and  mason  and  moulded 
the  brick  for  the  first  county  buildings  in  Chau- 
tauqua county — the  old  jail  and  court-house. 
At  this  time  he  was  resident  at  DeWittville,  but 
shortly  afterwards  moved  into  the  town  of 
Eliery,  where  he  engaged  in  farming.  From 
Ellerv  he  again  removed  to  Elliug-ton  where  he 
lived  eight  years;  he  died  in  1881,  at  the  age 
of  seventy-oue  years.  In  the  year  1853  he 
made  a  pilgrimage  to  California,  and  there  pur- 
sued the  business  of  brick-making  for  about  a 
year,  when  he  again  returned  to  the  east.  On 
iiis  way  back,  which  was  by  steamship,  via  the 
Istlinius  of  Panama,  he  suffered  the  horrors  of 
sliipwreck,  but  was  finally  succored  and  safely 
landed  at  New  York.  James  Frisbee  was  a  man 
of  great  energy  and  force  of  character,  somewhat 
set  in  his  ways,  but  kindly  withal.  Both  he 
and  his  wife  were  members  of  the  Christian 
church  at  DeWittville,  and  regarded  as  con- 
scientious in  life  and  conduct.  His  wife  is  still 
living  at  Ellington,  in  her 
James  FrLsbee  was  an  ardent 
of  the  Republican  party. 

Sardius  Frisbee  was  brought  tq)  in 
taufpia  county,  on  the  shore  of  the  famous  lake 
of  that  name,  and  passed  his  youth  in  a  com 
paraliv(!ly  uneventful  way.  He  passed  through 
tlic  common  schools  and  also  attended  the 
academies  at  Mayville  and  Ellington.  Upon 
leaving  tlio  academy  he  taught  school   for  two 


seventieth    year, 
liearty  suj)porter 

Chau- 


years,  after  which  he  engaged  in  farming  for 
some  six  years,  and  finally,  in  ISO'J,  purchased 
his  present  business  stand.  From  this  date, 
merchandising  in  its  various  forms  has  been  his 
constant  occupation.  He  has  a  fine  general  and 
miscellaneous  store,  embracing  the  largest  stock 
of  goods  in  the  town  of  Ellington,  which  he 
has  successfully  and  with  profit  conducted  ever 
since  his  embarkation. 

In  1862  Mr.  Frisbee  was  joined  in  marriage 
to  Miss  Lavantia  M.,  daughter  of  Horatio  N. 
Barnes,  of  the  town  of  Ellington.  She  died  in 
1872  leaving  one  child,  Cora  Ij.,  who  died  at 
the  age  of  fifteen  years.  His  second  wife  was 
Miss  Amelia  Benedict,  daughter  of  John  Bene- 
dict, of  Ellington,  who  died  in  1884,  leaving 
two  children,  both  sons,  John  B.  and  .James  H., 
both  of  whom  are  still  living.  Mr.  Frisbee 
was  married  a  third  time,  in  January,  1887,  to 
Mrs.  Francelia  D.  Shannon  (nee  Hunt)  of  Leon, 
Cattaraugus  county,  New  York.  By  this  last 
union  there  has  been  no  issue.  Mrs.  Frisbee  had 
by  her  first  husband  a  daughter,  Inez  E.  Shan- 
non, who  is  a  graduate  of  the  New  England 
Conservatory  of  Music,  and  at  present  has  charge 
of  the  music  department  of  Peddie  institute,  at 
Highstown,  New  Jersey. 

Mr.  Frisbee  is  a  member  ot  the  Congregational 
church  at  Ellington,  and  in  that  church  holds 
the  office  of  treasurer.  In  political  affairs  he  is 
an  adherent  of  the  Republican  party,  and  held 
the  position  of  postmaster  for  a  number  of  years. 
He  is  also  a  member  of  the  A.  O.  U.  W.,  and 
present  supervisor  for  the  town  of  Ellington. 
Mr.  Frisbee  is  a  man  of  sterling  wortii,  exem- 
plary habits  and  conscientious  conduct. 


TAJIKS  COCIIUANE,  who  for  eighty  years 
^  was  a  resident  and  farmer  of  the  town  of 
Ripley,  living  in  the  village,  was  a  sou  of  Alex- 
ander and  Nancy  (Martin)  Cochrane,  and  was 
born  in  the  town  of  Ripley,  Chautau(pia  county, 
N.Y.,  April  4,  1811.  and"  died  May  14,  1891. 
His  jiaternal  grandfather,   Ilugii  Cochrane,  was 


OF  Cn.MJTAUqUA   COUNTY. 


323 


a  native  of  Ireland,  where  he  lived  and  died, 
the  scene  being  AVoodgrange,  County  Down. 
He  belonged  to  the  peasant  class  in  which  he 
was  a  representative  num.  He  married  Nancy 
Beatty  and  reared  a  liuuily  of  eleven  children; 
but  tiiree  are  nientioned  :  .\lc.\ander,  Robert 
and  Hugh.  Tiie  maternal  grandfather  was  Joiin 
Martin,  also  a  native  of  Ireland,  where  he  passed 
his  life  and  died.  'J'lie  three  brothers  mentioned 
above  all  came  to  America  and  settled  in  Ripley, 
Chautauqua  county,  New  York.  Robert  was 
twice  married,  had  thirteen  children,  and  died 
in  October,  1854.  Hugli  married  Sarah  Nesbit 
before  he  left  Ire]an<l,  and  reared  eigiit  children  ; 
he  died  early  in  1854. 

Alexander  Cochrane  was  a  protestant,  or  what 
is  known  as  a  Scotch-Irishman.  He  was  the 
first  settler  in  Ripley  town,  having  bought  his 
farm  in  October  of  1804.  Some  authorities 
state  that  he  entered  the  town  in  1802,  which 
may  be  correct.  His  is  tiie  first  name  that 
appears  on  the  Holland  Land  Company's  books 
as  a  purchaser  in  this  town,  He  took  a  tract  of 
three  hundred  acres  and  built  a  house,  in  which 
his  entire  family  of  thirteen  children  were  boru. 
Politically  he  was  a  whig,  and  aI^  elder  in  the 
Presbyterian  church.  Alexander  Cochrane  was 
born  at  Woodgrange,  County  Down,  Ireland, 
where  he  married  Nancy  Martin  shortly  before 
leaving  for  America.  Their  children  were: 
John,  Nancy,  the  wife  of  W.  A.  Robinson ; 
Hugh,  Alexander,  R,obert,  William,  Samuel, 
ISIargaret,  who  married  Jediah  Ijooniis  ;  James, 
Martin,  Andrew,  David  and  Eleanor.  The 
number  of  his  grandchildren  reached  sixty-four. 
All  of  the  above-mentioned  are  dead  except 
Eleanor,  who  married  a  Mr.  Dickson.  Alex- 
ander Cochrane  died  in  1856  at  Ripley,  New 
York,  aged  ninety  years. 

James  Cochrane  was  reared  on  his  father's 
large  farm.  He  married  Nancy  Johnston,  a 
daughter  of  John  Johnston,  who  was  a  native 
of  Woodgrange,  County  Down,  Ireland,  brought 
his  family  to  Westfield,  this  county,  and  died 


in  1852.  James  Cochrane  and  his  wife  reared 
nine  children  :  Joseph  A.  resides  in  Rochester, 
New  York  ;  Elizabeth  A.  lives  in  iMireka,  Kan- 
sas; Francis  Johnston  resides  on  a  pcjrtion  of 
the  old  farm  ;  Catherine  is  living  in  Eureka, 
Kansas;  Mary  E.  is  living  in  the  old  home,  so 
long  made  bright  by  her  kind  parents;  Sarah 
A.  married  Alexander  Cochrane,  who  lives  on 
a  farm  in  East  Ri])ley  ;  Julia  Etta  died  in  1878, 
aged  twenty-three  years  ;  James  Alexander  owns 
the  east  part  of  the  farm  that  belonged  to  his 
grandfather  and  lives  upon  it ;  and  Charles  F., 
who  resides  on  a  portion  of  the  farm  formerly 
owned  by  his  father. 

Farming  was  the  steady  employment  of  James 
Cochrane  all  his  life,  until  he  bought  the  proj)- 
erty  where  he  died  in  Ripley  village,  and  moved 
there  in  1887.  Mrs.  Cochrane  died  May  9, 1891, 
only  five  days  before  her  husband. 
© 

HENRY  REYNOLDS.  Prominent  in  the 
business  circles  of  Sinclairville  is  the 
well-known  hardware  merchant  mentioned 
above,  who  has  conducted  his  present  establish- 
ment since  1870.  Henry  Reynolds  is  a  son  of 
Abraham  and  Elizabeth  (Smale)  Reynolds,  and 
was  born  in  the  suburbs  of  the  villasie  where  he 
now  lives  on  the  2d  day  of  April,  1827.  His 
parents  were  natives  of  "  merry  old  England," 
and  his  father,  Abraham  Reynolds,  was  a  baker 
in  the  city  of  London.  They  left  that  metrop- 
j  olis  of  the  world  and  came  to  the  wilderness  of 
the  Empire  State  in  1819,  and  settled  on  what 
is  now  his  farm  near  Sinclairville.  Two  of  his 
daughters  are  yet  living  in  England,  and  one 
son,  George  S.,  left  home  in  1849  and  has  not 
been  heard  of  since  1850.  Abraham  Reynolds 
secured  a  farm  and  made  a  fine  property  of  it. 
He  died  in  1853,  aged  seventy  years. 

Henry  Reynolds  was  reared  on  the  farm  and 
followed  that  occupation  until  twenty-four  years 
of  age,  securing  a  common  school  education  at 
the  district  schools.  At  the  age  of  twenty-four 
he  entered  the  .service  of  Alouzo  Lanorworlhv, 


324 


BIOGRAPHY  AND  HISTORY 


a  dry-goods  dealer  at  Sinclairville,  and  remained 
with  liini  six  months  and  then  accepted  like 
employment  with  C.  J.  Allen  and  staid  there 
two  years.  The  succeeding  two  years  were  de- 
voted to  John  Dewey,  and  in  1860  he  took  a 
trip  to  his  father's  native  land,  but  re-crossed 
the  water  in  the  spring  of  1861,  and  again  went 
back  (luring  the  latter  part  of  the  same  year  and 
staid  tiiere  one  year.  During  the  fall  of  1862 
he  came  to  Sinclairville,  and  in  1863,  '64  and 
'65  was  supervisor  of  tlie  town.  During  his 
term  of  office  he  specidated  some  in  real  estate  ': 
at  Dunkirk.  The  present  business  of  Mr.  Rey- 
nolds was  inaugurated  in  1870,  in  partner.ship 
with  Richard  Reed,  and  has  been  conducted 
witii  constantly  increasing  success  ever  since. 
Henry  Reynolds  inherited  the  old  homestead 
and  now  owns  it  and  otlier  farms. 

In  1867  he  married  Mrs.  Helen  (Kimball) 
Richmond,  a  daugiiter  of  Dr.  Joseph  E.  Kim- 
ball, for  many  years  a  prominent  physician  of 
tlie  town  of  Ellicott.  Two  children  have  come 
from  the  union  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Reynolds : 
Elizabeth  M.  and  Elliott  K.  Henry  Reynolds 
stands  high  in  the  estimation  of  his  acquaint- 
ances as  a  man  of  integrity  and  honor. 


TaI'ESLEY  MIL.SPAW.  Among  the  promi- 
^''-  nent  business  men  and  progressive  citi- 
zens of  western  New  York,  Wesley  Milspaw 
stands  in  the  front  rank.  He  is  a  sou  of  Jere- 
miaii  and  Margaret  (Waggoner)  Milspaw,  and 
was  born  in  tlie  town  of  Townsend,  Huron 
county,  Oliio,  February  23,  1823.  His  grand- 
father, George  Waggoner,  was  a  native  of  New 
Jersey,  and  at  the  outbreak  of  the  Revolution- 
ary war,  without  a  thought  of  self,  placed  him- 
self at  flic  service  of  the  country  which  gave 
iiiin  l)irth.  He  served  in  that  memorable  strug- 
gle through  seven  years  (if  hardship,  privation, 
battle  and  Xalional  darkness  with  unswerving 
jjatriotism,  and,  strange  to  remark,  without  hav- 
ing received  a  single  wound.  Another  fact 
showing  the  sirange  and  somewhat  remarkable 


workings  of  fortune,  was  that  his  death  occurred 
in  the  country  against  which  in  early  life  he  had 
risked  his  life.     When  he  died  he  was  seventy- 
eight  years  of  age.     The  father  of  our  subject 
was  born   in   Orange    couuty,  New  York,  i)ut 
soon  became  a  resident  of  the  State  of  Ohio, 
whither  his  father  removed.     In  1827  he  re- 
turned to  New  York  State  and  located  in  what 
is  now  known   as   Cherry   Creek,  Chautauqua 
county.     Here  he  resided  for  a  period  of  three 
years,  after  which   he  went  to  Canada  and  re- 
mained a  couple  of  years,  thence  returning  to 
Ellington,  where  he  died  in  1852,  at  the  age  of 
seventy-two  years.     By  trade  Mr.  Milspaw  was 
a  tailor,  having  served  a  long  apprenticeship  in 
that   business    in    New    York    city.      He   was 
regarded  as  a  very  skillful  and  artiirtic  workman 
in  his  line,  but  his  abilities  as  a  manager  were 
rather  mediocre.     He  was  in  religion  a  commu- 
nicant of  the  Methodist  Episeojxd  church,  and 
in  his  political  views  a  stanch  democi-at.     The 
Milspaw  family  is  of  French  extraction,  though 
on    the  maternal  side  was  of  German  origin. 
Subject's  mother  was  a  native  of  New  Jersey, 
an  enthusiastic  ehurchworaan,  and  during  their 
residence  in  Canada  devoted  much  time  to  teach- 
ing and  Christianizing  the  Indians.     She  was  a 
woman  of  rare  gifts,  sincere  and  devoted  to  the 
j  cause  of  truth  and  religion  and,  above  all,  filled 
with  unbounded  enthusiasm  and  energy.      Her 
missionary  efforts  l)ore  fruitful   results,  and  she 
!  lived  to  enjoy  the  benedictions  which  arise  from 
a  life  of  devotion  and  good  works.     Her  death 
occurred  in  1842,  when  at  the  age  of  fifty-eigiit 
!  years. 

j  Wesley  Milsjxiw  was  reared  principally  in 
Chautauqua  couuty,  educated  in  the  conimou 
schools,  and  n|)on  heaving  took  up  trading  and 
f  peddling  for  some  tiiiic.  lie  was  a  poor  boy 
who  was  conipelle(l  lo  make  his  own  way  in  life, 
so  that  all  his  spare  time  had  to  be  tnriied  toward 
making  a  livelihood.  W'licu  a  young  man  he 
cut  wood  at  eighteen  cents  per  cord  and  workeil 
in   the  hay  fields  at  filty  cents  per  day.     After 


OF  CHAUTAUQUA   COUNTY. 


325 


accumulating  a  little  money  and  establishing  a 
credit,  he  engaged  in  the  Inniher  business  and 
farming,  finally  endjarking  in  commission  busi- 
ness for  eastern  firms.  For  the  past  ten  years 
Mr.  Mils|)u\v  lias  been  engaged  in  the  oil  busi- 
ness and  is  now  the  lessee  of  twenty-nine  flowing 
wells,  for  which  he  has  been  offered  one  hundred 
thousand  dollar.^.  He  also  owns  and  operates  a 
large  agricultural  house  in  Ellington,  where  is  | 
kept  a  large  variety  of  farming  implements, 
buggies  and  wagons,  grass  seeds,  etc.  Besides 
these  interests,  a  couple  of  farms  anil  other 
properties  claim  his  attention. 

A\'esley  Milspaw  was  united  in  marriage,  on 
December  24,  184.3,  to  Angeline,  daughter  of 
Mrs.  Almira  C'heeseman,  of  Ellington,  N.  Y. 
To  them  have  been  born  five  children,  three 
sons  and  two  daughters:  Charles  L.,  Willis  M., 
Luella,  Alice  and  Francis.  Luella  is  married 
to  Clinton  Conet,  of  Conewango,  Cattaraugus 
county  ;  Alice  is  married  to  (ieorge  Wells,  of 
Warren,  Pennsylvania,  while  the  sons  are  resi- 
dents and  large  farmers  of  the  town  of  Ellington. 

He  is  a  member  of  the  jNIethodist  Epi.scopal 
church  (and  has  been  for  forty-eight  years),  in 
which  he  is  steward  and  trustee.  Politically  he 
is  a  republican,  and  in  1864-65  was  highway 
commissioner,  daring  which  terra  of  service  he 
built  twenty-five  bridges.  Mr.  Milspaw  is  a 
remarkably  well-preserved  man  for  his  age, 
which  he  attributes  largely  to  his  abstemious 
habits  and  regard  for  the  laws  of  health.  His 
entire  career  has  been  no  less  remarkable  ;  start- 
ing in  life  without  a  dollar,  he  has  gradually 
ascended  the  scale  of  success  until  now  he  pos- 
sesses all  the  material  wealth  that  one  could 
reasonably  desire.  His  life  is  one  worthy  of 
stutly  and  indicates  what  can  be  done  by  perse- 
verance, courage  and  energy. 


HON.  OEORGE  E.  TOWNE  is  a  man  who 
has  been  prominently  identified  with  the  I 
public    and    political    affairs    of    Chautauqua 
county,  and  is  also  an  advocate  of  recognized  i 


learning  and  al^ility  in  the  profession  of  the  law. 
He  is  a  citizen  of  New  York  State  and  ( 'hau- 
taucpia  county  by  adoption  only,  but  has  become 
[)eculiarly  and  firndy  wedded  to  its  interests 
and  fortunes.  Mr.  Towne  was  born  in  the 
(iranite  State,  village  of  Kecue,  Novend)er  7, 
18.04,  and  is  a  son  of  Andrew  H.  and  Caroline 
(Spring)  Towne.  Five  generations  of  Townes 
have  been  native  to  the  State  of  New  Ham|)- 
shire,  and  have  lived  in  the  immediate  vicinity 
of  Keene.  The  grandparent  of  the  subject, 
David  Towne,  was  one  of  the  daring  patriots 
and  valiant  soldiei's  who,  under  the  incompara- 
ble leadership  of  Ethan  Allen,  captured  Fort 
Ticonderoga  during  the  Hevolutionary  war. 
He  was  also  one  of  the  famous  "Green  Moun- 
tain Boys"  who  won  such  a  decisive  and  over- 
whelming victory  at  Bennington,  Vermont. 
Andrew  H.  Towne  (father  of  subject)  is  a 
resident  of  Frankliuville,  Cattaraugus  county, 
New  York,  and  has  been  engaged  in  agricul- 
tural and  viticultural  pursuits  the  major  part  of 
his  life.  His  wife,  who  was  a  native  of  Grafton, 
Vermont,  died  in  1888. 

George  E.  Towne  passed  his  childhood  in 
New  Hampshire,  and  removed  to  Cattaraugus 
county,  N.  Y.,  at  the  age  of  thirteen.  He 
entered  the  Ten  Broeck  academy  at  Frankliu- 
ville, graduating  in  1875.  In  the  spring  fol- 
lowing his  graduation  he  wended  his  way  across 
the  continent  to  the  Pacific  coast,  where  he 
hazarded  his  fortunes  for  about  a  year  in  the 
golden  State  of  California.  In  1876  he  returned 
to  the  east,  and  began  to  read  law  with  a  cousin, 
Hon.  Alfred  Spring,  of  Frankliuville,  the 
present  surrogate  of  Cattaraugus  county,  and 
the  next  year  accepted  the  principalship  of  the 
schools  at  liittle  Valley,  Cattaraugus  county, 
which  position  he  held  a  year,  and  then  resumed 
his  law  studies.  He  was  admitted  to  practice 
in  all  the  courts  of  the  State  of  New  York  at 
Rochester  in  1879,  but  began  the  actual  prac- 
tice of  his  profession  in  Cattaraugus,  New  York. 
In  1880  he  removed  to  Silver  Creek,  where  he 


326 


BIOGRAPHY  AND  HISTORY 


continued  his  practice  until  1888,  when  he 
became  a  canilidate  fur,  and  was  elected  to,  the 
New  York  Legislature.  His  course,  while  at  the 
State  capital,  so  completely  met  with  the  appro- 
bation of"  his  constituents,  and  was  so  com- 
mendable in  its  efforts  to  secure  the  political, 
economic,  industrial  and  reciprocal  rights  secured 
to  the  citizens  of  the  Commonwealth  of  New 
York  under  its  constitution  and  a  rejjublican 
form  of  government,  that  at  the  termination  of 
his  first  term  of  service,  he  was  enthusiastically 
returned.  "Wliile  in  the  Legislature  Mr.  Towne 
was  a  member  of  the  judiciary  committee,  and 
also  chairman  of  the  committee  on  claims.  He 
was  recognized  as  one  of  the  leaders  of  the 
House  on  the  republican  side,  and  gained  an 
enviable  reputation  as  a  speaker,  a  logical  and 
persuasive  reasouer  and  a  man  of  broad  and 
thorough  acquaintance  with  public  rpiestions. 
]Mr.  Towne  has  a  pleasing  address,  is  uniformly 
genial  and  courteous,  and  as  a  lawyer,  as  a 
representative  of  the  j)eople,  as  a  citizen,  enjoys 
the  confidence  and  high  esteem  of  his  fellow-men. 
On  June  18,  1883,  he  was  united  in  marriage 
to  Miss  Bertha  Smith,  of  Franklinvillc,  and 
has  three  children :  Frank,  five  years  of  age ; 
Hazel ;  and  one  still  in  infancy.  !Mr.  Towne  is 
half  owner  of  thirty  acres  of  grape  land  and  has 
twenty  acres  under  cultivation. 


/^OVEKNOK     REUBEN     E.     FENTON. 

^^  Among  the  men  of  prominence  who  re- 
ceived their  birtii  and  were  reared  within  the 
borders  of  the  Empire  State,  nt)ne  have  had  a 
more  honorable  or  glorious  career  than  Reuben 
E.  Fenton,  who  was  the  youngest  son  of  George 
W.  and  Elsie  (Owen)  Fenton,  and  was  born  in 
the  town  of  Carroll,  Cliautaufpia  county,  New 
York,  July  4,  ]8l!l. 

His  father,  (ieorge  W.  Fenton,  was  a  native 
of  New  Hampshire,  and  entered  the  world  in 
1773,  a  sou  of  Roswell  Fenton,  who  shortly 
after  the  date  mentioned  removed  with  his 
family  to  the  State  of  New  York.     George  W. 


Fenton  was  full  of  life  and  ambition,  and  in 
I  1804  he  started  through  the  trackless  forest,  and 
\  pushed  onward  until  he  reached  old  Fort 
Du  (Juesne,  where  the  city  of  Pittsburg  now 
stands.  He  engatied  in  trade  with  the  settlers 
and  Indians  along  the  Allegheny  river,  con- 
tinuing the  mercantile  business  until  1806,  but 
in  the  summer  of  the  last  named  year  he  went 
up  to  Warren,  Penna.,  and  during  the  winter  of 
1806-7,  he  taught  the  first  school  in  that  now 
thriving  and  populous  borough.  He  married 
Elsie  Owen,  who  was  born  in  Warren  county, 
Pa.,  in  1790,  and  with  her  moved  up  into 
Chautau(pia  county,  where  he  followed  farming 
until  his  death,  which  occurred  March  3,  1860. 
He  was  a  very  intelligent  man,  and  possessed  a 
superior  education,  a  profi)und  mind  and  excel- 
lent judgment ;  all  of  these  qualities  seem  to 
have  been  handed  down  to  his  youngest  son — 
Reuben  E.  George  W.  and  Elsie  Fenton 
reared  a  family  of  five  children  :  Roswell  O., 
who  married  Leanora  Atkins  ;  George  W.,  Jr., 
married  Metta  Howard  ;  William  H.  H.,  mar- 
ried Catherine  Edmunds ;  John  F.,  married 
Maria  Woodward;  and  Reuben  E. 

Reuben  E.  Fenton  received  his  early  educa- 
tion at  a  pioneer  school  in  his  native  town,  and 
when  fifteen  years  of  age,  was  sent  to  Cary's 
i  academy,  an  institution  of  learning  located  six 
miles  north  of  Cincinnati,  Oiiio,  but  after 
remaining  there  two  years,  he  returned  to 
Chautauqua  county,  and  completed  his  educa- 
tion at  the  Fredonia  academy.  The  following 
two  years  were  spent  in  studying  law,  Joseph 
Waite,  of  Jamestown,  being  his  ])reec|)tor,  but 
suffering  from  jwor  liealtii,  he  was  compelled  to 
abandon  study,  and  engaged  in  tiic  lumber 
business  along  tlie  Ohio  and  Allegheny  rivers, 
meeting  with  vciy  satisfactory  success,  (iuoting 
from  a  eulogy  delivered  by  the  Hon.  Cluiuncey 
M.  Depew — "  It  is  easier  for  a  man  of  ability 
to  get  on  in  a  new  country  and  with  fresh  sur- 
roundings, than  in  the  neighborhood  where  he 
was   l)()rn.     Where  every  one   has  known   him 


OF  CHAUTAUQUA   COUNTY. 


327 


from  cliildlioud  lie  is  of'toii  liiiiidicapiied  by  the 
unforgottcn  frivolities  of"  yoiitli,  :iii(i  reaches 
ini<l(flc  life  before  lie  lias  oiiti;ro\vii  the  feeling 
that  he  is  still  a  boy,  while,  as  a  new  settler,  he 
starts  at  once  at  the  level  of  his  ascertained 
abilities.  It  is  the  peculiar  distinction  of  Mr. 
Fentoii  that  he  overcame  these  pi'ejudiccs  before 
he  was  of  age;  that  1k'  bceaiiie  the  ciioice  of  his 
fellow-citizens  for  inisitioiis  of  trust  as  soon  as 
he  attained  his  majority,  and  passing  his  life  at 
his  birth-place,  he  earneil,  at  a  period  when 
most  young  men  are  unknown,  the  confidence 
of  the  people  among  whom  he  had  grown  up, 
and  carried  it  with  him  to  his  grave.  This 
proud  career  was  not  helped  by  accident,  or 
luck,  or  wealth,  or  family,  or  powerful  friends. 
He  was,  in  its  best  sense,  both  the  architect  and 
builder  of  his  own  fortunes."  For  seven  years 
(1846-52)  he  was  su[)ervisor  of  the  town  of 
Carroll,  and  from  the  last  named  date  his  long- 
continued  promotion  to  places  of  trust  was 
frequent  and  noticeable.  In  185'2,  when  but 
thirty-three  years  of  age,  he  was  elected  to  the 
United  States  Congress ;  two  years  later,  being 
a  candidate  for  le-election,  he  was  defeated  by 
the  candidate  of  the  American  party,  an  organi- 
zation which  has  passed  down  into  history,  and 
is  now  known  as  the  "  Old  Know-Notliing 
party,"  at  that  time  in  the  zenith  of  its  power. 
Reuben  E.  Fenton  was  originally  a  democrat, 
and  was  elected  to  Congress  as  such  in  1852, 
but  the  great  question  which  destroyed  the 
Whig,  and  divided  the  Democratic  party,  met 
him  at  the  outset  of  his  Congressional  career; 
when  Douglas  introduced  the  Kansas-Nebraska 
bill,  which  had  for  its  purpose  the  repealing  of 
that  section  of  the  Missouri  Compromise  which 
forever  prohibited  slavery  in  the  new  territories, 
the  young  Congressman  w'as  at  once  obliged  to 
choose  between  his  conscience  aud  his  party,  but 
without  hesitation  or  fiiltering  he  threw  his  whole 
energies  to  the  support  of  the  former,  and  his 
first  speech  was  made  in  support  of  the  inviola- 
ble preservatiou  of  that  compact  so   solemnly 


I  made  in  1820.     It  was  the  fir^t  speech  made 

!  against  the  impending  crime,  and  emanating 
from  a  member  of  the  party  then  dominant,  its 
clear  notes  rallied  about  him  a  determined  band 
of  democratic  representatives,  and  from  that 
day  he  was  one  of  the  leaders  in  the  formation 
and  afterwards  in  the  conduct  of  the  Repuidican 
party,  and  Reuben  K.  Kenton  was  unanimously 

I  elected  presiding  officer  of  tiie  new  |)arty  at  the 
first  State  convention  held  in  Xcw  York.  From 
this  time  on  until  his  death  he  co-operated  uitii 

'  the  Republican  party,  and  by  them  was  elected 
to  Congress  in  1856,  and  at  each  succeeding 
election  until  1864.  In  the  latter  year  he  was 
pitted  against  Horatio  Seymour  in  the  guber- 
natorial contest  of  the  Empire  State.  The 
radical  element  of  the  Republican  party  de- 
nounced President  Lincoln  as  i)eiug  too  slow 
and  conservative.  Horatio  Seymour,  in  the 
democratic  National  convention,  in  one  (jf  the 
most  able  aud  masterly  speeches  declared  that 
our  martyred  president's  administration  had 
been  a  series  of  costly  and  bloody  mistakes,  aud 
under  his  guidance  the  war  had  beeu  a  failure. 
Horatio  Seymour  was  one  of  the  most  brilliant 
and  attractive  of  New  York's  democratic  states- 
men ;  his  life  was  pure,  his  character  unblem- 
ished, and  his  personal  magnetism  made  him 
the  idol  of  his  party,  aud  a  most  dangerous 
opponent.  To  meet  this  emergeiicy,  Reuben  E. 
Fenton  was  nominated  by  the  republican  con- 
vention. The  wisdom  of  the  choice  was  speedily 
apparent.  Mr.  Fentou's  abilities  as  an  organ- 
izer were    felt   in    every  election    district,  and 

j  when  the  returns  showed  the  State  carried  for 
Lincoln,  and  Fenton  leading  the  presidential 
vote  by  some  thousands,  the  uew  governor 
became  at  once  a  figure  of  National  importance. 
Within  four  days  after  his  inauguration  he 
raised  the  last  of  New  Y''ork's  quota  of  troops, 
and  sent  them  to  the  front  with  these  stirring 
remarks  :  "  Having  resolutely  determined  to  go 
thus  far  in  the  struggle,  we  shall  not  falter  nor 
hesitate  when   the   Rebellion    reels   under   our 


328 


BIOGRAPHY  AND  HISTORY 


heavy  blows,  when  victory,  upon  all  the  methods 
of  human  calculation,  is  so  near.  Believing  i 
ourselves  to  be  inspired  by  the  same  lofty  senti- 
ments of  patriotism  which  animated  our  fathers 
in  foundina:  our  free  institutions,  let  us  continue 
to  imitate  tlieir  bright  example  of  courage, 
endurance  and  faithfulness  to  principle,  and  in 
maintaining  them.  Let  us  be  faithful  and  per- 
severe. Let  there  be  a  rally  of  the  people  in 
every  city,  village  and  town."  He  was  amiable 
and  conciliatory,  but  as  unyielding  of  prineiples 
as  the  massive  boulders  to  tlie  falling  raindrops; 
he  possessed  the  tact  of  satisfying  applicants 
and  petitioners  without  granting  their  reipicsts, 
where  such  woidd  jeopardize  or  be  prejudicial 
to  the  public  service.  At  the  close  of  his  first 
term  he  was  re-elected,  and  filled  a  second  term. 
So  profoundly  impressed  was  his  party,  that 
when  it  met  in  Syracuse  in  1808  to  elect  dele- 
gates^for  the  National  Convention  at  Chicago, 
those  elected  were  unanimously  instructed  to 
present  his  name  for  Vice-President,  and  fin- 
five  ballots  in  that  memorable  contest  he  stood 
next  to  Schuyler  Colfax  in  the  vote.  The  fol- 
lowing year  the  Legislature  of  the  State  of 
New  York  elected  him  United  States  Senator,  ' 
and  he  held  that  honorable  position  for  six 
years,  his  term  expiring  jNIarcli  3, 1875.  After 
his  retirement  from  the  Senate,  Governor  Feu- 
ton  was  never  again  a  candidate  for  office,  but 
President  ILiyes  sent  him  abroad  in  1878  as 
chairman  of  the  (  Vimmission  to  the  Interna- 
tional Monetary  Convention  to  fix  the  ratio  of 
value  between  gold  and  silver,  and  provide  for 
their  common  use.  It  was  about  tliis  time  that 
Lis  health  had  become  impaired,  and  continued 
to  grow  worse  until  his  sudden  death  while  sit- 
ting at  his  office  desk  in  Jamestown,  on  August 
25,  1885.  The  news,  when  given  to  the  world, 
was  met  with  many  sorrowing  expressions,  and 
when  the  Legislature  met  in  the  spring  of  188(5, 
resolutions  of  condolence  wen;  passed  by  both 
the  Senate  and  House,  and  a  joint  resolution 
was  introduced  as  follows: 


"That  a  committee  of  three  be  appointed  on 
the  part  of  the  Senate,  and  a  like  committee  on 
the  part  of  the  Assembly,  to  select  an  orator 
and  to  name  a  da_y  for  the  delivery  of  an  ora- 
tion on  the  life  and  character  of  the  late  Hon- 
orable Reubeii  E.  Fenton,  and  to  make  all 
needful  preparations  therefor." 

The  resolution  was  unanimously  agreed  to, 
and  the  Honorable  Messrs.  Vedder,  Fassett, 
and  Parker  were  appointed  by  the  Senate,  and 
the  Honorable  ]\Iessrs.  Batcheller,  Cheney  and 
Haggerty  were  apj)oiuted  to  represent  the  As- 
sembly. These  gentlemen  met  in  joint  com- 
mittee, and  decided  to  ask  the  Honorable 
Chauncey  M.  Depew  to  deliver  the  oration, 
and  April  27,  1887,  was  selected  as  the  date  for 
its  delivery.  The  ceremonies  were  held  in  the 
Assembly  hall,  at  the  State  capitol  in  Albany, 
and  with  bowed  heads  and  subdued  emotions, 
the  multitude  listened  to  the  words  of  Mr. 
Depew,  whicii  though  gi'and  and  eloquent,  but 
feebly  expressed  the  virtues  and  greatness  of 
Reuben  E.  Fenton. 

In  1838,  Reuben  E  Fenton  was  married  to 
Jane  Frew,  who  was  born  in  1820,  and  dietl 
two  years  after  her  marriage,  leaving  one  chihl, 
a  daughter.  In  1844,  Mr.  Fenton  married 
Elizabeth  Scudder,  a  daughter  of  Joel  Scudder, 
and  born  at  Victor,  Ontario  county,  this  State, 
in  1824.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Fenton  had  three  chil- 
dren :  Josephine,  who  was  born  in  the  town  of 
Carroll,  Chautauqua  county,  -April  15,  1845, 
now  Mrs.  Frank  E.  (Jiftbrd,  of  Jamestown  ; 
Jeannette,  born  November  2,  1848,  now  Mrs. 
Albert  (jiilbert,  Jr.,  of  Jamestown  ;  and  Reu- 
ben Earle,  wlio  was  born  in  .lainestown,  June 
12,  18(55. 

It  is  universally  eouceiled  thai  as  a  political 
organizer  Reuben  K.  Fenton  ranked  with  the 
best  and,  with  the  possible  excerption  of  Martin 
Van  Ruren,  excelled  them  all;  as  a  business 
man  he  ranked  witii  Folger,  and  as  a  statesman 
lie  was  the  peer  of  Seward.  His  nature  was 
gentle,  lender  and  att'eetioiiale,  and  his  judgment 


OF  CHAUTAUQUA   COUNTY. 


329 


was  deep  and  profoiuul.  IVfany  of  New  York's 
sons  liavo  risen  to  (listinctioii,  hut  none  Imve 
embodied  in  their  character  so  many  qualities 
tiiat  lead  to  success. 


"PUGENE  E.  I)K  VOIC,  the  present  efficient 
■^^  and  accommodatint;'  postmaster  at  Elling- 
ton, New  York,  is  a  son  of  Dr.  David  G.  and 
Mary  T.  ((iriimell)  De  Voe,  and  was  born  in 
the  town  of  Napoli,  Cattaraugus  county,  New 
York,  September  15th,  1842.  His  father,  a  na- 
tive of  Homer,  Cortland  county,  New  York, 
migrated  into  Cattaraugus  county  in  1832,  and 
iu  1849  to  Ellington,  Chautauqua  county,  where 
he  continued  to  reside  up  to  his  death  iu  1857, 
at  the  age  of  fifty-two  years.  Dr.  De  Voe  was 
a  graduate  of  the  Syracuse  Medical  College  and 
also  of  the  Eclectic  Medical  College  of  Cincin- 
nati, Oln'o.  Being  the  first  practitioner  of  an 
eclectic  school  to  locate  in  the  town  of  Ellington, 
he  naturally  met  with  considerable  opposition. 
His  was  a  new  school  of  medicine  to  the  ])eople 
of  Ellington,  he  was  received  with  a  great  deal 
of  skepticism  and  was  forced  to  live  down  the 
opposition  and  successfully  demonstrate  the 
scientific  wisdom  and  natural  reason  of  his  theory 
and  practice.  This  required  hard  work  and  un- 
remitting application,  and  though  complete  suc- 
cess followed,  yet  it  was  at  the  expense  of  his 
health  and  mainly  superinduced  his  death.  Prior 
to  his  death  he  enjoyed  a  large  and  varied  prac- 
tice, was  a  careful  student  in  the  various  branches 
of  his  profession,  as  well  as  in  collateral  subjects, 
and  ranked  high  in  the  councils  of  the  medical 
fraternity.  He  was  a  man  of  sterling  qualities, 
and,  at  his  death,  was  mourned  by  all  who 
knew  him.  The  grandfather  of  our  subject  was 
a  sturdy  tiller  of  the  soil,  a  New  Englander  by 
birth  and  a  Revolutionary  patriot  and  soldier. 
He  was  of  French  descent  and  died  at  Homer, 
Cortland  county,  New  York,  at  the  age  of  eighty- 
two  years.  Subject's  mother  was  born  at  Ca- 
naan, Columbia  county.  New  York,  and  died  in 
1889,  at  the  age  of  eighty  years. 


Eugene  E.  De  Voe  passed  his  early  life  mainly 
within  the  county  of  Chautauqua,  received  his 
education  in  the  district  .schools  and  the  academy 
at  Ellington,  and  has  all  his  life  been  an  in- 
structor in  in.strumental  music,  |)ianoand  organ, 
and  conducting  music.  His  field  of  labor 
has  been  in  western  New  York  and  western 
Pennsylvania.  In  lS(j2  he  was  a  musician  in 
the  G4th  regiment  New  York  \'^olunteers  for  a 
period  of  three  months  and  in  the  111th  Penn- 
sylvania Volunteers  for  six  months.  In  1890 
subject  received  the  appointment  as  po.stmaster 
of  Ellington,  which  position  he  now  holds. 
Among  the  other  official  positions  which  have 
been  acceptably  filled  by  Mr.  De  Voe  is  that  of 
town  assessor,  which  office  he  held  for  six  years. 
fie  has  served  on  the  boanl  of  education  quite  a 
long  time  and  in  other  offices  of  local  import- 
ance. 

On  October  13th,  1870,  Eugene  E.  De  Voe 
was  united  in  marriage  to  Miss  Ophelia,  daugh- 
ter of  Hiram  Terry,  of  the  town  of  Ellington. 
To  them  have  been  born  three  children,  all 
daughters:  Bertha  E.,  Marna  M.  and  Ina  Belle. 

E.  E.  De  Voe  is  a  thorough  republican,  be- 
lieving firmly  in  having  fixed  political  views  as 
the  proper  basis  for  wielding  the  right  of  suf- 
frage. He  also  belongs  to  the  A.  O.  U.  W.  As 
a  thorough  musician,  a  skilled  performer  and 
teacher,  Mr.  De  Voe  has  a  high  standing  in  his 
profession.  He  is  a  close  student  and  has  given 
much  time  to  thestudy  of  harmony,  instrument- 
ation and  general  technique  of  music. 
<~> 

HON.  JOHN  S.  LAMBERT,  judge  of  tlie 
Supreme  Court  of  New  Y^ork  for  the 
Eighth  Judicial  District,  is  one  of  that  class  of 
self-made  men  ^vho  build  their  own  "  monuments 
of  fortune  and  reputation."  He  was  born  at 
Johnsonville,  Rensselaer  county,  New  York, 
February  4,  1851,  and  is  a  son  of  Peter  and 
Mary  (Morey)  Lambert.  The  Lambert  family 
as  the  name  would  indicate  is  of  English  origin. 
Peter  Lambert  was  born  and  reared  iu  England, 


330 


BIOGRAPHY  AND  HISTORY 


where  he  remained  until  1841,  when  he  came  to 
this  State  and  settled  at  Johnsonville.  He  was 
trained  to  agricultural  pursuits  in  his  native 
land  and  has  followed  farming  ever  since  he  be- 
came a  resident  of  Johnsonville.  He  is  an  ac- 
tive democrat  and  married  Mary  Morey,  who  is 
a  native  of  Ireland. 

John  S.  Lambert  was  reared  on  his  father's 
farm  and  like  most  of  farmers'  sons  prior  to 
18C0,  enjoyed  but  limited  educational  advant- 
ages. After  a  brief  attendance  at  the  common 
schools  he  entered  Greenwich  academy,  from 
which  educational  institution  he  was  graduated 
at  .seventeen  years  of  age.  Leaving  the  latter 
academy  he  worked  on  a  farm  for  a  few  mouths 
and  came,  in  1870,  to  Chautauqua  county,  where 
he  spent  the  ensuing  two  years  as  a  laborer  on  a 
form.  At>  the  end  of  that  time  he  became  a 
clerk  at  Mayville,  in  the  office  of  Charles  G. 
Mai)PS,  then  surrogate  of  Chautauqua  county. 
During  the  two  years  he  was  with  Mr.  Mapes 
he  turned  his  attention  to  jurisi)rudence  for 
which  he  always  had  a  decided  preference,  and 
so  far  improved  his  leisure  moments  as  to  .secure 
considerable  knowledge  of  the  elementary  prin- 
ciples of  the  common  law.  In  1874  he  came 
to  Frcdonia,  where  he  read  law  with  Morris  & 
Rus.sel  for  three  years,  and  was  then,  in  the  fall 
of  1877,  admitted  as  a  counselor-at-law  in  the 
courts  of  tiie  State  of  New  York.  In  1878  he 
became  a  partner  with  Morris  &  Russel  in  the 
practice  of  law,  and  three  years  later  was  elected 
county  judge.  At  the  expiration  of  his  six  year 
term,  in  1888,  he  was  re-elected  as  county  judge 
and  had  served  two  years  uj5on  his  second  term 
wheu  (1890)  he  was  nominated  l)y  his  party  as 
their  candidate  for  a  justice  of  the  Supreme 
Court  of  New  York,  for  the  lOighth  Judicial 
District,  composed  nf  the  counties  of  Allegany, 
Cattaraugus,  Chaiilauqua,  Va-'k,  Genesee,  Niag- 
ara, Orleans  and  Wyoming. 

Judge  Lambert  took  his  .seat  upon  the  bcncli 
on  January  1st,  lHi)(),  for  a  term  of  fourteen 
years  and  to  succeed  Judge  Barker  of  Fredonia. 


The  judges  of  the  Eighth  Judicial  District  were 
appointed  by  the  governor  from  1823  to  1847, 
since  which  year  they  have  been  elected  by  the 
people,  and  the  judges  from  Chautauqua  county 
who  presided  over  this  district  have  been:  John 
Birdsall,  appointed  1826;  and  Richard  P.  Mar- 
vin, elected  1849,  1855  and  18G5;  George 
Barker,  elected  1868, 1875  and  1883;  and  John 
S.  Lambert,  elected  in  1890. 

Judge  Lambert  has  always  been  a  republican 
in  politics,  but  has  many  warm  j)ersoual  friends 
in  the  ranks  of  all  the  other  political  parties. 
He  is  sociable  but  dignified,  yet  courteous  and 
pleasant  to  all  whom  he  meets.  At  the  bar  he 
was  recognized  as  an  able  and  successful  lawyer 
and  on  the  bench  he  has  presided  with  ability 
and  impartiality.  To  his  own  ability,  energy 
and  eiforts  he  owes  his  success  in  life,  while  his 
fidelit}'  and  zeal  in  behalf  of  any  cause  which 
he  espou.sed  has  won  him  the  respect  and  confi- 
dence of  the  public. 


/VHAKLES  B.  STUKDEVANT  officiates 
^^  as  station  agent  for  tiie  Erie  railway  at 
Kennedy,  and  by  his  courteous  and  obliging 
manner  has  become  popular  with  the  traveling 
public  and  highly  esteemed  by  the  company 
which  he  .serves.  He  was  born  on  the  28th  of 
December,  1844,  near  the  city  of  Erie,  Penn- 
.sylvania,  and  is  a  son  of  Asel  O.  and  Sarah 
(Hal!)  Sturdevant. 

Levi  Sturdevant,  the  paternal  grandfather, 
was  a  native  of  Connecticut,  and  was  born 
about  1765.  He  emigrated  from  his  native 
State  to  Onondaga  county.  New  York,  in  1790, 
and  about  thirty-five  years  later  again  moved, 
this  time  to  Erie  county,  Pennsylvania,  where 
he  dictl  after  having  sjjcnt  his  entire  life  farm- 
ing. He  married  and  reared  a  family  of  nine 
children, — five  sons  and  four  d;uigiiters.  .lohn 
C.  Hall,  who  was  the  matciiial  grandfather  of 
sul)je<'t,  was  a  native  of  Onondaga  county,  born 
about  1770,  and  died  in  Lafayette,  tiie  same 
county,  when  sixty-five  years  of  age.     He  fol- 


OF  CHAUTAUQUA   COUNTY. 


331 


lowed  farming,  and  married  a  Miss  Conkling 
in  1790;  siio  bore  iiiiu  einlit  cliildren, — one 
son  and  seven  daugliters.  H(^  beiony-ed  to  the 
Wliig  party,  and  was  a  member  of  tiie  Metii- 
odist  Episeopal  eiiureli. 

Asel  O.  Stiu'devant  was  born  at  Fabius, 
Onondaga  county,  January  G,  18112,  and  spent 
his  childhood  and  youtii  on  a  farm.  Later  in 
life  he  purchased  a  proj)ei'ty,  and  conducted 
farming  in  connection  with  some  mechanical 
work.  He  married  Sarah  Hall  on  January  1, 
1833,  who  bore  him  nine  cliildren  :  Chandler 
D.,  dead ;  John  W.,  dead ;  Clarissa  A.,  married 
William  Briggs,'  of  Union  City,  Pa.;  Henry 
C,  killed  at  White  Oak  Swamp,  Va.,  June  30, 
1862,  a  member  Company  I,  (Jlst  N.  Y.  Vols.; 
Guy  H.,  died  in  Andersonville,  Ga.,  Sept.  4, 
18G4,  a  corporal  Company  I,  15th  N.  Y.  Cav. ; 
Charles  B. ;  Orlando  J.,  resides  at  Jamestown  ; 
Harriet  A.  is  the  wife  of  George  Ames,  of 
Jamestown,  and  S.  Jeaunette,  who  also  lives  at 
the  last-named  city  with  her  husband,  Alonzo 
L.  Moore.  Asel  O.  Sturdevant  voted  with  the 
Republican  party,  was  a  member  of  the  Meth- 
odist Episcopal  church,  and  belonged  to  Clem- 
ent Lodge,  I.  O.  O.  F.,  of  Union  City,  Pa.  He 
was  of  a  modest  and  retiring  disposition,  and 
assiduously  attended  to  his  personal  affairs,  and 
died  at  Jamestown,  N.  Y.,  April  IG,  1888,  at 
seventy-five  years  of  age. 

Charles  B.  Sturdevant,  although  born  in  the 
Keystone  State,  spent  his  early  days  at  Trux- 
ton  and  Fabius,  New  York.  He  attended  the 
public  schools,  and  worked  upon  his  father's 
farm  until  18G2,  and  then  went  back  to  Penn- 
sylvania and  worked  on  a  farm  until  18G3, 
when  he  joined  Company  I,  15th  New  York 
Cavalry,  commanded  by  Col.  R.  M.  Richard- 
son, and  was  assigned  to  service  in  the  Army 
of  Northern  Virginia.  Col.  J.  J.  Coppinger 
succeeded  Col.  Richardson  in  command  of  this 
regiment,  and  it  operated  in  the  Shenandoah 
and  parallel  valleys.  Mr.  Sturdevant  served 
twenty-three  months  as  a  private  and  corporal. 


The  regiment  was  attached  to  the  Second  Brig- 
ade, Third  Cavalry  Division,  which  was  suc- 
cessively under  Generals  Hunter,  Sigel,  Sheri- 
dan and  Custer,  and  was  frequently  engaged 
during  1864.  Early  the  following  year  they 
left  Shenandoah  valley,  and  marched  to  White 
House  Ivanding,  where  they  combined  with 
General  Grant's  army,  and  moved  towards 
Petersburg  via  City  Point.  From  this  time  on, 
Mr.  Sturdevant  was  in  all  the  cavalry  engage- 
ments uj)  to  Lee's  surrender  in  1865.  He  did 
special  service  in  tin;  adjutant  general's  office  at 
brigade  and  division  headijuarters,  and  was 
discharged  at  Louisville,  Kentucky,  Augu.st  9, 
1865.  Following  his  discharge,  he  came  to 
Union  City,  Pennsylvania,  and  began  railroad- 
ing in  186G-G7  as  baggage  master;  then  from 
1868  to  1873  as  agent  at  Stamburg,  Cattarau- 
gus county,  and  since  the  latter  date — a  period 
of  eighteen  years — he  has  been  stationed  here 
in  Kennedy,  where  he  is  station  agent  for  the 
N.  Y.,  L.  E.  and  W.  Railway. 

The  day  before  Christmas,  1867,  :ie  was 
married  to  Sarah  Agnew,  a  daughter  of  Andrew 
Agnew,  of  Union  City,  Pa.,  anil  they  have  had 
two  children.  The  elder,  born  in  1869,  died 
when  three  years  of  age,  and  Clara  B.,  now 
married  to  Rev.  W.  A.  Heath,  a  Methodist 
minister  stationed  at  Sugar  Grove,  Pa.  They 
have  two  children, — Mabel  Arline,  born  De- 
cember 26,  1889,  and  Charles  Vincent,  born 
June  14,  1891.  Rev.  W.  A.  Heath  was  born 
at  Brockport,  N.  Y.,  in  1864,  and  received  his 
theological  education  at  Wesleyan  University. 
His  first  charge  was  at  Russell,  Pa.,  Erie  Con- 
ference. 

Charles  B.  Sturdevant  identifies  himself  with 
the  Republican  party,  and  is  prominent  in  the 
Methodist  church,  taking  an  active  part  in  its 
affairs.  For  seven  years  he  sat  in  the  Board 
of  Education,  and  is  connected  with  Kennedy 
Lodge,  No.  86,  A.  O.  U.  W.,  the  Royal  Tem- 
plars of  Temperance  and  H.  C.  Sturdevant 
Post,  No.  282,  G.  A.  R.,  being  especially  ac- 


332 


BIOGRAPHY  AND  HISTORY 


tive  in  the  latter.  He  is  president  of  Chau- 
tauqua County  Veteran  Union  and  G.  A.  R. 
of  Western  New  York  and  Northwestern  Penn- 
sylvania for  1891. 


TTJILLIAM  L.  SMITH,  a  leading  mer- 
^-•^-^  chant  and  the  present  postmaster  of 
Portland,  was*  born  in  Mercer  county,  Peuu- 
sylvania,  December  20,  1850,  and  is  a  son  of 
(jfeorge  and  Mary  (Henderson)  Smitii.  His 
paternal  grandfatlier,  George  Smith,  Sr.,  was  of 
English  descent  and  removed  from  his  native 
county  of  Trumbull,  Ohio,  to  Mercer  county 
where  he  died  in  1864,  aged  eighty-one  years. 
He  was  a  farmer  and  veterinary  surgeon,  and 
one  of  tlie  sons  born  to  him  in  his  Mercer 
county  home  was  George  Smith,  the  father  of 
William  L.  Smith.  Geo.  Smith  learned  the 
trades  of  carpenter  and  cabinet  maker,  which 
he  followed  until  September,  18G5,  when  he 
came  to  the  town  of  Portland  and  engaged  in 
farming.  Within  the  last  few  years  he  has  re- 
tired from  active  life  and  resides  at  Portland, 
although  he  still  retains  the  supervision  of  his 
farm,  on  which  is  a  good  vineyard  and  several 
acres  of  small  fruits.  Mr.  Stnith  was  born  in 
1824,  and  is  a  republican  in  politics.  He  is  a 
member  of  the  Congregational  church,  the 
Knights  of  Honor,  and  the  Chautauqua  Mutual 
Insurance  Order.  He  married  Mary  Hender- 
son, a  native  of  Crawford  county,  Pennsylva- 
nia, who  was  a  member  of  the  Congregational 
church  and  died  in  1886,  when  in  the  sixty- 
foiu'th  year  of  her  age. 

William  L.  Smith  was  reared  in  his  native 
county  until  he  was  fifteen  years  of  ago,  when 
he  came  to  Chautauqua  county  witli  his  father. 
He  received  his  education  in  the  conunon 
schools  of  Penn.sylvania  and  New  York  and 
tiie  FrodoMJa  State  Normal  school.  Leaviu"; 
sirliool,  he  learned  blacksmithing  and  carriage- 
making,  which  h(!  followed  successfully  at 
I'ortiand  from  187.",  to  188.3.  In  the  fall  of 
the  latter  year  lie  formed  a  general   mercantile 


partnership  with  G.  D.  Conner,  under  the  firm 
name  of  Conner  &  Smith,  which  firm  continued 
eighteen  months,  when  Mr.  Conner  sold  his  in- 
terest to  Mr.  Smith's  father  and  the  firm  name 
then  changed  to  W.  Ij.  Smith  it  Co.  On  April 
30,  1889,  Mr.  Smith  purchased  his  father's  in- 
terest and  since  that  time  has  conducted  a  very 
successful  and  remunerative  business.  His 
general  mercantile  establishment  is  on  Main 
street  and  is  conveniently  arranged  for  the  large 
business  which  he  does.  He  carries  a  widely 
varied  and  careftdly  selected  stock  of  dry-goods, 
groceries,  notions,  clothing,  shoes,  hardware  and 
lime,  feed  and  everything  else  to  be  found  in  a 
first-class  store.  His  stock,  which  is  the  largest 
in  Portland,  is  worth  over  eio^ht  thou.sand 
dollars,  and  has  been  enlarged  from  year  to 
year  to  meet  the  demands  of  a  constantly  in- 
creasing patronage. 

On  January  24,  1874,  Mr.  Smith  married 
Hattie  Springstead,  daughter  of  Benjamin 
Springstead  now  of  Missouri.  To  their  union 
have  been  born  two  children,  Julia  Leona  and 
Herbert  G. 

W.  L.  Smith  is  a  meml)er  of  the  Knights 
of  Pythias  Lodge,  No.  284,  Knights  of  Honor 
Lodge,  No.  461,  Knights  of  Maccabees  Lodge, 
No.  38.  He  has  been  active  in  political  affairs, 
as  well  as  in  business  circles,  and  has  been  an 
earnest  worker  for  .several  years  in  the 
interests  of  the  Republican  party  of  his 
town  and  county.  He  has  served  as  constable, 
c(Jlector  and  justice  of  the  peace  of  the  town  of 
Pcn-tland  and  on  May  21,  1889  was  ap[)ointed 
by  President  Harrison,  postmaster  of  the  vil- 
lage of  Portland,  which  position  he  has  filled 
faithfully  an<l  efficiently  ever  since. 

o 

A>-|I.Vi:i>l':s  IJIiOOl),  now  serving  his  fifth 
^^  conscculiyc  term  as  coroner  of  Chaiitau(|ua 
county  and  whose  embalming  l)oaril  and  lluid 
are  used  by  the  leading  undertakers  of  the 
United  States,  was  born  in  the  city  of  Ottawa, 
Province    of  Ontario,    Dominion    of  Canada, 


OF  CHAUTAUQUA    COUNTY. 


333 


October  30,  1 835,  and  is  a  son  of  William  and 
Harriet  (Burpee)  Blood.  The  Blood  family  is 
of  Irish  descent,  and  one  branch  of  it  settled  in 
Vermont,  where,  of  its  descendants,  one  was 
William  Blood,  who  was  born  in  1811.  He 
removed  in  early  life  to  Ottawa,  Canada,  where 
he  resided  for  some  years  and  afterwards  in 
1852  settled  at  Lockport,  New  York,  which  he 
made  his  place  of  residence  until  his  death  in 
1876  at  sixty-five  years  of  age.  He  was  a  re- 
publican and  in  early  life  had  met  with  the  sad 
loss  of  his  wife,  who  died  in  Ottawa  in  1841. 
Mr.  Blood  was  engaged  during  the  greater  part 
of  his  life  in  the  manufacture  of  chairs  in  the 
cities  of  Ottawa,  Canada,  and  Buffalo  and  Lock- 
port,  New  York. 

Charles  Blood  was  reared,  until  he  was  six 
years  of  age,  in  Ottawa,  when  his  parents  re- 
moved to  Buffiilo,  N.  Y.,  wliere  he  resided  until 
1852,  when  he  went  witii  the  family  to  Lock- 
port,  N.  Y.  At  the  latter  place  he  learned  the 
trade  of  upholsterer  and  in  1858  came  to  Dun- 
kirk where  he  embarked  in  the  furniture  busi- 
ness, to  which  he  added  undertaking  in  1860. 
His  success  as  an  undertaker  and  funeral 
director  was  so  complete,  that  he  soon  disposed 
of  his  furniture  business  and  has  given  his  at- 
tention ever  since  to  undertaking.  A  leading 
paper  says  : 

"  He  is  not  only  one  of  the  leading  under- 
takers of  New  York  but  is  a  thoroughly  repre- 
sentative man  of  the  most  generous  impulses  and 
genial  qualities." 

He  is  one  of  the  nineteen  undertakers  who 
signed  the  call  to  organize  the  New  York  State 
Undertakers'  Association,  which  owes  much  of 
its  effectiveness  to  his  efforts.  One  of  the  most 
important  events  of  Mr.  Blood's  life  is  his  in- 
vention and  ])atenting  of  the  "  Folding  En)- 
balming  Board."  It  is  undoubtedly  one  of  the 
most  convenient  and  scientific  contrivances  for 
handling  the  dead  which  has  ever  been  intro- 
duced in  the  United  States  and  has  received  the 
commendation  of  every  undertaker  who  has  ex- 
17 


arained  it,  as  attested  by  the  many  flattering 
[  letters  in  the  possession  of  its  manufacturci-.  In 
addition  to  the  invention  of  his  popular  em- 
balming board,  he  has  compounded  an  "  An- 
tiseptic Embalming  Fluid,"  which  has  met  with 
marked  success  wherever  it  has  been  used.  It 
is  injected  into  the  arterial  circulation.  These 
two  inventions  are  not  only  sold  in  all  parts  of 
the  United  States  but  also  in  many  foreign 
countries. 

He  is  a  republican  in  politics;  has  been 
j  elected  five  times  as  one  of  the  coroners  of 
Chautauqua  county,  and  is  a  member  of  St. 
John's  Protestant  Episcoj)al  church.  He  is  a 
Past  Master  of  Irondequoit  Lodge,  No.  301, 
Free  and  Accepted  Masons,  and  a  member  of 
Dunkirk  Chapter,  No.  191  Royal  Arch  ilasons, 
I  Dunkirk  Council,  No.  26,  Royal  and  Select 
Masters  and  Dunkirk  Commandery,  No.  40, 
Knight  Templars. 

On  November  30,  1860,  he  married  Emily 
DeWitt,  daughter  of  Alvin  DeWitt  of  Dun- 
kirk. They  have  two  children  :  Thompson  H. 
and  Myrtle. 

In  speaking  of  Mr.  Blood,  a  history  of  Dun- 
kirk city  pays  him  the  following  well  merited 
tribute  as  a  public  official  : 

"  One  of  the  enterprising  and  successful  cit- 
izens of  this  place  is  Charles  Blood,  who  is 
serving  on  his  fourth  (now  fifth)  three  years' 
term  as  coroner,  in  which  position  he  has  made 
a  very  acceptable  officer,  his  former  promptness 
and  efficiency  causing  him  to  be  elected  by  a 
flattering  vote." 

He  has  been  the  recipient  of  many  favorable 
press  notices,  one  of  which  said  : 

"  For  twenty-four  years  Mr.  Blood  has  been 
a  successful  undertaker.  His  experience  in  this 
line  is  of  great  service  to  him  as  coroner  and 
has  enabled  him  to  save  an  expense  to  the 
county  in  many  ways.  As  an  embalmer  he  has 
no  superior  and  when  the  body  of  an  unknown 
person  has  come  under  his  charge,  he  has  always 
embalmed  the  remains  free  of  charge  and  kept 


334 


BIOGRAPHY  AND  HISTORY 


them  for  several  weeks,  while  he  made  every 
effort  for  their  identification.  Often  friends 
from  distant  States  have  identified  the  remains 
from  a  photograph  taken  several  days  after  the 
body  had  been  embalmed." 

Charles  Blood  is  a  man  of  energy  and  busi- 
ness capacity,  as  is  attested  by  the  flourishing 
condition  of  his  undertaking  trade. 


"PLISHA  H.  FAY,  of  the  town  of  Portland, 
^"^  who  has  been  actively  and  successfully 
engaged  for  some  years  in  fruit  and  grape  cul- 
ture, is  a  son  of  Lincoln  and  Sojjhrona  (Peck) 
Fay,  and  was  born  on  the  farm  on  which  he 
now  resides,  in  the  town  of  Portland,  Chautauqua 
county,  New  York,  June  27th,  1844.  Among 
the  early  settled  families  of  Portland  were  five 
Fay  families,  four  of  whom  were  founded  by 
Elijah,  Elisha,  Nathaniel  and  Hollis  Fay,  sons 
of  Nathaniel  Fay,Sr.,  who  never  came  to  Chau- 
tauqua county.  Elisha  Fay,  the  second  son  and 
grandfather  of  Elisha  H.  Fay,  who  was  born  at 
Farmingham,  Massachusetts,  June  2d,  1783, 
came  in  June,  1806,  to  Portland,  where  he  pur- 
chased lot  25  from  the  Holland  Laud  Company. 
He  served  in  the  war  of  1812,  was  at  Buffalo  and 
Black  Rock  while  out,  and  died  in  1881,  aged 
ninety-eight  years  and  nine  months.  He  was 
an  early  member  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
church,  and  at  the  time  of  his  death  was  the 
oldest  settler  in  the  town  of  Portland.  In  1806 
he  married  Sophia  Nichols,  of  jMassacluisetts, 
who  died  in  1850.  Their  children  were  Lin- 
coln, Eddie,  Charles  and  Otis  N.  The  eldest 
son,  Lincoln,  (father)  was  born  in  1807  and  died 
in  May,  1881.  He  followed  farming  and  fruit 
growing.  He  was  one  of  the  pioneer  fruit- 
growers of  Chautauqua  county,  and,  with  a 
Mr.  Moss,  of  Fredonia,  New  York,  purchased  a 
dozen  of  Concord  grape-vines,  from  which  have 
originated  thou.sands  of  acres  of  vines,  in  the 
town  of  Portland  and  Chatitau(jua  County.  Lin- 
coln Fay  was  the  originator  of  "  Fay's  Prolific 
Currant,"    which    is  now   well    and    favorably 


known  all  over  the  United  States  and  Canada, 
and  many  parts  of  Europe.  He  was  one  of  the 
first  abolitionists  in  the  county,  had  served  for 
many  years  as  a  trustee  and  class-leader  in  the 
Methodist  Episcopal  church,  and  owned  one 
hundred  and  forty  acres  of  well-improved  land. 
He  married  Sophrona  Peck,  daughter  of  Ashel 
Peck,  a  native  of  Connecticut  and  an  early  resi- 
dent of  Portland,  where  he  was  an  industrious 
farmer  and  an  active  local  preacher  of  the  Meth- 
odist Episcopal  church.  Mrs.  Fay  is  a  Meth- 
odist, resides  on  the  home  farm,  and  is  now  in 
the  seventy-fifth  year  of  her  age. 

Elisha  H.  Fay  was  reared  iu  his  native  town, 
received  his  education  in  the  common  schools, 
and  has  always  followed  farming.  He  now 
owns  the  old  Fay  homestead  that  was  pur- 
chased from  the  Holland  Land  Company,  and 
has  one  hundred  and  thirty-three  acres  of  land 
in  the  edge  of  the  village  of  Portland,  where  he 
is  engaged  in  farming  and  fruit-growing.  At 
the  present  time  he  is  planting  out  a  large  vine- 
yard on  his  Portland  farm,  where  his  neat  and 
tasteful  residence  is  heated  by  steam,  supplied 
with  hot  and  cold  water,  provided  throughout 
with  telephone  connections  and  lighted  by  natural 
gas  from  wells  on  his  land.  He  is  a  republican 
in  politics,  has  served  as  supervisor  (two  years) 
and  assessor  (one  year)  of  his  town,  and  is  a 
pleasant  and  courteous  gentleman.  Mr.  Fay 
has  been  general  manager  of  the  Chautauqua 
Grape  Growers'  As.sociation,  and  is  a  member 
of  a  natural  gas  company,  which  is  now  en- 
gaged in  drilling  wells  at  Brocton. 

May  5th,  1868,  Mr.  Fay  married  Ada 
Dodge,  daughter  of  Walter  Dodge,  of  this 
county.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Fay  have  two  children  : 
M.  Birdina  and  Ma.xwell  L. 


^Al'T.  .lAMlCS  liUTLlOlJ,  of  Brocton,  who 
^^  has  owned  and  commanded  nearly  fifty 
vessels  on  the  "  (jireat  Lakes,"  was  born  at  Then- 
ford,  iu  Northamptonshire,  England,  November 
25,   1817,  and   is  a  .son  of  Joseph  and  Ann 


OF  CHAUTAUQUA   COUNTY. 


335 


(Batchelor)  Butler.  His  parents  were  natives 
of  Northamptonshire  and  united  at  an  early  age 
with  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church.  They 
were  an  honest,  hard-working  coujjle,  and  came 
in  1832  to  Ashtabula  county,  Ohio,  when  the 
cholera  was  raging  in  that  section  of  country. 
Joseph  Butler  was  a  shepherd  in  England,  but 
after  coming  to  the  United  States  he  followed 
farming  until  his  death,  which  occurred  April 
11,  1855,  at  the  age  of  seventy-one  years  and 
three  months.  Mi's.  Butler  was  a  kind  Christian 
woman,  and  jiassed  from  the  scenes  of  this  life 
at  Geneva,  Ashtabula  county,  Ohio,  in  1878,  at 
the  ripe  old  age  of  ninety-five  years. 

James  Butler,  at  fifteen  years  of  age,  .came 
with  his  parents  to  Ohio,  and  on  September  1, 
1833,  went  to  Lake  Erie,  where  he  resolved 
upon  a  sailor's  life  for  himself  and  embarked 
as  a  hand  on  a  small  schooner  called  the  "  Par- 
rot," on  which  he  remained  until  it  was  laid  up 
for  the  winter.  The  next  spring  he  was  offered 
a  berth  on  the  "  Parrot "  whicli  some  unaccount- 
able impulse  caused  him  to  decline,  and  as  the 
vessel  sank  when  three  hours  out  from  harbor 
with  all  on  board,  he  thinks  it  was  a  providen- 
tial interposition  that  caused  hira  not  to  go  on 
board.  He  then  worked  his  way  to  Detroit, 
where  he  spent  his  last  ten  cents  for  a  loaf  of 
bread  and  some  cheese,  upon  which  he  managed 
to  live  for  ten  days,  while  a  workshop  afforded 
him  a  sleeping  place.  At  the  end  of  this  time 
he  went  on  board  a  steam-vessel  and  worked  his 
way  to  Buffalo  where  he  soon  obtained  the  posi- 
tion of  chief  cook  on  a  schooner  at  twelve  dollars 
per  month.  In  six  months  he  obtained  a  pro- 
motion, and  was  successively  promoted  until  he 
became  captain,  which  position  he  held  on  dilFer- 
ent  vessels  for  seventeen  years.  After  forty 
years  of  active  service  on  the  lakes,  during  which 
time  he  never  lost  a  vessel  or  a  sailor,  he  came 
in  1876  to  Brocton,  where  he  built  and  now 
occupies  one  of  the  finest  brick  residences  of 
that  village.  Of  late  years  Capt.  Butler  has 
turned  his  attention  to  grape-growing  at  Brocton, 


where  lie  has  a  very  fine  vineyard.  He  has 
owned  twenty-three  vessels,  including  everything 
from  a  scow  to  a  brig.  In  1861  he  built  the 
bark  "  A.  P.  Nichols  "  (named  for  his  Buftalo 
attorney),  and  in  the  succeeding  year  the  "  Red 
White  and  Blue."  They  were  said  to  be  tiie 
fastest  vessels  tlien  on  Lake  Erie,  and  the  latter- 
named  one  was  pronounced  when  it  was  launched 
to  be  the  largest  and  finest  vessel  on  Lake  Erie. 
He  was  also  a  ship  merchant  for  some  years  in 
Buffalo.  He  has  wrought  out  for  himself  the 
success  of  his  life,  and  the  commendable  ambi- 
tion of  the  poor  boy  has  been  more  than  realized 
in  the  position  of  the  respected  and  influential 
citizen. 

On  June  12,  1876,  Captain  Butler  united  in 
marriage  with  Mrs.  Sarah  (Skinner)  Maloney, 
of  Brocton,  and  they  went  on  a  bridal  trip  to 
the  old  world,  where  they  visited  England  and 
many  other  countries  of  Europe.  They  have 
one  child,  a  daughter  named  Annie  M. 

Captain  Butler  is  a  republican  politically,  has 
been  for  fourteen  years  a  trustee  and  steward  of 
the  Methodist  Episcopal  church,  and  is  one  of 
the  substantial  citizens  of  Brocton. 


nALl'H  A.  HALL,  a  member  of  the  bank- 
ing firm  of  Dean  &  Hall,  of  Brocton, 
was  born  at  Sedgwick,  Hancock  county,  Maine, 
June  5,  1844,  and  is  a  son  of  Dr.  James  A.  and 
Caroline  (Herrick)  Hall.  Of  the  early  settlers 
of  the  town  of  Portland  one  was  Ahira  Hall, 
the  paternal  grandfather  of  the  subject  of  this 
sketch,  and  who  came  from  his  native  State  ot 
Connecticut  in  1818.  He  was  a  lawyer,  served 
as  justice  of  the  peace  for  some  years  and  man- 
aged his  farm  until  his  death  in  1856,  at  eighty- 
two  years  of  age.  He  was  an  ardent  methodist 
in  religious  faith,  and  all  of  his  thirteen  children 
were  members  of  the  M.  E.  church.  His  son. 
Dr.  James  A.'  Hall,  was  born  in  Connecticut  in 
1815,  and  died  April  8,  1865,  at  Brocton.  He 
was  a  graduate  of  Bowdoin  college,  read  medi- 
cine, and  located  at  Brocton  in  1 844,  and  shortly 


336 


BIOGRAPHY  AND  HISTORY 


afterwards  graduated  from  the  medical  depart- 
ment of  Bovvdoiu  college.  He  served  duriug 
the  late  civil  war  as  surgeon  of  the  49th  regiment, 
Maine  Vols.,  was  a  methodist  and  republican. 
He  had  a  large  practice,  and  married  Caroline 
Herrick,  of  Brooklin,  Maine,  who  was  born  in 
1823,  and  is  a  consistent  member  of  the  Metho- 
dist Episco])al  church. 

Ralph  A.  Hall  was  reared  principally  at 
Brocton.  He  received  his  education  in  thg 
public  schools  and  Fredonia  academy,  and  then 
obtained  a  situation  as  a  clerk  in  a  mercantile 
house  at  Sherman  where  he  remained  for  three 
years.  He  then  (1870)  engaged  in  the  hardware 
business  at  Brocton,  in  which  he  continued  until 
1881,  when  he  became  a  traveling  .salesman  for 
a  wholesale  hardware  house  in  Buffalo.  Three 
years  later  he  left  the  road  and  became  a  mem- 
ber of  the  present  banking  firm  of  Dean  &  Hall, 
of  Brocton.  They  are  conservative  and  safe  as 
financiers,  and  the  management  of  their  bank  is 
based  upon  correct  and  economical  financial 
principles. 

In  1870  Mr.  Hall  married  Mary  J.,  daughter 
of  Mark  Haight,  of  Brocton.  They  have  one 
child,  a  daughter  named  Eva  H. 

In  addition  to  his  investment  in  the  banking 
busine.ss  Mr.  Hall  owns  a  good  grape  farm  and 
is  interested  in  a  land  syndicate  which  is  known 
as  the  "Brocton  Land  and  Improvement  Com- 
pany." He  is  a  republican,  and  a  member  and 
trustee  of  tlie  Brocton  'SI.  E.  church.  He  is  a 
xaember  of  Castle  Hall,  No.  284,  Knights  of 
Pythias,  which  was  organized  February  19, 
1864  ;  Brocton  Council,  No.  18,  lloyal  Tempiai-s 
of  Temperance,  organized  in  1877,  and  Brocton 
Lodge,  No.  8,  Ancient  Order  of  United  Work- 
men, the  oldest  order  of  its  kind  in  the  United 
States,  having  been  established  at  Meadville, 
Pa.,  October  28,  1868, 


Hi:i{>I<)X    .1.    OEAX,    >I.1>.,    a    resident 
physician    for  tiie  last  tiiirty-four  years 
of  Brocton,  is  a  son  of  Rev.  Robert  and  .\ man- 


da  (Stebbins)  Dean,  and  was  born  in  the  town 
of  Royaltou,  Niagara  county.  New  York,  July 
8,  1832.  The  Deans  are  of  English  national- 
ity and  were  resident  in  eastern  New  York  dur- 
ing the  latter  part  of  the  eighteenth  century. 
Rev.  Robert  Dean,  the  father  of  Dr.  Dean,  was 
born  in  Putnam  county,  in  1799,  and  died  in 
Niagara  county,  in  February,  1870.  He  was 
an  ordained  minister  of  the  Baptist  church, 
following  farming  for  some  years  in  Niagara 
county  and  was  an  old-line  whig  and  republi- 
can in  politics.     His  wife,  a  native  of  the  town 

!  of  Conway,  Massachusetts,  and  a  member  of 
the  Baptist  church,  died  in  Niagara  county  in 
1872,  aged  sixty-two  years. 

Hermon  J.  Dean  grew  to  manhood  in  his 
native  town,  received  his  early  education  in  the 
public  schools  of  Niagara  county  and  com- 
menced the  study  of  medicine  in  1854.  After 
completing  the  required  course  of  reading  he 
entered  Miami  Medical  collese,  of  Cincinnati, 
Ohio,from  wiiieh  he  was  graduated  in  1857. 
In  the  same  year  he  came  to  Brocton,  where  he 
has  had  a  large  and  remunerative  practice  until 
the  present  time.  Dr.  Dean  is  a  member  of 
the  Chautauqua  County  Medical  .society,  was  one 
of  the  founders  of  the  New  York  State  Medical 
association  and  takes  a  deep  interest  in  the 
progress  of  his  profession. 

On  October  30,  1861,  Dr.  Dean  married 
Eda  T.  Fay,  a  daughter  of  Lincoln  Fay,  a  son 
of  Elisiia  Fay,  one  of  the  earliest  settlers  and 
substantial  citizens  of  tlie  town  of  I'ortland. 

Dr.  H.  J.  Deau  is  a  repul>lican  politically 
and  has  held  the  office  of  supervisor  of  the 
town  of  Portlanil  for  five  terms  in  succession. 
He  is  a  member  of  Brocton  Lodge,  No.  8, 
Ancient  Order  of  United  Workmen.  Dr. 
Dean  is  also  interested  in  the  material  develop- 

'  nieut  and  financial  prosperity  of  his  village. 
He  is  a  stockholder  in   the  Brocton  Land  and 

:  Improvement  company  and  has  been  for  several 
years  a  member  of  the  bauking-iiouse  of  Dean 
it   Hall,  which    tiicy, founded    to  advance  tlie 


OF  CHAUTAUQUA   COUNTY. 


337 


business  interests  of  their  village  and  section  of 
the  county.  This  bank  has  fully  realized  the 
expectations  of  its  founders,  and  has  been  of 
great  benefit  to  the  business  interests  of  the 
town  of  Portland  and  surrounding  towns. 


i^EOKGE  P.  HUKLBUKT.  There  is  more 
^^  genius  necessary  to  properly  and  success- 
fully conduct  a  hotel,  than,  probably  any  other 
business,  as  the  work  brings  the  proprietor  in 
direct  contact  with  characters  and  dispositions 
seldom  found  and  not  often  displayed  outside  of 
the  home  or  at  the  hotel.  Mine  host,  Hurl- 
burt,  of  the  popular  Dunkirk  hotel  bearing  his 
name,  seems  to  be  possessed  of  this  characteris- 
tic in  a  large  degree.  George  F.  Hurlburt  was 
born  in  Forestville,  Chautauqua  county,  New 
York,  September  13,  1860,  and  is  a  son  of 
John  F.  and  Anna  Maria  (Griswold)  Hurlburt. 
John  Hurlburt  (paternal  grandfather)  was  one 
of  the  Chautauqua  county  pioueers.  He  came 
from  New  Jersey  and  settled  at  Forestville  in 
1840.  He  was  a  wagon-maker  by  trade  and 
carried  on  this  business  in  Forestville,  at  the 
time  of  his  death  which  occurred  in  1858. 
John  F.  Hurlburt  (father)  was  a  native  of 
Forestville  and  for  many  years  carried  on  a 
large  carriage  and  wagon  factory  there.  After 
quitting  this  business  he  opened  a  hotel  in  the 
same  town,  which  he  conducted  until  1870, 
when  he  moved  to  the  oil  district  and  continued 
^he  same  occupation  there  until  1882  when  he 
died,  aged  fifty-six  years.  Mr.  Hurlburt  was 
a  member  of  the  Baptist  church,  the  Masonic 
fraternity  and  of  the  Republican  party,  being 
an  active  and  energetic  worker  in  the  latter,  and 
very  popular  among  his  friends  and  acquaint- 
ances. He  married  Anna  Maria  Griswold,  a 
native  of  Westmoreland,  Oneida  county.  New 
York,  in  1854,  by  whom  he  had  three  children. 
She  resides  with  her  son,  is  a  member  of  the 
Baptist  church  and  is  actively  engaged  in  the 
church  work,  although  she  has  reached  the  age 
of  fifty-nine. 


George  F.  Hurlburt  spent  his  first  ten  years 
in  Chautauqua  county  and  went  with  his  father 
when  he  niov('(]  to  Petroleum  Centre,  Pennsyl- 
vania, in  1870.  His  education  was  acquired  at 
the  public  schools  and  then  he  went  to  Buffalo, 
secui'ing  employment  in  the  large  cracker  works 
of  George  Mudgridgc  tfe  Son,  which  place  he 
retained  until  1880,  when  he  resigned  to  join 
his  father  in  tiie  hotel  business  at  Kuapp's 
Creek,  Pennsylvania,  where  they  remained  for 
two  years  and  then  went  to  Farnsworth  where 
the  father  died  in  1882.  In  1884,  G.  F.  Hurl- 
burt came  to  Dunkirk  and  opened  the  Hurl- 
burt House  at  the  time  of  the  Congressional 
convention  of  Chautauqua  and  Cattaraugus 
counties  and  entertained  one  hundred  and  fifty 
guests.  He  continued  proprietor  of  this  house 
until  1886  when  he  went  to  Youngstown,  Ohio, 
and  with  G.  R.  Baker  opened  the  Todd  House, 
a  building  containing  one  hundred  and  fifty 
rooms,  and  elegant  in  all  its  appointments. 
Under  the  new  management  it  developed  into 
a  big  success  and  was  run  for  a  year  when  they 
sold  out  on  a  good  otter.  Negotiations  were 
then  commenced  for  the  Sherman  House  of 
Jamestown,  but  the  proprietors  flunked  and 
]\Ir.  Hurlburt  was  in  a  fair  way  to  secure  the 
Brazell  House  at  Buffalo,  just  at  the  time  of 
the  disastrous  fire  resulting  in  the  loss  of  life. 
He  then  went  to  Kansas  City,  Missouri,  and 
engaged  in  the  real  estate  business  making  con- 
siderable money,  finally  trading  some  property 
there  for  a  hotel  in  Chicago,  which  he  ran  on 
the  European  plan  for  one  year.  The  Arling- 
ton Hotel  at  Erie,  had  passed  through  many 
vicissitudes,  many  of  which  were  depressing. 
Mr.  Hurlburt  took  charge  of  it  in  1888  and 
placed  it  on  a  footing  equal  to  the  best,  but  the 
owners  sold  it  and  he  went  to  Van  Buren  Point 
and  conducted  a  summer  resort  for  the  .season. 
But  his  greatest  triumph  is  the  Hurlburt  House 
in  Dunkirk,  with  which  he  has  been  connected 
since  1889  and  which  is  now  said  to  be  the  best 
hotel    between    Buffalo   and    Cleveland.       The 


338 


BIOGRAPHY  AND  HISTORY 


table  is  the  equal  of  the  best,  the  service  is 
without  a  superior,  every  convenience  is  in  use 
for  the  comfort  of  the  guests  and  last  but  far 
from  least,  is  the  genial-mannered  proprietor 
who  circulates  amongst  his  guests  and  makes 
each  feel  that  he  is  at  home. 

In  1886  he  married  J^^tta  Vandevort,  one  of 
the  most  charming  and  noble  young  ladies  of 
Dunkirk. 


T.A3IES  C.  WALKER,  a  son  of  Clark  and 
^  Esther  (Caldwell)  AYalker,  was  born  in 
Brocton,  Chautauqua  county,  New  York,  August 
20, 1842.  Deacon  Joseph  Walker  (great-graud- 
father)  was  born  February  10,  1739,  and  died 
December  15,  1813,  in  Massachusetts.  Samuel 
Walker  (grandfather)  was  a  native  of  Massa- 
chusetts, being  born  in  1773.  In  1828  he  came 
to  Brocton  and  engaged  in  farming,  a  vocation 
which  he  pursued  for  many  years.  For  many 
years  he  was  a  consistent  member  of  the  Pres- 
byterian church,  and  died  in  1843  consoled  in 
its  faith.  Clark  Walker  was  born  at  Hopkin- 
ton,  INIass.,  in  1813,  and  came  to  Chautauqua 
county  with  his  father  when  fifteen  years  of  age. 
He  settled  in  Portland,  which  has  been  his  home 
ever  since.  When  a  young  man  he  learned  the 
carpenter's  and  joiner's  trade  and  employed  him- 
self thereby  for  some  time,  but  since  1860  farm- 
ing has  been  his  chief  vocation.  Now  in  his 
seventy-eighth  year,  he  personally  superintends 
the  workings  of  his  farm  and  vineyard.  For 
sixty  years  he  has  been  identified  with  the 
Brocton  Baj)tist  cliurch,  in  which  he  is  a  deacon. 
Since  the  organization  of  the  Rcpuldican  party 
he  has  afliliated  with  it,  but  he  is  a  strong  tem- 
perance man  and  his  sympathies  lean  towanls 
tiiat  class  of  legislation.  Mr.  Walker  has  filled 
town  offices,  but  has  never  entered  politics  at 
large.  In  1837  he  married  Esther  Caldwell,  a 
daughter  of  Samuel  Caldwell,  and,  although  of 
Scotch-Irish  extraction,  has  for  some  generations 
been  identified  with  American  history.  Her 
mother,  Mary  Clyde,  was  a  prominent  woman 


on  account  of  her  mental  attainments  and  skill 
in  medicine.  Mrs.  Walker  is  a  sister  of  Samuel 
Caldwell,  whose  sketch  appears  elsewhere.  They 
had  seven  children. 

James  C.  Walker  was  reared  on  the  farm  and 
educated  in  the  public  schools  and  Westfield 
academy.  Upon  leaving  the  academy  he  taught 
school  for  a  few  years  and  then  returned  to  the 
farm,  where  he  has  resided  ever  since.  His  fine 
place,  forty  acres  in  extent,  has  a  vineyard  upon 
it  from  which  a  good  yield  of  luscious  fruit  is 
secured. 

In  1870  he  wedded  Lydia  Tinkham,  a  daugh- 
ter of  Jacob  Tinkham,  who  lived  iu  the  town  of 
Pomfret.  They  have  two  children,  one  son  and 
one  daughter :  Benjamin,  aged  seventeen,  and 
Jessie  N.,  a  child  of  five. 


/^RAKGE  A.  FARGO  for  many  years  was 
^^  a  leading  farmer  of  Poland  town,  this 
county,  and  stood  foremost  in  the  ranks  of  the 
breeders  of  high  grade  stock.  Strict  attention 
to  the  details  of  his  business  enabled  him  to 
accumulate  a  competency,  and  for  some  years 
past  he  has  been  retired  from  active  work  and 
is  living  opulently  at  Kennedy.  Orange  A. 
Fartjo  is  a  son  of  Samuel  and  Elizabeth  B. 
(Ambler)  Fargo  and  he  began  life  in  the  village 
of  Attica,  Genesee  county,  New  York  on  the 
eighth  day  of  May,  1827.  His  blood  is  a  dif- 
fusion of  French  and  Cymric,  the  father's 
ancestors  having  been  natives  of  Wales.  Both 
grandfathers,  Fargo  and  Ambler,  were  born, 
reared  and  died  in  the  State  of  Vermont,  where 
Samuel  Fargo,  subject's  father,  was  born. 
Samuel  Fargo  came  to  C'hautauqua  county 
about  182!).  He  was  brought  u]>  on  a  farm 
but  received  an  excellent  education,  tiirough 
the  assistance  of  his  parents,  coupled  with  his 
own  exertions,  and  after  leaving  school  as  a 
student,  he  taught  for  some  time,  studying 
theoretical  medicine  and  qualifying  himself  for 
a  i)liysician  at  the  same  time.  He  practiced  in 
( ienescc  county  and   then   came  to  this  (bounty. 


OF  CHAUTAUQUA   COUNTY. 


339 


Gerry  town,  and  made  his  home  and  practiced 
ill  tlie  "Vermont  settlement."  He  followed 
the  profession  until  a  few  years  before  his 
death,  when  advancing  age  compelled  liim  to 
relinquish  its  arduous  duties.  He  married 
Elizabeth  B.  Ambler  and  had  ten  children,  six 
of  them  are  living :  Ariel  W.  is  a  farmer  in  the 
town  of  Westfield;  Eveline  married  Leonard 
Barton  and  lives  at  Elko,  Cattaraugus  county  ; 
Clarissa  is  the  wife  of  John  Helmiek;  Maria 
A.  lives  with  her  husband,  David  Ostrander  at 
Gerry ;  Mary  T.  married  Henry  Starr,  and 
lives  at  Gerry  ;  and  Orange  A.  Samuel  Fargo 
was  originally  a  democrat  but  wlien  the  slavery 
question  disturbed  the  country  and  divided 
households  with  its  bitter  intensity,  he  joined 
his  sympathies  with  the  republicans  and  became 
an  ultra-abolitionist. 

During  his  whole  life  his  energies  were 
bent  toward  bettering  the  common  schools 
of  his  locality  and  for  a  long  time  he  held 
the  office  of  school  trustee.  It  is  safe  to 
say  that  never  before  or  since  has  the  office 
been  occupied  by  a  more  zealous  iucnmbent  or 
one  more  anxious  to  elevate  the  standard  of  his 
charge.  He  had  a  firm  belief  in  the  existence 
of  a  Supreme  Ruler  of  the  universe,  an  adher- 
ent of  the  sect  devoted  to  the  study  of  scientific 
morals,  but  was  not  connected  with  any  church. 
His  integrity  was  never  questioned  and  his  honor 
never  imputed.  ]\Ir.  Fargo  was  a  widely  read 
man  and  a  devoted  student  of  the  Bible.  He 
died  when  fifty-eigiit  years  of  age. 

Orange  A.  Fargo  came  with  his  parents  to 
Gerry  town  when  only  two  years  of  age  and 
spent  his  childhood  and  youth  on  the  farm. 
Having  secured  a  good  education,  he  began 
lumbering  and  followed  it  for  many  years,  but 
in  1860  he  entered  agriculture  and  began  to 
breed  fine  stock.  The  best  strains  of  blood 
were  secured  for  his  stud,  although  he  bred 
for  results  rather  than  pedigree.  ISIuch  of  the 
fine  stock  now  scattered  throughout  Chautauqua 
county  were  originally  from  his  stables,  and  to 


Mr.  Fargo  is  much  credit  due  for  the  improve- 
ment. 

He  married  Mary  L.  Tucker,  a  daughter  of 
David  Tucker,  of  the  town  of  Poland,  July  24, 
1847.  They  reared  a  family  of  eight  children, 
all  of  whom,  excepting  (wo  that  have  died,  are 
well-to-do,  educated  and  representative  people  of 
the  localities  in  which  they  live.  Leroy  is  an 
agriculturist  in  Cattaraugus  county  ;  Addison 
A.  tills  the  soil  in  the  town  of  Ellington  ;  Fred 
A.  farms  in  Poland  ;  Irwin,  same  residence  and 
occupation ;  Victor  H.  farms  in  Cattaraugus 
county  ;  and  Elmer  E.  resides  in  Brocton,  New 
York. 

Orange  A.  Fargo  is  a  republican  of  a  most 
pronounced  character,  is  a  great  reader  and 
keeps  himself  informed  upon  public  matters. 
Having  been  successful  in  business  and  laid  by 
a  snug  fortune,  he  can  lay  back  and  contemplate 
the  outside  world  with  comjjlacency. 


FERNANDO  CORTEZ  HASKIN.  Among 
the  many  American  citizens  who  trace 
back  their  lineage  to  Celtic  Scotland  is  Fer- 
nando Cortez  Haskin,  the  subject  of  our  sketch. 
He  is  a  sou  of  Enoch  and  Mary  (Wadsworth) 
Haskin  and  was  born  in  Pittston,  Xew  York, 
on  July  5,  1817.  Elkauah  Haskin,  from 
whom  the  American  stock  by  that  name  sprang, 
was  born  in  Scotland  about  the  year  1700, 
came  to  Connecticut  in  early  life  and  settled  in 
Norwich.  Here  he  pursued  the  vocation  of 
broadcloth  weaver,  reared  his  family  and  died 
at  the  age  of  eighty  years.  His  family  in- 
cluded seven  children,  one  of  whom,  Enoch 
Sr.,  was  the  great-grandfather  of  our  subject, 
and  was  born  May  5,  1740,  in  Norwich,  Con- 
necticut. True  to  his  religious  training  and 
environment,  he  was  a  strong  adherent  of  the 
Presbyterian  church  and  sought  to  inculcate  its 
doctrines  and  dogmas  by  his  life  and  example. 
Enoch  Sr.,  was  twice  married  ;  by  his  first 
wife  he  had  one  daughter,  Rachel ;  by  his 
second    wife    he    had   several    children,  among 


340 


BIOORAPHY  AND  HISTORY 


■whom  was  Enoch  Jr.,  subject's  grandfather, 
born  July  "23,  1765.  Animated  and  fired  with 
enthusiasm  for  his  country's  independence  in 
its  moments  of  deepest  gloom,  our  boyish 
patriot  threw  his  life,  his  soul,  his  all  into  the 
struggle  for  liberty.  He  did  all  that  a  boy 
could  in  behalf  of  his  native  land,  endured  the 
privations,  the  sufferings,  the  dangers  and  the 
vicissitudes  of  war.  Upon  one  occasion  he  was  ' 
stunned  by  a  cannon-shot  and  thrown  into  the 
ditch,  but  almost  miraculously  resuscitated  and 
lived  to  see  the  surrender  of  Cornvvallis  at 
Yorktown.  Reward  was  made  for  his  gallant 
services  by  a  pension.  Subsequent  to  the  Rev- 
olution he  married  Miss  Lydia  Ackley,  who 
bore  him  a  family  of  seven  children.  He  was 
thoroughly  democratic  iu  his  views  of  State  ; 
conscientious  iu  conduct,  and  an  active  member 
of  the  Presbyterian  church.  He  died  in  Ohio. 
The  father  of  our  subject  was  born  near  Breed- 
port,  Vermont,  in  1788,  and  in  1818  came  to 
the  town  of  Sheridan,  Chautauqua  county,  New 
York,  where  he  lived  until  his  death  in  1868. 
He  was  reared  upon  a  farm  and  subsequently 
purchased  a  farm  of  his  own  in  Sheridan  town, 
which  he  cultivated  simultaneously  with  other 
branches  of  business.  Later  he  went  into  the 
hotel  business,  and  as  proof  of  his  carefulness 
and  integrity  in  the  sale  of  liquors,  has  on  file 
some  thirty-one  licenses  granted  by  the  excise 
committee.  He  is  an  enthusiastic  democrat  in 
political  creed,  but  a  very  notable  attestation  of 
his  popularity  irrespective  of  party  is  the  fact 
that  he  lacked  but  twenty-one  votes  in  the  race 
for  the  office  of  sheriff  in  a  strong  republican 
district.  His  uninn  in  marriage  was  blest  with 
eight  children,  four  boys  aiul  four  girls;  two 
of  the.  former  and  three  of  the  latter  are  still 
living. 

Fernando  ('.  Ilaskin  was  married  to  Sarah 
A.  Keech,  a  daughter  of  Abra:n  Keech  of  the 
town  of  Hanover.  Three  children  were  born 
to  them  :  George  ;  Susan  who  now  lives  in 
Winona,    Minnesota ;    and    Mary,   married    to 


George  Cranston,  a  postal  clerk  on  the  Penn- 
sylvania Railroad. 

Mr.  Haskin  received  the  customary  common 
school  education  of  this  day,  and  being  reared 
on  a  farm,  has  followed  farming  ever  since, 
with  the  exception  of  eight  years  spent  in  the 
lumber  business.  He  has  acquired  a  com- 
fortable home,  is  regarded  as  an  honest,  upright 
citizen  and  a  good  neighbor  ;  is  a  democrat  in 
politics,  both  by  heredity  and  principle  and  is 
fully  alive  to  the  National  issues  of  the  day. 


TEDEDIAH    M.    JOHNSON,   a  very  suc- 


u 


cessful   farmer  and   grape-grower   of  the 


town  of  Ripley,  was  born  in  the  town  of  Nor- 
wich, Chenango  county.  New  York,  May  3, 
1845,  and  is  a  son  of  Homer  and  Roxanna 
(Skinner)  Johnson.  The  Johnson  family  is  of 
English  descent  and  settled  at  an  early  day  in 
southern  New  England,  from  which  Dr.  Jona- 
than Johnson,  the  paternal  grandfather  of  the 
subject  of  this  sketch,  came  to  Chenango 
county,  New  York,  shortly  after  the  year  1791. 
He  read  medicine  for  four  j'ears  under  a  pre- 
ceptor in  his  native  State  of  Connecticut,  re- 
ceived a  diploma  which  is  dated  April  3,  1791, 
and  after  removing  to  Chenango  county,  his 
pioneer  practice  soon  extended  into  adjoining 
counties.  As  his  county  developed  Dr.  John- 
son grew  in  wealth,  medical  repute  and  personal 
influence  and  at  his  death  owned  several  mills, 
stores  and  valuable  farms,  aggregating  a  value 
of  one  hundred  thousand  dollars.  He  married 
Hannah  Graves,  who  lived  to  be  ninety-six 
years  of  age.  They  had  four  sous  and  one 
daughter.  One  of  the  sons  was  Homer  John- 
son  (father)  who  was  born  October  31,  1803,  in 
Chenango  county,  where  he  died  May  9,  1872. 
He  was  a  carpenter  by  trade,  a  farmer  hy  occu- 
pation, a  wiiig  and  republican  in  jxilitics  and  a 
member  and  trustee  of  the  13ai>tist  church.  He 
married  Roxanna  Skinner,  who  was  born  Feb- 
ruary 14,  1806.  Their  family  consisted  of  five 
sons    and    five    daughters,    of    wiioni    six    are 


OF  CHAUTAUQUA   COUNTY. 


341 


living :  John,  a  farmer  of  Ripley  (see  sketch); 
Mary,  widow  of  Orin  Warner  and  wife  of 
Thomas  W.  Hall,  of  Norwich,  N.  Y. ;  Jona- 
than Darwin  ;  Abie,  married  to  Ashe!  Hoicomb, 
of  Ripley ;  Emily^  who  married  a  Mr. 
Cartland  Hall  and  afterwards  Melvin  Slater,  of 
Norwich,  N.  Y. ;  and  Jedediah  M.  Those 
deceased  are:  Hannah  M.,  born  March  23, 
1827,  died  October  10,  186- ;  Harriet  A., 
born  June  25,  1848,  died  April  19,  1864; 
George  H.,  born  July  8,  1834,  died  May 
7,  1886 — he  was  a  carpenter  by  trade  and  for 
many  years  was  boss  carpenter  of  a  large  gang 
of  workmen,  laying  out  the  work  for  the  others 
to  do;  and  Charles  H.,  born  August  16,  1837, 
died  December  3,  1880;  he  was  a  Baptist 
preacher  of  pronounced  ability  and  during  his 
itinerancy  built  two  churches  of  that  denomina- 
tion and  was  the  ineans  of  the  conversion  of 
many  souls.  Mrs.  Johnson  is  a  daughter  of 
Daniel  Skinner  (maternal  grandfather)  who  was 
a  native  of  Connecticut  and  a  resident  of  Che- 
nango county,  where  he  followed  farming  and 
married  Hannah  Skinner,  by  whom  he  had 
nine  children. 

Jedediah  M.  Johnson  grew  to  manhood  in 
his  native  town,  where  he  attended  the  common 
schools  and  Norwich  academy.  He  commenced  | 
life  for  himself  as  a  farmer  and  in  1869  came 
to  the  productive  lake  farm  in  the  town  of 
Ripley,  on  which  he  now  resides  and  on  which 
he  erected  his  present  substantial  residence, 
good  barns  and  first-class  out-buildings.  He  is  ' 
a  republican  in  politics,  served  five  years  in  the 
Stare  Militia,  in  which  he  refused  a  lieutenancy, 
and  is  a  member  of  the  Baptist  church. 

September  17,  1867,  Mr.  .Johnson  married 
Annie  M.,  daughter  of  Hiram  A.  Burton,  of 
Brocton,  and  a  member  of  the  Baptist  church. 
To  their  union  have  been  born  one  son  and  two 
daughters :  Harriet  A.,  born  August  6,  1868 ;  \ 
Hiram  B.,  January  10,  1872 ;  and  Emily  L. 
B.,  who  was  burn  March  8,  1879,  and  died 
April  18,  1887. 


On  his  lake  shore  farm  of  eighty-two  and  a 
half  acres  of  land  hi'  has  a  vineyard  of  twenty- 
five  acres,  which,  during  the  grape  season  of 
1890,  produced  the  large  yield  of  twenty-one 
thousand  baskets,  or  one  hundred  tons  of 
grapes.  Since  1809  Mr.  Johnson  lias  been 
dealing  continuously  in  apples,  peaches,  j)lums, 
pears  and  various  other  kinds  of  fruits.  He 
handles  large  quantities  of  fruit  and  has  been 
very  successful  in  farming  and  the  cultivation 
of  the  vine.  He  takes  great  interest  in  all  agri- 
cultural pursuits  and  is  a  member  of  Rij>ley 
Grange,  No.  68,  Patrons  of  Husbaudry. 

He  has  twenty-five  acres  of  young  grapes 
which  go  on  wires  next  year,  which  makes 
fifty  acres  in  the  ground  now. 


HIRAM  BURCH,  a  substantial  farmer  of 
Portland  and  a  Union  soldier  of  the  late 
civil  war,  is  a  son  of  Oliver  W.  and  Mary  S. 
(Tower)  Burch,  and  was  born  on  the  farm  on 
which  he  now  resides,  in  the  town  of  Portland, 
Chautauqua  county.  New  York,  December  15, 
1831.  In  the  town  of  Wells,  Rutland  county, 
Vermont,  in  the  year  1766,  was  born  to  Jona- 
than and  Eunice  Burch,  a  son,  who,  in  accord- 
ance with  a  time-honored  custom  of  New  Eng- 
land, was  given  his  father's  name,  Jonathan. 
This  Jonathan  Burch,  Jr.,  the  grandfather  of 
Hiram  Burch,  at  twenty  years  of  age  (1786) 
married  Sally  Hosford  and  .settled  in  Herki- 
mer county,  where,  after  a  residence  of  a  few 
years,  he  removed  to  Chenango  county.  He 
served  and  was  a  major  in  the  war  of  1812. 
In  January,  1818,  he  settled  on  lot  62,  twp.  4, 
in  the  town  of  Portland,  and  his  farm  is  now 
owned  by  the  subject  of  this  sketch.  He  died 
in  1838  and  his  wife  passed  away  in  1845, 
aged  sixty  years.  They  had  five  sous  and  five 
daughters:  Eunice,  wife  of  Hemau  Ely ;  Olive, 
who  married  Zeri  Yale;  Jonathan,  who  mar- 
ried Maria  Yale;  Powell  G.,  who  married 
Lovina  Palmer  ;  Polly,  wife  of  Jared  Taylor  ; 
Sally,  who  married   Erastus  Cole;  Oliver  W. 


342 


BIOGRAPHY  AND  HISTORY 


married  Mary  S.  Tower ;  Chauucy,  who  married 
Xaucy  Cole ;  Stephen  S. ;  aud  Matilda,  who 
died  at  eighteen  years  of  age.  Of  the  sons, 
Oliver  AV.  (father)  was  born  in  Herliimer 
county,  and  about  1825  purcliased  his  father's 
farm,  ou  which  he  resided  until  his  death,  in 
1883,  at  the  ripe  old  age  of  eighty-two  years. 
On  i\Iarch  8,  1825,  he  married  Mary  S])rague 
Tower,  daughter  of  John  and  Lucy  (Munson) 
Tower,  of  Oneida  county.  The  Towers  were 
descendants  of  one  who  came  over  in  the  "  May- 
flower." To  Oliver  W.  and  Mary  S.  Burch 
were  born  six  sons  and  three  daughters:  Lucy, 
Olive,  Hattie,  Walter,  who  served  in  the  49th 
New  York,  for  ten  months,  aud  was  discharged 
on  account  of  typhoid  fever ;  Xewell,  served 
about  two  and  a  half  years  as  a  memljer  of  the 
154th  New  York — was  captured  at  Gettysburg 
and  held  prisoner  for  twenty-one  months  at 
Belle  Isle  and  Andersonville ;  Rollin,  a  soldier 
in  the  7th  Iowa,  and  a  prisoner  for  two  months — 
he  then  re-enlisted  and  served  to  the  close  of  the 
war ;  Hiram,  was  in  Iowa  at  the  breaking  out 
of  the  rebellion ;  Horace  and  Ransom.  After  Mrs. 
O.  W.  Burch's  death,  March  2,  1851,  at  forty- 
three  years  of  age,  Mr.  Burch  married,  on  No- 
vember 30,  1884,  Arminda  Sunderlin,  who  still 
survives. 

Oliver  W.  Burci),  although  young,  remem- 
})ero(l  well  the  excitement  caused  by  the  British 
burning  Buffalo. 

Hiram  Burch  was  reared  on  the  homestead 
farm  and  received  his  education  in  the  common 
schools.  He  has  followed  farming  ever  since 
leaving  school,  and  is  now  engaged  to  some 
extent  in  the  cu!ttn-e  of  the  vine.  He  owns 
the  homestead  farm  of  ninety-seven  acres, 
which  is  located  three  miles  northeast  of  West- 
field.  In  18G1  Mr.  Burch  enli.sted  in  Co.  I, 
9th  regiment,  Iowa  volunteers,  l)ut  soon  caught 
a  cold  that  settled  in  his  eyes  aud  caused  his 
discharge  from  the  .service,  after  being  in  about 
four  months. 

Ou    March    17,    1870,   he    married    Louisa, 


daughter  of  Frederick  Miller.  They  have  one 
child,  a  son,  Clarence  G.,  now  in  his  twenty- 
first  year. 

Hiram  Burch  is  a  republican  iu  politics  and 
a  strong  advocate  of  the  temperance  cause.  On 
Thursday,  August  22,  1889,  there  was  a  re- 
union of  the  children  of  O.  W.  and  Mary  S. 
Burch  at  the  old  honiestead  farm.  All  of  the 
nine  children  were  present,  of  whom  the  eldest 
was  sixty-two  years  of  age,  and  the  youngest 
over  forty-two  years.  At  this  re-union  Rev. 
Knight  read  an  interesting  history  of  the  Burch 
family  from  1700  to  1890,  which  was  carefully 
prepared  by  one  of  the  children.  One  of  its 
concluding  sentences  was :  ''  But  as  our  feet 
diverge  from  this  home  of  our  childhood,  as  we 
again  go  forth  into  the  world,  let  us  uot  forget 
the  duties  we  owe  iu  all  charity  and  love  to  one 
another." 


T  .  EWIS  B.  BIXBY  is  a  sou  of  Horace  S. 
''"^  and  Julia  E.  (Hauchett)  Bixby,  and  was 
born  April  2,  1864,  in  Hartfield,  Chautauqua 
county,  New  York.  The  name  of  Bixby  is  of 
Danish  origin,  but  the  original  family  lived  so 
long  in  Boxford,  Suffolk  county,  England,  aud 
intermarried  so  much  with  the  inhabitants 
thereabout  that  the  Danish  characteristics  were 
well  nigh  lost.  The  first  one  of  the  family  to 
emigrate  to  America,  aud  from  whom  the 
American  Bixbys  all  descended,  was  Joseph 
Bixby,  who  came  from  England  in  1636,  and 
settled  in  Ipswich,  near  Salem,  Massachusetts, 
eleven  years  later  (1647).  In  1660  he  removed 
to  what  was  then  Rowley  village,  now  Box- 
ford,  being  incorporated  in  the  latter  place 
through  his  efforts.  In  1647  Joseph  Bixby 
was  married  to  Sarah  (Wyatt)  Heard,  wiio  was 
tlie  maternal  American  ancestor  of  tiie  Bixbys. 
The  family  has  been  remarkable  for  its  piety 
and  energy,  aud  many  of  those  born  iu  this  cen- 
tiwy  have  been  educated  men  of  high  standing. 
The  earlier  ones  had  to  struggle  with  the  lu- 
<lians,  and  became  well  acquainted  with  all  the 


OF  CHAUTAUQUA   COUNTY. 


343 


hardsliips  of  pioneer  life.  During  the  late  civil 
war  New  England  alone  furnished  ten  com- 
missioned officers  in  the  Union  army  from  tlie 
Bixby  family.  The  grcat-grcat-great-grand- 
fathcr  of  Lewis  13.  Bixby  was  Samuel  Bixby, 
who  was  a  son  of  Benjamin  Bixby,  and  was 
born  in  Lopsfield,  Massachusetts,  January  2, 
1089,  and  settled  in  Sutton,  Massachusetts,  in 
1718.  He  had  a  son,  Solomon,  who  was  born 
in  that  part  of  Sutton  now  Milbury,  Massachu- 
setts, and  settled  in  Barre,  Massachusetts.  His 
wife's  name  was  Esther,  but  farther  nothing  is 
remembered  of  her.  Solomon  Bixby  was  the 
great-great-grandfatlier  of  L.  B.  Bixby.  He 
had  three  sons  and  five  daughters ;  one  of  the 
sons,  Joel,  being  the  great-grandfather  of  L.  B. 
Bixby,  and  was  born  in  Barre,  Massachusetts, 
November  15,  1768,  and  had  two  children,  one 
of  whom,  Solomon,  born  March  5,  1808,  at 
Worcester,  Massachusetts,  and  died  in  May- 
ville.  New  York,  April  5,  1881,  was  the  grand- 
father of  L.  B.  Bixby.  He  owned  and  operated 
a  machine-shop  and  foundry,  first  at  Hartfield, 
this  county,  and  then  at  Mayviile.  In  polities 
he  was  a  republican.  He  had  a  family  of  six 
children,  two  sons  and  four  daughters,  the  eld- 
est of  whom  was  Horace  (father).  He  was 
born  October  20,  1835,  at  Worcester,  Massa- 
chusetts, and  was  married  November  21,  18G1, 
to  Julia  Hanchett,  a  daughter  of  Joseph  Han- 
chett,  by  whom  he  had  four  children,  two  sons 
and  two  daughters  :  Lewis  B.,  Georgianna,  born 
October  20,  1865,  at  Hartfield  (dead);  William, 
born  at  INIayville,  April  16,  1870,  died  January 
15,  1885;  and  Millie,  born  at  Mayviile,  De- 
cember 26,  1870. 

Lewis  B.  Bixby  was  educated  in  the  Union 
school,  at  Mayviile,  and  then  took  a  college 
preparatory  course,  but  did  not  enter  college. 
He  entered  the  Brush  Electric  Works,  at  Cleve- 
land, Ohio,  and  learned  the  trade  of  electrical 
engineering,  remaining  with  them  four  months 
in  the  shops,  and  then  went  into  the  field,  set- 
ting  up  their    lamps.      His    next   engagement 


was  with  the  Buckeye  Mower  and  Reaper 
Works,  at  Akron,  Ohio,  where  he  had  charge 
of  the  electric  lighting.  RetMrniiig  to  Mayviile 
in  1883,  he  engaged  in  the  machine-shop  with 
his  father,  where  they  do  a  general  repair  busi- 
ness, and  has  remained  there  since.  During 
the  summer  he  furnishes  the  electric  lighting  for 
the  Chautauqua  Association  grounds  at  the 
lake.  They  also  handle  pipe  and  supplies,  and 
have  a  factory,  twenty-five  by  fifty  feet,  two 
stories  on  Water  street.  In  politics  he  is  a 
republican,  and  is  at  present  excise  commis- 
sioner of  the  town  of  C'hautaiii|ua.  In  religion 
he  is  a  member  of  the  Baptist  Church,  of  May- 
viile, Lodge,  284,  I.  O.  O.  F.,  and  of  Lodge 
No.  825,  K.  of  H.,  at  Mayviile. 

Lewis  B.  Bixby  was  married  September  16, 
1884,  to  Alice  M.  Belden,  a  daughter  of  N.  D. 
Belden,  of  Mayviile,  and  has  two  children : 
Emma  T.,  born  July  8,  1885,  and  Harry  E., 
born  April  8,  189!J. 


OMITH  H.  BROWNKT.I.,  of  Ellery  town,  is 
'*^  a  son  of  Peter  R.  and  Rlioda  (Putnam) 
Brownell,  and  was  born  in  the  town  where  he 
now  resides,  June  4, 1835.  The  paternal  grand- 
parents were  Joshua  and  Elizabeth  (Reasoner) 
Brownell.  Joshua  Brownell  was  a  native  of 
the  Empire  State  and  was  born  on  Long  Island, 
near  Nevv  York  city,  and  arose  to  a  position  of 
prominence.  About  1812  he  moved  to  and  set- 
tled near  Elmira,  tliisi  State,  and  engaged  in 
cattle  dealing,  buying  and  shipping  large  num- 
bers to  the  New  York  and  Philadelphia  markets. 
Politically  he  was  a  \vhig  and  devoted  admirer 
of  DeWitt  Clinton,  whom  he  ardently  supported 
when  he  was  a  candidate  for  governor.  His 
wife,  Elizabeth  Reasoner,  bore  him  nine  chil- 
dren and  he  died  in  Chemuno-  couutv  in  1822. 
Peter  R.  Brownell  was  born  in  Dutchess  county 
April  20, 1806,  and  came  to  Chautauqua  county 
during  his  youth.  He  began  life  as  a  farm 
laborer,  working  by  the  mouth,  until  twenty- 
eight  years  of  age,  when  he  bought  a  farm  in 


344 


BIOGRAPHY  AND  HISTOMY 


the  town  of  Ellery,  which  lie  lived  upon  for 
thirty -six  years.  In  1870  he  moved  into  James- 
town, and,  being  wealthy,  he  has  retired  from 
business  and  is  quietly  enjoying  his  declining 
years.  He  married  Rhoda  Putnam,  who  bore 
him  three  children,  of  whom  our  subject  is  the 
eldest ;  INIary  Ann  and  Bessie  M.  For  a  second 
wife  he  married  Mrs.  Mary  Van  Dusen.  Po- 
litically he  is  a  republican  and  is  a  member  of 
the  Methodist  Episcopal  church. 

Smith  H.  Brownell  spent  the  first  seventeen 
years  of  his  life  ou   his  father's  farm  and  then 
engaged  in  the  mercantile  business  in  the  town 
of  Ellery,  continuing  it  with  fair  success  for  ten 
years,  but  ill  health  compelled  him  to  abandon 
•  the  confining  duties  of  the  store  and  he  returned  i 
to  the  farm,  upon  which    he   has  since  lived, 
nearly  thirty  years.     His  residence  is  beautifully 
situated  on  the  shore  of  Lake  Chautauqua,  and 
is  admirably  adapted  to  keeping  summer  board-  : 
ers.    During  the  season  his  house  was  filled  with  ' 
pleasure  and  health-seekers,  they  being  attracted 
thither  by  the   superior   accommodations   and  | 
home-like  comforts  found  there.     Many  expres- 
sions of  regret  were  heard  when  Mr.  Brownell 
decided  last  season  to  discontinue  the  business. 
His  farm  consists  of  one  hundred  and  ninety- 
seven  acres  kept  in  a  high  state  of  fertility. 

On  the  4th  of  June,  1858,  he  married  Mary 
A.  Strong,  a  daughter  of  Siley  Strong,  of  Ellery ; 
.she  became  the  mother  of  three  children — two 
sons,  George  W.,  born  July  4,  1859,  and  Perry 
E..,  born  August  8,  1871;  and  one  daughter — 
Adeline  S.,  born  July  29,  1862.  Mrs.  Brow- 
nell died  November  3,  1883,  aged  forty-three 
years.  George  W.  Brownell  married  Jennie 
Norton,  of  Bemus  Point,  February  fi,  1885, 
and  is  now  located  in  Dakota  ;  Adeline  S.  is  the 
wife  of  Charles  C.  Aniler,  and  resides  in  the 
same  State;  Perry  R.  is  unmai'ried  and  lives  at 
home.  For  his  second  wife  Mr.  Brownell  took 
Minerva  Dunn,  a  daughter  of  Daniel  Dunn,  of 
Sugar  Grove,  Pa.,  whoni  he  married  November 
20,  1884. 


Politically  he  is  a  republican  and  takes  an 
active  interest  in  party  matters.  He  is  now 
holding  the  office  of  justice  of  the  peace  for  the 
town  of  Ellery,  having  first  been  elected  to  fill 
au  unexpired  term,  but  in  the  spring  of  1891 
he  was  re-elected.  Smith  H.  Brownell  is  of  a 
modest,  retiring  disposition,  but  pos.sesses  an 
open  frank  character  that  makes  friends.  He 
is  a  member  of  Bemus  Point  Lodge,  No.  585, 
I.  O.  O.  F.,  and  belougs  to  the  Grange  Associa- 
tion. While  not  a  member  of  any  religious  de- 
nomination he  attends  and  contributes  liberally 
to  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church  and  is  looked 
upon  as  one  of  its  warm  friends. 


JOSEPH  APPLEYARD  was  born  Novem- 
'^^  ber  22,  1834,  at  a  place  about  one  mile 
west  of  Haworth — the  home  of  the  gifted 
Bronte  family — Yorkshire,  England.  On  the 
maternal  side  of  his  father's  family,  his  ances- 
tors belonged  to  the  sturdy  old  Cromwell  stock, 
whose  niece  married  Archbi.shop  Tillot.son,  who 
in  his  time  did  so  much  to  frame  public  opinion, 
lifting  up  the  English  clergy,  and,  by  wise 
counsel,  iufluencing  Queen  Anne  to  a  marked 
degree,  during  her  reign.  On  his  father's  side 
he  claims  connection  with  the  valued  craftsmen 
imported  into  England  from  the  Netherlands, 
on  account  of  their  skill  in  the  manipulation  of 
wool,  now  known  as  worsted  goods.  For  gen- 
erations back  these  commodities  were  manufac- 
tured in  the  homes  of  the  pea.sants  and  so  satis- 
fied were  they  with  the  profession  that  each 
member  of  the  family  was  inducted  inio  its 
mysteries,  following  the  footsteps  of  their  sire 
with  a  regularity  and  precision  almost  without 
exception.  Wiien  the  subject  of  this  history 
entered  life,  the  most  conspicuous  pieces  of  fur- 
niture ill  the  home  were  a  number  of  hand- 
looms,  and  the  first  and  la.st  notes  of  his  daily 
life  were  those  created  by  the  sonorous  noise  of 
the  Hying  shuttle,  driven  by  manual  force  across 
the  web  and  on  the  dexterity  of  which  depend- 
ed  both    the  comfort    and    necessaries  of  life. 


^  /^U^L^^^-^ 


OF  CHAUTAUQUA   COUNTY. 


347 


Put  to  work,  first  to  wind  the  yarn  on  tiie  [ 
spools  for  tlie  filling,  tlien  advanced  to  the  j 
loom  while  yet  not  in  his  teens,  he  became  an 
expert,  so  that  when  by  the  introduction  of 
steam,  weaving  became  centralized  in  factories, 
a  practical  knowledge  liad  been  obtained  wiiicli 
made  it  easy  to  adapt  himself  to  the  new  con- 
dition of  tilings.  From  the  position  of  weaver 
to  that  of  oyerseer  was  a  laudable  desire  which 
his  ambition  soon  made  possible,  and  by  the 
realization  of  which,  he  accpiired  a  qualification 
to  maintain  a  distinguished  relation  to  some  of 
the  leading  manufacturers  of  the  Bradford 
trade. 

In  1872,  through  his  brother,  he  concluded 
an  engagement  with  Hall,  Broadhead  &  Turner 
to  take  the  management  of  the  weaving  depart-  i 
ment  in  the  enterprise  to  be  established  in 
Jamestown,  New  York,  and  in  the  summer  of 
the  following  year  took  up  his  residence  in  that 
city,  and  set  up  the  recpiisite  machinery,  produc- 
ing the  first  piece  of  alpaca  ever  made  in  that 
new  industry,  and  which  has  given  to  James- 
town such  a  world-wide  repntatiou.  After 
three  years  of  hard  service  he  severed  his  con- 
nection with  the  firm — they  having  discarded 
their  obligation  made  by  Mr.  Turner — and  en- 
gaged with  the  firm  of  William  Broadhead  & 
Sons,  the  senior  member  of  which  only  a  short 
time  before,  having  also  withdrawn  from  the 
first  mentioned  firm.  In  1876  he  began  the 
Broadhead  Mills,  wiiich  stand  as  a  monument 
of  persevering  energy  and  practical  skill.  With 
an  indomitable  will  and  an  assiduous  applica- 
tion, an  integrity  and  devotion  rarely  paral- 
leled, for  sixteen  years  he  has  faithfully  striven 
to  keep  up  to  the  times  and  still  merits  tiie  con- 
fidence of  all  who  know  him.  Politically  he  is 
a  republican,  though  an  unswerving  advocate 
of  temperance ;  in  religious  sentiment  he  is  a 
Methodist  and  is  sustaining  the  position  of  trus- 
tee to  the  First  Methodist  Episcopal  church  in 
Jamestown.  Previous  to  cominy;  to  America 
he  joined  the  Odd  Fellows  and  now  is  a  mem-  . 


ber  of  the  Sons  of  St.  George — a  secret  society 
organized  for  beneficial  pnrpo.ses  to  its  member- 
ship— and  has  served  as  its  treasurer  for  nine 
years  ;  Mr.  Appleyard  is  also  a  prominent  mem- 
ber of  the  Jamestown  Permanent  Loan  and  In- 
vestment A.ssociation. 

In  1800  he  married  Mary,  the  eldest  daugh- 
ter of  John  and  Jane  Ogden  of  Keighley,  York- 
shire, England,  and  to  them  have  been  born  one 
son  and  three  daughters  :  the  son  and  one  daugh- 
ter died  j)revious  to  their  coming  to  the  United 
States;  of  the  others,  Sara,  a  noted  vocalist, 
and  Ada  M.,  a  distinguished  artist  and  decora- 
tor of  china,  now  live  with  their  parents  at  No. 
39  Center  street,  Jamestown,  New  York. 


nEV.  CHALON  BURGESS,  pastor  of  the 
Presbyterian  church  of  Silver  Creek,  is  a 
son  of  Dr.  Jacob  and  Mary  (Tyler)  Burgess, 
and  was  born  at  Silver  Creek,  in  the  town  of 
Hanover,  Chautauqua  county,  New  York,  June 
24,  1817.  The  Burgess  family  of  America, 
trace  their  lineage  through  Thomas  Burgess, 
who  was  one  of  the  Pilgrim  fathers,  who  came 
over  in  1630  and  settled  at  Sandwich  or  Cape 
Cod.  One  of  his  descendants  was  Dr.  Jacob 
Burgess,  who  was  a  native  of  Lauesboro,  Berk- 
shire county,  Massachusetts,  where  he  read 
medicine,  and  from  which  county  he  came  to 
Silver  Creek,  in  1811.  He  was  tlie  first  phy- 
sician of  Silver  Creeli  and  his  field  of  practice 
was  not  confined  within  the  limits  of  the  coun- 
ty, while  in  many  instances  he  had  no  road  and 
travelled  through  the  woods  by  blazed  trees. 
He  also  practiced  among  the  Indians  and  after 
forty  years  of  continuous  practice,  died  at  Sil- 
ver Creek,  April  15,  18-5-5,  aged  eighty  years. 
He  was  a  liberal  democrat  and  a  well  informed 
man,  who  kept  acquainted  with  all  scientific 
matters  and  pursuits. 

Chalon  Burgess  received  his  early  education 
in  the  common  schools  of  Silver  Creek,  after 
which  he  attended  Fredonia  academy  and  then 
entered   Hamilton  college,  from   which   he  was 


348 


BIOORAPHY  AND  HISTORY 


graduated  in  1844.  After  graduation,  he  was 
employed  for  nine  montlis  in  teaching  one 
of  the  public  schools  of  Buffalo,  New  York, 
and  at  the  end  of  that  time  became  principal  of 
the  schools  of  Nunda,  in  Livingston  county, 
which  position  he  held  for  eighteen  months. 
He  then  entered  the  Theological  seminary  of 
Auburn,  New  York,  from  which  he  was  gradu- 
ated in  1849  and  immediately  commenced  his 
ministerial  labors.  On  account  of  ill  health  he 
declined  some  important  work  offered  him  and 
assumed  charge  of  the  Congregational  church 
at  Little  Valley,  Cattaraugus  county,  where  his 
ministry  extended  over  a  period  of  eleven  years. 
From  Little  Valley  he  was  called  to  the  Pres- 
byterian church  of  Panama,  over  which  his 
pastorate  extended  for  fifteen  years,  lacking 
three  months.  While  there  he  also  had  charge 
of  the  Congregational  church  of  Ashville  for 
five  years.  In  November,  1875,  he  became 
pastor  of  the  Presbyterian  church  of  Silver 
Creek,  with  which  he  has  faithfully  labored 
ever  since  until  his  recent  resignation,  May  1, 
1891.  During  his  efficient  pastorate  the  church 
has  increased  from  a  membership  of  one  hun- 
dred and  forty-four  to  two  hundred  and  thirty- 
seven. 

June  2,  1853,  Rev.  Mr.  Burgess  married 
Emma  J.,  daughter  of  Rev.  Charles  Johnston, 
of  Ovid,  Seneca  county.  New  Y'ork.  They  had 
three  children  :  Edward  S..  professor  of  Botany 
and  Natural  Sciences  in  the  Washington  City 
high  school ;  Theodore  C,  professor  of  Greek 
and  Latin  in  Fredonia  Normal  school;  and 
Sarah  Julia,  now  attending  Welleslcy  college. 

Rev.  Chalon  Burgess  is  a  logical  and  pleas- 
ing .s])eaker,  a  courteous  gentleman  and  a  deci- 
ded prohibitionist  in  political  opinion.  He  is 
the  author  of  several  published  sermons,  one  of 
which  was  delivered  on  the  death  of  Abraham 
Lincoln  and  told  with  power  and  pathos  the 
story  of  the  martyr,  whose  achievements  and 
tragic  death  have  made  a  figure,  the  like  of 
which  has  never  been  equaled  in  history. 


From  the  New  York  Evangelist  we  quote ; 
"Buffalo  Pi-esbytery  has  furnished  two  striking 
exceptions  to  the  proverb  '  A  prophet  is  not 
without  honor,  save  in  his  own  country  and  in 
his  own  house.'  The  exceptions  are  the  late 
Rev.  Dr.  Grosvenor  W.  Heacock,  who,  boi'n 
and  reared  in  Buffalo,  became  one  of  the  most 
honored  and  beloved  ministers  the  city  ever 
had,  and  the  Rev.  Chalon  Burgess,  who,  born 
and  reared  in  Silver  Creek,  has  just  closed  in 
that  village  a  most  useful  and  honorable  pas- 
torate." 

From  the  local  paper :  "  After  forty  years  of 
service  in  the  Lord's  vineyard,  he  seeks  retire- 
ment in  a  community  which  honors  and  respects 
him  as  a  profound  scholar,  a  keen  thinker,  an 
upright   Christian,   a  citizen  of  whom  all  are 

proud." 

e» 

■pLIAS  H.  JEXXIER  was  a  farmer  of  the 
■*"^  town  of  Busti,  prominent  on  account  of 
his  intellectual  power  and  long  connection  with 

\  educational  work.  He  was  a  son  of  Stephen 
and  Betsey  Jenuier,  and  was  born  in  Essex 
county,  New  Y^ork,  in  1826,  and  came  to  Chau- 
tauqua county  with  his  father  when  only  eight 
years  of  age,  and  lived  in  the  town  of  Hai'- 
mony,  where  they  stayed  a  short  time,  and  then 
went  to  Belvidere,  Illinois,  where  the  ensuing 
seven  years  were  spent.  In  1841,  when  only 
fifteen  years  of  age,  Mr.  Jenuier,  "who  had  de- 
veloped marked  aptitude  for  study,  returned  to 
this  county  and  adopted  the  profession  of  school 
teaching,  and  in  the  years  following  taught  in 
nearly  all  the  principal   schools  of  the  county. 

i  Some  of  this  county's  men,  whose  names  are 
written  highest  on  the  scroll  of  fame,  received 
their  instruction  from  him.  He  was  the  clerk 
of  the  board  of  supervisors  for  twenty-six 
years,  and  served  upon  the  board  for  a  long 
time.  Politically  he  was  a  republican,  took  a 
great  interest  and  kept  well  posted  in  ])olitical 
matters,  as  well  as  the  general  news  of  the  day. 

1       In  1844  he  married  Louisa  Pier,  a  daughter 


OF  CHAUTAUQUA   COUNTY. 


349 


of  Abram  Pier,  a  resident  of  Busti,  now  de- 
ceased. By  their  union  four  children  were  born 
to  them.  Mr.  .Tennior  was  a  gentle  iuisband 
and  a  kind  father,  and  was  happiest  when  enter- 
taining a  company  of  his  friends.  In  connec- 
tion witli  his  other  work  he  ojierated  a  fiirm, 
and  belonged  to  the  Grange  and  tlie  Knights 
of  Honor. 

Elias  H.  Jennier  died  in  1883,  leaving  a  sor- 
rowing family  to  mourn  his  loss.  His  wife  now 
resides  on  the  old  homestead,  two  miles  from 
Jamestown,  and  has  re-married  to  Smith 
Homer,  whom  she  knew  in  youth.  Mr.  Homer 
spent  thirty-eight  years  on  the  Pacific  coast,  and 
saw  much  of  the  life  of  the  '49ers  and  others  of 
the  early  adventurers,  who  were  drawn  thither 
by  the  visions  of  Golcouda's  wealth.  He  is 
now  happily  located  with  his  wife  at  their 
pleasant  home. 


/>EORGE  L.  SKINKER  is  one  of  the  most 
^^  substantial  and  prosperous  farmers  in  the 
town  of  Portland,  and  has  reached  this  condi- 
tion of  affluence  by  his  own  exertions,  industry 
and  good  management.  He  is  a  son  of  David 
and  Mary  (Williams)  Skinner,  and  was  born  in 
the  town  of  Portland,  Chautauqua  county,  New 
York,  September  30,  1840.  Being  now  in  his 
fifty-first  year  and  having  lived  temperately, 
he  is  in  the  prime  of  life.  David  Skinner 
came  to  Chautauqua  county  from  Chenango, 
where  he  was  born  in  1802,  and  settled  in  the 
town  of  Portland.  During  the  past  seventy 
years  he  has  been  a  farmer,  and  still  lives  upon 
the  beautiful  place  which  he  cut  out  from  the 
virgin  forest,  and  although  past  eighty-sseven 
years  of  age,  he  is  enjoying  health  that  is  re- 
markable. At  one  time  he  was  the  largest 
property  owner  in  the  town,  but  a  great  deal  of 
it  has  been  sold  to  different  parties,  although  he 
is  still  the  possessor  of  a  large  acreage.  David 
Skinner  is  a  democrat,  and  was  highly  pleased 
Avhen  his  party  succeeded  in  electing  a  president 
in  the  campaign  struggle  of  1884.     Mr.  Skin- 


ner traces  his  origin  to  the  Emerald  Isle,  but 
the  family  was  transplanted  to  American  soil 
nearly  a  century  ago.  He  married  Mary  Wil- 
liams, who  was  of  Scotch  parentage,  and  who 
bore  him  several  children.     Elial  W.  Skinnei", 

i  whose  sketch  appears  elsewhere,  is  a  brother  of 
G.  L.,  and  is  just  two  years  his  elder. 

George  L.  Skinner  was  reared  on   a   farm  to 

j  which  he  has  ever  since  been  attached,  and  his 
education  was  acquired  at  tiie  jiublic  schools, 
which  by  1855  and  18G0  had  reached  a  good 
degree  of  excellence  in  western  New  York. 
He  now  owns  a  farm  of  forty-eight  acres,  two 
and  one-half  miles  west  of  Brocton,  and  other 
laud  in  various  localities  of  the  town,  twenty- 

I  five  acres  being  a  vineyard. 

On  July  7,  1866,  he  married  Susan  J.  Tay- 
lor, a  daughter  of  Gurdon  Taylor,  of  this 
town.  Their  union  has  been  blessed  with  one 
child  :  Gurdon  D.,  now  a  promising  young  man, 
aged  nineteen.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Skinner  have  a 
happy  home,  and  witli  their  pleasant  surround- 
ings are  handsomely  located  to  entertain  their 
friends  of  whom  there  are  many. 

G.  L.  Skinner  is  a  democrat  of  a  stanch 
and  tried  character,  and  is  a  member,  trustee, 
secretary  and  treasurer  of  the  church,  to  which 
he  and  his  wife  have  belonged  for  a  num- 
ber of  years.  The  fraternal  and  beneficial  so- 
cieties, too,  number  him  on  their  books,  he 
being  active  in  both  the  Equitable  Aid  Union 
and  the  Grange.  There  is  no  man  in  the 
county  whose  reputation  for  integrity,  honesty 
and  uprightness  is  brighter,  and  he  has  the  con- 
fidence of  all. 


"Cl'CJEXE  E.  DUDLEY  was  born  in  Che- 

■'■^  nango  county.  New  York,  September  6, 
1850,  and  is  a  son  of  John  and  Maria  (Hotch- 
kiss)  Dudley,  both  natives  of  the  county  men- 
tioned. The  paternal  grandfather,  Lyman 
Dudley,  came  from  Berkshire  county,  Massa- 
chusetts, and  settled  as  a  farmer  in  Chenango 
county  in   1786.     He  died    there  about  1858, 


350 


BIOGRAPHY  AND  HISTORY 


aged  seventy-two  years.  John  Dudley  was 
born  in  Chenango  county  in  1814,  and  was 
reared  on  his  father's  farm,  which  he  assisted 
in  running  until  1843,  when  he  came  to  Broc- 
ton  and  located.  He  still  resides  there  a  re- 
tired farmer.  Farming  and  dairying  was  his 
life-long  occupation,  and  by  them  a  compe- 
tence was  amassed.  John  Dudley  is  now  sev- 
enty-seven years  old, — a  uuiversalist  and  a 
democrat.  He  married  Maria  Hotchkiss,  of 
Chenango  county,  in  1843,  and  by  her  had  six 
children.     She  died  in  1861. 

Eugene  E.  Dudley  spent  his  early  life  on 
his  father's  farm,  and  received  such  education 
as  the  district  schools  could  furnish.  When 
seventeen  years  of  age,  he  received  a  position 
as  brakeman  on  the  L.  S.  and  M.  S.  R.  R., 
running  between  Cleveland  and  Erie,  and  fol- 
lowed that  occupation  for  four  years. 

On  November  19,  1873,  he  married  Ellen 
S.  Derby,  a  daughter  of  Blanchard  Derby,  of 
Cassadaga,  this  county,  and  moved  on  his 
farm,  which  consists  of  forty-five  acres,  located 
three-quarters  of  a  mile  out  of  Portland  vil- 
lage. He  has  a  fine  grape  orchard,  and  gives 
much  attention  to  growing  that  fruit.  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Dudley  have  three  children,  two  sons 
and  one  daughter  :  Walter  E.,  Frank  H.  and 
Clara  F.  Mrs.  Dudley  was  a  pleasant  and 
Cliristian  lady,  devoted  to  her  husband  and 
family,  and  numbering  a  large  circle  of  friends. 
She  died  May  19,  1888,  aged  thirty-five  years. 

E.  E.  Dudley  is  a  member  of  Summit 
Lodge,  No.  219,  Free  and  Accepted  Masons, 
which  meets  at  Wcstfield ;  is  a  democrat,  a 
genial  gentleman,  and  one  of  the  most  enter- 
prising and  substantial  residents  of  the  town. 


"fj^INSLOW  fSHKKMAJf  is  a  quiet,  unas- 
■*''•  suming  gcntlernan,  but  nevertheless  one 
of  the  solid  and  substantial  farmers  of  the 
town  of  Biisti,  in  which  lie  lives.  He  is  the 
son  of  Nicholas  and  Hannah  (Winslow)  Slier- 
man,  and   was    Ijorn    in    the   town   mentioned, 


January  9,  1824.  The  father,  Nicholas  Sher- 
man, was  a  native  of  Washington  county,  this 
State,  and  was  one  of  the  earliest  actual  settlers 
who  came  to  Chautauqua.  He  located  in  the 
town  of  Busti  shortly  after  the  beginnins;  of 
the  present  century,  having  secured  a  large 
tract  of  land  from  the  Holland  Land  Com- 
pany. His  property  was  more  than  five  hun- 
dred acres  in  extent,  and  upon  his  arrival  was 
a  virgin  forest.  With  the  keen  blade  of  his 
axe  he  felled  the  trees,  which  at  that  time  were 
too  plentiful  to  be  valuable,  and,  as  the  easiest 
means  to  get  rid  of  them,  they  were  burned. 
He  was  a  Quaker  by  faith,  and  in  politics  a 
republican,  and  was  elected  to  some  of  the 
town  offices.  Mr.  Sherman  died  in  1868,  aged 
sevent3'-nine  years ;  he  was  a  kind,  good  man, 
and  entirely  devoted  to  his  family,  upon  whose 
comfort  and  welfare  he  spared  no  pains.  He 
married  Hannah  Winslow,  who  was  born  in 
Cayuga  county.  New  York.  She  was  a  de- 
scendant of  Gov.  Winslow,  of  Massachusetts, 
and  died  in  1877,  having  attained  the  age  of 
eighty-four  years.  She  too  passed  away,  con- 
soled by  her  trust  and  faith  in  the  Quaker 
religion. 

Winslow  Sherman  was  early  taught  to  toil, 
and  jjassing  his  life  upon  his  father's  farm,  he 
was  educated  at  the  common  schools,  whose 
course  of  instruction  at  that  time  was  nominal. 
His  life's  work  has  been  farmings  and  he  is 
now  the  owner  of  the  property  upon  which  he 
resides. 

January  1,  1848,  he  married  Laura  A. 
White,  a  daughter  of  David  AVIiite,  who  lived 
at  North  Collins,  Erie  County,  New  York. 
The  fruit  of  their  union  was  seven  children, 
three  .sons  and  four  daugliters :  Cynthia  A.  is 
the  wife  of  Clinton  Davis,  and  resides  at  Tidi- 
oute.  Pa.;  Jennie  P.  married  Fred  William- 
son, and  she  has  her  residence  (in  the  old 
homestead;  Annie  W.  and  her  husband,  Will 
E.  Dennison,  are  residents  of  Council  (Jrovc, 
Kan.sas ;  Dora  0.  is  married  to  Frank  P.  Stod- 


OF  CHAUTAUQUA   COUNTY. 


351 


(lard,  a  Baptist  minister  located  at  Amsterdam, 
New  York  ;  Byron  W.  is  a  farmer  in  the  town 
of  Busti,  and  married  Annie  B.  Sterns;  Erie 
is  married  to  Emma  A.  Hudson,  and  lives  in 
Livingston,  Montana,  where  he  and  his  brother 
Merle,  wlio  is  single,  have  a  large  cattle  ranch. 
Winslow  Sherman  is  a  stalwart  republican,  but 
is  modest  and  unassuming,  and  he  stands  with 
the  foremost  substantial  citizens  of  the  town  of 
Busti. 


TUTILO  HITCHCOCK  is  a  prominent  and 
\  progressive  agriculturist  of  Kennedy,  this 
county,  who  has  become  a  representative  citizen 
through  his  own  strong  personality  and  vigor- 
ous industry.  He  is  a  son  of  Otis  and  Sarah 
(Delano)  Hitchcock  and  was  born  September 
30th,  1832,  in  the  town  of  Randolph.  The 
paternal  grandfather,  Bethnel  Hitchcock,  came 
from  Massachusetts  when  quite  a  young  man 
and  settled  near  Bloom 6eld  but  afterwards 
moved  to  Henrietta,  Monroe  county.  He  was 
a  soldier  in  the  war  of  1812  and  at  its  close 
came  home  and  died.  His  mother's  family 
came  from  Cayuga  county,  New  York  and  was 
of  Scotch  extraction.  Otis  Hitchcock  was  born 
in  the  Empire  State,  May  9th,  1795,  and  spent 
his  childhood  and  youth  on  a  farm.  His  par- 
ents were  not  wealthy,  and,  although  the  young 
man  went  to  school  in  early  youth,  as  soon  as 
his  services  became  of  some  value,  he  was  put 
to  work,  first  at  farm  laboring  but  arose  to  the 
dignity  of  a  lauded  proprietor  at  Henrietta, 
Monroe  county,  while  yet  young.  He  removed 
to  Randolph  about  the  year  1824,  where,  fol- 
lowing fiirming,  he  stayed  the  remainder  of  his 
life,  with  the  exception  of  two  years  that  he 
lived  in  Niagara  county,  New  York.  He  died 
June  19th,  1873,  at  the  age  of  seventy-eight 
years.  He  married  Sarah  Delano  and  became 
the  father  of  twelve  children,  ten  of  whom 
reached  maturity  :  Truman,  Jetferson,  Harriett, 
Adaline,  Eliza,  Edwin,  ]\IiIo,  Sarah,  Mary  and 
Alvin.  Alvin  died  in  Julv  1864,  and  Adaline 
18 


and  Sarah  both  are  dead.  Otis  Hitchcock  was 
a  whig  and,  during  the  slavery  agitation, 
became  an  abolitionist.  He  held  a  number  of 
local  offices  which  he  filled  with  fidelity.  The 
Baptist  church  occupied  a  warm  place  in  his 
heart  and  he  served  it  as  a  deacon  for  many 
years.  He  was  but  a  boy  at  the  breaking  out 
of  hostilities  in  our  second  war  with  the  mother 
country  but  he  enlisted  and  did  gallant  service 
on  the  Canadian  frontier.  Early  in  life  he  .saw 
that  the  chief  requisite  to  make  a  man  successful 
in  life  was  tact  and  a  good  education  and  he 
began  to  devise  plans  for  the  improvement  and 
popularizing  of  our  educational  system.  He 
held  a  position  on  the  school  commission  and 
was  one  of  the  projectors  and  supporters  of 
Chamberlain  Institute.  Being  a  careful  and 
hard-working  farmer,  he  accumulated  consider- 
able property,  which  he  handled  with  skill.  Mr. 
Hitchcock  took  a  deep  interest  in  public  affairs 
and  although  conservative  in  his  views,  was 
thoughtful  and  philanthropic  in  disposition. 

Milo  Hitchcock  secured  his  early  training  on 
his  father's  farm  ;  his  elementary  education  was 
received  at  the  common  schools  and  was  supple- 
mented by  a  course  at  Randolph  academy. 
When  he  stepped  forth  to  battle  with  the  world, 
his  first  work  was  lumbering  but  he  finally 
settled  back  to  farming,  to  which  he  found  him- 
self best  adapted.  In  the  latter  '50s  he  went 
west  but  returned  to  Cattaraugus  county  in  1861 
and  bought  the  old  homestead  and  lived  upon 
it  for  two  years.  The  ensuing  twenty  years 
were  pa.ssed  in  buying  and  selling  farms,  .several 
exchanges  being  made  where  he  saw  it  was  profit- 
able, and  in  1884  he  came  to  Poland  town, 
Chautauqua  county,  where  he  now  resides. 

On  March  23d,  1862,  he  married  Louise  Hill, 
a  daughter  of  Julius  Hill,  a  prominent  farmer 
of  Cattaraugus  county  and  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Hitchcock  became  the  parents  of  six  children  ; 
Harriet  E.,  born  Christmas  day,  1862;  Ger- 
trude M.  ;  Frank  G. ;  Fred  ;  Melva  and  Flor- 
ence M.      Melva  died   in   infancy,  Harriet  E. 


352 


BIOGRAPHY  AND  HISTORY 


became  the  wife  of  George  M.  Wilhelm,  of 
Eaudolph,  Gertrude  married  E.  M.  Bush  of 
Kennedy,  and  Frank  married  Nellie  Harris; 
she  died  September  17th,  1890. 

Milo  Hitchcock  is  identified  with  the  Repub- 
lican party  and  was  assessor  of  the  town  of 
Randolph.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Patrons  of 
Husbandry,  was  a  director  of  the  County  Agri- 
cultural Society  and  has  served  on  the  school 
board  and  excise  committee.  He  keeps  himself 
well  posted  on  current  events  and  is  one  of  the 
most  intelligent  and  well-read  men  in  his  town. 


T4>-ILLIAM  HUNT  was  an   intelligent  and 

-***-  progressive  farmer  of  Ripley  town,  whose 
aim  in  early  life  was  to  attain  a  superior  educa- 
tion and  prepare  for  a  professional  career,  but 
poor  health  diverted  his  course  when  he  mastered 
common  English  and  the  rudiments  of  science, 
and  prevented  his  entering  college.  William 
Hunt  was  a  son  of  Samuel  and  Mary  (Prender- 
gast)  Hunt,  was  born  in  the  town  of  Ripley, 
Chautauqua  county,  New  York,  January  29, 
1822,  and  died  there  on  the  first  day  of  Decem- 
ber, 1869,  honored  and  respected  by  all  M'ho 
knew  him.  The  paternal  grandfather,  William 
Hunt,  was  a  native  of  Washington  county,  this 
State,  and  came  from  tiiere  to  Chautauqua  town 
and  county,  and  settled  on  lot  29,  twp.  3,  which 
lay  contiguous  to  Chautauqua  lake,  where  he 
lived  until  his  death  in  1845,  aged  seventy-seven 
years.  He  had  nine  children  who  reached 
mature  ages  and  had  families.  Thomas  Pren- 
dergast  (maternal  grandfather),  the  second  son 
of  William  Prendergast,  Sr.,  was  born  in  Pawl- 
ing, N.  Y.,  September  15,  1758,  and  married 
Deborah  Hunt,  wiio  was  born  August  25, 1774. 
Tiiey  came  to  Ripley  in  the  fall  of  1805,  having 
made  the  long  trip  to  Tennessee  and  back  in 
wagons.  Thomas  Prendergast  purchased  tliree 
hundred  acres  of  land  in  the  town  and  lived 
upon  it  until  he  died  June  3, 1842,  aged  eighty- 
four  years.  His  wife  died  August  9,  1846. 
They  had  two  children :  Stephen,  who  became 


very  prominent  in  the  county,  and  died  January 
31,  1852;  and  INlary  (mother  of  subject),  who, 
with  her  husband,  Samuel  Hunt,  lived  upon  a 
part  of  the  Prendergast  farm  after  her  father's 
death.  Samuel  Hunt  was  born  in  Washington 
county  about  1776,  but  came  to  Ripley  with  his 
father  and  married  Mary  Prendergast  in  1821. 
They  had  three  children  :  William,  Maria  and 
Eliza,  the  latter  two  being  successively  the  wife 
of  Dr.  Simeon  Collins,  now  dead. 

William  Hunt  was  reared  on  his  father's  farm, 
and  early  developing  a  fondness  for  knowledge, 
he  was  given  every  opportunity  for  acquiring  it. 
After  learning  the  lessons  of  the  district  schools 
he  was  sent  to  the  Westfield  academy,  where  he 
was  prepared  for  college,  but  before  his  ambition 
could  be  realized  it  was  discovered  that  the  state 
of  his  health  would  not  allow  him  to  give  study 
the  application  which  he  desired  and  the  idea 
was  abandoned.  He  then  returned  to  the  farm, 
from  which  so  many  American  sciiolars,  states- 
men and  warriors  have  sprung. 

On  September  2,  1844,  he  married  Augusta 
Mann,  a  daughter  of  Jeremiah  Mann,  of  Ripley. 
Mr.  Hunt  continued  farming  until  the  grave 
reaper  summoned  him,  December  1, 1869,  when 
but  forty-seven  j'ears  of  age.  Jeremiah  Mann 
was  a  native  of  Milton,  Saratoga  county,  N.  Y., 
where  he  was  born  July  5,  1800,  and  twenty- 
five  years  later  he  came  to  Ripley.  The  next 
year  he  moved  to  North  East,  Pa.,  and  remained 
eleven  years,  and  then  returned  to  Ripley,  and 
lived  until  September  11,  1868,  when  he  died. 
He  was  universally  esteemed  as  a  citizen,  and 
had  a  strong  hold  upon  tiie  public  confidence. 
He  M-as  a  republican,  active  in  tlie  politics  oi 
the  county,  and  was  elected  to  the  State  assem- 
bly in  1844.  Progression  and  public  improve- 
ments had  his  attention  to  a  large  degree,  and 
when  the  Buffalo  and  Erie  railraiid  was  con- 
structed he  was  one  of  its  first  directors.  ]\Ir. 
Mann  was  six  feet  tall,  broad-shouldered  and 
straight,  and  being  finely  proportioned  was  ot 
striking    appearance.       He    married    Clarissa 


OF  CHAUTAUQUA  COUNTY. 


353 


Brockway,  a  daughter  of  Burban  Brockway,  of 
the  same  town,  who  was  a  pronainent  citizen  and 
a  Christian  gentleman ;  was  born  at  Lyme, 
Connectient,  March  1, 1767,  and  died  in  Ripley, 
September  2,  18H1.  Mr.  Mann  became  the 
father  of  three  daughters :  Augusta,  Caroline, 
married  William  Bell,  Jr.,  of  Erie,  Pa.,  died 
March  12,  1875;  and  Lydia,  who  became  Mrs. 
Lucius  G.  Hamilton.  Her  husband  died  March 
16, 1874,  leaving  one  child,  Charles  Mann,  born 
January  23,  1874. 

Mrs.  William  Hunt  is  now  living  in  Ripley, 
a  woman  highly  esteemed  in  social  and  church 
circles,  who  is  prominent  in  all  good  work  that 
is  proposed.  She  is  now  in  her  sixty-fifth  year, 
and  is  enjoying  excellent  health. 


T  .  YMAJS"  F.  WEEDEN.  The  leading  drug- 
-■^  gist  and  stationer  of  the  village  ot  Ken- 
nedy was  born  at  Randolph,  Cattaraugus  county, 
September  19,  1837,  and  is  a  sou  of  Joseph  E. 
and  Margaret  (Waite)  Weeden.  The  State  of 
Connecticut  gave  to  the  world  subject's  paternal 
grandparents,  while  the  Waites  were  natives  of 
Vermont.  Caleb  Weeden  came  from  his  early 
home  and  settled  at  Pike,  Wyoming  county. 
New  York,  about  the  year  1816,  where  he 
followed  farming  until  his  death.  He  took 
an  enthusiastic  interest  in  the  local  militia, 
and  was  captain  of  a  company.  The  Baptist 
church  numbered  him  among  its  most  valued 
members,  for  his  example  of  Christian  devotion 
and  generous  liberality  were  worthy  of  emula- 
tion. He  was  twice  married  and  reared  a  family 
of  six  children.  Gresham  Waite  was  a  member 
of  the  family  of  that  name  which  has  become 
distinguished  for  legal  learning;.  He  was  born 
about  1777  and  married  Miriam  Lakiu  in  1803, 
soon  after  coming  to  Livingston  county,  this 
State.  His  wife  bore  him  a  family  of  six  chil- 
dren, all  of  whom  grew  to  man  and  womanhood. 
He  was  a  farmer.  Joseph  E.  Weeden  was  born 
in  the  old  town  of  Norwich,  Connecticut,  July 
27,  1809,  and  from  there  his  parents  went  to 


Chelsea,  Vermont,  where  they  stayed  four  years, 
and  again  loading  their  personal  effects  into  the 
cumbersome  wagons,  they  drove  across  the 
country  to  western  New  York  and  .settled  at 
Pike,  Wyoming  county.  New  York.  He  studied 
law  with  Luther  Peck,  of  that  village,  and  was 
admitted  to  practice  in  the  courts  of  tiiat  district 
in  Alay,  1836,  when  he  established  a  law  office 
at  Randolph,  and  is  still  living  there,  aged 
eighty-two  years.  IMr.  Weeden  was  a  memljer  of 
the  assembly  during  the  term  of  1846-47,  having 
been  elected  upon  the  whig  ticket,  and  has  been 
justice  of  the  peace  and  held  other  local  offices. 
September  27, 1836,  he  married  Margaret  Waite, 
who  bore  him  five  children,  four  sons  and  one 
daughter.  Joseph  E,  Weeden  was  one  of  the 
projectors  and  first  trustees  of  Randolj)h  acad- 
emy, an  institution  that  has  gained  prominence 
and  popularity  from  its  excellent  and  thorough 
course  of  instruction,  and  some  of  the  most 
eminent  men  of  the  section  call  it  their  alma 
mater  with  pride.  Mr.  Weeden  was  a  candidate 
for  judge  of  Cattaraugus  county,  is  temperate  in 
his  habits,  philanthropic  in  his  nature,  and  a 
broad,  liberal-minded  man. 

Lyman  F.  Weeden  spent  his  early  days  in 
Randolph  and  was  educated  in  the  academy. 
He  began  business  life  as  a  druggist  and  phar- 
macist in  1862,  and  conducted  the  business  until 
1867,  and  then  for  a  number  df  succeeding 
years  farmed  and  taught  school  in  the  winter. 
At  ])resent  he  is  engaged  in  the  drug  and  station- 
ery business  in  Kennedy,  Chautauqua  county, 
N.  Y.,  and  through  using  the  best  and  freshest 
goods  in  filling  them,  has  secured  a  large  pre- 
scription trade.  Mr.  Weeden  is  a  democrat, 
and  his  popularity  is  best  shown  by  the  fact  ot 
his  having  been  elected  constable,  road  commis- 
sioner and  assessor  in  the  republican  town  of 
Randolph.  He  is  now  the  supervisor  of  Poland 
town,  which  is  also  a  republican  district. 

On  the  6th  day  of  May,  1863,  he  married 
ISIary  C.  Benson,  a  daughter  of  David  and 
Catherine  (Pier)  Benson,  and  they  have  a  son 


354 


BIOGRAPHY  AND  HISTORY 


and  a  daughter :  the  former,  Austin  E.,  was 
born  January  14,  1869,  and  the  latter,  Louise 
A.,  was  born  March  12,  1871.  Austin  E. 
Weeden  was  educated  at  the  public  schools  of 
Kennedy  and  the  Jamestown  business  college, 
from  which  lie  graduated  in  June,  1889,  and  is 
now  in  the  drug  business  with  his  father.  Miss  \ 
Louise  attended  the  public  schools  and  then 
entered  the  Jamestown  high  school.  She  is  now 
a  student  of  stenography  and  typewriting.  Con- 
siderable attention  has  been  given  to  her  musical 
education. 

Lyman  F.  Weeden  was  postmaster  of  Ken- 
nedy during  the  Cleveland  administration,  but 
partisanship  caused  his  removal  when  the  new 
President  assumed  control.  He  is  an  active 
democrat,  and  a  potent   factor  in  all   political 

campaigns. 

■ — © 

TT\  ILLIAM  O.  strong.  On  November 
^^^  3,  1809,  in  Columbia  county,  New 
York,  was  born  William  O.  Strong,  son  of  Asa 
and  Loranie  (Griswold)  Strong.  His  childhood 
and  youth  were  characterized  by  the  same  ex- , 
periences  and  changes  that  are  incident  to 
human  nature  generally  ;  the  same  cloud  and 
sunshine,  the  same  enthusiasm  and  depression, 
the  same  hope  and  disappointment  which  are  a 
part  of  every  life.  He  was  not  educated  in  the 
broad  curriculum  of  our  present  day  system  of 
schools  but  gathered  his  knowledge  from  the 
feeble  torch  of  the  pioneer  sciiool  and  under  the 
guidance  of  the  hard,  slow  master  of  exper- 
ience. Nor  did  he  take  up  the  occupation  of 
his  father  as  many  do,  but  turned  his  attention 
to  farming,  to  which  business  he  has  since 
devoted  his  life.  By  his  own  industry  and  un- 
tiring efforts  he  has  acquired  a  good  farm  and  a 
comfortable  income;  but  better  than  all,  he  has 
the  confidence,  the  respect  and  the  good  will  of 
all  who  know  him.  His  ])olitical  creed  has 
always  been  that  of  a  democrat  and  his  party 
liave  .shown  their  true  appreciation  of  his  worth 
by  electing  him  to  every  office  within  tlie  gift 


of  the  town.  He  has  served  two  terms  as 
supervisor  and  was  twice  elected  justice  of  the 
peace.  At  the  age  of  about  twenty  he  became 
a  member  of  the  Congregational  church  and  re- 
mained such  until  its  dissolution,  since  which  time 
lie  has  not  been  connected  with  any  church. 
He  has  always  been  a  liberal  and  hearty  sup- 
porter of  the  church  in  its  various  fields  of 
work. 

William  O.  Strong  married  Jane  A.  Howe, 
formerly  a  resident  of  Ot.sego  county.  New 
York,  but  for  a  number  of  years  past  a  citizen 
of  the  town  of  Sheridan,  Chautauqua  county. 
To  them  were  born  three  children  :  Henry, 
who  died  at  the  age  of  nineteen  years  ;  Cele.stia, 
married  Albert  J.  Homan  of  the  town  of  Han- 
over, Chautauqua  county,  to  whom  she  bore 
five  children — Jennie  married  to  Mr.  Patterson  ; 
Emma,  married  to  Orville  Osborn  ;  Henry  ; 
Edgar; — and  Albert.  Mrs.  Homan  died  at  the 
age  of  forty-seven ;  and  Lorinda,  now  dead, 
married  to  Abram  S.  Johnson,  by  whom  she 
had  one  child.  May  Celestia. 

The  maternal  grandfather  of  our  subject, 
Jonathan  Griswold,  belonged  to  one  of  the 
earliest  families  of  New  England  and  was  born 
in  the  State  of  Connecticut,  but  came  to  Sheri- 
dan in  1891  where  he  died  at  an  advanced  age. 
The  father,  Asa  Strong,  was  also  a  native  of 
Connecticut,  but  removed  to  the  town  of 
Sheridan,  Chautauqua  county.  New  York,  in 
the  year  1811,  locating  near  the  centre  of  the 
town.  By  occupation  he  was  a  carpenter  and 
joiner;  in  politics  a  democrat  and  in  religion  a 
non-professor.  He  was  married  to  Loranie 
Griswold  and  had  eight  children,  of  whom 
William  O.  was  tiie  oldest.  Asa  Strong  was  a 
good  Hither  and  husband,  strictly  honest  in  his 
dealings  with  his  fellow-men,  and  took  the 
highest  interest  in  the  well  being  of  the  family. 
He  was  generous,  warm-hearted  and  liberal- 
minded  ;  his  predominating  (jualities  being  of 
the  heart  rather  than  of  the  intellect. 


OF  CHAUTAUQUA  COUNTY. 


355 


TAMES  lAMAK  VA]V  BUREN,  the  leadr 
^  in;j;  insurance  agent  of  Dunkirk,  wlio 
comes  from  one  of  Cliiuitauqua's  old  families,  is 
a  son  of  James  Henry  and  Lydia  (Coleman) 
Van  Bnren.  lie  was  born  in  that  city,  Chau- 
tauqua county,  New  York,  April  S,  1867,  and 
now,  although  thoroughly  identified  with  the 
leading  insurance  companies  of  the  country,  is 
but  twenty-four  years  of  age.  The  Van 
Burens  originally  came  from  Holland  our  sub- 
ject representing  the  fourth  American  genera- 
tion. Henry  Broadhead  Van  Buren  (paternal 
grandfather)  \yas  a  native  of  Pompey,  N.  Y., 
and  came  to  Dunkirk  in  1825,  beginning  as  a 
merchant.  He  was  one  of  the  pioneers  in  the 
mercantile  business  and  opened  probably  the 
first  insurance  agency  in  the  town.  He  died  in 
1872,  aged  sixty-nine  years,  consoled  bv  his 
faith  in  the  Presbyterian  religion.  James 
Henry  Van  Buren  was  born  in  Dunkirk  in 
1831.  He  entered  the  insurance  business 
when  quite  young  and  soon  became  general 
agent  for  one  of  the  leading  companies  of  New 
York  and  at  the  time  of  his  death,  August  9, 
1889,  was  general  agent  for  the  Connecticut 
Fire  Insurance  Co.,  of  Hartford,  for  New  York 
State.  He  was  one  of  the  oldest  general  agents 
in  the  State  having  held  such  a  position  nearly 
twenty-six  consecutive  years.  In  connection 
with  the  general  agency  business  he  conducted 
a  local  agency  at  Dunkirk,  which  is  now  car- 
ried on  by  James  Lyman  Van  Buren.  Mr. 
Van  Buren  was  an  elder  in  the  Presbyterian 
church  and  a  republican.  He  married  Lydia 
Coleman,  a  daughter  of  Truman  R.  Coleman, 
of  EUicottsville,  Cattaraugus  county,  in  1856, 
and  had  six  children.  Mrs.  Van  Buren  was  a 
member  of  the  Episcopal  church  and  died  in 
1871,  aged  35  years. 

James  Lyman  Van  Buren  was  reared  in 
Dunkirk  and  educated  in  the  academy.  When 
nineteen  years  of  age  he  entered  his  father's  of- 
fice as  a  clerk  and  in  1888  was  admitted  to 
partnership    in  the  firm.     This    training  gave 


him  an  acquaintance  with  the  ijusiness  so  that 
when  his  fatiier  died  he  was  enabled  to  continue 
it  without  confusion.  He  has  a  fine  business 
representing  eighteen  companies:  American 
Fire,  Pennsylvania  ;  Commercial  Union,  Eng- 
land ;  Springfield  Fire  and  Marine,  Springfield, 
Massachusetts;  Franklin  Fire,  Pennsylvania; 
Germania  Fire,  New  York  ;  Hanover  Fire, 
New  York ;  Connecticut  Fire,  Hartford ;  In- 
surance Company  of  North  America,  Pennsyl- 
vania ;  Home,  New  York  ;  Phoenix,  Brooklyn  ; 
Phoenix  Assurance  Company,  London,  Eng- 
land ;  Queen,  England ;  North  British  and 
Mercantile,  England ;  Hartford  Fire,  Hart- 
ford, Connecticut;  Guardian  Assurance  Com- 
pany, liondon,  England  ;  Niagara  Fire,  New 
York  ;    and  Imperial  Fire,  England. 

On  June  11,  1890,  J.  Lyman  Van  Buren 
married  Julia  Nelson,  a  daughter  of  Joseph 
Nelson,  who  is  an  old  resident  of  this  city. 


ir\R-  ORRIX  C.  SHAW  was  born  in 
■*^  Groton,  Tompkins  county,  New  York, 
May  2,  1848.  He  has  two  brothers  living, 
viz. ;  Dr.  M.  B.  Shaw,  of  Eden,  Erie  county, 
N.  Y.,  and  L.  B.  Shaw,  formerly  a  druggist  of 
Ripley,  this  county,  now  residing  in  Chicago. 
He  had  one  brother,  Heston  O.,  who  died  in 
1867,  and  one  sister,  Helen  Jane,  who  married 
William  B.  Perry,  of  Ripley;  she  died  in  1879. 
Dr.  O.  C.  Shaw  followed  the  peregrinations 
of  his  fiither  in  his  youth,  received  his  educa- 
tion in  the  public  and  High  schools  of  Ripley, 
followed  teaching  one  or  two  terras  and  during 
vacations  read  medicine  in  his  brother's  office  at 
Eden.  He  entered  Buffalo  Medical  college  in 
the  latter  part  of  1870,  from  which  he  grad- 
uated in  1873.  The  latter  part  of  1873  was 
spent  in  practice  with  his  brother.  Dr.  M.  B. 
Shaw,  and  in  1874  he  commenced  independent 
practice  at  Hamburg.  He  went  to  Cheny 
Creek,  stayed  there  a  year  and  then  came  to 
Kennedy  where  he  has  since  resided.  He  is  a 
skillful  physician  and   has  met  with  such  re- 


356 


BIOGRAPHY  AND  HISTORY 


markable  success  with  difficult  cases  that  his 
reputation  is  more  than  local.  Politically  he  is 
a  republican,  has  served  on  the  county  commit-  i 
tee  and  has  taken  a  deep  interest  in  promoting 
the  success  of  the  party.  He  belongs  to  the 
Baptist  church  and  is  connected  with  the 
Masons,  Odd  Fellows,  United  AVorkmeu  and 
Royal  Templars  of  Temperance. 

On  September  2,  1875,  he  married  Annie  C. 
Dieifenbeck,  a  daughter  of  John  Dietfenbeck. 
Two  children  have  been  born  to  Dr.  and  Mrs. 
Shaw  :  Ocie  M.  and  Beula  M.,  aged  respectively 
eleven  and  nine  years.  Mrs.  Shaw  was  edu-  ] 
cated  at  Eden  and  Hamburg  and  before  her 
marriage  to  Dr.  Shaw  was  a  teacher  in  the 
public  schools  and  was  considered  possessed  of 
superior  skill  and  tact.  She  was  secretary  of 
the  Political  Ecpiality  club  and  has  been  active 
in  organizing  branches  of  that  society  through- 
out the  county. 

Dr.  O.  C.  Shaw  is  a  sou  of  Dr.  S.  H.  and 
Eleanora  (Woodruff)  Shaw,  the  former  a  native 
of  Groton,  Tompkins  county,  N.  Y.,  born 
November  29,  1817.  Dr.  S.  H.  Shaw  was 
educated  in  the  common  schools  and  academy 
at  Groton  and  finished  at  the  Oneida  institute 
in  the  county  of  the  same  name.  He  followed 
teaching  some  eighteen  years,  commencing  when 
sixteen  years  of  age.  During  these  years,  in 
his  vacations,  he  studied  medicine  with  an  older 
brother.  Dr.  Isaac  Shaw,  of  Cayuga,  and  later 
with  Dr.  John  H.  Thorp  of  Whitesville,  I 
Allegany  county,  this  State,  where  he  began 
practice;  since  then  he  has  been  in  jiractice  in 
Ripley,  this  county,  and  North  Collins,  Erie 
county,  until  December,  1889,  when  from  the  ' 
infirmities  of  age,  he  abandoned  active  practice 
and  removed  to  Keiniedy  with  his  youngest 
son,  Dr.  O.  C,  where  he  now  resides,  having 
been  in  active  practice  some  forty  years.  He  is 
a  member  of  the  Congregational  church  and 
has  actively  identified  himself  witii  its  work. 
He  was  a  pioneer  tcaciicr  in  ChanUuiqua  county 
and  served  on  the  board  of  examiners  and  has 


been  elected  to  several  local  offices,  now  serving 
as  justice  of  the  peace  for  the  village  of  Ken- 
nedy. Politically  he  is  a  republican,  having 
cast  his  first  presidential  vote  for  "  Tippecanoe 
and  Tyler  too."  Grandfather,  Geoj-ge  Shaw, 
(father  of  S.  H.  Shaw),  was  born  in  Ware, 
Mass.,  the  year  that  the  American  Colonies 
proclaimed  their  independence,  and  died  in 
Steuben  county  in  1860.  He  married  Jane 
Hopkins,  daughter  of  Isaac  Hopkins,  a  native 
of  Salem,  X.  Y.,  and  had  ten  children — but 
two  now  living :  Dr.  S.  H.  Shaw  and  Dr. 
George  R.  Shaw,  of  Antigo,  Wisconsin.  He 
served  in  the  war  of  1812  as  a  private  in  Col. 
Mahan's  regiment  and  witnessed  the  burning 
of  Buffalo. 

Politically  he  was  a  whig.  He  was  a  man 
of  strong,  healthy  constitution,  never  having 
been  sick  a  day  of  his  life,  and  the  sum- 
mer he  was  eighty-two  he  mowed  fifty  acres 
with  a  scythe.  That  fall  he  broke  both  bones  of 
his  leg  below  the  knee  and  was  told  by  his  son, 
Dr.  S.  H.  Shaw,  who  dressed  it,  that  he  prob- 
ably would  never  be  able  to  walk  on  that  limb 
again  but  here  the  prognosis  was  a  failure  for 
the  next  summer  he  walked  twelve  miles  one 
day  and  back  the  next. 


HENRY  J.  MAGINNIS  is  a  wide-awake 
Irish-American  farmer  living  in  the  town 
of  Ripley,  where  he  has  made  his  home  since 
1848.  Henry  J.  Maginnis  is  a  son  of  John 
and  Mary  (Henry)  Maginnis,  and  was  born  in 
County  Down,  Ireland,  April  12,  1847.  The 
grandparents  on  both  sides  were  born,  bred  and 
died  on  the  Emerald  Isle  and  lived  tiiere  when 
she  was  suffering  the  affliction  of  the  world- 
renowned  famine.  John  ^[agiiniis  was  born  in 
County  Down,  where  he  married  Mary  Henry, 
but  soon  after  left  her  a  widow,  and  having 
been  a  farmer  there  was  not  much  left  for  the 
family.  In  18  IS  she  came  to  America,  bring- 
ing with  her  six  children,  four  sons  and  two 
daughters,  and   went  at  once  to  Ri])ley.     Soon 


OF  CHAUTAUQUA   COUNTY. 


357 


after  she  met  Alexander  McHenry  and  married 
him  (for  extended  notice  see  below). 

Henry  J.  Maginnis  was  edui^ated  in  the  com- 
mon schools  of  this  town,  and  as  soon  as  he 
could  hold  a  hoe  was  taught  to  work.  Tilling 
the  soil  being  congenial  to  iiis  disposition  he 
has  followed  it  and  now  has  ninety-two  acres  of 
land. 

On  March  1,  1876,  he  married  Ella  Wood- 
ruff, a  daughter  of  Herman  Woodruff,  of  this 
town.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Maginnis  have  three 
children:  Alexander,  Herbert  and  Lottie. 

In  politics  he  affiliates  with  the  Republican 
party.  He  is  a  good  business  man  and  an 
intelligent  farmer  who  knows  how  to  handle 
his  fields  to  the  best  advantage. 

Alexander  McHenry,  who  was  the  step- 
father of  Henry  J.  ]\Iaginnis,  was  horn  in 
Northumberland  county,  Pa.,  in  179G.  Hia 
father,  Edward  JSIcHenry,  with  Col.  McMahan 
were  the  acknowledged  first  settlers  in  Chau- 
tauqua county.  They  located  on  adjoining 
tracts  within  the  present  limits  of  Westfield. 
They  began  to  subdue  the  forests  in  1802,  near 
where  the  village  of  Westfield  now  stands. 
Edward  McHenry  built  a  house  in  which  he 
kept  an  inn  for  the  accommodation  of  emigrants 
going  to  the  settlements  in  Ohio.  A  few 
months  after  this  his  son  John  was  born,  the 
first  white  child  to  see  the  light  in  Chautauqua 
county.  After  Col.  McMahan  and  Edward 
McHenry  made  their  settlement  othei's  flocked 
rapidly  in  and  before  this  child  was  ten  years 
old  Westfield  town  and  Chautauqua  county  had 
a  considerable  population.  Mrs.  AIcHenry 
died  October  21,  1864. 


y*f  MOS  P.\ilIiEK  was  born  near  Triangle, 
■**■  Broome  county.  New  York,  June  1.3, 
1833.  He  is  a  son  of  Chester  and  Mary  A. 
(Clinton)  Parker.  The  Parker  family  dates  its 
arrival  upon  the  soil  of  the  new  world  in  1640, 
when  William  Parker  came  to  New  Haven, 
Connecticut.     He  had  three  children,  of  whom, 


{  the  youngest,  John,  married  and  had  two  sons 
and  two  daughters.  One  of  these  called  John, 
was  born  in  Wallingford  in  1648.  He  had  a 
son  John,  who  was  followed  by  one  Isaac.  Isaac 
Parker  (great-grandfather)  was  iwrn  in  1720, 
and   his  son,  John    Parker  (grandfather),  was 

,  born  in  Connecticut,  in   1762,  and,  although  a 

!  stripling  of  a  boy,  he  joined  a  company  com- 
posed of  lads  about  his  own  age  and  fought  the 
British   in   the   Revolutionary  war.     His  wife 

!  was  Merab  Parker,  a  distant  cousin,  who  bore 
him  eleven  children.  Chester  Parker  (father) 
was  born  in  Broome  county,  in  1804,  and  upon 
reaching  manhood  married  Mary  A.  Clinton,  a 
daughter  of  John  Clinton,  who  came  from  Ver- 
mont to  Broome  county.  Chester  Parker  spent 
his  short  life  farming  in  the  northern  part  of 
the  county  mentioned  and  died  when  thirty-two 
years  of  age.  He  had  a  family  of  seven  chil- 
dren. Mrs.  Parker  died  in  1888,  when  in  her 
eighty-third  year. 

Amos  Parker  was  educated  in  the  public 
schools,  and  while  securing  a  higher  education 
and  preparing  for  college  at  the  Lockport  Union 
school,  the  Rebellion  swept  like  a  dark  cloud 
over  the  land.  He  left  scliool  and  enlisted  iu 
the  23d  N.  Y.  Independent  Battery,  August, 
1862,  and  served  to  the  clo.se  of  the  war.  His 
battery  was  stationed  in  North  Carolina  and  he 
took  part  in  all  of  its  engagements,  his  discharge 
being  accompaned  with  a  lieutenant's  commis- 
sion dated  March  .5,  1865,  and  bearing  the  sig- 
nature of  Gov.  R.  E.  Fenton.  Upon  returning 
from  the  army  he  located  in  Niagara  county 
and  worked  at  cax'pentering  until  1871  and  then 
came  to  Ripley,  where  he  engaged  in  farming. 
Amos  Parker,  on  November  21,  1865,  mar- 
ried Weltha  E.  Pieree,  a  daughter  of  Horace 
and  Lydia  A.  (Palmer)  Pierce.  Mr.  Pierce  was 
a  native  of  Otsego  county,  from  whence  he  came 
to  Niagara  county  and  died.  He  was  a  me- 
chanic and  farmer,  and  voted  with  the  Republi- 
can party.  Amos  and  Mrs.  Parker  were  made 
happy  by   the  birth  of  two  children  :   Horace 


358 


BIOGRAPHY  AND  HISTORY 


married  Gertie  Eddy,  and  is  a  farmer  and  grape 
culturist  in  Ripley.     He  has  two  daughters — 
Bessie  L.  and  Lula  ;  and  Lydia  E.  still  remains  l 
with  her  parents. 

Amos  Parker  has  been  the  incumbent  of  the 
ofiSce  of  justice  of  the  peace  from  1876  to  1888. 
He  is  also  interested  in  fraternal  and  beneficial 
affairs,  belonging  to  the  Farmers'  Alliance, 
Grange  and  formerly  the  Masons.  He  is  a 
Christian  gentleman,  actively  engaged  in  relig- 
ious work  and  takes  especial  pleasui-e  in  the 
Sunday-school  in  his  district  of  which  he  has 
been  superintendent  for  several  years. 

Amos  Parker,  an  uncle  of  the  subject's,  was  a 
soldier  in  the  Revolutionary  war  and  was  the 
tallest  man  in  his  regiment.  He  served  with 
La  Fayette,  whose  life  he  was  iu.strumental  in 
saving.  When  the  latter  made  his  triumphal 
tour  and  visit  to  America  in  1824,  he  had  not 
forgotten  the  incident  and  publicly  thanked  the 

gentleman. 

© 

TTLEXAXDER  MORIAJS,  a  gentleman  of 

■**■  varied  experience,  who  by  indefatigable 
efforts  has  risen  from  a  modest  early  condition  to 
a  comfortable  competence  in  his  declining  years, 
is  a  son  of  Jacob  and  Lydie  (Van  Scoter)  Morian, 
and  was  born  in  Steuben  county.  New  York,  on 
April  10,  181G.  The  family  was  of  German 
origin;  subject's  paternal  grandfather  having 
been  born  under  the  banner  of  King  Wilhelm, 
the  river  Rhine  being  daily  within  his  vision. 
The  maternal  ancestor,  Anthony  Van  Scoter, 
was  a  native  of  Delaware,  but  of  German  de- 
scent. Mr.  Van  Scoter  removed  from  the  "  Dia- 
mond State"  to  a  point  near  Wilkes-Barre,  Pa., 
and  tlioncc,  in  1808,  to  Steuben  county,  New 
York,  where  his  son-in-law,  subject's  father,  had 
preceded  him  the  year  previous.  He  bought  a 
farm  and  tilled  its  soil  throughout  his  life,  being 
renowned  in  his  immediate  locality  for  industry 
and  thrift.  His  business  ability  ranked  much 
above  the  average  farmer  and  he  died  the  i)os- 
sessor  of  a  good  property.     He  lived  a  quiet 


home-life,  the  fireside  being  his  greatest  source 
of  pleasure,  where,  from  his  genial  disjiosition, 
many  friends  were  attracted.     He  married  a  Miss 
Decker  and  had  twelve  children,  seven  of  whom 
reached  maturity.     Solomon,  Elias,  Cornelius, 
Thomas,  Betsy  (Mrs.  Hallister),   Mary  (Mrs. 
Day),    Valentine    and    Lydia    (Mrs.    Morian). 
Mr.  Van  Scoter  died  in  1824  aged  about  seventy 
years,  and  was  followed   by  his  wife,  who  had 
reached  eighty  years,  in   1830.     Jacob  Morian 
was   born   in  Germany   March   22,   1782,  and 
served  in   the  army  of  his  country  in  the  war 
against  Napoleon,    suffering  defeat.     He  then 
fought  under  the  Bonaparte  banner  in  the  Ital- 
ian campaign,  finally,  with  fourteen  others,  de- 
.serting,  and  at  a  favorable  opportunity  fled  to 
America,  where  he  arrived   in   1801   or  1802. 
The  first  year  was  spent  in  Philadelphia  and 
then  he  removed   |to  the    Lackawanna  valley, 
Pa.,  where,  in   1803,  he  was  married  to  Lydia 
Van  Scoter.     In   1807,  with  his  wife  and   his 
two  children,  he  came  to  Dansville,  New  York, 
and  for  a  number  of  years  conducted  the  village 
butcher-shop.     It  was  during  his  residence  here 
that  America  had  her  second  struggle  with  Eng- 
land, and  he  proved  his  devotion  to  the  land  of 
his  adoption  by  shouldering  a  musket  and  giv- 
ing two  years  time  in  her  defense,  being  engaged 
in  the  battles  of  Lundy's  Lane  and  Put-in-Bay. 
A  part  of  the  service  was  rendered  as  quarter- 
master.    At  the  close  of  the  war  he  was  the  re- 
cipient of  one  hundred  and  sixty  acres  of  laud, 
which  he  sold  for  one  hundred  and  thirty  dol- 
lars.     In   1826   Mr.  Morian  came  to  Chautau- 
qua, living  successively  in  Hanover,  Sheridan 
and  Dunkirk,  and  finally,  in  1831,  he  bought  a 
farm  in  the  northwest  jwrtion  of  Pom  fret  town, 
which    is    still   owned    by    his    son   Alexander. 
Jacob  Morian  had   nine  children — six  sons  and 
three  daughters  :   William,  died  aged  five  years; 
Catharine,  born   in   1807  and   never  married  ; 
t  Margaret,  also   unmarried;   Anthony,   Ixirn   in 
1809,  first   married  Julia  Ann  ]5eckor  and  bad 
eleven  children,  and  afterwards  wedded   Mar- 


OF  CHAUTAUQUA  COUNTY. 


339 


garet  H.  Ketchum,  and   died  on  January  13, 

1888.  He  was  a  farinur,  livin<r  at  Cherry 
Creek  ;  Jolm,  for  twenty  years  a  sailor,  is  now 
a  carpenter,  living  in  Fredonia.  lie  too  was 
twice  married,  first  to  Nancy  McGratii  and  later 
to  Jane  Pier,  botli  Ohio  hidies ;  Alexander  ; 
Thomas  V.  S.,  a  merchant  and  oil  producer, 
living  at  Enterprise,  Pa.,  married  Clarinda 
Wood,  and  had  six  living  children  ;  Lydia  be- 
came the  wife  of  Asa  Whitney,  died  in  1887 — 
she  lived  in  Yates  Center,  Woodson  county, 
Kansas;  and  Jacob,  Jr.,  died  unmarried  in 
March,  1849,  aged  twrnty-two  years.  Jacob 
Moriau  was  a  member  of  the  Dansville  Lodge 
of  Masons.  He  died  December  7,  1862,  and 
with  his  wife  who  followed  him  April  4,  1869, 
is  buried  in  the  cemetery  at  Fredonia. 

Alexander  Morian  was  the  son  upon  whom  ! 
the  father  relied.  He  remained  at  home  until 
eighteen  years  of  age,  attending  the  few  months 
of  winter  school,  when  the  farm-work  would 
permit.  The  next  four  years  were  passed  in  ■ 
farm  labor  during  the  summer  and  such  em- 
ployment as  could  be  secured  in  winter.  After 
much  deliberation  it  was  decided  that  more  op- 
portunities for  advancement  would  be  found 
away  from  home,  so  in  1838,  with  twenty-five 
cents  in  his  pocket,  he  started  for  Toledo,  where 
a  job  of  firing  a  locomotive  was  .soon  secured. 
The  next  spring  he  received  the  position  of  mail- 
carrier  on  the  Erie  and  Kalamazoo,  now  the  L. 
S.  and  M.  S.  R.  R.,  and  everything  looked  en- 
couraging for  future  advancement,  but  he  gave 
up  the  prospects  of  a  bright  life  and  returned 
to  the  farm.  This  changed  his  life's  work  and 
caused  him  to  abandon  the  idea  of  going  out 
into  the  world.  The  next  forty  years,  as  the 
seasons  came  round,  he  cultivated  the  farm, 
saved  money,  and  in  1880  he  bought  a  house 
and  lot,  and  in  the  fall  of  1881  moved  into  the 
village  of  Fredonia. 

On  February  24,  1841,  he  married  Marietta 
Mclntyre,  a  daughter  of  Nathaniel  Mclntyre, 
who  was  a  farmer  and  shoemaker  in  Delaware 


county,  this  State.  They  had  seven  children: 
Dana  A.,  a  conductor  on  the  L.  S.  and  M.  S.  R. 
R.  married  licna  Simons,  and  was  killed  in  the 
Buffalo  yards  September  15,  1886  ;  James  died 
aged  five;  Miranda  married  F.  H.  Koch,  a  cigar 
manufacturer  of  Bradford,  Pa.;  Ben  W.  is  a 
conductor  in  the  passenu-er  service  on  the  L.  S. 
and  M.  S.  R.  R.,  and  married  Adalaide  Wid- 
ner  ;  Alexander  T.  married  Hattie  Dodge,  and 
is  a  baggage-master  on  a  branch  of  the  Northern 
Pacific  R.  R.  in  Oregon  ;  Catherine  is  the  wife 
of  Thomas  Goodwin,  a  merchant  in  Kansas 
City,  Missouri ;  Caroline  C.  died  an  infant. 
Mr.  Morian  sufi'ered  the  loss  of  his  wife,  who 
died  September  29,  1869,  and  two  years  later, 
October  18, 1871 ,  he  married  Rachel  E.  Wooden, 
a  widow,  and  daughter  of  James  and  Eliza 
Gates.  James  Wooden  was  a  farmer  in  the 
town  of  Chili,  Monroe  county.  New  York,  and 
died  on  the  farm,  which  he  cut  out  of  the  virgin 
forest,  at  the  ripe  old  age  of  eighty-nine  years. 
His  father  was  among  the  earliest  settlers  of 
that  county. 

Mrs.  Moriau  is  a  direct  descendant  from  Gen- 
eral Bradford,  on  her  mother's  side,  who  came 
from  England  in  the  "Mayflower,"  and  was 
governor  of  the  Plymouth  Colony  until  his 
death.  Alexander  Morian  is  a  democrat  and 
has  served  his  district  by  filling  the  local  offices. 
He  is  ahso  a  member  of  the  Baptist  church, 
being  one  of  its  trustees. 


■t>EXJA3IIX    S.     SWETLAXD,    M.D.,    a 

-'■^  well-established  and  successful  physician 
of  Brocton,  is  a  son  of  Sanford  and  Rhoda 
(Moore)  Swetland,  and  was  born  at  Middlefield, 
Otsego  county,  New  York,  March  1-5,  1854. 
The  Swetlands  are  of  Welsh  descent,  and  are  one 
of  the  old  families  of  INIassachusetts.  Sanford 
Swetland,  the  father  of  Dr.  Swetland,  was  born 
in  East  Longmeadow,  Hampton  county,  Mas- 
sachusetts, and  moved  with  his  father,  when  a 
small  boy,  to  Otsego  county,  New  York,  but 
left  there  when  thirty-five  years  of  age,  and  came 


360 


BIOGRAPHY  AND  HISTORY 


to  the  village  of  Portland  in  1858,  where  he 
died  in  1884  when  ia  the  sixty-second  year  of 
his  age.  He  was  a  mason  by  trade,  an  aboli- 
tionist and  republican  in  politics,  and  a  Meth- 
odist in  religious  belief.  During  the  late  civil 
war  he  enlisted  twice  in  a  Federal  company, 
but  was  rejected  both  times  on  account  of  phy- 
sical disability.  He  married  Rhoda  Moore, 
of  Scotch-Holland-Dutch  descent,  and  a  native  i 
of  Otsego  county,  who  was  born  in  1821,  and  is 
a  consistent  member  of  the  Metliodist  church  of 
Portland,  where  she  now  resides. 

Benjamin  S.  Swetland  was  reared  principally 
in  the  town  of  Portland,  where  he  received  his 
early  education  in  the  public  schools,  and  then  ' 
attended  the  Westfield  High  School.  Leaving 
school,  he  read  medicine,  and  then  entered  the 
medical  dei^artment  of  the  University  of  Buffalo, 
from  which  lie  was  graduated  February  2Gth, 
1878.  In  the  same  year  he  opened  an  of- 
fice at  Portland,  where  he  practiced  until  the 
sjjring  of  1883,  when  he  went  to  Boston,  Mass.,  j 
and  became  a  traveling  solicitor  and  corres- 
pondent for  the  Boston  Journal  of  Commerce. 
During  his  four  years  successful  experience  in 
that  capacity  he  learned  much  valuable  know- 
ledge of  human  nature.  In  the  spring  of  1887 
he  returned  to  the  practice  of  his  profession  and 
came  to  Brocton,  where  he  has  been  in  active 
and  successful  practice  ever  since. 

On  May  14tli  of  the  Centennial  year  Dr. 
Swetland  united  in  marriage  with  Eva  C, 
daughter  of  Milton  Muusou,  of  Portland.  To 
their  union  have  been  born  three  ciiildren,  two 
sons  aadone  daughter  :  Mabel  E.,  J.  Minor  and 
Herbert. 

Dr.  Swetland  is  pleasant  aud  courteous,  gives 
close  attention  to  the  practice  of  his  profession, 
and  has  been  for  some  years  a  member  of  tlie 
Chautauqua  County  Medical  Society.  He  is  a 
republican  in  politics.  He  is  a  member  of 
Brocton  Castle,  No.  281  Knights  of  Pythias. 


^HARLESE.  SHELDOIf,  editor  and  pro- 
^^  prietor  of  the  Chautauqua  News,  at  the 
village  of  Sherman,  was  born  in  the  town  of 
Westfield,  Chautauqua  county,  New  York, 
June  7,  1844.  The  ance,stry  of  the  Sheldon 
family  will  be  found  in  the  sketch  of  Hon.  A. 
B.  Sheldon  which  appears  in  this  volume. 

Charles  E.  Sheldon  after  obtaining  a  good 
English  education  came,  in  1869,  to  Sherman 
where  he  embarked  in  the  grocery  business 
which  he  continued  for  three  years  when  he 
opened  a  hardware  store.  Three  years  later  he 
lost  his  entire  stock  of  hardware  by  fire  and  in 
1879  became  editor  aud  proprietor  of  his  pres- 
ent paper,  the  Chautauqua  News,  which  was 
founded  in  March,  1877,  by  E.  W.  Hoag. 

On  October  28,  1868,  Mr.  Sheldon  united  in 
maiTiage  with  Emily  M.  Wood.  They  have 
three  children,  one  son  and  two  daughters  ; 
Lura  A.,  Nellie  A.  and  Frank  C. 

Under  Mr.  Sheldon's  management  the  Chau- 
tauqua News  hasattained  a  circulation  of  nine 
hundred  copies.  It  is  stanchly  republican  in 
politics,  printed  in  clear  type  and  its  difi'erent 
departments  are  so  carefully  edited  as  to  interest 
every  member  of  the  fami!}'. 


JOKEWER  1>.  PHILIAP.S,  one  of  the  solid 

^^  business  men  of  Brocton  and  prominent 
in  tlie  I\ei)ul)lican  party  at  that  city  is  a  son  of 
William  W.  and  Celestine  (Ely)  Phillips,  and 
was  born  at  Cassadaga,  Chautauqua  county, 
New  York,  December  5,  1859.  Sawyer  Phil- 
lips (grandfather)  was  a  native  of  Comiecticut 
but  came  to  and  settled  iu  Stockton,  in  May, 
1816,  taking  section  No.  15,  Town  4,  llaugc  12. 
He  followed  farming  and  was  also  a  cooper.  He 
married  and  had  children.  William  W.  Phil- 
lips was  born  at  Cassadaga  where  he  now 
resides.  He  is  a  prosperous  farmer  and  a  lead- 
ing citizen  in  his  conununity.  He  mariied 
Celestine  Ely  and  lia<l  a  family  of  children.  He 
is  a  republican  and  takes  an  active  interest  in 
the   welfare    of    his    [larty    and    the;  just    and 


OF  CHAUTAUQUA   COUNTY. 


361 


economical  administration  of  the  county's 
affairs.  He  is  sixty-two  years  of  age  and  still 
enjoys  good  health.  His  wife  is  a  native  of 
Stockton  town. 

Brewer  I).  PJiillips  stayed  on  his  father's 
farm  until  seventeen  years  of  age,  attending  the 
winter  schools  as  the  work  would  permit.  In 
1876  his  uncle,  who  was  a  general  merchant  in 
Cassadaga,  offered  him  a  clerkship  which  was 
accepted  and  filled  for  three  years.  It  was  here 
that  he  laid  the  foundation  of  his  business 
knowledge.  He  went  to  Buffalo  in  1879  and 
spent  a  season  as  clerk  in  a  dry  goods  house. 
From  tliere  he  went  to  Sinclairsvilie  for  a  year 
working  for  A.  Putman  &  Son,  general  mer- 
chants, and  then  they  transferred  and  promoted 
him  to  manage  a  branch  store  in  Stockton, 
staying  there  three  years  and  giving  excellent 
satisfaction  on  account  of  his  ability  and  integ- 
rity. In  the  spring  of  1885,  Mr.  Phillips 
came  to  Brocton  and  bought  his  fatlier-in-law's 
interest  in  an  old  established  store  and  entered 
business  with  his  brother-in-law,  T.  C.  Moss, 
the  style  of  the  firm  being  Moss  &  Phillips. 
They  have  an  immense  trade  and  carry  a  big 
stock  of  general  merchandise,  witii  a  braneli 
store  in  Portland.  They  also  handle  grapes  in 
season  and  real  estate. 

In  1883,  Mr.  Phillips  married  Ida  M.  Moss, 
a  daughter  of  T.  S.  Moss,  of  Brocton,  and  tiiey 
have  one  child :  Jessie  W. 

He  is  a  strong  member  of  the  Republican 
party  and  by  it  was  twice  elected  supervisoi" — in 
1889  and  1890,  and  belongs  to  tiie  Knights  of 
Pythias.  Socially,  Mr.  Phillips  is  a  pleasant 
and  companionable  gentleman  and  in  business 
he  is  recognized  as  among  the  best  in  Brocton, 


'pHOMAS  R.  COVENEY,  one  of  the  older 
*^  business  men  of  Chautauqua  county  and 
the  present  postmaster  of  Sherman,  was  born 
in  County  Kent,  England,  -Tune  12,  1824,  and 
is  a  son  of  Tiiomas  and  Sarah  (Relf)  Coveney. 
His    father,    Thomas    Coveney    and    maternal 


grandfather  William  Relf,  were  natives  of 
England  where  the  former,  who  was  an  Epis- 
copalian in  religious  belief,  married  Sarali  Relf, 
by  whom  he  had  four  sons  and  two  daughters, 
and  followed  farming;  while  tlie  latter,  wiio 
was  a  farmer  and  surveyor,  came  in  1830  from 
the  Mother  Country  to  the  town  of  Mina  where 
he  and  his  wife,  whose  maiden  name  was  Fran- 
cis Ballard,  both  died  and  left  four  sons  and 
three  daughters,  who  survive  them.  Thomas 
Coveney,  the  father  of  Thomas  R.  Coveney, 
came  in  1841,  from  England  to  the  town  of 
Mina,  but  afterwards  removed  to  the  north- 
western part  of  Pennsylvania,  where  he  died. 
He  was  a  democrat  and  married  Sarah  Relf  in 
England,  who  died  at  that  place  in  1839. 
Three  sons  and  one  daughter  came  with  him  to 
America,  where  he  married  for  his  second 
wife,  Sarah  Chambers,  who  bore  him  two 
children. 

Thomas  R.  Coveney  received  his  education 
in  England,  from  which  he  came  with  his 
father,  in  1841,  to  the  town  of  Mina,  where  he 
became  a  clerk  in  a  store  of  the  village  of  Mina. 
He  afterwards  left  Mina  and  went  to  Barcelona 
Harbor,  where  he  was  in  the  forwarding  and 
commission  business  for  several  years.  He  then 
returned  to  Mina  where  he  was  engaged  for  six 
years  in  the  general  mercantile  business,  during 
which  time  he  bought  butter  and  cheese 
throughout  the  county,  on  joint  account  and 
commission.  He  came,  in  1871,  to  Sherman 
where  he  has  followed  the  produce  and  com- 
mission business  ever  since. 

On  January  27,  1850,  Mr.  Coveney  married 
Rhoda  A.  Taylor,  who  died  in  February,  1891, 
aged  sixty-one  years.  To  their  union  were 
born  eight  children,  three  sons  and  five  daugh- 
ters :  William  R.,  married  Ro.salia  BIy  and  is 
engaged  in  farming;  John  T.,  married  Sadie 
Stukins  and  is  an  oil  operator  of  Washington, 
Pennsylvania;  Sarah  A.,  wife  of  Edwin  Ripley, 
of  Sherman  ;  James  Alfred,  a  telegraph  con- 
structor,   of    Tacoma,    Washington ;    Fannie ; 


362 


BIOGRAPHY  AND  HISTORY 


Louetta;  Clara  P.,  unmarried  ;  and  Delia  Ann, 
married  to  Dr.  C.  H.  Waterhouse. 

Politically  Thomas  R.  Coveney  is  a  republi- 
can and  served  for  quite  a  number  of  years  as 
supervisor  of  the  town  and  postmaster  of  the 
village  of  Mina.  He  was  active  during  the 
late  war  in  securing  recruits  for  the  Union  ar- 
mies. He  is  a  member  of  Olive  Lodge,  No. 
575,  Free  and  Accepted  Masons,  and  the  Meth- 
odist Episcopal  church  of  Sherman,  of  which  he 
is  steward  and  treasurer,  and  has  been  class- 
leader.  In  1889  Mr.  Coveney  was  appointed 
by  President  Harrison,  as  postmaster  of  Sher- 
man, which  is  DOW  a  third-class  post-office,  with 
a  salary  of  twelve  hundred  dollars  per  year. 
He  has  acceptably  discharged  tiie  duties  of  the 
office  to  all  interested  iu  postal  matters  at 
Sherman. 

e> . 

"PJI^WARD  .'VJVrES,  M.D.,  a  well-read  and 

^^  successful  physician  of  Sherman,  was 
born  in  West  Rutland,  Vermont,  January  28, 
1851,  and  is  a  son  of  Charles  and  Adelia  D. 
(Ward)  Ames.  The  Ames  are  of  English  ori- 
gin while  the  Wards  are  of  Scotch  descent. 
Charles  Ames,  the  father  of  Dr.  Edward  Ames, 
was  born  in  Vermont  where  he  married  Adelia 
D.  Ward,  who  is  a  native  of  the  same  State, 
and  removed  in  1855  to  Kane  county,  Illinois, 
where  he  still  resides  and  is  engaged  in  farm- 
ing. Mr.  and  Mrs.  Ames  have  five  children, 
four  sons  and  one  daughter. 

Edward  Ames  received  his  early  education 
in  common  and  select  schools,  attending  Jen- 
nings seminary  at  Aurora,  Illinois,  for  one 
year  and  then  entered  Wheaton  college  of  the 
same  State,  where  he  studied  for  one  year. 
From  Wheaton  college  he  came,  in  1871,  to 
Sherman,  where  he  prosecuted  Jiis  classical 
studios  with  Rev.  W.  L.  Hyde  and  also  \v:u\ 
medicine  with  Dr.  II.  ]>.  ()sl)orne,  now  of  Kal- 
amazoo, Michigan.  lie  then  entered  the  medi- 
cal department  of  Vale  <'ollcge  from  which  he 
was  graduated  in  1.S74,  af'irr  wiiicji   he   immed- 


iately opened  an  office  at  Sherman.  Six  years 
later  he  left  a  large  practice  temporarily  to  take 
a  special  course   in   the   medical   department  of 

■  the  University  of  New  York,  from  which  he 
was  graduated  in  1881.  He  then  returned  to 
Sherman  and  resumed  his  practice  which  has 
steadily  increased  ever  since. 

On  October  25th,  of  the  Centennial  year.  Dr. 
Ames  united  in  marriage  with  Annette  Hoyt, 
of  Kaneville,  Illinois,  and  their  union  has  been 
blest  with  two  children  :  Jessie  H.  and  Tliad- 
deus  H. 

In  his  medical  courses  Dr.  Ames  had  special 
opportunities  for  the  study  of  diseases  and  has 
a  very   fine   office    practice    in    addition  to  his 

,  general  practice.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Chau- 
tauqua County  Medical  society  of  which  he  was 
president  for  three  terms,  and  is  one  of  the 
founders  of  the  New  York  State  Medical  asso- 
ciation in  whose  proceedings  he  takes   a  deep 

interest. 

& 

C"  AJ>irEL  P.  WILLIABIS,  one  of  the  lead- 
"^^  ing  and  industrious  farmers  of  Sheridan, 
New  York,  was  born  April  29,  1819,  in  Butler 
county,  Pennsylvania,  and  is  a  son  of  Stephen 
and  Polly  (Horton)  Williams.  He  is  a  de- 
scendant of  the  flimous  Roger  Williams,  who 
has  passed  into  both  the  secular  and  ecclesiasti- 
cal history  of  our  country,  as  the  founder  of 
the  State  of  Rhode  Island,  and  as  the  first  ad- 
vocate of  heterodoxy  in  America,  Subject's 
grandfather  was  also  named  Roger  Williams, 
and  claimed  Vermont  as  his  native  State, 
though  he  emigrated  to  the  Black  river  country 
iu  the  State  of  New  York,  where  he  spent  the 
greater  portion  of  his  life  and  died.  Stephen 
Williams  (father)  was  also  a  native  of  Ver- 
mont, born  near  Danbur}',  and  came  with  his 
lather  to  northern  New  York.  Later  he  re- 
nidvecl  to  Hanover  town,  Chautau(|ua  county, 
taking  up  loiii'  hundred  acres  of  land  known  as 
"  Oak  Hill."  He  entered  the  army  during  the 
war  of  1812,  served  till  its   close  as  a  private, 


OF  CHAUTAUQUA   COUNTY. 


3G3 


aud  (liwl  in  the  town  of  Hanover  in  1838.  In 
education  he  rauived  considerably  above  the 
average  of  his  day,  and  in  addition  to  liis  occu- 
pation of  farming,  he  aiUled  that  of  teaching 
school.  His  qualifications  as  a  successful  peda- 
gogue gave  him  a  well  deserved  prestige  in  the 
neighborhood  in  whicii  he  lived.  Though 
strongly  republican  in  his  political  views,  yet 
he  was  devoid  of  all  political  aspirations,  and 
firmly  believed  in  fidelity  to  party  for  the  sake 
of  the  party  and  not  for  mere  official  aggrand- 
izement. As  a  result  of  his  marriage  he  had 
ten  children,  uine  of  whom  grew  to  maturity, 
two  boys  and  seven  girls. 

Samuel  P.  Williams  was  united  in  marriage 
to  Charity  Slocum,  a  daughter  of  Jonathan 
Slocum,  by  whom  he  had  four  children  :  Geor- 
giauna,  died  in  childhood  ;  Newton  S.,  a  farm- 
er by  occupation,  married  to  Cornelia  Cock- 
burn,  and  now  living  with  subject ;  Rhoda, 
dead  ;  Elizabeth  L.,  married  to  J.  C.  Russell,  a 
machinist  employed  at  the  Dunkirk  Locomo- 
tive Works. 

Samuel  P.  Williams  received  a  very  limited 
education  in  the  schools  of  his  day,  but  made 
the  best  of  his  poor  advantages.  He  com- 
menced life  as  a  farmer,  purchased  a  farm  of 
some  two  hundred  and  thirty  acres  near  the 
centre  of  Sheridan  town,  and  devoted  himself 
to  its  improvement  and  cultivation.  He  uow 
has  one  of  the  most  highly  improved  and  well 
kept  farms  in  Chautauqua  county.  In  addition 
to  operating  his  farm,  he  has  also  dealt  largely 
in  real  estate,  and  has  been  quite  successful  in 
his  ventures,  always  conducting  his  euterprises 
with  tact  and  business  skill.  He  has  always 
zealously  advocated  the  principles  of  the  Dem- 
ocratic party,  and  has  been  frequently  impor- 
tuned to  let  his  name  go  before  his  party  as  a 
candidate  for  official  preferment,  but  has  always 
steadily  refused.  Upon  the  great  issues  of  the 
day  ^[r.  Williams  is  thoroughly  conversant, 
and  keeps  fully  abreast  of  the  best  political  and 
literary  thought.     Mr.  Williams  is  also  the  pos- 


sessor of  a  cabinet  of  mu<h  prized  relics,  among 
which  is  a  rolling-|)in  made  from  the  famous 
black  walnut  tree  that  grew  near  the  present 
site  of  Silver  Creek,  and  was  transferred  to  the 
national  museum  at  London,  England,  where  it 
was  destroyed  by  fire  when  the  famous  Crystal 
Palace  burned. 


nLBERTE  BIU1>  is  an  enterprising  and 
■'*■  prosperous  farmer  of  Poland  Centre,  this 
county,  and  was  born  in  Poland  Centre,  Chau- 
tauqua county,  New  York,  to  his  parents,  Nel- 
son and  Clarissa  (Griffith)  Bird,  on  August  28, 
1853.  One  hundred  and  thirty  years  ago,  in 
1761,  Col.  Nathaniel  Bird,  the  great-grand- 
father, was  born  in  Salisbury,  Connecticut,  and 
when  sixteen  years  of  age  entered  the  colonial 
army,  aud  served  through  the  w^ar  with  great 
distinction,  being  advanced  to  the  rank  of  colo- 
nel. He  married,  after  the  close  of  the  war, 
Hannah  Ballard,  at  New  Marlborough,  Massa- 
chu.setts,  where  he  resided  until  1815,  and  then 
moved  to  the  town  of  Westfield,  this  county, 
where  he  died  January  12,  1847.  Prior  to  his 
coming  to  Chautauqua  county,  he  was  engaged 
in  the  boot,  shoe  and  general  merchandise  busi- 
ness. The  same  year  in  which  he  arrived  here 
he  took  up  a  tract  of  land,  upon  which  Amos 
Bird  settled. 

Amos  Bird,  grandfather  of  subject,  was  born 
in  New  Marlborough,  Mass.,  in  1789,  and 
after  coming  to  Chautauqua  county,  settled 
near  Jamestown  upon  a  tract  of  land  purchased 
by  his  father.  He  followed  farming,  and  died 
in  1824.  John  Griffith  was  the  father  of  our 
subject's  mother.  He  was  a  native  of  Con- 
necticut, where  he  was  born  June  2,  1785,  aud 
came  to  Madison  county.  New  York,  in  1800. 
Five  years  later  he  removed  to  this  county, 
and,  in  connection  with  the  well-known  Bemus 
family,  was  one  of  the  f)ioneer  settlers  of  the 
county.  Johu  Griffith  was  a  son  of  Jeremiah 
Griffith,  who  was  born  in  Norwich,  Connecti- 
cut, July  28,   1758,  and  married   Mary  Crop- 


364 


BIOGRAPHY  AND  HISTORY 


sey,  who  was  born  February  8,  1764.  He  left 
Norwich,  and  moved  to  Rensselaer  county, 
Kew  York,  theuce  to  Madison  county  in  1800, 
and  in  February,  1805,  he  started  with  his 
wife  and  six  children,  an  ox  team  and  a  wood- 
shod  sled,  a  few  cows  and  sheep  driven  by  the 
boys,  to  go  to  Ohio.  At  Batavia  he  met  some 
acquaintances,  wlio  persuaded  him  to  go  to 
Chautauqua  lake  instead.  When  they  arrived 
at  the  head  of  the  latter  place,  the  family  were 
left  while  Mr.  Griffith  and  his  oldest  son 
started  out  to  find  a  location,  finally  deciding 
npon  what  is  now  known  as  Griffith  Point. 
Their  first  year  was  one  of  continual  privations 
and  hardship.  Provisions  were  scarce,  and  the 
winter  was  cold.  A  ])en  cannot  paint  the  pic- 
ture of  their  suffering,  the  imagination  even  of 
one  without  the  experience  being  unable  to 
depict  the  extremity  to  which  they  were  re- 
duced. And  yet,  stout-hearted,'  they  pulled 
through,  and  to-day  their  children  are  enjoying 
the  comforts — yes,  the  luxuries — they  suffered 
to  secure.  John  Griffith  married  Trypliena 
Bemus  on  February  9,  1809,  and  had  twelve 
cliildren.  Mrs.  Griffith  died  February  19, 
1851,  and  was  followed  by  her  husband,  Sep- 
tember 23,  1868,  when  he  was  eighty-four 
years  old. 

Nelson  Bird  first  saw  the  light  within  the 
boundaries  of  Bust!  town  on  July  17,  1814, 
and  spent  his  childliood  and  youth  on  the 
fiirra.  He  went  to  the  public  school,  and  ac- 
<juired  an  education  superior  to  the  average  of 
that  day.  Succeeding  this,  he  learned  carpenter 
working,  and  followed  it  for  a  few  years.  He 
then  began  to  farm  in  the  town  of  Poland,  and 
pursued  that  occupation  until  he  died,  July, 
1888.  January  29,  1843,  he  married  Clarissa 
Griffith,  and  she  bore  him  nine  cliildren.  Six 
are  dead:  Anms  J.,  George  W.,  Adelaide,  John 
B.,  Charles  and  Emma  A.  Tiu'ce  are  living: 
Willard  F.,  Dora  and  Alberte.  NeLson  Bird 
Mas  a  ro])uI)lican,  and  held  a  number  of  the 
minor  town  olliccs.     lie  belonged  to  the  Uni- 


versalist  church,  and  was  a  devout  attendant 
upon  its  services.  In  business  he  was  atten- 
tive, honest  to  the  penny,  and  succeeded  in 
accumulating  considerable  property. 

Alberte  Bird  was  born  and  reared  on  a  farm 
in  the  town  of  Poland ;  attended  the  village 
schools  and  the  Jamestown  academy,  securing 
a  liberal  education,  after  which  he  began  and 
has  since  been  engaged  in  farming. 

On  February  6,  1889,  he  married  Nettie 
Jenks,  a  daughter  of  Monroe  Jeuks,  of  Elling- 
ton. His  wife  was  given  an  advanced  educa- 
tion, by  her  father,  at  the  Randolph  academy. 

Mr.  Bird  is  a  republican  and  a  member  of 
the  Patrons  of  Husbandry,  and  in  addition  to 
his  farming  he  is  a  large  stock-raiser,  paying 
attention  to  the  better  a;rades. 


i^APT.  JOSEPH  S.  ARNOLD,  of  the  city 
^^  of  Jamestown,  who  commanded  the  First 
Battalion  of  New  York  Sharp-shooters  in  the 
Army  of  the  Potomac,  is  a  son  of  David  and 
Rhoda  (Rush)  Arnold,  and  was  born  in  the 
town  of  Ellery,  Chautauqua  county.  New  York, 
October  6,  1822.  His  paternal  grandfather 
was  a  native  of  England  and  came  to  New- 
England  where  he  at'terwai'ds  died.  Of  the 
sons  born  to  him  at  Woonsocket,  Rhode  Island, 
one  was  David  Arnold,  the  father  of  Joseph  S. 
Arnold,  and  who  removed  to  Saratoga  Springs, 
New  York,  from  which  place  he  came  in  1812 
to  Chautauqua  county  and  settled  near  the  line 
between  the  towns  of  Ellery  and  Ellicott.  He 
afterwards  removed  to  tiie  lake  shore,  near 
Bemus  Point,  where  he  purchased  four  hundred 
acres  of  land  from  the  Holland  Land  company. 
He  was  a  farmer  by  occiqiation,  and  a  whig  and 
republican  in  politics,  lie  died  in  1862,  aged 
eighty-three  years.  He  married  Dorcas  Waters 
who  died  and  left  him  six  children.  For  his 
second  wife  lie  married  Ivhoda  Kusli,  by  whom 
he  had  lour  sous:  David,  Alexander,  Lewis 
and  Joseph,  al!  of  whom  are  dead  but  Joseph. 
Joseph  S.  Arnold  attended  the  Jamestown 


OF  CHAUTAUQUA   COUNTY. 


365 


academy  and  Quaker  seminary  and  then  com- 
menced farming  in  the  town  of  Ellery  where 
he  remained  until  1852  wiien  lie  wont  by  the 
"Overhmd  Route"  to  Culifornia.  The  trip 
took  one  hundred  days  and  after  arriving  at  the 
gold  mines  he  mined  for  a  time,  but  soon  went 
to  Sacramento,  where  he  was  engaged  in  busi- 
ness until  1855.  In  that  year  he  returned  to 
this  county  and  purchased  his  present  farm  of 
thirty-four  acres  in  the  town  of  Ellicott,  where 
he  has  followed  farming  until  the  ])resent  time. 

On  May  21,  1843,  he  married  Mary, 
daughter  of  Arthur  Phillips,  a  native  of  Con- 
necticut and  a  shoemaker  by  trade,  who  came 
in  1825  to  the  town  of  Busti,  but  afterwards 
removed  to  the  town  of  Ellicott  where  he  died. 
Capt.  and  Mrs.  Arnold  had  one  child,  George 
C,  who  enlisted  as  a  private  in  the  first  Bat- 
talion of  New  York  .sharp-shooters  in  the 
autumn  of  1862,  and  died  of  fever  in  the  City 
Point  hospital  July  27,  1864. 

Capt.  Arnold  is  a  democrat  in  politics.  He 
entered  the  Union  service  in  1862  as  captain  of 
the  7th  company  of  New  York  Sharp-shooters, 
took  his  company  to  Suifolk,  Va.,  where  they 
were  joined  by  the  6th,  8th  and  9th  companies 
of  New  York  Sharp-shooters,  and  the  four 
companies  united  into  the  First  Battalion  New 
York  Sharp-shooters.  Capt.  Arnold  com- 
manded this  battalion  until  18G4.  He  was  sun- 
struck  on  the  Rappahannock  river  on  August 
1,  1863,  and  failing  to  recover  entirely  from  its 
effects  was  by  recommendation  of  the  surgeon- 
in-chief  of  the  Fifth  Army  Corps,  discharged 
on  April  21,  1864,  on  account  of  physical  dis- 
ability. He  is  a  member  of  James  M.  Brown 
Post,  No.  285,  Grand  Army  of  the  Republic, 
at  Jamestown. 


TA>-IL,L,IAJ>I  MACE,  one  of  the  enterprising 
■*■-  and  prosperous  boot  and  shoe  dealers  of 
Jamestown,  was  born  in  Coveney,  Cambridge- 
shire, England,  July  29,  1816,  and  is  a  sou  of 
AVilliam   Jr.,   and   Mary    (Cox)    Mace.     The 


Maces  for  three  generations  back  have  been 
largely  residents  of  Cambridgeshire,  where  they 
have  been  engaged  prin('i])ally  in  farming. 
William  Mace,  Sr.,  the  paternal  grandfather  of 
William  Mace,  was  born  in  Cambridgeshire 
where  he  followed  farming,  married,  and  reared 
a  family  of  three  sons  :  James,  John  and  Wil- 
liam, Jr.,  all  of  whom  followed  agricultural 
pursuits  in  the  native  shire.  William,  .Jr., 
(father)  the  yoiuigest  son,  married  Mary  Cox,  a 
daughter  of  David  Cox  of  Cambridgeshire, 
who  lived  to  number  three  years  on  the  second 
century  of  his  life. 

William  Mace  grew  to  manhood  in  his  native 
shire,  attended  the  rural  English  schools  and 
learned  the  trade  of  tailor,  which  he  followed 
in  England  until  the  spring  of  1845,  when  he 
came  to  Jamestown,  where  he  has  resided  ever 
since.  About  1873  he  quit  tailoring,  which  he 
had  followed  continuously  for  twenty-six  years, 
and  embarked  in  the  shoe  business.  Four  years 
later  he  removed  to  his  present  place  of  business 
on  the  corner  of  Third  and  Main  streets,  wdiere 
he  associated  his  son  Charles  W.  with  him  as  a 
partner.  Their  establishment  is  twenty-two  by 
sixty  feet  in  dimensions  and  contains  a  first- 
class  stock  of  boots  and  shoes,  which  have  been 
selected  to  meet  the  requirements  of  their  large 
city  and  country  trade.  William  Mace  is  a 
republican  in  politics  and  a  member  of  Ellicott 
Lodge,  No.  221,  Independent  Order  of  Odd 
Fellows,  of  Jamestown. 

On  April  12,  1847,  Uv.  Mace  married  Cor- 
nelia P.  Deland,  daughter  of  Alvin  Delaud,  a 
native  of  Chautauqua  county.  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Mace  have  two  children  :  Charles  W.,  now  in 
the  boot  and  shoe  business  with  his  father  and 
married  to  Kate  Faulkner,  by  whom  he  has 
two  children,  Willie  M.  and  Mary  E. ;  and 
Mary  Eppie,  wife  of  Major  Edgar  P.  Putnam, 
clerk  of  the  courts  of  Chautauqua  county  and 
whose  sketch  appears  elsewhere  in  this  volume. 


366 


BIOGRAPHY  AND  HISTORY 


TRA  C.  NICHOLS.       Of  the  various   great 
^     industries  of  the  United  States,  few  have 
more  capital  invested  or  more  people  employed 
in  its  diiferent  branches  than  the  lumber  busi- 
ness, beginning  at  the  standing  tree  and  follow- 
ing the   log  through   its   various    processes  of 
manufacture  and  sale  until  the  finished  stock  is 
delivered  to  the  carpenter,  who  skillfully  man- 
ipulates his  tools  and    leaves  the  result  of  his 
labors  in  a  place  of  usefulness.     A  leading  I'ep- 
reseutative  of  this  great  business  is  Ira  C.  Ni- 
chols, of  Kennedy,  who  is  a  son  of  Andrew  and 
Cordelia  (Holcomb)  Nichols,  and  was  boru   at 
Clayton,   Jefferson    county,  this    State,    March 
16,  1840.     His  ancestors  came  from  New  Eng- 
land to  northwestern  New  York.     David  Ni- 
chols was  born  in  Claverack,  New  York,  about 
1780,  and  emigrated  to  Jefferson  county  during 
the  first  decade  of  the  present  century  ;  he  was  ! 
a  tiller  of  the  soil,  and  died,  about  1830,  at 
Cape  Vincent.     He  married  a  Miss  Dimmick, 
and  their  union  resulted  in  six  cliildren.     Dur- 
ing the  war  of  1812  he  served  in  the  capacity 
of  an  ammunition  charger.     Mr.  Nichols  was  a 
man  of  thrift,  energy  and  economy,  and  cast  ; 
his  .sympathies  with  the  whigs.     Sullivan  Hol- 
comb  was   the  father  of  subject's   mother,  and 
came  to  Jeiferson  county  from  the  State  of  Con- 
necticut, where  he  was  born  about  1776  ;   set- 
tling at  a  point  near  Cape  Vincent,  he  prepared 
him  a  beautiful  home  and  lived  ninety  years  to 
enjoy  it.  Having  married  Abigail  Lee,  a  daugh- 
ter of  Seth   Lee,  he  became   the  father  of  five 
children.     Like  subject's  paternal  grandfather, 
he  served  in  America's  second  fight  with  Great 
Britain,  and  took  a  ])romincnt  part  as  private 
and   officer.     Andrew   Nichols  was  a  native  of 
western  Oneida  county,  New  York,  where  he 
was   born  April    2,  1806.     He   went   with    his 
parents  to  Jefferson  county,  and  thence,  in  1870, 
to  Chautauqua  county,  and  settled  at  Kennedy. 
He  died  May  13,  1891,  in  the  last  mentioned 
village  at  the  unusual  age  of  eighty-five  years. 
lie  followed  farming  and   lumbering,  the  latter 


j  mainly  along  the  St.  Lawrence  river.  He  married 
Cordelia  Holcomb  in  1830,  and  she  bore  him 
eight  children,  five  sons  and  three  daughters. 
Politically  he  was  a  democrat,  and  took  an  ac- 
tive and  enthusiastic  part  in  partisan  matters. 
He  was  a  member  of  the  Methodist  church, 
had  a  seat  c-n  the  local  school  board  and  amassed 
his  competency  through  his  owu  industry  and 
business  tact. 

Ira  C.  Nichols  spent  the  first  twenty-two 
years  of  his  life  in  Clayton,  and  then,  in  1862, 
he  enlisted  in  Company  M,  10th  New  York 
Artillery,  and  served  three  years  and  four 
months.  His  superior  officers  recognized  his 
ability,  recommended  him  for  promotion,  and 
he  was  given  a  lieutenancy  in  the  13th  regi- 
ment, U.  S.  colored  troops,  heavy  artillery.  He 
was  acting  commissary  at  Cumberland  Gap; 
was  under  fire  at  Cold  Harl)or  and  spent  two 
months  in  tiie  trenches  before  Petersburg  dur- 
iiig  that  long  siege.  While  at  Eddyville,  Ken- 
tucky, he  was  captured  by  the  Confederates  but 
was  soon  after  again  at  liberty.  Immediately 
after  returning  from  the  army  he  came  to  Ken- 
nedy and  embarkediin  the  lumber  business  and 
has  been  located  there  ever  since.  He  votes 
with  the  Republican  party  and  has  held  several 
local  offices.  Mr.  Nichols  is  a  public-spirited 
man  and  has  done  much  to  build  up  the  town 
of  Kennedy  in  a  material  M'ay,  and  the  schools 
have  been  improved  by  his  services  on  the 
board  of  control. 

In  July,  1867,  he  married  Salina  Abbey, 
of  Clayton,  New  York,  a  daughter  of  Samuel 
Abbey,  and  their  union  has  resulted  in  the 
birth  of  five  children :  three  sons,  E.  Ross, 
Lynn  A.  and  Leigh  S,,  and  two  daughters, 
Mary  and  Edna.  All  of  these  live  at  home 
and  make  a  pleasant  and  happy  family. 


PLLKN    M.   DAVKNPOirr,    wife    of    the 

-*"^  late  Emery  M.  Davenport,  is  a  daughter 
of  Hiram  and  Mary  (Earnos)  Tiiayer,  and  was 
born  January  29,  1846,  in   the  town  of  Carroll, 


OF  CHAUTAUQUA   COUNTY. 


367 


Chautauqua  county,  New  York.  Hiram  Tliay- 
cr  was  a  uativc  of  Ware,  Hauipshire  county, 
Massacluisetts,  where  his  father,  Jeremiah 
Thayer,  was  born  and  reared.  Isaac  Earnes 
(maternal  grandfather)  was  a  native  of  Ver- 
mont, and  came  to  the  Empire  State  and 
died. 

Hiram  Thayer  was  born  on  August  24, 
1798,  and  came  to  New  Yoriv  in  1815,  wiicre, 
on  April  10,  1828,  he  married  Mary  Earnes, 
and  had  ten  children  :  John  M.,  was  born  July 
20,  1829,  married  Margaret  Cowcn,  and  moved 
lo  Nebraska;  Isaac  W.,  boru  Februarys,  1832; 
Mary  A.,  born  February  28,  1834,  is  the  wife 
of  William  Mahan,  and  lives  in  Pennsylvania; 
Lois  Eliza,  born  February  21,  183ti,  and  died 
when  twenty-one  years  of  age  ;  Hiram  E.,  born 
May  8,  1838,  married  Mary  Lawson ;  Ezra  E., 
born  July  29,  1840;  Sibyl  B.,  born  September 
7,  1843,  married  W.  H.  H.  Fenton,  Jr.;  Ellen 
M.  (subject);  Orris  E.,  born  October  6,  1848, 
and  Edson  Frank,  born  April  26,  1851.  Hi- 
ram Thayer  settled  in  Portland,  this  county, 
October  31,  1816,  and  began  clearing  the  land  ; 
then  he  took  a  trip  to  Virginia,  and  upon  re- 
turnincr  he  went  to  Jamestown  and  followed 
lumberino;  until  1820,  when  he  came  to  Carroll 
and  engaged  in  bolting  and  shaving  shingles 
until  the  following  spring  ;  he  then  bought  a 
farm  and  tilled  its  soil  until  his  death,  in  1880, 
aged  eighty-two  years.  His  wife  tlied  Decem- 
ber 6,  1879.  He  was  a  man  of  industrious 
and  frugal  habits,  and  through  good  manage- 
ment amassed  wealth.  He  was  of  the  strictest 
integrity,  of  unremitting  energy  and  untiring 
zeal,  and  in  business  matters  seldom  misjudged 
a  transaction  or  incurred  a  hazardous  risk.  His 
character  was  meek  and  his  conduct  conscien- 
tious. Although  not  a  strict  partisan  he  in- 
clined towards  the  Republican  party,  and  when 
he  considered  them  worthy  gave  its  nominees 
his  suffrage.  He  took  especial  interest  in  edu- 
cational and  military  matters.  Mary  Earnes, 
his  wife,  was  boru  at  Dover,  A^ermont,  May  7, 
19 


1810,  the  daughter  of  Isaac  and  Betsy  Earne.s. 
They  reared  a  family  often  children. 

Ellen  M.  Davenport  spent  her  childhood  in 
the  town  of  Carroll  and  went  to  the  village 
school,  then  Randol])h  academy,  and  finally  at- 
tended the  Jamestown  union  schools.  After 
this  she  taught  five  or  six  terms  of  school,  and, 
on  March  22,  1870,  she  married  Emory  M. 
Davenport,  a  farmer,  hay  packer,  shipper  and 
merchant  of  Kennedy.  He  died  April  28, 
1887,  when  forty  years  of  age.  They  had  six 
children,  four  of  whom  are  liviug  :  Charles  E., 
Harry  T.,  Myra  E.  and  H.  Joe.  They  have  a 
pleasant  home  in  Kennedy,  and  are  well-springs 
of  joy  to  their  mother's  heart. 


/^EORGE  ANDREWS,  living  at  the  village 
^^  of  Busti,  is  a  quiet,  unassuming  gentle- 
man but  nevertheless  a  leading  and  respected 
farmer  in  his  community.  He  Is  a  son  of  Asahel 
and  Lucy  (Merry)  Andrews  and  was  born  where 
he  now  resides,  on  the  second  day  of  November, 
1823. 

1  His  family  trace  their  ancestry  to  England, 
both  the  Andrews  and  Merrys  coming  from 
that  country.  Asahel  Andrews  was  a  native  of 
Herkimer  county,  this  State,  and  came  from 
there  to  Chautauqua  county  in  1 8 1 3  and  located 
at  what  is  now  Busti  village,  but  was  then  an 
unbroken  forest.  He  secured  two  hundred 
acres  of  land  from  the  Holland  Land  Company 
and,  clearing  him  a  farm,  conducted  it  until 
within  a  few  years  of  his  death,  which  occurred 

j  there  in  1861,  after  he  had  passed  his  eighty- 
fifth  year.  He  was  a  hard-working  man,  who 
gave  little  attention  to  politics  but  at  elections 
voted  the  Whig  ticket.  His  wife,  Lucy  Merry, 
was  a  native  of  Herkimer  county,  New  York 
and  came  with  her  husband  from  thence,  .shar- 
ing with  him  all  the  trials  and  privations  of 
pioneer  life,  and  died  one  year  before  him. 

George  Andrews  spent  his  early  life  on  his 
father's  farm  and  acquired  such  education  as  the 

I  common  schools    of  that    locality    could    give. 


368 


BIOGRAPHY  AND  HISTORY 


When  he  attained  manhood  lie  began  farming 
for  himself  and  now  owns  a  well  improved 
farm. 

He  has  been  twice  married;  first,  in  1846, 
to  Charlotte  E.  Stoddard,  a  daughter  of  Rev. 
Ira  Stoddard,  a  prominent  local  divine  living  in 
Biisti.  She  died  June  16,  1860,  leaving  two 
children,  both  sons:  Clarence  E.  resides  at 
Olean,  Cattaraugus  county,  New  York;  and 
Adrian  G.,  who  went  west  and  is  now  living  at 
Colorado  Springs,  Colorado.  George  Andrews 
married  his  second  wife  in  1861 ;  she  was  Mrs. 
Esther  M.  (Clough)  Woodworth,  and  bore  him 
three  children,  two  sons  and  one  daughter  : 
Earl  D.  ( is  a  farmer  in  the  town  of  Busti  ; 
Wells  G.  is  a  merchant  in  Olean  ;  and  Stella  L. 
is  teaching  school. 

Mr.  Andrews  is  a  member  of  the  Busti 
Baptist  church,  toward  the  support  of  which  he 
is  a  liberal  contributor ;  politically  he  is  an  out- 
spoken prohibitionist  and  belongs  to  the  Royal 
Templars  of  Temperance,  which  has  for  its  - 
object  the  inculcation  of  purely  temperance  | 
principles  and  the  attainment  of  prohibition  by 
moral  suasion.  Mr.  Andrews  is  a  modest,  in- 
dustrious citizen,  who  is  in  comfortable  circum- 
stances through  his  own  efforts. 


CHABLES  G.  ALLEX  is  a  generous  and 
patriotic  citizen  of  Kennedy,  who  under- 
stood the  principles  of  farming  sufficiently  to  ac- 
cumulate a  competency,  which  enabled  him  to 
cease  hard  M'ork  and  live  in  comfort  during  that 
portion  of  his  life,  which  is  beautifully  terined 
the  zenith,  or  before  the  sunset  has  commenced. 
He  is  a  son  of  Charles  C.  and  Delilah  (Trum- 
bull) Allen,  and  was  born  in  the  town  of 
Ellery,  near  the  shore  of  Lake  Chautauqua,  on 
the  sixteenth  day  of  October,  1834.  The 
Allen  family  descended  from  Scotch  emigrants, 
although  both  grandparents  were  natives  of 
New  York.  Charles  C.  Allen  was  born  in 
Rensselaer  county,  this  State,  January  16,  18U8, 
and,  being  educated   as   well   as   the   country 


schools  afforded,  was  taught  to  work  on  a  farm. 
Prior  to  1826  he  came  to  the  town  of  Ellery, 
this  county,  and  worked  by  the  month  until  he 
was  enabled  to  buy  a  farm.  Then  he  moved 
to  Poland,  where  he  followed  farming  for  about 
twenty-five  years  and  then  went  to  Frewsburg, 
where  he  now  lives  in  retirement.  In  business 
matters  he  was  successful  and  is  now  very  well- 
to-do.  Ilavino;  married  Delilah  Trumbull,  she 
bore  him  nine  children,  one  sou  and  eight 
daughters  ;  only  three  are  now  living :  Alzina 
married  James  Webb,  a  farmer  of  Frewsburg  ; 
Evangeline  is  the  wife  of  Jefferson  Fenton,  who 
conducts  a  farm  and  is  in  the  lumber  business 
at  the  same  place  ;  and  Charles  G.  The  names 
of  those  who  died  were  Oscilla  (Heath) ;  ]Mary 
R. ;  Artemitia  (Heath) ;  Nettie  (Fenton) ;  and 
Mercy,  who  died  when  three  years  old. 
Charles  C.  Allen  was  a  republican  and  did 
good  service  on  the  old  school  board.  He  was 
liberal-minded  and  generous  in  public  matters, 
industrious  in  his  private  habits  and  gained 
quite  a  local  reputation  as  a  mathematician. 

Charles  G.  Allen  spent  his  boyhood  and  youth 
upon  his  father's  farm  in  Ellery,  learned  the 
science  of  fiirming  and  acquired  a  good  educa- 
tion. When  he  reached  his  majority,  a  clerk- 
ship was  offered  him  in  the  town  of  Poland, 
and  two  years  subsequently  he  went  west. 
When  he  returned,  he  invested  in  a  farm  in  the 
town  of  Poland,  which  he  still  owns.  The 
place  contains  two  hundi-ed  and  sixty-one  acres 
and  is  well  kept.  Mr.  Allen  farmed  until 
about  seven  years  ago,  when  he  moved  into 
Kennedy  and  now  lives  here  in  comfort  and  af- 
fluence. 

On  tile  15tli  of  February,  1865,  he  united  in 
marriage  with  Mary  R.  Randall,  of  Panama, 
New  York,  a  daughter  of  M.  Randall.  Mr.  M. 
Randall  was  a  farmer  of  more  than  ordinary 
success  and  prominence  and  held  all  of  the  town 
offices  within  the  gift  of  the  people.  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Allen  have  had  one  child,  a  son,  George 
R.,  now  engaged  in  the  advertising  business  at 


OF  CHAUTAUQUA   COUNTY. 


369 


Buffalo,  and  is  achieving  success  through  his 
natural  ability  and  a  good  education  received  at 
the  ])ublic  and  higli  schools  and  Eastman's 
Business  College,  i'ouglikeepsie.  New  York. 
■George  R.  Alleu  married  Lois  Wells,  a  daughter 
of  Mr.  M.  Wells,  of  Kennedy.  Charles  G. 
Allen  is  a  republican  of  recognized  influence. 
He  takes  an  interest  in  educational  matters  and 
keeps  himself  thoroughly  posted  upon  current 
events.  Himself  and  wife  ai'c  members  of  the 
Baptist  church,  Mr.  Allen  iioldiug  the  position 
of  trustee.  Mrs.  Allen  was  educated  in  the 
schools  of  Panama  and  is  intelligent  and  enter- 
taining. Charles  G.  Allen  is  a  good  business 
man  and  has  been  successful  throughout  his 
business  career. 


TOHN  A.  HALL.  The  great-grandfather  of 
^  the  subject  of  this  sketch  was  Elisha 
Hall,  who  emigrated  toHopkinton,  Mass.,  from 
the  vicinity  of  Boston  about  1740.  He  married 
Elizabeth  Young  in  1742,  and  died  in  Hopkin- 
ton,  February  25,  1794.  He  had  eight  chil- 
dren, and  was  by  occupation  a  farmer.  John 
and  William  were  the  only  sons  of  Elisha  that 
grew  to  maturity. 

William  Hall,  the  grandfather  of  the  sub- 
ject, is  the  only  male  progenitor  of  this  branch 
of  the  Hall  family  of  which  the  family  has  any 
knowledge.  He  was  born  June,  1753,  in  Hop- 
kinton.  He  married  Abigail  Pease,  of  Upton, 
Mass.,  August  29,  1782,  and  emigrated  to 
Wardsboro  (now  Dover),  Vermont,  at  an  early 
age,  and  lived  there  until  he  died  September 
28,  1828.  He  was  a  farmer  by  occupation,  and 
served  in  the  Revolutionary  war  in  Capt 
Baker's  Upton  company,  and  afterwards  held  a 
commission  as  captain  in  the  Vermont  Militia. 
He  had  a  large  family  of  seven  sons  and  five 
daughters.  Six  of  the  sons,  Samuel,  James, 
William,  Josiah,  Elisha  and  Orris,  emigrated 
to  Chautauqua  county.  New  York,  and  the 
neighboring  county,  Warren,  Pa.,  between  the 
years  1812  and  1820.   Nearly  all  these  brothers 


engaged  in  the  lumber  business,  and  operated 
extensively  on  the  Allegheny  and  other  river.s 
tributary  to  the  Mississi])pi. 

Samuel  Hail  (father)  came  to  this  county  in 
1814.  He  bought  land  in  the  town  of  Busti 
and  cleared  up  a  farm  which  has  been  in  the 
possession  of  his  descendants  ever  since.  He 
had  seven  children,  five  sons  and  two  daughters. 
He  died  in  1859. 

John  A.  Hall  was  born  in  Wardsboro,  Ver- 
mont, December  27,  1813.  He  was  six  months 
old  when  his  father  emigrated  to  the  wilder- 
ness of  western  New  York.  In  his  early  boy- 
hood he  shared  the  labor  of  the  farm  with  his 
father  and  brothers,  and  at  the  age  of  sixteen 
left  homo  and  went  to  Warren  county,  Pa., 
where  he  embarked  in  commercial  pursuits,  and 
remained  about  eighteen  years.  Ten  years  of 
this  time  he  was  postmaster  at  Wai'ren. 

In  March,  1835,  he  married  Emily  Perry, 
also  a  native  of  Vermont,  whose  family  removed 
to  Chautauqua  county  in  the  early  days  of  its 
settlement,  and  to  their  union  were  born  seven 
children :  Marian  E.,  Ann  E.,  Edward  L., 
Henri,  John  A.,  Jr.,  Irene  A.  and  Freder- 
ick P. 

In  184(3,  at  tiie  solicitation  of  his  father, 
whose  health  was  failing,  he  gave  up  his  busi- 
ness in  Warren  at  a  very  considerable  sacrifice 
of  his  financial  prospects,  and  went  back  with 
his  family  to  the  old  homestead  to  take  care  of 
his  aged  father  and  mother,  an  act  of  pure  filial 
devotion.  During  the  civil  war  he  held  the 
position  of  clerk  of  the  committee  on  claims  iu 
the  United  States  House  of  Representatives  in 
Washington,  D.  C,  and  rendered  willing  assist- 
ance to  many  soldiers  and  their  families  while  at 
the  seat  of  government.  Wielding  a  trenchant  pen 
and  having  a  large  knowledge  in  political  mat- 
ters, he  wrote  during  this  time  much  for  the 
press.  His  letters,  under  the  nom  de  plume  of 
"  Paul  Pry,"  to  various  papers  were  extensively 
read  and  copied.  In  1872  he  moved  from 
Busti  to  Jamestown,  engaging  in  business  for  a 


370 


BIOGRAPHY  AND  HISTORY 


few  years,  and  in  1876  he  purchased  of  Davis 
H.  Waite,  the  Jamestown  Journal,  which  under 
the  efficient  management  of  himself  and  son, 
Frederick  P.,  soon  took  highest  rank  among  the 
newspapers  of  western  New  York,  and  secured 
a  large  circulation.  Mr.  Hall,  while  always  a 
public  man,  because  a  leader  and  maker  of  pub- 
lic opinion,  Mas  never  an  office  seeker  ;  though 
often  urged  to  he  a  candidate  for  public  favors, 
he  never  would  put  himself  forward.  He  did, 
however,  serve  on  the  board  of  supervisors  of 
Chautauqua  county  three  years,  and  at  the'time 
of  his  death  was  filling  his  second  terra  on  the 
board  of  education  for  the  city  of  Jamestown. 
He  was  a  man  of  the  strictest  integrity,  never 
flinching  in  the  advocacy  of  whatever  he  be- 
lieved to  be  right  and  true.  His  death  occurred 
January  29,  188G. 

Frederick  P.  Hall,  youngest  son  of  John  A., 
was  born  in  Busti,  in  November,  1859.  He  re- 
ceived his  education  mainly  in  the  public  schools 
of  Jamestown,  and  when  his  father  purchased 
the  Journal,  in  1876,  assumed  the  business 
management  of  the  establishment.  In  a  short 
time  he  was  taken  into  partnership,  and  after 
a  very  few  years,  owing  to  his  father's  ill 
health,  almost  the  entire  management  of  the 
office  devolved  upon  him.  By  his  enterprise 
and  business  tact  these  papers  have  secured  their 
present  high  standing  and  influence.  In  Sep- 
tember, 188.J,  ^fr.  Hall  was  married  to  Lucy 
H.,  daughter  of  Levant  L.  Mason,  of  James- 
town. They  have  tiiree  children  :  Henri  Mas- 
on, born  December  19,  1884;  Levant  Mason, 
born  December  25, 1 886  ;  and  Frederick  Perry, 
Jr.,  born  April  7,  1891.  Mr.  Hall  is  at  pres- 
ent (1891)  one  of  the  executive  committee  of 
the  New  York  State  Press  Association,  and 
holds  .several  places  of  trust  in  the  business, 
church  and  benevolent  enterprises  of  the  city  of 
Jamestown. 


/>^APT.  JOHN  I.  LANPHERE,  who  is  now 

^^  serving  a  second  term  as  postmaster  of 
Silver  Creek,  is  a  son  of  Chauncey  and  Wealthy 
Ann  (Carpenter)  Lanphere,  and  was  born  at 
Silver  Creek,  in  the  town  of  Hanover,  Chau- 
tauqua county.  New  York,  June  10th,  1835. 
The  Lanphere  family  is  of  German  descent  and 
was  settled  in  what  is  now  the  United  States  at 
an  early  day.  Charles  Lanphere,  the  paternal 
grandfather  of  Capt.  Lanphere,  died  while  serv- 
ing as  a  soldier  in  the  war  of  1812.  His  .son, 
Chauncey  Lanphere,  was  born  near  Brookfield, 
this  State,  in  1807  and  died  at  Silver  Creek 
February  ],  1849.  A\'hen  a  young  man  he 
came  to  Villanova,  where  he  purchased  and 
cleared  out  a  farm  within  about  twelve  miles  of 
Silver  Creek.  He  afterward  moved  to  Silver 
Creek,  where  he  carried  on  contracting,  house, 
boat  and  bridge  buildiug,  besides  erecting  and 
running  three  large  lime  kilns.  He  was  a  well 
respected  man  and  citizen  and  an  old-line  whig 
in  politics.  He  married  Wealthy  Ann  Carpen- 
ter, who  was  reared  in  Villanova,  became  a 
member  of  the  Presb3'terian  church  and  pas.sed 
away  in  1841,  at  the  early  age  of  thirty-three 
years. 

John  I.  Lanphere  was  reared,  until  he  was 
fifteen  years  of  age,  at  Silver  Creek  and  in  the 
town  of  Villanova,  and  received  his  education 
in  the  public  schools  of  that  day.  Leaving 
school,  he  went  to  Lake  Erie  and  became  a  cook 
on  a  sailboat.  He  was  rapidly  and  successively 
promoted  to  a  place  before  the  mast,  to  second 
mate  and  to  first  mate.  In  18G2  he  was  made 
captain  of  the  schooner  "  Eliza  Logan,"  which  he 
commanded  for  three  years  in  its  trips  between 
Buttalo  and  Chicago.  Leaving  the  "  Logan," 
he  had  command  of  .several  fine  boats,  owning 
an  interest  in  two  of  them.  In  1872  he  quit 
.sailing  and  returned  to  his  home  in  Silver  Creek, 
where  he  had  resided  while  sailing,  and  where 
he  has  since  remained.  He  is  a  republican 
politically,  has  held  .several  village  offices  and 
served,    in    1877,    1878    and    1879,  as   ileputy 


1 


'£A.S<r^i^-^ 


OF  CHAUTAUQUA   COUNTY. 


373 


sheriff  of  the  county.  He  served  under  Presi- 
dent Artiuir's  admiuistration  as  postmaster  of 
Silver  Creek,  and  in  •Inly,  1890,  was  re-ap- 
j)ointed  to  tiuit  office,  wiiii'h  lie  is  still  holding. 
Captain  Tjanphere  is  a  member  of  Silver  Lodge, 
No.  757,  Free  and  Accepted  Masons,  and  Silver 
Creek  Council,  No.  139,  Royal  Arcanum. 

January  15, 1861,  he  married  Harriet,  daugh- 
ter of  Joseph  and  Sarah  Hammond,  of  Sheri- 
dan. To  Captain  and  Mrs.  Lanphere  have  been 
born  three  children:  Walter  T.,  who  married 
Luella  Andrus,  and  was  for  some  time  in  the 
book  and  notion  business,  which  he  recently 
.sold,  and  is  now  assisting  his  father  in  the  post- 
office;  William  H.,  a  stenographer  in  Chicago; 
and  Hattie,  who  is  assistant  cashier  of  a  large 
manufacturing  company  in  BuffiUo. 

o 

HON.  CHARLEJSH.  CORBETT,  one  of  the 
leading  merchants  and  business  men  of 
Sherman,  is  a  son  of  Newell  and  Persis  (Newell) 
Corbett,  and  was  born  in  the  town  of  Mina, 
Chautauqua  county,  New  York,  October  5, 
1845.  The  Corbett  and  Newell  families  came 
from  southern  New  England  to  Chautaurpia 
county  about  the  year  1825,  and  settled  respec- 
tively in  the  towns  of  Mina  and  Sherman. 
Robert  Corbett,  the  paternal  grandfather  of 
Charles  H.  Corbett,  was  from  Milford,  Massa- 
chusetts, and  bought,  in  1824,  a  part  of  lot 
three,  in  the  present  town  of  Mina.  He  built 
and  operated  for  some  time  the  flouring-mills 
of  Fiudley's  lake.  His  children  were :  Ithiel, 
of  California;  Newell  (father);  David,  a  New 
York  merchant ;  Robert  A. ;  and  Otis,  of  Chi- 
cago ;  Lucretia,  wife  of  J.  W.  Robertson  ;  and 
Lydiann,  who  died  at  nineteen  years  of  age. 
His  second  son,  Newell  Corbett,  the  father  of 
Charles  H.  Corbett,  was  born  in  Massachu.setts 
in  1819.  He  was  brought  by  his  parents,  in 
1825,  to  this  county,  where  he  has  resided  ever 
since.  He  married  Persis  Newell,  who  also  was 
born  in  1819,  and  is  a  daughter  of  Jesse  New- 
ell (maternal   gradfather)  who  came   from  Con- 


necticut in  1825  and  settled  on  Presbyterian 
Hill  in  the  town  of  Siierman,  where  he  was  one 
of  the  earlie.st  farmers  in  his  section  of  the 
county. 

C.  H.  Corbett  was  reared  on  the  farm,  at- 
tended Westfield  academy  and  afterwards  took 
the  full  commercial  cour.se  of  Eastman's  Business 
college,  of  Poughkeepsie,  New  York,  from 
which  he  was  graduated.  In  18G6  he  entered 
into  mercantile  life  by  engaging  as  a  clerk  with 
J.  T.  Greene.  At  the  end  of  five  years,  in  1871, 
he  left  Mr.  Greene's  employ  and  purchased  the 
interest  of  J.  M.  Coveney  in  the  mercantile  firm 
of  Coveney  &  Hart,  of  Sherman.  As  a  mem- 
ber of  the  new  firm  of  Hart  &  Corbett,  he  gave 
his  time  and  efforts  successfully  to  the  building 
up  of  a  large  and  prosperous  business.  Their 
mercantile  establishment  is  on  Main  street, 
and  they  carry  a  heavy  and  well-assorted  stock 
of  general  merchandise,  worth  about  twenty 
thousand  dollars,  which  embraces  special  lines  of 
dry  goods,  boots  and  shoes,  and  carpets.  He  is 
a  democrat  in  politics,  served  as  supervisor  of 
Sherman  in  1882  and  in  1883,  and  in  the  fall 
of  1882  was  elected,  in  the  First  Assembly  Dis- 
trict of  Chautauqua  county,  which  is  strongly 
republican,  by  a  majority  of  nine  hundred  aud 
eighty-six,  as  a  member  of  the  New  York 
Legislature,  in  which  he  was  made  chairman 
of  the  committee  on  charitable  and  religious 
institutions. 

On  May  13,  1869,  he  united  in  marriage 
with  Narcissa  Dutton,  of  Sherman.  They  have 
two  children,  both  sons  :  Harry  C,  born  Oct. 
24,  1873 ;    and  Frank  D.,  born  Nov.  23,  1879. 

In  the  financial  affairs  of  Sherman  Mr.  Cor- 
bett has  taken  an  active  interest.  He  was  in- 
strumental in  starting  and  outlining  the  suc- 
cessful course  of  the  State  Bank  of  Sherman,  of 
which  he  was  vice-president.  From  his  hum- 
ble start  as  a  clerk  in  the  mercantile  business  it 
was  his  laudable  ambition  to  honorablv  excel  as 
a  merchant,  which  he  has  creditably  done.  In 
the  political  field  as  a  legislator  and  in  business 


374 


BIOGRAPHY  AND  HISTORY 


circles  as  a  financier  his  coarse  lifls  been  such  as 
to  secure  respect  and  commendation. 

He  is  the  present  Grand  Master  Workman 
of  the  A.  O.  U.  AY.  of  the  State  of  New  York  ; 
was  elected  at  Syracuse  last  March.  Is  the 
Grand  Ti-easurer  of  the  Select  Knights  A.  O. 
U.  W.  of  the  State  of  New  York,  and  has  held 
the  office  for  the  past  jfour  years.  He  is  a 
prominent  Mason,  and  belongs  to  the  following 
bodies :  Olive  Lodge,  No.  575  F.  &  A.  M., 
Sherman,  N.  Y. ;  Westfield  Chapter,  No.  239, 
E.  A.  M.,  Mayville,  N.  Y.  ;  Dunkirk  Council, 
No.  25,  R.  and  S.  M.,  Dunkirk,  N.  Y. ;  Dun- 
kirk Commandery,  No.  40,  Knights  Templar, 
Dunkirk,  N.  Y. ;  Palmona  Lodge  of  Perfec- 
tion, Ancient  Accepted  Scottish  Rite  at  Buffalo, 
N.  Y. ;  Rochester  Consistory,  A.  A.  S.  R., 
Rochester,  N.  Y. ;  and  Damascus  Temple,  An- 
cient Arabic  Order  Nobles  of  the  Mystic  Shrine 


TRA  D.  ROWLEY,  the  representative  of  the 
-*•  Lake  Shore  and  MicJiigan  Southern  rail- 
way at  Silver  Creek  station,  this  county,  is  a 
son  of  Abner  and  Phcebe  C.  (Hurd)  Rowley, 
and  was  born  in  Holland,  Erie  county,  New 
York,  August  23,  1845.  The  Rowleys  are 
New  England  Yankees,  but  came  from  Eng- 
lish ancestors.  The  paternal  grandfother  was  a 
native  of  Vermont  and  removed  to  Holland, 
Erie  county,  this  State,  about  1815,  where  lie 
followed  his  trade,  carpentering,  and  tilled  a 
farm.  Being  a  man  of  character  and  strict  in- 
tegrity he  was  very  influential  and  at  his  deatli, 
which  occurred  in  1855,  there  were  general  ex- 
pressions of  sorrow.     His  wife  was  Mary , 

by  whom  he  had  six  children.  Abner  Rowley 
(father)  was  born  in  Holland,  Erie  county,  in 
1821,  and  having  reached  maturity  ho  went  out 
in  the  world  to  look  for  work.  About  that 
time  the  Erie  railroad  had  built  to  Buffalo  and 
there  was  an  agent  needed  for  the  station  called 
Town  Line,  in  Erie  county,  wliiili  .Mr.  liowiey 
took  and  held  for  forty  years,  lie  |)asscd  away 
in  1884  sincerely  mourned  by  a   large  circle  of 


friends.  He  was  a  member  of  Aldea  Lodge, 
No.  284,  F.  and  A.  M.,  of  the  Independent 
Order  of  Odd  Fellows,  and  of  the  Democratic 
party.  In  his  younger  days  Mr.  Rowley  was 
an  enthusiastic  military  man  and  attended,  with 
his  company,  all  the  gatherings  for  military 
trainings.  Connected  with  his  railroad  agency, 
he  dealt  in  coal,  a  business  which,  as  wood  grew 
scarcer,  developed  to  large  proportions.  In 
1841,  he  married  Phcebe  C.  Hurd,  who  came 
from  the  same  town  in  which  he  was  born  and 
they  spent  a  happy  married  life  until  Mrs. 
Rowley  was  summoned  to  cross  the  broad  river 
whose  other  bank  is  enveloped  in  mist,  in  1863, 
when  forty-four  years  of  age.  She  was  a  kind, 
gentle  and  affectionate  mother  and  passed  from, 
earth  consoled  by  her  confidence  in  the  teach- 
ings of  tiie  Baptist  church. 

Ira  D.  Rowley  as  a  boy  was  bright  and 
wide-awake.  He  was  reared  in  Erie  county 
and  lived  at  home  until  fourteen  years  of  age, 
when  he  secured  a  place  as  newsboy  on  the 
Erie  railway,  running  from  Buffalo  to  Corning- 
This  life  he  led  for  three  years  and  in  1862 
joined  Co.  D,  116th  regiment,  N.  Y.  Vols.,  at 
Buffalo  and  served  until  the  close  of  the  war. 
His  regiment  saw  service  along  the  Gulf,  and 
later  with  Sheridan  in  the  Shenandoah  valley 
and  participated  in  the  engagements,  twelve  in 
number,  of  the  armies  to  which  it  was  attached. 
Mr.  Rowley  was  wounded  but  not  severely 
enough  to  cau.se  permanent  disability.  He  was 
discharged  at  Washington  and  mustered  out  in 
Buffalo,  having  served  the  entire  term  as  a 
musician.  Then  he  took  a  course  at  Bryant  & 
Stratton's  Business  college,  in  IJutfalo,  and 
learned  telegrapiiy  and  soon  after  .secured  a 
place  as  operator  and  station  agent  on  the  Erie 
railway.  Remaining  there  four  years  he  changed 
to  theL.  S.  &  M.  S.  R.  R.,  and  had  the  Angola 
office  two  years  and  was  promoted  to  the  general 
dispatcher's  office  at  Buifalo.  Six  nionllis  later 
he  was  o;iven  the  Silver  Creek  station  wliich  he 
has  held  to  the  pre.sent  time — a  continuous  ser- 


OF  CHAUTAUQUA   COUNTY. 


375 


vice  of  nineteen  years.  The  American  Express 
conipiiiiy  is  also  represented  by  him.  Mr.  Row- 
ley is  a  stoc'k-liolder  in  the  Silver  Creek  ll^phol- 
stering  factory  and  has  been  largely  identified 
with  its  prosperity. 

In  1870,  he  married  Caroline  L.  Winslow,  a 
daughter  of  Myron  D.  ^^'inslow,  of  Angola, 
and  they  have  one  daughter  living  :  Edna  H., 
born  January  15,  1876;  and  Mabel  E.,  born 
October  22,  1873— died  in  September,  188!). 

Ira  D.  Rowley  is  a  member  of  the  Methodist 
church  ;  a  steward  and  trnstee,  and  belongs  to 
the  following  fraternal  "bodies:  Silver  Lodge,  i 
No.  757,  F.  and  A.  M. ;  Silver  Creek  Lodge, 
No.  10,  A.  O.  U.  W.;  Silver  Creek  Council, 
No.  39,  Royal  Arcanum ;  and  the  Knights 
Templar  degree  of  the  Masons.  He  is  u  repub- 
lican, has  served  as  president  of  the  village, 
president  of  the  school  board  and  is  now  a 
member  of  the  last  named  body.  He  belongs 
to  the  progressive,  pushing  and  wide-awake 
element  upon  whom  the  work  of  developing  a 
town  or  city  falls,  but  being  public-spirited  Mr. 
Rowley  cheerfully  gives  of  his  time  and  means 
to  everything  that  will  advance  the  interests  of 

the  village. 

^ 

nOBERT  31.  HALL,  a  farmer  of  the  town 
of  Westfield  and  one  of  the  Union  sol- 
diers who  was  a  prisoner  at  Andersonville,  is  a 
son  of  Asa  and  Pauline  (Mack)  Hall,  and  was 
born  in.  the  town  of  Westfield,  Chautauqua  I 
county.  New  York,  February  5,  1833.  His 
paternal  grandfather,  Asa  Hall,  Sr.,  was  born 
June  20,  1767,  in  Rhode  Island,  where  he  was 
an  importer  and  jol)ber  for  some  years  in  the 
city  of  Providence.  He  came  to  the  town  of 
Westfield  in  1811,  served  in  the  War  of  1812 
and  died  March  14,  1832.  His  children  were  : 
Sophy,  wife  of  Jonathan  Cass ;  George,  who 
served  in  the  War  of  1812;  Harriet;  Asa; 
David;  and  Silas  F.,  who  died  in  Illinois.  ; 
Asa  Hall,  the  second  son  and  father  of  Robert 
M.  Hall,  was  born   at   Thompson,  Connecticut, 


December  26,  1796,  removed  with  liis  parents 
to  Stratford,  New  Hampshire  and  in  1811  came 
with  them  to  Westfield.  At  sixteen  years  of 
age  he  enlisted  in  the  American  army,  was  at 
the  burning  of  Buffalo  and  on  his  way  home 
had  fever  and  ague  from  the  effects  of  which  he 
never  recovered.  He  purchased  land  from  the 
Holland  Land  company  and  when  not  engaged 
at  his  trade  of  carpenter  and  builder  was  em- 
ployed in  farming  until  his  death,  June  8,  1868. 
He  was  a  ruling  elder  of  the  Presbyterian 
church  and  on  December  20,  1820,  he  married 
Pauline  Mack,  a  native  of  Genesee  county,  a 
very  intelligent  woman,  who  died  May  4,  1861, 
at  sixty  years  of  age.  Young,  in  his  history  of 
Chautauqua  county,  says :  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Hall 
are  spoken  of  as  having  been  persons  of  exem- 
plary piety,  and  shedding  a  hallowed  influence 
alike  upon  the  members  of  the  family  and  of 
the  society  in  which  they  moved."  They  had 
five  children  :  Charlotte,  wife  of  W.  P.  Culbert- 
son,  of  Illinois;  Robert  M.;  Sophy  C.^  who 
married  A.  C.  Crane,  of  San  Francisco,  Califor- 
nia; Emma  M.,  wife  of  Judge  S.  G.  Nye,  of 
Oakland,  California;  and  Frank  A.,  for  ten 
years  publisher  of  the  Westfield  ItepultUcan  and 
now  in  the  manufacturing  business,  the  factory 
being  located  in  northeast  Pennsylvania — resi- 
dence, Westfield.  Mrs.  Hall  was  a  daughter 
of  Capt.  John  Mack,  who  kept  the  old  Mack 
tavern  and  the  ferry  on  Cattaraugus  creek, 
when  the  British  had  possession  of  Lake  Erie, 
and  by  the  assistance  of  the  Indians  prevented 
the  English  from  molesting  him. 

Robert  M.  Hall  grew  to  manhood  on  the 
Westfield  farm  and  received  a  common  school 
and  academic  education.  He  has  given  his  time 
and  attention  to  farming  and  now  has  a  vine- 
yard of  twenty-five  acres  on  his  farm,  which  is 
situated  one  and  one-half  miles  west  of  the  vil- 
lage of  Westfield.  In  1861  he  enlisted  as  a 
private  in  Co.  I,  9th  New  York  cavalry,  was 
promoted  to  quarter-master  sergeant  and  after 
three  and  one-half  years   of  active  service  was 


376 


BIOGRAPHY  AND  HISTORY 


honorably  discharged  at  Elmira,  New  York, 
February  6,  1865.  In  a  cavalry  charge  at 
Brandy  Station,  Virginia,  he  was  wounded  and 
captured  by  the  Confederates  and  spent  four 
hundred  and  nine  days  in  seven  different  pris- 
ons, one  of  which  was  Andersonville,  in  wliich 
he  was  confined  for  the  most  of  his  time  before 
being  exchanged.  Mr.  Hall  is  a  republican  in 
politics.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Westfield 
Presbyterian  church  and  William  Sackett  Post, 
No.  324,  Grand  Army  of  the  Republic.  He 
has  always  been  active  and  useful  in  his  sphere 
of  life  and  enjoyed  the  reputation  of  being  a 
public-spirited  citizen. 

January  30,  1867,  he  married  Flora  A.,  eld- 
est daughter  of  Milo  A.  Driggs.  To  their 
union  have  been  born  five  children:  Louise, 
who  died  at  eleven  years  of  age  ;  Florence,  who 
possesses  good  artistic  ability,  has  done  some 
fine  painting  and  graduated  in  1891,  from  Ing- 
ham university,  at  Leroy,  New  York ;  Paul- 
ine ;  Mary  ;  and  Asa. 


CAPT.  JAMKS  P.  BENIfETT,  a  well- 
known  citizen  and  prosperous  farmer  of  the 
town  of  Westfield,  is  a  son  of  James  and  Elizabeth 
(Ensign)  Bennett,  and  was  born  in  the  town  of 
Portland,  Chautauqua  county,  New  York, 
August  2,  1824.  His  paternal  grandfather, 
Capt.  Banks  Bennett,  was  of  French  descent, 
and  served  in  the  Revolutionary  war,  and  the 
maternal  grandfather,  Otis  Ensign,  also  served 
in  the  Revolutionary  war  and  afterwards  left 
his  native  State  of  Ma.ssacliu.setts  to  become  one 
of  the  early  settlersof  the  town  of  Pomfret,  where 
he  died  at  the  advanced  age  of  ninety-six  years. 
James  Bennett,  the  father  of  Capt.  James  P.  Ben- 
nett, was  born  in  the  town  of  Pawlet,  Rutland 
county,  Vermont,  June  6,  1785,  and  came  to  the 
town  of  Sliei-idan  in  1816;  two  years  later  he  re- 
moved tothe  town  of  Portland,  where  lie  followed 
farming  until  his  death  January  29,  1858.  He 
was  a  whig  and  a  rcpuiilican  and  ;i  member  of 
tiie  Methodist    Episcopal   church,  in    which  he 


was  an  active  worker  ;  while  his  word  was  as 
good  as  his  bond.  He  married  Elizabeth 
Ensign,  a  consistent  member  of  his  own  church, 
who  was  born  in  Susquehanna  county,  Penna., 
and  died  June  10,  1850,  when  in  the  sixty-third 
year  of  her  age. 

James  P.  Bennett  was  reared  on  the  farm  in 
the  town  of  Portland  until  he  was  fourteen 
years  of  age  and  received  his  education  in  the 
common  schools.  He  then  went  on  board  a 
lake  vessel  and  worked  his  way  up  until  he 
became  a  captain  and  commanded  several 
vessels  that  plied  on  the  lakes  between  Buffalo 
and  Chicago.  At  twenty-eight  years  of  age  he 
left  the  lakes  and  spent  three  years  as  a  grain 
weigher  in  an  elevator  at  Buffalo.  He  then 
conducted  a  grocery  and  meat  market  for  five 
years  and  at  the  end  of  that  time  embarked  in 
the  butchering  business,  which  he  continued 
successively  in  the  Elk  street  market  for  twenty- 
two  years.  When  he  quit  butchering  (1882)  he 
returned  to  this  county,  where  he  purchased  a 
farm  in  the  town  of  Westfield  and  has  been 
engaged  ever  since  in  farming  and  grape  cul- 
ture. 

In  1850,  he  married  Sarah  A.  Drury,  daugh- 
ter of  John  Drury  of  Detroit,  INIichigan.  They 
have  two  adopted  children  :   Lottie  and  Susie. 

Captain  James  P.  Bennett  is  a  democrat  in 
politics,  was  elected  supervisor  in  1862  of  the 
third  ward  of  Buffalo  and  served  for  three 
years  as  captain  of  the  police  in  tlie  third 
precinct  of  that  city.  When  he  quit  butchering 
in  Buffalo,  the  butchers  of  the  Elk  street 
marked  presented  him  a  gold-headed  ebony 
cane  as  a  slight  token  of  their  esteem  and 
respect.  He  is  a  member  of  Erie  Lodge  No. 
161,  Buffalo  Chapter  No.  71,  and  liulfalo  Coun- 
cil No.  17  of  the  Masonic  Fraternitv  of  Buffalo. 


FKAMv  O.  1JKUJ«S  is  a  well  educated, 
bright,  energetic  and  active  young  busi- 
}icss  man.  wlm  is  ajjpreciated  for  his  worth  in 
the  community.     He  is  an  only  son  of  George 


OF  CHAUTAUQUA   COUNTY. 


377 


W.  and  Sallie  A.  (Tarbox)  Briggs  and  was  born 
ill  Arkwright,  Chautauqua  county,  New  York, 
September  21,  181)3.  Mis  i^rarKlfiitlicrj  Josepli 
R.  Brigg.s,  was  born  in  Ma.ssaciui.setts,  July  24, 
1795,  and  owned  quite  a  large  farm,  which  he 
sold,  and  came  to  this  county  in  1830,  where  he 
bought  a  farm  of  fifty  acres  in  Arkwright  and 
carried  on  a  dairy  business,  manufacturing  large 
quantities  of  butter  up  to  tiie  time  of  iiis  death, 
whieli  occurred  November  25,  1876.  In  re- 
ligion lie  was  a  member  of  the  (Iliristian  cliiu'ch, 
and  politically  he  was  a  republican.  Joseph  E,. 
Briggs  was  married  January  1,  1817  to  Rhoda 
Sabin  and  by  her  had  eight  children,  two  sons 
and  six  daughters:  Olive,  born  July  11,  1818, 
married  to  Palmer  Dennison ;  George  W. 
(father);  Dorcas  B.  born  May  10,  1822,  mar- 
ried Wilder  Fisher ;  Louis  J.,  born  June  20, 
1824,  married  Hannah  Lewis;  Susan,  born 
October  8,  1826,  married  John  Griswold ; 
Rhoda  F.,  born  November  26,  1829,  married 
Abner  Mattoon;  Mary  I.,  born  April  27,  1832, 
married  Joel  Parker ;  Anna  M.,  born  July  25, 
1834,  married  Myron  Dewey.  The  maternal 
grandfather  of  F.  O.  Briggs,  Dudley  Tarbox, 
was  born  in  Hebron,  Connecticut,  January  9, 
1785,  where  he  owned  a  farm  and  cultivated  it 
until  1835,  (except  when  he  was  serving  as  a 
soldier  in  the  war  of  1812),  when  he  sold  it  and 
moved  to  this  county,  settling  in  the  town  of 
Arkwright,  where  he  bought  a  farm  of  sixty 
acres  and  pursued  the  vocation  of  an  agricultur- 
ist until  his  death,  which  summons  came  to  him 
in  Stockton,  this  county,  June  3,  1851.  His 
wife  died  April  10,  1857.  Religiously,  he  was 
a  member  of  the  Christian  church  in  Ark- 
wright, and  politically  he  was  a  republican. 
Duiiley  Tarbox  was  married  March  16,  1812, 
to  Polly  Waters  and  by  her  had  ten  children, 
six  sons  and  four  daughters  :  Mary  S.,  married 
Leonard  Dalrymple  ;  Phebe  S.,  born  September 
8,  1813,  married  Benjamin  House;  William 
W.,  born  December  28,  1816,  married  Sarah 
A.  Wood  ;  Henry  C,  born  November  18,  1818, 


died  young  ;  Harry  M.,'  boru  March  19,  1820, 
married  Cornelia  Rebbels ;  Augustus  C,  born 
March  9,  1822,  died  yoimg  ;  Sallie  A.  (mother) 
born  July  4,  1824  ;  Albert  G.,  born  December. 
3,  1826,  married  Hercy  Rebbels;  Hannah  J., 
born  February  6,  1829,  married  Ranster  Luce 
Saliua,  born  May  6,  1831,  died  young.  It  is  a 
singular  coincidence  that  grandfatiier  and  grand- 
mother Tarbox,  grandmother  Briggs  and  George 
W.  Briggs  died  aged  sixty-six  years  each. 
George  W.  Briggs  (father)  was  born  in  Massa- 
chusetts June  19,  1820,  and  became  a  farmer, 
owning  two  hundred  and  fifty  acres  of  land  at 
the  old  homestead.  He  came  to  the  county  iu 
1835,  settling  in  Arkwright,  where  he  bought 
land,  until  at  one  time  he  owned  seven  hundred 
acres.  In  1875  he  sold  all  his  Arkwright 
land  except  three  hundred  and  eighty  acres, 
moved  to  Fredonia  and  in  1876  bought  a  prop- 
erty on  Temple  street  and  retired  from  active 
life.  The  laud  he  owned  in  Arkwright  was 
unimproved,  nearly  all  woods,  and  he  improved 
it.  The  first  year  he  was  married  he  worked 
for  a  man  named  Strong  at  Sinclairville  for  one 
hundred  and  twenty  dollars  a  year  and  house 
rent.  At  the  time  of  his  death  he  was  worth 
thirty  thousand  dollars,  showing  what  an  in- 
domitable will,  added  to  Yankee  shrewdness 
and  pluck,  will  accomplish.  During  the  war 
he  had  charge  of  filling  the  quota  of  the  town  of 
Arkwright,  but  was  never  in  the  army.  In  re- 
ligion he  was  a  member  of  the  Christian  church 
in  Arkwright,  of  which  he  was  also  deacon  and 
trustee.  After  coming  to  Fredonia,  he  joined 
the  Disciple  church,  of  which  he  was  afterward 
a  trustee  or  minister  and  was  a  very  active 
church  worker.  In  politics  he  was  a  republican 
and  an  active  party  man.  He  was  asses.sor  and 
supervisor  of  Arkwright  in  1875,  1876,  1877. 
Georsre  W.  Brigg;s  was  married  to  Sallie  A. 
Tarbox  January  1,  1843,  and  the  union  was 
productive  of  four  children,  one  son  and  three 
daughters  :  Ellen  J.,  married  C  W.  Cardott,  a 
mechanic  iu  Jamestown  ;  Katherine  P.  married 


378 


BIOOBAPHY  AND  HISTORY 


C.  B.  Wilson,  a  farmer  in  Charlotte,  this 
county ;  Ida  B.,  dead ;  and  Frank  O.  Tlie 
father  died  November  23,  1886.  His  death 
was  caused  by  a  hurt  in  the  hand,  which  he  liad 
received  seven  years  previous  and  wliich  had 
resulted  in  blood  poisoning.  The  best  physi- 
cians were  consulted  and  he  was  taken  to  the 
hospital  at  Ann  Arbor,  Mi(;higan,  but  his  life 
could  not  be  saved.  His  widow  is  still  living, 
in  her  sixty-seventh  year,  having  been  born  in 
1824. 

Frank  O.  Briggs  was  educated  at  the  district 
school  in  Arkvvright  and  at  the  union  school  in 
Jamestown,  which  latter  he  had  attended  four 
terms  when  his  parents  moved  to  Fredonia  and 
he  attended  the  State  normal  school  six  terms, 
taking  the  regular  normal  course,  Init  did  not 
graduate.  He  then  went  to  clerking  for  D.  L. 
Shepard  in  the  hardware  business,  where  he  re- 
mained three  years,  and  then  bought  a  fruit 
farm  of  twenty  acres  in  Pomfret,  which  he  occu- 
pied two  years,  being  very  successful.  Then  1 
he  returned  to  Fredonia  and  resumed  his  place 
in  Mr.  Shepard's  store,  still  owning  the  farm, 
remained  here  about  sixteen  months  and  then 
traded  the  farm  and  bouglit  out  Mr.  Shepard  in 
connection  with  Case  &  Zahn  in  1882.  In 
October  1886  he  sold  out  his  interest  and 
started  in  the  shoe  business  at  No.  53  Main 
street,  Fredonia,  where  he  carried  a  stock  of 
eight  thousand  dollars  worth  of  all  varieties  of 
boots,  shoes  and  rubber  goods;  and  did  a  busi- 
ness of  sixteen  thousand  dollars  a  year  until 
April  II,  1890,  wiien  he  sold  out  his  boot  and 
.shoe  business  and  embarked  in  the  hardware 
trade,  associating  with  Fred  K..  Ford ;  they 
purchased  the  west  end  of  what  is  known  as 
tlie  Park  House  and  by  January  1,  1892,  ex- 
pect to  have  tlie  finest  line  of  hardware  in  stock 
to  be  found  at  Fredonia.  In  rcli<i:ioii  he  is  a 
member  of  tlie  Presbyterian  chnicli  of  Fre- 
donia, and  in  politics  is  an  active  working  re- 
publican. He  is  secretary  of  Forest  Lodge, 
No.  166,  F.  A.  M.,  a    member  of  Grapevine 


Tent,  No.  81,  Knights  of  the  Maccabees,  and 
of  Fredonia  Grange,  No.  1.  Frank  O.  Briggs 
was  married  June  4,  1879  to  Sophie  M.  Lee,  a 
daughter  of  Uriah  and  Eliza  Lee  of  Fredonia, 
and  has  two  children,  a  son  and  a  daughter: 
May  L.  and  George  W. 


T^LiY  DAVIS  is  a  venerable  gentleman  living 
-■■^  at  Fredonia,  who  has  been  an  extensive 
farmer;  is  now  interested  in  the  cultivation  of 
grapes,  and  makes  politics  a  study,  believing 
that  the  affairs  of  the  Nation  should  command 
the  attention  of  all  jiatriotic  citizens.  He  is  a 
son  of  Harry  and  M;iry  (Stanhope)  Davis  and 
was  born  at  Scio,  Allegany  county,  New  York, 
November  24, 1817.  The  paternal  grandfather, 
James  Davis,  was  a  native  of  the  old  Bay 
State  and  was  born  about  1744.  By  trade  he 
was  a  shoemaker  and  followed  it  in  the  town  of 
Conway,  then  Hampshire  county,  Massachu- 
setts, and  served  through  the  Revolutionary 
1  war,  rising  to  the  rank  of  major  and  served  on 
Gen.  Washington's  staff.  Mr.  Davis  was  the 
leader  of  a  sect  called  the  San  Dominicans,  and 
exercised  a  great  influence  for  good  over  them. 
In  1767  he  married  Irene  Ticnor,  who  bore 
him  ten  children,  six  girls  and  four  boys : 
James,  Cyrus,  Harry,  Charles,  Eunice,  Liicinda, 
Philaua,  and  three  whose  names  are  lost.  His 
wife  died  about  1810  and  he  then  moved  to  the 
home  of  sulyect's  iiither  in  Allegany  county  in 
1812,  where  he  died  four  years  later.  The 
maternal  grand fatiior,  Samuel  Stanhope,  was 
born  in  Ma.ssachusetts  in  1755  and  was  a  life- 
long farmer.  He  married  Mary  Goodenough  in 
1773  and  moved  to  Genesee  county,  New  York, 
where  his  wife  died  in  1828,  aged  seventy-one 
years,  and  she  is  buried  at  Attica.  Mr.  Stan- 
hope then  removed  to  Monroe  county  and  lived 
with  a  son  until  his  Maker  called  him  in  1839. 
lie  too  ■■served  under  Wasiiiiigton  in  the  Rev- 
oliitidiiarv  army  and,  at  the  time  of  his  death, 
was  drawing  a  disability  ]K'iision.  Mr.  Stan- 
hope belonged  to  the  Baptist  churcli,  and  reared 


OF  CHAUTAUQUA    COUNTY. 


379 


a  family  of  six  cliildren,  Levi,  Charlotte,  Mary, 
Teresa,  Luther  and  Zatta.  Harry  Davis,  sub- 
ject's father,  was  born  at  Conway,  llarnpsliire 
county,  Massachusetts,  August  24,  1780,  and 
for  a  number  of  years  was  reared  by  Deacon 
Ware.  Wiien  he  attained  his  majority  he  moved 
to  Whitestown,  Oneida  county,  N.  Y.  and  lived 
there  for  a  year  and  then  went  to  Angelica, 
Allegany  county,  on  the  Genesee  river,  wliere 
he  got  one  hundred  and  sixty  acres  of  land  for 
two  dollars  and  fifty  cents  per  acre.  The  land 
was  heavily  timbered  and  the  Indians  were  his 
only  neighbors,  wliile  the  howling  of  wild 
beasts  at  night  made  the  music  tiiat  lulled  him 
to  sleep.  That  was  in  1805,  and  he  remained 
upon  the  same  ])roperty  until  he  died,  October 

18,  1864, when  eigiity-four  years  of  age.  Prior 
to  the  second  war  with  Great  Britain,  he  joined 
a  rifle  company  that  was  called  into  service  but 
soon  after  discharged,  so  that  the  members 
could  return  home  to  protect  their  families  from 
the  ravages  of  the  Indians.  For  service  ren- 
dered the  government,  Mr.  Davis  received  a 
land  warrant,  which  he  presented  to  the  Bap- 
tist church.  Politically  he  was  a  whig  and  was 
elevated  to  nearly  all  tiie  town  offices  in  the  gift 
of  the  people,  filling  with  special  credit  the 
positions  of  assessor  and  road  (iommissiouer  and 
was  also  elected  captain  of  militia.  For  many 
yeai's  he  served  as  deacon  in  the  Baptist  church 
and  at  its  organization  in  1817  he  was  the  first 
to  be  baptized  in  that  country.  On  October  5, 
1801,  he  married  Mary  Stanhope  and  she  be- 
came the  mother  of  eight  children,  five  sons  and 
three  daughters:  Charles  was  born  April  27, 
1803,  and  married  Jemima  Van  Campen  in 
1825 — he  is  dead  ;  Wells  was  born  April  14, 
1806,  now  dead,  married  Polly  Wightman, 
July  21,  1825;  Philana,  born  September  23, 
1808,  married  Samuel  Wheeler,  February  22, 
1825,  and  is  dead  ;  Nathan  W.,  born  February 

19,  1811,  married  Sarah  Waters,  September  11, 
1833,  and  is  dead;  Stata,  born  May  1,  1813, 
married   Joim   B.   Norton,   April   9,  1834,  she 


too  is  dead;  Lovina,  born  November  13,  1815, 
is  dead,  mairied  Horatio  N.  Crandall,  Novem- 
ber 12,  1840;  Ely  Davis;  Luther  was  born 
February  29,  1820,  iiiari'ied  Delana  Rogers, 
June  17,  1847,  dead;  and  tliree  others  died  in 
infancy.  Harry  Davis  lived  to  be  eighty-four 
years  old  and  died  October  18,  1864;  his  wife 
survived  until  September  10,  1870,  and  passed 
away,  aged  ninety  years. 

Ely  Davis  was  educated  at  the  district  schools, 
which  in  pioneer  times  were  seldom  helil  more 
tiian  two  or  three  montlis  in  eaeii  year  and  the 
scliolars  were  often  obliged  io  walk  three  and 
four  miles  to  attend;  during  the  summer  he 
worked  on  the  farm.  In  1845  he  bought  his 
fatlier's  farm  and  then  secured  the  adjoining 
tracts  until  he  owned  two  hundred  and  ninety- 
five  acres  in  one  piece. 

September  14, 1843,  he  united  with  Mari  M. 
Mosher,  a  daughter  of  Seba  Mosher,  of  Otsego 
county;  by  their  union  came  two  children:  Eliza 
Ann,  died  when  six  years  of  age,  two  days  after 
her  mother,  who  passed  away  October  25, 1851, 
and  both  were  buried  in  the  same  grave  at  Bel- 
mont, New  York;  and  Elizur  I.,  a  hardware 
merchant  at  Belmont ;  he  married  Evangeline  S. 
Lamphere,  September  11,  1872.  On  Decem- 
ber 1,  1853,  Mr.  Davis  wedded  Betsey  M. 
Reed,  a  daughter  of  Robert  Reed,  a  farmer  of 
Allegany  county.  By  her,  three  children  were 
born :  Eliza  M.,  born  April  5,  1855,  and  died 
November  8, 1856;  Harry  E.  is  a  book-keeper, 
stenographer  and  telegrapher  in  a  machine  shop 
at  Belmont — he  married  Eliza  E.  Ryman;  and 
Ella,  at  home. 

In  1873  Mr.  Davis  came  to  Chautauqua 
county  and  bought  a  desirable  property  in  Fre- 
donia,  leaving  his  son  to  manage  his  farm  at 
his  former  home,  but  four  years  later  he  sold  it 
to  the  latter  anil  now  attends  to  a  grape  orchard 
often  acres  in  the  town  of  Pomfi'et  and  .some 
interests  in  timber  lands  located  in  New  York 
and  Pennsylvania.  Politically  Ely  Davis  was 
a  whig  as  long  as  that  party   was  an   organiza- 


380 


BIOGRAPHY  AND  HISTORY 


tion  but  is  now  a  stalwart  rejiublican,  and  since 
1839  has  been  a  communicaut  of  the  Baptist 
church. 


"PlilAS  BECKER  is  one  of  tlie  farmers  of 
''■^  Busti  town  who  pays  strict  attention  to 
his  agricultural  work  and  thereby  usually  has 
good  crops.  He  is  a  sou  of  Abram  and  ]\Iar- 
garet  (Stom)  Becker  and  was  born  in  the  town 
of  Ellery,  this  county,  October  28,  1825.  The 
paternal  grandfather,  Adam  Becker,  was  of 
German  extraction  and  came  to  Chautauqua 
county  from  Herkimer  county  when  this 
country  was  new  and  comparatively  wild. 
He  secured  a  farm  and  continued  to  till 
its  soil  until  his  death.  Abram  Becker  was 
a  native  of  Herkimer  county,  and  came  to 
Chautauqua  when  a  boy  with  his  father.  They 
lived  for  many  years  in  Ellery  town,  where  he 
followed  farming  until  well  advanced  in  life, 
when  he  retired  from  active  business  and  moved 
into  the  village  of  Fluvanna,  where  he  died, 
aged  sixty-seven  years.  Abram  Becker  was  a 
democrat,  a  sterling,  pushing,  energetic  man, 
and  he  died  when  sixty-seven  years  old,  con- 
soled by  his  faith  in  the  Christian  church.  His 
wife,  Margaret  Stoui,  was  a  native  of  Ellery 
town ;  she  too  was  a  communicant  of  the 
Christian  church  and  died  in  1851,  aged  forty- 
six  years. 

Elias  Becker  was  reared  on  his  father's  farm 
where  he  worked  during  the  summer  and  at- 
tended the  common  schools  in  the  winter, 
thereby  securing  the  education  which  has  car- 
ried him  through  life.  He  is  the  owner  of  a 
highly  im])roved  farm  of  one-hundred  and  six 
and  onclialf  acres  iu  the  town  of  Busti,  located 
on  the  road  running  from  Jamestown  to 
Busti. 

Mr.  Becker  has  been  married  twice,  first  in 
Ellery  to  Mary  M.  Wiard,  a  daughter  of  Plum 
Wiard;  she  died  in  1 8 ">1,  leaving  no  children. 
For  his  second  wife  he  took  Elenore  L.  Miller, 
a    daugiiter   of  John    Miller,    of  the    town    of 


Ellery ;  by  this  last  union  they  have  one  child 
living,  a  daughter  Lena,  who  is  now  the  wife 
of  Lorenzo  Denu,  who  was  a  farmer  living 
near  subject's  home.  Elias  Becker  belongs  to 
the  Baptist  church  at  Busti,  in  which  he  holds 
the  responsible  and  honorable  position  of 
trustee ;  he  is  also  a  member  of  the  Grange,  a 
society  devoted  to  advancing  the  interests  of 
farmers;  politically  he  is  a  republican,  wide- 
awake, enterprising  and  public-spirited  and  all 
improvements  calculated  to  benefit  the  section 
of  the  country  in  which  he  lives  find  him  a 
ready  and  enthusiastic  supporter.  Mr.  Becker 
has  attained  the  position  he  now  occupies  by 
industry  and  economy  and  he  appreciates  the 
fact  that  all  wealth  is  derived  from  toil. 


JOEXJAMIX  FRANKLIN  aiATHEWS,  a 

-'■^  gallant  defender  of  his  country's  flag  and 
successful  in  the  pursuits  of  peace,  is  the 
oldest  living  resident  of  the  town  who  is  a 
native  of  Gerry.  Benjamin  F.  Mathews  is  a 
son  of  Caleb  and  Margareth  (Salisbury) 
^Mathews  and  was  born  in  the  town  of  Gerry, 
Chautauqua  county.  New  York,  March  24, 
1822.  His  grandfather  was  of  English  descent 
and  came  from  one  who  crossed  the  ocean  on 
the  Mayflower.  He  was  born  in  the  State  of 
Rhode  Island  and  lived  to  be  eighty-seven 
years  and  six  months  old.  By  occupation  he 
was  a  shoemaker  and  for  many  years  followed 
the  sea.  He  died  in  the  town  of  Gerry  in  1855. 
Caleb  Mathews  came  to  this  town  in  1821  and 
secured  four-hundred  acres  of  land  from  the 
Holland  Land  Company.  He  was  a  potter  by 
trade  but  made  farming  his  ])rin('i|>al  work 
His  place,  when  he  first  moved  his  i'amily  on  to 
it,  was  two  and  one-half  miles  from  his  nearest 
neighbor,  but  .soon  after,  the  country  began  to 
populate  rapidly.  He  married  Margareth  Salis- 
btuy,  reared  eleven  children,  and  liveil  imtil 
ills  (Icalh,  which  occurred  November  17,  1869, 
when  eighty-two  years  old,  upon  tlu;  original 
fai'm.      Politically  a  republican,  ho  held  several 


OF  CHAUTAUQUA   COUNTY. 


381 


town  offices  and  was  a  member  of  the  Baptist  I 
church. 

Benjamin  Franklin  IMatiiews  was  reared  in 
the  town  of  Gerry  and  attended  its  public 
schools.  When  he  arrived  at  that  age  in  which 
young  men  were  put  to  work,  he  began  farming  i 
and  lielped  to  clear  considerable  new  ground. 
Shortly  after,  he  went  to  Le  Roy,  Genesee 
county,  and  was  interested  in  a  macliine  shop 
for  two  years,  when  he  returned  to  Gerry  and 
settled  on  a  farm  adjoining  his  present  home 
and  now  does  general  farming.  In  1862  Mr. 
Mathews  enlisted  in  company  F,  ll'2th  i-egi- 
ment,  N.  Y.,  Infantry,  and  was  first  engaged  at 
the  Deserted  Farm,  Virginia.  After  this 
engagement,  battles  and  skirmishes  followed 
one  another  in  rapid  succession,  in  all  of  which, 
he  proved  himself  a  gallant  sohlier  and  a 
patriot.  He  was  present  at  the  siege  of  Suifolk 
and  from  tiiere  went  to  White  House  Landing 
and  after  service  at  that  place,  moved  on  to 
Hanover  Junction.  Returning  to  Portsmouth,  j 
Va.,  and  thence  to  Bowers  Hill,  he  was 
ordered  from  the  latter  place  to  Charleston,  S.  ; 
C,  and  remained  there  until  tlie  following 
spring.  Then  in  succession  he  was  at  Jackson- 
ville, Yorktown,  Bermuda  Hundred,  Peters- 
burff  and  Cold  Harbor.  During  the  election 
his  regiment  was  ordered  to  New  York,  and 
when  their  duty  was  performed  there,  in  the 
order  named,  they  were  transferred  to  Deep 
Bottom,  Fort  Fisher  under  Gen.  Butler  Ber-  I 
niuda,  and  under  Gen.  Terry,  went  back  to 
Fort  Fisher  and  "  took  it."  Wilmington,  N. 
C,  surrendered  to  them  on  February  22,  1865. 
Mr.  Mathews  was  then  detailed  as  manager  of 
the  hospital  at  Wilmington,  N.  C,  and  served  , 
as  such  for  eight  weeks,  when  he  was  discharged 
and  came  home.  He  began  farming  at  once 
and  has  now  a  very  fine  place.  His  herd  of  cows 
are  superior  ;  and,  among  other  items  of  produc- 
tion, is  about  1500  pounds  of  cheese  annually. 

Politically,   a  republican,    he    is    serving   as 
poor-mai5ter  and  constable. 


June  2,  1844,  lie  married  Mary  Lyon,  a 
daughter  of  William  Lyon,  of  Le  Roy,  Gene-see 
county,  and  they  have  been  lilessed  with  nine 
children  :  C.  Electa ;  Melvin  L. ;  Florence 
A.  ;  Francis  Marian ;  Alvorsee  J. ;  Grin  H., 
died  when  twenty-four  years  old  ;  Lizzie  M. 
living,  and  Franklin,  dead. 

Benjamin  Franklin  Mathews  is  a  member  of 
the  Free  Methodist  church,  a  gentleman  of 
upright  character  and  a  citizen  to  wiiom  the 
community  may  jioint  with  pride. 


TOSKPH  GAKFIKLI>,  a  leading  stock-raiser 

*^  and  dealer  in  pedigree  horses,  was  born 
August  27,  1853,  and  is  a  son  of  Joseph  Gar- 
field, Sr.,  and  Lucy  A.  (Palmer)  Garfield.  His 
ancestors  on  both  sides  belonged  to  the  race  of 
English  pioneers,  who  came  to  the  shores  of 
New  England  to  escape  monarchical  rule.  His 
grandfather,  also  named  Joseph,  was  born 
near  Rutland,  Worcester  county,  Massachu.setts, 
April  17,  1780,  and  was  a  liberal  supporter  of 
the  National  cause  during  the  war  of  1812,  and 
held  the  office  of  justice  of  the  peace  for  fifteen 
years.  Subject's  father  was  born  at  Pine  Grove, 
Warren  county,  Pa.,  on  May  5,  1817,  and  re- 
moved with  his  father  to  the  town  of  Busti,  and 
settled  upon  the  farm  which  he  now  occupies. 
He  was  a  farmer  and  stock -raiser  by  occupation 
and  continued  such  up  to  the  date  of  his  death, 
August  8,  1885.  His  wife,  whcse  maiden  name 
was  Lucy  A.  Palmer,  was  born  March  8,  1824, 
at  Norwich,  Chenango  county,  New  York,  and 
bore  him  six  children,  all  boys:  Martin  G., 
Eliakim,  Samuel,  Joseph,  Amos  P.  and  Whit- 
man P.,  the  two  latter  being  twins.  Three  of 
the  children,  Martin  G.,  Amos  P.  and  Whitman 
P.  are  now  deceased.  Joseph  Garfield,  Sr.,  and 
his  wife  were  married  March  .'',  1841,  and  both 
are  steadfast  members  of  the  Methodist  Episco- 
pal church.  Mrs.  Garfield  still  survives  and 
makes  her  home  with  her  sou  Joseph.  For 
many  years  Mr.  Garfield  was  a  devotee  of  whig 
principles,    but    with    the    organization   of  the 


382 


BIOGRAPHY  AND  HISTORY 


Republican  party,  lie  changed  his  political  alle- 
giance to  the  new  party. 

Joseph  Garfield,  whose  name  heads  this 
sketch,  on  Xovember  15,  187G,  was  united  in 
marriage  with  Miss  Ella  A.  Northrop,  of  the 
townofBusti.  Their  union  has  been  blest  by 
the  birth  of  five  children  :  Flora  E.,  Floyd  A., 
Lucy  B.,  Lizzie  M.  (deceased)  and  Hazel  Ruth. 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Garfield  have  a  very  comfortable 
and  pleasant  home  situated  one  and  a  quarter 
miles  from  Jamestown,  near  the  line  between 
the  towns  of  Ellicott  and  Kiantone.  Mrs.  Gar- 
field is  a  daughter  of  Hon.  William  Northrop, 
Jr.,  of  Busti. 

Joseph  Garfield,  is  now  engaged  in  the 
breeding  and  raising  of  Clydesdale  horses  and 
Shetland  ponies  in  partnership  with  B.  F.  Hazel- 
ton,  of  Bradford,  Pa.  The  firm  known  as  Gar- 
field &  Hazelton,  embarked  in  business  four 
years  ago,  but  Mr.  Garfield  has  recently  sold  his 
interest  to  Hazelton  and  assumed  the  general 
superintendency.  The  efforts  of  these  gentle- 
men to  introduce  fine  and  fancy  stock  into 
Chautauqua  county  have  been  highly  encouraged 
and  supported.  At  the  present  time  they  have 
twenty-eight  head  of  registered  Clydesdale  horses 
(several  of  which  have  been  imported  and  are 
very  valuable)  and  have  no  fears  from  compe- 
tition. Mr.  Garfield  is  an  adherent  of  the  Re- 
publican party,  but  is  in  no  sense  a  partisan  in 
politics.  He  recognizes  the  fallibility  of  all 
parties  and  creeds  and  holds  himself  free  to  at 
all  timas  support  the  cause  representing  the 
highest  principles  and  the  most  humanitarian 
and  equitable  policy.  In  his  religious  views 
the  same  principle  of  freedom  obtains.  He 
places  conduct,  action,  life,  above  doctrine  and 
dogma,  and  instead  of  believing  in  a  religion  of 
dead  formalism  and  absolute  ritualism,  he  ad- 
vocates a  rational  religion  u|)on  the  basis  of 
honesty,  sincerity,  purity,  conscientiousness  and 
law. 


nALPH  H.  HAXL,  has  been  one  of  the  most 
extensive  farmers   and   providers  of  fat 
cattle  for  the  market  in  this  section,  and  is  now 
enjoying  a  hale  and  serene  old  age,  surrounded 
by   the  fruits  of   his  success.     He   is  a  son  of 
Ahira  and  Laura  (Palmer)  Hall,  and  was  born 
in  Portland,  Chautauqua  county.  New  York, 
November  3,   182L     James  Hall,  his  gj-and- 
father,   was  born   in  Upbridge,  Massachusetts, 
April  19,  1757,  was  a  farmer  all  his  life,  and 
owued  a  large  tract  of  land  at  that  place,  which 
he  tilled   up  to  the  time  of  his  death,  which 
occurred    July    29,    1835,    in    Croydon,    New 
Hampshire.     He   served   as    a    soldier    in   the 
Revolutionary  war,  and  fought  under  General 
George    Washington    throughout    that    world- 
famous  struggle  for  the  liberty  and  the  rights  of 
man,  and   after  the   war  drew  a  pension.     In 
religion    he    was    a    member  of  the  Methodist 
Episcopal  church,  and  among  the  most  influen- 
tial.    James  Hall   was  married  at  the  age  of 
nineteen  to    Huldah  Cooper,  aged   sixteen,   a 
niece  of  Roger  Sherman,  one  of  the  signers  of 
the   Declaration   of  Independence,  and  by  this 
marriage  had  twelve  children,  seven  sons  and 
five  daughters :  Abijah,  Ahira  (father),  Sherman, 
James,  Carlton,  Albina,  Lyman,  Chloe,  married 
to  Menassah  Sawyer;  Huldah,  married  Elijah 
Darling;  Dilla,  married  Benjamin  White;  Sarah, 
died  in   infancy;  and  an  infant.     The  mother 
of  these  children  died  in  1847,  February  19th, 
aged   eighty-eigl.t    years,   and    was   buried   at 
Croydon,  New  Hampshire.     John  Palmer,  who 
was  the  maternal  grandfather  of  Ralph  II.  Hall, 
j  was  born  at  Tolland,  Connecticut,  in  1755,  and 
'•  when  quite  a  young  man  moved  to  Charlotte, 
Vermont,   where   he  took  up  a   large  tract  of 
land,  all  forest,  which  he  cleared,  improved  and 
I  tilled  until  his  death  in  1835,  and  the  house  he 
built  is  still  standing.     He  was  a  si)ldicr  in  the 
Revolutionary  war  under  General  George  Wash- 
ington and  was  awarded  a  pension.     In  religion 
he  was  a  member  of  the  Baptist  church  of  Char- 
lotte, of  which  he  was  a  deacon  for  several  years. 


OF  CHAUTAUQUA  COUNTY. 


383 


John  Palnur  was  married  to  Ruth  Chapman,  by 
whom  he  had  ten  cliildren,  four  sons  and  six 
daughters:  John,  James,  William,  Cha])iiiaii, 
Malinda,  who  married  Zimri  Hill;  Abigail, 
who  married  P^dward  Allen  ;  Laura  (mother); 
Kutli,  who  married  Anciuius  Jones ;  Charlotte 
and  Lovieu.  The  mother  of  these  ehildren  died 
in  1827,  aged  sixty  years.  Ahira  Hall  (ftither) 
was  born  in  Croydon,  Sullivan  county,  New 
Hampshire,  December  21,  1784,  and  remained 
on  the  farm  until  he  was  tweuty-one  yeai's  old, 
when  he  emigrated  to  Charlotte,  Vermont,  where 
he  remained  but  a  few  years  when  he  removed 
to  Massena,  St.  Lawrence  county.  New  York, 
where  he  took  up  a  tract  of  one  hundred  and 
sixty  acres  of  land,  all  of  which  was  unbroken 
forest.  At  the  breaking  out  of  the  war  of  1812, 
he  was  among  the  first  who  were  drafted  into 
the  service  in  the  army  of  the  War  of  1812,  and 
served  throughout  the  war.  His  wife  determined 
not  to  stay  alone  in  this  wilderness,  packed  all 
the  elfects  she  could  upon  a  horse,  and  buried  all 
else  in  the  ground,  and  with  her  three  children 
returned  to  her  father's  home  in  Vermont.  In 
October,  1815,  after  the  close  of  the  war,  Mr. 
Hall  came  to  Chautauqua  county,  journeying 
thirty-one  days  through  the  wilderness,  and 
occupied  a  log  house  owned  by  Abel  Palmer, 
which,  with  fifty  acres  of  land,  came  into  his 
possession  at  the  death  of  Mr.  Palmer,  the  land 
being  located  in  what  is  now  the  town  of  Port- 
land and  near  the  Brocton  line,  and  is  now 
owned  by  T.  S.  Moss.  In  politics  Mr.  Hall 
was  a  whig,  and  for  fourteen  consecutive  years 
was  elected  justice  of  the  peace  on  that  ticket. 
He  was  a  man  of  uncommon  ability  and  enjoyed 
the  confidence  of  the  community.  In  religion 
he  was  a  member  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
church,  of  which  he  was  also  steward  for  a  long 
time.  Ahira  PLiU  was  married  in  Charlotte, 
Vermont,  October  18,  1807,  to  Laura  Palmer, 
by  whom  he  had  fourteen  children,  six  sons  and 
eight  daughters,  twelve  of  whom  reached 
maturity :    Ezra,   died    in    infancy  ;    John,    a 


farmer  in  Fredonia,  who  married  Mrs.  Jane 
Ann  Miller;  Albina,  a  Methodist  clergyman, 
who  married  Nan(;y  Qulgley ;  Kuth,  who  mar- 
ried Richard  Reynolds,  a  farmer  in  Portland  ; 
James,  a  physician  in  Portland,  wlio  married 
Caroline  Ilerrick  ;  Laura,  married  to  Charles 
Fay,  a  farmei-  in  Portland  ;  Samuel,  a  farmer 
in  Pomfret,  married  to  ]\Iiranda  Kip  ;  Ralph 
H. ;  Nancy,  married  to  Henry  Flint,  a  farmer 
in  Portland ;  Livia,  married  John  Green,  a 
merchant  in  Sherman  ;  Lodoiska,  married  Wil- 
liam Martin,  a  farmer  in  Portland;  Sarah, 
married  John  Merritt,  a  druggist  in  Silver 
Creek ;  Jane,  married  Frank  Ellis,  an  under- 
taker in  Forestville;  and  Chloe,  died  in  infancy. 
Ahira  Hall  died  February  24,  1858,  in  his 
seventy-fourth  year,  and  was  buried  at  Brocton, 
and  his  widow  died  December  18,  1863,  in  her 
seventy-third  year. 

Ralph  11.  Hall  was  educated  in  the  2)ublic 
schools  of  Portland,  and  attended  the  high 
school  at  Jamestown  and  the  academy  at  Paines- 
ville,  Ohio,  for  several  terms.  After  leaving 
school  in  1842,  he  became  a  teacher  and  taught 
twelve  terms,  being  principal  of  a  school  in 
Westfield  one  year,  and  two  years  in  Silver 
Creek.  He  exchanged  the  pedagogue's  chair 
for  the  business  of  a  cattle  broker,  and  continued 
in  the  latter  vocation  until  1870.  In  1852  he 
and  his  brother  John  bought  a  fiirm  of  two 
hundred  and  twenty-five  acres  of  land  in  Pom- 
fret,  this  county,  and  added  to  it  unt'l  they  had 
reared  and  fattened  their  cattle  for  market.  ^Ir. 
Hall  is  a  director  of  the  Fredonia  National 
Bank  and  one  of  the  finance  committee  of  that 
institution,  and  was  a  member  of  the  board  of 
directors  of  the  Oswego  National  Bank,  Oswego, 
Labette  county,  Kansas,  until  it  was  sold  out. 
In  religion  he  is  a  member  of  the  Methodist 
Episcopal  church  at  Fredonia,  in  which  he  has 
always  held  some  office,  and  is  a  member  of  the 
board  of  control  of  Allegheny  college,  at  Mead- 
ville,  Pennsylvania.  In  1880  he  was  a  delegate 
to   the   general   conference   of    the   Methodist 


384 


BIOGRAPHY  AND  HISTORY 


Episcopal  church  at  Cincinnati,  Ohio.  He  has 
aided  in  buildinof  two  churches  on  the  frontier 
throusfh  the  Freedmeu's  Aid  Societv,  one  in 
Nebraska  and  tiie  other  in  Dakota.  He  is  a 
very  inteHigent,  agreeable  man,  very  highly 
respected  by  the  community  in  which  he  dwells, 
and  his  wife  is  a  most  estimable  and  refined 
lady. 

Ralph  H.  Hall  was  married  March  29,  1852, 
to  Caroline  Hall,  a  daughter  of  James  and 
Ruth  (Hall)  Hall,  of  Newport,  Sullivan  county, 
New  Hampshire,  her  father  being  a  farmer  there. 
This  marriage  resulted  in  the  birth  of  one  son, 
who  died  in  infancy. 


She  was  the  daughter  of  John  A.  H.  and 
Susan  (Borrett)  Carson,  the  former  an  Ameri- 
can, and  the  latter  of  English  birth,  and  had  a 
family  of  five  children, — two  sons  and  three 
daughters.  To  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Vandergrift  were 
born  six  childreu.  Four  of  them  attained 
mature  growth,  and  are  now  living :  Etta, 
Victoria,  William  and  Henrietta.  The  former 
is  the  wife  of  William  Dutfur,  resides  at  Oil 
City,  Pa.,  and  has  three  childreu — Florence, 
Elsie  and  Sarah.  The  latter  three  reside  with 
their  mother  at  her  fine  home  on  Allen  street, 
Jamestown. 


TA>ILLIA3I  K.   A  AXDEItGKIFT,  JR.,  a 

-*'*■  son  of  William  K.  and  Sophia  (Sarver) 
Vaudergrift,  was  born  in  Pittsburg,  Allegheny 
county,  Pennsylvania,  in  1835,  and  died  in 
Jamestown,  Chautauqua  county.  New  York,  on 
the  17th  day  of  September,  1888,  aged  fifty- 
three  years.  William  K.  Vaudergrift,  Sr., 
■was  a  native  of  Pennsylvania,  born  near  Phila- 
delphia, and  while  in  his  young  manhood 
moved  to  Pittsburg,  where  he  married  Sophia 
Sarver.  Both  of  them  were  of  German  de- 
scent. 

William  K.  Vandergrift,  Jr.,  was  educated 
in  the  common  schools  of  Pittsburg,  and  studied 
especially  to  fit  himself  for  an  engineer.  He 
followed  that  line  of  business  until  the  com- 
mencement of  the  oil  excitement,  when  he  re- 
moved to  Oil  City,  and  remained  until  April, 
1881.  He  then  came  to  Jamestown,  and  began 
manufacturing  washing-machines, — an  article 
which  is  as  useful  and  almost  of  as  much  a 
necessity  as  the  sewing-machine,  which  he  con- 
tinued until  his  decease.  Mr.  Vandergrift  was 
an  active  politician,  and  his  proclivities  were 
decidedly  republican  ;  but  he  was  satisfied  to 
be  a  jiarty  worker  instead  of  an  office-seeker, 
and  attended  steadily  to  his  business. 

On  December  1,  1859,  he  was  married  in 
the  city  of  Pitttsburg  to  Martha  R.  Carson. 


QLBERT  S.  WATSOX,  of  Scotch  and 
■**■  English  descent,  and  one  of  the  largest 
and  most  prominent  grape  growers  of  the  town 
of  Westfield  and  Chautauqua  county,  was  born 
in  Susquehanna  county,  Pennsylvania,  June  4, 
1847,  and  is  a  son  of  Jeremiah  and  Parmelia 
(Rockwell)  Watson.  His  grandfather,  James 
Watson,  was  of  Scotch  extraction,  although 
born  in  County  Armagh,  Ireland,  from  which 
he  came  to  America  in  1792,  and  settled  in 
Susquehanna  county,  Pennsylvania,  in  1807, 
where  he  purchased  a  farm  and  lived  until  his 
death  in  1850,  when  eighty  years  of  age.  He 
married  Sarah  Lounsbury,  of  New  York  city, 
in  1800.  His  son,  Jeremiah  Watson,  was  born 
in  Susquehanna  county  in  1812,  and  removed 
in  18(33  to  Broome  county,  this  State,  where  he 
died  in  1878.  He  was  a  farmer  by  occupation, 
a  presbyterian  in  religious  faith  and  a  democrat 
in  iM)litical  opinion.  He  held  several  of  the 
offices  of  his  town,  and  married  Parmelia  Rock- 
well of  eastern  New  York.  She  was  of  Eng- 
lish descent,  a  member  of  the  Presbyterian 
church,  and  died  in  1889,  aged  eighty  years. 

Albert  S.  Watson  was  reared  on  a  farm,  and 
attended  the  common  schools  and  an  acailemy, 
in  wiiii'h  he  received  a  good  j)ractieal  English 
education.  At  tliirtcen  years  of  age  he  went 
with  his  |)arents  to  ]5roome  county,  where  he 
remained   until   lie   was  past  twenty-one  years 


u 


y^  TyayCi, 


^->t^ 


OF  CHAUTAUQUA   COUNTY. 


387 


old,  when  he  entered  the  employ  of  the  Pull- 
man Palace  Cqr  company.  Four  years  later 
he  left  tlieir  .service  to  become  a  travelinjr  sales- 
man for  the  Mount  Hope  Nursery  of  Koches- 
ter,  New  York,  which  position  he  held  for 
three  years.  He  then  (spring  of  1878)  bought 
a  small  stony  tract  of  fourteen  acres  of  land  in 
the  town  of  Portland,  on  which  he  commenced 
growing  and  propagating  grape  vines.  In  1884 
he  came  to  Westfield,  where  he  has  a  very 
comfortable  home,  and  owns  one  hundred  and 
fifteen  acres  of  bearing  vineyards.  He  gives 
constant  employment  to  about  twenty-five 
hand.s,  makes  a  specialty  of  propagating  grape 
vines,  and  in  1891  delivered  .seven  hundred 
thousand  vines  for  vineyard  jjlanting.  He  also 
is  engaged  in  raising  small  fruits,  and  during 
one  year  grew  more  than  thirteen  hundred 
bushels  of  strawberries.  He  has  been  the 
architect  of  his  own  fortune,  and  has  done 
much  for  the  advancement  of  grape-growing 
in  western  New  York. 

On  April  10,  1879,  he  united  in  marriage 
with  Mrs.  Mary  E.  Mack,  of  the  town  of  Port- 
land. Mr.  Watson  assigns  a  large  share  of  his 
success  in  life  to  the  sympathy  and  assistance 
of  his  wife,  who  has  rendered  tireless  and  in- 
valuable aid.  Their  union  has  been  blessed 
M'ith  three  children  :  Edward  C,  Charles  G. 
and  Leonard  A.  Mr.  Watson  has  two  .step- 
children :  Fred  J.  and  Kate  M.  Mack. 

A.  S.  Watson  is  a  democrat  in  politics.  He 
is  an  active  and  successful  business  man,  and 
was  elected  in  1888  as  manager  of  the  Western 
New  York  Grape-growers'  Shipping  association, 
which  position  he  still  holds. 


HIRA]>I  A.  BURTON  is  now  a  prosperous 
farmer  and  grape  grower  living  in  the 
town  of  Ripley,  but  formerly  was  a  teacher  of 
ability,  whom  the  children  of  the  generation  j 
now  just  reaching  fifty  years  of  age  will  remem- 
ber as  having  taught  for  a  number  of  years. 
He  is  a  son  of  Hiram  and  Harriet  (Skinner)  , 
20 


Burton,  and  was  boru  in  the  town  of  Portland, 
I  Chautauqua   comity.   New    York,   October  22, 
1822.     John    Burton,  the   grandfiithor  of  the 
,  sixth  generation  remote,  was  a  subject  of  King 
Charles  II.,  and  lived  at  Durham,  England, 
where  he  died.     He  had  a  son  John,  who  was 
born  in  1685,  and  emigrated  to  America,  finally 
settling    in   Massachusetts,   where    he   died    in 
1763.     He  also  had  a  son  JolTn,  who  was  born 
at  Danvers,   Mu.s.s.,   in    1726,  and    lived   until 
1798,  when  he  died  at   Sutton,  the   same  State. 
One   of   his  .sons,  too,   was   named    John,   the 
great-grandfather  of  Hiram  A.    He  lived  until 
September  30,    1837,   and  passed   away  at  the 
same  place.     Simon  Burton  (grandfather)  was 
born  at  Sutton,   Massachusetts,  November  19, 
1769,  and    came    to  Chautauqua   countv  soon 
after  the  clo.se  of  our  second  war  with  England, 
in  which,  with  four   of   his  sons,  he  gallantly 
served  his  country.     Although  he  was  a  mill- 
wright, he  bought  a  fiu-m  and   followed  these 
occupations  in  conjunction  with  each  other  until 
he  died   in    1842,  in   the   town    of   Portland. 
Simon   Burton    was  possessed   of  an  education 
and  intellect  far  above  the  average  of  his  day. 
He  was  a  prominent   universalist,  and   enjoyed 
the  distinction  of  being  editor  of   the  church 
paper  called  Gospel  Advocate.     In   politics  he 
favored  the  Whig  party  and  gave  them   such 
assistance  in  their  campaigns  as  he  could.     He 
married  Margaret  French  and  reared  a   family 
of  seven  sons  and  three  daughters.    Two  of  the 
former  lost  their   lives   in   the   war  mentioned 
above.     Hiram    Burton    (father)    was   born  in 
Croydon,    New     Hampshire,    November    22, 
1799,  and  came  with  his  father  to  Portland  in 
1816.       He   had    learned    the    trade  of   mill- 
wright but,  like  his  father,  also  owned  and  op- 
erated a  farm.     He  was  a  whig  and  afterwards 
a  republican,  and   served  as  commissioner    of 
highways  for  a  number  of  years.     He  belonged 
to  the  Uuiver.salist  church,  and  served  in  the 
war  of  1812  with  his  father.     He  married  Har- 
riet   Skinner,    who    was    born     in    Chenango 


388 


BIOGRAPHY  AND  HISTORY 


county  in  1805.  After  the  death  of  her 
parents  she  came  to  Chautauqua  couuty  with 
a  large  familv  of  brothers  and  sisters  and 
located  near  Broctou,  and  died  January  14, 
1890.  They  reared  a  family  of  five  sons  and 
three  daughters. 

Hiram  A.  Burton  received  a  superior  educa- 
tion for  his  day  at  the  disti-iet  schools  and  tlie 
Fredonia  academy.  Succeeding  his  school  life 
he  taught  for  a  number  of  years,  and  ranked 
high  as  an  instructor  and  disciplinarian.  After- 
wards he  engaged  in  farming  and  fruit  growing 
which  he  still  follows,  having  come  to  Ripley  in 
1868. 

He  married  Ellen  M.  Harris,  who  was  born 
May  27,  1820,  and  is  a  daughter  of  Jonathan 
G.  and  Lucy  (Miller)  Harris,  and  came  from  a 
family  of  seven  children,  all  born  in  Vermont, 
but  who  afterwards  came  to  Chautauqua  coun- 
ty. One,  Gilbert  D.,  entered  the  civil  war  and 
lost  his  life  at  the  bloody  battle  of  the  Wilder- 
ness. Mr.  and  Mrs.  Burton  are  the  parents  of 
four  children,  all  daughters :  Lucy,  born  May 
18,  1845,  married  to  Talmage  B.  Little,  a  grape 
grower  of  this  town ;  Sarah,  born  July  28, 
1855,  is  the  wife  of  T.  J.  Walker,  who  is  en- 
gaged in  the  same  business  in  the  same  town  ; 
Maria  M.,  born  January  22,  1858,  is  the  wife 
of  George  W.  Onthank,  in  Ripley,  also  grow- 
ing grapes  ;  and  Cora  Annette,  born  August  21, 
1865. 

Hiram  A.  Burton  is  an  energetic,  pushing 
man  who  enters  into  everytiiing  he  takes  hold 
of  with  life  and  vim.  He  belongs  to  the  Re- 
publican party,  the  Universalist  church,  is  a 
member  of  the  P^quitable  Aid  Union,  and  other 
co-operative  and  fraternal  organizations. 


ryVAHUiK  LKK.  The  name  of  Lee  has  ever 
^^  l)een  prominent  on  tiie  pages  of  Ameri- 
can history — as  jjioneer,  soldier  and  patriot. 
Our  subject,  George  Lee,  lias  the  honor  and 
jileasure  of  tracking  back  his  lineage  to  tiiis  re- 
markable and  historic  family.     He  is  the  son  of 


James  and  Polly  (Gates)  Lee,  and  was  born 
November  9,  1824,  in  the  town  of  Ellicott, 
Chautauqua  county,  New  York.  His  grand- 
father, Benjamin  Lee,  was  a  native  of  Rhode 
Island,  whither  his  ancestors  had  emigrated 
from  England  before  the  march  of  civilization 
had  reached  our  shores.  From  Rhode  Island 
he  changed  his  residence  to  Rensselaer  county, 
New  York,  and  thence  to  Chautaqua  county, 
March  20,  1811,  where  he  located  in  the  town 
of  Ellicott  at  a  j)oint  near  the  line  between  the 
towns  of  Ellicott  and  Ellery.  Here  he  pur- 
chased a  tract  of  land  containing  two  hundred 
and  ninety-seven  acres,  from  the  Holland  Land 
Company,  upon  which  he  resided  until  his 
death.  He  devoted  his  life  to  clearing  and  im- 
proving his  land,  and  was  also  a  hunter  of  con- 
siderable note,  since  in  those  days  the  forests 
and  rivers  were  more  productive  than  the  farms. 
He  married  Catherine  Simmons  and  reared  a 
family  of  seven  children,  four  boys  and  three 
girls.  He  was  a  supporter  of  the  Whig  party, 
James  Lee  (father  of  subject)  was  born  in  Rens- 
selaer county.  New  York,  June  6,  1796,  and 
came  with  his  father  to  Chautauqua  county, 
where  he  has  since  lived  and  died.  He  was  a 
pioneer  farmer,  and  felt  all  the  experiences  and 
endured  all  the  jDrivations  of  pioneer  life,  so 
that  the  heritage  of  the  old  homestead,  to  which 
his  children  succeeded,  ^\•as  one  fraught  with 
memorable  incidents  and  significant  of  toil  and 
self-sacrifice.  He  cast  his  vote  with  the  Whig 
party  during  its  existence,  but  upon  the  incep- 
tion of  the  Republican  party,  he  at  once  aifili- 
ated  with  it.  He  was  radical  in  his  political 
views,  and  firmly  believed  in  being  more  than 
a  merely  nominal  partisan.  At  one  time  he 
held  the  office  of  assessor.  He  also  had  the 
distinction  of  havingn  assisted  in  the  erection  of 
the  first  building  in  the  city  of  Jamestown. 
His  brothers  served  in  the  war  of  1812.  His 
wife,  who  was  a  daughter  of  Zephaniah  (iates, 
a  native  of  Connecticut,  but  by  adoption  a  citi- 
zen of   Cliautau(|ua  county,  New    York,   bore 


OF  CHAUTAUQUA   COUNTY. 


389 


him  three  children  :  Louisa,  now  dead ;  Ada- 
liue,  also  dead ;  and  George  (subject). 

George  Lee  married  Julia  Hollenbeok,  a 
daughter  of  Edward  Holleubeck,  originally  of 
Madison  county,  New  York,  but  more  recently 
of  Chautauqua  county,  same  State  ;  where  he 
has  since  died.  Their  union  resulted  in  the 
birth  of  three  children  :  Mary  (now  dead),  mar- 
ried to  Charles  M.  Bentley,  a  farmer  of  the 
town  of  ElHcott,  Chautauqua  couuty;  Eva  A. 
(also  dead),  married  to  Mark  A.  Griffith,  who 
lives  near  subject;  and  Frank  O.,  married  to 
Carrie  Benney.  Frank  O.  now  resides  near 
Wayuesville,  Missouri,  where  he  is  engaged  in 
farming  and  stock-raising.  He  has  one  child, 
Marguerite. 

George  Lee  was  educated  in  the  common 
schools,  began  life  as  a  farmer,  and  has  since 
pursued  that  business  in  connection  with  mill- 
ing. His  farm  and  mill  are  located  in  the 
town  of  Ellery  near  Lake  Chautauqua.  The 
mill  was  built  by  John,  Seth  and  Samuel  Grif- 
fiths about  1835.  Mr.  Lee  is  an  adherent  of 
the  Republican  party  and,  as  such,  has  held  the 
position  of  highway  commissioner  for  a  number 
of  years.     He  is  also  a  member  of   the  I.  O. 

o.  'f. 


ry^XKEY  BRIGGS  belongs  to  that  class  of 
^^  intelligent,  enthusiastic  and  progressive 
men,  who,  by  their  personality  and  inherent 
force  of  character,  have  made  lasting  impressions 
upon  those  with  whom  they  have  come  in  con- 
tact. He  is  a  descendant  of  an  old  and  noted 
family  of  Briggs,  who  came  to  New  England 
as  earlv  as  1709.  His  father,  Francis  Brisrsrs, 
at  the  time  of  his  birth,  April  21,  1818,  was  a 
resident  of  Berkshire  county,  Massachu.settts  (of 
which  he  was  likewise  a  native)  but  seized  with 
the  desire  to  try  his  fortunes  elsewhere,  he 
removed  to  Cayuga  county  in  1825.  He 
remained  here  until  1832  when  he  emigrated  to 
Chautauqua  county  and  located  first  in  the 
town  of  Gerry  and  later  (the  nest  year)  in  the 


town  of  Ellington,  where  he  purchased  a  farm 
upon  which  he  continued  to  reside  until  his 
death  in  1844.  In  his  church  affiliations  he 
was  a  Baptist  and  for  many  yeare  was  an 
attendant  of  the  church  at  Clear  Creek.  He  was 
a  supporter  of  the  old-line  Whig  party  and 
served  in  the  war  of  1812.  Francis  Briggs 
was  known  as  a  man  of  mild,  even  temperament, 
possessing  the  qualities  of  a  man  of  deep  relig- 
ious convictions.  At  the  same  time  he  was  a 
man  of  strong  will  power  and  con.servative  mind. 
He  married  Miss  Betsey  Hakes,  of  Berkshire 
couuty,  Massachusetts,  who  died  in  1867  at  the 
age  of  seventy-nine.  Subject's  father  was  a 
cousin  of  Governor  George  N.  Briggs  of  Massa- 
chusetts. Grandfather  James  Hakes  was  born 
at  Stonington,  Connecticut,  March  25,  1752, 
and  participated  in  the  struggle  of  the  Eevolu- 
tion. 

Carey  Briggs  came  to  Chautauqua  county 
with  his  father,  received  his  education  and  grew 
to  manhood  in  that  county.  In  early  life,  after 
making  a  careful  inventory  of  his  mental  apti- 
tudes, he  decided  to  take  up  the  profession  of 
teaching.  This  he  did  and  continuetl  his  work 
as  teacher  for  some  twenty  years.  In  1849  he 
received  a  certificate  from  the  State  supei-intend- 
ent  of  public  schools  at  Albany,  giving  him  the 
prerogative  of  teaching  in  any  district  school  in 
the  State.  Subject  has  made  a  careful  study  of 
pedagogy  in  its  application  to  the  primary 
schools  and  this,  together  with  long  and  varied 
experience  in  practical  teaching,  has  given  him 
a  high  standing  in  his  profession  and  in  educa- 
tional circles.  Jlr.  Briggs  was  the  organizer  of 
the  stock  company  which  first  gave  form  and 
reality  to  the  project  of  building  Ellington 
academy.  He  has  since  been  strongly  identi- 
fied with  education  and  educational  interests  in 
his  couuty. 

In  1844  he  was  married  to  Miss  Diantha, 
daughter  of  Daniel  Gould  of  Pomfret,  Chau- 
tauqua county,  who  died  in  1855,  leaving  three 
children — all  girls  :  Clarissa  ;  Caroline,  married 


390 


BIOGRAPHY  AND  HISTORY 


to  Jerry  Gifford  of  Lakewood,  N.  Y.  and  Mary 
Frances,  wife  of  Arthur  C.  "Wade,  a  prominent 
lawyer  of  Jamestown  (see  sketch).  Carey 
Briggs  was  married  the  second  time  in  1858  to 
Miss  Martha  Staples,  daughter  of  Rev.  S.  Staples 
of  Clymer,  New  York.  By  this  union  he  had 
three  children,  two  sons  and  one  daughter : 
Charles  Francis  Adams  died  at  the  age  of  six 
years,  October  5,  1870;  William  C,  of  the  drug 
firm  of  Hatch  &  Briggs  of  Jamestown,  New 
Y'ork  ;  and  ^I.  May. 

Carey  Briggs  is  a  devoted  member  of  the 
Methodist  Episcopal  church,  in  which  he  has 
been  steward  for  over  fifty  years.  In  his 
political  views  he  is  an  unmistakable  republican, 
and  has  filled  very  acceptably  the  offices  of 
supervisor  and  school  trustee  at  the  hands  of 
that  party  for  a  number  of  years.  On  current 
events,  educational  matters,  political  relations, 
literary  and  .scientific  topics  and  general  intel- 
ligence, Mr.  Briggs  is  a  well  posted  man  and, 
judging  from  his  career  and  teachings,  is  the 
happy  possessor  of  a  high,  idealistic  conception 
of  life. 


HON.  3IILTO]V  M.  FENNER.  We  may 
look  about  ns  and  often  see  a  man  who 
has  gained  prominence  iu  business,  politics,  or 
upon  his  military  record,  but  a  tnaa  who  has 
silvered  locks  and  enjoys  an  extensive  acquaint- 
ance with  his  fellow-men  may  turn  his  mind  to 
meditation  and  scarce  can  count  a  quartette  who 
have  become  eminent  in  all.  Such  however  may 
be  truthfully  said  of  Hon.  M.  M.  Fenner,  who 
is  the  seventh  child  of  a  family  of  nine,  born  to 
Christopher  C.  and  Lucinda  (Fross)  Fenner. 
He  came  into  the  world  July  28,  18.37,  at  the 
old  homestead  belonging  to  his  father  in  Soudi 
Stockton,  New  Y'^ork.  The  ancestors  on  both 
sides  were  of  Kiiglish  extraction — grandfather, 
R&solved  W.  Fenner,  being  a  nati\ie  of  Rhode 
Island.  He  was  a  descendant  of  Rev.  W. 
Fenner,  a  noted  Puritan  divine,  from  whom 
came  Arthur,  James,  and  James  Jr.,  Fenner,  all 


of  whom  occupied  the  Gubernatorial  chair  in 
the  State  of  Rhode  Island   between    1790  and 

1845.  Resolved  W.  Fenner  went  to  Madison 
county,  N.  Y".,  in  1800,  and  there  is  a  town  in 
that  county  named  in  his  honor.  He  came  to 
Ellery,  Chautauqua  county,  New  York,  in  1819 
and  remained  there  until  he  died  in  1847. 
Rufus  Fross  was  a  native  of  Kinderhook, 
Columbia  county,  New  York.  From  there  he 
went  to  Litchfield,  Herkimer  county,  New  York, 
and  married,  and  then  came  to  the  town  of 
Chautauqua,  this  county,  in  1810,  locating  on 
the  farm   where  he  resided   until  his   death  in 

1846.  He  .served  in  the  war  of  1812  and  was 
present  at  the  burning  of  Buffalo.  Subject's 
father,  Christopher  C.  Fenner,  was  born  in 
Brookfield,  Madison  county,  in  1801,  and  came 
to  this  county  with  Newell  Putnam  when  six- 
teen years  of  age.  Two  years  later  the  family 
came  and  took  up  a  tract  of  land  lying  on 
Cassadaga  creek.     He  united  in  marriage  with 

!  Lucinda  Fross,  in  1826,  and  conducted  his 
farm  until  his  death  in  1850.  Of  nine  chil- 
dren bora  to  Christopher  C.  Fenner,  eight  are 
yet  living.  Both  he  and  his  wife  were  hard- 
working and  frugal  iu  their  habits  and  living, 
and  possessed  the  highest  sense  of  honor.  No 
debt  that  they  ever  contracted  remained  un- 
settled and  this  motto,  "pay  everything  you 
owe,"  was  so  firmly  impressed  on  the  minds  of 
their  children  that  the  lesson  was  never  forgot- 
ten. Hard  work  and  privations  caused  the 
health  of  the  father  to  fail  before  he  reached 
that  age  when  man  should  be  his  best,  and  this 
coupled  with  tlu;  large  family  of  children  and 
unfortunate  financial  ventures  kept  the  fiimily 
for  many  years  on  the  verge  of  destitution. 

M.  M.  Fenner  inherited  the  seemingly  untir- 
ing energy  of  his  mother ;  the  ambition  and 
strong  integrity  and  strict  honesty  of  both  ])ar- 
ents.  He  was  but  thirteen  years  of  age  when 
he  lost  his  father,  and  was  thrown  upon  his  own 
resources.  Being  thus  obligetl  to  toil  fir  a 
mere  existence,  he  early  acquired   habits  of  in- 


OF  CHAUTAUQUA  COUNTY. 


393 


dustry  and  economy,  which  have  been  potential 
factors  in  his  life's  success.  For  five  years  suc- 
ceeding his  fatiier's  death  he  was  either  era- 
ployed  working  iiis  motlier's  farm,  or  as  a  farm 
hand  by  tiie  neighbors.  The  summer  he  was 
sixteen  years  old  he  worked  four  niontiis  for 
David  Smith,  of  Stockton,  and  instead  of  losing 
any  time,  he  made  five  extra  days,  working 
nights  at  "  stents."  From  eighteen  to  twenty 
he  worked  the  homestead  in  partnership  with 
his  brother,  and  acquired  an  interest  in  the  per- 
sonal property.  "i'hey  cleared  some  "  new 
ground,"  and  followed  dairying  and  stock-rais- 
ing. His  early  dreams  were  thinking  of  the 
time  when  he  should  have  knowledge,  and  when 
prepared  he  entered  Allegheny  college,  of 
Meadville,  Pa.,  and  attended  its  sessions,  spend- 
ing the  vacations  at  work  to  secure  money  for 
paying  his  way.  Before  he  reached  twenty-five 
he  had  taught  .seven  terms  of  public  and  select 
schools  in  New  York  and  Michigan,  and  found 
time  to  read  and  learn  the  preliminary  course 
in  the  study  of  medicine.  He  then  attended  a 
Medical  college  at  Cincinnati,  Ohio,  and  ob- 
tained the  degree  of  M.D.  on  May  22,  1860. 
Doctor  Fenner  first  pi-acticed  in  the  city  of 
Flint,  Michigan,  beginning  immediately  after 
he  received  his  degree,  but  July  12,  1861,  only 
a  year  after,  his  patriotism  compelled  him  to 
give  up  his  newly-established  practice  and  en- 
list as  a  private  in  company  A,  8th  Michigan 
regiment,  that  was  recruited  by  Col.  William 
M.  Fenton,  ex-lieutenant-governor  of  that  State. 
He  was  appointed  hospital  steward  of  the  regi- 
ment and  war  correspondent  for  a  couple  of  the 
leadiug  State  papers.  Soon  after  getting  into 
active  service  he  was  pi'omoted  to  a  second  lieu- 
tenancy for  valorous  conduct,  and  was  assigned 
to  duty  in  Co.  I,  of  the  same' regiment.  They 
were  under  fire  at  the  battle  of  Coosaw  river, 
S.  C,  January  1,  1862,  and  in  April  of  the 
same  year,  the  captain  and  first  lieutenant,  hav- 
ing resigned,  he  commanded  his  company  dur- 
ing the  siege  that  resulted   in   the  fall   of  Fort 


Pulaski.  He  commanded  tiie  (uitpost  station 
at  Spanish  Well.s,  on  Hilton  Head  Island,  S.  C, 
during  tiie  night  attack  and  attempted  burning 
of  that  place  by  the  Conf'cdei'atos,  March  12, 
1863.  In  tiie  latter  part  of  May,  1862,  he  was 
appointed  to  service  in  the  signal  corps  and  as- 
signed to  General  Hunter's  .staff'  at  Hilton 
Head.  For  meritorious  conduct  he  was  com- 
missioned first  lieutenant,  October  1,  1862.  He 
was  in  the  trenches  at  the  fall  of  Fort  Wagner, 
Charleston  Harbor,  in  July,  1863.  Col.  Fen- 
ton said  of  him  in  a  letter  to  Governor  Blair  of 
]\Iichigan,  dated  May  14,  1863  :  "  I  take  the 
liberty,  although  not  now  in  .service,  of  cordially 
recommending  him  (first  lieutenant  M.  M.  Fen- 
ner) to  further  promotion.  My  connection  with 
tiie  8th  regiment  and  previous  acquaintance  with 
Dr.  Fenner  enable  me  to  speak  understandingly, 
and  to  say  that  in  my  opinion  such  an  appoint- 
ment would  prove  advantageous  to  the  service. 

I  His  experience  in  the  field  as  hospital  steward 
of  the  8th  regiment,  and  subsequently  as  lieu- 
tenant in  coniQiaud  of  a  com'pany,  and  his  effi- 
ciency in  every  position  in  which  he  has  been 
placed,  as  well  as  his  sterling  moral  virtue  and 
irreproachable  private  character,  entitle  him  to 
high   consideration.     He  may  be  relied  on   as 

;  competent  and  worthy."    , 

In  April,  1863,  he  came  north  to  Brooklyn, 
in  respon.se  to  an  invitation  extended  by  the 
Secretary  of  the  Navy,  passed  an  examination 
and  received  a  commission  as  assistant  surgeon, 
U.   S.   Navy,  from   Secretary  Welles,   in  May, 

!  1863,  but  owing  to  the  active  operations  about 
Charleston,  and  the  prospects  of  a  fight,  he  de- 
cided to  remain  for  a  time  in  the  army,  which 
he  did,  until  after  the  fall  of  Fort  Wagner. 
Dr.  Fenner  was  a  member  of  Admiral  Dahlgren's 
staff,  and  was  on  board  the  flagship  in  the  naval 
night  attack  upon  Fort  Sumter.  In  the  spring  of 
1864  he  came  north  on  a  leave  of  absence,  when, 
seeing  a  good  opening  at  .lamestown,  near  his 
early  home,  he  resigned  his  commi.ssiou  and  be- 

1  gan  to  practice  his  pi'ofession,  in  which  he  was 


394 


BIOGRAPHY  AND  HISTORY 


eminently  successful.  But  when  the  speculation 
excitement  in  the  oil  regions  broke  out  and  was 
carrying  everything  before  it,  he,  and  many 
others  from  the  vicinity  of  Jamestown,  went 
down  and  spent  the  winter  of  1864-65  in  west- 
ern Pennsylvania.  Like  many  others  he  was 
unfortunate,  and  returned  to  Jamestown  in  the 
summer  of  1865,  with  a  light  jJurse,  but  his 
heart  was  not  heavy,  and  with  renewed  energy,  he 
went  to  work  to  reclaim  his  scattered  fortunes. 
The  publication  of  "The  Medical  Progre.ss  " 
was  one  of  his  ventures,  and  large  editions  were 
distributed.  In  1866  Dr.  Fenner  was  ap- 
pointed city  physician,  and  held  that  position 
until  he  dejiarted  from  Jamestown. 

On  June  5,  1866,  he  married  Georgiana 
Grandin,  a  daughter  of  Daniel  H.  Grandin,  an 
extensive  woolen  manufacturer  of  Jamestown. 

During  the  month  of  May  he  delivered  the 
annual  address  to  the  Eclectic  Medical  society 
of  the  Thirty-second  Senatorial  District.  Two 
years  later,  in  the  course  of  a  similar  address, 
given  to  the  same  society  of  the  State  of  New 
York,  he  made  tliis  utterance,  which  was  widely 
commented  upon :  "  Liberality  of  principle, 
scope  of  thought  and  research,  untiring  energy 
and  unswerving  devotion  are  the  requisites  in 
the  medical  man  to  extended  success  in  the 
treatment  of  all  affections,  both  acute  and  chronic, 
simple  and  complex,  ranging  from  an  influenza 
to  a  grave  typhoid,  a  simple  ulcer  to  a  .scirrhous 
cancer,  a  bronchial  cough  to  a  grave  consump- 
tion." In  March,  1869,  he  disposed  of  his  large 
practice  at  Jamestown,  settled  up  his  "  oil  re- 
gion losses,"  dollar  for  dollar,  and  in  July  of  that 
year  located  at  Fredonia,  where  he  established 
his  "  People's  Dispensary  of  Medicine  and  Sur- 
gery ;"  resumed  the  pui)licati(in  of  "  The  Medi- 
cal Progress"  and  soon  secured  a  larger  ])ra('- 
tice  than  he  had  left.  In  1870  the  United 
States  government  appointed  iiini  examining 
surgeon,  and  in  1872  the  Eclectic  Medical  so- 
ciety of  the  State  of  New  York  elected  him  its 
president.     Dr.  Feuner  is  a  prominent  lecturer 


before  medical  societies,  and  a  monographer  of 
National  reputation  through  his  contributions 
to  medical  journals.  He  was  one  of  the  earliest 
promoters  of  the  Dunkirk  and  Fredonia  R.  R., 
and  has  been  its  president,  secretary,  treasurer 
and  manager. 

Politically  he  is  one  of  the  most  prominent 
men  in  western  New  York.  He  has  always 
displayed  an  acute  interest  in  the  Republican 
party.  His  popularity  is  best  shown  by  the 
fact  that  when  first  a  candidate  for  office — that 
of  supervisor  of  the  town  of  Pomfret,  although 
the  district  for  several  years  had  given  majori- 
ties for  candidates  of  the  opposite  party — he 
was  elected  by  a  majority  of  one  hundred  and 
sixteen.  The  next  year  he  was  elected  with  a 
majority  increased  to  two  hundred  and  eighty- 
two,  and  at  the  following  election,  when  run- 
ning for  the  Assembly,  the  Pomfret  district 
swelled  his  majority  to  three  hundred  and  ten, 
while  the  Assembly  district  made  his  total 
majority  over  his  opponent  two  thousand 
five  hundred  and  ninety-five,  the  largest  ever 
given  a  candidate  in  that  district.  When  the 
republicans  again  took  control  of  the  govern- 
ment, after  Cleveland's  administration,  Hon. 
M.  M.  Fenner  was  appointed  deputy  collector 
of  the  port  of  New  York,  which  position  he  is 
now  filling  with  credit  and  honor.  Although  his 
duties  in  the  ofKce  compel  him  to  spend  a  great 
portion  of  his  time  in  New  York  city,  his  fam- 
ily remain  at  their  home  in  Fredonia,  wiiere  his 
personal  business  interests  are  all  located.  Mr. 
Fenner  is  courteous,  straightforward  and  cordial 
in  his  intercourse  with  men,  and  his  affability 
makes  him  many  warm  friends.  Industrious 
and  painstaking  in  his  business,  he  always  dis- 
charges the  most  minute  details  of  his  work 
Mith  flic  .same  care  that  characterizes  his  trans- 
actions of  greater  nuignitiulc.  The  utmost  sys- 
tem is  observed  in  his  office,  and  he  has  his 
large  business  so  thoroughly  under  control  that 
he  .seems  to  handle  it  with  but  slight  elTort. 
Among  his  business  associates  his  word   is  as 


OF  CHAUTAUQUA   COUNTY. 


395 


good  as  liis  hand,  ami  liis  check  will  as  readily 
pass  current  as  the  cash.  Hon.  M.  M.  Feiuier 
is  a  bright  example  of  the  possibilities  of  an 
American  youth  who  is  possessed  of  sound 
sense  and  a  determined  and  unconquerable  will. 


TACOH  HAKDENBURG.  A  resident  of 
^^  Wcslfic'ld  town,  who  is  probably  as  well 
known  and  as  well  liked  as  any  other  non-pnb- 
lic  man  in  the  county  is  Jacob  llardenburg, 
M'ho  is  a  large  land  owner,  farmer,  grape-grower 
and  live  stock  dealer.  His  parents,  Valkart 
and  Su.san  (Miller)  Hardeuburg,  are  of  German 
parentage,  and  came  from  ejtstern  New  York, 
where  the  former  was  born  in  1798.  They 
lived  until  1833  in  various  eastern  and  central 
counties,  Jacob  Hardenburg  being  born  at 
Charleston,  Montgomery  county.  New  York, 
September  8,  1825.  A^alkart  Hardenburg 
(father)  came  to  Chautauqua  county,  in  1833, 
and  lived  in  several  of  the  numerous  towns. 
He  finally  located  in  Portland  town,  where  he 
still  resides,  and  is  now  ninety-three  years  old. 
For  one  of  his  years  this  elderly  gentleman  is 
remarkably  well  preserved.  His  form  is  straight 
as  an  arrow  and  his  step  is  elastic  and  brisk. 
He  owns  a  small  farm  in  the  town  of  Portland 
and  does  all  his  own  chores.  The  first  dairy 
ever  kept  in  this  county,  away  back  in  1833, 
was  run  by  Mr.  Hardenburg,  and  was  located 
three  miles  east  of  Mayville.  He  freighted  the 
butter  to  Buffalo  in  a  wagon,  and  there  mar- 
keted it.  About  ten  cows  constituted  his  stock. 
He  married  Susan  Miller  on  October  4,  1818. 
She  was  born  on  May  3,  1796,  and  died  in 
1870.  They  had  six  children,  three  .sons  and 
three  daughters. 

Jacob  Hardenburg  first  .saw  Chautauqua 
county  in  1833,  being  at  that  time  about  seven 
years  of  age.  He  was  reared  on  his  father's 
farm  and  early  taught  to  hold  the  i)low.  His 
education  was  received  in  the  common  schools, 
and  then  he  settled  down  to  a  farmer's  life. 
His  home  is  a  tract  of  one  hundred  and  twenty 


acres,  only  one  mile  east  of  Westfield.  Another 
farm  of  two  hundred  and  ten  acres  in  the  same 
town,  two  miles  south,  belongs  to  him,  which 
is  also  occupied  and  operated  by  him.  Grape- 
growing  is  a  profitable  business  in  a  good  sea- 
.son,  and  Mr.  Hardenburg  devotes  considerable 
attention  to  it,  and  is  also  a  large  trader  in  live 
stock  for  breeding  and  shipping  purposes.  Ja- 
cob Hardenburg  is  an  excellent  manager;  be- 
fore entering  upon  a  plan  he  carefully  calculates 
it  in  all  its  aspects,  and  then,  like  Von  Moltke, 
pu.shes  it  through  with  energy  to  a  successful 
termination.  Good  judgment  is  second  nature 
to  him,  and  a  plan  once  conceived  seldom  fails. 

His  wife  was  Annette  Ha.ssett,  whom  he 
married  in  1851.  She  was  a  daughter  of  John 
Hassett,  who  lived  in  Stockton  town.  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Hardenburg  have  four  children,  two  sons 
and  two  daughters :  Earl,  Henry,  Elva  and 
Flora.  The  fir.st  is  living  at  home;  Henry  is 
a  resident  of  Brooklyn,  New  York,  but  is  in 
business  in  New  York  city.  Elva  married 
Delbert  Arnold,  and  lives  at  De  Wittville,  this 
county  ;  and  Flora. 

Jacob  Hardenburg  is  a  member  of  two  fra- 
ternal organizations,  A.  O.  U.  ^y.  and  the 
Knights  of  Honor,  and  is  identified  with  the 
Republican  party.  Socially  he  is  a  pleasant 
gentleman,  and,  in  business,  of  strict  integrity. 


inriLTOX  J.  MUNSON,  a  prosperous,  pro- 
4  -^  gressive  and  intelligent  farmer  of  Port- 
land town,  is  a  son  of  Samuel  and  Polly 
(Hulburt)  Munson,  and  was  born  in  the 
town  where  he  now  lives  on  the  ■23d  of 
May,  1828.  The  iNIunson  family  trace  their 
ancestry  to  England,  although  indigenous  to 
American  soil  for  nearly  two  centuries.  The 
paternal  grandfather,  Samuel  Munson,  Sr.,  was 
born  in  the  State  of  Connecticut,  July  9,  1762, 
and  at  least  thirty  years  later  went  from  there 
to  New  Hartford,  a  place  near  Utica,  Oneida 
county,  this  State,  where  he  stayed  until  after 
harvest,  in  1818.     In  the  winter  of  1818-19  he 


396 


BIOGRAPHY  AND  HISTORY 


started  to  take  his  family  and  make  a  home 
farther  west  Coming  by  way  of  Buffalo,  a 
trip  of  at  least  three  half  fortnights,  with  the 
cumbersome  vehicles  then  in  use,  they  turned 
southwest  and  traveled  for  one  week  more.  The 
town  of  Portland's  general  appearance  pleased 
the  Jjarty,  and  it  was  decided  to  go  no  farther. 
Securing  a  tract  of  land  he  entered  heartily  upon 
the  task  of  clearing  it  up,  and  in  a  few  years  was 
the  possessor  of  a  fine  farm.  Mr.  Munsou 
served  in  the  American  army  during  the  war  of  I 
1812,  and  was  a  gallant  soldier.  He  died  Feb- 
ruary 27, 1841,  aged  seventy-nine  years.  Sam- 
uel Munson,  Jr.,  came  to  tiiis  county  with  his 
father.  He  was  born  in  Oneida  county  in  1803, 
and  when  fifteen  years  later  his  father  came  to 
this  county  he  was  of  sufficient  size  to  be  of 
great  assistance.  Being  among  the  early  set- 
tlers they  were  obliged  to  battle  many  priva- 
tions and  put  up  with  much  inconvenience. 
When  Samuel  Munson,  Jr.,  reached  manhood 
he  took  a  tract  of  fifty  acres  from  the  Holland 
Laud  Compauy  and  made  himself  a  farm.  He 
was  a  stirring,  energetic  man,  and  a  lover  of 
fine  horses,  in  handling  which  he  took  great 
delight. 

In  1823  he  married  Polly  (Shuff)  Hul- 
burt,  a  widow,  a  native  of  Ponipey,  Onondaga 
county,  New  York.  She  was  a  woman  of 
sterling  character  and  Christian  virtues.  They 
had  children :  Hannali  B.,  born  January  31, 
1826,  died  January  31,  1847;  Harry  "s.,  a 
farmer  of  this  town  (sketch  appears  elsewhere); 
Milton  J.,  and  Alson  N.,  living  in  Westfield 
town. 

Milton  J.  Munson  was  reared  on  the  farm 
and  received  his  education  in  the  common 
schools,  after  which  he  learned  the  carpenter's 
trade  and  followed  it  for  fifteen  years.  In  the 
spring  of  1871  lie  moved  on  tiie  farm  he  now 
owns,  where  he  has  lived  ever  since  without 
intermission.  The  place  contains  thirty-five 
acres  and  a  fine  house.  Several  acres  are  de- 
voted   to   grape   culture.      The   location,   only 


two  miles  from  Portland  village,  is  central  and 
convenient  to  shipment. 

On  February  11, 1849,  Mr.  Munson  married 
Marian  Hamlin,  a  lady  of  this  town,  wlio  died 
January  12,  1873,  leaving  five  children,  one 
son  and  four  daughters :  Almy,  married  Frank 
Magiuuis,  who  is  a  farmer  in  this  town  ;  Ada, 
wife  of  E.  H.  Taylor,  who  is  similarly  employed 
and  lives  adjacent;  Eva,  lives  in  Brocton,  where 
her  husband,  Dr.  B.  S.  Swetlaud,  is  a  practic- 
ing physician  ;  Edith,  is  the  wife  of  Vale  Lilly, 
a  Portland  former;  and  Samuel.  In  1879  Mr. 
Munson  married,  for  his  second  wife,  Julia 
Dodge,  who  died  in  1882,  leaving  an  infant 
son,  Jay,  now  nine  years  of  age.  In  January, 
1885,  he  married  Mrs.  Sarah  A.  (Spencer)  Hen- 
shaw,  of  North  East,  Pa. 

In  politics  Mr.  Munson  is  a  republican,  a 
courteous  gentleman,  a  pleasant  entertainer  and 
a  citizen  in  whom  Portland  may  take  pride. 


T    E.    W.    BISSELL,   D.D.S.,   is   a   sou  of 

^  •  Milton  L.  and  Melissa  (Rice)  Bissell, 
and  was  born  in  the  pleasant  village  of  Owego, 
Tioga  county,  New  York,  January  23,  1867. 
The  Bissells  sprang  direct  from  Puritan  stock. 
The  Cushmans  and  Bissells  came  over  among 
the  very  first  New  England  settlers.  His  grand- 
father, Joi)n  W.  Bissell,  was  a  native  of  Green- 
field, Franklin  county,  Massachusetts.  He  was 
a  hatter  by  trade,  but  branched  out  iuto  other 
fields  of  business,  and,  with  his  superior  and 
natui-al  talent  for  accumulating  money,  he  soon 
made  a  good  fortune  for  those  days.  He  then 
moved  into  Spriiigfield,  Mai^s.,  where  he  lived 
a  life  of  ease  and  comfort  until  his  death,  at  the 
age  of  eighty-four  years,  leaving  a  good  for- 
tune for  his  children.  He  served  a  short 
time  in  the  war  of  1812.  Milton  L.  Bissell 
was  born  in  Massaduisetts,  and  wiiile  a  young- 
man  saw  something  of  western  life,  but  sub- 
se(|nently  came  to  this  county,  where  lie  has 
lived  for  about  twenty-three  years.  He  now 
resides  on  and  cultivates    a  nice  liirm,  and   is 


OF  CHAUTAUQUA   COUNTY. 


397 


a  prosperous  farmer.  He  was  at  one  time 
engaged  in  business  in  Jamestown  for  about 
five  years.  Politically  he  is  a  republican,  is 
a  member  of  the  Grange  or  Patrons  of  Hus- 
bandry, and  has  been  Master  and  State  del- 
egate of  that  organization.  He  is  a  member 
of  the  A.  O.  U.  AV.,  and  is  prominent  in  that 
order.  He  married  Melissa  Rice,  an  only 
daughter  of  J.  A.  E.ice,  in  1860,  who  was  a 
native  of  this  county.  J.  A.  Rice  (grand- 
father) still  resides  in  the  county,  where  he  is  an 
extensive  farmer.  His  wife  died  in  1886. 
Mrs.  M.  L.  Bissell  is  a  member  of  the  Pres- 
byterian church.  They  are  the  parents  of  two 
sons :  John  E.  W.  and  Berne  Burritt  Bissell, 
the  latter  being  fourteen  years  of  age. 

John  E.  W.  Bissell  was  reared  principally 
on  the  farm  and  received  his  earlier  educa- 
tion in  the  common  schools,  supplementing  it 
by  a  thorough  course  in  the  Jamestown  pub- 
lic schools.  After  completing  his  course  there 
he  entered  the  well-linowu  dental  ofSce  of 
Rawson,  Lenox  &  Swetland.  Although  there 
were  changes  in  the  firm,  he  worked  there 
about  one  year  and  a  half,  then,  going  to 
"Warren,  Pa.,  as  assistant  for  A.  C.  McAlpine, 
and  later  entered  the  well-known  dental  in- 
stitution, the  Philadelphia  Dental  college. 
While  there  Dr.  Bissell  was  esteemed  highly 
by  the  faculty  as  being  an  excellent  student 
and  a  person  of  good  habits,  and  one  who 
excelled  in  good  work.  Graduating  from  that 
institution  in  1890,  he  at  once  located  in  West- 
field,  N.  Y.,  and  is  building  up  an  excellent 
practice,  and  is  appreciated  and  esteemed  by 
his  fellow-townsmen. 


lUTAUTIX  L.  FENTON,  one  of  the  leading 
4  lumber  dealers  of    western    New    York 

and  a  member  of  the  well-known  lumber  firm 
of  M.  L.  Feuton  &  Co.,  of  Jamestown,  is  a 
son  of  George  W.,  Jr.,  and  Mitta  (Howard) 
Fenton,  and  was  born  in  the  town  of  Carroll, 
Chautauqua  county,  New   York,  February  1, 


I  1839.     His  paternal  grandfather,  George  W. 

i  Fenton,  was  born  in  Connecticut,  and  became 
one  of  the  pioneer  settlers  of  Chautauqua  coun- 
ty. He  came  first  to  near  Sheridan  Centre,  but 
subsequently  removed  to  wiiat  is  now  the  town 
of  Carroll,  wliere  lie  punmased,  in  March,  1810, 
lot  52  from  the  Holland  I^and  company.  He 
followed  lumbering  for  several  years,  running 
his  rafts  to  Pittsburgh,  Cincinnati  and  St. 
Louis.  He  married  Elsie  Owen,  a  daughter  of 
Ira  Owen,  who  was  a  celebrated  marksman  and 
served  in  the  war  of  1812,  and  whose  father,  John 
Owen,  served  in  the  French  and  Indian  and  Rev- 
olutionary wars,  and  died  in  1843,  aged  one  hun- 
dred and  seven  years.  Mr.  Fenton  died  March  3, 
1860,  and  his  widow,  who  was  born  July  8, 1790, 
passed  away  February  26,  1875.  Their  chil- 
dren were  :  Roswell  O.,  George  W.,  Jr.,  Wil- 
liam H.  H.,  John  F.  and  Hon.  Reuben  E. 
Fenton,  ex-governor  of  New  York  and  ex- 
United  States  Senator.  The  second  son,  George 
W.,  Jr.  (father),  was  born  in  1812  in  Carroll, 
where  he  has  always  resided  and  been  engaged 
in  lumbering  and  farming.  He  is  a  Baptist  and 
republican,  and  married  Mitta,  daughter  of 
Luther  Howard.  They  have  six  children  liv- 
ing and  one  dead :  Thomas,  of  Frewsburg ; 
Welthy,  the  wife  of  Prof  George  Georgi,  of 
Jamestown ;  Martin  L. ;  Ann  E.,  widow  of 
John  Frew  ;  Laura,  wife  of  C.  A.  Haynes,  of 
Plainfield,  N.  J. ;  Lucy  M.,  who  married  Dr. 
Prittle,  of  Detroit,  Michigan ;  and  Alice,  now 
deceased. 

Martin  L.  Fenton  attended  Fredonia  acade- 
my, and  entered  Union  college  of  Schenectady, 
N.  Y.  He  also  attended  a  Cincinnati  college 
for  two  years  and  was  graduated  from  a  com- 
mercial college  in  Buflalo,  N.  Y.  Leaving 
school  he  and  C.  L.  Norton,  in  1860,  enojaged 
in  tlie  general  mercantile  business  at  Frews- 
burg,  which  they  continued  until  1864,  when 
Mr.  Norton  was  elected  county  clerk,  and  the 
store  was  conducted  two  years  longer  by  Mr. 
Fenton.      In    1866  he   came    to    Jamestown, 


398 


BIOGRAPHY  AND  HISTORY 


where  he  was  engaged  for  four  years  with 
H.  W.  Tew  in  a  hardware  store.  At  the  eud 
of  that  time,  in  1870,  he  organized  a  himber- 
ing  company  under  the  firm  name  of  M.  L. 
Fenton  &  Co.,  and  they  cut  and  ship  from 
eight  to  ten  million  feet  of  lumber  per  year. 
He  also  deals  largely  in  real  estate,  and  prob- 
ably owns  more  houses  in  Jamestown  than 
any  one  else  in  that  city. 

On  !March  19,  1863,  he  united  in  marriage 
with  Alice  Tew,  daughter  of  William  Tew,  a 
prominent  citizen  of  Jamestown.  They  are  the 
parents  of  two  children  :  Harry  W.,  born 
June  13,  1873,  and  now  attending  school  at 
Concord,  New  Hampshire ;  and  Gertrude, 
born  June  27,  1888. 

Martin  L.  Fenton  is  one  of  the  largest  tax- 
payers in  the  city  of  Jamestown,  which  he 
has  made  his  home  for  over  twenty  years. 
He  is  a  republican  in  polities  and  a  member 
of  the  Jamestown  Independent  Congregational 
church,  which  was  organized  (by  Dr.  Town- 
send)  in  June,  1886. 


JOHN  GIFFORD,  who  is  the  subject  of  this 
^  sketch,  is  one  of  the  leading  farmers  living 
in  the  vicinity  of  Lakewood,  Chautauqua  county. 
New  York.  He  is  a  son  of  Jeremiah  and  De- 
borah (Tallman)  Gifford,  and  was  born  in  Wash- 
ington county.  New  York,  December  25,  1806. 
Like  most  citizens  of  western  New  York,  he 
traces  back  his  lineage  to  New  England  ances- 
try. Here,  in  New  England,  while  it  was  yet 
dominated  by  the  iron  rule  of  Puritanism,  was 
born  Bial  Gifford,  our  subject's  paternal  grand- 
father. He  piu'suod  the  vocation  of  farming 
and  later  in  life  migrated  to  Washington  county, 
New  York,  where  he  died.  Mr.  Tallman  (ma- 
ternal grandfather)  was  also  a  native  of  the  east. 
Subject's  father  was  born  in  the  State  of  Massa- 
chu.setts  and  emigrated  to  Washington  county. 
New  York,  in  the  year  1825  ;  from  tlience  lie 
removed  to  Cliautaii(|ua  county,  where  he  set- 
tled in   the  town  of  Jiusti.     Here  he  obtained 


one  hundred  and  twenty  acres  of  laud  from  the 
Holland  Land  Company,  which,  at  that  time, 
was  a  veritable  wilderness,  untouched  as  yet  by 
the  transforming  hand  of  the  settler.  His  time 
and  energies  were  devoted  to  the  clearing,  fenc- 
ing and  general  preparation  of  his  farm  for  plow 
and  seed.  He  saw  the  alternation  of  harvest 
and  seed  time  for  a  period  of  seventy-nine  years, 
when,  on  February  4, 1854,  he  was  quietly  laid 
to  rest.  Politically  he  was  a  devotee  of  the  Re- 
publican party;  religiously  a  member  of  the 
Methodist  Episcopal  church. 

He  was  joined  in  marriage  to  Deborah  Tail- 
man,  which  union  resulted  iu  a  family  of  nine 
children,  five  boys  and  four  girls,  all  of  whom 
are  deceased  excej^t  the  subject. 

John  GifFord  passed  his  childhood  amid  the 
wild  scenic  mountains  and  lakes  of  his  native 
county — in  which  it  is  dilEcult  indeed  to  find 
a  single  spot  totally  devoid  of  interest.  In  this 
county,  rich  in  martial  memories  to  the  old  set- 
tler and  full  of  historic  interest  to  the  young, 
our  subject  also  received  his  early  education, 
which  in  those  days  was  chiefly  confined  to 
"readin',  'ritin'  and  'rithmetic" — the  three  R's 
of  the  primitive  school.  Upon  leaving  school 
he  took  up  the  occupation  of  farming  and  is  at 
present  engaged  iu  that  business  on  the  old 
homestead.  He  is  numbered  among  the  intelli- 
gent supporters  of  the  Republican  party,  and 
deems  it  one  of  the  first  and  highest  privileges 
of  American  citizenship  to  intelligently  exercise 
his  right  of  suffrage.  Mr  Gilford  is  a  good 
citizen,  generous,  public-spirited  and  liberal  to 
a  fault;  he  is  well  posted  upon  current  events, 
issues  and  ])roblems  and  endeavors  to  live  \\\X\\ 
an  intelligent,  modern  conception  of  life. 

John  Gifford  was  married  to  Catherine  Cor- 
nell, a  (laughter  of  Joseph  Cornell,  of  Washing- 
ton county.  New  York.  The  result  of  this 
union  was  two  children  :  Jeremiah,  who  was 
first  married  to  Henrietta  Alexander,  by  whom 
he  had  thrcjc children — Leroy,  Irving  and  John. 
He   was  niarried  tiie  second   time  to  Caroline 


OF  CHAUTAUQUA   COUNTY. 


399 


Briggs,  but  without  ifssue.  He  now  lives  with 
his  father  and  is  engaged  in  farming ;  and  Jennie, 
married  to  Thomas  Nelson,  formerly  a  farmer 
but  at  present  in  the  merciiandising  business  in 
Minneapolis,  Minnesota.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Nelson 
have  been  blest  with  two  children — Frank  and 
Kate — both  still  in  childhood. 


AVHARLES  S.  CUKTICK,  of  Portland,  who 
^^  is  one  of  the  largest  propagators  of  grape- 
vines in  the  United  States,  is  a  son  of  Roswell 
B.  and  Hannah  M.  (Chase)  Curtice,  and  was 
born  at  Webster,  Monroe  county.  New  York, 
January  21,  1857.  The  Curtice  family  is  of 
English  extraction,  and  Jesse  Curtice,  the  grand- 
father of  Charles  S.  Curtice,  came  from  Antrim, 
N.  H.,  to  Webster,  Monroe  county,  N.  Y., 
■where  he  was  engaged  in  farming  until  his 
death,  in  1863,  at  sixty-six  years  of  age.  One 
of  his  sons  was  Roswell  B.  Curtice  (father),  who 
was  born  in  1833.  He  came  about  1870  to 
Jamestown,  where  he  owns  a  small  farm  within 
the  limits  of  that  city  and  is  engaged  in  raising 
small  fruits.  He  is  a  republican  in  politics,  a 
member  of  the  First  Baptist  church  of  James- 
town, and  has  been  master  workman  for  several 
terms  of  the  lodge  of  Ancient  Order  of  United 
Workmen,  of  which  he  is  a  member.  He  mar- 
ried Hannah  M.  Chase,  a  native  of  Wisconsin, 
and  a  member  of  the  Baptist  church,  who 
passed  away  in  1873,  aged  forty-one  years. 

Charles  S.  Curtice  came  with  his  parents,  in 
1870,  to  Jamestown,  where  he  attended  the 
Union  school  and  collegiate  institute  of  that 
place.  Leaving  school  he  entered  the  employ 
of  E.  A..  Ross  &  Co.,  of  Ross  Mills,  with  whom 
he  remained  for  four  years  and  then  engaged  as 
a  traveling  salesman  with  George  A.  Stone, 
nurseryman  of  Rochester,  New  York.  He 
traveled  for  Mr.  Stone  throughout  this  State 
until  1880,  when  he  engaged  in  the  nursery 
business  on  a  small  scale  for  himself  in  the  town 
of  Portland.  He  increased  his  business  from 
year  to  year  until  it  is  now  of  large  proportions. 


He  makes  a  specialty  of  propagating  grape-vines 
for  the  wholesale  trade,  and  has  developed  this 
branch  of  the  nursery  business  until  he  is  now 
one  of  the  largest  grape-vine  proj)agators  in  the 
United  States.  In  addition  to  supplying  home 
demands  he  supplies  large  orders  from  every 
section  of  the  Union.  Mr.  Curtice  employs  an 
average  force  of  twenty  men  in  his  nursery  and 
vineyard  in  the  town  of  Portland,  and  is  a  stock- 
holder in  the  Rochester  and  Cayuga  Lake  Vine- 
yard company,  of  Seneca  county.  He  owns  a 
nice  residence  at  Portland  where  he  has  made  his 
home  since  1880.  He  is  an  active  republican  in 
politics,  a  member  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
church,  and  a  pleasant  but  thoroughgoing  busi- 
ness man.  He  is  a  member  of  Brocton  Castle, 
No.  284,  Knights  of  Pythias,  Summit  Lodge, 
No.  219,  Free  and  Accepted  Masons,  at  West- 
field  ;  Westfield  Chapter,  No.  129,  High  Royal 
Arch  Masons,  at  May  ville ;  and  Triumph  Union, 
No.  32,  Equitable  Aid  Union,  which  organiza- 
tion was  incorporated  at  Columbus,  Pa.,  March 
23,  1879. 

On  October  4,  1882,  Mr.  Curtice  married 
Luna  L.  Harris,  a  daughter  of  W.  D.  Harris, 
of  the  town  of  Ellicott.  Mrs.  Curtice  was  born 
in  1861  aud  died  July  26,  1889,  leaving  one 
child,  a  son,  named  William  ]\I.,  who  was  born 
February  17,  1885. 


/^HAimCEY  M.    KATHBUX,   D.D.S.,   of 

^^  Fredonia,  one  of  the  2>rogressive  and 
leading  dentists  of  western  New  York,  is  a  son 
of  Dr.  Byron  and  Thirza  A.  (Jillson)  Rathbun, 
aud  was  born  in  the  city  of  Dunkirk,  Chautau- 
qua county.  New  York,  May  28,  1867.  The 
Rathbuns  are  of  English  descent  and  Rev. 
Levant  Rathbun,  paternal  grandfather  of  Dr. 
C.  ^I.  Rathbun,  was  born  at  Camden,  Oneida 
county,  in  June  1803,  and  removed  to  Pine 
j  Grove,  Warren  county.  Pa.,  where  he  farmed 
until  1837.  He  then  entered  the  ministry  of 
the  Baptist  church  and  preached  in  Jamestown 
and  Dunkirk  and  at  Panama  where  he  died 


400 


BIOGRAPHY  AND  HISTORY 


September  18,  1869.  lu  January,  1826,  he 
married  Laura  Brainard  Comstock,  who  was 
born  at  East  Haddam,  Connecticut,  and  died 
August  24,  1845,  leaving  five  children:  Dor- 
liska,  Theron,  Andrew,  Dr.  Byron  and  Milton.  ! 
Rev.  Levant  Rathbun  married  for  his  second 
wife,  on  August  10,  1846,  Mrs.  John  Paden, 
who  bore  him  five  children  :  Wilbur,  Laura, 
Charles,  James  and  Willie.  Dr.  Byron  Rath- 
bun  (father),  now  the  oldest  practicing  dentist 
of  Dunkirk,  was  born  at  Pine  Grove,  Pa., 
October  28,  1834,  worked  on  a  farm  at  May- 
ville,  from  twelve  to  fifteen  3'ears  of  age  and 
then  went  to  Erie,  Pa.,  where  he  studied 
dentistry  with  Dr.  Thompson  in  day  time  and  ] 
worked  in  a  printing  office  at  night.  He  left 
there  in  1853,  held  a  position  for  two  years  in 
A.  T.  Stewart's  dry  goods  store  in  New  Orleans 
and  returned  in  1855  to  Erie  where  he  was  a 
partner  with  Dr.  Thompson  for  three  years.  In 
1858  he  opened  his  present  office  on  Center 
street,  Dunkirk,  where  he  is  now  an  influential 
member  of  the  city  council.  He  has  a  large 
practice,  is  wealthy  and  has  been  for  several 
years  a  Knight  Templar  of  Dunkirk  Com- 
mandery  No.  40,  K.  T.,  and  a  member  and 
vestryman  of  St.  John's  Protestant  Episcopal 
church.  On  December  28,  1865,  he  married 
Thirza  Ann  Jillson.  They  have  three  children: 
Chauncey  M. ;  Mary  J.,  born  Marcii  28,  1877  ; 
and  Jean  A.,  born  January  27,  1882.  Mrs. 
Rathbun's  father,  Samuel  C.  Jillson,  was  born 
October  4,  1820,  and  on  August  28,  1842,  ' 
married  Mary  Shale,  of  Rochester,  N.  Y.,  by 
whom  he  had  four  children.  He  was  a  sou  of 
Oliver  Whipple  Jill.son,  who  was  born  in  1786, 
married  to  Sally  Sackett  in  1819  and  died  in 
Genesee  county  in  1829,  leaving  four  children  : 
Samuel  C. ;  De  Witt  C,  born  in  1822;  Mary, 
born  January  2,  1824;  and  Anuuida,  born 
March  20,  1826. 

Chauncey  M.  Ratlibun  attended  the  public 
schools  of  Dunkirk  until  he  was  seventeen 
years  of  age  when  lie  entered  a  niilitary  school 


at  Peekskill,  on  the  Hudson,  where  he  remained 
one  year.  He  then  returned  home,  studied  den- 
tistry with  his  father,  and  matriculated  in  1887 
at  the  University  of  Pennsylvania,  from  which 
he  was  graduated  in  the  spring  of  1888  with 
the  degree  of  D.D.S.  In  the  autumn  of  that 
year  he  came  to  Fredonia  where  he  has  been 
successfully  practicing  dentistry  ever  since.  His 
office  is  fully  equipped  with  modern  appliances 
and  he  keeps  fully  abreast  of  the  times  in  the 
line  of  his  profession. 

June  12,  1889,  he  united  in  marriage  with 
Julia  S.,  daughter  of  P.  Ten  Eyck  and  Caro- 
line (Sparks)  Smith,  of  Wilmington,  Delaware, 
where  Mr.  Smith  is  cashier  of  the  First 
National  bank  of  the  city. 

Dr.  C.  M.  Rathbun  is  energetic  and  active 
in  whatever  he  undertakes.  He  is  a  conserva- 
tive republican  and  a  Master  Mason  of  Forest 
Lodge,  No.  166,  Free&  Accepted  ilasons.  He 
is  a  member  and  vestryman  of  Trinity  Prot- 
estant Episcopal  church  of  Fredonia. 


HON.  CHARLES  B.  BROCIvAVAY  was 
a  man  who  in  life  attained  an  enviable 
position,  and  who,  since  his  death,  is  remem- 
bered as  a  courageous,  generous  and  honorable 
man.  He  was  a  son  of  Burban  and  Lois  A. 
(Bostwick)  Brockway,  and  was  born  in  Ontai-io 
county,  New  York,  December  6,  1810,  and 
died  December  4,  1883.  The  earliest  mention 
of  the  representatives  of  this  family  in  Amer- 
ica, Wolston  Brockway,  is  found  in  the  town 
records  of  Lyme,  Connecticut,  where  it  is  stated 
on  December  3,  1659,  he  piu'chased  housing 
and  land  from  John  Reynolds,  then  living  at 
Norwic^h,  Connecticut,  but  formerly  of  Lyme. 
I'^-om  Wolston  Brockway  came  the  Hon.  Chas. 
B.  Brockway.  Burban  Brockway  was  born  in 
Lyme,  Connecticut,  Marcli  1,  1767,  being  the 
youngest  of  a  family  of  ten  children.  His 
father  and  several  of  his  older  brotlicrs  served 
in  the  Revolutionary  war.  Burban  Brockway 
i)egan  a  sea-faring  life  at  |the  age  of  eighteen 


OF  CHAUTAUQUA   COUNTY. 


401 


years,  and  when  twenty-three  years  of  age  he 
married  Lois  Anne  Bostwick,  of  New  Miiford, 
Connecticut,  and  located  at  Catsivill,  New 
York,  where  he  left  Ids  family  while  he  fol- 
lowed his  chosen  occupation.  In  1797  he  re- 
moved his  family  to  Ontario  county,  located  in 
the  wilderness,  and  commenced  clearing  up  a 
farm  with  the  idea  of  following  an  agricultural 
life;  but  in  1813  he  removed  to  the  town  of 
Ripley  (then  Portland),  Chautauqua  county, 
and  located  on  a  tract  of  land  of  which  he  held 
possession  until  his  death,  an<l  it  still  remains 
in  the  family.  This  property  is  located  one 
mile  east  of  tiie  village  of  Ripley,  and  there 
Mr.  Brockway  lived  until  his  death,  which 
occurred  September  2,  1801.  He  was  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Episcopal  church,  and  on  the  organ- 
ization of  St.  Paul's  church  at  Mayville  was 
elected  its  senior  warden.  Mr.  Brockway  reared 
a  family  of  four  sons  and  five  daughters,  of 
which  our  subject  was  the  youngest. 

Charles  B.  Brockway  removed  witii  his  pa- 
rents to  Ripley,  Chautauqua  county,  in  1814, 
and  at  their  arrival  the  laud  was  covered  with 
dense  woods.  But  meager  educational  facilities 
were  at  hand,  and  the  better  part  of  his  knowl- 
edge was  obtained  after  he  had  attained  man- 
hood. His  childhood  and  youth  were  passed 
in  the  usual  manner  incident  to  the  early  pio- 
neers. Mr.  Brockway  was  a  constant  reader, 
and  his  mind  was  practical.  He  took  an  active 
part  in  the  j)reservation  of  the  Union  during 
the  civil  war,  devoting  all  of  his  time  and 
much  means  in  enlisting  volunteers  from  his 
own  and  adjoining  towns,  and  aiding  them  to 
secure  equipments.  In  1838  he  was  elected  a 
member  of  the  Board  of  Supervisors  for  Chau- 
tauqua county,  and  held  that  office  for  thirteen 
years,  part  of  the  time  as  chairman  of  the 
board.  Although  at  that  time  but  twenty-eight 
years  of  age,  he  showed  extraordinary  ability 
and  good  judgment  in  conducting  the  affiiirs  of 
the  county,  and  familiarized  himself  with  all 
her  needs.     When  he  abdicated   this  position, 


'  he  was  elected  associate  judge  of  the  county, 
and  at  tlie  end  of  his  term  of  office  was  made  a 
justice  of  the  peace,  wliicli  office  he  hehl  for 
fourteen   years.      His    administration   of  those 

'  offices  was  highly  satisfactory,  and  had  it  not 
been  for  his  natural  modesty  and  desire  to 
avoid  the  turmoil  of  public  life,  he  would  have 

j  been  elevated  to  more  distinguished  positions. 
Mr.  Brockway  was  a  man  of  strong  moral  con- 
victions, which  gave  him  a  standing  among  his 
neigiibors  and  attracted  their  confidence,  and 
his  services  as  a  counselor  and  conveyancer 
were  much  sought  after.  He  was  a  regular 
attendant  at  ciuircii  and  a  libei'al  supporter  of 

;  every  public  enterprise,  whether  religious  or 
secular,  that  had  for  its  object  the  public  weal. 
Hon.  Charles  B.  Brockway  was  the  friend  of 
the  poor,  the  widow  and  the  fatherless,  and 
their  appeals  to  his  liberality  were  always  met 
with  substantial  responses. 

He  married  Rachel  Rebecca  Sterrett,  a 
daughter  of  David  Sterrett,  who  was  a  repre- 
sentative of  one  of  the  old  and  resjjected  fami- 
lies of  the  Keystone  State.  Their  union  was 
blessed  with  the  following  children:  Mary  S., 
who  married  Hon.  James  M.  Williams,  May 
21,  1882, — a  lawyer  of  Cleveland,  Ohio,  who 
for  two  years  was  a  member  of  the  Ohio  As- 
sembly, where  he  was  the  recognized  leader  of 
the  Democracy;  he  has  edited  one  edition  of 
the  statute  laws  of  Ohio,  and  revised  several 
others;  Martha,  who  died  when  thirteen  years 
of  age;  Charles  B.,  now  living  in  the  town  ot 
Ripley,  thoroughly  identified  with  local  poli- 
ties and  a  well-known  republican;  David  S., 
died  in  infancy;  Belle  R.,  also  died  in  infancy; 
and  Fredei'ick,  born  July  20,  1854,  and  on  Sep- 
tember 15,  1877,  married  Emma  L.  Cushmau, 
a  daughter  of  Leverett  and  Ann  (Wilson) 
Cushman;  they  have  three  children, — Byron, 
Mav  and  Fred. 


402 


BIOGRAPHY  AND  HISTORY 


■f^EXTER  D.  DOKX,  now  resident  of  James-  I 
^^  town,  and  a  member  of  the  Chautauqua 
county  bar,  was  born  in  Sugar  Grove  (now 
Farmington)  township,  "Warren  county,  Penn- 
sylvania, September  26,  1849,  and  is  a  son  of 
John  L.  and  Harriet  M.  (Allen)  Dorn.  His 
grandfather,  Andrew  Dorn,  was  a  native  of  the 
town  of  Florida,  Montgomery  county,  New 
York,  removed  to  Warren  county,  Pa.,  in'  1841, 
and  about  forty  years  later  came  to  this  county, 
where  he  afterwards  died.  He  studied  for  the 
ministry,  but  the  death  of  his  father  and  the 
cares  of  the  family  compelled  him  to  abandon 
his  studies  and  engage  in  teaching  for  several 
years.  He  served  as  school  commissioner,  held 
various  town  offices,  was  a  Methodist  and  demo- 
crat, and  married  ISIary  Cramer,  by  whom  he 
had  four  sous  and  one  daughter.  His  son,  John 
L.  Dorn,  the  father  of  Dexter  D.  Dorn,  was 
born  in  the  town  of  Florida,  N.  Y.,  March  1 6, 
1819,  went  with  his  father  to  Pennsylvania,  and 
in  1870  came  to  this  county,  where  he  lias 
resided  ever  since.  He  is  a  farmer,  a  Methodist 
and  a  prohibitionist.  He  married  Harriet  M. 
Allen,  and  to  them  were  born  two  sons  and  four 
daughters,  two  of  whom  are  dead.  Mrs.  Dorn 
is  a  daughter  of  Jacob  Allen,  who  was  a  native 
of  Jefferson  county,  N.  Y.,  but  about  1830 
became  one  of  the  pioneer  settlers  of  Warren 
county,  Pa.  He  was  a  man  of  unusual  mechani- 
cal inventive  genius,  carried  on  coopering  ex- 
tensively and  taught  vocal  music.  He  was  a 
prominent  member  and  deacon  of  the  Baptist 
church,  and  a  republican  in  political  principles. 
He  married  Olive  Tupper,  whose  mother,  well 
remembered  by  Dexter  D.  Dorn,  in  relating  her 
experience  in  witnessing  the  naval  engagement 
on  Lake  Champiain,  near  Plattsburg,  N.  Y.,  in 
1814.  The  Americans  were  victorious,  and  the 
wiiole  Britisli  fleet  was  surrendered  to  the 
American  commander,  McDonough,  died  at 
the  advanced  age  of  ninety-eight  years.  They 
reared  a  family  of  one  son  and  three  daughters. 
Dexter  D.  Dorn  received  Iiis  education  in  tlie 


common  schools  and  Jamestown  Union  school 
and  Collegiate  Institute.  He  received  the  regent's 
certificate  in  1867,  but  was  prevented  from 
obtaining  a  collegiate  education  by  failure  of 
his  eyesight,  he  having  to  rely  wholly  upon  his 
own  resources.  He  taught  school  for  a  time, 
then  learned  the  trade  of  cooper,  which  he  soon 
abandoned  to  learn  telegraphy.  On  May  1, 
1870,  he  was  appointed  night  operator  at  Cam- 
bridge, Pa.,  and  on  January  1,  1871,  was  pro- 
moted to  day  operator,  and  freight,  ticket  and 
express  agent,  which  position  he  held  for  eighteen 
years  and  four  months.  During  this  long  period 
of  time  he  was  never  called  in  for  misconduct 
or  neglect  of  duty,  and  never  caused  an  accident 
or  damage  to  any  person  or  train  by  carelessness 
or  mistaking  orders  by  telegrajih  or  otherwise, 
which  is  a  remarkable  record  considering  the 
time  covered,  the  onerous  duties  performed, 
vast  amount  of  property  and  the  hundreds  of 
lives  that  were  daily  dependent  upon  his  accuracy 
and  vigilance  in  moving  trains  over  a  great 
railway.  During  this  time  he  and  his  wife  com- 
pleted the  course  of,  and  graduated  in  the  pioneer 
class  (1882)  of  the  C.  L.  S.  C.  Leaving  the 
railroad,  he  commenced  to  read  law  in  James- 
town on  September  26,  1887,  and  after  com- 
pleting his  course  of  reading  entered  the  Albany 
Law  school,  from  which  he  was  graduated  May 
23,  1889.  On  June  6,  1890,  he  was  admitted 
to  the  bar,  and  since  then  has  been  engaged 
successfully  in  the  practice  of  his  profession  in 
Jamestown.  He  is  in  principle  a  democrat,  a 
strong  temperance  advocate  and  an  active  worker 
in  the  Methodist  church,  of  which  he  and  his 
wife  are  members. 

On  October  23,  1871,  he  united  in  marriage 
witii  Finina  Brookmire,  a  woman  of  rare  force 
of  character  wiio  liad  been  a  successful  student 
and  teacher  in  tiie  Jamestown  Union  Schools 
and  Collegiate  Institute,  and  served  as  principal 
of  one  of  the  city  schools  in  1870.  To  tiieir 
imion  iiave  been  born  two  chiklren  :  ]\L  Kditii, 
born  August  5, 1872,  and  died  Marcli  23,  1889; 


OF  CHAUTAUQUA  COUNTY. 


403 


and  Ralph  W.,  who  was  born  June  28,  1877, 
and  has  just  passed  tlie  regent's  examination  for 
the  academic  department  of  the  Jamestown 
High  Sclipol.  M.  Edith  Dorn  was  a  girl  of 
brilliant  promise,  amiable  and  kind  in  disposi- 
tion, and  a  fine  scholar  and  musician  for  one  of 
her  age.  She  was  a  member  of  the  class  of 
1890  of  the  Jamestown  High  School,  was  uni- 
versally loved  and  regarded,  and  her  early  death 
was  deeply  deplored  by  all  who  knew  her. 


IIITATHEW  PULLER  comes  from  an  old 
4  English  family  of  that  name,  was  born 

in  Dutchess  county.  New  York,  November  26, 
1825,  and  is  a  son  of  Micah  and  Elizabeth 
(Clements)  Fuller.  Micajah  Fuller  (grandfather) 
was  a  native  of  eastern  New  York,  and  farmed 
in  Westchester  county,  where  he  died.  He  had 
four  children,  one  of  whom,  Micah  Fuller 
(father),  was  born  in  Westchester  county  in 
1788.  When  a  young  man  he  went  from  his 
native  county  to  Dutchess  ;  in  1828  he  moved 
from  thence  to  Herkimer  county,  and  in  Novem- 
ber, 1833,  he  came  to  Chautauqua  county  and 
settled  on  a  farm  in  Portland  town,  which  he 
occupied  and  tilled  until  his  death  in  1860. 
Politically  he  was  a  whig,  and  a  quiet,  un- 
assuming gentleman.  He  married  Elizabeth 
Clements,  a  native  of  Dutchess  county,  where 
she  was  born  in  1795.  She  died  in  1883.  Mrs. 
Fuller  bore  her  husband  fourteen  children,  six 
sons  and  eight  daughters. 

Mathew  Fuller  was  eight  years  of  age  when 
his  father  came  to  this  county.  He  got  his  edu- 
cation in  the  common  schools,  and  spent  his  early 
life  on  the  farm,  and  when  he  had  attained  man- 
hood adopted  farming  as  his  life  work.  The 
old  homestead  of  his  father  is  now  his  property, 
in  which  he  resides,  and  one  hundred  and  five 
acres  of  land  are  attached  to  it,  with  a  fine  vine- 
yard of  grapes.  In  1860  he  went  to  the  deer 
sections  of  Michigan  where  he  sjieut  six  years, 
mostly  hunting.  Three  elk  fell  before  his  rifle, 
and  deer  too  many  to  count.     The  remainder 


of  his  life  has  been  spent  on  his  Portland  farm. 
In  1865  he  was  united  in  marriage  with  Mary 
Barrows,  who  lived  at  Port  Huron,  ^Michigan, 
a  daughter  of  La  Prelate  Barrows,  a  farmer  of 
Racine  county,  Wisconsin.  Three  dangiiters 
have  been  born  to  them,  all  of  whom  are  living: 
Winnie  E.,  Lucy  B.,  and  Milly  R. 

Mathew  Fuller  is  an  adherent  of  democracy. 
Poor  health  took  him  to  Michigan,  as  recorded 
above,  and  the  bracing  air  of  the  fragrant 
pines  invigorated  his  constitution  so  that  he 
bids  fair  to  enjoy  a  long  aud  happy  life. 


TOKN'    W.     DAWSON    was    an    esteemed 

^  Christian  gentleman,  who  lived  in  the 
town  of  Ripley,  this  county,  until  his  death, 
which  occurred  August  8,  1890.  He  was  the 
son  of  Thomas  and  Hannah  (Connelly)  Dawson 
and  was  born  in  Venango  county.  Pa.,  Septem- 
ber 14,  1817. 

His  grandfather,  James  Dawson,  was  a  na- 
tive of  Ireland,  but  emigrated  to  America  aud 
settled  in  Venango  county,  Penna.,  where  he 
followed  farming  until  his  death.  He  was  a 
consistent  member  of  the  Methodist  church  and 
married  Elizabeth  Armstrong,  by  whom  he 
had  a  family  of  three  sons  and  four  daughters. 
Thomas  Dawson,  the  father  of  our  subject,  was 
born  in  Ireland  and  had  not  yet  reached  his 
fifth  year  when  his  father  came  to  America.  He 
worked  upon  the  farm,  and  having  reached 
manhood  married  Hannah  Connelly,  who  bore 
him  thirteen  children,  six  sons  and  seven 
daughters. 

John  W.  Dawson  was  reared  in  the  "Key- 
stone State,"  where  he  learned  how  to  farm  and 
secured  his  education  in  the  common  schools.  In 
1865  he  came  to  Chautauqua  county,  and  set- 
tled in  the  town  of  Ripley,  where  he  secured 
him  a  farm  and  spent  the  remainder  of  his  life. 

He  belonged  to  the  Republican  party  and 
was  a  devout  member  of  the  Presbyterian 
church,  in  the  affairs  of  which  he  took  a  lead- 
ing part  and  served  as  one  of  its  trustees. 


404 


BIOGRAPHY  AND  HISTORY 


On  the  17th  day  of  February,  1841,  he  united 
in  marriage  with  Emeline  Ross,  a  daughter  of 
Perrin  Ross,  who  was  one  of  the  first  settlers  of  I 
Erie  county,  Penna.  His  father  was  a  renowned 
Revolutionary  officer  and  was  killed  at  the 
massacre  of  Wyoming,  where  Butler  and  his 
hordes  of  blood-thirsty  savages,  after  defeating 
the  handful  of  able-bodied  defenders  at  Forty 
Fort,  pursued  the  fleeing  defenceless  women 
and  children,  and  killed  and  scalped  them  with- 
out mercy.  Mrs.  Dawson's  grandmother  fled 
to  the  woods  with  her  four  children  where  she  ! 
remained  concealed  for  four  days,  until  Butler 
and  his  army  had  withdrawn  from  the  country. 
When  Perrin  Ross  came  to  Erie  county,  he 
settle<l  at  Colt's  Station,  near  the  present  town  : 
of  Xorth  East,  and  remained  there  nearly  all 
his  life  engaged  in  agricultural  pursuits.  He 
married  Hannah  Utley  and  reared  a  family  of 
six  sons  and  six  daughters :  of  these  but  two 
sons  and  two  daughters  are  yet  living ;  one  of 
the  former,  Sterling  A.  Ross,  served  in  the  late 
civil  war,  and  is  now  living  at  Jackson,  Kau-  j 
sas.  By  his  marriage  with  Emeline  Ross  Mr. 
Dawson  had  the  following  family :  William 
R.,  who  married  Livonia  Richardson,  and  lives 
at  Tidioute,  Penna.,  a  merchant,  a  real  estate 
dealer,  oil  producer  and  a  general  business  man. 
They  have  had  three  children  :  Josephine  G. ; 
Bessie,  died  at  the  age  of  six,  and  Mary 
R.  He  entered  the  civil  war  in  August,  1862, 
joining  Co.  H,  121st  regiment,  Penna.  Volun- 
teers, and  served  until  July,  1865.  He  was 
wounded  at  Gettysburg  and  was  taken  jirisoner, 
but  soon  thereafter  was  exchanged  and  then 
entered  the  provost  marshal's  office  at  Pitts- 
burg ;  Olive  E.,  married  Rev.  Frederick  Fair,  | 
a  Metiiodist  Episcojml  minister  located  in  the 
town  of  Shei'idan,  Chautaucjua  county.  They 
have  two  children,  Hurlburt  1).  and  Arthur 
R. ;  Elizaljctli  J.,  is  the  wife  of  John  C.  Ster- 
ling, and  lives  in  Minneapolis,  Minnesota, 
where  iier  husband  is  engaged  in  the  real  estate 
business.     Their  cliiklren  are  Tliayer  D.,  Ruth, 


John  and  Faith  ;  and  Henry  T.,  who  married 
Lulu  Smith,  and  lives  at  Newark,  New  Jersey. 
He  is  connected  with  the  University  Publishing 
Company,  New  York,  is  a  graduate  of  Syracuse 
University,  and  has  two  children  :  Eva  A.  and 
John  W. 

John  W.  Dawson  was  a  public-spirited,  gen- 
erous, 02:)en-hearted  man,  and  the  last  years  of 
his  life  were  spent  in  grape-growing  and  light 
farming  ;  he  died  a  Christian. 


mILLIA3I  E.  POAVERS,  one  of  the 
prominent  citizens  and  leading  busi- 
ness men  of  the  town  of  Hanover,  Chautauqua 
county,  is  the  son  of  William  and  Achsah 
(Emerson)  Powers,  and  first  saw  the  light  Feb- 
ruary 6,  1827,  in  Auburn,  New  York.  His 
grandfather,  John  Powers,  was  a  descendant  of 
the  early  families  of  that  name  who  came  to 
the  rock-bound  coast  of  the  New  England 
States  for  settlement.  He,  however,  was  born 
among  the  mountains  of  New  Hampshire,  after- 
ward removed  to  the  State  of  Vermont  and 
there  died.  Beside  himself  and  wife,  his  family 
consisted  of  six  children.  Enoch  Emerson 
(maternal  grandfather  of  subject)  was  more 
commonly  known  to  his  neighbors  and  chosen 
friends  by  the  sobriquet  of  "  Deacon  Emerson." 
He  was  a  native  and  citizen  of  Vermont,  where, 
among  the  green  mountains  of  his  nativity,  a 
plain  marble  slab,  bearing  the  inscription  "  Re- 
quiescat  in  pace,"  marks  his  last  resting  place. 
Deacon  Emerson  was  a  man  whose  life  and 
energies  were  devoted  witii  a  rare  sincerity  and 
sacrifice  to  the  interests  of  the  Commonwealth 
of  Vermont.  He  was  nominally  a  farmer,  but 
the  longest  and  best  part  of  his  life  was  given 
to  the  public  service.  For  many  years  he  was 
a  member  of  the  Vermont  Legislature  and  tlie 
recognized  political  leader  of  his  section  of  the 
State.  Imbued  with  sincerity,  honesty  and  a 
controlling  desire  to  promote  the  general  wel- 
fare of  the  entire  people  of  the  State,  he  was 
held    in    the    highest   confidence   and    respect. 


OF  CHAUTAUQUA   COUNTY. 


406 


William  Powers  (father)  was  born  in  Corydon, 
New  Hampsiiire,  where  he  si)eiit  iiis  childhood 
and  youth,  amid  the  natural  beauty  of"  the 
"Granite  State."  In  1795  he  migrated  to  the 
State  of  Vermont,  theuce  to  Auburn,  Cayuga 
county.  New  York,  in  1826,  and  thence  to 
Kingston,  Ontario,  Canada,  in  1833,  and 
from  thence  to  Chautau([ua  county,  in  1840, 
where  he  died.  Politically  he  was  a  firm  ex- 
ponent of  Democratic  princi|)les,  and  wliile  in 
Vermont  was  a  member  year  after  year  of  the 
State  Legislature.  His  place  in  the  Legislature 
had  been  formerly  filled  by  his  father-in-law 
for  many  years.  While  a  resident  of  Auburn, 
New  York,  Mr.  Powers  was  appointed  keeper 
of  the  State  prison,  which  position  he  held  until 
called  to  Kingston,  Ontario,  Canada,  as  archi- 
tect and  builder  of  the  province  penitentiary  at 
that  place.  He  was  selected  as  architect  and 
builder  by  a  British  commission  sent  all  over 
the  United  States  to  inquire  into  and  investi- 
gate prison  systems.  Their  inspection  of  the 
prison  at  Auburn  and  its  management,  together 
with  a  satisfactory  examination  of  certain  plans 
drawn  up  by  IMr.  Powers  led  to  his  selection. 
After  the  completion  of  the  prison  he  was  made 
warden,  which  position  he  held  for  seven  years. 
In  Chautauqua  county  he  occupied  himself  in 
agriculture  and  stock-raising.  Mr.  Powers  was 
a  man  of  military  bearing  and  tastes,  and  at  one 
time  (in  the  State  of  Vermont)  was  colonel  of  a 
regiment  of  militia.  In  politics  he  was  a  re- 
publican and  strong  abolitionist.  He  was  a 
personal  friend  of  Hon.  William  H.  Seward, 
Vice-President  Fillmore,  AVMlliam  L.  Marcy,  of 
New  York,  and  ex-Postmaster-General  Jacob 
Collamer,  of  Vermont.  He  was  a  member  of 
the  Presbyterian  church,  in  which  he  held  the 
office  of  deacon.  His  first  wife,  Achsah  Emer- 
son, bore  him  five  children,  three  boys  and  two 
girls.  His  children  were:  Eunice,  dead  ;  John, 
died  in  Buffalo,  New  York,  where  he  had  been 
distributing  superintendent  in  the  post-office 
for  thirty-five  years;  William  E. ;  Ellen,  dead  ; 
21 


and  Gershom,  now  living  at  Grand  Rapids, 
Michigan,  and  engaged  in  the  insurance  busi- 
ness. He  married  a  second  time  shortly  before 
his  death,  but  without  issue. 

William  E.  Powers  received  his  education  in 
the  common  schools,  and  has,  since  maturity, 
been  engaged  in  various  pursuits,  though  chiefly 
in  farming.  For  three  years  he  was  engaged 
in  the  mercantile  business  at  various  points. 
He  is  a  republican  in  politics,  and  for  three 
years  was  post  master  at  East  Golden,  Mich- 
igan. 

William  E.  Powers  was  first  united  in  mar- 
riage to  Calista  Mark,  who  bore  him  one  son, 
Frank,  a  merchant  and  farmer,  now  married  to 
Caroline  Oyer,  and  living  in  Springport,  Jack- 
son county,  Michigan.  His  second  wife,  Mrs. 
Harriet  Evans  (n^e  Clough),  also  bore  him  one 
child,  Hattie  C,  who  is  now  married  to  Frank 
A.  Rider,  a  farmer. 

Mr,  Powers  is  a  prominent  .secret  .society 
man,  being  a  member  of  the  Masons,  Royal 
Templars  of  Temperance,  Equitable  Aid  Union 
and  I.  O.  O.  F. 


JOHN  K.  PATTERSON.  Occasionally  we 
^  find  one  of  the  old  school  railroaders  who 
has  pulled  coupling-pins,  twisted  brakes  and 
punched  tickets  for  over  a  third  of  a  century 
and  escaped  with  his  life,  but  such  men  are 
scarce.  He,  of  whom  we  are  writing,  is  such 
a  man,  who  began  in  1856  and  relinquished  his 
punch  on  the  first  of  the  present  year.  John 
K.  Patterson  is  a  son  of  David  and  Eva  (Kern) 
Patterson,  and  was  born  in  Sheridan,  this 
county,  December  2,  1836.  David  Patterson 
was  born  in  Perthshire,  Scotland,  March  11, 
1794,  and  came  to  this  country  in  1812  in  time 
to  see  the  burning  of  Buffalo,  although  he 
was  not  a  belligerent.  He  located  at  Buffalo, 
which  he  made  his  home  for  two  years  and  then 
moved  to  Oneida,  New  York,  and  began  to 
farm,  and  by  this  labor  he  lived  until  1834, 
when  he  went  to  Sheridan  and  continued  farm- 


406 


BIOGRAPHY   AND  HISTORY 


ing  until  old  age  compelled  his  retirement. 
Then  he  moved  to  Dunkirk  and  died  January 
17,  1877.  He  was  early  taught  the  Presbyter- 
ian faith  but  joined  the  Baptist  church  after 
coming  to  America,  and  died  in  its  faith.  Po- 
litically, Mr.  Patterson  was  originally  a  demo- 
crat, but  \\hen  the  slavery  question  agitated  the 
country,  he  transferred  his  allegiance  to  the 
whigs  and  afterwards  to  the  republicans.  He 
was  active  in  politics  and  energetic  in  business, 
decided  in  his  convictions  and  one  so  well  in- 
formed, that  it  was  difficult  to  touch  a  subject 
upon  which  he  could  not  talk  intelligently. 
He  served  five  years  in  the  British  navy  before 
coming  to  America,  and  married,  on  October 
31,  1818,  Eva  Keru,  who  was  a  native  of 
County  Wicklow,  Ireland,  born  July  8,  1802. 
Her  father,  John  Kern,  was  a  sea  captain,  who 
came  to  America  some  years  after  the  Irish  re- 
bellion of  1798,  and  died  in  Oneida  county, 
New  York,  in  1839,  aged  ninety  years.  Mrs. 
Patterson  is  still  living  with  her  son  in  Dun- 
kirk, with  a  mind  unimpaired  by  age.  She  is 
a  member  of  the  Baptist  churcli. 

John  K.  Patterson  was  reared  in  the  town  of 
Sheridan  on  a  farm,  and  received  his  education 
in  the  Westfield  and  Fredonia  academies,  and 
after  leaving  school  he  tauglit  the  winter  term 
1855-56,  in  the  .spring  of  the  latter  year  going 
to  Davenport,  Iowa,  which  at  tliat  time  was  in 
the  far  west.  Soon  after  his  arrival  there  he 
secured  work  on  what  is  known  as  the  Great 
Rock  Island  route,  liis  division  being  between 
Davenport  and  Iowa  City.  He  remained  there 
two  years,  and  in  1858  returned  home,  living  ' 
on  the  farm  until  1863,  when  he  went  to  Brad-  I 
ford  and  took  charge  of  the  construction  train 
on  the  Bradford  branch  of  tlie  Erie  R.  R., 
where  he  remained  until  August,  1864.  The  fall 
of  1864  found  him  in  Marietta,  Georgia,  em- 
ployed in  business  until  March,  1866,  when, 
the  soldic^rs  having  withdrawn,  he  came  away. 
His  business  was  providing  supplies  along  tlie 
line.     Upon  his  arrival  at  Dunkirk  he  hired  a 


vessel  and  engaged  in  trade  between  the  latter 
city  and  Canada,  and  the  ne.xt  year,  forming  a 
partnership  with  O.  R.  Oakley,  he  began  the 
dry  goods  business,  the  firm  being  Oakley  & 
Patterson,  and  was  continued  until  the  fall  of 
1S68,  when  President  Andrew  Johnson  ap- 
pointed him  postma,ster,  his  being  the  last  ap- 
pointment confirmed  by  the  Senate,  then  in 
session.  Upon  assuming  his  duties  he  disposed 
of  the  di-y  goods  business,  and  devoted  his 
whole  time  to  the  execution  of  the  duties  of  his 
office,  which  he  held  until  1871.  In  October, 
1871,  he  took  a  ])assenger  train  oii  the  D.  A. 
V.  &  P.  R.  R.,  and  ran  as  conductor  until  Jan- 
uary 1,  1891,  wiien  he  was  appointed  special 
agent  to  collect  statistics  for  the  United  States 
Government,  Department  of  the  Interior.  Mr. 
Patterson  is  an  active  republican  and  a  member 
of  the  Baptist  church,  of  which  he  has  been 
treasurer  for  many  years.  He  belongs  to  Iron- 
dequoit  Lodge,  No.  102,  Free  and  Accepted 
iSIasons,  of  Dunkirk  ;  has  attained  the  rank  of 
Sir  Knight,  and  is  a  member  of  the  Conductors' 
Insurance  association. 

John  K.  Patterson  was  twice  married,  first  to 
ISIary  Seamaus,  of  Poughkeepsie,  New  York, 
whom  he  married  February  15,  1864.  She 
came  from  a  Quaker  family,  the  daughter  of 
Nelson  Seamaus.  She  died  April  10,  1885, 
leaving  four  children,  one  son  and  three  daugh- 
ters: John  K.,  Jr.,  Mary  H.,  Maud  J.  and 
Jennie  F.  On  December  15,  1886,  he  married 
Jjidn  Cronkritc,  daugliter  of  Rufus  Cronkrite, 
of  Pleasant  Valley,  Dutchess  county,  this 
State,  and  they  have  one  child,  Mildred  K. 

Mr.  Patter.son  lias  a  beautiful  liome  on  Cen- 
tral avenue,  Dunkirk,  and  is  a  pleasant,  fine- 
looking,  social  gentleman,  whose  friendship  is 
esteemed  by  a  wide  circle  of  acquaintances. 


FHICDKKICK  B.  ORKEN,  the  efficient 
casliier  of  tlie  Fredonia  National  Hank, 
one  of  the  best  managed  and  most  prosjjcrous 
banking  institutions  in  western  New  York,  is  a 


OF  CHAUTAUQUA   COUNTY. 


407 


son  of  John  T.  and  Livia  P.  (Hall)  Green,  and 
was  born  in  Shermun,  Chautauqua  county, 
New  York,  May  10,  18G1.  His  crrandfather, 
William  Green,  was  a  native  of  Lincolnshire, 
England,  and  together  witli  his  wife  and  fam- 
ily, came  to  America  in  the  year  1800,  settling 
near  Utica,  New  York,  for  a  short  time,  and 
subsequently  in  the  towns  of  Chautauqua  and 
Sherman,  Chautauqua  couuty.  New  York. 
William  Green  was  by  trade  a  carpenter,  held 
the  office  of  supervisor  of  his  town  for  several 
years,  and  died  at  the  age  of  fifty-nine  years. 
He  was  married  to  INIiss  Martha  Tomlinson. 
John  T.  Green  (father  of  subject)  was  born  in 
Lincolnshire,  England,  January  31,  1829,  and, 
with  his  father,  emigrated  to  America  in  1830, 
so  that  nearly  his  entire  life  has  been  spent 
under  the  shadow  of  republican  government.  He  j 
was  reared  upon  a  farm,  received  a  common 
school  education,  and  in  youth  and  early  man- 
hood worked  at  the  carpenter  and  joiner's  trade. 
He  then  made  a  farming  venture,  and  about 
thirty  years  ago  embarked  in  mercantile  pur- 
suits, which  he  has  prosecuted  with  vigor  and 
profit  ever  since.  When  he  first  engaged  in 
merchandising  it  was  entirely  upon  his  own  re- 
sponsibility, but  later  he  received  as  a  partner, 
Mr.  W.  F.  Green,  now  cashier  of  the  Sherman  | 
Bank.  At  present  he  conducts  his  business  in- 
dependent of  partnership  alliances.  He  was 
united  in  mai-riage  in  1851,  and  is  the  father  of 
three  children  :  William  A.,  now  in  Australia 
as  the  representative  of  a  manufacturing  syndi- 
cate ;  Frederick  R.,  of  Fredonia,  New  York ; 
and  Florence,  at  home. 

Frederick  R.  Green  was  reared  in  the  village 
of  Sherman,  and  attended  the  Union  schools, 
where  he  acquired  a  good  preliminary  educa- 
tion. After  leaving  school  he  became  a  clerk 
in  his  father's  store,  where  he  remained  until 
1879,  when,  during  that  year,  he  accepted  the 
position  of  assistant  cashier  in  the  Sherman 
Exchange  Bank,  the  duties  of    which  jJosition 


that  year  he  I'cmoved  to  Fredonia,  New  York, 
first  became  teller,  and  in  April,  1884,  cashier 
of  the  Fredonia  National  Bank,  which  he  now 
holds.  Mr.  Green  is  a  young  man  of  great 
energy,  careful  habits  and  marked  business 
ability;  and  througli  his  fidelity  and  spotle.ss 
integrity,  has  been  entrusted  with  his  present 
responsible  position.  He  po.ssesses  many  good 
social  qualities,  and  enjoys  the  esteem  and  re- 
spect of  his  wide  circle  of  acquaintances. 


he  continued  to  discharge  until   1882. 


During 


Q  DDISON  MASON  is  engaged  in  the  culti- 
■'^*-  vation  of  grapes  which  has  been  found  to 
make  the  largest  returns  proportionate  to  the 
amount  of  labor  expended  of  any  crop  grown  in 
Chautauqua  county.  Addison  ]\Iason  is  a  sou 
of  Hezekiah  and  Ro.sanna  (Rich)  Mason,  and 
was  born  in  Washington  county.  New  York, 
November  30,  1822.  Great-grandfather  Ma- 
son was  a  native  of  Nova  Scotia  where  he  was 
engaged  as  a  Baptist  minister,  but  came  when 
an  elderly  man  to  Massachusetts,  where  he  died. 
His  son,  too,  was  a  native  of  the  land  of  the 
Acadians  and  they  may  have  been  allied  to  that 
honest,  happy,  but  too  confiding  people  whom 
the  rude  hand  and  merciless  arm  of  the  English 
victors  tore  from  their  homes  in  1755.  In  any 
event  grandfather  Mason  came  first  to  JNIassa- 
chusetts  and  then  pushed  on  until  he  reached 
Washington  couuty.  New  York,  where  he  met 
and  married  Hannah  Mason,  who,  although  of 
the  same  name  was  of  no  kin  to  him.  They 
reared  a  family  of  six  sons  and  three  daughters. 
Upon  the  mother's  side,  the  ancestors  came  from 
New  England  for  some  generations.  Hezekiah 
Mason  (father)  first  looked  out  upon  the  light 
of  day  within  the  confines  of  AVashington 
county,  this  State,  on  an  April  day  of  the  year 
which  began  this  century.  Twenty-four  years 
later  he  passed  through  the  almost  interminable 
forests  of  central  and  western  New  York  and 
finally  reached  Chautauqua  county,  where  he 
made  but  a  short  stay  and  passed  on  into  Penn- 
sylvania, locating  near  North  East.     Hezekiah 


408 


BIOGRAPHY  AND  HISTORY 


Mason  was  a  carder  and  weaver  by  trade  but, 
leaving  Pennsylvania,  he  returned  to  the  south- 
ern part  of  Ripley  and  followed  farming  until  his 
death  in  1848.  He  was  a  democrat,  filled  the 
offices  of  supervisor  and  justice  of  the  peace 
and  was  a  deacon  in  the  Baptist  church.  He 
married  Rosanna  Rich  and  reared  a  family 
of  five  sons  and  two  daughters  :  Addison  ; 
Miranda,  is  the  wife  of  Glover  Wattles  ;  Diana, 
married  to  Ira  Gay,  of  Ripley  ;  George,  wedded 
Abbie  Teller  and  is  a  tinsmith  at  Geneva, 
Ohio  ;  Judson,  was  born  at  what  is  called 
Rouse  Well,  Pa.  ;  and  Edgar,  married  Ella 
Beatty  and  follows  milling  in  Pennsylvania. 

Addison  Mason  received  an  education  which 
at  the  time  was  considered  good  and  then  he 
was  apprenticed  to  and  learned  the  secrets  of 
carding  and  cloth-dressing,  which  trade  he  fol- 
lowed for  eight  years.  In  1850  he  began  ; 
farming  and  has  since  been  so  employed 
together  with  doing  more  or  less  carpenter 
work.  i 

On  October  12,  1848,  he  married  Harriet 
Rice,  a  daughter  of  Horace  Rice  who  came 
from  Massachusetts  to  North  East,  Pa.,  where 
he  follows  farming,  and  a  granddaughter  of 
John  Rice,  also  of  the  Bay  State.  Her  ma- 
ternal grandfather  was  Theodore  Gilbert,  of 
Connecticut,  who  married  a  Miss  Gale,  a 
daughter  of  a  sea-captain,  prominent  in  his  day- 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Mason  have  had  a  happy  union 
and  were  blessed  with  the  following  children  : 
Oscar  L.,  born  November  19,  IBoO,  married 
Flora  Bell  and  now  lives  in  the  town  of  Ripley 
with  a  family  of  three  children,  Eva,  Clara  and 
Addison,  Jr. ;  Clarence  H.,  born  December  29, 
1855,  married  Florence  Perry,  daughter  of  W.  , 
B.  Perry  (see  sketch).  He  lives  in  Ripley  and  \ 
is  a  farmer  and  grape  grower,  owning  about 
thirty  acres  of  vineyard.  Their  (Oiildren  arc : 
Perry,  Ella,  Horace,  Effie  and  Harriet;  and 
Harriet  E.,  born  January  I'.i,  1859,  is  the  wife 
of  Fred  N.  Randall,  a  son  of  Nelson  Randall. 
Fred    N.    Randall    is   a    merchant   an<l    grape 


grower    living    in    Ripley  and    has  two    sons: 
Frederick  M.  and  Byron  A. 

Addison  Mason  is  a  republican  and  has  been 
elected  assessor  and  supervisor  two  terras.  He 
is  also  a  member  of  the  Equitable  Aid  Union, 
has  good  judgment  and  is  one  of  the  foremost 
citizens  of  his  town. 


TOHX  P.   BAXTER.      One  of  Chautauqua 

^  county's  early  residents,  a  gallant  de- 
fender of  the  Nation,  and  whose  early  death 
may  be  attributed  to  exposure  and  suffering 
during  his  long  term  of  service  in  the  Union 
army  was  John  P.  Baxter,  who  died  August  9, 
1872.  He  was  a  son  of  Cyrus  and  Maria 
(Cooley)  Baxter,  and  was  born  about  1828,  in 
the  town  of  Hanover,  Chautauqua  county.  New 
York.  The  paternal  grandfather,  Baxter,  was 
one  of  three  brothers  who  came  from  England. 
Abner  Cooley  (maternal  grandfiither)  was  a 
native  of  New  England  but  came  to  Chautau- 
qua county  and  settled  in  Hanover  town  about 
1806,  being  among  its  earliest  settlers.  He  was 
one  of  the  most  affluent  men  in  the  town  and 
lived  there  the  remainder  of  his  life  engaged  in 
farming.  The  Whig  party  got  his  support  in 
all  matters  where  he  considered  them  right. 
He  married  and  reared  four  sons  and  two 
daughters.  Cyrus  Baxter  was  born  in  18 — , 
followed  farming  and  died  in  the  town  ot 
Hanover.  He  married  Maria  Cooley,  by  whom 
he  had  two  sons  and  one  daughter. 

John  P.  Baxter  as  a  boy  showed  marked 
al)ility.  He  attended  the  public  schools  and  ac- 
(juired  a  good  business  education.  His  mature 
life  was  passed  in  farming  with  the  exception 
below  noted.  He  lived  at  Forestville  until  ho 
married  and  then  went  down  into  Warren 
county.  Pa.,  where  he  lived  for  a  time.  In  1862 
he  returned  to  Chautauqua  county  and  leaving 
his  family  at  Ripley  enlisted  in  Company  I, 
14th  regiment,  Pennsylvania  Cavalry,  and  was 
scut  to  the  front.  Mr.  Baxter  was  in  many 
battles  and  skirnii.shes  under  General   Averill 


OF  CHAUTAUQUA   COUNTY. 


409 


and  was  wounded  while  engaged  at  Rocky 
Gap,  August  26,  1863.  ^'licn  llie  war  was 
over  lie  returned  honi(>  and  folluwed  farming 
until  his  decease. 

On  tiie  17tii  of  January,  1850,  Mr.  Baxter 
married  Marjorie  Ferry,  who  was  born  May  G, 
1831.  She  was  a  daughter  of  the  late  Captain 
Joe  Ferry,  a  sailor  of  renown  along  the  shores 
of  Lake  Erie  ahout  1830  and  subsequently  till 
his  death  in  1844.  Capt.  Ferry  was  a  mariner 
who  knew  the  whole  of  Lake  Erie  like  a  book 
but  at  the  last  date  mentioned  his  boat  was 
caught  in  a  storm  and  foundered  taking  M'ith 
her  all  on  boai-d.  Capt.  Ferry  married  Polly 
A.  Pattison,  a  daughter  of  John  Pattison,  who 
was  one  of  the  old  settlers  that  located  in  Han- 
over and  they  had  two  children,  both  daughters  : 
Helen,  the  youngest,  married  and  is  now  the 
widow  of  Hiram  Burrows.  She  lives  in  Rip- 
ley. The  other  is  Mrs.  Baxter  who  bore  her 
husband  two  sons :  Fred,  married  Nannie 
Aspinwall,  and  is  now  a  farmer  in  Ripley,  the 
father  of  five  childi-en — John,  May,  Ford,  Carl 
and  Marjorie;  and  Frank,  who  resides  at  home. 

From  this  brief  history  it  will  be  .seen  that 
some  of  the  oldest  as  well  as  the  most  loyal 
blood  of  the  State  of  New  York  flows  in  the 
veins  of  the  Baxter  family.  John  P.  Baxter 
was  a  man  above  reproach  or  suspicion.  Since 
his  death  his  widow  has  lived  upon  the  flirm 
he  left,  conducting  it  with  her  son's  assistance. 
Mr.  Baxter  lies  buried  in  Ripley  cemetery. 


T  .  YDEL,L,  L.  WILSOX.     Among    the    va- 

-*^  ried  industries  of  Chautauqua  county 
there  has  been  probably  none  that  have  given 
m(n'e  intelligent,  successful  and  useful  men  to  the 
citizenship  of  the  county  than  that  of  lumber- 
ing. There  are  many  reasons  for  this,  too 
many  indeed  to  enumerate  here;  it  is  sufficient 
to  say  that  the  risk  involved,  the  development 
of  a  trade  and  the  multitude  of  details  connec- 
ted with  the  business,  all  tend  to  develop  man's 
many-sided  business  nature.     With  those  who 


stand  first  in  the  general  manufacture  of  lumber 
in  the  county  is  the  gentleman  whose  name 
heads  this  sketch.  He  was  born  in  the  town  of 
Poland,  Chautauqua  county,  New  York,  on 
April  5,  1859.  His  father  was  James  Wilson, 
Jr.,  and  his  mother  Maria  (I.,ydell)  Wilson, 
born  respectively  in  Westmoreland  county, 
Pennsylvania,  and  Cooperstown,  Otsego  county, 
New  York.  Grandfather  Lydell  was  a  native 
of  New  York  State  and  moved  to  the  town  of 
Poland  in  1832.  Grandfather  Wilson  was  a 
native  of  Penn.sylvania,  took  part  in  the  war 
of  1812  and  removed  with  his  parents  to 
Worksburg  (now  Falconer),  New  York,  where 
he  secured  a  tract  of  land  from  the  Holland 
Land  company.  The  land  was  heavily  covered 
with  timber,  hence  the  early  part  of  his  life  was 
spent  in  lumbering  and  the  preparation  of  his 
farm  for  cultivation.  He  was  a  resident  of 
Falconer  for  over  seventy  years.  At  the  battle 
of  Chippewa,  near  Buffalo,  New  York,  he  was 
severely  wounded.  James  Wilson  was  of 
Scotch  ancestry  and  married  Elizabeth  Porter, 
an  English  woman  of  Philadelphia,  Pennsylva- 
nia, in  the  year  1809.  He  belonged  to  the  class 
of  pioneer  settlers  of  the  town  of  Ellicott  and 
was  the  founder  of  the  old  Methodist  Episco- 
pal church  in  Jamestown,  New  York.  He  was 
a  man  of  great  strength  of  character,  firm  in  his 
religious  views  and  convictions,  and  honest  in 
his  deportment  toward  his  fellow-men.  James 
1  Wilson,  Jr.,  (father  of  subject)  had  seven  chil- 
'  dren:  Laura  M.,  Lilian  W.,  Mary  L.,  Lla  M., 
Jennie  M.,  Burton  J.  and  Lydell  L.  He  is 
and  has  always  been  a  stanch  supporter  of  the 
Republican  party.  Both  he  and  his  wife  are 
still  living  in  the  town  of  Gerry  at  a  ripe  old 
age. 

Lvdell  L.  Wilson  was  reared  in  Poland 
town,  county  of  Chautauqua,  New  York,  and  at- 
tended the  schools  of  his  native  town.  After 
about  two  years  he  went  to  the  State  of  Michi- 
gan as  an  employee  in  lumbering,  but  returned 
in  about  one  vearand  resumed  the  same  business 


410 


BIOGRAPHY  AND  HISTORY 


in  his  native  State.  At  first  he  was  connected 
with  the  Hortson  mill  for  a  period  of  two 
years,  at  the  expiration  of  which  time  he  leased 
a  mill  at  ]\Ioou's  station,  New  York,  and  oper- 
ated it  until  it  was  destroyed  by  fire  in  1885. 
The  mill  was  rebuilt  in  1886,  and  his  orders, 
meanwhile,  were  transferred  to  the  Hortson 
mill.  In  188S  Mr.  Wilson  put  a  new  mill  at 
Moon's  station,  removed  to  Gerry  in  1890,  and 
rebuilt  a  mill  upon  lands  obtained  from  Levi 
Pratt,  known  as  the  "  AVilson  ]Mills."  These 
mills  have  no  superior  in  the  count)',  either  in 
equipment  or  capacity.  They  have  a  capacity 
of  fifteen  million  feet  per  annum,  the  greater 
part  of  which  is  shipped  to  Buifalo,  Jamestown 
and  other  large  centres.  Lydell  L.  Wilson  is 
a  man  of  untiring  efforts,  careful  business 
habits  and  large  business  resources.  He  began 
life  a  poor  boy,  at  the  very  bottom,  and  by  his 
business  acumen  has  accumulated  from  nothing 
his  present  great  business. 

On  November  10,  1880,  he  was  married  to  j 
Anna  Booth,  daughter  of  James  Booth  of 
Buffalo,  New  York.  Their  union  has  resulted 
in  the  birth  of  four  children  :  Alice  M.,  Mertie 
D.,  Willis  L.  and  Nellie  S.,  all  of  whom  arc 
still  young. 


acquired  his  education  at  its  schools.  In  1868 
he  came  to  America  direct  to  the  town  of  BiLsti, 
where  he  has  since  lived  and  followed  forming. 
He  owns  a  good  farm  of  forty  acres  well  im- 
proved, upon  which  he  resides  and  makes  a 
comfortable  income. 

One  year  after  his  arrival  here  (in  186'J)  he 
married  Sophia  Lawson,  also  a  native  of 
Sweden,  and  they  are  the  parents  of  eight  chil- 
dren :  Henry  A.,  Ilattie,  Elmer,  Edward, 
Hilda,  Alof,  Esther  and  Arthur. 

John  Douelson  is  a  republican  and  was 
elected  to  the  responsible  office  of  master  of  the 
poor  in  the  spring  of  1891  and  is  performing 
its  duties  creditably.  He  is  a  member  of  the 
Busti  Swedish  church,  towards  the  erection  of 
which  he  was  a  liberal  contributor  and  served 
as  a  trustee  for  six  years.  He  is  one  of  the 
pillars  of  its  support  and  is  a  liberal  and  gen- 
erous man.  He  merits  and  has  the  respect  of 
all  his  neighbors  and  is  a  good  citizen. 


JOHN  DOXELSOX,  a  prominent  farmer  of 
^  Busti,  who  came  from  Sweden  while  a 
young  man,  is  a  son  of  Gu.st  and  Annie  (Samel- 
son)  Donelson,  and  was  born  in  Sweden  on  the 
15th  of  February,  1841,  and  is  now  in  his 
fiftieth  year.  Gust  Donelson  M'as  a  farmer  in 
the  old  country  and  possessed  a  fine  voice, 
which  he  displayed  in  his  village  church  clmir 
for  fifty  years.  He  never  came  to  America, 
being  satisfied  and  contented  with  the  home  of 
his  forefathers,  and  died  in  December,  1890,  , 
aged  eighty-.seven  years.  His  wife  Annie 
Sanielsou,  died  when  fifty-two  years  old,  trust- 
ing with  a  Christian's  faith  in  the  church  of  her 
country. 

John   Donelson   was  rcarcil   in  Sweden  and 


/VEORGE  W.  MARSH.— Among  a  band  of 
^^  twenty  families  who  left  Hingham,  Nor- 
folk county,  England,  in  1633,  under  the  leader- 
ship of  Rev.  Peter  Hobort,  and  who  landed  at 
Chai'lestown,  N.  H.,  June  8,  1635,  were  George 
Marsh,  his  wife  Elizabeth  and  their  four  children. 
From  these,  the  original  founders  of  the  family 
in  America,  sprang  George  W.  Marsh,  who  is  a 
son  of  Charles  A.  and  Annis  D.  (Whipple) 
Marsh,  and  was  born  in  the  town  of  Portland, 
Chautauqua  county,  New  York,  March  29, 
1840.  Oinittintr  the  lonir  line  of  linea<rc  from 
1635  we  will  skip  one  hundred  and  forty-one 
years  and  say  that  the  grandfather  of  our  sub- 
ject, Isaac  Marsh,  was  born  in  New  Hampshire, 
August  3,  1776.  He  had  a  son,  Charles  A. 
Marsh  (father),  wlu)  was  born  at  Nashua,  N.  H., 
April  15,  1815.  The  latter  came  to  Chautau- 
qua county  in  1831  and  located  in  the  town  of 
Portland,  where  he  farmed  without  intermission 
until  his  death,  in  IHS'2.  Politically  ?^^r.  Marsh 
was  a  republican,     (lie  niarrifd  AunisI).  Whip- 


OF  CHAUTAUQUA   COUNTY. 


411 


pie,  a  daughter  of  David  Whipple,  of  Richfield, 
N.  Y).  Her  parents  both  died  when  she  was 
three  years  of  age  and  she  was  adopted  and 
reared  by  Samuel  Brown  of  the  same  ])hice,  who 
came  to  Chautauqua  county  and  settled  in  the 
town  of  Portland  in  1835.  She  died  in  186S, 
aged  fifty-three  years.  They  were  the  parents 
of  three  children,  two  sons  and  one  daughter. 

George  W.  Marsh  was  taught  practical  life 
upon  his  father's  farm  and  learned  theoretical 
knowledge  in  the  district  schools.  He  later  took 
a  course  at  the  Fredonia  academy,  and  since 
1865  has  been  engaged  in  raising  grapes.  Half 
of  his  well-kept  farm  of  fifty  acres  is  a  vine- 
yard from  which  large  quantities  of  grapes  are 
annually  gathered.  The  home  is  a  fine,  large 
two-story  frame  building  which  is  much  better 
and  more  ornamental  than  the  average  house. 

In  1866  he  married  Lillie  La  Due,  daughter 
of  Joshua  La  Due,  a  prominent  resident  of  the 
town  of  Portland.  They  have  three  children, 
one  son  and  two  daughters:  Charles  J.,  Lena, 
wife  of  Clarence  Arnold,  an  enterprising  and 
pushing  young  man  of  Portland ;  and  Addie  L. 

George  W.  Marsh  is  a  republican  and  has 
held  the  office  of  town-clerk  and  assessor — the 
latter  for  nine  years,  and  has  been  secretary  of 
the  Grape-Growers'  association  ever  since  it 
was  organized.  Of  a  stirring  and  philanthropic 
disposition  Mr.  Marsh  is  one  of  Portland's  most 
prominent  men. 


TT  LFKED  PALMER,  is  a  son  of  Solomon 

■^^-  and  Hannah  (^^'illiams)  Palmer,  and  was 
born  October  17,  1809,  in  the  town  of  Daven- 
port, Delaware  county,  New  York.  His  grand- 
father was  Solomon  Palmer,  Sr.,  a  native  of 
Litchfield,  Conn.,  where  he  conducted  a  wagon- 
shop,  married  and  reared  six  children,  and  died. 
Thomas  Williams  was  the  maternal  grandfather, 
also  a  native  of  Connecticut.  He  was  one  of 
those  "  Yankees "  who  went  to  the  Wyoming 
Valley  and  settled  on  its  fertile  lands,  prior  to 
the  Revolutionary  war.    Being  a  mill-wright  In- 


trade,  he  built  a  mill,  the  site  of  which  is  now 
occupied  by  another.  It  too  is  over  eighty  years 
old  and  is  fast  going  into  decay.  He  married 
and  had  four  children,  one  of  whom,  Thomas, 
was  a  lieutenant  in  the  little  band  that  went 
forth  to  meet  Butler  and  his  Indians,  above 
Forty  Fort,  and  were  slain  on  July  3,  1778, 
less  than  a  score  escaping.  Thomas  Williams, 
Sr.,  although  not  in  the  battle,  was  slain  in  the 
horrible  massacre  that  followed  the  fight  and 
which  has  come  down  in  history  to  be  known 
as  the  Wyoming  Massacre.  Mrs.  AVilliams 
and  her  three  small  children  became  nuich 
alarmed  some  days  before  the  fight  and  started 
over  the  mountains  from  Wilkes  Barre  to  go  to 
her  former  home  in  Connecticut,  a  distance  of 
three  hundred  miles.  She  escaped  the  vigilant 
eyes  of  the  Indian  scouts  and  after  terrible 
hardships,  lasting  several  weeks,  she  reached 
her  destination  in  safety. 

Solomon  Palmer  (father)  was  born  in  Litch- 
field about  1775,  and  died  in  Delaware  county, 
New  York,  in  1817,  having  married  Hannah 
Williams,  one  of  the  children  who  made  the 
perilous  trip  mentioned  above,  in  1796.  He 
kept  a  hotel  in  Delaware  county,  and  during 
the  war  of  1812  he  was  in  the  recruiting  ser- 
vice of  the  American  government.  He  was  a 
fedei-alist  and  a  member  of  the  Methodist  church. 
The  fruit  of  his  union  was  five  sons  and  three 
daughters. 

Alfred  Palmer  was  left  an  orphan  when  but 
nine  years  of  age,  and  as  he  was  obliged  to  pro- 
vide his  own  sustenance,  opportunities  for  an 
education  were  not  plentiful,  but  he  managed  to 
secure  a  practical  business  knowledge  with  no 
other  tutor  or  instructor  than  experience.  He 
came  to  the  town  of  Ripley  when  sixteen  years 
of  age,  and  worked  as  a  day  and  monthly  la- 
borer for  three  years  and  then  engaged  in  carry- 
ing the  mail  between  Westfield  and  North  East, 
Pa.  Following  this  he  went  to  Oswego  county, 
this  State,  and  engaged  in  lumbering.  Return- 
ing to  Ripley  he  bought  a  tract  of  laud  and 


412 


BIOGRAPHY  AND  HISTORY 


cleared  up  three  farms.  He  then  went  into  the 
fanning-raill  business  as  an  agent  which  he  con- 
tinued six  years.  Succeeding  this  he  was  a  con- 
stable and  deputy  sheriff  under  Sheriff  Muzzey. 
He  then  began  his  most  extensive  business 
operations  in  lumbering,  owning  several  saw- 
mills up  to  1857,  when  he  entered  mercantile 
life  at  Ripley.  Mr.  Palmer  erected  a  fine  large 
store  building,  which  he  occupied  until  1885, 
when,  having  reached  seventy-six  years  of  age, 
lie  retired  from  active  business  and  has  since 
lived  in  retirement. 

On  .July  26,  1829,  he  married  for  Ids  first 
wife  Sophia  Osborne,  a  daughter  of  Philip  Os- 
borne, of  Oswego  county,  and  had  eiglit  chil- 
dren: Permelia,  born  in  Granby,  X.  Y.,  October 
6,  1830,  died  young;  Cornelia,  born  May  9, 
1832,  married  Benjamin  Christy,  who  was  a 
farmer  in  the  town  of  Ripley;  Sylvester,  born 
April  20,  1834,  died  when  three  years  old  ;  Lo- 
renzo, born  February  9,  1836,  died  young; 
Alfred  D.,  born  June  27,  1837,  is  a  boot  and 
shoe  dealer  at  Sharpsville,  Pa.;  Frank  Jj.,  born 
April  9,  1840,  died  an  infant;  Sophia,  born 
September  3,  1842,  married  John  W.  Morris,  a 
merchant  in  Ripley;  Chloe,  born  July  26,  1844, 
died  September  9,  1889,  was  the  wife  of  A.  B. 
Lacey,  of  New  Wilmington,  Pa.,  and  Asa,  born  i 
February  11,1 847,  died  in  1863.  Mrs.  Palmer 
died  March  25,  1848,  and  Mr.  Palmer  married 
for  his  second  wife  Mrs.  Catherine  Rogers  (nee 
Christy),  who  was  born  in  July,  1813,  and  who 
died  on  Miiy  25,  1870.  He  married  for  his 
third  wife,  in  1871,  Adaline  Siggin.s,  a  daugh- 
ter of  John  Siggins  of  Ripley,  N.  Y.,  who  was 
born  July  10, 1830,  and  died  on  July  19,  1884. 
He  then  married  Mrs.  Betsey  M.  (Smallwood) 
Skiff,  a  daughter  of  William  Smallwood,  one  of 
the  first  settlers  of  Wyoming  county,  with  whom 
he  is  now  living. 

Politically  Mr.  I'almer  is  a  republican  and 
was  the  first  avowed  abolitionist  in  the  town  of 
Ripley.  Mr.  Palmer  is  a  strictly  temperate 
man   and   with    his   wife   is   a   member  of  the 


Methodist  church,  having  for  over  fifty  years 
been  the  .steward  and  at  times  trustee,  and  lay 
delegate  to  the  annual  conference. 


TTiUjUAJSl  T.  CLARK.  The  late  Wil- 
^^^  Ham  T.  Clark,  one  of  the  reliable  cit- 
izens and  prosperous  farmers  of  the  town  of 
Ellicott,  was  a  son  of  William  and  Anna  (Mar- 
tin) Clark,  and  was. born  in  Chautauqua  coun- 
ty. New  York,  November  24,  1825.  His  pa- 
ternal grandfather,  William  Clark,  Sr.,  married 
Jeannette  Thompson,  who  was  a  native  of 
Scotland,  and  came  from  that  country  to  New 
York  with  Mrs.  Agnes  (Thomp.son)  Prender- 
gast.  One  of  their  sons  was  William  Clark, 
the  fiither  of  the  late  William  T.  Clark,  and 
who  was  a  life-long  resident  of  New  York. 

William  T.  Clark  was  reared  on  the  old 
homestead  farm  in  the  town  of  Ellicott,  where 
he  was  engaged  in  farming  and  stock-raising 
until  his  death,  March  25,  1878,  at  fifty-three 
years  of  age.  He  was  a  substantial  citizen,  an 
industrious  farmer  and  a  strong  republican  in 
politics.  He  was  a  Sir  Knight  of  a  Masonic 
Commandery,  had  been  for  several  years  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Independent  Order  of  Odd  Fellows, 
and  his  remains  lie  interred  in  Levant  ceme- 
tery. 

He  married  Nancy  S.  Chandler,  of  this  coun- 
ty. They  were  the  parents  of  two  children  : 
James  P.,  a  member  of  the  grocery  firm  of 
Clark  tt  Jones,  of  Jamestown,  and  a  prominent 
(Grange  advocate,  who  married  Ani.se  Washburn, 
and  owns  two  hundred  acres  of  good  land;  and 
Annie,  who  married  H.  L.  Fairbank,  and  died 
leaving  three  children  :  Harvey  C,  Henrietta 
and  Emily  N. 

Mrs.  Nancy  S.  Clark,  who  resides  in  James- 
town, is  a  daughter  of  Wocdley  W.  Chandler, 
who  was  born  in  Virginia,  Fel)ruary  14,  1800, 
and  came  to  Jamestown  alxiut  1820.  He  was 
engaged  for  a  short  time  in  the  lumber  business 
and  tlien  built  a  carding  and  cloth-dressing  es- 
tablishment  on   the  site  of  the  present  woolen 


OF  CHAUTAUQUA   COUNTY. 


413 


factory  of  Preston  &  Bradsliaw.  After  some 
years  he  retired  from  the  woolen  business,  and 
removed  to  Levant,  where  lie  died  on  his  farm, 
April  22,  1854.  Mr.  Cliandler  was  a  promi- 
nent citizen  as  well  as  an  early  settler  of  the 
county.  He  married  Phiebe  Winsor,  daughter 
of  Abraham  Winsor,  an  old  and  higiily  respect- 
ed resident  of  Ellicott.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Chand- 
ler were  the  parents  of  six  children :  Phebe 
Pardee,  wife  of  James  Pardee ;  Gen.  Martin 
S.,  au  active  republican  of  Redwing,  Minne- 
sota, who  served  twenty-two  years  as  sheriff  of 
the  county  of  Goodhue,  and  afterwards  was  sur- 
veyor-general of  Minnesota ;  John  W.,  who 
also  resides  at  Redwing,  and  was  formerly  en- 
gaged in  the  folding  department  of  the  House 
of  Representatives;  Nancy  N.,  the  widow  of 
the  subject  of  this  sketch  ;  Winsor  A.,  a  jewel- 
er, who  died  in  Erie,  Pa. ;  and  Williamson  B., 
a  Union  soldier  of  the  late  war,  who  was  taken 
prisoner,  exchanged  and  discharged  for  physical 
disability  in  1863,  after  which  he  bought  a 
ticket  for  California,  but  has  never  been  heard 
of  since  by  his  people. 


JOHN  LANGFORD,  a  real  estate  dealer, 
^  and  one  of  the  older  business  men  of 
Jamestown,  was  born  in  Wales,  May  20,  1822, 
and  is  a  son  of  John,  Sr.,  and  Rebecca  (Rob- 
erts) Laugford.  His  paternal  grandfather,  Ed- 
ward Langford,  was  a  life-long  resident  of 
Wales.  He  married  and  one  of  his  children 
was  John  Langford,  Sr.,  tlie  father  of  the  sub- 
ject of  this  sketch.  Joiin  Langford,  Sr.,  like  his 
father  before  him,  made  the  land  of  his  nativ- 
ity the  land  of  his  life-long  residence.  He  died 
in  184(j,  aged  fifty-nine  years.  He  was  an  in- 
dustrious man  and  married  Rebecca  Roberts. 
They  were  the  parents  of  nine  children,  four 
sons  and  five  daughters  :  Edward  ;  Ann,  dead  ; 
Merab,  deceased ;  John,  Elizabeth,  now  a  resi- 
dent of  St.  Louis,  Missouri  ;  Mary,  who  died 
at  an  early  age;  Sarah,  who  lives  in  Jamestown; 
Thomas,  a  painter  by  trade,  and  now  a  resident 


of  Baltimore,  Maryland  ;  and  Rebecca,  now  de- 
ceased. 

John  Langford  was  reared  in  his  native  coun- 
try, and  was  carefully  trained  to  good  l)usiness 
methods.  He  received  his  education  in  the 
rural  schools  of  Wales,  and  was  variously  en- 
gaged until  he  was  twenty-eight  years  of  age, 
when,  in  1850,  he  embarked  on  board  a  ves.sel 
bound  for  America.  After  landing  at  New 
York  he  pushed  westward  in  the  Empire  State 
until  he  arrived  in  this  county,  where  he  has 
resided  ever  since  in  tlie  city  of  Jamestown. 
He  was  formerly  in  the  meat  business,  but  of 
late  years  has  been  engaged  in  farming  and 
dealing  in  real  estate.  He  has  been  succe.ssful 
in  business  life,  and  now  owns  two  good  farms, 
one  of  which  is  situated  in  the  town  of  Elli- 
cott, and  the  other  lies  in  the  adjoining  town  of 
Ellery.  Since  coming  to  the  United  States, 
Mr.  Laugford  has  supported  the  principles  of 
the  Democratic  party,  although  he  has  never 
allowed  political  matters  to  engage  any  of  the 
time  that  rightfully  belongs  to  his  business  af- 
fairs. 

On  June  28,  1854,  he  married  Laura  Heath, 
daughter  of  James  Heath,  and  a  native  of 
Chautauqua  county,  N.  Y.  They  have  five 
children,  one  .son  and  four  daughters  :  Anna, 
wife  of  George  Maltby,  now  superintendent  ot 
the  Jamestown  street  rail-way  ;  Mary ;  Re- 
becca ;  Edward,  a  jeweler  of  Jamestown,  who 
married  Mattie  Lakin;  and  Blanche. 


HONORABLE  THEODORE  A.  CASE,  a 
banker  and  sterling  citizen  of  the  town  of 
Ellington,  is  a  .son  of  Salmon  T.  and  Sophia 
(Ayers)  Ca.se,  and  was  born  June  17,  1841. 
His  father  was  originally  a  citizen,  as  well  as  a 
native  of  INIassachusetts,  but  at  a  very  early  day 
moved  west  to  the  county  of  Chautauqua,  New 
York,  where  he  purcha.sed  land  and  took  up  his 
residence  in  the  town  of  Ellington.  His  father's 
experiences  there  were  those  of  the  pioneer  set- 
tler; he  cleared,  improved  and  tilled  until  his 


414 


BIOGRAPHY  AND  HISTORY 


farm  was  brought  into  a  fair  state  of  cultivatioa 
and  productiveuess,  so  that  those  who  might 
succeed  him  would  be  spared  the  privations  and 
inconveniences  incident  to  pioneer  life.  Hi;? 
earthly  career  ended  in  1864,  when,  at  the  age 
of  fifty-four,  he  serenely  passed  away.  Salmon 
T.  Case  wasna  Calvinist  of  the  strictest  type  and 
a  life-long  member  of  the  Presbyterian  church. 
In  politics  he  was  first  a  whig  and  then  a  re- 
publican, under  both  of  which  parties  he  held 
local  offices.  He  was  a  man  of  fine  intellectual 
attainments,  and  when  young  engaged  in  the 
vocation  of  school  teaching.  He  was  an  invet- 
erate reader,  and  always  endeavored  to  keep 
fully  abreast  of  all  the  issues  then  agitating  the 
political,  literary  and  social  world.  Grandfather, 
Eliphalet  Case,  also  born  in  the  "  Bay  State," 
and  removed  to  Chautauqua  county,  shortly 
after  the  arrival  of  his  son.  His  occupation 
was  that  of  farmer,  which  claimed  his  life-Ions: 
attention.  In  the  year  1847  he  died  at  the  age 
of  eighty-two.  The  Cases  are  of  English  de- 
scent, and  came  to  America  during  the  coloniza- 
tion of  the  New  England  States.  Our  subject's 
mother  was  born  in  Massachusetts,  and  died  in 
September,  1890,  at  the  age  of  seventy-seven 
years. 

Theodore  A.  Case  passed  his  childhood  and 
youth  upon  his  father's  farm,  alternating  his 
time  in  school  and  farm  duties.  His  education 
in  the  district  schools  was  supplemented  by  a 
course  of  study  at  the  Ellington  academy,  upon 
the  completion  of  which  he  entered  the  law- 
office  of  Hon.  Obed  Edsou,  of  Sinclairville,  with 
a  view  to  fitting  himself  for  the  profession  of 
the  law.  In  1862  he  left  the  law  office  and  en- 
listed in  Company  G,  9tli  New  York  Cavalry, 
as  a  private,  and  served  till  the  close  of  the 
civil  war.  He  was  wounded  by  a  minie-ball  at 
the  battle  of  Old  Church,  Virginia,  on  the  day 
I>receding  tlie  battle  of  Cold  Harbor,  May  ;30, 
1864,  but  soon  resumed  his  place  in  the  regi- 
ment and  took  pai't  in  all  sul)so(jMent  engage- 
ments.    After  returning  from  tlie    war,  he  fin- 


ished the  study  of  law  with  Hon.  Charles  B. 
Green,  of  Chautauqua  county,  and  was  admitted 
to  practice  before  the  various  courts  of  New 
York  State  in  June,  1871.  Mr.  Case  first 
opened  an  office  in  Ellington,  where  he  continued 
to  practice  until  1886,  when  he  engaged  in 
private  banking  business  in  liis  native  village. 
He  has  practically  given  up  tiie  law,  and  now 
devotes  his  time  to  banking  interests.  Politi- 
cally Mr.  Case  is  a  republican,  and  for  some 
eight  or  nine  years  was  a  member  of  the  board 
of  supervisors  of  Chautauqua  county.  In  1876 
he  was  elected  to  succeed  Hon.  Obed  Edson  as 
a  member  of  the  New  York  Legislature,  and 
served  in  that  capacity  with  honor  and  distinc- 
tion for  two  years,  1876-77. 

He  was  united  in  marriage  in  1865  to  Miss 
Lucy,  daughter  of  Allen  Bagg,  of  Ellington. 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Case  have  one  daughter,  Cora  E., 
married  to  Clyde  C.  Hill,  of  Clymer,  Chautau- 
qua county. 

Theodore  A.  Case  is  an  attendant  of  and 
contributor  to  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church, 
and  member  of  the  A.  O.  U.  W.,  of  which  he 
has  been  twice  elected  Grand  ]\Iaster  for  the 
State  of  New  York,  and  for  four  consecutive 
terms  Supreme  Overseer  of  the  Supreme  Lodge, 
composed  of  the  United  States  and  Canada.  He 
is  a  man  of  fine  address,  great  versatility  and 
withal  a  marked  geniality,  and  as  a  citizen,  as 
an  advocate,  as  a  man,  enjoys  the  entire  confi- 
dence and  respect  of  his  fellow-citizens. 


FLINT  BLANCHARD.  Among  the  most 
prominent  farmers  and  business  men  of 
the  town  of  Ellicott  must  be  placed  Flint  Blan- 
chard,  whose  name  heads  this  sketch.  He  was 
ushered  into  this  life  in  the  town  of  Wales,  Erie 
county,  New  York,  October  17,  1825,  and  is 
the  son  of  Amos  and  Eunice  (Flint)  Blanchard. 
The  grandfather  of  Flint  Blanchard,  whose 
name  was  Caleb  Blanchard,  claims,  as  the  place 
of  his  nativity,  the  village  of  Antrim,  New 
Hampshire  ;    and   jiere,  also,  amid   the  granite 


OF  CHAUTAUQUA   COUNTY. 


415 


hills,  beautifully  set  with  nestling  lakes  and 
ragged  peaks,  he  finished  the  toils  of  life  and 
passed  out  into  the  mystic  realms  beyond.  His 
life  was  one  of  uprightness,  honesty  and  sim- 
plicity, which  attributes  were  not  only  Inherent 
in  his  nature  but  also  extended  out  into  all  his 
business  transactions  and  relations.  In  occupa- 
tion he  was  engaged  in  the  o[)eration  of  a  farm, 
merchandisino-  and  the  allied  branches  of  busi-  i 
ness.  The  father  of  our  subject,  Amos  Blan- 
chard,  was  born  in  the  town  of  Antrim  in  the 
year  1799,  and  died  June  KJ,  1891.  He  came  | 
to  Erie  county,  New  York,  about  1824,  and  re- 
moved from  there  to  tlie  town  of  Ellicott, 
Chautauqua  county,  in  1834,  where  he  resided 
until  the  time  of  his  deatii.  He  purchased  a 
large  farm  and  has  devoted  his  life  to  its  im- 
provement and  operation.  Mr.  Blanchard  was 
a  democrat  in  politics,  and  in  religion  a  devoted 
member  of  the  First  Presbyterian  church  of 
Jamestown,  in  which  he  hold  the  office  of  dea- 
con. His  marriage  resulted  in  tiie  birth  of 
eight  children,  seven  boys  and  one  girl. 

Flint  Blanchard  received  his  education  in  the 
common  schools  of  his  native  town  and  the 
academy  at  Jamestown.  In  early  life  he  de- 
voted several  years  to  school  teaching  and  at  a 
later  period  took  up  the  occupation  of  ferming 
and  dairying,  in  which  business  he  is  now  en- 
gaged. He  owns  a  farm  of  three  hundred 
and  seventy-five  acres  in  the  town  of  Ellicott, 
in  a  high  state  of  cultivation  and  productive- 
ness. He  has  always  cast  his  fortunes,  politic- 
ally, with  the  Democratic  party,  and  has  de- 
voted much  time  and  energy  in  party  work. 
He  lias  been  a  candidate  for  State  Assembly 
aud  also  for  the  Senate,  and,  although  he  suf- 
fered defeat,  succeeded  in  reducing  the  republi- 
can majority  from  eigiit  thousand  to  two  thou- 
sand six  hundred  in  the  counties  of  Chautauqua 
aud  Cattaraugus.  When  but  twenty-one  years 
of  age  he  was  elected  justice  of  the  peace.  Mr. 
Blanchard  is  a  member  of  the  First  I'resbyterian 
church  at  Jamestown  in  high  standing,  aud  for 


many  years  served  as  an  elder.  He  is  also  a 
member  of  the  Patrons  of  Husbandry.  In  his 
moral,  social  and  business  life  Mr.  Blanchard 
enjoys  the  esteem  and  confidence  of  his  friends 
and  fellow-citizens.  Uniformly  kind  and  cour- 
teous in  his  dej)ortuient  toward  those  with 
whom  he  comes  in  contact,  he  is  eminently  de- 
serving of  the  epithets  genial  and  social. 

Flint  Blanchard  was  united  in  marriage  to 
Sarah  Jane  Allen,  a  daughter  of  Sumner  Allen, 
of  Jamestown,  New  York.  To  them  were  born 
seven  children,  five  boys  and  two  girls:  Henry 
L.  is  at  present  a  resident  of  the  State  of  Wash- 
ington, a  lawyer  by  profession  (having  gradu- 
ated from  the  College  of  Law  at  Seattle)  but 
more  largely  engaged  in  lumbering  and  manu- 
facturiug  than  in  the  active  practice  of  his  pro- 
fession ;  Charles,  a  farmer,  lives  in  Ellicott  ; 
Jennie  D.,  died  when  quite  young;  Dr.  Robert 
Newland,  a  practicing  physiciau  of  Jamestown, 
New  York  (see  his  sketch);  ]\Iary  E.,  married 
Fred  A.  Bentley,  vice-president  of  Chautau- 
qua County  National  Bank,  and  lives  at  Lake 
Wood  ;  Amos  F.,  a  graduate  of  Buffalo  Medical 
College,  and  now  a  practicing  physician  in 
Frewsburg,  New  Y'ork  ;  and  Clarence,  dead. 


■tolCKXELL  1>.  FENTON,  an  industrious 
^"^  farmer  and  respected  citizen  of  the  town 
of  Ellicott,  was  a  son  of  Captain  Berry  B.  and 
Fanny  (Demming)  Fenton,  and  was  born  in 
the  town  of  Ellery,  Chautauqua  county,  New 
York,  September  12,  1816.  The  Fentons  are 
of  Enoflish  extractiou,  and  are  descended  from 
four  Fenton  brothers  who  were  Puritans  aud 
came  from  England  to  New  England,  where 
they  settled  in  a  very  early  day.  Berry  B. 
Fenton  (paternal  grandfather),  a  descendant  of 
one  of  these  brothers,  was  a  life-long  resident 
of  Saratoga  county,  this  State.  He  was  a 
democrat,  married,  and  had  two  sons,  Captain 
Berry  B.  and  Thomas,  and  four  daughters. 
Captain  Berry  B.  Fenton,  in  all  probability, 
was  born  in  the  town  of  Greenfield,  Saratoga 


416 


BIOGRAPHY  AND  HISTORY 


county,  and  in  February,  1816,  came  to  the 
town  of  EUery,  where  he  purchased  fitly  acres 
of  land  of  the  Holland  Land  company,  near 
Chautauqua  Lake.  He  was  a  farmer  by  occu- 
pation, a  democrat  in  politics,  and  commanded 
a  company  in  the  State  militia  for  several 
years.  He  married  Fanny  Demming,  and 
reared  a  family  of  four  sons  and  three  daugh- 
ters: Bieknell,  Almira,  Lodica,  Hibbard,  Dan- 
iel, Barry  and  Fannie. 

Bieknell  D.  Fenton  obtained  a  practical 
English  education  for  himself  in  the  primitive 
backwoods  schools  of  his  day,  and  was  engaged 
in  farming  until  1852,  excepting  three  years 
spent  in  the  mercantile  business  at  De  Witt- 
ville.  He  then  went  back  to  Ellery,  and 
owned  a  farm  of  two  hundred  and  fifty  acres, 
kept  a  dairy  of  from  thirty  to  forty  cows,  living 
there  till  1867;  then  came  to  Jamestown,  and 
remained  here  until  1870,  when  he  purchased 
the  fiirm  of  seventy-six  acres  in  the  town  of 
Ellicott,  upon  which  his  widow  now  resides. 
Mr.  Fenton  was  a  republican  in  politics,  and 
had  been  a  member  of  the  Patrons  of  Hus- 
bandry for  some  years.  He  was  frugal,  indus- 
trious and  careful.  He  was  prosperous  as  a 
farmer,  and  successful  as  a  business  man.  He 
died  on  July  11,  1889. 

He  married  Cordelia  A.  Ide,  daughter  of 
Thomas  and  Laura  (Chamberlain)  Ide.  To 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Fenton  were  born  five  children: 
George  T.,  formerly  a  hardware  dealer,  but 
now  treasurer  of  a  loan  association  in  James- 
town, who  married  Lelia  Yates,  and  has  I  wo 
children, — Louis  G.  and  Lucy;  Laura,  liorn  in 
1847,  and  died  in  1854;  Fannie,  who  married 
O.  H.  Carpenter,  a  farmer  and  dairyman  of 
Ellery,  and  has  four  children, — Belle  A.,  Edith 
C,  Janie  and  Lelia ;  Eugene  S.  and  Edward 
L.,  who  both  di(!d  in  childhood,  and  Hibbard, 
who  died  in  1876,  aged  nineteen  years. 

Mrs.  Cordelia  A.  Fcnton's  father,  Thomas 
Ide,  was  a  native  of  the  town  of  Milton  in 
Saratoga  county,  and  catnc'  in  1.S20  to  tin:  town 


of  Aurora,  Erie  county ;  in  1 834  came  to 
Ellery,  where  he  died  in  1851.  He  was  a 
prosperous  farmer  and  good  citizen.  He  was 
married  three  times.  His  first  wife  was  Debo- 
rah Eldridge,  who  bore  him  four  children,  and 
after  her  death  he  married  Sarah  Howe,  by 
whom  he  had  one  daughter.  For  his  third 
wife,  he  married  Mrs.  Ijaura  (Chamberlain) 
Scofield,  widow  of  Seth  Scofield.  By  his  third 
marriage  he  had  five  children  :  Chauncey,  Cor- 
delia A.  (Mrs.  Fenton),  George,  Henry  and 
Seth,  who  died  in  infancy.  Mrs.  Fenton  re- 
sides on  the  farm  owned  by  her  husband  at  his 
death,  where  she  lives  in  comfort,  and  intelli- 
gently and  successfully  manages  all  of  her 
farming  operations  and  business  affairs. 


T*^ILLI.\3I    F.    L,.  F.   REED,   one  of   the 

•^"^  leading  manufacturers  and  citizens  of 
Chautauqua  county,  is  descended  from  a  long 
line  of  Reeds  prominently  identified  with  the 
early  military  and  political  struggles  of  Colonial 
and  National  America.  He  is  the  son  of  ^yiley 
Hamilton  and  Margaret  Lockhart  (Wilkey) 
Reed,  and  was  horn  in  the  capital  city  of  Ottawa, 
Canada,  June  16,  1844.  His  paternal  grand- 
parent, John  Savage  Reed,  was  a  native  of 
Massachusetts,  and  in  the  early  part  of  his 
career  emigrated  to  the  town  of  Mexico,  Oswego 
county.  New  York,  where  he  lived  the  remain- 
der of  his  life  and  died.  He  was  a  man  of  good 
education,  a  lawyer  by  profession  and  a  success- 
ful practitioner.  His  sympathies  were  with  the 
M'liig  [)arty — the  jjrevailing  party  of  that  time 
— to  which  he  gave  earnest  and  liberal  support. 
Under  the  whig  administration  he  was  created 
a  magistrate,  which  office  he  filled  with  mai'ked 
efficiency.  He  served  in  the  War  of  1812, 
while  many  years  before  his  fiithcr  had  served 
as  a  general  in  the  Revolutionary  war.  His 
gi'andfathcr  had  been  a  soldier  in  the  English 
armv  with  the  lank  of  colonel,  in  the  old  French 
and  Indian  war,  took  part  in  the  engagements 
at  (iiielxM!  and  Louisbm-g,  and,  in  fiict,  the  entire 


OF  CHAUTAUQUA   COUNTY. 


417 


Canadian  campaign.  His  father,  General  Reed  I 
of  Revolutionary  fame,  was  once  the  recipient 
of  certain  overturesi  from  the  Britisli  commander 
to  desert  tiie  colonial  cause  and  deliver  up  certain 
strongholds  which  ho  iicld — l)eing  offered  ten  | 
tiionsand  pounds  as  an  inducement.  But  with 
haughty  indignation  at  the  very  thought  of  dis- 
loyalty, he  proudly  made  the  reply,  long  since 
passed  down  in  history,  "  I  am  poor,  very  poor, 
my  all  has  been  given  to  the  cause  of  colonial 
freedom,  hut  I  tliank  God  that  King  George  is 
not  rich  enough  to  hire  me  to  desert  the  cause 
of  the  colonies."  Tiie  reply  was  indicative  of 
the  man.  Loyal  to  tiie  very  core  in  moments 
of  darkest  National  gloom,  loving  country  and 
a  free,  untrammeled  system  of  democratic  insti- 
tutions more  than  home  or  life  or  fame,  he  has 
justly  merited  the  universal  respect  of  those  who 
now  enjoy  the  blessings  and  security  of  self- 
government.  The  father  of  our  subject  is  a 
native  of  the  State  of  New  York,  born  in  the 
town  of  Russia,  Herkimer  county,  in  the  year 
1807.  He  afterward  removed  to  Ottawa, 
Canada,  and  died  in  Packenham  in  1859.  He 
learned  the  trade  of  tanner,  and  afterward 
engaged  quite  extensively  in  tlie  manufacture  of 
leather.  In  matters  of  jwlitics  he  was  a  whig 
adherent,  and  in  religion  a  member  of  the 
Methodist  Episcopal  church.  His  marriage  to 
Miss  Wilkey,  who  died  in  1890,  resulted  in  the 
birth  of  nine  children,  three  boys  and  six  girls. 
Two  of  the  sons  died  young,  and  only  one 
daughter  is  now  living,  her  home  being  in 
Brockville,  Ontario. 

W.  F.  L.  F.  Reed  received  a  common  school 
and  academic  education,  worked  witli  his  father 
and  learned  the  trade  of  tanner  and  currier.  In 
May,  1886,  he  came  to  Chautauqua  county, 
New  York,  and  purchased  what  was  known  as 
the  old  Martin  tannery,  at  Smitii's  Mills,  then 
owned  and  operated  by  Martin  &  Co.,  of  Buffalo, 
New  York.  Since  purchasing  he  has  newly 
equijjped  the  works,  and  nearly  doubled  their 
capacity   both   for  manufacturing   and    storing 


leather,  placing  the  tannery  easily  at  the  head 
of  that  industry  in  Chautauqua  county.  Tlie 
firm,  wliich  is  known  as  Nast  &  Reed,  employs 
about  thirty  men  tiie  year  round,  and  pays  out 
yearly  wages  to  the  amount  of  fifteen  thousand 
dollars.  The  annual  output  of  tiie  tannery  is 
about  fifty  thousand  sides  of  leather,  most  of 
which  is  shij)ped  to  Boston.  The  dry-house  is 
a  large  building,  one  hundred  and  ten  feet  by 
forty  feet,  and  three  and  a  half  stories  in  height. 
The  main  building  of  the  establishment  is  about 
one  hundred  and  seventy-five  feet  long  by 
seventy-five  feet  in  width,  part  of  which  is 
three  and  a  half  stories  in  height  and  part  one 
and  a  half.  In  addition  to  these  there  are  large 
accessory  buildings  for  finishing,  etc.,  equipped 
with  the  latest  improved  machinery,  offices  and 
storage  houses  for  bark — altogether  a  singularly 
complete  plant.  Mr.  Reed  is  politically  a  demo- 
crat, and,  while  at  Hornellsville,  was  a  member 
of  the  board  of  education.  He  is  also  a  Free 
and  Accepted  Mason,  belonging  to  the  Consistory 
at  Dunkirk  (of  which  he  is  a  charter  member), 
Blue  Lodge,  Council  and  Commandery.  Mr. 
Reed  united  in  marriage  with  Margaret  Louisa 
Prindle,  of  Hornellsville,  N.  Y.,  to  whom  has 
been  born  three  children  :  Josephine  P.,  Charles 
M.  and  Ernest  J. 


T  >ICTOR  A.    AL,BKO  is  a  son  of  James  R. 

**  and  Sophronia  (Taylor)  Albro  and  was 
born  October  10,  1846,  in  Westfield,  Chautau- 
qua county.  New  York.  His  grandfather,  John 
Albro,  was  a  resident  for  many  years  of  Catta- 
raugus county,  this  State,  but  emigrated  to 
Wayne  county,  Illinois,  where  he  died.  He 
was  a  hotel-keeper  and  served  as  a  soldier  in 
the  war  of  1812,  participating  in  the  battle  of 
Fort  Erie,  August  15,  181-4.  In  religion  he 
was  a  methodist.  John  Albro  was  married  to 
Martha  Morrison,  by  whom  he  had  six  children, 
four  sons  and  two  daughters.  The  maternal 
grandfather  of  V.  A.  Albro  was  Thomas  Tay- 
lor.    James    R.    Albro    (father)   was    born    in 


418 


BIOGBAPHY  AND  HISTORY 


June,  1812,  and  in  1838  came  from  Gowanda, 
Cattaraugus  county  this  State,  to  Westfield,  re- 
mained tliere  a  short  time,  returned  to  Catta- 
raugus county,  and  after  awhile  came  back  to 
this  county,  locacing  at  Fredonia,  going  thence 
to  Sherman.  He  was  by  occu^iatiou  a  cloth 
dresser  and  carder  and  also  a  fine  penman, 
having  taught  writing  schools.  In  politics  he 
was  a  republican,  and  in  religion  was,  with  his 
wife,  a  member  of  the  Methodist  church. 
James  R.  Albro  married  Sophronia  Taylor  and 
had  four  children,  three  of  whom  are  living, 
two  daughters  and  a  son,  Victor  A. 

Victor  A.  Albro  was  educated  in  the  common 
schools,  learned  the  trade  of  a  cabinet-maker  ' 
and  worked  at  it  until  1862,  when  he  enlisted 
in  Company  E.  112th  Regiment  New  York 
Volunteers,  and  served  until  the  close  of  the 
war,  participating  in  the  siege  of  SuiFolk  and 
nearly  all  the  battles  in  which  his  regiment  ap- 
peared, but  was  never  seriously  wounded. 
After  he  was  mustered  out  of  service,  he 
worked  at  his  trade  of  cabinet-maker  until  1 867, 
when  he  went  into  the  office  of  the  county 
clerk,  Charles  L.  Norton,  as  clerk,  served 
through  Nortou's  term  and  also  through  that  of 
his  successor,  Richard  Willing,  and  as  special 
deputy  clerk  under  Willing's  successor,  John 
R.  Robertson,  and  his  successor,  Herman  Six- 
bey,  and  again  under  Sixbey's  successor,  J.  ! 
J.  Aldrieh,  for  two  terms  or  six  years.  He 
served  under  T.  D.  Baldwin  in  the  same  office 
as  deputy  clerk  and  occupied  the  Kime  position 
under  A.  H.  Stafford,  continuing  under  the 
present  administration  of  E.  P.  Putnam.  In 
politics  he  is  a  republican,  and  besides  his  offi- 
cial position  in  the  county  clerk's  office,  he  has 
served  Mayville  as  town  clerk  for  si.x  consecu- 
tive terms.  He  belongs  to  Peacock  Lodge,  No. 
696,  F,  and  A.  M. ;  to  E.  T.  Carpenter  Post, 
No.  308,  G.  A.  R. ;  and  to  Mayville  Council, 
No.  Ill,  Royal  Arcanum,  all  of  Mayville. 

Victor   A.  Albro    was    married   in  1866    to 
Maria  Benson,  a  daughter  of  Thomas  Benson, 


and  by  her  had  one  child,  a  son,  Frank  E., 
married  to  Ruby  Lonnen,  and  is  in  the  hard- 
ware business  in  JMayville.  The  mother  died 
January,  1868,  and  Victor  A.  Albro  married 
for  his  second  wife,  Cordelia  L.  Kelsey,  of 
Chautauqua. 


Q  XDREW  ItELSEY  JR.  is  a  descendant 
■**■  of  one  of  the  old  settlers  of  Portland 
town,  and  the  deed  to  the  property  he  now  owns 
shows  no  transfer  on  the  recorder's  books  since 
the  original  purchase.  He  is  a  son  of  Andrew 
and  Elizabeth  (House)  Kelsey  and,  was  born  in 
this  town  July  18,  1829.  Grandfather  James 
Kelsey  lived  in  bonny  Scotland,  enjoying  the 
quiet  and  uneventful  life  of  his  j^eople,  but 
when  the  English  had  need  of  soldiers  they 
took  him  among  others  to  assist  in  subduing  the 
rebelling  colonies.  He  stoutly  asserted  that  he 
would  not  fight  against  the  Americans,  and  at 
the  first  opportunity  deserted  the  British  forces 
and  joined  their  opponents  and  fought  through 
the  war.  At  the  close  of  the  struggle  he  w^ent 
to  Massachusetts  but  died  in  Connecticut  in 
1822,  aged  about  seventy-five  years.  He  mar- 
ried Catharine  Brown  and  had  a  family  consist- 
ing of  four  children,  one  son  and  three 
daughters.  Andrew  Kelsey,  Sr.,  was  born  in 
Tyriugham,  Massachusetts,  August  17,  1789, 
and  came  to  Chautauqua  county  in  1811,  set- 
tled in  the  town  of  Portland  and  took  up  ninety- 
six  acres  of  land.  The  heavy  work  of  clearing 
was  at  once  commenced,  but  the  next  year, 
when  the  demand  was  made  for  men  to  whip 
the  British  the  second  time,  he  fought  as  his 
father  had  fought  in  the  first  struii'<rle and  work 
was,  for  the  time  being,  discontinued.  At  the 
clo.se  of  the  war  he  returned  to  the  farm  and 
conducted  it  until  1858,  when  he  died.  Mr. 
Kelsey  was  a  man  of  the  strictest  integrity,  a 
member  of  the  Congregational  church  and  an 
old-line  whig.  He  was  iudu.strious,  economical 
and  frugal  and  lived  a  life  commendable  in 
every  i-espect.     He  married  Elizabeth  House,  a 


OF  CHAUTAUQUA   COUNTY. 


419 


daughter  of  John  House,  wlio  came  from 
Rhode  Island  in  1816.  She  is  an  aunt  to 
Cyrus  House,  whose  biography  appears  under 
the  iiead  of  "NVestfield  town.  She  was  horn  in 
Homer,  Cortland  county,  New  York  and  had 
the  distinction  of  being  the  first  female  child  to 
appear  there.  She  died  in  1.864,  aged  seventy 
years.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Kelsey  raised  a  family 
consisting  of  eight  children,  three  sons  and  five 
daughters. 

Andrew  Kelsey,  Jr.,  gained  his  practical 
education  on  the  farm  and  his  theoretical 
knowledge  in  the  common  school.  Farming 
has  been  his  life-long  avocation  and  to-day  he 
owns  seventy-oue  acres  of  as  fine  land  as  may 
be  found  within  three  miles  of  Westfield.  Grape- 
e-rowina:  is  his  delight  and  he  now  cultivates 
a  fine  vineyard.  Mr.  Kelsey  never  married. 
He  is  a  member  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
church  and  fills  the  office  of  trustee  and  class 
leader. 

He  belongs  to  the  Grange  Society  and  is- a 
member  of  the  Prohibition  party,  being  en- 
trenched in  his  convictions  that  they  are  right. 
He  is  a  courteous  gentleman,  though  he  does 
not  impose  his  ideas  upon  those  who  do  not 
choose  to  hear  them.  At  home  he  is  j)leasant 
and  hospitable  and  has  the  regard  and  esteem 
of  a  laro;e  circle  of  friends. 


OSCAR  li.  PORTER,  proprietor  of  one  of 
the  leadiue;  general  merchandise  stores  in 
Brocton,  is  a  sou  of  John  N.  and  Nancy  M. 
(La  Bar)  Porter,  and  was  born  in  the  town  of 
Portland,  Chautauqua  county,  New  York,  Au- 
gust 26,  1853.  His  grandfather,  Roland 
Porter,  was  a  native  of  Oneida  county,  but 
came  to  Chautauqua  county  in  1819,  and  began 
to  farm  in  the  town  of  Pomfret.  He  was  of 
Plymouth  Rock  extraction,  (the  first  of  his 
name  coming  to  America  and  settling  in  Con- 
necticut about  1785).  He  died  in  1818,  aged 
eighty-five  years.  He  married  Eliza  Shepard 
and  had  four  children,  one  of  whom  was  John 


N.  Porter  (father),  who  was  born  in  Chautau- 
qua county  in  1825.  Wiien  his  father  came  to 
this  county  in  1819,  he  witii  him  worked  upon 
the  farm  for  a  while.  In  1852  he  removed  to 
the  town  of  Portland,  where  he  .still  lives,  and 
engaged  in  farming  and  tlie  growing  of  grapes. 
In  1851,  he  married  Nancy  M.  La  Bar,  a  native 
of  Oneida  county,  wlio  is  still  living,  aged 
sixty-one  years.  They  had  three  children.  Mr. 
Porter  is  a  .Jackson ian  democrat  and  is  held  in 
high  esteem  in  liis  community,  by  his  own 
party  as  well  as  the  republicans,  and  has  filled 
the  offices  of  justice  of  the  peace  and  auditor  of 
the  town  board. 

Oscar  L.  Porter  was  reared  in  Portland  and 
received  his  education  at  the  public  schools  and 
at  the  Fredonia  Normal  school  and  Eastman 
Business  College,  Poughkeepsie,  N.  Y.  He 
secured  a  position  as  clerk  with  several  firms, 
in  general  merchandising  at  Fredonia,  where 
he  remained  four  years.  From  Fredonia  he 
came  to  Brocton  and  re-engaged  as  a  clerk,  this 
time  with  C.  S.  Ogden,  in  the  same  line  of  busi- 
ness, where  he  remained  until  1887,  when  he 
saw  that  there  was  an  opening  in  Brocton  for 
another  first-class  general  store,  and  embarked 
in  that  business  on  his  own  account.  Mr. 
Porter  is  a  sagacious  business  man  and  en- 
deavors to  keep  everytiiing  that  his  patrons 
may  desire.  He  carries  a  large  stock  of  the 
best  goods  and  enjoys  a  good  trade.  A  matter, 
too,  in  which  he  takes  pardonable  pride  is  that 
he  has  the  confidence  of  his  patrons.  He  car- 
ries everything  usually  found  in  a  general 
store.  Groceries,  dry  goods,  clothing,  boots 
and  shoes,  hats,  wall-paper  and  carpets. 

In  1877,  Mr.  Porter  married  Lilian  C. 
Ogden,  of  Brocton,  and  has  three  children : 
Edna  A.,  Nettie  A.  and  Ada  M. 

He  is  a  member  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
church  and  belongs  to  the  Royal  Templars  of 
Temperance.  Politically  Mr.  Porter  is  a  repub- 
lican and  takes  deep  interest  iu  the  politics  of 
his  section. 


420 


BIOGRAPHY  AND  HISTORY 


^SCAR  F.  PRICE,  the  present  efficient 
^^  mayor  of  the  city  of  Jamestown,  New 
York,  is  a  son  of  Addison  A.  and  Charlotte  A. 
(Green)  Price,  and  was  born  in  tiiat  city,  Sep- 
tember 11,  1<S40.  The  Price  family  iiave  been 
citizens  of  the  new  world  for  more  than  a  cen- 
tury and  a  half.  Our  subject's  great-grand- 
father, Stephen  Price,  was  born  in  the  State  of 
New  Jersey,  December  28,  1758.  He  recei%'ed 
a  classical  education  and  pursued  the  profession 
of  school  teaching  nearly  all  his  life ;  in  this 
capacity  he  went  to  the  town  of  Homer,  New 
York,  and  died  there  on  the  first  day  of  June, 
1831.  He  ])urchased  a  farm  at  the  latter  place 
and  the  property  remained  in  tiie  family  for  a 
great  many  years.  When  America  had  her 
first  struggle  with  England  his  ]iatriotism  im- 
j)clled  him  to  enlist  in  tiie  colonial  army,  where 
he  remained  for  seven  years,  serving  until  the 
close  of  tlie  war.  He  married  Elizabeth  Hall, 
and  reared  a  family  of  eight  sous  and  five  daugh- 
ters ;  several  of  the  former  were  engaged  in  our 
second  war  with  the  mother  country.  His 
father's  maternal  grandfather,  Abraham  Neff, 
was  a  native  of  Holland,  born  October  18, 
1772.  He  came  to  America  and  settled  in 
Cortland  county.  New  York,  where  he  married 
Eunice  Beckwith  and  reared  a  large  family. 
Charles  Price,  the  paternal  grandfather,  was 
born  in  Clarendon,  ]\Iorris  county.  New  Jersey, 
April  20,  178'j,  aud  moved  to  Cortland  county, 
this  State,  in  1817.  Seven  years  later  he  came 
to  Chautauqua  county  and  settled  in  the  town 
of  Portland.  In  1828  he  moved  to  the  town 
of  Chautauqua,  and  in  1851  came  to  James- 
town, where  he  resided  until  his  death,  which 
occurred  November  20,  1868.  When  a  young 
man  he  followed  iarming,  but  later  in  life  pur- 
sued carpenter  work.  Charles  Price  was  first 
a  democrat,  then  a  whig  and  finally  a  republi- 
can. For  twenty  years  he  was  a  member  of 
the  Baptist  church.  He  married  Mary  NeiF, 
wlio  was  born  October  18,  1792,  and  died  No- 
vember 4,  1883.     She   bore  him   twelve  chil- 


dren,  of  whom  Addison  A.,  subject's   father, 
was  the  second  child  and  the  eldest  son. 

Addison  A.  Price,  who  is  now  a  prominent 
and  respected  citizen  of  Jamestown,  was  born 
in  Cortland  county.  New  York,  June  26,  1814. 
He  learned  to  be  a  carpenter,  and  came  to 
Jamestown  in  1S39,  where  he  has  been  one  of 
our  most  active  builders  ever  since.  In  1866  he 
built  the  residence  which  he  now  occupies.  He 
married  Charlotte  A.  Green,  a  daugliter  of 
David  Green,  of  the  town  of  Chautauqua. 
Their  union  was  blessed  with  six  children,  the 
oldest  being  Oscar  F.  Mrs.  Charlotte  A.  Price 
died  some  years  ago.  Addison  A.  Price  erected 
many  of  the  fine  buildings  in  this  citv. 

Oscar  F.  Price  spent  his  boyhood  days  in 
Jamestown  and  was  educated  in  the  common 
schools  and  at  the  academy  of  this  city.  He 
read  law  with  Smith  &  Lakin  for  a  time,  but 
has  given  most  of  his  attention  to  real  estate 
transactions.  He  has  been  one  of  the  largest 
lujuse-builders  in  the  city,  and  during  the  last 
twenty  years  has  ei'ected  upwards  of  one  hun- 
dred and  fifty  and  sold  them  upon  easy  terms ; 
many  of  the  people  of  Jamestown,  who  now 
own  homes,  secured  them  from  Mr,  Price,  and 
upon  terms  so  favorable  that  the  cost  was  but 
little  more  than  the  paying  of  rent. 

In  November,  1875,  he  united  in-  marriage 
with  Lizzie  H.  Osborn,a  daugiiter  of  Benjamin 
H.  Osborn,  of  Butler,  Pennsylvania.  His 
family  consists  of  a  wife  and  one  daughter, 
Louise  O.,  a  young  lady  eleven  years  of  age. 
He  lives  in  his  comfortable  residence  at  the 
corner  of  Main  and  Sixth  .streets.  Politically 
]\Ir.  Price  is  a  republican,  and  has  been  un- 
wavering in  his  fealty  to  that  party  since  his 
boyhood  days.  Oscar  F.  Price  has  been  for  a 
number  of  years  prominently  identified  with 
the  official  history  i)f  Jamestown.  He  was  a 
member  of  the  village  board  of  trustees,  serving 
in  1882-83  as  it.s  president.  .Vbout  this  time 
he  was  elected  for  two  successive  terms  as  mem- 
ber of  the  State  assembly,  and   when  the  city 


^^t4lyu^    ^ 


OF  CHAUTAUQUA   COUNTY. 


423 


charter  was  granted,  in  1886,  he  was  chosen  as 
the  first  mayor,  ami  lias  hoeii  twice  re-elected 
for  the  term  of  two  years.  RecoiiiH/in<^  the 
<lemaiul  for  an  econoiiiicai  city  government, 
which  was  conspicnous  in  tiie  charter  drawn  by 
the  citizens,  Mayor  Price  lias  not  songht  for  a 
brilliant  administration,  being  content  to  con- 
duct the  affairs  of  the  city  along  the  lines  laid 
down  by  the  frainers  of  the  law.  He  has  so 
far  succeeded  in  this  that  a  small  indebtedness 
left  to  the  city  by  the  old  village  of  Jamestown 
has  been  paid  off,  and  at  the  date  of  his  last 
annual  message,  in  May,  1891,  the  city  was  out 
of  debt.  In  answer  to  a  decided  public  senti- 
ment he  rendered  important  service  in  helping 
to  secure  several  amendments  to  the  fundamen- 
tal law  of  the  city  which  has  enabled  the  mu- 
nicipality to  put  in  an  electric  lighting  plant. 
While  Mayor  Price  has  favored  all  public  im- 
provements he  has  been  careful  not  to  crowd 
them  upon  the  people  in  advance  of  public  sen- 
timent, and  this  intelligent  conservatism  has 
inspired  the  public  with  the  utmost  confidence, 
and  it  is  to  this  fact,  largely,  that  is  due  to-day 
the  strong  sentiment  in  favor  of  other  improve- 
ments. Those  wJio  had  conceived  the  idea  that 
a  municipal  administration  was  essentially  ex- 
travagant have  been  forced  to  concede  the  con- 
trary, and  they  are  ready  to-day  to  follow  the 
suggestions  of  Mr.  Price  in  respect  to  public  ne- 
cessities. He  is  modest,  quiet  aud  unassuming, 
but  he  has  played  an  important  part  in  the  his- 
tory of  Jamestown's  most  rapid  advancement, 
and  has  always  stood  ready  to  aid  and  encour- 
age all  lines  of  private  industries.  It  is  con- 
ceded that  there  is  no  man  more  ])opular  before 
the  people  in  the  city.  He  has  probably  erected 
more  houses  and  done  more  to  give  Jamestown 
the  name  of  "  the  city  of  homes  "  than  any  one 
man  in  Chautauqua  county,  and  it  is  said  of 
him  that  he  never  foreclosed  upon  a  single 
individual  except  for  the  purpose  of  perfecting 
a  title. 


JOHN  A,  WATERHOUSE,  M.D.,  a  suc- 
^^  cessful  physician  not  now  in  active  prac- 
tice and  one  of  the  progressive,  enterprising 
citizens  of  Fredonia,  was  born  at  Pittsfield, 
Warren  county,  Pennsylvania,  August  28, 
1854,  and  is  a  son  of  Russell  and  Laura  (Ford) 
Waterhouse.  Russell  Waterhouse  comes  of 
English-Quaker  stock  and  is  a  cousin  of  Com- 
modore Oliver  Hazard  Perry,  the  hero  ot 
Lake  Erie.  He  is  a  native  of  New  York, 
which  he  left  in  1839  to  become  one  of  the 
pioneer  lumbermen  of  Warren  county.  Pa., 
where  he  was  continuously  aud  successfully 
engaged  in  business  until  1888,  when  he  re- 
moved to  Fredonia.  He  married  Laura  Ford, 
who  is  a  native  of  Pennsylvania,  and  their  three 
sons  are  physicians.  Their  children  are :  Dr. 
H.  M.,  of  Dunkirk;  Drs.  Thomas  W.  and 
John  A.,  of  Fredonia  ;  and  Maud,  wife  of  Rush 
Abbott,  a  j)i"ominent  and  leading  lawyer  oi 
Tiffin,  Ohio. 

John  A.  Waterhouse  received  his  education 
principally  at  the  Fredonia  Normal  school  and 
from  1870  to  1874  was  engaged  in  teaching  in 
the  public  schools  of  New  York  and  Pennsyl- 
vania. In  1874  he  went  to  Portage,  ^Viscon- 
sin,  where  he  commenced  the  study  of  medicine 
with  his  uncle,  Dr.  Marvin  Waterhouse.  After 
completing  the  required  course  of  reading  he 
entered  the  Eclectic  Medical  Institute,  of  Cin- 
cinnati, Ohio,  from  which  he  was  graduated  in 
1879.  Immediately  after  graduation  he  estab- 
lished himself  at  Bay  City,  Michigan,  where 
he  conducted  a  good  practice  until  1884,  when 
he  removed  to  Minneapolis,  Minnesota,  as  a 
wider  field  for  the  practice  of  his  profession, 
but  at  the  close  of  one  year  on  account  of  ill 
health,  left  a  finely  established  practice  to  come 
to  Fredonia.  He  soon  grew  into  a  good  prac- 
tice but  on  account  of  ill  health  he  was  com- 
pelled to  retire  from  the  active  pursuit  of  his 
chosen  profession.  While  at  Bay  City  he 
founded  the  American  Hospital  Company  whose 
object  was  to  provide  houses  and  proper  care 


22 


42-1 


BIOGRAPHY  AND  HISTORY 


for  the  lumber  workers  in  Michigan,  Wiscon- 
sin and  Minnesota  and  did  one  hundred  thou- 
sand dollars  worth  of  business  in  1882.  Dr. 
"Waterhouse  is  a  repul)lican  in  politics. 

Oo  June  4,  1879,  he  married,  in  Detroit, 
Michigan,  Eose  Kimball,  daughter  of  Edward 
Kimball,  of  Puritan  stock  and  a  native  of 
Fredouia.  Their  union  has  been  blessed  with 
three  children  :  John,  Edward  and  Eose. 

For  the  last  four  years  Dr.  Waterhouse  has 
been  engaged  in  the  oil  business  in  Pennsylva- 
nia where  he  now  owns  eight  thousand  acres  of 
oil  land  which  is  nearly  all  developed  and 
which  yields  an  annual  income  of  about  forty 
thousand  dollars.  The  magnitude  of  the  im- 
portant business  in  which  he  is  a  successful 
operator  is  scarcely  realized  by  the  public, 
although  many  millions  of  capital  are  invested 
in  the  development  of  the.se  oil  fields  whose 
wells  produce  yearly  hundreds  of  thousands  of 
barrels  of  oil.  Two  years  ago  Dr.  Waterhouse 
erected  his  present  neat,  tasteful  and  convenient 
residence,  on  Ceutral  avenue,  where  he  and 
Mrs.  Waterhouse  are  always  happy  to  welcome 
their  many  friends. 


JOHN  MADIGAX,  a  prominent  lumber 
dealer  of  Dunkirk,  New  York,  and  at 
present  Collector  of  Customs  for  the  Port  of 
Dunkirk,  is  a  native  of  County  Limerick,  Ire- 
land, a  son  of  Dennis  and  Hannah  (Cusick) 
Madigan,  and  was  born  June  25,  1829.  Den- 
nis Madigan  and  his  ancestors  for  generations 
were  natives  of  County  Limerick,  Ireland. 

John  Madigan  was  reared  in  Eathkeale, 
County  Limerick,  remaining  there  until  attain- 
ing eighteen  years  of  age  and  receiving  such 
education  as  the  schools  permitted. 

He  is  a  life-long  democrat.  His  present  office 
of  Collector  of  Customs  was  given  him  by 
President  Cleveland,  August  18,  1887. 

In  February,  1859,  Mr.  Madigan  married 
Margaret  Miers,  a  native  of  County  Clare, 
Ireland,  and  tiicy  have  five  living  children,  ail 


sons :    John   T.,     Dennis    F.,    Edward,    Wil- 
liam J.,    and  James  W.,  all  living  at  home. 

John  Madigan  is  a  member  of  the  Catholic 
church  ;  and  starting  as  he  did,  without  capital 
and  almost  friendless  in  a  strange  country,  has 
achieved  a  successful  sunset  to  an  honorable 
career. 


C' AMUEL  GRIFFITH  is  one  of  the  substan- 

^^  tial,  intelligent  and  enterprising  citizens 
of  the  town  of  Ellington.  His  parents,  Sam- 
uel and  Nancy  (Lewis)  Griffith,  at  the  time  of 
his  birth,  March  23,  1808,  were  residents  of 
Madison  county,  New  York.  Samuel  Griffith 
(father)  was  a  native  of  Eensselaer  county. 
New  York,  and  was  born  in  the  same  year  that 
his  country  became  a  free  and  independent  na- 
tion, 1776.  His  career  was  marked  by  a  series 
of  removals  and  residences.  In  1800  he  be- 
came a  citizen  of  Madison  county  and  from 
thence  removed  to  Chautauqua  county  and  loca- 
ted in  what  is  now  the  town  of  Busti,  but  at 
that  time  an   undivided  expanse   of   territory. 

Here  he  took  up  laud  and  continued  to  re- 
side for  thirteen  years,  at  the  expiration  of 
which,  he  again  changed  his  residence  to  the 
town  of  Ellery,  and  in  1 853  removed  to  Gerry, 
where  he  died  in  1855,  at  the  age  of  eighty 
years.  Samuel  Griffith  was  a  farmer  of  indus- 
try and  honesty ;  during  the  existence  of  the 
Whig  party  he  cast  his  support  in  its  behalf, 
but  when  the  Eepublican  party  was  given  birth, 
he  allied  himself  with  that  party.  The  Grif- 
fiths on  the  paternal  side  are  of  Welsh  descent, 
while  the  wife  of  Samuel  Griffith  was  of  New 
England  birth  and  edueation;  she  died  in  1860 
at  the  age  of  eigiity-four  years. 

Samuel  Grillitii  was  reared  upon  his  father's 
farm  in  Chautauqua  county,  where  he  also  at- 
tended school,  receiving  a  fair  common  school 
education.  Upon  leaving  school  he  was  ap- 
prenticed to  a  miil-wright,  learned  that  trade, 
and  continued  to  work  at  it  for  ten  years. 
About    this    time    he    turned    his    attention  to 


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OF  CHAUTAUQUA  COUNTY. 


427 


fanning,  wliich  he  has  continued  most  of  the 
time  since.  In  1861,  snbject  moved  from  Ger- 
ry to  Ellington,  where  lie  now  lives  in  practical 
retirement. 

On  February  15,  1841,  Mr.  Griffith  was 
joined  in  marriage  to  Miss  Eliza  Pardee,  a 
daughter  of  Augustus  Pardee,  formerly  a  resi- 
dent of  Montgonierv  county.  New  York.  They 
are  the  parents  of  three  children,  all  daughters: 
Emily,  Adelaide  and  Elsie.  The  daughters 
are  still  living  and  married. 

He  belongs  to  the  Grangers  and  has  been  a 
life-long  supporter  of  the  Republican  cause. 
lu  the  matter  of  dealing  out  offices,  he  has  re- 
ceived his  share  as  well,  having  served  as  super- 
visor for  a  period  of  six  years  iu  the  towns  of 
Ellington  and  Gerry.  Mr.  Griffith  is  an  excep- 
tionally well  preserved  man  for  his  age,  which 
to  a  great  extent  must  be  attributed  to  the  non- 
use  of  tobacco  iu  any  form.  He,  however,  be- 
longs to  a  family  remarkable  for  longevity, 
having  one  sister  ninety-one  years  of  age  and  I 
three  others  whose  ages  will  average  about 
eighty  years.  Mr.  Griffith  has  an  unusual 
memory  in  connection  with  liis  past  experiences 
and  iucideuts  of  early  life.  He  has  been  a 
careful  and  continual  reader  of  local  and  tradi-  1 
tional  history,  as  well  as  of  contemporaneous 
occurrences  and  issues,  aud  in  these  respects 
possesses  a  fund  of  information  of  rare  value 
and  detail. 


T  FRAJS'K  SCOTT,  an  enterprising  mer- 
^  •  chant  iu  the  village  of  Portland,  is  a 
son  of  William  H.  and  Sarah  (Beck)  Scott,  and 
was  boru  in  the  town  of  Gerry,  Chautauqua 
county,  New  York,  April  6,  1860.  He  comes 
from  an  old  Scotch  family,  his  grandfather. 
Rev.  John  Scott,  haviug  come  to  America 
from  that  country  in  1818.  Rev.  John  Scott  was 
boru  in  1793.  He  was  educated  for  the  minis- 
try and  was  ordained  in  the  j\Iethodist  Episcopal 
church.  Upon  his  arrival  in  the  new  world  he 
came  to  Chautauqua  county  and  had  a  large 


circuit.  He  died  in  1861,  aged  sixty-eight 
years.  William  H.  Scott  was  born  in  the  town 
of  Chautauqua,  in  183.3,  where  he  lived  for 
many  years,  but  now  makes  his  home  in  the 
town  of  Gerry  where  he  is  a  farmer.  Since  the 
organization  of  the  board  of  trade  at  Sinclair- 
ville  in  1881,  he  has  been  its  president.  Mr. 
Scott  identifies  himself  with  the  Republican 
party  and  has  been  a  supervisor  of  the  town  of 
Gerry  three  terms.  In  18."/!  he  married  Sarah 
Beck,  a  native  of  Pennsylvania.  She  is  a 
daughter  of  John  Beck  aud  was  born  in  1836. 
She  is  a  pleasant  unassuming  lady  and  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church.  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Scott  were  blessed  with  four  children, 
two  sons  and  two  daughters. 

J.  Frank  Scott  was  reared  on  the  farm  and 
educated  in  the  common  schools.  He  followed 
agriculture  until  1878  and  then  engaged  as  a 
general  clerk  in  a  store  which  employed  him 
for  several  years.  1883-84  was  spent  in  Ten- 
nessee where  he  was  lumbering,  and  in  April, 
1889,  he  embarked  in  the  general  mercantile 
business  at  Portland,  which  he  is  still  follow- 
ing under  the  firm  name  of  J.  Frank  Scott  & 
Co.  They  have  a  large  general  stock  and  en- 
joy a  good  trade. 

In  December,  1878,  Mr.  vScott  married  Cora 
Phillips,  a  daughter  of  A.  J.  Phillips,  of  Cat- 
taraugus county,  this  State,  and  they  have  one 
child:  Bessie  F.,  born  in  1880. 

J.  F.  Scott  is  a  republican,  a  member  of  the 
Knights  of  Pythias,  Brocton  Lodge,  No.  284, 
and,  with  his  wife,  is  connected  with  the  Equit- 
able Aid  Union.  He  is  a  bright  business  man, 
progressive,  public-spirited  and  popular. 


TTMOS  T.  arEAD,  JE.,  is  one  of  those 
■**■  farmers  in  Portland  town  who  by  energy, 
industry  and  frugality  has  become  enabled  to 
enjoy  the  sunset  of  life  with  pleasure  and  has 
no  apprehension  for  the  morrow.  He  is  a  son 
of  Amos  T.  and  Ann  (Purdy)  Mead,  and  was 
born    in    the    town    of    Marcellus,   Onondaga 


428 


BIOGRAPHY  AND  HISTORY 


county,  New  York,  September  10, 1823.  Amos 
Mead  (grandfather)  was  a  native  of  Dutchess 
county,  this  State,  where  he  was  born  in  1760. 
He  moved  to  Chenango  county  in  1790,  and 
about  1820  or  '22  he  went  to  Onondaga 
county,  where  he  died  in  1827.  The  family  is 
of  French  extraction.  Wliile  living  in  Che- 
nango county  his  son,  Amos  T.  Mead  (fiitiier) 
was  born  in  the  town  of  Norwich  in  1792.  In 
1822  the  latter  moved  to  Onondaga  county ; 
eight  years  later  he  removed  to  Aurora,  Erie 
county,  and  in  1836  he  came  to  Chautauqua 
county.  He  arrived  at  Ellery  the  day  the  land 
office  was  destroyed.  Amos  T.  Mead  remained 
in  this  county  until  1845,  when  he  removed  to 
Versailles,  Cattaraugus  county,  where  he  died 
in  1865.  Farming  had  its  charms  for  him  and 
he  always  followed  it.  Politically  Mr.  Mead 
was  a  whig  and  served  in  the  American  army  I 
during  the  second  war  with  the  mother  country. 
He  married  Ann  Purdy  in  1818.  She  was  a 
native  of  Wyoming  county,  Pa.,  a  member  of 
the  Baptist  church  and  died  in  La  Porte,  Ind., 
in  1-873.  Her  father  was  Stephen  Purdy 
(maternal  grandfather),  who  came  from  Pennsyl- 
vania to  Chenango  county,  this  State.  He  was 
a  Revolutionary  soldier  and  spent  his  last  years 
farming  in  Chenango  county,  N.  Y.,  and  died 
March  27,  1812,  aged  61  years.  He  married 
Mary  Pellett  in  1792.  She  was  at  Forty  Fort 
during  the  frightful  Wyoming  massacre  and 
joined  in  the  flight  with  the  rest  of  the  terror-  ; 
.stricken  people  when  their  men  were  defeated 
by  the  Tories  and  blood-thirsty  Indian  allies 
under  Butler.  Mrs.  Mead  now  has  part  of  a 
wedding  dress  which  has  been  in  the  family  ! 
over  nine  generations.  It  was  buried  July  4,  ' 
1778,  the  day  of  the  ina.ssacre  at  Wyoming,  Pa., 
lay  there  seven  years  and  has  been  handed 
down  from  ]iarcnt  to  ciiild  for  three  hundred 
years,  nearly  two  hundred  before  the  incident 
mentioned  above.  They  have  been  the  parents 
of  six  children,  three  .sons  and  tliree  daughters. 
Amos   T.   Mead,  Jr.,  came    to    Chantaucjua 


county  in  1836;  was  brought  up  on  the  farm 
and  secured  his  education  at  the  public  schools, 
supplemented  by  a  course  at  the  Fredonia 
academy.  After  leaving  school  he  entered  the 
office  of  the  MayinUe  Sentinel  in  1843.  From 
there  he  went  to  the  Urie  Observer  and  then  to 
the  Buffalo  Express,  following  the  business  for 
about  twenty  years.  In  the  fall  of  1847 
Mr.  Mead  began  the  publication  of  the  Gon- 
neautinlk  Courier,  in  Crawford  county,  Pa., 
which  he  conducted  for  one  year.  It  started 
with  good  health  and  a  strong  constitution  and 
continues  to  run  with  the  same  name  and  in- 
creased influence.  In  1864  Mr.  Mead  moved 
on  to  his  farm,  which  is  located  one  mile  from 
the  village  of  Portland,  where  he  now  resides 
and  is  engaged  in  the  culture  of  grapes. 

May  1,  1848,  he  was  united  in  marriage 
with  Achsa  Buel,  a  daughter  of  John  B.  Buel, 
of  ^Mayville,  and  they  have  been  blessed  with 
six  children,  three  sons  and  three  daughters  : 
Addie  M.,  wife  of  Robert  Burhans,  who  resides 
in  Portland  ;  Charles  A.,  M'ho  also  resides  in 
Portland  and  is  married  to  Minnie  E.  Hipwell; 
Will  B.,  too,  resides  in  tliis  town  and  married 
Ella  M.  Williams;  and  Nettie  I.  The  oldest 
chihl  died  Dec.  27,  1850,  aged  20  months;  the 
youngest  child  died  Sept.  2,  1888,  aged  22 
years. 

Amos  T.  ]Mead,  Jr.,  is  a  democrat  and  has 
filled  a  number  of  the  chairs  of  the  town  execu- 
tives, notable,  court-crier  and  constable.  He 
takes  an  active  interest  in  politics  and  is  a 
member  of  the  Equitable  Aid  Union  and  the 
Farmers'  Alliance.  He  is  an  active,  energetic 
man  and  has  several  times  been  a  delegate  to 
the  county  convention. 


TA>II>L  31.  HOOT.  The  dairy  business  in 
-*''^  connection  with  farming  has  assumed 
mammoth  proportions  in  western  New  York, 
and  Chautauqua  county  in  particular  has  be- 
come noteil  for  its  dairy  products.  Among  the 
leading  producers  of  tliis  class  in  the  town  of 


OF  CHAUTAUQUA   COUNTY. 


429 


Busti  is  Will  M.  Root,  who  is  a  son  of  William 
and  Nancy  A.  (Draper)  Root,  and  was  boin  in 
this  town  March  8th,  1855.  The  first  n>an 
named  Root  to  locate  in  this  connty  was  Zed- 
dock  Root,  the  paternal  grandfather  of  our 
subject,  of  German  extraction,  who  came  here 
and  bought  a  tract  of  land  from  the  Hol- 
land Land  company,  was  a  farmer,  and  died 
at  the  age  of  seventy-one.  William  Root  is 
a  native  of  this  town,  where  he  now  resides. 
He  is  an  extensive  farmer  and  stock-raiser,  and 
has  passed  his  sixty-fifth  year.  He  affiliates 
with  the  Republican  party,  is  stirring  and 
energetic,  keeps  himself  well  posted  upon  cur- 
rent events,  and  has  been  a  very  successful 
business  man.  He  married  Nancy  A.  Draper, 
who  was  born  in  Genesee  county,  this  State,  in 
1831.    • 

Will  M.  Root  was  brought  up  on  the  farm, 
and,  like  many  of  our  country's  best  men,  was 
educated  in  the  common  schools.  When  he 
attained  manhood  he  continued  to  do  farm- 
work,  and  is  now  the  owner  of  one  hundred 
and  thirty  acres  of  well-improved  land  located 
three  miles  west  of  Jamestown,  and  upon  it  he 
pastures  a  fine  herd  of  cows,  from  the  milk  of 
which  he  makes  and  prepares  for  market  a 
superior  quality  of  butter.  He  also  handles 
creamery  butter,  being  unable  to  supply  his 
orders  with  his  own  product. 

He  was  married  in  1879  to  Rhoda  J.  Wil- 
cox, a  daughter  of  A.  P.  Wilcox,  living  in 
Busti.  Their  union  has  been  blessed  with  three 
children — all  daughters:  Belle  V.,  R.  Ethel, 
and  Lulu  B.  Mr.  Root  is  a  member  of  the 
A.  O.  U.  W.,  and  is  active  in  the  politics  of 
his  county.  He  belongs  to  the  Republican 
party,  and  is  now  serving  as  county  committee- 
man from  the  town  of  Busti.  He  is  a  leading 
citizen,  and  lias  the  respect  of  all  his  acquaint- 
ances. 


TOKL  COIiVIN.  TiKi  late  Joel  Colvin  was 
^  a  highly  respected  citizen  and  a  prosperous 
farmer  of  lli])lcy.  He  was  born  in  Danby, 
Vermont,  January  29,  1814,  and  was  a  son  of 
Benajah  and  Ruth  (Irish)  Colvin.  The  great- 
grandfather of  Joel  Colvin  was  TiUther  Colvin, 
who  was  born  in  Rhode  Island  al)OUt  tli<!  mid- 
dle of  the  eighteenth  centuiy.  He  moved  to 
Danby,  A'^ermont,  in  1765,  and  was  the  fourth 
settler  in  that  section.  There  were  no  broken 
roads  then,  but  the  way  was  marked  by  niches 
being  cut  in  the  trees  and  it  was  by  this  means 
he  accomplished  the  journey.  Upon  his  ar- 
rival there  he  constructed  a  cabin  of  logs  in  a 
hasty  manner,  and  the  winter  coming  on  much 
suffering  and  hardship  was  endured.  Pio- 
neer life  in  the  wilds  of  A'^ermont  during  win- 
ter was  about  the  most  .severe  that  man  could 
experience  and  survive,  but  his  vigorous  body 
and  hardy  constitution  stood  him  in  good 
stead  until  more  comfortable  quarters  could  be 
provided.  The  most  trouble  was  the  wolves 
that  killed  and  carried  off  the  .sheep.  To  pre- 
vent this  constant  vigilance  was  necessary,  and 
a  strong  pen  was  provided  to  protect  them  at 
night. 

Mr.  Colvin  stood  high  in  the  estima- 
tion of  his  friends  and  acquaintances,  and  was 
po.ssessed   of  the  strictest  integrity.     He  mar- 

'  ried,  and  reared  seven  children,  three  sons  and 
four  daughters.  Stephen  Colviu  was  the  grand- 
father of  our  subject.  He  was  born  in  Danby, 
and  married  Mary  Merrithew,  when  he  settled 
on  his  father's  homestead  and  reared  a  family  of 
eleveu  children,  seven  sons  and  four  daughters. 
He  died  in  1804.  Benajah  Colvin  was  born  in 
Danby  in  1787,  and  as  he  developed,  showed  a 
fine  and  sturdy  physique  and  a  strong  and  sta- 
ble character.  He  was  a  successful  man,  and 
by  careful  management  and  good  judgment 
amassed  a  competence.     He  was  killed  in  1867, 

I  when  eisrhtv  years  of  a^e,  while  felling;  a  tree 
in  the  woods.  He  married  Ruth  Irish,  and  had 
four   childreu,  three   sons    and    one   daughter. 


430 


SIOOBAPHY  AND  HISTORY 


His  first  wife  died,  and  he  then  married  Han- 
nah Palmer,  who  bore  him  one  daughter. 

Joel  Colviu  was  educated  in  the  public 
schools,  and  reared  at  Danby,  Vermont.  That 
he  understood  theoretical,  as  wall  as  practical 
farming,  is  shown  by  the  competence  he  had 
accumulated  when  the  grim  reaper  took  him 
away  on  March  15,  1882.  In  1869  he  bought 
the  fine  property  in  Ripley  where  his  widow 
now  resides. 

On  September  25,  1835,  he  married  Almira 
Staples,  a  daughter  of  Ellery  Staples,  and  they 
had  five  children :  Charles,  married  Mary 
Green,  and  lives  in  Vermont ;  Ahira,  first  mar- 
ried Hannah  Kirk,  and  for  his  second  wife 
took  Mary  Wisner.  He  is  in  the  grape-grow- 
ing business ;  Albert  N.,  married  to  Luella 
Cheney,  is  now  a  farmer  in  Ripley ;  James, 
married  Sarah  Hardinger,  now  dead,  lives  in 
Ripley  with  his  mother ;  and  Lizzie,  wife  of 
Charles  Brown,  a  butclier  at  Ripley. 

Politically  Mr.  Colvin  was  a  republican,  but 
his  gentle  dis})osition  and  retiring  nature  much 
preferred  the  quiet  of  his  home  and  the  com- 
pany of  his  family,  to  the  bustle  and  deceit  of 
politics  and  the  hilarious  companions  which 
often  accompany  it,  so  that  he  never  entered 
political  life.  He  passed  away  mourned  and 
regretted  by  his  family  and  a  large  circle  of 
friends.  ! 


JUDGE  I>AXIEL,  SHERMAN.      One  who 

^  lias  held  witii  credit  during  the  last  half 
century  many  offices  of  trust  and  responsibility, 
both  by  election  and  appointment,  is  Judge 
Daniel  Sherman,  the  present  surrogate  of  Chau- 
tauqua county.  He  is  u  son  of  Daniel  and 
Eunice  (Clark)  Sherman,  and  was  born  in  tiie 
town  of  Busti,  Ciiautauqua  county,  New  York, 
November  29,  1821.  Judge  Sherman's  grand- 
father, Humjihrey  Slierman,  was  a  Quaker  \ 
resident  of  Amlierst,  Mass.,  where  lie  mar- 
ried and  reared  a  fiunily  of  three  sons  and 
three  daughters.     The  Chirks,  like  the  Sher- 


mans, were  of  English  descent,  and  the  Judge's 
maternal  grandfather,  Plenry  Clark,  was  born 
and  reared  at  Hoosick,  N.  Y.  He  was  a  farmer, 
a  whig,  a  congregationalist.  Daniel  Sherman 
(father)  was  born  in  Amherst,  Mass.,  in  1784  and 
came  to  what  is  now  Chautauqua  county  in  1816. 
He  first  settled  on  the  site  of  Lakewood,  in  the 
town  of  Busti,  where  he  purchased  of  the  Holland 
Land  company  415  acres  of  land,  which  he 
owned  at  his  death.  He  was  one  of  the  first 
directors  of  the  Chautauqua  County  Bank  at 
its  organization.  The  town  of  Busti  was  or- 
ganized in  1824,  and  he  was  its  first  supervisor, 
and  continued  to  hold  that  office  during  six  suc- 
cessive years,  and  was  chairman  of  the  Board  in 
1828.  His  eldest  daughter,  Harriet,  married 
Pardon  Hazeltine,  of  Busti,  who  was  super- 
visor from  1836  to  1840.  His  eldest  son, 
Henry  C,  married  Hepsaba  Steward  of  Con- 
necticut, and  was  supervisor  of  Busti  town  from 
1841  to  1846.  One  son,  Ebon  G.  Sherman, 
resides  at  Tidioute,  Peniia.  Another  son,  My- 
ron G,  married  Harriet  Robertson,  is  a  thrifty 
farmer  and  resides  on  part  of  the  old  Sherman 
homestead  at  Lakewood,  has  one  son  Edward. 
Another  son,  Humphrey,  a  physician,  died 
many  years  ago  at  Stockton,  leaving  a  widow 
residing  in  Fredonia.  Daniel  Sherman,  Sen., 
was  elected  on  the  Anti-Masonic  ticket  slienff 
of  Chautauqua  county,  and  served  as  such  from 
1828  to  1832.  He  died  April  11,  1834,  aged 
fifty  years. 

Surrogate  Daniel  Sherman  attended  the  James- 
town and  Fredonia  academies,  and  prepared  in 
Burr  Seminary,  Vermont,  for  the  sophomore  class 
in  college.  Afterwards  ho  read  law  with  Haz- 
eltine &  Warren,  of  Jamestown,  was  adiniUcd  on 
July  4,  1848,  at  the  only  general  term  t)i'  the 
Supreme  Court  ever  lield  in  Chautauqua  county, 
as  an  attorney-at-law,  and  has  been  engaged  in 
the  practice  of  his  profession  ever  since,  except 
when  serving  in  some  public  capacity.  In  1851- 
he  was  elected  on  the  republican  ticket,  as  dis- 
trict attorney  of  Ciiautauqua  county,  served  in 


Jbo-^H^f-j^X^   <j  (iU^^^'-^yi-^t^^l^^ 


OF  CHAUTAUQUA   COUNTY. 


433 


that  office  for  three  years  and  then  became  at- 
torney for  the  Seneca  Nation  of  Indians,  which 
position  he  held  for  twelve  years.  He  also 
served  for  many  years  as  U.  S.  agent  for  the 
Six  Nations  of  New  York,  by  appointment  of 
the  President  of  the  U.  S.  In  1882,  when  in 
the  midst  of  an  active  practice,  he  was  elected 
surrogate  of  C'hautanfpia  county,  and  at  the  end 
of  his  term  of  six  years  he  was  re-elected  for 
an  additional  term  of  six  years,  which  will 
expire  in  1894.  He  has  conscientiously  dis- 
charged the  many  duties  of  that  office  in  an  ac- 
cejjtable  manner  to  the  public  whose  approval 
has  been  bestowed  upon  his  labors  as  surrogate. 
April  28,  1852,  he  married  Mary  Colvill. 
They  had  five  children  :  Daniel,  who  married 
Grace  Greenwood,  and  is  a  prosperous  farmer 
iu  INIinnesota  ;  Elizabeth  and  Mary  deceased  ; 
William,  a  photographer ;  and  Julia  D.  Mrs. 
Sherman  is  a  daughter  of  AVilliam  Colvill,  Jr., 
who  was  born  iu  Scotlaud  in  1797,  had  Thomas 
Carlyle  for  one  of  his  teachers  and  came,  iu 
1820,  with  his  father,  to  Forest ville.  He  mar- 
ried Mary  Love,  of  Nashville,  N.  Y.,  and 
reared  a  family  of  five  children,  one  of  whom  is 
Gen.  William  Colvill,  receiver  of  the  laud  office 
at  Duluth,  Minnesota,  by  appointment  of  Pres- 
ident Cleveland.  He  is  a  lawyer  by  profession, 
and  went  into  the  last  war  as  captain  of  one  of 
the  companies  of  the  1st  Minnesota  regiment  of 
Vols.  He  was  successively  promoted  until  he 
was  brevetted  brigadier-general  for  gallantry  at 
Gettysburg,  where  he  was  severely  wounded  in 
the  side  and  foot.  On  the  second  day  of  that 
great  battle,  just  after  General  Sickles'  corps 
had  been  routed  by  Longstreet  and  the  latter 
was  making  his  supreme  effisrt  to  capture  Little 
Round  Top,  the  pivotal  point  commanding  the 
fiekl  and  the  Union  lines,  General  Hancock 
noticed  where  the  Federal  lines  were  break- 
ing, and  ordered  Col.  Col  vill's  regiment  to  hold 
the  breach,  which  they  bravely  did  by  oue  of 
the  most  brilliant  charges  of  the  war.  Col. 
Colvill  charged  with  two  hundred  and  fortv- 


seven  men,  held  the  Rebel  line  in  check  until 
reinforcemeuts  came  up,  captured  the  enemy's 
colors,  leaving  200  of  his  regiment  killed  and 
wounded  on  the  field.  The  charge  is  justly 
noted  as  one  of  the  most  famous  in  history. 
After  the  war  the  people  of  Minnesota  elected 
him  attorney-general  of  the  State,  which  office 
he  held  one  year. 

Judge  Sherman  is  a  republican  in  politics, 
and  an  earnest  friend  of  education.  He  aided 
iu  securing  the  annual  State  academic  appropri- 
ation of  one  hundred  and  twenty-five  thousand 
dollars  in  1871  and  1872,  served  as  town  super- 
intendent for  several  years,  and  was  president 
of  the  board  of  education  of  Forestville  free 
acadeni}'  over  twenty  years.  While  attorney  for 
the  Seneca  nation,  he  successfully  secured  in  the 
court  of  appeals  one  of  the  true  boundaries  of 
their  reservation,  which  had  been  decided  ad- 
versely several  times  in  the  lower  courts.  He 
also  acquired,  in  the  same  court,  for  the  Seneca 
Indians,  their  title  to  the  Oil  Spring  reserva- 
tion, which  title  had  been  omitted  in  the  Big 
Tree  treaty  of  1798,  and  by  this  omission  had 
passed  through  Morris  to  the  Holland  Land 
company  and  their  grantees. 

In  his  address,  delivered  in  Jamestown,  Jan- 
uary 29,  1885,  on  "The  Six  Nations"  before 
the  Chautauqua  Society  of  History  and  Natural 
Science,  Judge  Sherman  threw  light  on  many 
obscure  points  in  the  history  of  that  won- 
derful Indian  confederacy  which  he  so  ably  and 
clearly  traced,  and  especially  in  their  past  and 
present  land  ownership  iu  western  New  York. 
In  concluding  his  valuable  and  interesting  ad- 
dress, he  said  :  There  is  a  public  sentiment  in 
this  country  that  the  Indian  tribes  are  fast  dying 
out.  However  this  may  be  true  with  other  In- 
dian tribes,  it  is  not  true  as  to  the  original  Six 
Nations  of  New  York.  Statistics  show  the 
Six  Nations  in  Canada,  this  State  and  the 
west  to  be  increasing  in  populatiou.  They 
(statistics)  show  a  vitality  iu  this  people, 
emerging  from  barbarism  to  civilization,  that  is, 


434 


BIOGRAPHY  AND  HISTORY 


under  all  the  adverse  circumstances  surround- 
ing them  remarkable  indeed,  if  not  unprece- 
dented." 

Judge  Daniel  Sherman  gives  uutiring  at- 
tention to  his  profession,  and  every  case  which 
he  has  tried  always  received  his  full  and  care- 
ful attention.  The  grasp  of  his  mind  is  strong 
and  comprehensive,  and  he  is  well-known  for 
his  patience,  dignity  and  perspicuity,  while 
his  legal  efforts  are  indicative  of  much  re- 
search and  discrimination. 


FRANKLIX  J.  HOUGHTON  is  a  promi- 
nent advocate  of  tiie  third  party  move- 
ment, who  believes  that  practical  temperance 
can  .soonest  and  best  be  realized  by  statutory 
enactments  prohibiting  the  manufacture,  sale  or 
use  of  intoxicants,  and  whose  definition  of  tem- 
perance is  moderation  in  things  useful ;  total 
abstinence  of  things  harmful.  He  is  a  son  of 
Thomas  B.  and  Elizabeth  (Lamphere)  Hough- 
ton, and  was  born  May  14,  1846,  iu  Constable- 
ville,  Lewis  county,  New  York.  His  grand- 
father was  Richardson  Houghton,  a  native  of 
Massachusetts,  from  whence  he  came  to  Lewis 
county  and  engaged  in  farming.  He  aided  the 
Whig  party  and  married  Sarah  Bennett,  the 
daughter  of  a  prominent  Revolutionary  officer. 
They  had  four  sons  and  two  daughters. 
Thomas  B.  Houghton  was  born  iu  Saratoga 
county,  this  State,  in  1822.  From  there  he 
emigrated  to  Lewis  county  about  1840.  He 
married  Elizabeth  Lamphere  about  the  same 
time,  and  became  the  father  of  two  sons  and 
five  daughters.  He  was  a  strong  Union  man  ; 
no  .sentiment  for  State  rights  found  .sympathy 
from  hini,  and  wiieu  the  flag  on  J'\)rt  Sumter 
was  desecrated  by  rebel  sliot  and  shell,  he  re- 
sjiondcd  to  President  Lincoln's  call  for  three 
hundr(<l  thousand  men.  He  entered  Co.  II, 
140(h  regiment,  N.  Y.  Vol.  Inf.,  and  served 
three  months,  when  he  died  of  fever,  November 
17,  1802.  Thomas  B.  Houghton  was  a  painter 
by  trade,  but  enlisted  as  a  farmer  as  he  had 


been  paying  more  attention  to  the  latter  for 
some  years  prior  to  entering  the  service.  Polit- 
ically he  favored  the  young  Republican  party. 
Mrs.  Houghton  is  still  living  at  South  Ripley, 
being  sixty-seven  years  of  age.  Of  the  sons, 
Henry  R.,  entered  the  regular  array  after  the 
close  of  the  war,  and  was  discharged  in  1872. 

Franklin  J.  Houghton  was  educated  in  the 
public  schools.  At  the  age  of  eleven  years  he 
left  home  and  began  boating.  In  1864  he 
joined  Co.  D,  89th  regiment,  N.  Y.  Vol.  Inf., 
and  served  until  sickness  compelled  his  dis- 
charge. Upon  leaving  the  service  and  recover- 
ing his  health  he  worked  at  day  laboring  until 
1867.  One  year  later  he  came  to  Chautauqua 
county  and  located  in  South  Ripley,  where  he 
still  lives  upon  a  farm  containing  fifty-five 
acres  of  fine  land.  Mr.  Houghton  is  a  prohi- 
bitionist, having  changed  from  the  Democratic 
party  some  years  ago.  He  has  served  as  jus- 
tice of  the  peace  for  four  years,  and  was  post- 
master at  South  Ripley  for  two  years. 

On  September  9,  1869,  he  married  Harriet 
E.  Chace,  daughter  of  James  Chace,  of  Miua, 
and  their  union  has  resulted  in  the  birth  of 
two  daughters :  Gertrude,  who  married  Fred 
Rundell,  of  Mina,  and  has  one  child,  Harriet ; 
and  Fannie  E.,  now  attending  school. 

F.  J.  Houghton  is  a  gentleman  who  makes 
many  friends  and  possesses  characteristics  that 
retains  them. 


TA  William  B.  Y0UX(;  has  been  a  resident 
of  Chautauqua  county  for  nearly  three- 
quarters  of  a  century,  and  his  fund  of  reminis- 
(•enees,  if  (•omi)iled  and  placed  iu  book  forn), 
would  make  an  interesting  volume.  He  is  a 
.son  of  Charles  P.  and  Rebecca  (Higbee)  Young, 
and  was  born  in  the  town  of  Chautauqua,  Chau- 
tauqua county.  New  York,  August  29,  1817. 
Joseph  Young,  the  grandfather  of  subject,  was 
a  native  of  Long  Island,  this  State.  He  was 
an  accomplished  cabinetmaker  and  joiner,  which 
he    followed    after    his    removal    to    Herkimer 


OF  CHAUTAUQUA   COUNTY. 


435 


county.  He  was  twice  married,  first  to  Chloe 
Griswold,  and  later  to  Elizabeth  Short,  both  of 
whom  bore  him  a  total  of  fourteen  children. 
They  have  all  passed  away  excepting  one,  a 
child  by  his  last  wife.  All  lived  to  an  advanced 
age,  longevity  being  a  family  trait.  He  was  a 
member  of  the  ]\Iethodist  chiircii  and  died  in 
1837.  Sylvester  Highee  (maternal  grandfather) 
came  from  Connecticut  to  the  town  of  Eilery, 
where  he  died,  was  a  deacon  in  the  Baptist 
church  and  a  whig.  His  wife  was  Esther  Hines, 
by  whom  he  reared  fourteen  children.  Charles 
P.  Young  (father)  was  born  in  1790  at  Killing- 
worth,  Ot)nn.,  and  after  a  brief  residence  in  both 
Herkimer  and  St.  Lawrence  counties  he  came 
to  Chautauqua  town  in  1812  and  settled  a  .short 
distance  from  Mayville,  but  in  183G  he  moved 
over  into  Westfield,  and  again,  in  184.5,  into 
Ripley,  where  he  has  since  lived.  His  son, 
William,  bought  a  farm  of  seventy  one  acres, 
upon  which  it  is  supposed  an  Indian  fort  had 
stood.  From  graves  and  mounds  Mr.  Young 
secured  a  collection  of  Indian  relics  of  extra- 
ordinary value.  He  was  a  democrat  and  served 
the  town  of  Chautauqua  two  terms  as  justice  of 
the  peace.  He  was  a  prominent  member  of  the 
Methodist  church,  and  helped  to  organize  the 
first  M.  E.  society  at  Mayville,  being  the  record- 
ing steward.  He  was  also  a  soldier  in  the  War 
of  1812.  He  married,  first  Rebecca  Higbee, 
and  had  eight  children  who  grew  to  maturity, 
but  all  are  now  dead,  except  four :  Julia,  mar- 
ried Harmon  C.  Wade,  a  farmer  at  Madison, 
Ohio  ;  Maria  L.,  lives  in  Riple}',  and  is  the  wife 
of  Philip  A.  Rice,  who  was  formerly  a  wagon- 
maker  but  is  now  a  farmer  ;  Rebecca  H.,  widow 
of  Samuel  P.  Howard  ;  and  William  B.  For 
his  second  wife  he  united  in  marriage  with  Polly 
Hammond.     He  died  on  January  8,  1883. 

William  B.  Young  was  reared  on  his  father's 
farm,  and  being  the  oldest  son  was  accorded  but 
poor  educational  advantages,  his  services  being 
needed  at  home.  Through  many  adversities  he 
managed    to    acquire    enough,    coupled    to    his 


natural  bright  intellect,  to  carry  him  succe.ssfully 
through  life,  and  then  learned  the  carpenter's 
trade,  at  which  he  worked  until  184(i.  He  re- 
built a  .saw-mill,  and  operated  it  for  twenty-five 
years  while  timber  was  i)lentiful,  and  then  dis- 
posing of  it  ho  engaged  in  farming  and  growing 
grai)es  which  lie  has  since  pursued.  The  prop- 
erty is  beautifully  located  on  the  shore  of  I>ake 
Erie,  and  includes  a  vineyard  of  seven  and  one- 
half  acres. 

On  December  2o,  184G,  he  married  Julia 
Beadle,  a  daughter  of  Hoel  Beadle,  who  was 
born  Mareli  20,  1820,  and  died  May  10,  1888. 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Young  are  the  parents  of  three 
children,  one  son  and  two  daughters:  Julia  A,, 
born  July  12,  1849,  married  Edwin  M.  Conley, 
who  is  a  prosperous  and  well-known  farmer  in 
the  town  of  Ripley — they  have  one  .son,  Charles, 
and  two  daughters,  Bessie  and  Julia  ;  Mary  S., 
born  January  27,  18-54;  and  William  A.,  born 
June  4,  1859. 

W.  B.  Young  has  seen  many  changes  in  this 
great  county.  The  first  census  taken  after  his 
advent  into  the  county  showed  a  population  of 
twelve  thousand,  five  hundred  and  sixty-eight 
souls;  to-day  it  probably  exceeds  ten  times  that 
number ;  then  the  traveler  found  himself  sur- 
rounded by  almost  boundless  forests,  bumping 
over  rough  and  muddy  roads  with  only  the 
comforts  of  an  old  springless  .stage-coach  ;  to- 
day he  can  glide  through  the  broad  acres  of  fine 
farms  ou  rails  as  smooth  as  a  glare  of  ice,  enjoy- 
ing the  luxtu'ies  scarcely  afforded  by  the  finest 
palaces.  Education  has  taken  the  place  of 
ignorance,  and  many  virtues  have  superseded 
old-time  vices.  Mr.  Young  is  a  democrat  and 
served  as  excise  corami.ssioner  for  three  years. 
He  is  a  genial  and  entertaining  old  gentleman, 
and  to  visit  him  is  a  pleasure. 


JOSEPH  ABBOTT  is  one  of  the  respected 

^^  citizens  and  progressive  men  of  Hanover 
town,  Chautau(]ua  county,  New  York ;  his 
parents  were  Stephen  and  Lois  (Spalding)  Ab- 


436 


BIOGBAPHY  AND  HISTORY 


bott.  He  was  boru  in  the  town  of  Edmeston, 
Otsego  county,  Xew  York,  October  24,  1818. 
Mr.  Abbott's  graudfatber  was  also  a  native  of 
New  York  State,  and  spent  his  last  days  at 
Bullstown,  Saratoga  county.  Grandfather  Levi 
Spalding  was,  liowever,  born  in  the  State  of 
New  Hampshire,  and  emigrated  to  New  York 
State,  Otsego  county,  just  prior  to  his  death  at 
the  advanced  age  of  ninety  years.  He  followed 
farming  for  a  livelihood,  and  during  the  war  , 
of  the  Revolution  served  as  a  ca])tain  in  the  [ 
colonial  army  under  General  Washington.  His 
ancestors  were  of  English  birth.  Stephen  Ab- 
bott was  born  in  Saratoga  county,  New  York, 
and  died  in  Chautauqua  county,  August  16, 
1864,  at  the  age  of  seventy-eight  years.  By 
occupation  he  was  a  farmer ;  in  religion  an 
active  member  of  the  Baptist  church,  and  in 
politics  a  Jeffersonian  democrat.  His  wife, 
Lois  Spalding,  bore  him  eight  children,  four 
boys  and  four  girls  :  Stephen  Abbott,  Jr.,  died 
July  1.3,  1891,  at  the  age  of  eighty-two  years; 
David  G.,  died  in  June,  1886,  aged  seventy 
years;  Andrew,  died  1838,  aged  thirteen  years; 
Ami,  Mary,  Phcebe  and  Joseph,  now  living. 

Joseph  ^Vbbott  acquired  his  education  through 
the  common  schools,  and  in  youtii  and  early 
manhood  labored  upon  the  farm.  This  he  con-  j 
tinuod  to  pursue,  and  has  been  practically  a 
life-long  farmer  and  stock-raiser;  to  the  latter 
interest  he  has  devoted  considerable  time.  He 
came  to  the  town  of  Hanover,  Chautauqua 
county,  in  February,  1865,  purchased  a  tract 
of  one  hundred  and  twenty-five  acres  of  land, 
and  on  this  he  has  built,  made  improvements 
and  lived  ever  since. 

Joseph  Abbott  was  united  in  the  bonds  of 
matrimony  to  Miss  Ruth  Cooper,  wiio  bore 
him  three  children:  Frank  J.  (married  to  Arlie 
Brown),  a  farmer  and  stock-dealer  residing  at 
Nashville,  Ciiautauqua  county,  New  York ;  ; 
they  have  one  son, — Julian  B.  Ai)bott,  born 
April  25,  1890;  Evan  C.  (married  to  Lotta 
Pratt)  now  lives  with  subject,  and   is  a  lawyer 


by  profession,  having,  besides  reading  law^ 
been  graduated  from  the  Albany  Law  School 
in  1888  ;  Mary  R.  lives  M'ith  her  parents  at 
home. 

Joseph  Abbott's  political  connections  have 
always  been  with  the  Democratic  party,  at  the 
hands  of  whicii  he  has  served  as  highway  com- 
missioner for  a  number  of  years.  He  was  also 
elected  to  the  office  of  magistrate  for  the  town 
of  Villanova,  but  did  not  assume  the  functions 
of  that  office.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Equita- 
ble Aid  Union.  Mr.  Abbott  has  a  comfortable 
home,  lives  a  quiet,  contented  life,  and  enjoys 
the  highest  confidence  of  his  neighbors.  His 
demeanor  toward  those  with  whom  he  meets  is 
kindly  and  pleasant,  while  he  is  still  firm  and 
resolute  when  occasion  so  demands. 


TA^IES  H.  SHAVER,  an  active  and  ener- 
^^  getic  citizen  of  Ripley,  New  York,  is  a 
son  of  John  and  Huldia  (Hempstead)  Shaver,, 
and  was  born  in  the  village  of  Ripley,  Chau- 
tauqua county,  New  York,  October  IGth,  1836. 
He  was  of  Dutch  extraction,  his  ancestors  be- 
longing to  the  early  Knickerbocker  families  of 
eastern  New  York,  whence  they  had  come  from 
Holland.  His  great-grandfather,  Frederick 
Shaver,  lived  during  his  life-time  in  the  Mo- 
hawk valley,  while  his  son,  Henry  J.  Sliaver, 
grandfather  of  James  IL,  emigrated  to  Chau- 
tauqua county  in  the  year  1812,  where  he 
passed  his  life  and  died.  He  was  possessed  of 
considerable  real  estate,  voted  with  the  Whig 
party  and  was  four  times  married.  His  uncle, 
Calvin  Hempstead,  was  a  resident  of  Oneida 
county,  near  Rome,  the  greater  jiart  of  his 
life,  and  still  lives  in  Walworth  county, 
Wisconsin,  aged  nearly  ninety-three  years  and 
is  enjoying  good  health.  He  was  a  com- 
bined farmer  and  jtidnccr  lay  ])rearher  of  the 
Methodist  Episcopal  ciuirch,  in  wliicli  latter 
capacity  he  e.xertcd  a  wide  inliucnce  in  that 
early  day,  organizing  eluuciies  and  generally 
promoting  the  cause  of  religion.     John  Shaver, 


OF  CHAUTAUQUA   COUNTY. 


437 


father  of  subject,  was  born  in  the  Mohawk  valley 
in  the  year  1796  and  died  in  1843.  He  early 
removed  to  Chautauquii  county  and  plied  his 
trade  of  coopering,  turning  out  the  first  butter 
firkins  ever  made  in  the  county.  His  political 
views  were  democratic;  liis  religious  views 
those  of  the  ]\[ethodist  Ei)iscopal  church.  His 
marriage  with  Miss  Huldia  Hempstead  resulted 
in  the  birth  of  three  children  :  Henry  J.,  a 
soldier  in  the  late  civil  war  from  the  State  of 
Wisconsin,  where  he  now  resides  ;  Fanny  (dead), 
wife  of  James  Lewis;  and  James  H. 

James  H.  Shaver  benefited  by  the  common 
schools  of  his  day  and  then  learned  the  trade  of 
carriage  blacksmithiug.  At  the  outbreak  of 
the  civil  war,  in  1861,  he  entered  the  4th  regi- 
ment Wisconsin  Volunteers  for  three  months. 
He  was  wounded  at  the  battle  of  Manassas,  but 
this  did  not  deter  him  from  re-enlisting.  This 
he  did  and  served  three  years  longer  in  the 
Army  of  the  Potomac  and  under  Gen.  Butler  at 
New  Orleans.   . 

James  H.  Shaver  was  united  in  marriage  to 
Miss  Catherine,  daughter  of  Robert  and  Ma- 
hala  (Beaman)  Melhuish.  (Mr.  Melhuish  was 
a  native  of  England,  emigrated  to  America 
when  about  twelve  years  of  age  and  first  located 
in  Wyoming  county,  Pa.  He  sub.sequently  re- 
moved to  Ripley,  Chautauqua  county,  New 
York,  engaged  in  farming  and  there  spent  his 
declining  years.  He  had  a  family  of  two  sons 
and  four  daughters.)  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Shaver 
have  two  sons  :  Ulysses  Grant,  married  to  May 
Bean  and  now  lives  in  Wisconsin — a  station 
agent ;  and  John  E.,  at  home,  a  telegraph  oper- 
ator by  profession. 

Ever  since  the  war  Mr.  Siiaver's  health  has 
been  very  much  impaired.  He  is  a  democrat 
politically  and  a  regular  member  of  the  Metho- 
dist Episcopal  church. 


Q'TEPHEX  H.  YOKK,  a  man  who  has  been 
*^  variously  and  extensively  engaged  in  busi- 
ness pui 


irsuits  in  the  town  of  Hanover,  is  a  son 


of  Warren  D.  and  Sarah  (Crumb)  York.  The 
date  of  his  birth  is  December  12,  1840,  and  the 
]>lace  Brookfield,  Madison  county,  New  York. 
His  grandfather,  Yeomans  York,  belonged  to 
an  old  Revolutionary  family  of  Connecticut, 
where  he  was  born  and  from  whence  he  emi- 
grated to  the  State  of  New  York.  Upon  his 
arrival  in  New  York  State  he  took  up  his  resi- 
dence in  Brookfield,  Madison  county,  where  he 
died  in  the  year  1860  at  the  age  of  ninety-three 
years.  He  cast  his  vote  with  the  Whig  and 
Republican  parties  and  religiously  affiliated  with 
the  Baptist  denomination.  His  brothers,  who 
were  all  older  than  himself,  enlisted  and 
served  in  the  Revolutionary  war.  Pie  was 
twice  married  ;  first  to  Miss  Rogers,  by  wliom 
he  had  two  children  ;  his  second  wife  was  Miss 
Catherine  Collins,  who  bore  him  a  family  of 
seven  children — six  boys  and  one  girl.  Warren 
D.  York,  father  of  subject,  was  born  in  iladi- 
son  county.  New  York,  in  the  year  1819,  and 
is  still  living  at  Barnston,  Nebraska.  He  emi- 
grated to  Chautauqua  county,  New  York,  and 
settled  in  the  town  of  Hanover  in  1868;  here 
he  engaged  in  the  manufacture  of  cheese  until 
1885,  when  he  went  to  the  State  of  Nebraska. 
He  was  a  republican  and  filled  the  office  of  as- 
sessor in  his  town  for  two  terms.  His  wife, 
who  is  still  living,  at  the  age  of  seventy-two 
years,  bore  him  a  family  of  six  children — four 
boys  and  two  girls — all  living:  Stephen  H. 
(subject),  oldest ;  Lewis,  a  farmer,  now  living 
in  Nebraska ;  Warren  Y.,  also  a  farmer,  living 
in  Nebraska,  a  partner  with  his  brother  in  the 
manufacture  of  cheese ;  Selah,  who  lives  at 
Unadilla,  Otsego  county,  and  is  engaged  in  the 
manufacture  of  butter  and  cheese;  Lucy,  wife 
of  George  Crumb,  of  Madison  county,  N.  Y.; 
and  Eliza,  married  to  Frank  H.  Morrison,  of 
Dallas,  Oregon. 

Stephen  H.  York,  on  January  7,  1866,  was 
united  in  marriage  to  Josephine  Ramsdell,  a 
daughter  of  John  Ramsdell,  of  Madison  county. 
New  York. 


438 


BIOGRAPHY  AND  HISTORY 


He  was  educated  in  the  common  schools  and 
academy,  and,  like  many  other  successful  men, 
gained  a  good  physical  basis  for  his  after  career 
by  working  upon  a  farm.  His  farming  expe- 
rience, however,  lasted  only  three  years  when 
he  abandoned  it  and  went  into  the  manufacture 
of  cheese,  wagons  and  lumber  at  Forestville. 
under  the  firm-name  of  House  &  York.  He 
remained  in  that  business  about  a  year,  when  he 
I'etired  from  the  firm  and  joining  with  his 
father,  went  into  the  same  business,  which,  under 
tiie  latter  management,  became  successful  and 
lucrative.  In  1873  he  sold  his  interest  in  the 
manufacturing  enterprises  and  engaged  in  mer- 
cantile pursuits  at  Villanova,  under  the  firm- 
name  of  Maples  &  York,  but  at  the  expiration 
of  three  years  returned  to  Forestville  and  again 
engaged  in  the  lumber  business  in  conjunction 
with  his  cousin.  Three  years  was  the  limit  in 
this  business  also,  and  in  the  spring  of  1881  he 
removed  to  Smith's  ^liils,  built  a  large  store- 
I'oom  and  again  engaged  in  merchandising, 
which  now  claims  his  attention.  Mr.  York  has 
been  a  life-long  republican,  an  earnest  advocate 
of  its  principles,  and  has  been  called  to  fill  the 
offlccsof  collector  and  town-clerk  under  its  juris- 
diction, the  latter  of  which  offices  he  has  held 
continuously  since  1885.  He  is  a  member  of 
the  Equitable  Aid  Union.  Mr.  York  is  a 
pleasant,  agreeable  man  in  his  general  demeanor, 
possessed  of  good  business  (qualifications  and  a 
laudable  ambition. 


FRANCIS  aiAY.  If  we  were  to  select  an 
example  of  what  a  fixed  purpose  and 
determination  will  accomplish ;  if  we  wanted 
to  point  out  to  the  youth  of  Dunkirk  one  who 
had  begun  at  the  very  bottom  of  the  ladder 
and  in  fifty-six  years  had  reached  pretty  well 
towards  the  top ;  if  a  boy,  poor  in  pocket,  de- 
sired wealth  and  would  say,  "  Wiio  shall  I 
emulate ".' "  wc  would  say  the  man  whose  name 
heads  this  article,  Francis  May,  tiie  sou  of 
Francis,  Sr.,  and  Saraii  (McMuim)  May,  wiio 


was  born  in  County  Sligo,  Ireland,  March  26, 
1835.  Francis  May,  Sr.,  was  a  son  of  the 
Emerald  Isle,  and  was  a  farmer  in  the  histori- 
cal county  where  his  son  was  born.  He  was  a 
stirring,  energetic  business  man,  and  a  member 
of  the  Catholic  church.  He  married  Sarah 
j\Ic]\Iuun,  who,  although  born  in  the  same 
county  with  her  husband,  belonged  to  the  Epis- 
copal church.  She  was  a  woman  of  ability,  and 
to  his  vigorous  parents  the  son  is  indebted  for 
the  traits  which  secured  him  his  wealth. 

Francis  May  was  reared  in  County  Sligo, 
and  was  educated  at  a  private  school.  When 
seventeen  years  of  age  he  came  to  America,  first 
stopping  at  Piermont,  New  York,  where  he  got 
the  job  of  water-boy  at  a  quarry,  which  he  held 
for  six  months,  and  was  then  promoted,  if  it 
may  be  called  such,  to  blowing  the  bellows  for 
the  blacksmith,  which  he  did  for  a  year  longer. 
He  came  to  Dunkirk,  getting  work  as  a  laborer 
on  the  docks.  A  year  or  so  later  saw  him  doing 
the  same  work  in  the  freight  house  of  the  Erie 
railway,  remaining  in  the  employ  of  that  com- 
pany for  eighteen  years,  and  advancing  to  the 
position  of  foreman  of  the  local  freight  house. 
After  the  Erie  docks  were  transferred  to  Buffalo 
he  left  the  company  and  was  a  clerk  in  the  bank 
of  H.  J.  Miner  &  Co.  Succeeding  this  he  en- 
gaged in  the  flour  and  feed  business,  which  is 
being  continued  to  this  day.  In  1882,  with 
other  moneyed  men  of  Dunkirk,  he  organized 
the  Merchants  National  Bank,  and  is  now  one 
of  the  directors.  He  is  largely  interested  in 
the  .street  railway  .sy.stem,  being  the  second  lar- 
gest stockholder  in  the  Dunkirk  and  Fredonia 
Electric  I'ailway.  Politically  a  deriKxirat,  lie 
served  eleven  years  as  a  member  of  the  school 
board,  and  is  a  member  of  the  Catholic  church. 
Mr.  May  is  an  active,  wide-awake  citi/cn,  and 
takes  an  enthusiastic  interest  in  cvcrvthins:  to 
enhance  the  welfare  of  Dunkirk,  in  which  he 
owns  considerable  real  estate. 


OF  CHAUTAUQUA   COUNTY. 


439 


▼pHOMAS  H.  ROUIOltTS,  a  leading  farmer  ! 
*•      and  grapu  cultuiist  of  tlie  town  of  Han- 
over, is  a  son  of  William  and  Filura  (Harmon)  j 
Roberts  and  was  horn   in  the  town  of  Pomfret, 
County  of  Chantau(]iia,    .State    of  New  York, 
January  31,  1831.     His  ancestors  were  of  New 
England  birth,  his  paternal  grandfather  being 
a    native  of  the    State  of  Vermont,   in    which 
State  he  passed  his  life  and  reared  his  family. 
Grandfather,  Minor  Roberts,  was  by  occupation 
a  carpenter  and  joiner.     He  united  in  marriage 
with  a  Miss  Smith,  who  bore  him   seven  chil- 
dren, five  boys  and  two  girls.    William  Roberts 
migrated    into    Chautauqua    county    from    the 
State  of  Vermont  in   1817,  and  located  in  the 
town  of  Pomfret.     He  purchased  a  farm  here 
from  the  Holland   Land  company,  and  devoted 
himself  to  its  cultivation.     Considerably  later 
(in  1844)  he  changed  his  fortunes  to  Kalamazoo 
county,  Michigan,  where  he  likewise  (ingaged 
in  farming.     During  the  war  of  1812,  he  went 
into  the    service  as    a   substitute   for    Captain 
Martin.     In   politics  lie  belonged  to   the  pre- 
dominant party  of  his  time,  the  Whig  party ; 
while  in  matters  of  religion,  he  was  a  member 
of  and  strongly  attached  to  the  teachings  and 
theology   of  the    Methodist   Episcopal   church. 
His  first  wife  was  a  daughter  of  Luther  Har- 
mon, of  the  towu  of  Pomfret,  whither  he  had  come 
from  Vermont,  the  State  of  his  nativity.     His 
arrival  in  Chautauqua  county  was  cotempora- 
neous  with  that  of  grandfather  Roberts.     Wil- 
liam   Roberts   (father)  and    his  wife  were  the 
parents  of  nine  children,   eight  boys  and  one 
girl ;  Thomas  H.  being  the  youngest.     Joseph 
H.,  another  son,  entered  the  civil   war  at  the 
first  call  of  President  Lincoln   for  troops,  en- 
listing  in    4th   reoiment    Michifflui    Volunteer 
Infantry,  as  first  lieutenant.  He  served  through- 
out the   entire  war  with  honor  and  distinction, 
being  with  Gen.  Butler  at  New  Orleans  and 
other  famous  campaigns.     His  death  occurred 
in  1883. 

Thomas  H.   Roberts'  education   was  limited 


to  the  common  schools,  which  at  that  time,  held 
out  to  the  youth  comparatively  poor  advantages. 
Starting  with  such  education  as  they  did  give, 
he  began  the  struggle  of  life  upon  a  farm. 
This  he  soon  relincjuished  and  engaged  his  ser- 
vices to  a  railroad  company,  with  the  view  to 
becoming  a  locomotive  engineer.  After  acquir- 
ing skill  and  confidence  in  the  management  of 
a  locomotive,  he  accepted  a  position  on  the 
Illinois  Central,  which  he  continued  to  hold 
until  the  date  of  his  marriage.  After  this  he 
went  into  farming  at  Milford  near  Fredonia, 
New  York,  where  he  remained  until  the  autumn 
of  1865,  when  he  removed  to  the  town  of  Han- 
over and  bought  his  present  farm.  Mr.  Roberts' 
farm  consists  of  one  hundred  acres  of  well 
improved  and  highly  productive  land,  twelve 
acres  of  which  are  under  grape  culture.  He 
has  a  pleasant  home  with  beautiful  surround- 
ings and  lives  a  contented  life.  In  June  of 
1863  he  entered  the  service  of  the  Union  army 
in  Co.  A.,  68th  regiment,  New  York  Volunteer 
Infantry,  and  served  three  years.  He  has  also 
served  a  period  of  seven  years  in  the  New  York 
State  militia. 

In  June,  1860,  Thomas  H.  Roberts  first 
entered  into  marriage  bonds  with  Martha  Jane 
Clark,  daughter  of  John  E.  and  Louise  Clark; 
and  subsequent  to  her  decease,  with  Helen 
Bunce,  who  bore  him  three  children :  Myram 
H.,  Harley  H.,  dead,  and  Roy. 

His  first  vote  was  cast  as  a  whig  for  General 

j  Wiufield  Scott.     He  afterward  affiliated  with 

the  Republican  party  and  has  been  its  devotee 

ever  since.     He  is  a  member  of  the  Methodist 

Episcopal  church  and  of  the  A.  O.  U.  W.  and 

the  G.  A.  R. 

© 

"toEXJAMIX  CASSEL3IAX,  a  prominent 
-^^  farmer  and  good  citizen  of  the  town  of 
EUery,  Chautauqua  county,  New  York,  is  a  sou 
of  Jonas  and  Sarah  (Horn)  Casselman,  and  was 
born  at  INIohawk  Flats,  New  York  August  22, 
>  1820.      He    is   of    Teutonic   ancestry,    whose 


440 


BIOGRAPHY  AND  HISTORY 


grandfather,  Jonas  Casselman,  was  born  in  Ger- 
many, emigrated  to  the  United  States  and  set- 
tled in  Schenectady  county,  New  York.  At  the 
time  of  his  emigration  he  was  accompanied  by 
his  two  brothers,  one  of  whom  located  in  the 
Dominion  of  Canada  and  the  other  at  Utica, 
New  York.  Jonas  Casselman  (grandfather) 
was  a  farmer  by  occupation  and  a  member  of 
the  Dutch  Reformed  church.  He  was  married 
in  his  native  land  and  had  a  family  of  three 
children.  Jonas  Casselman  (fether  of  subject) 
was  a  native  of  New  Y'^ork  State.  In  early  life 
he  worked  at  various  occupations,  but  devoted 
the  greater  part  of  his  life  to  agriculture.  He 
was  united  in  marriage  to  Miss  Sarah  Horn  and 
became  the  father  of  thirteen  children — five 
boys  and  eight  girls.  His  political  support  was 
given  to  the  Whig  party  during  its  life-time, 
and,  subsequent  to  its  demise,  to  its  successor, 
the  Republican  party.  He  was  a  member  of 
the  Lutheran  church,  where  both  he  and  his 
family  were  regular  attendants. 

Benjamin  Casselman  attended  the  common 
schools,  apprenticed  himself  to  a  carpenter  and 
joiner  and  learned  that  trade,  at  which  he 
worked  for  some  time,  and  finally  purchased  a 
farm  of  two  hundred  and  fifteen  acres  near  Be- 
mus'  Point,  Chautauqua  county,  New  York. 
To  the  improvement  and  cultivation  of  this 
farm  he  has  since  devoted  himself,  and  has  now 
made  it  one  of  the  best  kept  and  most  attrac- 
tive places  in  the  town  of  Ellery. 

On  Septcmi)er  1, 1842,  he  was  joined  in  mar- 
riage to  Miss  Melissa  Wheeler,  by  whom  he 
had  nine  children :  Cassius  E.,  a  carpenter  and 
joiner  by  trade,  living  in  the  town  of  Chautau- 
qua, New  York;  Emma  J.,  wife  of  Charles 
Manley,  who  resides  at  French  Creek  and  is 
engaged  in  the  grocery  business;  Cenath  A., 
married  to  Andrew  Aikens,  of  Jamestown, 
New  York;  Eleanor  F.,  married  to  Alman 
Coni,  a  resident  of  Clymer  and  a  cooper  by  oc- 
cupation ;  Benjamin  F.,  married  to  Sarah  Jack- 
son and  now  living  at  Jamestown,  New  York, 


where  he  works  at  the  carpenter  and  joiner's 
trade  ;  Helen  A.,  wife  of  A.  Tenet,  of  James- 
town, New  York,  a  farmer  ;  Lydia  M.,  mar- 
ried to  John  Kady,  a  blacksmith  living  in  Co- 
lumbus, State  of  Pennsylvania;  Orville  C, 
married  to  Mattie  Simmons,  and  now  a  resident 
of  Jamestown,  engaged  in  the  carpentering 
trade;  and  Charles  H.  Casselman,  living  in 
the  town  of  Ellery,  a  farmer. 

Mr.  Casselman  is  a  member  of  the  Grange 
and  is  in  every  sense  a  model  farmer.  He 
keeps  fully  abreast  of  the  times  and  is  an  intel- 
ligent reader  upon  all  subjects  relating  to  the 
field  of  agriculture. 


C'OLOMO>"  B.  NORTHAM.     One  of  Rip- 

'*^  ley's  venerable  farmer  citizens,  now  nearly 
an  octogenarian,  is  a  son  of  Solomon  and  An- 
struss  (Jenkins)  Northam,  and  was  born  at  Fort 
Ann,  Washington  county,  New  Y'ork,  May  28, 
1814.  The  Northam  family  was  a  familiar  one 
in  Connecticut  during  the  early  half  of  the 
eighteenth  century,  grandfather  Ebenezer 
Northam  having  been  born  at  Colchester,  that 
State,  in  the  month  of  August,  1760.  When 
the  fertility  of  the  western  lands  was  being 
heralded  throughout  New  England  he  gathered 
his  family  and  effects  about  him,  and  with  a 
team  and  covered  wagon  started  through  the 
semi-settled  regions  of  western  Connecticut  and, 
although  the  roads  were  rough  he  kept  on  up 
into  the  wild  and  almost  unknown  county  of 
Washington,  and  made  a  temporary  residence  at 
Fort  Ann,  New  Y'^ork,  then  pushed  on,  about 
1825,  to  Ripley,  this  county.  He  subdued  tiie 
forests  and  made  grain  to  grow  from  xAJiich 
with  other  agricultural  jirodticts  lie  gained  his 
livelihood.  Ebenezer  Northam  married  Rachel 
Bascom,  a  native  of  Connecticut,  born  in  Leb- 
anon, January  22,  1758,  and  they  roared  a 
family  of  five  sons,  the  eldest  l)cing  Solomon 
Northam  (father).  He  was  a'  member  of  the 
Universalist  church  and  of  the  Jelfersonian 
l)arty.     The  maternal  grandfather  was   iVbiah 


OF  CHAUTAUQUA  COUNTY. 


441 


Jenkins,  also  a  native  of  Connecticut,  from 
vvliicii  lie  emicrrated  to  Jefferson  county, 
where  he  died  after  farming  for  a  number  of 
years.  He  was  a  member  of  the  baptist 
church.  Solomon  Nortliam  was  born  on  the 
16th  of  November,  1780,  while  his  parents 
were  living  in  Washington  county.  In  1825  he 
started  westward  and  ari'ived  at  Ripley  in  1825, 
settling  west  of  the  village.  This  place  he 
made  his  home  for  eleven  years  following  farm- 
ing and  land  surveying,  doing  a  considerable  of 
the  latter  for  the  Holland  Land  company  and 
then  moved  over  into  Westfield  town  where  he 
farmed  until  1858,  and  died  October  3rd  of 
that  year.  The  Democratic  party  furuished  the 
principles  of  his  idea  for  good  government  and 
he  heartily  supported  its  platform,  filling  the 
office  of  justice  of  the  peace  and  some  minor  , 
town  offices.  Solomon  Northam  was  a  valorous 
and  patriotic  man.  When  the  tocsin  of  war  was 
sounded  on  the  19th  of  June,  1812,  he  re- 
sponded to  the  first  call  of  President  Madison 
for  twenty-five  thousand  men  and  served  with 
credit.  He  married  Anstruss  Jenkins,  for  his 
first  wife  and  she  bore  him  one  child,  Solomon 
(subject).  She  was  born  June  13,  1784,  and 
died  October  7,  1817.  In  1821  he  married  for 
his  second  wife  Jane  Hopkins,  who  was  born  in 
Washington  county,  March  3,  1792.  They  had 
five  children:  Jane,  born  September  10,  1822; 
Wallace,  born  September  4,  1825;  Emmett, 
born  November  16,  1828 ;  Curran,  born  in 
October,  1830,  now  lives  on  the  old  homestead 
in  the  town  of  Westfield  ;  and  Mary,  born  in 
1833. 

Solomon  B.  Northam  received  a  good  educa- 
tion at  the  district  schools  and  other  places  of 
learning  and  began  life  as  a  farmer,  working 
shares.  He  has  had  a  varied  business  experi- 
ence. Beginning  as  a  tanner  he  changed  to 
merchandising  which  he  followed  in  Kipley  for 
fourteen  years,  holding  a  commission  as  post- 
master at  the  same  time.  Then  he  bought  a 
farm  adjoining  his  present  residence  and    for 


some  years  has  given  attention  to  that  business, 
but  is  now  growing  grapes  exclusively. 

Solomon  B.  Northam  has  been  twice  married  ; 
first  to  Mary  Ann  ^\'ood  and  then  after  her 
death  to  Louise  Brayton,  a  daughter  of  Samuel 
Bray  ton. 

Conceding  that  parties  are  necessary  in  the 
conduct  of  our  form  of  government.  Demo- 
cratic princijjles  more  fully  meet  his  views  and 
he  identifies  himself  with  them,  wiiile  the  dog- 
mas of  the  Universalist  church  are  in  accord 
with  his  ideas  of  true  Christianity. 


FRAXK  G.  SPEXCER,  the  only  son  of 
Gilbert  and  Eveline  (Gay)  Spencer,  is  a 
prominent  grape  grower  of  the  town  of  Ripley. 
His  vineyard  is  forty  acres  in  extent.  He  was 
born  near  the  banks  of  historic  Lake  Erie, 
upon  which  waters  Commodore  Perry,  Septem- 
ber 10,  1813,  gained  his  world-renowned  vic- 
tory over  Barclay,  November  6,  1837,  the  pre- 
cise location  being  about  one  and  one-half  miles 
northeast  of  the  village  of  North  East,  in  Erie 
county,  Pennsylvania.  His  grandfather  was 
Orange  Spencer,  who  came  to  Chautauqua 
county  and  settled  in  Sherman  prior  to  1827. 
He  was  born  in  Otsego  county,  this  State,  July 
30,  1765.  As  may  be  inferred  from  the  date 
of  his  coming,  he  was  one  of  the  first  settlers  in 
the  town  mentioned  and  took  up  a  large  tract 
of  land  and  upon  it  built  the  first  grist-mill  in 
that  section.  The  second  saw-mill  erected  also 
belonged  to  him,  which  lie  operated  in  partner- 
ship with  his  son-in-law,  Eliab  Skeels.  Orange 
Spencer  was  an  ordained  Baptist  minister,  and 
on  August  29,  1827,  he  organized  the  first  Bap- 
tist church  of  Sherman  with  thirty  members. 
He  was  the  first  minister  that  ever  preached  in 
Sherman  and  officiated  as  the  first  pastor  to  the 
church  he  organized.  They  held  their  meetings 
from  house  to  house  and  in  the  school-houses 
until  1842.  In  1844  the  charge  dedicated  their 
new  meeting-house.  Orange  Spencer  is  said  to 
have  been  a  man  of  great  spiritual  power  and 


442 


BIOOBAPHY  AND  HISTORY 


m 


preached  with  fervency  that  attracted  admira- 
tion and  carried  conviction.  In  1830  he  re- 
moved to  North  East,  Pa.,  where  he  also  organ- 
ized a  congregation.  When  a  very  young  man 
he  entered  the  Colonial  army  and  served  in  the 
Revolutionary  war.  He  was  a  follower  of 
Hamilton  and  Adams  in  politics,  and  died 
January  10th,  1843,  in  North  East,  Pa.  His 
wife  was  a  Miss  Bostick,  who  left  at  her  death 
four  sons  and  two  daughters,  The  maternal 
grandfather  was  Rodolphus  Gay,  of  Herkimer 
county,  N.  Y.  Gilbert  Si)encer  was  born  in 
Otsego  county,  this  State,  in  1804,  and  came  to 
Chautauqua  county  while  in  the  prime  of  life. 
He  followed  agricultural  pursuits,  and  later 
moved  to  North  East,  Pa.,  where  he  died  in 
1876,  aged  seventy-two  years.  The  Repub- 
lican party  entered  the  field  for  public  favor 
wiiile  Mr.  Spencer  was  in  the  vigor  of  his  man-  i 
hood  and  he  allied  himself  with  it.  Prior  to 
its  inception  his  politics  are  not  mentioned. 
Early  in  life  he  joined  the  church  that  his  father 
did  so  much  to  strengthen,  and  remained  its 
votary  throughout  his  life.  He  married  Eve- 
line Gay  October  30,  1825.  She  is  yet  living, 
aged  eighty-two  years,  in  the  home  her  husband 
left  at  North  East.  Mrs.  Spencer  brought  to 
her  husband  two  sons,  Frank  G.  and  Loomis 
B.,  who  died  at  the  age  of  seven  months,  and 
four  daughters,  Sarah  A.,  first  married  Jeffer- 
son Henshaw  (now  dead),  and  is  now  the  wife 
of  Milton  Munson,  a  prospei'ous  farmer  living 
in  the  town  of  Portland ;  Cordelia  is  the  wife 
of  Harry  INIunson,  who  follows  a  like  occupa- 
tion in  the  same  town  ;  Mary  lives  at  North 
Ea-st,  Pa.,  where  her  husband,  Milton  Colt,  is  a 
carj)enter  and  joiner;  and  Anna  resides  witii 
her  husband,  Alonzo  Lewis,  at  Fredonia,  tiiis 
county.  He  is  a  well-known  milk  dealer  there. 
Frank  G.  Spencer  early  learned  to  hold  the 
plow,  and  by  the  time  lie  had  reached  young 
manhood  was  qualified  to  run  a  farm  for  him- 
.self.  He  was  educated  in  the  di.strict  schools 
and  acquired   such  education  that  coupled  with 


his  natural  ability  has  enabled  him  to  secure 
himself  a  property  of  sixty-eight  acres.  He  is 
a  republican  in  politics.  ' 

On  March  23,  18.59,  he  married  Elizabeth 
Newbury,  of  Ripley,  N.  Y.,  who  is  a  daughter 
of  John  A.  Newbury,  of  Ripley.  They  have 
one  child,  a  daughter,  named  Lois  Ann,  who 
\yas  born  June  26,  1879. 


FRED  H.  GARFIELD,  the  popular  and 
energetic  division  passenger  agent  of  the 
Erie  railway,  whose  headquarters  are  at  James- 
town, was  born  in  the  town  of  Busti,  tiiis  county, 
November  10,  1853,  and  is  a  son  of  Benjamin 
and  Sarah  (Botsford)  Garfield. 

The  Garfield  family  for  more  than  two  cen- 
turies were  residents  of  the  American  colonies, 
and  our  martyred  president  was  a  descendant  of 
the  same  family  from  which  our  subject  came. 
For  more  than  a  century  they  were  residents  of 
Worcester  couuty,  ilassachusetts,  and  the  first 
to  come  to  Chautauqua  county  was  Samuel  Gar- 
field, familiarly  known  as  Deacon  Garfield,  on 
account  of  his  upright  religious  character. 
Deacon  Samuel  Garfield  was  born  in  the  "  Bay 
State,"  at  the  place  above  mentioned,  and  in 
1803  removed  with  his  fatlier,  Eliakim  Garfield, 
to  Windham  county,  Vermont.  The  father 
was  a  Revolutionary  soldier  and  served  with 
more  than  ordinary  distinction.  Samuel  Gar- 
field married  in  the  "  Green  Mountain  State," 
and  in  1814  came  to  Chautauqua  county;  he 
purchased  a  farm  in  the  town  of  Busti  and  se- 
cured a  livelihood  by  farming  and  doing  carpen- 
ter work.  He  possessed  considerable  inventive 
genius,  his  first  invention  being  grain  measures, 
nested  from  a  half  bushel  down;  following  this 
he  manuiactured  scytiie-snaths  and  grain  I'radle 
handles,  besides  making  a  large  number  of 
rakes.  Immense  quantities  of  these  "  crooked 
.sticks,"  as  they  were  called,  were  manufactured 
by  him  and  sold  to  the  farmers  in  his  neighbor- 
hood ;  .several  boat-loads  were  sent  down  the 
river  to  the  southern  markets.     He  had  .several 


«» 


7.  cy>  ^' 


C-^/L^y-t^t   ^i^-^yi^ 


OF  CHAUTAUQUA   COUNTY. 


445 


brothers,  among  them  Joseph  Garfield,  Sr.,  who  | 
reared  a  considerable  family.  Both  Samuel 
Garfield  and  ids  wife  died  a  number  of  years 
ago  ;  they  were  the  parents  of  a  large  family,  all 
of  whom  are  now  dead  excepting  Lydia,  wife  of 
Amos  Palmer,  and  the  father  of  our  subject. 
Benjamin  Garfield  was  born  in  the  town  of 
Busti  and  became  opulent  from  the  products  of 
his  farm.  In  1880  he  moved  to  Salamanca,  \ 
New  York,  where  he  now  resides,  the  proprie- 
tor of  the  railroad  eating-house.  He  married 
Sarah  Botsford  and  reared  a  family  of  two 
children.  Benjamin  Garfield  is  a  democrat  and 
has  filled  some  of  the  town  offices  in  Busti ;  he 
was  a  man  of  integrity  and  upright  character. 
Mrs.  Garfield  was  a  native  of  the  town  of  Kiau- 
tone,  and  is  now  in  her  fifty-sixth  year. 

Fred  II.  Garfield  was  born  on  his  father's 
farm,  where  he  passed  his  early  life  and  received 
his  education  in  the  district  school  and  at  the 
jjublic  schools  of  Jamestown.  In  1876  he  was 
oifered  the  position  of  passenger  agent  of  the 
old  Atlantic  and  Great  Western  railroad,  and  he 
remained  with  that  company  through  its  various 
changes  until  1885,  when  he  was  appointed  di- 
vision passenger  agent  of  the  Erie  railway,  by 
whom  the  N.  Y.,  P.  and  O.  R.  E.,  the  successor 
of  the  Atlantic  and  Great  Western  has  been 
absorbed.  He  has  immediate  charge  of  the 
passenger  traffic  of  over  two  hundred  miles  of 
the  Erie  R.  R.,  and  in  the  discharge  of  his  duty 
is  giving  satisfaction  to  his  superior  officers.         ! 

On  the  7th  day  of  June,  18S2,  he  married 
Mary  Smith,  a  daughter  of  George  Smith,  who 
lived  at  Wilson,  Niagara  county  ;  she  bore  him 
a  son,  Robert  Marvin,  and  died  in  JNIay,  1890. 
Fred  H.  Garfield  is  a  democrat  and  takes  an 
active  part  in  politics.  He  is  genial  and  accom- 
modating, and  the  popularity  of  the  passenger  j 
carrying  business  of  the  Erie  railway  is  due  ^ 
largely  to  his  personal  supervision. 


23 


f>  E.  RYCKMAN,  a  prominent  citizen  of 
^^*  Ciiautauqua  county.  New  York,  and  the 
projjrietor  of  the  celebrated  Brocton  wine  cel- 
lars, is  a  son  of  Ijawrence  F.  and  Lydia  E. 
Ryckman,  and  was  born  at  Broct(jn,  March  16, 
1835.  His  maternal  grandparents,  "  Deacon  " 
Elijah  and  Lucy  (Belknap)  Fay,  were  natives 
of  Wcstboro,  Massachusetts,  and  in  1811  came 
to  what  was  afterwards  Salem  Cross  Roads, 
Chautauqua  county,  but  where  at  the  j)resent 
time  is  situated  the  village  of  Brocton.  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Fay  were  the  first  settlers  at  this 
point,  in  fact,  about  half  of  the  present  village 
of  Brocton  is  located  upon  their  old  home  farm. 
Lawrence  F.  Ryckman,  father  of  G.  E. 
Ryckman,  came  from  near  the  city  of 
Albany,  New  York — where  the  elder  Ryck- 
mans  settled,  one  of  whom  was  a  member 
of  the  commission  appointed  by  King  William 
III  to  treat  with  the  powerful  Six  Nations — and 
located  in  Chautauqua  county  at  an  early  day. 
His  ancestors  were  active  in  the  politics  of 
eastern  New  York  and  held  prominent  offices 
from  alderman  to  mayor.  Deacon  Elijah  Fay 
was  the  first  to  discover  the  adaptability  of  the 
soil  and  climatic  conditions  of  the  northern 
portion  of  Chautauqua  county,  bordering  on 
Lake  Erie,  to  the  purposes  of  grape  culture  and 
in  1824  planted  the  first  vineyard  in  that  part 
of  the  State.  In  1840  he  began  making  wine 
for  sacramental  and  medicinal  purposes,  and  in 
1859  our  subject,  Mr.  G.  E.  Ryckman,  in  com- 
pany with  Captain  J.  B.  Fay  and  Colonel 
Rufus  Haywood,  built  the  original  wine  cellars, 
known  as  the  Brocton  Wine  Cellars,  which 
to-day  have  passed  into  his  hands  as  the  sole 
proprietor,  and  have  been  increased  in  capacity 
to  two  hundred  thousand  gallons. 

G.  E.  Ryckman,  in  addition  to  being  the 
owner  of  these  far  filmed  wine  cellars,  is  also 
owner  and  cultivator  of  a  bearing  vineyard  of 
one  hundred  and  forty-five  acres.  For  the 
purposes  of  manufacture  he  is  forced  to  buy 
extensively  in  addition  to  his  own  production  ; 


# 


446 


BIOGRAPHY  AND  HISTORY 


his  purchabe  per  aunum  being  over  two  hundred 
tons  of  grapes.  The  wine  product  of  these 
grapes  is  shipped  all  over  the  country  and  some  j 
to  foreign  lands,  which  fact  is  proper  attestation 
not  only  of  its  quality  but  also  of  the  esteem 
in  which  it  is  held  by  the  commercial  world,  j 
The  qualities  which  have  earned  for  his  wines 
such  a  wide  reputation  are  purity  and  honest 
value. 


V^OCTOR  E.  ISHAJ>I.  Longevity  appears 
^^  to  run  in  families  to  a  greater  or  less 
degree  and  the  Isham  family  seems  to  be  espe- 
cially endowed  with  long  life.  David  Isliara 
(grandfather)  attained  to  a  full  century  lacking 
one  year.  One  son  reached  the  same  age  while 
the  father  of  subject  was  eighty-nine  years  of 
asre  when  he  died.  Doctor  E.  Isham  is  a  son  of 
Joshua  and  Lucinda  (Chamberlain)  Isham,  and 
first  looked  upon  the  blue  skies  of  heaven  and 
the  green  grass  of  earth  near  the  scene  of  his 
present  home  in  Westfield,  Chautauqua  county, 
New  York,  September  19,  1843.  The  Isham 
family  is  one  of  Scotch  extraction.  David 
Isham  (grandfather)  lived  in  Vermont  and  died 
when  ninety-nine  years  old.  Joshua  Isham 
(father)  was  born  in  Rutland,  Vt.,  in  1778,  and 
remained  there  until  1840,  whenhecametoChau- 
tauqua  county  and  soon  after  settled  in  West- 
field  town  on  the  farm  where  his  son  now  lives. 
He  died  in  1867,  aged  eighty-nine  years.  Mr. 
Isham  was  a  carpenter  and  joiner  by  trade 
wliich  he  followed  nearly  all  his  life.  He  was 
a  republican  and  member  of  the  Universalist 
church.  In  1839,  he  married  Lucinda  Cham- 
berlain, a  native  of  Thetford,  Vermont.  She 
died  in  1870,  aged  si.xty-eight  years,  and  was 
also  a  member  of  the  same  church.  They  had 
three  children. 

Doctor  E.  Isham  was  reared  on  a  farm  and 
then  mastered  the  carpenter  and  joiner's  trade 
which  he  is  now  working  at  o  a  limited  extent. 
His  education  was  received  at  tiic  public 
scliools.     AVhcn    but    nineteen    years    of    age. 


Augnst  22,  1862,  he  enlisted  in  Co.  E,  154th 
regiment,  New  York  Infantry.  He  served 
until  January  22,  1864,  and  was  then  di.s- 
charged  from  St.  Elizabeth's  Hospital,  Wash- 
ington, D.  C,  having  been  wounded  at  the 
battle  of  Chancellorsville.  His  left  foot  was 
.shot  away  by  a  cannon  ball  on  June  3,  1863, 
and  he  was  confined  to  the  hospital  from  that 
date  until  discharged.  He  then  returned  to 
Chautauqua  county  and  lives  upon  the  old 
homestead  two  miles  east  of  Westfield  village, 
engaged  at  his  trade  and  grape  culture. 

On  January  8, 1868,  he  married  Nancy  Bush, 
a  daughter  of  Henry  Busli  of  this  town.  They 
have  four  children,  three  sons  and  one  daugh- 
ter :  Arlington  D.,  Stella  V.,  Claude  E.  and 
Earnest  J.  One  child,  Clyde,  died  in  infancy 
in  August,  1 888,  aged  nine  months. 

Dr.  E.  Isham  is  a  member  of  William  Sackett 
Post,  No.  324,  G.  A.  R.,  and  affiliates  with  the 
RejJublican  party. 


nOBERT  KAXE.  Among  the  descendants 
of  the  people  whose  lives  are  spent  amid 
the  beautiful  lakes  and  hills  of  Ireland,  the 
"  Emerald  Isle  of  the  Sea,"  we  enroll  the  gen- 
tleman whose  name  heads  this  sketcli.  Robert 
Kane,  a  son  of  Thomas  and  ISIary  (Conigham) 
Kane,  was  born  on  the  10th  day  of  June,  1852, 
his  native  city  being  Dunkirk,  Chautauqua 
county,  New  York.  Charles  Kane  (paternal 
grandfiither)  was  a  native  of  Ireland,  where  he 
lived  until  summoned  to  another  and  a  better 
world.  The  maternal  grandfiither  of  Robert 
Kane,  James  Conigham,  was  also  a  native  of 
Ireland,  where  he  spent  his  entire  life.  Thomas 
Kane  (father)  was  born  in  Ireland,  but  emi- 
grated to  "  tiie  land  of  the  free  and  tlie  homo 
of  the  brave  "  in  1845,  and  located  where  he 
landed,  in  the  city  of  New  York.  He  resided 
here  a  few  years,  and  deciding  he  could  better 
his  fortunes  by  .seeking  "  fresli  fields  and  pas- 
tures new,"  removed  to  Dunkirk,  this  State,  in 
1860.       For  the  jiast   few  years  he  has  I)een 


OF  CHAUTAUQUA   COUNTY. 


447 


a  resident  of  Jamestown,  his  occupation  being 
that  of  a  boiler-maker,  in  which  lie  is  accounted 
a  skillful  workman.  Politically  he  is  a  demo- 
crat, and  in  his  religious  convictions  Roman 
Catholic,  being  a  member  of  that  church.  He 
married  Mary  Conigham  and  has  had  seven 
children,  two  of  whom  have  jiassed  away  to 
realms  above,  two  reside  in  this  county,  one 
son  is  a  resident  of  Erie,  Pa.,  and  a  son  and  a 
daughter  reside  in  Colorado. 

Robert  Kane  was  reared  in  Dunkirk,  where 
he  received  a  common  school  education  and 
began  the  industrial  era  of  his  life  by  learning 
the  same  trade  that  has  provided  a  livelihood 
for  his  father,  that  of  a  boiler-maker,  and  when 
he  located  in  Jamestown,  in  1886,  he  engaged 
in  tliat  business  in  a  large  building  on  Seventh, 
Eighth  and  Monroe  streets,  manufacturing  all 
kinds  of  boilers,  and  employing  in  their  con- 
struction sixty  men.  Mr.  Kane  is  also  inter- 
ested in  the  oil-producing  business  in  Pennsyl- 
vania. He  votes  and  works  for  the  success  of 
the  Republican  ticket,  and  is  a  member  of  the 
Roman  Catholic  church. 

Robert  Kane  married,  in  December,  1881, 
Jennie  H.  Arthur,  of  Kane,  Pa.,  and  to  them 
have  been  born  five  children,  two  .sons  aud  three 
daughters :  Mary  Cecelia,  Frank,  Robert,  Jr., 
Beatrice  and  Rose,  all  living  in  Jamestown, 
the  paternal  home. 

o 

mlLLIAM  E.  CANDEE,  the  well-known 
capitalist  and  secretary-office  manager 
for  the  jNIartin  Anti-Fire  Car  Heating  Co.,  who 
is  also  interested  in  various  enterprises  which, 
when  completed,  will  materially  add  to  the 
prosperity  of  our  city,  was  born  iu  Buffalo, 
Erie  county.  New  York,  October  14,  18-14,  and 
is  the  son  of  Fernando  C.  and  Maria  Vi. 
(O'Brien)  Candee.  Eber  Candee  (grandfather) 
was  a  native  of  Oxford,  Connecticut,  a  carpen- 
ter by  trade,  and  was  one  of  the  mechanics  who 
helped  to  build  the  State  House  in  Hartford. 
He  removed  to  Onondaga  county,  this  State,  in 


the  year  1800,  and  again  to  Erie  county,  where 
he  died,  in  187-5,  at  the  advanced  age  of  ninety 
years.  Fernando  C.  Candee  is  a  native  of 
Onondaga  county,  this  State,  but  removed  to 
Erie  county  with  his  father,  while  yet  a  boy, and 
afterwards  went  to  Buffalo  and  secured  a  posi- 
tion as  clerk.  In  18G2  he  again  moved,  this 
time  to  New  York  city,  engaging  in  the  ma- 
chinery business,  and  continued  to  reside  there 
until  1889  when  he  came  to  Dunkirk,  and  now 
makes  his  home  with  his  son,  the  subject  of  the 
sketch.  Politically  he  is  a  republican,  a  man 
of  strict  methods  in  his  business  transactions, 
an  untiring  reader  of  standard  literature,  and  is 
now  seventy-six  years  old.  He  married  ilaria 
W.  O'Brien,  a  young  woman  from  Wilkes- 
Barre,  Pa.,  in  1842,  and  she  is  still  living, 
having  passed  seventy-three  years  of  age. 

William  E.  Candee  resided  with  his  parents 
in  Buffalo  until  sixteen  years  had  passed  over 
his  head,  receiving  a  good  education  in  the 
schools  of  that  city.  At  the  age  mentioned  he 
came  to  Duukirk  and  secured  a  position  as 
clerk  in  the  freight  department  of  the  Buffalo 
and  Erie  railroad,  and  remained  so  engaged 
until  March,  1863,  and  then  went  on  the  road 
as  traveling  salesman  for  the  Buffalo  Scale  com- 
pany, but  his  heart  was  full  of  patriotism,  aud 
feeling  that  his  services  were  needed  to  preserve 
intact  his  country,  in  July  of  the  same  year, 
although  less  than  nineteen  years  old,  he  en- 
listed in  Co.  I,  16th  regiment.  New  York  Cav- 
alry, remaining  iu  the  service  until  mustered 
out  September  22, 1865,  which  was  three  weeks 
before  attaining  his  majority.  He  was  dis- 
charged, having  attained  the  rank  of  i-egimen- 
tal  quartermaster-sergeaut,  having  eulisted  just 
before,  j\Ir.  Candee  was  on  duty  in  New  York 
city  during  the  draft  riots.  When  he  received 
his  discharge  he  went  to  New  York  and  secured 
employment  as  a  clerk  in  the  machinery  busi- 
ness, remaining  until  1867,  when,  coming  to 
Dunkirk,  engaged  with  H.  &  E.  S.  Coleman, 
millers  and  pork  packers,  as  book-keeper,  being 


448 


BIOGRAPHY  AND  HISTORY 


connected  with  them  until  they  quit  business ; 
then,  it  being  1868,  lie  went  to  the  oil  country  i 
and  staid    a  year,  but    returned  to    Dunkirk  I 
and  entered  into  partnership  with  H.  Coleman 
&  Co.,  hardware  merchants,  following  this  until 
the  Centennial  year,  when   he   moved   on   the  ! 
farm,  which  has  a  magnificent  vineyard  on  it, 
still  owned  by  him  in  Dunkirk  town,  and  en- 
tered   the   Fredonia  Chemical   company  as  its 
treasurer  and  accountant  until  they  disposed  of 
their  business   to  E.  B.  Day,   with   whom   he  , 
remained  until   1888.      In  the    latter  year  he 
accepted    the   position    he    now    holds — one  of 
responsibility   and    trust — secretary   and    office 
manager  for  the  Martin  Anti-Fire  Car  heating 
company.     INIr.  Candee  is  probably  without  a 
superior  as  an  accountant;  has  helped,  and  is 
frequently  called  as  an   expert  in  settling  and 
balancing  the  books  of  banks  and  corporations. 

In  1867  he  married  Gracs  Coleman,  daughter 
of  Harlan  Coleman,  deceased,  of  Dunkirk,  and 
has  one  son  and  two  daughters :  Jean  McGregor, 
Bertram  Coleman  and  Marian  Camille. 

VV.  E.  Candee  is  a  member  of  the  Episcopal 
church,  is  a  prominent  Mason,  belonging  to 
Irondequoit  Lodge,  No.  341,  and  all  the  other 
masonic  bodies,  and  a  republican  of  more  than 
ordinary  influence  in  the  councils  of  the  party. 


rTLSON  Sr.  MUN.SOX,  An  industry  that, 
*^^  although  of  comparatively  recent  origin, 
has  grown  to  considerable  proportions  within  a 
few  years,  is  the  raising,  packing  and  forward- 
ing of  grapes  to  market.  One  of  the  larger 
operators  in  this  industry  is  Alson  X.  Munson, 
of  Westfield,  who  is  a  son  of  Samuel  and  Polly 
(Hulburt)  Munson,  and  was  born  in  the  town 
of  Portland,  Chautauqua  county.  New  York, 
April  20,  1834.  Ancestral  history  is  traced  to 
the  historical  character,  Captain  Munson,  of 
two  hundred  years  ago.  Sanuicl  Munson,  Sr. 
(grandlatli(;r),  was  a  native  of  Connecticut, 
moved  to  Oneida  county,  this  State,  prior  to 
1800,  and  came  ^vnw   there  to  Portland   town, 


where  he  settled  in  1818.  He  was  a  brick- 
maker  by  trade,  and  followed  it  for  years. 
When  the  war  with  England,  in  1812,  made  a 
demand  for  soldiers,  he  responded  to  the  call 
and  went  to  the  front,  serving  with  gallantry 
and  distinction.  After  coming  to  Portland,  he 
began  to  farm,  and  followed  it  until  1841, 
when  he  died,  February  27th,  aged  seventy- 
nine  years.  He  had  eight  children, — four  sous 
and  four  daughters. 

Samuel  Munson  (father)  was  born  in  1803 
in  Oneida  county,  where  he  lived  until  fifteen 
years  of  age.  Like  many  farmer  boys  of  the 
time,  his  parents  thought  the  farm  work  para- 
mount to  "schooling,"  and  his  education  was 
acquired  during  the  winter  months,  when  there 
was  no  work  to  be  done  at  home.  He  came  to 
Portland  town  in  1818,  and,  upon  attaining 
manhood,  bought  fifty  acres  from  the  Holland 
Land  company,  and  built  a  home,  which  is 
now  owned  by  Alson  N.  Munson.  In  1823  he 
married  Polly  Hulburt,  of  Onondaga  county, 
and  had  five  children,  —  four  sons  and  one 
daughter.  His  entire  life  was  spent  as  a 
farmer,  and  none  better  nor  more  successful 
was  to  be  found  in  the  town.  Good  stock  was 
his  delight,  and  plenty  of  it  could  always  be 
found  in  his  barns  and  pastures.  ^Ir.  Munsou 
was  an  active,  energetic  man,  who  was  anxious 
to  advance  the  prosperity  of  the  community. 
He  was  a  republican,  but  did  not  engage  ac- 
tively in  politics,  his  taste  being  more  domestic. 
His  wife  died  .July  lit,  1875,  aged  seventy-five 
years,  and  he  followed  her  upon  the  long  jour- 
ney June  9,  1883. 

Alson  N.  Munson  was  reared  in  the  town  of 
Portland,  passing  his  boyhood  and  young  man- 
hood upon  the  farm.  lie  received  a  good 
common-school  education  in  the  public  .schools 
of  his  district,  and  then  engaged  in  farming  in 
his  own  behalf.  He  spent  the  wliole  of  his 
life  prior  to  1886  farming  in  Portland  town  ; 
then  he  moved  (o  Westfield,  and  occupied  the 
pretty  fiirni  where  he  now  lives.     Tiie  residence 


OF  CHAUTAUQUA    COUNTY. 


440 


is  a  nice  frame  building  exteriorly,  and  the 
interior  is  a  comfortable,  cheerful  home.  lie 
still  owns  the  old  homestead  in  Portland,  and 
on  its  smooth  acres  has  planted  a  beautiful 
vineyard,  which  is  producing  in  large  quanti- 
ties. For  the  past  fourteen  years  he  has  been 
engaged  in  buying  and  shipping  grapes  for  a 
Chicago  firm  in  almost  unlimited  (piantities. 
The  first  car-load  ever  shipped  from  Westfield 
station  was  credited  to  him. 

January  1,  18(52,  he  married  Julia  Healy,  a 
daughter  of  William  Healy,  of  Chautauqua 
town,  and  they  have  one  child, — Harlan  L., 
who  is  now  a  student  at  Cornell  University. 

A.  N.  Munson  is  a  business  man  of  natural 
and  trained  ability,  a  farmer  of  more  than  or- 
dinary success,  and  a  gentleman  with  as  many 
friends  as  he  has  acquaintances. 

o 

TOHX  H.  LASCKLLE.S  is  the  cashier  of  the 
^  Merchants'  National  Bank  of  Dunkirk, 
and  in  this  capacity  has  displayed  more  than 
usual  ability.  He  is  a  son  of  Arthur  and  Ann 
(Tidyman)  Lascelles,  and  was  bora  in  Dunkirk, 
Chautauqua  county,  New  York,  March  3,  1856. 
Arthur  Lascelles  is  a  native  of  England,  from 
whence  he  came  about  ]850.  He  settled  at 
once  at  Dunkirk,  where  he  has  lived  ever  since. 
He  was  a  carpenter  by  trade  and  soon  secured 
the  position  of  master  carpenter  on  the  western 
division  of  the  Erie  railway,  which  he  main- 
tained for  many  years.  He  now  resides  in 
Dunkirk,  and  has  retired  from  active  business, 
having  passed  his  sixtieth  year.  Mr.  Lascelles 
is  a  democrat  and  has  served  iu  the  council  of 
this  city.  Mrs.  Lascelles  is  also  a  native  of 
England,  and  is  yet  living,  aged  about  sixty 
years. 

John  H.  Lascelles  was  reared  in  Dunkirk, 
and  received  his  education  at  the  public  schools. 
He  then  obtained  a  place  as  clerk  in  a  grocery 
store  in  Sinclairville,  where  he  remained  two 
years.  Following  this  he  took  a  position  in  the 
freight  otfice  of  the  Erie  railway,  and  later  was 


in  the  office  of  the  division  superintendent.  He 
was  therefor  a  year  only,  and  on  May  11,  1874, 
he  obtained  a  clerkship  with  the  Lake  Shore 
Banking  Co.,  witli  wiiich  he  remained  until 
March  6,  1882,  wiicii  the  Merchants'  National 
Bank  was  opened  and  he  came  to  them  as 
cashier,  which  position  of  trust  !ie  has  filled 
with  fidelity. 

In  1885  he  was  married  to  Annie  Moran, 
daughter  of  James  and  Mary  Moian,  of  Buffalo, 
his  wife  being  a  sister-in-law  to  Charles  F. 
Bishop,  the  mayor  of  that  city. 

J.  H.  Lascelles  is  an  active  democrat  and  has 
been  city  treasurer  steadily  for  eleven  years. 
He  has  been  actively  identified  with  the  politics 
of  the  city  since  becoming  of  age.  He  has 
served  in  the  board  of  education,  is  a  member 
of  the  Catholic  church,  and  of  the  Young 
Men's  Association,  of  Dunkirk.  He  is  recog- 
nized as  a  shrewd,  astute  business  man,  and  is 
identified  with  every  movement  that  will  benefit 
the  city  of  Dunkirk  or  advance  its  interests. 
© 

/>EORGE  M.  ARNOLD  is  a  farmer  of  Port- 
^^  land  town  who  takes  considerable  interest 
in  the  political  welfare  of  his  town.  His  parents 
were  Hiram  and  Sally  (Eley)  Arnold,  and  he 
was  born  in  the  town  of  Westfield,  Chautauqua 
county,  New  York,  September  23,  1833.  His 
grandfather,  Elisha  Arnold,  was  a  Connecticut 
Yankee,  of  English  descent.  He  was  born  in 
1778,  and  came  to  Chautauqua  county  in  1814. 
He  decided  to  make  a  home  in  Westfield,  and 
engaged  in  the  distilling  business  which,  for  that 
day,  was  one  of  magnitude,  and  also  owned  and 
conducted  a  farm.  He  died  in  1841,  when 
sixty-three  years  of  age.  His  wife's  name  was 
Prudence,  who  came  from  Herkimer  county. 
They  had  twelve  children.  He  was  justice  of 
the  peace  and  supervisor  of  the  town  for  a 
number  of  years,  a  whig  politically,  and  a  very 
enterprising  man.  Hiram  Arnold  was  born  in 
Chenango  county,  this  State,  in  180(3,  and  came 
with  his  father  to  Westfield  town  when  eight 


450 


BIOGRAPHY  AND  HISTORY 


years  of  age.  He  lived  in  that  town  for  twenty- 
one  years  and  then  bought  the  farm  in  Portland 
town  now  occupied  by  his  son,  G.  M.,  and  moved 
upon  it  in  1835.  He  was  also  engaged  in  the 
saw-mill  business  and  was  a  prominent  and 
important  business  man  in  the  section.  He 
died  in  1851.  He  married  Sally  Eley,  who 
was  born  in  the  State  of  Connecticut  in  1811, 
and  is  still  living  with  her  son,  George  M.  They 
were  the  parents  of  five  children. 

George  M.  Arnold  was  reared  upon  his  father's 
farm  and  educated  in  the  public  schools.  When 
of  sufficient  age  he  learned  the  trade  of  a  car- 
penter and  joiner,  by  which  he  gained  his  liveli- 
hood until  1866.  The  subsequent  two  years 
■were  spent  in  the  Corry  car-shops  where  he  had 
charge  of  the  machinery.  In  1868  he  returned 
to  his  farm  of  one  hundred  and  seventy-five 
acres,  two  and  one-half  miles  from  the  village 
of  Portland,  where  he  has  since  resided.  He 
has  a  vineyard  that  has  averaged  the  unusual 
yield  of  nine  tons  of  grapes  to  the  acre. 

In  1861  Mr.  Arnold  married  Mary  Pecor,  a 
daughter  of  Benjamin  F.  Pecor,  of  this  town. 

He  is  a  member  of  the  Congregational  church, 
one  of  its  trustees ;  belongs  to  the  Lodge,  No. 
461,  Knights  of  Honor,  is  a  republican,  and 
has  held  the  office  of  road  commissioner,  con- 
stable and  assessor.  He  is  the  j)resent  incum- 
bent of  the  last-named  office,  and  has  held  one 
or  another  for  twenty-eight  years.  He  is  enter- 
prising and  substantial — a  good  citizen  for  the 
town. 


'X'hp:  reverem)  thomas  e.  cal- 

-*-  VERT.  In  the  Book  of  books  is  re- 
corded the  divine  conmiand,  "Go  forth  into  all 
the  world  and  preach  the  Gospel."  The  sub- 
ject of  whom  we  are  writing  left  home  and 
friends  in  Bonnie  Scotland  to  obey  the  man- 
dates of  this  behest.  Thomas  E.  Calvert,  min- 
ister of  the  Fredonia  Presbyterian  Church,  is 
a  son  of  William  and  j\fary  T.  (Jeffrey)  Cal- 
vert, and  was   born   in  ,\.nniui,  Dumfriesshire, 


Scotland,  February  14,  1858.   The  family  name 
is  from  the  French  Col-vert,  meaning  "green 
hill,"   the   founder  of  the   family  in  Scotland 
being  a  French  Huguenot  who  fled  to  Scotland 
during  the  persecutions.     The  paternal  grand- 
parent, Thomas  Calvert,  was  a  son  of  Herbert 
Calvert,  who  held  the  place  known   as  Orchard 
Farm,  which  has  for  many  generations  been  in 
the  Calvert  family.     He  was   a   millwright  by 
trade  and  a  dealer  in  wood.     He   was   born  in 
Canonby,  Scotland,  and   married   Grace   Hope, 
by  whom    he   had   nine  children  :  James,  Ed- 
ward, Herbert,  Thomas,  Margaret,  Mary,  Bar- 
bara, Grace  and  William    (father).      He  died 
about   1850,   and   is   buried    in    New   Abbey, 
Scotland,  and  Mrs.  Calvert  died  hbout   1874, 
and  is  buried  at  the  same  place.     Adam  Jef- 
frey (maternal  grandfather)  was  born  in  Annan, 
Scotland,  about  1810.      He  was  a  tailor  and 
clothier  of   that  town,   and   was   popular    and 
successful.     He  married  ]\Iary  Irving,  and  had 
five  children  :  John,  Kichard,  Adam,  Margaret 
and    Mary.     This    wife  dying,  he   took  for  a 
second,  a  Mrs.  Henderson,  who  is  now  living  in 
the  town  of  Moffat,  Scotland.     Adam   Jeffrey 
died  in  1878,  and  is  buried  at  Annan.    William 
Calvert  was  born  in   New   Abbey,  Scotland,  in 
1835.     While  yet  young   he  learned  the  trade 
of    a    millwright,   and    followed    it    for   many 
years,  but  is  now  manager  for  the  firm  of  Nich- 
olson &  Anderson,  dealers   in    wood   and  slate, 
with  whom  he  has  been   for   thirty  years.     He 
is  an  elder  in  the  United  Presbyterian   Church 
1  of  Annan,  and  is  a  good   and   trusted   servant. 
Early  realizing  that  a  thorough  education  was 
the  best  legacy  that  he  could  leave  his  children 
he  gave  them  every  advantage.     He   married 
Mary  I.  Jeffrey  on   jNIay  1,  1857,  and   has  had 
eight  children  :  Thomas  E.,  Mary,  Margaret, 
William,  Grace,  Adam,  Jeannie  and  Edward. 
Adam  came  to  America  in  1887,  and  is  now  one 
of  the  firm  of  Calvert  &  Cowley,  druggists,  at 
Buffalo,  N.  Y.     None  of   the  others   ((".\cei)t- 
ing  subject)  came  to  this  country. 


OF  CHAUTAUQUA   COUNTY. 


451 


Thomas,  when  four  years  of  age,  was  sent  to 
the  Anuan  Female  school  tauglit  by  a  Miss 
Brown,  who  was  considered  the  i)est  lady 
teacher  in  the  county.  Thomas  being  an  es- 
pecial favorite,  more  than  usual  attention  was 
given  to  his  advancement.  The  text  books  used 
were  grammar,  history,  geography,  arithmetic, 
the  Westminster  catechism  and  the  Bible.  He 
was  under  the  intellectual  and  moral  influence 
of  this  grand  and  noble  lady  until  he  had  at- 
tained his  twelfth  year,  and  it  is  to  the  stimulus 
given  by  her  to  his  expanding  intellect  that  Mr. 
Calvert  attributes  much  of  his  usefulness. 
Leaving  the  kind  and  motherly  Miss  Brown  he 
was  sent  to  the  Annan  academy  and  began  the 
study  of  language,  mathematics  and  the  clas- 
sics, remaining  four  years.  The  paternal  Cal- 
vert had  decided  that  his  son,  Thomas  E., 
should  be  a  doctor,  so  at  sixteen  years  of  age  he 
was  placed  in  a  dispensary  to  learn  medicine, 
but  the  boy,  led  by  an  unseen  but  plainly  felt 
hand,  decided  that  he  was  called  upon  to  preach 
and  kept  up  his  studies  at  nights  while  working 
during  the  day,  until  1876,  when  he  went  to 
Edinburgh,  and  matriculated  for  a  course  in  the 
arts,  his  preceptors  being  Professors  Blackie, 
Greek  ;  Kelland,  mathematics  ;  Tate,  science  ; 
Frazer,  metaphysics ;  Calderwood,  moral  phi- 
losophy; and  Masson,  English  literature.  He 
graduated  in  1880,  taking  the  degree  of  A.  M., 
and  then  took  a  tutorship  in  the  Highlands 
until  the  fall,  when  he  entered  the  United  Pres- 
byterian Hall  at  Edinburgh  to  prepare  for  the 
ministry,  under  the  instruction  of  Prof  Dr. 
John  Ker,  to  whom  Mr.  Calvert  pays  the  high- 
est compliment  that  tongue  can  utter  ;  Rev. 
Cairns,  D.  D.,  Dr.  Duff,  aud  Professors  John- 
ston and  Patterson.  He  was  licensed  to  preach 
by  the  presbytery  of  Edinburgh.  He  taught 
several  months  in  prominent  private  families  in 
the  city,  came  to  America  in  May,  1886,  and 
was  first  called  to  preach  in  the  Presbyterian 
Church  at  Youngstown,  N.  Y.  While  there 
he  was  called  to  the  pastorate  of  the  Fredonia 


Presbyterian  church,  and  now  has  a  congrega- 
tion of  about  five  hundred  members.  Mr. Cal- 
vert is  an  ehiquent  and  earnest  speaker.  Large 
congregations  listen  to  his  preaching  every  Sun- 
day, and  his  sermons  are  almost  entirely  care- 
fully prepared  expositions  of  the  Word  of  God. 
On  July  31,  1888,  Rev.  Calvert  was  married 
to  Lillie  A.  Woltge,  a  daughter  of  William  and 
Anna  (Andrews)  Woltge,  of  Buffalo.  They 
have  one  child,  a  daughter,  named  Anna  ]SIary 
Lillie  Woltge.  lie  v.  and  iNIrs.  Calvert  made  a 
wedding  tour  to  Scotland,  and  upon  returning 
they  found  a  home  in  Fredonia  elegantly  fur- 
nished, the  gift  of  Mr.  Woltge,  it  being  a  pres- 
ent and  a  surprise.  Rev.  Calvert's  social  qual- 
ities rank  with  his  oratorical  abilities,  and  dur- 
ing his  stay  at  Fredonia  he  has  made  many 
warm  and  appreciative  friends. 


TOHX  F.  KEITH,  a  contractor  and  well- 
^  driller  of  Mayville,  was  born  in  Thurston, 
Steuben  county.  New  York,  March  5,  1848, 
and  is  a  son  of  Marius  and  Eliza  (Hawley) 
Keith.  WaiTcn  Keith  (paternal  grandfather) 
was  of  New  England  parentage,  being  born  in 
Massachusetts,  but  emigrated  to  Steuben  coun- 
ty where  he  died.  His  maternal  grandfather, 
William  Hawley,  was  also  of  New  England 
birth  and  parentage.  jNIarius  Keith  (father) 
was  born  in  ^Massachusetts,  and  came  to  Steu- 
ben county,  where  he  still  lives.  In  politics  he 
is  a  republican  and  in  religion  a  member  of  the 
Christian  church.  In  1839.  he  married  Eliza 
Hawley  aud  had  nine  children,  five  sous  and 
four  daughters.  One  of  the  sous,  Merrill, 
entered  the  army  in  the  late  civil  war,  and 
died  at  City  Point,  Virginia,  shortly  after  his 
enlistment. 

John  F.  Keith  was  educated  in  the  common 
schools  of  his  native  county,  and  after  leaving 
school  entered  the  lumber  business  in  that  sec- 
tion, continuing  in  it  six  years.  He  then  went 
to  Ohio  and  other  states  aud  engaged  in  con- 
tracting   and    di-illing    wells.       He   afterwards 


452 


BIOGRAPHY  AND  HISTORY 


went  into  the  contracting  business  in  Pennsyl- 
vania, and  is  now  a  resident  of  Mayville.  In 
politics  he  is  a  republican. 

John  F.  Keith  was  married  on  September 
25,  1872,  to  Abbie  J.  Burr,  a  daughter  of 
George  W.  Burr,  of  Steuben  county,  this 
State.  Their  union  has  been  blest  with  six 
children,  all  sons:  Burr,  Arthur,  Jay,  Olney, 
Ellis  and  Stanley. 


HERVEY  HALL,  a  leading  citizen  and 
business  man  of  Ripley,  New  York,  is  a 
son  of  Hervey  and  Sarah  (Hull)  Hall,  and  was 
born  in  Washington  county.  New  York,  town 
of  Granville,  February  15,  1812.  His  ances- 
tors on  both  sides  were  natives  of  Connecticut, 
near  New  Haven.  Here  also  was  born  his 
father,  who  in  early  life  transferred  his  fortunes 
from  that  State  to  northern  New  York.  Later 
he  removed  to  the  city  of  Erie,  Erie  county, 
Pennsylvania,  where  he  died  in  1863,  at  the 
age  of  eighty-two  years.  His  wife  died  a  few 
years  later  at  the  age  of  ninet3'-two  years.  In 
his  early  life  Hervey  Hall  was  engaged  in  the 
mercantile  business,  subsequently  became  a 
large  farmer,  in  connection  with  which,  he  ran 
a  saw  and  wool  carding  and  cloth  dressino-  mill. 
Upon  coming  to  Erie  county,  Pennsylvania,  he 
purchased  a  large  tract  of  land,  of  eight  hun- 
dred and  fifty  acres,  in  which  transaction  he 
was  unfortunate,  as  the  title  to  the  land  was  de- 
fective. Later  in  life  he  retired  to  Erie,  Penn- 
sylvania, where  he  lived  until  his  death.  His 
politics  was  that  of  tlie  Wliig  and  Democratic 
parties,  in  neither  of  which  parties  did  he  be- 
come an  aggressive  ])artisnn.  He  was  also  a 
member  of  the  Presbyterian  church.  To  his 
wife  we)-e  born  twelve  children,  nine  of  whom 
grew  to  maturity,  two  died  in  infancy  and  one 
at  the  age  of  fifteen  years.  His  ciiildren  were 
Hannah,  married  to  George  Hood  (deceased) 
and  is  now  living  in  Waterford,  Erie  county, 
Pennsylvania,  at  the  age  of  ninety  years;  Olive, 
married  to  John   Hood   (both  dead);   George, 


died  in  June,  of  1890;  Samuel  H.,  a  tanner  and 
currier,  living  a  retired  life  in  ^Manchester, 
Iowa;  Hervey,  subject;  Luther,  dead;  Sabrina, 
(deceased);  John  H.,  a  physician,  died  in  1846; 
and  Peter,  living  in  Erie,  Pennsylvania,  where 
he  is  a  physician  and  wholesale  and  retail  drug- 
gist. 

Hervey  Hall  was  educated  in  the  common 
schools  and  the  academy  at  Waterford,  Penn- 
sylvania. He  remained  at  home  on  his  father's 
farm  until  twenty-seven  years  of  age,  when  he 
bought  a  farm  in  the  town  of  Ripley,  in  1839, 
and  operated  it  until  1853  when  he  moved  into 
the  village  of  Ripley.  His  present  business  is 
that  of  private  banker,  though  he  is  practically 
retired.  He  is  a  democrat  in  politics  and 
served  some  time  as  supervisor. 

In  February,  1839,  Hervey  Hall  was  first 
united  in  marriage  to  Miss  Lavina  L.  Baird,  a 
daughter  of  Silas  and  Hannah  Baird,  one  of 
the  oldest  families  in  Chautauqua  county. 
This  marriage  resulted  in  the  birth  of  two  chil- 
dren :  Louisa  L.,  (died  at  the  age  of  twelve 
years)  ;  and  Alma,  died  in  infancy.  In  Feb- 
ruary, 1872,  he  was  again  married,  this  time  to 
!Mrs.  Elizabeth  B.  Norton  (nee  Evans). 


HEXRY  S.  MUXSOX  is  one  of  those  who 
has  made  a  financial  success  in  life  without 
a  partner  ;  a  practical  exponent  of  the  Amphyc- 
tion  motto :  "  Commend  a  wife  but  remain  a 
bachelor."  He  is  a  son  of  Harris  and  Minerva 
(Stiles)  Munson,  and  was  born  in  the  present 
confines  of  Westfield  town,  February  6,  1820. 
Like  the  other  family  of  Munsons  in  this  and 
the  town  of  Portland,  he  is  of  English  extrac- 
tion and  his  t;\ther  came  to  Chautauqua  county 
in  the  same  year,  1818.  Harris  Munson  was  a 
native  of  Connecticut,  and  was  born  in  1791. 
He  came  to  this  county  and  purchased  from  tiie 
Holland  Land  company  a  tract  of  woods  from 
which  he  chopped  a  farm.  The  present  and 
coming  generations  will  never  know  the  amount 
of  toil   necessary  to   make  a  farm   in  a  wooded 


OF  CHAUTAUQUA   COUNTY. 


453 


country,  trees  to  deaden,  then  to  fell,  brnsli  to 
be  gathered  and  burned  and  .stumps  to  be  pulled 
and  builded  into  a  fence.  Years  and  years  of 
toil  were  spent  that  the  present  generation  might 
enjoy  the  comforts  and  pleasures  of  life.  Mr. 
Munson  conducted  his  farm  until  December  9, 
1872,  wiien  he  died.  He  had  been  a  life-long 
democrat  and  held  several  of  the  town  offices. 
His  thrifty  habits  and  simple,  frugal  routine  of 
life  made  him  comfortably  fixed  with  this 
world's  goods  at  the  time  of  his  death.  Minerva 
Stiles,  whom  he  married,  was  also  a  native  of 
Connecticut  where  she  was  born  in  1798,  and 
was  united  to  her  husband  in  1818.  She  was  a 
member  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church  and 
died  February  27,  1862.  They  were  the 
jjarents  of  children,  all  of  whom  are  living  : 
Henry  S.  ;  Perry  ;  Hassel ;  John  J.  ;  Harriet, 
who  married  John  Wilson,  now  his  widow  is 
living  in  Iowa;  and  Sarah  R. 

Henry  S.  Munson  was  early  acquainted  with 
life  on  a  farm,  where  he  helped  in  summer  and 
went  to  school  in  the  winter,  learning  his 
knowledge  from  books  as  well  as  tiie  practical 
knowledge  of  life.  He  now  owns  sixty-four 
acres  of  well-improved  land  located  but  one- 
half  mile  from  the  corporate  limits  of  West- 
field.  He  is  a  democrat  and  one  of  the  most 
forwai'd  of  Westfield's  citizens  when  public  im- 
provements are  suggested. 


/>-HAUNCY  A.  LAJSPHERE,  foreman  of 
^^  the  iron  and  machinery  department  of 
the  world-renowned  Eureka  Works,  at  Silver 
Creek,  is  a  sou  of  Chauncy  and  Sarah  E. 
(Reed)  Lanphere,  and  was  born  August  22, 
1846,  in  the  town  of  Sheridan,  Chautauqua 
county,  New  York,  although  at  the  time  his 
parents'  home  was  in  Silver  Creek.  Chauncy 
A.  Ijanphere  is  a  half-brother  to  Captain  John 
I.  Lanphere,  postmaster  of  Silver  Creek,  whose 
sketch  appears  elsewhere  in  this  volume.  A 
great  many  years  ago  a  German  family  came 
from  the  fatherland  and  settled  in  the  Colonies  : 


from  them  the  Lanphere  family  has  descended. 
The  first  of  whom  wo  have  positive  record  was 
Charles  Lanphere,  who  wasour  subject's  grand- 
father, and  he  died  while  serving  a  terra  of  en- 
listment as  a  soldier  in  the  war  of  1812' 
Chauncy  Lanphere  was  born  at  Brookfield, 
New  York,  in  1807,  and  while  still  in  the 
prime  of  life  he  came  to  Chautauqua  county, 
purchased  a  farm  in  the  town  of  Villanova  and 
conducted  a  various  business  until  his  death, 
which  occurred  at  Silver  Creek,  February  1, 
1849.  Politically  he  was  a  whig  and  by  his 
sterling  qualities,  social  as  well  as  business,  he 
occupied  a  high  position  in  the  esteem  and  con- 
fidence of  the  ])eople.  He  was  twice  married, 
first  to  Wealthy  Ann  Carpenter  and  then  to  the 
mother  of  our  subject,  Sarah  E.  Reed,  who  was 
a  native  of  Erie  county.  New  York,  lived  to  be 
sixty-four  years  of  age  and  died  at  her  home  in 
Silver  Creek  in  1882. 

Chauncy  A.  Lanphere  was  reared  in  the 
village  of  Silver  Creek,  educated  at  the  common 
schools,  and  then  served  an  apprenticeship  of 
three  years  in  a  printing  office.  Having 
mastered  this  trade,  he  found  it  uncongenial  to 
his  tastes  and  the  ensuing  eight  summers  were 
passed  in  sailing  on  the  Great  Lakes  and  in 
that  business  he  rose  to  the  dignity  of  first  mate 
on  a  sailing  vessel,  being  employed  in  the  grain 
trade  between  Buffalo  and  Chicago.  In  1869 
Mr.  Lanphere  went  to  work  in  Simeon  Howes' 
grain  cleaning  machinery  shops,  at  Silver  Creek 
and  since  the  fall  of  1878  has  had  charge  of  the 
iron  and  machinery  departments.  Mr.  Lan- 
phei'e  began  at  the  bottom  of  the  ladder  when 
he  entered  these  works  and  advanced  steadily 
step  by  step  until  he  reached  his  present  re- 
sponsible position. 

On  January  1,  1869,  he  united  in  marriage 
with  Sarah  Amelia  Hammond,  the  youngest 
daughter  of  Joseph  Hammond  of  Eden,  Erie 
county,  New  York.  IMrs.  Lanphere  was  born 
in  Hamburg,  Erie  county.  New  York,  Decem- 
ber 31,  1846,  and  on  the  14th  of  April,  1891, 


454 


BIOGRAPHY  AND  HISTORY 


after  a  week's  sickness,  passed  to  her  final 
rest.  She  was  a  woman  of  rare  excellence,  of 
innate  refinement  and  the  possessor  of  a  nature 
of  deep,  religious  convictions.  For  twenty 
years  prior  to  her  death  she  had  been  a  member 
of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church,  was  attached 
to  her  home  and  family  with  a  rare  devotion, 
and  not  only  in  a  social  sense  but  in  every  re- 
lation whicli  slie  M'as  called  upon  to  fulfill,  ex- 
hibited her  lofty  sense  of  womanliness.  She  bore 
her  husband  three  children,  two  of  whom  still 
survive  ;  Maud  Elizabeth  and  Helen  Amelia. 

Chauncy  A.  Lanphere  is  a  republican  aud 
has  sei-ved  two  years  upon  the  board  of  village 
trustees  and  for  twelve  years  upon  the  school 
board,  being  president  of  the  latter  two  years. 
In  addition  to  this,  he  was  one  of  the  projectors 
of  the  Cemetery  association,  of  which  he  was  a 
trustee  for  three  years.  He  is  an  enterprising, 
energetic  citizen  ;  has  been  chief  of  the  Eureka 
fire  company  since  its  organization  aud  since 
his  connection  with  the  Eureka  Works,  has  de- 
signed several  pieces  of  macliinery,  for  one  of 
which,  known  as  the  Automatic  Key  Seating 
machine,  he  has  secured  a  patent. 


/COLONEL  DAVID  S.  FORBES,  who  was 

^^  engaged  in  business  pursuits  for  nearly 
sixty  years  iu  this  county,  and  who  commanded 
the  Sixty-eighth  New  York  regiment  from  1855 
to  18G4,  was  born  at  the  village  of  Green,  Che- 
nango county.  New  York,  February  11,  1817, 
and  is  a  son  of  Col.  John  and  Statira  (Phelps) 
Forbes.  The  name  of  Forbes  was  originally 
written  McForbes  in  Scotland,  where  the  family 
was  resident  for  several  centuries  back.  Col. 
Johu  Forbes,  the  father  of  Colonel  David  S. 
Forbes,  was  born  in  New  Haven,  Connecticut, 
where  he  married  Statira  Phelps  and  afterwards 
removed  to  Chenango  countv,  this  State.  He 
was  a  merchant,  commanded  a  regiment  of  New 
York  militia,  ami  in  1832  came  to  Fredonia, 
wliii'c  lie  diid,  aged  eighty-seven  years,  six 
muntiis  and  lil'tcen  days. 


David  S.  Forbes  received  his  education  prin- 
cipally at  Fredonia,  to  which  he  came  in  April, 
1832.  He  was  a  clerk  for  one  year  with  J.  Z. 
Saxton,  then  two  years  with  J.  &  A.  F.  Mor- 
rison, at  Forestville.  In  1835  he  became  a 
clerk  for  his  father  at  Fredonia,  and  two  years 
later  became  his  and  L.  B.  Grant's  partner  in 
the  o-eneral  mercantile  firm  of  Johu  Forbes  & 
Co.  In  1841  this  firm  established  a  branch 
store  at  Sinelairville  of  which  he  became  man- 
ager. In  1844  he  engaged  in  the  butter  and 
cheese  business  in  which  he  was  the  first  dealer 
in  the  county  to  pay  cash  for  those  articles. 
From  1851  to  1855  he  dealt  in  flour  and  grain 
and  then  wa.s  in  various  kinds  of  business  until 
the  breaking  out  of  the  late  war.  At  its  close 
he  again  resumed  civil  pursuits  and  was  engaged 
in  diSerent  lines  of  business  until  he  retired 
from  active  life  a  few  years  ago. 

In  1838  he  attended  a  military  school  taught 
by  Colonel  Scott,  in  which  he  acquired  quite  a 
taste  for  military  service,  although  he  had  served 
as  a  major  in  a  militia  regiment  during  the  pre- 
ceding year.  In  1855  the  inspector-general  of 
the  State  induced  him  to  accept  a  colonel's  com- 
mission and  raise  a  regiment.  He  raised  the 
68th  New  York,  which  Hon.  Reuben  E.  Fenton 
had  failed  to  accomplish  aud  commanded  it  until 
1864.  His  regiment  was  the  first  in  New  York 
to  volunteer  in  1861,  but  by  means  of  red  tape- 
ism  was  never  allowed  to  go  to  the  front,  al- 
though it,  was  made  the  nucleus  of  four  regi- 
ments in  the  field.  In  June,  1863,  his  regiment 
was  orilered  to  Harrisburg,  Pa.,  where  he  ar- 
rived with  what  remnant  of  it  remained.  Here 
again  red  tape  policy  prevented  it  from  going 
into  active  service  and  it  was  sent  back  to  Fre- 
donia, where  it  was  honorably  mustered  out  of 
the  service  and  discharged  July  29,  ]8(i3. 

In  1842  he  married  Catliarine  J.  Abell,  wiio 
died  in  1875  aud  left  him  two  children  :  Mrs. 
Geo.  Benton,  of  Ciiicago ;  and  Mrs.  Catharine  L. 
Cushiug,  widow  of  Commodore  W.  B.  Cushing, 
whose  sketcii  ap[)ears  elsewhere  in  this  volume. 


OF  CHAUTAUQUA   COUNTY. 


455 


After  Mrs.  Forbes'  death  Col.  Forbes  married 
for  his  second  wife,  Sarah  J.  Starr,  who  is  a 
native  of  Gowanda,  Erie  county. 


/>-HARLES  H.  .SHKRMA]sr.  Railroading 
^^  has  now  assumed  the  first  place  among 
the  chief  industries  of  the  world,  having  more 
capital  invested  and  giving  employment  to  a 
greater  number  of  people  than  any  other  one 
occupation  in  the  world.  Among  those  who 
have  seen  this  industry  grow  from  insignificance 
to  the  pinnacle  of  greatness  is  Charles  H.  Sher- 
man, who  was  born  to  Levi  D.  and  Hannah  F. 
(Fairbanks)  Sherman,  at  Boston,  Massachusetts, 
on  August  14,  1818.  Levi  D.  Sherman  was 
also  a  native  of  Boston,  born  in  1784,  and  upon 
reaching  manhood  was  a  contractor  until  his 
death  whicii  occurred  when  Ciiarles  was  but 
nine  years  old.  He  came  of  American  pai'ents 
and  was  an  orthodox  church  member.  Hannah 
F.  Fairbanks,  too,  was  a  strict  church  member. 
They  were  married  in  1809,  and  reared  a  family 
of  five  children.  She  died  in  Boston  in  1881. 
Charles  H.  Sherman  was  reared  in  "  The 
Hub  of  the  Universe,"  and  was  educated  in  the 
schools  of  that  city.  After  leaving  school  he 
was  apprenticed  in  a  machine  shop  from  which 
he  emerged  in  1839  a  journeyman  workman, 
and  entered  the  employ  of  what  now  is  the 
Boston  and  Maine  railroad,  beginning  as  a  fire- 
man, as  was  customary  in  those  days,  and  two 
years  later  was  transferred  to  the  right  side  of 
the  cab.  He  remained  in  the  employ  of  that 
company  as  engineer  for  ten  years,  but  in  1851 
left  them  and  came  to  the  Erie  railway,  remain- 
ing with  it,  in  various  capacities  ever  since. 
When  the  road  was  completed  to  Dunkirk  in 
1851,  it  was  made  the  occasion  of  a  National 
celebration  in  which  the  president  of  the 
United  States,  ]\lillard  Fillmore,  Daniel  Web- 
ster and  the  entire  Cabinet  and  Stepiien  A. 
Douglas  took  part  and  delivered  addresses. 
Mr.  Sherman  was  the  engineer  who  pulled  the 
train  carrying  these  distinguished  people,  who 


were  saluted  with  the  ringing  of  bells,  the 
booming  of  cannons  and  the  shouts  of  an 
assembled  multitude.  A  year  later  Mr.  Sher- 
man was  advanced  to  the  position  of  engine 
dispatcher  and  round-house  foreman,  and  held 
that  situation  for  about  seventeen  years  wiien 
he  was  again  advanced  ;  this  tinje  to  traveling 
foreman  and  road  inspector  of  motive  power, 
retaining  it  until  1880,  since  which  lie  has  been 
foreman  of  the  engine  and  car  repair  shops. 

Charles  H.  Sherman,  on  October  9,  1842, 
married  Marinda  S.,  daughter  of  Stephen 
Sleeper,  who  lived  at  Fremont,  N.  H.,  and  they 
have  two  sons:  Clarence  A.  and  William  H. 
The  former  is  a  maciiinist  in  the  Dunkirk  & 
Warren  railroad  shops ;  and  William  H.,  is 
living  in  Denver  Colorado,  where  he  is  em- 
ployed in  a  broker's  office. 

C.  H.  Sherman  is  a  republican  and  has  served 
for  several  years  on  the  Dunkirk  school  board 
and  as  town  trustee.  He  held  membership  in 
the  Volunteer  Fire  department  for  many  years 
and  was  its  first  chief  euo-ineer.  He  also  takes 
an  active  interest  in  secret  societies,  is  a  thirty- 
second  degree  Mason,  a  member  of  the  Blue 
Lodge,  .No.  152,  of  the  Chapter,  No.  191, 
Council,  No.  25,  and  Commandery,  No.  40,  of 
which  he  was  commander  I'or  four  years.  In 
addition  to  this,  at  one  time,  he  held  the  office 
of  district  deputy  for  the  I.  O.  O.  F.,  and  is 
still  a  member  of  Olympia  Lodge,  No.  602. 
Mr.  Sherman  is  a  thorough  mechanic,  which  is 
evinced  by  the  fact  that  he  has  remained  .so 
long  with  a  company  who  employ  none  but  the 
best. 


TTLBERT  H.  OODAKO.  Representative 
^^'  among  the  largest  and  most  reliable 
establishments  of  May  ville  is  the  grocery  house 
of  Albert  H.  Godard,  the  senior  member  of  the 
well-known  firm  of  Godard  ct  Bond  and  a  suc- 
cessful business  man  of  over  twenty-one  years 
experience.  He  is  a  .son  of  Anson  H.  and 
Elsie  (Moore)  Godard,  and  was  born  at   ^lay- 


456 


BIOGRAPHY  AND  HISTORY 


ville,  Chautauqua  county,  New  York,  July  15, 
1844.  His  grandfather  on  the  paternal  side, 
Aaron  Godard,  was  one  of  four  brothers  who 
came  from  England  and  settled  in  New  York 
some  time  during  the  last  half  of  the  eighteenth 
century.  On  the  maternal  side  his  grandfather, 
Elijah. ]\Ioore,  came  from  Tomjjkins  Co.  to  Ma}'- 
ville,  where  he  followed  farming  until  his  death. 
Anson  H.  Godard  (father)  was  born  in  Jeifer- 
son  county,  in  1808,  and  died  at  Mayville, 
June  8,  1879.  He  was  reared  on  a  farm,  and 
in  early  life  came  to  Mayville,  where  he  fol- 
lowed farming  for  some  time,  at  the  end  of 
which  he  engaged  in  tallow  chandleriug.  He 
was  an  old-line  whig  in  politics  when  he  came  to 
Mayville  and  when  that  great  political  organiza- 
tion went  down  he  entered  the  ranks  of  its  pol- 
itical successor,  the  Republican  party.  In  ad- 
dition to  the  management  of  his  farm  and  con- 
ducting his  tallow  chandleriug,  he  also  engaged 
in  the  grocery  business  which  he  followed  for 
many  years.  He  married  Elsie  Moore  and 
they  were  the  parents  of  eight  children,  of 
whom  six  grew  to  manhood  and  womanhood  : 
Hantiah,  William  and  Caroline,  who  are  dead; 
Martha,  wife  of  James  Barrett,  a  carpenter  of 
Mayville;  Anson,  who  died  young;  Albert  H.; 
and  Elsie,  now  deceased. 

Albert  II.  Godard  was  reared  at  Mayville,  | 
where  he  attended  tlie  public  schools  and  was 
carefully  drilled  in  his  father's  grocery  store  for 
a  mercantile  life.  After  considerable  exper- 
ience as  a  clerk  he  yet  determined  to  better  fit 
himself  for  commercial  life  by  a  full  and 
thorough  business  education,  and  accordingly 
entered  Bryant  &  Stratton's  business  college,  at 
Buffalo,  from  which  flourishing;  commercial  in- 
stitution  he  was  siraduated.  Althoujiii  but  a 
boy  yet,  his  father  had  such  confidence  in  his 
business  al)ility  as  to  intrust  to  him  the  buying 
of  his  large  stock  of  groceries,  which  lie  did  so 
judiciously  and  satisfactorily,  that  that  impor- 
tant part  of  the  business  remained,  uncondition- 
ally, in  his  hands  as  long  as  his  fiitiier  contin- 


ued the  owner  of  the  store.  In  1869,  he  and 
Orlando  Bond,  succeeded  to  their  present  pro- 
prietorship and  management  of  the  grocery 
store  under  the  firm  name  of  Godard  &  Bond. 
They  have  continually  increased  their  stock  and 
trade.  They  now  have  a  very  fine  two-story 
business  building  with  basement,  25  x  90  feet 
in  dimensions,  containing  office,  salesroom  and 
!  storage  dei)artments.  Their  grocery  house  is 
fully  supplied  and  fitted  up  with  every  appli- 
ance and  facility  for  the  successful  prosecution 
of  their  steadily  increasing  business.  The  stock 
comjjrises  the  choicest  food  products,  staple  and 
fancy  groceries  and  sundries  from  the  leading 
markets  of  the  United  States.  Accommodating 
clerks  and  salesmen  are  employed  and  all  pos- 
sible attentions  are  rendered  for  the  comfort 
and  benefit  of  their  patrons.  Mr.  Godard  is  a 
republican  from  principle  but  does  not  allow 
political  affairs  to  take  much  of  his  time  from 
his  extensive  business.  He  has  frequently 
been  appointed  as  an  administrator  to  settle  up 
estates  and  to  act  as  assignee,  guardian  and  ex- 
ecutor. Mr.  Godard  is  a  member  of  the  Meth- 
odist Episcopal  church  of  Mayville,  of  which 
he  is  a  trustee  and  chorister.  He  is  a  member 
of  Mayville  Lodge,  No.  284,  Independent  Or- 
der of  Odd  FJlows,  Mayville  Lodge,  No.  25, 
Ancient  Order  of  United  Workmen,  and  May- 
ville Lodge,  No.  825,  Knights  of  Honor. 

In  186G,  he  married  Ellen  Gleason,  daugh- 
ter of  Rufus  Gleason,  of  Mayville.  She  died 
in  1869,  and  on  April  20,  1875,  Mr.  Godard 
united  in  marriage  with  Libbie  J.  Osborne,  a 
daughter  of  Gustavus  and  Eleanor  Easou  Os- 
borne and  an  adopted  daughter  of  Hon.  T.  A. 
Osborne,  ex-judge  of  the  courts  of  Chautauqua 
county,  and  a  very  prominent  democrat  as  well 
as  a  leading  lawyer.  To  Albert  H.  and  I^ibbie 
(Osborne)  Godard  have  been  born  one  child,  a 
son  named  Anson  G.  Godard,  who  was  born 
July  29,  1877. 


OF  CHAUTAUQUA  COUNTY. 


457 


7f  LFRED  EATOX  was  an  enterprising  and  I 
-**■  intelligent  bnsiness  man,  and  a  quiet, 
earnest,  Christian  gentleman,  lie  was  a  son  of 
David  and  Mercy  (Groves)  Eaton,  and  was  liorn 
Marcii  4,  1815,  in  the  town  of  Portland.  His 
grandfather  was  Benjamin  Eaton,  a  shoemaker, 
living  at  Farnrlnghara,  Massachusetts,  who  died 
in  1800,  leaving  among  nine  other  children  the 
father  of  our  subject,  David  Eaton,  who  was 
born  in  the  town  just  mentioned,  February  2, 
1782.  He  was  the  oldest  son,  and  when  nine 
years  of  age  was  put  to  work  on  a  bench  in  his 
father's  shop.  Nine  years  later  his  father  died,  | 
and  the  support  of  eleven  people  fell  upon  him. 
In  1805,  with  Nathan  Fay,  he  visited  Chau- 
tauqua county  and  made  a  tour  through  it  look- 
ing for  a  desirable  location,  then  returned  to 
Massachusetts.  April  20,  1806,  he  married 
Elizabeth  Home,  and  in  the  following  month, 
accompanied  by  his  mother  and  other  members 
of  his  father's  family,  in  a  covered  wagon  drawn 
by  a  team  of  horses,  he  started  back  to  Chau- 
tauqua. His  wife  was  suffering  from  feeble 
health,  so  that  they  were  obliged  to  stop  at  New 
Hartford,  wheie  she  died.  With  a  sorrowing 
heart  he  pushed  on  to  Portland  where  he  located 
his  land  and  settled  where  he  lived  for  sixty- 
seven  years.  His  mother  kept  house  for  him 
until  1811,  when  he  married  Mrs.  Nathan  Fay 
nve  Mercy  Groves,  who  brought  him  five  chil- 
dren :  Edwin,  married  Caroline  P.  Baldridge, 
of  Fredonia — he  died  July  2,  1880 — his  widow 
resides  in  Frewsburg  ;  Emily  became  the  wife 
of  Josiah  Wheeler  and  lived  at  Frewsburg,  both 
are  deceased;  Alfred;  Oscar  united  with  Louisa 
A.  Kennedy,  and  moved  to  Michigan,  and  from  i 
thence  to  Forest  Grove,  from  thence  to  Oswego, 
Oregon,  and  died  July  13,  1887;  and  Darwin 
G,,  who  graduated  at  the  Normal  school  in 
Albany,  became  one  of  its  teachers,  then  w.is 
offered  the  chair  of  mathematics  and  natural 
sciences  in  the  Packer  Institute  at  Brooklyn, 
New  York,  where  he  taught  for  more  than  forty 
years.     He  married  Ann  J.  Collins,  of  Steuben  ; 


county,  October  2,  1850.  David  Eaton  was  a 
man  of  acknowledged  integrity  and  a  highly 
respected  citizen.  He  served  in  the  war  of 
1812,  and  was  wounded  at  the  battle  of  Queens- 
town,  a  description  being  given  in  the  war 
history.  Mr.  Eaton  was  active  in  politics,  and 
gave  many  years  of  service  to  local  offices.  In 
1809  he  was  assessor  of  Chautau(jua  town ;  clerk 
of  the  board  of  supervisors  from  1820-27  and 
1831-32 ;  supervisor  of  the  town  for  six  years, 
and  chairman  of  the  board  in  1815;  and  for 
many  years  was  justice  of  the  peace.  In  1844 
he  was  appointed  superintendent  of  the  poor, 
and  held  the  office  for  six  years.  David  Eaton 
died  October  7,  1872,  his  wife  May  12,  1862. 

Alfred  Eaton  was  reared  on  the  bosom  of 
rural  life,  and  receiving  an  education  which  in 
those  days  was  called  good,  at  the  common 
schools  and  the  Westfield  High  school,  he  went 
back  to  farming,  which  he  followed  through 
life.  In  1836  he  went  to  the  wild  and  almost 
unknown  Stale  of  Wisconsin,  and  settled  in 
Racine  county,  where  he  engaged  in  farming. 
This  employment  he  continued  at  that  place 
until  1852  when  he  returned  to  the  old  home- 
stead, continuing  his  agricultural  avocation  until 
he  died,  April  13,  1890,  aged  seventy-five  years. 
During  the  six  years  previous  to  his  death, 
advancing  years,  and  the  infirmities  thereof,  pre- 
cluded the  active  management  of  his  business, 
which  he  delegated  to  others,  and  in  1884  he 
moved  to  Westfield,  but  returned  to  his  home 
before  the  grim  reaper  took  him  home. 

While  sojourning  in  Wisconsin  he  married 
Hannah  C.  Clark,  a  daughter  of  Jeremiah  Clark, 
of  Pacine  county.  To  A  Ifred  and  Mrs.  Eaton 
there  were  born  two  sons  and  three  daughters : 
Oscar  D.  is  farming  a  part  of  the  old  homestead, 
his  wife  is  Lovica  Brockway.  and  they  have  one 
child  living,  Elizabeth  Pearl  ;  two,  Alfred  W. 
and  Clyde  B.,  are  dead;  Emily  N.  joined  in 
marriage  to  Daniel  E.  Arnold,  and  now  resides 
in  Corry,  Penna.  They  have  five  children — 
Walter  G.,  Lillie  H.,  Charles  G.  A.,  Orlando  R. 


458 


BIOGRAPHY  AND  HISTORY 


and  Kilbouni  S. ;   <iue  infant,  Orin,  died ;  and  > 
David  D.  married  Emma  A.  Buck,  a  daughter 
of  George  P.  Buck,  of  Westfield,  is  a  Methodist  j 
Episcopal  minister,  now  stationed  at  Berryville,  \ 
New  York,  he  has  one  child,  Herbert  P.  ;  one  ' 
daughter,  Narrie  J.,  died  January   15,  1889,  I 
aged   thirty-one  years.      She    left  a  husband,  ; 
Theron  A.  Koosa,  and  four  children  :  Jennet  D., 
Edwin  A.,  Flossy  A.  and  Franklin  B. ;  Myrtle 
A.  lives  at  home,  and  is  attending  the  Westfield 
academy  and  Union  school. 

Mrs.  Hannah  C.  Eaton  now  resides  at  the  old 
homestead,  four  miles  from  Westfield,  on  the 
south  road.  She  personally  manages  the  grow- 
ing vineyard,  which  produces  a  large  amount  of 
grapes.  In  politics  Alfred  Eaton  was  a  republi- 
can, and  was  earnest  and  enthusiastic  in  maintain- 
ing its  principles.  He  was  supervisor  of  Portland 
for  two  years,  and  was  a  justice  of  the  peace  for 
several  terms.  Devotedly  attached  to  the  Port- 
land Methodist  Episcopal  church,  he  officiated 
as  class  leader  for  many  years.  Being  a  man  of 
rare  good  judgment  and  of  learning,  many  were 
accustomed  to  come  to  him  for  advice,  which 
was  freely  given,  and  when  he  died  the  com- 
munity mourned,  each  feeling  that  he  had  lost 
a  personal  friend. 


OLIA'EK  STETSON  is  now  an  agriculturist 
living  in  the  town  of  Ripley,  who,  while 
yet  a  young  man,  was  a  sailor  before  the  mast, 
and  knew  the  peculiar  whistle  of  a  stiff  north 
wind  as  it  blew  through  the  rigging.  Oliver 
Stetson  is  the  third  of  his  family  of  that  name, 
father  and  grandfather  also  bearing  it.  His 
mother's  name  was  Rhoda  Alice  Stetson,  who 
gave  him  birth  August  25,  1833,  in  the  town 
of  Westfield,  Chautauqua  county,  New  York. 

Oliver  Stetson  (grand fiither)  was  a  native  of 
A^ermont.  Me  came  to  the  town  of  Westfield, 
this  county,  about  1827,  and  kept  a  tavern  and 
.stage  line  running  from  Erie  to  Buffido.  He 
was  a  consistent  member  of  the  Presbyterian 
church  of  Ripley  at  the  time  of  its  organiza- 


tion, served  as  a  soldier  in  the  war  for  Inde- 
pendence, and  died  in  1839.  He  married  and 
reared  a  family  of  eleven  children  :  Delia  Ann, 
married  John  Taylor,  and  is  dead ;  Betsey, 
wife  of  Frank  Slater ;  Quincy ;  Edwin  died, 
aged  twenty-two ;  John,  died  when  seventeen 
years  old ;  Asenath,  wife  of  Ezra  Burrows 
(both  she  and  her  husband  are  dead);  Moses, 
married  Fanny  Porter,  died  in  1870,  leaving  a 
daughter  Jennie,  now  the  wife  of  Henry  Bur- 
gess ;  Henry  A.,  married  Elizabeth  Spink,  and 
moved  to  Michigan ;  Robert  M.,  married  Ann 
Ross;  Oliver,  and  two  sons  who  died  young. 

Oliver  Stetson  (father)  was  born  in  Vermont, 
and  died  in  the  town  of  Westfield,  having, 
when  a  young  man,  served  as  a  soldier  in  the 
war  of  1812,  and  voted  with  the  Whig  and 
Republican  parties.  He  married  Rhoda  Adams 
and  reared  a  family  of  four  sons  and  three 
daughters.  Three  of  the  former  arc  yet  living  : 
Oliver,  Moses  and  Robert  M. 

Oliver  Stetson  (subject)  was  taught  the  les- 
sons of  the  early  schools,  and  then  went  on 
board  of  a  ship  and  learned  to  be  a  sailor.  He 
followed  a  seafaring  life  for  a  number  of  years, 
and  then  returned  to  terra  firma  and  worked 
with  the  carpenter  force  on  the  railroad,  l)ut 
finally  abandoned  this  life  for  farming. 

In  1858  he  married  Elizabeth  Lay,  daughter 
of  William  Lay,  who  came  from  England  in 
1853.  Mr.  and  i\Irs.  Stetson  became  the  pa- 
rents of  two  daughters:  Josephine,  who  became 
the  wife  of  Franklin  Rayce,  but  afterwards 
died ;  and  Elizabeth,  who  married  a  farmer 
named  Frank  Winters,  and  now  lives  in  Rip- 
ley. 

Oliver  Stetson  is  a  democrat,  and  belongs  to 

Lodge  No.  988,  Knights  of  Honor.     He  is  a 

social  gentleman  of  integrity  and   stability  of 

character. 

© 

-f  »|AHU1:n  GKISWOLD,  a  well-known 
■^"  resident  of  Hanover  town,  Chautauqua 
county,  New  York,  was  born  in  Homer,  Madi- 


OF  CHAUTAUQUA   COUNTY. 


459 


son  comity,  New  York,  January  22,  1814. 
His  parents  were  Warren  Griswold  and  Lorana 
(Cutler)  Griswold.  Reuben  Griswold,  his  pa- 
ternal grandfather,  was  also  a  native  of  New 
York  State,  county  of  Madison,  but  when  well 
along  in  years  i-emoved  to  the  western  part  of 
the  State,  took  up  his  residence  in  ChautiUKpia 
county  and  there  lived  until  his  demise.  While 
in  INIadisou  Co.  he  owned  and  operated  a  farm  but 
disposed  of  it  and  came  to  Chautauqua  county, 
where  he  lived  a  retired  life.  He  belonged  to 
the  Jeftersoniau  contingent  of  the  Democratic 
party,  and  held  membership  in  the  Methodist 
Episcopal  church.  His  first  marriage  resulted  in 
a  family  of  seven  children,  four  daughters  and 
three  sons  ;  his  second  wife  was  Mrs.  McLain. 
Warren  Griswold,  Sr.,  was  born  at  a  place 
known  as  Nine  Partners,  Madison  county.  New 
York,  January  22,  1785.  He  was  reared  and 
spent  his  early  life  upon  a  farm,  and  after  locat- 
ing in  Chautauqua  county,  purchased  a  farm  of 
his  own,  containing  one  hundred  and  twenty 
acres,  from  the  Holland  Land  company.  This 
tract  was  located  in  the  town  of  Hanover  and 
constitutes  the  Griswold  homestead.  Mr.  Gris- 
wold's  jjolitical  faith  was  essentially  that  of  the 
Democratic  party,  though  he  was  anything  but 
a  partisan.  With  his  family  he  worshiped  at 
the  Methodist  Episcopal  church,  and  was  a 
member  of  the  Free  and  Accepted  Masons. 
His  wife  bore  him  a  family  of  seven  children, 
consisting  of  four  sons  and  three  daughters. 

Warren  Griswold  received  his  mental  train- 
ing in  the  common  schools  and  at  the  same  time 
performed  his  duties  on  the  farm.  When  old 
enough  to  attempt  the  struggle  of  life  upon  his 
own  responsibility  he  very  successfully  engaged 
in  the  occupation  of  his  boyhood  life — farming. 
He  acquired  considerable  property  but  of  late 
years,  owing  to  his  advanced  age,  has  disposed 
of  all  his  real  estate  with  the  exception  of  forty- 
two  acres,  upon  which  he  now  resides  in  Han- 
over town,  near  Forestville.  Mr.  Griswold  takes 
quite  an  active  part  in  political  aifairs,  but  with 


no  other  motive  than  the  good  of  the  party  and 
a  deep  interest  in  the  j)ublic  welfare. 

On  December  26,  18oG,  he  was  joined  in 
marriage  to  ^liss  Emily,  daughter  of  Uenjamin 
Smith,  originally  the  owner  of  the  tlouring- 
iiiills  at  Smith's  Mills,  which  village  was  named 
in  his  honor.  INIi-.  and  Mrs.  Griswold  are  the 
jiarents  of  ibur  children,  two  sons  and  two 
daughters  :  Warren  (married  to  Ophelia  Keech) 
living  in  the  town  of  Sheridan,  the  owner  and 
cultivator  of  a  farm ;  Benjamin  (married  to 
Sarah  Dickinson)  a  member  of  the  livery  firm 
of  Griswold  &  Cook,  of  Silver  Creek,  New 
York ;  Wealthy,  wife  of  W.  E.  Graves,  who 
operates  the  farm  of  subject  ;  and  Loana,  wife 
of  Oran  Barrass,  of  the  town  of  Hanover. 


TTLBERT  KIKKLAJVD  belongs  to  one  of 

■**■  the  oldest  families  in  the  town  of  Han- 
over. His  parents  were  George  and  Sally 
(Convis)  Kirkland,  and  he  was  born  June  1, 
1833,  in  the  town  of  Hanover,  on  the  farm  upon 
which  he  now  resides.  His  grandfather,  Wil- 
liam Kirkland,  came  to  New  York  State  from 
one  of  the  New  England  States,  first  locating  in 
Schoharie  county,  but  afterwards  in  Chautauqua 
county,  in  the  latter  of  which  he  died.  During 
the  war  of  Independence  he  enlisted  in  the  ser- 
vice of  his  country,  and  bravely  did  Mdiat  he 
could  to  defend  it  from  the  tyrannous  rule  of 
the  Bi'itish  monarchy.  The  result  of  his  mar- 
riage was  a  family  of  three  boys  and  four  girls. 
The  father  of  Albert  Kirkland  was  ushered  into 
life  on  March  15,  1797,  in  Schoharie  county. 
New  York,  and  died  August  26,  1854,  in  the 
town  of  Hanover,  Chautauqua  county.  He  came 
to  Chautauqua  county  some  time  prior  to  the 
year  1821,  and  was  therefore  one  of  the  pioneers 
of  that  county.  His  first  purchase  of  land 
amounted  to  ninety  acres,  to  which  he  afterwards 
added  fifty  acres  more,  both  tracts  constituting 
the  old  homestead  now  occupied  by  his  son. 
He  was  a  hard-working,  economical  man  and 
knew  fully  the  representative  value  of  a  dollar. 


460 


BIOGRAPHY  ASD  HISTOMY 


He  lived  in  stirring  pioneer  times  and  was  fully 
acquainted  with  all  those  experiences  which  are 
a  part  of  every  pioneer's  life.  His  marriage 
resulted  in  a  family  of  ten  children  :  Sarah, 
Ezra,  Mary,  Lovisa,  Rosiua,  Naomi  (dead), 
George,  Albert,  Edwin  and  Walter  (dead).  He 
was  a  whig  in  politics  and  a  communicant  of 
the  Methodist  church. 

Albert  Kirkland's  childhood  days,  youth, 
manhood  and  declining  years  have  all  been 
passed  upon  the  old  homestead,  around  which,  in 
the  autumn  of  his  life,  cling  many  pleasant 
memories.  His  early  education  was  acquired 
in  the  same  school  which  he  now  helps  to  sup- 
port, so  that  it  has  measured  the  experiences  of 
two  generations.  He  has  always  followed  the 
occupation  of  a  farmer  and  is  the  present  owner 
of  one  of  the  best  farms  in  the  county. 

Albert  Kirkland  married  twice.  His  first 
wife  was  Nancy  T.  Giles,  a  daughter  of  Abel 
Giles,  of  Hanover  township,  by  whom  he  had 
one  daughter,  Minnie,  at  present  a  student  at 
the  Fredonia  Normal  school.  Subsequent  to 
the  death  of  his  first  wife,  March  4,  1880,  he 
united  a  second  time  in  marriage  ;  this  time  to 
Annette  M.  Persons,  by  whom  he  had  one  child, 
Bert,  born  in  1881,  a  daughter  of  Orris  Per- 
sons, of  Westfield,  New  York.  Mr.  Persons  is 
a  farmer  and  grape-grower  and  was  once  mar- 
ried to  Melva  Shaw,  who  bore  him  six  chil- 
dren. 

His  life  is  one  of  independence,  contentment 
and  peaceful  labor,  tempered  with  the  benedic- 
tions that  come  to  an  honest,  con.scientious  life. 
He  is  a  consistent  member  and  supporter  of  the 
Methodist  Episcopal  church,  while  politically 
he  ca.sts  his  vote  with  the  llepubliean  ])arty. 


TT  I>i:ij«IJKT  A.  NEWBIUY,  one  of  the 

■**■  progressive  and  shrewd  farmers  of  Rip- 
ley town,  was  born  January  13,  1847,  in  the 
town  of  Ripley,  Chautauqua  county.  New  York, 
and  is  a  son  of  John  A.  and  Margaret  (Oster- 
nian)    Newbury.       The    old    home    which    his 


father  established  so  many  years  ago  has  shel- 
tered two  generations.  The  paternal  grand- 
father was  drowned  in  the  Delaware  river. 
He  married  and  reared  a  family  of  four  sons 
and  five  daughters.  Grandfather  Osterman 
came  to  this  county,  and  settled  in  Ripley.  He 
was  a  farmer  and  married,  and  his  wife  bore 
him  two  sons  and  four  daughters.  John  A. 
Newbury  (father)  was  born  in  Delaware  county, 
New  York,  in  1808,  and  lived  to  be  eighty- 
two  years  of  age.  He  came  into  Chautauqua 
county  and  bought  a  farm  in  the  town  of  Rip- 
ley about  1830.  When  he  came  to  Ripley,  he 
saw  nothing  but  forests.  Two  or  three  small 
settlements  were  scattered  about,  but  they  were 
so  small  as  to  be  hardly  noticeable  to  a  migra- 
tory crow  passing  over  them.  Mr.  Newbury' 
set  to  work  at  once,  and  cleared  up  his  farm, 
and  erected  an  immense  farm  house,  which  is 
still  standing.  While  primarily  a  farmer,  he 
was  also  a  carpenter,  at  which  he  did  consider- 
able, and  bought  and  sold  real  estate.  His 
property  consisted  of  two  hundred  and  twenty- 
five  acres  of  fine  land.  He  was  high  in  the 
councils  of  the  Republican  Jiarty,  and  was  a 
local  leader  of  renown.  ]\Iauy  of  the  town 
offices  were  filled  by  him,  and  the  duties  of  the 
office  honorably  discharged.  When  tiie  Bap- 
tist church  was  organized,  Mi\  Newbury  was 
active  in  accomplishing  it,  and  has  since  served 
as  a  deacon.  The  latter  part  of  his  life  was 
passed  in  Ripley  village.  He  was  twice  mar- 
ried ;  first  to  Louisa  Spencer,  who  bore  him 
two  children  :  William  S.,  now  a  lawyer  at 
Portland,  Oregon,  and  Libbie.  His  second 
wife  was  Margaret  Osterman,  by  whom  he  had 
three  sons  and  two  daughters :  Sarah,  wife  of 
Rush  R.  Brown,  a  farmer  living  at  Silver 
Creek ;  Julia,  wife  of  Frank  (Jriffin,  who  is 
engaged  in  the  real-estate  business  in  Kansas; 
A(lelbert  A.;  John,  a  fiirmer  of  this  town, 
married  Clara  Palmer,  who  is  now  dead  ;  and 
Clarence,  who  died  young. 

Adelbcrt  A.  Newbury  was  reared  a  farmer, 


OF  CHAUTAUQUA   COUNTY. 


461 


and  secured  a  country  education  at  the  district 
schools.  When  still  a  young  man,  lie  bought 
the  old  homestead,  and  has  spent  his  life  upon 
it,  engaged  in  tilling  its  soil.  It  now  consists 
of  one  hundred  and  tiiirty-five  acres,  and  eight 
acres  of  vineyard. 

On  Septem])er  14,  1870,  he  married  Sarah 
Smith,  a  daughter  of  Daniel  and  Cordelia 
(Cushman)  Smith  of  Silver  Creek.  Their  union 
has  been  blessed  with  four  children, — three  sons 
and  one  daughter,  two  of  whom  are  dead :  Eva, 
died  young  ;  Clarence  ;  Arthur,  dead,  and  Allie. 

A.  A.  Newbury  is  a  re[)ublican,  and  has 
sewed  as  assessor  two  terms,  and  is  a  member 
of  Council  No.  164  of  the  Royal  Arcanum  at 
Ripley.  He  is  a  very  popular  man  in  his  lo- 
cality. 


'i'^.VVIl)  HOUSE,  a  respected  and  popular 
''^  farmer  of  Westfield  town,  living  about 
two  and  one-half  miles  east  of  the  village,  is  a 
son  of  David,  Sr.  and  Nabby  (Saunders)  House, 
and  was  born  near  the  scene  of  his  present  resi- 
dence in  Westfield,  Chautauqua  county.  New 
York,  June  29,  1832.  The  best  blood  of  old 
England  flows  in  his  veins,  his  mother  having 
come  from  the  aristocracy  of  that  country.  His 
great-grandfather  was  a  respectable  gentleman, 
but  of  somewhat  humbler  origin  than  his  wife, 
and  they  decided  to  come  to  America,  which 
they  did  about  the  middle  of  the  last  century, 
making  the  Newport,  Rhode  Island  and  Provi- 
dence plantations  their  home.  In  1760  John 
House  was  born,  and  became  the  grandfather  of 
our  subject  Anterior  to  the  commencement  of 
the  present  century  he  moved  to  central  New 
York,  where  he  followed  forming  until  1816, 
and  then  with  his  family,  which  were  born  there, 
came  to  Westfield  town,  where  he  resided  until 
his  death,  having  bouglit  and  cleared  two  hun- 
dred acres  of  laud.  This  was  divided  among 
his  children  who,  with  their  descendants,  still 
live  upon  it.  He  was  married  in  1784,  and 
had  eight  children. 
24 


!      David  House,  Sr.  (father),  was  born  in  Cort- 

:  land  county,  N.  Y.,  in  1792,  and  came  here  with 
his  father  in  1816.  He  married  Nabby  Saun- 
ders, who  came  from  New  Jersey,  whore  she 
was  born  in  the  same  year  with  her  husband. 

j  They  had  ten  children  :  John,  born  November 
12,  1821;  Nancy,  born  August  28,  1817; 
Julia  A.,  born  November  27,   181'J;  Indiana, 

j  born  January  30,  1843;  David,  Jr.,  born 
June  29,  1832  ;  Ruth,  born  October  5,  1827; 
Louisa  J.,  born  March  11,  1827;  Nabby, 
born  September  17,  1824,  died  in  April,  1^34; 
Eliza  J.,  born  March  24,  1835;  and  Edwin, 
born  October  11,  1837.  Mr.  Hou.se  died  May 
20,  1868,  aged  seventy-six  years,  and  was  fol- 
lowed by  his  consort  in  1886,  when  she  had 
attained  the  unusual  age  of  eighty-nine  years. 

David  House  was  reared  on  the  farm,  and 
received  his  education  in  the  public  schools.  His 
life-long  occupation  has  been  following  the  plow, 
sowing  and  reaping  the  harvest  of  his  fields, 
together  with  conducting  a  fine  grape  orchard. 

In  I860  he  married  Mary  Ann  Caldwell,  a 
daughter  of  Samuel  Caldwell,  who  lived  in 
Portland  town,  and  their  union  resulted  in  nine 
children,  four  sons  and  five  daughters  :  Edwin 
M.,  James  S.^  living  in  Nebraska,  Nabby  S., 
Nancy  M.,  wife  of  E.  D.  Mead,  who  lives  in 
Westfield  ;  Emniit  D.,  Almedia  A  ,  Clara  M., 
Arthur  J.  and  Lydia  A. 

Politically,  Mr.  House  is  a  republican,  modest 
and  retiring,  and  while  not  caring  to  receive  any 
political  honors,  is  always  willing  to  advance 
the  interests  of  his  party  by  honest  and  legiti- 
mate means.  Personally  he  is  an  agreeable 
companion,  courteous  and  entertaining,  and 
enjoys  a  large  circle  of  friends  and  acquaintances. 


-0ETER  G.  PHILLIPS,  of  Westfield,  Chau- 
-'-  tauqua  county.  New  York,  is  a  son  of 
James  and  Mary  (Dafoe)  Phillips  and  was  born 
in  Hastings  county,  Canada,  on  New  Years 
day  of  1835.  His  paternal  graudfother,  James 
Phillips,  was  a  native  of  Scotland,  from  whence 


462 


BIOGRAPHY  AND  HISTORY 


lie  emigrated  and  came  to  Canada  about  1800. 
Farming  was  liis  avocation  and  he  pursued  it 
in  Hastings   countv  until    his    death    in  1830. 

*'  I 

He  left  eight  children,  five  boys  and  three  girls. 
James  Phillips,  Jr.,  father  of  Peter  G.,  was 
born  in  Scotland,  in  1794  and  came  to  Canada 
with  his  father  iu  1800,  where  he  spent  his  en- 
tire life  farming.  He  was  a  pushing,  active 
man,  a  member  of  the  jNIethodist  Episcopal 
church  and  a  IMason  of  exalted  rank.  James 
Phillips  died,  April  19,  1837,  aged  forty-three 
years.  He  married  IVIary  Dafoe,  of  Newburg, 
Ontario,  in  1818,  and  reared  a  family  of  nine 
children,  six  boys  and  three  girls. 

Peter  G.  Phillips  was  reared  on  the  farm 
where  he  spent  the  first  sixteen  years  of  his  life. 
He  was  educated  in  the  schools  of  the  Domin- 
ion, and,  at  the  age  mentioned,  began  to  learn 
to  build  fanning-mills.  In  that  work  be  con- 
tinued eleven  years,  when,  during  the  latter 
part  of  1861,  he  came  to  the  United  States, 
where,  after  staying  for  a  year,  he  located  in 
Westfield  some  time  in  November,  1862.  Here 
be  has  made  his  home  ever  since.  For  several 
years  be  was  the  general  agent  in  this  county 
for  the  Singer  Sewing  Machine  Co.,  and  trav- 
elled, establishing  agencies  in  the  larger  cities. 
His  sales  record  was  equal  to  the  best  and  on 
several  occasions,  during  contest.?,  he  was  the 
recijjient  of  the  prize  for  being  the  best  sales- 
man. In  the  fall  of  1866,  Mr.  Phillips  bought 
a  farm  containing  one  hundred  acres,  located 
four  miles  west  of  the  village  of  Westfield  and 
conducted  it  himself,  but  in  1882  he  moved 
two  and  a  (quarter  miles  cast  of  Westfield, 
where  he  now  lives  and  has  a  very  desirable 
place.  lie  has  a  fine  frame  residence  and  the 
farm  contains  a  magnificent  vineyard,  and  an 
extensive  truck  garden.  Mr.  Phillips  is  a 
member  of  the  Methodist  Episc()])al  church, 
affiliates  with  the  Republican  party  and  belongs 
to  Chautauqua  Lodge  A.  O.  U.  W. 

In  186C  he  was  united  in  marriage  to  Lizzie 
Winsor,    of    AVostfield,    wiio    has    become   the 


mother  of  one  son  and  one  dausrhter:  James  W. 

o 

and  Mary  S. 

Peter  G.  Phillips  is  a  kind  father  and  a  gen- 
tle husband ;  public-spirited  and  enterprising 
and  enjoys  the  confidence  of  all  his  acquaint- 
ances. 


I^ANIEL  HAZELTIXE  POST  is  the  son  of 

-'■^  William  and  Susanna  (Hazeltine)  Post, 
and  was  born  in  the  city  of  Jamestown  on  the 
17th  day  of  July,  1850.  He  received  his  early 
education  in  the  schools  of  Jamestown  and  was 
prepared  for  college  in  the  Jamestown  academy, 
and  the  Jamestown  Union  school  and  collegiate 
Institute,  now  the  Jamestown  High  school.  He 
was  a  member  of  the  first  class  which  graduated 
from  this  latter  institution,  in  1868.  He  grad- 
uated from  Williams  college,  Williamstowu, 
Mass.,  in  the  class  of  187-4,  securing  the  degree 
of  A.B.,  and  five  years  later  the  degree  of 
A.M.  For  some  months  after  graduation  he 
studied  law  in  the  office  of  his  grand-uncle, 
Hon.  Abner  Hazeltine.  From  1874  until  1882, 
he  was  engaged  in  newspaper  work,  being 
regularly  engaged  on  the  daily  Journal  and  the 
daily  Democrat  iu  Jamestown,  besides  doing 
work  for  many  other  papers  and  periodicals, 
including  the  New  York  Tribune  and  Harpers' 
Magazine,  to  which  he  contributed  an  illustrated 
article.  In  1878,  he  accompanied  the  late  Gov. 
R.  E.  Fentou  to  Paris,  where  he  acted  as  clerk 
of  the  American  Delegation  to  the  International 
Monetary  conference,  Mr.  Fentou  being  chair- 
man of  the  delegation.  In  1874,  Mr.  Post 
became  a  partner  in  the  furniture  manufactur- 
ing firm,  known  as  the  Jamestown  Bedstead 
company,  with  which  he  is  still  connected.  He 
is  secretary  of  the  Chautauqua  Tjake  railway 
I  company,  a  member  of  the  Masonic  fraternity 
and  a  lieutenant  in  the  13th  separate  company 
of  the  National  Guard  of  the  State. 

On  July  16,  1883,  Mr.  Post  was  married  to 
Evelyn  M.,  only  daughter  of  Robert  and 
Evelyn  (Patchin)  Ncwland,  of  Jamestown. 


OF  CHAUTAUQUA   COUNTY. 


4C3 


Mr.  Post's  father,  William  Post,  was  born  in 
Phillipstown,  Putuani  county,  N.  Y.,  Sept.  23, 
1803.  Ho  was  the  .second  child  of  a  family  of 
five,  three  sisters  and  two  brothers.  His  father 
was  Absalom  Post,  who  was  born  at  Phillips- 
town,  Nov.  29,  1776,  and  was  married  to  Annie 
Schofield,  who  was  born  at  New  Ilochelle, 
Westchester  county,  July  12,  1771.  Absalom 
Post  removed  from  Phillipstown  to  Catskill, 
where  he  lived  for  some  years  and  in  July, 
1842,  he  removed  to  Afton,  Chenango  county, 
where  he  resided  the  balance  of  his  life.  He 
was  a  whig  and  a  republican  in  politics,  a 
farmer  by  occupation  and  a  man  of  intelligence 
and  high  character.  William  Post,  the  son, 
though  enjoying  but  scanty  opportunities  of 
instruction  in  his  youth,  equipped  himself  with 
a  practical  education  that  well-fitted  him  for  the 
duties  of  life.  He  lived  in  Phillipstown,  Cats- 
kill,  Afton,  New  York  city,  Kent,  Ohio,  and 
Newark,  N.  Y.,  before  coming  to  Jamestown. 
He  studied  medicine,  but  never  practiced  as  a 
physician.  He  was  engaged  in  general  mer- 
cantile business  and  in  the  drug  business,  the 
greater  portion  of  his  life.  AVhile  living  in 
New  York  city,  he  was  one  of  the  founders  of 
the  artistic  society,  which  afterwards  became 
the  National  Academy.  During  a  portion  of 
his  residence  in  Jamestown,  he  was  a  member 
of  the  oil  refining  firm  of  Marvin  &  Co.  Mr. 
Past  possessed  cultured  tastes  and  a  large  fund 
of  general  information.  He  was  a  republican 
in  politics,  a  man  of  kind  heart  and  unblem- 
ished character.  He  was  first  married  to  ISIiss 
Aletta  Westervelt,  in  New  York  city,  by  whom 
he  had  one  son,  Maj.  Wm.  Westervelt  Post, 
who  died  in  New  York,  April  5,  1880.  Wil- 
liam Post  was  married  to  Susaima  Hazeltine,  on 
Sept.  1,  1845,  and  one  son,  Daniel  H.  Post 
was  the  result  of  this  union.  Mrs.  Post  died 
in  1870,  and  her  husband's  death  occurred  at 
Jamestown,  Nov.  16,  1878. 

The  ancestors  of  Dan  iel  H.  Post  on  the  maternal 
side  were  all   identified  with  the  early  develop- 


ment of  this  region.  His  maternal  grandfather, 
Daniel  Hazeltine,  was  a  man  of  more  than 
ordinary  prominence  in  the  early  history  of 
Jamestown,  and  one  of  the  founder.")  of  her 
present  industrial  prosperity.  He  was  a  native 
of  Wardsboro,  Vernxjut,  and  in  1812,  at  the 
age  of  seventeen  years,  on  the  advice  of  his 
uncle,  Solomon  Jones,  he  mastered  the  art  of 
cloth-making  with  the  intention  of  coming  to 
western  New  York,  which  he  did  in  1816, 
coming  to  Jamestown  in  company  with  Samuel 
Barrett,  who  in  later  years  became  president  of 
the  Chautauqua  County  Bank.  Mr.  Hazeltine's 
first  factory  was  erected  where  the  Broadhead 
mills  now  stand,  and  he  was  the  pioneer  maker 
of  textile  fabrics  in  this  region.  His  business 
steadily  increased  until,  when  he  retired  in 
1865,  it  had  attained  considerable  proportions. 
He  was  regarded  as  a  man  of  the  strictest 
integrity  and  was  highly  exemplary  in  all  the 
relations  of  life.  He  was  one  of  the  nine 
founders  of  the  Congregational  church,  and 
continued  a  devout  and  earnest  member  until 
his  death,  universally  deplored,  which  occurred 
August  3,  1867.  In  1818,  Daniel  Hazeltine 
was  married  to  Mehetabel,  the  youngest  daugh- 
ter of  William  and  Mary  (Prendergast)  Bemus. 
William  Bemus  was  born  at  Bemus  Heisfhts, 
Saratoga  county,  in  1762,  and  it  was  upon  his 
father's    farm    that    the    "  Battle    of   Bemus 


Heights "     was 


fought. 


Together 


with    his 


father  and  brother  he  was  a  soldier  of  the  Rev- 
olution, and  in  the  above  named  engagement  he 
fought  in  the  most  literal  sense  for  his  home 
and  fireside.  William  Bemus  came  into  Chau- 
tauqua county  in  1805,  and  the  following  spring 
settled  on  Chautauqua  lake,  at  what  is  now 
known  as  Bemus  Point.     His  vouuo'est  dauo-h- 

»  o  o 

ter  was  named  after  her  maternal  grandmother, 
Mehetabel  Wing,  who  married  William  Pren- 
dergast, senior.  To  Daniel  and  Mehetabel 
(Bemus)  Hazeltine  M'ere  born  five  children,  two 
sons  and  three  daugliters.  Susanna,  the  eldest 
daughter,  was  born  April  8,  1822.     She  was 


464 


BIOGRAPHY  AND  HISTORY 


the  mother  of  Daniel  Hazeltine  Post,  the  sub- 
ject of  this  sketch.  She  was  a  woman  of  strong 
and  lovable  character,  kind  and  benevolent 
and  her  death  on  June  23,  1870,  was  greatly 
mourned.  Mehetabel  (Bemus)  Hazeltine  sur- 
vived her  husband  and  daughter,  and  died 
Sept.  22,  1889,  at  the  advanced  age  of  nearly  ; 
ninety-five  vears.  She  was  a  woman  of  many 
strongly-marked  but  worthy  traits  of  char- 
acter. 

o 

nOBERT  XEWL.AJfD.  One  of  the  best- 
known  and  most  universally  respected 
citizens  of  Jamestown  is  Mr.  Robert  Newland, 
the  venerable  ex-president  of  the  Chautauqua 
County  National  Bank.  He  was  born  in  Al- 
bany, N.  Y.,  January  24, 1809,  and  was  the  son 
of  David  Newland,  a  native  of  Dumfries  in 
Scotland,  who  at  the  age  of  eighteen  years  emi- 
grated to  America  and  settled  in  Albany, 
where  he  subsequently  married  Jane  McHarg, 
who,  like  him,  was  of  Scotch  parentage.  David 
Newland  had  a  long  and  honorable  mercantile 
career  in  Albany,  where  he  died  in  1855,  at  the  ' 
age  of  eighty-two  years.  His  widow  who  sur- 
vived him  ouly  a  short  time  was  also  an  octo- 
genarian at  the  time  of  her  death. 

Robert  Newland,  the  son  of  this  worthy 
couple,  had  the  ordinary  advantages  of  educa- 
tion afforded  by  the  time,  and  among  other 
schools  of  the  city  attended  the  well-known  Al- 
bany boys'  academy.  On  quitting  school  he 
entered  his  father's  store  as  a  clerk,  where  he 
remained  until  he  was  nearly  twenty-five  years 
of  age.  In  1834  he  left  Albany  and  came  to 
Jamestown,  where  he  became  connected  witii 
the  Chautauqua  County  Bank,  a  relation  which 
ha.s  now  (in  1891)  been  continuous  for  fifty- 
seven  years.  Tiie  history  of  this  banking  in- 
■stitution  is  almost  coincident  with  the  business 
life  of  Mr.  Newland  in  ])oint  of  duration,  and 
he  has  been  so  cio.sely  identified  witii  its  fortunes 
and  good  name  tiiat  a  brief  sketch  of  tlie  bank  i 
is  not   inappropriati-    in    this   connection.     The 


bank  was  chartered  April  18,  1831,  being  what 
was  then  known  as  a  "safety  fund  bank,"  and 
was  founded  mainly  by  Albany  capitalists,  the 
famous  "Albany  Regency,"  being  largely  in- 
terested in  the  enterprise.  The  first  election  for 
directors  was  held  at  the  "Inn  of  Messrs.  Jones," 
in  Jamestown,  June  24,  1831,  but  the  bank  did 
not  begin  business  until  about  January  13, 1832. 
When  the  bank  was  started  tliere  was  no  otiier 
bank  in  the  southern  tier  of  counties  west  of 
Orange  county,  and  its  nearest  neighbors  were 
the  U.  S.  Branch  Bank  at  Buffalo,  and  the  State 
Bank  at  Lockport.  The  first  president  was 
Elial  T.  Foote,  and  one  of  the  first  board  of 
directors  the  Hon.  Richard  P.  Marvin,  a  brother- 
in-law  of  Mr.  Newland,  is  still  living.  The 
first  Cashier  was  Arad  Joy,  who  was  succeeded 
by  Fitch  Shepard  (father  of  Col.  Elliott  F. 
Shepard,  of  New  York  city),  as  cashier  pro 
tern.  Aaron  D.  Patchin  succeeded  Mr.  Shepard, 
and  lie  in  turn  was  followed  by  Thaddeus  W. 
Patchin  as  cashier.  Mr.  Newland  entered  the 
.service  of  the  bank  September  30,  1834,  a  little 
less  than  tiiree  years  after  it  commenced  busi- 
ness, and  on  May  20,  1840,  he  was  promoted  to 
cashier,  succeeding  Mr.  Thaddeus  W.  Patchin. 
After  twenty  years  of  service  as  cashier  Mr. 
Newland  was  advanced  to  the  vice-presidency, 
being  succeeded  as  cashier  by  his  nephew.  Gen. 
Selden  E.  Marvin,  now  of  Albany.  In  1862 
Mr.  Newland  again  became  cashier,  owing  to 
the  resignation  of  ]\Ir.  ^larvin  to  enter  the 
army.  In  1872,  uj)on  the  death  of  ^lajor 
Samuel  Barrett,  who  had  been  president  for 
thirty- seven  years,  Mr.  Newland  was  advanced 
to  the  i)resideucy,  another  nephew,  Mr.  David 
N.  Marvin,  succeeding  him  as  casiiier.  After 
eighteen  years  service  as  president  of  the  bank, 
in  1890  Mr.  Newland  then  in  liis  eighty-second 
year  resigned  his  office  of  president,  though  still 
remaining  a  director  of  the  bank,  and  each  day 
going  to  tiie  institution  and  occupying  his  ac- 
customed seat  and  attending  to  certain  official 
duties. 


I 


OF  CHAUTAUQUA   COUNTY. 


405 


During  all  these  fifty-seven  years  of  service 
to  the  bank  Mr.  Nevvland  has  been  a  striking  i 
exani])]o  of  the  ideal  l)usiiie.ss  man.  Punctual, 
painstaking,  industrious  and  watchful  his  name 
has  been  the  synonym  of  business  integrity  and 
lofty  character  in  all  the  region  round  about. 
To  his  executive  ability  and  cai'cful  judgment 
the  bank  owes  much  of  its  prosperous  ciarcer, 
while  to  his  liberal  policy  toward  the  infant  in- 
dustries and  enterprises  of  the  ])]acc  is  due  nuicli 
of  the  growth  and  progress  of  the  city. 

In  his  private  life  Mr.  Newland  has  endeared 
himself  to  all  classes  of  people  by  ids  upright 
character  and  his  open-handed  though  unosten- 
tatious benevolence.  As  has  been  well  said  of 
him,  "Young  men  have  found  him  a  firm  friend, 
public  enterprises  a  wise  and  liberal  promoter, 
the  poor  and  needy  a  generous  benefactor." 

Mr.  Newland  has  always  taken  an  earnest  and 
intelligent  interest  in  public  affairs  and  local 
advancement.  He  was  one  of  the  original  di- 
rectors of  the  Erie  and  New  York  city  railroad 
(now  the  New  York,  Pennsylvania  and  Ohio 
railway) ;  he  was  an  assistant  engineer  in  the  , 
fire  department  of  Jamestown,  he  was  for  j 
several  terms  one  of  the  village  trustees,  and  \ 
was  also  president  of  the  village.  In  politics 
Mr.  Newland  has  been  a  consistent  and  consci- 
entious republican  since  the  formation  of  the 
party,  and  has  always  kept  abreast  of  the  times 
in  political  and  general  reading.  He  possesses 
a  marked  taste  for  all  works  of  art,  and  has 
found  much  pleasure  in  securing  and  enjoying 
a  large  and  valuable  collection  of  engravings, 
etchings  and  water-colors,  as  well  as  a  large 
library  of  works  upon  general  and  art  subjects. 

Mr.  Newland  has  for  many  years  been  a  reg- 
ular attendant  upon  the  services  of  the  Presby- 
terian ciuirch  in  Jamestown,  and  a  liberal  sup- 
porter of  that  body  of  which  he  is  one  of  the 
trustees.  He  has  also  contributed,  it  is  believed, 
to  the  erection  of  every  church  building  in  the  ; 
place  and  the  support  of  every  religions  society. 

On  January  21, 1847,  Mr.  Newland  was  mar- 


ried to  Miss  Evelyn  I'ati'iiin,  daugliter  of  Dr. 
Aaron  D.  Patchin,  of  Iloosic  Falls,  N.  Y.,  and 
a  sister  of  Mr.  Aaron  U.  Patchin,  the  sec- 
ond cashier  of  tlie  bank.  Mrs.  Newland  died 
on  June  17,  1887.  By  this  union  there  were 
two  children — a  son,  Frank,  wiio  died  in  in- 
fancy, and  a  daugliter,  Evelyn  M.,  tlio  wife  of 
Mr.  Daniel  H.  Post,  of  Jamestown. 

It  lias  been  well  said  of  tiic  subject  of  this 
sketch,  that  "  tlicre  is  probably  no  one  in  the 
community  in  which  he  lives,  who  deserves  or 
possesses  in  a  greater  measure  the  respect,  con- 
fidence and  esteem  of  those  who  know  him." 
Tiiere  is  a  human  heart-throb  in  the  utterance 
of  his  fellow-citizens  when  they  mention  the 
name  of  that  strong,  inflexible  yet  helpful  busi- 
ness man,  that  liberal-handed,  kind-hearted 
gentleman,  that  reserved,  yet  sympathetic  friend 
— Robert  Newland  ! 


^HARLES  SMITH,  M.  D.,  belongs  to  a 
^^  profession  in  which  for  nearly  fifty-five 
years  he  has  been  in  continuous  and  success- 
ful practice  in  administering  to  the  sick  and 
maimed.  Charles  Smith  is  a  son  of  George  and 
Anna  (Ellis)  Smith,  and  was  born  in  Delaware 
county,  New  York,  May  22,  1815.  This 
branch  of  the  Smitii  family  is  a  combination  of 
Enoflish  and  German.  Grandfather  Smith  had 
but  one  child  and  died  while  in  the  early  prime 
of  life.  Upon  his  deatii  the  mother  of  subject 
re-married  to  a  Mr.  Gay,  by  whom  she  had 
one  son.  She  kept  a  hotel  all  lier  life  in 
Poughkeepsie,  this  State,  where  she  died  in 
1843,  aged  one  hundred  and  three  years.  Gen. 
George  Washington  was  a  guest  at  her  house 
many  times  during  the  war  of  the  Revolution. 
The  maternal  grandfather,  Noah  Ellis,  was  of 
English  extraction,  his  mother's  ancestors  being 
passengers  on  the  Mayflower.  He  was  a  resi- 
dent of  Roxbury,  Delaware  county,  N.  Y., 
where  he  operated  a  grist-mill  and  was  a  justice 
of  the  peace.  About  1825  he  moved  to  Clovers- 
ville,  on  the  Delaware  river  and  ran  a  mill  and 


466 


BIOGRAPHY  AND  HISTORY 


foundry,  where  were  cast  tbe  first  iron  plows. 
He  gave  his  persoual  atteution  to  this  business  | 
and  died  about  1845  and  was  survived  by  seven 
children :  Noah,  Horace,  Charles,  Anna  (Mrs. 
Smith),  Olive  (Mrs.  Washburn),  Elizabeth  was 
the  mother  of  Hon.  W.  B.  Morrison,  the  famous 
Democratic  champion  of  tariff  reform ;  and 
Amelia.  George  Smith  was  born  at  Pough- 
keepsie,  this  State,  in  1784,  and  was  a  farmer 
in  Delaware  county  until  1823,  when  he  moved 
to  Stockton,  this  county,  and  bought  a  farm  of 
one  hundred  and  five  acres.  It  was  but  little 
improved  and  the  only  building  upon  it  was  a 
log  hut,  and  that  was  surrounded  nightly  by 
wolves,  so  that  almost  the  same  amount  of  labor 
was  required  to  subdue  nature  as  though  it  had 
been  taken  from  the  virgin  forest.  They  moved 
here  in  wagons,  bringing  with  them  some 
leather  which  they  sold  here  for  cash,  to  Gen. 
Leverett  Barker,  who  had  a  monopoly  of  the 
leather  trade,  for  money  enough  to  buy  the 
farm..  He  was  an  industrious  man  and  worked 
hard  upon  his  farm,  but  died  in  Juue  of  the 
year  after  his  arrival.  He  married  Anna  Ellis 
in  1808,  the  result  of  which  was  seven  children : 
Harriet,  married  John  Nye,  a  farmer  of  West- 
field  who  afterwards  went  to  California;  Sallie, 
married  Olvin  Putnam  first  and  afterwards 
Dr.  Joseph  E.  Kimble,  of  Siuclairville;  George, 
a  judge  in  San  Leandro,  California,  married 
to  Eliza  Fenner ;  David,  a  farmer  in  May- 
ville,  married  Rebecca  Johnson  ;  Jane,  wife  of 
James  M.  Copp,  a  farmer  living  in  Sinclair- 
ville ;  and  Olive,  wife  of  Dr.  Cliester  Ellsworlii, 
of  Milwaukee,  AVisconsin.  After  the  death  of 
her  husband  ^Irs.  Smith  married  Israel  Smitli, 
in  1826,  and  by  him  had  one  son,  Edwin,  who 
married  a  Miss  Blanchard,  and  is  a  teacher  in 
the  High  school  of  Quincy,  111. 

Charles  Smith  was  educated  in  the  town  of 
Stockton  and  tiien  attended  a  .select  school 
taught  by  Worthy  Putnam  and  continued  re- 
ceiving private  lessons  for  some  time.  He 
taught  school  during  the  winters   of  1832-33- 


34,  helping  his  mother  on  the  farm  during  the 
summer,  and  in  August,  1835,  he  began  the 
study  of  medicine  with  Di'.  Watterman  Ells- 
worth, of  Stockton,  again  teaching  in  Pomfret 
in  the  winter  of  '35-36.  Medical  students  were 
not  theu  compelled  to  attend  lectures,  so  young 
Smith,  lacking  means,  studied  at  home  until 
1838,  when  he  passetl  an  examination  before 
and  received  his  diploma  from  the  censors  of 
the  Chautaucpia  county  medical  society.  He 
completed  his  studies  with  Dr.  Thomas  D. 
Mann,  who  died  about  the  time  of  Dr.  Smith's 
graduation,  and  the  latter  at  once  assumed  the 
practice  made  vacant  by  the  former's  death, 
which  he  conducted  for  ten  years,  when,  April, 
1848,  he  moved  to  Fredonia,  where  he  has 
since  practiced  and  lived.  His  practice  is  large, 
and  making  a  specialty  of  obstetrics  and  child- 
dren's  diseases,  he  is  uniformly  successful  with 
such  cases.  (Dr.  Smith  has  attended  3,746 
accouchements  up  to  November  1,  1890.)  -He 
practiced  his  profession  because  he  loved  it. 
When  a  call  came  he  responded  without  a  ques- 
tion as  to  whether  his  fee  was  forthcoming. 
Poor  and  rich  were  served  alike ;  when  his  ser- 
vices were  needed  he  went. 

Dr.  Charles  Smith  served  as  president  of  the 
village  of  Fredonia  two  terms  in  succession, 
also  as  trustee  and  treasurer  for  several  years, 
always  foremost  in  any  and  all  movements  for 
the  benefit  of  the  village,  namely,  the  construc- 
tion of  the  State  Normal  school,  D.,  A.  V.  & 
P.  R.  R.,  town  iiall,  electric  lights  and  system 
of  water  works,  the  best  in  the  State. 

On  November  23,  1838,  he  married  Cornelia 
Turner,  a  daughter  of  Hezekiaii  Turner,  an 
early  settler  of  Fredonia.  They  had  six  child- 
ren, five  of  whom  attained  their  growth  :  Mary 
married  Callix  Dagenais,  a  carriage  painter, 
and  lives  in  Fredonia ;  Albert  II.  is  a  doctor, 
assisting  his  father  ;  Olive,  wife  of  Tliomas  H. 
Towers,  who  keeps  a  iiotel  in  Brandon,  Mani- 
toba;  Cornelia  resides  at  home;  Ella  died 
in  infancy  ;  and  Anna,  youngest,  married  Chas. 


OF  CHAUTAUQUA   COUNTY. 


407 


Dunning,  of  Buffalo.    Mrs.  Smith  died  in  April, 
1873,  aged  fifty-five  years. 

The  secret  societies  are  familiar  with  Dr. 
Smith's  face.  Until  its  snspension  he  was  a 
m.ember  of  the  Fredonia  Odd  Fellows,  and 
Forest  Lodge,  No.  166,  F.  &  A.  M.  welcomes 
his  appearance  at  its  meetings.  Dr.  Smith  is 
well  advanced  in  years;  has  passed  the  allotted 
three-score  and  ten  and  six  more  have  been 
added,  and  during  all  liis  long  life  his  reputa- 
tion has  been  one  of  strict  honesty  and  integrity, 
and  whose  only  fault,  which  no  one  calls  a  fault, 
is  his  open  generosity. 

(=> 

ASHIXGTON     CROCKER.     A   well- 


m 


known  agriculturist  and  grape-grower, 
residing  in  the  town  of  Ripley  is  Washington 
Crocker,  who  is  a  son  of  Andrew  and  Anne 
(Leland)  Crocker,  who  was  born  in  Sardinia, 
Erie  county.  New  York,  November  3,  1819. 
Taking  up  the  maternal  ancestry  the  first 
Leland,  of  which  we  have  record  is  Henry, 
who  was  born  in  England  about  1625,  married 
Margaret  Babcock,  came  to  America  in  1652, 
and  died  in  Sherburne,  Massachusetts,  April  4, 
1680.  They  had  five  children.  Ebenezer, 
born  in  1679  was  a  direct  lineal  ancestor  of  our 
subject,  having  married  Deborah  Hunt,  by 
whom  was  born  James  Leland,  the  great-great- 
grandfather of  the  subject  of  this  sketch,  at 
Sherburne,  in  1687  and  died  in  Grafton,  the 
same  State,  in  1768.  His  wife  was  Hannah 
Larned,  who  was  the  mother  of  Thomas 
Leland  ;  he  was  born  in  1726  and  died  in  1759  ; 
married  Margaret  Wood  and  had  a  son 
Thomas,  who  was  the  grandfather  of  our  sub- 
ject, and  was  born  in  Massachusetts  in  1757. 
He  removed  to  Ohio,  after  having  served  in  the 
Revolutionary  war,  followed  farming  until 
1848,  when  he  died.  He  was  a  disciple  of 
Thomas  Jefferson  and  married  Anna  B.  Raw- 
son,  by  whom  he  reared  a  large  family,  con- 
sisting of  seven  sons  and  seven  daughters. 
The  oldest  of   the  family  was  Anne    Leland, 


who  was  born  in  1779  and  became  our  subject's 
mother.  Andrew  Crocker  (father)  was  born 
at  Albany,  New  York,  in  the  year  that  the 
Declaration  of  Independence  was  given  to 
the  world  and  removed,  in  1817,  to  western 
New  York,  settled  in  the  southern  part  of  Erie 
county  and  followed  carpentering  and  joining 
until  his  death.  He  mai-riod  Anne  Leland 
and  reared  sixteen  children,  ten  sons  and  six 
daughters;  Washington  was  next  to  the 
youngest. 

Washington  Crocker  was  educated  in  the 
common  schools  and  began  life  as  a  farmer, 
which  he  has  followed  throughout  his  useful 
life.  He  married  Nancy  Benton,  daughter  of 
James  Benton,  of  Berkshire  county,  Massachu- 
setts, where  the  latter  died.  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Crocker  have  the  following  children  :  Burton 
W.,  born  at  Sardinia,  in  1848,  married  Lydia 
Randall,  of  New  York  city,  and  died  in  Jan- 
uary, 1883  ;  and  Edward  B.,  born  in  December, 
1859,  married  Julia  Barker,  a  daughter  of 
George  Barker,  of  Portland  ;  he  has  one  child, 
Minnie,  and  lives  with  his  father  in  Ripley. 
Washington  Crocker  first  came  to  Chautauqua 
county  in  1865,  made  his  home  at  Dunkirk 
and  resided  there  for  thirteen  years  after  which 
he  went  to  the  town  of  Portland,  remaining 
there  eleven  years  and  in  1890  came  to  the 
town  of  Ripley,  purchased  a  farm  and  in  con- 
nection  with  his  agricultural  work  is   engaged 

o  Do 

ingrowing  grapes.  Politically  he  is  a  prohibi- 
tionist and  has  always  been  a  mem  ber  of  the 
Baptist  church. 


T^LISHA  E.  KIT.BOIRX  is  the  miller 
^"^  upon  whom  many  of  the  farmers  of 
Cherry  Creek  depend  for  their  grinding.  He 
is  a  son  of  William  and  Lydia  (King)  Kil- 
bourn,  and  was  born  in  this  town  August  24, 
1836.  William  Kilbourn  was  born  February 
25,  1801,  at  Sandisfield,  Berkshire  county, 
Mass.,  and  came  to  Cherry  Creek  March  22, 
1824,  where  he  built  the  first  saw-mill  in  the 


468 


BIOORAPHY  AND  HISTORY 


town,  the  location  being  near  the  present  site  [ 
of  our  subject's  feed-mill  on  Cherry  creek.  He 
was  a  miller  and  former,  and  incidentally  made 
linnet  wheels  and  all  kinds  of  spinning  wheels. 
Politically  he  was  a  whig,  and  served  two 
terms  as  supervisor  of  the  town  ;  religiously, 
he  was  a  Second  Adventist.  William  Kil- 
bourn,  on  October  7,  1824,  united  in  marriage 
with  Lydia  King,  a  daughter  of  Ward  and 
Sallie  King,  who  came  with  ox  teams  through 
the  woods  from  Hancock,  Mass.,  to  Cherry 
Creek  in  1817.  Lydia  King  was  born  at 
Hancock,  Berkshire  county,  Mass.,  June  11, 
1 804.  The  fruit  of  their  union  was  six  sous 
and  two  daughters:  William  E,.,  born  June  15, 
1825,  died  November  26,  1885;  Hiram,  born 
October  21,  1827,  married  Lydia  Carr,  June 
17,  1849,  and  is  a  machinist  by  trade,  and 
served  in  an  Iowa  regiment  during  the  civil 
war;  Lydia  M.,  born  October  10,  1829,  mar- 
ried Samuel  H.  Carr,  of  Cherry  Creek,  Decem- 
ber 27,  1848,  and  died  May  27,  1858  ;  Mary 
C,  born  March  29,  1832,  married  Ozro  A. 
Hadley,  of  Cherry  Creek,  February  17,  1849; 
(Mr.  Hadley  was  Governor  of  Arkansas  one 
term  after  the  war,  and  is  now  a  large  ranch 
owner  and  cattle  dealer  at  Springer,  New  Mex- 
ico); Leonard  W.,  born  August  14,  1834,  dead; 
Elisha  E. ;  Norman  G.,  born  January  29, 1839, 
married  Pha?be  A.  Graves,  of  Ellington  ;  and 
Benjamin  W.,  born  April  3,  1841,  died  De- 
cember 20,  1865.  William  Kilbourn  died 
May  17,  1875,  and  his  wife  followed  him  Sep- 
tember 23,  1886;  both  are  buried  in  Cherry 
Creek.  \ 

Elisha  E.  Kilbourn  was  educated  in  the 
common  schools  and  l)rought  up  in  the  mill, 
thereby  becoming  a  thorough,  j)ractical  miller. 
He  spent  from  1860  to  1883  (excepting  the 
period  from  1862  to  1865)  in  other  towns  in 
this  county  and  in  I'ennsylvania,  being  em- 
ployed by  Sellcw  tt  Pople,  wlio  own  extensive 
iron  works  at  Dunkirk  and  other  cities.  AL-. 
Kilbourn  returned  to  Cherry  Creek  in  1883, 


where  he  has  since  resided  and  built  a  feed-mill 
near  the  site  of  his  father's  old  saw-niili,  and 
is  operating  the  former.  In  addition  to  this, 
he  has  a  small  farm,  which  he  has  brought 
into  a  high  state  of  fertility. 

Elisha  E.  Kilbourn  is  a  square-dealing, 
highly-respected  business  man  and  citizen. 
Kilbourn's  Hills  are  two  mound-shaped  piles 
of  earth  which  were  islands  in  a  lake  that  once 
occupied  the  site  where  tlie  village  of  Cherry 
Creek  now  stands,  and  marks  of  the  waves  are 
distinctly  visible  on  the  sandy  beach  skirting 
the  base  of  the  hills.  Mr.  Kilbourn  was  a  ser- 
geant in  Company  A,  Sixty-eighth  Regiment, 
New  York  Volunteers,  served  throughout  the 
war,  and  is  a  member  of  Bullock  Post,  No. 
304,  G.  A.  R.,  of  Cherry  Creek,  and  has  been 
its  commander  for  one  terra.  He  also  belongs 
to  Lodge  No.  54  of  the  Equitable  Aid  Union 
and  CheiTy  Creek  Lodge,  No.  42,  Ancient 
Order  of  United  Workmen.  He  is  a  repub- 
lican. 

On  May  4,  1856,  he  married  Philetta  M. 
Gage,  daughter  of  Reuben  and  Nancy  Gage,  of 
this  town,  and  they  have  had  one  son  and  one 
daughter:  Xenophon  E.,  born  September  21, 
1860,  is  in  business  with  his  father;  and  Nel- 
lie B.,  born  June  7,  1867,  married  Bradner  H. 
Siawson,  of  Dunkirk.  Mrs.  Kilbourn  died 
February  25,  1890,  aged  fifty-seven  years. 


j^KOF.    ANDREW    YATES   FKEEMAX. 

^^  Tlic  children  of  to-day  are  the  statesmen 
of  to-morrow,  and  as  Providence  has  given  us 
no  way  to  foretell  the  future,  we  educate  them 
all  alike.  A.  Y.  Freeman,  the  subject  of  this 
sketch,  is  engaged  in  this  work. 

He  is  the  oldest  son  of  Edmund  and  Rosetta 
(Young)  Freeman,  and  was  born  in  Nortli 
i'itcher,  Chenango  county,  New  York,  January 
29,  1848. 

Samuel  I'reeman,  his  grandfatlnu-,  was  born 
in  Mansticld,  Conn.,  about  1785.  In  the  early 
part  of  this  century  he  moved  to  Chenango 


OF  CHAUTAUQUA   COUNTY. 


469 


county,  and  in  1806  married  lluldidi  Barrows,  I 
by  whom  he  had  eleven  children.  He  farmed 
summers  and  taught  winters,  teaching  twenty- 
four  terms  in  all.  During  that  time  each 
one  of  the  eleven  children  had  the  rare  oppor- 
tunity of  being  taught  at  school  by  llicir 
father. 

Edmund  Freeman,  tlie  seventh  child,  was 
born  at  North  Pitcher,  August  IG,  1821.  He 
worked  on  the  farm  summers  with  his  father, 
and  attended  his  school  wiuters.  In  186G  he 
moved  to  Sherburne  and  purchased  a  farm  of 
ninety  acres  where  he  now  resides.  In  1846 
he  married  Eosetta  A.  Young,  by  whom  he  had 
four  sons :  Andrew  Yates  ;  Harlan  Page,  who 
was  assistant  cashier  in  the  Sherburne  National 
Bank  ;  Edmund  Byrd  is  a  shoe  merchant  in 
Oxford  ;  and  Charles  Storrs  operates  his  father's 
farm.     Harlan  Page  Freeman  died  in  1884. 

A.  Y.  Freeman  received  his  education,  until 
twenty-one  years  of  age,  at  the  district  schools, 
with  the  exception  of  six  weeks  at  the  Norwich 
academy.  He  began  to  teach  when  seventeen 
years  old,  teaching  winters  and  working  sum- 
mers. He  also  taught  one  term  of  select  school, 
after  which  he  took  the  classical  course  in  the 
Brockport  Normal,  from  which  he  was  graduated 
in  1873.  He  has  since  been  continually  in 
educational  work.  The  two  years  succeeding 
his  graduation  were  .spent  in  Spencerport,  where 
he  was  principal  of  the  school.  In  1875  the 
voters  of  Chenango  county  elected  him  school 
commissioner  for  a  term  of  three  years.  On 
August  16,  1876,  he  married  Emma  W.  Hall, 
who  was  preceptress  of  the  Union  school  at 
Union  Springs,  this  State,  but  was  called  upon 
to  mourn  her  death  eight  months  later,  April  9, 
1877.  At  the  expiration  of  his  term  of  office 
Mr.  Freeman  returned  to  Spencerport  and  taught 
two  years,  when,  in  the  fall  of  1880,  he  was 
elected  princijial  of  the  intermediate  department, 
and  later  superintendent  of  practice  at  the  State 
Normal  school,  at  Fredonia,  where  he  has  since 
remained.     He  is  a  popular  instructor,  giving 


satisfaction  in  whatever  capacity  he  has  been 
called  upon  to  act. 

On  June  23,  1886,  he  married  Kate  E.  Hen- 
dee,  daughter  of  Joel  E.  and  Catherine  (Pang- 
born)  Hendee,  and  they  have  a  family  of  three 
children :  Harlan  Page,  Andrew  Yates,  and 
Edward  Hendee. 

Prof.  Freeman  owns  a  valualjle  tract  of 
twenty  acres,  plantetl  witli  choice  varieties  of 
grapes,  on  Central  avenue,  where  he  lives;  a 
farm  of  fifty-nine  acres  at  Cordova,  and  one  of 
one  hundred  and  forty  acres  at  Sherburne. 

Prof.  Freeman  is  an  elder  in  the  Presbyterian 
church,  and  has  for  many  years  been  superin- 
tendent of  the  Sabbath  school.  He  takes  a  deep 
interest  in  all  Christian  and  temperance  work, 
and  is  highly  respected  by  all  who  know  him. 
His  life  has  been  spent  in  imparting  knowledge 
to  the  youth  of  his  locality,  and  while  the  nation 
has  not  yet  advanced  to  the  plane  where  such 
services  are  rewarded  with  honors  like  tho.se 
conferred  upon  warriors  and  statesmen,  the  world 
knows  that  the  education  of  the  children  is  of 
greater  importance  tiian  the  winning  of  battles. 


mILLIA3I  COVILL,  a  thrifty  farmer  and 
an  ex-justice  of  the  peace  of  the  town 
of  Sherman,  is  a  son  of  David  and  Eliza 
(Kroaskop)  Covill,  and  was  born  in  Delaware 
county,  New  York,  INIarch  28,  1826.  His  pa- 
ternal grandfather,  Simeon  Covill,  was  a  native 
of  Canada,  and  lived  in  the  United  States  for  a 
few  years,  after  which  he  returned  to  Canada, 
where  he  followed  flirming  until  his  death.  He 
married  and  had  five  sons,  two  of  whom,  Si- 
meon and  Henry,  deserted  from  the  British 
army  during  the  war  of  1812,  and  .served  lor 
some  time  in  the  American  forces  operating 
against  the  Canadian  border.  Another  son, 
David  Covill,  (father)  was  born  about  1(^02, 
and  made  a  visit  to  Chautauqua  in  1823,  before 
permanently  settling  in  it  in  1825.  He  was  a 
farmer  and  an  old-line  whig  and  republican  and 
died  in  November,  1878.     He  was  a  member 


470 


BIOGRAPHY  AND  HISTORY 


of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church,  and  mar- 
ried Eliza  Krouskop,  by  whom  he  had  three 
sons:  AVilliam  H. ;  George,  who  married  Olive 
ISTewell ;  and  John.  Mrs.  Covill  was  a  daugh- 
ter of  "William  Krouskop,  of  German  descent, 
who  lived  in  Delaware  county.  He  married 
Nancy  Sands,  who  bore  him  three  sons  and  five 
daughters,  and  who  was  a  lineal  descendant  of 
Samuel  Sands,  who  was  born  in  1622  in  Eng- 
land, and  settled  with  his  family  in  the  Colony 
of  Massachusetts  in  1658  or  1660. 

William  Covill  received  an  academic  educa- 
tion, taught  school  for  one  vear  in  Kentucky 
and  then  returned  to  Chautauqua  count}',  where 
he  learned  the  trade  of  carpenter  and  joiner,  at 
which  he  worked  for  about  twenty  years.  He 
was  an  oil  jjroducer  for  a  short  time,  and  then 
engaged  in  farming,  which  he  has  followed  ever 
since.  He  owns  a  nice  farm  of  one  hundred 
and  fifty-three  acres  of  good  land  near  the  vil- 
lage of  Slierman,  and  is  a  member  of  Grange 
No.  36,  Patrons  of  Husbandry. 

On  February  21,  1850,  he  married  Julia 
Newell,  a  daughter  of  Jesse  Newell,  of  Con- 
}iecticut,  who  came  to  Cayuga  and  subsequently 
to  Chautauqua  county.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Covill 
have  two  adopted  children  :  Lamont  and  Hen- 
rietta, wife  of  Edgar  O.  Buss. 

He  and  his  wife  are  members  of  the  Method- 
ist Episcopal  church.  Squire  Covill  is  a  repub- 
lican, and  served  the  town  for  six  years  as  as- 
sessor, and  for  ten  years  as  justice  of  the  peace. 


^NKXTER  AT.roUl)   is  a  well-known  and 

-^^  highly  respected  farmer  and  real  estate 
dealer  of  llipley,  who  comes  from  old  New 
England  stock  that  gave  full  proof  of  their 
loyalty  and  patriotism  by  .service  in  tiic  Revo- 
lutionary, 1812  and  Black  Hawk  wars,  in 
which  their  country  has  been  involved.  Dex- 
ter Alford  is  a  sou  of  Martin  and  Sarah  (Ad- 
ams) Alford,  and  was  born  in  ^\^ltel•ford,  Erie 
county,  I'enn.sylvania,  June  1,  18.j1.  Oliver 
Alford,  the  paternal  grandfatiier,  was  a  native 


of  Vermont,  who  emigrated  to  Crawford  coun- 
ty, Pa ,  in  1814,  where  he  sojourned  until  1841, 
and  then  followed  the  .setting  sun  as  far  as 
Painesville,  Ohio.  While  he  owned  a  farm, 
and  was  nominally  a  farmer,  he  was  a  minister 
of  prominence  in  the  Baptist  church.  He  was 
a  democrat  of  Jetfersoniau  simplicity  and  Jack- 
.sonian  intensity,  and  was  ever  ready  to  defend 
the  tenets  of  that  party.  During  the  war  of 
1812  his  farm,  which  lay  on  Otter  creek,  Ver- 
mont, a  few  miles  from  its  mouth,  was  used  as 
the  site  of  a  fortification  thrown  up  for  the 
protection  of  Vergennes,  which  lay  fartlier  up 
the  creek.  Oliver  Alford  married  Lavina  Por- 
ter, and  they  reared  a  family  of  six  sons  and 
four  daughters.  Oliver,  Jr.,  Ira  and  Hiram 
served  in  the  war  of  1812.  The  maternal 
grandfather  was  William  Adams,  who  was  a 
native  of  the  old  Bay  State,  and  came  from 
that  family  of  Adams  who  furnished  two  pres- 
idents of  the  United  States,  and  who  were  re- 
nowned as  scholars  and  statesmen.  William 
Adams  came  from  Massachusetts  to  Chautau- 
qua county  in  1815,  and  settled  in  Westfield. 
From  there  he  went  to  French  Creek  and  died. 
He  was  a  soldier  in  the  struggle  for  Independ- 
ence, and  to  his  death  bore  two  scars  of  ugly 
wounds  received  in  battle.  He  married  Annie 
Atwater,  who  became  the  mother  of  six  sons 
and  two  daughters.  Martin  Alford  (fatiier) 
was  born  in  the  Green  Mountain  State  in  1804, 
and  died,  in  1884,  in  the  town  of  Ripley.  In 
1832  he  went  to  ^lichigan,  then  a  territory, 
and  served  as  a  private  in  the  Black  Hawk 
war,  thus  keeping  up  the  ciiain  of  military  .ser- 
vice which  his  father  had  begun.  In  1835  lie 
(;ame  to  French  Creek,  where  lie  lived  for 
eigiitcen  years,  and,  in  1853,  he  moved  to  a 
farm  near  the  village  of  Ri])]ey,  where  the 
subject  now  lives.  Martin  Alford  was  a  farmer 
and  owned  a  place  of  one  hundred  and  forty 
acres.  He  affiliated  with  the  whigs,  but  later 
became  a  republican,  and  was  elected  to  several 
of  the  town  offices.     Mr.  Altbrd  was  a  consci- 


OF  CHAUTAUQUA   COUNTY. 


471 


entious  and  Christian  man  who  early  associated 
himself  with  the  Baptist  oiuirch.  Sariili  Adams 
was  born  in  March,  1808,  and  is  still  living. 
She  married  Martin  Allbrd  in  1824,  and  bore 
him  eleven  children,  all  except  one  living. 
Frank  Altord,  a  In-otiicr  of  Dexter,  served 
three  years  in  snppressing  the  Rebellion,  and 
at  the  close  of  his  enlistment  re-enlisted  as  a 
veteran,  and  served  to  the  end  of  the  war. 

Dexter  Alford  was  reared  a  farmer  and 
taught  to  work.  He  was  educated  in  the  com- 
mon schools  of  his  district,  and  then  walked  ! 
out  to  battle  with  the  world,  commencing  as  a 
farm  laborer.  He  worked  liy  the  month  at 
this  occupation  fur  two  years,  and  taught  school 
in  the  winters. 

On  September  6,  1859,  he  married  Lucy  A. 
Fisher,  a  daughter  of  Samuel  Fisher,  who  came 
from  Randolph,  Mass.,  about  1860,  and  made 
his  home  in  the  town  of  French  Creek,  where 
he  purchased  a  home  with  the  accumulated 
savings  of  his  two  years  of  toil  in  field  and 
school-room.  I^ater  he  sold  this  farm  and 
went  down  to  Erie  county,  Pa.,  where  he  fol- 
lowed carpentering  for  about  eight  years.  lu 
1870  he  bought  the  old  homestead  from  his 
father  and  now  lives  upon  it,  but  since  pur- 
chasing it  he  bought  a  property  of  one  hun- 
dred and  six  acres  in  Erie  county,  and  lived 
upon  it  for  one  year ;  spent  a  season  in  French 
Creek. 

Dexter  Alford  is  a  farmer,  but  does  large 
transactions  in  real  estate.  He  owns,  besides 
the  properties  mentioned,  a  tract  of  one  hun- 
dred and  thirty  acres  in  Amity  township,  Erie 
county.  Pa.  He  is  known  as  a  leading  repub- 
lican of  Ripley,  and  has  been  a  notary  public 
during  the  past  three  years.  The  Knights  of 
Honor  claim  him  as  a  valued  member,  and  the 
Baptist  church  recognizes  him  as  a  generous 
and  upright  supporter.  Such  men  as  Dexter 
Alford  make  a  progressive  and  wide-awake 
commuuitv. 


HOLLIS  FAY  ELLIS,  the  genial  and  popu- 
lar depot  and  express  agent  at  Brocton, 
was  born  April  8th,  1 844,  in  the  town  of  Portland 
and  is  a  son  of  Edmund  (deceased)  and  Roxana 
(Fay)  Ellis.  The  Ellis  family  are  of  Scotch 
descent,  while  the  Fays  are  from  old  Puritan 
stock.  The  maternal  grandfather,  Hollis  Fay, 
was  a  native  of  Massacluisetts,  being  the  de- 
scendant of  Puritan  fathers.  He  came  to  Port- 
land prior  to  1811  and  located  first  in  Brocton 
village  but  afterwards,  in  1815,  removed  to 
West  Portland.  At  this  time  lie  was  unmarried 
and  lived  alone  on  his  farm  for  threes  years.  In 
1818  he  weut  back  to  ^lassachusetts  and  mar- 
ried Phoebe  Mixer,  when  they  returned  with  an 
ox-team  and  lived  on  their  ftirm  in  Portland  un- 
til 1851  and  then  went  to  Concord,  Erie  county, 
Pennsylvania,  where  Mr.  Fay  died  in  July,  1 868 ; 
his  wife  followed  him  in  October  of  the  same 
year.  They  had  three  children,  only  one  of 
whom — Roxana  E. — survived  infancy.  Mr. 
Fay  was  a  soldier  in  the  war  of  1812  and  was 
present  at  the  burning  of  Bufflilo ;  and  sub.se- 
quent  to  leaving  his  farm  in  1851  he  owned  and 
operated  a  saw-mill  at  Concord.  Both  himself 
and  wife  were  members  of  the  Baptist  church. 
Edmund  Ellis  was  born  in  Orleans  county.  New 
York  in  1820  and  emigrated  to  Portland, 
where  he  followed  farming  uutil  his  death, 
which  occurred  in  1857,  when  but  thirty-seven 
years  of  age;  and  was  a  member  of  the  West 
Portland  Baptist  church.  He  married  Roxana 
E.  Fay,  the  only  child  of  Hollis  Fay,  in  1842. 
They  had  five  ciiildren.  Mrs.  Ellis  is  still  living, 
aged  sixty-nine  years,  and  is  at  present  in  De- 
troit, Michigan.  She  is  a  member  of  the  Bap- 
tist church,  in  \vhich  she  takes  an  active  interest. 
Hollis  Fay  Ellis  was  reared  on  his  father's 
farm  and  received  his  education  in  the  public 
schools,  supplemented  b}-  two  years  in  the  Corry 
High  school,  his  mother,  at  the  time  living  with 
her  parents  in  Concord,  Pennsylvania.  After 
leaving  school  Mr.  Ellis  spent  a  year  in  the  oil 
country  and  then  ran  his  mother's  saw-mill  for 


472 


BIOGRAPHY  AND  HISTORY 


five  years.  Succeeding  this,  he  went  back  to 
the  farm  and  staid  four  years.  In  1872  he  took 
a  position  as  switchman  on  the  L.  S.  &  M.  S. 
E-.  R.  His  worth,  however,  was  appreciated 
and  a  few  months  later  he  received  the  appoint- 
ment of  second  clerk  at  Brocton.  Eight  mouths 
after  the  position  of  first  clerk  was  offered  and 
accepted.  He  filled  this  place  acceptably  until 
1878  when  a  vacancy  occurred  in  the  ticket  of- 
fice and  he  was  advauced  to  the  ageucy  of  the 
L.  S.  &  M.  S.,  W.  N.  Y.  &  P.  and  the  Chautau- 
qua Lake  railroads.  When  the  American  Ex- 
press company  entered  Brocton,  the  agency  of 
that  company  was  given  him.  All  of  these 
agencies  Mr.  Ellis  still  holds. 

In  1866  he  was  united  in  marriage  to  Jennie 
A.  Springstead,  daughter  of  John  Springstead 
of  Portland.  They  had  two  children,  Louis 
E.  and  Josie  B. 

H.  F.  Ellis  is  a  republican  and  a  member  of 
Brocton  Lodge  No.  8,  A.  O.  U.  W.  and  Brocton 
Lodge  No.  984  Knights  of  Pythias.  He  is  a 
companionable,  pleasant  gentleman  and  enjoys  a 
host  of  friends. 


TOHX  W.  FELTOX,  a  prosperous    young 

^^  farmer  and  grape-grower  of  Westfield,  is 
thesonof  Barnardus  and  Amelia  (Lictus)Feltou, 
and  was  born  in  the  town  of  Clymer,  Cliautauqua 
county.  New  York,  June  25,  1859.  The  pa- 
rents of  our  subject  are  thrifty  and  industrious 
people  from  Holland.  They  came  from  their 
native  land  in  1855,  and  settled  in  the  town  of 
Clymer,  where  they  resided  and  where  Mr. 
Felton  farmed  for  a  few  years,  but  in  18G5  re- 
moved to  Shermiui,  where  he  has  since  lived 
and  pursued  the  same  calling,  being  now  sev- 
enty years  of  age.  Mr.  Felton  joined  his  sym- 
pathies with  the  Republican  party  as  soon  as  he 
became  acquainted  witii  the  political  system  of 
this  great  country,  and  has  identified  himself 
with  it  ever  since.  In  1862,  wlicn  the  secmid 
call  for  troops  was  niad(!  by  President  ]>iiic(ihi, 
lie  enlisted    in    tlie   ]54tli    regt.,   N.   Y.    \'iil.. 


and  served  as  a  private  until  the  suspension  of 
hostilities.  His  wife  died  February  5,  1888, 
when  sixty-four  years  of  age.  She  was  pos- 
sessed of  an  earnest  Christian  character  and 
passed  away  consoled  by  the  faith  of  the  United 
Brethren  church.  She  was  the  mother  of  six 
children,  three  sons  and  three  daughters  :  Gar- 
ret J.,  John,  Nat,  Mary  and  Ann,  living  in 
Clymer,  married  to  G.  W.  Lictus. 

John  W.  Felton  was  reared  on  his  father's 
farm  and  was  educated  at  the  public  schools  of 
Clymer  and  Sherman  towns.  He  has  spent  his 
whole  life  farming,  and  now  owns  a  pretty 
place  three  miles  east  of  Westfield,  consisting  of 
forty-six  acres,  sixteen  acres  being  planted  to 
grapes. 

June  5,  1882,  he  married  j\Iary  A.  In  wood, 
a  daughter  of  William  Inwood,  a  resident  of 
Sugar  Grove,  Warren  county.  Pa.,  and  they 
have  one  child,  a  son,  Henry,  living.  William 
Inwood  was  a  native  of  England,  and  came  to 
the  United  States  in  1842.  He  came  to  War- 
ren county,  Pa.,  and,  buying  a  farm,  engaged  in 
farming.  He  married  and  reared  a  family  of 
seven  children,  four  sous  and  three  daughters  : 
Isaac,  resides  in  California ;  Thomas,  lives  in 
Westfield  town,  this  county ;  William,  makes 
his  home  at  Freehold,  Pa. ;  Michael,  is  living 
in  Harmony,  this  county ;  Ilattie,  married 
Charles  Crouch  and  they  are  citizens  of  Sugar 
Grove,  Pa. ;  Annie,  wife  of  Leonard  Gilford,  of 
Westfield  town  ;  and  Mary  A.,  united  to  our 
subject.  Mrs.  Inwood  was  born  in  England 
June  6,  1814,  and  died  at  her  husband's  home 
March  6,  1888.  When  a  young  woman  she 
was  in  service  with  the  family  of  the  Duke  of 
Norfolk.  Mr.  Inwood  died  March  7,  1890, 
aged  seventy-three  years. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Felton  are  members  of  the 
Methodist  Episcopal  church. 

e 

^VKITS  HOUSK.  Among  the  best  of  the 
^^  descendants  coming  from  English  settlers 
who    made    Amei'ica   their  houie  mon'  than  a 


OF  CHAUTAUQUA   COUNTY. 


473 


century  ago,  the  ITonse  family,  of  which  West- 
fiei<l  town  contains  several  representatives, 
stands  prominently  to  view,  and  are  recognized 
as  leading  farmers  and  grape-growers  in  their 
locality.  Cyrus  House  is  a  son  of  Daniel  P. 
and  Lavina  (Saunders)  House,  and  was  born 
where  he  now  resides,  in  Westfield  town,  Chau- 
tauqua county.  New  York,  February  10,  1825. 
Grandfather  John  House,  was  born  in  Morris- 
town,  N.  J.,  in  17G0. 

John  House  moved  from  the  State  of  Rhode 
Island  to  Cortlantl  Co.,  N.  Y.,  early  in  the  pres- 
ent century,  and  in  1816  became  to  this  county, 
purchased  one  hundred  acres  of  land  from  the 
Holland  Laud  company,  and  the  same  amount 
from  another  source.  Upon  the  latter  Cyrus 
House  now  lives.  John  House  served  in  the 
Continental  army  through  the  Revolution,  being 
in  the  transportation  department.  He  married 
Joanna  Pridden,  and  had  eight  children,  three 
sons  and  five  daughters.  He  died  in  1838,  aged 
seventy-eight  years. 

Daniel  P.  House  was  born  at  Homer,  Cort- 
land county,  N.  Y.,  in  1799,  and  came  to  West- 
field  town  when  seventeen  years  old.  His 
father's  farm  of  two  hundred  acres,  upon  which 
were  standing  giants  of  the  foi'est,  furnished 
sufficient  work  to  engage  his  own  and  his  broth- 
er's labor  for  many  years.  He  occupied  a 
prominent  place  in  the  Methodist  church,  officiat- 
ing as  class-leader  for  some  vears.  The  latter 
years  of  his  life  brought  him  ill  health,  and  he 
relinquished  the  active  management  of  his  busi- 
ness some  years  before  his  death,  which  occurred 
in  1864. 

Levina  Saunders,  whom  he  married  in  1822, 
was  born  in  Homer,  Cortland  county,  this 
State,  in  1802.  She  bore  her  husband  five 
children,  two  sons — Daniel  and  Cyrus — and 
three  daughters  :  Joanna,  married  David  Jones, 
died  1870;  Mary  A.,  died  1844;  Lavina  M., 
married  G.  A.  Fay,  died  June  20,  1891.  Mrs. 
House  was  a  member  of  the  Methodist  church, 
a  gentle  Christian  woman,  and  attained  the  age 


of  seventy-seven  years.     She  died  in   1879  con- 
soled by  her  trust  in  the  Lord. 

i  Cyrus  House  was  reared  a  farmer,  and  has 
remiuned  near  the  scene  of  his  birth-place 
through  life.  The  common  schools,  thiit  boon 
of  the  American  youth,  furnished  him  his  edu- 
cation and  fitted  him  for  life's  active  work. 
His  home  is  but  two  and  one-half  miles  east  of 
Westfield,  and  is  a  comfortable,  pleasant  place. 
Grape  culture  is  given  considerable  attention, 
and  his  vines  are  as  productive  as  the  best.  Mr. 
House  is  a  steward  in  the  Methodist  Episcoj)al 
church,  to  which  he  is  deeply  attached.  He 
identifies  himself  with  the  Jiepublican  party, 
but  differs  from  them  on  the  liquor  question. 
Believing  in  practical  temperance  he  advocates 
prohibition,  not  as  a  third  party  man,  but  thinks 
that  the  Republican  party  should  realize  its  re- 
sponsibility and  engraft  it  on  its  platform.  He 
has  never  voted  for  license  in  any  form.  Being 
a  public-spirited  man  he  is  an.xious  to  see  im- 
provements, in   which    he   is   always   ready  to 

!  assist. 


♦^R.  ERA  M.   SCOFIELD  was  born  in  the 

'^  town  of  Ellery,  Chautauqua  county, 
New  York,  December  23,  1857,  and  is  the  son 
of  Seth  and  Rua  E.  Scofield,  both  of  whom 
were  born  in  the  town  of  Ellery.  Seth  was  a 
sturdy  farmer,  a  democrat  politically  and  a 
member  of  the  Christian  church.  He  also 
belonged  to  the  Grange  and  the  Royal  Templars 
of  Temperance.  He  died  in  Ellery  at  the  age 
of  sixty-four.  William  Seely  Scofield,  grand- 
father of  Era  M.,  was  of  English  and  Scotch 
extraction  and  was  born  in  Westchester  county. 
New  York,  November  3,  1787.  As  early  as 
1821  he  migrated  into  Chautauqua  county. 
New  York,  "town  of  Ellery,  and  became  a  con- 
joint farmer  and  hotel-keeper.  He  was  a  vig- 
orous and  ardent  supporter  of  the  early  Dem- 
ocratic party,  and  in  religion  belonged  to  that 
body  of  believers  called  Universalists.  He  died 
at  the  age  of  eightv-four. 


474 


BIOGRAPHY  AND  HISTORY 


Era  M.  Scofiekl  was  reared  in  the  town  of 
Ellery,  gained  his  education  from  the  schools  of 
his  native  town  and  prior  to  his  study  of  medi- 
cine, worked  upon  the  farm  and  assisted  in 
operating  a  cheese  factory.  In  the  fall  of  1882, 
after  having  spent  some  time  under  a  preceptor, 
he  went  to  Buffalo  and  there  entered  the 
Buffalo  Medical  College,  from  which  he  M'as 
graduated  on  February  26,  1884,  after  having 
pursued  a  thorough  course  in  theoretical  medi- 
cine and  practical  clinics.  After  his  graduation 
he  located  in  Gerry,  at  which  place  he  has  been 
actively  engaged  in  the  practice  of  his  profes- 
sion, with  a  very  commendable  degree  of  suc- 
cess for  the  past  seven  years.  lie  belongs  to  the 
Allopathic  school  of  medicine.  In  politics  lie 
is  an  enthusiastic  democrat  and  for  three  years 
past  has  been  treasurer  of  the  county  committee. 
He  has  recently  been  elected  health  officer  for 
the  town  of  Gerry.  i 

Era   M.   Scofield,   on    May  13,    1874,    was  ' 
united    in    marriage    to  Louisa    M.    Brownell, 
daughter  of  William  O.  Brownell  of  Ellery,  to 
whom  has  been  born  one  child,  Ellis  Nelson. 

In  the  fraternal  world  Dr.  Scofield  is  a 
prominent  Mason,  a  member  of  the  A.  O.  U. 
W.,  Royal  Templars  of  Temperance,  in  which 
he  has  been  an  officer  for  the  past  seven  years, 
and  of  the  Patrons  of  Husbandry. 


niCHAKD  HUYCK,  a  very  prominent  man 
in  agricultural  and  business  circles 
throughout  the  town  of  Sheridan  until  his 
death,  was  a  son  of  Ricliard  and  Catharine 
(Huyck)  Huyck,  and  was  born  in  Columbia  : 
county,  this  State,  in  1789.  His  family  were  of  ! 
Dutch  extraction,  the  paternal  grand  fatlicr 
having  come  from  Holland.  Ricliard  Huyck, 
Sr.,  was  a  native  of  Kinderhook,  Columbia 
county.  New  York,  and  was  closely  related  to 
the  Van  Rensselaer  family,  distinguished  Hol- 
landers. Catherine  Huyck,  a  distant  relative, 
became  his  wife  and  Iwre  him  three  children, 
two   sons    and    one  daughter :  .folin    went    to 


Michigan,  settled  there  and  died ;  Catherine 
married  Silas  Wood,  a  lawyer  by  profession,  a 
native  of  Long  Island  and  who  served  several 
terms  in  Congress. 

Richard  Huyck  was  educated  at  the  common 
schools,  and,  although  the  course  was  not 
thorough  nor  the  instruction  advanced,  by  his 
deep  application  he  managed  to  get  a  knowl- 
edge that,  at  the  time,  was  considered  superior. 
He  worked  with  his  father  until  1831  and  then 
came  to  Sheridan  in  wagons  and  purchased  a 
farm  of  one  hundred  and  seventy-five  acres. 
He  lived  upon  it  and  from  the  money  saved  he 
continued  buying  until  he  owned  six  hundred 
acres,  which  shows  his  economy  and  business 
tact,  as  it  all  came  from  the  products  of  his 
original  farm. 

Richard  Huyck  married  Nancy  Chaj^man,  a 
daughter  of  Andrew  Chapman,  of  Rensselaer 
county,  and  reared  to  maturity  nine  children  ; 
Andrew  C.  (dead)  ;  Louise  married  Lyman 
Brownell,  a  son  of  Benjamin  Brownell,  also 
from  one  of  the  old  families  of  the  county  ; 
Jane ;  William,  entered  the  civil  war  and 
served  for  a  short  time ;  he  is  now  farming  in 
Michigan ;  Ansell  (dead)  ;  Silas  (dead) ;  Cath- 
erine married  Frank  Chapin,  a  farmer  in 
Nebraska ;  Elizabeth  is  the  wife  of  George 
Backer,  a  farmer  in  Sheridan,  this  county ;  and 
Susan,  who  married  Philander  Warren,  a  car- 
penter   residing    in    Silver    Creek. 

Richard  Huyck  was  an  honest,  industrious 
and  charitable  man,  and  although  never  a 
church  member,  he  was  a  liberal  contributor 
towards  their  support.  Politically  he  was  a 
republican  and  an  anti-secret  society  man. 


HORATIO  O.  BROOliS,  deceased,  late 
head  of  the  Brooks'  Locomotive  Works, 
Dunkirk,  New  York,  was  a  man  of  somewhat 
unusual  career  and  one  of  the  most  ]>roniinent 
in  tiie  province  of  manufacturing  in  tiie  State  of 
New  York.  Forty  years  ago  the  possibilities 
of  both  the  man  and  the  town  were  as  vet  un- 


OF  CHAUTAUQUA   COUNTY. 


475 


tried  and  uudeveloped.  As  the  town  grew  in 
numbers  and  importance,  tke  man  liept  pace 
with  it  and  lias  impressed  upon  it  an  individu- 
ality of  rare  energy,  business  qualities  and  ex- 
ecutive ability.  Rising  rapidly  from  engineer 
through  the  grades  of  shop  foreman  to  master 
mechanic,  and  thence  to  division  superintendent 
and  sujjerinteudent  of  motive  power  on  the 
Erie  Railroad,  he,  while  in  the  latter  position, 
was  confronted  in  October,  1869,  with  an  order 
from  the  president  of  the  road  to  permanently 
close  up  the  shops  at  Dunkirk.  Scarcely  an 
hour's  thought  was  necessary  to  conceive  a 
plan  to  avert  this  stunning  blow  to  the  interests 
of  Dunkirk,  and  the  proposition  was  at  once 
made  by  Mr.  Brooks  for  the  lease  of  the  shops. 
This  was  accordingly  granted,  a  new  company 
was  formed,  of  which  he  assumed  the  presidency 
and  superintendency  and  work  was  at  once 
commenced.  The  capacity  of  the  enterprise  in 
its  infancy  was  but  one  locomotive  per  month, 
but  under  the  wise  direction  of  its  founder,  it 
had  increased  to  six  per  month  in  1872.  The 
financial  crisis  of  1873  caused  a  great  depression 
in  business  and  it  was  a  half  dozen  years  before 
the  re-action  fully  set  in.  When  business  re- 
vived Mr.  Brooks  arranged  to  increase  the  out- 
put and  in  1882  over  two  hundred  locomotives 
were  completed  and  each  succeeding  year  addi- 
tions have  been  made  in  tools,  machinery  and 
buildings,  with  every  needed  device  to  simplify 
and  lessen  the  cost  of  production  in  order  to 
compete  with  older  companies. 

In  1883  the  works  were  jiurchased  from  the 
Erie  Railroad  Company  and  operated  as  an  in- 
dependent enterprise.  The  grounds  have  an 
area  of  twenty  acres,  and  with  constant  additions 
and  improvements  in  buildings  and  machinery, 
it  has  now  attained  a  capacity  of  two  hundred 
and  fifty  engines  per  year.  The  superb  office 
buildings  were  erected  about  five  years  ago, 
have  handsome  and  elaborately  fitted  apart- 
ments for  the  principal  officers  on  the  ground 
floor  and  a  large  fire-proof  vault  and  convenient 


desks  for  about  fifteen  clerks  and  book-keepers. 
The  second  iioor  is  used  for  draugiitiiig  rooms, 
where  several  mechanical  engineers  are  em- 
ployed ;  and  the  third  story  is  fully  furnished 
with  seats,  library  <fec.,  as  a  school-room  ibr  ap- 
prentices. 

Several  years  ago  Mr.  Brooks  orgauizetl  a 
technical  school  for  apprentices,  where  a 
thorough  knowledge  of  theories  can  be  obtained 
to  fully  prepare  them  for  practical  application 
in  the  shops.  The  room  will  accommodate 
sixty  or  more  students,  has  every  needful  ap- 
pliance for  the  successful  teaching  of  the 
mechanic  arts  and  is  in  charge  of  a  corps  of 
competent  instructors. 

The  Brooks  Works  have,  in  addition  to  their 
acres  of  ponderous  machinery,  a  one  hundred 
and  fifty  incandescent  and  sixty  arc  electric 
light  plant  with  their  intricate  connections 
and  subtle  agencies  to  be.  looked  after.  The 
number  of  men  employed  is  about  one  thou- 
sand ;  the  pay-roll  foots  up  a  sum  of  twelve 
thousand  dollars  per  week,  and  the  annual 
output  of  the  plant  is  valued  at  about  two 
millions,  five  hundred  thousand  dollars.  The 
excellency  of  workmanship  and  the  general 
character  of  the  engines  as  pieces  of  modern, 
well-constructed  mechanism  is  unsurpassed  by 
any  similar  works  in  the  United  States. 


TOHX  HOU.SE  is  one  of  the  reliable  citizens 
^  and  substantial  farmers  of  the  town  of 
Westfield.  He  was  born  on  the  farm  he  now 
occupies,  near  the  village  of  Westfield,  Chau- 
tauqua county,  New  York,  November  12,  1821, 
and  is  the  son  of  David  and  Nabby  (Saunders) 
House.  His  grandfather,  John  House,  was  an 
Englishman  by  descent,  of  patrician  birth,  and 
was  united  in  marriage  to  the  daughter  of  an 
English  nobleman.  He  emigrated  to  America 
and  settled  in  Morristown,  New  Jersey,  where 
John,  Sr.,  grandfather  of  subject  was  born.  His 
childhood  and  infancy  were  passed  in  the  State 
of  his  nativity,  where  he  also  acquired  an  edu- 


476 


BIOGRAPHY  AND  HISTORY 


cation  in  the  common  schools.  Upon  the  out- 
break of  the  Revohitionary  war,  he  joined  his 
sympathies  with  those  of  his  countrymen,  entered 
the  colonial  army,  and  served  as  a  teamster 
under  Lafayette.  He  uuited  in  marriage  with 
Joanna  Priddeu,  the  daughter  of  a  prominent 
Revolutionary  colonel,  and  after  leading  a  roving 
life  for  several  years,  he,  in  1816,  settled  in 
Chautauqua  county,  where  he  purchased  two 
hundred  acres  of  land,  and  upon  which  his 
grandson  now  resides.  He  continued  to  improve 
and  cultivate  his  farm  until  his  death  in  1838. 
He  was  the  father  of  eight  children.  David 
House,  Sr.  (father),  was  born  in  Cortland  county, 
New  York,  in  1792,  and  came  with  his  fatiier 
to  Chautauqua  county  in  1816.  He  was  married 
to  Nabby  Saunders,  a  native  of  New  Jersey, 
M'ho  bore  him  ten  cliildren :  Nancy,  born  August 
28,  1817;  Julia  A.,  born  November  27,  1819; 
John,  born  November  12,  1821  ;  Ruth,  born 
October  5,  1827 ;  Nabby,  born  September  27, 
1824,  and  died  April,  1839  ;  Louisa,  born  March 
11,  1829;  David,  Jr.,  born  in  1832;  Eliza  J., 
born  March  24,  1835  ;  Edwin,  born  October  11, 
1837;  and  Indiana,  born  January  .30,  1843. 


"■ITAKSHALL  BROWX,  a  well-known  man, 
\  who  for  many  years  of  his  active  life 

was  a  farmer  and  lumberman,  is  a  son  of  Mar- 
shall and  Lucy  (Tower)  Brown,  and  was  born 
in  the  town  of  Hanover,  Chautauqua  county. 
New  York,  January  5, 1827.  Both  grandfathers 
were  natives  of  New  England,  the  Browns 
coming  from  Vermont.  Marshall  Brown  (father) 
was  born  in  the  Green  Mountain  State,  where 
he  married,  and  started  with  his  family  for 
Chautauqua  county,  N.  Y.,  in  1812.  They 
came  by  wagons  to  Buffalo,  and  were  witnesses 
of  the  burning  of  that  city  by  the  British,  the 
head  of  tiie  family  being  impressed  into  the 
army  as  a  guard.  As  soon  as  ho  was  disduirged 
the  family  continued  their  journey  to  this  county, 
bought  a  tract  of  fifty  at-res  from  the  Holland 
Land  company,  tiie  site  of  Silver  Creek  being 


then  a  forest  with  only  a  blind  trail  through  it. 
He  was  a  carpenter  by  trade,  which  he  followed 
in  conjunction  with  his  farming.  Politically  he 
was  a  democrat,  but  refrained  from  office  seek- 
ing. Mr.  Brown  was  twice  married  ;  first  to  a 
lady  who  bore  him  two  sons  that  never  left 
Vermont,  and  after  her  decease  he  united  with 
Lucy  Tower,  who  became  the  mother  of  two 
sons  aud  four  daughters.  Marshall  Brown,  Sr., 
died  upon  his  farm  which  he  first  made  his  home 
in  this  county. 

]\Iarshall  Brown  (subject)  was  educated  at  the 
common  schools,  and  has  followed  lumbering 
and  farming  throughout  his  life.  He  is  a  pro- 
nounced democrat  and  a  hard  party  worker. 

He  married  Susan  Van  Vlack,  a  daughter  of 
John  and  Maria  (Teneyck)  Van  Vlack.  Her 
father  was  a  native  of  Dutchess  county,  and 
came  to  Chautauqua  county  in  1855.  He  took 
an  enthusiastic  interest  in  tiie  politics  of  his 
locality,  and  served  a  term  as  sheriff  of  Dutchess 
county.  He  reared  a  family  of  four  daughters, 
and  his  wife  was  of  Dutch  extraction. 

Marshall  Brow'n  is  a  man  of  strong  character- 
istics, honorable  and  upright,  and  he  is  recognized 
as  a  responsible  man  in  his  community. 


Ti>ILLIA]\I  T.  FALCOXEK.  The  Falconers 
-***■  who  have  added  to  the  stability  and 
growth  of  Jamestown  are  direct  descendants  of 
Robert  Falconer,  of  Nortli  Scotland,  who,  on 
leaving  Oxford  university  about  1800,  came  to 
New  York  and  engaged  with  AViliiam  Stewart 
in  shipping  cotton  between  Charleston  and 
Liverpool.  He  afterwards  became  a  dealer  and 
speculator  in  real  estate  in  eastern  Pennsylvania, 
finally  removing  with  his  family  to  Warren 
county,  Penna.,  where  he  embarked  in  the 
banking  business  and  became  the  first  president 
of  the  Lumbermen's  Bank,  of  \yarrcn.  Robert 
Falconer  was  a  man  of  marked  intelligence  aud 
good  business  capacity.  He  was  also  noted  for 
his  uniform  kindness,  his  strict  integrity,  and 
his    interest    in    the    material    and    intellectual 


OF  CHAUTAUQUA   COUNTY. 


in 


development  of  his  county,  which  qualities  made 
him  one  of  the  foremost  citizens  and  most 
respected  men  of  Warren  eount)-.  His  death 
occurred  in  1850. 

His  three  sons,  Robert,  Patriclv  and  ^\'iliiam, 
survived  him  ;  the  former  lived  at  Sugar  Grove, 
Penna.,and  was  the  father  of  two  sons  :  Nathan- 
iel, of  Warren,  Penna.,  and  Robert,  of  James- 
town, New  York.  Patrick  and  William  were 
formerly  the  owners  of  extensive  lumber  and 
Hiill  interests  at  Kennedy  and  Falconer,  New 
York,  and  were  numbered  among:  the  useful 
and  solid  men  of  their  respective  towns.  Patrick 
died  in  1887,  leaving-  two  sons,  William  and 
Allen,  the  former  of  whom  is  now  carrying  on 
large  manufacturing  interests  at  Falconer,  New 
York,  while  the  latter  is  a  clerk  in  the  James- 
town National  Bank.  William,  Sr.,  youngest 
son  of  Robert  Falconer,  died  at  Kennedy,  New 
York,  in  1880,  leaving  two  sons,  Archie  and 
Frank,  both  of  whom  reside  in  Jamestown, 
but  are  at  present  students  in  a  Michigan  col- 
lege, j 


JEREMIAH  MAHLE,  a  soldier  of  the  Ar- 
^^  my  of  the  Potomac  and  a  grape  culturist 
of  the  village  of  Ripley,  was  born  at  Fryburg, 
Clarion  county,  Pennsylvania,  ]March  17,  1844, 
and  is  a  son  of  Helwig  and  Frances  (Recken- 
brode)  Mahle.  His  paternal  grandfather,  Hen- 
ry Mahle,  was  born  in  Germany,  came  about 
1816  to  Lancaster  county,  Pennsylvania,  which 
he  soon  left  to  settle  in  that  part  of  Venango 
which  is  now  in  Clarion  county,  Pennsylvania, 
where  he  followed  farming  and  distilling,  sup- 
ported successively  the  Whig  and  Republican 
])arties  and  reared  a  family  of  four  sons  and 
four  daughters.  His  maternal  grandfather, 
George  Reckenbrode,  was  a  native  of  Germany, 
which  he  left  to  come  to  Lancaster  county, 
Pennsylvania,  but  shortly  afterwards  removed 
to  Clarion  county,  of  the  same  State,  where  he 
tilled  his  farm,  and  in  political  matters  was 
first  a  democrat  and  afterwards  became  a  repub- 
25 


lican.  Helwig  Mahle  (father)  was  born  in 
Germany  and  at  four  years  of  age  was  brought 
by  his  parents  to  Lancaster  county,  Pennsylva- 
nia. He  afterwards  was  taken  by  them  to 
what  is  now  ('larion  county,  where  he  followed 
farming  until  liis  death,  in  18G4.  He  was  a 
democrat  and  later  a  republican  in  [)olitics,  and 
a  Lutheran  in  religious  belief,  and  married 
Frances  Reckenbrode.  They  had  four  sons  and 
seven  daughters,  of  whom  Clemmens,  of  Corry, 
Pennsylvania,  is  an  inventor  of  several  valua- 
ble and  successful  machines;  and  Christian, 
who  is  engaged  in  agricultural  pursuits  in  Clar- 
ion county. 

Jeremiah  Mahle  was  reared  in  Clarion  county 
where  he  received  his  education  in  the  common 
schools.  At  eighteen  years  of  age,  on  August 
28,  1862,  he  enlisted  in  Co.  G,  155th  Pennsyl- 
vania Infantry  and  served  in  the  Army  of  the 
Potomac  until  June  6,  1865,  when  he  was  hon- 
orably discharged  from  the  United  States  ser- 
vice. He  was  in  the  great  battles  of  Fredericks- 
burg, Chancel  lorsville  and  Gettysburg,  the  ter- 
rific Wilderness  fights,  the  bloody  assaults  at 
Spottsylvania  Court-house,  Cold  Harbor  and 
Petersburg  and  the  series  of  conflicts  in  front  of 
the  Confederate  capital  which  terminated  the 
existence  of  the  Southern  Confederacy.  Re- 
turning home  in  1865  he  managed  his  father's 
farm  until  after  his  mother's  death  in  June, 
1870,  when  he  purchased  it.  From  1870  to 
1875  he  followed  farming  and  the  lumber  busi- 
ness at  Fryburg.  In  the  last  named  year  he 
came  to  the  town  of  Ripley,  where  he  resided 
until  1888  when  he  removed  to  the  village. 
He  has  been  engaged  in  the  culture  of  grapes 
since  1885  and  owns  a  farm  of  eighty-two  acres 
at  Ripley  Ci'ossiug,  on  the  L.  S.  &  M.  S.  rail- 
road, of  which  thirty  acres  are  in  vineyai'ds. 

On  Jlay  2,  1871,  he  united  in  marriage  with 
Elmira  Henlen,  of  Clarion  county,  Pennsylva- 
nia, and  their  union  has  been  blessed  with  one 
child,  Grace  E.,  born  March  17,  1880.  Mrs. 
Mahle  was  engaged  for  eight  years  in   teaching 


478 


BIOGRAPHY  AND  HISTORY 


in  which  she  took  great  delight  and  won  an  en- 
viable reputation  for  success  as  a  teacher.  Her 
grandfiithers  on  both  sides  of  the  house,  Chris- 
topher Henlen,  of  French  extraction,  and 
George  Kapp,  of  German  descent,  were  natives 
of  Lancaster  and  became  two  of  the  first  three 
settlers  of  Clarion  county,  Pennsylvania,  where 
they  bought  land  of  the  Holland  Land  com- 
pany. They  and  their  families  crossed  the 
mountains  in  wagons  drawn  by  oxen.  .John 
Henlen,  son  of  Christopher  Henlen  and  father 
of  Mrs.  Mahle,  was  born  in  Lancaster  county, 
in  1816,  removed  with  his  parents  when  quite 
voung  to  Clarion  county,  in  1839,  and  married 
Elizabeth  Kapp;  they  reared  a  family  of  two 
sons  and  four  daughters. 

Jeremiah  Mahle  is  a  republican  in  politics. 
He  and  his  wife  are  members  of  the  Ripley 
Presbyterian  church.  He  is  also  a  member  of 
Summit  Lodge,  No.  219,  F.  &  A.  M.,  of  West- 
field,  Ripley  Grange,  No.  65,  Patrons  of  Hus- 
bandry and  William  Sackett  Post,  No.  324, 
Grand  Army  of  the  Republic. 


TT       WILSOX    DODS,    M.  D.,    a    leading 

■**-•  physician  of  Fredonia,  was  born  at 
Dingwall,  Dumfries  county,  Scotland,  January 
27, 1854,  and  is  a  son  of  Thomas  P.  and  Cathe- 
rine (Wilson)  Dods.  John  Dods,  (great-grand- 
father) was  born  in  the  same  place  about  the 
year  1770.  His  .son,  Marcus  Dods,  was  born 
in  Dumfries  county,  about  1800  and  was  edu- 
cated at  the  University  of  Edinburgh,  where  he 
attained  the  degree  of  A.M.  He  removed  to 
Belford,  England,  and  was  pastor  of  the  Pres- 
byterian chm-ch  until  his  death,  which  occurred 
in  1837.  He  married  Sarah  Palliser,  between 
1817  and  1820,  and  had  three  .sons  and  four 
daughters,  five  of  whom  arc  still  living.  The 
maternal  grandfather  was  Abraham  Wilson. 
He  tilled  the  soil  and  was  commander  of  a 
company  of  militia  in  his  native  town  and 
married  Mary  Tod,  about  1811,  wiio  became 
tiie    motlier    of    three    sons   and    four   daugh- 


ters. One  of  each  is  dead.  Mr.  Wilson  was 
a  strict  member  of  the  Scotch  Presbyterian 
church.  Thomas  P.  Dods  was  born  at  Belford, 
Northumberland  county,  England,  March  2, 
1823,  and  moved  to  Edinburgh,  Scotland  and 
studied  at  the  university  and  later  farmed  at 
Edington  Main,  Scotland,  afterwards  going  to 
Wigtonsiiire,  Scotland,  and  engaging  as  land 
agent  for  an  estate.  He  was  married  to  Kathe- 
rine  Wilson,  who  was  born  in  Edington  Main, 
Scotland,  June  3,  1819,  in  1848,  and  had  six 
children,  three  sons  and  three  daughters:  Mar- 
cus (dead),  A.  Wilson,  John  (dead),  Mary  Tod 
(dead),  Sarah  P.  (dead),  and  Katherine  W.,  at 
home.  Mr.  Dods  has  been  engaged  as  a  land- 
agent,  lawyer,  valuer  and  farmer  all  his  life, 
part  of  the  time  having  charge  of  the  Aylesby 
estate  at  Lincolnshire,  England,  and  now  lives 
at  Northumberland,  England,  politically  a  lib- 
eral unionist,  and  an  elder  in  the  Presbyterian 
church. 

A.  Wilson  Dods  came  to  America  when 
1  eighteen  years  old.  The  first  year  was  spent 
1  working  on  a  farm  at  West  Charleston,  New 
York,  and  in  November  1873,  he  came  to  Fre- 
donia and  attended  the  Normal  school,  doing 
farm  work  through  vacation.  He  graduated  in 
June,  1875,  and  went  to  the  Syracuse  Medical 
University  for  one  year,  and  in  1876  was  a 
.student  in  Dr.  Couch's  office.  During  1877  he 
attended  the  lectures  of  the  New  York  Homeo- 
pathic Institute,  and  graduated  at  Hahnemann 
:\Iedical  College,  Chicago,  in  Feb.,  1878.  Dr. 
Dods  then  .settled  at  Silver  Creek,  this  county, 
and  practiced  until  1885,  when  ho  went  to 
.Scotland  and  took  a  post-graduate  course  in  the 
Edinburgii  Medical  university,  and  was  assistant 
to  Dr.  George  S.  Woodhead,  pathologist  of  the 
Royal  Lifirmary.  He  returned  to  Fredonia  in 
June,  1886,  where  he  has  since  been  practicing. 
December  12,  1878,  Dr.  Dods  married  Aura 
S.  Porter,  daughter  of  John  N.  Porter,  of 
Brocfon,  and  has  four  children:  Thomas  P., 
dead,  born  in   1879;   John  P.,  born    in    1881; 


OF  CHAUTAUQUA   COUNTY. 


479 


Katherine   "W.,    born    in    1883;    and    Marcus, 
born  in  1 890. 

Dr.  A.  W.  Dods  is  a  democrat,  a  member  of 
the  Presbyterian  clinrcli  and  is  the  Worthy 
Master  of  Forest  Lodge,  No.  66,  F.  A  A.  M. 
He  is  a  member  of  tlie  American  Institute  of 
Homeopathy,  the  Homeopathic  Society  of  west- 
ern New  Yori<,  the  American  Society  of  Micro- 
scopists  and  tlie  Buffalo  Microscopal  Club.  He 
is  deeply  interested  in  research  of  all  scientific 
matters,  is  a  fine  physician,  has  the  confidence 
and  esteem  of  his  patients,  and  the  respect  and 
admiration  of  his  professional  associates. 


O'HERMAN  S.  AVERY,  a  citizen  and  proni- 

^^  inent  lawyer  of  Forestville,  New  York, 
was  the  son  of  Dr.  Amos  R.  and  Lucina  (Allen) 
Avery  and  was  born  in  Forestville,  Chautauqua 
county.  New  York,  November  4th,  1850.  His 
grandfather  Avery  was  a  resident  of  east  central 
New  York  and  was  a  victim  of  the  memorable 
Wyoming  massacre  at  which  his  entire  family, 
consisting  of  eight  persons,  were  taken  prisoners 
by  the  Indians,  but  at  the  expiration  of  eight 
days,  after  having  been  subjected  to  the  most 
cruel  treatment,  were  released.  The  father  of 
Sherman  S.  Avery  was  born  in  Brookville, 
Madison  county.  New  York,  in  1805,  of  New 
England  parentage.  He  was  a  physician  by 
profession  and  in  the  year  1833  came  to  Forest- 
ville, New  York,  where  he  established  a  resi- 
dence and  pursued  his  practice  until  his  death  in 
1881.  For  some  years  prior  to  his  death  he  was 
the  oldest  practicing  physician  in  Chautauqua 
county.  Dr.  Avery  was  graduated  at  Fairfield 
Medical  College,  was  learned  in  the  various 
branches  of  medical  science  and  enjoyed  the 
high  esteem  and  respect  of  all  those  with  whom 
he  came  in  contact.  Religiously  he  held  mem- 
bership in  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church  of 
Forestville,  which  he  warmly  supported. 

His  marriage  resulted  in  the  birth  of  two 
children :  Agnes,  wife  of  J.  E.  White  (de- 
ceased), who  prior  to  his  death  was  engaged 


in   the  real  estate   business,  and   Sherman    S. 
(subject). 

Sherman  S.  Avery  received  his  education  in 
the  public  and  high  schools  and  later  in  the 
universities  of  Michigan  and  Cornell,  from  the 
latter  of  which  he  was  graduated  in  a  classical 
and  scientific  course.  Upon  the  completion  of 
his  academic  and  collegiate  education,  he  went 
to  Franklin,  Penna.  and  entered  the  law  office 
of  Lee  &  Dodd,  with  a  view  to  fitting  himself 
for  the  profession  of  the  law.  While  he  was 
pursuing  his  law  studies,  he  was  in  the  employ 
of  C.  D.  Angel,  so  that  only  a  part  of  his  time 
was  devoted  to  his  studies.  He  was  admitted 
to  the  Venango  county,  Penna.  bar,  where  he 
opened  an  office  and  practiced  until  1872,  at 
which  time  he  formed  a  law  partnership  with 
Hon.  George  H.  Bemus,  an  ex-raember  of  the 
Legislature,  and  opened  an  office  at  Fairview, 
Penna.  By  this  time  Mr.  Avery  had  become 
well  and  favorably  known  to  the  business  men 
of  the  oil  regions  and  H.  L.  Taylor,  the  lead- 
ing operator  of  Butler  county,  sought  his  services, 
and  tendered  him  the  position  of  cashier  of  the 
Argyle  Savings  Bank,  which  he  accejited  and 
held  for  about  one  year.  He  had  now  convinced 
his  employers,  H.  L.  Taylor  &  Co.,  whose  busi- 
ness had  become  very  extensive,  lucrative  and 
complicated,  that  his  services  would  be  more 
valuable  to  them  as  their  confidential  legal  ad- 
viser, than  as  cashier  of  their  banking  house, 
and  he  was  accordingly  promoted  and  soon 
afterwards  admitted  as  a  member  of  the  firm, 
and  continued  such  until  his  death — which  oc- 
curred July  9,  1879.  In  the  legal  world,  as 
well  as  in  the  business  world,  he  was  regarded 
as  a  young  man  of  brilliancy  and  ability.  Polit- 
ically he  allied  himself  with  neither  of  the  great 
parties,  holding  it  to  be  a  special  prerogative  to 
cast  his  vote  and  give  his  support  independent 
of  party  creeds.  During  Horace  Greeley's  can- 
didacy for  nomination  to  the  presidency  of  the 
United  States,  he  took  the  stump  in  his  behalf 
and  did  very  efficient  service.     jNIr.  Avery  was 


480 


BIOGRAPHY  AND  HISTORY 


a  prominent  secret  society  man,  belonging  to  tlie 
Free  Masons,  A.  O.  U.  W.  and  Knigiits  of 
Honor. 

On  June  26th,  1873,  Mr.  Avery  united  in 
marriage  with  Mary  Swift,  a  daughter  of 
Herman  and  Betsy  (Jackson)  Swift  of  Forest- 
ville,  Chautauqua  county,  New  York.  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Avery  had  four  children :  Agnes,  Bessie, 
Hascal  and  Mary  Sherman. 


QLBERT  W.  HULL,  a  prominent  member 
-^*-  of  the  Chautauqua  county  bar,  is  a  son 
of  Sylvester  and  Selina  (Reed)  Hull,  and  was 
born  in  Oneida  county,  New  York,  on  De- 
cember 10,  1825.  His  grandftther,  Eli  Hull, 
was  a  native  of  the  eastern  part  of  this  State, 
and  was  one  of  the  earliest  settlers  of  Oneida 
county,  where  he  resided  until  his  death,  which 
occurred  September  24,  1838.  He  was  of 
English  extraction.  Sylvester  Hull  (father) 
was  a  native  of  Oneida  county  and  a  farmer  by 
occupation.  He  moved  to  Chautauqua  county 
in  1837,  at  the  time  of  the  great  national  ex- 
citement concerning  the  United  States  Bank  in 
Philadelphia,  aud,  purchasing  an  eighty  acre 
farm  in  Cherry  Creek,  cultivated  it  until  his 
death,  which  occurred  October  29,  1854,  at  the 
age  of  fifty-four  years.  He  was  a  democrat, 
and  an  exceedingly  well-jDosted  man,  subscrib- 
ing for  and  diligently  reading  several  news- 
papers. February  1,  1824,  he  married  Selina 
Reed,  who  was  a  native  of  Oneida  county, 
where  she  spent  her  entire  life.  They  were  the 
parents  of  three  children.  Mrs.  Hull  died 
October  21,  1830. 

Albert  W.  Hull  was  reared  on  the  farm  in 
Cherry  Creek  and  received  his  eilucation  in  the 
common  and  select  schools  of  that  section.  He 
learned  the  carpenter's  trade  and  followed  it  for 
a  livelihood  in  connection  with  contracting  and 
building  until  18G8,  when  he  commenced  the 
study  of  law  in  the  office  of  John  (J.  Record, 
of  I'ore.stvillc.  He  was  admitted  to  ])r!ictice 
befoi'e  till'  Miprenie  court   of  the  State  of  New 


York  on  June  6,  1870,  and  later  on  before  the 
United  States  District  court.  Since  his  admis- 
sion to  the  bar  he  has  built  up  a  fine  law  prac- 
tice in  this  vicinity.  He  was  elected  to  the 
:  office  of  justice  of  the  sessions  for  this  county 
in  1885,  which  he  held  one  year,  and  has  been 
justice  of  the  peace  for  eight  years.  He  is  a 
member  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church, 
and  of  Hanover  Lodge,  No.  152,  F.  and  A. 
M.,  and  Forestville  Chapter,  No.  136,  of 
Royal  Arch  Masons,  and  politically  is  an  ac- 
tive democrat.  Mr.  Hull  is  a  gentleman  of 
sound  judgmeut  and  is  held  in  high  respect 
throughout  this  section. 

Albert  W.  Hull,  on  January  31,  1885, 
united  in  marriage  with  Lydia  F.  Webb, 
daughter  of  David  Webb,  of  Forestville. 
They  have  two  children  living  :  Albert  W., 
Jr.,  who  married  Grace  Thompson,  of  For- 
estville, and  is  in  the  insurance  business  in 
New  York  city  ;  and  Carrie  L.,  wife  of  Car- 
ter Robie,  of  Bath,  this  State,  where  they  now 

j  reside. 

© 

"f^ELOS  J.  RIDER,  a  resident  of  the  town 

-*^  of  Hanover,  is  a  son  of  Robert  D.  and 
Lucy  (Spencer)  Rider,  and  was  born  in  Her- 
kimer county,  New  York,  August  27,  1824. 
Zadock  Rider    (grandfather)  was   a    native  of 

j  Dutchess  county,  this  Slate,  but  removed  to 
Herkimer  county,  where  he  took  up  residence 
and  lived  until  his  death.  He  followed  farm- 
ing for  his  livelihood  and  always  shaped  his 
life  in  conformity  with  the  highest   principles 

,  he  knew.       His   marriage  witli    Naomi    Seers 

I  resulted  in  the  birth  of  a  family  of  five  chil- 
dren, three  sons  and  two  daughters.  The 
maternal  grandfather,  Gideon  Spencer,  was  a 
native  of  C'Onuecticut,  removed  to  Herkimer 
county,  and  finally,  in  1833,  made  his  home 
in  the  town  of  Villanova,  this  county,  where 
he  died  at  the  age  of  92  years.  He  uiiitwi 
in  marriayre  with  Sallie  Warner,  and  reared  a 

!  fainilv    of   four  cliiltlrcn,    two    sons    ami    two 


OF  CHAUTAUQUA   COUNTY. 


481 


daughters.  In  lii.s  religious  helirt'  lie  was  a 
member  of  the  Uuiversalist  clinrch,  and  a  firm 
believer  in  the  moral  efficacy  of  obedience  to 
natural  law.  His  occupation  was  that  of 
farming.  Robert  D.  Rider  (father)  was  born 
in  Herkimer  county,  September  8,  1799,  and 
emigrated  to  this  county  in  18.33.  His  first 
place  of  settlement  in  the  county  was  in  the 
town  of  Sheridan,  near  Silver  Creek,  where 
he  purchased  sixty  acres  of  land,  only  two 
acres  of  which  were  then  cleared.  Here  he 
spent  five  years  of  his  life,  then  moved  to 
Arkwright,  and  died  September  19,  1867. 
He  voted  with  the  Whig  and  Republican 
parties,  under  both  of  which  he  was  elected 
to  and  held  town  offices.  Religiously  he  be- 
longed to  the  Baptist  church  and  held  the 
office  of  deacon  for  a  number  of  years.  Mr. 
Rider  was  married  first  to  Lucy  Spencer,  by 
whom  he  had  three  children :  Theron  A. 
(dead) ;  Delos  J. ;  and  Sarah  T.,  married  to 
Harry  S.  Faulkner  (deceased).  His  second 
wife  was  Almira  Rogers. 

Delos  J.  Rider  was  joined  in  marital  bonds 
to  Esther  C.  Emmons,  a  daughter  of  Summer 
Emmons  of  the  town  of  Arkwright,  this 
county.  One  daughter  was  the  fruit  of  this 
marriage,  Naomi  T.,  wife  of  Charles  C.  Cole, 
present  supervisor  of  the  town  of  Arkwright. 
After  the  death  of  his  first  wife  he  united  in 
marriage  with  Clarissa  S.  Skinner,  a  daughter 
of  Ralph  Skiuner,  by  whom  he  had  two  chil- 
dren :  Elmer  E.,  at  home ;  and  Frank  A., 
married  to  Hattie  Powers,  is  a  farmer  living 
in  the  town  of  Hanover. 

D.  J.  Rider  was  educated  in  the  common 
schools  and  at  Fredonia  Academy,  taught 
school  .some  sixteen  years,  and  has  since  that 
time  devoted  himself  to  the  care  and  man- 
agement of  his  farm  of  three  hundred  and 
ten  acres.  Politically  he  is  a  republican,  and 
as  such  has  held  the  office  of  supervisor  for 
the  town  of  Arkwright  and  other  places  of 
trust.     He  is  also  a  member  of  the  Grange. 


FHI:1)I:KICK  D.  0ARI>N1:II,  a  citizen  of 
Hanover  town,  and  a  farmer  of  promi- 
nence, is  the  son  of  Edward  and  Anna  (Dixon) 
Gardner,  and  was  born  in  Ireland,  Mayo  coun- 
ty, December  19,  1824.  His  entire  ancestry 
has  been  confined  within  the  borders  of  the 
Emerald  Isle.  His  grandfather,  Robert  Gard- 
ner, was  a  farmer  and  a  member  <if  the  estab- 
lished church  of  England.  He  was  married 
and  reared  a  family  of  four  sons  and  three 
daughters.  Maternal  grandfather,  John  Dixon, 
was  likewi.se  a  native  of  Ireland,  a  farmer  and 
an  Orangeman.  He  was  married  to  Etta  Lang, 
who  bore  him  a  large  family  of  children.  Ed- 
ward Gardner,  father  of  Frederick  D.,  was 
born  in  Ireland  in  1789,  and  died  in  1846. 
He  was  reared  upon  a  farm,  but  soon  relin- 
quished the  occupation  of  farming,  went  to  the 
city  of  Dublin,  and  became  a  member  of  the 
police  force.  He  was  united  in  marriage  to 
Anna  Dixon,  who  bore  him  nine  children,  six 
sons  and  three  daughters,  subject  being  the  only 
one  who  emigrated  to  America.  Religiously  he 
joined  his  interests  with  those  of  the  Episcopal 
Church. 

Frederick  D.  Gardner  received  his  education 
in  the  common  schools  of  his  native  country, 
and  at  the  expiration  of  his  school  life,  when  at 
the  age  of  seventeen,  he  received  a  position  on 
the  police  force,  which  he  held  f(jr  ten  years  in 
the  city  of  Dublin,  Ireland.  In  1850  he  re- 
signed the  position  of  police  officer,  came  to 
America,  and  located  at  Bath,  Steuben  county. 
New  York,  where  he  engaged  in  farming. 
Some  years  later  he  removed  to  Smith's  Mills, 
in  the  town  of  Hanover,  Chautauqua  county, 
and  became  foreman  of  a  gang  of  section  men 
for  thirty-four  years  on  the  Buffalo  &  South- 
western R.  R.  When  somewhat  advanced  in 
life  he  quit  railroading  and  purchased  a  farm  of 
fifty-nine  and  three-fourth  acres,  south  of 
Smith's  Mills,  town  of  Hanover.  He  is  a 
democrat  in  politics,  but  has  never  held  any 
t  official  position. 


482 


BIOGRAPHY  AND  HISTORY 


On  February  6,  1849,  Mr.  Gardner  was  first 
married  to  Elizabeth  Slush,  who  bore  him  eight 
children:  Edward  D.,  married  to  Jennie  Her- 
nandez, now  living  at  Renovo,  Penua.,  and  in 
the  employ  of  the  railroad  comj)any ;  James 
T.,  married  to  Miss  Judd,  now  living  in  Mich- 
igan, city  of  Mackinac,  and  is  general  man- 
ager of  the  Michigan  R.  R. ;  Lizzie  N.,  of 
Dunkirk,  New  York ;  Frederick,  a  railroad 
clerk  at  Buffalo,  New  York  ;  Mary  J.,  living  in 
Buffalo,  New  York.  Subject's  second  wife  was 
Ann  Woods,  by  whom  he  had  four  children, 
two  sons  and  two  daughters  :  Robert  L.,  mar- 
ried to  Sicfuora  Rasmusen,  now  liviuo;  in  St. 
Paul,  Minnesota,  a  train  dispatcher;  Dora, 
Richard  and  EfBe  V. 


C030IAXDEK  WILLIAM  BARKER 
CUSHIXG,  U.S.X.  The  three  supreme- 
ly great  names  in  the  naval  history  of  the 
American  Re23ublic,  are  those  of  John  Paul 
Jones,  Oliver  Hazard  Perry  and  William 
Barker  Gushing.  C'ushiug  is  as  completely  the 
representative  of  the  highest  naval  strateg}'  and 
the  type  of  the  greatest  individual  daring  of 
the  Great  Rebellion  as  was  Perry  of  the  second 
war  of  Indejjendence  and  Jones  of  the  Revolu- 
tionary struggle. 

William  Barker  Gushing  was  born  in  Wis- 
consin, November  24,  1842,  and  was  the  young- 
est son  of  Milton  B.  and  Mary  (Smith)  Gush- 
ing. He  was  descended  from  an  old  Puritan 
family  of  New  England  and  his  paternal 
grandfather.  Judge  Zattu  Gushing,  who  was 
born  at  Plymouth,  Ma.ssachusetts,  became  a 
pioneer  settler  of  GhatitatKpia  county  and  over 
its  courts  of  justice  presided  from  their  organi- 
zation in  1811  until  1824;  he  was  a  Baptist, 
served  in  the  war  of  1812,  and  it  is  said  of  him, 
"That  in  those  qualities  which  fit  a  man  for  liis 
duties^  social,  civil  and  religious,  he  was  not 
excelled  by  any  of  his  fellow-citizens."  His 
son,  Milton  B.  Gushing,  the  fatiier  of  William 
B.  Gushing,  married  Mary  Sinitli,  a  near  rela- 


tive of  Rear-Admiral  Smith,  and  removed  to 
Wisconsin  where  he  died  and  left  four  sons  in 
their  childhood.  Mrs.  Gushing  returned  to 
Fredonia  so  that  her  children  might  enjoy  good 
educational  advantages  and  after  the  late  civil 
war  went  back  to  the  west  where  she  died  on 
March  26,  1891. 

William  Barker  Gushing  received  his  early 
education  at  Fredonia  and  in  1857  was  appoint- 
ed to  the  U.  S.  Naval  academy,  at  Annapolis, 
Maryland,  but  resigned  on  jNIarch  23,  1861. 
In  May  of  the  same  year  he  volunteered  and 
was  appointed  master's-mate  on  the  U.  S.  ship 
Minnesota,  and  on  the  day  of  her  arrival  at 
Hampton  Roads  captured  the  Delaioare  Farmer, 
a  tol:)acco  schooner,  the  first  prize  of  the  war. 
He  was  attached  to  the  North  Atlantic  block- 
ading squadron,  during  the  war,  served  part  of 
the  time  on  the  South  Atlantic  coast  and  re- 
peatedly distinguished  himself  by  acts  of 
bravery. 

He  was  commissioned  lieutenant  July  16, 
1862,  and  in  November  of  the  same  year  he 
was  ordered  to  capture  Jacksonville,  Florida, 
intercept  an  important  mail  and  destroy  the 
New  Juliet  salt  works.  He  captured  the  mail, 
took  prizes  and  shelled  a  Gonfederate  camp,  but 
was  unable  to  cross  the  bar  to  Jacksonville. 
He  then  served  on  the  Blackwater  and  in  the 
sounds  of  North  Garolina  where  he  distin- 
guished himself  upon  several  occasions.  Dur- 
ing 1863,  he  added  to  his  reputation  for  daring 
bravery  and  good  judgment  by  an  expedition  up 
the  Gape  Fear  and  Little  rivers  and  his  opera- 
tions on  the  Nansemond. 

It  is  impossible  to  give  in  detail  in  this 
sketch  all  of  his  brilliant  exploits,  distinguished 
services  and  hiur-breadth  escapes.  His  most 
brilliant  exploit  and  which  made  world-wide 
his  then,  already,  national  reputation,  was  the 
destruction  of  the  Gonfederate  iron-clad  ram 
"Albemarle"  on  the  night  of  October  27, 
18(i4.  This  vessel  had  successfully  encountered 
a  strong  fleet  of  Union  gun-boats  and  fought 


COMMANDER  WILLIAM    B,   GUSHING 


OF  CHAUTAUQUA   COUNTY. 


485 


for  several  hours  without  sustaining  material  ; 
damage.  There  was  nothing  able  to  cope  with  j 
her  in  the  sounds  and  grave  appreiiensions 
were  entertained  of  the  Union  iron-clads  being 
able  to  prevent  her  from  sweeping  everything 
before  and  shelling  tiie  principal  northern  sea- 
port cities.  Gushing  volunteered  to  destroy 
her  and  banish  the  nightmare  of  terror  which 
her  presence  cast  upon  the  Union  fleets.  With 
a  steam  launch  and  a  volunteer  crew  wiio  fully 
realized  tiie  importance  and  danger  of  the  mis- 
sion upon  which  they  were  going,  he  ascended 
the  Roanoke  river,  towing  an  armed  cutter.  ' 
The  river  was  lined  with  Confederate  pickets 
to  guard  against  just  such  an  attack  as  this ;  but 
Cushing's  phenomenal  good  luck  did  not  desert 
him,  and  he  was  within  a  few  yards  of  the 
"Albemarle"  before  he  was  discovered.  Cast- 
ing off  the  boat  which  he  had  in  tow  with 
orders  to  attack  a  picket  jjost  near  by,  he  drove 
the  launch  straight  at  the  huge  bulk  of  the  iron- 
clad, whose  crew  rushed  to  quarters  and  at  once 
opened  a  heavy  fire  on  their  advancing  foe. 
The  launch  replied  and  effectively  with  her 
howitzer  for  a  few  moments  until  Cashing 
reached  a  raft  of  heavy  logs  which  had  been 
built  around  the  ram.  Over  this  the  launch 
was  driven,  and  by  the  time  she  received  her 
death  wound  from  the  "Albemarle's"  guns, 
Gushing  had  cooly  swung  the  torpedo  boom  under 
thegreatship'soverhang  and  exploded  thecharge. 
A  large  hole  was  blown  in  tiie  iron-clad's  side; 
she  sank  at  her  moorings  and  was  never  raised. 
Directing  his  companions  to  seek  their  safety, 
Gushing  left  his  sinking  raft  and  swam  down 
stream  one-half  mile  where  he  reached  the 
river  bank  thoroughly  exhausted ;  when  he  re- 
covered strength  he  plunged  into  a  dense  swamp 
and  after  hours  of  tedious  wading,  came  out  on 
the  shore  of  a  creek  where  he  found  a  Union 
picket  boat.  He  and  only  one  other  of  his 
companions  escaped.  For  the  sinking  of  the 
"  Albemarle  "  he  received  the  tlianks  of  Con- 
gress   and    was    shortly    afterwards    elevated 


to  the  rank  of  lieutenant-commander,  his  com- 
mission being  dated  October  27,  18G-1.  At 
Fort  Fisiier  he  buoyed  out  the  channel  in  a 
small  skiff  and  completed  his  work  iu  six 
hours.  In  the  final  assault  on  its  frowning 
walls  he  led  a  force  of  sailors  and  marines  from 
the  Monlhello  in  an  attack  on  tiie  sea  front  of 
the  fort  and  amid  an  unceasing  fire  at  short 
range  which  cut  down  his  men  in  windrows  lie 
crossed  one  hundred  rods  of  sand,  rallied  his 
men  and  gave  sucii  eilicient  support  to  the 
land  forces  that  before  midnight  the  fort  was 
surrendered. 

During  the  war  he  received  five  commenda- 
tory letters  from  the  Secretary  of  the  Navy  and 
at  the  close  of  the  struggle  was  appointed  to 
the  command  of  the  Lancaster  in  the  Pacific 
squadron.  In  1868  he  was  placed  in  command 
of  the  Maumee,  and  for  four  years  was  attached 
to  the  Atlaulic  squadron.  On  the  return  of  the 
Maiunce  to  the  United  States,  Lieutenant-Com- 
mander Gushing  was  advanced  to  the  rank  of 
commander  to  date  from  January  1,  1872,  and 
he  was  the  youngest  officer  of  that  rank  in  the 
navy.  He  was  allowed  leave  of  absence  but 
his  health  which  had  been  impaired  by  over- 
exertion failed  completely  and  he  died  of  brain 
fever  in  Washington  City,  on  December  17, 
1874. 

On  February  22,  1870,  he  united  in  mar- 
riage with  Catherine  Louise  Forbes,  daughter 
of  Colonel  D.  S.  Forbes,  of  Fredonia.  To 
their  union  were  born  two  children :  Mary 
Louise  and  Catherine  A.  Mrs.  Gushing  is  an 
intellectual  woman  of  taste  and  refinement, 
residing  now  at  her  pleasant  home  in  Fredonia. 

The  memory  of  William  B.  Gushing  has 
been  honored  by  the  various  Grand  Army 
Posts  iu  Wisconsin  and  other  states  of  the 
Union  named  after  him ;  while  on  the  water 
the  sea-going  torpedo  boat  Gushing  suggests  by 
its  character  the  daring  of  him  for  whom  it  was 
named.  A  thousand  pens  have  written  of  him 
and  his  deeds,  and  among  the  just  and  deserved 


186 


BIOGRAPHY  AND  HISTORY 


tributes  recorded  in  honor  of  liis  acliievements 
we  select  these  two  : 

"  A  country  and  the  navy  may  well  be  proud 
of  this  most  adventurous  of  their  heroes,"  and, 
"  Gushing  by  rejjeated  daring  and  successful 
achievements,  has  rivaled  the  fame  of  Paul 
Jones  and  Perry,  and  associated  his  name  with 
theirs  in  immortality." 

That  intense  earnestness  of  purpose,  that 
wonderful  spirit  of  daring  and  that  supreme 
contempt  of  death  which  characterized  the 
heroes  of  the  Great  Rebellion  as  well  as  the  cool 
and  deliberate  calculations  of  its  great  leaders 
and  master-spirits,  were  qualities  possessed  by 
Gushing  in  the  highest  degree  ;  while  in  addition 
to  all  this  he  was  gifted  witii  a  military  ability, 
a  fertility  of  invention  and  all  powerful-will, 
which  places  him  among  the  greatest  naval 
heroes  of  all  time. 

No  Gleopatra  of  ease  ever  lured  Gushing 
from  any  Actium  of  life,  and  no  thought  of 
death  ever  cast  a  shadow  of  fear  upon  any 
enterprise  however  dangerous  which  he  had 
conceived.  He  was  always  in  the  battle  where 
the  iron  hail  fell  the  thickest  and  his  place  in 
the  picture  was  where  the  blaze  of  the  cannon 
was  the  brightest. 


/>EOROE  R.  BACON,  a  public-spirited  and 
^^  enterprising  citizen  of  Ripley,  New  York, 
who  has  been  emphatically  the  architect  of  his 
own  fortune,  is  a  son  of  James  and  Eliza  J. 
(Ketcham)  Bacon.  He  is  of  New  England  an- 
cestry, and  was  born  in  the  town  of  Portland, 
Chautauqua  county,  New  York,  on  January  7, 
1834.  His  grandfather  ]?acon  was  a  native  and 
a  life-long  resident  of  the  State  of  Massachu- 
setts, and  in  that  early  day  belonged  to  the  old- 
line  "Whig  party.  He  married  and  i-eared  a 
large  fiimily  of  children.  His  maternal  graud- 
])arents  claimed  the  State  of  New  York  as  the 
place  of  their  birth.  James  Bacon  (father  of 
George  R.  Bacon)  was  born  in  the  town  of 
Springfield,   Worcester  county,  Massachusetts, 


in  the  year  1805,  and  is  still  living.  About 
1826  he  changed  his  place  of  residence  to  the 
State  of  New  York,  locating  with  his  family  in 
the  town  of  Portland,  Chautauqua  county. 
While  in  Massachusetts  he  was  the  superintend- 
ent of  a  cloth  manufactory  at  Lowell.  In  earlier 
life  he  had  learned  the  trade  of  a  mechanic  and, 
when  he  came  to  Chautauqua  county,  engaged 
in  carpentering.  He  was  a  constant  reader  and 
a  close  student  of  books  and  general  literature, 
which  coupled  with  his  wonderful  memory  and 
innate  love  of  study,  gave  him  great  mental 
power  and  enabled  him  to  acquire  a  good  prac- 
tical education.  In  matters  of  religion  he  was 
a  man  of  profound  reverence  and  deep  convic- 
tions, and  devoted  not  a  little  time  to  the  study 
of  the  Bible,  church  liturgy  and  ritual  and  the 
lives  of  the  church  fathers.  He  was  first  united 
in  marriage  to  Miss  Olive  Persons,  by  whom 
he  had  two  children,  one  of  whom  is  dead.  His 
second  marriage  was  to  Eliza  J.  Ketcham,  who 
became  the  mother  of  seven  children,  five  sons 
and  two  daughters,  three  of  whom  (two  sons 
and  one  daughter)  are  yet  living.  Their  child- 
ren were  :  Samuel  M.,  entered  the  Union  army 
at  the  besinningf  of  the  civil  war  as  a  volunteer 
in  the  64th  regiment,  served  until  wounded,  re- 
enlisted  and  was  killed  at  the  battle  of  the  Wil- 
derness ;  Jasper  M.,  now  living  at  Silver  Greek, 
New  York.  He  entered  the  112th  i-egiment, 
New  York  volunteers,  as  a  private  at  the  be- 
ginning of  the  war  and  served  until  its  close; 
James  F.  M.,  also  enlisted  at  the  beginning  of 
the  war  and  served  until  the  battle  of  Gettys- 
burg, when  he  was  taken  prisoner,  carried  to 
Andcrsduville  and  Libby  prisons,  in  the  latter 
of  wliiih  he  died  ;  Ira  J.,  now  living  in  Cin- 
cinnati, Ohio,  where  he  is  superintendent  of  the 
largest  sheet-iron  mill  in  the  United  States ; 
Louisa  died  at  the  age  of  fifteen  years ;  Alice 
D.,  wife  of  E.  A.  Kelsey,  of  Corry,  Pa. ;  and 
George  R. 

George  R.  Bacon  acquired  his  preliminary  edu- 
cation in  the  common  schools,  but  afterward  sup- 


OF  CHAUTAUQUA   COUNTY. 


487 


plemented  it  by  continual  independent  study  and 
reading.  He  learned  the  trade  of  carpenter, 
became  foreman  on  the  old  Buffalo  and  State 
Line  R.  R.  in  1854,  and  has  been  continued  in 
that  capacity  through  all  tlie  various  changes  in 
the  ownership  and  management  of  the  road  ever 
since.  Aside  from  his  main  business,  Mr. 
Bacon  has  dealt  somewliat  in  real  estate  and 
devoted  his  spare  time  to  the  care  of  his  five- 
acre  vineyard. 

George  R.  Bacon  was  married  to  Miss  Mary 
A.  Lay,  daughter  of  William  and  Elizabeth 
(Rowe)  Lay.  Her  father  was  a  native  of  Cora- 
wall,  England,  and  emigrated  to  the  village  of 
Ripley,  Chautaur[ua  county,  in  the  year  1853. 
He  lived  in  Ripley  until  his  death,  March  13th, 
1871.  Mr.  Lay's  education  was  such  as  is 
given  by  the  common  schools,  and  iiis  occupa- 
tion an  engineer  and  a  farmer.  lu  politics  he 
was  a  republican  ;  religiously  a  member  of  the 
Methodist  Episcopal  church.  His  wife  bore 
him  six  children  :  William,  Jr.,  of  Ripley,  a 
stone-mason  by  trade ;  Thomas  H.,  married 
and  living  in  the  State  of  Kansas;  John  R.,  of 
Ripley,  a  grape-grower ;  Jane,  wife  of  Hart 
Endy  (dead),  of  Ripley ;  Elizabeth,  wife  of 
Oliver  Stetson,  a  grape-grower  of  Ripley  ;  and 
Mary  A.  Having  lost  two  infant  children,  they 
in  1874  adopted  an  infant  girl,  Bertha  Isabel, 
who  is  fully  adopted  and  is  as  such  considered 
one  of  their  natural  children. 

G.  R.  Bacon  is  a  supporter  of  the  Republican 
party  and  a  member  of  the  Royal  Arcanum. 
He  is  an  upright  man,  straightforward  in  his 
business  dealings  and  stands  high  in  the  estima- 
tion of  Ripley's  best  citizens. 


T^ELSON  RANDALL,  an  influential  and 
\  ^  useful  citizen  of  Ripley  and  an  ex-grand 
master  of  the  Ancient  Order  of  United  Work- 
men of  the  jurisdiction  of  the  State  of  New 
York,  was  born  at  Danby,  Vermont,  April  11, 
1825,  and  is  a  sou  of  Caleb  and  Lydia  (Conger) 
Randall.     He  traces  his  paternal  ancestry  back 


four  generations  to  William  Randall  (great- 
grandfather), a  Scotch  Quaker,  who  was  one  of  a 
party  of  Quakers  who  came  from  Scotland  to 
Massachusetts  Colony  before  the  Revolutionary 
war.  William  Randall  in  all  ])robability  died 
in  Massachusetts.  His  son,  Snow  Randall 
(grandfather),  was  born  in  1752,  in  Scotland. 
Before  coming  to  America  he  became  acquainted 
with  Hannah  Sli(>rman,  who  was  boi'n  in  1759. 
After  their  arrival  in  Massachusetts  they 
attended  quarterly  meetings  in  this  State,  where 
they  were  married  and  removed  a  few  years 
later  to  Danby,  Vermont,  at  which  place  Mr. 
Randall  followed  the  clothing  business  until  his 
death.  His  children  were:  Caleb,  Lydia, 
Hannah,  Isaac,  Stephen  and  Sadie.  Caleb 
Randall  (father)  was  born  in  1781  and  was 
taken  by  his  parents  to  Danby,  where  he  died 
in  1857.  He  was  an  old-line  whig  and  a 
Methodist  and  married  Lvdia  Conner,  who  was 
born  in  1782  and  died  in  1871,  at  Ripley,  at 
the  residence  of  the  subject  of  this  sketch.  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Randall  were  the  parents  of  nine 
children  :  Dr.  Alvey,  born  in  1800  and  died 
at  Cold  Water,  Mich.,  where  his  son  Caleb  has 
been  president  of  the  First  National  bank  for 
twenty  years;  Enoch,  born  in  1803  and  died 
at  Collins  Centre,  N.  Y.,  in  1878  ;  Maria,  born 
in  1805,  married  Smith  Hill,  of  Pawlet,  Vt., 
and  died  in  1881  ;  John,  a  farmer  of  Collins 
Centre,  who  M"as  born  in  1808  and  married 
Mary  Nichols ;  Robert  G.,  a  retired  farmer  of 
Lansing,  Mich.,  who  was  born  in  1811  ;  Maria, 
born  in  1813,  married  Thomas  Griffin,  and 
died  at  Ripley  in  1870;  Ellwood,  born  in  181G 
and  died  in  the  Union  service  in  1863  as  a 
soldier  from  Missouri ;  and  Galon  L.,  born  in 
1820  and  died  in  1863.  Mrs.  Randall  was  a 
daughter  of  Enoch  Conger,  a  farmer  who  was 
born  at  Danby,  Vt.,  in  1758,  married  Ruth 
Irish,  who  was  born  in  1759,  and  had  five 
children  :  David,  Lydia,  Free  Love,  Nora  and 
Hiram. 

Nelson  Randall  received  an  academic  educa- 


488 


BIOGRAPHY  AND  HISTORY 


tion  at  Poiiltney,  Yt.,  followed  farming  for  some 
time,  was  elected  first  eoustable  of  Dauby  aod 
afterwards  served  for  eleven  years  as  under 
sheriff  of  Rutland  couuty,  that  State.  In  1859 
he  came  to  the  town  of  Ripley,  where  he  fol- 
lowed farming  until  1863,  when  he  was  com- 
missioned by  Gov.  Seymour  as  a  recruiting 
officer  and  was  sent  to  Vicksburg  to  muster 
Southern  Union  men  into  the  Federal  army. 
He  was  afterwards  captured  by  Forest  near 
Memphis,  Tennessee,  but  soon  escaped  and 
served  as  a  recruiting  officer  in  Chicago  uutil 
near  the  close  of  the  war.  From  1865  to  1874 
he  served  as  deputy  sheriff  of  Chautauqua 
county,  and  during  that  time  was  appointed 
deputy  United  States  marshal  of  the  district  of 
northern  New  York,  which  office  he  held  for 
six  years,  besides  holding  a  position  in  the  secret 
service  under  Capt.  Wood.  At  the  breaking 
out  of  the  Fenian  war  he  was  sent  by  the  United 
States  government  to  watch  the  Fenians  and 
report  any  information  of  them  and  their  move- 
ments that  would  be  useful  to  the  authorities  at 
Washington  City.  While  engaged  in  the  secret 
service  he  had  some  very  narrow  escapes  and 
interesting  experiences.  In  1874  he  embarked 
in  the  mercantile  business  at  Ripley,  which  he 
followed  uutil  1889,  wiieu  he  retired  from  active 
business  life  and  has  since  then  devoted  some  of 
his  time  to  tlie  management  of  his  vineyard  and 
some  little  general  business  not  yet  closed  up. 
He  is  a  member  of  the  Odd  Fellows  and  the 
Royal  Arcanum. 

November  28,  1849,  Mr.  Randall  married 
Priscilla  Eddy,  who  is  a  daughter  of  Sandford 
Eddy,  of  Vermont,  and  was  born  August  12, 
1826.  Their  children  are:  Maria  E.,  born 
May  4,  1854,  and  wife  of  E.  C.  Porter,  a  mer- 
chant of  Ripley;  Frederick  N.,  who  was  born 
January  7,  1856,  married  Ilattie  Masun  and  is 
engaged  in  the  general  nicrcantiie  business  at 
Ripley;  Edward  C,  born  -Inly  19,  1860,  was 
graduateil  fnun  Mcadvillc  college,  read  law 
with  Judge   Lambert,  admitted    to  the  bar  in 


1881  and  is  a  successful  lawyer  of  the  city  of 
Buffiilo ;  and  Hartie  S.,  who  was  born  April 
14,  1865,  and  married  Elgin  Mifflin,  a  me)'- 
chant  of  Lansings  Michioan.  Mrs.  Randall 
died  April  6,  1873,  and  on  July  27,  1874,  ^Ir. 
Randall  married  Eunice  E.  Beagten. 

Nelson  Randall  is  an  active  republican,  al- 
though no  aspirant  for  office,  and  has  frequently 
been"  importuned  to  run  for  sheriff.  He  intro- 
duced the  Ancient  Order  of  United  Workmen 
in  New  York  and  was  the  first  grand  master 
of  that  order  in  the  State.  He  represented 
New  York  for  seven  years  in  the  Supreme 
Lodge  during  the  early  years  of  the  oi'der  and 
in  1890  was  sent  as  a  representative  to  the 
Supreme  Lodge  then  meeting  at  Boston,  Massa- 
chusetts. 

© 

HARRY  J.  XEW3IAN,  senior  partner  in 
the  manufacturing  firm  of  H.  J.  Newman 
&  Co.,  was  born  in  Franklin,  Venango  county, 
Pennsylvania,  January  31,  1865,  and  is  the  son 
of  Jared  R.  and  Harriet  A.  (Pike)  Newman 
and  grandson  of  James  Newman,  a  native  of 
Vermont,  who  was  one  of  the  early  farmer  set- 
tlers of  Cattaraugus  county,  New  York.  He 
married,  reared  a  fam  ily  of  eight  children  and  died 
in  Cattaraugus  county  in  1857.  Jared  R.  New- 
man, the  father  of  subject,  was  born  in  Cat- 
taraugus county  in  1832,  and  while  still  a  young 
man  traveled  through  the  north-west.  Among 
other  places  visited  was  Fon  du  Lac,  Wisconsin, 
when  it  was  a  very  small  village,  and  the  In- 
dians were  more  numerous  than  the  whites.  He 
returned  from  his  western  trip  and  finally  located 
in  Frauklin,  Pa.,  where,  embarking  in  the  fur- 
niture business,  lie  conducted  it  successfully  until 
1876,  when,  disposing  of  it,  he  came  to  James- 
town. Sooii  after  this  he  I)egan  furniture 
manufacturing,  whicli  was  coutiniud  to  the  time 
of  his  death,  when  a  company,  of  wiiich  his  son 
is  the  head,  succeeded  him.  He  married  Harriet 
.\.  Pike,  who  bore  him  one  son,  tiic  subject  of  this 
sketch.     A  republican  in  politics  and  a  member 


OF  CHAUTAUQUA   COUNTY. 


489 


of  the  Methodist  church,  he  also  had  the  dis- 
tinction of  being  among  the  first  members  of 
the  Ancient  Order  of  United  ^\'orkm(■n,  the 
fourth  on  the  charter  of  the  third  lodge  in 
Pennsylvania.  He  died  May  19,  1887,  the 
funeral  being  largely  attended  by  the  lodge  and 
his  many  friends. 

Harry  J.  Newman  received  a  good  early 
education,  and  was  taught  the  principles  of  bu- 
siness by  his  father,  whom  he  succeeded  at  his 
death.  Beginning  in  1S87,  tiie  busine.ss  grew 
until  at  present  it  requires  a  building  112x48, 
two  stones  high,  located  on  Holmes  street,  to  do 
the  work.  At  the  death  of  his  father  he  asso- 
ciated others  with  him,  and  the  business  requires 
now  about  forty  men.  He  united  in  marriage, 
July  5, 1886,  with  Mary  Eva  Fisher,  a  daughter 
of  Z.  W.  Fisher,  who  was  one  of  the  earliest 
settlers  of  McKeau  county.  Pa.,  where  he  lived 
until  the  oil  excitement,  finally  locating  in  James- 
town, where  he  now  lives  a  quiet  life.  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Newman  have  one  child,  Mary  M. 

In  politics  Mr.  Newman  is  like  his  father, 
identified  with  the  republicans,  and  is  a  Mason, 
being  a  member  of  Mount  Moriah  Lodge,  No. 
145,  of  Jamestown,  and  is  enthusiastic  in  their 
work.  He  is  recognized  as  a  .sagacious  busine.ss 
man,  proof  of  which  is  plainly  shown  by  the 
success  of  the  business  house  of  which  he  is  the 
head.  With  a  large  circle  of  friends  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Newman  have  a  plea.sant  future  in  view. 


^LAYTON  D.  LEOXAKD  is  a  gentleman 
^^  who  has  secured  and  is  now  maintaining 
an  excellent  reputation  for  the  quality  of  the 
cheese  he  manufactures.  He  is  a  son  of  James 
P.  and  Clarinda  (Scribner)  Leonard,  and  was 
born  at  Gowanda,  Cattaraugus  county.  New 
York,  March  3,  1852.  Simeon  Leonard,  the 
paternal  grandfather,  was  born  in  Oneida 
county,  this  State,  in  1791.  He  was  a  farmer, 
and  moved  to  Gowanda,  N.  Y.,  and  from 
thence  to  Angola;  then  to  Tidioute,  Pa.,  where 
he  died  in  1873,  leaving  four  daughters. 


i  James  P.  Leonard  was  born  at  Gowanda  in 
1826;  he  was  a  shoemaker,  and  married  Cla- 
rinda Scribner  in  1817,  by  whom  he  had  one 
son,  our  subject,  and  one  daughter,  Ella,  born 
at  Gowanda  in  1849 ;  she  married  Lorenzo  E. 
Avery,  a  bookkeeper  of  Angola,  Erie  county, 
N.  Y.,  and  has  a  son,  Guy  L.,  born  in  1874, 
and  an  infiiut  daughter.  James  P.  Leonard 
died  in  1855,  and  his  wife  followed  him  in 
1860. 

Clayton  D.  Leonard  was  educated  in  the 
common  schools  and  at  the  Griffith  academy  in 
Springville.  His  father  died  when  he  was  but 
three  years  of  age,  and  he  lost  the  counsels  and 
love  of  his  mother  when  but  eight.  In  1867, 
when  but  fifteen  years  of  age,  he  began  to 
learn  cheese-making  at  East  Otto,  Cattaraugus 
county,  and  remained  there  two  years.  He 
then  went  to  West  Otto  and  Collins,  where 
he  followed  the  .same  bu.siness.  He  came  to 
Cherry  Creek  in  February,  1879,  and  since 
that  date  has  been  engaged  in  making  full 
cream  cheese.  He  is  .sole  proprietor  of  the 
Liuwood  combination  of  cheese  factories.  The 
average  production  has  been  six  thousand  boxes 
or  about  four  hundred  thousand  pounds  per 
year,  and  the  market  has  been  found  in  the 
New   York   wholesale   houses.     Mr.    Leonard 

!  also  handles  a  great  deal  of  cheese  on  commis- 
sion, and  is  considered  one  of  the  best  buyers 
in  the  State.  His  cheese  is  made  from  milk 
furnished  by  farmers.  IVIr.  Leonard  keeps  the 
books,  each  farmer's  account  being  separate, 
sells  the  chee.se,  and  receives  one  dollar  and 
twelve  and  a  half  cents  per  hundred  pounds  for 
his  work.  He  has  taken  care  of  himself  since 
he  was  fourteen  years  of  age,  and  is  known  as 
a  hustler  in  business  circles.  Politically  he  is 
a  democrat,  and  has  served  on  the  County 
Democratic  Committee  since  1887;  is  the  Wor- 
shipful Master  of  Cherry  Creek  Lodge,  No. 
384,  F.  &  A.  M.,  and  also  holds  membership 
in  the  Equitable  Aid  Union  and  I.  0.  O.  F. 
On  July  9,  1874,  he  was  united  in  marriage 


490 


BIOGRAPHY  AND  HISTORy 


■with  Harriet  L.  Peck,  a  daughter  of  Reuben 
aud  Mary  Eleauor  (Ilayuor)  Peck,  of  Warren 
county,  Pa.,  aud  has  had  four  sons :  Harley 
L.,  born  December  10,  1875;  Harry  L.  (dead); 
Roger  L.,  born  June  24,  1886;  and  Morris 
M.,  born  July  29,  1888.  Mr.  Leonard  is  a 
generous- hearted,  companionable  gentleman,  a 
number-one  business  man  and  a  good  citizen. 


T  .ESTER  K.  DEWEY,  a  comfortably  situ- 

^^  ated  farmer  and  successful  dairyman  of 
the  town  of  Sherman,  is  a  son  of  Capt.  Lester 
R.  and  Fanny  (Patterson)  Dewey,  and  was  born 
in  the  old  homestead  house,  in  the  town  of 
Sherman,  Chautauqua  county,  New  York,  in 
May,  1837.  His  paternal  grandfather,  David 
Dewey,  was  a  native  and  farmer  of  New  Hamp- 
shire, who  came  to  Herkimer  county  and  sub- 
sequently removed  to  Madison  county  where  he 
died.  His  son,  Capt.  Lester  R.  Dewey  (father), 
was  born  in  Herkimer  county,  July  24,  1802, 
and  in  1832  settled  on  lot  No.  39,  in  the  town 
of  Sherman,  but  subsequently  removed  to  the 
village  where  he  died,  December  5,  1872.  He 
was  a  whig,  and  a  member  of  the  Universalist 
Church,  and  served  his  town  several  times  as 
assessor,  highway  commissioner  and  supervisor. 
He  commanded  a  company  of  militia  for  some 
years  and  on  March  23, 1825,  as  mentioned  by 
both  "  Young's  History"  and  the  New  York 
State  Gazeteer,  he  married  Fanny  Patterson, 
who  was  born  in  Pompey,  N.  Y.,  October  6, 
1802.  This  was  the  first  marriage  in  the  town 
and  was  solemnized  by  Otis  Skinner,  the  first 
justice  of  the  peace  of  the  town.  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Dewey  were  the  parents  of  eight  children, 
six  sons  and  two  daughters  :  Calista  A.,  wife  of 
Charles  Hall ;  Talcott  P.,  who  married  Mary 
Ben.son,  by  whom  he  had  three  pair  of  twin 
daughters,  aud  died  in  Iowa  in  1874  ;  Perry 
C,  of  Nebraska,  who  niarried  Surah  (iill,  aud 
after  her  death,  Matilda  Goldsmith,  and  served 
in  the  Union  aniiy  in  I  lie  southwest ;  Alfred 
B.,  wh(j  married   Maria  Hubbard,  who  died  in 


I  1880,  and  in  1881  he  married  Mrs.  Marcia 
Paddock  ;  Margaretta  K.,  wife  of  Merritt  Wol- 
cott ;  Lester  R. ;  Chauncey  M.,  who  died  in 
infancy  ;  aud  Tyler  T.,  who  married  Ellen  Wil- 
cox, served  in  Co.  E,  9th  New  York  Cavalry, 
was  captured  at  Bull  Run,  spent  twenty-two 
days  in  Libby  prison,  and  now  lives  in  Sherman. 
Lester    R.    Dewey   attended    the     common 

j  schools  of  his  day,  and  has  always  been  en- 
gaged in  farming  on  the  old    homestead   except 

,  two  years  spent  in  the  oil  regions  and  two  years 
during  which  he  was  in  the  West.  He  owns  a 
farm  of  one  hundred  and  ninety  acres  of  laud, 
which  is  five-eighths  of  a  mile  from  the  village 
of  Sherman.  He  is  now  making  a  specialty  of 
dairying,  keeps  twenty-five  Jersey  cows,  and 
makes  butter  by  the  Cooley  system. 

On  December  25,   1860,  he  married  Laura 

I  Benson,  a  daughter  of  Caleb  Benson,  who  mar- 
ried a  Miss  Putnam,  and  came  to  the  town  of 
Westfield  about  1825.  jNIr.  and  Mrs.  Dewey 
have  had  four  children,  one  son  aud  three 
daughters  :  Jerushia  A.,  who  died  young  ;  Mary 
E.,  wife  of  W.  B.  Whitney,  who  has  been  a 
butter-maker  at  Sherman  for  the  last  eight 
years ;  Edwin  C,  assistant  cashier  of  the  Sher- 
man bank  ;  and  Effie  B. 

In  politics   Mr.  Dewey  is  a   republican,  and 
has  held  several  offices  of  his  town. 


T^VjVIES  TAYLOR,  who  was  a  noted  hunter, 
^  came  from  Greenbriar  county,  \a..,  to 
Greenfield,  Erie  county,  Pa.,  in  the  year  1803, 
and  from  there  to  the  town  of  Ripley  in  1812. 
He  subsequently  took  up  one  hundred  acres  of 
land  at  State  Line,  and  was  engaged  in  agricul- 
ture till  the  time  of  his  death,  which  occurred 
in  1840.  He  had  a  family  of  six  children,  four 
sons  and  two  daughters.  Of  the  sons,  John 
and  Daniel  owned  adjoining  farms  at  the  State 
Ijine;  Daniel  removing  to  North  East  but  a 
few  years  previous  to  liis  death,  and  Joliii  re- 
siding on  his  farm  until  the  time  of  his  death, 
in  1881. 


OF  CHAUTAUQUA   COUNTY. 


491 


John  Taylor  was  nine  mouths  old  when 
his  father  came  from  Virj^iuia,  and  tiie  coun- 
try heiiig  new,  and  the  roads  few  and  poor, 
his  niotiii^r  brought  him  on  horseback.  The 
saddle  on  wliich  siie  rode  is  still  in  existence 
and  in  a  very  good  state  of  preservation.  It 
was  given  by  iiim  to  Olive  M.  Taylor,  wife  of 
his  son  kSeymoiir.  He  was  both  tiirmer  and 
merchant,  and  for  many  years  post-master  at 
State  Line.  He  was  an  honest,  upright  man, 
and  respected  by  all  who  knew  him.  He  was 
twice  married.  His  first  wife,  Delia  Stetson, 
daughter  of  Oliver  Stetsou,  descended  from  an 
old  and  highly  respected  family  of  Scotch  ex- 
traction. By  her  he  had  four  children,  three 
sons  and  one  daughter :  James,  Seymour,  George 
and  Rhoda.  His  second  wife  was  Almaretta 
Morey,  by  whom  he  had  two  children,  Har- 
court  and  Etta.  James,  Seymour  and  George 
engaged  in  farming.  Harcourt  is  freight  agent 
at  Dunkirk.  Khoda  married  Thomas  Coveney, 
present  post-master  at  Sherman,  New  York. 
Etta  married  Clinton  Gidick,  su])erintendent  of 
construction  for  the  Western  Union  Telegraph 
company,  and  resides  at  Minneapolis,  Minn. 

Seymour  A.  Taylor,  son  of  John  and 
Delia  (Stetson)  Taylor,  was  born  at  State 
Line,  town  of  Ripley,  Cliautauqua  county,  New 
York,  in  1833.  He  was  educated  in  the  schools 
of  his  day,  and  spent  the  first  nine  years  of  his 
manhood  farming  in  the  State  of  Illinois.  He 
then  came  back  to  State  Line  and  engaged 
in  agriculture,  which  pursuit  he  followed  dur- 
ing life.  He  was  the  owner  of  two  farms,  was 
a  man  of  large  acquaintance  and  of  unques- 
tioned character  and  probity.  His  death,  which 
occurred  in  1884,  left  many  true  friends  to 
mourn  his  loss. 

In  1864  he  was  married  to  Olive  M.  Pull- 
man, daughter  of  David  and  Ann  (Bailey)  Pull- 
man, of  North  East,  Pa.,  formerly  of  \\ashiug- 
ton  county.  New  York.  Of  this  union  there 
was  one  child,  a  son,  Edgar  S.  Taylor. 

Edgar  S.  Taylor  is  a  graduate  of  the  West- 


field  Academy,  and  is  at  present  superintendent 
of  the  farm,  and  engaged  in  viticulture.  He 
married  Emily  B.  Tracy,  of  Ripley. 


TULIUS  L.   SNYUER   was  born   February 

^  14,  iSiJO,  on  tiie  Atlantic  Ocean.  He 
was  the  son  of  Captain  Lewis  L.  and  Jane  R. 
Snyder.  His  father  was  a  sea  captain  and  sailed 
for  many  years  between  New  York  and  Liver- 
pool, being  accompanied  on  all  his  voyages  by 
his  wife  until  his  children  were  large  enough  to 
attend  school  wlien  they  resided  in  Brooklyn, 
N.  Y.,  until  the  year  1865.  Captain  Snyder 
then  left  the  sea  and  with  his  family  removed 
to  West  Pithole,  Venango  county,  Pa.,  where 
he  began  operating  in  the  oil  business.  ■  In  1867 
Captain  Snyder  died,  leaving  Julius  L.,  the 
eldest  of  six  children,  and  the  main  suppoi't  of 
his  mother. 

Julius   began   operating   for  himself  at  once 
j  and  was  very  successful,  so  much  so  that  at  the 
I  age  of  twenty-one  he  had  acquired  quite  a  com- 
petency.    April   10,  1871,  he  was  married  to 
Jennie,  daughter  of  the  late  Wm.  Gorman,  of 
West  Hickory,  Pa. 

September  4, 1872,  his  house  caught  fire  from 
natural  gas  and  burned  to  the  ground,  his  wife 
perishing  in  the  flames  and  Mr.  Snyder  was 
\  burned  so  badly  that  his  life  was  despaired  of. 
After  recovering  from  his  burns  he  left  Venango 
county  and  went  to  Clarion  county,  where  he 
met  with  good  success ;  from  there  he  went  to 
Karns  City,  Butler  county.  Pa.  April  20, 
1874,  he  was  married  to  Lillie  M.,  daughter  of 
the  late  JeoU'rey  Thornton,  of  Charlotte  Centre, 
N.  Y.  The  following  autumn  he  lost  every 
dollar  he  had  in  the  world  through  the  rascality 
of  a  business  partner.  He  then  went  to  con- 
tracting for  other  parties  and  soon  accumulated 
enough  to  buy  a  small  interest  in  a  well  in  But- 
ler county,  which  he  sold  in  1879  and  went  to 
Bradford,  McKean  county,  Pa.,  and  began 
operating  again  for  himself.  He  met  with  good 
success  in   the  Bradford  field.     In   1881    Mr. 


492 


BIOGRAPHY  AND  HISTORY 


Snyder  went  to  Sinclairville,  Chautauqua  county, 
N.  Y.,  and  purchased  a  place,  where  his  family 
have  resided  more  or  less  ever  since.  In  1 887 
]Mr.  Snyder  left  Bradford  and  went  back  to  Ve- 
nango county  to  operate  in  the  same  place  that 
he  had  operated  in  fifteen  years  before,  and 
where  he  is  at  present  operating  with  very  good 
success. 

IMr.  Snyder  is  of  German-English  descent, 
and  is  the  father  of  two  sons,  George  M.  and 
Julius  L.,  Jr.  In  politics  he  is  a  republican, 
and  is  a  Freemason,  as  was  his  father  before  him. 


JOSEPH  A.  M'GIXXIES  is  one  of  the  most 
prominent  young  Irish-Americans  living 
in  the  village  of  Ripley.  He  is  a  son  of 
William  and  Eliza  Ann  (Lightbody)  ]\IcGiu- 
nies,  and  was  born  in  County  Down,  Ireland, 
November  7,  1861.  His  ancestors  were  prom- 
inent in  Irish  and  Scotch  history,  the  pater- 
nal great-grandfather  being  a  native  of  Scotland. 
During  the  political  uprising  which  occurred 
in  the  latter  place  about  1740,  he  emigrated 
into  Ireland,  where  he  followed  farming  until 
he  died.  Grandfather,  Daniel  !McGinuies,  also 
took  a  prominent  part  in  this  affair.  The 
maternal  grandfather,  John  Jjightbody,  was  of 
Scotch-Irish  stock,  and  died  in  Ireland  at  the 
advanced  age  of  ninety-five  years.  He  was 
coachman  and  superintendent  for  Lord  Kier, 
of  Ireland,  and  performed  the  duties  of  those 
positions  until  the  infirmities  of  age  compelled 
him  to  relinquish  them.  William  McGinnies 
was  born  in  1840,  and  removed  to  America 
in  18G2,  locating  in  the  town 
Chautauqua  county.  New  York 
still  lives,  and  has  followed  the 
railroading  ever  since 
He  married  Eliza  Ann 
living,  aged  fifty-five  years.  They  had  three 
cliildren  :  Subject  is  the  oldest;  William,  mar- 
ried Ina  D.  Grow  and  is  now  in  the  mercan- 
tile business  at  Gunnison,  Colorado;  and  Sam- 
uel E. 


Joseph  A.  ^NIcGinnies  was  educated  at  the 
common  .schools,  and  at  the  Ripley  High  school, 
the  curriculum  of  the  latter  being  in  every  respect, 
equal,  excepting  languages,  to  a  college  prepara- 
tory course.  In  1876  he  embarked  in  the  drug 
business  at  the  village  of  Ripley,  and  has  fol- 
lowed it  continuously  to  the  present  time;  he 
also  owns  a  vineyard  of  six  acres  adjoining  the 
village. 

J.  A.  McGinnies  married  Anna  B.  Brock- 
way,  a  daughter  of  Henry  Brockway,  coming 
from  one  of  the  olde.st  families  of  Chautauqua 
county.  Politically  Mr.  McGinnies  is  a  dem- 
ocrat, and  has  held  some  of  the  town  offices ; 
from  August,  1885,  to  August,  1889,  he  served 
under  the  Cleveland  administration  as  post- 
ma-ster  of  Ripley.  He  takes  an  active  interest 
in  the  politics  of  this  locality  and  the  success  of 
his  party,  and  is  very  popular  in  it,  as  is  at- 
tested by  the  fact  that  in  the  campaign  of  1890 
he  was  nominated  by  his  party  as  its  choice  to 
represent  this  district  in  the  Assembly,  and  al- 
though the  district  is  usually  republican  by 
twenty-six  hundred  majority,  he  succeeded  in 
reducing  his  opponent's  plurality  to  five  hun- 
dred and  one,  a  very  flattering  exposition  of 
his  friends'  appreciation.  The  McGinnies  are 
Presbyterians,  and  he  has  always  affiliated  with 
that  church,  is  an  attendant  of  it  and  contrib- 
utes to  its  support.  In  addition  to  this  he  is  a 
member  of  the  Knights  of  Honor,  and  for  four 
years  was  reporter  of  the  Ripley  Lodge. 


Ijightbody, 


of    Ripley, 

where    he 

vocation  of 

to    America. 

who  is  vet 


T  .  AFAYETTE  XEAR,  a  life-long  resident 
-'^  and  comfortably  situated  farmer  of  the 
town  of  Ellicott,  is  a  son  of  John  C.  and  Fan- 
nie (Lownsberry)  Near,  and  v/as  born  on  the 
old  Near  homestead,  in  the  town  ol'  Ellicott, 
Chautauqua  county,  New  York,  April  7,  1843. 
At  the  opening  of  the  great  Revolutionary 
struggle  the  paternal  great-grandfatiicr  of  La- 
fayette Near  came  from  Germany  to  tiie  new 
world  with  the  intention  of  entering  tiic  British 
armv,  but  after  having  the  situation  of  the  col- 


OF  CHAUTAUQUA   COUNTY. 


403 


ouies  explained  to  him  by  some  of  his  country- 
men then  residing  in  New  York,  lie  enlisted  in 
one  of  the  Continental  armies  and  was  killed  in 
a  battle  on  the  Mohawk  river,  while  bravely 
fighting  in  the  cause  of  this  fair  land  of  civil 
and  religious  freedom.  His  son,  Conrad  Near 
(grandfather),  was  seven  years  of  age  at  the 
time  of  his  father's  death,  and  was  caj)tured 
along  the  Mohawk  river  by  seven  Indians,  who 
carried  him  to  Montreal,  Canada,  where  he  was 
held  as  a  prisoner  until  the  close  of  the  Revolu- 
tionary war.  He  then  returned  to  New  York, 
and  in  1833  came  to  the  town  of  Ellery,  which 
he  afterwards  left  to  settle  in  Livingston  coun- 
ty, where  he  followed  farming  until  iiis  death. 
He  was  an  old-line  whig,  and  married  a  Miss 
Fox,  by  whom  he  had  two  sons  and  seven 
daughters.  One  of  these  sons,  John  C.  Near 
(father),  was  born  in  the  town  of  Palatine 
Bridge,  Montgomery  county,  and,  after  residing 
at  various  places,  came,  in  the  year  1833,  to  the 
town  of  Ellicott,  where  he  bought  from  the 
Holland  Laud  company  a  farm  of  sixty-three 
acres  of  land,  which  he  afterwards  increased  by 
purchase  to  eighty  acres.  He  was  a  republican 
and  a  member  of  the  Christian  church.  He 
married  Fannie  Lownsberry,  M'ho  bore  him  two 
sons  and  .seven  daughters. 

Lafayette  Near  grew  to  manhood  on  the  farm, 
and,  after  attending  the  common  schools,  en- 
gaged in  farming,  which  he  has  made  his  life- 
work.  He  now  owns  a  farm  of  three  hundred 
acres  of  laud,  and  is  comfortably  situated  to  en- 
joy life.  In  1869  he  married  Lucinda  B., 
daugliter  of  Henry  Shaw,  to  which  union  have 
been  born  five  children,  three  sous  and  two 
daughtei'S  :  Hercules  L.,  born  March  17, 1871 ; 
Nellie  F.,  born  May  10,  1873;  Ora  M.,  born 
September  16,  1877  ;  Charlotte,  born  March 
23, 1881  ;  and  Hilda  J.,  who  was  born  June 
20,  1888. 

In  politics  Mr.  Near  was  formerly  a  republi- 
can, but  of  late  years  has  been  an  independent, 
and   now  favors  the  principles  of  the   Farmers' 


Alliance.  He  is  interested  in  the  impi'ovement 
of  the  farming  classes,  and  has  been  for  several 
years  a  member  of  the  Patrons  of  Husbandry. 


TUSTIX  WATKOL'S,  the  proprietor  and 
^  manager  of  the  popular  Smith's  Mills 
House,  is  the  .son  of  Austin  and  Ann  (Chri.sty) 
Watrous,  and  was  born  in  the  town  of  Hano- 
ver, Chautauqua  county.  New  York,  September 
23,  1850.  Archibald  Watrou.s,  the  paternal 
grandfather  of  Justin  Watrous,  was  born  in 
Clinton  county  about  1795,  and  came  to  the 
town  of  Hanover  about  1820,  where  he  died  in 
1870  at  the  age  of  seventy-five  years.  He 
served  as  a  baggage-master  in  the  war  of  1812, 
was  an  ardent  Baptist,  and  purcha.sed  two  hun- 
dred acres  of  land  from  the  Holland  Land 
company.  He  was  a  whig  and  republican  in 
politics,  and  married  Sallie  Watrous,  widow  of 
his  brother  Ezra,  by  whom  he  had  thirteen 
children,  eight  sons  and  five  daughters.  His 
son,  Austin  Watrous  (father),  was  born  in 
Clinton  county,  March  27,  1819,  and  was 
brought  by  his  parents  to  the  town  of  Hanover, 
where  he  died.  He  owned  a  farm  of  one  hun- 
dred and  thirty-five  acres,  was  a  republican  in 
politics,  and  served  for  many  years  as  deacon 
in  the  Baptist  church.  On  April  20,  1833,  he 
married  Ann  Christy,  and  reared  a  family  of 
three  children:  Francis  H.,  deceased  ;  Hen- 
rietta, also  deceased  ;  and  Justin.  Mrs.  Watrous 
is  a  granddaughter  of  John  ChrLsty,  a  whig  and 
Quaker  of  English  descent,  who  followed  farm- 
ing in  Dutchess  county.  New  York.  His  son, 
Leonard  Christy,  the  father  of  IMrs.  Watrous, 
was  born  in  Dutchess  county,  where  he  owned 
a  farm  of  one  hundred  acres.  He  died  in  1865 
at  the  age  of  seventy-five  years,  was  a  republi- 
can and  married  Ruth  Hall,  by  whom  he  had 
ten  children. 

Justin  Watrous  received  his  education  in  the 
common  schools,  and  commenced  life  for  him- 
self by  engaging  in  farming,  which  he  has 
followed  ever  since. 


494 


BIOGRAPHY  AND  HISTORY 


September  17,  1874,  he  united  in  marriage 
with  ]Melva,  tlaiighter  of  Benjamin  Hiller. 
They  have  four  children,  three  sons  and  one 
daughter:  Arthur  D.,  George  W.,  Lizzie  M. 
and  Benjamin  A. 

Justin  Watrous  is  an  active  republican,  and 
has  served  as  assessor  of  his  town  for  three 
years.  He  has  an  interest  in  a  valuable  farm, 
situated  one-half  mile  from  Smith's  Mills, 
where  he  owns  and  conducts  the  well-known 
hotel.  Mr.  Watrous  has  had  good  success  as  a  I 
farmer,  and  well  understands  keeping  a  first- 
class  hotel  and  holding  a  large  patronage.  I 

© 

11 NDREW  LOWK  is  a  substantial  and  pro- 
■*^  gressive  farmer  living  in  the  town  of 
Ellery,  who  has  risen  to  a  position  of  alHuence 
by  industry  and  good  management.  He  is  a 
son  of  John  and  Mary  (Tompkins)  Lown  and 
was  born  in  the  town  of  Gerry,  Chautauqua 
county,  Xew  York,  June  13,  1830,  and  is  now 
in  the  sixty-secoud  year  of  his  age.  The  fam- 
ily, as  the  name  implies,  was  of  German  extrac- 
tion and  his  grandfather  was  Robert  Lown. 
John  Lown  was  a  native  of  Lyons,  Wayne 
county,  New  York,  and  came  to  Chautauqua 
county,  settling  in  Gerry,  in  1820.  He  pur- 
chased a  tract  of  one  hundred  acres  from  the 
Holland  Land  company  and  resided  iqi(Hi  it 
until  his  death.  Politically  he  was  a  whig ; 
and  married  Mary  Tompkins,  who  became  the 
mother  of  three  sons  and  five  daughters — all  of 
the  former  and  one  of  the  latter  are  yet  living: 
Sebastian,  married  Phcebe  Hollenbeck  and  now 
lives  in  the  town  of  Gerry,  a  retired  farmer; 
Robert,  first  married  Mary  A.  Hollenbeck,  and 
afterwards  Susan  Mason,  and  is  now  a  farmer 
living  in  the  town  of  Lilery,  this  county;  .lane, 
united  with  Eiisha  Pickard,  who  is  a  farmer 
residing  in  the  town  of  Ellieot;  and  Andrew. 

Andrew  Lown  was  educated  in  the  common 
schools  and  followed  farming  from  boyhood. 
He  has  amassed  a  fine  pro[)erty,  consisting  of 
one  hundred  acres  in   the  town   of  Gerry  and 


seventy  acres  in  Ellery,  and  is  in  very  good  cir- 
cumstances. Politically  he  is  a  republican  and 
is  a  representative  of  the  best  class  in  his  party. 

In  1857  he  united  in  marriage  with  Fannie 
Rhodes,  and  is  now  the  fatiier  of  three  children : 
Charles,  lives  with  his  father  and  owns  and 
operates  a  creamery  with  financial  success — a 
difficult  thing  to  do  where  much  competition  is 
encountered;  Bertha;  and  John. 

Andrew  Lowu  is  a  man  who  I'ealizes  that  the 
sure  road  to  success  is  strict  attention  to  busi- 
ness and  feeling  that  the  Grange  Association  is 
improving  the  welfare  of  the  farmers,  he  has 
associated  himself  with  it. 


/^-HAKLES   G.   MAPLES   was    the    sou   of 

^^  Josiah  and  Esther  (Hedges)  Maples  and 
was  born  in  the  town  of  Milo,  Yates  county, 
New  York,  on  February  20,  1818,  and  died 
May  29,  1886.  His  grandf\ither,  Stephen 
Maples,  was  a  native  of  New  Loudon,  Connec- 
ticut and  served  throughout  the  old  Revolu- 
tionary war.  His  sou,  Josiah  (father  of  Charles 
G.)  emigrated  to  Yates  county.  New  York  and 
afterwards  to  the  town  of  Ellery,  Chautauqua 
county,  where  he  pursued  the  occupation  of 
farming.  He  was  successively  a  whig  and 
democrat  in  politics,  a  member  of  the  Baptist 
churcii  and  was  twice  married;  first  to  Diadama 
Comstock,  by  whom  he  had  seven  children;  by 
his  marriage  to  Esther  Hedges,  he  had  eleven 
children,  all  of  whom  grew  to  manhood  and 
womanhood. 

Ciiarles  G.  ]\Iaples  was  married  to  Ruth  Bar- 
ney, a  daughter  of  Luther  and  Ruth  (Garrison) 
Barney,  an  old  soldier  of  the  Revolutionary 
war.  Their  miion  was  blessed  with  the  birth 
of  seven  children:  Mary  A.,  (died  young);  By- 
ron, (deceased);  Frank  L.,  (deceased);  Florella, 
(dead);  Fluronce,  married  to  Samuel  M.  \Vhit- 
eher  (deceased),  lie  entered  tlic  Civil  war  in  the 
9th  New  York  Cavalry  and  served  three  years 
and  one  month,  with  the  rank  of  lieutenant. 
His   death   occurred   at  Corry,    Pennsylvania; 


OF  CHAUTAUQUA   COUNTY. 


495 


Charles  M.,  a  student  of  Cornell   university  at 
Ithaca,  New  York;  Florelle;  and  Frank  L. 

Charles  G.  Maples  was  educated  in  the  com- 
mon schools  and  Aurora  academy,  commenced 
life  as  a  farmer  in  the  town  of  Ellery  in  1838, 
and  has  since  been  mainly  engaged  in  agricul- 
tural pursuits.  He  was  elected  a  justice  of  the 
peace  in  1848,  which  office  he  filled  for  a  num- 
ber of  terms,  obtaining  at  the  same  time  a 
practical  legal  knowledge,  which  he  utilized  in 
settling  up  estates  and  making  distribution  of 
funds  that  were  thereby  placed  in  his  hands. 
He  received  the  appointment  of  United  States 
assistant  assessor  of  internal  revenue  and  for  a 
number  of  years  prior  to  1870,  satisfactorily 
discharged  the  duties  of  that  office.  Later  he 
was  elected  surrogate  of  Chautauqua  county,  in 
which  capacity  he  served  for  twelve  years,  niov- 
ing  to  Mayville  in  1871,  where  he  lived  until 
the  time  of  his  death.  He  was  a  republican  in 
politics,  a  member  of  the  county  committee  and 
of  the  State  Board  of  health.  He  also  belonged 
to  the  Ellicott  Lodge,  I.  O.  O.  F.,  of  James- 
town and  was  a  member  of  the  Baptist  church. 
Mr.  Maples  was  a  man  well  known,  by  reason 
of  his  public  career,  throughout  tiie  county. 
His  life  was  a  busy  one  and  all  the  years  of 
his  long  life  were  fully  taken  up  in  what  he 
conceived  to  be  his  public  and  private  duty. 
He  was  a  man  of  unblemished  character,  hon- 
est in  his  business  transactions,  and  generous  in 
disposition,  witlj  a  wide  charity  for  the  dis- 
tresses and  wrongs  of  mankind.  j 


STEPHEN     CULVER,     a    citizen     of    the  \ 
town  of  Ellery  in  good  standing,  is  a  son 
of  Asahel    and    Abigail  (Brown)  Culvei',  and 
was  born  in  the  town  of  Ellery,  Chautauqua  i 
county,    New    York,    October    6,    182G.     The  | 
Culvers  were  originally  of  English  extraction 
and  came  to  the  United  States  during  the  period 
of  New    England  colonization.      His  paternal 
grandfather,    Jesse    Culver,    was    a    native    of 
eastern  New  Y^ork,  where  he  passed  his  life  and  .. 
2(! 


finished  his  career.  He  was  a  farmer  by  occu- 
pation and  a  Quaker  in  his  religious  profes- 
sions. Asahel  Culver,  father  of  Stephen,  was 
also  a  native  of  eastern  New  York,  but  removed 
at  an  early  period  to  the  town  of  Ellery,  Chau- 
tauqua county,  where  he  purchased  a  farm,  im- 
proved and  cultivated  it  and  finally  died.  The 
date  of  his  death  is  the  year  1842.  Simultane- 
ous with  his  farm  work,  he  carried  on  the  trade 
of  blacksniithing,  which  he  had  learned  in 
early  manhwod.  In  politics  he  was  an  old-line 
whig,  while  in  religion  he  was  hereditarily  a 
Quaker.  Mr.  Culver  was  twice  married,  the 
subject  being  his  son  by  his  last  wife.  His  wife, 
Abigail  Brown,  was  boru  in  the  town  of 
Queensbury,  Warren  county,  New  York,  and 
died  in  the  town  of  Ellery,  Chautauqua  county, 
in  1862,  at  the  ripe  age  of  seventy-five.  She 
was  a  woman  possessing  many  good  qualities 
of  mind  and  heart,  of  Quaker  ancestry  and 
prominently  identified  with  all  forms  of  relig- 
ious and  moral  advancement. 

Stephen  Culver  gained  his  education  through 
the  instrumentality  of  the  public  schools, 
learned  the  trade  of  blacksniithing  and  has 
since  devoted  himself  to  the  hammer  and  forge 
with  a  marked  success.  He  at  present  owns 
and  operates  a  shop  in  the  village  of  Ellery, 
where  he  has  a  good  and  increasing  trade.  He 
also  owns  a  pleasant  home  in  the  village  and  is 
surrounded  with  many  of  the  comforts  of  life. 
Mr.  Culver  throws  his  support  and  influence 
toward  the  Bepubliean  party,  in  the  welfare  of 
which  he  fakes  a  deep  and  active  interest.  His 
wife,  by  his  first  marriage,  was  Caroline  M. 
Barnes,  by  whom  he  had  three  children  :  James, 
Olive,  (deceased)  and  Fred  (deceased).  His 
wife  by  his  second  marriage  was  Ida  Roman, 
who  bore  him  one  child  :  H.  Leah  Culver,  now 
living. 

Stephen  Culver  is  a  man  of  moral  and  relig- 
ious nature,  though  not  a  member  of  any 
religious  denomination.  He  belongs  to  the 
order  of  the  Equitable  Aid  Union  and  is  well 


496 


BIOGRAPHY  AND  HISTORY 


and  widely  known  through  his  charitable  and 
generous  disposition. 


Q  LEXAJS'DER  SOI^IOXS  is  a  son  of  ^Yalter 
^^  and  Roxaua  (Lyons)  Simmons,  and  was 
born  in  Jamestown,  New  York,  April  16,  1818. 
His  grandfather,  William  Simmons,  a  descend- 
ant from  an  old  New  England  family,  was  a 
native  of  Rhode  Island,  and  came  to  Chautau- 
qua county  while  yet  full  of  the  ambition  and 
energy  of  youth.  He  lived  the  rociaainder  of 
his  lite  in  the  county  and  now  rests  in  the  burial 
ground  at  Fluvanna.  He  learned  the  trade  of 
carpenter  and  joiner,  which  he  continued  to  fol- 
low through  life.  His  wife  was  a  Miss  Swain, 
who  bore  him  six  children — ^three  boys  and 
three  girls.  When  by  reason  of  tyrannous  op- 
pression and  most  unjust  treatment  at  the  hands 
of  British  rulers  the  Colonies  were  forced  to  a 
declaration  of  war  and  revolt  against  the  mother 
country,  no  one  was  more  ready  to  take  up  arms 
for  their  vindication  than  William  Simmons. 
He  served  throughout  the  entire  war  with  a 
valor  and  zeal,  upon  whica  any  descendant 
might  look  back  with  pride.  Grandfather 
Alexander  Lyons  was  of  an  old  New  England 
stock  also,  emigrating  to  Chenango  county,  New 
York,  in  the  last  decade  of  the  eighteenth  ccn- 
tuiy,  where  he  pursued  farming  and  milling. 
He  chose  for  his  life  companion  Olive  Bergy  and 
reared  a  family  of  fourteen  children.  Father 
of  subject  was  born  in  New  England,  but  early 
removed  with  his  family  to  Chautauqua  county. 
New  York,  near  Jamestown,  where  he  ran  a 
carding-inaehine — the  first  work  of  the  kind 
done  in  Jamestown.  Two  years  later  he  went 
to  Broken  Straw,  where  he  engaged  in  tiie  same 
business.  Later  he  retired  from  the  carding 
business,  removed  to  Jamestown  and  began  dis- 
tilling, whicii  he  followed  for  many  years. 
Walter  Simmons  was  joined  in  marriage  to 
Roxana  Lyons  and  was  the  father  of  twelve 
children,  eight  boys  and  four  girls.  He  be- 
longed to  the  Democratic  party. 


Alexander  Simmons  was  educated  in  the  dis- 
trict schools,  worked  on  his  father's  fiirm  until 
he  reached  his  majority,  then  commenced  life 
for  himself  as  a  farmer.  He  has  lived  on  his 
present  farm  of  one  hundred  and  forty  acres  for 
the  past  eighteen  years  and  has  always  lived 
in  the  county  of  Chautauqua.     Mr.    Simmons 

!  is  a  man,  who  through  industry,  frugality  and 
careful,  economical  business  habits,  has  become 

t  possessed  of  a  pleasant  home  and  a  comfortable 
competency.  He  is  a  man  held  in  respect  and 
esteem  by  his  neighbors,  because  of  his  sterling 

I  qualities  and  straightforward  conduct  in  his 
various  relations.  The  Republican  party  claims 
him  as  an  earnest,  hearty  supporter  of  its  prin- 

I  clples  and  a  steadfast  devotee  of  its  cause. 

Alexander  Simmons  was  married  to  Laura 
Ann  Clark,  daughter  of  Arvin  Clark,  who  was 
a  native  of  Ontario  county,  New  York,  but  re- 
moved to  the  town  of  Ellery,  Chautauqua  county, 
in  1824.  (Mr.  Clark  is  a  farmer  by  occupation, 
a  republican  in  politics  and  had  four  chiklren, 

;  three  boys  and  one  girl).  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Sim- 
mons have  but  one  child,  a  daughter  Jane,  mar- 
ried to  Aaron  Haskins,  who  lives  with  the  sub- 

i  ject  on  the  old  homestead,  and  is  the  happy 
j)arent  of  three  children  :  Hattie,  Allie  and  Bell. 


T  .  YMAN  BENNETT,  justice  of  the  peace 
-'"^  and  a  large  hardware  dealer  of  the  village 
of  Ripley,  is  a  son  of  Lyman,  Si-,  and  Chloe 
(Wood)  Bennett,  and  was  born  ^  the  village  of 
Ripley,  Chautauqua  county,  New  York,  June 
15,  1838.  Benjamin  Bennett  (paternal  grand- 
father) was  a  native  of  Connecticut  from  which 
he  removed  to  the  town  of  Milton,  in  Saratoga 
county,  where  he  remained  until  1828,  when  he 
came  to  the  town  of  Rii)ley  in  which  he  died  in 
1841.  He  was  ablacksmitii  by  trade,  served  as 
an  orderly  sergeant  in  the  Revolutionary  war 
and  married  Eunice  Ferry,  by  whom  he  had 
three  children,  one  of  whom,  Truman,  was 
killed  in  the  war  of  1812.  David  Wood,  (mater- 
nal grandfather)  was  a  farmer  and  resided  in 


OF  CHAUTAUQUA   COUNTY. 


497 


Saratoga  county  where  he  rliecl.  He  was  a  soldier 
of  the  war  of  1812  and  married  Drucy  Jennings, 
by  whom  he  liad  two  sons  and  three  daughters.  [ 
Lyman  Bennett,  Sr.,  was  born  in  Saratoga 
county  in  1798  and  removed  in  1828  to  Ciiau- 
tauqua  county  where  he  died  in  the  town  of  Rip- 
ley, April  7,  1855.  A  carpenter  by  trade  and  ' 
a  farmer  by  occupation,  he  was  a  democrat  in 
jjolitics  and  a  universalist  in  religion.  He  held 
several  town  offices  during  his  life-time  and  mai'- 
ried  Chloe  Wood,  who  was  born  in  October, 
1802.  They  were  the  parents  of  three  sons  and 
two  daughters.  Of  the  former  one  died  at  10 
years  of  age,  the  second,  David  W.,  is  a  retired 
farmer  of  Ripley,  and  the  other  is  the  subject 
of  this  sketch. 

Lyman  Bennett  received  his  education  at  the 
Ripley  High  school  and  for  several  years  after 
leaving  school  was  engaged  in  teaching  during 
the  winter  and  farming  during  the  summer  sea- 
sons. In  1875  he  engaged  in  the  general  mer- 
cantile business  which  he  followed  for  fourteen 
years  and  then  established  his  present  hardware 
store.  He  carries  a  first-class  stock  of  everything 
in  his  line  of  trade  and  enjoys  a  large  patron- 
age. Mr.  Bennett  is  a  democrat  and  has  served 
as  a  justice  of  the  peace  continuously  for  the 
last  ten  years,  besides  having  held  the  office  of 
supervisor  of  his  town  for  four  years.  He  is  a 
member  of  Summit  Lodge,  No.  219,  Free  and 
Accejjted  Masons,  of  Westfield,  and  ranks  high 
as  a  successful  business  man. 

On  October  1st,  1866,  he  united  in  marriage 
with  Eliza  Hall,  a  daughter  of  George  .J.  Hall, 
and  to  their  union  were  boi'u  two  children : 
Bertha  E.  and  George  H. 


TA^ILIilAM   B.    PERRY,    one    of   the   old 

-**  and  efficient  justices  of  the  peace  in  the 
town  of  Ripley,  was  born  in  the  town  of  North 
East,  Dutchess  county,  New  York,  September 
10,  1821,  and  is  a  son  of  Samuel  and  Minerva 
(Mather)  Perry.  His  paternal  grandfather, 
Benjamin  Perry,  a  miller  by  trade,  was  born  in 


Connecticut  but  died  at  Kinderhook,  Columbia 
county,  this  State.  He  married  a  widow  Spen- 
cer, of  Georgia,  by  whom  lie  had  three  sons  and 
four  daughters.  On  the  maternal  side  William 
B.  Perry  is  descended  from  tiie  celebrated  Cot- 
ton Mather,  the  distinguished  divine  who  took 
so  prominent  a  part  in  the  early  history  of  the 
New  England  Colonies.  One  of  his  descendants 
was  John  Mather  who  was  the  father  of  Charles 
Mather  (grandfather).  Samuel  Perry  (father) 
was  born  in  Connecticut  in  1794,  removed  to 
Dutchess  county  and  on  June  IGth,  18.33,  came 
to  Chautauqua  county  where  he  purchased  a  farm, 
lived,  and  died  October  4,  1856.  He  was  a  car- 
penter and  joiner  by  trade,  a  democrat  in  poli- 
tics and  a  universalist.  He  belonged  to  the 
Masonic  fraternity  and  married  Minerva  Mather, 
who  was  born  in  Saratoga  county,  in  1798. 
Their  family  consisted  of  four  sous  and  two 
daughters ;  of  the  former  Charles  M.,  was  form- 
erly a  merchant  but  is  now  a  farmer  in  Michi- 
gan ;  James  H.,  tiuight  school  for  some  years, 
now  resides  in  Utica,  Winona  county,  Minne- 
sota, and  is  one  of  the  commissioners  of  the 
county;  and  Lee  H.,  who  died  in  1860. 

William  B.  Perry  received  his  education  in 
the  early  common  schools  of  New  York,  and  at 
Westfield  academy.  Leaving  the  fountains  of 
theoretical  knowledge  he  learned  the  carpenter's 
trade  at  which  he  worked  during  the  summer 
seasons  for  eighteen  years  and  spent  the  winters 
in  teaching.  He  then  purchased  a  farm  that  he 
sold  some  time  after  and  then  bought  the  small 
place  upon  which  he  now  lives  and  has  cultivated 
and  managed  it  ever  since. 

In  1846  he  married  Martha  McHenr^',  who 
was  a  daughter  of  Alexander  McHenrv,  an 
early  settler  of  Ripley,  and  she  bore  him  five 
children :  Ella  S.,  married  Fletcher  Dawson 
and  is  now  dead  ;  Charles  (deceased) ;  Florence 
is  the  wife  of  Clarence  Mason,  who  is  engaged 
in  grape  culture  ;  and  Ida  A.,  who  married  G. 
W.  Hitchcock.  Mr.  Perry  then  united  in  mar- 
riage with  Helen  J.,  a  daughter    of  Dr.  Shaw, 


498 


BIOGRAPHY  AND  HISTORY 


of  Kennedy,  and  by  this  marriage  came  one 
sou — William  S.  William  B.  Perry  married 
for  his  third  wife  Dora  M.  (Kistead)  Whitman, 
who  is  yet  living  and  has  borne  one  child — 
Harley  Chapin. 

Politically  William  B.  Perry  is  a  democrat. 
He  has  held  the  offices  of  town  clerk  and  asses- 
sor, and  has  served  continuously  since  1860  as 
a  justice  of  the  peace,  excepting  one  term  of 
four  years.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Univer.sal- 
ist  church  and  is  a  highly  esteemed  citizen. 


OTTO  L.  BL003IQUIST,  a  member  of  the 
leading  furniture  mauufacturina;  firm  of 
Kennedy,  is  a  son  of  Jouas  P.  and  Hattie 
(Zacharias)  Bloomquist,  and  was  boru  on  the 
Island  of  Gothland,  town  of  Wisby,  August  17, 
1864.  His  paternal  grandfather  was  Herr 
Vigert,  a  native  of  Smiiland,  Sweden,  but  de- 
scended from  German  ancestors.  He  lived  and 
died  in  Sweden.  On  the  mother's  side,  grand- 
father Johannes  Zacharias  was  a  native  of 
Sweden,  where  he  was  born  in  1799.  By  oc- 
cupation he  was  a  hotel-keeper,  living  in  the 
province  of  Smiiland,  and  was  at  one  time  a 
member  of  the  Reichstag,  and  in  maturer 
life  became  possessed  of  large  estates.  His  later 
years  were  devoted  to  the  management  of  his 
properties  and  keeping  a  government  hostelry. 
Mr.  Zacharias  was  a  member  of  the  Lutheran 
church,  and  his  wife  bore  him  six  children. 
Jonas  P.  Bloomquist  was  born  in  his  father's 
native  town,  about  1820,  and  in  1854  removed 
from  that  province  to  the  Island  of  Gothland, 
in  the  Baltic  Sea.  Pie  I'emained  there  until 
1880  and  then  emigrated  to  America  and  set- 
tled in  Jamestown,  New  York,  where  he  now 
resides.  In  1842  he  married  Hattie  Zacharias 
and  the  result  of  the  union  has  been  eleven 
children,  eight  of  whom  still  survive,  six  sons 
and  two  daughters.  All  are  married,  except 
two  sons,  and  are  residents  of  the  Enjpire 
State.  Jonas  P.  Bloomquist  is  a  contractor 
but  originally  learned  stone-cutting.     Forniany 


years  he  was  a  Lutheran  but  is  now  a 
member  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church. 
He  is  a  very  energetic  man,  whose  conscience  is 
of  the  Wesleyan  mould  and  which  cannot  be 
contorted  to  suit  occasions.  Firm  in  his  convic- 
tions, he  stands  steadfast  in  the  right  as  he  sees 
it  and  is  upright  in  every  line  of  his  character 
Otto  L.  Bloomquist  was  in  his  young  man- 
hood when  he  left  his  native  land,  and  acquired 
the  major  portion  of  his  education  there  in  the 
common  and  high  .schools,  which  rank  well  for 
excellence  and  thoroughness.  Simultaneously 
with  his  book  training,  he  learned  ornamental 
painting  and  we  find  him  in  Jamestown  in  1881. 
He  worked  at  hardwood  finishing  and  pursued 
that  manual  labor  until  1886,  and  then  went  to 
Kennedy,  where  he  has  resided  since  and  is 
now  a  member  of  "  Carlson,  Bloomquist  & 
Snow,"  manufacturers  of  furniture.  Theirs 
is  the  leading  industry  of  the  village  and  em- 
ploys about  thirty  men.  Politically  he  is  a  re- 
publieau  and  is  a  member  of  the  First  Presby- 
terian church  of  Jamestown. 


HON.  WILL,IAJ>I  BOOKSTAVER,  an  ac- 
tive business  man  and  mayor  of  Dunkirk 
city,  one  of  the  commercial  centers  along  the 
great  lakes,  is  a  son  of  Abner  and  Ann  (Shear- 
!  er)  Bookstaver,  and  was  born  at  Montgomery, 
Orange  county.  New  York,  December  28,  1833. 
He  is  of  Dutch  lineage  on   his  paternal  side, 
,  while  his  mother  was  of  Irish  descent.     Mayor 
Bookstaver  is  a  lineal  descendant,  in  the  third 
generation,  from  Jacob  Boochstabcr  (as  sjielled 
,  in  the  old  church  records  of  the  colony  of  New 
I  York),    who    came    from    Holland    to    Orange 
county.  New  York,  in  1732.     He  was  the  first 
deacon  in  the  German  Reformed  church  in  the 
:  new   world.      His   sou    was    the    grandfather 
\  of  subject,   and   married  and  reared    a    family 
of  children,  one  of  whom  was  Abner    Book- 
staver, the  father  of  the  subject  of  this  sketch. 
Abner  Bookstaver  was  born  in  Orange  county, 
where  lie  t'oilowcd  mcrc'liandisinsj  at  Montirom- 


0,    L,    BLOOMQUIST, 


OF  CHAUTAUQUA   COUNTY. 


501 


ery  for  many  years.  He  afterwards  removed 
to  Syracuse,  and  died  well  advanced  in  years. 
He  was  an  elder  of  the  Reformed  church,  and 
married  Ann  Shearer,  a  native  of  the  north  of 
Ireland. 

William  Bookstaver  received  his  education 
at  Montgomery  academy,  from  which  he  was 
graduated  in  1852,  and  in  which  he  was  a 
teacher  during  1853.  In  April,  1855,  he  came 
to  Dunkirk  and  read  law  with  a  Mr.  Brown 
and  his  brother,  David  Bookstaver,  who  was 
formerly  mayor  of  Syracuse,  where  he  now 
resides.  He  was  admitted  to  the  Chautauqua 
county  bar,  in  1858,  but  afterwards  relinquished 
the  practice  of  his  profession  to  engage  in  the 
real  estate  business.  He  had  faith  in  the  de- 
velopment of  Dunkirk  as  one  of  the  great  lake 
cities,  and  accordingly  invested  largely  in  real 
estate  in  different  parts  of  the  village.  The  rapid 
growth  of  Dunkirk  from  a  village  to  a  metro- 
politan city  within  the  last  quarter  of  a  century 
has  fully  verified  Mr.  Bookstaver's  early  ex- 
pectations of  its  future  importance  as  a  success- 
ful rival  of  Toledo  and  Buffalo  as  a  manufac- 
turing and  commercial  centre.  He  now  owns 
one  hundred  and  fifty  acres  of  land  within  the 
city  limits  which  embraces  valuable  business 
blocks  and  excellent  manufacturing  locations  as 
well  as  a  large  number  of  houses,  and  residence 
and  business  lots.  He  also  owns  his  fine  resi- 
dence on  Central  avenue,  is  the  largest  individ- 
ual tax-payer  in  the  city,  and  has  acquired  all 
of  his  property  by  his  efforts  and  judicious 
investments.  He  is  president  of  the  Dunkirk 
Savings  and  Loan  association,  which  erects 
buildings  and  sells  or  advances  money  to  pur- 
chase buildings,  and  receives  monthly  payments 
which  do  not  exceed  one  or  two  dollars  more 
than  the  rent  of  these  buildings,  thus  enabling 
the  buyer  to  secure  a  home  for  a  very  small 
sum  above  what  he  would  pay  in  rent  in  six  or 
seven  years. 

In  politics  Mr.  Bookstaver  is  a  democrat. 
He  served   for  thirteen  years  as  county  super- 


visor, and  was  appointed,  in  1887,  by  Governor 
David  B.  Hill,  as  a  member  of  the  prison  labor 
reform  committee,  of  which  he  served  as  chair- 
man. He  was  elected  mayor  of  Dunkirk,  and 
at  tiie  exjiiration  of  his  term  of  office  was  al- 
most unanimously  re-elected  for  a  second  term, 
whicli  he  is  now  serving,  with  no  abatement  of 
the  popular  favor. 

He  united  in  marriage  with  Mary  A.  Leonard, 
of  Maine.  Their  union  has  been  blessed  with 
one  child,  a  daughter,  ]\Iabel,  who  is  now  in 
Paris,  France,  but  will  spend  the  most  of  the 
following  year  in  Italy. 

© 

•CHARLES  VINCENT  BEEBE  is  a  gentle- 
^^  man  in  whose  veins  runs  the  assertive 
blood  of  the  sons  of  Albion,  and  that  of  the 
conservative  Teutons,  and  possessing  all  the 
best  business  qualifications  of  both  races,  has,  as  a 
matter  of  course,  been  a  successful  business  man. 
He  is  a  son  of  James  and  Eva  A.  (Vincent) 
Beebe,  and  was  born  in  Cassadaga,  Chautau- 
qua county,  New  York,  on  November  11th, 
1837.  'Charles  Vincent  was  born  in  Mad- 
ison county,  this  State,  where  he  afterward 
owned  six  hundred  acres  of  land  and  several 
lumber  mills,  and  was  one  of  the  wealthiest  and 
most  respected  citizens  of  that  section,  being 
elected  judge  of  Madison  county  and  justice  of 
the  peace.  He  finally  moved  to  this  county 
and  settled  at  Milford,  just  west  of  Fredonia, 
where  he  purchased  a  small  piece  of  land  and 
lived  a  retired  life.  Charles  Vincent  married 
and  had  thirteen  children,  among  them  being 
Jefferson,  Madison,  Sallie  and  Cornelius.  James 
Beebe  (father)  was  born  in  Buffalo,  Erie  county. 
New  York,  in  1807,  and  moved  to  CJhautauqua 
county  with  his  j)areiits  in  1810,  and  worked 
on  his  farm,  attending  the  public  schools  mainly 
in  the  winter,  and  afterward  taught  school  sev- 
eral terms.  For  a  few  years  he  worked  as  a 
clerk  in  John  Dewey's  store  m  Cassadaga,  and 
then  established  a  wagon-manufactory  in  Fre- 
donia,   employing   a    half  dozen    men,    which 


502 


BIOGRAPHY  AND  HISTORY 


business  he  continued  twenty  years,  when  he 
"was  succeeded  by  his  son,  F.  H.  Beebe,  who 
still  carries  on  the  business.  In  1855  he  built 
a  hotel  in  Fredonia,  which  he  continued  four 
years  in  connection  with  a  small  farm  that  he 
owned,  and  then  sold  the-  hotel  to  James  L. 
Walters,  turning  his  attention  to  the  growing  of 
small  fruits,  in  which  occupation  he  continued 
until  his  death  in  August,  1888,  aged  eighty- 
one  years.  He  was  an  inveterate  reader,  his 
favorite  subject  being  ancient  and  modern  his- 
tory, in  which  he  was  exceedingly  well  posted, 
besides  being  an  expert  mathematician,  having  | 
had  difficult  problems  sent  him  from  all  parts 
of  the  United  States  and  Canada,  none  of 
which  he  failed  to  solve.  In  politics  he  was  an 
uncompromising  Jackson  democrat,  his  first 
vote  beino;  cast  for  Gen.  Andrew  Jackson.  He 
was  highly  respected  by  all  who  knew  him. 
James  Beebe  was  married  in  1834  to  Eva  A. 
Vincent,  a  daughter  of  Charles  Vincent,  by 
whom  he  had  six  children,  four  sons  and  two 
daughters:  James  M.,  a  farmer  and  breeder  of 
Jersey  cattle  in  Cassadaga,  this  county,  who 
married  Lucy  J.  King;  Mary  E.  married 
George  Fisher,  who  died,  and  she  then  married 
Byron  Landers,  a  manufacturer  of  fruit  baskets, 
etc. ;  Francis  H.,  a  wagon-maker  in  Fredonia, 
who  married  Lydia  Todd  ;  Frank  W.,  a  basket 
manufacturer,  who  married  Lydia  Fisher; 
Sarah,  who  died  voung;;  and  C.  V.  Mrs. 
Beebe  died  aged  forty-eiglit  years. 

Charles  Vincent  Beebe  was  educated  in  the  , 
common  schools  of  Cassadag-a  until  he  attained 
his  majoi'ity,  when  he  engaged  with  his  brother, 
F.  H.,  in  wagon  making,  in  M'hich  business  he  | 
remained  five  years,  ill   health  compelling  him 
to  abandon  it.     When  he  had  somewhat  recov- 
ered   his   liealth   and   strength,    he   opened   a 
general  store  in  Fredonia,  which   he  conducted  ' 
for  more  than  a  score  of  years,  when  he  was  \ 
succeeded  by  his  son,  J.  W.     In   1880  he  asso- 
ciated   with    himself,    his  son   J.    W.  and    his 
brother-in-law,  Byron   Ijander,  inider  the  firm 


name  of  C.  V.  Beebe  &  Co.,  and  started  a 
basket  manufactory,  which  they  still  operate. 
He  has  been  very  successful  in  all  his  business 
enterprises,  and  now  carries  an  average  of  eight 
thousand  dollars  worth  of  stock,  transacting  a 
yearly  business  of  sixteen  thousand  dollars.  He 
is  a  member  of  Sylvan  Lodge,  No.  303,  F.  and 
A.  M.,  at  Sinclairville;  and  a  charter  member 
of  the  Cauadaga  Lake  Lodge,  No.  28,  A.  O. 

u.  w. 

Charles  Vincent  Beebe  was  married  November 
6, 1859,  to  Mary  A.  King,  a  daughter  of  Ruggles 
King,  a  farmer  in  Stockton,  this  county,  and 
has  one  son,  J.  Webb,  who  runs  the  store. 


/^ORRIXGTON  BARKER,  one  of  the  most 
^^  venerable  residents  as  well  as  the  most 
entertaining  old  gentlemen  in  Portland  town, 
is  a  son  of  Barilla  and  Mary  (Marsh)  Barker, 
and  was  born  in  Fredonia,  Chautauqua  county. 
New  York,  on  April  19th,  1809.  The  family 
is  of  English  origin,  the  great-grandfather. 
Barker,  having  come  from  that  country.  He 
was  a  professional  surveyor  and  came  to 
America  bearing  a  commission  from  King 
George  to  run  lines  in  that  monarch's  unex- 
plored dominions.  Having  executed  his  in- 
structions he  remained  here  and  settled  in 
Rhode  Island.  He  married  and  had  a  son, 
Hezekiah  Barker,  who  was  the  grandfather  of 
our  subject.  He  served  on  Washington's  staff 
during  the  great  struggle  for  independence, 
engaged  princijjally  as  a  dispatch  bearer,  re- 
ceived a  pension  while  he  lived,  moved  to 
Oneida  county  in  1800,  then  to  Chautaurpia  in 
1805,  and  settled  in  the  almost  unbroken 
wilderness,  from  which  the  pretty  town  of 
Fredonia  has  sprung.  He  took  up  three  hun- 
dred acres  of  land  and  made  one  of  the  most 
valuable  pieces  of  property  in  that  locality. 

Barilla  Barker  was  born  in  Newport,  Rhode 
Island,  in  1784,  and  moved  from  tiiere  to 
Oneida  county,  N.  Y.  He  was  a  man  when 
he  came  with  liis  father  to  Fredonia.    He  drove 


OF  CHAUTAUQUA   COUNTY. 


503 


an  ox  tciini  tlirouijii,  mnUiiig  slow  progress.  In 
1814,  he  moved  into  Portland  town,  and  follow- 
ed farming  until  his  deatii  in  l.S.IS.  He  was  a 
member  of  th(>  Baptist  I'hurch  and  a  republi- 
can, having  filled  the  office  of  assessor  cue  term. 
He  married  Mary  Marsh,  a  daughter  of  Sam- 
uel Marsh,  who  was  born  in  Vermont  in  1795, 
and  died  June  7,  1855,  leaving  seven  children. 

Corrington  Barker  was  reared  on  the  farm 
and  was  taught  the  lessons  of  the  common 
schools  between  1815  and  1820.  Work  being 
necessary  to  clear  the  fiirm  and  prepare  it  for 
the  crops,  he  soon  had  hardened  muscles  and  a 
vigorous  frame  and,  being  of  temperate  habits, 
this  early  labor  may  have  formed  the  founda- 
tion of  the  vigorous  constitution  which  has  car- 
ried him  through  eighty-two  years  of  life  and 
still  keeps  him  hale  and  hearty.  In  1838,  he 
married  Augeline  Lathrop,  who  bore  him  a  son 
and  a  daughter:  Amelia,  now  Mrs.  O.  J. 
Chamberlain,  lives  in  this  town ;  and  Devillo 
A.,  also  a  resident  of  Portland,  where  he  has  a 
farm.  He  married  Ellen  Smith,  whose  father, 
Leonard  Smith,  is  a  prosperous  farmer. 

Corrington  Barker  has  been  an  active  mem- 
ber of  the  Baptist  church  for  sixty  years  and 
has  filled  the  position  of  deacon  for  many  years. 
He  has  always  been  identified  with  the  Repub- 
lican party  since  it  came  into  existence.  His 
locks  are  gray  and  scanty  and  the  once  erect 
and  vigorous  form  is  bent  with  the  weight  of 
accumulating  years  but  his  mind  is  still  as 
bright  as  in  youth,  and  his  fund  of  reminiscen- 
ces furnish  an  entertainment  seldom  found  and 
long  remembered.  He  is  a  pleasant,  agreeable 
old  gentleman  whom  his  acquaintances  regard 
with  affection  and  respect. 


JAY  E.  CRANDALL.  Many  men  become 
^  promineut  towards  the  end  of  a  long  life, 
when  the  sun  is  setting  and  the  period  of  use- 
fulness is  about  over,  but  it  is  something  un- 
usual for  one  to  gain  prominence  when  but 
thirty  years  of  age.     Such   a   man    is  Jay  E. 


Crandall,  a  son  of  Ilosea  B.  and  Malvina 
(Kelsey)  Crandall,  who  was  born  in  Brocton, 
Chautauqua  county,  New  York,  September  22, 
1860.  The  Crandalls  are  of  English  descent, 
and  Hosea  B.  Crandall,  fiither  of  Jay  E.,  was 
a  native  of  Kinderhook,  Columbia  county,  N. 
Y.  He  came  to  Chautauqua  county  in  1837, 
and  located  at  Brocton,  where  he  has  since 
lived,  and  has  now  reached  the  age  of  sixty- 
five  years.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Methodist 
Episcopal  church  and  a  straight  republican. 
Mr.  Crandall  early  learned  the  trade  of  a  car- 
penter, but  for  the  last  eighteen  years  has  been 
engaged  in  manufacturing  grape  and  berry 
baskets.  In  partnership  with  J.  E.  Crandall 
(his  son),  they  have  a  large  factory  in  Broctoa 
and  one  at  Perrysburg,  both  of  which,  in  the 
summer  time,  employ  fifty  men.  Mr.  Cran- 
dall was  the  pioneer  in  the  basket  business  at 
Brocton.  With  his  son,  they  have  a  fine  grape 
orchard  at  this  place.  He  married  Malvina 
Kelsey.  Mrs.  Crandall  is  now  fifty-seven  years 
old,  and  is  a  member  of  the  M.  E.  church. 

Jay  E.  Crandall  is  a  stirring,  energetic 
young  man.  He  was  reared  in  Brocton,  and 
got  his  education  in  the  public  schools.  After 
reaching  a  sufficient  size,  he  helped  his  father 
in  his  basket  business,  and  began  to  grow 
grapes  on  his  own  account.  In  April,  1886,  his 
father  admitted  him  as  a  partner,  since  which 
the  firm  name  has  been  Crandall  &  Son. 

In  1883  Jay  E.  Crandall  was  mai'ried  to 
Adella,  daughter  of  Martin  Cary.  of  Brocton, 
and  they  have  two  children  :  Olive  M.  and 
Aline  L. 

J.  E.  Crandall  is  an  adherent  of  the  Repub- 
lican party  and  a  member  of  the  Knights  of 
Pythias,  in  which  he  takes  a  leading  part.  He 
is  an  enterprising  and  pushing  man,  active  and 
leading  in  every  cause  that  is  for  the  welfare 
of  Brocton,  and  is  a  representative  citizen  of 
the  new  Brocton. 


504 


BIOGRAPHY  AND  HISTORY 


T^DWARD  J.  CRISSEY  comes  from  a  fam- 
^"^  ily  which  has  been  promiiieut  ia  the  af- 
fairs of  Chautauqua  couuty  for  nearly  three- 
quarters  of  a  century.  He  was  born  near  De- 
lauti,  in  Stockton,  Chautauqua  county,  New 
York,  September  23,  1851,  and  is  a  son  of 
Jason  and  Koxana  (Winsor)  Crissey.  (For 
paternal  ancestry  see  sketch  of  Samuel  Shepard 
Crissey.)  Rev.  Washington  Winsor  (maternal 
grandfather)  was  born  in  Rhode  Island  in 
1784,  studied  for  the  Baptist  ministry,  preached 
in  Otsego  county  a  few  years  and  came  to 
Stockton,  settling  near  Delanti  in  1827,  preach-  j 
ing  here,  at  Carroll,  and  afterward  at  Cassadaga, 
where  he  died  in  1840,  aged  fifty-six  years. 
His  children  were :  Chauncey,  who  married 
Lucy  Crissey,  aunt  of  E.  J.,  and  is  a  druggist 
at  Delanti ;  Ora,  who  resides  in  Wisconsin ; 
Roxana  (mother),  and  James  M.,  a  fisherman, 
who  lives  in  Newport,  Rhode  Island.  Jason 
Crissey  (father)  was  born  in  Fairfax,  Vermont, 
January  5,  1805,  and  came  with  his  fiither  to 
Stockton  in  1814,  where,  when  quite  a  young 
man,  he  bought  a  farm  of  his  paternal  parent, 
and  followed  the  tilling  of  the  soil  the  remain- 
der of  his  life.  In  religion  he  was  a  Baptist, 
being  a  deacon  of  that  church  for  several  years. 
He  married  Roxana  Winsor  in  1836,  and  had 
eight  children,  six  sons  and  two  daughters : 
Stanton,  who  died  at  the  age  of  eighteen  years; 
Mary  A.,  married  to  L.  C.  Warren,  a  farmer 
and  lawyer  at  Stockton  ;  Sard  is  L.,  a  lawyer, 
settler  of  estates,  and  also  a  physician,  in  Wash- 
ington, District  of  Columbia,  who  married 
May  Morse ;  Francis  and  Cynthia  died  while 
young;  Jirah  D.,  a  farmer  for  several  years, 
and  now  a  druggist  and  undci'taker  at  Delanti 
(Stockton),  who  married  Diana  Salisbury ; 
Leroy,  died  in  infancy  ;  and  E.  J.  Jason  Cris- 
sey died  in  Stockton,  April  1,  1875,  aged  sev- 
enty years.  His  wife  is  still  living  in  her  sev- 
enty-ninth year,  having  been  born  April  12, 
1812. 

Edward  J.  Crissey  atteiuicd  the  winter  terms 


of  the  common  schools  of  Stockton,  this  coun- 
ty, until  he  was  eighteen  years  old,  when  he 
became  a  student  in  the  State  Normal  school  at 
Fredonia,  where  he  remained  two  years.  In 
1871  he  entered  the  Fredonia  Censor  office,  a 
newspaper  which  had  just  closed  a  half  century 
of  life  and  started  on  the  other  half,  to  learn 
the  printing  business.  Later  on  he  went  over 
to  another  fifty  years  old  newspaper  office,  the 
Advertiser.  He  remained  here  until  1875,  and 
then  went  on  the  railroad  as  jiostal  clerk  in  the 
United  States  mail  service,  his  run  the  first  year 
being  from  Buffiilo,  New  York,  to  Toledo, 
Ohio,  and  from  Niagara  to  Rochester,  this 
State,  and  the  next  year  from  Dunkirk  to  New 
York  City.  In  the  fall  of  1878  he  entered  the 
Fredonia  gas  company's  office,  and  has  since  re- 
mained there,  being  now  secretary,  treasurer  and 
general  manager.  In  religion  he  is  an  influen- 
tial member  of  the  Baptist  church  at  Fredonia, 
of  which  he  has  been  deacon  for  three  years. 
Edward  J.  Crissey  was  married  January  2, 
1879,  to  Lucy  Colburn,  a  daughter  of  Alvah 
and  Annie  R.  (Norton)  Colburn,  the  father 
being  a  miller  at  Fredonia.  By  this  union  there 
have  been  two  children,  daughters :  Edith  M., 
who  was  born  April,  1880,  and  died  in  Febru- 
ary, 1888;  and  Eleanor,  who  was  born  April 
1,  1883. 


FRED  W.  CASE  is  a  young  man  of  excel- 
lent business  tact  and  ability,  and  stands 
second  to  none  in  the  estimation  and  respect  of 
the  community  as  a  man  of  honor.  He  was 
born  in  Cattaraugus  county.  New  York,  July 
6,  1857,  and  is  a  son  of  J.  W.  and  Emily 
(Hubbard)  Case.  His  grandfather,  William 
Case,  was  born  near  Providence,  Rhode  Island, 
in  1793,  and  was  a  farmer,  owning  a  large  tract 
of  land  at  one  time.  He  served  as  a  .soldier  in 
the  War  of  1812,  and  was  granted  a  pension  for 
his  services.  About  1840  became  to  Cattarau- 
gus county,  this  State,  and  bought  a  farm  near 
llandolph,  whicii  lie  improved.      In  religion  he 


OF  CHAUTAUQUA   COUNTY. 


505 


was  a  member  of  the  Baptist  church  in  Little 
Valley,  in  the  above-named  county.  PolitictuUy 
he  was  a  whig,  and  then  a  republican.  William 
Case  was  married  in  1S14  to  Sophia  Arnold,  a 
most  estimable  lady,  by  whom  he  had  eleven 
children,  eight  sons  and  three  daughters  :  Isaac, 
Job,  Henry,  Charles,  J.  \yorden  (father),  John, 
Sidney  and  Martin,  Martha,  who  married  a  Mr. 
Milks ;  Rhoda,  and  Nancy,  who  married  Mr. 
Chesbrough.  William  died  in  1880,  after  living 
with  his  wife,  who  still  survives,  for  sixty-five 
years.  The  maternal  grandfather  of  F.  W. 
Case  was  Manley  Hubbard,  a  farmer  and  owner 
of  fifty  acres  of  highly  cultivated  land  near 
Leon,  Cattaraugus  county,  this  State.  In  reli- 
gious matters  he  was  an  active  member  of  the 
Baptist  church  at  Leon,  and  did  all  in  his  power 
through  life  to  aid  the  church.  Politically  he  was 
a  repnblican.  Manley  Hubbard  married  Jemima 
Milks,  a  lady  loved  by  all,  and  she  bore  him  six 
children,  two  sons  and  four  daughters:  Emily 
(mother);  Mary  (step-mother);  Susan,  who 
married  Mr.  Hunton ;  Almina,  married  to  Mr. 
Earl  ;  Marvin  and  W^illiam.  Manley  Hubbard 
died  in  1882,  and  is  buried  at  Leon.  This  was 
a  happy  couple,  beloved  by  all  who  knew  them. 
J.  Worden  Case  was  born  July  23,  182-3,  and 
was  a  farmer  all  his  life.  Left  without  a  dollar's 
worth  of  property,  he  was  dependent  entirely  on 
his  own  exertions  and  energy.  He  succeeded  in 
buying  two  hundred  acres  of  land  in  Napoli, 
Cattaraugus  county,  then  by  hard  work  he  accu- 
mulated sufficient  means  to  purchase  four  hun- 
dred acres  more,  about  half  a  mile  distant  from 
his  first-bought  farm.  In  1865  he  sold  one 
hundred  acres  from  this  four  hundred  acre  farm, 
and  in  1868  two  hundred  acres  more,  leavino; 
him  still  three  hundred  acres  in  all.  He  was 
one  of  the  largest  land-holders  in  that  section, 
and  one  of  the  most  influential  citizens.  In 
1870  he  came  to  Fredonia  for  the  purpose  of 
educating  his  children,  and  bought  a  house  and 
seven  acres  of  land,  but  died  August  9th  of  that 
year.    In  religion  he  was  a  Baptist,  and  a  mem- 


ber of  the  church  of  that  denomination  in  Fre- 
donia. Politically,  he  was  an  active  worker  in 
the  Republican  party.  J.  Worden  Case  married 
Emily  Hubbard,  and  by  her  had  three  children, 
two  sons  and  one  daughter ;  the  eldest,  Frank, 
died  in  infancy ;  Eva  married  George  W. 
Wright,  of  the  Dunkirk  Seed  company ;  and 
F.  W.  Mrs.  Case  died  August  5,  1857,  after 
which  F.  Worden  Case  married  Mary  Hubbard, 
a  sister  of  his  fir.st  wife.  After  his  death  she 
married,  in  1872,  Albert  H.  Wheelock,  a  farmer 
near  Fredonia.  Mrs.  Wheelock  died  June, 
1885. 

F.  W^.  Case  was  educated  at  the  public  schools 
in  Cattaraugus  county,  and  when  his  father 
removed  to  Fredonia  he  entered  the  Normal 
school  here,  which  he  attended  five  terms,  but 
did  not  graduate.  He  worked  on  a  farm  until 
he  came  to  Fredonia,  and  after  leaving  the  Nor- 
mal school  he  went  to  Dunkirk  and  sold  gro- 
ceries for  Henry  Negus  for  a  year,  then  returned 
to  Fredonia,  December  14,  1874,  and  sold  hard- 
ware for  D.  L.  Shepard  for  seven  years.  March 
1,  1882,  he  associated  with  himself  J.  M.  Zahn, 
and  engaged  in  the  hardware  business,  in  which 
they  continued  eleven  months,  when  they  bought 
out  Mr.  Shepard's  stock,  and  have  since  carried 
on  the  business  under  the  firm  name  of  Case  & 
Zahn.  They  have  the  largest  hardware  store-in 
town,  carrying  fifteen  thousand  dollars  worth  of 
stock,  and  their  yearly  transactions  amount  to 
forty  thousand  dollars,  besides  which  they  have 
a  large  patronage  in  tin-roofing,  water-conductors, 
etc.  In  religion  Mr.  Case  is  a  member  of  the 
Presbyterian  church  in  Fredonia,  and  an  active 
worker.  Politically  he  is  an  active  republican, 
having  been  elected  town  clerk  several  years, 
and  is  still  holding  that  office. 

F.  W.  Case  was  married  May  10,  1876,  to 
Lucy  F.  Pettit,  a  daughter  of  M.  S.  Pettit,  an 
engraver  at  Fx'edonia,  and  by  her  had  one  sou, 
Jesse  M.,  born  February  6,  1877.  She  died 
May  31, 1877,  and  September  1, 1880,  Mr.  Case 
married  Ida  Smith,  a  daughter  of  P.  L.  Smith, 


506 


BIOGRAPHY  AND  HISTORY 


a  carpenter  of  Fredonia,  and  has  bad  one 
daughter,  Eva  Louine,  born  June  25,  1883. 
Both  the  son  and  daughter  are  bright  and 
attractive  children. 


IIITASOX   CU.SH3LA:N%  a  gentleman   identi- 
4  fied  with  the  agricultural  and  live  stock 

interests  of  Silver  Creek  and  vicinity,  is  a  sou 
of  Joshua  and  Keziah  (Daily)  Cushman,  and 
was  born  in  the  town  of  Sherbourne,  Chenango 
county.  New  York,  March  12th,  1807.  The 
Cushman  family  in  America,  it  is  said,  are  de- 
scended from  an  Englishman  born  in  that 
country  between  1580  and  1585  and  was  one 
of  the  much  persecuted  Puritans  who  forsook 
the  land  of  their  nativity  that  they  might  enjoy 
religious  freedom.  It  is  not  stated  when  he 
came  to  America,  but,  presumably,  shortly  after 
1632.  Benjamin  Cushman  was  the  paternal 
grandfather  and  his  son  Joshua  Cushman  was  i 
bora  at  Charlestown,  New  Hampshire,  in  1766, 
married  Keziah  Daily  and  came  to  Villanova, 
this  county,  where  he  located  in  1842.  He 
bought  a  farm  but,  having  reached  advanced 
age,  never  actively  employed  himself  there. 
Politically  a  republican  and  a  member  of  the 
Presbyterian  church,  he  reared  a  family  of 
twelve  children,  whom  he  trained  to  those  pre- 
cepts. 

Mason  Cushman  has  always  followed  farm- 
ing, buying  and  selling  live  stock  and  kindred 
work.  He  owns  a  fertile  farm  of  one  hundred 
and  eighty  acres,  M'hich  is  thoroughly  tilled. 
Politically  he  is  a  republican  and  has  served  on 
the  board  of  highway  commissioners;  belongs 
to  the  Methodist  church  at  Silver  Creek  and 
has  been  its  steward. 

Miison  Cusiiman  married  Melissa  Beech,  a 
daughter  of  Ethan  H.  Beech,  a  native  of  Madi- 
son county.  New  York,  on  December  28,  1816, 
and  they  had  four  children  :  Mason  E.,  boru 
October  28th,  1848,  married  Adelaide  Mc- 
Daniels,  is  a  fanner  in  the  town  of  Hanover, 
and  has  a  son  Cieorge ;  Joshua  E.,  born  April 


12th,  1851,  married  Millie  Young,  and  now 
lives  with  his  father  and  conducts  the  farm — 
he  has  two  children,  Vera  and  Livia;  Maro, 
born  September  28th,  1856,  and  died  when 
four  and  one-half  years  old ;  and  M.  Livia, 
born  November  26th,  1860,  now  the  wife  of 
W.  B.  Horton,  a  farmer  living  at  Hanover 
Centre.  Mrs.  Melissa  Beech  Cushman  was 
born  in  Madison  county.  New  York,  May  24th, 
1818.  After  spending  a  happy  and  useful 
married  life  of  forty-five  years,  she  died  April 
28th,  1891,  and  is  laid  to  rest  in  the  Hanover 
Centre  cemetery. 


TA>-ILLI^V]>I  H.  COI^E  is  a  contractor  and 
■*"-  builder  in  the  city  of  Jamestown,  and 
was  born  at  Fairfield,  Herkimer  county.  New 
York,  January  22,  1848.  His  parents  are 
Elisba  and  Lucy  A.  (Bailey)  Cole,  both 
of  whom  are  descendants  of  western  New 
York's  early  settlers.  His  grandfather,  Elisha 
Cole,  Sr.,  was  a  native  of  Herkimer  county, 
this  State,  but  early  in  life  emigrated  to 
Chautauqua  county  and  bought  a  farm  near  the 
town  of  Mina.  He  married  and  became  the 
father  of  three  children,  two  sons  and  one 
daughter:  Spencer  H.  went  to  Herkimer  county, 
Canada,  and  located  ;  Temperance  married  Joe 
Moyer  and  also  settled  in  Canada,  but  after- 
wards removed  back  to  the  United  States,  locat- 
ing in  ]\Iichigan  ;  and  Elisha,  Jr.  (father).  He 
was  a  democrat  and  continued  to  manage  his 
farm  until  his  death.  Eaton  Bailey  (maternal 
grandfather)  was  a  native  of  this  county,  being 
one  of  its  earliest  settlers,  removed  to  Chautau- 
(pia  county  and  located  near  Mina,  but  after  a 
season's  residence  there  removed  to  Jamestown 
and  practiced  his  art,  that  of  a  coo])er,  until  his 
death,  which  occurred  in  18 — .  His  wife  was 
Sallie  J^ucklyn  and  they  had  a  family  of  eight 
children,  equally  divided  as  to  sons  and  daugh- 
ter.?. Mr.  Bailey  was  a  member  of  the  Univer- 
salist  cluireh  and  in  politics  a  republican. 
Elisha  Cole,  Jr.,  was  born  in   1825  within  the 


OF  CHAUTAUQUA   COUNTY. 


007 


borders  of  Herkimer  county,  this  State,  near 
Fairfield,  and  came  to  Cliaiilauqua  county  in 
1856,  remaining  here  ever  since  and  now  living 
in  Jamestown,  where  ho  busies  liimself  attending 
to  his  farm  and  gardening.  He  married  Sallie 
Bailey  and  reared  a  family  of  three  sons  and 
four  daughters  :  James  B.,  a  painter  and  paper- 
hanger,  I'esides  in  Jamestown  ;  Frank  K.,  also 
a  painter,  residing  at  Jamestown  ;  and  William 
H. ;  the  daughters  are  all  married. 

William  H.  Cole  received  his  early  education 
in  the  common  schools  of  Chautauqua  county 
and  on  attaining  his  majority  began  life  as  a 
common  laborer.  He  came  from  Herkimer 
county  early  in  life  to  Jamestown,  continued 
laboring  until  1879,  when,  embarking  in  busi- 
ness, he  began  as  a  contractor  and  builder, 
which  he  has  since  pursued  and  has  attained 
prominence  and  the  rejjutation  of  a  reliable  and 
trustworthy  man. 

His  wife  was  Alice  E.  Graves,  a  daughter  of 
Watres  Graves,  and  was  born  in  northeastern 
Pennsylvania.  Three  ehildi-en  have  blessed 
this  union,  two  sons  and  one  daughter  :  Jay  W., 
Roy  H.  and  Tjucy  M. 


"I^HINEAS  CROSSIVL^JV  who  has  assisted 
-'-  largely  in  the  material  development  of 
his  adopted  city,  was  born  to  Alpheus  and  I 
Catherine  (Swaby)  Grossman,  in  Ulster  county, 
New  York,  April  18,  1829.  His  great-grand- 
father, Thomas  Grossman,  came  from  English 
parents  but  was  born  and  lived  in  eastern  New 
York  where  he  died.  He  served  the  colonies 
as  a  private  daring  the  whole  of  the  Revolu- 
tionary war,  a  term  of  seven  years.  He  was  a 
farmer  by  occupation  and  a  member  of  the 
Methodist  church.  His  grandfatlier  Grossman, 
was  born  in  the  eastern  part  of  the  Empire 
State  and  was  a  farmer.  He  married  and  reared 
a  family  of  nine  children.  The  Swabys  also 
came  from  the  same  locality  where  they  lived 
and  died.  Alpheus  Grossman  was  born  in 
Ulster  county,  this  State,  in   1809,  but  in  1832 


I  removed  to  Crawford  county.  Pa.,  and  after- 
wards to  Venango  county,  same  State,  where  he 
followed  farming  until  1865,  when  he  came  to 
Jamestown  and  retired  from  active  life.  A 
farmer  for  thirty-five  years  feels  the  need  of 
rest.  In  politics  Mr,  Grossman  was  a  republi- 
can but  now  afTiiiatcs  with  tlie  prohibitionists 
and  is  a  member  of  the  Methodist  church. 
He  married  Catherine  Swaby  and  became 
the  father  of  five  children,  four  sons  and  one 
daughter,  three  of  whom  are  now  living. 
After  the  death  of  his  first  wife  he  married 
Mrs.  Mary  Stoombs. 

Phineas  Grossman  secured  the  usual  educa- 
tion acquired  by  the  boys  of  his  time  at  the 
public  school,  and  was  then  apprenticed  to  a 
blacksmith  who  taught  the  young  man  the 
"  King  of  Trades."  This  was  in  1848  and  he 
worked  at  blacksmithing  in  Jamestown  until 
1860  when  he  went  to  the  Pennsylvania  oil 
fields  where  he  remained  five  years  and  then  re- 
turned to  Jamestown  and  engaged  in  the  real 
estate  business,  buying  acreage,  cutting  it  into 
lots,  building  houses  upon  them  and  offering 
them  for  sale.  IMr.  Grossman  has  erected  and 
sold  one  hundred  and  four  houses  in  this  man- 
ner and  has  opened  up  about  three  miles  of 
streets  in  Jamestown. 

Phineas  Grossman,  married  Caroline  Price, 
a  daughter  of  Charles  Price,  who  came 
from  one  of  the  old  families  of  James- 
town (see  sketch  of  A.  A.  Price).  They 
have  one  daughter  :  Etta  C,  wife  of  James  N. 
Weller,  who  is  now  connected  with  his  father- 
in-law  in  the  real  estate  business — they  have 
one  child,  Roy  C.  When  President  Lincoln 
called  for  soldiers,  Mr.  Weller  responded  with 
three  years  of  service  and  was  attached  to  the 
Excelsior  Brigade. 

In  political  matters,  he  is  a  republican  and 
from  1872  to  1875,  served  as  deputy  revenue 
collector  and  in  addition  to  this  has  been  trustee, 
sixteen  years  assessor  of  Jamestown  and  seven 
years    street   commissioner.     He    has    been  an 


508 


BIOGRAPHY   AND  HISTORY 


active    man   aud   has  secured    the    reward     of 
toil. 


CHARLES  F.  CHAPMAK,  a  lawyer  of 
Sinclairville,  who  practices  in  the  various 
coui'ts  of  the  State  of  New  Yoi'k,  was  born  in 
the  town  of  Woodstock,  Windham  county,  Con- 
necticut, February  10,  1853,  and  is  a  son  of 
Charles  W.  aud  Cornelia  M.  (Chapman)  Chap- 
man. His  grandfathers,  Thomas  Chapman 
and  Stephen  Chapman,  although  both  of  Scotch 
descent  and  natives  of  New  England,  yet  were 
not  related  to  each  other.  Charles  W.  Chap- 
man, the  father  of  Charles  F.  Chapman,  was 
born  in  Connecticut,  where  he  learned  the  trade 
of  shoemaker,  which  he  followed  for  some  years 
and  then  became  a  farmer  and  stock-dealer.  In 
1855  he  came  to  New  York  and  settled  in  the 
town  of  Stockton,  of  which  he  was  supervisor 
for  three  years,  and  in  which  he  died  March  7, 
1888,  aged  sixty-two  years.  He  married  Cor- 
nelia M.,  daughter  of  Stejjheu  Chapman,  of 
Connecticut. 

Charles  F.  Chapman  spent  his  boyhood  days 
on  the  farm,  aud  received  a  good  education  in 
the  schools  of  Chautauqua  county.  Leaving 
school  in  1872  he  commenced  to  read  law  with 
Judge  Obed  Edson,  and  at  the  end  of  three 
years  continuous  reading  he  entered  the  Albany  i 
Law  school,  from  which  he  was  graduated  in 
1876.  During  that  year  he  was  admitted  to 
practice  in  the  various  court.s  of  the  State  of 
New  York,  and  opened  an  office  at  Sinclair- 
ville, where  he  has  successfully  j)racticed  ever 
since.  He  owns  a  farm  of  two  hundred  and 
thirty-five  acres  of  land  in  the  town  of  Stock- 
ton, which  he  manages  in  addition  to  the  prac- 
tice of  his  jjrofession. 

In  1881  he  united  in  marriage  with  Fannie 
Marvin,  of  Chautauqua  county,  and  their  union 
has  been  blessed  with  four  children,  two  sons 
and  two  daughters  :  George  L.,  Lena  M.,  Anna 
M.,  and  Charles  T. 

He  is  a  ro])ubli('an  in  politics,  and  iias  served 


three  years  as  supervisor  of  the  town  of  Stock- 
ton. Mr.  Chapman  studies  his  cases  well,  aud 
is  a  very  earnest  and  eloquent  speaker  before  a 

jury- 


O-AMUEL  S.  CARIiSOX.  It  has  often  been 
^^  remarked  by  close  observers  and  men  of 
wide-horizoned  experience  among  all  nationali- 
ties, that  among  the  countries  of  the  world 
which  contribute  to  the  population  and  wealth 
of  this  great  rejniblic,  Sweden,  the  home  of 
snow  and  ice,  from  her  far-awaj'  corner  in 
northwestern  Europe,  sends  her  best  represen- 
tatives and  never  her  poorest  to  America,  an 
example  other  countries  would  do  well  to  em- 
ulate. Samuel  S.  Carlson  is  a  son  of  Sweden, 
and  was  born  in  the  centre  of  that  kingdom 
Feb.  12, 1847,  being  a  son  of  Samuel  Lawrence 
and  Christina  (Johnson)  Carlson.  His  grand- 
parents and  parents  were  natives  and  life-long 
residents  of  Sweden.  Samuel  L.  Carlson  married 
Christina  Johnson,  aud  their  union  was  blessed 
with  four  children,  three  sons  and  one  daugh- 
ter: Ilohn  F.,  the  eldest  son,  married  Louise 
Hedstrom,  and  now  resides  in  Jamestown,  where 
he  is  engaged  in  business  with  his  brother, 
Samuel  S. ;  Andrew  Speater,  the  second  son, 
resides  in  his  native  country,  having  never  left 
the  sight  of  her  lakes  and  mountains ;  Anna 
Christina,  who  has  also  chosen  to  remain  amid 
the  scenes  of  her  childhood  ;  and  Samuel  S. 

Samuel  S.  Carlson  received  his  education  in 
the  excellent  Swedish  schools,  where  he  was 
reared,  and  where  he  resided  until  1868,  when 
he  sailed  for  America.  Selecting  Jamestown  as 
his  future  home,  lie  went  to  work  as  a  day  la- 
borer, and  then  engaged  in  the  furniture  busi- 
ness for  a  short  time,  which  he  left  to  serve  as 
section  foreman  on  a  railroad.  In  1879  he  en- 
gaged in  the  njanufacturo  of  furniture  on  Vil- 
liard  street,  where  he  has  continued  to  the  pres- 
ent time.  He  owns  some  very  valuable  real 
estate  in  tiie  city,  besides  his  handsome  resi- 
dence.     I'olilicallv  ho  affiliates  with  tiie  Domo- 


OF  CHAUTAUQUA   COUNTY. 


511 


Creek,  where  he  purchased  a  sixty  acre  tract  of 
land  which  he  cleared  and  afterwards  cultiva- 
ted until  1882,  when  he  quit  farming  and  came 
to  Westfield  to  engage  in  tlie  harness  nianufijc- 
turing  business  witi>  liis  son-in-law,  Stacey  N. 
A.  Smith,  now  of  Corry,  Pennsylvania.  Al- 
though over  sixty-five  years  of  age,  Mr.  Fuller 
soon  acquainted  himself  with  all  the  details  of 
the  business  and  attained  a  thorough  knowledge 
of  harness  manufacture  in  all  of  its  branches.  In 
a  short  time  he  purchased  Mr.  Smitii's  interest 
and  since  then  has  continued  successfully  in 
that  line  of  business.  His  assortment  comprises 
everything  that  is  useful  or  desirable  in  his  line 
of  business.  His  trade  extends  far  beyond  the 
corporate  limits  of  Westfield  and  he  makes  it  an 
object  to  supply  his  patrons  with  first-class  , 
work. 

In  1837  he  returned  to  Vermont  where  he 
married  Sarah  J.  Koyce,  who  died  in  June, 
1840.  He  then  married  Cordelia  Farnham, 
daughter  of  Walter  Farnham,  a  farmer  of  the 
town  of  French  Creek.  To  this  second  union 
have  been  born  five  children:  Donna  A.,  Cassie 
E.,  William  W.,  Edwin  D.  and  Earle  P. 

David  M.  Fuller  has  held  several  of  the 
local  offices  of  his  town  and  village.  He  is  a 
member  of  the  Equitable  Aid  Union,  in  which 
order  he  holds  the  office  of  chancellor. 


TAK-ED  B.  FLISHER  comes  from  two  old 

^^  American  families,  his  parents  being  Dan- 
iel and  Mary  (Boone)  Flisher,  and  was  born 
March  14,  1846.  His  great-grandfather 
Flisher,  was  a  Continental  soldier  iu  the  first 
war  with  the  mother  country,  and  his  son, 
grandfather  Flisher,  was  in  the  strife  of  1812 
and  was  killed  in  a  battle.  His  grandparents 
were  from  New  England  but  removed  to  east- 
ern Pennsylvania  where  they  were  farmers 
until  they  died.  His  maternal  grandfather 
Boone  was  closely  allied  to  Daniel  Boone,  the 
hero  of  many  skirmishes  with  the  early  inhab- 
itants of  the  forests  of  Kentucky  where  he  was  , 


the  pioneer.  Daniel  Flisher  (father)  learned 
the  shoemaker's  trade  and  moved  to  Centre 
county,  Pa.,  where  he  still  resides  and  is  now 
engaged  in  farming  and  is  a  member  of  the 
Reformed  church.  Politically  a  democrat,  he 
pays  more  attention  to  his  farm  than  he  does  to 
political  matters  and  is  now  the  possessor  of 
many  broad  acres.  He  married  Mary  Boone 
and  became  the  father  of  eleven  children,  seven 
of  whom  are  living :  Daniel  H.,  is  in  Colorado 
engaged  as  a  chemist  at  an  ore  mine.  He  early 
appreciated  the  benefits  of  a  thorough  education 
and  secured  it ;  Isaac  K.,  lives  iu  Philadelphia 
and  is  employed  as  a  traveling  salesman  ;  Uriah 
S.,  is  a  farmer,  residing  on  the  old  homestead 
farm;  Jared  B. ;  aud  seven  whose  names  are 
not  given. 

Jared  B.  Flisher  received  an  elementary 
education  in  the  schools  of  his  neighborhood 
and  on  becoming  the  proper  age  entered  the 
college  at  Albion,  Michigan,  where  he  re- 
mained for  some  time  but  failing  health  com- 
pelled him  to  leave  before  completing  the  course. 
When  nineteen  years  of  age  he  became  interested 
in  oil,  aud  engaging  in  its  production,  has  fol- 
lowed it  continuously  to  the  present  time. 

He  married  Emma  V.  Scott,  a  daughter  of 
Royal  E.  Scott,  a  resident  of  Warren,  Pa.  One 
child  has  been  born  to  them :  Alice  M. 

In  18S2  he  moved  to  Jamestown  and  has 
since  resided  here,  being  one  of  the  prominent 
citizens  of  the  city.  In  politics  Mr.  Flisher  is 
a  democrat,  a  member  of  ]\It.  Moriah  Lodge, 
No.  145,  Free  and  Accepted  Masons,  at  James- 
town and  belongs  to  the  Chapter  at  Bradford, 
Pa.,  the  Jamestown  Commandery  and  Pitts- 
burgh Consistory  and  Council. 


/>EOKGE  W.  PULLER,  who  succeeded  his 
^^  father  in  the  pioneer  firm  of  wine  manu- 
facturers, Fuller  &  Skinner,  of  Portland,  whose 
cellar  has  a  storing  capacity  of  thirty  thousand 
gallons,  is  a  son  of  Ralph  D.  aud  Adaliue 
(Coney)  Fuller,  and  was  born   in  the  town  of 


512 


BIOGRAPHY  AND  HISTORY 


Portland,  Chautauqua  county,  New  York,  No- 
vember 26,  1860.  His  grandfather  (Fuller) 
was  of  German  extraction  and  followed  the  trade 
of  a  shoemaker  and  farmer  in  Madison  count}', 
this  State,  where  he  died. 

Ealph  D.  Fuller  was  born  in  Cazenovia, 
Madison  county,  in  1820.  He  was  reared  and 
educated  at  that  place  until  his  twentieth  year, 
and  tiieu  came  and,  in  1840,  located  in  the  town 
of  Portland,  engaging  in  a  general  mercantile 
business,  which  he  continued  thirty  years.  In 
1866  he  bought  and  constructed  a  wine-cellar  in 
Portland  and  engaged  in  the  manufacture  of  the 
sparkling  fluid  until  his  death,  May  20,  1886. 
Politically  he  was  a  democrat  and  by  that  party 
was  elected  to  various  town  offices  in  Poi'tland. 
Mr.  Fuller  was  essentially  a  self-made  mau. 
He  started  life  without  other  capital  than  a  well- 
developed  brain  and  industrious  habits,  and  at 
his  death  left  a  large  estate.  He  was  the  first 
man  to  manufacture  wine  in  the  village  of  Port- 
land. He  married  Adaline  Coney,  who  was 
born  and  still  lives  in  this  town. 

George  W.  Fuller  was  reared  in  the  town  of 
Portland,  and  his  father's  store  gave  him  his 
first  practical  business  experience.  A  superior 
education  was  received  in  the  public  schools 
supplemented  by  a  course  at  the  Westfield  acad- 
emy. Upon  returning  from  the  academy  he 
was  employed  in  assisting  his  father  in  the  wine 
business  and  grape-growing.  Upon  the  death, 
of  his  father  he  assumed  the  latter's  business, 
the  partner  being  J.  A.  H.  Skinner,  of  Brocton, 
who  is  still  as-soeiated  with  him.  Mr.  Fuller 
has  sixty  acres  of  vineyard,  his  individual  prop- 
erty, in  Portland,  which  yields  a  large  quantity 
of  grapes  annually.  He  is  one  of  i\u\  UKjst  sub- 
stantial and  respected  citizens  of  Portland,  is  a 
democrat  and  a  member  of  Lodge,  No.  219, 
Free  and  Accepted  Masons,  located  at  West- 
field. 


/^UY  H.  FULLER  is  a  resident  of  James- 
^^  town  who  has  come  into  prominence 
through  his  able  management  of  the  democratic 
papers,  the  Sunday  Sun,  and  Jamestown 
Standard.  His  manipulation  of  these  journals 
is  truly  worthy  of  more  than  a  passing  notice, 
for  in  the  short  space  of  time  in  which  he  has 
guided  their  fortunes,  they  have  attained  a 
sworn  circulation  of  over  six  thousand  copies 
per  issue.  Guy  H.  Fuller  is  a  son  of  Almond 
and  Adelia  (Camp)  Fuller,  and  was  born  in  the 
pretty  little  country  town  of  Herrick,  Bradford 

j  county,  Pennsylvania,  October  5,  1852.  He 
traces  his  ancestry  to  sturdy  Welsh  and  English 
people  who  have  long  enjoyed  American  liber- 
ties, and  had  its  principles  thoroughly  dissemi- 
nated in  them  by  breathing  its  free  air  for  more 
than  two  centuries.  His  grandfather,  Jonas 
Fuller,  was  a  native  of  Vermont,  and  came 
with  a  party  of  four  other  families  to  Susque- 
hanna county,  Pa.,  where  he  ended  his  life. 
Being  a  mill-wright  by  trade,  he  was  a  valuable 

1  acquisition  to  that  community  which  had  to 
carry  their  grain  sixty  miles  on  horseback  to  be 
ground.     He  was  a  soldier  in  the  war  of  1812, 

i  married  and  reared  a  family  of  three  sons  and 
one  daughter;  the  latter  now  (1891)  living  at 
Nashville,  Teun.  Mr.  Fuller  was  a  whig  and 
republican  and,  although  not  identified  with  any 

'  church,  he  was  a  devoted  student  of  the  Bible 
and  was  familiar  with  its  choicest  passages. 
His  was  a  character  at  once  commanding  rcsjject 
and  admiration  for  its  quiet  force  yet  unassum- 
ing demeanor.  Israel  Camp  (maternal  grand- 
father) dates  his  forefather's  arrival  in  tlie  new 
world  at  1620.  Ho  came  to  Bradford  count)' 
while  it  was  still  an  unbroken  forest  and  cleared 
the  ffround  of  its  natural  growth  before  he 
could  sow  his  grain.  He  married  Mersey 
Wells,  a  lady  of  marked  ability,  and  they 
reared  a  liimily  of  fourteen  children.  A  num- 
ber of  the  sons  entered  the  civil  war.  Horace 
died  in  the  service  ;  N.  Judson  enlisted  from 
the  State  of  Illinois,  rose  to  the  rank  of  first 


OF  CHAUTAUQUA  COUNTY. 


513 


lieutenant  and  made  an  untarnished  record  ; 
Guy  entered  the  army  i'rom  Sioux  City,  Iowa, 
and  went  to  the  front  with  two  other  brothers, 
maiiing  a  to^al  of  five  from  this  one  family. 
The  last  named  son  is  now  living  in  California. 
Almond  Fuller  was  born  in  Susquehanna 
county.  Pa.,  and  went  over  into  Bradford 
county  while  still  a  young  man  and  took  up  a 
large  tract  of  land  which  he  made  into  a  fertile 
farm.  By  trade  lie  was  a  shoemaker  and  while 
not  busy  on  his  farm  he  made  a  circuit  of  the 
section  and  did  the  repairing  for  families. 
This,  in  local  parlance,  was  called  "  whij)ping 
the  cat."  He  was  a  whig  and  republican  until 
Horace  Greeley  electrified  the  country  and 
raised  havoc  in  party  ranks,  when  he  became  a 
democrat  and  maintained  that  position  until  he 
died  upon  the  farm  his  own  hands,  while  in 
the  strength  of  young  manhood,  had  made 
arable.  He  was  a  pious  and  honorable  man, 
but  belonged  to  no  church.  He  married  Adelia 
Camp,  who  is  still  living  upon  tiie  old  home- 
stead and  a  member  of  the  Presbyterian  church. 
They  became  the  parents  of  ten  children,  five 
sons  and  five  daughters.  One  son  died  in 
infancy,  while  the  others  all  learned  the  carpen- 
ter's trade.  N.  A.  joined  the  52d  regiment,  Pa. 
Vol.  Infantry  for  tlie  three  months  service  at 
President  Lincoln's  first  call  and  having  served 
this  term  of  enlistment  he  rejoined  for  three 
years.  Upon  the  expiration  of  that  time  lie 
entered  the  veteran  corps  and  remained  to  the 
close  of  the  war.  Having  enlisted  as  a  private 
he  advanced  to  the  grade  of  second  lieutenant 
and  received  honorable  mention  for  his  courage 
as  a  color  bearer. 

Guy  H.  Fuller  passed  his  life  up  to  1873,  on 
a  farm  in  Bradford  county,  and  secured  his 
education  at  the  common  .schools  and  Caraptown 
academy.  In  1873,  he  went  to  Wisconsin  and 
engaged  in  carpenter  work.  Having  built  a 
log  house,  he  lived  there  for  some  time  and  ex- 
perienced  the  trials  and  tribulations  of  a  pioneer. 
Then  he  went  into  the  town  of  Royal,  where  he 


resided  until  1875.  Upon  returning  to  Brad- 
ford county,  in  1877,  lie  began  canvassing  for 
the  Tunkhannoch  Democrat,  publisiitd  in 
Wyoming  county,  Pa.,  and,  finding  hisajititude 
lor  new.spaper  work,  has  followed  it  ever  since 
and  has  been  connected  with  various  journals  in 
Buffalo,  Bradford,  McKean  county,  Pa.,  and 
Jamestown.  He  was  general  manager  of  the 
Bradford  News,  a  paper  of  National  reputation 
during  1882-3  and  4,  and  then  became  business 
manager  of  the  Evening  Star,  at  the  same  ])lace. 
In  the  latter  part  of  1884,  he  came  to  James- 
town and  founded  the  Jamestown  Sunday  Sun, 
which  he  conducted  exclusively  until  May, 
188G,  and  then  purchased  the  Jamestown 
Standard,  a  democratic  weekly.  The  two 
papers  now  have  a  circulation  guaranteed  to 
exceed  six  thousand  copies. 

On  June  15,  1871,  he  married  Martha  Carr, 
of  Bradford  county,  Pa.,  and  had  two  ciiildren: 
Edna  B.  and  Narom  J. 

Guy  H.  Fuller  is  a  democrat,  but  realizes 
that  political  duties  honorably  discharged  are 
not  the  source  of  much  wealth  and  therefore  has 
never  been  ambitious  to  be  a  star  in  that  zodiac. 
He  is  a  leading  member  of  Jamestown  Coun- 
cil, No.  137,  Royal  Arcanum.  Besides  being  a 
successful  newspaper  manager  he  is  a  pleasant, 
sociable  gentleman  and  one  of  the  secrets  of  his 
business  triumphs  is  his  knack  of  interesting 
those  with   whom   he   comes  in  contact  by  his 

personality. 

© 

1^  OAH  W.  GOKEY,  one  of  the  most  prom-  ' 

4  inent  of  Jamestown's   opulent   manufac- 

turers, is  a  son  of  Joseph  and  Rosetta  (Berosia) 
Gokey,  and  was  born  March  30,  1833,  in  St. 
Lawrence  county,  New  York.  Grandfather 
Berosia  was  a  resident  of  St.  Lawrence  county, 
New  York.  Joseph  Gokey  married  Rosetta 
Berosia,  and  had  nine  children. 

Noah  W.  Gokey  was  educated  in  the  public 
schools  of  Oswego,  New  York,  and  learned  the 
trade  of  a  shoemaker,  which  he  followed  at  that 


514 


BIOOBAPHY  AND  HISTORY 


place  for  one  year,  and  then  went  to  Rathbone- 
ville,  Steuben  county,  and  worked  for  fourteen 
years.  From  there  he  went  to  Addison,  and 
remained  twelve  years  lono;er,  and  then,  in 
1877,  came  to  Jamestown.  The  last  five  years 
spent  in  Addison  was  in  the  manufacture  of 
boots  and  shoes,  and  when  he  came  to  this  city, 
he  brought  his  skilled  employees,  numbering 
-  one  hundred  and  twenty,  along.  He  rented  a 
building  and  started  his  works  here.  In  1881 
he  built  the  fine  large  six-story  building,  thirty- 
six  by  one  hundred  and  twenty  feet,  now  his 
business  home,  at  the  corner  of  Third  and 
Cherry  Streets.  They  manufacture  all  kinds 
of  footwear  from  the  finest  ladies'  slipper  to  the 
coarsest  man's  boot,  and  employ  about  two  hun- 
dred hands,  and  keep  seven  traveling  men  in 
this  territory.  New  York,  Pennsylvania,  Ohio, 
Indiana,  Iowa  and  Michigan.  Mr.  Gokey  is 
also  the  owner  of  the  beautiful  post-office 
block,  and  other  valuable  real  estate  in  this 
city.  He  built  the  fine  brick  i-esidence  where 
he  now  resides,  located  on  the  corner  of  Lake 
View  and  Eighth  Streets,  and  it  is  said  to  be 
the  most  expensive  and  desirably  located  home 
in  Chautauqua  county.  Politically  Mr.  Gokey 
is  a  republican,  and  one  of  the  staunchest  sup- 
porters of  jM'otection.  While  an  active  sup- 
porter of  princijiles,  he  is  not  a  politician,  and 
has  never  aspired  to  office.  While  at  Rath- 
boneville  ho  was  postmaster  for  four  years,  but 
resigned  at  the  end  of  that  period.  He  attends 
the  Methodist  church,  and  is  one  of  the  most 
liberal  contributors  to  its  maintenance. 

Noah  W.  (jiokey  married  Anna  Monroe,  who 
was  a  daughter  of  Nehcmiah  Monroe,  and  they 
have  three  children :  AVilliam  M.,  married  to 
Hattie  A.  Marvin,  of  Jamestown,  New  York. 
She  is  a  daughter  of  Judge  Marvin  ;  Clara 
and  (Jeorge  F.  Mr.  Gokey  is  a  self-made  man, 
who  has  ri.sen  to  his  present  prominence  and 
affluence  through  supei-ior  ability,  and  in  thor- 
oughly understanding  his  trade.  He  is  a 
plca.sant,  aflfable  gentleman,  easily  approached, 


and  for  one  with  the  business  responsibilities 
resting  upon  his  shoulders,  which  he  has,  looks 
remarkably  young. 


TJ  LONZO  C.  HORTON  belongs  to  the  pro- 
'^^  grcssive  and  substantial  class  of  farmers 
in  Hanover  town.  His  parents  were  Benjamin 
and  Ada  (Angell)  Horton  and  he  was  born 
May  14,  1828,  in  the  town  of  Hanover,  Chau- 
tauqua county.  He  sprang  from  a  New  Eng- 
land ancestry  of  Scotch  descent,  where  (in 
New  England)  his  grandparents  on  both  sides 
were  born,  lived  and  died.  Benjamin  Horton 
(father)  was  born  in  Massachusetts,  town  of 
Cheshire,  and  emigrated  to  the  town  of  Hanover, 
Chautauqua  county.  New  York,  about  1819, 
wherehe  settled  on  the  farm  now  occupied  by 
subject.  At  that  time  it  was  entirely  un- 
improved, and  all  the  improvements  in  the  way 
of  clearing,  etc.,  which  have  since  been  made  on 
the  eigiity  acres  then  .secured  from  the  Holland 
Land  company,  has  been  through  the  hard 
toil  and  untiring  industry  of  Benjamin  Horton. 
He  has  held  diffi;rent  town  offices  at  the  hands 
of  the  Republican  party  and  was  numbered 
among  the  regular  members  of  the  Baptist 
church.  His  marriage  resulted  in  the  birth  of 
ten  children,  all  born  in  Chautauqua  county, 
except  two  born  in  Ma.ssachu.sctts.  They  ail 
grew  to  maturity  except  one  ciiild  who  died  in 
infancy.  Benjamin  Horton  was  a  life-long 
farmer,  a  man  of  good  practical  common  sense 
and  a  kindly  disposition.  He  stood  high  in 
the  respect  of  his  neighbors. 

Alonzo  C.  Ilorton's  education  was  limited  to 
the  common  schools  of  his  native  county,  and 
was  obtained  under  great  disadvantages,  in 
fact,  most  of  it  in  the  hard  .school  of  practical 
experience.  He  had  a  brotiier  who  took  up  the 
study  of  medicine  and  was  a  prominent  and 
successful  practicing  physician  for  many  years. 

Alonzo  C.  Horton  was  united  in  marriage 
with  Cordelia  Gage,  a  daughter  of  Sullivan 
Gage,  a  native  and  citizen  of  the  State  of  Ver- 


OF  CHAUTAUQUA   COUNTY. 


515 


mont.  To  them  were  born  three  children  : 
Mary,  wife  of  Elgin  Keith  of  iSilver  Creek, 
New  York,  at  present  in  the  employ  of  Simeon 
Howes  of  that  place  ;  Willis  B.  (married  to 
Lina  Cusliman,  a  daughter  of  Mason  Cush- 
man,  of  Hanover,  Chautauqua  county,  New 
York)  now  living  on  his  father's  farm,  and 
engaged  in  its  management;  P^ila,  wife  of 
Mason  Shearer,  now  residing  in  Hanover  town, 
Chautauqua  county,  a  short  distance  west  of 
Smith's  IMills. 

Alonzo  C.  Horton  occupies  and  was  reared 
upon  the  old  homestead,  for  which  he  has 
naturally  a  great  attachment.  He  has  added 
his  efforts  to  those  of  his  father  in  the  im- 
provement of  the  old  farm  and  now  j)0ssesses 
one  of  the  best  cultivated  and  improved  farms 
in  the  town  of  Hanover.  He  is  a  modest,  un- 
assuming man,  with  the  rare  faculty  of  being 
contented  with  his  lot  in  life. 


/^EORGK  P.  ISHAM,  one  of  the  leading 
^^  wholesale  tobacconists  and  cigar  manu- 
facturers of  Dunkirk  city  and  western  New 
York,  was  born  in  New  York  city,  June  19th, 
1840,  and  is  a  son  of  Edwin  and  Eliza  (Brown) 
Isham.  The  Isham  family  traces  an  unbroken 
record  back  to  1424,  and  its  founder  in  Eng- 
land was  one  of  the  Norman  warriors  who  came 
into  that  kingdom  in  1066  with  William  the 
Conqueror.  Edwin  Isham  was  born  at  Man- 
chester, Vermont,  in  1812,  and  in  early  life 
removed  to  New  Y'^ork  city,  where  he  was  en- 
gaged in  the  dry-goods  business  until  1843, 
when  he  removed  to  Dunkirk,  where  he  was 
successively  a  partner  in  the  wholesale  and 
retail  general  mercantile  firms  of  Bradley  & 
Isham,  184.3-63,  and  Isham  &  Co.,  1863-68. 
He  is  a  republican  in  politics,  a  Presbyterian 
in  church  membership,  and  organized  the  first 
Odd  Fellows'  lodge  that  was  instituted  in  Chau- 
tauqua county.  His  wife,  Eliza  (Brown)  Isham, 
was  born  in  Nantucket  Island,  of  French  and 
Dutch  parentage,  became  an  active  member  of 


the  Presbyterian  church,  and  died  in  the  spring 
of  1887. 

George  P.  Isham  grew  to  manhood  in  Dun- 
kirk, where  he  attended  the  public  schools. 
In  1857  he  entered  the  junior  class  of  Union 
College  of  Schenectady,  N.  Y.,  and  was  the 
youngest  member  of  the  class  which  graduated 
from  that  institution  in  1859.  In  1863  he 
became  a  partner  with  his  father  in  the  v\'iiole- 
sale  grocery  business,  but  in  1868  retired  from 
the  firm  to  form  a  partnership  with  J.  H. 
Jackson,  of  Pennsylvania,  under  the  firm  name 
of  Isham  &  Co.,  which  partnership  existed 
until  1878,  when  Mr.  Isham  purchased  his  part- 
ner's interest  and  fitted  up  the  grocery  estab- 
lishment into  his  present  wholesale  tobacco  and 
cigar  manufacturing  house.  This  establish- 
ment is  a  three-story  brick  structure,  forty  by 
ninety  feet,  on  the  corner  of  Second  and  Buf- 
falo streets,  where  he  handles  large  quantities 
of  tobacco  at  wholesale,  and  manufactures  over 
a  million  and  a  quarter  of  cigars  yearly.  Since 
its  inception,  his  tobacco  business  has  grown  so 
rapidly  that  he  now  employs  over  twenty 
hands,  and  an  examination  of  internal  revenue 
statistics  shows  that  he  does  a  larger  business 
than  any  other  tobacco  establishment  in  this 
district  of  New  York.  His  "C.  P.  I."  and 
"  American  Gentleman  "  brands  of  cigars  are 
public  favorites  throughout  New  Y''ork  and 
Pennsylvania. 

Mr.  Isham  has  also  branched  out  into  other 
lines  of  business,  and  at  the  present  time  is  a 
member  of  the  Mulholland  Spring  ISIanufac- 
turing  Co.,  and  a  partner  of  the  firm  of  P.  J. 
Mulholland  &  Co.,  dealers  in  coal,  lime  and 
cement. 

A  late  history  of  Dunkirk,  in  its  review  of 
the  industries  of  that  city,  records  the  following 
tribute  to  Mr.  Isham :  "  He  is  prominently 
identified  with  the  manufacturing,  mercantile 
and  social  features  of  this  city,  and  his  indom- 
itable energy  and  correct  business  methods  have 
secured  for  him  a  high  commercial  standing." 


616 


BIOGRAPHY  AND  HISTORY 


He  is  a  republican  in  politics,  and  has  served 
as  alderman  and  member  of  the  school  board. 
In  addition  to  his  business  establishment,  he 
owns  some  other  desirable  real  estate  in  Dun- 
kirk. He  has  passed  through  lodge,  chapter 
and  commandery  in  Masonry,  and  is  a  Past 
Commander  of  Dunkirk  Commandery,  No.  40, 
Knights  Templar. 

In  1863  Mr.  Isham  united  in  marriage  with 
Ellen,  daughter  of  John  Scott,  of  Dayton,  New 
York.  They  have  two  children  :  Amelia,  now 
Mrs.  Gerry  Jones,  of  Bingham pton,  N.  Y. ; 
and  Edwin,  who  is  preparing  himself  for  opera 
in  the  Conservatory  of  Music. 


TOHX  KOFOD,  the  proprietor  of  the  large 
^  grocery  store  at  the  corner  of  Barrows  and 
Williams  streets,  Jamestown,  was  born  in  Den- 
mark, December  29,  1839.  His  parents  were 
John  and  Gertrude  Ann  (Malina)  Kofod.  His 
grandfathers  and  father  were  farmers  in  Den- 
mark, wliere  they  died. 

John  Kofod  secured  his  early  education  in 
the  old  country,  and  lived  there  until  twenty- 
four  years  of  age,  when  he  came  to  the  United 
States  and  settled  in  Jamestown,  securing  work 
at  Mr.  JefFord's  ax  factory,  where  he  worked 
for  eighteen  years.  He  then  formed  a  part- 
nership with  Elial  Carpenter,  and  ran  a 
similar  establishment  on  their  own  account  for 
six  vears,  the  situ  being  now  occupied  by  Mr. 
Powell,  who  is  conducting  the  same  business. 
Mr.  Kofod  then  sold  his  interest  in  the  ax  fac- 
tory, and  embarked  in  the  sale  of  groceries  on 
Williams  street,  with  the  success  shown  by  the 
magnitude  of  the  establishment  to-day,  the  store- 
room having  a  ground  area  of  nearly  two  thou- 
sand square  feet. 

On  Se])tember  24,  1868,  Mr.  Kofod  married 
Mrs.  Louisa  M.  Morgan,  a  daughter  of  Andrew 
O.  Peterson,  who  came  from  Sweden  to  Amer- 
ica in  July,  1853.  Mr.  Peterson  was  born 
March  7,  1814,  and  died  at  Jamestown,  Feb- 
ruary 13, 18G3.   He  married  AnnaStine  Frank, 


in  the  mother  country,  ^lay  20,  1840,  and  had 
eight  children,  four  of  whom  were  born  in 
Sweden.  Mrs.  Kofod  was  twice  married,  her 
husband  lieing  Peter  Morgan,  who  was  born  in 
Denmark,  August  10, 1843,  and  came  to  Amer- 
ica in  1862.  He  was  drowned  in  Lake  Chau- 
tauqua, July  15,  1867,  leaving  his  widow  with 
one  child,  Charles,  born  August  18,  1866.  To 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Kofod  have  been  born  the  fol- 
lowing children  :  Julius  H.,  born  November 
12,  1869,  died  August  0,  1872;  Arthur  J., 
born  Jnlyl4,  1S74;  Julia  H.,  born  June  8, 
1877,  died  April  15,1881;  Bertha  G.,  born 
April  10,  1880;  Gertrude  A.,  and  Christina  B. 
(twins),  born  October  4,  1883;  Theodore  M., 
born  September  13,  1885;  and  John  M.,  born 
May  26,  1887,  died  October  23,  1890. 

John  Kofod's  residence  in  Jamestown  has 
been  continuous  since  1863.  In  politics  he  is  a 
republican,  has  served  two  terms  as  school  trus- 
tee, and  for  five  or  six  years  has  been  assessor 
of  the  city.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Methodist 
Episcopal  church,  giving  liberally  towards  its 
support. 


mILLIAM  L.  MINIGEK,  a  resident  of 
the  town  of  Ripley  and  a  descendant 
of  two  old  and  highly-respected  pioneer  fami- 
lies of  Chautauqua  county,  is  a  son  of  Capt. 
John  C.  and  Charlotte  M.  (Hutchins)  Miniger, 
and  was  born  in  the  town  of  Wcstfield,  Chau- 
tauqua county.  New  York,  April  17,  1826. 
While  most  of  the  pioneer  and  early  settlers  of 
Chautaucpia  county  were  from  New  England, 
there  were  a  few  from  southern  States,  and  it  is 
quite  likely  that  the  only  representative  from 
South  Carolina,  among  the  early  settlers  of 
Chautauqua,  was  Thomas  M.  Miniger  (paternal 
grandfather).  Tiiomas  M.  Miniger  served 
through  the  Revolutionary  war,  and,  according 
to  the  history  of  him,  as  preserved  by  his  de- 
scendants, came  in  1803  to  the  town  of  West- 
field,  where  he  followed  farming  until  his  death. 
He   was  accompanied   from  South  Carolina   l)v 


OF  CHAUTAUQUA    COUNTY. 


517 


his  son,  Lawrence  Mini(!;er  (grand fntlier),  wIid 
was  a  Presbyterian,  and  Jael-csonian  democrat, 
served  iu  the  war  of  1812,  and  died  on  his  farm 
in  1842.  He  married  a  Miss  Wynn,  who  bore 
him  five  children,  four  sons  and  one  daughter. 
One  of  the  sons  was  Jolm  C.  iMiniger  (father), 
who  was  born  in  18(10,  in  Virginia,  and  was 
three  years  later  brought  by  his  parents  to 
the  town  of  Westfield,  wiiere  he  died  in  Feb- 
ruary, 1871.  He  was  a  farmer,  a  democrat 
and  a  Methodist.  He  commanded  an  inde- 
pendent ritie  company,  and  married  Charlotte 
M.  Hutchins.  They  had  four  children,  three 
sons  and  one  daughter,  of  whom  two  are  liv- 
ing:  John  H.,  a  farmer,  living  on  the  shore 
of  Lake  Chautauqua  ;  and  William  h.  Mrs. 
Miniger  was  a  granddaughter  of  Gen.  Pell 
Hutchins,  who  was  one  of  those  who  gained 
notoriety  at  the  "Boston  Tea  Party."  He 
served  in  the  Revolutionary  war,  and  came 
from  Vermont,  the  State  of  his  nativity,  to 
Westfield,  about  180G.  His  son,  Benjamin 
Hutchins,  the  father  of  Mrs.  Miniger,  was 
also  present  at  the  Boston  Tea  Party,  and 
came  to  Westfield  w'ith  his  father,  where  he 
follow'ed  carpentering  until  his  death. 

William  L.  Miniger  was  reared  in  West- 
field,  received  his  education  in  the  common 
schools  and  then  served  an  apprenticeship  of 
three  years,  learning  the  trade  of  harness  and 
trunk-makinij  at  Westfield.  He  soon  abau- 
doned  this  work  and  learned  to  be  a  stont- 
masou,  which  has  been  his  employment  until 
the  present  time. 

He  united  in  marriage  with  Mary  Moshier, 
daughter  of  Henry  Moshier,  then  a  resident 
of  the  town  of  Portland.  To  their  union  have 
been  born  four  children:  Edgar,  at  home; 
Francis,  is  dead ;  Frederick ;  and  an  infant, 
who  died  when  very  young. 

William  L,  Miniger  owns  a  very  produc- 
tive farm  of  two  hundred  and  twenty-seven 
acres  of  well-improved  land.  It  is  located  in 
the  town  of  Westfield  while  he  resides  in  the 


village  of  Ripley.  Politically  Mr.  Miniger  is 
a  democrat,  and  belongs  to  the  Free  and  Ac- 
cepted Masons,  Grange,  Patrons  of  Husbandry 
and  the  Mutual  Aid  Union. 


FT.  MERRIAM,  a  prominent  manufac- 
•  turer  of  sash,  doors  and  blinds,  at  Fal- 
coner, N.  Y.,  is  a  son  of  Levi  T.  and  Susan 
(Benson)  Merriam,  and  was  born  in  Jamestown, 
Chautauqua  county.  New  York,  JNIarcii  10, 
1850.  The  Merriams  are  active,  energetic 
and  aggressive  business  men  and  trace  their 
lineage  to  New  England.  The  paternal  grand- 
father, Abel  Merriam,  was  a  native  of  Massa- 
chusetts and  came  from  there  to  Chautauqua 
county  about  1820.  The  greater  portion  of 
his  after  life  was  spent  there — a  short  time  only 
being  given  to  a  sojonrn  in  Pennsylvania.  He 
followed  farming  at  which  he  made  money  and 
accumulated  some  property,  and  early  realizing 
that  free  education  is  the  basis  of  our  National 
freedom,  he  interested  himself  largely  in  its 
behalf,  giving  generously  of  his  time  and 
means.  Mr.  Merriam  was  a  whig  and  evolution 
naturally  changed  him  to  a  republican.  He 
was  at  one  time  a  member  of  the  Baptist  church, 
and  while  always  a  believer  in  the  theory  and 
practice  of  true  Christianity  it  is  believed  that 
he  relinquished  his  church  membership  before 
he  died.  The  Masonic  fraternity  numbered  • 
him  among  its  membership  and  he  attained 
some  prominence  iu  the  order.  Abel  Merriam 
married  and  became  the  father  of  six  children, 
four  sons  and  two  daughters.  Saxon  Benson 
(maternal  grandfather)  was  a  native  of  New 
England.  He  emigrated  to  the  Empire  State 
where  he  followed  his  trade  and  died.  Levi  T. 
Merriam  (father)  developed  a  remarkable  faculty 
for  business.  He  was  born  in  the  Bay  State 
about  1807,  was  reared  on  a  farm  and  taught 
the  lessons  of  youth  at  the  common  schools. 
Upon  attaining  his  fifteenth  year  he  was  put  to 
work  in  a  planing-mill  and  soon  showed  a 
remarkable   aptitude   for   the  work.     Having 


618 


BIOGRAPHY  AND  HISTORY 


learned  the  mechanical  business  connected  with 
manufacturing  sash,  doors  and  blinds,  he  came 
to  Jamestown  in  1820  and  later  entered  the 
employ  of  a  company  doing  similar  work.  He 
was  advanced  in  his  positions  until  he  had 
charge  of  the  works  and  continued  with  the 
firm  until  1853  when  he  moved  to  Falconer 
and  established  a  sash,  door  and  blind  factory 
which  he  conducted  until  1873  when  he  died  and 
was  succeeded  by  his  son,  F.  T.  Merriam.  He 
was  a  republican,  radical  and  aggressive,  and 
while  never  anxious  for  political  preferment  he 
was  active  in  all  his  party's  campaigns.  He 
belonged  to  the  I.  O.  O.  F.,  and  was  a  prudent, 
energetic,  methodical  and  pushing  business 
man,  accumulating  considerable  property.  His 
views  upon  public  matters  were  liberal  and  pro- 
gressive. He  married  Susan  Benson  about 
1848  and  reared  seven  children,  four  boys  and 
three  girls,  six  of  whom  are  still  living  :  L.  E., 
is  working  in  the  mill ;  Frank  O.,  is  in  business 
at  Erie,  Pa. ;  H.  F.,  is  at  the  mill ;  Florence  J. 
is  the  wife  of  William  Comic,  of  Jamestown  ; 
Lilla  M.  and  F.  T. 

F.  T.  Merriam  spent  his  childhood  and  youth 
in  Jamestown  and  the  town  of  Westfield  and 
having  acquired  a  good  common  school  and 
business  education  came  to  Falconer  and 
engaged  in  the  service  of  his  father,  until  the 
father's  death  when  he  succeeded  to  the  business. 
The  mills  employ  about  fifty  men  and  the  value 
of  the  output  is  about  $100,000  per  year  and 
their  shipments  are  largely  east  and  south. 

In  1875  he  married  Lorinda  Seeley,  a  daugh- 
ter of  Jeremiah  Seeley,  of  Gerry,  and  they  have 
had  three  children,  two  of  whom  arc  dead  : 
Susan  Hazel,  born  in  188G,  is  living. 

F.  T.  Merriam  is  a  republican,  a  member  of 
the  Equitable  Aid  Union,  and  has  been  promi- 
nently identified  with  securing  improved  educa- 
tional metiiods  for  his  village.  Having  been  at 
one  time  a  teacher  he  knows  the  short-comings 
of  the  old  system  and  has  made  many  practical 
suggestions  for  improvement. 


HARRY  .S.  MUJfSON  was  born  in  Portland 
town,  Chautauqua  county,  New  York, 
February  4,  1824,  and  is  a  son  of  Samuel  and 
Polly  (Hulburt)  Munson.  Samuel  Munson,  Sr. 
(grandfather),  was  a  native  of  Connecticut,  where 
he  was  born  July  9, 1762.  He  removed  to  New 
Hartford,  Oneida  county,  N.  Y.,  and  came  from 
there  to  Portland,'and  settled  near  where  the  sub- 
ject now  lives,  in  1819.  They  were  one  month  in 
coming  from  Oneida  cou  nty  and  a  week  from  Buf- 
falo, theconveyance  being  a  wagon  and  the  motive 
poweroxeu.  He  followed  farming  until  hisdeath, 
which  occurred  on  February  27,  1841.  Mr. 
Munson  traces  bis  ancestry  back  to  Captain 
Munson,  covering  two  hundred  years.  He  was 
a  soldier  in  the  war  of  1812  and  served  with 
distinction.  Samuel  Munson  (father)  was  born 
in  Oneida  county  in  1803,  and  came  with  his 
father  from  there  in  the  winter  of  1818-19. 
Being  pioneers  of  the  county  they  were  inured 
to  the  hardships  of  dealing  up  a  farm — practi- 
cally cutting  it  out  of  the  virgin  forest.  He 
settled  iu  Portland  town  with  his  father  and  af- 
terwards bought  fifty  acres  from  the  Holland 
Land  company,  which  he  lived  upon  to  the 
time  of  his  death  in  1883,  June  9th,  when 
eighty  years  of  age.  He  married  Polly  Hul- 
burt, a  native  of  Pompey,  Onondaga  county, 
this  State,  and  had  three  children :  Harry  S.; 
Milton  J.,  born  May  23,  1828,  and  ALson  N., 
born  April  20,  1834.  Mrs.  Munson  died  on 
tlie  old  homestead  July  19, 1875,  aged  seventy- 
five  years. 

Harry  S.  Munson  was  reared  on  his  father's 
farm  and  attended  the  district  .schools  in  the 
winter.  Being  tlie  oldest  of  the  family  a  great 
deal  of  hard  work  fell  on  his  .shoulders,  but  he 
was  a  stout,  strong  young  man  and  work  was 
not  a  burden.  The  season  of  1846  was  spent 
in  McHenry  county,  Illinois,  and  in  1851  he 
moved  to  Wayne,  Erie  county,  Pa.,  where  he  re- 
mained twelve  years.  With  the  exception  of  that 
time  Mr.  Munson  has  spent  his  entire  life  in  this 
town.     He  is  the  owner  of  a  fine  farm  contain- 


OF  CHAUTAUQUA   COUNTY. 


51'J 


ing  one  hundred  and  ten  acres,  two  miles  from 
the  village  oi"  Portland. 

In  1847  he  married  Cordelia  Spencer,  a 
daughter  of  Gilbert  Spencer,  who  lived  at  North 
East,  Pa.,  and  by  her  has  had  six  children  : 
Spencer  M.,  is  in  California ;  Mary  E.,  wife  of 
Hiram  F.  Morgan,  now  lives  in  the  town  of 
Pomfret;  Byron,  also  in  California;  Harry  S., 
in  New  Mexico,  the  head  clerk  of  a  large  gro- 
cery store;  Melvin  G.,  at  home,  and  Emma  J., 
wife  of  Ormal  Swetland,  living  in  this  town. 

H.  S.  Munsou  is  an  honest  republican  and  is 
one  of  the  best  citizens  of  this  town. 


HON.  S.  FREDERICK  NIXON,  of  West- 
field,  who  served  for  three  consecutive 
terms  as  a  member  of  the  New  York  Assembly, 
is  one  of  the  active  and  prosperous  marble  deal- 
ers of  the  State.  He  is  the  younger  of  two  sons 
born  to  Samuel  and  Mary  E.  (Johnston)  Nixon, 
and  was  born  at  Westfield,  Chautauqua  county, 
New  York,  December  3,  18G0.  Samuel  Nixon 
was  the  youngest  son  of  a  wealthy  Nixon  family 
of  County  Down,  Ireland,  where  under  the  law 
of  primogeniture  as  it  exists  in  the  emjiire  of 
Great  Britain,  his  eldest  brother  inherited  the 
landed  estate  and  all  the  property  of  his  father. 
He  was  born  in  1820  and  at  the  age  of  nineteen 
years  came  to  Jamestown  where  he  i-esided  un- 
til his  death  in  1876.  He  was  engaged  in  the 
marble  business  and  left' at  his  death  quite  an 
estate  which  he  had  accumulated  during  the 
thirty  years  of  his  business  life.  He  was  a 
Presbyterian  in  religious  faitii,  and  a  successful 
business  man  who  hud  made  himself  prominent 
in  the  commercial  circles  of  his  part  of  the  Em- 
pire State.  Shortly  before  his  death  he  was  en- 
gaged in  perfecting  arrangements  to  go  to  Scot- 
land in  1877  with  his  son,  the  subject  of  this 
sketch,  and  embarked  in  the  wliolesale  marble 
business.  He  married  Mary  E.  Johnston,  a 
native  of  County  Down.  They  were  the  parents 
of  two  sons. 

S.  Frederick  Nixon  grew  to  manhood  at  West- 


■  field  where  he  attended  the  public  schools  and 
Westfield  academy  from  which  lie  was  graduated 
in   1877.     He    then  entered  Hamilton    college 
and  was  gra<luati'd  from  that  well-known  insti- 
tution of  learning  in  1881.     Upon  the  comple- 
tion  of  his  college  course  he  n.ad  law  for  one 
year    but    his  business    interests    demanded    so 
much    of  his  time  that  he  was  compelled  to  re- 
linquish his  legal  studies.     He  is  a  republican 
'  iu  politics  and  in  1885  was  elected  trustee  of  his 
village.     In  1886  ho  was  elected  as  supervisor 
and  the  following  year  represented  the  Assembly 
t  district  of  Chautauqua  county,  iu  the  New  York 
I  Legislature,  in  which  he  served  on  several  im- 
I  portant  committees.     He  was  returned  iu   1888 
and  again  in  1889  but  owing  to  various  causes 
of  disturbance  in  his  party  was  defeated  in  his 
I  candidacy  for  a  fourth  term.     He  and  Matthew 
[  P.  Bemus  are  the  only  residents  of  Chautauqua 
county  who  have  ever  been  honored  with  three 
consecutive  terms  as  members  of  the  New  York 
Assembly.     In  the  legislative  sessions  of  1889 
and  1890,  Mr.  Nixon  was  chairman  of  the  com- 
mitteeon  internal  affairs  which  included  all  mat- 
ters pertaining  to  the  villages  and  towns  of  the 
State.     In  1889  he  also  served  on  the  commit- 
tee of  Eceneral  laws  for  two  years  besides  being 
a  member  of  the  committee  on  ways  and  means 
in  1 889.     He  has  always  been  active  and  success- 
ful in  his  county  as  a  leader  and  speaker  in  the 
Republican   party.     In  1887  and   1888  he  was 
chairman  of  the   republican  county    committee 
and  in  the  latter  year  Chautauqua  county  rolled 
up  a  heavier  republican  majority  than  she  ever 
gave  before  that  year. 

He  united  in  marriage  with  Myrtle  Redficld, 
a  resident  of  Chicay-o  and  a  native  of  Michig-an. 
They  have  two  children  :  S.  Frederick,  Jr.,  and 
Redfield. 

In  addition  to  his  property  in  Chautauqua 
county  Mr.  Nixon  owns  two  good  farms  of  one- 
hundred  and  seventy-five  and  two  hundred  acres 
respectively,  some  three  miles  from  Des  Moines, 
in  Warren  county,  Iowa.     He  and  his  brother 


520 


BIOGRAPHY  AND  HISTORY 


Emmet  are  actively  engaged  in  dealing  in  mar- 
ble at  Westfield,  where  they  do  an  annual  bu.si- 
ness  of  twenty  thousand  dollars.  He  is  one  of 
the  directors  of  the  Crowell  &  Pulley  Manu- 
facturing company  which  was  organized  in  1889 
and  employs  a  force  of  forty  hands.  He  owns  two 
farms  in  his  town,  one  of  which  is  one  of  the  earliest 
settled  farms  in  the  county.  Mr.  Nixon  is  a  mem- 
ber of  the  F.  and  A.  M.,  and  of  the  Royal 
Arcanum. 


HENRY  W.  ODELL,,  one  of  the  proprietors 
of  the  Chautauqua  Lake  stock  farms  and 
an  oil  producer  of  northwestern  Pennsylvania, 
is  a  son  of  John  and  Theodosia  (Hodges)  Odell, 
and  was  born  in  the  town  of  Busti,  Chautauqua 
county,  New  York,  July  6,  1852.  The  Odell 
family  is  of  English  descent.  John  Odell 
(father)  was  born  in  1818  and  removed  to  Cat- 
taraugus county,  New  York,  where  he  has  been 
engaged  for  many  years  in  the  grocery,  oil  and 
lumber  business.  He  was  formerly  a  republican 
in  politics,  but  a  few  years  ago  joined  the  pro- 
hibition party.  He  married  Theodosia  Hodges, 
daughter  of  John  Hodges,  a  farmer  and  stock 
raiser  near  Cambridge,  Pa.,  and  who  was  a 
member  of  the  Cambridge  Presijyterian  church. 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  John  Odell  had  two  children : 
Henry  W.  and  Theodosia,  wife  of  Eugene  Pearce, 
a  merchant  and  coal  dealer  of  Olean.  Afler 
the  death  of  his  first  wife  John  Odell  married 
P^uphemia  Odell.  To  this  second  marriage 
were  born  two  children :  James  and  one  which 
died  in  infancy. 

Henry  W.  Odell  was  educated  in  the  common 
schools  of  the  town  of  Busti,  and  in  Obei-lin 
college,  Ohio.  After  he  left  college  he  became 
a  contractor  for  drilling  oil  wells  in  Pennsyl- 
vania. After  several  years'  experience  as  a 
contractor  he  embarked  in  the  oil  producing 
business,  which  he  has  followed  successfully 
ever  since.  In  October,  1889,  he  removed  to 
Jamestown,  and  became  partner  with  T.  J. 
\'aiulcrL'iirt  in  tiic  purchase  of  the;  Chautauqua 


Lake  stock  farm,  containing  some  two  hundred 
acres  of  land,  on  which  they  propose  to  raise 
none  but  the  finest  horses.  They  now  have 
about  fifty  head  of  very  fine  horses. 

Mr.  Odell  married  Lena  Carr,  daughter  of 
Thomas  Carr,  of  Portage,  Ohio.  To  their 
union  has  been  born  one  child,  a  son,  Lewis. 

H.  W.  Odell  is  a  man  of  energy  and  business 

tact  and  has  always  supported  the  Republican 

party. 

© 

T  ^  OUIS  OLSOM.  The  State  of  New  York  is 
-'"^  famous  for  the  number  and  quality  of  car- 
riaces  and  road  wagons  which  its  factories  turn 
out.  Louis  Olsom,  of  Jamestown,  who  for  a  num- 
ber of  years  has  been  a  leading  blacksmith  there, 
has  added  the  necessary  machinery  to  his  plant, 
and  is  now  competing  for  a  portion  of  that 
trade.  He  is  a  son  of  OUe  and  Annie  (Ander- 
son) Olsom,  and  was  born  in  Denmark  October 
12th,  1856.  His  family  have  been  natives  of 
that  country  from  time  immemorial,  and  his 
parents  still  reside  there.  Olle  Olsom  was  born 
in  1816  and  through  the  greater  portion  of  his 
life  tilled  the  soil  to  secure  maintenance  for 
himself  and  family,  and,  having  amassed  a  com- 
fortable income,  he  is  now  retired  from  active 
work,  aged  seventy-five  years.  As  is  customary 
in  that  country  with  all  of  its  young  men,  he 
served  twelve  years  in  the  Danish  army  and  has 
always  been  a  healthy,  stout,  strong  and  very 
active  man. 

Louis  Olsom  was  reared  on  his  father's  farm 
in  Denmark  and  received  his  education  at  the 
national  schools  of  that  country,  and  upon  com- 
pleting his  education  he  learned  blacksmithing 
and  followed  it  until  the  fall  of  1875;  at  the 
latter  date  he  came  to  America  and  located  at 
Warren,  Pennsylvania,  where  he  lived  and 
worked  at  his  trade  for  four  years,  and  then 
wishing  to  change,  he  went  to  Bradford,  in  the 
same  State,  and  employed  iiimself  in  the  same 
work  for  five  years  longer.  It  was  there  that 
he  first  began  business  for  iiimself,  and  in  1884, 


OF  CHAUTAUQUA   COUNTY. 


521 


learning  tliat  Jamestown  (jll'ered  a  good  opening 
for  a  l)lacl<sniitii,  lie  eanie  here  and  established 
a  shop  of  his  own  and  iiiilowed  the  business  un- 
remittingly and  with  such  success  that  m  1801 
he  added  carriage  niannfactiiring  to  his  black- 
smith work  and  now  does  a  large  business  in 
both.  His  work  has  the  reputation  of  being 
equiil  to  the  best,  and  it  is  upon  this  foundation 
of  superior  workmanship  that  his  growing  busi- 
ness is  founded.  He  started  in  life  with  a  small 
capital  and  by  industry  and  economy  has  made 
such  accumulations  that  in  addition  to  his  busi- 
ness he  is  the  owner  of  considerable  real  estate. 
In  18S4  he  married  Annie  Itiley,  of  Rich- 
burg,  Allegheny  county,  Penna.,  and  they  have 
been  blessed  with  three  children,  all  daughters: 
Alice,  Annie  and  Minnie.  Politically  Mr.  Ol- 
som  is  independent  of  all  parties  and  holds  him- 
self free  to  support  such  candidates  as  his  judg- 
ment suggests. 


"T^HOMAS  A.  PEACOCK,  a  grand-nephew 
-*-  of  Judge  AVilliam  Peacock,  and  a  resident 
of  Westfield,  is  a  son  of  Thomas  and  Alice  E. 
(Peacock)  Peacock,  and  was  born  at  Port- 
land Harbor  (now  Silver  Creek)  in  the  town 
of  Portland,  Chautauqua  county.  New  York, 
September  20,  1849.  His  paternal  great-grand- 
father, Thomas  Peacock,  was  a  native  of  Ire- 
land, where  he  learned  the  trade  of  weaver,  and 
from  there  he  came  to  central  New  York. 
Three  of  his  sous  were  John,  Absalom  and 
Judge  William  Peacock,  who  was  one  of  the 
early  leading  and  prominent  men  of  Chautauqua 
county,  and  whose  sketch  appears  elsewhere  in 
this  volume.  The  first  two  named  son.s,  John 
and  Absalom  Peacock,  were  the  paternal  and 
maternal  grandfathers  of  the  subject  of  this 
sketch.  Thomas  Peacock  (father)  learned  the 
trade  of  tanner  and  leather  currier  at  Pen  Yau, 
this  State,  and  followed  the  tanning  business 
during  the  greater  part  of  his  life.  He  was  an 
industrious  man  and  a  good  workman  and  died 
in   1851.     He    married    his  cousin,   Alice    E. 


Peacock,  who  was  a  daughter  of  Absalom  Pea- 
cock, and  passed  away  in  1873.  They  had 
two  children  :  'J'li(jmas  A.,  and  Frances,  who 
<lied  !it  fourteen  years  of  age. 

Thomas  A.  Peacock  passed  most  of  his  boy- 
hood at  Westfield  where  he  attended  the  West- 
lield  academy.  He  then  took  the  full  course  of 
Bryant  and  Stratton's  Business  college  and 
since  leaving  that  well-known  commercial  insti- 
tution has  given  his  time  principally  to  the 
management  of  his  own  private  business  and 
the  supervision  of  his  property  at  Westfield  and 
in  the  city  of  Buffalo.  Mr.  Peacock  erected  a 
very  fine  modern  brick  residence  at  Westfield, 
which  is  valued  at   thirty-six    hundred  dollars. 

He  also  owns  a  valuable  farm  of  three  hun- 
dred acres  on  the  lake  shore  besides  a  large 
farm  two  miles  west  of  Westfield  which  his 
aunt  willed  him  at  her  death.  He  has  valuable 
property  in  the  city  of  Buffalo  including  some 
fine  buildings  in  the  Krenlin  block  besides 
an  individual  interest  in  several  lots  and 
buildings  near  and  adjoining  the  Grand  Trunk 
railway  depot  at  the  foot  of  Erie  street.  He 
has  always  supported  his  party  in  all  of  its 
leading  measures,  but  his  business  interests 
have  always  been  such  as  to  demand  the  greater 
part  of  his  time  and  attention. 

In  1881,  Thomas  A.  Peacock  united  in  mar- 
riage with  Alice  M.  Stanfield,  and  their  union 
has  been  blessed  with  two  children  :  William, 
born  May  17,  1882,  and  Charles  E.,  born  July 
3,  1884. 


TTRTHUR  PETERS,  the  leading  contractor 
■'*■  and  builder  of  Dunkirk,  to  whom  many 
are  indebted  for  the  neat  and  handsome  appear- 
ance of  their  residences  and  places  of  business, 
is  a  son  of  Samuel  and  Sarah  (Copplestone) 
Peter.s,  and.  was  born  February  1,  1846,  iu 
Cornwall  county,  a  famous  mining  district  in 
the  southwestern  part  of  England,  both  parents 
being  natives  of  the  same  country.  Samuel 
Peters      (father)     was     born     in     1820,    and 


522 


BIOGRAPHY  AND  HISTORY 


married  Sarah  Copplestone,  by  wliom  he  had 
several  children.  He  was  a  member  of  the 
Church  of  England,  as  is  also  his  wife.  He 
died  in  February,  1888,  in  his  native  country 
where  he  had  always  lived,  aged  sixty-eight 
years,  a'nd  his  widow  still  resides  in  Cornwall 
county,  in  lier  seventy-third  year. 

Arthur  Peters  was  reared  in  his  native  county, 
and  acquired  his  education  in  the  public  and 
private  schools.  At  sixteen  years  of  age  he 
began  to  learn  the  trade  of  a  carpenter,  at 
which,  in  connection  with  contracting  and 
building,  he  has  since  labored,  and  in  1869 
came  to  the  United  States,  locating  at  Sinclair- 
ville,  this  county,  where  he  continued  to  reside 
until  May,  1880,  when  he  came  to  Dunkirk. 
He  is  now  conceded  to  be  the  leading  contractor 
of  Dunkirk,  and  has  built  more  than  thirty  , 
buildings,  at  a  cost  of  from  one  to  ten  thousand 
dollars,  among  the  handsomest  being  the  resi 
dences  of  F.  B.  Jackson,  J.  H.  Lascelles  and 
A.  H.  Whitney.  About  a  score  of  men  are 
constantly  employed  by  him.  In  religion  he  is 
a  member  of  tlie  Episcopal  church,  as  are  all 
his  family,  and  politically  he  is  independent. 
He  is  a  member  of  Blue  Lodge,  Free  and 
Accepted  Masons,  and  iie  a  Royal  Arch  Mason 

In  1868,  Mr.  Peters  married  Laura  Cossen- 
tine,  a  daughter  of  Charles  Cossentine,  of 
England.  Four  children  have  blessed  their 
union,  two  sous  and  two  daughters  :  Evaline  A., 
Samuel  A.,  Cliarles  H.  and  Laura  C,  whose 
ages  arc  twenty,  seventeen,  fourteen  and  twelve, 
respectively. 

o 

TTi  ILT>IAM  .SEXTON.  The  late  William 
^^^  Sextou,  one  of  tlie  early  and  most  re- 
spected citizens  of  Westfield,  was  born  at  Man- 
ciiester,  Bennington  county,  Vermont,  April 
11,  1796.  In  1816  he  came  to  Buffalo,  and 
thence  on  the  ice  to  Westfield,  to  which  place  he 
removed  his  family  during  the  next  year.  He 
soon  beciime  prominent  in  tlie  civil  affairs  of  his 
town  and  county.     He  served  as  constable  and 


collector  from  1825  to  1834,  was  sheriff  of 
Chautauqua  county  from  1834  to  1838,  and 
served  as  postmaster  of  Westfield  during  1841, 
and  again  from  1849  to  1853,  being  removed 
both  times  for  political  reasons  by  Presidents 
Tyler  and  Pierce.  In  1853  he  was  elected  jus- 
tice of  the  peace,  which  office  he  held  by  re-elec- 
tion until  1880,  when  he  resigned  on  account  of 
ill-health.  He  also  was  supervisor,  besides 
holding  other  town  oiSces.  He  served  contin- 
uously in  town  and  county  offices  from  1824  to 
1880,  a  period  of  fifty-six  years,  and  during  his 
shrievalty  occurred  the  first  execution  in  the 
county  for  murder.  He  married,  and  his  wife 
died  in  May,  1875.  They  had  six  children  : 
George,  Charles,  William,  Edwin,  Electa  Rob- 
bins  and  Mary  S.,  widow  of  Hon.  Henry  A. 
Prendergast. 

William  Sexton,  after  a  long  illness,  passed 
away  at  the  residence  of  his  daughter,  Mrs. 
Prendergast,  at  Westfield,  on  October  7,  1881, 
when  in  the  eighty-sixth  year  of  his  age.  In 
the  press  notices  of  his  death  the  following 
tribute  was  paid  to  his  memory  by  one  who 
knew  liim  well :  "  Mr.  Sexton  always  proved 
himself  an  honest,  faithful  and  efficient  officer. 
He  was  a  member  of  the  Baptist  church,  and 
though  he  made  no  parade  of  his  religion,  yet 
by  his  humble  and  kindly  disposition,  and  ex- 
emplary life  and  acts,  the  only  true  test  of 
Christian  character,  he  gave  the  best  evidence 
that  he  was  a  true  Christian." 


HON.  TIENKY  A.  PRENDEKOAST,  for 
many  years  a  prominent  citizen  of  West- 
field,  and  whose  ancestors  were  among  the  earlier 
settlers  of  western  New  York,  was  a  son  of  Ste- 
piien  and  Almira  (Abell)  Prendergast,  and  was 
born  in  the  town  of  Ripley,  Chautauqua  county, 
New  York,  October  31, 1821.  His  great-grand- 
father, William  Prendergast,  Sr.,  was  born  in 
Waterford,  Ireland,  came  to  Dutchess  county, 
where  he  married  Mehetable  Wing,  and  at 
seventy-eiglit  years  of  age  was  one  of  the  pioneer 


OF  CHAUTAUQUA   COUNTY. 


523 


settlers  of  Chautauqua  county,  where  he  died 
February  14, 1811  (for  a  fuller  account  of  iiitu 
and  his  family  see  historical  partof  tiiis  volume). 
His  second  son,Tiionias,  married  Dc'borah  Hunt, 
and  their  only  son,  Stephen  i'rendergast,  was 
born  at  Pawling,  New  York,  January  23,  179;5, 
and  died  January  31,  1852.  Stephen  Pronder- 
gast  came  in  1805  to  llipiey,  where  he  married 
Almira  Abell,  who  was  born  January  23,  1796, 
and  died  at  an  advanced  age.  They  had  four 
children  :  Thomas  N.,  Hon.  Henry  A.,  Stephen 
and  Jolin  L. 

Henry  A.  Prendergast  was  reared  on  the 
farm,  and  in  the  fall  of  1838  entered  Union 
college,  from  which  he  was  gra<luated  in  1842. 
He  then  became  a  law  student  in  the  office  of 
D.  Mann,  of  Westfield,  but  in  a  short  time  was 
compelled  by  impaired  healtii  to  abandon  his 
legal  studies  and  take  up  the  more  healthful  em- 
ployments of  farming,  fishing  and  hunting.  For 
several  years  he  gave  his  attention  to  farming, 
during  which  time  he  imported  into  the  country 
some  of  the  finest  stock  that  could  be  obtained 
in  England.  He  refused  to  enter  political  life 
until  the  American  party  came  into  existence, 
when,  in  the  fall  of  1855,  he  yielded  to  continued 
importunings,  became  a  candidate  for  the  Assem- 
bly and  was  elected  by  four  hundred  and  fifty 
majority,  although  his  district  was  American 
by  one  thousand,  and  he  was  opposed  by  two 
strong  candidates.  In  1856  he  was  nominated 
by  acclamation  and  was  elected  by  over  two 
thousand  majority.  During  his  second  term  he 
served  as  chairman  of  the  committee  of  ways 
and  means.  He  afterwards  completed  his  law 
studies,  was  admitted  to  the  bar,  and  practiced 
for  a  time  at  Quincy,  where  he  was  engaged  in 
the  mercantile  business  for  several  years.  In 
1861  he  served  a  third  term  as  a  member  of 
Assembly,  and  shortly  afterwards  entered  the 
Army  of  the  Cumberland  as  a  paymaster.  While 
with  that  army  in  Tennessee  he  was  taken  sick, 
and  by  advice  of  the  surgeon  returned  home, 
where  he  died  a  few  days  after  his  arrival. 


He  married  Mary  S.  Sexton,  daughter  of 
Williatn  Sexton  (see  his  sketch),  and  to  their 
union  were  born  two  children  :  Minerva  E.,  mar- 
ried June  17,  1869,  George  W.  Fargo.,  Jr., 
of  Butl'alo,  who  died  December  30,  1872,  and 
whom  slie  followed  to  the  tomb  on  October  1 1 , 
1873,  leaving  twin  daughters — Anne  E.  and 
Mary  C,  now  at  school  at  Buffalo  ;  and  Charles 
S.,  who  died  in  1865,  aged  fifteen  years. 

"Henry  A.  Prendergast  was  a  man  of  fine 
intellect,  a  good  speaker  and  a  thorough  busi- 
ness man.  In  person  he  was  tall  (nearly  six 
feet),  of  good  mould,  of  nervous  .sanguine  tem- 
perament, and  blue  eyes,  Ijrowu  hair  and  |)ale 
features.  He  was  frank,  genial  and  respected." 
Of  his  paternal  ancester,  William  Prendergast, 
Sr.,  it  is  recorded  in  Howe's  historical  collec- 
tions that  during  the  anti-rent  troubles  of 
Dutchess  county  he  was  known  as  the  "  Big 
Thunder  "  of  that  exciting  time.  "  The  Pren- 
dergasts  became  the  possessors  of  some  of  the 
finest  lands  in  this  county  and  have  been  con- 
sidered among  the  most  wealthy,  public-spirited 
farmers  in  the  West."  On  the  paternal  side 
Henry  A.  Prendergast's  ancestors  were  real 
Vermonters  and  bore  arms  in  the  Revolution- 
ary war,  in  .some  of  whose  great  battles  his 
great-grandfather.  Captain  Abell,  who  has  often 
been  mentioned  honorably  in  history  took  a 
distinguished  part. 


/^-HARLES  S.  PAYNE,  the  well  known  and 
^^  equally  well-liked  proprietor  of  the  Broc- 
ton  House,  an  ex-steamboat  captain,  and  horti- 
culturalist,  is  a  son  of  Samuel  and  Laura 
(Elmer)  Payne,  and  was  born  in  Conway, 
Franklin  county,  Massachusetts,  July  22, 1832. 
The  Paynes  came  from  the  Scotch  race,  that 
hardy,  honorable,  persevering  people,  who  have 
taken  such  an  important  part  in  the  populating 
of  this  country.  Samuel  Payne  was  born  in 
Massachusetts  in  1801,  and  lived  there,  a  tiller 
of  the  soil,  for  half  a  century.  In  1852  he 
brought  his  family  to  the  town  of  Stockton, 


524 


BIOGRAPHY  AND  HISTORY 


where  he  continued  to  farm  and  speculate  in 
various  commodities  with  the  capital  that  he 
had  brought  with  him.  He  married  Laura 
Elmer  in  Massachusetts,  and  had  several  chil- 
dren. Mrs.  Payne  was  a  woman  of  marked 
force  of  cliaracter,  which  was  transmitted  to 
her  children  to  a  great  degree.  ISIr.  Payne  was 
a  strong  democrat  and  a  gentleman  of  pro- 
nounced ideas.  He  died  in  1855,  his  wife  fol- 
lowing him  to  her  last  resting  place  in  1859. 
They  were  members  of  the  Universalist  church 
and  highly  respected. 

Charles  S.  Payne  was  educated  in  the  common 
schools  of  Massachusetts,  which  was  largely 
supplemented,  however,  by  observation  and  in- 
quiry in  after  life.  When  a  young  man  he  filled 
the  position  of  traveling  agent  for  a  nuisery 
house,  following  it  for  a  number  of  years,  then 
changing  to  the  same  capacity  for  a  Jamestown 
furniture  house.  In  1870  Mr.  Payne  navigat- 
ed Lake  Chautauqua  as  captain  of  one  of  the 
steamboats  which  plowed  those  waters,  following 
it  for  several  years  and  becoming  a  part  owner 
in  a  boat,  but  in  1888  he  tired  of  this  and  came 
to  Brocton  and  boiii^ht  tlie  hotel  buiidiny;  which 
bears  the  city's  name.  The  advent  of  his  tak- 
ing charge  of  this  hostelry  was  marked  by  great 
improvements  in  its  every  department,  and  to- 
day the  Brocton  House  and  Boniface  Payne 
have  the  friendship  of  all  the  traveling  men 
who  come  to  the  city.  Connected  with  the 
hotel,  he  operates  a  first-class  livery  stable,  and 
is  engaged  in  the  growing  of  grapes. 

He  married  Jennie  Martin,  a  daughter  of 
Hiram  Martin,  who  lives  in  Portland  town, 
and  they  have  one  child,  a  son  :  George  Porter. 

C.  8.  Payne  is  an  active  worker  in  the  Re- 
publican party,  taking  more  than  ordinary  in- 
terest in  the  elections.  He  is  one  of  the  fore- 
most citizens  of  Brocton  in  all  improvements 
that  point  to  this  city's  advancement ;  is  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Royal  Arcanum,  and  of  the  Free 
and  Accepted  Masons. 


ryjILLIi\J>I    G.  PECKHAM,    at   present 

^■^^  commander  of  James  M.  Brown  Post 
No.  285,  G.  A.  R.,  of  Jamestown,  has  been  a 
farmer,  blacksmith  and  carpenter,  and  is  a 
master  workman  at  all  these  trades.  He  is  a 
son  of  George  H.  and  Harriet  F.  (Perrigo) 
Peckham,  and  was  born  in  the  western  part 
of  Rhode  Island,  March  3,  1841. 
'  The  Ppckiiam  family  are  of  English  extrac- 
tion, but  have  been  transplanted  in  America 
for  considerably  more  than  a  century,  and  have 
spent  most  of  the  time  in  the  State  above  men- 
tioned. The  paternal  grandfather,  William 
Peckham,  was  born  there  and  died  at  South 
Kingston,  same  State,  in  18(54,  aged  ninety-six 
years.  He  was  one  of  those  who,  when  the 
tocsin  of  war  sounded  for  bur  second  struggle 
with  the  mother  country,  shouldered  his  mus- 
ket and  fought  through  the  entire  war.  George 
H.  Peckham  came  to  Chautauqua  county  in 
1855,  and  located  at  Kennedy,  where  lie  re- 
mained until  1872,  when,  as  tiie  tide  of  emigra- 
tion was  flowing  rapidly  toward  the  fertile  lands 
of  the  great  plains,  he  loaded  his  effects  on 
wagons  and  drove  to  the  then  new  State  of 
Kansas,  secui'ed  him  a  farm  in  Dickinson 
county  and  now  resides  there,  aged  seventy- 
nine  years.  He  is  a  farmer  by  occuj)ation,  and 
in  politics  a  greenbackcr;  his  wife,  Harriot  F. 
Perrigo  was  a  native  of  the  land  of  Roger  Wil- 
liams, and  is  now  in  her  sixty-fifth  year. 

William  (J.  Peckham  spent  liis  boyhood  and 
youth  in  Rhode  Island  and  was  educated  in  the 
academy  at  Westerly.  After  leaving  school  he 
engaged  for  a  while  in  farming,  but  finding  it 
uncongenial  he  learned  the  blacksmith  trade, 
which  he  followed  a  short  time  and  then  ac- 
([uircd  the  trade  of  carpentering  and  joining, 
which  he  has  followed  for  eighteen  years.  A 
great  many  of  the  houses  and  barns  in  this  and 
Cattaraugus  county  have  been  erected  by  him, 
many  of  them  by  contract,  as  he  has  added 
contracting  and  building  to  his  business.  Wil- 
liam G.  Peckham  came  to  this  county  in  1855, 


OF  CHAUTAUQUA  COUNTY. 


525 


and  tu  the  city  of  Jamestown  twenty  years  later, 
and  has  lived  here  ever  since.  In  August, 
1861,  after  President  Lincoln  had  made  his 
second  appeal  to  tiic  (M)iMitry  for  defenders  to 
save  her  from  disruption,  lie  enlisted  as  a  pri- 
vate in  Co.  E,  .'3th  regiment  New  York  Cav- 
alry, and  served  to  the  close  of  the  war,  having 
been  mnstei'cd  out  of  service  at  New  York  city 
in  July,  1865.  On  July  .".,  1864,  at  the  battle 
of  Ashland  Station,  he  was  wounded  by  a  min- 
ie-ball  striking  him  on  the  breast-bone.  He 
participated  in  all  the  battles  of  his  regiment 
except  one,  Petersburg,  there  being  thirty-six 
pitched  and  seventy-eight  skirmishes,  and  he  was 
mustered  out  as  the  first  lieutenant  of  Company 
M,  same  regiment.  They  were  escorts  for  Gen. 
Sheridan  from  November,  1864,  until  the  close 
of  the  war. 

In  1867  William  G.  Peckham  married  El- 
mira  J.  Truesdelj,  a  daughter  of  Zebedee  Trues- 
dell,  who  came  from  Rochester,  New  York,  to 
Jamestown,  and  by  this  uniou  there  was  born 
one  son,  Clayton  J.,  who  is  a  book-keeper  in 
this  city.  Mr.  Peckham  is  a  prominent  repub- 
lican and  takes  au  active  part  in  his  j)arty's  af- 
fairs. He  belongs  to  the  Ancient  Order  of 
United  Workmen,  aud  is  one  of  tlie  citizens  of 
Jamestown  of  whom  she  may  be  proud. 


HURLBIRT  L,.  PHILLIPS  is  a  son  of 
Robert  H.  and  Augusta  M,  (Bartholo- 
mew) Phillips,  and  was  born  in  Geneva,  Ohio, 
December  5,  1856.  His  paternal  gi'andfather, 
Jacob  Phillips,  was  a  native,  in  all  probal)iiity, 
of  Rensselaer  county,  this  State,  aud  removed 
to  Ashtabula  county,  Ohio,  where  he  spent  the 
remainder  of  his  life.  Grandfather  Bartholo- 
mew was  a  resident  of  Ashtabula  county,  from 
which  he  removed  to  Minnesota,  where  he  died. 
Robert  H.  Phillips  (father)  was  boru  in  Ashta- 
bula county  and  now  resides  in  Minueapolis, 
Minnesota,  being  a  miller  there.  He  married 
Augusta  N.  Bartholomew,  by  whom  he  had  , 
four  sons  and  three  daughters. 


Hurlburt  L.  Phillips  was  reared  in  North- 
field,  Minnesota,  and  received  his  education  in 
the  common  schools  of  that  place  and  the  Insti- 
tute at  Jamestown,  to  wiiieh  city  he  came  in 
1872.  After  leaving  school,  he  engaged  in 
buying  and  selling  live  stock  in  tiie  eastern 
states,  continuing  in  tiiat  business  for  ten  years, 
and  in  1883  he  purchased  an  interest  in  the 
furniture  manufacturing  business  of  Beaman, 
Breed  &  Phillips,  remaining  with  them  until 
1886,  when  he  sold  out.  The  following  year 
he  engaged  in  the  manufacture  of  lounges,  in 
which  business  he  still  remains.  He  has  asso- 
ciated with  him  Theodore  Ilanchett,  L.  F.  Cor- 
nell and  Arthur  H.  Greenland.  They  occupy 
a  building,  132x72  feet,  four  stories  higii  and 
employ  eighty  men,  besides  a  half-dozen  travel- 
ing salesmen,  who  cover  the  territory  between 
the  Mississippi  river  and  the  Atlantic  coast. 

On  February  8,  1888,  Mr.  Phillips  married 
Nellie  C.  Buchanan,  a  daughter  of  John  Bu- 
chanan, of  Youngsviile,  Pennsylvania.  Their 
union  has  been  ble.ssed  with  one  child,  a  daugh- 
ter: Parmelee. 

Politically  Mr.  Phillips  adheres  to  the  prin- 
ciples of  the  Republican  party.  He  is  a  mem- 
ber of  Mt.  ]\Ioriah  Lodge,  No.  14.5,  F.  and  A. 
M.,  aud  is  also  a  Royal  Arcii  Mason  and 
Knight  Templar.  In  tiie  fire  department  he 
has  been  a  valuable  member  for  several  years 
and  is  now  assistant  chief. 


"PZRA  F.  PARODY,  now  a  retired  farmer, 
■'■^  living  in  the  village  of  Ripley,  Chautau- 
qua county.  New  York,  but  formerly  an  active 
agriculturist  living  in  the  town  of  that  same 
n:ime,  is  a  son  of  Stephen  and  Mary  (Gay) 
Pabody,  and  was  born  at  New  Lebanon,  New 
York,  November  19,  1818.  The  paternal 
grandfather  was  a  native  and  resident  of  New 
England,  where  he  was  engaged  in  mercantile 
life.  He  descended  from  a  Scotch  emigrant, 
but  as  he  died  when  his  son  (subject's  father) 
was  a  small  infant,  but  little  can  be  given  about 


526 


BIOGRAPHY  AND  HISTORY 


him  or  his  people.  The  maternal  grandfather 
was  Henry  Gay.  Stephen  Pabody  was  born  in 
the  east,  but  when  young  moved  to  and  lived 
in  Monroe  county,  New  York.  He  followed  a 
variety  of  mechanical  employments,  and  finally, 
about  1833,  went  to  North  East,  Penna.,  where 
he  died  in  1858.  He  was  a  democrat.  Stephen 
Pabody  married  Mary  Gay,  and  reared  a  family 
of  two  sons  and  three  daughters:  Ezra  F.,  Ann 
M.,  died  in  Buffalo ;  Jeannette,  married  A.  W. 
Butts,  and  lives  at  North  East,  Penna. ;  George 
is  farming  at  the  same  place;  and  Delphius 
lives  in  Nebraska. 

Ezra  F.  Pabod}'  followed  the  movements  of 
his  father  until  grown  to  manhood,  and  then 
married  Alniira  Dixon,  a  daughter  of  John 
Dixon,  and  by  her  had  three  children  :  Stephen 
A.,  born  August  10,  1845,  married  Martha 
Parks  and  now  lives  as  a  farmer  in  the  town  of 
Ripley  ;  John  D.  was  born  October  6,  1847,  and 
now  lives  with  his  wife,  Aggie  Davis  Pabody, 
at  North  East,  Penna.;  Radolphus  D.,  born 
August  24,  1849,  is  in  the  employ  of  the  B.  & 
O.  R.  R.,  and  lives  at  Huntington,  West  Vir- 
ginia. After  the  death  of  his  first  wife,  Ezra 
F.  Pabody  married  Clara  M.  Downer,  a  daugh- 
ter of  Seneca  Downer,  of  Oneida  county.  New 
York. 

Ezra  F.  Pabody  received  the  limited  educa- 
tion given  to  boys  of  that  day,  the  aggregate 
amount  tendered  him  not  exccedinoj  a  term  of 
tlie  present  day.  He  worked  with  his  father  in 
the  shoj)  until  reaching  manhood,  and  then 
opened  a  chair-shop  at  North  East,  which  he 
conducted  for  two  years,  and  then  sold  it,  pur- 
chasing with  the  proceeds  a  farm  of  one  hundred 
and  eleven  acres,  near  the  village  of  Ripley, 
where  his  son  now  lives.  Mr.  I'abody  made 
his  home  upon  that  property  for  thirty-five 
years,  and  in  187G  he  bought  a  home  in  Rii)ley 
village,  where  lie  has  since  lived  in  quiet. 
I'olitically  lie  is  a  democrat,  but  in  local  matters 
he  is  entirely  independent,  and  has  held  tiie 
office  of  assessor  for  three  years. 


TDDO  A.  SIKES  is  a  wholesale  and  retail 
^  agent  for  the  sale  of  wagons,  buggies  and 
general  road  vehicles  at  Kennedy.  He  was  boru 
in  Cattaraugus  county,  New  York,  June  4,  1848, 
and  is  a  son  of  Stephen  and  Caroline  (Wood- 
ward) Sikes.  His  grandfather,  Shadrach  Sikes, 
was  a  native  of  Pittsfield,  Berkshire  county, 
Mass.,  and  removed  to  the  town  of  West  Otto, 
Cattaraugus  county,  this  State,  when  about  forty 
years  of  age,  where  he  died  fifty-seven  years 
later,  in  1890.  He  was  a  democrat  of  the 
Jeflf'ersonian  type,  and  served  as  a  private  in  the 
last  war  with  Great  Britain.  John  Woodward 
was  a  native  of  the  Empire  State,  married  a 
Miss  Blanchard,  and  reared  three  children,  one 
of  whom,  Caroline,  is  the  subject's  mother.  He 
was  a  carpenter  and  joiner  by  trade,  being  con- 
sidered very  skillful.  Politically  a  democrat, 
he  was  enthusiastic  in  the  campaigns  prior  to 
reconstruction.  Stephen  Sikes  was  born  at 
Pittsfield,  Mass.,  about  1817,  and  spent  his 
youth  upon  his  fatiier's  farm  near  that  town. 
A  good  common  school  education  was  acquired 
and  when  sixteen  years  of  age  he  came  to  Catta- 
raugus county.  Besides  farming  he  quarried 
and  trimmed  burr-stones  for  grist-mills,  which, 
being  of  superior  manufacture,  were  in  great 
demand.  In  1880,  while  at  Niagara  Falls,  he 
died,  aged  sixty-three  years.  In  1844  he  mar- 
ried Caroline  Woodward,  and  they  were  the 
parents  of  five  children :  Iddo  Abiathar,  Flor- 
ence D.  (dead) ;  W^inford  S.,  resides  at  Eldred, 
Pa.;  Olney  Y .,  lives  at  the  same  place;  and 
Estella  (dead).  Mrs.  Sikes  is  still  living,  enjoys 
good  health,  and  bids  fair  to  enjoy  a  pleasant 
life  for  many  years.  Stephen  Sikes  was  a 
gentleman  of  unusual  pul>lic  spirit  and  perspi- 
cacity, was  a  member  of  church,  of  the  local 
military,  and  belonged  to  the  Republican  party. 
Iddo  Abiathar  Sikes  was  born  and  reared  at 
Otto,  Cattaraugus  county,  until  twelve  years  of 
age,  during  which  time  he  attended  school.  The 
fiimily  then  removed  to  Leon  and  he  learned  the 
trade    of    blaoksmitliing    at     East     Randolph. 


OF  CHAUTAUQUA   COUNTY. 


527 


Upon  completing  his  apprenticeship  he  came  to  ' 
Kennedy  and  embarked  in  kiisiuess,  doing  gen- 
eral blacksmithing  and  carriage  ironing,  besides 
doing  a   large  sales   business    in   all    kinds  of 
vehicles. 

In  August,  1868,  he  married  Alice  V.  Saxtoti, 
a  daughter  of  Reuben  Saxton,  by  whom  he 
had  two  children  :  Edith  L.,  born  June  13, 
1869,  was  given  all  the  advantages  of  a  liberal 
education  at  the  village  schools  and  Chamber- 
lain institute,  especial  attention  being  given  to 
iustrumental  music.  She  is  a  finished  scholar 
and  performs  brilliantly  upon  the  piano ;  and 
Mabel  I.,  born  June  4,  1871,  and  died  October 
10,  1890,  in  the  freshness  of  her  young  woman- 
hood. 

I.  A.  Sikes  belongs  to  the  Republican  party, 
and  is  a  member  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
church,  while  his  connection  with  fraternal  and 
beneficial  organizations  is  confined  to  the  Inde- 
pendent Order  of  Odd  Fellows. 


FRANK  E.  SHAW,  an  agriculturist,  breed- 
er of  fine  horses  and  cattle,  and  a  capital- 
ist, resides  in  a  beautiful  home  on  Central  ave- 
nue, Dunkirk.  He  is  a  son  of  Robert  T.  and 
Martha  C.  (Whitney)  Shaw,  and  was  born  in 
the  town  of  Charlotte,  this  county,  on  Novem- 
ber 19, 1840.  He  comes  from  an  old  American 
family  and  is  a  nephew  of  Henry  W.  Shaw, 
better  known  as  Josh  Billings.  Grandfather 
Hon.  Henry  W.  Shaw,  well  known  in  New 
England,  and  a  distinguished  citizen  of  the 
United  States,  a  member  of  the  Massachusetts 
Senate  and  Legislature  for  twenty-five  years 
and  also  a  member  of  Congress  from  the  Berk- 
shire county  district,  was  elected  in  1820,  when 
only  twenty-four  years  of  age,  and  took  his  seat 
the  youngest  member  of  that  body  at  that  time 
ever  elected  to  Congress.  He  was  a  firm  friend 
of  Henry  Clay,  and  his  political  manager  in 
New  England  from  1816  to  1840,  but  his  vote 
favoring  the  Missouri  Compromise  killed  him 
politically  in  New  England.     He   was  a  dele- 


gate from  Massachusetts  to  the  Harrisburg  con- 
vention that  tried  to  nominate  Henry  Clay  for 
president.  William  H.  Harrison  secured  the 
nomination  and  Mr.  Shaw  left  the  party  and 
never  rejoined  it.  His  father.  Dr.  Samuel 
Shaw,  was  a  celebrated  surgeon  of  the  "  Green 
Mountain  State,"  and  represented  the  Rutland 
district  in  Congress  about  the  year  1810,  aud  at 
the  close  of  the  war  he  was  appointed  surgeon  for 
the  hospitals  at  Greenbush  and  had  charge  of 
them  until  the  government  abandoned  them. 
He  now  sleeps  beneath  the  sod  in  the  beautiful 
cemetery  at  Castleton,  close  to  the  scene  of  his 
early  life.  He  was  contemporaneous  with 
Ethan  Allen,  and  at  twenty  years  of  age  was 
established  in  his  profession  all  over  the  north- 
ern portion  of  the  State  and  was  known  far  and 
near  for  his  skill.  His  personal  strengtli,  too, 
was  a  matter  of  renown,  and  it  was  said  that  he 
could  throw  any  man  in  the  State  in  a  wrest- 
ling match.  Grandfather  Henry  Shaw,  read 
law  in  Albany  and  married  Laura  Wheeler  of 
Lanesboro,  Massachusetts,  who  was  a  .descen- 
dent  of  the  Beecher  family.  Her  sister  was  the 
wife  of  Chief  Justice  Savage.  Robert  T.  Shaw- 
was  born  in  Berkshire  county,  Massachusetts, 
and  in  18.j5  went  to  Norwalk,  Ohio,  where  his 
father  owned  a  large  tract  of  land.  He  re- 
mained there  until  18S9,  when  he  came  to 
Chautauqua  county,  and  settled  in  the  town  of 
Charlotte,  where  he  owned  a  fiirm.  He  was  a 
gentleman  of  superior  education,  and  died  in 
Mitchell,  Indiana.  Mr.  Shaw  married  Martha 
C.  Whitney,  and  had  several  children.  Mrs. 
Shaw  survives  and  lives  at  Sinclairville  and  is 
now  in  her  seventy-second  year. 

Frank  E.  Shaw  was  reared  in  Sinclairville 
aud  received  his  education  in  the  Ellington 
academy,  until  in  1860  he  went  to  California, 
and  engaged  in  mining  and  staging  for  six 
years  and  then  returned  home  and  gave  his  at- 
tention to  farming  and  breeding  fine  road 
horses.  He  is  now  the  owner  of  three  farms  in 
the  town  of  Charlotte,  on  which  are  fine  herds 


528 


BIOGRAPHY  AND  HISTORY 


of  Jersey  cattle.  Great  paius  have  been  taken 
in  their  selection  and  breeding,  and  while  there 
are  larger  herds  in  the  country,  there  are  none 
finer  or  more  purely  bred.  One  of  the  best 
dairies  of  the  country  is  attached  to  these  farms 
which  is  demonstrating  to  the  farmers  of  that 
locality  that  when  cereals  and  succulents  prove 
an  unprofitable  crop,  they  may  turn  to  this 
branch  of  agriculture  with  expectation  of  suc- 
cess. When  the  Martin  Anti-fire  Car  Heating 
Apparatus  was  found  to  be  successful,  Mr. 
Shaw  took  an  active  interest  in  it,  and  witii 
Messrs.  Chute  and  Martin,  formed  a  company 
with  a  capital  of  two  hundred  thousand  dollars 
to  manufacture  it  for  the  market.  He  had  had 
a  wide  experience  with  the  public  of  western 
New  York  and  elsewhere  and  took  with  him 
to  the  company  a  valuable  experience,  and  to 
his  astute  sagacity  is  largely  due  the  rapid 
development  of  the  appliance  and  its  adoption 
by  so  many  roads  throughout  the  country. 

Mr.  Shaw  is  now  the  vice-president  and  treas- 
urer of  the  company,  which  has  one  of  the  fin- 
est factory  buildings  in  the  country.  Tiieir 
business  exceeds  half  a  million  dollars  a  year 
and  at  least  five  thousand  cars  are  supplied 
with  their  improvement.  He  moved  to  Dun- 
kirk in  1887  and  has  since  resided  here. 

On  the  5th  of  August,  1879,  he  married  Ada 
L.,  daughter  of  John  Beardsley,  of  Norwalk, 
Ohio,  and  has  two  sons  and  one  daughter: 
Robert  Francis,  Edith  and  Frank  E.,  Jr. 

The  oldest  son,  although  still  young,  seems 
to  have  inherited  his  grand-uncle's  faculty  for 
dispensing  wit  and  humor  at  will,  and  is  a  very 
bright  boy.  Mr.  Shaw  is  a  republican  and 
takes  an  active  interest  in  matters  relating  to 
the  government,  having  been  chi'.irman  of  tlie 
county  committee  for  some  time.  He  is  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Free  and  Accepted  Masons,  and  is 
Past  ])istrict  Grand  Master. 


/^EORGE  W.  SEYMOUK,  M.D.,  an  active 

'  ^^  and  successful  physician  of  Westfield,  is  a 
son  of  Thomas  W.  and  Matilda  (Green)  Sey- 
mour, and  was  born  at  Mayville,  Chautauqua 
county.  New  York,  on  December  13tli,  1841. 
The  Seymours  are  of  English  descent,  and 
Dr.  Seymour  is  of  tiie  ninth  generation  of 
the  American  branch  of  the  familj'.  Grand- 
father Seymour,  and  his  father,  Thomas  W. 
Seymour,  came  in  1831  from  Lee,  Oneida 
county,  to  Mayville,  where  the  former,  who 
was  a  carpenter  and  joiner  by  trade,  died  in 
April,  1842.  Thomas  W.  Seymour  is  a  na- 
tive of  Lee,  and  has  been  successfully  en- 
gaged in  farming  ever  since  settling  at  May- 
ville. He  is  a  self-educated  and  well  in- 
formed man  of  close  observation  and  good 
judgment.  He  is  a  Baptist,  in  religious  be- 
lief, and  a  republican  in  politics,  and  has  held 
various  offices  of  both  his  church  and  his  vil- 
lage. His  wife,  Matilda  (Green)  Seymour, 
who  is  a  member  of  tlie  Baptist  church,  was 
born  in  Tompkins  county. 

George  W.  Seymour  received  his  education 
in  the  public  schools  and  the  academy  of  May- 
ville. In  1868  he  commenced  to  read  medicine 
with  Dr.  G.  R.  Hall,  then  of  Westfield,  but 
oowprofessor  of  surgery  in  Hahnemann  Alcdical 
college,  Chicago,  but  finished  his  course  of  read- 
ing with  Dr.  Asa  S.  Couch,  now  of  Fredonia. 
He  then  entered  the  New  York  Homtcopathic 
college,  from  whicii  medical  institution  he  was 
graduated  in  the  spring  of  1872.  During  the 
same    year    he   opened  an   office  at   Westfield, 

1  where  he  has  continued  ever  since  in  the  suc- 
cessful jiractice  of  his  profession. 

In  1866  Dr.  Seymour  united  in  marriage 
with  Lucy  A.,  daughter  of  A.  B.  Briggs,  of  the 
town  of  Portland,  'i'hey  have  two  children  : 
Carl  J.,  who  was  graduated    from  the   law  de- 

;  part  ment  of  Cornell  university;  and  Nellie  E. 

I  Dr.  George  W.  Seymour  is  a  republican  in 
politics,  and  owns  a  grajio  farm   of  forty  acres. 

I  While  fitting  for  his  profession  he  taught  school 


OF  CHAUTAUQUA   COUNTY. 


529 


for  ten  years  to  acquire  means  to  defray  his  ex- 
penses at  the  New  York  Homoeopathic  college. 
Dr.  Seymour  has  a  good  practice,  is  a  member 
of  the  New  York  State  and  the  Northwe-stern 
medical  societies,  and  lias  been  medical  exam- 
iner for  several  years  at  West  field  for  several 
leading  life  insurance  companies.  lie  is  a  mem- 
ber of  tiie  Ancient  Order  of  United  Workmen 
and  Free  and  Accepted  Masons. 


T  .  lEUTESTANT   WILLIAM  SYKES,  who 

'^  is  of  English  descent,  was  born  in  Spring- 
field, Ohio,  January  24,  1841.  His  parents 
were  James  and  Laura  (Varian)  Sykes,  who 
came  from  England  about  1834  and  settled  at 
Springfield.  John  Sykes,  grandfather  of  Wil- 
liam, was  a  native  of  England,  where  for  many 
years  he  filled  tlie  position  of  foreman  in  one  of 
the  large  cloth  manufacturing  houses  of  that 
country,  but  afterwards  came  to  America  and 
located  at  Springfield,  where  he  died.  James 
Sykes  (father)  was  born  in  England  in  1813, 
and  remained  in  the  mother  country  until  he 
attained  his  majority,  when,  having  learned  the 
painter's  trade,  he  concluded  to  cast  his  fortune 
in  the  new  world.  Coming  direct  to  Springfield, 
he  established  himself  near  his  father  and  fol- 
lowed his  trade.  He  was  twice  married,  his 
first  wife  a  Miss  Toos,  and  after  her  death  he 
married  Laura  Varian,  by  whom  he  had  eight 
children,  six  sons  and  two  daughters.  One  of 
the  sons,  Alexander  V.,  served  during  the  re- 
cent struggle  between  the  States  in  the  44th 
Regiment  of  Ohio  Infantry,  performing  the 
duties  of  musician.  James  Sykes  was  a  repub- 
lican, and  a  member  of  the  Episcopal  church. 

William  Sykes  has  had  an  interesting  and 
honorable  experience  in  life.  After  receiving 
his  education,  which  was  acquired  in  the  schools 
of  Springfield,  he  learned  the  trade  of  iron 
moulder,  and  followed  it  until  the  tocsin  of  war 
was  sounded,  when,  at  President  Lincoln's  first 
call  for  troops,  he  joined  Co.  F,  2nd  regiment 
of  Ohio  Infantry,  and  served  until  the  expira- 
28 


tion  of  his  term  of  enlistment,  when  he  re- 
entered for  three  years  of  the  war,  in  the 
44th  regiment,  Ohio  Infantry,  and  served  witli 
it  at  Bull  Run,  Lewisburg,  W.  Va.,  Duton's 
Hill,  Ky.,  Knoxville,  Tenn.,  and  all  the  skir- 
mishes in  which  it  was  engaged,  enjoying  with 
it  the  joys  of  victory  and  lamenting  the  sorrows 
of  defeat.  For  recognized  bravery  he  was  made 
second  lieutenant.  In  the  winter  of  1863-64 
the  44th  regiment  was  veteranized,  and  it  was 
proposed  to  change  them  to  cavalry.  Many  of 
the  soldiers  objected,  among  the  others  Mr. 
Sykes,  and  although  he  was  offered  a  captain's 
commission,  he  did  not  care  to  make  the  change 
and  was  honorably  discharged,  having  served 
about  three  years. 

In  1881  he  moved  from  Springfield  to  James- 
town, and  took  charge  of  the  foundry  connected 
with  the  Columbia  Grain  Drill  works,  and  re- 
mained with  them  in  that  capacity  al)Out  seven 
years,  when  he  formed  a  partnership  with  a  I\Ir. 
Smith,  which  resulted  in  the  present  machine 
jobbing  firm  of  Smith  &  Sykes,  located  on 
Steele  street,  and  employing  about  twenty  men. 
Unlike  his  father,  who  was  a  republican,  Mr. 
Sykes  affiliates  with  the  Democratic  party,  and, 
with  his  wife,  is  an  attendant  at  the  Jamestown 
Episcopal  church,  of  which  he  is  a  member. 
He  is  also  a  member  of  James  M.  Brown  Post, 
Grand  Army  of  the  Republic. 

Mr.  Sykes  was  married  to  Martha  E.  Con- 
nell,  a  daughter  of  Benjamin  F.  Connell.  Their 
union  has  been  blest  with  one  daughter, 
Maria  C. 


JOHN  A.  STONEBEKG  is  a  son  of  Swan 

^  J.  and  Anna  C.  (Corswell)  Stoneberg,  and 
was  born  in  Sweden,  in  1848.  His  father,  Swan 
J.  Stoneberg,  was  born  in  Sweden,  in  1820,  and 
was  a  farmer  by  occupation.  In  1878,  he  emi- 
grated from  Sweden  to  the  United  States  and 
located  at  Jamestown,  where  hehas  since  resided. 
He  is  a  member  of  the  Swedish  Lutheran 
church,  and  votes  the  Republican  ticket.     He 


530 


BIOGRAPHY  AND  HISTORY 


married  Anna  C.  Corswell  of  Sweden.  To  their 
union  was  born  but  one  child,  John  A. 

John  A.  Stoneberg  attended  the  common 
schools  in  Sweden  and  learned  book-keeping, 
but  since  he  came  from  his  native  land  to 
Jamestown,  he  has  been  engaged  in  mercantile 
life ;  first  in  the  grocery  business,  but  since  1875 
has  followed  the  retail  furniture  trade. 

He  married  Anna  Peterson,  of  Jamestown. 
They  have  three  children  :  Anna  T.  C,  John  E. 
W.  and  Clarence  T.  Like  his  forefathers,  Mr. 
Stoneberg  is  a  member  of  the  Evangelical 
Lutheran  church,  and  at  elections  generally  fol- 
lows the  example  of  his  father,  and  supports 
the  nominee  of  the  Republican  party. 


TTNSON   A.    STOXE  is  a  son   of  Stephen 

-*^  Bradley  and  Lorcy  Lake  (Latlin)  Stone, 
and  was  born  in  Mansfield,  Cattaraugus  county, 
New  York,  February  1.3, 1842.  Hisgrandfather, 
Norman  Stonr;,  was  of  English  ancestry,  and 
was  born  in  Litchfield,  Connecticut,  where  he 
afterward  became  a  blacksmith.  He  married 
Tryphena  Hand,  who  was  also  a  native  of  Con- 
necticut and  by  whom  he  had  several  children. 
He  died  in  1838.  Stephen  Bradley  Stone 
(fatlier)  was  a  native  of  Litchfield,  Connecticut, 
born  in  1810,  and  was  one  of  the  early  settlers 
of  Cattaraugus  county,  this  State,  where  he  en- 
gaged in  farming,  having  purchased  a  tract  of 
land  there,  which  had  been  surveyed  by  the 
Holland  Land  company.  He  was  a  very 
active  member  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
chiu'cli,  of  which  he  was  a  deacon.  AVhen  the 
church  was  organized  in  Cattaraugus  county,  he 
was  elected  a  class  leader,  held  to  be  a  mark  of 
honor,  of  confidence  and  veneration  in  those 
days.  Politically  he  was  a  whig  and  afterward 
a  republican,  and  was  justice  of  the  peace  of 
Cattaraugus  county.  lu  1872  he  moved  to 
Eden,  Erie  county,  this  State,  where  he  resided 
until  his  death  in  1890,  at  the  age  of  ciglity 
years.  He  married  Lorcy  Lake  Latlin,  a 
native  of  Otsego  couuty,  and  a  member  of  the 


Methodist  Episcopal  church,  and  by  her  had 
several  children.  She  died  in  1849,  at  Mans- 
field, Cattaraugus  county,  this  State,  aged  forty- 
uine  years. 

Anson  A.  Stone  was  brought  up  in  Mansfield, 
where  he  was  born,  and  was  educated  at  the 
Union  school  at  Ellicottville,  Cattaraugus 
county,  and  at  the  Springville  academy,  Erie 
county.  After  leaving  the  halls  of  Minerva,  he 
commenced  the  study  of  dentistry  at  Springville, 
and  in  1861  began  the  j)ractice  of  that  professiou 
at  Collins  Centre,  Erie  county,  where  he  re- 
mained a  year  and  then  located,  at  Westfield, 
this  county,  where  he  spent  another  year  and 
then  went  to  Sinclairville,  where  he  remained 
twenty-four  years.  In  1885  he  moved  to  Dun- 
kirk and  five  years  later  to  Fredonia,  whei-e  he 
now  resides  and  where  he  has  an  office  over 
the  Lake  Shore  Bank,  in  which  he  receives  his 
patrons,  Monday,  Tuesday  and  Thursday  of 
each  week,  devoting  Wednesday  to  Forestville, 
Friday  to  Sinclairville,  and  Saturday  to  Stock- 
ton, all  in  this  county,  and  in  each  of  which  he 
has  an  office.  He  enjoys  a  very  large  practice 
and  is  considered  one  of  the  best  dentists  in  this 
section.  Firm  in  his  convictions,  affable  in 
address,  genial  in  manner,  he  is  conceded  to  be 
one  of  the  best  of  citizens.  Politically  he  is  a 
republican,  and  is  a  Royal  Arch  Mason. 

Anson  A.  Stone  was  married  April  1,  18G6, 
to  Sarah  B.  Furman,  a  daughter  of  Elijah 
Furman  of  Owatonna,  Minnesota,  by  whom  he 
has  one  daughter,  Ella,  married  to  Silas  T. 
Crocker,  of  Fredonia. 


JOHN  W.  MOUKIS,  a  representative  of  an 

^  old  and  highly  respected  family,  was  born 
in  Crawford  county,  Pennsylvania,  July  23, 
1839,  and  is  a  son  of  Snnth  E.  and  Polly 
(Williams)  Morris.  John  Morris  (paternal 
grandfatlier)  was  born  in  eastern  New  York, 
county  of  Durham,  of  Puritan  lineage,  and  mi- 
grated to  Crawford  county,  Pcnna.,  in  1812. 
Upon  his  arrival    in   this  county,  he  took   up 


OF  CHAUTAUQUA  COUNTY. 


531 


one  hundred  acres  of  land,  improved  it,  built 
upon  it,  and  there  passed  the  remainder  of  his 
life.  He  was  a  whig  in  |)()liti(!S,  and  served  in 
the  war  of  1812  with  distinction  and  valor. 
His  religious  tenets  were  those  of  the  Methodist 
Episcopal  church.  He  united  in  the  bonds  of 
marriage  with  Riihany  Smith,  who  became  the 
mother  of  five  children, — one  son  and  four 
daughters.  Grandfatlier  Josiah  Williams  was 
reared  and  educated  in  the  State  of  Connecti- 
cut, from  which  he  emigrated  to  Elrie  county, 
Pa.,  locating  on  a  farm  near  Edinboro.'  Thence 
he  removed,  in  the  latter  part  of  his  life,  to 
Quincy,  Michigan,  where  his  earthly  career  | 
closed.  In  politics  and  religion  he  was  respec- 
tively a  whig  and  methodist.  His  life-long 
consort  was  formerly  Miss  Eunice  Tryon,  who 
gave  birth  to  four  sons  and  three  daughters. 

John  Morris  came  to  Crawford  county,  Pa., 
when  his  son.  Smith  E.  Morris,  was  about 
four  years  of  age.  The  farm  upon  which  he 
located  at  that  time  has  never  since  changed 
hands,  nor  has  it  ever  been  burdeued  with  any 
incumbrances.  The  old  homestead  has  been 
brought  into  a  high  state  of  cultivation,  and  is 
to-day  one  of  the  best  in  Crawford  county. 
Mr.  Morris  cast  his  vote  with  the  Whig  and 
Republican  parties,  and,  togetiier  with  his  fam- 
ily, worshipped  at  the  Methodist  ciuircli.  Un- 
der the  Republican  party  he  was  elected  justice 
of  the  peace,  and  not  only  in  office,  but  also 
independent  from  it,  exercised  a  strong  influ- 
ence upon  the  character  of  his  neighborhood. 
He  was  a  zealous,  devoted  Christian  worker, 
and  in  his  life  and  character  embodied  forth 
those  ethical  principles  and  conceptions  of  duty 
which  he  felt  to  be  the  basis  of  all  nobility  and 
true  manhood.  He  was  united  in  marriage 
to  Miss  Polly  Williams,  who  died  in  1886  at 
the  age  of  seventy-four  years.  They  had  nine 
children:  Eunice,  married  first  to  Richard 
Nelson,  then  after  his  decease  to  Amos  Sperry, 
of  Conneautville,  Pa.,  a  farmer;  Fannie  (now 
dead),  former  wife  of  Dauiel  Bradley,  by  whom 


she  had  three  children,  —  two  sons  and  one 
daughter;  John  W.,  sui)ject;  Charles,  living 
on  the  old  homestead  ;  Rosalia,  wife  of  Jesse 
Shcrod,  a  merchant  and  undertaker  of  Bangor, 
Michigan,  by  whom  she  has  one  son  ;  Mary, 
died  young ;  Alpheus,  died  young ;  Josiah 
(married  to  Miss  Rogers),  now  living  in  Craw- 
ford county.  Pa.,  on  a  farm  contiguous  to  the 
old  homestead ;  Mary,  wife  of  Dennis  Smith, 
of  Crawford  county,  Pa. 

John  W.  Morris,  on  August  31,  18G5,  was 
united  in  marriage  to  Sophia  Palmer,  daughter 
of  Alfred  Palmer  (see  sketch),  and  has  oue 
daughter, — Effie  A. 

John  W.  Morris  owes  his  education  to  the 
common  schools  and  to  independent  study. 
When  he  first  stepped  out  upon  the  threshold 
of  active  life,  it  was  as  a  teacher.  From  this 
he  passed  to  farming,  and  at  the  outbreak  of 
the  civil  war  he  enlisted  with  the  ninety-day 
men,  and  went  to  the  front.  At  tlie  expiration 
of  that  time  he  re-enlisted  in  the  Fifty-sixth 
regiment  Pennsylvania  Volunteers,  Company 
E,  and  served  three  months,  when  he  was  dis- 
charged, came  home,  purchased  a  farm  in 
Crawford  county,  Pa.,  and  there  remained  four 
years.  Subsequently  he  removed  to  Ripley, 
Chautauqua  county,  New  York,  and  engaged 
in  the  mercantile  business,  during  the  first  fif- 
teen years  in  partnership  with  his  father-in- 
law,  Mr.  Palmer,  but  since  that  time  independ- 
ently. He  at  present  has  one  of  the  leading 
stores  in  the  village,  and  as  a  business  man,  as 
a  wide-awake,  intelligent  citizen,  enjoj's  the 
confidence  and  good-will  of  his  fellow-towns- 
men. 

Mr.  Morris  is  a  republican  in  politics  and 
an  active  member  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
church,  with  which  he  is  connected  as  trustee 
and  Sunday-school  superintendent  for  the  past 
fifteen  years.  He  is  also  a  member  of  the  A. 
O.  U.  W^.,  and  has  filled  all  of  its  offices,  to- 
gether with  many  other  positions  of  confidence 
,  and  trust  in  the  place  where  he  lives. 


532 


BIOGRAPHY  AND  HISTORY 


WALTER  E.  STRONG,  a  prominent  farmer 
of  the  town  of  Gerry,  was  born  in  that 
town  on  July  12th,  1840,  and  is  a  sou  of  David 
and  Sophia  (McCul lough)  Strong.  His  grand- 
father, Gilbert  Strong,  came  to  the  town  of 
Gerry  in  1817,  and  was  one  of  the  earliest  set- 
tlers in  that  section  of  the  county.  He  was  a 
native  of  New  England,  of  English  descent  and 
died  in  Ellington  Centre  at  the  age  of  ninety- 
one  years.  David  Strong,  his  son  and  father 
of  Walter  E.,  has  been  a  resident  of  Chautauqua 
county  ever  since  1817.  He  was  a  farmer  pure 
and  simple,  a  republican  in  politics  and  without 
any  specific  religious  views,  but  with  a  tendency 
toward  Methodism. 

"Walter  E.  Strong  was  reared  in  the  town  of 
Gerry,  educated  in  the  common  schools  and  at 
the  age  of  twenty-two  enlisted  in  Company  B, 
112th  regiment,  U.  S.  Volunteers,  under  com- 
mand of  Captain  W.  H.  Chaddock.  During 
his  service  in  the  civil  war  he  took  part  in  a 
number  of  battles,  among  the  most  important  of  I 
which  were  the  siege  of  Suffolk,  Charleston, 
after  which  he  was  transferred  to  the  army  of 
the  James,  under  Gen.  Butler,  and  was  shortly 
after  severely  wounded — so  severely  that  he  was 
thereby  incapacitated  for  service  and  was  ac- 
cordingly discharged  on  May  26th,  18G5. 
Upon  his  return  home  he  took  up  the  occupa- 
tion of  farming  and  has  since  continued  it.  He 
is  a  republican  in  politics,  has  served  as  assessor 
and  collector  of  his  town  and  is  a  member  of  i 
the  Equitable  Aid  Union  and  G.  A.  R. 

Walter  E.  Strong  was  united  in  marriage 
with  Jane  Wicks,  daughter  of  the  late  James  H. 
Wicks,  of  the  town  of  Gerry,  on  December  Gth, 
1865.  They  have  five  children  :  Ida,  Bernice 
S.,  George  H.,  Lena  J.  and  Eric  J. 


GEOROi:  EOWIX  I.EET  is  a  son  of 
William  and  Harriot  S.  (Belden)  Lcet, 
and  was  born  at  Point  Chautauqua,  Chautauqua 
county.  New  York,  September  18th,  1862. 
The  Leets  were  originally  natives  of  England, 


their  first  settlement  in  America,  after  emigra- 
tion, being  in  the  State  of  Connecticut,  where 
at  one  time  William  Leet  held  the  office  of 
colonial  governor.  Paternal  grandfather,  An- 
son Leet,  M'as  the  first  to  emigrate  to  Chautau- 
qua county.  New  York,  where  he  located  at 
Point  Chautauqua  and  took  up  a  farm  from  the 
Holland  Land  company.  This  he  retained 
during  his  life-time,  when  by  succession  it 
passed  to  his  son  and  was  finally  sold  in  1875 
to  the  present  management  of  Point  Chautau- 
qua for  ihe  purposes  of  a  summering  place,  and 
has  since  become  one  of  the  most  noted  resorts 
upon  the  lake.  Prior  to  its  sale  in  1875  it  was 
known  as  Leet's  Point.  Grandfather  Leet  be- 
longed to  the  Whigs,  at  that  time  the  predomi- 
nant political  party.  His  marriage  to  Abigail 
Dudley  resulted  in  the  birth  of  nine  children  : 
Jonathan,  Simeon,  liCwis,  Maria,  Caroline, 
Franklin,  Mary,  Eliza  and  William.  Grand- 
father David  Ij.  Belden  passed  to  his  final  rest 
in  Chautauqua  county,  whither  he  had  come  in 
the  prime  of  life  from  the  State  of  Connecticut. 
He  was  united  in  marriage  to  Sarah  Hall,  by 
whom  he  had  four  children  :  Harriet  S.,  Mary, 
George  W.  and  Nathan  D.  He  v/as  a  repub- 
lican in  politics.  William  Leet,  the  father  of 
our  subject,  was  born  upon  the  old  homestead  at 
Point  Leet  in  1818  and  is  still  living,  a  witness 
of  seventy-three  years  of  transformation  in  the 
home  and  town  of  his  nativity.  He  always  took 
an  active  part  in  politics,  and  next  to  his  religion 
held  dearest  the  principles  of  the  Republican 
party.  He  served  at  one  time  as  treasurer  of 
Chautauqua  county  for  a  period  of  six  years. 
The  result  of  his  union  to  Eliza  Strong  (his 
fir.st  wife)  was  one  son,  Anson  G.,  married  to 
Nettie  Thompson  and  now  living  at  West 
Chester,  Iowa,  where  he  has  an  interest  in  a 
large  cheese  factory.  His  marriage  to  Harriet 
Belden  resulted  in  the  birth  of  four  children  : 
Mary  E.,  Willis  D.  (see  sketch),  Eliza  A.  and 
George  E. 

George  E.  Leet  was  educated   in  the  public 


OF  CHAUTAUQUA   COUNTY. 


533 


aud  High  schools  of  Mayville  and  afterwards 
gradiiatfd,  in  1877,  from  Eastman's  bnsiness 
college,  Poughkeepsie,  New  YorR,  after  which 
he  embarked  in  the  grocery  hnsiiness  witli  his 
brother  at  Mayville,  New  York,  iincha-  tlie  firm 
name  of  Leet  Brothers.  In  1889  he  purchased 
the  interest  of  his  brotiier,  took  in  another  part- 
ner and  is  now  doing  bnsiness  with  the  firm 
of  Leet  &  Belden.  The  firm  of  Leet  &  Bel- 
den,  grocers,  is  one  of  the  largest  in  the  village 
of  Mayville,  carrying  a  large  and  well-selected 
assortment  of  staple  aud  fancy  goods.  Mr. 
Leet  is  also  interested  in  the  ice  business  with 
Dr.  William  H.  Chase.  He  is  a  rppublican  in 
politics,  active  in  the  interests  of  his  ]iarty  and 
the  present  chairman  of  the  Republican  county 
committee  of  Chautauqua  county.  He  is  a 
member   of  the   Masons,  Lodge  No,   696,  at 


Mayville,  aud  of  the  I. 
284,  of  the  same  place. 


O.  O.  F.,  Lodge  No. 


llir.^RCUS  SACKETT  is  a  son  of  Niran  and 

i^*-  Catherine  T.  (Thorn)  Sackett  and  was 
born  November  28,  1830  in  Irving,  Chautau- 
qua county,  New  York,  at  tiiat  time  called  La 
Grange.  Hispaternal great-grandfather,  Samuel 
Sackett,  and  his  grandfather,  Jehial  Sackett, 
were  natives  of  Dutchess  county.  New  York, 
where  they  were  farmers.  His  gi-andfather 
was  married  to  Samantha  Knapp,  who  bore  him 
twelve  children,  eight  sons  and  four  daughters. 
In  religion  he  belonged  to  the  Baptist  church. 
John  I.  Thorn,  his  maternal  grandfather,  was 
also  a  native  of  Dutchess  county  Init  emigrated 
to  Chautauqua  county,  village  of  Irving,  in 
1830,  having  previously  .stopped  for  a  short 
time  in  the  town  of  Portland.  Here  at  Irving 
he  purchased  a  small  farm  from  the  Holland 
Land  company  which  he  cultivated  aud  at  the 
same  time  carried  ou  his  trade  of  cabinet- 
making.  He  joined  in  marriage  with  Esther 
Thorn,  by  whom  he  had  eight  children,  two 
sons  and  six  daughters.  Niran  Sackett  (father 
of  Marcus  Sackett)  was  born  October  31,  1797, 


on  the  old  Sackett  homestead  in  Dutchess 
county,  N.  Y.  He  received  a  common  school 
and  academic  education,  migrated  witii  his  wife 
and  three  children  to  Chaiitau(pia  comity,  and 
in  1834  built  the  first  .saw-mill  on  Catta- 
raugus creek  at  Irving.  In  conjunction  with 
his  manufacture  of  lumber,  he  also  carried  on 
farming  and  merchandising.  He  gave  his 
political  support  to  the  Democratic  party,  and 
in  1844  he  became  an  associate  judge  of  the 
Court  of  Common  Pleas,  which  office  he  held 
about  four  years.  He  received  his  appointment 
from  William  L.  Marcy.  Mr.  Sackett  has 
also  filled  tiie  office  of  justice  of  the  peace  and 
other  towu  offices  a  number  of  times. 

Marcus  Sackett  gained  Lis  education  in  the 
common  schools  of  Chautauqua  county  and  at 
the  Fredonia  academy,  Chautauqua  county. 
New  York.  He  read  law,  entered  the  Albany 
Law  School — in  1851-52 — and  was  admitted  to 
the  bar  in  March  of  1852.  He  first  located 
iu  Buffalo,  New  York,  where  he  practiced  for 
four  years,  after  which  he  removed  to  New 
York  city  and  continued  his  profession  until 
the  year  1881,  when  he  again  returned  to 
Buffalo.  Two  years  later  he  retired  from  the 
active  practice  of  his  profession  and  removed 
to  the  town  of  Hanover,  Chautauqua  county, 
where  he  now  lives  on  a  farm  at  Hanover 
Center  and  also  works  the  old  home  farm  at  Irv- 
ing of  which  he  is  now  possessor.  He  is  in  politics 
a  Prohibitionist,  but  was  formerly  a  democrat. 
With  his  family,  he  attends  the  Presbyterian 
church  and  is  also  a  member  of  the  Free  and 
Accepted  Masons  aud  the  Grange. 

Ou  June  16,  1857,  Marcus  Sackett  was 
united  in  marriage  to  Henrietta  Seaman,  a 
daughter  of  John  M.  Seamau  of  New  Y'^ork 
city.  To  them  has  been  born  one  sou,  John 
S.  (born  June  13,  1858),  married  to  Stella 
McKean  aud  now  lives  in  Harvey,  Illinois, 
where  he  is  employed  in  the  car-works.  They 
have  one  child.  Marguerite.  Subject  was  mar- 
ried the  second  time  to  ^Irs.  Susan   M.  Sloan, 


534 


BIOGRAPHY  AND  HISTORY 


(nee  Grand  Girard)  widow  of  Rev.  Samuel  P. 
Sloan,  who  bore  him  one  child,  Marguerite. 
Upon  the  death  of  his  second  wife,  he  married 
the  third  time  to  IMrs.  Annie  Ainsworth  (nde 
Sloan),  widow  of  Joel  Ainsworth. 


^H.^KLES  STEBBIXS,  one  of  the  large 
^^  landholders  and  successful  farmers  of  the 
town  of  Hanover,  was  born  in  Cortland  county, 
New  York,  February  28th,  1816,  and  is  a  son 
of  Walter  and  Abigail  (Gardner)  Stebbins. 
His  grandfatbers,  Reuben  Stebbins  and  Simeon 
Gardner,  were  natives  of  England  and  came  to 
Connecticut.  Reuben  Stebbins,  who  was  a 
farmer  by  occupation  and  a  republican  in  poli- 
tics, removed  to  Oswego  county,  this  State,  where 
he  died  leaving  five  children,  three  sons  and  two 
daughters.  Simeon  Gardner,  who  was  a  repub- 
lican in  politics  and  a  pillar  of  the  Free-Will 
Baptist  church,  in  which  he  served  for  twenty- 
five  3'ears  as  a  deacon,  married  Clara  Pease,  and 
when  he  died  in  Connecticut  left  a  family  of  seven 
children,  four  sons  and  three  daughters.  Walter 
Stebbins,  a  son  of  Reuben  Stebbins  and  the 
father  of  Charles,  was  born  in  Massachusetts, 
October  24th,  1799,  and  removed  to  Cortland 
county,  this  State,  where  he  followed  farming 
until  his  death.  He  was  a  whig  and  a  republi- 
can in  politics,  an  episcopalian  in  religion  and 
married  Abigail  Gardner.  They  had  five  chil- 
dren, three  sons  and  two  daughters. 

Ciiarles  Stebbins  received  his  education  in  the 
common  schools  and  at  night  grammar  school, 
which  he  attended  for  a  siiort  time.  At  seven- 
teen years  of  age  he  left  scliool  and  learned  the 
trade  of  a  carpenter,  wliicii  he  followed  for  a 
few  years.  He  then  engaged  in  the  wagon-mak- 
ing business,  which  he  followed  successfully  for 
thirteen  years.  At  the  end  of  that  time  he 
turned  his  attention  to  his  present  oc(!upation  of 
farming,  now  owning  a  farm  of  five  hundred 
and  fifty  acres  of  first-cla.ss  land,  well  suited  for 
grain,  grass  and- small  fruits. 

He    married    Sarah   Denton,  a    daughter   of 


William  Denton.  They  have  been  the  parents 
of  four  cliildren,  two  sons  and  two  daughters  : 
Jane  A.,  widow  of  Wallace  Cross,  a  resident  of 
the  town  of  Hanover ;  Flora  ISI.,  first  married 
to  Charles  Crumb  and  after  his  death  became 
the  wife  of  Elijah  Thomas ;  Charles  W.,  mar- 
ried to  Belle  Sackett ;  and  George,  who  died 
some  years  ago. 

Throughout  his  entire  life  Mr.  Stebbins  has 
been  remarkably  successful  and  has  acquired  a 
very  fine  property  which  he  keeps  in  excellent 
condition.  He  is  a  republican  politically  and 
has  been  a  member  of  the  Baptist  church  for 
many  years. 

e 

TOHN  3IcFADDEX  is  a  prosperous  and  in- 
^  telligent  agriculturist,  and  grape  grower 
of  Portland  town,  and  owner  of  one  of  the  best 
vineyards,  forty  acres  in  extent,  in  the  county. 
He  is  a  son  of  Manassas  and  Mary  (Magee) 
McFadden,  and  was  born  in  Venango  county, 
Pa.,  February  24,  1824.  His  grandfather, 
Manassas  McFadden,  was  born  in  Ireland  and 
came  to  the  young  republic  about  1796.  He 
soon  heard  of  the  fertile  lands  in  Venango 
county.  Pa.,  and  took  his  family  there  to  make 
a  home.  Land  was  cheap  and  he  secured  a 
large  tract  which  before  his  death  was  improved 
into  a  fine  farm.  He  married  and  reared  a 
family  of  four  children,  and  died  in  1810,  aged 
seventy  years.  Manassas  McFadden,  Jr., 
(father),  was  born  on  the  sod  of  Erin  about 
1792,  and  came  with  his  father  to  America 
when  four  years  of  age.  His  early  life  was 
passed  on  the  farm  in  Venango  county,  which 
was  lour  liiiiuired  acres  in  extent.  Upon  his 
father's  deatii,  tiie  young  man  took  the  farm 
and  made  many  improvements,  among  them  the 
raising  of  good  cattle,  in  which  he  was  highly 
successful.  He  died  in  1847,  aged  fifty-five 
years,  a  devout  member  of  the  Catiiolic  ciiurcli. 
In  1811,  Mr.  McFadden  married  Mary  Magee, 
who  came  from  eastern  Pennsylvania  and  they 
reared  a  famiiv  of  ten  children.     Mrs.  McFad- 


rfSSoS^' 


1     ^. :    /; 


■^'WV-4.m,s /?>%<.»*  Sm!.fJ>^ 


<yj4'-u/-' 


OF  CHAUTAUQUA   COUNTY. 


537 


den  died  in  1824,  he  married  Cecelia  Griffin  in 
1827,  roaring  six  more  ciiiidren,  also  a  com- 
municant of  the  Catholic  cimrcii.  Mr.  Mc- 
Faddcn  was  a  soldier  in  tiie  war  of  1812,  and 
joined  his  sympathies  with  the  Democratic 
party. 

John  McFadden  was  reared  on  the  farm  in 
Venango  county  and  attended  the  public  schools 
of  the  district.  When  reaching  manhood  he 
did  farm  work  for  several  years,  but  in  1865, 
he  came  to  this  county  and  settled  on  his 
present  fine  place  two  miles  southwest  of  Port- 
laud  village,  containing  seventy-five  acres.  It 
was  different  then.  To-day  all  is  changed. 
Where  the  grain-fields  stood  productive  vines 
send  forth  their  branches  and  at  harvest  time 
the  air  is  filled  with  the  fi'agrauce  of  the 
fruit. 

In  1849,  he  married  Catherine  Maguire, 
daughter  of  William  Maguire,  of  Crawford 
county,  Pa.,  and  their  union  has  been  blest  with 
five  children,  two  sons  and  tliree  daughters: 
Mary  J.,  Emaline  E.,  James  S.,  Rapliael  M. 
and  Hattie  A.,  wife  of  Auguston  WeagraiFand 
lives  in  Warren  county,  Pa. 

John  McFadden  is  a  member  of  the  Catholic 
church,  and  a  Grover  Cleveland  democrat.  He 
is  one  of  Portland's  citizens  who  feels  that  the 
town's  welfare  is  his  interest  and  uses  every 
opportunity  to  advance  jt. 


nEUBEN  G.  WRIGHT,  of  AVestfield,  is 
one  of  the  representative  self-made  men 
of  Chautauqua  county,  a  man  of  good  judg- 
ment, of  remarkable  energy  and  strong  will,  but 
generous  and  kind  withal,  and  ever  ready  to  as- 
sist in  whatever  would  benefit  his  town  or 
county.  He  is  a  son  of  Reuben  and  Betsey  M. 
(Seymour)  Wright,  and  was  born  at  Westfield, 
Chautauqua  county.  New  York,  July  1,  1824. 
One  of  those  who  left  the  peace  and  quiet  of  his 
Connecticut  home  to  risk  his  life  in  the  Rev- 
olutionary struggle  for  American  independance 
was  Reuben   Wright,  Sr.,  the  paternal  grand- 


father of  Reuben  G.  Wright.  When  peace  and 
independence  carue  to  the  Thirti'cn  Colonies, 
Reuben  Wright  returned  to  his  family  and  the 
tillage  of  his  farm.  One  of  his  sons  was 
Reuben  Wright  (father)  who  removed  to  Red- 
field,  Oswego  county,  this  State,  and  thence  to 
Ohio.  After  a  short  residence  there,  he  retiniied 
to  New  York  in  1817,  and  settled  at  Westfiehl, 
where  he  was  engaged  in  the  weaving  and  cloth 
dressing  business  and  where  he  built  a  carding 
machine  which  he  operated  for  fourteen  years. 
About  1829  lie  bougiit  a  farm  about  one  mile 
east  of  the  village  and  gave  some  attention  to 
farming  until  his  death,  which  occurred  in 
October,  1847,  when  he  was  in  the  sixty-third 
year  of  his  age,  and  at  the  time  of  his  death  left 
an  estate  worth  in  the  neighborhood  of  twenty- 
thousand  dollars.  He  married  Betsey  M.  Sey- 
mour, of  Scotch  descent,  who  was  a  first  cousin 
of  Gov.  Horatio  Seymour  and  died  in  1874,  at 
the  advanced  age  of  ninety-three  years.  They 
were  the  parents  of  seven  children,  of  whom  six 
lived  to  maturity :  Allen,  Mrs.  Betsey  Knight, 
Mrs.  Charlotte  Bradlev,  Reuben  G.,  Franklin 
M.  and  Mrs.  Martin  Warren. 

Reuben  G.  Wright  grew  to  manhood  at  West- 
field  where  he  attended  the  public  schools  and 
Westfield  academy.  At  eighteen  years  of  age 
he  entered  the  mercantile  establishment  of 
Hungerford  &  Knight  where  he  remained  for 
five  years  as  a  clerk.  In  1849  he  left  the  store 
and  went  to  California  whose  then  newly  dis- 
covered gold-fields  were  the  wonder  of  the 
world  and  attracted  throngs  of  treasure  seekers 
from  every  part  of  the  United  States  as  well  as 
from  various  countries  of  Europe.  On  arriving 
on  the  Pacific  slope,  Mr.  Wright  followed  gold 
prospecting  and  mining  for  two  years  and  then 
was  engaged  for  four  years  in  supplying  the 
city  of  Sacramento  with  water.  He  was  very 
successful  both  in  the  gold  fields  and  at  Sacra- 
mento city  which  he  left  in  1855  to  return  to 
New  York,  where  he  became  a  permanent  resi- 
dent of  Westfield  although  conducting  and  per- 


53S 


bioghaphy  and  history 


sonally  supervising  importaut  business  enter- 
prises in  adjoining  and  distant  states.  He 
purchased  four  thousand  acres  of  timber  land  in 
Clarion  county,  Pa.,  and  hirge  tracts  of  timber- 
land  in  Wisconsin,  the  former  of  which  required 
his  supervision  for  eleven  years,  while  the  latter 
demanded  his  attention  for  fourteen  years.  He 
also  engaged  extensively  in  grape  culture  in  the 
town  of  Westfiekl  where  he  now  has  one  hun- 
dred acres  of  vineyards.  At  the  jiresent  time 
he  owns  over  fifteen  thousand  acres  of  heavy 
pine  timber-land  along  the  borders  of  Lake 
Pontchartrain,  east  of  Baton  Rouge,  in  Wash- 
ington j)arish,  Louisiana. 

In  1870  he  was  married  to  Cora  E.  Pierce, 
and  has  three  sons :  Paul  D.,  Ralph  G.,  and 
Pier  R.  He  has  one  of  the  finest  residences  in 
Chautauqua  county  and  in  their  beautiful  and 
pleasant  home  he  and  his  excellent  wife  delight 
to  welcome  and  entertain  their  friends  whose 
number  include  many  who  are  prominent  in 
social  and  political  life  in  the  Empire  State. 


■f^ANIEL  M.   FARINGTON  was  a  geutle- 

•*^  man  of  quiet  unassuming  manners  but 
possessed  of  a  strength  of  character  much 
greater  than  the  average  man.  He  was  endowed 
with  Christian  humility,  honest  to  the  last 
degree  and  with  a  word  he  considered  as  bind- 
ing as  his  bond.  He  was  born  in  Fishkill, 
Dutchess  county.  New  York,  in  1795,  and  came 
to  Chautauqua  in  1832,  when  he  settled  on  the 
farm  where  his  widow,  whose  maiden  name  was 
Jane  E.  Hulburt,  resides.  Daniel  M.  Faring- 
ton  was  a  son  of  Matthew  and  Alice  (White) 
Farington,  well-to-do  and  highly  respected 
people  of  Dutchess  county.  He  was  a  stirring, 
energetic,  industrious  and  economical  man  and 
amassed  a  competence  in  addition  to  one  iiun- 
dred  and  thirty-seven  acres  of  fine  farming 
land.  Mr.  Farington  died  in  1881,  aged 
eighty-six  years.  In  1823,  he  married  Maria 
Emeigh,  of  Dutchess  county,  N.  Y.  She  died 
in    1858,   and     in    1859,    he    married    Jane 


E.  Hulburt,  a  daughter  of  Jabez  Hulburt,  a 
farmer  living  in  Westfiekl  town.  They  had  no 
children. 

D.  M.  Farington  was  a  model  farmer  and  of 
a  domestic  turn  of  mind  and  was  fond  of  his 
home.  He  favored  the  Republican  party  in 
voting,  but  was  too  modest  and  retiring  in  his 
disposition  to  engage  in  jrolitics.  He  was 
buried  in  the  Union  cemetery.  Mrs.  Faring- 
ton resides  upon  the  farm  that  her  husband  left, 
living  alone.  She  is  a  member  of  the  Baptist 
church  at  Portland,  and  although  seventy-one 
years  of  age  is  active,  strong  and  in  excellent 
health.  In  1883,  she  passed  through  an  ex- 
perience which  would,  ordinarily,  have  caused 
the  death,  or  at  least  dethroned  the  reason  of  an 
ordinary  old  lady  sixty-five  years  of  age. 
Living  alone  as  she  does,  the  house  being  some- 
what isolated,  the  house  was  entered  by  robbers 
who  knew  that  considerable  valuables  were 
kept  in  a  safe.  They  made  their  way  to  her 
room  and  arousing  her  compelled  her  to  open 
the  safe  from  which  they  took  six  or  seven 
hundred  dollars  in  money  and  a  number  of 
bonds.  Fortunately  the  latter  were  regis- 
tered, and  thereby  were  non-negotiable,  but  no 
trace  of  the  robbers  was  ever  secured.  Having 
secured  their  booty  they  bound  her  hand  and 
foot  and  tied  her  to  the  bed,  leaving  her  in  this 
uncomfortable  position.  By  great  eifort  she 
managed  to  release  herself  and  going  to  a 
neighbor's  house  acquainted  them  with  the 
outrage  but  the  thieves  had  escaped.  Some 
silver  pieces  given  her  by  Mr.  Farington,  and 
which  were  valued  highly  on  that  account, 
were  left  at  her  earnest  solicitation.  It  is 
remarkable  that  one  of  her  age  could  pass 
thronii-h  such   an  ordeal   without  serious  results 

o 

to  mind  or  body.  Mrs.  Farington  is  an  enter- 
taining lady  and  is  much  liked  by  many 
friends. 


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OF  CHAUTAUQUA   COUNTY. 


541 


i^EORGE  W.   PARKS   is  a  son  of  George 

^^  and  Ann  (Nelson)  ParUs,  and  was  born 
January  21,  1855,  in  the  city  of  Buffalo,  New  j 
York.  His  graiidfatlior,  Danic^l  Parks,  was  an  ' 
Englishman  by  birth,  liorn  in  Leeds,  emigrated 
to  America  and  located  at  Black  Kock,  near 
Buffalo,  New  York.  His  business  was  that  of 
combined  farmer  and  iiotoj-kocpcr.  He  was 
connected  with  the  Episcopal  churcli,  and  was 
united  in  marriage  with  Eliza  Harris,  who  bore 
him  three  children ;  he  died  at  the  age  of  eighty- 
eight  years.  The  grandfather  of  Mr.  Parks  on  , 
the  maternal  side  was  also  a  native  of  England,  [ 
and,  witli  his  wife  and  family,  took  ship  for 
America,  but  during  the  voyage  his  wife  died 
and  he  was  forced  to  fight  the  battle  of  life  in 
the  new  world  single-handed  and  alone.  Prior 
to  his  coming  to  America  he  was  an  overseer  of 
one  of  the  landed  estates  of  an  Entjlish  noble- 
man.  His  death  occurred  shortly  after  his  ar- 
rival in  the  United  States.  George  Parks  was 
born  in  the  city  of  Buffalo,  New  York,  in  the 
year  1831,  and  is  still  a  resident  of  that  place. 
He  has  always  been  by  occupation  a  contractor 
in  the  line  of  pile  driving  and  dock  building. 
He  votes  the  Republican  ticket  and  gives  his 
party  a  warm  and  energetic  support,  but  has 
never  yet  claimed  a  reward  by  way  of  office- 
holding.  Mr.  Parks  is  a  member  of  the  Bap- 
tist church,  holds  the  offices  of  steward  and 
trustee,  and  has  always  been  considered  one  of 
its  prominent  members.  He  belongs  to  the 
Royal  Templars  and  is  an  advocate  of  temper- 
ance reform.  In  1863  he  enlisted  in  the  24th 
regiment.  New  York  Cavalry,  and  entered  the 
civil  war.  He  was  offered  commissions  on 
three  different  occasions,  but  uniformly  refused. 
During  his  term  of  service  he  took  part  in 
twenty-six  battles  and  thirteen  skirmishes,  and, 
in  moments  of  imminent  danger,  no  one  was 
more  ready  to  risk  his  life  for  the  sake  of  vic- 
tory. His  was  a  continuous  tour  of  duty,  with 
the   exception    of  thirty    days,    when    he    was 


ed  in  a  family  of  eight  children,  six  living  and 
two  dead. 

George  W.  Parks  received  his  education  in 
the  public  si'liools,  learned  the  same  business 
that  his  father  followed  and  continued  it  until 
1872.  Later  he  became  a  dealer  in  lumber 
and  timber,  and  in  1890  he  embarked  in  the 
merchandising  business,  handling  the  three 
staple  lines,  dry-go(xl.s,  groceries  and  hardware. 
This  constitutes  his  present  business,  in  which 
he  has  become  firmly  established,  enjoying  a 
good  local  trade. 

George  W.  Parks  united  in  marriage  with 
Mary,  daughter  of  Henry  Burmaster,  of  the 
village  of  Irving,  and  has  two  children  living 
and  one  dead  :  Charles,  Maud  and  Claude,  de- 
ceased. He,  together  with  his  wife,  holds 
membership  in  tlie  Methodist  church,  of  which 
he  is  steward  and  trustee,  the  latter  of  which 
offices  he  has  held  for  the  pa.st  nine  years.  Mr. 
Parks  has  always  been  identified  with  the  de- 
velopment of  the  town  from  a  material  stand- 
point as  well  as  educationally  and  religiously. 
He  has  been  a  member  of  the  school  board  for 
a  number  of  years,  and  also  takes  an  active  in- 
terest in  politics.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Royal 
Templars  and  of  the  Equitable  Aid  Union. 


physically  incapacitated. 


His  marriage  result- 


y^ANIEL  C.  SMITH,  a  well-known  and 
■■^  respected  gentleman,  living  in  the  town 
of  Hanover,  who  has  followed  agricultural  pur- 
suits for  many  years,  is  a  sou  of  Christopher 
and  Eve  (Ball)  Smith,  and  was  born  in  the 
town  of  Carlisle,  Schoharie  count)',  New  York, 
on  the  12tii  day  of  August,  1821.  The  pater- 
nal grandfather,  Conrad  Smith,  was  a  native  of 
Germany  and  came  to  America  during  the 
progress  of  the  Revolutionary  war.  Having 
served  in  the  German  army  and  being  trained 
in  military  tactics,  he  was  well  fitted  to  per- 
form a  similar  service  for  his  adopted  countrv, 
and  he  enlisted  in  the  Colonial  armv,  serving 
as  an  officer  until  the  close  of  the  struggle.  He 
received  wounds  in  battle  and  drew  a  pension 


542 


BIOGRAPHY  AND  HISTORY 


until  his  death.  After  the  close  of  the  war  he 
settled  in  Schoharie  county,  pursued  farming 
and  died  there  when  one  hundred  years  of  age, 
consoled  by  his  faith  in  the  Methodist  church. 
The  maternal  grandfather,  Mathias  Ball,  was 
also  a  native  of  Germany  and  came  to  this 
country  a  few  years  prior  to  the  war  mentioned. 
He  enlisted  and  served  throughout  the  strife 
and  then  settled  in  Schoharie  county,  but  later 
came  to  Chautauqua  county,  and  lived  with  his 
son  until  his  death.  Christopher  Smith  was 
born  in  Schoharie  county,  New  York,  1779. 
In  1841  he  emigrated  to  Cattaraugus  county, 
purchased  a  farm  of  four  hundred  and  twenty 
acres,  which  he  tilled  until  184:9,  when  he 
moved  to  the  town  of  Hanover,  where  he  lived 
until  his  death,  which  occurred  iu  1868.  His 
political  sympathies  were  with  the  Democratic 
party  until  the  slavery  issue  became  the  burn- 
ing question  of  the  day,  when  he  severed  his 
connection  with  it  and  allied  himself  with  the 
Republican  party.  He  was  thrice  married, 
first,  to  Eve  Ball,  by  whom  he  had  four  ciiil- 
dreu,  three  sons  and  one  daughter;  all  are  dead 
except  George,  who  lives  in  Michigan,  and 
subject.  After  Mrs.  Smith's  death  he  married 
her  sister,  Catherine  Ball,  and  later  he  united 
with  Elizabeth  Van  Yalkenberg. 

Daniel  C.  Smith  was  educated  in  the  com- 
mon schools  and  tlien  tilled  a  farm  until  he  was 
thirty-five  years  of  age.  He  then  clerked  for 
three  years  in  a  store  owned  by  R.  B.  Smith  & 
Co.  Since  that  time  he  has  followed  farming,  and 
is  the  owner  of  one  hundred  and  thirty  acres  of 
laud  in  the  town  of  Hanover.  Politically,  like 
his  father,  he  was  formt3rly  a  democrat,  but 
divided  with  his  party  upon  the  question  of 
slavery  and  is  now  in  harmony  with  the  Repub- 
lican party. 

Daniel  C.  Smith  married  Cordelia  M.  Cush- 
man,  a  daughter  of  Hiram  Cushman,  and  their 
union  has  been  blessed  with  seven  cliiidren,  six 
now  living  and  one  dead  :  Lucinda  E.,  married 
Hall  Gidley,  wlio   is  a   farmer  and    mechanic, 


living  in  the  town  of  Hanover;  Phila  A.,  mar- 
ried John  Q.  A.  Christy,  deceased,  now  lives  in 
Silver  Creek  ;  Sarah  C,  is  the  wife  of  Adelbert 
A.  Newbury,  a  farmer  living  in  the  town  of 
Ripley  ;  Daniel  C,  Jr.,  married  Maggie  C.  Mc- 
Andrews,  and  follows  the  same  occupation  in 
the  town  of  Hanover ;  Sidney  B.,  married  Liz- 
zie L.  Curran,  and  is  similarly  employed  in  the 
same  town ;  and  Frank,  who  is  reading  law  in 
the  office  of  Towne  &  Bishop,  Silver  Creek, 
New  York. 


HORACE  C.  SAWIN  is  a  leading  farmer 
and  business  man  of  the  town  of  Ripley. 
He  was  born  July  2,  1821,  in  Herkimer  county, 
New  York,  town  of  Stark  and  is  a  son  of  Ethan 
and  Eleanor  (Anise)  Sawin.  George  Sawin,  his 
paternal  grandfather,  was  a  resident  of  Herki- 
mer county,  whence  he  had  come  originally  from 
Connecticut,  of  which  State  he  was  a  native. 
Prior,  however,  to  his  residence  in  Herkimer 
county  he  had  been  a  citizen  of  Washington 
county,  in  the  northern  part  of  the  State.  In 
early  life  he  taught  school,  combined  this  with 
farming  and  iu  later  years  made  it  his  exclu- 
sive vocation.  He  was  married  to  Ruth  Crocker, 
who  bore  him  six  children,  and  died  at  the  ex- 
treme age  of  ninety-nine  years.  Grandfather 
Alexander  Anise  was  a  native  of  Washington 
county.  New  York,  but  lived  and  died  iu  Or- 
leans county.  He  was  a  farmer  by  occupation, 
and  reared  a  large  family  to  which  he  was  unu- 
sually devoted.  Ethan  Sawin  emigrated  to 
CJKUitauqua  county.  New  York,  town  of  Ripley, 
near  wiierc  the  subject  now  lives,  in  1832,  in 
whicii  State  he  was  born  and  spent  his  early  life. 
He  died  in  1884.  Mr.  Sawin  had  always  bceu 
an  interested  patron  of  education.  In  his  earlier 
life  he  himself  had  been  a  teacher  and  thor- 
oughly understood  the  necessity  and  possibility 
of  true  education  as  well  as  the  reci])rocal  rela- 
tions of  teacher  and  pupil.  He  had  always 
been  ambitious  to  elevate  the  standard  and  to 
still  more  generalize  the  functions  of  the  com- 


OF  CHAUTAUQUA   COUNTY. 


543 


nion  scliool.  In  an  official  capacity  he  served 
quite  a  number  of  years  in  connection  with  the 
schools  of  his  own  town  and  always  exhibited 
the  highest  interest  in  tiieir  efficiency  and  suc- 
cess. Plis  marriage  resulted  in  the  birth  of  five 
children,  ail  living. 

Horace  C  Sawin  gained  his  education  through 
the  advantages  of  the  common  school,  though  at 
that  time  he  was  surrounded  by  sucii  conditions 
and  circumstances  as  to  affijrd  liim  very  poor 
facilities.  He  first  worked  upon  a  farm  and 
after  attaining  his  majority  embarked  in  farm- 
ing for  himself  He  is  now  the  owner  of  one 
iuindred  and  eighty-eight  acres  of  land  in  a 
high  state  of  cultivation  and  productivity.  In 
politics  he  has  always  voted  tlie  Democratic 
ticket  and  his  fidelity  to  party  has  been  rewarded 
by  election,  to  various  town  offices.  He  is  a 
member  of  the  Free  and  Accepted  Masons  at 
Westfield,  New  York. 

Horace  C.  Sawin  married  Mary  A.  Osterman, 
a  daughter  of  William  Osterman,  of  Ripley, 
who  bore  him  one  son,  H.  Eugene,  now  married 
to  Alice  Palmer  and  living  in  the  town  of  Rip- 
ley. He  is  a  farmer  and  dealer  in  agricultural 
implements,  and  the  parent  of  two  children  : 
Laura  M.  and  Lee. 

Horace  C.  Sawin  is  held  in  respect  by  his 
neighbors  and  those  with  whom  he  comes  in  con- 
tact, not  only  for  his  sterling  qualities  but  also 
for  his  social  qualities  as  well.  His  life  has 
been  one  of  honesty,  high  purpose  and  single- 
ness of  aim — not  to  accumulate  riches  and  ma- 
terial wealth,  but  to  acquire  those  comforts  of 
home  and  domestic  life  which  produce  simple 
happiness. 


nOBERT  A.  MAXAVELL,  the  genial  and  I 
enterprising  editor  and  proprietor  of  the 
Commercial,  published  at  Siuclairville,  New 
York,  is  the  son  of  the  Rev.  J.  Allan  Maxwell, 
and  was  born  in  Amsterdam,  New  York,  June 
8,  1856.  His  grandfather,  whose  name  was 
also  J.  Allan  Maxwell,  was  a  native  of  New  I 


York  cit}',  but  died  in  New  Orleans,  Louisiana, 
when  about  twenty-cugiit  years  of  age.  His 
son,  Rev.  J.  Allan,  father  of  Roltert  A.,  was  a 
Presbyterian  clergyman  of  acknowledged  learn- 
ing and  eloquence,  and  was  stationed  at  differ- 
ent points  in  tiie  States  of  New  York  and  Penn- 
sylvania. He  died  on  November  27,  1890,  at 
the  age  of  fifty -.seven  years. 

Robert  A.  j\Iaxweil  lived  in  South  Orange, 
New  Jersey,  until  the  age  of  fourteen,  when  he 
removed  with  his  parents  to  Hazleton,  Pa.  He 
received  his  education  at  tlie  academy  in  Blair.s- 
town,  New  Jersey,  and  at  the  Hazleton  schools, 
after  which  ho  learned  the  trade  of  printing  and 
engaged  in  that  business  in  the  adjoining  cities. 
In  January,  of  1891,  he  came  to  the  village  of 
Siuclairville  and  took  charge  of  the  Commercial, 
the  only  paper  pultlish.ed  in  the  village,  a  weekly 


havina;   a    circulation 


about    six    hundred. 


Since  embarking  in  this  enterprise  Mr.  Maxwell 
has  met  with  unqualified  success  and  the  future 
of  his  journalistic  enterprise  still  continues  to 
grow  brighter.  Politically  he  is  a  republican 
and  is  a  member  of  the  Equitable  Aid  Union. 

On  December  29,  1883,  Mr.  JLixwell  w^as 
united  in  marriage  to  Marietta,  daughter  of  E. 
Rust,  of  Cambridgeborough,  Crawford  county. 
Pa.  Their  marriage  has  been  blessed  by  the 
birth  of  one  son,  Allan  R. 


FRED  A.  BENTLl^Y,  a  well-known  citizen 
of  the  town  of  Busti  and  vice-president 
of  the  Chautauqua  County  National  Bunk,  is  a 
son  of  Gustavusand  Cornelia  (Stewart)  Bentley, 
and  was  born  in  the  town  of  Busti,  Nov.  30, 
1846.  Among  the  pioneers  settlers  of  the  town 
of  Busti  was  Uriah  Bentley,  the  paternal  grand- 
father of  the  subject  of  this  sketch.  Uriah 
Bentley  was  the  .sou  of  Caleb  Bentley  of  Ber- 
lin, Rensselaer  county,  where  he  was  born  June 
21,  1779.  In  May  1810  he  settled  on  lot  9, 
township  2,  range  12,  now  in  the  northern  part 
of  the  town  of  Busti.  He  cleared  a  piece  of 
land,  built  a  house  after  the  common  pattern  of 


544 


BIOGRAPHY  AND  HISTORY 


those  pioneer  days  and  in  November  brought 
his  family  to  Mayville  and,  for  vvant  of  a  road, 
he  shipped  them  down  the  lake  in  a  long 
canoe,  reaching  his  home  at  midnight.  He  was 
an  industrious  man  and  useful  citizen.  On 
December  28,  1800,  he  married  Nancy  Sweet, 
who  was  born  May  7,  1779.  They  reared  a 
family  of  ten  children  :  Nancy,  Polly,  Uriah 
S.,  Sybl  E.,  Hiram,  Simeon  G.,  Alexander, 
Gustavus  A.,  Ulrica  C.  and  Minerva.  Gusta- 
vus  A.  (father)  the  fourth  son,  was  born  August 
12,  1817,  and  followed  farming  on  the  home 
farm  until  his  death.  He  was  a  republican  in 
politics  and  married  Cornelia  Stewart,  who  died 
in  Febuary  1888.  She  was  the  daughter  of 
John  Stewart,  a  Methodist,  who  was  born  in 
Herkimer  county,  married  Eunice  Wilcox,  by 
whom  he  had  five  sons  and  five  daughters,  and 
died  in  the  town  of  Harmony  in  1826.  He 
was  the  son  of  Eliphalet  and  Mercy  (Coates) 
Stewart,  who  settled  in  1810  in  Busti  near 
Jamestown,  where  INIr.  Stewart  followed  farm- 
ing and  lumbering.  Gnstavus  A.  and  Coi'nelia 
(Stewart)  Bentley  reared  a  family  of  three  chil- 
dren :  Marian  E.,  who  died  in  1857;  Frances 
v.,  wife  of  J.  S.  Briggs,  a  grocer  of  Jamestown, 
and  Fred  A. 

Fred  A.  Bontley  grew  to  manhood  on  the 
farm  and  received  his  education  in  Randolph 
and  Jamestown  academies.  Leaving  school,  he 
was  engaged  in  farming  on  the  homestead  farm 
near  Lakewood  until  188(3,  when  he  was  elected 
vice-president  of  the  Chautauciua  County  Na- 
tional Bank  of  Jamestown  and  since  then  has 
given  his  time  principally  to  the  business  of  the 
bank. 

He  married  Clara  Ball,  a  native  of  Pennsyl- 
vania, who  died  shortly  after  her  marriage,  and 
after  her  death  he  united  with  Mary  B., 
daughter  of  Flint  Blanchard,  a  farmer  of  the 
town  of  Ellicott.  By  his  second  marriage  he 
has  two  cliildren  :  Jane  and  Marian  E. 

In  p<jlitics  Mr.  Bentley  is  a  republican.  He 
served  three  terms   contimidusly  as  supervisor 


!  of  the  town  of  Busti.  He  has  been  very  care- 
ful of  the  interest  of  his  bank  and  has  spared 
no  effort  to  strengthen  and  maintain  its  well 
earned  reputation. 


T^LIJAH  E.  HALE,  a  farmer  of  the  town 
-'■^  of  Ellicott  who  has  followed  black- 
smithing  for  seventy  years,  was  born  in  Pitts- 
field,  Massachusetts,  October  26th,  1805,  and  is 
the  son  of  Alfred  and  Lucy  (Ensign)  Hale. 
Alfred  Hale  was  born  in  Conway,  INIassachu- 
setts,  and  removed  to  Pittsfield,  that  State,  where 
he  died  in  August  1817.  He  was  a  shoe-maker 
by  trade  and  a  whig  in  politics.  His  wife  Lucy 
(Ensign)  Hale  was  a  Presbyterian  and  died  in 
Pittsfield  in  September,  1816.  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Hale  were  the  parents  of  three  children,  of 
whom  two  grew  to  maturity  :  Elijah  E  and 
Sarah  E.  (deceased),  wife  of  Oliver  Arms,  also 
dead.  Mrs.  Hale  was  a  daughter  of  Capt. 
Elijah  Ensign  (maternal  grandfather),  who  was 
the  first  white  male  child  born  in  the  town  of 
Pittsfield,  of  which  he  was  a  life-long  resident. 
He  was  an  extensive  farmer  for  his  day,  an  earu- 
est  and  active  federalist  in  politics  and  was  a 
captain  in  the  Massachusetts  militia.  He  mar- 
ried Phoebe  Holt,  by  whom  he  had  nine  chil- 
dren, five  sons  and  four  daughters.  Two  of 
these  son.s,  Thomas  and  John,  served  as  soldiers 
in  the  war  of  1812. 

Elijah  E.  Hale  received  his  education  in  the 
common  schools  of  Massachusetts  and  at  15 
years  of  age  was  apprenticed  to  learn  the  trade 
of  blacksmith,  which  he  has  successfully  fol- 
lowed for  seventy  years.  He  went  from  Pitts- 
field to  Hancock  and  from  there  ni  1830  to 
Fluvanna,  which  he  left  three  years  later  to  re- 
move to  his  present  farm.  He  is  a  republican 
in  jwlitics  and  served  for  some  time  in  the 
Massachusetts  State  militia,  in  which  he  was  ap- 
pointed on  September  11th,  1828,  by  Gov. 
Lincoln,  as  quartermaster  with  the  rank  of 
lieutenant.  He  served  as  a  deacon  in  the  Chris- 
tian ciiurch  of  Ellicott  until  it  ceased  to  exist. 


OF  CHAUTAUQUA   COUNTY. 


646 


On  November  27th,  1825,  he  married  Eliza 
A.,  daughter  of  Major  William  Acocks,  a  black- 
smith and  whig,  who  was  a  deacon  of  the  Bap- 
tist church  and  a  militia  officer  in  Massachusetts, 
from  which  he  removed  to  Campton,  Kane 
county,  Illinois,  where  he  died  August  10th, 
1854,  aged  seventy-seven  years,  lie  married 
Phcebe  Baker  of  Laneshoro,  Massacluisetts,  and 
they  had  four  children  :  Eliza  A.,  James  L., 
not  dead  ;  Phcebe  G.,  wlio  died  some  years  ago, 
and  Wm.  B.  Major  Acocks  was  born  in  Devon- 
shire, England,  where  he  was  pressed  to  serve 
in  the  British  army.  He  was  one  of  tiie  soldiers 
surrendered  at  Saratoga  and  after  beino;  sent  to 
Boston  as  a  prisoner,  he  enlisted  in  the  Ameri- 
can array.  After  the  Revolutionary  war  he 
married  a  Mrs.  Lewis  (nt'c  Grant)  by  whom  he 
had  two  children:  Major  William,  and  Thomas 
who  was  killed  by  a  falling  tree  at  Elmira,  New 
York.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Hale  have  two  children: 
William  F.,  born  July  15th,  1827,  who  was 
graduated  from  Jamestown  academy,  taught  ten 
terms  ia  the  public  schools,  married  Mary  A. 
Stillson  and  is  now  eugaged  in  farming  for  his 
father  ;  and  Milton  A.,  who  married  Anuetta 
Arnold  of  the  town  of  Ellery,  and  is  engaged 
in  farming. 


rr  LBERT  H.  STEBBINS,  a  descendant  of 
■'^*-  one  of  the  old  pioneer  families  of  the 
town  of  Hanover  and  Chautauqua  county,  is  a 
son  of  Marcus  M.  and  Emeline  (More)  Steb- 
bins,  and  was  born  in  the  town  of  Sheridan, 
Chautauqua  county,  New  York,  May  15th, 
1842.  His  paternal  grandfather,  Sesediah 
Stebbins,  was  a  native  of  Massachusetts  and 
came  in  1806  to  what  is  now  the  town  of  Sheri- 
dan, where  he  purchased  a  farm  of  two  hundred 
acres.  He  was  an  enterprising  and  successtnl 
farmer  and  in  politics  was  successively  a  whig 
and  republican.  He  married  Iseneth  Green,  by 
whom  he  had  one  son  and  three  daughters.  The 
son,  Marcus  M.  Stebbins,  was  the  father  of  the 
sidjject  of   this  sketch.     Marcus  M.    Stebbins 


was  born  in  1819,  owned  one  hundred  and  fifty 
acres  of  his  father's  farm,  which  he  cultivated 
and  managed  until  his  death  in  188G.  He  was 
a  whig  and  republican  in  politics  and  married 
Emeline  More,  a  daughter  of  Huber  More,  a 
native  of  Essex  and  afterwards  a  resident  of 
Chautauqua  county.  T\\oy  reared  a  family  of 
six  children,  two  sons  and  four  daughters. 

Albert  H.  Stebbins  was  reared  on  the  home 
farm  and  received  his  education  in  the  common 
.schools  and  Randolph  academy,  which  latter  he 
attended  one  term  while  that  institution  of  learn- 
ing was  under  the  charge  of  Prof  S.  G.  Love. 
Leaving  school,  he  turned  his  attention  to  farm- 
ing which  he  has  successfully  followed  until  the 
present  time.  He  owns  a  farm  of  one  hundred 
and  seventy-five  acres  of  good  grape  land,  of 
which  thirt^'-two  acres  are  now  in  productive 
vineyards.  His  land  is  also  well  adapted  to 
grain  raising  and  grazing  purposes.  Mr.  Steb- 
bins is  a  republican,  who  believes  in  yielding  an 
active  support  to  his  party.  He  held  the  office 
of  assessor  of  the  town  of  Hanover  for  nine 
consecutive  years  and  shortly  afterwards  was 
elected  as  supervisor,  which  office  he  held  unin- 
terruptedly since  1884.  He  is  a  member  of 
Lodge  No.  757  Free  and  Accepted  Masons  of 
Silver  Creek. 

In  1863  he  married  Clara  E.  Smith,  who  is 
a  daughter  of  William  Smith,  and  died  May 
9th,  1883,  leaving  five  children  :  Fannie  (de- 
ceased) ;  Lorain  W.,  a  farmer  of  Hanover,  who 
married  Grace  Birdsey  ;  Schuyler  C. ;  H.  Smith, 
attending  Exeter  academy  ;  and  Mary  L.  In 
1886  Mr.  Stebbins  united  in  uaarriage  with 
Nina  C.  Congdon,  daughter  of  Morgan  Congdou. 
By  his  second  marriage  he  has  one  child,  a 
daughter — Clara  A. 


TiflLLTAM  F.  STKUNK,  one  of  the  reli- 
-*'*■  able  citizens  and  substantial  farmers  of 
the  town  of  Ellicott,  is  a  sou  of  William  H. 
and  Jane  A.  (Van  VIeck)  Strunk,  and  was 
born  in  th  e  town  of  Ellicott,  Chautauqua  county, 


546 


BIOGRAPHY  AND  HISTORY 


New  York,  May  7th,  1840.  The  first  of  the 
Strunk  family  in  America  M'as  iu  1750,  when 
Hendrick  and  Catherine  Strunk,  brother  and 
sister,  came  from  the  principality  of  Leppe 
Detmokl,  in  North  Germany,  to  Rensselaer 
county,  New  York.  Hendrick  Strunk  was  a 
farmer  and  his  son,  .Jacob  Strunk,  grandfather 
of  William  F.  Strunk,  came  in  1816  to  Chau- 
tauqua county,  where  he  settled  on  lot  53,  range 
4,  township  2  in  what  is  now  the  town  of  Elli- 
cott.  He  owned  a  large  farm,  was  an  old-line 
whig  in  politics  and  died  in  1831.  He  married 
and  reared  a  family  of  ten  children.  His  son, 
William  H.  Strunk,  was  born  August  5th, 
1807,  and  died  December  25th,  1878.  In 
1834  he  was  married  to  Jane  Ann  Van  Vleck 
by  Eev.  E.  J.  Gillett.  They  reared  a  family  of 
five  sous  and  five  daughters,  of  whom  three  are 
living  :  William  F.,  Dwight,  a  farmer  of  Lake- 
wood,  and  Alvin,  now  engaged  in  farming  in 
Ellicott. 

William  F.  Strunk  grew  to  manhood  on  the 
farm  and  received  his  education  in  the  common 
schools.  He  has  always  followed  farming  and 
owns  a  farm  of  eighty-five  acres  of  good  land, 
upon  which  he  now  resides.  In  1865  ho  went 
to  Forestville  and  bought  nine  bull-head  fish 
with  which  to  stock  a  pond  his  father  had  made ; 
seven  of  these  fish  lived,  and  in  1867  the  pond 
was  washed  but  by  Lake  Chautauqua,  into 
which  the  fish  escaped.  By  this  means  the 
lake  was  stocked  with  its  present  abundance  of 
that  kind  of  fish.  In  politics  Mr.  Strunk  is  a 
republican. 

He  married  Edna  Augusta,  daughter  of  Ly- 
man Parker,  of  Ellicott,  who  died  leaving  two 
children :  Grace  Edna,  who  has  taught  five 
terms  of  school  in  Cattaraugus  county,  and 
Minnie  B.,  a  dressmaker  of  Jamestown.  Mr. 
Struid-w  again  united  in  marriage  with  (u'rtrude 
A.  Carter,  daughter  ofS.  H.  and  Jane  A.  (Perry) 
Carter,  of  tiie  town  of  Randolph,  Cattaraugus 
county.  Mrs.  GiMtnidc  A.  Strunk  received  her 
(.•duc^tion  at  Chamberlain  institute,  from  which 


she  was  graduated  in  1875.  After  graduation 
she  taught  in  the  States  of  New  York,  Ohio  and 
Illinois.  While  at  Chamberlain  institute  she 
taught  in  one  of  the  preparatory  departments 
and  afterwards  taught  natural  science  and  Ger- 
man in  the  Illinois  female  college  for  three 
years  and  the  higher  branches  in  the  high  school 
of  Ironton,  Ohio. 

© 

'PJDMUND  MEAD,  a  retired  merchant  and 
■*"^  one  of  the  substantial  farmers  of  the  town 
of  Sheridan,  was  born  in  New  Y'^ork  city,  Janu- 
ary 10th,  1809,  and  is  a  son  of  Benjamin  and 
Eliza  (Holmes)  Mead.  He  is  fourth  in  lineal 
descent  from  Benjamin  Mead,  who  came  from 
England  to  Greenwich,  Connecticut,  where  he 
was  the  founder  of  the  Mead  family,  which  now 
lias  branches  in  so  many  par's  of  the  United 
States.  He  was  a  farmer,  served  in  the  Revo- 
lutionary war  and  married.  Two  of  his  sons 
were  killed  by  the  Indians  and  another  son, 
Edmund  Mead  (grandfather),  was  a  large  land- 
holder and  prominent  business  man  of  Norwich. 
He  left  home  but  never  returned,  and  it  was  al- 
ways believed  that  he  was  murdered.  He  was 
married  and  had  three  sons  and  two  daughters. 
One  of  the.se  .sons,  Benjamin  Mead  (father)  was 
born  between  1790  and  1800,  and  at  ten  years 
of  age  went  to  New  York  city,  where  he  became 
successively  a  clerk,  partner  and  proprietor  of  a 
wholesale  grocery  house.  At  sixty  years  of  age 
he  retired  from  active  life,  but  continued  to  re- 
side in  New  York  city  until  his  death.  He 
was  a  prominent  member  of  the  Methodist 
Episcopal  church,  originally  a  Jacksonian  demo- 
crat but  later  in  life  a  rci)ublican.  He  married 
Eliza  Holmes,  a  native  of  New  Jersey,  by  whom 
he  had  seven  children,  among  whom  were 
William  (deceased) ;  Joseph  S.,  a  retired  gro- 
cery merchant  of  Brooklyn  ;  and  States  O.,  a 
retired  wholesale  merchant  of  New  York  city. 
Edmund  Mead  grew  to  manhood  in  New 
York  city,  where  he  attended  t\)v.  public  school 
and   then   entered    New  ( 'anaan  acadeuiy,  from 


OF  CHAUTAUQUA   COUNTY. 


047 


which  he  was  graduated  in  1825.  Leaving 
school  lie  was  engaged  in  the  wholesale  grocery 
business  with  his  father  until  1830,  when  he 
came  to  the  town  of  Sheridan,  where  he  bought 
his  present  farm  of  one  hundred  and  fifty  acres, 
which  was  then  almost  in  wilderness.  This 
farm,  which  he  took  great  delight  in  clearing 
out  and  improving,  is  in  the  central  part  of  the 
town  and  was  the  first  farm  cleared  out  between 
Silver  Ci'eek  and  Westfield.  It  is  well  im- 
proved, carefully  tilled  and  very  productive. 
Mr.  Mead  is  a  republican  in  politics  and  has 
always  taken  an  active  part  in  any  movement 
intended  for  the  improvement  of  the  town. 
He  has  been  town  clerk  and  school  commis- 
sioner, served  five  terras  as  supervisor  and  held 
the  office  of  justice  of  the  peace  for  nearly  fif- 
teen years.  He  was  at  one  time  a  candidate  for 
Assembly  and  lacked  but  one  vote  of  being 
nominated,  his  successful  competitor  being  Mr. 
Palmer,  who  was  elected  at  the  ensuing  election. 
While  not  a  church  member,  yet  he  supports 
churches  aud  church  work. 

He  married  Susan  Doty,  daughter  of  William 
Doty,  of  Sheridan.  To  their  union  were  born 
fourteen  children  :  Ralph  A.,  a  railroad  con- 
ductor of  Binghamton,  New  York,  who  married 
Ann  Gold  and  after  her  death  Louisa  Belden  ; 
Benjamin,  died  when  young ;  Benjamin,  who 
married  a  Miss  Pearson  and  lives  in  Jersey 
City,  New  Jersey  ;  Brockus  L.  (dead);  Abigail 
A.,  wife  of  Marshall  E.  Rice,  of  San  Francisco, 
California;  Brockus  L. ;  Susan  D.,  married  to 
John  V.  Patterson,  of  Sheridan ;  Eleanor  F., 
wife  of  Richard  Honk,  of  Ohio ;  Edmund,  de- 
ceased ;  Caroline  A.  ;  Emma,  died  in  infancy  ; 
William  H.,  telegraph  operator  of  New  York 
city  ;  and  Rachel  H.,  wife  of  Charles  Smith,  of 
Kansas  City. 

T^I>WARD  DENNISON,  a  representative 
■'■^  farmer  of  the  town  of  Hanover,  was  born 
on  the  farm  on  which  he  now  lives,  in  the  town 
of  Hanover,  Chautauqua  county.   New  York, 


May  5,  1 828,  and  is  a  son  of  Joseph  and  Deb- 
orah (James)  Dennison.  The  founder  of  the 
Dennison  family  in  America  was  William  Den- 
nison, who  was  born  in  England  about  158G, 
and  came,  in  1031,  to  Roxbury,  Ma.ssachusetts, 
with  his  wife  and  three  sons :  Daniel,  Edward 
and  George.  A  descendant  of  one  of  these  sons 
was  Joseph  Dennison,  tiie  paternal  grandfather 
of  Edward  Dennison.  Joseph  Dennison,  who 
was  born  at  Norwich,  Connecticut,  ALu'ch  20, 
1750,  married  Mary  Smith,  by  whom  lie  had 
seven  sons  and  four  daughters.  In  1829  he  re- 
moved to  Galway,  Saratoga,  county,  this  State, 
where  he  followed  farming  until  iiis  death, 
March  17,  1833.  His  son,  Joseph  Dennison 
(father),  was  born  at  Norwich,  Connecticut, 
October  25,  1787,  and  in  181G  removed  to  the 
town  of  Hanover,  in  which  he  died  in  the  year 
1872.  He  purchased  the  farm  from  the  Hol- 
land Land  company,  containing  one  hundred 
acres,  upon  which  the  subject  of  this  sketch  now 
resides.  He  dealt  largely  in  real  estate,  and  al- 
though a  carpenter  and  joiner  by  trade,  yet 
gave  his  time  principally  to  farming.  He  was 
an  old-line  whig  and  an  active  worker  in  the 
Baptist  church,  with  which  he  had  united  in 
1820.  His  wife,  Deborah  James,  was  the 
daughter  of  Jesse  James,  a  farmer  of  Saratoga 
county.  Their  children  were  :  Sallie  E.,  born 
1814,  and  now  widow  of  David  Strong;  Dr. 
John,  born  August  8,  1818,  and  a  graduate  of 
Albany  Medical  College,  who  married  Eleanor 
Johnsonworth,  and  after  practicing  for  twenty 
years  at  Alden,  Erie  county,  removed  to  DeWitt, 
Iowa,  where  one  of  his  sons,  Dr.  John,  Jr.,  is 
practicing  medicine  aud  the  other  son,  Walter, 
is  in  the  hardware  business ;  Flora,  wife  of  a 
Mr.  Dineliart,  a  banker  of  Stator,  Iowa  ;  and 
Edwin. 

Edward  Dennison  was  reared  on  the  farm  on 
which  he  resides  and  received  his  education  in 
the  common  schools  and  Fredonia  academy. 
Leaving  school,  he  engaged  in  his  present  busi- 
ness of  farming  on  the  old  homestead  which  he 


548 


BIOOBAPHT  AND  HISTORY 


now  owns.  He  has  a  large  apple  orchard,  and 
also  makes  a  specialty  of  sheep-raising.  Mr. 
Dennison  is  a  democrat  in  politics  and  has  been 
an  active  member  of  the  Baj)tist  church  for 
many  years.  He  is  a  member  of  the  A.  O.  U. 
W.,  of  Forestville,  the  Grange  and  No.  235  Pa- 
trons of  Husbandry  of  Sheridan.  He  is  one  of 
the  oldest  Masons  of  western  New  York,  being 
a  member  of  Hanover  Lodge,  No.  152,  Free 
and  Accepted  Masons  of  Forestville,  in  which 
he  was  initiated  in  July,  1850.  Although  fre- 
quently solicited,  Mr.  Dennison  has  never  pre- 
sented himself  for  any  office  within  the  gift  of 
his  fellow-citizens. 

On  May  20, 1852,  he  was  united  in  marriage 
to  Elizabeth  A.  Dorner,  who  bore  him  two  sous 
and  three  daughters :  Florence,  a  graduate  of 
the  Fredonia  Normal  school,  who  was  a  leading 
teacher  for  ten  years,  and  was  principal  of  the 
Middletown  school,  when  she  married  Stoddard 
Draper,  a  real  estate  dealer  of  San  Bernardina, 
California ;  Minnie,  who  was  graduated  from 
the  Forestville  High  school,  and  is  the  wife  of 
T.  A.  Riley,  of  Cleveland,  Ohio;  Charles,  who 
was  furnishing  beef  to  the  United  States  troops 
in  Idaho,  where  he  was  drowned  in  the  Snake 
river  at  twenty-one  years  of  age  ;  John,  a  builder 
and  contractor  of  Cleveland,  Ohio,  who  married 
Carrie  Ro.ss;  and  Elizabeth,  a  teacher  in  the 
public  schools. 


JOHN  SMILEY,  one  of  the  old  and  highly 
^      respected  citizens  of  the  town  of  Ellery,  is 
a  son  of  Joseph  and  Sarah  (Lewis)  Smiley,  and 
was  born   in  the  town  of  Norwich,  Cheuango 
county,  New  York,  April  2, 1808.     His  pater- 
nal great-grandfather,  William  Smiley,  Sr.,  was  ' 
born  in  Ireland,  and  was  pressed  into  the   Brit-  1 
ish  naval  service    fur   a  term   of  seven  years.  I 
When  his  vessel  anciiored  in  I^ong  Island  Sound,  | 
on  a  trip  to  New  York,  lie  and  two  of  his  cousins 
esoaj)ed  by  swimming  to  the  Connecticut  shore. 
He  .settled  at  Fai-riiiiig(on,  in  that   State,  where 
he  married  one  year  later  and  afterwards  went 


to  Savannah,  Georgia,  in  which  city  he  died. 
His  son,  William  Smiley  (grandfather),  was 
born  at  Farmington,  to  which  he  returned  from 
Georgia,  after  the  death  of  his  parents,  and  was 
engaged  on  a  farm  until  the  opening  of  the  Rev- 
olutionary war,  in  which  he  served  as  a  soldier. 
After  the  declaration  of  peace  he  went  to  Ex- 
eter, Rhode  Island,  where  he  married  Hannah 
Wilcox.  He  then  resided  successively  in  Ver- 
mont, and  Broome,  Chenango  and  Chautauqua 
counties.  New  York.  He  was  the  third  settler,  in 
1796,  in  the  town  of  Norwich,  Chenango  coun- 
ty, which  place  he  left  in  1810  to  come  to  the 
town  of  Ellery.  He  died  in  1825,  and  his 
widow  survived  him  until  March,  1831,  when 
she  too  passed  away.  Their  children  were 
Joseph,  William  and  Luc>'.  Joseph  Smiley 
(father)  was  born  in  Vermont  in  1781,  and  died 
in  the  town  of  Ellery  November  8,  1862.  He 
was  a  farmer,  a  whig  and  republican  and  a 
member  of  the  Christian  church.  He  married 
Sarah  (Lewis)  Groton,  widow  of  a  Mr.  Groton, 
who  bore  him  one  child,  the  subject  of  this 
sketch.  Mr.s.  Smiley  at  the  time  of  her  mar- 
riage to  Mr.  Smiley  had  a  family  of  three  sons 
and  eight  daughters. 

John  Smiley  came  with  his  fatiierand  grand- 
father to  the  town  of  Ellery,  where  he  received 
his  education  in  the  rural  schools  of  that  day. 
He  has  always  followed  farming  for  a  livelihood 
and  owns  thirty-two  acres  of  land  three  miles 
.south  of  Bemus  Point,  where  he  and  E.  P. 
Young  are  the  owners  of  a  valuable  flour  and 
feed  mill.  He  is  a  republican  in  politics,  and 
.served  hi.s  town  as  assessor  for  four  consecutive 
terms.  He  has  also  held  the  office  of  justice  of 
the  peace  for  thirteen  years. 

On  September  10,  1853,  he  married  E. 
Minerva  Briggs,  a  daughter  of  Col.  Stephen 
Briggs,  a  farmer  and  active  whig  of  Otsego 
county.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Sniiliy  have  one  child, 
a  daughter,  R.  Belle,  who  was  born  November 
10,  1856,  and  on  Novciuber  14,  1857,  mar- 
ried E.  P.  Young,  of  Beuuis  Point,  who  is  in 


OF  CHAUTAUQUA   COUNTY. 


549 


charge  of  the  mill  owned  by  him  and  his 
father-in-law.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Young  have  two 
children  :  Carrie  M.,  born  July  4,  1882,  and 
one  born  Jnne  3,  1891. 


JOHN  SHEARER,  JR.,  an  enterprising 
^  farmer  and  substantial  citizen  of  the  town 
of  Hanover,  is  a  son  of  John  Shearer,  Sr.,  and 
Philena  (French)  Shearer,  and  was  ushered  into 
life  in  the  town  of  Milton,  Saratoga  county, 
New  York,  August  31,  1817.  His  paternal 
grandfather,  Robert  Shearer,  was  a  native  of 
Scotland,  town  of  Paisley,  and  emigrated  to 
America  just  prior  to  the  Revolutionary  war. 
His  first  stopping  place  was  in  tiie  town  of  Mil- 
ton, Saratoga  county,  New  York,  where,  upon 
the  commencement  of  hostilities,  he  was  ar- 
rested as  a  spy  and  conveyed  to  Boston,  Massa- 
chusetts. He  was,  however,  after  a  hearing 
before  the  martial  courts  of  the  colonies,  dis- 
missed, as  there  could  be  no  convicting  evidence 
found  against  him.  After  this  incident  he  re- 
turned  to  Milton,  where  the  remainder  of  his 
life  was  passed  in  peace  and  security.  By  occu-  ' 
pation  he  was  a  weaver,  but  in  America  there 
was  very  little  demand  for  his  vocation,  so  he  ; 
was  compelled  to  become  a  tiller  of  the  soil. 
Robert  Shearer  was  a  member  of  the  Presby- 
terian church,  married  and  reared  a  family  of  i 
five  children,  four  sons  and  one  daughter. 
Grandfather  French  was  a  native  of  Connecti- 
cut, a  typical  Yankee,  and  removed  to  tiietown 
of  Milton,  New  York,  where  he  spent  his  latter 
days  and  passed  away  in  peace.  By  occupation 
he  was  a  seaman  and  made  numerous  vt>yages 
to  the  West  Indies.  He  reared  a  large  family, 
and  in  the  latter  part  of  his  life  became  a  farm- 
er. John  Shearer  (fother)  was  born  in  Amer- 
ica in  the  year  1779,  and  when  his  parents  em- 
igrated to  New  York,  was  about  ten  years  of 
age.  He  died  July  15, 1859.  He  was  a  farmer 
by  occupation  and  a  whig  in  politics.  His  mar- 
riage with  Philena  French  resulted  in  the  birth 
of  nine  children,  six  sons  and  three  daughters. 
29 


John  Shearer,  Jr.,  gained  his  education  in  the 
common  schools,  became  a  farmer  in  his  youth 
and  has  always  pursued  that  business.  In  his 
political  bent  he  is  a  democrat. 

He  was  united  in  marriage  on  August  21, 
1842,  to  Asenath  B.  Cowen,  daughter  of  Ezekiel 
Cowen,  of  the  town  of  Hanover,  Chautauqua 
county.  New  York,  but  formerly  of  Rhode 
Island.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Shearer  are  the  parents 
of  six  children,  four  living:  Nancy  A.,  wife  of 
Lee  Hiller  (dead),  now  living  at  Smith's  Mills; 
Henry  C.,  married  to  Evalina  Eastling,  at  pres- 
ent a  resident  of  Taylor  county,  Wisconsin,  a 
farmer  ;  Alvin  A.,  dead  ;  Charles  M.,  married 
to  Parmelia  Prouse,  a  telegraph  operator  at 
West  Olive  station,  Michigan,  on  the  Chicago 
&  West  Michigan  R.  R. ;  Mason  A.,  married 
to  Ella  Horton,  living  one-half  mile  west  of 
Smith's  Mills,  Hanover  town.  New  York  ;  and 
Leslie  J.,  dead. 

John  Shearer,  Jr.,  is  a  man  of  usefulness  and 
weight  in  the  community  in  which  he  lives, 
realizing  that  friends  and  a  good  name  are  of 
more  value  and  conducive  to  greater  hai)piness 
than  all  the  iridescent  splendor  of  the  world 
combined. 


n  BEL  S.  GILES,  a  successful  farmer,  an 
■*^  active  worker  in  the  Baptist  church  and 
a  prominent  Prohibitionist  in  the  town  of  Han- 
over, was  born  in  New  London  county,  Con- 
necticut, September  3,  1818,  and  is  a  son  of 
John  and  Betsey  (Abel)  Giles.  His  paternal 
grandfather,  Thomas  Giles,  was  a  native  of 
England,  where  he  learned  the  trade  of  weaver. 
He  came  to  Connecticut  about  the  middle  of 
the  eighteenth  century  and  was  a  soldier  in  the 
French  and  Indian  war.  He  settled  in  New 
London  county,  where  he  followed  weaving 
until  his  death.  He  married  Bathsheba  Harris, 
of  Connecticut,  by  whom  he  had  three  sons  and 
two  daughters,  one  of  which,  Bathsheba,  mar- 
ried a  Mr.  Staunton.  One  of  the  son.s,  Thomas, 
settled  in  Susquehanna,  Pa.,  while  another  one 


550 


BIOGRAPHY  AND  HISTORY 


was  John  Giles,  the  father  of  Abel  S.  Giles. 
John  Giles  was  born  in  New  London  county, 
Connecticut,  April  5,  1780,  and  died  in  Chau- 
tauqua county,  New  York,  December  31,  1880. 
He  was  a  fermer  by  occupation,  a  democrat  in 
politics  and  a  free-thinker  in  religious  matters. 
He  removed  in  June,  182.3,  to  Delaware  county 
where  his  wife,  Betsey  (Abel)  Giles,  died  in 
1844.  They  had  three  children  :  Edwin,  a 
farmer,  who  resides  with  his  son,  Edward,  in 
Nebraska;  Austin,  who  with  all  his  family  is 
now  dead  ;  and  Abel  S. 

Abel  S.  Giles  received  his  education  in  the 
early  common  schools  of  Delaware  county,  and 
in  1844,  came  to  the  town  of  Sheridan,  Chau- 
tauqua county,  where  he  purchased  a  farm  of 
one  hundred  and  twenty-five  acres  of  land 
which  he  cultivated  until  1857,  when  he  dis- 
posed of  it  and  bought  a  farm  of  one  hundred 
acres  in  the  town  of  Hanover. 

On  the  1st  of  April,  1839,  he  united  with  the 
Baptist  church,  in  which  he  has  been  a  deacon 
thirty  years,  and  has  always  been  an  influential 
member  and  active  worker.  He  has  been  suc- 
cessively in  politics,  a  democrat,  abolitionist, 
republican  and  prohibitionist.  He  has  always 
had  the  courage  of  his  convictions  and  dared  to 
stand  with  the  minority  during  the  last  years 
of  African  slavery ;  while  to-day  he  stands 
courageously  for  prohibition  as  he  ever  did  for 
the  abolition  of  human  servitude. 

On  April  10,  1844,  he  married  Sarah  Ann 
Stilson,  a  daughter  of  Amos  Stilson,  of  Dela- 
ware county,  N.  Y.  To  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Giles 
have  been  born  si.x  children,  two  sons  and  four 
daughters :  Mary,  wife  of  Edwin  Downer,  a 
farmer  of  Hanover ;  Nancy,  (dead) ;  Seymour, 
who  resides  in  Dunkirk  and  is  working  in  the 
Brooks  Locomotive  works  ;  Julia,  who  married 
Hiram  Calhoun,  lives  at  Forestville,  where 
he  is  engaged  in  farming;  a  daughter  who 
married  S.  C.  Albratt  aud  Frank  Giles  liv- 
ing in  Sheridan. 


nINALDO  I.  CURTIS,  M.D.,  a  prominent 
practicing  physician  of  Mayville,  N.  Y., 
of  the  Homoeopathic  school,  is  the  son  of  Minor 
aud  Amanda  (lugoldsby)  Curtis,  and  was  born 
in  Warren,  Pa.,  March  27,  1837.  His  grand- 
father, Asa  Curtis,  emigrated  to  Warren,  Pa., 
from  the  New  England  States,  but  afterwards 
removed  west  to  the  State  of  Illinois,  where  he 
died.  Minor  Curtis,  father  of  Rinaldo  I.,  was 
a  native  of  the  State  of  Vermont,  removed  for 
a  short  time  to  Warren,  Pa.,  and  thence  to  Chau- 
tauqua county,  New  York,  where  he  died  in 
1882.  In  early  life  he  learned  the  trade  of  a 
shoemaker,  afterwards  became  a  shoe  merchant 
aud  during  the  latter  part  of  his  life  retired 
from  active  occupation.  He  was  a  republican 
and  a  member  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
church,  for  all  of  whose  interests  he  had  an 
earnest  solicitude.  His  marriage  to  Amanda 
lugoldsby  was  fruitful  in  the  birth  of  the  fol- 
lowing children  :  Wilson  P.,  married  to  Tirzah 
Thompson,  at  jjresent  living  at  Nortii  Warren, 
Pa.  At  the  outbreak  of  the  civil  war  he 
entered  the  Union  army  and  served  a  long 
period  of  enlistment,  taking  part  in  numerous 
battles  and  engagements;  Minor  A.,  married  to 
Miss  Carpenter,  now  living  !n  Rogers,  Arkan- 
sas, where  he  is  a  practicing  physician  aud  sur- 
geon, graduating  from  the  College  of  Physicians 
and  Surgeons  of  Chicago,  Illinois;  and  Ri- 
naldo I. 

On  October  1,  18G1,  Rinaldo  I.  Curtis  was 
united  in  marriage  to  Helen  M.  Bemus,  a 
daughter  of  Matthew  P.  Bemus  of  Chau- 
tauqua county.  New  York,  by  whom  he  has 
three  children :  Matthew,  married  and  now 
living  at  Mayville,  New  York,  a  painter  by 
trade  aud  father  of  one  child,  Raymond ; 
Charles,  married  to  Anna  Henhiran  of  James- 
town, New  York,  an  electrician ;  and  George  W. 

Rinaldo  I.  Curtis  received  his  education 
through  the  common  and  high  schools  of  War- 
ren, Pa.,  at  the  completion  of  which  he  entered 
upon  the  study  of  medicine  under  the  preceptor- 


OF  CHAUTAUQUA    COUNTY. 


551 


sliip  of  Drs.  Robinson  and  Kise.  He  after- 
wards taiiglit  school  for  a  time,  continued  tlie 
study  of  medicine  at  St.  Louis,  Missouri,  and 
afterwards  entered  the  Hahnemann  Medical 
College  of  Chicago,  Illinois,  from  which  he 
graduated  in  the  spring  of  1861.  Upon  his 
graduation  lie  went  to  Warren,  Pa.,  and  prac- 
ticed with  his  old  preceptor,  Dr.  Kise,  about 
three  months,  when  he  removed  to  Mayville, 
New  York,  where  he  has  continued  his  prac- 
tice with  extraordinary  success.  Upon  his 
arrival  at  Mayville,  it  devolved  u])on  him  to 
overcome  the  prejudices  of  the  peophs  in  favor 
of  the  old  schools  of  medicine,  but  being  well 
versed  in  the  principles  of  homoeopathy  and  its 
claims,  he  was  not  long  in  demonstrating  by 
successful  practice  and  treatment,  the  scientific 
principles  of  the  school  which  he  represented. 
Dr.  Curtis  is  an  active  supporter  of  the  Repub- 
lican cause  and,  although  he  has  been  solicited 
upon  various  occasions  to  present  himself  for 
official  preferment,  has  steadily  refused.  He 
belongs  to  Lodge,  No.  284,  of  the  I.  O.  O.  F., 
at  Mayville,  New  York,  of  which  he  is  treas- 
urer, and  also  to  the  Knights  of  Honor,  in 
which  he  holds  the  office  of  dictator.  Dr. 
Curtis's  father-in-law,  Hon.  Matthew  Bemus, 
was  one  of  the  prominent  and  highly  respected 
citizens  of  Chautauqua  county.  He  served  a 
number  of  years  as  a  member  of  the  New 
York  Legislature,  was  instrumental  in  the  build- 
ing of  the  C.  C.  R.  R.,  now  a  part  of  the  B.  & 
N.  W.  R.  R.,  and  was  also  foremost  in  any 
movement  which  tended  to  the  industrial,  edu- 
cational or  philanthropic  development  of  the 
county.     He  died  in  1882. 

© 

ORLANDO  BOXD  is  a  son  of  Minor  T,  and 
Mary  A.  (Blood)  Bond,  and  was  born  in 
Mayville,  Chautauqua  county.  New  York, 
November  28,  1835.  His  grandfather,  Beth- 
uel  Bond,  was  a  native  of  Scotland,  emigrated 
to  America  and  settled  in  the  town  of  Ripley, 
Chautauqua  eouuty.  New  York,  in  1807.     He 


continued  his  i-esidence  here  until  1813,  when 
he  removed  to  Mayville,  lived  out  his  days  and 
died.  By  occupation  he  was  a  farmer  and 
(jwned  a  large  tract  of  land  between  Mayville 
and  Westfield,  which  at  his  death  became  the 
heritage  of  his  children.  When  but  a  mere 
boy  he  entered  the  Revolutionary  struggle, 
served  throughout  that  memorable  contest  and 
finally  returned  to  civil  life.  He  was  uni- 
ted in  marriage  to  Lydia  A.  Dolph,  who  bore 
him  ten  children,  five  sons  and  five  daughters. 
Grandfather   Blood,  during   his  life  time,  resi- 

!  ded  in  the  vicinity  of  Mayville,  New  York,  and 
died  near  the  city  of  Buffalo.  He  was  a  far- 
mer and  had  four  children.  Minor  T.  Bond, 
father  of  Orlando,  was  born  in  Chautauqua 
county,  town  of  Chautauqua,  in  the  year  1809 
and  died  in  the  year  1859.  He  was  a  farmer, 
a  large  laud  owner,  a  democrat   in   politics  and 

I  served  a  number  of  years  as  justice  of  the  ])eace. 
He  also  at  one  time  filled  the  office  of  deputy 
sheriff  and  warden  for  the  county  of  Chautau- 
qua. His  marriage  resulted  in  the  birth  of 
eight  children :  Charlotte,  Bethuel  (deceased), 
Orlando,  Francis,  Fernando,  Phcebe,  Silas  W. 
and  Mary  S. 

'  Orlando  Bond  was  united  in  marriage  to 
Allie  M.,  daughter  of  George  W.  Newell,  and 
has  the  following  children:  Frank  C,  married 
to  Kitty  M.  Hovey,  now  living  with  his  father 

'  at  Mayville,  New  York,  in  the  mercantile  busi- 
ness; M.  Gertrude;  and  Fred  (deceased). 

Orlando  Bond  was  educated  in  the  common 
schools  and  commenced  life  as  a  clerk  in  the 
store  of  W.  W.  Crafts  of  Mayville,  whom  he 
succeeded  in  business  as  proprietor.  He  tried 
farming  for  a  while,  but  in  1867  returned  to 
the  mercantile  business,  and  in  partnership 
with  Mr.  Godard  embarked  in  the  grocery 
business,  which  he  still  pursues.  In  politics 
he  is  a  democrat  and  served  as  justice  of  the 
peace  for  the  borough  of  Mayville  a  term  of 
four  years.  Mr.  Bond  is  a  member  of  the 
Royal  Arcanum,  Council  No.  Ill  of  Mayville. 


552 


BIOGRAPHY  AND  HISTORY 


He  is  a  good  business  man,  stands  liigh  in  the 

estimation  of  his  fellow  townsmen  and  besides 

his  mercautile  interests,  is  a  large  owner  of  real 

estate. 

o 

DEI^OS  G.  TEN:N.\^T,  a  prosperous  farmer 
of  the  town  of  Ripley,  and  a  descendant 
of  an  old  and  highly  respected  New  England 
family,  is  a  son  of  Moses  A.  and  Belinda  (Ten- 
nant)  Tennant,  and  was  born  in  the  town  of 
Springfield,  Otsego  county,  New  York,  July  2, 

1823.  His  paternal  great-grandfather  Tennant 
came  from  England  to  New  England.  His  son, 
Moses  Tennant  (paternal  grandfather),  was  a 
natis'e  of  New  England,  and  came  from  Con- 
necticut to  the  town  of  Springfield,  Otsego 
county,  where  he  followed  farming  until  his 
death.  He  was  a  federalist  in  politics,  and  a 
deacon  of  the  Baptist  church,  and  married  Sarah 
Selden  Jewett,  by  whom  he  had  one  son  and 
four  daughters.  The  son,  Moses  A.  Tennant 
(father),  was  born  in  the  town  of  Springfield, 
Otsego  county,  December  23,  1801,  and  died  in 
Eipley,  November  7,  1876.  In  1 833  he  settled 
two  miles  south  of  Quincy,  and  afterwards 
removed  to  near  the  village  of  Ripley,  where 
he  followed  farming  until  his  death.  He  was 
a  democrat  in  politics,  had  served  several  terms 
as  justice  of  the  peace  and  supervisor  of  his 
town  from  1846  to  1853.  He  was  a  member 
of  the  Masonic  fraternity,  had  been  for  twenty 
years  before  his  death  a  deacon  of  the  Baptist 
church,  and  was  a  useful  and  jiublic-spirited 
citizen.  Moses  A.  Tennant  married  Belinda 
Tennant,  who  was  born  April  18,  1802,  and 
still  survives  him.  They  were  the  parents  of 
five  sons  and  five  daughters:  Alvin  J.  (see  his 
sketch) ;  Belos  G.,  Moses  S.,  born  August  2, 

1824,  and  died  August  19,  1847;  Olive  W\za, 
born  August  5,  1827,  and  married  Henry  W. 
Shaff(;r,  who  is  now  decca.sed  ;  Julia  E.,  married 
Bavid  Sliaffi'r,  who  died  a  few  years  ago; 
Wealthy  A.,  born  August  24,  1830,  and  wife 
of  Erbi'n  C.  Wattles,  of  BufTalo,  New  York  ; 


Rev.  Albert  M.,  of  Westfield,  who  was  born 
August  9,  1834;  Ellen  B.,  born  October  26, 
1826,  and  died  in  infancy;  Fannie  O.,  bora 
February  28, 1838,  who  married  George  Mason 
and  after  his  death  became  the  wife  of  Eugene 
Huff,  now  a  resident  of  Fredonia ;  and  John  A. 
(see  his  sketch).  Mrs.  Belinda  Tennant,  now 
in  her  ninetieth  year,  is  a  granddaughter  of 
John  and  Mary  (Crandall)  Tennant,  natives  of 
Connecticut,  who  removed  to  Springfield,  Otsego 
county,  where  they  reared  a  family  of  two  sons 
and  four  daughters.  One  of  these  sons,  John 
Tennant,  Jr.,  was  the  father  of  Mrs.  Belinda 
Tennant,  and  came  from  Connecticut  with  his 
father  to  Springfield.  He  was  a  Free  Mason, 
served  in  the  war  of  1812,  during  which  he 
was  wounded  in  the  thigh,  and  married  Betsey 
Loom  is. 

Belos  G.  Tennant  grew  to  manhood  on  his 
father's  farm.  As  one  of  the  older  children  of 
the  family  he  had  to  assi.st  in  clearing  out  the 
Ripley  farm,  and  could  only  be  spared  to  attend 
school  during  a  part  of  the  short  winter  terms. 
.A.fter  his  marriage  ho  engaged  in  farming,  which 
has  been  his  main  business  ever  since.  He  has 
also  at  one  time  been  engaged  in  butchering. 
His  farm  lies  two  miles  from  the  village  of 
Ripley.  Mr.  Tennaut  is  a  democrat,  was  high- 
way commissioner  for  some  time,  and  served  six 
years  as  assessor. 

On  March  1,  1843,  he  married  Eliza  Sawiu, 
a  member  of  the  Presbyterian  church,  and  is 
one  of  five  children  born  to  Ethan  and  Eleanor 
(Anise)  Sawin.  Ethan  Sawin,  a  democrat  in 
politics  and  a  farmer  and  mechanic  by  occupation 
and  trade,  was  drafted  in  the  war  of  1812, 
came  in  1832  from  his  native  State  of  Connecti- 
cut to  the  town  of  Ripley,  where  he  died  in 
July,  1886,  aged  seventy-four  years.  He  served 
a  number  of  years  as  commissioner  of  highways 
aud  supervisor  of  his  town,  and  married  for  his 
second  wife  Sallie  Osterman.  To  Belos  G. 
and  Eliza  (Sawin)  Tennant  have  been  born  three 
children  :  Carrie  E.,  who  married  Ahira  Cran- 


OF  CHAUTAUQUA   COUNTY. 


553 


(lall,  and  died,  leaving  ouecliild,  Asa  J. ;  Mary 
L.,  wliu  died  in  infancy  ;  and  Moses  D. 

Moses  D.  Tennant  was  born  December  3, 
1849,  received  a  jiood  education  and  attended 
tiie  Buffalo  school  from  wliicli  he  was  graduated. 
He  was  admitted  to  the  bar,  and  is  now  engaged 
in  the  practice  of  his  profession  at  Wcstfield. 
While  at  school  he  took  a  course  of  surveying, 
and  sometimes  attends  to  work  in  that  line.  He 
is  a  republican,  has  served  as  notary  public  and 
justice  of  the  peace,  and  has  always  been  active 
in  political  matters.  He  married  Helen,  daugh- 
ter of  Austin  Smith,  of  Westfield,  and  they  have 
oue  child,  Arthur  S. 


i^LAREXCE  P.  CIPPERI^Y,  the  present 
^^  popular  and  efficient  cashier  of  the  bank- 
ing house  of  Skinner  &  Minton,  was  born  in 
Albany,  Albany  county,  New  York,  November 
14,  1862,  and  is  the  son  and  only  child  of 
Hiram  and  Susan  L.  (Mayer)  Cipperly.  His 
paternal  ancestors  were  natives  of  Holland, 
but  his  paternal  grandfather  Cipperly  was  born 
at  Sand  Lake,  Rensselaer  county,  this  State, 
and  was  a  farmer  and  manufacturer  of  woolen 
goods.  His  wife  was  of  English  descent,  by 
whom  he  had  a  family  of  four  children,  two 
sons  and  two  daughters.  He  was  a  representa- 
tive man  of  his  county.  His  maternal  grand- 
father Mayer,  who  was  a  resident  of  Albany, 
married  a  woman  of  French  extraction,  named 
Miss  Young  and  had  a  family  of  eight  children. 
Hiram  Cipperly  (father)  was  born  at  Sand 
Lake,  this  State,  in  1832,  and  died  in  Albany, 
in  1865,  at  the  age  of  thirty-three  years.  Hi 
was  a  self-made  man,  a  graduate  of  the  Albany  ^ 
law  school  and  practiced  law  in  Albany  until 
his  de.tth.  He  was  a  member  of  the  Masonic 
fraternity,  in  politics  was  a  democrat  and  mar- 
ried Susan  L.  Mayer,  of  Albany,  who  bore  him 
one  child,  a  son — Clarence  P.  After  her  hus- 
band's death,  ^Irs.  Cipperly  married  Charles  A. 
Kimberly,  who  had  entered  the  civil  war  in 
1861,  and  served  until  the  battle  of  Cliapiu's  I 


Farm,  where  he  lost  his  foot.  He  went  out  as 
a  sergeant  of  Co.  E.,  112th  regiment,  New 
York  Volunteers,  and  for  meritorious  services 
was  steadily  promoted  until  he  was  brevetted 
captain.  He  was  wounded  several  times  and 
was  houorably  discharged  in  1865. 

Clarence  P.  Cipperly  was  educated  in  the 
Union  school  at  Mayville,  and  in  1879  entered 
the  banking  house  of  Skinner  &  Minton,  in 
Mayville,  as  office  boy  and  clerk  and  has  been 
promoted  step  by  step  until  in  1884  he  was 
appointed  cashier,  which  position  he  now  occu- 
pies. He  stands  high,  not  only  in  the  estima- 
tion of  the  business  public,  but  also  has  the 
confidence  of  his  employers.  In  politics  he  is 
a  republican,  is  secretary  of  Peacock  Lodge, 
No.  696,  F.  and  A.  INI.,  and  is  the  first  charter 
member  of  Chautauqua  Mutual  Life  association, 
of  which  he  is  treasurer  and  a  director. 

On  October  30,  1888,  Mr.  Cipi)erly  united 
in  marriage  with  Carrie  Juliana  Ely,  a  daugh- 
ter of  J.  Frank  Ely,  a  resident  of  Mayville. 
To  this  marriage  has  been  born  oue  child,  a 
daughter :  Genevieve. 


/>USTAV  BAUMfJAKT  is  a  son  of  Joseph 
^'^  and  Elizabeth  (Weitzel)  Bauingart,  and 
was  born  in  Bavaria,  Germany,  March  1,  1804. 
His  grandfather,  Peter  Baumgart,  was  also  a 
native  of  Bavaria,  and  a  carpenter  by  trade. 
He  married  Miss  Saner,  and  had  four  children, 
three  sons  and  one  daughter,  none  of  whom 
came  to  America.  Joseph  Baumgart  (father) 
was  a  native  of  Bavaria,  was  also  a  carpenter 
by  occupation,  and  in  religion  a  mendjer  of  the 
Catholic  church.  He  married  Elizabeth  Weitzel 
and  had  six  children,  two  sons  and  four  daugh- 
ters. 

Gustav  Baumgart  was  reared  in  Germany, 
and  received  his  education  in  the  excellent 
schools  of  his  native  country.  He  learned  the 
trade  of  a  shoemaker  and  came  to  America  in 
1868,  locating  in  Buffalo,  this  State,  where  he 
remained  two  years.    He  then  came  to  Mayville, 


554 


BIOGRAPHY  AND  HISTORY 


and  engaged  in  the  boot  and  shoe  business, 
pursuing  his  trade  in  connection  tiierewith,  and 
lias  a  very  comfortable  patronage.  Politically 
he  is  independent,  and  is  a  member  of  the 
Catholic  church.  He,  according  to  the  laws 
and  customs  of  Germany,  served  his  time  in  the 
regular  army  of  that  kingdom. 

Mr.  Baumgart  was  married  to  Josephine 
Ernst,  a  daughter  of  Michael  Ernst,  a  native  of 
Seine.  To  their  union  have  been  born  five 
children,  four  sons  and  one  daughter,  three  of 
wlioui  are  living  :  Frank  (deceased) ;  Louisa  L., 
Carl  G.,  Edward  (deceased)  ;  and  Herman. 


QLVESr  J.  TENNA]VT,  the  oldest  living 
-**-  representative  of  the  old  New  England  | 
Tennant  family  in  Chautauqua  county  and  a 
well  respected  citizen  of  the  village  of  Ripley,  is 
the  eldest  son  of  Moses  A.  and  Delinda  (Ten- 
nant) Tennant,  and  was  born  in  the  town  of  ' 
Springfield,  Otsego  county.  New  York,  Sep- 
tember 13,  1821.  His  paternal  greatgrand- 
father  Tennant  came  from  England"  to  New 
England  from  which  his  son  Moses  Tennant 
(grandfather),  removed  to  Otsego  county  where 
he  was  an  important  and  influential  man  in  [ 
political  and  religious  affairs.  He  married 
Sarali  Selden  Jewett,  by  whom  he  had  five 
children.  Their  only  son,  Moses  A.  Ten- 
nant (father),  came  to  Ripley  where  he  was  a  i 
leading  citizen  and  prominent  public  man  dur-  ' 
ing  his  life.  His  wife  was  born  in  1802  and  is 
still  living.  They  had  ten  children  :  Alvin  J., 
Delos  G.,  Moses  S.  (dead),  O.  Eliza,  Julia  E., 
Wealthy  A.,  Rev.  Albert  M.,  Ellen  D.  (dead), 
Fannie  O.  and  John  A.  Mrs.  Delinda  Tennant 
is  a  daugliter  of  John  Tennant,  Jr.,  who  was  a 
son  of  John  and  Mary  (Crandall)  Tennant,  of 
New  England  descent.  (For  a  full  account  of 
the  Tennant  families  see  sketches  of  Delos  G. 
and  Joiui  A.  Tennant). 

.Mvin  J.  Tennant  came  with  iiis  father  in 
1833  to  the  town  of  Ripley  where  he  was 
reared  to  manhood  on  the  Airm  and   where  he 


attended  the  common  schools  of  that  day.  He 
assisted  his  father  in  clearing  up  his  farm  which 
was  two  miles  south  of  Ripley  and  then 
engaged  in  farming  near  Quincy  where  he 
remained  until  1860  when  he  removed  to  the 
village  of  Ripley.  He  there  bought  a  farm 
which  he  tilled  until  1890  when  he  retired  from 
active  business  life.  He  now  resides  in  a  com- 
fortable home  where  he  enjoys  the  fruits  of  a 
long  life  of  honest  labor.  He  is  a  democrat  in 
politics  and  is  a  member  of  the  Baptist  church 
and  the  Equitable  Aid  Union. 

September  26,  1847,  Mr.  Tennant  married 
Emorett  Wattles  who  was  born  January  23, 
1827.  They  are  the  parents  of  one  child, 
Jewett  G.  Mrs.  Tennant  is  a  daughter  of 
Gurdon  H.  and  Lucretia  (Phelps)  Wattles. 
Gurdon  Wattles  was  born  in  the  town  of  Sidney, 
Delaware  county,  in  1796.  He  and  his  brother 
William  came  in  1818  from  Otsego  county  to 
the  town  of  Ripley  and  two  years  later  re- 
moved to  and  cleared  up  a  farm  three  miles 
south  of  the  village  of  Ripley  where  William 
resided  until  1846  when  he  went  to  Springfield, 
Ohio,  in  which  city  he  resided  until  his  death. 
Gurdon  AVattles  remained  upon  tiie  farm  until 
1859  and  then  removed  to  the  village  of  Ripley 
where  he  died  November  15,  1880.  He  was  a 
democrat  in  politics  and  held  the  office  of  super- 
visor of  his  town  for  two  terms.  Mr.  Wattles 
was  one  of  the  founders  of  the  First  Baptist 
church  of  Rijiley  in  which  he  was  an  active 
worker  during  many  years  and  of  which  he 
was  church  clerk  for  a  quarter  of  a  century. 
He  married  liucretia  Phelps  and  reared  a  fiimily 
of  two  sons  and  two  daughters :  Glover  P. 
(deceased),  Erbin  C,  Emorett  and  Sarah  li. 
(deceased). 

Jewett  G.  Tennant,  only  son  and  child  of 
Alvin  J.  and  Kmorett  (Wattles)  Tennant  was 
born  November  4,  1852.  He  received  a  good 
Eni'lish  education  and  tilled  the  farm  for  a  few 
years.  He  was  then  employed  for  some  length 
of   time    as   a  telegraph   operator  and    station 


DR,   CORNELIUS   ORMES, 


OF  CHAUTAUQUA  COUNTY. 


557 


agent  at  Ripley  and  afterwards  became  a  iravel- 
iug  agont  for  tlie  "  Nickel  Plate  "  railroad  com- 
pany, in  whose  service  he  still  remains.  He  is  a 
good  business  man,  resides  at  Fostoria,  Ohio,  and 
travels  over  a  large  area  of  territory.  He 
married  Carrie  Brown,  and  they  have  four 
children,  one  son  and  three  daughters:  Emma, 
Leah,  Mabel  C.  and  Alvin  J. 


CORNELIUS  ORMKS,  M.D.,  was  born  at 
West  Haven,  Vermont,  August  4,  1807, 
of  most  excellent  New  England  parentage.  After 
receiving  a  thorough  academical  education,  he 
entered  upon  the  study  of  medicine  with  Prof. 
Theodore  Woodward,  at  that  time  tiie  most 
noted  surgeon  of  the  eastern  states,  and  received  j 
the  degree  of  ^I.D.  from  Castleton  Medical 
college  in  1832.  After  practicing  for  a  time  in  ^ 
partnership  with  his  preceptor,  he  removed  to 
Chautauqua  county  and  opened  an  office  in 
Panama,  February  13,  1833.  In  that  early 
day  this  portion  of  the  county  and  the  adjacent 
parts  of  Pennsylvania  were  largely  engaged  in 
lumbering,  and  Dr.  Ormes'  surgical  experience, 
obtained  under  Prof.  Woodward,  peculiarly 
fittedhim  for  the  exigencies  constantly  arising 
in  that  occupation.  His  ride  soon  extended  into 
northern  Pennsylvania,  then  almost  a  wilder- 
ness, and  his  duties  entailed  upon  him  great 
hardships  from  the  bad  roads  which  he  was 
compelled  to  traverse,  and  the  severe  exposures 
to  which  he  was  frequently  subjected.  The 
success  which  attended  his  practice,  however, 
soon  gained  for  him  a  high  reputation,  which 
was  unceasingly  eidianced  down  to  the  time  of 
his  death.  As  the  country  became  more  fully 
occupied  and  settled,  the  accidents  of  pioneer 
life  necessarily  diminished,  and  the  Doctor 
turned  his  attention  to  new  friends  for  the  em- 
ployment of  his  surgical  ability.  He  made  a 
special  study  of  ovarian  diseases,  and  soon 
established  a  national  reputation  for  the  treat- 
ment and  removal  of  ovarian  tumors.  During 
his  life  he  removed  a  large  number  of  these,  and 


he  continued  to  operate  successfully  for  their 
extirpation  up  to  within  a  few  months  of  his 
decease.  In  two  of  his  ovariatories  the  uterine 
appendages  were  all  involved ;  the  tumor  in  one 
being  of  the  colloid  variety,  and  weighing  fifty- 
one  pounds,  while  tiie  uterus  measured  eleven 
inches  in  length,  was  extensively  sphacelated 
from  lung  pressure  and  its  cavity  wholly  oblit- 
erated. The  entire  mass  was  successfully  re- 
moved and  the  patient  still  lives  in  the  enjoyment 
of  excellent  health.  In  18(13,  the  Doctor  re- 
moved to  Jamestown  and  the  better  field  greatly 
enlarged  his  already  extensive  practice.  In 
1872,  he  was  called  to  the  chair  of  obstetrics 
and  uterine  surgery  in  the  Detroit  Homoeopathic 
college,  and  discharged  its  duties  with  marked 
advantage  to  the  college  and  the  cause  of  ho- 
moeopathy. Dr.  Ormes  was  first  instigated  to 
examine  the  new  system,  by  Dr.  James  Birnstil, 
then  of  Westfield,  N.  Y.,  afterwards  of  Pitts- ' 
field,  Mass.  After  much  study  and  a  careful 
comparison  of  results  from  the  old  and  the 
new  systems,  he  gave  in  his  adhesion  to  homoe- 
opathy and  consistently  practiced  it  from  1848 
to  the  time  of  his  death.  Dr.  Ormes  was  at  the 
time  of  his  death,  and  had  been  for  many  years 
president  of  the  Homoeopathic  Medical  society 
of  Chautauqua  and  Cattaraugus  counties,  was 
one  of  the  physicians  from  western  New  York 
who  assisted  to  re-organize  the  State  society  in 
1861,  and  in  which  he  was  a  permanent  mem- 
ber at  the  time  of  his  decease ;  was  a  member  ot 
the  new  Homoeopathic  Medical  society  of  west- 
ern New  York,  and  "  Senior"  in  the  American 
Institute  of  Homoeopathy,  he  having  been 
elected  a  member  in  1856.  In  all  of  these  soci- 
eties he  occupied  a  prominent  place,  and  in  all 
was  the  frequent  recipient  of  positions  of  re- 
sponsibility and  of  honor.  It  will  thus  be  seen 
that  Dr.  Ormes  was  gathered  "  like  a  shock  of 
corn  fully  ripe."  Few  physicians  have  acquired 
as  extensive  and  enviable  reputation  and  none 
will  be  more  missed  by  the  profession  for  those 
genial  and  excellent  qualities  of  manhood  which 


558 


BIOGRAPHY  AND  HISTORY 


shed  an  additional  lustre  upon  the  achievements 
of  an  intellectual  life.  He  died  April  20,  1886. 
Heroic  Surgery,  Detroit  Post  and  Tribune,  under 
date  of  January  9,  1889,  said  :  "The  account 
in  to-day's  papers  from  our  Grand  Rapids  cor- 
respondent, giving  the  particulars  of  a  wonder-  ; 
ful  surgical  operation,  is  very  interesting,  but 
he  is  not  quite  right  in  his  statement  that  it 
has  never  before  been  done  in  this  country.  In 
the  Transactions  of  Homceopathic  Medical  soci- 
ety of  the  State  of  New  York,  Vol.  8,  page 
550,  is  reported  a  case  exactly  like  this  which 
occurred  at  Grand  Rapids,  with  the  exception 
that  the  patient  recovered.  The  surgeon  was 
Dr.  Cornelius  Ormes  of  Jamestown,  New 
York,  who  has  a  widely  extended  reputation  as 
a  surgeon.  The  patient,  a  lady  thirty-nine 
years  of  age,  had  a  cancerous  disease  involving 
the  uterus  and  ovaries.  On  the  23d  of  April, 
1870,  this  entire  mass,  greatly  enlarged,  was 
removed.  In  the  following  June  the  patient 
was  about  the  house,  and  on  August  1st  walked 
two  and  one-half  miles.  In  1872  and  1873, 
Dr.  Ormes  lectured  to  the  class  in  the  Homoeo- 
pathic college  in  this  city,  and  I  have  learned 
from  him  that  the  cure  was  permanent." 

He  married  Aiigeline  Moore,  and  they  were 
the  parents  of  four  children  :  Dr.  Frank  D., 
William  H.  (deceased),  Julia,  died  in  1887, 
and  James  C,  who  was  a  druggist  at  Jamestown 
until  his  death.  Mrs.  Ormes  wa.s  a  daughter  of 
Daniel  Moore,  who  was  a  native  of  eastern  New 
York  and  settled  near  Panama,  where  he  fol- 
lowed farming.  He  was  a  whig  and  a  baptist, 
and  married  Cynthia  Joslin. 


TOIIN  A.  TKNXANT,  a  representative  farm- 
^  er  and  a  progressive  business  man  of  the 
town  of  Ripley,  is  the  youngest  son  and  child 
of  Moses  A  and  Delinda  (Tennant)  Tcnnant, 
and  was  born  in  the  town  of  Ripley,  Chautau- 
qua county,  New  York,  May  30,  1839.  The 
Tennant  family  is  of  English  descent,  and  the 
paternal  great-grandfather  of  the  subject  of  this 


sketch  came  to  New  England,  from  which  his 
son,  Moses  Tennant  (grandfather),  came  to 
Sjjringfield,  Otsego  county.  He  was  a  farmer, 
a  federalist  and  a  deacon  of  the  Baptist  church. 
He  married  Sarah  Seldcn  Jewett,  by  whom  he 
had  one  son  and  four  daughters.  This  son, 
Moses  A.  Tennant  (father),  was  born  December 
25,  1801,  and  died  November  7,  1876,  in  the 
town  of  Ripley  in  which  he  settled  in  1833. 
He  was  a  democrat,  served  twenty  years  as  jus- 
tice of  the  peace,  and  two  terms  as  supervisor, 
and  was  a  deacon  of  the  Baptist  church.  He 
married  Delinda  Tennant,  who  was  born  April 
18,  1802,  and  is  still  living.  She  is  a  sou  of 
John  Tennant,  Jr.,  who  was  a  native  of  Con- 
necticut, served  in  the  war  of  1812,  and  was 
one  of  six  children  born  to  John  and  Mary 
(Crandall)  Tennant,  natives  of  Connecticut,  and 
afterwards  settlers  in  Otsego  county.  Moses 
Tennant  had  ten  children  :  Alvin  J.  and  Delos 
G.  (see  their  sketches) ;  Moses  S.,  born  August 
2,  1824,  and  died  August  19,  1847;  O.  Eliza, 
August  5,  1827,  and  widow  of  H.  W.  Shaffer ; 
Julia  E.,  born  January  25,  1829,  and  widow  of 
David  Shaifer;  Wealthy  A.,  born  August  24, 
1830,  and  married  E.  C.  Wattles,  of  Buffalo ; 
Rev.  Albert  M.,  of  Westfiold,  born  August  9, 
18.34;  Ellen  D.,  born  October  26,  1826,  who 
died  in  infancy  ;  Fannie  O.,  born  February  28, 
1828,  widow  of  George  Mason,  and  wife  of 
Eugene  Huff;  and  John  A. 

John  A.  Tennant  received  his  education  in 
the  common  schools  of  his  town  and  the  Ripley 
Hiffh  School.  Leaving  school  he  was  ensjaiied 
for  twelve  years  in  teaching,  a  part  of  which 
time  he  was  i)rinci|)al  of  the  ilipley  High 
school.  From  teaching  he  turned  his  attention 
to  farniiny;  and  dcaliny;  in  musical  instrinnents. 
He  now  owns  two  vineyards,  one  of  twenty 
acres  adjoining  his  property  in  the  village  of 
Ripley,  and  another  of  fifteen  acres  in  the  im- 
mediate neighborhood. 

On  October  20,  1862,  he  married  Julia  A., 
daughter  of  Henry  Adams,  who  was  born  June 


F.  D.  ORMES,  M,  D, 


OF  CHAUTAUQUA   COUNTY. 


561 


17,  1796,  and  married  Louisa  Pride,  who  was 
born  September  5,  1805.  Henry  Adams  was  a 
son  of  Levi  Adams,  who  was  born  February 
14,  1754,  in  New  England,  from  wiiicii  lie  came 
to  Otsego  county  where  he  followed  carpenter- 
ing, and  where  he  married  Hannah  Pettingill, 
by  whom  he  had  six  sons  and  four  daughters. 
Louisa  (Pride)  Adams  was  a  daughter  of  Eii- 
phusand  Ruth  (Bean)  Pride,  who  were  natives 
of  New  England  and  reared  a  family  of  four 
sons  and  six  daughters.  John  A.  and  Julia  A. 
(Adams)  Tennaiit  have  one  child,  Frederick 
Adams,  who  was  born  May  18,  1871,  and  is 
now  attending  Cornell  University,  where  he  is 
taking  the  full  course  in  electrical  engineering. 
In  politics  Mr.  Tennant  was  formerly  a  dem- 
ocrat, but  is  now  a  prohibitionist,  and  served 
Ids  town  for  several  terms  both  as  justice  of  the 
peace  and  supervisor.  He  is  a  member  of  the 
Ancient  Order  of  United  Workmen,  (^uincy 
Lodge,  No.  2,  Royal  Arcanum,  and  the  Ripley 
Baptist  church,  of  whose  Sabbath-school  he 
has  been  superintendent  for  several  years. 


FRANK  D.  <)H>ll':s,  31.1).  The  medical 
profession  has  always  held  a  prominent  j 
position  in  the  history  of  New  York,  and  has 
rendered  valuable  services  to  the  })rogress  of 
medical  science  in  the  United  States.  Chautau- 
qua county  has  been  fortunately  favored  with 
many  able  and  successful  physicians  of  which 
Jamestown  has  had  its  full  share.  One  of  her  [ 
well-known  and  popular  practitioners  is  Dr. 
Frank  D.  Ormes.  He  was  born  at  Panania, 
Chautauqua  county.  New  York,  April  2,  1838, 
and  is  a  son  of  Dr.  Cornelius  and  Angeline  ■ 
(Moore)  Ormes.  Prominent  among  the  early 
families  of  Vermont  was  the  Ormes  family, 
from  which  Dr.  Frank  D.  Ormes  is  descended. 
His  paternal  grandfather.  Brigadier  General 
Jonathan  Ormes,  was  a  native  and  life-long  res- 
ident of  Rutland  county,  Vermont.  In  the 
Revolutionary  struggle  for  independence  he  was 
one  of  the  first  in  this  State  to  advocate  armed 


resistance  against  the  tyranny  of  the  British 
ministry  in  fettering  and  restricting  the  pros- 
perity and  progress  of  the  colonies.  Early  in 
the  Revolution,  while  in  command  of  a  body  of 
Continental  troops,  lie  was  captured  by  tin; 
English  and  confined  on  one  of  their  prison- 
ships  until  the  war  was  nearly  closed.  After 
his  exchange  there  was  no  opportunity  for  the 
display  of  Ids  military  talents,  which  were  said 
to  have  been  of  a  high  onler.  He  married  and 
reared  a  family  of  eight  children,  three  sons  and 
five  daughters.  One  of  these  sons  was  Dr. 
Cornelius  Ormes  (see  sketch). 

Frank  D.  Ormes  received  his  literary  educa- 
tion at  Ft.  Edward,  N.  Y.,  and  Oberlin  college, 
Ohio.  He  read  medicine  with  his  father,  en- 
tered Cleveland  ]Medical  college  in  1861,  and 
was  graduated  from  that  institution  in  the  class 
of  1863.  After  graduation  he  practiced  for  one 
year  at  Panama,  and  then  removed  to  James- 
town, where  he  .soon  built  up  a  good  practice, 
which  he  has  continually  increased  ever  since. 

In  the  fall  of  1864  he  was  married  at  Frank- 
lin, Pa.,  to  Leona  Glidden,  daughter  of  Daniel 
C.  Glidden.  Dr.  and  Mrs.  Ormes  are  the  pa- 
rents of  four  children  :  Jesse,  Frank,  Grace  and 
Leo. 

Dr.  Frank  D.  Ormes  has  been  entirely  de- 
voted to  the  practice  of  his  profession,  which  he 
has  successfully  pursued  for  nearly  thirty  years. 
He  was  a  republican  until  the  formation  of  the 
Ijiberal  Republican  party,  which  nominated 
Horace  Greolej^  for  president,  and  since  then  has 
voted  the  democratic  ticket.  He  is  a  member 
of  Mt.  Moriah  Lodge,  No.  145,  F.  &  A.  Ma- 
sous,  Western  Star  Chapter,  No.  67,  R.  A.  M., 
Jamestown  Commandery,  No.  61,  Knights 
Templar  and  Islmialia  Temple  of  the  Mystic 
Shrine,  at  Buffalo.  In  1871  he  was  elected 
secretary  of  his  chapter,  and  has  been  annually 
re-elected  to  that  office  every  year  since.  He  is 
a  man  of  business  ability  and  spirit,  and  of 
public  enterprise.  His  success  and  modest 
competence  have  been  fairly  earned  in  a  pro- 


562 


BIOGRAPHY  AND  HISTORY 


fesslonal  career,  which  promises  to  be  length- 
ened out  for  many  years  to  come.  As  a  phy- 
sician, Dr.  Ormes  holds  high  rank  in  his  pro- 
fession. He  is  a  member  of  the  Homceopathic 
Medical  Society  of  western  N.  Y.,  the  New 
York  Homceopathic  Society  and  the  American 
Institute  of  Homoeopathy. 


ir\R-  WILLIA]>I  PRENDERGA.ST,  a  phy- 
^^  sician  by  profession  and  a  descendant 
of  the  family  by  that  name,  more  closely  con- 
nected with  the  history  of  Chautauqua  county 
than  any  other  within  its  limits,  is  a  son  of 
Martin  and  Phoebe  (Holmes)  Prendergast,  and 
was  born  in  the  town  of  Chautauqua,  Ciian- 
tauqua  county,  New  Y'ork,  on  March  20, 1854. 
The  founder  of  the  Prendergast  family  in  this 
country  was  one  William  Prendergast,  a  na- 
tive of  Ireland,  of  good  family,  but  by  reason 
of  tiie  extreme  liberalism  of  his  political  views, 
compelled  to  leave  that  country  for  one  gov- 
erned by  a  more  liberal  constitution  about  the 
year  180(5.  He  accordingly  emigrated  to  the 
United  States,  locating  iu  Chautauqua  county, 
New  York,  and  purchased  quite  a  large  amount 
of,  at  that  time,  unimproved  laud.  His  poster- 
ity have  since  been  prominently  identified  with 
the  improvement,  settlement  and  development 
of  the  county,  many  of  whom  have,  iu  the 
professions  of  law,  medicine  and  politics  be- 
come widely  known.  Matthew  Prendergast, 
the  great-grandfather  of  William  Prendergast, 
was,  during  the  greater  part  of  his  life-time, 
a  resident  of  Washington  county.  New  York, 
but  later  in  life,  in  company  with  his  brother 
James,  in  honor  of  whom  the  city  of  James- 
town received  its  name,  emigrated  to  Chautau- 
qua county,  where  he  died.  He  was  accom- 
panied to  Chautauqua  county  by  his  .son 
William,  a  practicing  physician  who  located 
at  Mayviile  and  Jamestown,  where  he  con- 
tinued his  profession  and  finally  retired  to  his 
farm  in  the  town  of  Cliautau(pia,  where  he 
passed    away.       Dr.    William    Prendergast,  at 


the  time  of  his  death,  was  the  possessor  of 
about  one  thousand  acres  of  land,  had  served 
in  the  war  of  1812  as  a  surgeon,  and  was  a 
well-known  and  highly  respected  citizen. 
Religiously,  his  family  was  episcopalian, 
while  politically  his  views  were  thoroughly 
consistent  with  republican  institutions.  His 
wife  bore  him  but  one  child,  the  father  of 
our  subject.  Grandfather  Seth  W.  Holmes 
was  a  native  of  Oneida  county.  New  York, 
emigrated  to  Erie  county,  New  York,  near 
Buffalo,  and  later  to  Mayviile,  Chautauqua  coun- 
ty, where  he  was  practically  a  life-long  resi- 
dent. He  was  a  republican  in  politics,  served 
as  sheriff  of  Chautauqua  county  prior  to  1849, 
made  a  voyage  to  the  State  of  California, 
where  he  successfully  engaged  in  speculation 
for  some  time  and  again  returned  to  the 
East.  Mr.  Holmes  united  in  marriage  with 
Sarah  Stone,  who  bore  him  three  daughters, 
the  mother  of  William  Prendergast  and  two 
others.  Martin  Prendergast  (father)  was  born 
in  Mayviile,  Chautauqua  county.  New  York, 
in  July,  1816  and  has  always  been  a  resident 
of  that  county,  occupying  the  Prendergast 
homestead.  At  twenty-five  years  of  age  he 
became  a  clerk  in  a  store  and  afterwards  changed 
his  occupation  to  farming,  which  he  has  since 
pursued.  Martin  Prendergast  is  a  republican 
in  politics,  and  served  as  supervisor  of  the 
town  of  Chautauqua  for  a  period  of  about  fif- 
teen years.  His  marriage  resulted  in  the  birth 
of  five  children,  one  of  whom,  IMartha,  married 
William  M.  Whallou,  a  land  owner  and  specu- 
lator living  in  Mayviile ;  John  H.  (married  to 
Antoinette  Hunt)  is  engaged  in  farming  and 
financial  matters,  and  is  at  present  a  resident  of 
the  town  of  Chaiilau(pia  ;  William  (deceased) ; 
Helen,  at  home;  and  William. 

William  Prendergast,  M.D.,  was  educated  at 
the  Mayviile  academy,  entered  Jeft'erson  Med- 
ical college,  Philadcl|)hia,  Penna.,  iu  1880,  and 
was  graduat(>d  tiiercfrom  iu  1883.  After  his 
graduation,  he  located  at  Mayviile,  and  entered 


OF  CHAUTAUQUA  COUNTY. 


563 


upon  the  active  practice  of  his  profession,  which 
has  been  attended  with  a  very  higii  deforce  of 
success.  I"  connection  with  iiis  profossiona! 
duties  lie  gives  some  time  to  iiis  flirni  of  one 
hundred  acres,  located  in  tiie  town  of  Ciiautau- 
qua.  Dr.  Prendergast  in  politics  is  a  repub- 
lican. 


TTi       THOMAS    WILSON    is    a    son    of  J 

^■^^^  Chester  and  Hannah  (Koch)  Wil- 
son, and  was  born  in  Johnstown,  Montgomery  i 
county,  New  York,  on  April  7,  1817.  His 
grandfather  was  a  New  England  farmer  of 
English  descent  and  a  federalist  in  politics. 
He  died  at  the  age  of  fifty-six,  while  his  wife 
died  at  the  age  of  seventy-eight.  Subject's  j 
father  was  born  in  Belchertown,  five  miles 
from  Amherst  College,  Massachusetts,  and  was 
a  saddler  by  trade.  At  one  time  during  his  i 
life  he  had  been  a  resident  of  Boston,  IMassa- 
chusetts,  where  he  carried  on  his  trade  of  saddle 
making.  He  was  a  Jeffersonian  democrat,  a 
presbyterian,  and  died  at  the  age  of  seventy 
years.  His  mother  died  at  the  age  of  ninety- 
nine  years. 

W.  Thomas  Wilson  came  with  his  father  to 
Chautauqua  county  in  the  year  1828.  He  at- 
tended the  common  schools,  and  afterwards 
continued  his  education  in  a  private  academy 
at  Forestville,  New  York.  After  his  gradua- 
tion from  that  place,  he  taught  school  for  some 
twelve  years,  at  the  conclusion  of  which  he 
took  up  the  study  of  medicine,  which  he  pur- 
sued for  two  years,  and  then  relinquished  it, 
and  commenced  the  study  of  law.  He  was 
admitted  to  practice  before  the  several  courts 
of  Chautauqua  county  in  1844,  and  in  1870 
was  admitted  to  practice  before  all  the  courts 
in  the  State  of  New  York,  at  Buffiilo.  In  1868 
he  became  justice  of  sessions,  which  position  he 
held  five  years,  after  which  he  took  up  the 
special  practice  of  pension  law,  and  has  been  a 
pension  attorney  for  the  past  thirty-eight  years, 
justice  for  twenty-six  years,  and  notary  public 


for  six  years.     He  is  a  democrat  in  politics  and 
an  agnostic  in  religion. 

W.  Thomas  Wilson  was  first  married  iu 
1836  to  Maria  Tiouisa  llosenbaum,  a  daughter 
of  Garrett  llosenbaum,  of  Albany,  New  York. 
They  had  one  child,  a  son, — Thomas  L.  Wil- 
son, a  journalist.  His  second  wife  was  Sarah 
M.  Atkins,  daughter  of  the  late  Almon  Atkins, 
whom  he  married  in  May,  1874. 


■J^EV.  WILT.IAM  H.  FENTOX  was  born 
-*->  in  West  Mina,  Chautautjua  county,  New 
York,  December  0,  1864,  and  is  a  son  of  Rob- 
ert H.  Fenton,  a  native  of  eastern  New  York. 
His  father's  occupation  was  that  of  an  engineer, 
in  the  pursuit  of  which  vocation  he  spent  most 
of  his  life  in  the  State  of  New  York  and  in 
the  oil  territory  of  Penn.s\-lvnnia.  Politically 
he  cast  bis  vote  with  the  Republican  party, 
and,  as  regards  matters  of  religion,  he  did  not 
ally  himself  with  any  denomination  until  a 
short  period  prior  to  his  death,  which  occurred 
at  the  age  of  forty-five  years.  His  grandfather, 
Azan  Fenton,  came  into  Chautauqua  county 
when  in  middle  life,  and  remained  iiere  until 
his  death  at  ^^^est  Mina,  at  the  advanced  age 
of  ninety-nine  years.  He  was  a  man  posses- 
sing a  somewhat  remarkable  eye-sight,  who 
even  to  his  last  moment  was  able  to  read  dis- 
tinctly without  the  artificial  aid  of  glasses. 
Azan  Fenton  was  a  member  of  the  Methodist 
Episcopal  church,  to  which  faith  he  had  been 
converted  when  but  thirteen  years  of  age.  His 
firm  faith  in  the  efficacy  of  the  Christian  re- 
ligion and  in  its  power  to  give  comfort  through 
all  the  moments  of  depressiou  which  are  wont 
to  harass  every  life,  was  his  mainstay  and 
.source  of  hope  throughout  all  his  declining 
years. 

William  H.  Fenton  spent  the  years  of  his 
youth  in  the  village  of  North  Clymer,  New 
York,  as  the  adopted  son  of  Sanford  Fox; 
received  his  elementary  education  in  the  com- 
mon schools  of  his  native  village,  which  was 


564 


BIOGRAPHY  AND  HISTORY 


afterwards  supplemented  by  a  course  of  study 
at  Chamberlain  Institute  and  Female  college, 
Randolph,  New  York,  from  which  institution 
of  learning  he  was  graduated  at  the  age  of 
twenty-three.  He  taught  music  in  Chautau- 
qua county  and  in  Pennsylvania  from  the  time 
he  was  nineteen  years  old,  and  also  for  a  time 
after  his  graduation,  after  which  he  supplied 
various  pulpits  as  a  local  preacher  in  western 
New  York  and  Pennsylvania,  and  finally  be- 
came a  presiding  minister  in  the  Methodist 
Episcopal  church.  He  has  occupied  his  present 
position  as  pastor  at  Sinclairville  for  about  a 
year,  with  a  gratifying  and  encouragiug  out- 
look for  the  future  prosperity  of  the  church. 
Rev.  Mr.  Fenton  is  a  member  of  the  Royal 
Templars  of  Temperance,  in  which  he  holds 
the  position  of  chaplain.  He  is  republican  in 
politics. 

On  August  (i,  1890,  Rev.  Mr.  Fenton  was 
united  in  marriage  to  a  daughter  of  P.  L. 
Wright,  of  Wrightsville,  Warren  county.  Pa. 


HERIHAN  SIXBEY  is  a  son  of  Charles  and 
Mary  Ann  (Sherman)  Sixbey,  and  was 
born  in  Montgomery  county,  New  York,  Sep-  ' 
tember  8th,  1838.  His  grandfather,  John  Six- 
bey, was  of  Dutch  extraction,  of  good  family 
and  was  born  in  the  State  of  New  York,  in  the 
Mohawk  valley,  where  Ids  father  had  been  one 
of  the  original  Knickerbockers.  From  New 
York  he  emigrated  to  the  State  of  Michigan, 
where  he  died,  being  at  the  time  of  his  death  a 
member  of  the  Methodist  Epi.sco])al  church. 
His  wife  was  a  woman  of  like  extraction  and 
birth  and  bore  him  fourteen  children.  Mater- 
nal grandfather,  John  Sherman,  was  of  English 
extraction  and  lived  and  died  in  Schoharie 
county,  where  he  occujjied  himself  fiu-ming. 
During  the  war  of  1812  he  was  captain  of  a  de- 
tachment of  cavalry  and  served  in  that,  war  with 
bravery  and  merit.  He  united  in  marriage  with 
Tirzah  Smith,  of  English  lineage  and  a  descend- 
ant of  an  old  Revolutionary  family.     She  bore  i 


her  husband  six  children.  Charles  Sixbey, 
father  of  Herman,  was  given  birth  in  the  Mo- 
hawk  Valley,  New  York,  and,  like  his  father, 
emigrated  to  Michigan,  where  he  died  at  the 
early  age  of  thirty.  He  was  a  wagon-maker  by 
trade,  voted  with  the  whigs  and  communed 
with  the  methodists.  He  was  the  father  of 
three  children  :  Charles,  killed  on  the  D.  A.  V. 
&  P.  R.  R.  while  employed  as  brakeman  ; 
Mary  A.,  wife  of  Fred  Dutton,  of  Shermau  ; 
and  Herman. 

On  August  3d,  1863,  Herman  Sixbey  was 
united  in  marriage  to  Marianna  R.  Buck,  daugh- 
ter of  Edwin  Buck,  by  whom  he  has  the  follow- 
ing children :  De  Witt,  an  assistant  in  his 
father's  store ;  Mary  Adelia,  Carlton  B.  and  Ar- 
thur W. 

Herman  Sixbey  was  educated  in  the  common 
schools  and  at  the  age  of  twenty  engaged  in  the 
mercantile  business  at  Wcstfield,  New  York, 
where  he  remained  about  three  years.  On  Au- 
gust 1st,  1862,  when  the  peace  of  our  country 
was  disturbed  by  the  outbreak  of  the  civil  war, 
he  enlisted  in  the  112th  regiment,  N.  Y.  Vol- 
unteer Infantry,  and  served  until  February 
3d,  1865.  During  the  first  year  of  his  service 
he  was  advanced  from  the  rank  of  a  private 
through  the  several  official  gradations  to  the 
rank  of  first  lieutenant  and  finally  received  the 
recommendation  for  a  captaincy.  He  took  part 
in  the  following  battles  and  engagements:  The 
siege  of  Suffolk,  the  skirmishes  around  Rich- 
mond, battle  of  Cold  Harbor,  Drury's  Bluff"  and 
the  siege  of  Petersburg  (at  which  he  received  a 
severe  wound  in  the  face  through  the  famous  mine 
explosion),  and  for  three  years  his  life  hung  by 
a  mere  thread.  After  his  discharge  from  the 
service  he  returned  to  civil  life  at  Westfield, 
where  he  received  the  appointment  of  assistant 
collector  of  internal  revenue.  He  served  one 
term  of  thrtn'  years  as  clerk  of  Chautatujua 
county,  at  tlie  expiration  of  which  he  embarked 
in  business  in  Mayville,  where  he  conducts  one 
of  the  largest   general  stores  in   that  village, 


OF  CHAUTAUQUA  COUNTY. 


505 


carrying  a  stock  of  some  fifteen  tliousand  dol- 
lars. He  is  a  stanch  republican  in  politics,  a 
Royal  Arch  Mason,  and  present  Master  of  Pea- 
cock Lodge,  at  Mayville,  a  member  of  the  A. 
O.  U.  W.  and  a  member  of  the  (i.  A.  R. 


TTLBERT  A.  .FAMES,  an  active  and  encr- 
■**-  getic  larmer  and  a  good  citizen  of  Nash- 
ville, New  York,  was  born  in  Brookfield,  Madi- 
son county.  New  York,  February  3d,  1813,  and 
is  a  son  of  Louis  P.  James  and  Hannah  (Hill) 
James.  His  grandfather  James  emigrated  to 
America  from  England,  though  he  was  of  Irish 
descent.  LTpou  his  arrival  he  located  near  New 
London,  Connecticut,  where  he  took  up  his  oc- 
cupation as  cabinet-maker  and  continued  it 
during  the  remainder  of  his  life.  His  coniing 
to  America  was  just  prior  to  the  war  of  the 
Revolution,  so  that  as  far  as  his  loyalty  to  the 
country  of  his  birth  or  adoption  is  concerned, 
he  occupied  a  neutral  position.  Subject  has  in  his 
possession  quite  a  number  of  souvenirs  and 
mementoes  of  that  memorable  struggle.  Mater- 
nal grandfather  Hill  was  of  English  descent, 
and  upon  his  emigration  to  America  also  settled 
in  Connecticut.  Louis  P.  James  claims  as  his 
native  State  Rhode  Island,  where  he  was  born 
April  15th,  1780.  While  living  in  Rhode 
Island  he  pursued  the  vocation  of  a  farmer,  but 
shortly  removed  to  the  county  of  Madison, 
State  of  New  York,  where  he  took  uj)  a  like 
pursuit.  In  1819  he  removed  to  Chautauqua 
county,  town  of  Hanover,  where  he  spent  the 
remaining  years  of  his  life,  and  in  186.5  died  at 
the  age  of  eighty-five  years.  He  owned  a  farm 
of  eighty-four  acres  of  land,  which  he  purchased 
from  the  old 'Holland  Land  company.  His 
first  political  alliance  was  with  the  Whig  party, 
but  at  its  death  he  transferred  his  allegiance  to 
the  Republican  party.  He  was  a  member 
of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church  for  over 
sixty  years  prior  to  his  death  and  was  one  of 
its  most  earnest  and  ardent  supporters.  His 
marriage  to  Hannah   Hill  resulted  in  the  birth 


of  seven  children,  three  sous  and  four  daugh- 
ters. His  wife  was  a  native  of  Connecticut, 
was  born  June  1st,  1768,  and  died  at  the  age 
of  ninety  years. 

Albert  A.  James  was  reared  in  the  State  of 
Connecticut,  where  he  also  attended  the  common 
schools.  He  spent  his  youth  as  a  fijrmer  boy 
and  later  was  apprenticed  to  a  cabinet  maker, 
which  business  he  worked  at  a  few  years  and 
then  returned  to  farming,  which  for  the  last 
forty-two  years,  has  been  his  exclusive  occupa- 
tion. He  owns  a  farm  of  eighty-three  acres, 
votes  the  Democratic  ticket  and  devotes  con- 
siderable time  and  energy  to  the  interests  of 
politics.  At  the  time  of  the  civil  war  he  was 
pro-selyted  from  the  whig  party.  At  the  age  of 
twenty-four  years  he  was  captain  of  a  company 
of  militia  in  New  York  State. 

On  January  21,  1836,  he  was  united  in 
marriage  to  Betsey  Near,  by  whom  he  had  five 
children  :  Marilla,  wife  of  Victor  M.  Dewe}',  a 
postal  clei'k  of  Kansas  City,  Missouri ;  Almeda, 
wife  of  Jacob  Daly,  a  farmer  living  near 
Carthage,  Cattaraugus  county.  New  York ; 
Hannah,  living  with  her  sister;  Harriet,  wife 
of  Harry  Brownell,  a  farmer  of  the  town  of 
Hanover ;  and  Susan,  wife  of  Frank  Irish,  a 
gardener  of  the  town  of  Hanover,  Chautauqua 
county.  Upon  the  death  of  his  first  wife,  he 
was  united  in  marriage  to  Nancy  Mizen,  widow 
of  Henry  Mizen,  who  bore  him  one  child, 
Frank,  uow  deceased. 


i^AKLETON  M.  JONES  is  a  son  of  Milton 
^^  and  Eliza  (Jackson)  Jones  and  was  born 
in  Brocton,  Chautauqua  county,  March  19, 1840. 
His  grandfather,  John  Jones,  was  a  native  of 
Uuadilla  in  east  central  New  York,  entered  the 
war  of  1812  and  was  killed  at  the  battle  of 
Black  Rock.  His  marriage  resulted  in  the 
birth  of  three  sons  and  two  daughters,  one  of 
whom,  Elizabeth,  married  Mr.  Howell,  the  first 
postmaster  at  Brocton.  Mr.  Howell  was  a 
colonel  in  the  late  civil  war,  a  prominent  mem- 


566 


BIOGRAPHY  AND  HISTORY 


ber  of  the  Knights  Templar,  and  died  in 
Waukesha,  Wisconsin.  Grandfather  Joshua 
Jackson  was  one  of  the  oldest  settlers  of  the 
town  of  Portland,  Chautauqua  county,  and 
owned  a  large  tract  of  land,  upon  which  now 
stands  the  greater  part  of  Broctou.  He  was 
a  general  business  man  and  operated  a  tannery 
for  a  number  of  years.  In  politics  his  creed 
was  decidedly  democratic,  there  being  a  period 
in  the  history  of  the  town  of  Portland  when  he 
and  his  two  sons  constituted  the  entire  demo-  : 
cratic  party  of  that  town.  He  was  a  great  ad-  j 
niirer  of  Gen.  Jackson.  His  wife  was  a  Miss 
Sherman,  the  daughter  of  a  prominent  and 
wealthy  family  of  Chic^igo.  Milton  Jones 
(father)  was  born  in  Unadilla,  Otsego  county, 
New  York,  and  removed  to  Chautauqua 
county,  about  1830  to  Salem  Cross  Roads.  He 
was  a  wagon-maker  and  general  mechanic  by 
occupation  and  died  in  Ripley,  New  York, 
(where  he  removed  in  1859)  in  the  year  1864. 
His  political  bent  was  democratic,  and  relig- 
iously he  was  a  member  of  the  Baptist  church. 
He  married  Mi&s  Eliza  Jackson,  died  iu  1877, 
who  bore  him  four  children,  two  of  whom  died 
young.  Antoinette,  the  other  sister  of  the 
subject,  but  who  is  now  dead,  was  the  wife  of 
R.  P.  Russell,  an  oil  operator  of  Bradford, 
Pennsylvania. 

Carleton  M.  Jones  was  educated  in  the  com- 
mon and  high  schools  and  commenced  life  as  a 
farmer,  so  continuing  imtil  1885,  when  he  en- 
gaged in  the  business  of  handling  agricultural 
implements,  wagons  and  general  machinery. 
This  business  claims  his  attention  to-day,  in 
which,  through  energy  and  close  application,  he 
has  quite  an  extensive  trade.  He  also  owns  a 
farm  of  seventy-six  acres,  fifteen  of  which  are 


Politically  he  is  a  dem- 


under  grape  culture, 
oerat. 

Carleton  M.  Jones  was  united  in  marriage  to 
Mrs.  Maggie  Connelly  (nee  Reckinbrode.) 


T  .  AFAYETTE  JENKS  is  a  son  of  Obadiah 
■'"^  and  Melinthia  (Mason)  Jenks  and  was 
born  in  Essex  county.  New  York,  December  30, 
1818.  The  Jenks  have  lived  in  the  New 
England  States  for  at  least  two  centuries.  The 
grandfather  of  subject  was  a  native  of  Ver- 
mont, but  his  ancestors  had  gone  up  there  from 
the  home  of  Roger  Williams.  James  Jenks  was 
born  in  the  "  Green  Mountain  State"  and  from 
there  came  down  into  Essex  county.  New  York, 
where  he  died.  He  was  a  miller  and  farmer  by 
occupation  ;  was  married  to  a  Miss  Tripp  and 
had  seven  children.  Benjamin  Mason,  who 
was  the  other  grandfather,  also  came  to  Essex 
county,  where  he  died.  Obadiah  Jenks  was 
born  in  the  "  Green  Mountain  State  "  and  was 
brought  to  Essex  county,  New  York,  when 
thirteen  years  old.  He  was  given  a  superior 
education  for  the  times  and  later  occupied  the 
dignified  position  of  school-teacher,  which,  in 
those  days,  was  one  of  great  houor  but  of  small 
emoluments,  and  he  abandoned  teaching  to  learn 
carpentering  and  afterwards  discarded  the  latter 
for  farming.  About  1837  or  1838  he  came  to 
the  town  of  Poland  and  purchased  a  piece  of 
land  and,  making  a  farm  of  it,  lived  there  until 
lie  died,  when  eighty  years  old.  He  married  in 
the  home  of  his  youth  when  about  twenty-two 
years  of  age,  taking  for  his  wife  Melinthia  Mason, 
who  bore  him  seven  children,  three  of  whom 
are  yet  living  :  Lucinda  is  the  widow  of  Eli 
Taylor;  Lafayette  and  James  M.,  who  makes 
his  home  in  Ellington  town.  Originally,  Mr. 
Jenks  was  a  democrat  of  the  Jeffersonian  type,  but 
at  the  inception  of  the  Republican  party,  he 
transferred  his  allegiance  to  it  and  clung  to  its 
principles  through  life.  He  entered  the  war  of 
1812  as  a  private  and  soon  after  was  promdted 
to  be  a  captain  and  was  engage<l  at  the  battles 
of  Plattsmouth  and  Chamj)laiii.  Ilis  business 
relations  were  open  and  straigiitforward  tiiri)ugh- 
out  his  life  and  his  departure  from  earth  was 
mourned  and  regretted. 

Lafayette  Jenks' was  one  of  those  lads  who 


OF  CHAUTAUQUA   COUNTY. 


567 


were  taught  to  work  while  young,  although  his 
early  education  was  not  neglected.  Both  the 
public  and  select  schools  were  attended.  He 
learned  farming  from  his  father  and  came  from 
Essex  county  to  Poland,  C'hautauijua  county, 
where  he  has  since  lived.  j 

In  1847  he  was  married  to  Harriet  Bab- 
cock,  of  this  town,  and  they  had  three  children  '■ 
the  youngest,  Charles  S.,  is  dead  ;  of  the  other  I 
two,  Alfred  L.  is  a  spice  merchant  in  Buffalo, 
New  York.  He  married  Emily  Preston  and 
has  one  child,  Wilmer  ;  and  A.  Frank,  a  lawyer 
of  Jamestown,  who  married  Florence  Sheldon 
and  has  two  children — Leonora  and  Anna. 

Politically  Mr.  Jenks  is  a  radical  and 
straight-out  republican,  who  takes  a  deep  in- 
terest in  party  elections.  He  is  a  member  of 
the  Baptist  church,  holding  the  position  of 
deacon.  Educational  matters  also  receive  some  i 
of  his  attention,  his  opinion  being,  that  the 
strongest  bulwark  of  the  nation  is  the  intelli- 
gence of  her  sons. 

Alfred  L.  Jenks  received  an  academic  and  i 
business  education,  which  fitted  him  for  the 
eminent  position  he  now  occupies  in  the  busi- 
ness world.  A.  Frank  Jenks  graduated  at  the 
University  of  Rochester,  where  he  enjoyed  the 
distinction  of  being  prize  orator.  Later  he 
read  law  with  Senator  Teller,  of  Colorado,  and 
was  admitted  to  the  bar  of  Arapahoe  county, 
in  that  State. 

Charles  S.  Jenks  was  twenty-four  years  old 
when  he  died  and  had  been  educated  at  James- 
town in  the  academic  and  business  courses.  For 
some  time  he  had  been  associated  with  his  old- 
est brother  in  the  spice  business  at  Buffalo,  but 
spent  most  of  his  time  on  the  farm.  He  was 
married  to  Mary  Frost  and  left  her  a  widow 
with  one  little  daughter,  Mabel.  She  is  now 
teaching  school  at  Siuclairville. 


nOBERT  31.  JOHNSTON,  a  well  known 
farmer  and  grape  culturist,  of  the  town 
of  Westfield,  is  a  son  of  Samuel  and  Margaret 


(McKec)  Johnston,  and  was?  born  in  County 
Down,  Ireland,  August  4,  1841.  Both  his 
father  and  mother  are  natives  of  the  same  place, 
the  former  coming  to  America  in  1848,  leaving 
his  family  behind ;  he  located  in  this  town, 
where  he  has  ever  since  lived,  and  until  a  few 
years  ago  was  engaged  in  farming  and  butcher- 
ing; but  having  readied  the  age  of  eighty 
years  he  abandoned  active  business  and  is  now 
taking  life  quietly.  He  married  Margaret  Mc- 
Kee,  who  is  now  seventy-five  years  of  age,  and 
belongs  to  the  Presbyterian  church.  She  came 
to  America  a  few  years  after  her  husband,  and 
with  her  came  our  subject,  then  a  boy  in  his 
teens. 

Robert  M.  Johnston  was  reared  until  eighteen 
years  of  age  at  his  father's  home  in  the  town  of 
Westfield,  and  was  educated  at  the  common 
schools.  He  learned  butchering  with  his  father, 
and  followed  the  business  for  some  time.  In 
1859  he  went  to  California  where  he  found 
employment  at  his  trade,  and  worked  for  one 
man  for  over  five  years.  He  then  returned  to 
We-stfield  and  embarked  in  the  same  business 
for  himself,  but  for  the  past  eight  years  has 
been  engaged  in  farming  and  grape  growing, 
and  now  owns  one  iiundred  and  seventeen  acres 
of  land,  twenty-five  acres  of  it  being  a  vine- 
yard. 

In  1870  he  married  Margaret  McGee,  a 
daughter  of  James  McGee,  of  Westfield,  and 
he  has  a  family  of  four  children,  one  son  and 
three  daughters  :  Lena,  Samuel,  Catherine  and 
Isabel. 

Robert  M.  Johnston  is  a  republican,  but  is 
liberal  in  his  ideas,  and  does  not  permit  parti- 
sanship to  dictate  to  his  conscieuce.  He  belongs 
to  the  Equitable  Aid  Union,  and  is  an  honest, 
industrious  and  successful  man. 


J"f  ARON  HALL  is  one  of  the  men  to  whom 
■**■  the  city  of  Jamestown  is  greatly  indebted 
for  handsome  structures,  in  which  the  citizens 
feel  a  just   and   honest  pride.     He  is  a  son  of 


568 


BIOGRAPHY  AND  HISTORY 


Jacob  and  Eliza  (Woodburn)  Hall,  and  was 
born  in  Sharon,  Otsego  county,  New  York, 
March  9,  1830.  His  paternal  grandfather, 
Aaron  Hall,  was  a  native  of  Connecticut,  emi- 
grated to  Otsego  county,  this  State,  and  thence 
to  Chautauqua  county.  About  1832,  he  began 
farming  on  a  large  scale  in  the  town  of  Char- 
lotte, this  county.  He  married  a  Miss  Platner, 
by  whom  he  had  six  daughters  and  two  sons. 
Mr.  Hall's  maternal  grandfather,  David  Wood- 
burn,  was  an  early  settler  of  Cherry  Valley, 
this  State,  residing  there  during  the  Revolu- 
tionary war,  being  a  farmer  by  occupation.  He 
married  a  Miss  Lewis,  and  had  four  sons  and 
four  daughters.  The  father  of  Mr.  Hall  was 
born  in  Otsego  county,  about  1800,  and  re-" 
moved  to  Chautauqua  county,  in  1830,  and 
located  in  Charlotte,  where  he  resided  until  his 
death.  He  was  a  farmer  and  owned  two  hun- 
dred acres  of  land.  In  politics  he  was  first  a 
whig  and  then  a  democrat,  and  iu  religious 
matters  was  a  member  of  the  Methodist  church. 
He  married  Eliza  Woodburn  and  had  twelve 
children,  ten  of  whom  reached  maturity.  Of 
the  sons,  Henry  P.,  is  a  physician  with  a  large 
and  lucrative  practice  in  Jamestown  ;  Homer 
was  an  architect  in  Cairo,  Illinois,  where  he 
was  killed  by  a  sunstroke,  in  July,  1890. 

Aaron  Hall  is  a  contractor  and  builder,  be- 
ginning in  Westfield,  this  county.  In  18G2  he 
came  to  Jamestown  and  built  some  of  the  most 
costly  and  attractive  buildings,  among  them 
being  the  residence  of  ex-Governor  Fenton  and 
the  Central  school.  He  always  drew  his  own 
plans  and  has  always  been  recognized  as  a  very 
tasteful  and  competent  architect.  Politically  he  is 
a  democrat,  was  higliway  commissioner  in  Elli- 
cott  for  twelve  years,  nnd  is  a  member  of  Elli- 
cott  Lodge,  No.  169,  I.O.  O.  F.,  of  Jamestown. 

Mr.  Hall  married  Martha  I'arkluirst,  a 
daughter  of  Hiram  Parkluirst,  of  Chautauqua 
county.  Their  union  lia8  been  blessed  with 
one  child,  a  son,  Morgan  W.,  who  is  in  busi- 
ness with  his  fatlier. 


•^ETER  HAAS,  a  well  known  and  highly 
-*-  respected  citizen  of  Jamestown,  is  by  trade 
a  mason.  His  parents  were  George  and  Mary 
(Dick)  Haas,  who  gave  him  birth  in  Germany, 
on  September  14,  1827.  His  grandj)arents  and 
father  were  farmers,  who  lived  iu  Germany  all 
their  lives. 

Peter  Haas  was  twenty-four  years  of  age 
when  he  decided  to  quit  the  fatherland  and  come 
to  America  which  he  readied  in  1851.  His 
first  home  in  this  country  was  at  Watertown, 
Jeiferson  county,  this  State,  where  he  remained 
one  year.  Deciding  that  he  could  improve  be 
then  went  to  Erie,  Pa.,  which  at  that  time  was 
considered  far  west  and  remained  there  two 
years.  In  1854  he  went  to  Silver  Creek,  this 
county,  where  he  remained  until  1861,  when  he 
came  to  Jamestown  and  with  the  excejjtion  of 
six  years  spent  at  Warren,  Pa.,  where  a  daughter 
resides  and  one  year  in  the  United  States  army, 
has  lived  here  uninterruptedly  since,  following 
his  trade. 

He  married  Elizabeth  Dick  and  to  this  union 
have  been  born  ten  children,  seven  of  whom  are 
living  :  Liesbec  (dead) ;  Frances,  wife  of  Wil- 
liam Lavery,  a  mason  residing  in  Warren,  Pa. ; 
Ilattie,  wife  of  Frank  Lilly,  a  machinist  re- 
siding in  Stockton,  this  county  ;  Lincoln  (dead); 
William,  a  mason,  at  home  ;  Elraira  (dead) ; 
George,  also  a  mason ;  Mary,  Charles  and  Nel- 
lie at  home. 

In  1864  Mr.  Haas  enlisted  in  the  9th  regi- 
ment, N.  Y.  Cavalry,  and  going  to  the  front 
took  part  in  the  engagement  at  Winchester,  was 
present  at  Lee's  surrender  and  assisted  in  the 
paroling  of  prisoners  at  Mount  Jackson.  He 
was  lionorably  discharged  and  returned  home 
when  the  war  closed  and  resumed  his  work  with 
hammer  and  trowel.  In  addition  to  his  trade, 
Mr.  ITaas  is  conducting  a  grocery  business  on 
North  Main  street.  Politically  he  favors  the 
Republican  party  and  is  a  member  of  the  Luth- 
eran church. 


OF  CHAUTAUQUA   COUNTY. 


569 


JOENJAMIN  L.  HARRISON  was  born  in 
-^^  the  town  of  Stockton,  Cliautanqua 
county,  New  York,  on  March  Ist,  1841,  and  is 
the  sou  of  George  S.  and  Mary  (Springer)  Har- 
rison. His  parents  were  natives  of  Madison 
county,  New  York,  where  his  fatlier  was  born  in 
1810  and  practiced  medicine.  From  Madison 
county  tiie  elder  Harrison  iiad  removed  to  the 
State  of  Oiiio,  from  whicii  State  lie  came  to 
Ciiautauqua  county  in  182;")  and  continued  the 
practice  of  medicine  over  a  range  of  territory 
comprising  Cassadaga,  Stockton  and  Sinclair- 
ville  for  about  forty-four  years.  He  died  at  the 
age  of  seventy-sight,  was  a  democrat  in  politics, 
a  man  of  moral  and  upright  life,  but  with  no 
particular  denominational  adherence,  and  in  Free 
Masonry  had  been  advanced  to  the  degree  of 
Master  Mason.     He  was  of  English  descent. 

Benjamin  L.  Harrison  was  reared  and  spent 
his  life  upon  his  father's  farm  on  the  banks  of 
Lake  Cassadaga.  He  received  his  education 
through  the  common  schools,  Elliugton  academy 
and  at  the  University  of  Michigan,  which  latter 
institution  lie  attended  one  year  with  a  view  to  fit- 
ting himself  for  the  profession  of  medicine.  He 
then  went  South,  where  he  engaged  in  teaching 
school  until  the  outbreak  of  the  civil  war,  when 
he  returned  to  Sinclairville  and  re-coma'enced 
farming,  since  which  time  he  has  become  a  very 
successful  and  progressive  farmer  in  the  town 
of  Gerry.  He  is  a  democrat  in  politics  and  has 
served  as  alderman  in  the  city  of  Dunkirk  and 
is  likewise  a  Mason  of  high  standing. 

In  April,  1862,  Benjamin  L.  Harrison  united 
in  marriage  with  Lucy  Pitman,  a  daughter  of 
Abner  Pitman  of  the  town  of  Charlotte.  Only 
one  child  has  been  the  result  of  the  marriage — 
Louis  P.,  of  the  Brooks'  Locomotive  Works, 
Dunkirk,  New  York. 


was  born  in  Chautaiujua  town  and  county,  Feb- 
ruary 18th,  1855.  Nelson  Hopson  was  born  in 
this  county  in  1832  and  has  always  lived  in 
Chautauqua  town,  followed  farming  and  made 
it  a  success.  He  is  now  in  his  fifty-ninth  year 
and  belongs  to  the  Mayville  Methodist  Episco- 
pal churc^h.  Politically  he  is  a  prohibitionist 
and  takes  more  than  a  passing  interest  in  im- 
proving the  strength  and  standing  of  the  third 
party  movement.  He  married  Marilla  Fuller, 
who  is  also  a  native  of  this  count}',  is  now  in 
her  sixty-second  year  and  is  a  member  of  the 
same  church  to  which  her  husband  belongs. 

Newell  P.  Hopson  was  reared  in  the  town  of 
Chautauqua,  q)ending  his  youthful  days  upon 
his  father's  farm.  He  acquired  such  education 
as  the  district  schools  could  impart  and  was  then 
sent  to  the  Fredonia  Normal  school  for  a  higher 
education.  After  leaving  school  he  engaged  as 
a  clerk  in  a  grocery  store  and  staid  in  Fredonia 
two  years  and  from  there  went  to  Mayville  and 
spent  a  like  period  as  a  salesman  of  pianos  and 
organs  for  five  j'ears.  Following  this,  Mr. 
Hopson  began  dealing  in  stock,  prior  to  1890, 
buying  and  shipping  large  quantities.  The  last 
named  year  was  spent  in  Canada,  where  he  ran 
an  ice  business,  but  the  fall  of  that  year  saw  his 
return  to  the  United  States,  and,  in  partnership 
with  his  brother,  Harry  B.  Hopson,  bought 
a  farm  of  eighty  acres,  two  miles  east  of  West- 
field  on  the  main  road,  which  they  are  trans- 
forming into  a  large  and  magnificent  vineyard. 

He  was  wedded  to  Jennie  Munger,  a  daughter 
of  G.  W.  Munger,  who  lives  in  the  town  of 
Portland,  in  1879  and  they  have  two  very 
bright  and  promising  sons :  Harry  M.  and  C. 
Wilson. 

Mr.  Hopson  is  an  enthusiastic  democrat  and 
delights  in  his  party's  success.  In  business 
matters  he  is  enterprising  and  of  strict  probity. 


"I^EWELL  P,  HOPSON,  a  business  man  of  | 
\  *■     extended  experience  and  at  present  en-  i 
gaged  in  grape  growing  on  a  large  scale,  is  a  ' 
son  of  Nelson  and  Marilla  (Fuller)  Hopson  and 
30 


POWIN  K.  HOPKINS,  M.D.,  a  resident 
''■^'  physician  and  surgeon  of  Silver  Creek, 
and  the  surgeon  of  the  Western  New  York  and 


570 


BIOORAPHY  AND  HISTORY 


Pennsylvania  railroad,  is  a  son  of  Ezra  and 
Catherine  (Johnson)  Hopkins,  and  was  born  at 
Westfield,  Chautauqua  county.  New  York,  May 
21,  1849.  The  Hopkins  are  of  New  England 
descent  and  were  early  settlers  in  the  colonies  of 
Connecticut  and  Rhode  Island.  Among  the 
members  of  one  of  the  Hopkins  families  of 
southern  New  England  was  one  who  came  to 
Otsego  county,  where  one  of  his  descendants  was 
the  father  of  Ezra  Hopkins,  whose  son,  Dr. 
Hopkins,  is  the  subject  of  this  sketch.  Ezra 
Hopkins  was  reared  and  learned  the  trade  of 
blacksmith  in  his  native  county  of  Otsego,  from 
which  he  removed  to  Westfield,  where  he  now 
resides.  He  is  now  seventy-three  years  of  age 
and  after  coming  to  this  county  was  engaged  in 
farming  for  several  years.  He  married  Cath- 
erine Johnson,  who  was  a  native  of  Ohio. 

Edwin  R.  Hopkins  attended  the  Westfield 
academy  and  after  the  completion  of  his  full 
academic  course  he  entered  the  office  of  Dr.  J. 
M.  Brown,  of  Westfield,  as  a  medical  student. 
After  reading  at  Westfield  he  went  to  Buffalo, 
where  he  studied  for  two  years  with  Dr.  Julius 
F.  Minor,  professor  of  surgery  in  the  medical 
department  of  the  University  of  Buffiilo,  and 
during  that  time  was  resident  physician  of  the 
general  hospital  where  he  had  the  benefit  of  ac- 
tual practice  in  both  medicine  and  surgery.  He 
then  entered  the  medical  department  of  the 
University  of  Buffalo  from  which  he  was  grad- 
uated in  February,  1877.  In  November  of  the 
same  year,  he  opened  an  office  at  Silver  Creek, 
where  he  has  remained  ever  since  in  the  active 
practice  of  his  profession.  He  has  made  a 
specialty  of  surgery  in  which  his  services  have 
been  in  constant  demand  and  in  which  he  has 
been  very  successful. 

Dr.  Hopkins  owns  a  vineyard  of  thirty-eight 
acres,  keeps  about  fifty  head  of  fine  Hambletonian 
horses  and  has  a  steady  demand  for  liis  yearling 
colts  at  one  hundred  dollars  per  head.  He  has 
been  the  surgeon  of  the  Western  New  York  and 
Pennsylvania  Railway  for  five  years  and  is  a 


member  of  the  Chautauqua  County  Medical  so- 
ciety and  vice-president  of  the  alumni  of  the 
medical  department  of  the  University  of  Buffalo. 


HENRY  R.  GAY  is  a  son  of  Rodolphus  and 
Anna  (Loomis)  Gay,  and  was  born  in 
Herkimer  county.  New  York,  on  April  4, 1805. 
His  grandfather,  Ephraim  Gay,  was  a  native 
and  life-long  resident  of  the  State  of  Connecti- 
cut, a  typical  New  Englander  in  life  and  a 
farmer  by  occupation.  In  political  faith  he  be- 
longed to  the  Federalist  party.  Together  with 
his  two  sons,  Harvey  and  Henry,  twins,  he  en- 
tered the  Revolutionary  struggle,  he  as  a  pri- 
vate and  the  boys  as  drummers.  They  took 
part  in  many  battles,  and  through  the  favorable 
turn  of  fortune's  wheel,  were  again  permitted  to 
return  to  civil  life.  Grandfather  Gay  was 
married  and  had  a  family  of  one  daughter  and 
three  sons.  Maternal  grandfather,  Ephraim 
Loorais,  was  also  a  native  of  Connecticut  and 
took  part  in  the  Revolutionary  war.  Rodolphus 
Gay  (father)  was  born  in  Connecticut,  where  he 
lived  until  after  his  marriage,  when  he  changed 
his  fortunes  to  the  State  of  New  York,  Herki- 
mer county,  about  1790.  Here  he  reared  his 
family  and  calmly  met  his  death.  He  was  a 
farmer  by  occupation,  a  democrat  in  politics, 
and  at  one  time  was  captain  of  a  company  of 
New  York  State  militia.  By  his  marriage  with 
Anna  Loomis  he  had  four  daughters  and  three 
sons. 

Henry  R.  Gay  was  united  in  marriage  to 
Clara  A.  Tennant,  a  daughter  of  John  T^nuant 
(see  sketch  of  Tennant),  by  which  union  were 
born  the  following  children  :  Laura  N.  (born 
August,  1828),  married  first  to  Isaac  Palmer 
(deceased),  at  the  (inie  of  his  deatli  a  native  of 
Illinois,  to  whom  were  born  five  children — 
Galon,  Frank,  Alice,  Clara  and  Etta.  Laura 
N.  was  married  tiic  second  time  to  John  Ward ; 
Ira  R.  (born  May  5,  1830),  married  to  Diana 
Mason,  a  daughter  of  Hezckiah  Mason,  of  Rip- 
ley, New  York  ;   Edith,  wife  of  Allen  Bartlett 


OF  CHAUTAUQUA   COUNTY. 


571 


(deceased),  ati  employee  of  the  clerk's  office  at 
BuiFalo,  New  York ;  Bertha,  wife  of  Moses 
Smith  (deceased),  a  merchant  at  State  Line, 
New  York ;  Cassius,  married  to  Julia  Fessen- 
den,  an  ice  manufacturer  of  Carthage,  Missouri ; 
Ira,  a  farmer,  and  Frank  H.  Alouzo,  born  in 
Eipley,  February  8,  1841,  a  telegraph  operator 
now  located  in  Chicago,  Illinois. 

Henry  R.  Gay  received  a  scanty  education, 
took  up  the  work  of  and  became  a  farmer.  He 
removed  to  Chautauqua  county,  town  of  Ripley, 
April  15,  1833,  where  he  has  since  resided. 
Through  hard  work  and  unremitting  energy  he 
has  succeeded  in  acquiring  a  good  farm  and  con- 
siderable personal  property.  Politically  he  is  a 
democrat  and  has  filled  witli  credit  a  number  of 
town  offices. 


HORACE  N.  GROVER  is  a  son  of  Luke 
and  Isabel  (Foster)  Grover  and  was  born 
in  Orleans  county,  New  York,  May  5,  1824. 
Seth  Grover,  his  paternal  grandfather,  was  a 
uative  of  New  Hampshire,  but  spent  his  last 
days  in  Vermont.  (;iraudfather  Alpheus  Fos- 
ter was  born  in  Massachusetts,  where  he  also 
lived  and  died.  Both  grandparents  were  typi- 
cal New  Englanders,  strict  moralists  and  social- 
ly conservative.  Luke  Grover,  flither  of  Hor- 
ace N,,  was  born  in  New  Hampshire,  first  mi- 
grated into  Vermont  and  then  in  1830  into 
Chautauqua  county.  New  York,  wliere  he  died 
February  5,  1877.  He  was  a  farmer  of  good 
standing  and  influence  in  the  several  neighbor- 
hoods in  which  he  lived,  and  in  politics  was 
both  democrat  and  republican,  latterly  attaining 
to  considerable  prominence  in   political   circles. 

Under  the  Republican  party  he  has  credit- 
ably filled  the  offices  of  superintendent  of  the 
poor  and  town  supervisor  about  four  terms. 

Horace  N.  Grover  acquired  his  education 
through  the  common  schools  and  commenced 
life  as  a  farmer.  This  he  followed  constantly 
until  he  came  to  the  town  of  Ripley — March, 
1884 — since  which  time  he  has   held    the  office 


of  justice  of  the  peace.  He  is  a  warm  sui)poit- 
er  of  the  Republican  party,  and,  besides  justice 
of  the  peace,  has  been  a  member  of  the  excise 
committee  of  the  county,  justice  of  the  sessions, 
and  has  held  other  offices  at  the  hands  of  his 
party.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Free  and  Accept- 
ed Masons  of  Sherman.  In  1863,  June  25lh, 
Mr.  Grover  became  a  captain  of  Co.  I,  67th 
regiment.  New  York  Infantry,  and  went  to  the 
front.  He  was  in  the  service,  however,  only 
about  thirty  days  when  he  returned  to  take  up 
the  pursuits  of  the  civilian.  He  is  a  good  citi- 
zen, enjoys  the  public  confidence  and  has  made 
a  very  efficient  officer.  As  a  man  of  honest 
purpose,  high  aim  and  charitable  disposition,  he 
ranks  among  Ripley's  best  citizens. 

Horace  N.  Grover  was  united  in  marriage  to 
Miss  Julia  Melhuish,  a  daughter  of  Robert 
Melhuish,  and  is  the  father  of  seven  children: 
George,  married  and  living  at  Westfield ;  Har- 
vey, met  with  an  accident  resulting  in  his 
death  while  young;  Nettie;  Ida;  Frederick; 
Frank ;  and  Albert. 


HARRY  E.  GOODELL,  a  live  and  ener- 
getic merchant  of  Irving,  New  York, 
is  a  son  of  Henry  M.  and  Jennie  (Boyle) 
Goodell,  and  was  born  in  Erie,  Erie  county, 
Penna.,  November  15th,  1863.  He  is  of  New 
England  ancestry,  his  grandfather,  Harry  Good- 
ell, having  been  a  native  of  Connecticut,  from 
whence  he  emigrated  to  Cattaraugus  county, 
village  of  Cottage,  about  1832.  Thence  he 
removed  to  Nashville,  Chautauqua  county,  af- 
terwards to  Ruggtown  and  later  to  Irving,  wliere 
he  died.  He  was  a  shoemaker  by  trade,  which 
he  pursued  throughout  hia  life ;  in  politics,  a 
democrat ;  in  religion,  a  member  of  the  Baptist 
church.  His  marriage  to  Lucinda  Weaver,  wlio 
still  survives  at  the  age  of  ninety-two,  resulted 
in  a  family  of  eleven  children — four  sons  and 
seven  daughters.  Mr.  Goodell  was  born  in  17S)7, 
and  died  at  the  age  of  eighty -eight.  Grandfather 
Edward  Boyle  was  a  native  of  Ireland,  County 


BIOGRAPHY  AND  HISTORY 


Donegal,  and  emigrated  to  America,  locating  in 
Jacksou,  Michigan.  His  death  took  place  in 
Detroit.  He  reared  a  familv  of  five  children, 
who  all  lived  to  mature  age.  Henry  M.  Goodell, 
(father)  was  born  December  11th,  1833,  in  the 
village  of  Cottage,  Cattaraugus  county,  New 
York.  He  was  first  a  farmer,  then  a  railroader, 
then  an  express  messenger,  and  is  at  present  a 
clerk  in  his  .son's  store.  He  united  in  mar- 
riage with  Jennie  Boyle,  who  is  now  deceased, 
and  had  one  son,  Harry  E. 

Harry  E.  Goodell  received  a  limited  educa- 
tion, and  when  but  a  mere  boy,  commenced  his 
career  as  a  cash  boy,  in  Erie,  Pennsylvania. 
Here  he  remained  one  year,  when  he  removed 
to  Irving  and  opened  a  five  cent  store,  his  en- 
tire .stock  in  1879  being  valued  at  ten  dollars. 
Since  that  time  he  has  remained  in  the  village 
of  Irving,  and,  little  by  little,  has  added  to  his 
business  until  at  the  present  time  he  is  the 
owner  of  the  leading  general  store  in  the  place. 
He  now  carries  a  stock  of  general  merchandise 
valued  at  four  to  five  thousand  dollars,  and  has 
a  large  and  increasing  business.  In  addition 
to  his  increasing  mercantile  interests,  he  is  part 
owner  of  fourteen  acres  of  grapes,  and  owns  other 
valuable  real  estate  in  the  town.  Politically, 
Mr.  Goodell  is  a  democrat,  and  was  postmaster 
at  Irving  for  four  years,  under  appointment  of 
President  Cleveland.  He  belongs  to  the  Free 
and  Accej)ted  Ma.sons  of  Silver  Creek,  Silver 
Jjodge,  of  which  he  is  a  member  in  good  stand- 
ing. 

© 

Q'ENECA  H.  GAGE,  a  prominent  former  and 
*^  grower  of  small  fruits  of  Silver  Creek,  N.  Y. 
is.  a  son  of  Parker  Gage,  and  was  born  in  Janu- 
ary, 1834,  in  the  town  of  Hanover,  Chautauqua 
county.  New  York.  Grandfather  Gage  was 
boi-n  in  the  State  of  Connecticut,  and  died  in 
Ciiautauqua  county,  New  York,  some  time  in 
the  '20s.  Upon  his  arrival  in  the  county  he 
fii-st  located  south  of  Smith's  Mills,  in  the  town 
of  Hanover,  where  he  set  to  work,  cleared  up  a 


farm  and  rendered  it  fit  for  cultivation.  Farm- 
ing has  been  his  life-long  occupation.  Polit- 
ically he  cast  his  vote  with  the  old  Whig 
party  and  held  membership  in  the  Baptist 
church.  He  was  united  in  marriage  and 
reared  a  family  of  three  daughters  and  four 
sons.  Parker  Gage,  father  of  Seneca  H.,  was 
born  in  Connecticut  in  1801,  and  removed  to 
Chautauqua  county  with  his  father,  where  he 
j  died  in  August  of  1849.  He  always  followed 
■  farming  and  cast  his  vote  with  the  Whig  party, 
under  which  he  served  as  collector  in  his  native 
town.  In  his  religious  belief  he  joined  with  the 
Baptists.  His  marriage  with  Miss  Howard  re- 
sulted in  a  family  of  four  sons  and  three  daugh- 
ters :  Wallace  (ilied  young),  Allen,  Olive,  Car- 
oline, Adaline,  Lyman  and  Seneca  H. 

Seneca  H.  Gage  attended  the  common  schools 
in  boyhood,  and  commenced  life  as  a  sailor  on 
Lake  Erie,  which  occupation  occupied  twenty- 
seven  years  of  his  life.  He  began  at  the  foot 
of  the  ladder,  and  when  he  quit  his  sea-faring 
life,  had  arisen  to  the  rank  of  captain.  In 
1876  he  purchased  a  farm  in  the  town  of  Han- 
over, and  has  since  devoted  himself  to  its  culti- 
vation. The  bulk  of  his  farm  has  been  devot- 
ed to  the  growing  of  small  fruits  and  grapes, 
which  he  has  made  a  special  industry  in  that 
section  of  the  county. 

Seneca  H.  Gage  joined  in  marriage  with  Tir- 
zah  Maria  Scott,  a  daughter  of  Chandler  Scott, 
of  the  town  of  Hanover,  Chautauqua  county, 
and  is  the  father  of  three  children:  Emma, 
wife  of  Archibald  Mulkins,  a  resident  of  the 
city  of  Buffalo,  New  York,  in  the  service  of  the 
Nickel  Plate  R.  R.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Mulkins 
have  three  children — Archibald,  John  and 
Emma;  Edith,  M'ife  of  Charles  Secord, a  farm- 
er of  the  town  of  Hanover.  They  have  one 
child — Georgia,  wife  of  Nelson  Dickerson,  a 
farmer  living  near  Silver  Creek. 

S.  H.  Gage  has  always  been  a  democrat  in 
politics,  but  has  never  been  ambitious  to  hold 
office.     He  belongs  to  the  Free  and    Accepted 


OF  CHAUTAUQUA   COUNTY. 


573 


Masons,  Lodge  No.   151,  at  Forestville,  New 
York. 


FREDKRICK  <;K0N,  tlie  wull-Unown  and 
popular  Jamestown  livurynian,  is  a  son  of 
Andrew  and  Mary  (Simpson)  (iron,  and  was 
born  near  Stockholm,  Sweden,  in  1841.  An- 
drew Gron  was  a  native  of"  Sweden  where  he 
married  Mary  Simpson  and  emigrated  to  Amer- 
ica, settling  at  Jamestown  in  1850.  He  was  a 
farmer  by  occupation.  His  wife,  who  is  still 
living  at  the  mature  age  of  eighty-two  years, 
bore  him  seven  children  :  Caroline,  married  and 
lives  in  Ohio  ;  Charles,  a  resident  of  James- 
town, and  a  partner  of  Frederick  ;  Frederick  ; 
Louisa,  who  is  the  wife  of  S.  J.  Westerbnrg, 
and  lives  at  Hartfield,  this  county  ;  Augusta, 
resides  near  Parker  City,  Pa.,  with  her  hus- 
band, Benjamin  Brown  ;  Christina,  now  Mrs. 
Wilson  Stanton,  also  lives  at  Parker  City  ;  and 
Hannah,  wife  of  A.  A.  Aundown,a  Jamestown 
lumber  merchant. 

Frederick  Gron  acquired  his  early  education 
in  Sweden,  and  was  but  nineteen  years  of  age 
when  he  came  to  America  and,  after  his  arrival, 
assisted  his  father  on  the  farm  until  September, 
1861,  when  he  enlisted  with  Co.  F,  0th  New 
York  Cavalry,  and  remained  in  the  Union  ser- 
vice until  the  close  of  the  war,  receiving  his 
discharge  among  the  last  in  July,  1865.  Mer- 
itorious conduct  secured  him  two  stripes  early  in 
the  service  and  from  that  time  he  served  as  cor- 
poral. His  brother  Charles  enlisted  at  the  same 
time  and  place  and  in  the  same  company,  and 
served  the  same  term  of  service.  They  were 
located  during  the  greater  portion  of  their  time 
in  Virginia,  and  participated  in  uearly  all  of 
Sheridan's  battles.  Returning  from  the  front 
they  soon  settled  down  to  peaceful  pursuits,  and 
together  engaged  in  the  livery,  sales  and  board- 
ing stable  business  on  Second  Street,  James- 
town, where  they  have  a  fine  large  brick  build- 
ing, and  own  about  twenty-five  good  horses 
with  carriages  aud  other  equipments  found  in  a 


first-class  stable.  A  farm  is  jointly  owned  by 
the  brothers  where  they  raise  hay,  etc.,  used  in 
feeding  their  stock.  Politically  Mr.  Gron  is  a 
republican,  and  is  a  good  and  highly  respected 
citizen. 


I^ATHANIKL  J.  FENTVKU,  an  enterpris- 
\  ^  ing  boot  and  shoe  merchant  of  James- 
town, is  the  son  of  James  R.  and  Lavina  (Har- 
rington) Fenuer,  aud  was  born  in  Jamestown, 
Chautauqua  county,  New  York,  May  24,  1845. 
Grandfather  Fenner  was  born  in  Herkimer 
county,  this  State,  and  removed,  when  a  young 
man,  to  the  town  of  Busti,  and  was  one  of  the 
pioneer  settlers.  He  lived  there  for  some  years, 
enduring  the  hardships  and  privations  that  be- 
fell the  early  settlers,  tilling  the  soil  to  gain 
sustenance  for  himself  and  family.  Some  time 
later  he  removed  to  Ripley,  adding  to  his  toil 
as  a  farmer  the  work  of  a  lumberman,  these  oc- 
cupations being  usually  united  by  the  sturdy 
residents.  Mr.  Fenner  married  a  Miss  Robert- 
son, and  their  union  was  blest  with  a  large 
family  of  children.  In  politics  he  was  an  old- 
line  whig,  and  died  at  Ripley.  The  Harring- 
ton branch  of  the  family  were  also  natives  of 
Herkimer  county,  and  went  to  Busti  at  about 
the  same  time  the  Fenners  arrived  there. 
Grandfather  Harrington,  too,  followed  the  life 
of  a  pioneer,  farming  in  summer  and  spending 
the  winter  lumbering.  His  wife  was  a  Miss 
Gage,  who  bore  him  several  children.  They 
came  to  Jamestown,  where  Mr.  Harrington 
died.  James  R.  Fenner  (father)  was  born  in 
Herkimer  county  before  the  arrival  of  his  pa- 
rents in  this  county,  came  with  them  aud  re- 
mained at  home  until  twenty  years  of  age,  in 
the  meantime  learning  the  shoemakiug  trade. 
About  that  time  he  came  to  Jamestown,  then  a 
small  place,  and  began  shoemaking,  but  soon 
after  opened  a  boot  and  shoe  .store,  which  it  is 
believed  was  one  of  the  first,  if  not  the  first,  in 
Jamestown.  This  business  is  still  conducted  by 
Nathaniel  J.  Fenner,  who  succeeded  his  father. 


574 


BIOGRAPHY  AND  HISTORY 


In  connection  with  his  store,  Mr.  Fenner  dealt 
some  in  lumber,  shipping  and  piloting  a  num- 
ber of  rafts  of  this  commodity  down  the  river, 
although  the  shoe  store  was  his  main  business 
until  his  death,  which  occurred  in  Jamestown. 
In  politics  he  was  a  democrat,  and  a  disciple  of 
the  Unitarian  church.  He  married  Lavina  Har- 
rington, and  reared  a  family  of  four  sons  and 
.six  daughters  :  James  R.,  Jr.  ;  Silas,  a  whole- 
sale liquor  dealer  of  Jamestown,  resides  on 
Ninth  street — he  entered  the  civil  war  in  Co.  B, 
68th  Regiment,  N.  Y.  Infantry ;  Nathan  J., 
and  Alexander,  also  in  the  shoe  business  in 
Jamestown.  The  names  of  the  daughters  are 
not  given. 

Nathaniel  J.  Fenner  secured  a  good  common 
school  education,  but  early  in  life  was  obliged 
to  assist  his  father  in  the  store,  beginning  at  his 
thirteenth  year,  and  has  been  steadily  engaged 
therein  since.  He  entered  the  war  in  the  same 
company  with  his  bi'other,  and,  although  but 
eighteen  years  of  age  at  the  time,  saw  active 
service. 

He  joined  in  marriage  with  Frances  I.  Park- 
hurst,  who  is  a  daughter  of  Perry  Parkhurst,  of 
Elm  Flats,  this  county. 

He  has  always  been  a  stanch  democrat,  and 
is  one  of  the  oldest  shoe  dealers  in  Jamestown. 
He  is  a  member  of  James  M.  Brown  Post, 
G.  A.  R.,  and  is  secretary  of  Mt.  Moriah  Lodge, 
No.  145,  F.  &  A.  M.,  which  important  office  he 
has  held  for  twelve  years,  during  which  time  he 
has  not  missed  more  than  three  meetings.  This 
record  is  probably  witiiout  parallel,  and  shows 
admirable  devotion  to  the  order.  His  uninter- 
rupted residence  here  of  nearly  half  a  century  is 
also  worthv  of  comment. 


nALIMI  C.  FESSKNDEN,  a  leading  farmer 
and  dairyman  of  the  town  of  Gerry,  was 
born  Noveml)er  4,  1851,  and  is  a  son  of  Albro 
H.  and  Emeline  (Atkins)  Fessenden,  the  for- 
mer born  on  March  25,  1810,  and  the  latter  on 
December  9,  1817.     Ilis  parents  were  natives 


of  the  State  of  Vermont,  and  were  united  in 
marriage  in  June,  1842.  Albro  H.  Fessenden,  in 
the  beginning  of  his  career,  removed  from  Ver- 
mont to  western  New  York,  to  the  town  of 
Gerry,  Chautauqua  county,  where  he  engaged 
in  the  manufacture  of  brick  in  connection  with 
the  operation  of  his  father's  farm.  His  father, 
the  grandfather  of  Ralph  C,  had  originally 
purchased  a  farm  of  one  hundred  and  thirty 
acres  from  the  Holland  Land  company,  and 
was  known  as  one  of  the  pioneer  farmers  in  that 
part  of  the  county.  Both  father  and  son  were 
republican  in  politics  ;  the  former  died  in  Ger- 
ry, at  the  age  of  seventy-eight. 

Ralph  C.  Fessenden  benefited  by  a  common 
school  education,  and  also  attended  for  a  time 
the  academy  at  Sinelairville.  He  lives  on  the 
farm  which  his  ancestors  have  occupied  for  the 
past  three  generations,  and,  in  connection  with 
his  farm  work,  operates  a  large  dairy.  He  is  a 
member  of  the  Grange  and  the  Knights  of  Mac- 
cabees. In  politics  he  has  always  been  a  stead- 
fast adherent  of  republican  doctrines,  and  has 
served  his  party  as  assessor  for  two  years.  He 
is  a  public-spirited,  progressive  citizen,  and  in 
matters  religious  has  a  tendency  toward  liber- 
alism. 

Ralph  C.  Fessenden's  marriage  took  place  on 
February  4,  1874,  at  which  time  he  was  united 
to  Jennie  Sherman,  daughter  of  the  late  R.  D. 
Sherman,  of  Sinelairville.  The  result  of  their 
union  has  been  six  children  :  Albro,  Jessie  May, 
Norman  J.,  Harriet,  Robert  and  Benjamin. 


Q  I.ONZO  FELTOX,  a  citizen  of  the  town 
■**■  of  Ellcry,  in  high  standing,  is  a  son  of 
Ezra  and  Hannah  (Siicrtnan)  Felton,  and  was 
born  in  Pittston,  Rensselaer  county,  New  York, 
September  25,  1819.  Levi  Sherman  (maternal 
grandfather)  was  a  native  of  Rensselaer  county, 
by  occupation  a  farmer,  cabinet-maker,  and  the 
owner  of  one  hundred  acres  of  land.  He  reared 
a  large  family  and  died  in  the  county  of  his 
birth.     James  Felton  (grandfather)  was  born  in 


OF  CHAUTAUQUA   COUNTY. 


575 


Massachusetts,  and  emigrated  to  Ohio,  where  he 
passed  iii.s  remaining  life  and  died.  He  was  a 
blacksmith  by  trade,  married  and  had  a  family 
of  nine  children,  six  sons  and  three  daughters. 
Ezra  Felton  (father)  was  born  in  Rensselaer 
county,  this  State,  and  when  lie  first  came  to 
Chaiitan«iua  county  located  in  the  western  part 
of  the  town  of  Ellery  ;  subject  was  at  this  time 
about  one  year  of  age.  He  died  at  Bern  us  Point 
in  1887,  at  the  age  of  eighty-six  years.  His 
occupation  was  farming,  while  in  politics  he  was 
a  Jacksonian  democrat.  His  fii'st  marriage  was 
to  Hannah  Sherman,  who  bore  him  two  chil- 
dren, Alonzo  and  one  whose  name  is  not  given. 
His  second  wife  was  Abigail  Anuis,  who  also 
bore  him  two  children. 

Alonzo  Felton  gained  his  education  through 
the  common  schools,  and  during  his  career  has 
followed  various  vocations,  but  is  essentially  a 
farmer.  He  is  the  owner  of  a  farm  of  one  hun- 
dred and  twenty  acres  at  Bemus  Point,  which 
at  present  claims  most  of  his  attention.  In  pol- 
itics he  is  a  thoroughgoing  republican,  and  is 
strongly  attached  to  the  interests  of  the  party. 

On  September   24,   1844,  he  was   united  in 
marriage    with    Caroline    Olmstead,  who    bore  { 
him  five  children  :  George  (married  to  Cordelia 
Oilman),  a  farmer  living  in  the  town  of  Poland; 
Julia,  wife  of  Harrison  Clark,  a  farmer  residing  | 
in  Eddy  county.  North  Dakota  ;  Mary,  wife  of  ' 
Charles  Chase  (deceased),  of  Jamestown  ;    Em- 
ma O.,  wife  of  Edwin  Olean,  a  farmer  of  Gene- 
see county,  this  State  ;  and  Ada,  wife  of  Charles 
Arnold,  a  farmer  of  the  town  of  Ellery.     Mr. 
Felton    is    a    farmer  of  recognized    worth   and 
standing    in  the  community   in   which   he  re- 
sides. 


JOHN  R.  FAY.  One  of  the  most  enter- 
*^  prising  citizens  of  Westfield  and  one  who 
is  always  found  in  the  fore-front  of  any  move- 
ment tending  toward  the  advancement  of 
the  material  welfare  of  his  town,  is  John 
R.  Fay,  who  was   born    in    Stockton,  Chau- 


tauqua county.  New  York,  April  14,  1847,  and 
is  a  son  of  Nathaniel  and  Nancy  D.  (Bowdisli) 
Fay.  His  grandfather,  Nathaniel  Fay,  was  a 
native  of  Massachusetts  and  came  to  the  county 
in  1808,  locating  in  Portland  six  years  before 
the  first  town  meeting  was  held  there.  He  wa.s 
subsequently  elected  a  member  of  the  board  of 
supervisors  of  that  town.  He  was  a  farmer 
by  occupation  and  died  well  advanced  in  years. 
His  son,  Nathaniel  Fay,  Jr.,  (father),  a  native 
of  Portland,  this  county,  became  a  local 
preacher  in  the  Methodist  Episeojjal  church, 
owned  and  cultivated  a  farm  in  Stockton,  and 
in  1877,  moved  to  Iowa,  where  he  now  resides 
engaged  in  farming.  In  jwlitics  he  is  a  repub- 
lican, and  married  Nancy  D.  Bowdish,  a  native 
of  Columbia  county,  this  State,  by  whom  he  had 
several  children.  She  is  also  a  member  of  the 
Methodist  Episcopal  chui'ch. 

John  R.  Fay  was  reared  on  a  farm,  where  he 
remained  until  1873,  when  he  came  to  West- 
field.  He  received  a  good  common  school  edu- 
cation and  shortly  after  coming  to  Westfield, 
erected  a  cheese  factory  and  engaged  in  making 
cheese  until  1883,  when  he  entered  the  coal 
trade  which  he  has  most  successfully  continued 
to  the  present  time.  He  has  enlarged  it  con- 
siderably and  at  his  place  of  business,  corner  of 
Pearl  street  and  the  Nickel  Plate  Railway,  can  be 
found  not  only  coal  of  all  kinds,  but  salt, 
plaster,  stone  flagging,  sewer-pipe,  drain  tile, 
brick,  fertilizers,  etc.  He  is  also  extensively 
engaged  in  the  cultivation  of  grapes.  In  his 
religious  convictions  he  is  a  Methodist,  being  a 
member  and  a  trustee  of  the  church  of  that 
denomination  at  Westfield,  and  superintendent 
of  its  Sunday  school.  In  politics  he  is  a  jiro- 
hibitiouist.  He  is  a  member  of  the  F.  it  A. 
M.,  and  of  the  Royal  Ai-canum. 

John  R.  Fay  married,  in  1876,  Emma  J. 
Neill,  daughter  of  Hugh  Neill,  of  Westfield, 
and  to  them  has  been  born  one  child,  a  daugh- 
ter :  Clara  S. 


576 


BIOGRAPHY  AND  HISTORY 


TAMES  S.  ELOS  is  a  man   who  has  wit-  | 

^  uessed  tiie  material  developmeut  of  James- 
town and  whose  labor  has  been  largely  instru-  j 
mental  in  the  erection  of  many  of  her  most 
substantial  and  beautiful  buildings.  He  was 
born  in  the  town  of  Busti,  this  county,  on 
February  19,  1841,  and  is  a  sou  of  Edward 
and  Angeline  (Porter)  Ellis.  Great-grandfather 
Ellis  was  born  in  England,  and  coming  to 
America  settled  in  Connecticut,  where  he  died. 
He  married  and  had  eight  children,  all  sons. 
One  of  these,  Richard  Ellis,  born  in  Connecticut, 
was  the  grandfather  of  our  subject.  He  emi- 
grated and  settled  in  Norwich  and  followed  the 
sea  for  sixty  years.  He  became  a  captain  by 
promotion  and  was  sailing  during  the  Revolu- 
tionary war.  During  his  voyages,  he  met  a 
lady  in  one  of  the  English  ports,  whom  he 
married.  Her  name  was  Jane  Brown  and  she 
never  came  to  this  country  but  made  her  home 
in  England,  during  the  time  she  was  not  with 
him.  Edward  Ellis  was  born  in  England  in 
1800.  He  lived  in  Connecticut  for  some  years 
and  finally  drifted  to  western  New  York, 
settling  in  Niagara  county.  His  father  came 
with  hitii.  From  the  latter  place  lie  came  to 
Busti  about  184.'3  and  in  1848  he  went  to  Farni- 
ington,  Pennsylvania,  where  he  continued  farm- 
ing until  his  death.  He  was  a  whig  and  a 
republican  and  a  member  of  the  Methodist 
church.  Edward  Ellis  married  Elizabeth  Lov- 
ering  and  had  three  sons  and  two  daughters. 
John  \V.,  living  in  Busti,  entered  the  Union 
Army  in  the  112th  regiment.  New  York  In- 
fantry, and  attained  the  rank  of  sergeant. 
George  was  also  in  the  same  regiment  and  died 
in  the  service  from  disease.  William  moved  to 
Indiana  and  joined  the  army  from  that  State. 
Nancy  married  Henry  Fowlc«,  who  died  in 
Saginaw,  Michigan,  where  she  still  is  living. 
Mary  twice  married,  first  to  William  McCay, 
who  died,  and  she  afterwards  wedded  John 
Kern,  who  is  a  draughtsman  in  Chicago,  Illinois. 
His  first  wife  died  and   Edward  lOUis  took   for 


his   second,    Angeline   Porter.     They  had  six 
children.      Charles  engaged    in    farming    near 


Saginaw,  Michigan ;  James  S. ;  Solomon  R. 
entered  the  112th  regiment  New  York  Infantry 
and  died  in  the  service ;  Calvin  lives  at  Farm- 
ington,  Pennsylvania,  and  follows  fanning ; 
Ainia  married  William  R.  Bucklen  and  lives  in 
Jamestown  ;  and  Jane,  died  young. 

James  S.  Ellis  was  educated  in  the  common 
schools  and  the  Jamestown  academy.  He 
learned  the  carpenter  and  joiner's  trade  and 
worked  at  it  by  the  day.  He  married  Adelia 
Hunt,  a  daughter  of  Anthony  Hunt,  one  of 
Chautauqua's  old  families,  who  settled  in  Elli- 
cott,  and  they  have  the  following  children : 
Jennie,  married  Thaddeus  E.  Matson,  who  is  a 
book-keeper  for  his  father-in-law.  They  have 
one  child,  Florence  A. ;  Flora  married  Frank 
L.  Sharp,  a  machinist  of  New  Castle,  Pennsyl- 
vania. She  had  one  child,  Louis  E.,  and 
died ;  Gertrude  also  living  at  New  Castle, 
Pennsylvania,  married  Edward  Sharp,  a 
machinist.  They  have  one  child.  Flora;  An- 
thony E.,  Clida  A.,  James  G.,  Adelia  and  Allen 
E.  live  at  home ;  and  Louis  died.  Industry 
and  economy,  coupled  with  good  wages,  which 
a  first  class  mechanic  receives,  permitted  Mr. 
Ellis  in  a  few  years  to  begin  contracting  and 
building  on  his  own  account,  which  he  did  in 
1868  and  an  extensive  business  was  the  result. 
His  worlc  was  soon  recognized  as  equal  to 
the  best  and  his  operations  were  not  limited  to 
Jamestown.  He  has  been  connected  with  a 
larsre  number  of  the  buildings  that  have  been 
erected  in  Jamestown  and  vicinity  during  the 
[)ast  twenty -five  years.  He  was  the  master 
builder  of  Halls,  the  largest  worsted  mill  in  the 
city,  and  has  built  more  of  the  first  class 
houses  than  any  active  firm  in  the  city.  In 
councction,  or  we  had  bettor  say  in  conjunction, 
with  his  contracting  and  building  business,  he 
has  a  well  equipped  planing  mill  near  the  boat 
landing  where  they  do  a  large  custom  work,  as 
well  as  manufacturing  doors,  frames,  &c.,  for 


OF  CHAUTAUQUA   COUNTY. 


577 


liis  own  buildings.  Politically  Mr.  Ellis  is  a 
republican  and  is  serving  his  third  term  as 
councilman  from  his  Vvard,  having  served  ever 
since  Jamestown  was  incorporated  a  city.  He 
is  a  member  of  Mount  Moriaii  Ijodge,  No. 
14.5,  F.  &  A.  M.  and  belongs  to  the  Methodist 
Episcopal  church,  in  whic^h  he,  with  his  wife,  is 
an  active  worker,  a  teacher  in  the  Sabbath - 
school,  steward  and  class  leader. 


morally  and  socially,  and  is  a  member  of  the 
A.  O.  U.  W.,  and  of  the  Patrons  of  Husbandry. 
Joseph  W.  Edmunds  united  in  marriage,  on 
November  I.'),  18G9,  with  Alice  IJrown,  daugh- 
ter of  Henry  B.  Brown,  formerly  of  Cheshire, 
Massachusetts.  They  have  five  diildren :  Louisa 
S.,  Lizzie  M.,  Mary  C,  Henry  B.  and  Rozelle. 


TOSKPH  WILSON  EDMUNDS  was  born 
^  in  the  village  of  Lee,  Oneida  comity,  New- 
York,  January  14,  1847,  and  is  a  son  of  Ven- 
nerand  lionisa  (Hicks)  Edmunds.  Grandfather 
John  Edmunds  was  a  native  of  New  England, 
boru  in  the  year  1782,  and  married  Nancy 
Chapman  (born  1784)  in  the  year  1801.  He 
died  in  his  native  State  at  the  age  of  forty-three 
years.  Venner  Edmimds,  father  of  Joseph  W., 
and  his  wife  were  both  born  in  Massachusetts, 
and  both  held  membership  in  the  Methodist 
Episcopal  church.  Mr.  Edmunds  was  a  demo- 
crat until  the  formation  of  the  Republican  party, 
after  which  he  became  a  strong  supporter  of  the 
new  party.  His  death  took  place  on  April  24y, 
1881,  at  the  age  of  seventy-six  years. 

Joseph  W.  Edmunds  removed  with  his 
parents  to  the  county  of  Chautauqua  in  18.50, 
at  which  time  they  located  upon  the  farm  which 
he  now  occupies.  Like  other  farmer  boy.s,  his 
time  in  youth  was  divided  between  farm  duties 
and  attending  school.  He  went  somewhat 
beyond  the  common  schools,  completing  a  course 
at  the  Fredonia  academy.  He  remained  at  home 
and  assisted  his  father  on  the  farm  until  he  had 
attained  the  age  of  twenty-four  years,  when  he 
entered  upon  the  struggle  of  life  on  his  own 
account.  Besides  carrying  on  the  ordinary  line 
of  farm  work,  he  also  runs  a  large  dairy,  deals 
somewhat  extensively  in  registered  cattle,  and  is 
a  manufacturer  of  maple  sugar.  In  political 
creed  he  is  a  republican,  and  at  the  hands  of  his 
party  has  served  as  assessor,  collector  and  post- 
master.    He  is  a  man  of  unblemished  record, 


OTTO  K.  DEAN.  The  world  is  full  of  men 
who  have  achieved  success  with  the  assist- 
ance of  parents,  relatives  and  friends,  but  a  self- 
made  man,  one  thrown  upon  his  own  resources 
at  a  tender  age,  to  whom  the  world  can  point, 
before  his  fortieth  year  is  reached,  and  say, 
"  there  is  a  successful  man,"  is  indeed  rare. 
Such  a  man  is  the  one  whose  name  heads  this 
sketch.  O.  K.  Dean  is  a  son  of  Jerome  J.  and 
Adaline  N.  (Kip)  Dean,  and  was  born  at  Sher- 
man, Chautauqua  county,  New  York,  Jidy  27, 
1856.  The  paternal  grandfather  Dean  came  to 
Chautauqua  county  and  .settled  in  Sherman, 
where  he  became  the  proprietor  of  a  tannery 
and  followed  the  trade  of  a  shoemaker.  He 
was  of  English  extraction  and  a  member  of  the 
Methodist  church.  He  married  and  reared  a 
family  of  three  children,  one  sola  and  two 
daughters :  Anna,  who  became  Mrs.  Miller ; 
Mary  J.,  wife  of  Miles  Clark ;  and  Jerome  J. 
(father).  Mr.  Dean  died  and  was  buried  at 
Sherman.  The  maternal  grandfather,  Benjamin 
Kip,  was  identified  with  the  early  prosperity  of 
the  town  of  Sherman.  He  was  born  in  Johns- 
town, N.  Y.,  on  April  27,  1797,  being  of 
German  parentage.  On  February  23,  182.3,  he 
married  Esther  Miller,  of  Newark,  tiiis  State, 
by  whom  he  had  four  children  :  Marinda  became 
the  wife  of  Samuel  Hall ;  Frances,  twice  mar- 
ried, first  to  Mr.  Coolie,  and  later  to  Rev.  D. 
M.  Sliver  ;  Adaline  N.  is  the  mother  of  subject ; 
and  Jennie,  who  married  Rev.  E.  T.  Green. 
The  town  of  Sherman  was  at  fir.<t  called  Kip- 
ville,  where  Mr.  Kip  died  in  1850. 

O.  K.   Dean  was  educated  in  the  Sherman 
schools  until  his  fifteenth  year,  when  he  was  a 


578 


BIOOBAPHY  AND  HISTORY 


student  in  the  Fredonia  Normal,  finishing  that 
course  iu  1873,  and  returned  to  the  academy  at 
Sherman  in  187G.  After  this  he  began  a  clerk- 
ship witii  J.  T.  Green,  of  Sherman,  and  remained 
there  two  and  a  half  years.  Succeeding  this  he 
clerked  eighteen  months  for  De  Forest  Wills,  at 
Jamestown.  Sickness  then  attacked  hiui,  and 
for  nine  mouths  he  was  an  invalid,  but  his  con- 
stitution vanquished  the  fever,  and  for  a  while 
he  tilled  the  soil  of  a  small  farm  near  Sherman. 
When  President  Garfield  took  charge  of  the 
government,  the  river  and  harbor  improvement 
work  was  revived  and  Mr.  Dean  was  employed 
on  Lake  Michigan.  In  April,  1882,  he  came 
to  Fredonia,  and  kept  books  for  H.  J.  Putnam 
in  that  gentleman's  fine  grocery  store,  and  nine 
mouths  later,  in  partnership  with  his  brother, 
bought  the  Sherman  hotel  and  livery,  which  was 
conducted  until  1887,  when,  renting  his  interest 
in  the  hotel,  he  moved  to  Wichita,  Kansas, 
where  he  remained  nine  mouths.  Returning 
east  at  the  expiration  of  that  time,  he  engaged 
temporarily  with  Finch  &  Co.,  tobacconists,  of 
Corry,  Pa.,  and  later  bought  a  coal,  wood  and 
building  material  business,  which  he  is  now 
conducting,  doing  a  wholesale  business  of  sixty 
thousand  dollars  per  annum.  Mr.  Dean  is  a 
good  business  man,  has  had  a  varied  and  prac- 
tical experience,  and  knows  how  to  do  business 
and  how  to  make  business  friends.  Forest 
Lodge,  No.  166,  F.  and  A.  M.,  of  Fredonia, 
has  honored  him  with  the  chair  of  Worthy 
Grand,  he  now  being  a  Past  Grand,  and  is  also 
a  member  of  the  lioyal  Arcanum. 

On  January  20,  1882,  he  married  Edith, 
daughter  of  George  and  Lavina  Vermilya,  of 
Columbus,  Pa.,  where  the  former  is  a  farmer. 
They  have  two  children  :  Jerome  J.,  born  Feb- 
ruary 25,  1883;  and  George  V.,  born  July  31, 
1885. 

During  Mr.  Dean's  peregrinations  his  com- 
prehensive mind  saw  good  investments  in  differ- 
ent localities,  and  he  is  now  owner  of  n  coal  prop- 
erty of  two  hundred  acres  at  Pittsburg,  Kan., 


and  one  hundred  and  sixty  acres  at  Joplin,  Mo., 
covering  zinc  deposits  of  great  value.  Mr. 
Dean's  mother  died  in  1867,  and  be  was  bound 
to  a  Mr.  Flagort,  who  did  not  treat  him  kindly. 
He  lived  afterwards  with  J.  P.  Hall,  near  Min- 
eral Point.  From  this  beginning  he  has  risen, 
thrust  aside  the  barriers,  and  to-day  is  a  solid 
man,  commanding  the  esteem  of  all.  His  father 
died  Seijtember  13,  1882. 


QLEXANDER  H.  DOTY,  a  farmer  and 
•*^*-  long  resident  of  the  town  of  Gerry,  Chau- 
tauqua county.  New  York,  is  a  son  of  George 
W.  and  Mary  (English)  Doty,  and  was  born  in 
the  village  of  Norway,  Herkimer  county.  New 
York,  on  June  18,  1820.  His  father  was  a 
native  of  Washington  county,  a  farmer  of  rec- 
ognized standing,  a  whig  in  politics  and  atten- 
dant member  of  the  Baptist  church.  He 
died  in  Herkimer  county  at  the  age  of  sixty 
years.  His  mother  (grandmother  of  Alexan- 
der H.  Doty)  was  of  Scotch  descent  and  passed 
away  in  Herkimer  county  at  the  extreme  age 
of  one  hundred  and  five  years. 

Alexander  H.  Doty  was  reared  in  Herkimer 
and  Oneida  counties,  in  whose  common  schools 
he  gained  his  early  education.  He  learned  the 
trade  of  a  carriage-mpker  at  Herkimer  and  Sin- 
clairville,  but  came  to  Chautauqua  county  in 
1851  and  engaged  in  the  occupation  of  farming. 
He  practically  relinquished  his  trade  and  has 
hitherto  made  agriculture  and  dairying  his  life's 
occupation.  Mr.  Doty  has  always  voted  the 
democratic  ticket,  is  a  man  of  unblemished  life, 
and  unqualifiedly  honest  in  all  his  business  re- 
lations and  transactions.  Pie  has  been  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Free  and  Accepted  IMasons  for  the 
l)ast  thirty  years,  in  which  he  holds  the  oflice 
of  junior  deacon.  He  also  belongs  to  the 
Grange  of  his  town  and  takes  an  active  interest 
in  all  movements  relating  to  agriculture  and 
agricultural  development. 

Alexander  H.  Doty  was  twice  married;  first 
to    Emily   Cummins,  a   daughter   of  the   late 


OF  CHAUTAUQUA   COUNTY. 


579 


Charles  Cummins  of  Floyd,  Oneida  county, 
New  York,  who  bore  him  one  child:  Smiiy 
Holmes.  His  second  wife  was  Abbey  Scott, 
daughter  of  the  Rev.  John  Scott  of  Gerry,  New 
York,  to  whom  he  was  united  on  November  9, 
1882. 


TA^ILLIAM  E.  MONTGOMERY  has  had  a 

-*"*■  somewhat  strange  and  varied  career. 
When  he  was  only  five  years  of  age,  that  dread 
disease  and  swift  messenger  of  death,  eiiolera, 
swept  away  in  less  than  twenty-four  hours,  his 
father,  mother  and  four  brotliers.  He  was  born 
in  Manchester,  Lancaster  county,  England, 
May  12,  1827,  and  is  a  son  of  William  and 
Mary  (Calverley)  Montgomery.  In  1832, after 
the  terrible  calamity  to  his  parents  and  broth- 
ers, he  was  taken  to  Dublin,  the  ca|)ital  of  Leiu- 
ster  county  and  of  Ireland,  where  he  remained 
until  he  was  seventeen  years  old,  receiving  a 
common  school  education.  In  1844  he  came  to 
the  United  States  and  located  in  Albany,  in  the 
county  of  the  same  name,  this  State,  where  he 
secured  employment  in  a  piano  manufactory, 
where,  however,  he  remained  but  a  short  time 
before  he  went  down  the  Hudson  and  shipped  as 
a  common  sailor  on  a  wiialing  vessel,  on  board  of 
which  he  spent  nearly  four  years,  during  wiiich 
time  he  sailed  entirely  around  the  world  and 
assisted  in  slaying  a  great  number  of  the  ceta- 
cean mon.sters  of  the  deep.  In  the  latter  part 
of  1848  he  returned  to  Albany  and  engaged  in 
the  Britannia  metal  and  silver  plating  business, 
in  which  he  continued  until  1857,  when  he 
went  to  Rochester,  a  manufacturing  town  in 
Fulton  county,  Indiana,  and  operated  a  farm  a 
short  time.  In  1860  he  came  to  Dunkirk  and 
secured  employment  in  the  Erie  Locomotive 
Works,  working  for  them  five  years  and  then 
enlisting  in  the  United  States  Navy,  but  was 
never  ordered  to  report  for  duty,  as  the  war 
closed  immediately  after  his  enlistment.  He 
continued  in  the  employ  of  this  company  until 
it  was  succeeded   by  the   Brooks   Locomotive 


works  in  1869,  to  which  he  transferred  his  ser- 
vices and  worked  there  until  1878,  when  he 
went  to  Bradford,  McKcan  county,  Penn-sylva- 
nia,  where  he  kept  a  liotcl  until  1884,  and  then 
returned  to  Dunkirk  and  engaged  in  the  gro- 
cery business,  erecting  a  hand.some  and  commo- 
dious two-story  structure  at  tiie  corner  of  Deer 
and  Sixth  street.s,  in  wiiich  lie  placed  an  exten- 
sive genera]  supply  of  staple  an<l  fancy  grocer- 
ies, provisions  and  beer,  wiiere  he  still  continues 
having  a  large  patronage.  In  politics  he  is  a 
republican,  and  in  Masonic  orders  he  is  a  com- 
panion of  Dunkirk  Chapter,  No.  191,  R.  A.  M., 
having  been  a  Royal  Arch  Mason  twenty-five 
years;  is  also  a  Sir  Knight  of  Dunkirk  Com- 
mandery,  No.  49,  K.  T.  From  his  world-wide 
experience  and  ob.servatioTi,  he  has  naturally  im- 
bibed philosophical  and  broad-minded  views  of 
men  and  events,  and  is  a  pleasant  and  enter- 
taining gentleman  to  meet. 

William  E.  Montgomery  was  twice  married; 
first  to  Elizabeth  Chapman,  of  England;  and 
second  to  Mary  C.  Erb,  of  Centre  county, 
Pennsylvania. 

o 

FRAJVCIS  B.  JACK.SON,  foreman  of  the 
boilerdepartment  of  the  Brooks'  Locomo- 
tive works,  of  Dunkirk,  was  born  in  York- 
shire, England,  August  24,  1825,  and  is  a  son 
of  Robert  and  Elizabeth  (Smith)  Jackson. 
Robert  Jackson  was  born  in  1709,  in  York, 
England,  where  he  learned  civil  engineering. 
He  was  in  the  employ  of  the  English  govern- 
ment for  some  time  during  which  he  was  sent 
to  the  United  States  and  made  several  land  sur- 
veys in  New  Jersey  and  other  States.  He  and 
his  brother  Anthony  were  engaged  in  business 
in  the  cities  of  York  and  London  for  several 
years  and  in  1828  came  to  Troy,  New  York, 
where  they  remained  but  six  months.  He  then 
removed  to  Schenectady  and  was  one  of  the 
sub-contractors  on  the  Schenectady  &  Albany 
Railroad.  He  was  a  whig  and  an  active  mem- 
ber  of  the  Protestant   Episcopal   chui'ch,  and 


580 


BIOGRAPHY  AND  HISTORY 


died  at  Syracuse  in  1882,  aged  eighty-three 
years.  His  wife,  Elizabeth  (Smith)  Jackson, 
who  died  at  forty-five  years  of  age,  was  a  native 
of  the  same  place  and  a  member  of  the  same 
church  as  her  husband. 

Francis  B.  Jackson  was  reared  principally  at 
Schenectady,  and  after  leaving  school  went  to 
learn  the  trade  of  machinist.  After  working 
for  some  time  in  the  machine  shops  he  discov- 
ered that  he  preferred  boiler-making  to  the 
trade  of  machinist  which  he  abandoned  to 
become  a  boiler-maker.  In  1848  he  went  to 
Albany,  New  York,  where  he  had  charge  of 
ToVnsend's  boiler  shops  for  ten  months.  He 
then  left  the  Slate  capital  to  locate  at  Troy 
where  he  had  supervision  of  all  the  boilers 
used  on  the  R.  &  S.  and  T.  &  S.  railroads  until 
1850  wheu  he  resigned  to  become  foreman,  at 
Syracuse,  of  the  large  boiler  department  of  the 
locomotive  works  of  the  Saratoga  &  Utica  rail- 
road. Five  years  later  he  was  offered  and  ac- 
cepted employment  under  the  Erie  Railroad 
company,  in  Dunkirk,  where  in  1869  he  was 
offered  and  accepted  his  present  position  of  fore- 
man of  the  boiler  department  of  the  Brooks' 
Locomotive  works. 

January  18,  184G,  he  married  Sarah  A,, 
daughter  of  Henry  Powtit,  of  Oxford,  England. 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Jackson  have  three  children  : 
Robert  H.,  a  boiler-maker;  Dr.  Frank  S.,  a 
practicing  physician  of  Dunkirk  ;  and  Mary  E., 
wife  of  Edward  B.  Osborne  of  Mt.  Morris, 
New  York. 

In  religious  belief  Francis  B.  Jackson  is  an 
episcopalian  and  a  member  and  warden  of  St. 
John's  church  of  that  denomination  in  Dunkirk. 
He  is  a  repulilican  and  served  several  terms  as 
alderman  of  his  city  when  it  was  but  a  village. 
He  is  a  member  of  Dunkirk  Jjodge,  No.  767, 
F.  &  A.  M.,  Dunkirk  Ciiapter,  No.  191,  H.  11. 
A.  M.,  and  Dunkirk  Commandery,  No.  40, 
Knights  Templar.  Mr.  Jackson  in  1847  vis- 
ited the  land  of  his  nativity  where  he  spent  six 
months    in     Yorkshire    and    other    parts     of 


England.  He  visited,  during  this  trip,  many 
places  that  are  famous  in  history  and  became 
well  acquainted  with  the  customs  and  usages  of 
the  English  people. 


lliriCHAEL  PAUIiUS,  JK.,  was  born  in  the 
4  southern   part  of  Prussia,   December  6, 

1842,  and  is  the  son  of  ^Michael  and  Barbara 
(Bewen)  Paulus.  His  father  was  a  native  of 
the  .same  section  and  came  to  the  United  States 
in  1852,  locating  in  Buffalo.  Erie  couuty,  New 
York,  where  he  remained  until  his  death, 
which  occurred  in  1860,  at  the  age  of  fifty-four 
years.  He  was  a  member  of  the  Roman  Catho- 
lic church,  and  married  Barbara  Bewen,  also  a 
native  of  Prussia  and  a  member  of  the  Catholic 
church.  They  had  several  children,  one  of 
wliom  was  Michael.  Mrs.  Paulus  resides  alter- 
nately with  her  children  in  Buffalo  and  Dun- 
kirk." 

Michael  Paulus,  Jr.,  came  to  America  with 
his  father  and  acquired  an  education  in  the  pub- 
lic schools.  After  leaving  school  he  was  em- 
ployed as  a  clerk  in  a  general  store  until  1878, 
when  he  entered  the  mercantile  business  on  his 
own  account,  at  which  he  has  continued  ever 
since.  He  carries  a  large  stock  of  dry  goods 
and  groceries  at  his  place  of  business  on  Lyon 
.street,  and  enjoys  a  large  trade.  In  politics  he 
is  a  democrat  and  in  religion  a  member  of  the 
Roman  Catholic  church.  He  is  an  enterprising 
man  and  very  pleasant  and  agreeable  in  his 
manners. 

Michael  Paulus,  Jr.,  was  married  in  1871,  to 
Margarctta     Elker,     daughter    of    Frederick 
Eiker,  of  Dunkirk.     Two  children  have  been 
born  to  tliis  marriage  :  Pauline  and  Laura. 
© 

CIIAKI.KS  i:hler,S,  one  of  the  largest 
and  leading  furniture  dealers  and  up- 
holsterers of  Dunkirk,  was  born  in  Mecklen- 
burg Schwerin,  now  one  of  the  northern 
provinces  of  the  German  empire,  January  22, 
1839,  and  is  a  son  of  John  and  Mary  (Penn) 


OF  CJIAUTAUQUA   COUNTY. 


581 


Ehlers.  His  pnreuts  were  born  in  Mecklen- 
burg Sciiwerin,  where  his  father,  wiio  was  a 
Lutheran  and  a  tailor  by  trade,  died  in  1878, 
at  tiic  age  of  seveuty-eigiit  years.  John  Ehlers 
married  Mary  Penn,  who  was  born  in  tlie 
closing  year  of  the  last  ce4itury  and  is  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Lutheran  church.  She  came  in 
1871,  to  Dunkirk,  where  she  has  resided  ever 
since  with  the  subject  of  this  sketch  and  is 
now  well  up  in  the  ninety-second  year  of  her 
age. 

Charles  Ehlers  was  reared  and  educated  in 
his  native  province  where  he  learned  the  trade 
of  an   upholsterer.     Seeking  .n   wider  business 
field   with   more    favorable    opportunities  than 
those   presented  in  Germany,   he  came  to  the 
United    States,   in   18G5,  and  settled   in    Dun- 
kirk where  he  worked  at  his  trade  until   1872, 
when   he  established   himself  in   the  furniture 
business   to   which    he   added    undertaking    in 
1879.     In  that   year  he  associated  George  E. 
Philipbar,  a  German   and   native  of  Virginia, 
with  him  in  the  furniture  business  under  the 
firm  name  of  Charles  Ehlers  &  Co.     They  are 
manufacturers  and  dealers  in  cabinet  ware  and 
upholstering,  besides  paying  particular  attention 
to    undertaking   and    making   a    specialty    of 
pictures    and    picture-frames.     They    are     ex- 
perienced   mechanics,  who  are  thoroughly  ac- 
quainted   with   every   detail   of  their   business 
frou]  the  factory  to  the  salesrooms.     They  not 
only  have   a   splendid  stock    of  fiu-niture  but 
manufacture   all    ordered    work.     Their   stock  ! 
embraces  all  kinds,  styles  and  qualities  of  furn- 
iture   from    the    practical    and    useful    to    the 
artistic  and  ornamental.     Their  large  furniture  | 
establishment  on  East  Third  street  is  a  double 
fronted  building  22x60  feet  in  dimensions  and 
its  second  floor  is  devoted  to  one  of  the  finest  i 
and  most  fashionable  selections  of  upholstery  to 
be   found   in    the    western    j)art    of  the    State. 
The  success  obtained   by  the  establishment  is 
due  to  the  energy,  perseverance  and  ability  of 
Mr.  Ehlers,  who  commenced  life  with  no  capi- 


tal but  his  trade,  yet  has  achieved  good  com- 
mercial standing  and  ranks  among  the  repre- 
sentative businesBS  men  of  his  city.  He  founded 
iiis  business  upon  the  eve  of  the  greatest  i)anic 
that  lias  ever  occurred  in  the  history  (jf  this 
country,  yet  by  judicious  management  he  came 
safely  through  that  distressing  period  which 
brought  ruin  and  downfall  to  so  many  old  and 
substantial  business  firms.  Year  by  year  since 
1872,  he  has  steadily  increased  his  stock  and 
his  patrons  until  the  former  is  of  ample  ])ro- 
portions  while  the  latter  are  spread  over  a  wide 
area  of  surrounding  territory. 

Charles  Ehlers  has  been  twice  married.  His 
first  wife,  whom  he  married  in  1866,  was  Caro- 
line, daughter  of  George  Philipbar,  of  Dunkirk. 
She  died  in  1875,  leaving  four  children  : 
Ferdinand,  Emma,  Flora  and  Herman.  After 
her  death  Mr.  Ehlers,  in  1876,  united  in  mar- 
riage with  her  sister,  Mary  Philipbar.  By  his 
second  marriage  he  has  one  child,  a  daughter 
named  Mildred. 

In  politics  Mr.  Ehlers  is  a  democrat.  He 
attends  regularly  and  contributes  liberally  to 
the  Baptist  church  of  Dunkirk.  He  is  a  mem- 
ber of  Ancient  Order  of  United  Workmen, 
Chautauqua  Castle,  No.  188,  Knights  of  Pythias 
aud  Point  Gratiot  Lodge,  Independent  Order 
of  Odd  Fellows. 


FRANK  F.  STAFF  is  another  man  in 
whom  the  inherent  genius  and  industrial 
habits  of  his  Teutonic  ancestors  are  simply 
synonymic  of  success.  He  is  a  son  of  Paul 
and  Rose  (Vogel)  Stapf,  and  was  born  in  Pitts- 
burg, Allegheny  county,  Pennsylvania,  Decem- 
ber 6,  1864.  Paul  Stapf  was  born  in  1822,  in 
Aschaflenburg,  Lower  Franconia,  Germany ; 
came  to  America  when  a  young  man,  and 
located  in  Pittsburg,  where  for  most  of  his  life 
he  has  been  a  foreman  in  an  iron  works.  In 
religion  he,  as  well  as  his  wife,  is  a  consistent 
member  of  the  Catholic  church,  and  in  politics 
is  a  democrat.     He  married  Rose  Vogel,  who 


582 


BIOGRAPHY   AND  HISTORY 


was  born  in  Bavaria  in  1830,  and  they  have 
been  the  parents  of  several  children. 

Frank  F.  Stapf  spent  his  boyhood  in  Pitts- 
burg, attending  the  public  schools  of  that  place, 
and  after  leaving  school  learned  the  jeweler's 
trade  with  his  brother,  John  A.,  who  was  then 
a  manufacturer  of  jewelry  in  the  Iron  City. 
In  1886  he  left  his  brother's  factory,  and  came 
to  Dunkirk,  where  he  went  into  business  for 
himself  at  No.  83  Third  street,  where  he  has 
since  remained,  having  built  up  a  very  success- 
ful trade,  carrying  a  fine  stock  of  jewelry,  etc., 
and  making  a  specialty  of  fine  watch  and  jew- 
elry repairing. 

Politically  he  is  independent,  a  member  of 
the  Knights  of  Pythias  and  the  Knights  of 
Maccabees. 

Frank  F.  Stapf  was  married  in  1888  to 
Emma  Allgaier,  a  daughter  of  Joseph  All- 
gaier,  of  Dunkirk,  and  their  union  has  been 
blessed  with  two  children  :  Mabel  and  Laura. 


TOHN  A.  STAPF  is  a  man  whose  natural 
^  energy,  industry  and  ingenuity  would  be 
a  guarantee  of  ultimate  success  in  whatever  he 
might  undertake.  He  was  born  in  Pittsburg, 
Allegheny  county,  Pennsylvania,  November 
30,  1856,  and  is  a  son  of  Paul  and  Rose  (Vo- 
gel)  Stapf.  Paul  Stapf  is  a  native  of  Aschaf- 
fenburg,  a  manufacturing  city  in  Lower  Fran- 
conia  province,  Germany,  being  born  in  1822, 
and  emigrating  to  the  United  States  when  quite 
a  young  man,  located  in  Pittsburg,  where  he 
has  since  resided,  and  where  he  has  been  em- 
ployed most  of  his  life  as  a  foreman  in  an  iron 
works.  He  married  Rose  Vogel,  who  was 
born  in  Bavaria  in  1830,  by  whom  he  has  had 
several  children.  Politically  he  is  a  democrat, 
and  he  and  his  wife  are  devoted  members  of 
the  Catholic  churcli. 

John  A.  Sta[)f  was  reared  in  Pittsburg, 
where  he  received  his  education  in  the  public 
schools.  When  he  was  eleven  years  old,  he 
began  to  learn   the  jewelry  business,   working 


in  the  best  establishments  in  that  city  until 
1874,  in  which  year  he  engaged  in  the  manu- 
facture of  jewelry  on  his  own  account.  Two 
years  later  he  removed  his  business  to  Parker 
City,  Pa.,  where  he  remained  two  years,  and 
then  came  to  Dunkirk,  this  county,  and  con- 
tinued in  the  same  business  until  1879,  when 
he  engaged  in  the  retail  jewelry  trade,  in  which 
he  still  remains.  He  carries  a  fine  large  stock 
of  everything  pertaining  to  a  first-class  jewelry 
house,  and  enjoys  a  very  flourishing  patronage. 

John  A.  Stapf  was  married  in  July,  1875, 
to  Mary  Zobel,  of  Pittsburg.  Their  union  has 
been  blessed  with  two  children, — one  son  and 
one  daughter ;  John  W.,  born  February  4, 
1876;  and  Flora  M.,  born  January  29,  1882. 

In  politics  he  is  a  democrat,  and  is  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Free  and  Accepted  Masons,  Knights 
of  the  Maccabees,  Knights  of  Pythias,  the 
Equitable  Aid  Union,  the  Germania  singing 
society,  and  is  an  affable  and  popular  man. 


nEV.  JOHN  BANDIKALLI  was  born  in 
Genova,  or  Genoa,  as  it  is  commonly 
known,  in  the  province  of  Liguria,  kingdom  of 
Italy,  August  27,  1835,  and  is  the  son  of  Dom- 
inick  and  Francesca  (Ricci)  Bandinalli.  He 
was  reared  in  his  native  country,  educated  in  the 
monastic  schools,  and  ordained  as  a  priest  in 
1858,  emigrated  to  the  United  States  the  same 
year  and  located  in  Pittsburg,  Pa.,  where  he 
acquired  tiie  English  language  in  the  only  mon- 
astery then  in  existence  in  this  republic.  In 
I860  he  came  to  Dunkirk  and  assisted  in  estab- 
lishing a  monastery  to  Ite  conducted  by  the  Pas- 
sionists  order,  of  which  he  was  a  member. 
This  order  had  been  first  planted  in  America,  at 
Pittsburg,  in  1852,  and  now  has  thousands  of 
members  scattered  in  every  State  and  territory 
of  the  Union.  In  1861  the  order  at  Dunkirk 
incorporated  the  Diuakirk  Literary,  Scientific 
and  Missionary  Institute.  Father  Bandinalli 
remained  in  Dunkirk  until  1866,  wheu  he  was 
appointed  by  the  bisho|)  of  that  diocese,  rector 


OF  CHAUTAUQUA   COUNTY. 


583 


of  St.  Michael's  monastery  at  West  Hoboken,  N. 
J.,  where  he  remained  tliree  years  when  he  was 
appointed  rector  of  St.  Joseph's  monastery  at 
Baltimore,  Md.,  wiiere  he  remained  six  years,  and 
was  then  appointed  provincial  eouiiselor  at  St. 
Michael's  church  at  West  Hoboken.  In  1880  he 
returned  to  Duidvirk  where  lie  has  since  resided 
and  is  rector  of  St.  Mary's  Catholic  chtn-cii  and 
monastery.  This  parish  he  assisted  in  organizing 
in  1860  but  the  church  edifice  had  been  dedicated 
in  November,  1854.  Tiie  present  ciuircii  build- 
ing is  a  superb  structure,  witli  an  elegant  inter- 
ior, the  church  and  monastery  costing  over  forty 
thousand  dollars,  The  congregation  includes 
over  four  hundred  families.  The  Passionist  or- 
der also  built,  in  1868,  Columbus  Hall,  at  a  cost 
of  twenty  thousand  dollars,  which  is  tiie  loca- 
tion of  the  parochial  schools,  where  nearly  three 
hundred  pupils  are  enrolled.  Father  Bandin- 
alli  is  very  popular  among  his  parishioners. 


nEV.  ANTHONY  KLAWITER,  pastor  of 
St.  Hyacinth  church  of  Dunkirk  and 
who  planned  and  built  in  Buifalo,  N.  Y.,  the 
first  Byzantine  church  ever  erected  in  the  United 
States,  was  bora  at  Pcjsen,  Poland,  November 
13,  1836,  and  is  a  son  of  Augustine  and  Josepli 
(Telarska)  Klawiter.  He  was  reared  in  the  his- 
toric city  of  VYarsaw,  whose  struggle  in  the 
cause  of  Polish  independence  has  become  a  part 
of  the  history  of  the  world  and  received  a  lib- 
eral education.  In  1860  he  was  ordained  as  a 
priest  at  Warsaw  where  he  was  the  pastor  of  a 
Catholic  church  for  fifteen  years.  In  1875  he 
came  to  the  United  States  where  he  was  stationed 
in  Chicago  and  had  charge  of  St.  Stanislaus 
Catholic  church  for  one  year.  He  then  went  to 
Howard  county,  Nebraska,  where  he  was  pastor 
of  St.  Paul's  church  for  four  years  at  the  end  of 
which  time,  in  1881,  he  came  to  Dunkirk  and 
became  pastor  of  St.  Hyacinth's  churcii  which 
was  erected  in  1875.  After  three  years  .service 
he  went  to  Buffalo  and  had  charge  of  St.  Stan- 
islaus church  for  two  years.     In   1886  he  built 


St.  Adalbert's  church  with  a  seating  capacity  of 
sixteen  hundred  and  a  school  building  to  accom- 
modate one  thousand  children  besides  a  fine  par- 
sonage. The  church  and  .school  were  both  in 
one  building  wiiicli  he  erected  in  the  wonder- 
fully short  space  of  three  months.  This  church 
was  burned  on  January  26,  1889,  and  within 
the  same  year  Father  Klawiter  planned  and  com- 
menced the  erection  of  the  pre.seut  si)lendid  St. 
Adalbert  church  of  Buffalo.  In  1890  he  re- 
turned to  Dunkirk  where  he  has  charge  of  St. 
Hyacinth  church  with  a  congregation  of  three 
hundred  families,  and  is  erecting  a  tasteful  par- 
sonage in  addition  to  daily  visiting  and  instruct- 
ing in  his  parochial  school  of  two  hundred  and 
fifty  children.  Reverend  Father  Klawiter  is  a 
man  of  fine  education  and  refined  tastes,  who  is 
an  earnest  and  successful  church  worker. 

The  St.  Adalbert  Catholic  church  which 
Father  Klawiter  planned  and  built  in  Buffalo  is 
a  stone  and  brick  structure  of  the  Byzantine 
style  and  consists  of  a  grand  portico,  vestibule, 
nave  and  two  aisles,  transept,  62x106  feet; 
sanctuary,  two  vestries,  two  chapels  for  the  sis- 
ters and  a  large  choir  with  accommodations  for 
six  hundred  singers.  This  church  is  in  the  form 
of  a  Latin  cross  86x235  feet  in  total  width  and 
length,  with  two  large  towers  one  hundred  and 
thirty-five  feet  in  height  and  an  imposing  cupola 
of  one  hundred  and  sixty-five  feet,  whose  in- 
terior is  frescoed  in  Byzantine  colors  and  paint- 
ings, representing  scenes  from  the  life  of  St. 
Adalbert.  It  has  imposing  altars,  organ,  chancel, 
the  statues  of  the  Apostles  and  the  fourteen 
staiions  of  the  crucifixion.  St.  Adalbert  ciuux-h 
will  be  visited  not  only  by  worshipers  but  also 
by  amateurs  of  art.  The  head  of  this  grand 
undertaking  was  the  Reverend  Father  Andrew 
Klawiter,  then  rector  of  St.  Adalbert  congrega- 
tion, through  whose  incitation,  sacrifice  and  love 
of  art,  one  of  the  sublimest  monuments  for 
Christian  worship,  was  erected  to  the  pride  of 
the  Polish  nation  and  as  an  ormameut  to  this 
country. 


584 


BIOGRAPHY  AND  HISTORY 


TUTIKZA   N.    BENJAMIN,    M.D.,    one    of 

4'-'-  Dunkirk's  successful  physicians  and  sur- 
geons, was  born  in  Oroomiah,  Persia,  and  is  a 
son  of  Rev.  Mirza  N.  and  Theresa  (Gillett) 
Benjamin,  He  who  reads  of  the  Grecian  re- 
public and  the  jRoman  empire  should  not  fail  to 
learn  the  story  of  the  Persian  power  which  was 
supreme  in  western  Asia  for  several  centuries 
by  means  of  the  superior  civilization  and  mili- 
tary genius  of  its  people ;  and  to  become  ac- 
quainted with  the  history  of  modern  Persia, 
which  now  ranks  as  one  of  the  foremost  Asiatic 
countries.  The  Benjamin  family  is  one  of  the 
old  and  respected  families  of  Persia,  and  Rev. 
ISIirza  N.  Benjamin,  the  father  of  Dr.  Benjamin, 
was  born  in  Oroomiah,  where  he  served  for 
many  years  as  an  Episcopalian  minister.  He 
died  in  1852.  His  widow  was  a  native  of  the 
same  town,  where  she  died  in  18G6. 

Mirza  N.  Benjamin  received  his  education  at 
the  university  of  his  native  town,  and  after  he 
was  graduated,  commenced  reading  medicine 
with  Dr.  Franklin  H.  Young,  who  was  a  grad- 
uate of  the  Kings  Medical  college,  of  London, 
England.  At  twenty-one  years  of  age  he 
accompanied  Dr.  Young  to  London,  where  he 
took  one  course  of  lectures  at  Kings  Medical 
college.  In  January,  1863,  he  came  to  New 
York  city,  where  he  took  a  course  of  lectures  at 
Bellevue  Medical  college,  and  then  entered  the 
medical  dejiartment  of  the  University  of  Ver- 
mont, at  Burlington,  in  that  State,  from  which 
he  was  graduated  in  1864.  Two  days  after 
graduation  he  entered  the  Union  army  as  a 
contract  assistant  surgeon,  was  soon  promoted 
to  surgeon  and  was  stationed  respectively  in 
Louisville,  Nashville  and  Memphis.  After  the 
clo.se  of  the  war  became  in  September,  18G5,  to 
Fredonia,  and  was  in  active  practice  there  until 
1882,  when  he  came  to  Dunkirk,  where  he  has 
been  in  the  continuous  and  successful  practice  of 
his  profession  ever  since.  He  is  a  member  of 
the  Chautaui|ua  County  Medical  society,  and  in 
addition  to  his  large  practice  in  Dunkirk,  has 


retained  a  portion  of  his  Fredonia  practice. 
While  serving  in  the  departments  of  the  Cum- 
berland and  Tennessee  he  was  one  of  tiie  few 
contract  surgeon.s. 

Dr.  Benjamin  united  in  marriage  with  Julia 
Salsbury  Spencer,  daughter  of  Seneca  Spencer, 
of  Oneida  county.  Their  union  has  been  blessed 
with  one  child,,  a  daughter,  named  Cai'oline 
Harriet. 

Dr.  Benjamin  is  a  republican  in  politics  and 
a  member  of  the  Protestant  Episcopal  church. 
He  was  oifered  the  position  of  surgeon  general 
of  the  Persian  army,  besides  other  distinguished 
positions  in  Persia,  but  he  declined  to  return  to 
his  native  country,  as  he  does  not  like  the 
present  form  of  Persian  government,  and  has 
declared  that  he  would  rather  be  in  King's 
county  than  to  be  king  of  Persia.  Dr.  Benja- 
min has  never  met  any  of  his  countrymen  since 
coming  here,  and  is  probably  the  only  Persian 
physician. 

o 

"I^ETER  F.  VAI.ENTINE  is  a  remarkably 
,  -*■  skillful  workman  in  his  line  of  business, 
{  for  he  can  make  any  part  of  a  watch,  under- 
stands the  repairing  of  tower  clocks  and  can 
regulate  the  movement  of  the  most  delicate 
chronometer  or  the  most  ponderous  clock,  and 
is  also  a  fine  practical  machinist.  He  was  born 
in  Austria,  July  9,  1851,  received  his  education 
in  the  common  schools  of  his  native  country 
which  he  attended  until  he  was  sixteen  years 
old,  when  he  sought  the  land  of  equality  and 
freedom,  where  he  landed  in  1867  and  located 
in  New  Jersey,  where  he  acquired  the  trade  of 
a  machinist.  In  1870  he  came  to  Dunkirk  and 
.secured  employment  as  a  machinist  at  the 
Brooks'  Lo(;omotivc  works,  where  he  remained 
until  1880,  when  he  was  engaged  by  the  Fre- 
donia Watcii  company  of  Fredonia,  this  county, 
which  erected  the  first  watch  factory  in  the  State 
of  New  York.  After  working  for  them  one 
and  one-half  years  he  was  made  foreman  of 
their  machine  shop  and  continued  here  until  the 


OF  CHAUTAUQUA   COUNTY. 


585 


factory  was  moved  to  Peoria,  Illinois,  whither 
he  went  and  remained  with  them  until  1888, 
when  he  returned  to  Orange,  N.  J.,  where  he 
was  employed  for  six  months  in  Thomas  A. 
Edison's  works  on  the  latter's  famous  phono- 
graph. From  there  he  came  to  Dunkirk,  this 
county,  and  engaged  in  tlie  jewelry  business  on 
his  own  account,  in  which  he  is  still  having  a 
fine  stock  and  a  large  and  constantly  increasing 
trade,  his  store  being  located  at  No.  19  Railroad 
avenue.  He  is  liberal  in  his  political  opinions 
and  always  votes  for  the  man  he  considers  best 
fitted  for  the  office. 

P.  F.  Valentine,  in  1872,  united  in  marriage 
with  Sophia  Widman,  a  daughter  of  Charles 
Widman,  of  Dunkirk,  by  whom  he  had  five 
children,  three  sons  and  two  daughters  :  Carl, 
Sabina,  Ferdinand,  Grace  and  Albert,  all  of 
whom  are  living  except  Ferdinand,  who  died  in 
1888,  aged  nine  years.  Mrs.  Valentine  was 
killed  in  the  great  railroad  disaster  at  Chat- 
worth,  Illinois,  in  1887,  and  Mr.  Valentine  was 
married  a  second  time,  in  1889,  to  Dora  Wid- 
man, a  sister  of  his  first  wife. 


JOHN  BOURNE  has  entered  the  second  half 
^  of  a  century,  and,  during  the  last  quarter 
through  which  he  has  passed,  has  witnessed  more 
changes  of  scene  and  covered  more  territory 
than  ordinarily  falls  to  the  lot  of  man.  He  was 
born  in  Fredonia,  Chautauqua  county.  New 
York,  August  22,  1839,  and  is  a  son  of  Thomas 
and  Huldah  (Cooley)  Bourne.  His  father  was 
a  native  of  England  and  emigrated  to  America 
in  1832,  when  he  married  Huldah  Cooley,  a 
native  of  Vermont,  and  a  school  teacher,  by 
whom  he  had  several  children.  He  was  a  born 
sailor,  graduating  from  the  English  .service  as 
passed-midshipmau  when  fifteen  years  of  age 
and  eventually  becoming  a  captain  in  the  mer- 
chant marine,  making  twenty-nine  trips  from 
England  to  American  ports.  In  his  religious 
principles  he  was  episcopalian  and  a  member  of 
that  church.  He  died  in  Fredonia  August  31, 
31 


1889,  nine  days  after  the  birth  of  his  son  John. 
His  wife  (mother)  was  a  member  of  the  Metho- 
dist Episcopal  church  and  died,  aged  seventy- 
tiiree  years. 

John  Bourne  was  reared  in  Dunkirk  until  he 
was  thirteen  years  old,  and  then  in  the  country 
round  about,  rcceivino;  his  education  in  the  com- 
inon  schools.  At  the  first  extension  of  the  Erie 
canal  he  secured  a  position  as  ax-man  in  the 
engineer  corps,  with  which  he  remained  three 
years.  In  1859  he  went  to  Sheridan,  this 
county,  and  engaged  in  farming  operations  until 
the  summer  of  1861,  when  he  enlisted,  in  Au- 
gust, in  Co.  D,  72d  N.  Y.  Vols,  and  .served 
until  the  close  of  the  war,  being  honorably  dis- 
charged at  Kingston,  New  York,  in  July,  1865. 
He  participated  in  all  the  principal  battles  in 
which  his  regiment  was  engaged  and  was 
wounded  twice,  once  in  the  neck  at  the  battle  of 
Gettysburg  by  a  minie-ball  and  once  by  a  spent 
ball  at  the  battle  of  the  Wilderness,  which 
knocked  him  senseless.  Neither  wound  was 
sufficiently  serious  to  cause  him  to  be  sent  to  the 
hospital.  After  his  discharge  from  the  army  he 
came  to  Dunkirk  and  was  employed  as  clerk  in 
the  office  of  the  United  States  Express  company 
until  1866,  when  he  went  West,  where  he  was 
employed  as  messenger  and  route  agent  by  the 
same  company  for  three  years,  and  afterward  as 
agent  at  Paoli,  Kansas,  for  nine  months,  after 
which  he  was  engaged  in  the  transfer  business 
for  a  year  at  Fort  Scott,  Kansas.  In  the  latter 
part  of  1870  he  was  engaged  by  the  Overland 
Transportation  company  and  placed  in  charge 
of  the  men  employed  in  the  transfer  of  their 
business  to  the  M.  K.  &  T.  R.  R.,  and  remained 
in  this  position  until  the  M.  K.  &  T.  reached 
Denison,  Texas,  in  1872  when  the  contract  of 
the  O.  T.  company  was  completed.  He  was 
then  employed  by  the  M.  K.  &  T.  R.  R.  Co., 
and  continued  with  them  until  April,  1873, 
when,  at  the  request  of  John  Buckley,  ticket 
agent  at  the  Erie  railroad  station  in  Dunkirk,  he 
came  here  and  accepted  a  position  as  clerk  and 


586 


BIOGRAPHY  AND  HISTORY 


assistant  ticket  agent  in  the  Union  depot.  In 
this  service  he  remained  until  1881,  when  he 
was  appointed  ticket  agent,  which  office  he  now 
holds  with  general  satisfaction.  Politically  he 
is  a  straight  republican  and  takes  an  active  inter- 
est in  National,  State  and  local  politics.  His 
family  are  unitarians.  He  is  a  member  of 
William  O.  Stevens  Post,  G.  A.  R. 

John  Bourne  was  married  August,  186(3,  to 
Edith  Buckley,  youngest  daughter  of  John 
Buckley,  of  Dunkirk,  and  has  had  several  chil- 
dren, of  whom  two  sons  and  two  daughters  are 
now  living:  Philip  H.,  Graham  M.,  Augusta 
D.,  and  Juliet  Madge.  While  he  was  at  Lime- 
Stonc  Gap,  Indian  Territory,  in  1872,  in  the 
employ  of  the  Overland  Transportation  com- 
pany, a  daughter,  Lilian,  was  born.  She  was 
the  only  white  child  of  New  York  parentage 
ever  born  in  the  Indian  Territory.  Her  birth- 
place was  in  the  reservation  of  the  Choctaw 
Nation.  She  was  an  uncommonly  bright  and 
promising  child,  but  was  attacked  with  diphthe- 
ria in  1882  and  passed  beyond  to  join  the  angels' 
throng:. 


mILLIAM  H.  HARELL,  the  organizer 
and  general  manager  of  the  Harell 
Steam  Heating  company  of  Dunkirk,  was  born 
in  the  city  of  Paterson,  N.  J.,  February  23, 
1861,  and  is  a  son  of  Richard  and  Margaret 
(Hays)  Harell.  Richard  Harell  was  born  in 
England  in  1836,  and  came  when  a  boy,  with 
his  parents  to  New  Jersey,  where  he  was  en- 
gaged in  the  machine  shops  in  Paterson  until 
1877,  when  he  went  to  Hudson,  New  Jersey, 
and  was  interested  for  three  years  in  the  Clapp 
&  Jones  Manufacturing  company  of  that  place. 
In  the  spring  of  1880  he  removed  to  Dunkirk 
and  accepted  his  present  position  of  foreman  of 
tiie  lirooks'  Locomotive  works.  He  is  a  re- 
publican in  politics,  a  Master  Mason  in  Free- 
masonry and  married  Margaret  Hays,  who 
was  l)orn  in  Pater.son,  New  Jersey,  in  1841. 
William  H.  Harell  passed  his  boyhood  days 


in  Paterson,  where  he  attended  Tallman  semi- 
nary. In  1877  he  went  with  his  pareuts  to 
Hudson,  where  he  remained  until  1880,  when 
he  became  a  clerk  in  the  freight  office  of  the 
N.  Y.,  L.  E.  &  W.  R.  R.  at  Salamanca,  N.  Y. 
Two  years  later  he  came  to  Dunkirk,  where  he 
learned  the  trade  of  machinist  in  the  Brooks' 
Locomotive  works.  lu  1886  he  left  these 
works  and  organized  the  Harell  Steam  Heating 
company,  of  whicli  he  is  general  manager  and 
his  father  superintendent.  They  manufacture 
steam  and  hot  water  heating  apparatus  and  pay 
attention  to  ventilating  and  plumbing.  Their 
specialty  is  a  steel-plate  tubular  boiler,  patented 
by  R.  Harell  in  1883,  which  is  made  in  a  great 
variety  of  styles  and  sizes  and  is  perfectly 
adapted  to  warming  all  classes  of  buildings, 
from  the  ordinary  dwelling  to  the  largest 
factory.  Their  system  of  heating  has  been  suc- 
cessfully applied  to  some  of  the  largest  manu- 
facturing establishments  and  many  private  res- 
idences in  Dunkirk  and  other  cities  of  western 
New  York.  Their  business  increased  so  much 
that  on  May  1,  1890,  Mr.  Harell  organized  a 
stock  company  with  a  capital  of  forty  thousand 
dollars  and  they  are  now  erecting  an  extensive 
plant  for  the  manufacture  of  boilers  and  radia- 
tors on  a  large  scale  and  in  quantities  sufficient 
to  meet  the  present  demand  for  them. 

W.  H.  Harell  is  independent  in  politics,  for 
which  his  business  affairs  leave  him  but  little 
time.  He  is  a  Royal  Arch  Mason  and  holds 
membership  in  Dunkirk  Chapter  of  H.  R. 
A.  M. 


/^RVILLE  M.  HILLKR  is  of  German  de- 
^^  scent,  his  ancestors  coming  over  with  the 
colony  from  Holland,  which  settled  New  Am- 
sterdam, now  New  York  city.  He  was  born  in 
Genesee  county.  New  York,  January  21,  1831, 
and  is  a  son  of  Michael  and  Rachael  ((irandy) 
Hiiler.  His  paternal  grandfather  Hiller 
was  a  soldier  in  the  Revolutionaiy  war,  was 
taken  prisoner  by  the  British,  and  spent  three 


OF  CHAUTAUQUA   COUNTY. 


587 


years  on  board  a  prison  ship.  At  the  close  of 
the  war  he  was  exchanged,  but  liis  iiealth  was 
so  l)adly  shattered  that  he  died  a  few  years 
afterward,  and  his  brother-in-law,  Gen.  Piiiiip 
Schuyler  cared  for  his  family  and  reared  and  edu- 
cated the  children.  Michael  Hiller,  (father)  was 
a  native  of  Herkimer  county,  N.Y.,  born  in  1 787. 
He  married  Rachael  Grandy,  when  a  young 
man  moved  to  Genesee  county  and  cleared  a  farm 
from  the  wilderness.  In  1837  he  moved  from 
Genesee  county  to  Cattaraugus  county,  where 
he  cleaied  a  nice  farm  and  spent  the  rest  of  his 
life  there.  He  was  a  stirring  man,  a  member 
of  the  Baptist  church,  a  .strong  abolitionist  and 
a  "conductor  "  on  the  famous  "under-ground 
railroad."  He  died  in  1854.  His  wife  (mother) 
was  a  native  of  Connecticut  and  a  member  of 
the  Methodist  Episcopal  church.  She  died  in 
1838. 

Orville  M.  Hiller  was  brought  up  on  a  farm, 
educated  in  the  common  schools  and  in  Spring- 
ville  academy,  where  he  spent  two  years,  and 
then  learned  the  trade  of  carpenter  and  joiner. 
In  1851  he  came  to  Dunkirk  and  pursued  that 
occupation  nntil  1863,  when  he  enlisted  for 
three  months  in  company  D,  68th  regiment  N. 
Y.  Vols.,  was  commissioned  second  lieutenant, 
and  served  his  term  of  enlistment.  In  1865  he 
was  appointed  deputy  sheriff  of  Chautauqua 
county,  held  that  office  nine  years,  and  in  1874 
was  elected  police  justice  of  Dunkirk  for  two 
years  and  re-elected  in  1876  for  a  like  term. 
From  1876  to  1886  he  was  employed  at  his 
trade  by  the  Erie  R.  R.  Co.,  having  previously 
worked  for  them  twelve  years,  1851-1863  in 
same  capacity.  In  1886  he  was  again  elected 
police  justice  and  has  held  that  office  ever  since. 

Politically  he  is  a  straight  republican  and 
takes  an  active  part  in  politics.  He  is  a  mem- 
ber of  Dunkirk  comraandery  K.  T.  In  addition 
to  his  other  business  he  is  interested  in  real 
estate. 

Orville  M.  Hiller  was  married  in  1852  to 
Abigail    Connell,    of    Dunkirk,    and    has    had 


several  children,  of  whom  two  are  living: 
Mary  M.,  who  is  married  to  Lester  F.  Stearns, 
district  attorney,  who  resides  in  Dunkirk  ;  and 
Lilian  E. 


/^HARLE.S  F.  WHITE,  the  intelligent  cdi- 
^^  tor  of  the  Dunkirk  Advertiser  and  Union, 
was  born  June  29,  1842,  in  Steuben  county. 
New  York,  and  is  a  son  of  Joseph  H.  and 
Charlotte  N.  (Hilton)  White.  Joseph  H. 
White  was  a  native  of  Philadelphia,  Penn.syl- 
vania,  but  came  to  Hornellsville,  New  York, 
when  a  small  child  and  made  his  home  with  an 
aunt.  In  early  manhood  he  followed  farming, 
that  being  the  principal  work  of  the  country, 
but  in  1847  he  saw  an  opportunity  opened  in 
furnishing  ties  for  the  Erie  railway  at  Corning, 
New  York,  which  he  did  for  some  time  with 
profit.  Mr.  White  was  an  intelligent  man  who 
took  an  interest  in  politics  and  was  a  recognized 
democratic  leader  of  his  section.  In  1850  he 
went  to  California  and  after  mining  there  for 
ten  years  went  to  Fort  Hope,  British  Columbia, 
and  was  killed  in  a  mining  accident  in  May, 
1861.  He  married  Charlotte  N.  Hilton,  who 
was  a  native  of  Ontario  county.  New  York,  and 
is  now  living,  aged  seventy-fuur  years,  in  Hor- 
nellsville, where  she  is  a  member  of  the  Meth- 
odist church. 

Charles  F.  White  was  reared  in  Hornells- 
ville and  got  iiis  education  from  the  public 
schools  of  that  city.  When  nineteen  years  of 
age  he  enlisted  in  Co.  K,  17th  regiment.  New 
York  Infantry  and  served  three  years.  His 
was  a  fighting  regiment  and  they  participated 
in  the  battles  of  Yorktown,  Hanover  Court- 
house, Second  Bull  Run,  Antietam,  Fredericks- 
burg and  Chaucellorsville.  He  was  discharged 
at  New  York  in  June,  1864,  his  term  of  enlist- 
ment having  expired.  Deciding  to  learn  the 
printing  business  he  entered  the  office  of  the 
Havana  Journal,  in  Schuyler  county.  New 
York,  learned  the  trade  and  worked  there  in 
all  seven  years.     He  was  industrious   and   eco- 


588 


BIOGRAPHY  AND  HISTORY 


nomical  and  saved  money  enough  so  that  in 
May,  1871,  the  opportunity  presenting,  he 
bought  a  one-half  interest  in  the  Alleghany 
County  Democrat,  pulilished  at  Wellsville,  New 
Yorli.  January  1,  1873,  he  bought  his  part- 
ner's interest  and  conducted  it  until  August  14, 
1874.  In  November,  1875,  he  bought  a  one- 
half  interest  in  the  Advertiser  and  Union  which 
he  has  since  conducted  with  ability  and  to  the 
satisfaction  and  instruction  of  its  readers.  It  is 
a  nine  column,  four  page,  29x45  paper.  Ag- 
gressively democratic — has  a  circulation  of  six- 
teen hundred  and  constantly  increasing  in 
Cliautauqua  and  adjoining  counties.  It  is  a 
live  and  progressive  journal,  and  is  fearless  in 
advertising  what  it  deems  to  be  right. 

In  1873,  Mr.  White  married  Jennie  E., 
daughter  of  Henry  IMiller,  of  Wellsville,  New 
York.  They  have  two  children,  one  son  and 
one  daughter:  Joseph  C,  born  March  24, 1876  ; 
and  Nellie  May,  born  July  4,  1877. 

C.  F.  White  is  a  member  of  W.  O.  Stephens 
Post,  No.  393,  G.  A.  R. ;  Lodge  No.  145,  F. 
&  A.  M.,  of  Dunkirk ;  and  the  Royal  Arcanum. 


HON.  L.  F.  STEARNS,  a  resident  lawyer 
of  Dunkirk  and  now  serving  his  second 
term  as  district  attorney  of  Chautauqua  county, 
is  a  son  of  Crawford  and  Lovina  (White) 
Stearns,  and  was  born  in  the  town  of  Villanova, 
Chautauqua  county,  New  York,  July  27,  185G. 
Tiie  Stearns  and  Wliites  are  of  English  descent 
and  the  grandfathers  of  L.  F.  Stearns,  Benja- 
min Stearns  and  .loel  Wiiite,  came  from  New 
England  to  ChautJiuqua  county,  where  they 
followed  farming.  Benjamin  Stearns  was  a 
native  of  Vermorit,  and  died  in  the  town  of 
Villanova,  in  18G5,  wliile  Joel  AVliitc  (maternal 
grandfather)  was  born  in  Massachusetts,  where 
his  family  was  founded  by  the  White  who 
came  over  in  the  Muyjlower,  and  from  which 
State  he  came  to  this  county,  in  which  he 
followed  farming  and  manufacturing  until 
his     death.       Crawford    Stearns    (father)    was 


born  in  the  town  of  Villanova  in  1830,  and 
has  been  principally  engaged  in  farming  and  in 
raising,  buying  and  shipping  stock.  He  owns 
four  hundred  acres  of  land  in  the  town  of  Dun- 
kirk, has  been  a  member  of  the  Methodist 
church  for  many  years  and  is  a  strong  republi- 
can in  politics.  His  wife  is  also  a  member  of 
the  Methodist  Episcopal  church  and  was  born 
in  1835. 

Lester  F.  Stearns  grew  to  manhood  on  the 
farm  and  attended  Forestville  Free  academy, 
one  of  the  best  schools  in  the  county  Leaving 
the  academy  he  taught  school  for  two  years  and 
then  went  to  the  Bradford  oil  district  of  Penn- 
sylvania where  he  remained  for  one  year  and 
had  charge  of  several  wells  that  were  being 
sunk  for  oil,  besides  the  supervision  and  over- 
sight of  a  large  strip  of  oil  territory.  After  re- 
turning from  the  oil  fields  he  resumed  teaching 
which  he  followed  until  1879  when  he  com- 
menced the  study  of  law  with  J.  A.  Parsons  of 
Forestville,  and  then  came  to  Dunkirk  where 
he  read  for  some  time  with  Holt  &  Holt,  but 
completed  his  legal  studies  with  C.  B.  Bradley, 
at  that  time  district  attorney.  He  was  admit- 
ted to  the  bar  in  April,  1882,  and  in  June  of 
that  year  opened  liis  present  law  office  at  No. 
221  Center  street  where  he  has  fine  rooms  and 
a  handsome  library. 

In  July,  1889,  he  united  in  marriage  with 
Mary  H.  Hiller,  daughter  of  police-justice  Hil- 
ler,  of  Dunkirk.  Their  union  has  been  blessed 
with  one  child,  a  son  named  Harrold. 

L.  F,  Stearns  is  a  republican  in  politics, 
owns  a  neat  and  tasteful  residence  on  Swan 
street  and  enjoys  a  good  practice.  In  1883  he 
was  nominated  for  special  county  judge,  but  de- 
clined the  nomination,  but  the  following  year 
was  elected  special  surrogate  and  served  a.s  such 
for  three  years.  In  1886  he  was  elected  as  dis- 
trict attorney  and  in  1889,  was  re-elected  for  a 
term  of  three  years  which  will  expire  in  1893. 


OF  CHAUTAUQUA    COUNTY. 


589 


FRANKLIN  SIMMONS,  owner  of  the  fine,  | 
large  residence  at  No.  517  East  Second 
street,  Jamestown,  is  engaged  in  tiie  manufac- 
ture of  lunilier,  owning  a  forest  tract  in  ('atta- 
raugus  county.  He  is  a  .son  of  Piiilandi^r  and 
Mary  A.  (Wade)  Simmons,  and  was  born  in  ; 
Poland,  Ciiautauqua  county,  New  York,  Aug- 
ust 29,  1827.  His  great-grandfather,  Ebeu-  • 
ezer  Simmons,  was  a  native  of  Connecticut,  of  ' 
English  extraction,  and  his  grandfatiier,  Zariel 
Simmons,  was  also  born  in  that  State,  but  re- 
moved to  Wa.shingtou  county,  N.  Y.,  and  after- 
wards to  Chautauqua  county,  same  State,  where 
he  arrived  in  1817,  settling  in  Poland,  where 
he  died.  He  was  a  farmer,  and  married  Sal  lie 
Hunt,  who  bore  him  twelve  children.  His 
maternal  grandfather,  Peuiber  Wade,  was  born 
in  Connecticut,  but  went  from  there  to  Mead- 
ville.  Pa.,  and  was  one  of  the  first  settlers  of 
that  ancient  place.  He  married  Martha  Lord, 
whose  brother,  Samuel  Lord,  was  also  a  Mead- 
ville  pioneer,  and  owned  a  portion  of  the  land 
upon  which  Allegheny  college  now  stands 
Philander  Simmons  was  born  in  Wa.shingtou 
county,  New  York,  March  20,  1798,  came 
into  Chautauqua  county,  and  left  his  Poland  | 
farm  in  1858,  removing  to  Jamestown.  Until 
his  advent  here  he  was  a  farmer,  and,  owning 
twenty  acres  within  the  city,  he  devoted  some 
of  his  time  to  cultivating  it.  He  was  an  enthu- 
siastic republican,  and  a  strong  anti-slavery 
man,  besides  being  a  deacon  in  the  Baptist 
church  for  a  number  of  years.  He  married 
Mary  A.  Wade,  and  was  the  fatiier  of  ten  chil- 
dren :  Eliza;  Leauder  (dead) ;  Franklin;  Har- 
vey ;  Clarissa  M.  ;  Martha  T.  ;  Ira  (dead), 
served  in  the  civil  war  with  his  brothers,  Wil-  ! 
liam  and  Adelbert  P.  ;  and  Chester  A. 

Franklin  Simmons  was  educated  in  the  dis-  i 
trict  .schools  and   began  life  as  a   manufacturer 
of  pails.     He    remained    in    this  business  one 
year  an  employee,  and  four  years  the  proprietor, 
and  then  he  bought  a  shop  and  made  scythe  ; 
snaths,  grain  cradles  and  chairs  until  1857,  and 


then  enlarged  his  business,  turning  out  all  kinds 
of  furniture,  which  was  operated  up  to  1867, 
when  he  .sold  out  and  moved  on  his  farm  near 
Ashville,  and  lived  there  three  years,  then  re- 
turned and  engaged  in  the  .same  business  for 
four  years  longer,  finally  giving  it  up,  at  th<t 
.same  time  buying  the  place  he  now  owns  on 
East  Second  street  and  .selling  furniture  at  re- 
tail. This  was  succeeded  by  the  grocery  busi- 
ness until  1882,  when  the  lumber  business, 
which  has  since  grown  to  great  proportions,  was 
established. 

He  married  a  Miss  Williams,  a  daughter  of 
Asa  Williams,  of  this  county. 

Politically  Mr.  Simmons  is  a  republican,  and 
has  been  the  assessor  and  overseer  of  the  poor 
for  Jamestown.  Both  he  and  Mrs.  Simmons 
are  members  of  the  Baptist  church,  the  latter 
since  thirteen  years  of  age. 


rf  NDREW  SOLOMONSON,  JR.,  a  native 
■**■  of  Sweden,  was  born  on  June  21,  1852, 
near  the  historic  town  of  Gottenburg.  Andrew 
Solomonson,  Sr.,  and  his  wife  are  land-owners 
in  Sweden,  are  engaged  in  cultivating  their  land 
and  are  more  than  ordinarily  well-to-do  subjects 
of  their  king. 

Andrew  Solomonson,  Jr.,  lived  with  his 
parents,  helping  them  to  cultivate  their  farm, 
until  reaching  the  age  of  twenty,  when  he 
started  for  America.  He  reached  New  York 
in  1872,  and  at  once  started  west,  his  first  stop 
being  Titusville,  Pa.  Remaining  there  a  short 
time  he  decided  to  go  elsewhere,  and  went  down 
to  Williamsport,  Pa.,  where  he  staid  until 
1874,  when  he  came  to  Jamestown,  where  he 
has  resided  ever  since.  His  first  work  here  was 
in  a  planing-mill,  and  he  continued  to  work  for 
others  until  1885,  when  he  decided  to  embark 
in  business  for  himself.  The  result  is  the  fine, 
large  grocery  store  located  at  the  corner  of 
Windsor  and  Second  streets,  in  connection  with 
which  he  conducts  a  first-class  meat  shop. 

He    was    married   to    Anna    A.  I.,awrence,  a 


590 


BIOGRAPHY  AND  HISTORY 


daughter  of  John  E.  Lawson,  of  Jamestown, 
who  is  in  business  as  a  carpenter  and  cabinet- 
maker. Tliey  have  had  two  children,  David 
L.  and  A.  Jonathan. 

Like  many  of  his  countrymen,  Mr.  Solomon- 
son  is  a  republican  in  political  matters,  is  a 
good  and  respected  citizen,  and  has  a  pleasant 
and  comfortable  home. 


HON.  EGBERT  E.  WOODBURY,  a  man 
of  great  natural  ability,  of  superior  legal 
attainments,  of  rare  independence  and  earnest 
convictions,  who  deservedly  won  and  modestly 
wears  the  honors  of  political  life,  is  the  gentle- 
man whose  name  heads  this  sketch.  He  is  the 
only  son  of  Frank  and  Philetta  (Mills)  Wood- 
bury, and  was  born  March  29,  1861,  in  the 
town  of  Cherry  Creek,  Chautauqua  county,  New 
York.  George  Woodbury,  grandfather  of  Eg- 
bert E.  Woodbury,  was  a  farmer  who  for  many 
years  lived  and  finally  died  in  Cherry  Creek 
town,  a  well-known  and  respected  citizen.  His 
death  occurred  in  the  early  sixties.  He  married 
and  reared  a  family  of  one  son  and  two  daugh- 
ters. Frank  Woodbury  was  born  in  Cherry 
Creek  and  lived  there  nearly  all  his  life,  follow- 
ing the  occupation  of  a  farmer.  He  married 
Philetta  Mills,  who  boi-e  him  one  child,  the 
subject  of  this  sketch.  He  died  in  1862,  while 
Mrs.  Woodbury  is  still  living. 

Egbert  E.  Woodbury  was  reared  on  his 
father's  farm  and  received  his  education  in  the 
common  .schools,  with  a  three  years'  course  at 
Chamberlain  institute, at  Randolph,  Cattaraugus 
county,  where  he  was  graduated.  After  this, 
deciding  to  adopt  the  profession  of  the  law,  he 
began  reading  law  with  Hon.  R.  R.  Crawley, 
of  Randolph,  and  later  attended  the  Albany 
law  school.  After  this,  in  1882,  we  find  him  a 
student  in  the  law  office  of  I^akin  &  Sessions, 
one  of  the  leading  legal  firms  of  Jamestown, 
and  in  1884  he  was  admitted  to  the  bar  of 
Chautauqua  county  and  has  since  been  practic- 
ing liis  profession.     It  must  not  be  overlooked 


that  the  early  loss  of  his  father  put  great  re- 
sponsibility upon  the  young  man,  and  before 
the  triumphs  which  we  have  recorded  were 
achieved  the  hard  work  of  a  monthly  farm 
laborer  was  known  to  him,  and  afterwards  ex- 
perience taught  him  that  a  school  teacher's  life 
is  not  a  bed  of  roses.  On  attaining  his  majority 
he  cast  his  fortunes  with  the  Republican  party 
and  has  been  active  in  politics  ever  since.  In 
1886,  when  less  than  twenty-five  years  old,  he 
was  elected  a  justice,  which  difficult  office  he 
tilled  so  satisfactorily  that  his  constituents  re- 
quested him  to  accept  a  re-election  in  the  spring 
of  1890,  but  he  declined.  In  the  fall  of  that 
year  his  party  made  him  its  nominee  to  repre- 
sent Chautauqua  county  in  the  State  Assembly, 
and  although  but  twenty-nine  years  of  age,  his 
ability  was  recognized  and  the  people  elected 
him  with  a  ilattering  majority.  It  has  been 
stated  that  Mr.  Woodbury  was  active  in  the 
party — for  two  years,  1888  and  1889,  he  was 
chairman  of  the  county  committee  and  in  the 
electious  in  which  he  led  them  they  were 
victorious. 

On  Christmas  day,  1880,  Mr.  Woodbury 
united  in  marriage  with  Florence  E.  Holbrook, 
daughter  of  Wills  F.  Holbrook,  of  Cattaraugus 
county.  Their  union  has  been  blest  with  two 
children:  Grace  E.  and  Frank  C. 

Hon.  E.  E.Woodbury  is  an  example  of  Ameri- 
can possibilities,  if  to  a  good  physical  constitution 
there  be  added  push,  determination  and  perse- 
verance. Still  a  young  man,  the  eminence  to 
which  he  may  attain  cannot  be  foretold,  and  to 
the  world  it  looks  as  if  he  had  everything  neces- 
sary to  make  a  man  contented. 


JOHN  F.  O'CONNELT.  is  a  son  of  Patrick 
^  and  Honora  (Finley)  O'Connell,  and  was 
horn  July  10,  1860,  in  Busti  (Ashville),  Cliau- 
tauqua  county.  New  York.  His  paternal  grand- 
father, Patrick  O'Connell,  was  a  native  of 
County  Kerry,  Ireland,  where  he  married  Helen 
Gregg,  by  wiiom  he  had   five  children.     They 


OF  CHAUTAUQUA   COUNTY. 


591 


all  came  to  America,  four  of  whom,  Michael, 
Morris,  James  and  Patrick,  settled  in  Chautau- 
qua county,  and  John,  the  fifth  son,  settled  in 
Toledo,  Ohio,  wliere  he  has  charge  of  the  L.  S. 
&  M.  S.  R.  R.  grain  elevator.  Morris  entered 
the  army  and  near  the  close  of  the  war  went 
home  on  a  furlough,  where  he  died.  John  Fin- 
ley  (maternal  grandfather)  was  a  native  of  Abby 
Fail,  County  Limerick,  Ireland,  where  he  spent 
his  life.  His  wife  was  Julia  Sullivan  and  they 
had  several  children.  Patrick  O'Coniiell  (father) 
was  born  in  County  Kerry,  Ireland,  and  came 
to  America  in  1849,  locating  at  Buffalo,  this 
State,  for  a  short  time,  when  he  removed  to 
Danville,  from  thence  to  Lakewood,  this  county, 
and  afterwards  to  Ashville  on  a  farm,  where 
he  lived  about  four  years.  He  next  went  to 
Kentucky,  where  he  became  interested  in  a 
whiskey  distillery,  in  which  business  he  con- 
tinued but  a  short  time.  He  then  returned  to 
this  county  and  the  succeeding  autumn  sought 
new  fields  in  Missouri  and  other  western  states, 
being  absent  about  a  year,  during  which  time 
he  speculated  in  fruit.  He  again  returned  to 
this  county  and,  after  having  invested  in  real 
estate  in  Jamestown,  he  removed  to  that  city 
where  he  now  resides.  He  worked  as  a  sailor 
on  the  great  lakes  before  coming  to  this  county 
and  since  his  residence  in  Jamestown  has  under- 
taken contract  work  of  various  kinds.  Politi- 
cally he  is  a  democrat,  and  in  religious  faith  a 
member  of  the  Catholic  church.  He  married 
Honora  Finley,  by  whom  he  had  five  children, 
four  sons  living  in  Jamestown  and  a  daughter 
at  home:  Michael,  Morris,  Daniel,  John  F.  and 
Mary, 

John  F.  O'Connell  received  his  education  in 
the  common  schools  and  the  academy  at  James- 
town and  by  self-study  and  close  application. 
He  worked  for  the  Jamestown  bedstead  works 
for  two  years,  afterwards  with  D.  C.  and  J.  W. 
Breed  &  Co.  for  eight  years  and  five  years  with 
A.  P.  Olson.  Considering  himself  well  skilled 
in  the  business,  he,  with  Andrew  P.  Quigley, 


commenced  the  manufacture  of  various  kinds  of 
furniture.  Tiiis  firm  continued  but  three 
months,  when  he  formed  a  partnership  with  W. 
T.  Marsh  and  John  Dscliuden  under  the  firm 
name  of  O'Connell  &  Co.  They  make  a  spe- 
cialty of  parlor  and  library  tables  and  Ijail 
racks  and  employ  seventeen  men,  besides  having 
five  salesmen  on  the  road.  Mr.  O'Connell  is  a 
liberal  democrat,  always  voting  for  the  nian 
whom  he  thinks  is  best  fitted  for  the  place.  He 
has  served  as  a  delegate  several  times  to  the 
county  conventions  and  for  eleven  years  has 
been  a  member  of  the  Deluge  Hose  Co.,  No. 
1,  having  been  assistant  foreman  for  three 
years.  Mr.  O'Connell  is  liberal  in  his  views, 
generous  in  temperament,  and  is  always  willing 
to  aid  in  any  movement  which  is  for  the  in- 
terest of  the  city. 


TT  RTHUR  C.  WADE,  a  prominent  lawyer 
**■  of  Jamestown,  N.  Y.,  is  a  son  of  George 
L.  and  Jane  E.  (Pearson)  Wade,  and  was  born 
December  12,  1852,  in  the  town  of  Charlotte, 
Chautauqua  county,  New  York.  His  grand- 
father, George  Wade,  was  a  native  and  life-long 
resident  of  the  town  of  Charlotte,  where  he  was 
engaged  in  the  occupation  of  farming.  His 
marriage  to  a  Miss  Bowen  resulted  in  the  birth 
of  eight  children.  Maternal  grandfather 
Pearson  was  born  in  England,  emigrated  to 
America  while  yet  in  the  vigor  of  life  and 
located  in  the  town  of  Charlotte,  Chautauqua 
county,  in  1828,  where  he  finished  his  labors 
and  died.  At  the  time  of  his  emigration  to 
America,  his  daughter,  the  mother  of  Arthur 
C.  Wade,  was  but  eight  years  of  age.  George 
L.  Wade  (father)  was  born  in  the  State  of 
Pennsylvania,  in  the  year  1823,  emigrated  to 
Chautauqua  county  when  in  early  manhood 
and  at  present  lives  in  the  town  of  Ellington, 
where  he  operates  a  farm  and  carries  on  his 
trade  of  a  mechanic.  He  is  a  republican  in 
politics,  a  methodist  in  his  religious  views,  and 
a  warm  supporter  of  religious  enterprises.    His 


592 


BIOGRAPHY  AND  HISTORY 


marriage  to  Jane  E.  Pearson,  resulted  in  the 
birth  of  seven  ciiildren,  five  sons  and  two 
daughters:  William,  now  living  at  Cherry 
Creek,  this  State;  Jennie  E.,  wife  of  Henry 
Irwin,  a  resident  of  Wai'rcn,  Pa. ;  Charles  E., 
of  Pine  Valley,  Cattaraugus  county,  this  State; 
Alfred  E.,  a  jeweler,  conducting  a  business  in 
Buffalo,  N.  Y.;  John  T.,  of  Ellington,  N.  Y.; 
Lilian  A.,  wife  of  Bert  Willsie,  a  citizen  of 
Cattaraugus  county,  this  State;  and  Arthur  C. 
Arthur  C.  Wade  received  his  elementary 
education  in  the  common  schools  of  his  native 
county  and  later  attended  Ellington  academy. 
Upon  the  completion  of  his  education  he  took 
up  the  study  of  law  with  Theodore  A.  Case,  of 
Ellington,  with  whom  he  remained  one  and 
one-half  years.  With  this  preliminary  ac- 
quaintance of  the  law,  in  the  fall  of  1876, 
he  entered  the  Albany  law  school  and  was 
graduated  therefrom  in  May,  1877,  and  in 
June  of  the  same  year  commenced  the 
practice  of  law  at  tiie  village  of  El- 
lington. Here  he  remained  until  January, 
1883,  when  he  removed  to  Jamestown,  where 
he  has  since  remained,  being  at  present  a 
partner  of  the  legal  firm  of  Cook,  Fisher  & 
Wade.  Mr.  Wade  is  still  a  young  man  in  the 
midst  of  an  active  and  successful  professional 
career.  He  is  a  profound  student  of  law,  a 
hard  worker,  a  skilled  advocate  and  an  eloquent 
pleader  at  the  bar  of  justice.  Aside  from  his 
legal  qualifications  he  is  a  man  of  recognized 
worth  and  ability  in  the  fields  of  politics  and 
literature,  being  a  political  speaker  of  rare 
brilliancy  and  force.  Personally  he  is  a  man 
of  fine  address,  possessing  many  genial  and 
social  qualities,  affable  and  well  liked  not  only 
by  the  members  of  his  profession  but  uniformly 
by  the  citizens  of  Jamestown. 


FKEDERICK  N.  3IARVIX  is  a  son  of 
David  R.  and  Elizabeth  (Cone)  Marvin, 
and  was  born  October  25,  1800,  in  Eiiicott, 
near  Jamestown.    His  paternal  grandfatlier  was 


a  native  of  Connecticut.  He  had  three  sons 
and  one  daughter :  Henry  C,  David  R.,  IMiolon 
R.  and  Hattie.  Henry  C.  married  Belle 
Barlow,  a  daughter  of  Attorney  Barlow,  of 
Jamestown.  He  is  employed  by  Gokey  &  Son, 
shoe  manufacturers  in  Jamestown ;  David  R. 
was  born  in  Counecticut,  in  1821,  and  died  in 
Eiiicott,  in  1887.  He  came  to  that  town  from 
Connecticut,  in  1855,  and  remained  there  until 
his  death.  He  was  a  farmer  and  owned  much 
real  estate  in  Jamestown.  He  was  a  republican, 
an  active  member  of  the  Congregational  church 
in  Jamestown,  of  which  he  was  a  trustee. 
Hattie  married  W.  N.  Gokey,  of  the  firm  of 
Gokey  &  Son ;  Newton  R.  married  Edith 
Jewett,  of  Jersey  City,  N.  J.  He  is  corres- 
ponding secretary  of  the  A.  A.  Grififing  Iron 
company  in  Jersey  City. 

Frederick  N.  Marvin  was  educated  in  the 
Jamestown  High  school,  and  after  graduation 
was  employed  by  W.  N.  Gokey  &  Sou,  and  for 
six  years  had  charge  of  a  department  there.  In 
August,  1889,  he  severed  his  connection  with 
the  firm  and  with  C.  E.  Tucker  engaged  in  the 
manufacture  of  shoes,  under  the  firm  name  of 
Tucker  &  Marvin.  They  are  located  on  Steele 
street,  and  make  all  kinds  of  ladies  and  misses' 
shoes,  employing  fifty  men.  Seven  active  com- 
mercial travelers  and  the  rapidly  extending 
reputation  of  the  productions  are  combining  to 
build  up  a  fine  business.  Mr.  Marvin  has  full 
charge  of  the  manufacturing  department  and 
in.spects  every  shoe  before  it  leaves  the  factory. 
He  believes  in  the  old  axiom,  "  If  you  want 
your  business  attended  to  as  it  should  be,  do  it 
yourself."  Politically  he  is  a  rcpultlican,  and 
belongs  to  the  Royal  Templars  of  Temperance. 
He  and  his  wife  are  members  of  the  First  Con- 
gregational church. 

Frederick  N.  Marvin  married  Bern  ice  E. 
Bates,  June  16,  1886.  She  is  a  daughter  of 
Ira  C.  Bates,  one  of  the  first  settlers  of  James- 
town. They  have  one  child,  a  daughter: 
Bernice  E.,  born  June  8,  1887. 


OF  CHAUTAUQUA   COUNTY. 


593 


/VLAYTOX  E.  BATI.KY.     One  of  the  men 

^^  who  assists  ill  distriljutiiij^  the  comforts  of 
life  to  many  families  in  Jamestown,  is  Clayton 
E.  Bailey,  of  the  firm  of  Morgan,  Maddox  & 
Co.  He  is  a  son  of  Edward  C.  and  Elizabeth 
(Eddy)  Bailey,  and  was  born  in  Jamestown, 
November  25, 18G5.  His  paternal  graiidfatiier, 
Putnam  Bailey,  was  a  native  of  Connecticut,  of 
English  descent.  He  was  a  clock  manufacturer. 
Politically  he  was  an  old-line  whig  and  served 
his  party  in  the  legislature  of  Connecticut.  He 
married  a  Miss  Griswold,  and  had  two  sons  and 
two  daughters,  one  of  the  latter  being  dead. 
Edward  C.  resides  in  Jamestown;  Joseph  in 
New  York  city,  and  Jennie  in  Connecticut. 
Joseph  has  retired  from  business,  having  accu- 
mulated a  competency.  He  was  a  member  of 
the  Connecticut  legislature  one  term.  The 
maternal  grandflxther  of  Mr.  Bailey,  Rev.  I 
Hiram  Eddy,  was  a  native  of  Jamestown,  where 
he  is  now  livino;.  He  is  a  minister  of  the  Con- 
gregationai  denomination,  and  still  preaches  occa- 
sionally. He  is  a  graduate  of  Oberlin  college  and 
has  held  several  important  charges.  He  served  in 
the  army  during  the  Rebellion  as  chaplain  of 
1 12th  regiment,  enlisting  in  Co.  B.  He  married 
Elizabeth  Hawlez  and  they  had  several  children. 
The  father  of  Mr.  Bailey  was  born  in  Goshen, 
Connecticut,  September,  14,  1839,  and  emigra- 
ted to  Jamestown  in  18G2,  where  he  still 
resides.  He  has  engaged  in  various  kinds  of 
business,  mainlv  farming  and  mercantile.  He 
is  at  present  a  member  of  the  firm  of  Morgan, 
Maddox  &.  Co.,  manufacturers  of  furniture. 
Politically  he  is  a  republican.  He  married 
Elizabeth  Eddy  and  they  have  three  children  : 
Edward  P.,  employed  by  the  People's  Gas 
company  of  Jamestown  ;  Frances  E.  and  Clay- 
ton E. 

Clayton  E.  Bailey  was  educated  in  the 
Jamestown  High  school,  and  later  was  employed 
as  clerk  for  three  years  iu  the  Chautauqua 
County  Bank  in  Jamestown.  In  1886  he  en- 
tered   the    firm    of    Morgan,    Maddox    &    Co. 


They  occupy  a  handsome  block  on  Steele  street, 
and  in  addition  a  work-room  80  x  40  feet  in 
dimensions,  on  Second  street.  The  factory  is 
90  X  50  feet,  four  stories,  and  employs  one  hun- 
dred men.  Eight  men  represent  the  firm  as 
traveling  salesmen,  and  the  fine  grades  of  furni- 
ture find  a  ready  market  in  all  parts  of  the 
Union,  and  their  business  is  rapidly  and  steadily 
increasing  each  year.  Mr.  Bailey  has  full 
charge  of  the  financial  and  corr(!S[)ondence  de- 
partments. Politically,  Mr.  Bailey  adheres  to 
the  principles  of  the  republican  party. 


IIIT A.TOR  AIX)NZO  C.  PTCKARD,  who  lias 
\  received    wounds    and     won    honor    on 

southern  battle  fields,  is  a  well  known  member 
of  the  Chautauqua  comity  bar,  and  one  of  the 
most  successful  business  men  of  southwestern 
New  York.  He  was  born  at  Ellery,  Chautauqua 
county.  New  Y^ork,  February  17,  1842,  and  is 
the  fourth  son  and  sixth  child  of  Major  Henry 
and  Maria  (Vandework)  Pickard.  His  pater- 
nal grandfather,  John  Pickard,  was  born  and 
reared  in  Madison  county.  New  York.  When 
the  colonies  engaged  in  the  Revolutionary 
struggle,  he  was  one  of  the  first  in  central 
New  York  to  enlist  in  the  Continental  armies. 
He  was  captured  by  Indians  and  carx-ied  to 
Canada.  After  being  held  prisoner  for  a  long 
time  he  was  released  and  returned  home.  In 
1816  he  came  toChantauqua  countv.  His  wife 
was  Margaret  Becket  and  bore  liim  eight  chil- 
dren: Charity,  Maria,  Major  Henry,  Adam, 
James,  John,  Peter,  who  served  in  the  war  of 
1812;  and  Abram.  Of  the.se  children  Major 
Henry  (father)  was  born  in  Madison  county, 
this  State,  July  9,  1803,  and  died  at  Busti  in 
1882.  He  was  a  carpenter  and  joiner  by  trade. 
In  early  life  he  was  a  democrat,  then  joined  the 
Free-Soil  party  and  afterwards  became  a  repub- 
lican. He  was  a  man  of  ability,  honesty  and 
honor,  and  an  influential  citizen  in  the  commu- 
nity iu  which  he  resided.  He  was  a  member 
of  the  Christian  church,  and  served  as  major  in 


594 


BIOGRAPHY  AND  HISTORY 


the  New  York  militia,  and  was  twice  married. 
His  first  wife  was  Maria  Vandework,  a  daugh- 
ter of  Adam  Vandework  (maternal  grandfather), 
who  was  a  native  of  Madison  and  an  early  settler 
of  Chautauqua  county,  in  which  he  followed 
farming  until  his  death.  By  this  marriage  he 
had  eight  children:  Lucinda,  widow  of  Henry 
Lacer;  Laura,  wife  of  Phineas  S.  Weatherby, 
of  Crawford  county,  Pa. ;  Adam,  who  enlisted 
in  the  13th  Pa.  Vols.,  in  1861,  and  died  in 
December  of  the  same  year;  Sylvanus,  who 
married  Laura  Hazzard  and  died  in  1865; 
Corporal  Charles  G.,  enlisted  in  Co.  B,  72nd 
regiment,  N.  Y.  Infantry  (which  was  the  first 
company  to  go  from  Chautauqua  county),  and 
ser%'ed  in  all  the  battles  of  the  Army  of  the 
Potomac  until  Second  Bull  Run,  where  ho  was 
killed ;  Alonzo  C,  Maria  C,  wife  of  John  Bur- 
ton, of  Nebraska;  Fannie,  married  to  Richard 
Starsmeare,  of  Kane,  Pa.;  Corporal  Melvin  E., 
who  served  in  the  same  company  with  his 
brother  Charles  G.,  was  wounded  at  Gettys- 
burg, married  Laura  Weatherby,  and  resides 
in  Crawford  county.  Pa.;  and  Abram  L.,  a 
railroad  conductor,  who  lives  in  Wheeling, 
W.  Va. 

Alonzo  C.  Pickard  received  his  education  in 
Meadville  academy  and  Allegheny  college.  Pa. 
In  1861  he  left  the  college  when  ready  to  enter 
the  graduating  class  of  1862  and  enlisted  as 
orderly  sergeant  in  the  10th  regiment  of  Penn- 
sylvania Reserves,  but  after  si.x  months  service 
was  transferred  to  a  Company  of  U.  S.  sharp- 
.shooters.  He  served  until  the  close  of  the  war, 
was  promoted  through  the  lieutenancies  to  a 
captaincy  and  was  brevetted  major  for  merito- 
rious conduct.  He  participated  in  tlu;  battles 
of  the  Army  of  the  Potomac  until  the  Wilder- 
ness fights,  in  one  of  which  he  was  wounded. 
After  partially  recovering  from  his  wound  he 
was  detailed  and  kept  on  court  martial  duty 
until  he  was  discharged.  Returning  liome  he 
taught  school  for  eight  years,  was  principal  of 
Biisti  graded  school   for  several  terms,  and  was 


elected  county  school  commissioner  for  a  term 
of  three  years.  He  rendered  efficient  service  as 
school  commissioner,  and  at  the  end  of  his  time 
engaged  in  the  milling  business  at  Busti  which 
he  followed  for  four  years.  While  conducting 
his  mill  he  took  up  the  study  of  law  under  the 
tuition  of  Judge  Cook,  of  Jamestown,  and  in 
1878  was  admitted  to  the  bar.  Since  then  he 
has  been  a  resident  of  Jamestown  and  engaged 
in  the  practice  of  his  profession.  Major  Pickard 
while  an  active  republican  is  not  an  obtrusive 
zealot.  From  time  to  time  he  has  filled  various 
local  offices  with  credit  to  himself  and  benefit 
to  the  public.  He  was  town  clerk  and  justice 
of  the  peace  of  Busti,  where  he  also  served  in 
several  other  town  offices. 

On  June  16,  1864,  he  married  Ro.se  Flagg, 
daughter  of  Madison  Flagg,  and  their  union 
has  been  blest  with  three  children:  Clara  A., 
Ray  F.,  and  Fern. 

Major  Alonzo  C.  Pickard  is  a  member  of 
Post,  No.  285,  Grand  Army  of  the  Republic, 
and  of  the  Free  and  Accepted  Masons.  He 
al.so  is  a  member  of  the  Phi  Kappa  College 
Fraternity  and  the  Royal  Templars  of  Temper- 
ance. He  owns  a  very  fine  and  well-improved 
farm,  and  gives  some  of  his  time  to  its  super- 
vision and  improvement.  He  has  great  energy 
and  talent  for  organizing  and  conducting  bu.si- 
ness  affairs,  which  have  given  him  success  in 
his  various  enterprises  and  a  very  respectable 
competency.  He  enjoys  a  good  practice  at  the 
bar,  and  by  his  natural  ability  and  indomitable 
perseverance  has  attained  to  the  prominent  posi- 
tion in  life  which  he  now  occupies. 


l^KLSON  H.  II I  LI.  is  a  son  of  Horatio  and 
\  ^  Sophia  (Weatherby)  Hill,  and  was  born 
September  19, 18.34,  at  Cherry  Creek,  Chautau- 
qua county,  New  York.  His  paternal  grand- 
father was  a  native  of  Connecticut,  but 
emigrated  to  Vermont  where  he  died.  He  was 
a  farmer  and  served  as  a  soldier  in  the  Revolu- 
tion   under  Gen.    Israel  Putnam.     Nelson  H. 


OF  CHAUTAUQUA   COUNTY. 


595 


Hill's  maternal  grand fatlier  (Weatherby)  was  a 
native  of  Massacluisetts,  but  removed  to  Otsego 
county,  New  York,  where  Mr.  Hill's  mother 
was  born.  Afterward  Iier  father  removed 
to  Chautauf|ua  county  and  lived  with  his 
children  until  summoned  to  another  world.  He 
was  a  farmer  and  in  politics  a  whig.  Horatio 
Hill  (father)  was  born  in  Vermont  about  1798 
and  died  in  July,  1890,  in  Lowell,  Michigan, 
where  he  was  living  with  a  .son.  He  was  a 
farmer  and  a  whig  and  republican  in  politics. 
He  has  held  the  offices  of  justice  of  the  peace  and 
highway  commissioner.  His  children  were  : 
Orton  and  Oron,  living  in  Lowell,  Michigan, 
the  former  being  a  commercial  traveller  and  the 
latter  a  farmer  ;  Lucinda  (married),  Josephine, 
Or.seba,  Mary  and  Nelson  H. 

Nelson  H.  Hill  was  educated  in  Ellington 
and  Randolph  academies,  the  former  located  in 
Chautaucpia  and  the  latter  in  Cattaraugus 
county.  He  began  the  study  of  law  in  the 
office  of  Charles  B.  Green,  in  Ellington,  having 
been  previously  engaged  in  the  avocation  of 
school  teaching.  He  concluded  his  legal  studies 
in  the  office  of  Thomas  Grosvenor,  in  Dun- 
kirk and  was  admitted  to  the  bar  in  1861; 
opening  an  office  in  the  city  of  Dunkirk,  where 
he  remained  until  1867  when  he  removed  to 
Jamestown.  Politically  he  is  a  republican  and 
religiously  a  member  of  the  Presbyterian 
church.  He  held  the  office  of  special  county 
judge  of  Chautauqua  county  during  1865,  1866, 
1867,  and  was  also  Register  of  Bankruptcy,  at 
that  time  an  important  office.  It  was  abolished 
by  law  in  1878.  He  is  a  Mason,  being  a  Royal 
Arch  and  a  member  of  Irondequoit  Lodge,  of 
Dunkirk. 

He  married  Anna  M.  Wilkinson,  a  daughter 
of  Elisha  Wilkinson,  who  bore  him  two 
children  :  Mary  B.,  who,  while  a  .student  at 
Cornell  university,  met  with  a  fatal  accident, 
being  precipitated  into  a  deep  gorge  while  re- 
turning from  Ithaca  to  the  university,  June  12, 
1887.     She  was  a  special  favorite  with  all  who 


knew  her,    being  a  very  brilliant  and  accom- 
plished young  lady  ;  and  Myron  H. 


JOHN  WOODWARD.  A  distinguished 
*^  member  of  Jamestown's  legal  fraternity 
is  John  Woodward,  who  is  a  .son  of  Daniel  and 
Cornelia  (Lake)  Woodward,  and  was  born  at 
Charlotte,  this  county,  August  19,  1859.  John 
Woodward  carries  the  blood  of  two  distinctive- 
ly American  families  in  his  veins,  both  branches 
being  citizens  of  this  government  when  it  saw 
its  birth.  John  Woodward,  the  paternal  grand- 
father, was  the  son  of  one  who  bore  the  .same 
name,  the  latter  served  with  credit  in  the  war 
for  independence,  and  at  its  close  came  from 
New  England  to  the  Empire  State,  and  finally 
settled  in  Chautauqua  county,  where  he  died. 
He  was  comfortably  fi.xed  and  reared  a  large 
family.  His  .son,  John,  subject's  grandfather, 
was  a  prominent  whig  and  secured  the  distinc- 
tion of  representing  his  district  in  the  General 
Assembly  of  New  York.  He  was  a  farmer  by 
occupation  and  took  for  his  wife,  Sarah  Eddy, 
who  came  from  a  well-to-do  and  respectable 
family.  Si.x  children  blessed  his  household, 
two  sons  and  four  daughters,  who  attained  ma- 
turity and  reared  families.  The  maternal 
grandfather,  Calvin  Lake,  was  an  influential 
man,  who  came  from  Vermont  to  Chautauqua 
county  and  settled  in  the  town  of  Charlotte 
about  1820.  Following  farming  he  made  a 
comfortable  income  and  marrying  Margaret  M. 
Ames,  reared  a  family  of  children.  His  family 
were  well  educated  and  some  of  them  of  the 
present  generation  are  prominent  in  politics. 
Daniel  Woodward  was  born  in  Ellington,  this 
county,  in  1831,  and  died  while  yet  a  young 
man,  in  1870.  In  1853  he  went  to  Michigan, 
and  followed  mercantile  pursuits.  In  politics 
he  was  a  republican.  He  married  Cornelia 
Lake,  who  bore  him  si.x  children  :  Nellie,  dead  ; 
Charles  D.  resides  in  Kansas,  but  was  formerly 
a  coal  operator  in  the  Hocking  Valley  of  Ohio; 
Mary  died  young ;  John  ;  Florence  is  a  popular 


596 


BIOGRAPHY  AND  HISTORY 


teacher  in  the  public  schools  of  Herkimer  coun-  j 
ty,  this  State  ;  and  Heury  L.  is  a  law  student  in 
the  office  of  Grosvenor  &  Jones,  at    Athens, 
Ohio.  ! 

John  Wooduard  married  Mary  E.  Barker,  a 
daughter  of  Hon.  George  Barker,  and  they  have 
one  daughter,  Wary  E. 

John  Woodward  received  his  early  education 
through  the  usual  channels,  and  in  1878,  when  \ 
nineteen  years  of  age,  he  graduated  from  the 
State  Normal  school,  and  began  the  study  of 
law  with  Morris  &  Lambert,  the  well-known 
barristers  of  Fredonia.  Shortly  after  he  en- 
tered the  law  department  of  the  New  York  City 
University,  and  graduated  from  it  with  honor 
in  1881,  and  coming  to  Fredonia  began  to  prac- 
tice. Seven  months  later  he  came  to  James- 
town and  practiced  in  associatiou  with  Walter 
L.  Sessions,  with  whom  he  has  since  been  con- 
nected. Politically  he  is  a  republican,  and  has 
served  four  terms  as  supervisor  of  the  city  of 
Jamestown,  and  has  been  the  city  attorney  for 
two  years.  Although  comparatively  a  young 
man,  Mr.  Woodward  has  made  his  mark  and 
it  is  conceded  that  he  stands  in  the  front  rank 
of  his  profession. 


HON.  HARVEY  S.  ELKINS,  the  son  of 
Abiel  A.  and  Mary  (Nevins)  Elkins,  was 
born  November  26,  1835,  in  the  town  of  Po- 
land, Cliautauqua  county,  New  York.  His  pa- 
ternal grandfiither  was  a  native  of  Vermont, 
and  was  a  cooper  by  trade.  He  died  in  his 
native  town  at  the  close  of  a  long  and  useful 
life.  His  maternal  ancestors  were  all  natives  of 
Ireland.  Abiel  A.  Elkins  (father)  was  born  in 
Vermont  and  emigrated  to  the  vicinity  of  Que- 
liec,  Canada.  He  came  to  Pennsylvania,  and 
engaged  in  llie  lumber  business,  in  wiiicii  he 
was  very  successful.  In  1845  he  started  to 
Pittsburgh  on  business  and  was  never  heard  of 
afterwards.  As  he  was  known  to  have  a  large 
sum  of  money  on  his  person  at  the  time,  it  is 
supposed  he  was  murdered.     He  married  Mary 


Nevins,  who  was  a  native  of  Ireland,  and  by 
her  he  had  eight  children :  William  and 
Maria  (twins);  Robert  and  Ruby  (twins);  Ed- 
ward and  Edwin  (twins)  ;  Mary  and  Harvey  S. 
William,  Robert  and  Mary  are  dead.  Maria 
married  Seth  Haight  and  is  now  living  at  Ken- 
nedy, this  county  ;  Ruby  is  the  wife  of  Eli 
Shultz  and  lives  in  Iowa  ;  Edwin  lives  in  Wis- 
consin ;  and  Edward  in  Poland,  this  county. 
William  entered  the  civil  war  as  a  volunteer  in 
Go.  G,  49th  regiment,  New  York  Infantry, 
August  1,  1861,  look  part  in  all  the  battles  of 
the  Peninsular  campaign,  and  died  at  Point 
Lookout,  Maryland,  in  October,  1862.  Edwin 
was  also  in  the  civil  war  as  a  member  of  the 
14th  Wisconsin  regiment.  He  served  all 
through  the  war  and  took  })art  in  the  battle  of 
Pittsburg  Landing  ;  he  enlisted  as  a  private, 
and  gradually  rose  to  the  rank  of  first  lieuten- 
ant, serving  for  a  time  as  brigade  quartermaster. 
Edward  entered  Co.  G,  49th  New  York  regi- 
ment as  a  volunteer,  but  was  rejected  on  ac- 
count of  physical  disability. 

Harvey  S.  Elkins  received  his  education  in 
the  common  schools  of  his  native  town.  At 
the  time  of  his  father's  death  the  family  was 
living  in  Jefferson  county,  Pa.,  but  soon  after- 
wards they  went  to  New  York,  and  the  chil- 
dren were  employed  by  various  families  in  the 
neighborhood  of  their  home.  Harvey  S.  was 
taken  by  a  citizen  of  Randolph,  New  York,  but 
he  became  dissatisfied  and  ran  away.  When 
about  eleven  years  of  age  he  went  to  live  with 
an  uncle  with  whom  he  remained  about  four  or 
five  years,  after  which  he  returned  to  Pennsyl- 
vania and  worked  by  the  month.  His  motlier 
came  to  Kennedy,  this  county,  and  he  cared  for 
her  and  other  members  of  the  family.  He  had 
earned  enough  money  to  buy  a  comfortable 
home  for  his  mother  whicii  slie  occupied  imtil 
her  death  in  1876.  He  next  embarked  in  the 
mercantile  business  at  Kennedy  for  five  years, 
then  became  overseer  of  a  large  farm  in  the 
county  and  also  did  some  farming  for  himself. 


OF  CHAUTAUQUA    COUNTY. 


597 


Hon.  H.  S.  Elkins  is  a  republican  in  politics 
and  is  at  present  superintendent  of  the  poor  for 
this  county.  He  first  took  the  office  January 
1,  1885,  serving  for  a  term  of  three  years,  when 
he  was  re-elected.  In  IS?  1  he  served  his  party 
faithfully  as  a  member  of  the  (lencral  Assem- 
bly of  New  York.  His  is  a  strikiiiij;  example 
of  what  a  man  may  accomplish  by  perseverance 
and  industry  despite  the  discouragements  of  the 
environments  of  his  early  life. 

Mr.  Elkins  married  for  his  first  wife  Maria 
Nichols,  of  Jefferson  county,  and  after  her 
death  he  married  Jennie  Stratton,  of  Jamestown. 


JOSEPH  M.  WALTER.  Among  the  brave 
^  defenders  of  our  country  during  the  late 
civil  war  was  Joseph  M.  Walter,  a  son  of  Joseph 
and  Susan  B.  (Coates)  Walter,  who  was  born  in 
Philadelphia,  Pennsylvania,  May  26,  1842. 
The  Walter  family  is  of  German  descent,  one 
of  its  members,  Joseph  Walter,  Sr.  (great-grand- 
father), having  emigrated  from  that  empire  to 
Pennsylvania,  and  bought  a  farm  in  what  is 
now  the  heart  of  Philadelphia.  His  son, 
Joseph  Walter,  Jr.,  was  born  on  his  father's 
farm  in  Philadelphia  county,  owned  a  farm  in 
the  same  locality,  but  afterward  .sold  it.  He 
was  an  old-time  whig  and  left  a  family  of  six 
children,  three  sons  and  three  daughters.  Joseph 
Walter,  3d,  was  born  in  Philadelphia  in  1810, 
and  died  there  in  18t)4.  He  was  a  copper  and 
steel-plate  printer  by  trade,  and  for  years  was 
in  the  employ  of  the  United  States  government 
as  printer  of  bank  notes,  in  the  treasury  depart- 
ment at  Washington,  and  at  the  time  of  his 
death  had  charge  of  the  hydraulic  presses.  He 
was  a  member  of  the  Universalist  church,  in 
politics  a  whig,  and  a  member  of  the  home 
guards.  He  married  and  had  eight  children : 
Anna,  wife  of  Harry  B.  Steele,  of  Harrisburg ; 
Hannah ;  Harry,  who  has  not  been  heard  from 
for  twenty-six  years;  Joseph  M. ;  Florence; 
Mary,  wife  of  George  W.  Barber,  of  Philadel- 
phia ;  Sarah  and  Susan, 


Joseph  M.  Walter,  after  attending  the  public 
schools  of  I'hiladelphia,  learned  the  trade  of  a 
printer,  which  he  followed  for  a  short  time,  but 
in  1879  he  left  it  to  become  a  pension  agent. 
In  April,  1889,  he  removed  to  Jamestown,  New 
York,*'%nd  formed  a  partnership  with  A.  H. 
Stafford,  and  engaged  in  business.  On  April 
17,  18G1,  Jo.seph  M.  Walter  enlisted  in  Co.  A, 
26th  regiment,  Pennsylvania  Volunteers,  for 
three  months  service,  and  was  in  the  scrimmage 
in  Alexandria,  wherein  Colonel  Ellsworth  met 
his  death.  In  May,  1862,  he  enlisted  at  Brandy- 
wine  in  a  Pennsylvania  regiment,  for  a  period 
of  three  years,  but  was  jiromoted  to  the  rank  of 
a  corporal,  and  was  afterward  appointed  clerk 
in  the  quartermaster's  department.  He  partici- 
pated in  the  Seven  Days  fight,  and  in  the  battles 
of  Williamsburg,  Malvern  Hill,  Bristoc  Station, 
Fredericksburg  and  in  the  second  battle  of  Bull 
Run,  beside  numerous  petty  skirmishes.  He 
was  discharged  September  2,  1864. 

Joseph   M.   Walter  is   an  attendant  of   the 

Methodist   Episcopal  church,  a  republican  in 

politics,  and  a  member  of  Post  No.  285,  G.  A. 

R.,    holding    the    honorable    position  of  post 

adjutant. 

© 

"POWIN  DRAKE.  Ordinarily  the  early 
-"■^  settlers  of  this  county  came  from  eastern 
New  York,  New  England  or  across  the  great 
waters,  but  quite  the  reverse  is  to  be  recorded  of 
Mr.  Drake.  Edwin  Drake  is  a  son  of  William 
and  Keziah  (Clay)  Drake,  who  gave  him  birth 
March  12,  1827.  Grandfiither  Drake  was 
born  in  Ohio,  near  Ashtabula,  followed  farming 
and  died  a  large  land  owner,  and,  for  the  times, 
a  wealthy  man.  William  Drake  was  born  in 
Ashtabula,  county,  Ohio,  in  1796.  He  heard 
of  the  fertility  of  Chautauqua's  soil,  and  came 
here  and  settled  in  Portland,  now  Westfield 
town.  He  married  Keziah  Clay,  of  Vermont, 
and  by  her  had  .several  children. 

His  health  failed  him  and  while  yet  a  young 
man,  he  was  called   to  the  unknown    world  in 


598 


BIOGRAPHY  AND  HISTORY 


1831,  aged  thirty-five  years.  From  his  arrival 
in  the  county  until  his  death  he  had  been 
engaged  in  clearing  a  farm  and  tilling  the  soil. 

Edwin  Drake  was  left  without  a  father  when 
but  four  years  old.  He  had  a  mother  though 
wiiose  heart  was  stout  and  whose  detern^jnation 
and  will  was  strong,  and  to  this  may  be  at- 
tributed Mr.  Drake's  present  standing.  A  good 
mother  is  of  more  value  to  a  young  man  when 
starting  in  life,  than  a  pocket  full  of  gold.  He 
was  reared  on  tiie  farm  and  has  never  forsaken 
it.  To-day  he  has  a  good  place  on  the  main 
road  one  and  a  iialf  miles  from  Westfield. 
Like  many  of  his  neighbors  in  north-western 
Chautauqua,  he  devotes  considerable  attention 
to  grape  growing,  which  is  the  source  of  a  good 
portion  of  their  income. 

Edwin  Drake  married  Eliza  Law  in  1858. 
She  was  a  daughter  of  Thomas  Law,  a  native 
of  Ireland,  but  living  in  Westfield  town.  They 
have  two  children  living  :  William  and  Georaje. 
Their  only  daughter,  Malinda,  died  November 
21,  1890,  aged  twenty -eight  years. 

Edwin  Drake  is  a  democrat  of  unswerving 
loyalty  and  conducts  his  farm  in  a  way  that 
commands  the  admiration  of  his  neighbors. 


"P    H.  DICKER]>IAN,  one  of  the  energetic 

■*■*■  •  and  progressive  business  men  of  West- 
field,  was  born  in  the  city  of  Milwaukee,  Wis- 
consin, and  is  a  son  of  Edward  B.  and  Margaret 
(Hull)  Dickerman.  The  Dickerman  family  is  of 
New  England  descent.  Edward  Dickerman, 
the  father  of  E.  H.  Dickerman,  was  born  and 
reared  in  tlie  beautiful  city  of  l^ew  Haven, 
Connecticut.  He  married  Margaret  Hull  and 
left  his  native  city  to  seek  an  inviting  field  of 
labor  in  the  great  west,  where  lie  settled  in 
Milwaukee,  AVisconsin.  He  engaged  success- 
fully in  tlie  pork  packing  business  on  a  large 
scale  for  many  years,  acquired  considerable 
wealth  and  died  in  1876. 

After  six  years  of  age  E.  H.  Dicki-rman  was 
reared   in    Connecticut   and    New    York.      He 


received  his  early  and  academic  education  in 
these  states  and  attended  Yale  College  for  two 
years.  He  then  commenced  the  study  of  law, 
and  in  1877  entered  Columbia  Law  school  from 
which  he  was  graduated  during  the  same  year. 
Immediately  after  graduation  he  was  admitted 
to  the  bar  in  New  York  city  where  he  practiced 
until  1878  when  he  came  to  Westfield  and  soon 
left  the  active  practice  of  his  profession  to 
engage  in  manufacturing.  He  became  interested 
in  the  Wilson  Boiler  company  of  which  he 
was  president  from  1879  until  it  went  out  of 
existence.  When  the  present  company  was 
formed,  Mr.  Dickerman  became  a  large  stock- 
holder and  has  taken  an  active  part  in  its  man- 
agement ever  since.  Tlie  works  cover  about 
one  and  one-half  acres  of  ground  and  are  well 
equipped  with  all  necessary  machinery  and  mod- 
ern appliances.  The  company  employs  a  regu- 
lar force  of  forty  men  and  ship  their  manu- 
factured goods  to  all  sections  of  the  State  and 
to  different  parts  of  the  Union.  The  prospects 
for  future  success  of  this  enterprise  are  bright 


and  encouraging. 


In  1876,  he  married  Kate  B.  Willey  of 
Brooklyn,  who  died  in  1879  and  left  two  chil- 
dren :  Arthur  W.  and  Mary  C. 

In  1880,  Mr.  Dickerman  united  in  marriage 
with  Emily  W.  Willey,  a  sister  to  his  first  wife. 

By  his  second  marriage  he  has  three  children: 
Harry  E.,  Lucille  and  Marion. 

Mr.  Dickerman  has  been  supervisor  of  the 
village  of  Westfield  for  three  years.  He  is  a 
man  of  good  judgment  and  business  ability  as 
is  attested  by  the  success  that  ha.s  attended  his 
different  enterprises.  He  is  one  of  Westfield's 
substantial  and  influential  citizens. 


"I^WIGHT  DICKSON,  a  man  who  enjoys 
^^  the  respect  and  confidence  of  the  citizens 
of  Ripley,  is  a  son  of  William  and  Elizabeth 
(Dickson)  Dickson,  and  was  born  in  Ripley, 
Chautauqua  county,  New  Y'ork,  June  5th,  1824. 
Two   generations    of    his   ancestry    have   been 


OF  CHAUTAUQUA  COUNTY. 


590 


native  to  the  United  States,  wliile  beyond  and 
back  of  that  time  the  family  stock  was  confined 
to  that  little  emerald  isle  across  the  Atlantic, 
which  has  been  so  prolific  in  poetry  and  literature, 
so  unique  in  the  picturesqueuess  and  contrariety 
of  its  scenery,  so  perfectly  nondescript  in  its 
national  life — Ireland.  Here  in  the  land  of  the 
shamrock,  near  the  town  of  Londonderry,  was 
born  the  paternal  great-grandfather  of  our  sub- 
ject. He  emigrated  to  Otsego  county,  New 
York,  located  at  Cherry  Valley  and  there,  with 
his  family  became  a  victim  to  those  barbarities 
of  Englishman  and  savage,  which,  during  the 
Revolutionary  war,  became  an  indelible  blot 
upon  the  escutcheon  of  martial  England.  His 
wife  aud  two  children  were  captured  by  the 
Indians  and  held  about  a  year  in  captivity, 
when  certain  overtures  of  marriage  were  made 
by  one  of  the  chiefs.  These  were  promptly  re- 
jected and  a  short  time  subsequent  the  wife  and 
children  were  released  and  returned  to  their 
friends  at  Buffalo.  Grandfather  Robert  Dickson 
was  born  in  Otsego  county.  New  York,  and 
emigrated  to  Chautauqua  in  1801),  locating  in 
the  town  of  Ripley.  Here  he  purchased  a  farm 
and  made  it  part  and  parcel  of  his  cares.  Poli- 
tics claimed  considerable  of  his  atteution  and  at 
one  time  he  was  elected  and  served  as  associate 
judge  of  the  county.  He  died  in  1832  at  the 
age  of  seventy  years,  and  now  lies  buried  in  the 
Ripley  cemetery.  His  marriage  to  a  Miss 
Hungerford  resulted  in  the  birth  of  eight  chil- 
dren— six  sons  and  two  daughters.  Subject's 
grandfather  on  the  maternal  side  was  Samuel 
Dickson,  a  native  of  Otsego  county,  New  York, 
where  he  also  died.  He  was  joined  in  mar- 
riage to  Miss  Eleanor  Campbell  of  an  old 
and  distinguished  Scotch  family  connected  with 
the  Duke  of  Argyle.  William  Dickson,  father 
of  Dwight  Dickson,  was  a  native  of  Otsego 
county,  New  Y'"ork,  born  July  30th,  1790,  and 
removed  to  Chautauqua  county  in  1809,  where 
he  died  December  31st,  1840.  He  was  a  life- 
long farmer  by  occupation,  took  an  active  interest 


in  politics  and  the  public  welfare.  He  married 
and  reared  a  family  of  seven  children. 

Dwio-ht  Dickson  received  a  conunoii  school 
education,  is  and  always  has  l)een  a  farmer, 
devoting  most  of  his  time  at  present  to  the  cul- 
tivationof  grapes.  He  is  a  republican  in  polit- 
ical affairs,  a  member  of  the  Equitable  Aid 
Union  and  the  Knights  of  Honor.  Both  he  and 
his  wife  belong  to  the  Presbyterian  church. 

Dwight  Dickson  was  married  first  time  to 
Miss  Jeannette  Webster,  who  bore  him  three 
children  :  Walter  H.,  a  sheep  dealer  in  Texas; 
Warren,  married  to  Sadie  Arnold  and  living  in 
Pittsburg,  Pa.,  where  he  holds  the  position  of 
mail  inspector ;  and  Carleton,  a  resident  of  Texas. 
His  second  marriage  was  to  Miss  Charlotte 
Brown,  a  daughter  of  Jonathan  Brown  of 
Dutchess  county.  New  York,  but  formerly  of 
the  State  of  Massachusetts.  By  his  second 
wife  he  had  two  children  :  Edward  D.,  in  the 
mail  service  ;  and  Jeannette  M.,  now  attending 
a  music  school. 


nANSOM  F.  COWING  is  a  citizen  of  Chau- 
tauqua county  by  adoption  only.  He 
was  born  October  25,  1832,  iu  the  town  of 
Chesterfield,  Massachusetts.  His  paternal 
grandfather  belonged  to  the  Puritan  stock  of 
New  England,  which  has  given  so  much  sta- 
bility and  character  to  American  social,  reli- 
gious and  political  institutions.  He  was  also 
a  native  of  Mas.sachusetts,  where  he  spent  his 
entire  life  and  died  at  an  advanced  age.  His 
maternal  grandfather  was  also  of  New  Eng- 
land birth  and  parentage.  Our  subject's 
father,  Thompsou  Cowing,  was  born  about  the 
year  1794,  and  came  to  Chautauqua  county. 
New  York,  in  December,  1839,  locating  iu  the 
town  of  Busti,  at  what  is  now  the  famous  and 
popular  summer  resort  of  Lakewood.  Here 
he  purchased  some  two  hundred  and  twenty- 
five  acres  of  land  from  Joseph  Barker,  and 
devoted  the  remainder  of  his  life  to  clearing 
it  and  bringing  it  into  a  proper  state  of  cul- 


600 


BIOGRAPHY  AND  HISTORY 


tivation.  He  was  a  man  of  close  application  ! 
to  his  work — a  hard  toiler  in  every  sense  of  j 
the  word,  who  knew  the  value  of  a  dollar 
measured  by  honest  labor.  In  political  caste 
he  was  a  whig  during  the  existence  of  that 
party,  but  with  the  rise  of  the  Republican 
party  he  cast  his  lot  anew.  He  united  in 
marriasce  with  Saloma  House,  and  had  a  fam- 
ily  of  nine  children,  six  boys  and  three  girls ; 
one  girl  died  in  infancy.  They  are  :  Char- 
lotte, dead ;  John,  who  has  retired  from  farm- 
ing and  now  lives  in  Jamestown,  New  York; 
Charles,  now  living  in  Busti,  New  York; 
Samuel,  a  farmer  living  near  Lakewood,  New 
York  ;  Julia,  dead  ;  Marietta,  married  to  Sam- 
uel Butler,  a  merchant  of  Cambridge,  Wiscon- 
sin; Fortis,  now  dead,  but  formerly  a  resident  of 
Jamestown,  New  York,  until  his  death  in 
November,  1890.  He  entered  the  civil  war  as 
a  member  of  Co.  F,  9th  Regimerit,  N.  Y. 
Cavalry,  in  1863,  and  served  until  the  close  of 
the  war  ;  and  James,  lives  in  the  town  of  EUi- 
cott,  a  farmer  by  occupation. 

Ransom  F.  Cowing  was  united  in  marriage 
to  Martha  A.  Duryea,  a  daughter  of  Jacob 
Duryea,  of  Long  Island  New  York.  By 
this  marriage  he  had  two  children  :  Ransom  T.,  ! 
born  January  18,  18G2;  and  Nellie  A.  Ran- 
som T.  was  twice  married ;  first  to  Mattie 
Steward,  of  Watts  Flats,  New  York,  and  after 
her  death  to  Elizabeth  Crouch.  He  now  re- 
sides at  Meadville,  Penna.,  where  he  is  employed 
in  the  service  of  the  N.  Y.,  P.  &  O.  division 
of  the  Erie  railway  company. 

Ransom  F.  Cowing,  in  early  life,  was  forced 
by  circumstances  to  cacye  out  his  own  fortune, 
and  hence  his  educational  advanfairos  were 
necessarily  circumscribed.  However,  when  the 
throes  of  the  civil  war  were  upon  us,  he  was 
among  the  first  to  place  himself  at  the  service 
of  the  nation  to  preserve  its  honor,  its  flag  and 
its  political  autonomy.  He  enlisted  in  Co.  F, 
9th  Regiment,  N.  Y.  Cavalry,  and  served  three 
years  and  three  months.      At  Brandy   street, 


Virginia,  his  arm  was  shattered  by  a  shell. 
Daring  his  term  of  service  he  took  part  in  six- 
teen engagements,  and,  as  a  reward  for  valor 
he  was  promoted  first  to  a  sergeancy  and  then 
to  a  lieutenancy.  For  the  past  fifteen  years  he 
has  been  in  the  employ  of  the  Erie  R.  R.  com- 
pany in  the  capacity  of  baggage  agent.  He  has 
always  been  an  ardent  supporter  of  the  Repub- 
lican party,  and  has  served  in  several  town 
offices,  though  they  have  always  come  to  him 
unsought.  His  soldier's  record,  his  honesty  of 
principle  and  purpose  and  his  uniform  kindness 
have  won  for  him  the  respect  and  confidence  of 
his  fellow-citizens. 


T  ^EBOY  P.  COAXES  is  a  son  of  Anson  J. 

■'■^  and  Anna  B.  (Dow)  Coates,  and  was  born 
August  6,  1822,  in  the  town  of  Pomfret,  Chau- 
tau(j[ua  county,  New  York.  His  paternal  grand- 
father was  a  native  of  New  England,  but  emi- 
grated to  Pittston,  N.  Y.,  where  he  died.  His 
paternal  grandfather  was  a  native  of  New 
Hampshire.  Father  of  subject,  Anson  J.  Coates, 
was  born  in  Pittston,  N.  Y.,  and  removed  to 
the  town  of  Pomfret,  Chautauqua  county,  in 
1816.  He  spent  his  youth  as  a  farmer  boy, 
and  adopted  farming  as  an  occupation.  He 
married  Anna  B.  Dow,  resulting  in  a  family  of 
four  boys  and  one  girl,  only  one  of  whom  still 
survives. 

Leroy  P.  Coates  was  eduated  in  the  com- 
mon schools  of  his  native  county,  learned  the 
business  of  and  is  at  present  an  architect.  In 
conjunction  with  his  business,  he  formerly  car- 
ried on  that  of  contracting  and  building.  He 
has  been  in  business  as  an  architect  about  forty 
years,  and  his  wide  range  of  experience,  as  well 
as  his  professional  proficiency,  has  given  him  a 
high  standing  among  leading  architects.  Mr. 
Coates  is  a  democrat  in  politics,  public-spirited 
and  interested  in  progressive  eilucation. 

He  married  Matilda  Knapp,  of  Jamestown, 
by  whom  he  had  si.\  children,  three  of  whom 
are   now  deceased  :   Helen    M.  died  at  the  age 


OF  CHAUTAUQUA   COUNTY. 


GOl 


of  twenty-four  years,  Charlotte  M.  at  the  age  of 
twenty  uine  years,  and  Anna  B.  at  the  age  of 
twenty-one  years.  Of  those  still  living,  Edgar 
L.  is  married  to  Ellen  Abram,  and  now  resides 
at  Warren,  Pennsylvania,  where  lie  is  engaged 
in  the  business  of  grocer  and  baker.  Llewellyn 
A.  and  Jennie  B.  still  reside  at  home,  the  for- 
mer as  an  assistant  to  his  father  in  the  line  of 
architecture. 

Mr.  Coates  has  always  been  most  liberal  to 
liis  children  in  matters  of  education,  aiding  and 
guiding  their  intellectual  powers  to  a  full  and 
free  development,  realizing  that  the  best  basis 
for  a  successful  career  in  life  is  not  a  pecuniary 
basis,  but  one  of  self-help,  self-confidence  and 
inherent  self-power.  Recognizing  the  ideal  in 
the  family,  he  has  likewise  transferred  it  to  the 
community,  and  is  thus  recognized  as  an  upright, 
exemplary  citizen,  who  always  has  the  best  in- 
terests of  his  neighbors,  his  city,  his  county, 
and  his  State  at  heart. 


TA^ILSON  CAJVIP,  a  citizen  of  the  town  of 
-*'*-  EUery  and  a  .soldier  of  the  late  civil  war, 
is  a  son  of  John  and  Abigail  (Simmons)  Camp, 
and  was  born  in  the  town  of  Ellery,  Chautauqua 
county.  New  York,  May  27,  1841.  He  is  a 
descendant  of  an  old  New  England  family. 
His  grandfather,  Samuel  A.  Camp,  Jr.,  was  a 
native  of  the  State  of  Connecticut  and  a  son  of 
Samuel  A.  Camp,  Sr.,  a  graduate  of  Yale 
University,  a  clergymen  of  the  Presbyterian 
church  at  that  day.  He  was  married  to  Lemira 
Wilson,  and  had  eight  children, — six  sons  and 
two  daughters.  Grandfather  Jonas  Simmons 
was  a  native  of  Rensselaer  county,  New  York, 
near  Troy,  but  emigrated  to  Chautauqua  county 
in  1818,  where  he  purchased  a  tract  of  land 
in  the  town  of  Ellicott,  and  located  upon  it. 
He  was  a  hunter,  pioneer  and  farmer,  and 
through  his  combination  of  pursuits  became 
well  and  favorably  known  in  connection  with 
the  early  settlement  and  development  of  Chau- 
tauqua county.     He  was  united   in  marriage  to 


Miss  Strunk,  a  daughter  of  one  of  the  old 
Dutch  families  of  Rens.selaer  comity.  John 
Camp,  father  of  Wilson  Camp,  was  born  in 
the  year  1800,  and  died  in  18oG.  Pie  was  a 
steady-going  farmer,  in  politics  a  whig  of  de- 
cided anti-slavery  proclivities.  His  marriage 
with  Mi.ss  Abigail  Simmons  resulted  in  the 
birth  of  three  children  :  John,  deceased;  Wil- 
son, subject,  and  Herman,  deceased. 

In  March,  1879,  Wilson  Camp  was  united  in 
marriage  to  Mrs.  Nancy  Halladay  (n^e  Wilkins). 
In  1862  he  enlisted  in  the  One  Hundred  and 
Forty-second  Regiment,  Pennsylvania  Volun- 
teers, in  which  he  served  until  discharged  for 
promotion.  On  September  1,  18G4,  he  accepted 
a  commission  as  second  lieutenant  in  the  Eighth 
Regiment  U.  S.  colored  troop.s,  and  shortly 
afterward  received  a  promotion  to  the  first 
lieutenancy.  Mr.  Camp  took  part  in  thirteen 
engagements,  the  most  important  of  which  were 
Chancellorsville,  Fredericksburg  and  Gettys- 
burg. At  Gettysburg  he  received  a  severe 
wound,  but,  notwithstanding,  continued  in  the 
service,  and  was  present  at  Lee's  surrender  at 
Appomattox.  Throughout  his  entire  service 
he  was  faithful  to  duty,  all  of  which  is  fully 
atte.sted  by  his  numerous  promotions  from  pri- 
vate to  captain,  to  which  latter  rank  he  was 
promoted  in  the  winter  of  1865..  At  the  close 
of  the  war  he  returned  to  civil  pursuits,  and 
first  engaged  in  lumbering,  which  business  he 
continued  to  follow  until  1876,  when  he  came 
to  Chautauqua  county.  In  farming  and  allied 
pursuits  he  has  been  engaged  ever  since.  He  is 
a  stanch  supporter  of  the  Republican  party  and 
its  principles,  and  is  also  a  member  of  the 
Grange.  Mr.  Camp  is  an  honest,  unassuming 
man,  well  liked  by  all  those  who  have  come  to 
know  him. 


HOX.  JEROME  BABCOCK,  ex  member  of 
the  general  assembly  of  New  York,  and 
a  well-known  business  man  of  Jamestown,  is  a 
sou  of  George  and  Abigail  (Pickering)  Babcock, 


602 


BIOGRAPHY  AND  HISTORY 


and  was  born  in  the  town  of  Busti,  Chautauqua 
county,  New  York,  July  21,  1835.  His  great- 
grandfather. Barber  Babcock,  was  of  English 
extraction,  and  was  a  resident  of  Rensselaer 
county,  where  he  followed  farming  until  his 
death.  He  owned  a  large  tract  of  land  which 
is  still  in  the  hands  of  the  Babcocks  of  that 
county  who  are  descended  from  him.  He  mar- 
ried a  Miss  Cropsey,  of  German  extraction,  and 
reared  a  family  of  four  sons  and  four  daughters. 
One  of  these  sons,  Henry  Babcock  (grandfather), 
was  born  in  Reusselaer  county,  April  16,  1782, 
and  came  in  1807  to  the  town  of  Ellery,  this 
county,  where  he  was  engaged  in  farming  for 
several  years.  He  then  removed  to  Cherry 
Creek,  in  1815,  and  then  to  Busti,  where  he 
passed  the  remainder  of  his  days.  He  was 
an  old-line  whig  in  politics.  He  married  Lovina 
Boyd,  who  was  born  March  15,  1780,  and  their 
union  was  blessed  with  nine  children  :  Harry, 
born  March  18,  1804;  John  B.,  born  June  17, 
1805  ;  Palmyra,  born  April  4, 1807  ;  Sophronia, 
born  March  13,  1809 ;  George,  born  April  10, 
1811;  Amanda,  born  February  .3,  1813  ;  Eme- 
line,  born  September  6,  1816;  Leonora,  born 
September  22,  1818  ;  Laura,  born  December  3, 
1820;  and  Lovina,  born  October  31,  1822. 
George  Babcock  (father)  first  settled  in  Cherry 
Creek,  but  afterwards  removed  to  Busti,  where 
he  followed  farming  until  his  death,  which 
occurred  August  18,  1867.  He  was  a  whig  and 
afterwards  a  republican,  and  favored  compromise 
in  reference  to  the  slavery  question.  He  served 
as  constable  and  held  various  other  town  offices 
during  his  liftttinie.  He  was  twice  married  ;  his 
first  wife  was  Abigail  Pickering,  a  daughter  of 
Artennis  Pickering,  and  sister  to  Angeline  Pick- 
ering, wife  of  John  B.  IJaln'Ock,  who  taught 
the  first  summer  school  in  the  town  of  Cherry 
Creek,  and  a  relative  of  the  celebrated  Timothy 
Pickering,  of  ilevolutionary  fame,  who  settled 
in  Cherry  Creek  at  an  early  day.  By  his  first 
marriage  George  l»abeock  had  two  children : 
Jerome,  and  Abigail,  wife  of  Hon.  L.  T.  Palmer, 


a  prominent  lawyer  of  Warren,  Pa.,  who  served 
for  several  years  as  collector  of  the  port  of 
Philadelphia,  and  was  a  member  of  the  Legis- 
lature of  Pennsylvania  for  two  terms.  Mrs. 
Babcock  died  in  November,  183G,  and  Mr. 
Babcock  married  for  his  second  wife  Sarah 
(Miller)  Andrews.  By  his  second  marriage  he 
had  four  sons  and  three  daughters.  One  of 
the.se  sons.  Perry  Babcock,  is  a  lawyer  of  Min- 
nesota, where  he  was  elected  and  served  as  a 
probate  judge  of  one  of  the  counties  of  that 
State.  He  was  elected,  after  retiring  from  the 
bench,  president  of  the  State  Bar  association, 
of  Minnesota. 

Jerome  Babcock  was  reared  on  a  farm,  received 
his  education  in  the  common  schools  of  his  boy- 
hood days,  and  commenced  life  for  himself  as  a 
farm  hand.  He  soon  quit  working  on  the  farm,  • 
and  engaged  in  the  lumber  business  on  the 
Allegheny  river  in  Pennsylvania  which  he  fol- 
lowed for  fifteen  years.  He  then  went  to  Sugar 
Grove,  Warren  county,  that  State,  where  he 
purchased  a  farm  which  he  cultivated  for  about 
eight  years.  At  the  end  of  that  time  he  re- 
turned to  this  county  where  he  located  at  Busti, 
and  was  in  the  hotel  and  mercantile  business 
for  several  years.  Leaving  that  place,  he  fol- 
lowed farming  for  one  year  and  then  (1889) 
purchased  his  present  business  establishment  on 
Brooklyn  square  in  Jamestown. 

On  January  1,  1863,  he  married  Celia  O. 
Smith,  daughter  of  Asa  Smith,  of  Warren 
county.  Pa.  They  have  one  child.  Grant  B., 
who  was  born  November  28,  1868,  graduated 
from  the  Jamestown  business  college,  and  now 
is  bookkee[)er  for  his  father. 

Jerome  Babcock  has  l)een  a  republican  ever 
since  tiie  organization  of  that  party.  He  voted 
for  John  C.  Fremont  in  1856,  and  while  in 
Sugar  Grove  was  president  of  the  school  board 
of  that  place  for  four  years,  and  president  of 
Union  agricultural  society  for  two  years.  After 
he  returned  to  Busti  he  was  elected  supervisor 
of  the  town  in  187.3-75,  and  in  1887  and  1888. 


OF  CHAUTAUQUA   COUNTY. 


cm 


In  1885  he  was  elected  to  represent  the  First 
Assembly  district  of  Ciiautaiujiia  county  in  the 
Legislature  of  New  York,  and  served  one  term. 
Mr.  Babcock  devotes  his  time  largely  to  his 
mercantile  and  other  business  interests.  He  is 
a  member  of  the  Busti  Lodge,  No.  S^,  Ancient 
Order  of  United  Workmen,  and  a  man  who 
encourages  all  worthy  enterprises. 
o 

Hh^NllV  R.  CHRISTY  is  a  well-known 
Christian  gentleman  living  in  the  town 
of  Hanover,  where  he  has  a  farm  of  thirty-seven 
acres,  five  of  which  are  planted  in  grapes. 
Henry  R.  Christy  is  a  son  of  Jjconard  and 
Kuth  (Hall)  Christy,  and  was  born  in  Dutchess 
county.  New  York,  January  8,  182L  His 
great-grand fatlier  came  from  Scotland  and  set- 
tled in  Rhode  Island,  where  he  died,  leaving  a 
son,  John  Christy,  who  was  born  in  the  State 
named,  but  emigrated  to  Dutchess  where  he  fol- 
lowed farming;  was  a  Quaker  in  religion  and 
a  whig  in  politics.  He  married  Ann  Ti'i})p  and 
reared  a  family  of  four  sons  and  two  daughters. 
He  died  in  Dutchess  county.  The  maternal 
grandfather,  Peter  Hall,  was  a  native  of  the 
last  mentioned  place,  followed  farming  and 
weaving,  was  very  prosperous  and  became 
wealthy.  He  married  and  had  a  family  of 
three  sons. 

Leonard  Christy  was  born  in  Dutchess  county 
and  came  to  Chautauqua  county  in  the  autumn 
of  1835.  Our  suljject,  who  was  but  thirteen 
years  of  age,  having  preceded  him  one  year. 
He  secured  subsistence  for  himself  and  family 
by  tilling  the  soil,  his  form  being  located  in  the 
town  of  Hanover.  He  was  a  whig  and  married 
Ruth  Hall,  who  became  the  mother  of  five  sons 
and  five  daughters — two  of  each  are  yet  living  ; 
of  the  sons,  Gilbert  H.  resides  in  Dutchess 
county,  New  York ;  and  subject. 

Henry  R.  Christy  received  a  common  school 
education,  and  stepped  forth  in  the  arena  of  life 
as  an  agriculturist ;  but  siiortly  after  he  learned 
carpentering  and  ship-building,  and  for  twenty- 


five  years  worked  at  the  latter  trade.  One- 
filth  of  that  time  he  was  l()reman  of  the  yard, 
and  it  was  not  until  1890  that  he  relinfiuishe<l 
the  work.  Henry  R.  (Jhristy  married  Aniiiiida 
Wood,  and  siic  bore  him  f(Rir  cliiidrcu  :  Henry 
died  young;  Mary  reached  the  age  of  twenty- 
four  and  died;  Ada  married  Jcdin  Orr,  lias 
three  children  and  lives  in  tiic  town  of  Hano- 
ver; and  Ella  A.  is  living  at  home,  and  has 
successfully  taught  .several  terms  of  .school. 

Henry  R.  Chrisfy  is  a  republican  in  jiolitics, 
and  before  the  formation  of  this  party  acknow- 
ledged allegiance  to  the  whigs.  He  served  nine 
successive  years  as  commissioner  of  highways, 
which  is  the  extent  of  his  office  holding.  In 
religious  matters  Mr.  Christy  takes  a  deep  inter- 
est— is  a  member  of  and  a  class  leader  in  the 
Methodist  Episcopal  church,  and  belongs  to 
the  Equitable  Aid  Union. 


^HARL1<:S  B.  CHA1»TN,  the  subject  of  this 
^^  sketch,  was  born  N(>vend)er  8,  1824,  in 
the  town  of  Winfield,  Herkimer  county,  New 
York.  His  paternal  grandfather  and  also  his 
father  were  natives  of  Massachu.setts,  but  emi- 
grated to  Herkimer  county,  New  York,  at  an 
early  period,  where  the  former  died  at  an  ad- 
vanced age.  Subject's  father,  Lorin  Chapin, 
was  brought  up  on  his  father's  farm  and  re- 
ceived a  common  .school  education.  He  has 
been  farmer,  njerchant  and  distiller  by  occupa- 
tion, and  in  early  life  shared  in  tho.se  e.xperi- 
enees  that  have  always  been  attendant  upon  the 
pioneer.  He  has  the  distinction  of  liaving 
hauled  the  first  load  of  merchandise  frt)m  Al- 
bany to  Buffalo,  is  republican  politically  but 
without  undue  jiolitic^al  aspirations.  He  was 
also  a  member  of  the  State  militia  and  an  active 
member  of  the  Presbyterian  church  at  Silver 
Creek,  in  which  he  held  the  office  of  deacon  for 
many  years.  He  married  Miss  Sarah  Brace,  and 
had,  as  a  result  of  this  union,  two  girls  and 
three  boys.  Mr.  Chapin  died  in  the  county  of 
his  adoption. 


GOi 


BIOGRAPHY  AND  HISTORY 


Cliarles  B.  Chapin  was  educated  in  the  com- 
niou  schools  and  engaged  in  farming,  which  oc- 
cupation he  has  since  followed.  He  married  Cal- 
ista  A.  Gage,  daughter  of  Sullivan  Gage,  a  native 
of  Connecticut  originally,  but  by  adoption  a 
citizen  of  Hanover  Center,  New  York,  and  has 
a  family  of  three  boys  and  one  girl :  the  eldest, 
James  M.,  is  married  to  Miss  Allie  Thurston, 
and  conducts  a  successful  lumber,  contract  and 
real  estate  business  in  Newark,  N.  J.  He  was 
educated  at  the  State  Normal  school ;  Lizzie  O., 
married  to  A.  Morgan  Harrison,  a  promising 
young  lawyer  of  Minneapolis,  Minn.;  Bradley, 
married  to  Emma  Mead,  daughter  of  Edmund 
Mead,  of  Sheridan,  residing  at  home,  was  en- 
gaged in  cattle  dealing  ;  and  Fred  N  ,  married  | 
to  Miss  Allie  Smith,  of  Bradford,  Pa.,  now  lo- 
cated in  Chicago  as  foreman  of  a  large  factory. 

Charles  B.  Chapin  is  the  owner  of  a  good 
farm,  which  he  has  acquired  by  his  industry  ' 
and  frugality.  He  is  a  good  citizen,  a  supporter 
of  all  worthy  educational  and  charitable  move- 
ments and  takes  a  lively  interest  in  public  af- 
fairs, having  always  been  an  ardent  republican 
in  politics.  , 

e> 

mllXIAM  T.  COLEMAjy  is  the  presi- 
dent of  the  Lake  Shore  National  bank 
of  Dunkirk,  having  succeeded  his  father,  the  ! 
founder  of  the  bank,  who  died  in  1884.  He  is 
a  son  of  Freeman  E..  and  Sophia  (Beecher) 
Coleman,  and  was  born  in  Ellicottsville,  Catta- 
raugus county.  New  York,  February  18,  1845.  : 
The  Coleman  family  is  of  English  extr.iction, 
but  grandfather,  Asa  Coleman,  was  a  native  of 
Connecticut  where  he  followed  farming.  He 
died  in  1800,  aged  seventy-eight  years.  Free- 
man R.  Coleman  was  born  in  Connecticut  but 
came  to  Madison  county,  this  State,  when  a 
mere  child.  He  remained  there  only  a  few 
years,  until  about  fifteen  years  of  age,  and  tiien 
went  to  Utica,  New  York,  where  he  engaged 
as  a  clerk  in  a  general  merchandise  store,  owned 
by  Ferrin  &  Backus.     He  remained  with  them 


three  years  and  was  then  entrusted  with  a  stock 
of  goods  and  sent  into  the  new  country  of  Catta- 
raugus county,  settling  at  Ellicottsville.  Reali- 
zing that  this  business  was  more  profitable  than 
working  for  a  salary  he  bought  the  outfit  and 
ran  it  on  his  own  account  up  to  1854.  Ten 
3'ears  prior  to  the  date  mentioned  he  engaged  in 
the  law  business.  He  opened  a  land  office  and 
ran  it  in  connection  with  his  store.  At  the 
date  mentioned  he  came  to  Dunkirk  and  opened 
a  bank  which  later  was  known  as  the  Lake 
Shore  Banking  Co.,  and  was  nationalized  in 
1882,  when  it  assumed  the  name  of  the  Lake 
Shore  National  bank  of  Dunkirk,  with  a  capi- 
tal stock  of  one  hundred  thousand  dollars.  Mr. 
Coleman  was  president  of  this  bank  until  he 
died  in  August,  1884,  being  at  that  time  .'eveuty- 
five  years  old.  He  was  a  member  of  the  Epi.s- 
copal  church  and  a  warden  at  the  time  of  his 
death.  In  early  life  he  was  an  anti-slavery 
man,  then  a  whig  and  finally  a  Horace  Greeley 
republican.  He  was  a  pushing  energetic  man, 
and  always  ready  to  help  a  deserving  cause. 
He  started  in  life  worth  ten  shillings  and  left 
at  his  death  quite  a  large  estate.  He  married 
Sophia  Beecher  and  had  a  number  of  children. 
She  was  a  native  of  New  Haven,  Connecticut, 
born  in  1812  and  died  in  1867,  aged  fifty-five 
years.  Mrs.  Coleman,  too,  was  a  member  of 
the  Episcopal  church. 

William  T.  Coleman  was  reared  in  Dunkirk 
until  eleven  years  of  age,  when  he  was  sent  to 
Trenton,  New  Jersey,  to  be  educated,  where  he 
remained  until  eighteen  years  old.  Upon 
reaching  the  hitler  mentioned  age  he  returned 
to  Dunkirk  and  began  work  as  a  clerk  in  his 
father's  bank.  One  year  later  he  was  ))romoted 
and  made  cashier,  which  position  he  filled  for 
twenty-one  years.  When  the  elder  Mr.  Cole- 
man died  in  the  fall  of  1884,  W.  T.  Coleman 
was  elected  to  the  presidency  of  the  bank. 

In  1870,  he  married  Grace,  daughter  of 
Charles  Kennedy,  of  Dunkirk,  and  they  have 
two    sons   and   two   daughters:    Agties,    Essie, 


OF  CHAUTAUQUA   COUNTY. 


605 


Royal  C.  and  Shirley  T.      IVIrs.   Coleman   died 
ill  February,  1885,  aged  tiiirty-iiiiie  years. 

W.  T.  Coleman  is  a  republiean,  liberal  in  his 
views  and  of  original  ideas.  He  has  served  as 
president  of  the  council  and  is  now  a  member 
of  the  board  of  water  works.  Mr.  Coleman's 
bank  is  a  sound  financial  institution.  The  last 
statement  shows  the  surplus  fifty-eight  thousand 
dollars.  Deposits  over  five  luindred  thousand 
dollars,  and  the  total  balance  for  the  day  nearly 
three-quarters  of  a  million  dollars. 


^HARLES  R.  CROSBY  is  a  progressive 
^^  merchant  of  Portland,  carrying,  in  addi- 
tion to  a  regular  stock  of  merchandise,  a  big 
supply  of  flour  and  feed.  The  Crosby  family 
was  originally  English  but  has  been  in  America 
for  several  generations.  Cliarles  R.  Crosby  is 
a  son  of  Ervin  S.  and  Harriet  E.  (Shaver) 
Crosby,  and  was  born  in  the  town  of  Portland, 
Chautauqua  county,  New  York,  November  8, 
1839.  His  grandfather  was  Luther  Crosby,  a 
native  of  Connecticut,  from  which  place  he 
came  and  settled  in  this  town  in  1816,  buying 
a  farm  which  he  tilled  for  many  years.  He 
went  to  Boone  county,  Illinois,  in  1843,  where 
he  died  in  1855,  aged  eighty  years.  His  wife 
was  Amy  Salsbury,  who  came  from  Rhode 
Island,  and  by  whom  he  had  twelve  children. 
Ervin  S.  Crosby  was  born  in  Otsego  county. 
New  York,  in  1809.  When  .seven  years 
of  age  his  father  brought  him  to  Portland, 
where  he  lived  for  fifty  years.  He  was  a 
carpenter  and  joiner  by  trade,  which  he  fol- 
lowed all  his  life,  all  of  which  was  spent 
in  this  town  excepting  ten  years  when  lie  lived 
in  Akron,  Ohio.  Many  of  the  buildings  of 
this  locality  are  specimens  of  his  handiwork. 
Pie  died  here  in  1876,  when  sixty-seven  years 
of  age.  Mr.  Crosby  was  a  member  of  the 
Methodist  Episcopal  church  and  a  democrat, 
although  formerly  a  whig.  He  married  Har- 
riet E.  Shaver,  who  came  from  Schoharie 
county,  this  State,  where  she  was  born  in  1809. 


She  died  in  1874,  consoled  by  the  fiitli  of  the 
Methodist  church.     They  had  eight  children. 

Charles  R.  Crosby  was  reared  in  Portland, 
and  was  educated  in  her  schools,  and  after 
gaining  sufficient  education  began  life  as  a  clerk 
in  a  mercantile  hou.se  at  Portland.  In  1861, 
he  enlisted  in  Co.  D,  9th  regiment.  New  York 
Cavalry,  with  the  rank  of  .sergeant.  He  .served 
one  year  and  was  mustered  out  on  account  of 
impaired  health,  but  after  recovering  he  en- 
gaged in  farming,  which  he  followctl  for 
twenty-five  years.  In  1887,  he  opened  a 
grocery  and  feed  store  and  his  business  ability 
has  enabled  him  to  build  up  a  good  trade.  He 
carries  a  nice  stock  of  the  best  grades  in  his 
line.  Since  1880,  he  has  given  a  good  share  of 
his  attention  to  grape  culture  and  still  grows  a 
large  quantity  each  year. 

In  1861,  he  united  in  marriage  with  Delia 
Webster,  a  daughter  of  Ja.son  Webster,  well- 
known  in  Portland  town,  and  their  union  has 
been  bl&ssed  with  .seven  children,  three  sons  and 
four  daughters :  Townsend  W.,  Carrie  M., 
Hattie  D.,  Carlton  L.,  Archie  D.,  Lottie  M. 
and  Bessie  E. 

C.  R.  Crosby  is  a  member  of  the  Congrega- 
tional church  and  of  Lodge,  No.  219,  F.  &  A. 
M.,  of  Westfield;  Portland  Lodge,  No.  461, 
Knights  of  Honor,  Equitable  Aid  Union  and 
J.  A.  Hall  Po.st,  No.  292,  of  the  G.  A.  R.  He 
affiliates  with  the  Democratic  party  and  has 
held  the  office  of  justice  of  the  peace  for  twelve 
years. 


•>-EL,IN  BURGESS.  One  of  the  great  in- 
^^  dustries  of  this  country  and  which  today, 
in  this  State,  has  over  fifteen  million  dollars  in- 
vested and  nearly  six  hundred  thousand  cows, 
is  the  dairy  business.  A  prominent  representative 
of  this  industry  in  the  town  of  Ripley  is  the  gen- 
tleman whose  name  heads  this  sketch.  Celin 
Burgess  is  a  son  of  Walter  S.  and  Delitha 
(Welch)  Burgess,  and  was  born  in  Madison 
county,  New  York,  July  23,  1830.     Levi  Bur- 


6t)6 


BIOGRAPHY  AND  HISTOBl 


gess  (grandfather)  was  a  native  of  the  Green 
Mountain  State.  Like  his  illustrious  compatriot, 
Ethan  Allen,  he  served  in  the  Revolutionary 
war,  and  at  its  close  moved  from  Vermont  to 
the  Empire  State  and  settled  in  Madison  county, 
where  he  died.  He  united  in  marriage  with 
Ruth  Sabin  and  reared  a  family  of  four  sons 
and  three  daughters.  Nicholas  Welch  (maternal 
grandfather)  came  from  Germany  during  the 
first  decade  of  the  present  century  and  when  the 
mother  country  was  a  candidate  for  her  second 
chastisement  this  newly  arrived  citizen  went 
forth  to  assist  the  forces  of  his  adopted  country. 
At  the  battle  of  Queeustown,  about  the  same 
time  and  place  that  Lieut.  Winfield  Scott,  after- 
wards the  renowned  general,  was  wounded, 
Nicholas  Welch  was  so  severely  wounded  that 
it  was  necessary  to  amputate  both  hands.  He 
returned  to  his  home  in  Madison  county,  finally 
became  blind  and  then  lived  with  his  daughter, 
Mrs.  Burgess,  until  his  death.  Walter  S.  Bur- 
gess was  born  in  Vermont,  and  when  central 
New  York  was  pretty  well  "out  West"  he 
moved  to  Madison  county.  Later  he  came  to 
Chautauqua  county  and  selected  for  his  home 
a  site  that  was  covered  with  stately  monarchs  of 
the  forest.  His  ax  laid  low  the  mighty  mon- 
archs and  with  wedge  and  maul  transformed 
the  vast  trunks  into  boards  and  rails  for  houses, 
barns  and  fences.  A  double  duty  was  performed 
by  clearing  and  building  simidtaneously.  When 
a  few  acres  were  cleared  he  tilled  the  soil  to 
provide  food  for  his  family.  He  married  De- 
litlia  Welch,  a  native  of  Germany,  who  was  a 
Iiclpmeet  to  him  in  all  that  tiie  term  implies. 
'J'hey  reared  four  chiklren  :  Alfred,  a  miller, 
resides  in  Iowa ;  Celin  ;  Henry,  occupying  the 
rcs|)(insible  position  of  master  mechanic  for  an 
Oiiio  railr(/ad ;  and  Fjucy,  wife  of  William  (). 
Case,  who  lives  in  this  town. 

Celin  Burgess  did  not  pass  his  early  life  in 
ease  nor  as  a  pamj)ured  child  of  lu.\nry.  His 
parents  were  in  straitened  circumstances  and  he 
soon  learned  to  depend  upon  his  own  exertions. 


Such  education  as  he  found  means  of  securing 
he  got  in  the  public  .schools  and  then  began  life 
as  a  farm  laborer.  Industry,  economy  and  good 
judgment  soon  began  to  tell,  and  it  was  not 
many  years  bef6re  he  had  money  of  his  own. 
To-day  he  owns  one  hundred  and  s,eventy-eight 
acres  of  as  good  land  as  may  be  found  in  Rip- 
ley, upon  which  he  keeps  a  herd  of  cows  that 
is  the  delight  of  the  county.  He  is  a  member 
of  the  Farmers'  Alliance. 

Mr.  Burgess  married  Laura  Edwards  and 
has  two  sons:  Andrew  lives  in  Ripley,  where 
he  is  a  farmer.  His  wife  was  Mary  Imbury, 
who  has  bo^ne  him  two  children,  Laura  and 
Louisa;  and  Albert  is  married  to  Ida  Rater 
and  lives  with  his  father. 

Politically  Celin  Burgess  is  a  republican,  but 
it  is  not  in  politics  that  he  has  become  promi- 
nent. He  who  can  show  his  fellow-farmers 
how  to  make  agriculture  profitable,  a^'e,  a  well- 
spring  of  wealth,  is  worthy  of  place  beside 
statesmen,  warriors  and  genii.  We  know  too 
much  of  war  but  the  arts  of  peace  develop 
slowly. 


TA3IES  C.  BLANCHARI),  one  of  the  pub- 
^  lie-spirited  and  substantial  farmers  of  the 
town  of  C'harlotte,  Chautan(pia  county,  was 
born  in  that  town  on  Deceml)er  IGth,  1856. 
His  parents  were  Carlos  and  Lydia(McCutcheon) 
Blanchard,  natives  of  the  State  of  New  York, 
village  of  Drydcn,  where  his  father  was  a  farmer 
and  speculator.  His  grandfather  was  Moulton 
Blanchard,  one  of  the  earliest  seltlei's  in  the 
town  of  Charlotte,  whither  he  had  come  in 
ISIO,  the  greater  part  of  the  county  at  that 
time  being  in  a  state  of  comparative  newness. 

J.  C.  Bhuiciiai'<l  w;(s  educated  in  the  district 
schools  of  his  native  town  and  at  the  age  often 
commenced  working  on  the  farm,  which  business 
he  has  practically  f(iIK)\ved  ever  since  in  connec- 
tion with  related  lines  of  work.  He  is  is  now 
owner  of  the  old  McCutchoon  homestead,  cou- 
taining    one    hundred    and    fifty   acres,  and    is 


OF  CHAUTAUQUA   COUNTY. 


607 


engaged  quite  extensively  in  the  niauuAicture  of 
cheese,  owning  two  hirge  factories,  one  at  Benius 
Point  called  the  Bemus  Point  factory,  with  an 
ontpiit  of  from  fifty  to  sixty  tons  annually,  ami 
one  in  the  town  of  Gerry,  known  as  the  Warner 
factory,  with  an  output  of  about  thirty  tons  per 
annum.  In  addition  to  this  industry  he  also 
raises  and  deals  in  thoronghhred  cattle  and 
registered  sheep.  Mr.  liluiichard  finds  sale  for 
his  dairy  products  mainly  in  Buffalo,  New  York, 
to  which  city  he  is  a  large  ship[K'r.  He  is  a  re- 
publican of  the  most  radical  and  steadfast  type 
and  has  not  stinted  his  services  to  the  [)arty  of 
his  choice.  On  several  occasions  ho  has  been 
sent  as  delegate  to  both  county  and  State  Re- 
publican conventions.  All  matters  pertaining 
to  agricultural  and  dairying  development  claim 
his  warm  interest  and  attention. 

On  January  25th,  1882,  Mr.  Blanchard  was 
joined  in  marriage  to  Emma  Pickard,  daughter 
of  Elisha  Pickard,  of  Ellery,  who  has  given 
birth  to  four  children  :  Ira  E.,  Inez  J.,  Everett 
W.  and  Hazel  E. 


•|^USH  BROWN  was  born  in  Hanover  town, 
*^  Chautauqua  county.  New  York,  Decem- 
ber 12th,  1839,  and  is  the  son  of  Sidney  and 
Harriet  (Green)  Brown.  Marslial  Brown,  his 
paternal  grandfather,  emigrated  to  Chautauqua 
county,  New  York,  from  the  State  of  Vermont. 
His  grandfather  on  his  mother's  side  was  also  a 
native  of  Vermont,  where  he  lived  the  life  of 
a  farmer  and  died.  In  politics  he  was  a  Jack- 
sonian  democrat,  was  married  and  reared  a 
family  of  seven  children.  His  son,  Sidney 
Brown,  father  of  the  subject,  was  born  in  Ver- 
mont in  1809  and  after  he  had  received  his  edu- 
cation and  had  attained  his  majority  removed 
to  western  New  York  and  located  near  the 
present  residence  of  Rush  Brown.  In  politics 
he  had  changed  from  the  Democratic  to  the 
Republican  regime.  He  married  Harriet  Green 
and  had  a  family  of  two  children,  one  of 
whom,  Emily,  is  wife  of  Almarion  McDaniels, 


a  farmer  living  near  Smith's  Mills,  Hanover 
town. 

Rush  Brown  on  June  .30th,  1865,  was  united 
in  marriage  to  Sarah  Niiwbury,  a  daughter  of 
Johu  Newbury,  of  Ripley,  New  York.  They 
have  one  son,  Sidney  M.,  married  to  Irene 
Melissa  Peters,  a  graduate  of  Bryant  &  Strat- 
ton's  commercial  college  at  liidfalo.  New  York, 
and  at  present  a  resident  of  Clyde,  Cloud  county, 
Kansas,  where  he  is  engaged  in  the  merchan- 
dising and  feed  business. 

Rush  Brown  gained  liis  present  education 
through  the  common  schools  and  from  actual 
experience  in  life.  He  commenced  his  career  as 
a  farmer,  was  reared  upon  a  farm  and  has  al- 
ways been  attached  to  that  business.  He  owns 
a  good  farm  in  a  fair  state  of  fertility  and  repair, 
ten  acres  of  which  are  in  grapes.  He  is  a  pro- 
hibitionist, a  member  of  the  Hanover  Baptist 
church  and  belongs  to  the  Royal  Arcanum,  at 
Silver  Creek. 

■jliriCHAEL  BABUIS  was  born  in  Villanova, 
4  Chautauqua  county.  New  York,  on  De- 

cember 5,  1818,  and  is  the  son  of  Benjamin 
and  Betsey  (Stebbins)  Barris.  His  paternal 
grandfather  was  a  native  of  Vermont,  a  farmer 
of  English  extraction.  Grandfather  Stebbins 
(see  sketch  of  Abraham  Stebbins)  emigrated  to 
Chautauqua  county  during  its  formative  period, 
originally  being  a  resident  of  New  England. 
He  was  one  of  the  pioneer  settlers  of  the  town 
of  Sheridan.  Benjamin  Barris  (father)  was 
born  in  tlie  State  of  Vermont  in  1789,  came  to 
Chautauqua  county  in  the  year  1805,  and  first 
located  in  the  town  of  Sheridan,  thence  remov- 
ing in  the  Autumn  of  1818  to  the  town  of 
Villanova.  In  1833  he  removed  to  the  town 
of  Hanover,  purchased  a  farm  in  1854,  and 
erectal  upon  it  the  house  in  which  Micliael 
Barris  now  resides.  Mr.  Barris  owns  about  one 
hundred  acres  of  land  in  a  high  state  of  culti- 
vation and  in  fir-st-class  repair.  In  politics  he 
was  a  democrat  and  served  in  the  war  of  1812, 


608 


BIOGRAPHY  AND  HISTORY 


during  which  war  he  was  present  at  the  siege  ' 
and    burning    of   Buffahi.     He   was  united  in 
marriage  to  Betsey  Stebbins  and  had  a  family 
of  ten  children,  all  of  whom  grew  to  raatu;-ity. 
He  married  a  second  time,  to  Anna  Webb. 

Michael  Borris  was  united   in   marriage  on 
the  13th  of  March,  1842,  to  Lucinda  Busliee, 
a  daughter  of  Anthony  Bushee  of  Chautauqua 
county,  but  formerly  a  native  and  resident  of  j 
Vermont.     They  have  had  six  children:   Caro-  | 
line,  married  to  Walter  Howard;  Oren,  married 
to  Loana  Griswold,  a  farmer  by  occupation,  and 
at  present    living  with    his   father;    Emory,   a 
carpenter   and   joiner,   married    and    living    in 
California;  Sarah,  wife  of  Doane  H.  Griswold, 
a  tinner  living  in  Dunkirk,  New  York;  Emma,  | 
wife  of  Frank  Burthwick,  a  farmer  and  sailor 
living  near  Sheridan  Centre ;    and  MeClellan, 
at  home. 

Michael  Barris  attended  the  common  schools 
and  has  always  followed  farming  as  an  occupa- 
tion. He  is  a  democrat  in  politics,  and  was  at 
one  time  a  commissioner  of  highways.  He  is 
one  of  the  most  progressive  farmers  in  the  town 
of  Hanover,  owning  two  hundred  and  two 
acres  of  land. 


y^ONALD  S.  BROWN,  a  resident  lawyer  of 
'^  Jamestown  and  a  member  of  the  Chau- 
tauqua county  bar,  is  a  son  of  Colonel  James  M. 
and  Charlotte  (Cook)  Brown,  and  was  born  in 
the  city  of  Jamestown,  Chautauqua  county.  New 
York,  September  24,  1854.  The  Browns  are 
of  that  wonderful  Scotch-Irish  race  that  made 
its  impress  for  morality  and  progress  on  every 
land  in  which  its  members  have  settled.  Major 
James  Brown,  the  paternal  grandfather  of  Don- 
ald 8.  Brown,  was  born  in  Scotland  where  he 
died  at  an  advanced  age.  He  served  as  a  major 
in  the  British  army  and  married  INIargarct 
McC!onaghie,  by  whom  he  had  three  children, 
of  whom  two  lived  to  maturity  :  Col.  James  H. 
(father),  and  Flora,  who  has  always  resided  in 
Scotland. 


On  his  maternal  side  the  subject  of  this 
sketch  is  descended  from  the  Cooks,  and  his 
great-grandfather,  Thomas  Cook,  was  born  in 
County  Cork,  Ireland,  in  1765,  and  became  one 
of  the  pioneer  settlers  of  Washington  county, 
where  he  died.  He  was  a  covenanter  in  religi- 
ous belief  and  married  Ann  ISIehan,  who  bore 
him  eight  children,  one  of  whom  was  Dr.  Rob- 
ert Cook  (maternal  grandfather).  He  was  born 
at  Lansingburgh,  N.  Y.,  in  September,  1775) 
served  as  a  surgeon  in  the  war  of  1812,  and 
married  Elizabeth  Sutherland,  daughter  of  a 
Major  Sutherland  who  served  in  the  British 
army  during  the  war  of  1812.  Dr.  Cook 
practiced  medicine  at  Argyle,  Washington 
county,  for  forty  years,  then  practiced  for 
some  time  in  New  York  city,  and  in  1854  came 
to  Jamestown  where  he  afterwards  died. 

Colonel  James  M.  Brown  (father),  was  born 
November  24,  1825,  in  Scotland,  from  which 
he  came  to  New  Y''ork  city  in  the  autumn  of 
1844,  and  on  the  22d  of  January,  1845,  enlisted 
in  the  4th  U.  S.  Infantry  to  which  Gen.  Grant 
belonged.  He  tented  for  some  time  with  Gen. 
Grant,  and  on  account  of  having  studied  medi- 
cine was  successively  made  hospital  steward  and 
assistant  surgeon  of  the  regiment.  He  was  in 
all  of  the  battles  of  Taylor's  army  imtil  his 
company  was  detached  to  join  Scott  under 
whom  he  participated  in  the  struggles  from 
Vera  Cruz  to  the  Mexican  capital.  After  the 
Mexican  war  he  was  stationed  at  Ft.  Mackinaw 
I  until  January  22,  1850,  when  he  retired  from 
the  army  and  went  to  Detroit  where  he  read 
law,  was  admitted  to  the  bar  and  practiced  for  a 
short  time.  In  1853  he  came  to  Jamestown, 
where  he  practiced  law  and  .served  as  captain  of 
\  Co.  B,  68th  N.  Y'.  Militia  and  the  Lowry  Light 
Guards  until  1861.  In  May  of  that  year  he 
recruited  and  organized  Co.  B,  72d  regiment 
N.  Y.  Infantry,  which  was  first  known  as  the 
3d  regiment  of  the  Excelsior  brigade.  He 
commanded  this  company  until  Novcndier  9, 
1861,  when  he  resigned  to  organize  the  100th 


OF  CHAUTAUQUA   COUNTY. 


609 


New  York  of  which  he  was  commissioned 
colonel.  This  regiment  became  a  part  of  the 
"  Eagle "  brigade,  and  was  commanded  by 
Col.  Brown  until  he  fell  at  its  liead  on  May 
31,  1862,  at  the  battle  of  Seven  Pines  or  Fair 
Oaks.  He  was  a  good  officer,  a  brave  soldier 
and  a  man  who  never  feared  danger.  He  fell 
in  defense  of  his  adopted  country's  liberties, 
and  left  a  record  of  which  his  county  may  be 
justly  proud,  while  his  name  is  honored  by 
James  M.  Brown  Post,  No.  28-5,  of  the  Grand 
Array  of  the  Republic  at  .Jamestown,  and  his 
memory  will  live  for  all  time  to  come  in  the 
history  of  his  county  and  State.  He  was  a 
democrat  until  1860  when  he  became  a  repub- 
lican, and  prior  to  the  war  had  served  as  a 
justice  of  the  peace  for  Jamestown.  On  June 
15,  1852,  Col.  Brown  was  married  in  Detroit, 
to  Charlotte  Cook,  and  they  were  the  parents  of 
five  children:  Robert  M.  (dead);  Donald  S., 
Edward  C,  of  Jamestown;  A.  F.  Allen  of 
New  York  city,  who  is  an  oil  operator;  and 
Malcolm  J.,  who  is  dead. 

Donald  S.  Brown  received  his  education  at 
Rochester  University,  from  which  he  was  grad- 
uated in  the  class  of  1878.  He  then  read  law 
with  Bootey  &  Fowler,  was  admitted  to  the 
bar  in  1883,  and  since  that  time  has  been  in  , 
the  active  practice  of  his  profession  in  James- 
town. He  is  a  republican  in  political  affairs, 
and  was  elected  as  a  justice  of  the  peace  for 
Jamestown.  Mr.  Brown  gives  close  attention 
to  his  professional  duties  and  is  a  member  of  the 
Sons  of  Veterans. 


QIjPHA  BARNES,  a  prominent  owner  of 
■**■  farming  land,  the  proprietor  of  a  vine- 
yard, fifty  acres  in  extent,  and  a  genial  and 
companionable  gentleman,  is  a  son  of  James  and 
Amanda  (Noble)  Barnes,  and  was  born  in 
Portland  town,  Chautauqua  county.  New  York, 
on  the  property  where  he  now  resides,  June  9, 
1823.  His  people  had  long  been  residents  of 
the    State  of  New  York,  having  lived  in   the 


central  and  eastern  part  of  that  State  for  many 
years.  James  Barnes  was  born  in  Rome,  Oneida 
county,  N.  Y.,  May  5,  1796,  and  came  to  this 
county  in  1818  with  an  ox-team,  settling  in  Port- 
land where  he  took  up  one  hundred  aenw  of 
land,  but  not  being  suited  witli  it  he  sold  it  and 
bought  the  farm  on  which  his  son  nctw  resides. 
He  was  a  hard-working,  energetic;  man  and 
cleared  a  large  farm  from  the  forest.  Politically 
Mr.  Barnes  was  a  whig  and  republican.  He 
married  Amanda  Noble  in  1818,  a  native  of 
Oneida  county,  who  was  born  June  4,  1798, 
and  they  had  four  children.  Mr.  Barnes  died 
January  19,  18G4,  aged  sixty  eight  years;  his 
wife  followed  him  April  21,  1S84,  having  be- 
come an  octogenarian. 

Alpha  Barnes  was  reared  on  the  farm  which 
is  now  his  home.  The  education  which  has 
since  carried  him  through  life  was  received  in 
the  public  schools.  He  has  always  been  a 
farmer  and  has  a<lded  to  the  original  homestead 
of  his  father's,  until  now  he  is  the  owner  of  five 
hundred  and  sixty  acres — fifty  acres  are  set  to 
vines.  He  has  been  postmaster  at  Prospect  Sta- 
tion for  more  than  twenty  years. 

December  22, 1847,  he  married  Sarah  L.  Bige- 
low,  a  daughter  of  Thomas  and  Jerusha  Bigelow. 
She  was  born  in  Verona,  Oneida  county,  Nov. 
7,  1823.  Her  father  came  to  Portland  town 
when  she  was  but  two  years  old.  Mrs.  Barnes 
died  May  30,  1889,  aged  sixty-six  years.  To 
Alpha  and  Mrs.  Barnes  were  born  three  child- 
ren, one  son  and  two  daughters :  James  T., 
born  February  3,  1852  ;  Eva  J.,  born  June  30, 
1855  ;  and  Hattie  L.,  born  May  3,  1863. 
Eva  J.,  married  Edgar  Scrivens,  a  farmer  of 
Portland  town.  They  have  two  sons.  Alpha 
and  Archie.  Hattie  L.,  is  the  wife  of  George 
Mawhir  (see  his  sketch),  they  have  one  child, 
Bert.  James  T.  married  Eva  L.  AVebster,  v 
daughter  of  Samuel  and  Lydia  Webster,  March 
2.5,  1874,  and  lives  with  his  father.  He  is  a 
farmer,  but  also  buys  and  ships  grapes.  He 
commenced  this  business  in  1887  and  shipped 


610 


BIOGRAPHY  AND  HISTORY 


the  first  car  load  of  grapes  from  Westfield. 
Apples  also  receive  his  attention,  of  which  he 
has  shipped  a  large  quantity.  He  built  an  oil 
refinery  on  his  form,  and  ran  it  with  profit  for 
a  number  of  years  and  is  now  trading  in  oil, 
together  with  other  extensive  business  interests, 
in  addition  to  his  farm.  He  is  a  republican. 
Samuel  Webster  was  born  at  Warsaw,  N.  Y., 
March  6,  1806,  and  was  married  to  Lydia  Hall 
(born  March  5,  1814)  on  November  19,  1830. 

Alpha  Barnes  is  a  good  citizen,  is  a  kind 
and  gentle  neighbor  and  has  the  respect  and 
esteem  of  the  entire  community.  In  politics  he 
is  a  republican. 

TA>ILL,IAM  A.  BOSWORTH,  a  man  prom- 

-*'*  iuently  connected  with  the  mercantile 
and  grape-growing  interests  of  the  town  of 
Hanover,  is  a  son  of  Oliver  Cromwell  and 
Electa  (Hale)  Bosworth,  and  was  born  April 
22,  1833,  in  the  village  of  Nashville,  Chautau- 
qua county,  New  York.  His  paternal  grand- 
father, Alfred  Bosworth,  originally  came  from 
Rhole  Island,  located  at  Saratoga  Springs,  New 
York,  and  finally  in  the  State  of  Illinois,  where 
he  spent  the  remainder  of  his  life.  He  was  a 
man  of  great  energy  and  industry,  and  by  slow 
degrees  arose  from  the  position  of  a  hatter  to 
that  of  considerable  affluence.  In  his  later  life 
he  became  a  money-lender.  Politically,  he 
cast  his  lot  with  the  Whig  and  Republican 
parties,  having,  however,  no  official  ambition. 
He  received  a  good  education  in  the  beginning 
of  his  life,  and  throughout  his  entire  career  has 
been  a  man  devoted  to  study,  reading  and  self 
culture.  His  wife  was  a  Miss  Childs,  a  native 
of  and  prominently  connected  in  Rhode  Island. 
They  reared  a  family  of  five  children, — three 
boys  and  two  girls.  The  eldest  sou,  Franklin, 
is  a  practicing  [)hysician  iu  the  State  of  Illi- 
nois, whose  medical  education  was  received 
botii  in  Illinois  and  the  east.  I'^'ather  of  sub- 
ject was  born  at  Troy,  New  York,  in  the  year 
1803,  his  father  at   that    tinii!  being  a   resident 


of  that  place  and  engaged  in  his  occupation  of 
hatter.  In  1840  he  removed  to  Chautauqua 
county,  and  located  at  what  is  now  the  village 
of  Nashville,  town  of  Hanover,  where  he  em- 
barked in  the  mercantile  business.  From  here 
he  went  west  to  Chicago,  engaged  in  the  mer- 
cantile business  there,  and  finally  in  the  bank- 
ing business  at  Elgin,  Illinois.  He  d^ed  in 
Chautauqua  county.  Father  of  subject  was  a 
man  of  good  education,  and  in  politics  belonged 
to  the  Whig  party.  His  wife  was  a  daughter 
of  Aaron  Hale,  a  native  of  Maine,  but  who 
became  a  resident  of  Saratoga  Springs  and  died 
at  the  age  of  ninety  years.  Aaron  Hale  was 
a  farmer  and  lumberman,  and  died  in  Saratoga 
county.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Bosworth  were  the  parents 
of  four  children, — two  daughters  and  two  sons, 
three  of  whom  are  still  living, — two  sons  and 
one  daughter:  William  A.;  Fraukliu,  a  resi- 
dent of  Elgin,  Illinois ;  and  Julia  E.,  married 
to  Edwin  L.  Bishop,  a   large   farmer  and  ice 

\  manufacturer  of  Elgin,  Illinois. 

AVilliam  A.  Bosworth  was  united  in  mar- 
riage to  Achsah  Horton,  daughter  of  Benjamin 
Horton  (see  his  sketch),  and  are  the  parents 
of  five  children :  George  H.,  married  to 
Miss  Bertha  H.,  daughter  of  Rev.  John  Wil- 
son, of  Corry,  Pennsylvania,  now  living  in 
Corry,  and  engaged  as  a  commercial  traveler; 
Belle,  wife  of  Clarence  W.  Edwards,  a  com- 
mercial  traveler  of  Chicago,  Illinois  (Mr.  and 
Mrs.    Edwards    having   one   child,  —  Helen); 

i  Rex  ford  ;  Ijucy  H.  and  Harry  A.,  at  home. 
William  A.  Bosworth  received  his  education 
in  the  eonimon  schools  of  his  native  county, 
first  engaged  in  mercantile  pursuits  at  Nash- 
ville, Cliautau(|na  county.  New  York,  and  sub- 
se((uently  in  the  lumber  business  at  Chicago, 
Illinois.  In  1857  he  returned  east,  and  again 
embarked  in  the  mercantile  business  in  Catta- 
raugus comity,  shortly  afterward  going  to  New 
York  city,  where  he  became  a  traveling  sjiles- 
man  for  a  wholesale  grocery  house.  At  present 
Mr.   Bosworth   is  the  owner  of  a  small    fiirm, 


OF  CHAUTAUQUA   COUNTY. 


611 


and  joint-owner  of  one  of  tlie  largest  vineyards 
in  the  county,  to  wliicii  lie  devotes  considerable 
attention.  He  is  unqualitiedly  a  democrat  in 
politics,  but  without  political  (tr  official  aspira- 
tions. 


GEORGE  BILSBOKKOW,  a  skillful  m(!- 
chanic,  successful  niercliant  and  retired 
farmer,  is  the  son  of  James  and  Catherine  j 
(Davis)  Bilsborrow,  who  were  of  English  and 
Welsh  descent,  respectively.  He  was  born  in 
Oneida  county.  New  York,  February  G,  ]8.'32,  | 
came  to  Chautauqua  county  in  1870  and  has  | 
since  made  it  his  home.  James  Bilsborrow  was 
boru  in  England  in  1793,  and  came  to  America 
in  1822.  He  located  in  New  York  city  and  re- 
mained there  eight  years.  In  1830  he  moved 
to  Oneida  county,  this  State,  and  engaged  in 
farming  until  1869,  when  he  came  to  the  town 
of  Westfield,  and  lived,  until  lie  died  in  1878, 
having  discontinued  active  business  some  years 
before.  His  wife  was  Catiierine  Davis,  who 
was  born  in  Wales  and  came  to  this  country 
while  young.  She  died  in  1853,  and  had  borne 
her  husband  several  children,  all  of  whom  he 
gave  a  pecuniary  start  in  life.  Mr.  Bilsborrow 
was  a  Jacksonian  democrat,  and  his  word  once 
given  he  kept  inviolate. 

George  Bilsborrow  spent  fifteen  years  of  his 
life  on  the  farm  and  at  school,  and  then  learned 
the  car[)entcr  and  joiners'  trade,  which  he  has 
followed  more  or  less  ever  since.  In  1857  he 
went  to  Grant,  Herkimer  county,  and  engaged 
in  contracting,  building  and  operating  a  saw- 
mill, employing  at  times  a  force  of  twenty-five 
men.  He  remained  there  tliirteeu  years,  and 
for  eight  years  of  that  time  conducted  a  general 
store  in  connection  with  his  other  business. 
This  proved  profitable  and  Mr.  liilsborrow 
made  money,  but  the  place  was  not  all  that  one 
could  desire,  and  in  1870  he  removed  with  his 
family,  and  bought  a  farm  in  the  town  of  West- 
field,  where  they  remained  until  the  spring  of 
1891   when  he  sold  the  farm,  moved   into  the 


village  and  has  retired  froiu  activi:  i)nsiiu»ss  life. 
Wliile  farming  he  gave  a  i)ortion  of  liis  attention 
to  a  vineyard,  twenty  acres  in  extent,  whirii  was 
very  pntductive. 

In  1859  Mr.  Bilsborrow  married  Mary  Ricli, 
a  daughter  of  Henry  Rich,  living  in  Herkimer 
county.     They  have  had  one  daughter,  Sarah. 

He  is  a  disciple  of  Jeffersonian  |)rincipk's  and 
an  enthusiastic  admirer  of  ex-l'rcsidcnt  Cleve- 
land an<l  supported  him  for  the  nomination  for 
governor,  when  his  obscurity  was  relieved  only 
by  the  political  honors  of  a  well-filled  sheriff's 
office  and  mayor's  chair.  Mr.  Bilsborrow  is 
now  filling  his  sixth  term  as  town  assessor,  and, 
simultaneously,  is  excise  commi.ssioner.  His 
personal  popularity  is  .shown  in  the  fact  that, 
although  the  Rcjiublican  party  lias  a  large  ma- 
jority in  his  town,  he  has  never  been  defeated  in 
his  candidacy.  George  Bilsborrow  although  of 
strong  will  power  is  of  a  modest  and  una.?sum- 
ing  disposition.  The  competency,  which  his 
industry  and  good  management  has  accumulated, 
is  not  used  for  vain  display  or  vulgar  show,  but, 
instead,  is  used  with  taste  and  common  sense. 
He  is  a  courteous  gentleman  who  pleasantly  en- 
tertains those  with  whom  he  comes  in  contact  in 
business  or  .social  life. 


j^.\UI.  H.  KIESWETTEK,  M.l).,  a  distin- 
^^  guished  German  physician,  of  May  ville,  is 
a  son  of  Theodore  and  Louisa  (Eberhart)  Kies- 
wetter,  and  was  born  in  Thuringen,  Ciermany,  on 
December  15,  1857.  His  grandfather,  Peter 
Kieswetter,  was  a  manufacturer  and  lived  during 
his  life-time  in  the  .same  German  State  in  which 
the  subject  of  this  sketch  was  boi-n.  At  one 
time  he  .served  in  the  capacity  of  private  secre- 
tary to  the  distinguished  soldier  and  statesman, 
Gen.  Von  ISIoltke.  He  was  a  very  intelligent 
man,  educated  in  a  German  university  and  mar- 
ried a  Miss  Luca.ss,  who  bore  him  a  family  of 
two  sons  and  four  daughters.  Theodore  Kies- 
wetter (father)  was  born  in  Germany  in  the 
year  1828  and  is  still   living  in  his  native  land. 


612 


BIOGRAPHY  AND  HISTORY 


He  was  educated  at  the  Gymuasium  of  Arm- 
stadt,  and  upon  the  completion  of  his  education 
he  embarked  in  the  mauufacturing  business 
which  he  has  pursued  uninterruptedly  and  with 
success  ever  since.  His  marriage  to  Louisa 
Eberhart  took  place  when  he  was  twenty-seven 
years  of  age.  They  were  the  parents  of  four 
children  :  Kathrinka,  Rudolph,  Withbald  and 
Paul  H.,  all  of  whom  with  the  exception  of 
Paul  H.  are  residing  in  Germany. 

Paul  H.  Kieswetter  received  his  preparatory 
education  through  the  public  schools  of  Germany 
and  in  1881  entered  the  University  of  Berlin, 
where  he  remained  until   1884,  after  which  he 
completed  his  medical  course  at  the  University 
of  Jena.     Immediately  after  the  completion  of 
his  medical  education  he  emigrated  to  the  United 
States  and    first    located    in    Cortland    county, 
New  York,  where  he  began  and  continued  the 
practice  of  medicine  until  the  year  1886.     At 
the  end  of  this  period  he  removed  to  the  State  j 
of  Ohio  and  practiced  in  Cleveland  until  1889, 
when  he  came  to  Chautauqua  county,  where  he  I 
has  since  remained  and  practiced  his  profession 
in  the  village  of  May  ville.     In  connection  with  ; 
his  medical  practice  he  operates  a  drug-store —  1 
the  leading  store  of  that  description  in  the  vil- 
lage.    In  politics  Dr.  Kieswetter  is  a  republican 
and  also  a  member  of  the  Lodge  No.   1105, 
Royal  Arcanum,  at  Mayville. 


CHARLES  J.  FLAHAVEN,  a  member 
of  the  city  council  of  Dunkirk  and  a 
foreman  in  the  l>rooks  Locomotive  works,  is  a 
son  of  John  and  Mary  (Stewart)  Flahaven,  and 
was  born  in  Erie,  Erie  county,  Pennsylvania, 
May  28,  1856.  John  Flahaven  (father),  was 
born  in  County  Limerick,  Ireland,  and  emi- 
grated to  Canada,  where  he  learned  the  trade 
of  machinist,  and  in  the  autumn  of  1855,  came 
to  the  United  States  and  located  in  Erie,  Penn- 
.sylvania;  wlierc  he  worked  at  his  ti'ade  two 
years  and  then  came  to  Dunkirk,  where  he  has 
since  resided,  pursuing  the  same  vocation.     In 


religion  he  is  a  member  of  the  Roman  Catholic 
church.  He  married  Mary  Stewart,  a  native 
of  Couuty  Limerick,  Ireland,  by  whom  he  has 
several  children.  Mrs.  Flahaven  is  also '  a 
member  of  the  Roman  Catholic  church. 

Charles  J.  Flahaven  was  bi'ought  up  in  Dun- 
kirk, and  acquired  his  education  in  the  public 
schools,  after  which  he  followed  the  example  of 
his  father  and  learned  the  machinist's  trade, 
being  now  considered  a  fine  workman.  He 
entered  the  employ  of  the  Brooks  Locomotive 
works,  where  he  now  occupies  the  position  of 
foreman  of  the  tools  and  plant  department.  In 
politics  he  is  a  democrat  and  in  religion  accepts 
the  faith  of  his  ancestors,  being  a  member  of 
the  Roman  Catholic  church,  and  his  heart  and 
purse  are  always  open  to  the  needs  of  the 
deserving  portion  of  humanity.  He  was 
elected  a  member  of  the  city  council  of  Dun- 
kirk in  1889,  and  attends  carefully  to  the  needs 
and  welfare  of  his  constituents. 

Charles  J.  Flahaven  was  married  in  1883,  to 
Agues  McKenney,  a  daughter  of  John  Mc- 
Kenney,  of  Dunkirk,  by  whom  he  has  two 
sons :  Charles  and  Paul  J. 


^EORGE  R.  DEAN,  a  prominent  news- 
^'^  paper  man  of  Chautauqua  county,  is  a 
son  of  Riley  and  Lucretia  (Briggs)  Dean,  and 
was  born  January  10,  1837,  in  Wyoming 
county.  New  York.  William  Dean,  his  pater- 
nal grandfather,  was  a  native  of  Onondaga 
county,  of  English  parentage  and  emigrated 
into  Chautauqua  county,  town  of  Harmony, 
about  the  year  1814,  and  took  up  a  farm  near 
Blockville.  He  was  married  three  times : 
first,  on  October  27,  1799,  to  Asenith  Handin, 
who  bore  him  ten  children  ;  on  June  29,  1824, 
he  was  united  to  Rebecca  Brown,  by  whom  he 
had  three  children  ;  and  on  March  13,  1852,  he 
was  again  married  to  Sarah  Ingersoll,  but  with- 
out issue.  Cirandfather  George  Briggs  traces 
back  his  ancestry  to  an  early  New  England 
family  of  that  name.     He  settled  in  Wyoming 


OF  CHAUTAUQUA  COUNTY. 


613 


(tlien  Genesee)  countj',  N.  Y.,  in  the  year  1808.  ' 
He  was  a  farmer,  a  member  of  the  Methodist  i 
church  at  Attica,  New  York,  and  was  united 
in  marriage  to  a  Miss  Esther  Paul,  by  whom 
lie  iiad  seven  children.  Riley  Dean,  the  father 
of  George  R.,  was  born  in  Onondaga  county, 
October  1,  1809,  and  died  in  the  county  of 
Chautauqua,  New  York,  where  he  had  spent 
the  greater  part  of  his  life,  on  January  17, 
1883.  While  in  Cliaut:HK|ua  county,  he  car- 
ried on  farming,  which  had  been  practicidly  his 
life-long  occupation.  He  was  a  whig  and  later 
a  republican  in  politi&s,  a  member  of  the  Free 
Methodist  church  and  was  the  father  of  four 
children,  two  sons  and  two  daughters:  Esther, 
Sophronia,  Orlando  D.  (a  lumber  producer  of 
Sherman,  Michigan),  and  George  R.  Riley 
Dean  was  married  the  second  time  to  Mrs. 
Jonathan  Eddy. 

George  R.  Dean  united  in  marriage  with 
Alice  Ward,  a  daughter  of  William  O.  Ward, 
of  Sinclairville,  New  York,  March  13,  1864, 
by  whom  he  has  one  son,  George  W. 

George  R.  Dean  was  educated  in  the  common 
schools,  which  by  reason  of  his  environments 
and  circumstances,  was  very  meager.  He  com- 
menced his  active  career  in  life  by  working  on 
a  farm  until  he  arrived  at  the  age  of  sixteen, 
when  he  went  to  Mayville  in  1854,  and  com- 
menced the  printer's  trade.  His  residence  has 
been  practically  at  Mayville  ever  since.  At 
the  breaking  out  of  the  civil  war  in  18GI,  he 
lield  the  position  of  local  reporter  on  the 
Buffalo  Courier,  when  he  received  a  call 
from  Oscar  Johnson  and  others  to  take  charge 
of  the  Dunkirk  Union,  which  he  continued 
to  edit^nd  publish  until  1807,  meanwhile  hav- 
ing become  owner  of  the  paper.  He  sold  the 
Union  about  this  time,  returned  to  May-  i 
ville,  purchased  a  farm  which  he  still  owns, 
operated  it  for  a  short  time  and  then  purchased 
the  Dunkirk  Journal,  which  he  published 
one  year.  In  1880,  he  established  the  Chan-  ^ 
tauqua  Ura  and  has  conducted   it  ever  since,  ; 


having  besides,  in  1882,  purchased  the  May- 
ville Sentinel,  both  of  which  papers  are  now 
under  his  management  and  editorshi|).  .Mr. 
Dean  is  a  democrat  in  pi^litics  and  conducts  the 
Sentinel  in  the  interests  of  that  party.  He  is  a 
vigorous  and  talented  writer,  thoroughly 
abreast  of  the  great  political  and  social  ques- 
tions which  are  agitating  the  American  jjeople 
and  in  the  elucidation  of  which  the  editorial 
columns  of  his  journals  are  used  with  much 
judgment  and  common  sen.se. 


I^.VVIl)  A.  TORREY,  a  highly  moral  and 
^^  enterprising  citizen  of  Charlotte  Centre, 
was  born  on  April  Kith,  1850,  in  the  town  of 
which  he  is  now  a  resident,  and  is  a  son  of 
Sheldon  and  Ruth  (Main)  Torrey.  His  father 
was  a  highly  respected  citizen  of  the  same  town, 
a  farmer  by  occupation  and  in  politics,  a  repub- 
lican. Justice  Torrey,  the  paternal  grandfather 
of  David  A.,  came  from  the  east  to  Chautauqua 
county  over  seventy  years  ago  and  was  the 
original  ancestor  of  the  Torrey  family  iu  Chau- 
tauqua county. 

David  A.  Torrey  was  reared  in  the  town  of 
Charlotte,  was  educated  in  the  district  school 
and  remained  with  his  father  upon  the  farm  un- 
til twelve  years  ago,  when  he  purchased  and 
moved  upon  the  farm  which  he  now  possesses, 
containing  some  two  hundred  and  eighty  acres. 
His  principal  busine.ss  is  dairying  and  raising 
cattle  of  a  high  grade.  He  is  also  engaged  in 
the  manufacture  of  cheese,  maple  sugar  and 
syrup.  Of  the  former  he  produces  about  six 
tons  annually,  of  the  latter  about  one  thousand 
pounds  of  sugar  and  one  hundred  barrels  of 
syrup.  David  A.  Torrey  is  a  stanch  republican, 
a  man  whose  character  is  beyond  reproach  and 
who  is  unusually  public  spirited  and  enterprising. 
Any  movement  towards  the  imj)rovement  of  the 
masses  or  the  alleviation  of  the  sufferings  of 
mankind  is  sure  to  receive  his  warm  and  cordial 
support. 

In  1879  Mr.  Torrey  joined  in  marriage  with 


614 


BIOGRAPHY  AND  HISTORY 


Mary,  daughter  of  Charles  Tarbox  a  prominent 
citizen  of  Fredonia,  New  York.  To  them  have 
been  born  three  children  :  Haddie  A.,  Helen  E. 
and  Charles  AY.,  all  of  whom  are  still  young. 


"CDWIN  F.  LAKE,  an  intelligent  and  ener- 
■■■^  getic  farmer,  was  born  upon  the  farm  on 
which  he  now  lives  in  Charlotte  Centre,  Chau- 
tauqua county,  New  York,  on  August  20, 1836, 
and  is  a  son  of  Daniel  B.  and  Elvira  B.  (Boyu- 
ton)  Lake.  His  parents  were  both  residents 
and  natives  of  Rockingham,  Vermont,  tiie 
former  being  born  in  the  year  1802.  Daniel  B. 
Lake  was  a  New  England  farmer,  but  at  the 
age  of  twenty-eight  he  removed  to  Chautau<pia 
county,  New  York,  took  n\>  a  farm  from  the 
Holland  Land  company,  improved  it  and  lived 
upon  it  for  some  tiiirty  years  subsequent. 
He  then  retired  from  the  farm  and  took  up  his 
residence  at  Charlotte  Centre,  where  he  died  at 
an  advanced  age.  He  was  a  man  who  took 
pride  in  military  affairs,  and  after  his  arrival 
in  the  State  of  New  York,  was  captain  of  a 
company  of  militia.  His  wife  died  at  the 
age  of  eighty-three  years.  Grandfather  Henry 
Lake  was  also  a  native  of  Rockingham,  Ver- 
mont, and  was  a  soldier  in  (he  war  of  the  Revo- 
lution, which  he  entered  at  the  age  of  sixeen. 

Edwin  F.  Lake  was  reared  and  educated  in 
the  town  of  C'harlotte,  attended  the  common 
schools,  supplementing  his  elementary  education 
at  the  Fredonia  academy  and  at  Cleveland, 
Ohio,  commercial  college.  At  the  age  of  six- 
teen he  began  teaching  .scliool  and  alternated  his 
time  for  several  years  by  teaciiing  school  in  tlie 
winter  and  working  on  the  farm  in  the  summer. 
At  the  age  of  twenty-one  he  pin-chased  the  old 
homestead  upon  which  lie  has  since  resided,  and  is 
now  engaged  in  its  operation,  besides  manufac- 
turing butt(!r,  ciieese  and  maple  sugar.  Mr. 
J.iakc  is  also  tlie  owner  of  a  lai-ge  bearing 
orchard,  from  which  he  has  realized  consider- 
abl(!  profit.  He  is  a  democrat  in  politics  and 
has    held    the  office   of  sujjervisor  two  years, 


assessor  eight  years  and  commissioner  of  high- 
ways three  years.  In  the  line  of  fraternal  or- 
ganizations, he  belongs  to  the  Grange  only,  and 
is  master  of  the  branch  at  Charlotte. 

On  February  7,  1859,  E.  F.  Lake  was  mar- 
ried to  Mary  B.  Brooks,  a  daughter  of  the  late 
John  Brooks  of  the  town  of  Charlotte.  Their 
children  are  Daniel  F.,  Addie  M.  and  George  E. 


HENRY  L.  KENDRICK  combines  modern 
farming  with  the  important  adjunct  of 
dairying,  and  sets  an  example  worthy  of  emula- 
tion by  other  agriculturists.  He  is  a  son  of 
Oliver  and  Anna  (Gleason)  Kendrick,  and  was 
born  in  Heath,  Franklin  county,  ]\Lxssachu- 
setts,  December  31,  1826.  His  grandfather, 
John  Kendrick,  was  also  a  native  of  IMassachu- 
setts,  in  which  State  he  passed  his  whole  life, 
dying  April  28,  1808,  aged  .sixty-two  years. 
By  occupation  iie  was  a  tiller  of  the  soil,  and 
possessed  somewhat  the  spirit  of  Mars,  being  a 
lieutenant  in  the  State  militia,  and  participating 
in  the  war  of  the  Revolution,  which  resulted  in 
the  greatest  republic  on  earth.  In  religion  he 
was  a  congregationalist.  John  Kendrick  mar- 
ried Keziah  Baldwin,  by  whom  he  had  nine 
children,  six  sons  and  three  daughters.  His 
wife  died  in  1830,  aged  seventy-seven  years. 
The  maternal  grandfather  of  H.  L.  Kendrick 
was  Solomon  Gleason,  who  was  a  native  of 
Massachusetts,  where  he  followed  the  occupation 
of  a  farmer,  affiliated  with  the  old  line  whig 
party,  and  believed  in  tlie  tenets  of  the  Congre- 
gational church.  Solomon  Gleason  was  mar- 
ried— the  union  resulting  in  twelve  ciiiidren. 
Oliver  Kendrick  (father)  was  likewise  a  native 
of  Massachusetts,  being  born  in  17.'^6,  and 
learned  tlie  trade  of  a  mason,  at  which  he 
worked,  meanwhile  owning  and  cultivating 
a  farm.  In  religion  he  was  a  member  of 
the  Baptist  church,  and  in  politics  was  an 
old  line  whig,  being  elected  to  several  town 
offices.  Oliver  Kendrick  married  Anna  Glea- 
son, by  whom   be   had    ten   cliiiih-cn,   five   sons 


OF  CHAUTAUQUA   COUNTY. 


015 


and  five  daughters,  six  of  wlioni  are  still 
living. 

Henry  L.  Kendrick  was  educated  in  tlie 
common  sclioolsof  iiis  native;  county,  and  began 
his  active  life  as  a  farmer  near  tiic  place  of  his 
birth,  where  he  remained  until  1X53,  in  which 
year  he  came  to  this  county  and  settled  in  Sliei'- 
man,  where  he  has  since  resided,  owning  one 
hundred  and  fifty  acres  of  land  within  the  cor- 
poration of  this  village,  on  which  he  keeps 
thirty  cows  and  runs  a  dairy.  In  religion 
he  is,  as  is  also  his  wife,  a  member  of  the 
Presbyterian  church,  in  which  he  has  been 
au  elder  for  twenty  years.  Politically  he  is 
a  republican,  and  is  also  a  member  of  the 
Grange. 

Henry  Ij.  Kendrick  was  married  May  1 G, 
1849,  to  Frances  Bennett,  a  daughter  of  Solo- 
mon Bennett,  a  native  of  Brattleboro,  Vermont, 
born  January  6,  1790,  a  graduate  of  Middle- 
bury  college  in  that  State,  who  took  also  a  full 
theological  course  and  became  a  Congregational 
minister,  occupying  pulpits  in  that  denomina- 
tion for  the  period  of  half  a  century.  He  was 
a  strong  abolitionist,  and  married  Hepzibah  N. 
Jewell,  who  belonged  to  an  old  and  distin- 
guished family,  Honorable  Marshall  Jewell, 
of  Hartford,  Connecticut,  a  noted  statesman, 
once  governor  of  Connecticut,  postmaster-gen- 
eral and  United  States  minister  to  Russia  under 
President  Grant's  administration,  being  her 
relative.  Frances  Bennett  was  born  in  Marl- 
boro, Cheshire  county.  New  Hampshire,  in 
July,  1826,  being  one  of  a  family  of  six  chil- 
dren, three  sons  and  three  daughters,  the  sons 
dying  young  and  the  daughters  still  living:  the 
eldest  married  to  Leonard  Scott,  of  Frcdonia, 
this  county;  Louise,  who  married  Loomis 
Clark  and  lives  in  Sherman  ;  and  Mrs.  H.  L. 
Kendrick.  The  father  of  Mrs.  Kendrick  died 
in  October,  1882,  and  her  mother,  who  was 
born  November  16,  1805,  died  January  22, 
1890.  The  Jewell  family  are  of  Scotch  ances- 
try, one  of  them,  John  Jewell,  being  bishop  of 


Salisbury,  England,  during  the  reign  of  Henry 
de  Valois,  known  as  Henry  11. 


r^PHUAIM  T.   KIN<;,  an   old    and    highly 

^^  respected  resident  of  Jamestown,  was 
born  on  his  father's  farm  in  Saratoga  county, 
Nevv  York,  August  17,  1818,  and  is  a  son  of 
Elisha  (j.  and  Sarah  ( Wiglit)  King.  The  King 
family  is  of  early  New  J^nglatid  stock  and  has 
always  been  noted  for  it.s  industry  and  thrift. 
Joseph  King  (grand fat! ler)  came  from  Con- 
necticut and  settled  at  an  early  date  in  Ver- 
mont. Not  finding  this  congenial  to  his  ideas 
he  again  gathered  his  possessions  about  him  and 
went  into  Saratoga  county,  this  State,  whore  \>y 
hard  labor  he  made  him  a  home  where  he 
might  wrap  the  mantle  of  his  conch  alwut  him 
and  rest  in  2'eace.  During  America's  second 
struggle  with  the  mother  country,  he  forsook, 
for  the  time  being,  the  qiuetness  of  home  life 
and  shouldering  his  flintlock  marched  oiF  with 
many  of  his  neighbors  to  repel  the  invader. 
When  success  to  his  country's  arms  was  as- 
sured, he  returned  to  his  family,  which  he  left 
when  duty  called,  and  continued  to  farm  until 
his  death.  His  wife  was  Thankful  Hames  and 
ten  children  was  the  result  of  the  union.  He 
embraced  the  faith  of  the  Bajjtist  church  some 
time  before  his  death  and  passed  away  in  its 
consolation.  Jacob  Wight  (maternal  grand- 
father), too,  was  of  New  England  origin,  and 
was  known  as  a  good  citizen  in  the  locality 
where  he  lived.  Elisha  G.  King  (father)  was 
three  years  of  age  at  the  commencement  of  the 
present  century,  and  was  born  in  New  England 
but  came  to  Saratoga  county  with  his  father 
and  hewed  himself  a  farm  out  of  the  forest 
where  he  lived  all  his  life,  following  agricul- 
tural pursuits  and  died,  a  communicant  of  the 
Universalist  church,  although  earlier  in  life  he 
was  a  methodist.  In  life  Mr.  King  was  a  whig 
who  voted  as  he  felt  disposed  and  with  no  desire 
for  political  honors. 

Ephraim  T.  King  began  life  acquainted  with 


016 


BIOGRAPHY  AND  HISTORY 


hard  work  aud  remained  iu  Saratoga  county 
until  he  was  thirty  years  of  age,  when  he  moved 
to  this  county  aud  located  near  the  present  town 
of  Falconer,  where  he  engaged  in  the  manufac- 
ture of  half  bushel  measures.  This  work  was 
continued  for  fourteen  years  when  he  bought  a 
farm  of  twenty-five  acres  within  the  present 
municipal  limits  of  Jamestown,  and  is  also  the 
owner  of  thirty  acres  just  outside  the  city  and 
for  nearly  a  third  of  a  century  has  cultivated 
them,  conducting  his  work  with  skill.  Among 
the  many  republicans  of  his  locality,  he  is  one 
of  them,  and  is  recognized  as  an  influential  and 
highly  respected  citizen. 

He  was  married  twice.  His  first  wife  was  Maria 
Scribner,  and  after  her  death  he  married  Susan 
J.  \yashburn,  a  daughter  of  Luther  Washburn, 
of  Saratoga  county,  this  State.  This  last  union 
has  been  blest  with  four  children  :  Frank  B., 
who  is  married  to  Mary  Edwards,  of  Saratoga 
county,  and  is  now  engaged  in  the  manufacture 
of  gloves  and  mittens  in  Jamestown,  where  he 
resides  ;  Sidney,  superintendent  of  au  oil  lease 
at  Titusville,  Pa.,  and  married  to  Lottie  Dunn ; 
Ida  M.,  and  George  at  home. 


HIRAM  L.  lOfOWLTON,  a  man  firm  in  his 
convictions,  willing  to  see  the  right,  and, 
when  convinced,  unswerving  in  adherence  to 
the  action  he  has  decided  to  sustain,  is  an  agri- 
culturist, grape-grower  and  ex-defender  of  his 
country.  He  was  born  in  the  town  of  Harmony, 
Chautauqua  county,  New  York,  June  29, 1835, 
and  is  a  .son  of  William  and  Maria  (Barney) 
Knowlton.  William  Knowlton  was  a  native  of 
Vermont,  where  he  was  liorn  in  1796,  but  left 
that  country  of  ice,  snow  and  marble,  an<l  came 
to  this  county  about  the  year  1820.  He  secured 
him  a  farm  and  pursued  the  calling  of  a  farmer 
in  Harmony  and  Clymer  towns  until  his  death, 
which  occurred  in  1882,  iu  the  eighty-si.xth 
year  of  liis  age.  Mr.  Knowlton  was  an  active, 
energetic  man,  full  dl'  Inisiness  and  of  marked 
executive  ability.     He  was  but  sixteen  years  of 


age  when  England  made  her  second  attempt  to 
subdue  the  young  American  government,  but,  as 
many  of  the  other  boys  did  in  the  original  aud 
final  struggle,  he  donned  a  uniform,  shouldered 
a  musket  and  marched  away  with  the  men.  He 
was  wounded  and  drew  a  pension  up  to  his 
death.  He  married  Maria  Barney,  a  native  of 
Genesee  county,  this  State,  who  was  born  in 
1800,  and  they  had  eleven  children,  ten  of  whom 
attained  manhood,  and  marrying,  bore  families. 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Knowlton  were  both  members  of 
the  Methodist  Episcopal  church,  and  were  hap- 
piest when  they  were  advancing  its  work.  She 
died  in  1875,  aged  seventy-five  years. 

Hiram  L.  Knowltou  was  reared  on  his  fath- 
er's farm  and  educated  in  the  common  schools. 
He  remained  at  home  until  twenty-five  years 
old,  and  then  started  to  acquire  the  carpenter 
trade,  which  learned  he  followed  for  five  or  six 
years,  but  finding  farming  more  congenial  to 
his  taste  and  disposition,  he  went  back  to  it  and 
has  since  been  an  agriculturist.  In  1874  a 
pretty  place  of  eighty-five  acres,  where  he  now 
lives,  two  miles  from  Westfield,  was  secured, 
and  has  ever  since  been  his  home.  A  portion 
has  been  set  to  grapes,  and  makes  a  very  prom- 
ising vineyard.  Mr.  Knowlton  enlisted  in  Co. 
G,  49th  Regiment  Inf.,  N.  Y.  Vols,  when 
President  Lincoln  called  for  troops  in  1861,  but 
he  was  discharged  iu  the  spring  of  1862,  on  ac- 
count of  failing  health,  and  he  returned  to  his 
home. 

In  1864  he  married  Selina  McCollom,  a 
daughter  of  Alexander  McCollom,  of  this  town, 
and  they  have  two  children,  William  A.  and 
Carey  J. 

H.  Tj.  Knowlton  is  a  member  of  the  Meth- 
odist Episcopal  church,  and  of  William  Sackett 
Post,  No.  324,  G.  A.  R.  He  is  a  pronounced 
republican,  and  one  of  the  foremost  citizens  of 
the  town. 


OF  CHAUTAUQUA  COUNTY. 


017 


JOHN  KEWLEY,  a  well-to-do  and  intelli- 
geut  farmer  of  Hanover  town,  was  born  a 
subject  of  the  King  of  England,  on  May  9, 
1823,  on  the  Isle  of  INIan.  His  parents  were 
Philip  and  Christiana  (Clater)  Kewley,  who 
trace  back  their  ancestry  to  old  feudal  England. 
John  Kewley  (grandfather)  was  a  native  of  the 
Isle  of  Man, where  also  was  born  his  son  Philip 
(father  of  our  subject),  on  February  10,  1795. 
In  1832  Piiilip  Kewley  bid  farewell  to  his  na- 
tive land  and  boyhood  home  to  cast  his  lot  in 
the  land  of  free  institutions.  His  voyage  hith- 
er was  fraught  with  many  new  experiences  and 
strange  impressions,  but  he  had  firmly  resolved 
to  cast  off  the  monarchical  shackles  and  hence- 
forth swear  his  allegiance  to  the  stars  and 
stripes,  so  there  was  no  turning  back.  His 
first  place  of  location  in  America  was  in  Erie 
county.  State  of  New  York,  where,  strange  to 
say,  he  spent  all  but  about  a  year  and  a  half  of 
his  remaining  life,  which  year  and  a  half  was 
spent  in  Chautauqua  county.  For  quite  a  while 
after  arriving  here  Philip  Kewley  followed  the 
trade  of  a  shoemaker,  indeed,  until  his  fail- 
ing eye-sight  compelled  him  to  give  it  up.  He 
then  purchased  a  farm  of  seventy-five  acres 
from  the  Holland  Laud  company,  which  he 
worked,  cleared  and  finally  reduced  to  a  state 
admitting  of  cultivation.  At  his  death,  which 
occurred  April  14,  1885,  this  old  homestead 
fell  to  his  son,  in  whose  possession  it  now  is. 
His  marriage  was  blest  with  the  birth  of  four 
children :  Jane,  wife  of  Lyman  Balcom,  a  far- 
mer of  Otsego  county.  New  York ;  Betsey, 
dead;  John;  and  William,  single,  lives  with  his 
brother  John. 

Jolin  Kewley  received  his  education  in  the 
common  schools  of  his  native  country,  learned 
the  business  of  and  is  at  present  a  farmer. 
During  the  past  three  years,  in  addition  to  his 
farming  interests,  he  has  purchased  au  interest 
in  a  saw-mill  and  now  devotes  considerable 
time  to  its  operation  and  management.  Mr. 
Kewley  after  a  careful  study  of  a  republican 
33 


form  of  government  and  republican  Institutions, 
has  politically  allied  himself  with  the  Republi- 
can party. 

Joiin  Kewley  was  joined  in  marriage  to  Miss 
Dorcas  Witherby,  a  daughter  of  Asa  Wither- 
by,  of  Erie  county,  but  formerly  of  the  State  of 
Massachusetts.  They  have  three  children : 
Ellen,  wife  of  Henry  Gedley,  a  prosperous  far- 
mer of  the  town  of  Hanover;  Emma,  wife  of 
^yi]liara  Christy  of  the  town  of  Hanover, 
motlier  of  one  child — May;  and  Frank  (mar- 
ried to  Ida  Dolly),  a  farmer,  stock-raiser  and 
speculator  of  the  town  of  Hanover,  New  York. 

By  virtue  of  his  long  residence  and  citizen- 
ship in  the  United  States,  he  has  come  into 
closest  sympathy  with  American  governmental 
principles  and  policies,  and  is  now  as  deeply  in- 
terested in  the  foi'tunes  and  possibilities  of  the 
American  people  as  if  he  were  a  native  born  cit- 
izen. Mr.  Kewley  is  an  agreeable,  pleasant 
man,  always  kind  and  considerate  and  generous 
to  those  who  need  his  assistance.  He  is  regard- 
ed as  an  honest,  straight-forward  citizen. 


"PMMETT  T.  KIXGSLEY,  a  resident  of 
^"^  Ripley,  New  York,  is  a  son  of  Albert 
and  Anna  (Meade)  Kingsley  and  was  born  in 
Warren  county,  Pennsylvania,  July  19,  1842. 
His  ancestors  were  of  New  England  birth  and 
trace  back  their  earliest  authentic  history  to  the 
lauding  of  the  Mayfloicer.  Grandfather  James 
Kingsley  first  emigrated  from  New  England  to 
!  Washington  county,  New  York,  and  later  to 
the  town  of  Ripley,  Chautauqua  county.  He 
was  a  whig  politically,  pursued  farming  and 
was  married  to  a  Miss  Jenkins,  who  bore  him 
a  large  family.  Grandfather  Meade  was  one 
of  the  earliest  settlers  of  Washington  county, 
Pennsylvania.  Albert  Kingsley,  father  of 
Emmett  T.,  was  born  in  Washington  county. 
New  York,  in  1804  and  learned  the  trade  of 
mill-wright.  Upon  coming  to  Chautauqua 
county,  he  built  a  mill  at  Fredonia,  one  of  the 
first  in  the  county.     He  removed  to  the  State 


618 


BIOGRAPHY  AXD  HISTORY 


of  ludiana,  where  he  owned  four  hundred  acres 
of  laud  in  the  immediate  vicinity  of  La  Porte, 
and  on  which  a  portion  of  the  city  of  La  Porte 
now  stands,  l)ut  was  compelled  to  leave  on 
account  of  climatic  conditions.  He  died  in 
Ripley,  May  2,  1875.  His  union  with  Miss 
Anna  Meade  resulted  in  the  birth  of  three 
children,  two  sons  and  one  daughter :  Louisa, 
living  with  subject;  Marvin  AY.  (married  to 
Miss  Nellie  French  of  Cleveland,  Ohio),  assis- 
tant engiueer  of  the  Cleveland  water-works, 
formerly  a  civil  engineer  on  the  Canada  South- 
ern railroad  ;  and  Emmett  T. 

Emmett  T.  Kiugsley  was  educated  in  the 
common  schools  and  academy,  learned  the  busi- 
ness of  telegraphy  and  since  1869  has  been 
more  or  less  engaged  in  that  calling.  He  is  at 
present  relief  agent  of  the  eastern  division  of 
the  L.  S.  &  M.  S.  R.  R.,  and  besides  this,  deals 
in  coal,  tile  and  brick,  with  headquarters 
at  Ripley.  Mr.  Kingsley  also  owns  a  grape 
farm  of  about  twenty-live  acres,  eight  acres 
of  which  are  now  producing  vines.  He  is  demo- 
cratic in  politics  and  has  been  a  member  of  the 
school  board  a  number  of  terms.  For  over 
twenty  years  he  has  been  a  member  of  the 
Masonic  Lodge  at  Westfield. 

Emuiett  T.  Kingsley  was  united  iu  marriage 
on  June  3,  1873,  to  Harriet  Cosgrove,  a  daugh- 
ter of  John  Cosgrove  of  the  town  of  Ripley, 
Chautauqua  county,  New  York,  and  is  the 
father  of  three  children:  ]\Iarvin  W.,  Alfred 
C.  and  Florence. 


GKORGK  W.  JONICS,  who  is  the  p'resent, 
and  has  been  for  the  past  three  years, 
street  commissioner  and  city  surveyor  of  James- 
town, is  a  son  of  Luther  C.  and  Angeline  (Put- 
nam) Jones,  and  was  born  in  EUery,  Chautau- 
qua county,  New  York,  February  2G,  184G. 
Luther  C.  Jones  was  a  native  of  Ma.ssachusetts, 
where  he  was  born  February  2G,  180G,  and 
when  about  twenty  years  of  age  came  to  Ellery 
and    afterwards    removed    to    Harmony,    this 


county,  where  he  lived  until  the  beginning  of 
the  late  war,  when  he  went  to  Randolph,  Catta- 
raugus county  and  remained  until  the  spring  of 
1865,  when  he  came  to  East  Jamestown.  Mr. 
Jones'  life-long  profession  was  surveying  which 
he  taught  to  his  son  George  W.,  who  still  fol- 
lows it.  He  was  a  republican  politically  and 
.served  a  number  of  years  as  justice  of  the  peace 
in  the  town  of  Ellery.  He  married  Angeline 
Putnam  and  had  several  children:  one  who  died 
in  infancy;  Mehitable,  married  Abram  Wing 
and  died  July  11,  1865;  Miles,  entered  the 
Union  army  in  Co.  G,  72d  regiment,  New 
York  Infantry,  in  1861  and  died  of  quin.sy  in 
1862,  having  been  promoted  to  corporal ;  Al- 
bert C,  entered  the  service  August  20,  1862,  in 
Co.  H,  112th  regiment,  and  served  to  the  close 
of  the  war,  entering  as  a  private  and  receiving 
promotion  advancing  him  to  second  lieutenanl. 
He  was  with  the  Army  of  the  James  and  re- 
ceived a  severe  wound  iu  the  battle  of  Cold 
Harbor,  again,  at  the  Chapin's  farm  fight,  he 
was  -shot  in  the  side  and  at  Foi't  Fisher,  re- 
ceived a  severe  wound  in  the  haud.  He  now 
resides  in  Jamestown. 

George  W.  Jones  was  educated  in  the  com- 
mon schools  and  from  his  father  learned  the 
profession  of  land  surveying  which  has  been 
his  occupation  through  life,  excepting  about 
three  years  when  he  was  in  the  Union  army. 
He  entered  Co.  H,  112th  regiment.  New  York 
Infantry,  August  20,  1862,  and  remained  in 
the  service  until  the  final  mustering  out,  in 
1865.  His  division  participated  at  Chapin's 
Farm,  Cold  Harbor,  Fort  Fisher  and  in  many 
minor  engagements  and  skirmishes,  altiiough 
he  was  but  nineteen  years  of  age  at  the  close 
of  the  war. 

He  married  Matilda  Jones,  a  daughter  of 
i^braham  Jones  and  a  niece  of  Sidney  Jones, 
who  resides  in  Jamestown,  on  February  26, 
1868.  They  have  been  blest  with  four  chil- 
dren :  Wilber  M.,  Leonard  F.,  Grace  L.  and 
Clyde  a. 


OF  CHAUTAUQUA    COUNTY. 


619 


Politically  Mr.  Jones  is  a  uieinber  of  the 
Republican  party  and  by  it  was  nominated  to 
the  office  of  street  commissioner  and  city  asses- 
sor of  Jamestown,  and  both  himself  and 
brother,  Albert  C.  Jones,  are  members  of  James 
M.  Brown  Post,  Grand  Army  of  the  Republic. 


^SCAR  W.  JOHXSOX  is  a  son  of  William 
^^  and  Olive  Johnson,  and  was  born  on  the 
8th  of  September,  1823,  in  Otsego  county, 
New  York,  a  county  long  since  made  fanious  by 
the  pen  of  James  Fenimore Cooper.  His  great- 
grandfather had  been  a  soldier  in  the  Colonial 
wars,  and  the  succeeding  generations  dowu  to 
the  time  of  the  subject  had  been  confiued  in 
their  nativity  to  the  New  England  States. 
William  Johnson  (father)  was  born  in  the 
State  of  Vermont,  removed  to  Chautauqua 
county.  New  York  in  1837,  thence  to  Chenango 
county,  iu  1852  wiiere  he  remained  the  balance 
of  his  life-time.  He  died  in  1877  at  the  age 
of  seventy-six  years. 

Oscar  W.  Johnson,  after  his  preliminary  educa- 
tion, entered  upon  the  study  of  law  iu  the  office 
of  John  Wright  of  Chenango  county,  and  was 
admitted  to  the  bar  in  1848.  For  a  number  of 
years  he  practiced  in  Chenango  county  and  in 
1852  removed  to  Fredonia,  New  Yoi'k,  where 
he  continued  his  profession.  He  was  appointed 
postmaster  for  the  village  of  Fredonia  under 
Pierce's  administration.  Mr.  Johusou  is  a 
strong  adherent  of  tlie  Democratic  party  and, 
because  of  his  extreme  radicalism,  has  never 
held  any  important  offices.  He  is  practically 
retired  from  professional  work  and  devotes  most 
of  his  time  to  settling  up  estates  and  to  the  con- 
trol of  his  money  interests.  He  is  a  director  of 
the  Fredonia  National  bank  and  is  always  di- 
rectly or  indirectly  engaged  in  every  movement 
for  the  development  and  improvement  of  his 
village  and  county.  Personally,  Mr.  Johnson 
is  a  man  of  geniality  and  affiibility  to  them  who 
are  fortunately  his  acquaintances;  while  at  all 
times  he  strictly  adheres  to  those  principles  of 


life  and  conduct  which  he  conceives  to  be  es- 
sential and  necessary  to  the  iiighest  form  of 
manhood. 

In  1851,  he  was  united  in  marriage  to  Miss 
Emily  Murray  of  Chenango  county.  New 
York,  who  bore  him  nine  children,  seven  of 
whom  are  married. 


TOHX  JOHNSON,  a  comfortably  situated 
^  farmer  of  the  town  of  Ri[)ley,  was  born  in 
the  town  of  Norwich,  Chenango  county.  New 
York,  in  July,  1824,  and  is  a  son  of  Homer 
and  Roxanna  (Skinner)  Johnson.  The 
Johnson  family  is  of  English  stock,  but 
for  two  centuries  has  been  American  bv 
residence.  From  its  early  New  England  home 
various  branches  have  been  planted  in  different 
parts  of  several  States,  where  a  numerous 
posterity  exists  to-day.  Dr.  Jonathan  Johnson, 
the  paternal  grandfather  of  John  Johnson,  was 
born  in  Connecticut,  where  he  read  medicine 
for  four  years  and  received  his  diploma  April 
3,  1791.  In  tliat  or  the  following  year  he 
became  the  pioneer  physician  of  Chenango 
county,  where  he  soon  acquired  an  extensive 
practice  and  he  soon  became  an  important  citi- 
zen. He  conducted  his  business  affairs  with 
such  good  judgment  as  to  ama.ss  a  large  for- 
tune in  lands,  mills  and  stores.  He  was  a 
Presbyterian  and  a  whig  and  married  Hannah 
Graves,  who  lived  to  be  ninety-six  years  of 
age. 

Of  their  four  sons  and  one  daughter,  but 
one.  Homer  Johnson  (father)  ever  married.  He 
was  born  October  31,  1803,  (the  third  child)  iu 
the  town  of  Norwich,  Chenango  county,  where 
he  followed  farming  until  his  death  May  9, 
1862.  He  was  a  republican  and  a  trustee  of 
the  Baptist  church  and  married  Roxanna  Skin- 
ner, by  whom  he  had  five  sons  and  five  daugh- 
ters, of  whom  six  are  living :  John,  Mary, 
Jonathan  D.,  Abbie,  Emily  and  J.  M.  (see 
sketch).  One  son,  Charles,  was  a  minister  of 
the  Baptist  church.    Mrs.  Johnson  is  a  daughter 


620 


BIOGRAPHY  AND  HISTORY 


of  Daniel  Skinner  (maternal  grandfather)  who 
■wedded  for  his  second  wife  a  Miss  Green. 

John  Johnson  was  reared  in  his  native  town, 
where  he  was  carefully  trained  to  all  kinds  of 
farm  work.  He  attended  the  schools  of  his 
neighborhood,  which  were  then  almost  in  the 
woods  and  afforded  but  a  limited  education. 
Leaving  school,  he  worked  with  his  father  until 
he  was  twenty-eight  years  of  age,  when  he  com- 
menced farming  for  himself,  which  business  he 
has  followed  ever  since.  In  1869  he  came  to 
Kipley  where  he  purchased  his  present  farm. 

He  married  Delilah,  daughter  of  Clark  and 
Hannah  Lewis.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Johnson  had  no 
children  of  their  own  but  adopted  and  reared  as 
their  daughter  Roxanua,  who  married  Martin 
Harrington  and  died  leaving  one  child,  Truman, 
now  residing  with  Mr.  Johnson. 

He  owns  fifty -six  acres  of  good  farming  land, 
which  he  has  carefully  cultivated  for  the  last 
twenty-two  years.  His  farm  is  conveniently 
located  to  church,  school  and  market.  Mr. 
Johnson  is  a  republican  in  politics  and  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Baptist  church. 


T  ^OUIS  L.  JOHNSON  was  born  in  Dun 
■*"*  kirk,  Chautauqua  couuty.  New  York, 
Fcbruai-y  13,  1862,  and  is  a  .son  of  William 
V-  and  Louisa  (Hazle)  Johnson.  His  father 
wa.s  l)orn  in  Boston,  Lincoln.shire,  England,  in 
18."30,  educated  in  the  common  schools  of  his 
native  town  and  learned  the  baker's  trade. 
Emigrating  to  America  in  1852,  he  located  in 
Dunkirk,  and  at  once  opened  a  bakery,  to  which 
he  added  a  grocery,  and  continued  in  the  busi- 
ness until  his  death,  which  occurred  November 
5,  1857.  He  had  built  up  a  fine,  large  trade, 
which  was  left  to  Mrs.  Jolinson  and  his  son  L. 
L.  Independent  in  politics,  in  religion  he  was 
a  member  of  the  Episcopal  churcli.  He  mar- 
ried Louisa  llazl(!  and  liad  several  cliiidren. 

Louis  L.  Johnsou  was  brought  up  in  Dun- 
kirk and  educated  in  the  public  schools.  Since 
leaving  .scliool,  Irr  lias  devoted  iiis  attention  to 


the  business  established  by  his  father,  being 
assisted  by  his  mother.  Politically  he  is  a 
liberal  republican,  and  in  religion  inherits  his 
father's  Episcopalian  tendencies,  and  is  a  mem- 
ber of  the  .same  church.  He  is  a  member  of 
the  F.  &  A.  M. 

Louis  L.  Johu.son  was  married  in    1883  to 
Helena  Allenbrand, 
brand  of  Dunkirk. 


a  daughter  of  Elias  Allen- 


llir  AKCUS  ALPHOXZO  PELTOX  was  born 
4  in   the   city   of    Dunkirk,    Chautauqua 

county.  New  York,  November  19,  1855,  and  is 
the  .son  of  Theodore  and  Maria  (Phillips)  Pel- 
ton.  His  father  is  at  present  a  resident  of 
Lyons,  Iowa;  is  a  machinist  by  occupation,  a 
democrat  in  politics,  and,  although  sixty  years 
of  age,  is  still  actively  engaged  in  the  duties  of 
life. 

Marcus  A.  Pelton,  though  born  at  Dunkirk, 
New  York,  was  brought  up  and  educated  at 
Kutledge,  Cattaraugus  county.  After  leaving 
school  he  commenced  farming,  and  operated  a 
farm  in  Hie  town  of  Conewango  until  he  bought 
the  "  Star  Creamery"  in  the  town  of  Gerry,  in 
the  management  of  which  he  has  since  been 
busily  engaged.  The  output  of  this  creamery  is 
about  thirty-five  thousand  pounds  anuually,  the 
greater  part  of  which  is  shipped  to  New  York 
city.  Mr.  Pelton  has  always  been  an  exemplary 
citizen,  a  man  of  honor  and  reliability,  and  has 
been  a  warm  supporter  of  the  Democratic 
ticket.     At  one  time  he  served  .as  postmaster. 

On  July  30,  1890,  Mr.  Pelton  was  nnited  iu 
marriage  to  Gertrude  E.  Terry,  daughter  of  the 
late  Freeman  Terry  of  Gerry.  They  have  one 
cliild,  Bcruice  Gertrude. 


Q-EXTITS  II.  HUNOEUFOKl)  was  born  in 
*^  Smitiifield,  Madi.son  county,  New  York, 
January  14,  1806.  AVhen  quite  young  here- 
moved  witii  his  j)arents  to  Vernon,  Oneida 
county.  He  was  the  eldest  of  nine  children, 
and  was  about  twenty-one  when  his  lather  died, 


^^- 


"'/  t^u'l'^ 


7"y 


/■-7-^i 


OF  CHAUTAUQUA   COUNTY. 


623 


at  which  time  the  care  of  a  small  farm  and  a 
largo  family  devolved  upon  him.  In  1830  ho 
was  married  to  Maria  P.  Siciniior,  who  survives  ; 
him  and  now  resides  at  Westfield.  He  contin-  \ 
lied  in  the  farming  business  in  A^ernon  until 
1837,  when  he  removed  to  Westfield  and  pur- 
chased of  Joshua  R.  Babcock,  and  continued  in 
the  mercantile  business  about  six  years  in  con- 
nection with  his  brother-in-law,  H.  J.  Miner, 
under  the  firm  name  of  Hungerford  &  Miner. 
In  1843  he  removed  to  Ripley  on  a  farm,  and 
after  about  two  years  returned  to  Westfield, 
where  he  resided  until  his  death,  May  15,  1867. 
In  1848  he  established  the  bank  of  Westfield,  j 
of  which  he  was  president  and  John  N.  Hun- 
gerford, his  brother,  cashier.  In  1864,  he,  with 
others,  organized  the  First  National  Bank  of 
Westfield.  Daring  the  late  war  Mr.  Hunger- 
ford  was  untiring  in  his  efforts  to  sustain  the 
government,  and  devoted  much  time  gratuitously 
furnishing  men  and  means.  By  the  policy 
suggested  by  him  the  town  of  Westfield  escaped 
the  pressure  of  a  heavy  war  debt.  In  1865  he  re- 
presented the  assembly  district  in  the  Legislature,  ' 
where  he  discharged  with  fidelity  and  to  the  gen- 
eral acceptance  the  trusts  confided  to  iiira  by  his 
fellow-citizens.  He  was  for  many  years  a  ruling  , 
elder  in  the  Presbyterian  church,  and  aided  in 
sustaining  the  institutions  of  the  church  and  of 
religious  and  benevolent  institutions  generally, 
by  personal  effort  and  liberal  pecuniary  contri- 
butions. By  his  will  he  bequeatJied  to  the 
Presbyterian  Board  of  Home  Missions  and  the 
Theological  Seminary  about  fifteen  thousand 
dollars,  and  sums  of  considerable  amounts  to 
other  benevolent  institutions.  Mr.  Hungerford 
during  his  life-time  was  a  man  of  force  and 
deep  moral  convictions,  enjoying  the  high  confi- 
dence and  esteem  of  a  wide  range  of  acquaint- 
ances. He  left  no  children  to  inherit  the  estates  i 
accumulated  through  a  successful  career ;  but 
has  devoted  the  sum  total  of  his  life's  work  as 
a  heritage  of  philanthropy  and  the  perpetuation 
of  moral  and  religious  institutions. 


TAj>IES  WILSON  was  born  November  24, 
^  1806,  in  Scotland  and  is  a  son  of  William 
and  Margaret  (Keid)  ^\'iis()n.  His  grandfatiier 
James  Wilson  was  also  a  native  of  Scotland,  of 
plebeian  birth,  where  he  passed  his  life  and  died. 
His  grandfather  on  the  maternal  side  was  like- 
wise a  Scotchman  and  a  merchant  by  occupation. 
Ho  died  in  his  native  land.  William  Wilson, 
fatlier  of  James  Wilson,  was  born  in  Scotland, 
and  died  in  1832. 

The  son,  James  Wilson,  received  what  educa- 
tion he  has  in  the  schools  of  his  native  country 
and  in  1827  he  bid  adieu  to  his  Scottish  home 
and  sailed  for  America.  He  first  took  up  his 
residence  in  the  town  of  Hanover,  New  York, 
near  Silver  Creek,  an  uncle,  John  Reid,  who 
died  March  16, 1837,  and  himself  settling  upon 
the  farm  where  he  still  lives.  Here  they  built 
a  cabin  in  the  midst  of  dense  woods  and  began 
to  clear  the  tract  of  land  upon  which  they  had 
settled.  The  present  condition  of  his  farm  is 
in  a  great  measure  due  to  his  own  efforts  and 
untiring  energy. 

James  Wilson  was  thrice  married ;  first,  to 
Philena  Davison,  by  whom  he  had  twelve  chil- 
dren. His  second  wife  was  Harriet  Flint,  upon 
whose  deatii,  he  again  married,  Mrs.  Matilda 
(Toriey)  Johnson.  His  surviving  children  are 
Margaret,  wife  of  S.  L.  Mead,  a  resident  of 
near  Forestville,  Chautauqua  county.  New 
York ;  Henry,  a  farmer  by  occupation,  living 
with  his  father ;  and  Mary  C,  wife  of  Robert  O. 
Bradley,  a  farmer  living  near  Silver  Creek. 

James  Wilson  has  always  followed  the  voca- 
tion of  farming,  and,  as  such,  has  been  very 
successful,  oatherins'  about  him  considerable 
real  and  personal  property.  He  is  a  thorough- 
going republican  in  his  political  allegiance  and  a 
member  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church. 
He  was  formerly  a  member  of  the  I.  O.  O.  F. 
in  good  standing,  but  has  allowed  his  member- 
ship to  lapse.  i\Ir.  Wilson  enjoys  the  respect 
and  good  will  of  his  neighbors. 


624 


BLOGRAPHY  AND  HISTORY 


lUTATTHEW  WALLACE  is  au  agviculturist 

V^     of  Ripley  town  where  he  has  lived  for 
thirty-two    years.     He    was    born  in    County 
Down,  Ireland,  in  June   1838,  and  he  is  a  son 
of    Samuel     and    Jsancy   McKee  (McMeekan) 
AVallace.     His  grandfather,  John  Wallace,  was 
a  native  of  Ireland,  followed  farming  and  died 
a  member  of  the  Episcopal  church.     He  mar- 
ried Nancy  Melvin  and  had  seven  children.    The  1 
maternal    grandfather,    Benjamin    McMeekan, 
too,  resided  in   Ireland.     His  wife  was  Nancy 
Blair  and  they  had  a  family  of  eight  children. 
Samuel  Wallace   was    born    in    County  Down, 
was  a  farmer  and  was  twice  married.     First  to 
Nancy  Mc^Ieekan,  who  bore  him  nine  children, 
three  of  whom,  Matthew  and  two  sisters,  came 
to  America.     After  his  first  wife  died  he  united 
in    marriage  with   Margaret    Sigh,   who    bore 
him  four  children,  three  of  whom  crossed  the 
great  water,  and  one,  David,  is  yet  living  at 
Sewickley,    Allegheny    county,    Pa.     The  two 
sisters  mentioned  above  who  came  to  America 
are  married. 

Matthew  Wallace  spent  his  youth  in  his 
native  land  and  came  here  when  twenty-one 
years  of  age.  Locating  in  Westfield  he  worked 
as  an  ordinary  farm  It^borer  for  seventeen  years 
and  then  bought  the  farm  of  one  hundred 
and  twenty-seven  and  one-half  acres,  where 
he  now  lives.  On  it  are  nine  acres  of  grape- 
vines. He  was  drafted  to  serve  in  the  Union 
army  but  bought  a  substitute. 

Matthew  Wallace  married  Sarah  Strain,  a 
daughter  of  James  Strain.  They  have  one 
child  :  James  S.,  who  niarrieil  Emily  J.  Coch- 
rane, a  daughter  of  Alexander  Cochrane  and 
they  have  three  children  :  Mattiiew,  Alexander 
and  Hnrlburt. 

Politically  he  is  a  repid)lican,  a  member  of 
the  Presbyterian  church  and  belongs  to  the 
Knisjhts  of  Honor. 


TOSEPH  H.  ANDREWS,  a  well-to-do  and 
^^      comfortably-situated  farmer  of  the  town  of 
Hanover,  and  a  Union  soldier  in  the  late  civil 
war,  is  a  son  of  Sylvester  and  Rachel  (Harris) 
Andrews,  and  was  born  in  the  town  of  Portland, 
Chautauqua  county.  New   York,  October    27, 
1827.       His    paternal    grandfather,    Benjamin 
Andrews,  was  a  native  of  Massachusetts,  and  in 
1813  came  to  the  town  of  Portland,  but  sub- 
sequently removed  to   Erie  county,   where  he 
followed  farming  until  his  death.     He  was  a 
member    of  the    Baptist    church,  served  as  a 
soldier  in  the  Revolutionary  war,  married  and 
reared  a  family  of  three  sons  and  two   daugh- 
ters.      One  of    these  sons  was  Sylvester  An- 
drews (father),  and  was  born  in  Massachusetts 
near  the  Connecticut    State    line  about    1790. 
In  April,  1828,  he  came  to  the  town  of  Han- 
over, near  the  village  of   Silver  Creek,  where 
he  purchased  a  farm  of  one  hundred  and  six 
acres  of  land,  which  he  tilled  until  his  death, 
in  1865.     He  was  successively  a  whig,  repub- 
lican and  democrat  in    politics,  and  had  been 
a  member    of   the  Free-Will    Baptist    church 
for  many  years    previous    to   his    deatii.     He 
married  Rachel  Harris,    who  was    a  daughter 
of   Harry    Harris,   of   Massachusetts,  who  re- 
moved to  Erie  county,  \^here  he  died.      Mrs. 
Andrews,   who  died    in    1883,  aged   fifty-nine 
'  years,  was  the  mother  of  nine  children, six  sons 
and  three  daughters. 

Joseph  H.  Andrews  attended  the  early  com- 
mon schools  of  the  town  of  Hanover,  and  has 
always  followed  farming  and  stock-raising  on 
the  old  homestead  farm. 

Mr.  Andrews  married  Jane,  daughter  of 
Thomas  and  Rachel  De  Lauey.  To  their  union 
have  been  boi'n  two  ciiildren,  a  son  and  a  daugh- 
ter :  Louella,  wife  of  Walter  Lanphere,  assistant 
postmaster  of  the  progressive  and  manufactur- 
ing village  of  Silver  Creek  ;  and  John,  who  is 
now  dead. 

Joseph  H.  Andrews  is  a  democrat,  politically, 
but  is  no  aspirant  for  offices.     Jle  is  a   charter 


OF  CHAUTAUQUA   COUNTY. 


G25 


member  of  Lodge  No.  10,  Ancient  Order  of  > 
United  Workmen,  at  Silver  Creek,  organized 
in  1875.  He  enlisted  in  June,  18(J3,  and 
served  as  a  corporal  in  Co.  F,  68th  Regiment, 
N.  Y.  Infantry  Volunteers.  They  were  or- 
dered into  Pennsylvania  to  aid  in  driving 
General  Lee  from  northern  territory,  and  arrived 
within  five  miles  of  Gettysburg,  where  tiicy 
were  held  as  a  part  of  a  reserve  force  while  that 
great  battle  was  fought.  He  gives  the  necessary 
attention  to  his  farm  to  keep  it  well  improved 
and  in  a  good  state  of  cultivation.  This  farm, 
which  lies  one-half  mile  from  the  manutacturing 
centre  of  Silver  Creek,  is  well  adapted  to  farm- 
ing and  grazing,  and  has  been  very  productive 


under  the  careful  and 
Mr.  Andrews. 


dicious  mauagement  of 


Dermouth  K.  Baker  united  in  marriage 
with  Mary  A.  Brown,  daughter  of  J.  C.  Brown 
of  Ellington.  To  them  have  been  born  two 
daughters :  Lita  May,  wife  of  Ransom  Liver- 
more  of  the  town  of  Ellington  ;  and  Ella  Ame- 
lia, wife  of  Dorritt  C  Davis,  also  of  Ellington. 


-^ERMOUTH  R.  BAKER  was  born  in  the 

^"^  town  of  Charlotte,  C-iautauqua  county, 
New  York,  on  December  12,  1846,  and  is  the 
son  of  Henry  and  Ella  E.  (Rindus)  Baker,  the 
former  being  born  June  27,  1833,  in  the  town 
of  Charlotte,  the  latter  in  1834,  in  the  town  of 
Gerry.  Henry  Baker  has  been  a  farmer,  but 
recently  has  retired  to  the  village  of  Ellington 
Centre.  The  Bakers  were  originally  native  to 
Vermont,  where  the  grandfatlier  of  subject  was 
born,  reared  and  died. 

Dermouth  R.  Baker  spent  his  youth  and  early 
life  in  the  town  of  Charlotte,  and  there  took  his 
first  steps  in  education,  soon  leaving  school  to 
engage  in  the  more  active  work  of  the  farm.  | 
This  he  has  continuously  pursued  until  two 
years  ago,  when  he  relinquished  his  claim  on 
the  old  homestead,  and  purchased  in  the  town 
of  Gerry  what  is  known  as  the  Thompson  farm, 
containing  about  one  hundred  and  fifty  acres,  j 
He  now  occupies  his  time  in  managing  his  farm, 
raising  sheep  of  the  South-Down  variety,  and 
in  the  manufacture  of  cheese  and  maple  sugar. 
In  politics  Mr.  Baker  has  been  a  life-long  re- 
publican, and  is  a  member  of  the  Empire  State 
Legion  of  Honor. 


•VAPT.  COMFORT  IJIRDSEY,  of  English 
^^  descent,  and  a  well-respected  citizen  of 
the  town  of  Hanover,  was  born  in  the  town  of 
Paris,  Oneida  county,  New  York,  November  23, 
1813,  and  is  a  son  of  John  J.  and  Clarissa  Ward 
(Crampton)  Birdsey.  The  first  members  of  the 
Birdsey  family  who  settled  in  the  new  world 
were  two  brothers,  John  and  Joseph  Birdsey, 
who  came  from  England  to  Stratford,  Connec- 
ticut, in  1639.  John,  the  great-grandfather  of 
Comfort  Birdsey,  in  1710,  removed  to  ]\Ii(ldle- 
town  (now  ^Nliddlefield),  Connecticut,  where  he 
purchased  eight  hundred  acres  of  land.  His 
son,  Seth  Birdsey  (grandfather),  was  born  in 
1 736,  and  while  engaged  at  work  in  the  woods 
was  killed  by  a  falling  tree.  He  was  married 
and  left  a  widow  and  family  of  seven  children, 
five  sons  and  two  daughters.  One  of  the  sons, 
John  J.  (father),  was  born  in  Middletown, 
Conn.,  in  1774,  and  in  1811  removed  to  the 
town  of  Paris,  Oneida  county,  N.  Y.,  where  he 
died  April  8,  1826.  He  was  an  industrious 
farmer,  and  married  Clarissa  W.  Crampton,  by 
whom  he  had  two  sons  and  three  daughters  (see 
sketch  of  Phineas  Birdsey).  Mrs.  Birdsey,  who 
passed  away  in  1857,  aged  76  years,  was  a  daugh- 
ter of  Josiali  Crampton,  an  old  Revolutionary 
soldier,  who  removed  from  his  native  State  of 
Connecticut  to  Genesee  county,  N.  Y.,  where  he 
died  when  well  advanced  in  years. 

Comfort  Birdsey  was  reared  in  Oneida  coun- 
ty, where  he  attended  the  short  winter  schools 
of  that  day.  He  has  always  followed  farming 
and,  in  1828,  came  to  the  town  of  Hanover, 
in  which  he  purchased  his  present  desirable 
farm  of  one  hundred  and  seventy-five  acres  of 
land.     During  the  earlier  vears  of  his  life  he 


626 


BIOGRAPHY  AND  HISTORY 


was  quite  active  iu  the  military  affairs  of  the 
county.  He  served  in  1839  as  second  lieuten- 
ant, was  promoted  to  first  lieutenant  the  follow-  1 
ing  year,  and  in  1841  was  commissioned  as  cap-  ; 
tain  of  a  light  infantry  company  in  the  9th  i 
Regiment  of  the  New  York  militia.  On  Novem- 
ber 24,  1842,  he  married  Margaret,  daughter  of 
Thomas  Waxham,  a  native  of  England,  who 
came  to  the  town  of  Hanover,  in  which  he  fol- 
lowed farming.  They  are  the  parents  of  four  chil- 
dren, one  son  and  three  daughters  :  Abbie  G., 
widow  of  Samuel  Rollins,  has  five  children — 
Archie  B.,  Hortense,  Eugene,  Daua  and  Louis 
A.  ;  Francilla  B.,  who  married  Reverdy  C. 
Clothier,  an  extensive  farmer  of  Hanover,  and 
has  two  children,  Hamilton  B.  and  Fred- 
erick B. ;  Mary,  wife  of  Sheldon  11.  Burgess,  of 
Silver  Creek,  and  has  one  child,  Cora  M. ;  and 
Eugene  G.,  married  Cornelia  Baker,  and  is  a 
farmer  by  occupation. 

Comfort  Birdsey  is  a  republican  in  politics, 
has  served  as  commissioner  of  highways  and  has 
assisted  in  building  quite  a  number  of  bridges 
in  his  community.  Capt.  Birdsey  is  well  pre- 
served for  his  years,  has  always  taken  an  interest 
in  the  material  and  mental  development  of  his 
community  and  is  one  of  the  substantial  and 
successful  farmers  of  the  county. 


"I^HIXEAS  BIRDSEY,  of  the  town  of  Han- 
*-  over,  who  has  been  successfully  engaged 
in  carpentering  and  cabinet-making  for  over 
fifty  years,  is  a  son  of  John  J.  and  Clarissa 
Ward  (Crampton)  Birdsey,  and  was  born  in  tlie 
town  of  Paris,  Oneida  county.  New  York,  Feb- 
ruary 29,  1812.  The  Birdsey  family  in  the 
United  States  was  founded  by  two  brothers, 
Joseph  and  John  Birdsey,  who  came  in  1G.'59 
fron\  England  to  Stratford,  Connecticut.  '  In 
1710  John  (great-grandfather)  settled  in  what 
is  now  Middlcfield,  that  State,  where  his  son 
Seth  (grandfather)  was  born  in  173G  and  after- 
wards killed  by  a  falling  tree.  One  of  his  seven 
children  was  JoJin  J.  Birdsey  (father),  who  was 


born  in  1774,  and  in  1811  removed  to  Oneida 
county,  where  he  died  in  the  town  of  Paris  on 
April  8,  1826.  He  married  Clarissa  W. 
Crampton,  a  daughter  of  Josiah  Crampton,  an 
old  Revolutionary  soldier,  who  died  in  Genesee 
county.  They  had  five  children :  Phineas, 
Capt.  Comfort  (see  his  sketch  for  full  ancestral 
history) ;  Eunice  (deceased),  who  married  Mr. 
Southridge,  and  after  his  death  William  Yates, 
who  is  now  dead ;  Clarissa,  widow  of  Samuel 
Russell,  a  rejjublican  politician  and  once  port- 
warden  of  New  York  city  ;  and  Abbie,  widow 
of  Wells  G.  Russell,  now  a  resident  of  Hamil- 
ton, Madison  county. 

Phineas  Birdsey  was  reared  in  his  native 
town,  where  he  received  his  education  in  the 
common  schools  of  that  early  day  and  learned 
the  trades  of  carpenter  and  joiner  and  cabinet- 
maker, which  he  has  followed  ever  since.  He 
came  to  the  town  of  Hanover,  and  is  an  in- 
dustrious and  useful  citizen.  He  is  a  dem- 
ocrat in  politics,  always  supports  his  party,  but 
is  no  politician  or  office  seeker. 

He  married  Jeannette,  daughter  of  Benjamin 
Horton,  and  they  have  two  children  :  John  J., 
a  resident  of  the  town  of  Hanover,  who  married 
Hattie  Dagett  and  is  extensively  engaged  iu 
buying  and  selling  lumber;  and  Elmer  J.,  who 
was  in  the  lumber  business  for  ten  years,  mar- 
ried Mary  Cockburn  and  is  now  engaged  in 
farmintr  and  raisino-  small  fruits. 


HENRY  BURNBIASTER,  now  resident  of 
Irving  and  an  industrious  and  respected 
citizen  of  the  county,  was  born  in  Germany, 
December  21,  1823,  and  is  a  son  of  Cort  and 
Isabella  (Bronte)  Burnmaster.  His  paternal 
grandparents  were  natives  and  life-long  residents 
of  Germany.  His  father,  Cort  Burnmaster, 
was  reared  and  educated  in  his  native  land, 
where  he  followed  farming  until  his  death.  He 
married  Isaljella  iironte,  by  whom  he  had  eight 
children,  of  \\  lioni  some  did  not  live  to  reacli 
maturitv. 


OF  CILWTAUqUA   COUyTi'. 


627 


Henry  J5uru master  received  his  education  in 
tiie  coimuon  schools  of  Schenectady,  New  York, 
to  which  city  he  had  been  brought  from  Ger- 
many at  an  early  age.  He  also  learned  there 
the  trade  of  broom-maker,  \vhich  he  followed 
successfully  for  many  years  and  at  times  manu- 
factured very  large  quantities  to  meet  the  de- 
maud  made  for  his  brooms,  which  always  sold 
well  in  the  markets  as  a  reliable  and  first-class 
article.  In  185G  he  came  to  Irving,  where 
he  has  resided  ever  since.  He  married  Anu 
Waite,  a  native  of  Schenectady,  New  York, 
and  a  daughter  of  Oliver  Waite,  a  carpen- 
ter, who  came  from  Massachusetts  to  Schenec- 
tady, where  he  married  Anna  Reese,  by  whom 
he  had  six  children.  To  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Burn- 
master  have  been  born  nine  children  :  Helen  L., 
wife  of  Lyman  Newton,  of  Irving;  Charles,  a 
farmer,  who  married  Lydia  Taylor  ;  Josephine, 
wife  of  Reuben  McPhersou,  of  Marion,  Ohio, 
where  he  is  in  the  employ  of  a  railroad  com- 
pany; Anna,  married  to  W.  H.  Parsons,  a 
druggist  of  Forestville ;  Mary,  wife  of  George 
Parks,  a  merchant  of  Irving ;  Kate,  married  to 
George  Sackett,  a  farmer ;  Allen,  married  to 
Agnes  Gleason  and  in  the  employ  of  a  railroad 
company ;  Henry,  married  to  Mary  Baird  and 
likewise  in  the  employ  of  a  I'ailroad  company  ; 
and  Cora,  wife  of  Wdliam  Bolden,  a  grocer  of 
Evans  Centre. 

Henry  Burnmaster  was  formerly  a  whig  and 
is  now  a  republican  in  politics.  He  at  one  time 
gave  some  attention  to  farming  in  the  town  of 
Hanover,  where  he  then  owned  one  hundred  and 
twenty-one  acres  of  land.  He  is  a  member  of 
the  Irving  Baptist  church  and  of  the  Independ- 
ent Order  of  Odd  Fellows. 


^ALVIX  W.  BARNES,  one  of  the  leading 
^^  and  most  successful  business  men  of  the 
prosperous  village  of  Ripley,  is  a  son  of  Calvin 
W.,  Sr.,  and  Anna  (Frazee)  Barnes,  and  was 
born  in  Oneida  couuty,  New  York,  June  23, 
1823.     The   Barnes   familv   is  of  English  de- 


scent and  grandfather  James  Barnes  was  born 
at  Austin,  and  died  in  Oneida  county,  N.  Y., 
where  he  had  been  a  farmer  for  .several  years. 
He  was  an  old-line  whig,  married  Anna  Marcy 
and  reared  a  family  of  fourteen  children.  The 
Frazee    family    is    of   English    extraction    and 

',  Eliphalet  Frazee  (maternal  grandfather)  was  a 
native  of  Blenheim,  Albany  county,  but  be- 
came one  of  the  early  settlers  of  the  town  of 
Verona,  Oneida  county.  He  was  a  farmer,  a 
whig  and  a  baptist,  and  married  a  Miss  Soule, 
of  Blenheim,  by  whom  he  had  twelve  children. 
Calvin  W.  Barnes,  Sr.,  was  born  in  the  town 

j  of  Floyd,  Oneida  county,  about  1795,  served  in 
the  war  of  1812,  and  was  engaged  principally 
in  farming  until  his  death.  In  early  life  he 
was  a  contractor  and  buildei',  a  life-long  whig 
and  a  member  and  deacon  of  the  Baptist  chutch. 
He  married  Anna  Frazee  and  tiiey  were  the 
parents  of  eleven  children ;  eight  grew  to  man- 
hood and  womanhood. 

After  receiving;  a  good  common  school  edu- 
cation,  Calvin  W.  Barnes  left  the  farm  to 
become  a  manager  for  a  lumbering  company 
which  had  large  lumber  interests  at  the  village 
of  Oneida.  He  remained  seven  years  and  then 
resigned  his  position  and  established  a  foundry 
at  Durham,  N.  Y.,  which  he  operated  for  six 
years.     In  1865,  he  removed  to  the  oil  regions 

I  of  Pennsylvania  and  has  owned  and  operated 
oil  territory  ever  since.  After  one  year's  resi- 
dence in  Pennsylvania,  he  returned  to  New 
York  and  settled  at  Ripley,  this  county,  where 
he  established  his  ])resent  cider-mill  and  vinegar 
manufactory.  In  addition  to  the  management 
of  his  factory  and  oil  interests  he  owns  a  vine- 
yard of  thirty  aci'es  near  the  village  and  also 
deals  in  real  estate,  at  the  pi-esent  time  owning 
thirty-two  village  lots. 

He  married  Alzuria  Toby,  who  was  a  daugh- 
ter of  Franklin  Toby,  of  Oneida  county,  and 
died  in  1864,  leaving  one  child  that  died  in 
infancy.  Mr.  Barnes  then  united  in  marriage 
with  Jane  Y.  Siggins,  of  Forest  county,  Penn- 


628 


BIOGRAPHY  AND  HISTORY 


sylvania.  By  his  second  marriage  he  has  had 
three  children  :  Alice,  the  wife  of  C.  B.  Clark, 
now  engaged  in  the  lumber  business  at  Hen- 
dricks, West  Virginia,  has  one  child,  Donna 
Virginia  ;  Albert,  who  died  in  infancy ;  and 
Bertha,  at  home. 

Calvin  W.  Barnes  is  a  republican  in  politics 
but  no  aspirant  for  office,  although  he  has  been 
frequently  solicited  to  become  a  candidate.  He 
is  a  member  of  the  Ripley  Baptist  church,  of 
the  Ancient  Order  of  United  Workmen  and 
the  Equitable  Aid  Union. 


/>-.\IJIiISLE  DURAND,  a  prosperous  farmer 
^^  of  the  town  of  Ripley  and  a  descendant 
from  one  of  the  early  families  of  the  county,  is 
a  son  of  Fisk  and  Nancy  (Forsythe)  Durand, 
and  was  born  near  the  village  of  Westfield,  in 
the  town  of  the  same  name,  Chautauqua 
county.  New  York,  February  4,  1834.  Tlie 
Durand  and  Forsythe  families  are  both  of  New 
England  stock.  Fisk  Durand,  Sr.,  (paternal 
grandfather)  was  of  Fi-ench  descent  and  during 
his  early  life  was  engaged  in  the  coast  trade  on 
the  North  Atlantic,  between  New  England 
ports  and  Halifax,  Nova  Scotia.  He  served  in 
the  war  of  1812,  and  three  years  later  came  to 
the  town  of  Westfield.  He  reared  a  family  of 
ten  children,  one  of  whom,  Fisk  Durand,  was 
born  in  1797,  in  Connecticut,  and  in  November, 
1855,  died  in  the  town  of  Westfield,  this 
county,  whither  he  had  come  in  1815.  Fisk 
Durand  was  a  carpenter  by  trade  and  built  a 
great  many  houses  during  his  forty  years  resi- 
dence in  this  county,  Init  the  latter  years  of  his 
life  were  devoted  chiefly  to  farming.  He  was 
a  republican  and  a  well-thougiit-of-member  of 
the  Presbyterian  church.  Having  married 
Nancy  Forsythe,  he  reared  four  diildren,  of 
whom  tiiree  are  yet  living:  Carlisle;  Nellie, 
wiio  manicd  1j.  S.  Terry,  of  Westfield  ;  and 
xVddic,  tlic  wife  of  H.  C.  Evans,  now  living  at 
Chattanooga,  Tennessee.  Mrs.  Nancy  Durand 
is  a  dauglifcr  of  diaries  H.  Forsytlie,  who,  in 


1805,  came  from  New  England  to  the  town  of 
Ripley,  purchased  a  tract  of  five  hundred 
acres,  upon  which,  in  1834,  he  built  the  brick 
house  where  the  subject  of  this  sketch  now 
resides.  He  was  a  prominent  whig  and  repub- 
lieau. 

Carlisle  Durand  attended  the  early  common 
schools  of  his  town  and  Westfield  academy. 
He  commenced  for  himself  as  a  farmer  which 
he  has  since  followed  without  intermission. 

Carlisle  Durand  married  Frances  Cordelia 
Coy,  who  is  a  member  of  the  Presbyterian 
church  and  a  daughter  of  Alvy  Coy,  who  set- 
tled in  the  town  of  Clymer  in  1816,  and  mar- 
ried Nancy  Marsh,  whose  father  was  one  of  the 
early  settlers  of  the  county.  Mr.  and  Mi'S. 
Durand  are  the  parents  of  six  children,  four 
sons  and  two  daughters :  Frederick  C,  an 
engineer  by  profession  but  now  engaged  as  a 
postal  clerk  at  Chattanooga,  Tenn.,  married 
Kate  McElroy  ;  Herman  F.,  married  Minnie 
Shepherd,  of  Clymer  ;  Donna,  is  the  wife  of  C. 
C.  Otis,  of  Buffalo,  N.  Y. ;  Sarah ;  Joseph,  a 
telegraph  operator  and  car  i  nspector  at  Buffalo  ; 
and  Louis. 

Carlisle  Durand  is  an  active  repul)lican  and 
has  served  as  constable  besides  holding  other 
town  offices.  He  is  a  regular  attendant  at 
church  and  profitably  conducts  a  farm  which  he 
owns.  He  is  a  niember  of  the  Knights  of 
Honor  and  of  the  Ancient  Order  of  the  United 
Workmen. 


QLFHKD  J.  LUNT,  the  courteous  and  popu- 
■**■  lar  cashier  of  (he  Lake  Shore  National 
bank  at  Dunkirk,  is  a  sou  of  Thomas  and  Ann 
(Batchelor)  Lunt,  and  was  born  in  Dunkirk, 
Ciiantauqua  cunnty,  New  York,  October  19, 
1855.  Tliomas  Lunt  is  a  native  of  Liverjwol, 
England,  wiiere  lie  was  born  in  1829.  When 
nineteen  years  old  he  decided  to  seek  a  iiouie  in 
America,  and  with  this  object  in  view  came  to 
the  United  States  in  1848.  He  stopped  in 
(liff'erent  jtiaccs   until    1850,  wiicn    iio  cmmic   to 


OF  nUAUTAUQUA  COUNTY. 


629 


Dunkirk  whicli  has  since  hccn  liis  poi'inancnt 
liomo.  For  tiiirty-five  years  lie  was  roaihuaster 
of  the  P^ric  railway.  He  married  Ann  Bateli- 
clor,  by  wiioni  he  had  six  cliildren.  Mrs. 
Liint  is  still  living,  and  is  sixty-tiirec  years  of 
age.  Both  she  and  her  husband  are  members  , 
of  the  Episcopal  church.  He  is  a  democrat, 
and  has  served  as  street  commissioner  in  Dun- 
kirk, and  is  also  a  member  of  the  Free  and 
Accepted  Masous,  Irondcquoit  Lodge,  No.  291. 

Alfred  J.  Luut  is  an  example  of  what  any 
American  boy,  with  a  good  constitution,  may 
accomplish.  He  was  reared  in  Dunkirk,  and 
educated  in  the  public  schools  of  the  city.  His 
first  experience  in  busiue.ss  life  was  gained  in 
the  post-office  where  he  was  employed  for  three 
years.  From  here  he  went  to  the  Lake  Shore 
National  bank,  tir.st  serving  as  its  messenger. 
His  work  was  characterized  by  the  careful  and 
systematic  manner  in  which  it  was  performed, 
and  it  could  not  help  but  reach  the  favorable 
attention  of  his  superiors.  Courteous  and 
respectful  in  manner,  he  retained  the  good-will 
and  advanced  in  the  estimation  of  his  employers  [ 
until,  when  a  vacancy  presented,  he  was  advanced 
to  fill  it.  Here,  again,  application  to  the  work 
before  him  was  observable,  and  this  was  a  dis- 
tinguishing feature  through  life.  In  188.3, 
when  the  bank  needed  a  cashier,  and  the  question 
was  asked,  "  Who  shall  we  get?"  the  answer 
met  the  eye  when  it  fell  on  him.  Mr.  Luot 
received  the  appointment  because  he  deserved 
it  and  was  prepared  to  fill  it.  Thus  at  the  age 
of  twenty-eight  he  was  the  executive  manager 
of  one  of  the  strongest  financial  institutions  in 
southwestern  New  York. 

In  1884  ]Mr.  Lunt  married  Dora  Popple, 
daughter  of  Alexander  W.  Popple,  a  citizen  of 
Dunkirk,  and  they  have  two  interesting  chil- 
dren, Helen  and  Gurney. 

He  is  a  member  of  the  Episcopal  church, 
one  of  its  vestrymen,  and  has  attained  to 
the  thirty-second  degree  in  the  Dunkirk  Lodge, 
No.    767,   Free  and    Accepted   Masons.      ^Ve 


were  about  to  say  tiiat  Mr.  Lunt  was  a 
fortunate  man,  but  his  good  fijrtune  came 
because  he  was  posse.s.sed  of  sterling  qualities  of 
integrity  and  social  qualities  of  good  fellowship, 
which,  combined  and  intelligently  administered, 
will  bring  good  fortune  to  any  man.  He  is  a 
representative  citizen  of  Dunkirk,  esteemed  by 
the  business  men,  and  admired  by  society.  He 
is  treasurer  of  the  board  of  water  works  of 
the  City  of  Dunkirk,  of  the  Dunkirk  wagon 
company,  and  of  the  F.  &  A.  M. 


TTLBERT    P.    LOWELIj,    an    enterprising 

'^*-  business  man  and  prominent  hardware 
merchant  of  Brocton,  is  a  son  of  James  W.  and 
Jane  (Sellick)  Lowell,  and  was  born  in  the 
town  of  Pomfret,  June  24,  1847.  Mr.  Low- 
ell's ancestors  came  from  Scotland.  His  grand- 
father, James  Lowell,  was  born  in  Connecticut, 
but  came  to  Chautauqua  county,  where  he 
bought  a  farm  in  Pomfret  town,  which  he  tilled 
until  his  death  in  1856.  He  was  a  democrat 
of  the  old  school  and  an  influential  man  among 
his  associates. 

James  W.  Lowell  was  born  in  Hartford, 
Connecticut,  and,  hoping  to  improve  his  con- 
dition, came  to  western  New  York,  and  settled 
at  Pomfret.  He  has  always  been  a  leading 
farmer,  having  good  crops  and  fine  stock.  Mr. 
Lowell  is  a  democrat,  and  still  lives  on  his 
farm  in  Pomfret,  aged  seventy-three  years.  He 
married  Jane  Sellick,  and  is  still  living  at 
sixty-five  years  of  age. 

Albert  P.  Lowell  was  reared  on  his  father's 
farm,  and  secured  his  education  at  the  public 
schools  and  the  academy  in  Fredonia.  He 
2)repared  for  teaching,  and  upon  leaving  school 
followed  the  pedagogue's  profession  for  seven 
years  with  a  remarkable  degree  of  success;  but, 
as  many  of  the  best  teachers  are  doing  to-day, 
on  account  of  the  meagre  remuneration,  he  de- 
cided to  enter  a  business  more  profitable.  A 
person  capalile  of  becoming  a  first-class  teacher 
can  easilv  make  two  thousand  dollars  or  more 


630 


BIOGRAPHY  AND  HISTORY 


per  year  in  other  pursuits.  Tliis  is  discour- 
aging to  the  instructor  who  receives  but  one 
hundred  dollars  or  less  per  month,  and  that  for 
but  seven  to  ten  months  iii  the  year.  In  1872 
Mr.  Lowell  entered  a  partnership  with  H.  B. 
Crandall,  the  firm  being  Crandall  &  Lowell, 
for  the  manufacture  of  fruit  and  berry  baskets. 
This  business  was  profitably  and  successively 
continued  for  fifteen  years,  during  wiiich  time 
they  turned  out  an  immense  quantity  of  bask- 
ets. In  February,  1888,  Mr.  Lowell  decided 
to  open  a  hardware  store,  and  stocked  it  with  a 
complete  line  of  shelf  and  heavy  hardware. 
He  still  conducts  this  business,  carrying  a  fine 
and  assorted  stock,  and  enjoys  a  large  and  in- 
creasing trade,  and,  like  many  another,  can 
look  back  and  smile  quietly  at  thoughts  of 
days  spent  as  teacher  in  the  little  school-house. 
Albert  P.  Lowell  married  Emily  M.  Risley 
in  1871.  She  was  a  daughter  of  Ira  Risley,  a 
farmer  in  Pomfret,  and  has  one  child  :  Anna 
S.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Methodist  church, 
where  he  is  a  steward,  and  belongs  to  the  Royal 
Teraplai's  of  Temperance  and  the  Knights  of 
Pythias.  Politically  a  democrat,  he  has  held 
the  office  of  justice  of  the  peace,  and  was  the 
first  "  No  License "  excise  commissioner  of 
Portland  town.  Mr.  Lowell  is  a  pushing  and 
enterprising  man,  who  has  reached  the  position 
in  the  business  world  he  now  occupies  through 
his  own  efforts,  and  few  men  are  held  in  higher 
esteem  by  their  neighbors  and  acquaintances. 


TAMES  McAllister  was  born  in  the 
^  town  of  Gerry,  on  September  1,  1825, 
and  is  the  son  of  John  and  Sarah  (Brewster) 
McAllister.  His  great-grandfatlier,  William 
McAllister,  was  born  in  Scotland  and  emigrated 
to  New  York  State  in  the  Adirondack  region  with 
a  surveying  party,  whore  he  was  taken  sick  and 
died.  His  grandjiarcnts  were  born  in  the  New 
England  States,  where  also  was  born  our  sub- 
ject's father.  The  father  was  by  occupation  a 
tanner,  and  in  tiic  rarlirr  ])art  of  iiis  life  removed 


from  Boston,  Massachusetts,  to  Amsterdam,  New 
York,  where  he  operated  a  tannery  and  in  con- 
junction therewith  dealt  in  boots  and  shoes.  In 
1817  he  moved  to  the  town  of  Gerry  and  pur- 
chased a  farm  from  the  Holland  Land  company, 
upon  which  one  of  his  sons  now  lives.  Here 
he  engaged  in  farming  and  other  collateral  lines, 
through  which  he  acquired  considerable  money. 
In  politics  he  first  voted  with  tiie  Whig  party 
and  afterwards  allied  himself  with  the  Demo- 
cratic party,  under  the  latter  of  which  he  held 
the  oflBce  of  justice  of  the  jjeace,  supervisor  and 
collector  for  a  number  of  years.  He  was  a 
member  of  the  Baptist  church,  in  which  he 
held  the  offices  of  deacon  and  trustee  at  tlifferent 
times.  His  death  occurred  in  the  town  of 
Gerry  on  the  old  farm,  wiiich  he  had  originally 
cleared  and  improved,  at  the  age  of  ninety 
years. 

James  McAllister  was  reared  and  educated 
in  the  town  of  Gerry,  left  school  at  an  early 
age  and  worked  with  his  father  in  the  tannery 
and  on  the  farm.  He  shortly  afterward  com- 
menced his  independent  career  on  the  old  home- 
stead, where  he  carried  on  the  business  of  farm- 
ing, lumbering  and  dairying.  At  the  age  of 
twenty-two  he  purchased  the  old  farm,  erected 
a  saw-mill  and  increased  his  facilities  for  manu- 
facturing and  sliipping  lumber. 

James  McAllister,  on  June  21,  1863,  was 
united  in  marriage  to  Laura,  daughter  of  Jonas 
Willow,  of  the  town  of  Poland,  New  York,  who 
bore  him  five  children:  Cora  Bell  (deceased); 
TiOttie  (deceased) ;  Joseph  Lynn,  a  graduate  of 
Sinclairville  academy  and  a  student  at  the 
University  of  Michigan,  where  in  1890  he 
was  taken  sick  and  died;  Guy  Brewster  ;  and 
Ray  Barnard. 

James  McAllister  has  always  been  a  repub- 
lican in  [lolitics,  while  ins  religious  views  were 
Unitarian, 


OF  CHAUTAUQUA  COUNTY. 


631 


TT  T.EXAXDKR    M.    MTKIGER.       One    of 

^^-  Westfield  town's  prosperous  and  contented 
fanners  is  the  gentleman  whose  name  appears 
above.  He  is  of  German  descent ;  a  sou  of 
Orville  and  Mary  J.  (Riddell)  Minigcr,  and  was 
born  in  Westfield,  Chautauqua  county,  New  ' 
York,  May  25,  1840.  The  family  is  indigenous 
to  the  town  and  county  almost  since  its  forma- 
tion. In  1806  Low  Miniger,  the  paternal 
grandfather  of  Alexander  M.,  bought  a  tract  in 
section  26,  and  a  year  later,  a  part  of  section  18 
from  John  McMahan,  who  iiad  secured  it  from 
the  Holland  Land  company.  Previous  to  the 
first  date  mentioned,  Mr.  Miniger  had  lived 
about  two  years  at  Fredonia.  This  would  place 
his  arrival  from  Pennsylvania  at  about  1804, 
which  is  believed  to  be  correct.  He  served 
bravely  with  the  American  army  in  the  war  of 
1812,  and  died  when  eighty-four  years  of  age, 
being  a  whig  in  politics.  When  Westfield 
town  was  formed  he  was  elected  the  first  over- 
seer of  the  jjoor  and  one  of  the  fence  viewers,  a 
committee  of  three  to  pass  npon  the  quality  of 
a  fence  in  case  of  damages  by  a  stock. 

Orville  Miniger,  the  father  of  our  subject, 
was  born  in  this  town  in  1813  and  is  now  liv- 
ing in  Ripley,  aged  seventy-eight  years.  He 
has  always  been  a  farmer,  in  which  avocation 
he  is  still  employed,  and  his  farm  is  character- 
ized by  the  neatness  of  all  its  surroundings. 
He  is  a  pushing,  energetic  man  and  pushes  the 
seasons  instead  of  letting  tliem  push  him  in  his 
farm  work.  Mr.  Miniger  is  a  member  of  the 
Free  and  Accepted  Masons,  and  also  belongs  to 
the  Republican  party.  Like  many  of  the  best 
thinking  minds  of  this  enlightened  day,  he  is 
strongly  in  favor  of  the  temperance  movement 
and  hopes  to  live  to  see  it  successful.  He  mar- 
ried Mary  J.  Riddell,  who  still  comforts  his 
advancing  years  and  is  in  her  seventy-sixth 
year.  She  is  a  member  of  the  Presbyterian 
church.  They  reared  a  family  of  several  chil- 
dren. 

Alexander  M.  Miniger  was   reared   ou  the 


farm  and  has  spent  his  life  in  tilling  the  soil. 
His  education  was  acquired  in  tiie  public  schools 
of  Westfield.  He  is  now  the  owner  of  forty- 
four  acres  of  well-kept  land,  lying  two  and  a 
quarter  miles  west  of  Westfield,  on  the  iiuifalo 
road,  where  he  devotes  considerable  attention  to 
grape  culture — a  fine  vineyard  in  excellent  cul- 
tivation being  part  of  his  farm. 

In  1867  he  married  Martha  A.  Web.ster,  a 
daughter  of  Warren  Webster,  of  Gowanda, 
Cattaraugus  county.  New  York.  They  have 
one  son  and  a  daughter — George  W.,  aged 
twenty,  and  Martha  E.,  who  was  born  in  1876. 
Mr.  Miniger  is  a  republican  politically  and  is 
one  of  the  town's  most  enterprising  men. 


Q'lLAS  W.  MASOX,  a  member  of  the  Chau- 

'*^  tauqua  county  bar,  and  a  prominent  pro- 
hibitionist of  New  York,  is  a  son  of  Fitler  M. 
and  Ann  (Haskins)  Mason,  and  was  born  in  the 
town  of  EUery,  Chautauqua  county,  New  York, 
November  21,  1840.  His  paternal  grandfather, 
Thaddeus  Ma.son,  wlio  was  of  Scotch-Irish 
descent,  was  born  either  in  ]\Iassachusetts  or 
Connecticut,  and  served  in  the  war  of  1812. 
His  maternal  grandfather,  Ira  Haskins,  was  of 
English  descent,  and  was  a  native  of  Clinton 
county.  New  York.  His  father,  Fitler  Mason, 
was  born  in  Clinton  county  in  1802,  and  died 
in  this  county  in  1886.  He  was  a  millwright 
by  trade,  and  was  engaged  extensively  for  several 
years  in  Clinton  couuty  in  the  lumber  business, 
besides  building  several  mills.  About  1832  he 
removed  to  the  town  of  Ellery  where  he  followed 
farming.  He  also  worked  at  his  trade  and  built 
a  number  of  flouring-mills  in  different  sections 
of  the  county. 

Silas  W.  Mason  was  reared  on  the  homestead 
and  attended  the  public  schools  until  he  was 
fourteen  years  of  age,  when  he  became  an  insur- 
ance solicitor,  which  position  he  resigned  after 
one  year's  service,  to  enter  Westfield  academy. 
After  attending  one  year  he  taught  one  term  in 
the  public  schools,  and  then  returned  to  ^^'est- 


632 


BIOGRAPHY  AND  HISTORY 


field  academy,  from  which  he  was  graduated  in 
1859,  at  the  age  of  nineteen  years.  After  being 
variously  employed  for  two  years,  he  entered 
Bryant  &  Stratton's  business  college  of  Cleve- 
land, Ohio,  from  which  he  was  graduated  in 
18G1 .  During  the  next  year  he  went  to  Venango 
county,  Pennsylvania,  where  he  was  engaged 
for  about  six  years  in  the  real  estate  and  oil 
business.  He  owned  a  one-fourth  interest  in 
the  celebrated  Foster  oil  farm,  besides  having 
an  interest  in  several  other  good  oil  fiirms.  In 
1870  he  returned  to  this  county,  where  he  read 
law  at  tiiirty  years  of  age  with  Austin  Smith, 
and  two  years  later  entered  the  Albany  Law 
school,  from  which  he  was  graduated  in  1872. 
He  was  afterwards  admitted  to  practice  in  the 
Supreme  Court  of  New  York,  where  he  has 
practiced  his  profession  successfully.  In  avoca- 
tions of  life  other  than  professional,  Mr.  Mason 
has  been  actively  engaged  at  different  times. 
While  giving  close  attention  to  his  large  law 
practice,  he  did  not  neglect  his  agricultural 
interests,  and  has  greatly  improved  the  tract  of 
land  which  he  owns. 

In  1862  he  united  in  marriage  with  Amanda 
F.  Parsons,  a  native  of  Westfield,  and  a  daugh- 
ter of  Paul  Parson,s,  a  business  man,  and  for- 
merly a  resident  of  ^yestfield. 

Silas  W.  Mason  is  one  of  the  leading  prohi- 
bitionists of  western  New  York.  In  1887  he 
was  the  prohibition  candidate  for  Assembly  in 
Chautauqua  county,  where  the  Prohibition  party 
casts  about  one  thousand  votes.  In  1889  he 
was  the  prohibition  nominee  for  judge  of  the 
Supreme  Court  of  Ncav  York,  and  the  next  year 
was  nominated  forjudge  of  the  Court  of  Appeals. 
He  has  always  polled  the  full  vote  of  his  party 
and  at  each  election  has  received  an  increased 
vote,  although  the  prohibitiimists  have  been  so 
far  iu  the  minority. 


HKNKY  F1>X'K,  a  prominent  citizen  and 
successful   business  man  of  the  town  of 
Dunkirk,  Chautaucpia  county.  New   York,  is  a 


son  of  John  A.  and  Frances  (Thuilot)  Finck, 
and  was  born  iu  Prussia  on  October  19th,  1835. 

His  father  was  a  native  of  Prussia  and  by 
occupation  was  a  hotel-keeper  and  brick  maker, 
while  his  mother  was  of  French  descent  but 
born  within  the  confines  of  Germany.  The 
former  was  an  active,  energetic  man,  conducted 
his  business  with  success  and  died  in  his  native 
country  at  the  age  of  fifty-four  years. 

Henry  Finck  was  reared  in  Prussia,  where 
he  received  his  education  iu  the  common  schools 
and  passed  the  first  seventeen  years  of  his  life. 
At  the  expiration  of  this  time  he  emigrated  to 
the  United  States  and  located  iu  the  city  of  Buf- 
falo, New  York,  where  he  received  employment 
as  a  brewer  and  continued  in  that  business  until 
the  year  1869.  Duriug  this  period,  however, — 
in  1855-56-57,  he  was  employed  on  a  steamer 
on  Lake  Erie  as  a  dock  hand  at  ten  dollars  per 
month.  He  also  worked  for  a  short  time  iu  the 
city  of  Milwaukee,  Wisconsin,  and  other  places 
in  "the  West.  In  1869  Mr.  Finck  left  Buffalo, 
New  York,  and  located  on  the  farm  upon  which 
lie  now  resides.  There  was  at  that  time  erected 
upon  it  a  small  brewery  of  the  French  type,  in 
which  he  commenced  business.  He  continued 
the  brewing  business,  gradually  iucreasing  the 
business  iu  its  capacity  up  to  the  year  1888,  at 
which  time  he  erected  a  large  new  brick  brewery 
aud  equipped  it  with  the  most  modern  appar- 
atus. This  brewery  is  located  within  a  short 
distance  of  the  city  of  Dunkii'k  and  is  also 
witiiin  a  short  distance  of  two  leading  railroads, 
so  that  he  is  not  lacking  in  facilities  for  delivery 
and  shipment.  His  business  has  grown  in  ex- 
tent and  importance  year  by  year  until  at  the 
present  time  it  is  one  of  the  most  prominent  in 
the  town  of  Dunkirk.  Mr.  Finck  has  erected 
upon  his  farm  a  fine  brick  house  of  a  modern 
style  of  architecture,  where  he  lives  in  compara- 
tive ease  aud  complacency,  practically  retired 
from  the  activities  of  a  business  life.  The  life 
of  Henry  Finck  well  illustrates  what  c;in  be  at- 
tained through  iiulustry,  courage  and  unflagging 


i 


OF  CHAUTAUQUA   COUNTY. 


033 


energy  in  the  business  world.  His  career  has 
been  iuarl<ed  by  self-effort,  by  patient  struggle 
with  adverse  circumstances,  but  withal  honesty 
and  an  untiring  zeal.  He  is  now  recognized, 
thougii  born  in  a  foreign  land  and  reared  under 
a  widely  different  form  of  government  and  type 
of  civilization,  as  a  model  citizen  and  in  com- 
plete sympathy  with  our  constitution,  as  well  as 
the  political  and  social  fabric  of  America. 

In  thej'ear  1864  Henry  Finck  was  united  in 
marriage  to  Margaret,  daughter  of  Alexander 
Hadley  of  Baden,  Germany,  who  has  borne  him 
two  children,  both  sons — Henry  and  Albert. 


nICHARD  A.  HALL,  a  gentleman  well 
versed  in  the  statute  law  of  the  State  of 
New  York,  is  a  son  of  Artemus  and  Almira 
(Mount)  Hall,  and  was  born  in  tiie  town  of 
Cherry  Creek,  Chautauqua  county.  New  York, 
in  1864.  The  paternal  grandfather,  Abraham 
Hall,  was  a  farmer.  Artemus  Hall  was  a  re- 
publican  in  politics  and  a  farmer  by  occupation. 
He  came  with  his  parents  to  Cherry  Creek  and 
still  resides  here. 

Richard  A.  Hall  received  a  public  school  edu- 
cation, attended  the  Ellington  academy  and  the 
Fredonia  State  Normal  school.     After   leaving: 
the  latter  he  read  law  with  the  Hon.  George  H. 
Trout,  of  Cherry  Creek,  and  was  admitted  to 
the  bar  in  June,  1889.     About  the  same  time 
he  associated   himself  in   partnership  with    his 
former  preceptor,  who  resides  in  Buffalo  and  has  j 
a  law  office  there.     The  firm  now  do  lesral  bus- 
ine.ss  in  both    Erie  and  Chautauqua    counties, 
and  in  the  difl^ei-ent  courts  throughout  the  State. 
Richard  A.  Hall  is  a  member  of  Cherry  Creek  j 
Lodge,  No.  463,  I.  O.  O.  F.,  and  is  a  republi-  ' 
can  in  politics. 

He  united  in  marriage  with  Stella  Ellsworth, 
and  they  have  two  children  :  Eugenia,  and  an 
infant.  Mr.  Hall  is  a  bright  and  shrewd  lawyer, 
careful  and  conscientious  in  his  business,  up- 
right in  his  character  and  seems  destined  to  make 
a  mark. 


Q  LMERON  McDANIELS,  a  descendant  ot 
■^^     a  good   old   New   England  family  and  a 
staunch    farmer   of    Chautauqua    couuty,    was 
born  July  27,  1845,  in  the  town  of  Villanova, 
Chautauqua  county,  New  York.     His  parents 
were  Leonard  and   Lydia  (Howe)  McDaniels. 
The    McDaniels    fiunily    were    natives    of  the 
State  of  Vermont,  where  the   paternal   grand- 
father   of  our   subject   lived '  and    died.     His 
grandfather  on  tiie  maternal  side  was  a  farmer 
of  Massachusetts,  of  which  State  he  was  a  life- 
long resident.     Leonard  McDaniels  was  bora 
and  reared  in  Vermont  and  about  the  year  1841 
changed  his  place  of  residence  to  the  State  of 
New    York,    town    of    Pomfret,    Chautauqua 
county.     Thence    he   moved   into    the  town  ot 
Villanova,  where  he  remained   some  time,  and 
finally  located   in  the  town  of  Hanover  on  the 
public    road    leading    from  Silver    Creek    to 
Forestville.       Here    he    purchased    some  land 
and   went  to  farming,  which  he  has  since  fol- 
lowed with  success  and  good  financial  results. 
Politically,    his   tendencies    were  decidedly  re- 
publican, although  he  always  held  himself  aloof 
from  partisanship  and  office  seeking.     He  held 
membership  in  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church, 
where    his    family    were    constant    worshipers. 
DuViug  the  war  of  1812  he  was  mustered  into 
the   service   and    took  jiart  in    nearly    all    the 
notable  campaigns  of  that  war.     Mr.  McDaniels 
entered  the  bonds  of  marriage  with  Miss  Lydia 
Howe,  who  is  still  living  in  the  town  of  Han- 
over, at  the  age  of  seventy-seven  years.     Tliey 
were   the    parents    of    seven  children :  Sarah, 
married    to    Philo    Osborn     (dead)    and    now 
living  in    the  village   of  Silver  Creek ;  Mary, 
married    to  Albert  Bennett,  a  resident  of  near 
Forestville,    New   York ;    Ellen,    married    to 
Abner  Stebbins  a  farmer  of  Erie  couuty.  Pa. ; 
Emily  (dead)  ;  Almeron  ;   Adelaide,  married  to 
IMason    Cushman,   a    farmer    of  the   town    of 
Hanover ;  and  Charles  (married  to  Nora  Mor- 
ris) living  in  Sheridan,  Ciiautauqua  couuty,  a 
farmer. 


634 


BIOGRAPHY  AND  HISTORY 


Almeron  McDaniels  is  indebted  to  the  com- 
mon school  system  for  his  education,  and  to  his 
early  life  upon  his  father's  farm  for  a  strong, 
robust  physical  constitution.  After  leaving 
school  he  began  his  independent  career  as  a 
clerk  at  Silver  Creek,  where  he  spent  three 
years.  At  the  expiration  of  this  time  he  re- 
turned to  farming,  and  in  1883  located  where 
he  now  lives  in  Hanover  townshi]).  In  con- 
junction with  his  farm  interests,  he  runs  a 
dairy,  which  has  proved  quite  a  successful  and 
profitable  venture.  He  has  been  democratic 
in  his  political  proclivities  until  within  a 
few  years,  when  his  moral  convictions  led  him 
to  ally  himself  with  the   Prohibition  party. 

Almeron  McDaniels  united  in  marriage  with 
Emily  A.  Brown,  daughter  of  Sidney  and  Har- 
riet (Green)  Brown  of  Hanover  Centre,  New 
York,  but  formerly  of  the  State  of  Vermont. 
He  has  two  children  :  Sidney  B.  and  Fred  A., 
both  young. 


TSRAJEL  G.  MOORE,  a  man  of  influence 
-*■  and  a  leading  farmer  of  the  town  of  Elli- 
cott,  is  by  birth  and  education  a  New  Eng- 
lander.  He  was  born  in  West  Boylston,  Mas- 
.sachusetts,  January  2,  1809,  and  is  a  son  of 
Israel  and  jMary  C.  (Goodell)  Moore.  His 
grandfather  whose  name  was  also  Israel  Moore, 
had  been  born  three  generations  prior  at  the  ; 
same  place,  where  he  also  died.  The  INIoores 
have  been  a  succession  of  farmers,  grandfather 
Moore  having  been  the  owner  of  a  large  and  , 
well-improved  farm  in  the  native  State.  He 
was  a  follower  of  the  Whig  party  and  a  member 
of  the  Congregational  church,  in  which  he  held 
the  office  of  deacon  for  many  years.  His  mar- 
riage resulted  in  the  birth  of  five  sons  and  two 
daughters.  Maternal  grandfather  Goodell  was 
also  a  Massachusetts  farmer  in  comfortable  cir- 
cumstances and  of  I'uritan  descent.  He  was  a 
whig,  a  worshiper  at  the  Congregational 
church,  and  reared  a  family  of  .seven  children, 
three  sons  and  four  daughters.     His   wife  was 


Miss  Eunice  Lovell  of  the  same  place.  Israel 
Moore,  father  of  Israel  G.  Moore,  was  given 
birth  at  the  old  Moore  homestead  in  Massachu- 
setts in  the  year  1779,  and  died  thirty-two 
years  later.  By  occupation  he  was  a  farmer, 
in  politics  a  whig  and  in  religion  a  member  of 
the  Congregational  church.  He  was  united  in 
the  bonds  of  marriage  with  Miss  Mary  C. 
Goodell,  who  bore  him  two  sons  and  two 
daughters,  all  of  whom  lived  and  died  in  the 
State  of  Massachusetts,  except  the  subject.  Mr. 
Moore  inherited  in  a  measure  the  religious  con- 
victions and  social  views  of  his  Puritan  ances- 
tors. He  was  thoroughly  imbued  with  the 
spirit  of  conservatism  and  firmly  held  to  the 
faith  and  customs  which  have  become  such 
potent  factors  in  shaping  American  life  and 
institutions. 

Israel  G.  Moore  gained  his  education  through 
the  medium  of  the  common  schools,  was  reared 
a  farm  lad  and,  ever  since  attaining  his  majority, 
has  engaged  in  the  pursuits  of  agriculture.  In 
1836  he  emigrated  to  New  York  State  and 
settled  in  the  town  of  EUicott,  where  he  now 
resides.  At  that  time  his  present  farm  was  en- 
tirely ■  covered  with  a  heavy  growth  of  timber, 
but  through  his  toil  and  tireless  energy  the 
scene  has  changed.  To-day  there  is  field  and 
meadow,  waving  grain  and  lowing  herds, 
\vhere  sixty  years  ago  all  was  trackless  forest 
relieved  from  the  monotony  of  its  primeval 
nature  only  by  here  and  there  the  chipping  of 
the  surveyor's  ax.  This  farm,  which  still  re- 
mains in  the  ownership  of  the  subject,  is  man- 
aged and  Ofierated  by  his  sons. 

On  March  17,  1831,  while  still  in  Massa- 
chusetts, he  was  united  in  marriage  to  Al)igail 
H.  Partridge,  by  whom  he  had  four  children  : 
Eliza  J.,  wife  of  Alva  Bush  (deceased)  wlio 
lives  in  Osage,  Iowa ;  Alfred  E.,  married  to 
Mary  Sunderland  and  now  residing  in  James- 
town, New  York,  a  carpenter  by  trade  ;  Alman 
P.  (married  to  Anna  Lardlc)  living  on  his 
father's  farm  ;  and  Abbie  H.,  wife  of  Addison 


OF  CHAUTAUQUA  COUNTY. 


635 


E.  Holaiulbock,  a  hotel-keeper  of  Balake,  Pa. 
Ill  politics  Mr.  Moore  is  a  republican,  while 
in  church  membership  he  is  a  Coiigrcgation- 
alist.  As  a  citizen  and  as  a  man  he  is  held  in 
highest  respect. 


TONAS  MARTIN,  one  of  the  early  grape- 
*^  growers  of  the  town  of  Portland,  and  an 
active  business  man  of  Brocton,  is  a  son  of 
Jason  and  Elniira  (Hill)  Martin,  and  was  born 
in  the  town  of  Portland,  Chautaucjua  county, 
New  York,  November  26,  1828.  The  Mar- 
tins and  Hills  were  among  the  early  settled 
families  of  Vermont,  and  many  of  them  served 
with  credit  in  the  Revolutionary  struggle  for 
Independence.  Zadoc  Martin  (grandfathei*) 
came  into  this  county  in  1816  with  an  ox  team, 
and  purchased  two  hundred  and  seventy  acres 
of  land  in  the  tov/u  of  Portland.  He  was  ac- 
companied by  his  wife  and  four  children,  none 
of  whom  are  now  living.  He  was  a  carpenter 
and  joiner  by  trade,  served  in  the  war  of  1812, 
and  died  in  the  autumn  of  1851,  at  seventy- 
three  years  of  age.  His  son,  Jason  Martin, 
(father),  came  with  him  in  1816,  and  settled 
one  and  one-half  miles  east  of  the  village  of 
Brocton,  where  he  followed  farming  until  his 
death  in  1872,  when,  in  the  sixty-ninth  year  of 
his  age.  He  was  a  prosperous  farmer  and  an 
old-time  democrat,  and  married  Elmira  Hill,  of 
Vermont,  who  was  born  in  1808,  and  passed 
away  in  the  same  year  in  which  her  husband 
died.  Her  grandfather,  Keuben  Hill,  (maternal 
great-grandfather),  was  a  gunsmith,  and  made 
guns  for  the  Continental  army,  in  which  his 
son,  Zimri  Hill,  (maternal  grandfather),  served 
in  a  light-horse  company  and  lost  one  of  his 
hands.  He  was  but  eighteen  years  of  ago  when 
he  enlisted  in  the  Continental  army,  and  after- 
wards .served  as  a  soldier  in  the  war  of  1812. 
In  1817,  Zimri  Hill,  the  hero  of  two  wars, 
settled  in  Portland  where  he  bought  three  hun- 
dred  acres,  one  mile  south  of  Brocton,  aud  whei'e 
he  died  in  1844.  j 

34 


Jonas  Martin  grew  to  manhood  on  the  farm, 
and  received  his  education  in  the  common 
schools  and  a  select  school  of  the  town  of  Port- 
land. He  commenced  life  for  himself  by  work- 
ing by  the  month  as  a  farm  hand,  and  in  two 
years  acquired  sufficient  means  to  purchase 
a  small  farm  of  fifty  acres.  After  farming  for 
some  years  he  engaged  in  his  present  business 
of  grape  raising  and  speculating  in  real  estate. 
He  was  among  the  first  grape  growers  in  the 
town  of  Portland,  has  over  two  hundred  acres 
of  bearing  vineyards,  and  buys  and  ships  large 
quantities  of  grapes. 

In  1 862  he  ma  rried  Elvira,  daughter  of  Phil- 
lip Mericle,  of  Brocton.  Mrs.  Martiu  died  in 
1887,  leaving  one  child,  Jerome  P.,  and  in 
1889  Mr.  Martin  united  in  marriage  with  Julia 
E.,  daughter  of  AVilliam  Strasmer,  of  Buffalo. 
To  this  second  uuion  has  been  born  one  child, 
a  son,  William  J. 

In  politics  Mr.  Martin  is  a  democrat,  and  has 
served  his  town  as  assessor.  He  was  the  first 
man  that  ever  shipped  a  full  car  load  of  grapes 
from  Brocton.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Ancient 
Order  of  United  Workmen,  and  of  the  Knights 
of  Honor. 


/^EORGE  LE  ROY  MARTIN,  the  justice  of 

^^  the  peace  at  Cherry  Creek  and  a  thriving 
merchant,  doing  business  at  the  same  place,  a 
son  of  George  W.  and  Sophronia  (Thompson) 
Martin,  was  born  in  the  town  of  Arkwright, 
Chautauqua  county.  New  York,  December  22, 
1851.  George  W.  Martin  was  born  in  the 
town  of  Arkwright,  March  20,  1824  and  is  a 
sou  of  Isaiah  Martin.  He  was  a  farmer  by 
occupation,  married  Sophronia  Thompson,  and 
had  the  following  children :  Edgar  W.,  born 
May  10,  1847,  married  Cynthia  Waite  of 
Cherry  Creek,  is  a  farmer  and  has  two  daugh- 
ters; Charles  W.,  born  November  22,  1849, 
married  Addie  Brown,  of  this  town,  is  a  mer- 
chant and  has  two  daughtei-s ;  George  L.  ;  Ella 
S.,  born  April  26,  1854,  married  Dr.  Charles 


636 


BIOGRAPHY  AND  HISTORY 


A.  Beebe,  a  practicing  physician,  living  at  Mar- 
shall, Wisconsin,  and  has  two  sons;  Dewrell  C, 
born  April  11,  1856,  is  a  cheese  maker  in  this 
town,  married  Cora  Farnham,  of  Hamlet  and 
has  one  sou  and  two  daughters  ;  James  E.,  born 
in  October,  1858,  is  a  butcher,  married  Effie 
Fluker  and  has  one  daughter  ;  Annie  S.,  born 
October  26,  1860,  and  resides  in  Arkwricrht 
with  her  mother;  Orlin  D.,  boi-ii  March  8, 
1863  (dead) ;  Frank  E.,  born  April  21,  1865, 
is  a  butcher  in  Villauova  and  married  Dolly 
King  of  Cherry  Creek  ;  Hattie  E.,  born  April 
26,  1867,  married  Dewitt  C.  Erwin  a  fanner  of 
Cherry  Creek  ;  and  Otis  J.,  born  May  14,  1873, 
is  at  home  in  Arkwright. 

George  Le  Roy  Martin  was  educated  at  the  grad- 
ed schools  at  Rushville,  Crawford  county,  Penn- 
sylvania, where  he  entered  business,  remained 
seven  years  and  then  removed  to  State  Line, 
McKean  county.  Pa.,  where  he  staid  five  years 
and  then  came  to  Cherry  Creek  and  opened  his 
business  in  October  of  1883,  since  which  he 
has  carried  a  good  stock  of  groceries,  and  being 
a  careful  business  man  and  a  popular  gentleman, 
is  doing  probably  the  most  thriving  business 
in  town.  In  politics  he  is  a  republican  and 
three  years  ago  was  elected  town  clerk,  a  posi- 
tion which  he  still  retains.  He  is  a  member  of 
the  Methodist  church  and  belongs  to  Cherry 
Creek  Lodge,  No.  463,  I.  O.  O.  F.,  Pocahontas 
Tent,  Xo.  101,  K.  of  M.,  and  the  Equitable 
Aid  Union. 

He  married  Carrie  Rice,  a  daughter  of  A.  J. 
and  Carrie  Rice,  of  Riceville,  Pa.,  and  has  a 
son  Ear!  R.,  and  a  daughter  Edith  M. 


i^OL.  .lEFFREY  T.  MOOX,  the  well-known 
^^  and  p()])uhir  chief  of  police,  of  James- 
town, was  born  March  22,  1828,  about  two  and 
one-half  miles  north  of  Jamestown,  Chautau- 
qua county,  New  York,  in  what  was  then  and 
still  is  known  as  Moon  Hollow.  His  ))arents, 
Augustus  and  Olive  (Clark)  Moon,  were  early 
.settlers  of  the  locality.    Cliarlcs  ^Nloon  (paternal 


grandfather)  was  born  at  Cambridge,  Washing- 
ton county,  and  was  a  farmer  until  his  death, 
which  occurred  accidentally.  He  was  a  captain 
in  the  Colonial  army  fhiring  the  Revolutionary 
war,  and  served  until  hostilities  were  suspend- 
ed. He  married  and  had  four  children. 
Grandfather  George  Clark  was  a  native  of  what 
at  that  time  was  known  as  Middlesex,  now  On- 
tario county,  this  State,  and  died  there.  Au- 
gustus Moon,  father  of  our  subject,  was  born  in 
Washington  county,  N.  Y.,  in  1797,  and  came 
to  Chautauqua  county  in  1814,  settling  in  what 
afterwards  took  the  name  of  Moon  Hollow,  a 
short  distance  north  of  Jamestown.  He  took  a 
tract  of  land  containing  six  hundred  and  forty 
acres,  being  Section  No.  37,  Town  No.  2, 
Range  No.  11,  in  EUicott  town,  the  location 
being  made  in  August,  1816.  This  plan  Mr. 
Moon  made  his  home  untd  his  dgath.  While 
practically  a  farmer  he  \vas  also  a  lumberman, 
and  did  a  great  amount  of  business  for  the 
times.  Before  coming  to  Chautauqua  county 
he  served  in  the  American  army  when  the 
United  States  had  her  second  struggle  with  the 
mother  country  and  remained  fighting  until  the 
close  of  the  war.  Mr.  ^loon  married  Olive 
Clark  and  became  the  father  of  twelve  children, 
of  whom  but  four  reached  maturity. 

Jeffrey  T.  Moon  was  educated  in  the  James- 
town academy,  and  began  to  teach  school  when 
eighteen  years  old.  Afterwards  he  was  em- 
ployed lumbering  on  the  Allegheny  river,  which 
work  he  left  for  a  farm.  ]\Ir.  ]\Ioon  came  to 
Jamestown  in  1862,  where  he  has  since  lived, 
and  was  constable  for  the  cit)'  twenty-seven  con- 
secutive years,  and  is  now  serving  his  second 
term  as  chief  of  police.  He  is  a  republican, 
and  a  member  of  the  Ancient  Order  of  Uni- 
ted \\'orkmen. 

He  married  Electa  J.  Clark,  a  daughter  of 
Giles  Clark.  They  have  been  the  parents  of 
two  children  :  Fred,  a  sign  painter  living  in  this 
city  ;  and  a  daughter,  tiie  wife  of  C.  S.  Grant, 
who  I'csidcs  in  St.  Ijoiiis,  Mo. 


OF  CHAUTAUQUA   COUNTY. 


*;37 


TOHX  3IA1IOXKY,  father  of  (ho  senior 
^  ])aftnci'  of  tlie  ohl  and  reliable  firm 
of  ]\rahonL'y  Brothers,  now  IMalioney  Bro- 
thers &  Burland,  is  a  native  of  the  Emerald 
Isle,  where  he  was  born  in  Jnly,  1833.  His 
parents  were  Thomas  and  Mary  (Neville)  Ma- 
honey,  who  were  representative  people  of  the 
Irish  race.  His  grandfather,  John  Mahoney, 
Sr.,  never  came  to  America  nor  did  his  sou 
Thomas,  the  latter  dying  while  onr  subject  was 
yet  young — leaving  five  children  :  John,  James, 
Edward,  Thomas  and  Kate.  In  1853  John  and 
James  came  to  America  and  located  at  James- 
town and  have  lived  here  ever  since.  At  a  later 
date  they  brought  over  their  two  brothers  and 
sister,  all  of  whom  now  reside  in  this  city. 
Shortly  after  his  arrival  John  Mahoney  bought 
a  five  acre  tract  of  laud  and  built  the  home 
where  he  now  lives. 

He  married  Margaret  Finnell,  a  daughter  of 
John  Finnell,  of  Ireland.  Their  union  has 
been  blessed  with  eight  children  :  John  T.,  mar-  ' 
ried  Ella  Quigley,  daughter  of  Andrew  Quigley, 
who  is  a  resident  of  Jamestown.  He  is  the  j 
senior  member  of  the  firm,  Mahoney  Bro's  & 
Burland,  contractors  and  builders,  and  dealers 
in  quarry  stone  and  building  supplies.  This 
long  established  company  is  without  a  superior 
in  their  line  in  western  New  York.  The  work  : 
they  have  completed  stands  a  proud  monument 
to  their  skill.  N.  W.  Gokey's  residence,  built 
by  them,  is  said  to  be  without  an  equal  in  this 
section  of  the  country — the  Gifford  block  is 
without  doubt  the  fiuest  in  the  city  and  many 
others  are  all  specimens  of  their  ability  to  per- 
form which  has  taken  the  services  of  seventy 
men  all  summer  ;  Thomas,  a  twin  brother  of 
John  T.,  is  also  a  partner  in  the  firm  ;  James,  is 
engaged  in  the  furniture  business  at  Reading, 
Pa.,  the  establishment  being  one  of  the  largest 
in  the  city ;  Dana  is  foreman  for  the  Wright 
Fire  Proof  Tile  company,  of  Chicago ;  Edward 
is  employed  as  a  mason  by  his  brothers  ;  David 
works  in    a   foundry ;    Richard  is  engaged  in 


the  furniture  store  belonging  to  his  brother 
James;  and  Julia.  John  AFahonev  is  the 
father  of  a  remarkable  family.  Every  son 
is  a  successful  man  and  several  of  tliem  are  at 
the  head  of  their  respective  lines  of  business. 
It  would  be  a  difficult  task  to  find  a  parallel. 
The  father  of  such  a  family  must  be  a  man  of 
will  and  decision  and  the  mother  pcssessed  of 
extraordinary  love  and  intelligence. 

Mr.  Mahoney  is  a  democrat  politically  as  are 
all  the  male  members  of  his  family,  and  all  are 
members  of  the  Catholic  cluirch. 


TOHX  McCarthy  is  another  of  our  well- 
^  known  citizens  who  early  in  life  came  to 
this  country  from  Ireland.  David  aud  Nellie 
(Bristol)  McCarthy  were  his  parents,  and  he 
was  born  ou  the  anniversary  of  America's  inde- 
pendence, 1840.  His  grandfather,  Florence 
McCarthy,  was  a  native  of  Ireland,  a  carpenter 
by  trade,  and  was  married  to  Kitty  Cahill,  who 
bore  him  three  sons  and  one  daughter.  His 
maternal  grandfather  Bristol,  was  a  native  of 
England  but  went  over  into  Ireland,  where  he 
was  a  farmer  until  his  death.  David  McCar- 
thy (father)  was  born  in  Ireland  and  came  to 
America  in  1831  and  first  made  his  home  on 
Long  Island,  New  York,  at  a  place  called 
Greenport,  but  later  went  to  Erie  county,  New 
York,  where  he  died  a  member  of  the  Roman 
Catholic  church.  He  was  a  farmer  by  occupa- 
tion and  politically  independent.  He  married 
Nellie  Bristol,  who  is  still  living  and  is  now 
eighty-one  years  old. 

John  McCarthy  received  his  early  education 
at  an  academy  in  Erie  county  and  went  to  work 
as  a  freight  shipper  in  the  city  of  Bufifalo  which 
he  followed  for  a  time  and  then  began  the  com- 
mission business,  and  later  opened  a  grocery 
store  and  securing  a  good  trade,  which  he  con- 
tinued for  about  twelve  years,  in  the  meantime 
going  into  politics  aud  joining  his  fortunes  with 
the  Republican  party.  In  1876  the  people  of 
the  Thirteenth    ward,  of  Buffiilo   triumphantly 


638 


BIOGRAPHY  AND  HISTORY 


elected  him  supervisor  of  the  ward  and  at  the 
exjiiration  of  his  term  re-elected  him.  After 
this  the  deputy  supervisorship  of  the  peniten- 
tiary was  awarded  him,  which  responsible  posi- 
tion he  filled  for  four  years.  At  the  expiration 
of  his  term,  which  occurred  in  1882,  he  came  to 
JamestowD  and  buying  the  Buffalo  house,  on 
Lake  street,  opened  a  hotel.  The  house  is  a 
large  three-story  brick,  forty  by  thirty-six  feet, 
and  is  conducted  in  a  first-class  manner. 

He  married  Catherine  McCarthy  and  their 
union  has  been  blest  with  one  child  :  Florence  S. 

During  the  late  civil  war  Mr.  McCarthy  en- 
listed for  service  but  his  father  interfered  and 
caused  his  discharge  much  against  his  will. 
He  belongs  to  the  Roman  Catholic  church  in 
which  Mrs.  McCarthy  is  also  a  member. 


SYIiVAlSTJS  NORTON  was  born  in  Sin- 
clairville,  Chautauqua  county.  New  York, 
November  17,  1842,  and  is  the  son  of  Alphonzo 
and  Betsey  Norton.  His  father  was  a  carpenter 
by  trade  and  a  man  of  exemplary  life  and 
moral  worth.  He  received  a  common  school 
education,  pursued  his  trade  and  in  the  year 
1854,  moved  into  the  State  of  Illinois.  Here 
he  resided  for  a  period  of  seven  years,  when  he 
returned  to  the  State  of  New  York,  and  passed 
the  remainder  of  his  life,  dying  at  the  age  of 
sixty-seven. 

Sylvanus  Norton  spent  most  of  his  early  life 
in  the  State  of  Illinois,  from  which  State  in 
18G1,  at  the  outbreak  of  the  civil  war,  he 
enlisted  in  Co.  H.,  12th  regiment  Illinois  A^ol- 
unteer  Infantry  for  a  period  of  three  months 
in  pursuance  of  President  Lincoln's  first  call 
for  volunteers.  At  the  expiration  of  the  three 
months,  he  re-enlisted  and  served  three  years, 
the  greater  part  of  his  service  being  in  the 
army  of  the  Cumberland  and  under  Gen.  Wil- 
liam T.  Sherman,  besides  considerable  special 
duty  as  a  scout  under  officers  detailed  particu- 
larly for  that  duty.  Mr.  ^iorton  took  part  in 
tlie  engagements  at  Belmont,  Fort  Henry,  Fort 


Donelson,  Pittsburg  Lauding,  where  he  was 
wounded,  Shiloh,  Corinth,  luka,  Vicksburg 
and  Chattanooga.  From  Chattanooga  he  started 
under  Gen.  Sherman  on  his  far  famed  and  his- 
toric march  to  the  sea.  At  Atlanta  he  received 
a  serious  wound  from  an  artillery  explosion,  by 
reason  of  which  he  was  discharged  from  a 
longer  continuation  in  service.  Upon  his 
return  to  civil  life,  he  went  to  Illinois,  and  for 
a  while  took  up  his  residence  at  Sheffield, 
shortly  afterward  making  a  voyage  to  Chau- 
tauqua county.  New  York.  From  here  he 
crossed  the  continent  to  California,  located  for 
a  time  in  Humboldt  county  and  again  returned 
to  Chautauqua  county,  where  he  engaged  in  the 
manufacture  of  harness.  He  has  been  deputy 
sheriff  of  Chautauqua  county,  a  member  of  the 
excise  committee  and  belongs  to  the  Masons, 
Royal  Arch  degree,  and  G.  A.  R.  In  politics 
he  is  a  republican.  Mr.  Norton  is  the  jjatentee 
of  a  bridle-bit  and  also  of  an  over  check  loop, 
which  has  attained  a  hearty  commendation  from 
experienced,  practical  horsemen. 

Sylvanus  Norton,  on  October  21,  1868,  was 
married  to  Laura  Foster  of  Farmington,  Pa., 
who  bore  him  four  children  :  Leslie  D.,  James 
H.,  Newell  S.  and  Lyon  F.  After  the  death 
of  his  first  wife,  he  married  on  August  7,  1881, 
Ida,  daughter  of  Walter  Cordot  of  Charlotte, 
N.  Y.,  and  they  have  one  child,  Clara  Emma. 


/>EO:feGE  NOBLES,  a  citizen  and  business 
^^  man  of  good  standing  in  the  town  of 
Gerry,  was  born  in  Pomfret,  Chautauqua 
county.  New  York,  on  April  28,  1826,  and  is 
the  son  of  Heziah  and  Polly  (Lorrell)  Nobles, 
ills  father  being  a  native  of  Massac! uisetts  and 
his  mother  of  Connecticut.  Ilcziah  Nobles 
was  a  tanner  by  tratle,  a  republican  in  politics 
and  a  Universalist  in  his  religious  belief.  He 
first  came  to  Chautauqua  county  in  the  year 
1814,  took  up  his  residence  and  plied  his  trade 
at  the  village  of  Milfbrd,  at  which  place  he 
died,  aged  eighty-one  years. 


OF  CHAUTAUQUA   COUNTY. 


f!39 


George  Nobles,  his  son,  lias  heeii  a  life-long 
resident  of  (Jhautanqua  county,  iiaving  been 
educated  in  tiie  common  schools  of  the  town  of 
I'onifret,  in  which  town  he  resided  for  fifty- 
one  years.  At  the  close  of  his  school  career, 
which  was  at  the  age  of  eighteen,  he  engaged  in 
the  tanning  business  with  his  father  and  com- 
pleted that  trade.  Shortly  afterwards  he  be- 
came a  partner  with  his  father,  the  new  firm 
doing  a  large  and  profitable  business.  Upon 
his  retirement  from  the  tannery,  somewhat 
later,  he  took  up  the  business  of  growing  fruit 
and  manufacturing  baskets  for  its  shipment,  in 
which  line  of  business  he  is  now  engao-ed  under 
the  firm  name  of  Nobles  &  Manton.  Since 
1876,  his  business  interests  have  been  located  in 
the  town  of  Gerry,  where  ho  has  large  orchards 
and  extensive  basket  factories.  Mr.  Nobles 
was  the  pioneer  manufactui'er  of  fruit  baskets 
in  Chautauqua  county.  He  is  a  democrat  and 
a  charter  member  of  the  Building  and  Loan 
association  of  Sinclairville. 

On  May  23,  ]  850,  George  Nobles  was  united 
in  marriage  to  Nancy  Cassady  Crane,  a  daugh- 
ter of  Henry  Crane,  of  Fredonia,  New  York. 
They  have  had  but  one  child,  a  daughter,  Mary 
Crane. 


TliriLO  P.  NEVINS,  the  accommodating  and 
4  efficient  railroad  agent  at  Smith's  Mills, 

is  a  son  of  Lyman  G.  and  Bethany  (Gallett) 
Nevins,  and  was  born  April  20,  1849,  in  the 
town  of  Hanover,  Chautauqua  county.  New 
York.  His  grandfather,  Thomas  Nevins,  was 
a  native  of  the  Green  Mountaiu  State  and  died 
at  Smith's  Mills,  Chautauqua  county,  New- 
York.  Prior  to  his  coming  to  Smith's  Mills, 
he  was  a  citizen  of  Forestville,  same  county. 
He  belonged  to  that  sturdy,  courageous  force 
of  pioneers  to  whom  the  splendid  development 
of  Chautauqua  county  is  indirectly  due.  Upon 
his  first  arrival  the  county  was  still,  practically, 
in  its  primitive  garb,  but,  undaunted  by  all 
those  hardships  and  privations  and  nondescript 


conditions  that  surround  the  jiiotieer,  he  steadily 
fell  to  work  with  strong  determination  and  a 
hopeful    heart.     Through   the  joint  eilPorts   of 
himself   and    his  co-laborers,  the  evidences  of 
civilized  life  soon  began  to  appear :  the  process 
of  clearing  continued,  crops  succeeded,  homes 
and  barns  were  built,  roads  laid  out,  villages 
arose,    industry    and    education    and    religion 
1  obtained  a  foot-hold,  and   finally  emerged  the 
Chautauqua    county    of    to-day,    with    all    its 
machinery    of    government,    its    political    and 
educational  institutions,  its  judiciary,  its  homes 
and  culture.     All  this  he  did  not  live  to  see, 
but  he  did  live  long  enough  to  be  cognizant  of 
the  law  of  progress.     During  the  existence  of 
the  old  Whig  party,  Thomas  Nevins  was  one 
of  its  most  enthusiastic   supporters.     He  was 
one    of    those    inspired     with     the     spirit    of 
patriotism,   and    during    the    soul-stirring  and 
I  significant   campaigns    of  that    early    da}^,   iiis 
inspiration    and    feeling  burst  forth   in   jioetry 
and  song.     As  in  love  of  country,  so  in  religion 
he  was  a  man  of  deep  and  abiding  convictions, 
whose  life  was  rich  in  wholesome  fruition.     He 
was   a    member    of   the    Methodist    Episcopal 
church.      He    was   twice    married.      His   sec- 
ond wife  was  Abigail    Baxter,  who   bore  him 
nine  children,   four  sons    and    five   daughters. 
In  the  latter  part  of  his  life  Mr.  Nevins  became 
a  lay  preacher  in  the  Methodist  church.     His 
father  had  been  a  soldier  in  the  war  of  1812, 
and  took   part  in  the  engagement   at  Buffalo, 
during  the  siege  and  burning  of  that  city.     The 
grandfather  of  Milo  P.  Nevins  on  the  maternal 
side,  Henry  Gallett,  was  born  in  New  England 
and   emigrated  to  Ontario  county,  New  York, 
where  he  ever  afterward   lived  and  died.     He 
was  a  blacksmith    by  trade  and  united  in  mar- 
riage with  Miss  Lydia  Martin,  by  whom  he  had 
a  family  of  three  girls  and  one  boy.     Lyman  G. 
Nevins  (father),  was  born  in  Forestville,  Chau- 
tauqua county,  New  York,  October  25th,  1814. 
He  has  always  been  a  resident  of  Chautauqua 
county,  and   never  was  outside  of  the  county 


640 


BIOGRAPHY  AND  HISTORY 


but  once,  and  rarely  left  his  home  in  Hanover 
town,  where  he  owned  a  farm  and  devoted  him- 
self to  its  cultivation.  His  death  occurred  on 
July  20, 1890.  Lyman  G.  Xevins  was  married 
on  July  15,  1824,  arid  is  the  father  of  two  i 
children  :  William,  born  March  2,  1844,  mar- 
ried to  Delilah  Devinna,  and  now  living  in 
Monroe  county,  Michigan,  where  he  is  a  farmer 
and  mechanic;  aud  Milo  P. 

Milo  P.  Nevins  was  educated  in  the  common 
schools  and  Eastman's  business  college,  Pough- 
keepsie.  New  York,  where  he  was  graduated 
in  1870.  After  graduation  he  became  a  brake- 
man  on  the  Erie  R.  R.,  and  in  1871  came  to 
Smith's  Mills  and  received  the  appointment  of 
station  agent  and  operator,  in  which  capacity  he 
is  now  employed. 

In  May  of  1872,  he  was  united  in  man'iage 
to  Miss  Anna  Wilson,  daughter  of  Edward 
Wilson,  an  Englishman  by  birth.  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Nevins  have  four  children  :  George,  born 
November  1,  1873;  Jennie,  born  June  14, 1877; 
Harry,  born  February  26,  1879;  and  M.  Stan- 
ley, born  August  3,  1890. 

In  matters  of  politics,  Mr.  Nevins  is  a  sup- 
porter of  the  Republican  party,  though  he  takes 
anything  but  an  active  part  in  politics.  He  is 
a  prominent  secret  society  man,  and  is  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Free  and  Accepted  jNIasons  at  Forest- 
villc.  New  York,  and  No.  152,  A.  O.  U.  W., 
at  Smith's  Mills,  New  York. 


HIGH  XEIT.T.,  a  son  of  the  Emerald  Isle, 
who,  by  his  wit  and  geniality  has  made 
many  friends,  and  by  his  industry  ami  economy 
has  accumulated  a  fortune,  is  farming  and 
growing  grapes  in  Westfield  village,  this 
county.  He  is  a  son  of  Samuel  and  Sarah 
(Streau)  Neill,  and  was  born  in  County  Down, 
Ireland,  May  20,  1825.  His  j)arents  never 
came  to  America.  Grandfather  Hugii  Neill  was 
a  native  of  Scotland,  making  our  subject  of 
Scotcii  extraction.  Samuel  Neill  was  born  in 
the  same  countv  in  17.SI.     He  followed  farm- 


ing and  dealing  in  stock,  and  made  i[nite  a 
success.  He  married  Sarah  Streau,  a  Scotcii  girl, 
and  had  several  children.  He  was  an  elder  in 
the  Presbyterian  church,  full  of  energy  aud 
ambition  and  died  in  1848.  His  wife,  also 
a  member  of  the  Presbyterian  church,  had 
died  nine  years  previous,  a  good  and  noble 
lady. 

Hugh  Neill  was  reared  on  the  farm  and 
taught  to  work.  He  staid  at  home  and 
helped  his  father  until  twenty  j'ears  of  age, 
when  that  love  of  adventure  so  prevalent  in 
the  breasts  of  his  countrymen,  and  which  was 
caused  by  the  knowdedge  received  from  the 
geography  studied  in  the  national  and  private 
schools,  caused  him  to  think  of  trying  his  for- 
tune in  the  new  world.  With  his  father's 
blessing,  a  purse  in  his  pocket  and  a  stout 
heart,  he  sailed  from  home  iu  the  spring  of 
1845,  and  on  July  4th  of  the  same  year  located 
in  the  town  where  he  is  now  living.  The  first 
ten  years  were  passed  in  the  lumber  business, 
getting  out  ties,  etc.,  and  then  he  settled  down 
to  farming,  and  has  since  given  his  attention  to 
that.  Of  his  farm,  containing  one  hundred 
and  fifty  acres,  more  than  one  hundred  and 
twenty-five  of  them  lay  inside  the  limits  of 
Westfield  village.  He  has  a  fine  vineyard  of 
grapes  upon  the  place,  which  is  handsomely 
located  and  highly  improved. 

He  was  married  and  had  eight  children,  of 
whom  seven  are  living :  Fred  S.  died  March 
24, 1889,  aged  tw-enty-six  years;  Addie  A.  lives 
near  St.  Paul,  Minnesota,  the  wife  of  James  A. 
Cosgravc;  Emma  E.  married  John  R.  Fay  aud 
resides  in  tiiis  village;  John  H.  graduated  from 
a  ]\Iedical  and  Dental  school ;  Charles  A.  is 
engaged  in  the  harness-making  business  at 
Watertown,  Dakota;  Frank  C.  is  iu  business, 
al.so  in  Dakota;  Alice  S.  married  Frank  B. 
Lamb  and  lives  in  Westfield ;  and  (irace  C.  is 
unmarried  and  resides  with  her  parents.  Mr. 
Neill  is  a  republican  and  a  member  of  the 
Prcsbvteriau   church,    as   is   his  entire   fiunilv. 


OF  CHAUTAUQUA   COUNTY. 


en 


He  is  a  good  friend,  a  pleasant  old  gentleman 
and  a  kind  ueiiililwr. 


nICHAKD  A.  OS.^IKU.  One  who  occupied 
a  high  pedestal  in  tiio  love,  esteem  and 
respect  of  all  who  had  knowledge  of  him,  who 
fought  his  way  from  a  fatlierless  boyhood  to  the 
success  of  manhood,  and  who  served  his  country 
in  her  hour  of  need,  has  obeyed  the  summons, 
"  Come  up  iiigher."  Richard  A.  Osmer  was 
born  August  28,  1836,  in  Warren  county.  Pa., 
where  he  lived  until  1858.  His  father  died 
when  he  was  eight  years  old.  At  twenty-two 
jears  of  age  he  drove  an  ox-team  across  the 
plains  to  California,  in  which  State  he  remained 
until  1866,  excepting  a  term  of  service  with  the 
2d  California  Cavalry,  in  which  he  rose  to  the 
rank  of  first  lieutenant.  While  a  part  of  the  ' 
regiment  was  stationed  in  Nevada,  Lieut.  Osmer 
distinguished  himself  during  an  attack  upon  a 
camp  of  hostile  Indians.  One  wiio  participated 
in  that  fight  writes ;  "  You  cannot  bestow  too 
much  praise  on  Mr.  Osmer.  He  is  one  of  the 
kind  who  leads  tlie  way  and  says,  'Come  on, 
boys,'  not  one  of  those  wlio  mount  a  horse  and  \ 
keeps  out  of  tiie  way  of  the  Indlets."  In  1866, 
satisfied  with  his  accumulations,  he  returned  to  ' 
this  county  and  engaged  in  the  clothing  busi- 
ness with  W.  H.  Proudfit. 

On  July  30,  1867,  Mr.  Osmer  united  in  mar- 
riage with  Amanda  Proudfit,  who  died  June  27, 
1874.  By  this  first  marriage  he  had  two  chil- 
dren :  Katie  (dead),  and  William,  a  book-keeper 
for  W.  H.  Proudfit,  in  Jamestown.  In  April, 
1876,  Mr.  Osmer  married  for  his  second  wife  M. 
Nellie  King,  a  daughter  of  John  B.  King,  of 
Ravenna,  Ohio,  by  whom  he  had  one  child  : 
Richard  A.,  born  in  1880.  Mrs.  John  B.  King's 
motlier,  Mary  Ann  Wells,  with  her  husband 
lived  and  died  in  Ravenna.  Ilie  grandfatiier, 
John  Wells,  was  a  .soldier  in  the  war  of  1812. 
By  occupation  he  was  a  tanner,  and  at  one  time 
was  in  partnership  with  Jesse  Grant,  father  of 
Gen.  Grant,  at  Ravenna. 


In  all  his  public  relations  Richard  A.  Osmer 
was  a  leader.  He  was  an  active  republican,  was 
chairman  of  the  Republican  County  committee 
in  1879  and  1880,  and  presidential  elector  on 
the  ticket  of  1880  and  president  of  the  village 
of  Jamestown  in  1876  and  1877.  In  IMay, 
1875,  he  was  chosen  supreme  treasurer  of  the 
Knights  of  Honor,  which  order  was  established 
January  1,  1874.  He  was  re-elected  five  suc- 
cessive terras  and  held  the  office  until  his  death. 
Over  one  million  dollars  passed  through  his 
hands  while  he  was  supreme  treasurer.  He  was 
a  member  of  the  Royal  Arcanum  and  Empire 
Order  of  Mutual  Aid.  Upon  the  organization 
of  James  Prendergast  Hose  company.  No.  11, 
in  1873  he  was  chosen  foreman,  and  unani- 
mously re-elected  each  year  until  his  death. 
He  became  subject  to  hemorrhage  of  the  lungs 
and  went  to  Florida  for  his  healtii.  While  at 
Atlanta  he  was  attacked  with  a  iiemorrhage  and 
died.  The  Knights  of  Honor, there  took  full 
charge  of  the  funeral  services,  escorted  the  re- 
mains to  the  depot,  and  sent  a  guard  of  honor 
with  them  to  Jamestown.  He  was  greatly 
honored  throughout  the  order  for  his  honor,  in- 
tegrity and  public-spirited  character,  and  no  one 
occupied  a  higher  place  in  the  aftections  of  those 
who  knew  him.  In  all  his  social  relations  he 
made  warm  friends,  by  the  many  admirable 
qualities  he  possessed,  being  singularly  generous, 
faithful  and  unselfish,  reliable,  steadfast  and 
kind-hearted  in  his  social  life  and  intercourse 
with  his  fellow-men. 


■pLaiER  OSBORX.  One  of  the  many  en- 
-*"^  terprising  young  business  men  of  Silver 
Creek  is  Elmer  Osborn,  a  member  of  one  of 
the  leading  furniture  firms  of  Osborn  Brothers. 
He  was  born  in  Forestville,  Chautauqua 
county,  New  York,  April  14,  1861,  and  is  a 
son  of  Philo  and  Sarah  (McDaniels)  Osborn. 
Philo  Osborn  (father)  was  a  native  of  Sheri- 
dan, this  county,  where  he  was  a  farmer,  a 
member  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church  and 


642 


BIOGRAPHY  AND  HISTORY 


a  republican  in  politics.  He  was  a  stirring, 
hard-working  man,  and  died  in  July,  1885,  at 
fifty  years  of  age.  He  married  Sarah  McDan- 
iels,  a  native  of  Silver  Creek,  where  she  now 
resides,  in  the  sixty-first  year  of  her  age.  She 
is  also  a  member  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
church. 

Elmer  Osborn  was  reared  on  his  father's 
farm,  and  inured  to  hard  work  until  1879, 
receiving  meanwhile  a  common-school  educa- 
tion. In  that  year  he  came  to  Silver  Creek, 
and  for  a  time  was  employed  in  teaming.  In 
July,  1890,  he  formed  a  partnership  with  his 
brother,  Havilla,  under  the  firm  name  of  Os- 
born Brothers,  and  engaged  in  the  furniture 
business,  in  which  they  are  now  carrying  a 
large  and  well-selected  stock.  In  politics  he  is 
a  republican. 

lu  1885  he  united  in  marriage  with  Aurelia 
Lincoln,  a  daughter  of  James  Lincoln,  of  Sil- 
ver Creek.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Osborn  have  three 
children, — one  son  and  two  daughters  :  Frank, 
Sadie  and  Olive. 


-i^ANIEL,    X.    PALMER,    a    gallant    and 

-*"^  daring  soldier  during  the  civil  contest 
between  the  northern  and  southern  States,  and 
who,  when  the  strife  had  ended,  adapted  him- 
self to  the  arts  of  agriculture  and  peaceful  pur- 
suits, is  a  son  of  lYalj)!!  and  Mary  M.  (Chides- 
ter)  Palmer,  and  was  born  in  Warren  county, 
Pennsylvania,  August  15,  1835.  His  grand- 
father, Nehemiah  Palmer,  was  of  English  ori- 
gin, the  last  years  of  his  life  being  spent  in 
Toronto',  Canada,  where  lie  died,  aged  ninety 
years. 

Ralpi)  Palmer  was  born  in  Otsego  county, 
this  State,  and  moved  to  Warren  county,  Penn- 
sylvania. In  18G5  lie  returned  to  the  Empire 
State,  and  settled  in  Ilarnionv  town,  where  he 
ha.s  resided  ever  since.  He  has  retired  from 
active  life,  the  infirmities  of  age  making  this 
step  imperative  ;  jjut  for  the  many  years  that 
he  was  engaged  in  farming,  none  had  a  higher 


reputation  for  skill  and  execution  than  he. 
He  married  Mary  IM.  Chidester,  of  Otsego 
county,  who  died  in  1884,  aged  seventy-seven 
years,  and  had  several  children. 

Daniel  N.  Palmer  spent  the  first  sixteen 
years  of  his  life  in  Warren  county,  Pennsyl- 
vania, and  attended  the  public  schools,  acqui- 
ring a  good  ordinary  education.  In  1851  he 
went  to  Tuscumbia,  Alabama,  and  drove  a 
four-horse  stage  for  tiie  Louisville  and  Nash- 
ville railroad,  remaining  there  four  years ;  but 
in  1855  he  returned  north,  and  engaged  in 
lumbering  at  Spartansburg,  Pennsylvania.  Sep- 
tember 13,  1862,  he  enlisted  in  Company  L, 
Sixteenth  Regiment  Pennsylvania  cavalry,  and 
served  until  June  15,  1865,  when  he  was  dis- 
charged at  the  General  Hospital,  near  Alexan- 
dria, Virginia.  The  entire  terra  was  passed  as 
a  private,  mostly  on  detail  as  a  dispatch-bearer. 
When  peace  followed  the  four  years  of  carnage 
and  destruction,  Mr.  Palmer  came  to  Chautau- 
qua county,  and  settled  on  the  farm  in  Port- 
laud  town,  four  miles  from  AVestfield,  where  he 
now  lives.  His  property  is  advantageously 
located  between  the  railroads  and  beautiful 
Lake  Erie,  and  contains  fifty-four  acres,  eight 
of  which  are  set  to  vines  that  are  bearing. 

In  the  latter  part  of  1865  he  married  Helena 
A.  White,  a  daughter  of  Levi  While,  of  Spar- 
tansburg, Pa.,  and  they  have  one  daughter, — 
Eva  M. 

Daniel  N.  Palmer  is  a  member  of  the  A.  O. 
U.  W.  and  of  James  A.  Hall  Post,  No.  292, 
of  Brocton.  He  identifies  himself  with  the 
Republican  party,  and  is  a  very  })leasaut  gen- 
tleman, who  takes  a  personal  interest  in  the 
welfare  of  public  affairs. 


TT  LBEUT  V.  IMOIUCIO.  a  leading  jeweler 
■**■  and  a  resident  oi"  W'estfieid  for  the  past 
fifteen  years,  was  born  in  Boston,  Massachusetts, 
September  21,  1812,  and  is  a  son  of  Albert  A. 
and  Mary  Knox  (Stevens)  Peirce.  Albert  A. 
Peirce  was  born  in  Boston  and  died  at  Westfield, 


OF  CHAUTAUQUA   COUNTY. 


643 


this  county,  in  1879.  He  was  engaged  for  over 
twenty  years  in  the  jewelry  business  and  then 
(1862)  removed  from  Boston  to  Titusviile, 
Pennsylvania,  where  he  was  an  oil  operator  and 
dealt  in  oil,  besides  conducting  a  jewelry  estab- 
lishment until  1876,  when  he  came  to  Westfield, 
which  was  his  place  of  residence  until  his  death, 
which  occurred  tiiree  years  later.  He  married 
Mary  Knox  Stevens,  whose  people  were  resi- 
dents of  the  State  of  Maine,  of  which  she  was 
a  native. 

Albert  P.  Peirce  was  reared  in  Boston  and 
fitted  for  Yale  college,  wiiich  he  did  not  enter, 
on  account  of  embarking  in  the  steamboat  busi- 
ness between  Boston  and  Newport,  Ehode  Island. 
He  was  associated  with  the  firm  of  Andrew  J. 
Warren  &  Company,  and  remained  with  them 
five  years.  He  then  went  to  Titusviile,  where 
he  was  in  the  pipe-line  business  for  three  years, 
at  the  end  of  which  time  he  took  charge  of  the 
Church  Run  pipe-line,  which  he  managed  until 
he  came  to  Westfield,  whei'e  he  establislied  his 
present  jewelry  establishment. 

In  1873  Mr.  Peirce  married  Julia  tJuild, 
daughter  of  Josejjh  O.  Guild.  To  their  union 
have  been  born  four  children,  two  sons  and  two 
daughters :  James  Alfonso,  born  January  3, 
1874,  and  now  engaged  in  the  jewelry  business; 
Clara  Guild,  Mary  Knox,  and  Albert  P.,  Jr. 

A.  P.  Peirce  has  served  as  trustee,  school 
director  and  member  of  the  board  of  water 
commissioners  of  Westfield.  By  strict  attention 
to  business  he  has  built  up  a  lucrative  tratTe  as 
a  jeweler.  His  establishment  contains  a  first- 
class  stock  of  jewelry,  watches,  clocks  and 
everything  else  in  his  special  line  of  business. 
The  jewelry  trade  is  a  very  important  bi'auch 
of  commercial  activity,  and  one  deserving  of 
mention  in  a  review  of  the  leading  industries  of 
any  place.  Mr.  Peirce  is  a  representative 
jeweler  of  his  village,  where  he  has  met  with 
good  success. 

o 


TA  R.  PALMER  is  a  prominent  member  of 
\*  that  class  of  business  men  so  utterly 
indispensable  in  any  community,  a  butcher  and 
meat-market-man,  and  owns  one  of  the  largest 
and  most  completely  equipped  markets  in  this 
section.  His  qualifications  for  the  business  are 
partly  inherited,  as  his  father  was  also  a  practi- 
cal butcher  and  market-man.  Amos  Palmer 
(grandfather)  was  born  in  Massachusetts,  and 
came  to  Chautauqua  county  and  settled  in 
Fredonia,  where  he  opened  a  blacksmitii  shop, 
being  considered  a  very  fine  workman.  He 
married  and  they  had  seven  sons:  Levi,  Alonzo, 
Alvinsy,  Nelson,  Stephen,  Orange  and  Charles. 
Orange  Palmer  (father)  was  born  in  INIassachu- 
setts  and  came  with  his  father  to  this  county  and 
learned  thoroughly  the  trade  of  a  butcher  with  a 
Mr.  Hughes.  After  a  few  years  devoted  to  this 
business,  he,  with  his  brother  Nelson,  opened  a 
meat-market  and  conducted  it  until  his  death, 
which  occurred  in  October,  1861.  In  ])olitics 
he  was  a  democrat.  He  was  a  member  of 
Forest  Lodge  No.  386,  F.  &  A.  M.  at  Fredonia. 
He  was  married  to  Lucy  Comstock  and  had  three 
children,  one  son  and  two  daughters:  Cassie 
married  Benjamin  Pond  an  operator  in  the 
stock  exchange  ;  Elzora  (deceased)  was  njarried 
to  Charles  E.  Bartram,  a  butcher ;  and  one 
whose  name  is  not  given.  Mrs.  Palmer  died 
in  1865  and  was  buried  beside  her  husband. 

K.  R.  Palmer  was  born  in  Fredonia,  Chau- 
tauqua county,  New  York,  July  3,  1 844,  and  is 
a  son  of  Orange  and  Lucy  (Comstock)  Palmer. 
He  was  educated  in  the  common  schools,  and 
worked  in  his  father's  market.  In  1868  he,  with 
his  cousin,  George  H.  Palmer  opened  a  meat- 
market,  under  the  firm  name  of  Palmer  &  Pal- 
mer, and  have  more  than  kept  pace  with  the 
demand  of  the  times. 

K.  R.  Palmer  is  a  member  of  the  Baptist 
church,  of  which  body  he  has  been  a  trustee 
for  several  years.  He  was  elected  a  member  of 
the  board  of  trustees  of  Fredonia  on  the  demo- 
cratic ticket  in  March  1889  and  still  holds  the 


644 


BIOGRAPHY  AND  HISTORY 


oflSce.  He  has  also  been  the  chief  of  the  fire 
department  since  I880.  K.  R.  Palmer  was 
married  to  Florence  E.  Powell,  a  daughter  of 
Ciiarles  Powell,  a  pattern-maker  in  Brooks' 
Lccomotive  works  at  Dunkirk,  this  county. 


ABKAH.\3I  S.  PRATHER.  One  of  the 
most  important  industries  of  early  James- 
town was  its  lumber  trade,  and  to-day  it  is  still 
a  leading  business.  Among  the  well-known 
representatives  of  that  line  is  Abraham  S.  Pra- 
ther,  who  has  been  engaged  for  some  years  as  a 
manufacturer  and  dealer  in  this  commodity. 
He  was  born  in  Yenango  county,  Pennsylva- 
nia, February  24,  1841,  and  is  a  son  of  Abra- 
ham C.  and  Sarah  Prather.  The  Prather  fam- 
ily is  originally,  from  England,  the  first  of  tiie 
name,  the  great-ei'eat-grandfather  of  our  sub- 
ject, coming  to  Maryland  during  the  seven- 
teenth century.  Henry  Prather  (great-grand- 
father) was  born  in  ISIaryland,  the  same  year 
that  Washington  was  given  to  the  world.  He 
married  Elizabeth  Hicks,  a  lady  of  Danish  pa- 
rents, and  among  their  other  children  was 
Thomas  Hicks  Prather,  born  in  1755,  the 
grandfather  of  Abraham  S.  Prather.  The 
homestead  of  the  original  Prather  in  Maryland, 
was  a  grant  direct  from  King  George.  Thom- 
as Hicks  Prather  remained  upon  it  and  mar- 
ried Elizabeth  Crunkelton,  after  which  they  re- 
moved to  Franklin  county,  Pennsylvania,  where 
on  September  19,  1786,  Abraham  C.  Prather 
(flither)  was  born.  About  the  year  1798,  his 
father  moved  to  Venango  county,  Pennsylvania, 
and  was  one  of  the  first  settlers  there,  the  coun- 
try being  thickly  ])()pulated  with  Indians  nnuiy 
of  whdin  were  not  friendly.  He  was  a  tanner 
by  trade  and  also  followed  farming.  During 
the  war  of  1812  he  enlisted  and  was  present  at 
the  battle  of  Fort  Erie.  He  married  and  hud 
ten  children.  Mr.  Prather  was  a  whig  and 
member  of  the  Presljyterian  church,  in  which 
faitii  he  passed  away  July  7,  I80O,  aged  sixty- 
four  ycar.s. 


Abraham  S.  Prather  was  educated  in  the 
public  schools,  supplementing  them  with  a 
course  in  Duff's  business  college  at  Pittsburgh, 
Pennsylvania.  Plis  business  career  began  with 
Prather  Brothers,  lumber  dealers  in  Venango 
county,  after  which  he  was  banking  and  pro- 
ducing oil  successively. 

He  married  Lucy  J.  Holender,  daughter  of 
Thomas  Holender,  who  is  of  English  extraction, 
and  has  had  tiiree  children:  John  H.,  born  in 
18G6,  studied  law  with  C.  R.  Lockwood  and 
was  graduated  from  the  Buffalo  Law  school  in 
June  1890  and  in  January,  1891,  was  admitted 
to  practice  in  all  the  courts  of  the  State  of  Xew 
York.  He  located  at  Jamestown  where  he  is 
now  practicing;  I.  Myrtle  and  Alhama. 

In  addition  to  the  business  mentioned,  Mr. 
Prather  operated  a  brick  factory  in  Jamestown 
until  February  4,  1881,  when  it  was  destroyed 
by  fire  and  he  turned  his  attention  to  a  binding 
ofSce,  but  for  some  years  has  been  in  the  lum- 
ber business.  In  politics  he  is  a  republican, 
and  a  member  of  the  Congregational  church. 
He  joined  (^o.  I,  142d  regiment,  Pennsylvania 
Infantry,  in  August,  1862,  and  served  until 
1863,  when  he  was  discharged  on  account  of 
disabilities,  being  at  that  time   first  sergeant  of 

the  company. 

© 

/^ILBERT   W.   STROXG,  a   prominent   fi- 

^^  nancier  and  business  man  residing  in  the 
village  of  Sherman,  is  a  son  of  Henry  and 
Mary  (Christman)  Strong,  and  was  born  in  Erie 
county,  New  York,  November  19, 1843.  Both 
parents  were  natives  of  Herkimer  county,  and 
the  father  was  a  ]iromincnt  farmer  and  business 
man.  He  conducted  a  tannery  in  addition  to 
his  farm,  and  when  the  Erie  canal  was  under 
constiMiction  he  took  a  number  of  contracts  upon 
it.  George  Strong,  father  of  Henry  Strong, 
was  a  Connecticut  Yankee  of  English  descent, 
and  our  subject's  grandfiither,  Christman, 
was  a  JNIohawk  Valley  Dutchman.  Great- 
grandfather, John  Herkimer,  was  a   brother  of 


OF  CHAUTAUQUA   COUNTY. 


645 


Gen.  Nicholas  Herkimer,  who  was  killed  at 
Oriskauy  while  on  his  way,  at  the  head  of  eight 
hundred  troops,  to  relieve  Fort  Scliuylor,  at  the 
time  iiesieged  by  the  British  colonel,  St.  Leger. 
Herkimer  county,  New  York,  was  named  com- 
memorative of  this  family.  Subject's  mother's 
grandfatiier,  Captain  Small,  also  lost  iiis  life  in 
the  Revolutionary  struggle,  being  killed  and 
scalped  by  Indians. 

Gilbert  W.  Strong  was  reared  uj)on  his  fath- 
er's farm  and  received  his  education  at  the 
Springfield,  Erie  county,  academy,  and  upon 
leaving  school,  he  learned  tanning  with  his 
father.  When  twenty-two  years  old  he  estab-  i 
lished  himself  in  the  same  business  at  York- 
shire, Cattaraugus  county,  where  he  pursued  a 
successful  career  for  five  years.  Succeeding  this, 
he  went  to  the  oil  regions  and  remained  ten 
years,  being  moderately  successful,  but  in  1883 
Mr.  Strong  came  to  Sherman  and  built  the 
"  Strong  Block,"  a  two-story  and  basement 
structure,  fifty  by  sixty-five  feet  in  dimensions. 
Mr.  Strong  is  a  democrat  with  free  trade  pro-  \ 
clivities,  and  in  1889  he  was  the  nominee  of  his 
party  for  the  Assembly,  but  the  opposing  party 
has  such  a  large  majority  in  the  district  that  he 
was  defeated.  For  the  past_^  six  years  he  has 
been  a  member  of  the  school  board  and  was  two 
years  its  president.  Gilbert  W.  Strong  is 
identified  with  the  State  bank  of  Sherman,  be- 
ing one  of  its  stockholders,  and  is  the  owner  of 
three  hundred  and  fifty  acres  of  oil  and  timber 
lands  in  McKean  county,  Pennsylvania. 

In  1871  he  was  married  to  Mary  Whitney, 
of  Yorkshire,  New  York,  and  they  have  three 
children  :  Mary,  Harry  and  Howard. 

Mr.  Strong  has  a  fine  home  and  happy  sur- 
roundings, and  is  one  of  those  who  can  afford 
to  survey  the  strife  of  the  world  with  non- 
chalance. 


T  ^AUKENS  G.  RISLEY,  a  gentleman  with 
^"^  many  friends,  and  a  prominent  whole- 
sale  liquor  dealer  in    Dunkirk   besides    being 


similarly  engaged  in  New  York  city,  is  a  son  of 
General  Elijah,  Jr.  and  Nabby  (Brigham)  Ris- 
ley,  and  was  born  in  Fredonia,  Chautauqua 
county.  New  York,  Marcii  7,  1819.  Elijah 
Risley,  Sr.  (grandfather),  was  early  identified 
with  the  interests  of  Connecticut,  wliere  he  was 
born  December  7,  1757,  and  removing  from 
that  State  to  Cazenovia,  N.  Y.,  and  from  thence 
to  Fredonia,  reaching  the  latter  place  via  Buffalo 
in  1807.  He  settled  on  the  west  side  of  Cana- 
daway  creek,  built  the  first  house  located  tiiere, 
and  also  erected  the  first  bridge  that  spanned  its 
banks,  in  the  year  1809.  His  home  was  located 
in  the  northern  part  of  the  town,  and  was  por- 
tions of  lots  No.  32-33,  township  5,  range  12, 
which  was  located  in  September,  1806.  He  died 
in  1841.  He  was  a  soldier  during  the  Revolu- 
tion, and  was  a  pensioner  at  the  time  of  his 
death.  Mr.  Risley  married  Phrebe  Bills,  who 
was  born  July  24,  17G1.  They  had  twelve 
children,  nine  of  whom  attained  majority:  Bet- 
sey, married  Seth  Risley ;  Horace,  married 
Harmony  Road,  and  moved  to  Illinois,  where 
he  died;  Elijah,  Jr.  ;  Philena,  wife  of  Thomas 
Warren ;  Fanny,  married  James  Brigham ; 
Phojbe,  wife  of  Philip  Fellows  ;  Sophia,  married 
George  French,  who  was  a  Dunkirk  merchant; 
William,  and  Levi,  who  lived  in  Cedar  Rapids, 
Iowa.  All  are  dead.  Elijah  Risley,  Jr.,  was 
born  in  East  Hartford,  Conn.,  May  7,  1787, 
coming  with  his  father  to  America  ])rior  to  the 
beginning  of  the  present  century.  He  resided 
at  this  place  until  1807,  when  we  find  him  at 
Fredonia,  this  couuty.  His  first  week  in  Chau- 
tauqua county  was  accompanied  by  the  unusual 
adventure  of  killing  a  bear  that  had  a  few  hours 
before  succeeded  in  disabling  an  Indian.  In 
1809  Mr.  Risley  opened  the  first  store  at  Fre- 
donia, selling  groceries  and  general  merchandise, 
and  a  couple  of  years  later  erected  an  ashery  for 
making  potash,  at  that  time  a  staple  industry  of 
the  county.  Following  this  he  engaged  in 
manufacturing  and  agricultural  business,  which 
he  followed  for  twelve  years,  and  was  the  pioneer 


646 


BIOGRAPHY  AND  HISTORY 


garden-seed  grower,  profitably  and  successfully 
conducting  their  production  for  over  twenty-five 
years,  commencing  in  1833.  "When  military 
titles  were  not  merely  honorary,  but  were  a 
recognition  of  ability  and  services  2>erformed, 
he  rose  step  by  step  from  a  captain  to  major- 
general  in  the  State  militia,  and  in  the  latter 
position  he  was  honorary  escort  to  General 
Lafa3'ette  when  he  made  his  fraternal  visit  to 
the  United  States  in  1825.  Mr.  Risley  was 
active  in  politics,  and  became  the  whig  nominee 
for  sheriff  in  the  fall  of  1824,  and  was  elected 
and  served  three  years.  In  1835  he  represented 
Fredonia  on  the  board  of  supervisors,  and  in 

1848  was  elected  by  the  whigs  to  a  seat  in  the 
National  Congress,  serving  with  honor,  credit 
and  distinction  to  himself  and  his  constituents, 
through   the  Thirty-first  Congress,   serving  in 

1849  and  1850.  He  took  an  enthusiastic  interest 
in  educational  matters  and  did  much  to  advance 
its  standard,  and  having  a  kindly  disposition 
and  ready  to  extend  a  helping  hand  to  every 
good  cause  he  was  well  liked  by  all.  Among 
his  early  business  investments  was  some  stock 
of  the  (now)  Erie  railway,  in  which  company 
he  was  one  of  the  first  directors.  He  was  a 
prominent  member  of  F.  &  A.  M.,  being  a 
charter  member  of  both  the  Lodge  and  Chapter. 
General  Elijah  Risley  died  January  8,  1870, 
respected  and  esteemed  by  all.  He  married 
Xabby  Brigham,  of  ^Madison  county,  and  they 
had  six  children  :  Florilla  C,  wife  of  Chauncey 
Tucker,  dead;  Haucou  A.,  became  prominent 
for  services  rendered  in  the  treasury  department 
during  the  war  and  otherwise;  Sophrona,  mar- 
ried Charles  F.  Matteson,  of  Fredonia,  and  died 
in  1875;  Laurens  G. ;  Delia,  wife  of  Thomas 
P.  Grosvenor,  living  at  Dunkirk;  and  Minerva, 
married  Frank  Gushing,  who  died  in  1855. 
Mrs.  Risley  survived  the  General  a  number  of 
years. 

Laurens  G.  Risley  was  reared  on  the  old 
homestead  and  at  Fredonia,  receiving  his  educa- 
tion at  the  Fredonia  academy.     Ui><jn   leaving 


school  he  engaged  in  the  mercantile  business  at 
Fredonia,  and  in  1851  came  to  Dunkirk  and 
established  a  produce  and  commission  house 
which  received  much  favor  for  a  number  of 
years.  He  then  engaged  in  the  wholesale  liquor 
business  which  is  still  conducted  in  connection 
with  a  similar  one  at  the  metropolis. 

He  married  Henrietta  Houghton,  daughter  of 
Hon.  Stern  Houghton,  of  Fredonia,  and  has  one 
son,  George  H.,  wdio  is  managing  his  father's 
branch  business  in  New  York. 

Politically  Mr.  Risley  is  a  republican  and  has 
served  several  terms  as  mayor  of  Dunkirk,  as 
well  as  filling  several  other  city  offices.  He  is 
a  member  of  F.  and  A.  M.,  has  been  District 
Deputy  Grand  IMaster,  and  was  one  of  the 
organizers  for  the  first  lodge  of  I.  O.  O.  F. 
instituted  in  Fredonia. 


TTUTE3IUS  ROSS,  M.  D.',  a  physician  in 
-**■  active  practice  at  Clymer,  is  a  son  of 
George  and  Barbara  (Ross)  Ross,  and  was  born  in 
the  town  of  Clymer,  Chautauqua  county,  New 
York,  April  4,  1841.  According  to  tradition 
there  were  three  Scotchmen  by  the  name  of  Ross 
who  came  to  America  and  from  whom  all  the 
Rosses  of  this  country  are  descended.  The  pa- 
ternal great-grandfather  of  Dr.  Ross  was  Samuel 
Ross  of  Scotch-Irish  descent  who  was  a  resident 
of  Chenango  county  and  had  served  as  a  soldier 
in  the  Revolutionary  war.  His  son,  Charles 
Ross  (grandfather),  settled  first  in  Chenango 
county  but  afterwards  came  to  this  county  whore 
he  purchased  one  hundred  and  eighty  acres  of 
laud  about  four  miles  north  of  the  site  of  tlie 
village  of  Clymer.  He  was  a  democrat,  mar- 
ried Amy  Woodburn,  a  cousin  to  Horace 
Greeley's  mother,  and  had  nine  sons  and  four 
daughters,  all  of  whom  lived  to  maturity.  One 
of  these  sons,  George  Ross  (father),  was  born  in 
1807  in  the  town  of  Cherry  Valley,  Chenango 
county,  and  in  1825  came  to  the  town  of  Clymer 
where  he  died  Marcii  29,  1889.  He  was  a 
farmer  and  stock-dealer,  a  Jackson ian  democrat 


OF  CHAUTAUQUA   COUNTY. 


647 


and  had  served  as  justice  of  the  peace  in  Clyraer 
aud  also  in  Mina  where  he  resided  once  for 
several  years.  As  a  man  of  considerable  legal 
knowledge  he  was  frequently  counselled  in  im- 
portant cases.  He  married  Barbara  Ross,  who 
still  survives  him  and  is  now  in  tiie  eighty-third 
year  of  her  age.  They  had  four  sons  and  four 
daughters  all  of  whom  are  living  except  two  of 
the  sous.  Mrs.  Ross  is  a  daughter  of  Ben- 
jamin Ross,  who  married  Polly  C'oom,  by  whom 
he  had  seveu  children.  He  was  a  farmer  and  i 
a  democrat  and  removed  from  Chenango  to  Al-  . 
legany  county  where  he  died. 

Artemus  Ross  received  his  education  in  Nor-  j 
mal  schools  and  Alfred  university  of  Allegany 
county.  He  read  medicine  with  Dr.  D.  W. 
Martin  of  Mina,  and  entered  (1868)  the  Uni- 
versity of  Pennsylvania  from  which  he  was 
graduated  in  1872.  He  then  opened  an  office  at 
Corry,  Pennsylvania,  but  at  the  end  of  one 
year  came  to  Clymer  as  a  wider  field  for  the 
practice  of  his  profession,  where  he  now  has  an 
extensive  and  remunerative  practice.  Dr.  Ross 
is  a  democrat  politically  but  has  uever  been  an 
aspirant  for  office  and  gives  his  time  and  atten- 
tion to  his  profession.  He  is  a  member  of  Olive 
Lodge,  No.  575,  Free  and  Accepted  Masons  at 
Clymer. 

In  1874  he  married  Evangeline,  daughter  of 
Oscar  Bush,  a  native  of  Erie  county,  Pa.  Their 
union  has  been  blessed  with  two  children : 
Winifred,  born  December  7, 1877  ;  and  George, 
born  February  18,  1883. 


nICHARD  REED,  the  proprietor  of  one 
of  the  largest  hardware  and  tinning  estab- 
lishments of  Sinclairville,  was  born  in  Devon- 
shire, Eugland,  April  28,  1831,  and  is  a  son  of 
John  and  Mary  (Kell)  Reed.  His  parents  were 
natives  of  Devonshire  and  came  in  1836  to  the 
town  of  Charlotte,  in  which  they  settled  on  a 
fai'm  one  mile  from  Sinclairville,  where  the  hus- 
band, John  Reed,  died  in  1853. 

Richard  Reed  was  reared  in  England  aud  on 


his  father's  Charlotte  farm  until  he  was  eighteen 
years  of  age  and  received  a  practical  education 
in  the  English  and  American  rural  schools. 
At  eighteen  years  of  age  he  was  apprenticed 
with  Ensign  Baker,  of  Fredonia,  to  learn  the 
trade  of  tinner.  At  the  end  of  one  year  he  was 
"sold '' or  his  apprenticeship  transferred  to  S. 
Judd,  who  had  pui'ciiased  the  tin  and  hard- 
ware establishment  of  Mr.  Baker.  He  worked 
with  Mr.  Judd  until  he  closed  up  business. 
Mr.  Reed  afterwards  went  to  Dunkirk,  where 
he  apprenticed  himself  to  Daniel  Lord  for  two 
years  in  order  to  finish  his  trade.  After  the 
expiration  of  his  apprenticeship  he  traveled  as 
a  journeyman  for  some  time  aud  in  1854  pur- 
chased the  stock  of  tin  and  tools  of  E.  H. 
Brown,  of  Sinclairville,  with  which  he  opened 
a  stove  and  tinware  store.  In  1857  he  built 
his  present  business  establishment,  and  in  1870 
associated  a  Mr.  Reynolds  with  him  as  a  part- 
ner under  the  firm  name  of  Reed  &  Reynolds. 
Mr.  Reed  now  carries  a  large  first-class 
stock  of  hardware,  stoves  and  tinware  which  is 
worth  over  eight  thousand  dollars.  Much 
credit  is  due  him  for  the  push  and  energy  that 
has  characterized  his  successful  efforts  in  the 
establishment  and  judicious  management  of  his 
present  business.  He  possesses  fine  social 
qualities  and  ranks  high  as  a  good  business 
man. 

On  May  28,  1858,  Mr,  Reed  united  in  mar- 
riage with  Therese  Burlingame,  a  native  of  New 
York.  They  are  the  parents  of  two  chiklren  : 
Charles  M.,  a  graduate  of  the  Albany  Law 
school  and  now  in  the  active  practice  of  his  pro- 
fession ;  and  John  B.,  who  is  engaged  in  the 
grocery  business. 


TA^ILLIAM  H.  ROBIN.SO]!f,  a  well-known 
-**■  and  highly  respected  citizen  of  the  town 
of  Hanover,  is  a  son  of  Jared  and  Martha 
(Head)  Robinson  and  was  born  on  May  9, 
1817,  in  Otsego  county.  New  York.  The 
paternal  grandfather,  Ziba  Robinson,  was  in  all 


6iS 


BIOGRAPHY  AND  HISTORY 


probability  a  native  of  Ireland,  and  it  is  sup- 
posed that  he  came  to  America  when  a  child, 
and  that  he  passed  most  of  his  life  in  Otsego 
county,  where  he  followed  forming  and,  during 
the  Revolutionary  war,  served  on  the  staff  of 
General  Washington.  He  Mas  three  times 
married  :  first,  to  Rebecca  Temple,  b}-  whom  he 
had  six  children  ;  the  name  of  his  second  wife 
is  forgotten  and  his  tliird  wife  was  the  widow 
Swetland,  by  whom  he  had  two  children. 
Jared  Robiusou  was  born  in  Otsego  county, 
March  7,  1792,  and  lived  there  all  his  life.  He 
was  a  farmer  by  occupation  and  in  politics  a 
whig  and  republican.  He  married  Martha 
Head,  a  daughter  of  William  Head,  and  by  her 
had  five  children,  two  sons  and  three  daugh- 
ters. 

AVilliam  H.  Robinson  was  educated  in  the 
common  schools  of  Otsego  county,  and  there 
passed  his  life  until  he  had  attained  his 
majority.  He  acquired  a  suf)erior  education 
and  taught  school  for  twelve  terms.  In  1838, 
he  removed  to  Cattaraugus  county,  and  lived 
there  until  1864.  In  the  mean  time  he  had 
married  Emily  Scofield,  who  became  the  mother 
of  one  child,  Emory  S.,  born  October  12,  1846, 
and  married  Gertie  Randall  and  is  now  living 
with  his  father  and  pursues  farming.  Upon 
the  death  of  his  first  wife  William  H.  Robin- 
son married  Mrs.  Polly  (Scofield)  Slawsun, 
with  whom  he  is  now  living,  and  with  her 
came  to  Chautauqua  county  in  1864,  where 
they  have  since  made  tiieir  home  in  Hanover 
town.  Mr.  Robinson  is  recognized  as  a  farmer 
of  no  mean  ability  ;  politically  he  is  a  republi- 
can and  has  been  honored  by  being  elected  to 
the  offices  of  sciiool  inspector  and  justice  of  the 
peace  in  Cattaraugus  county  and  was  assessor 
in  Chautauqua  county,  twelve  terms.  He  be- 
longs to  the  Methodist  church,  in  which  he 
holds  the  honorable  positions  of  class  leader 
and  steward. 


TOHlSr  B.  RUSH,  a  Jamestown  merchant 
^  who  came  from  an  old  family,  is  a  son  of 
Israel  and  Elizabeth  (Russell)  Rusii,  and  was 
born  in  the  town  of  EUery,  Chautauqua  county. 
New  York,  ]May  1,  1833.  His  paternal  grand- 
father, Jacob  Rush,  was  a  native  of  Canada, 
and  descended  from  English  ancestors,  but 
came  to  Chautauqua  county,  and  settled  in  the 
town  of  Ellery  during  January,  1811,  at  which 
time  he  purchased  in  sections  No.  13,  and  No. 
20  of  Township  No.  2,  Range  No.  12,  his 
house  being  built  on  section  No.  13,  wiiere  he 
followed  farming  until  his  death  which  oc- 
curred at  Ellery.  He  was  married  twice,  his 
second  wife  being  Rhoda  Silsman,  who  bore 
him  three  sons  and  one  daughter.  Grand- 
father, John  Russell,  came  to  Chautauqua 
county  in  1811.  He  was  an  artisan,  being 
skillful  with  the  saw  and  with  the  trowel  and 
also  employed  himself  in  farming.  Mr.  Rus- 
sell married  Rhoda  Scofield  and  became  the 
father  of  nine  sons  and  four  daughters.  Israel 
Rush  (father),  was  born  in  Cassadaga,  in  1807, 
and  came  to  Chautauqua  county  with  his  father. 
He  followed  farming  and,  although  at  the  com- 
mencement of  life  a  very  poor  man,  ut  his 
death  had  by  industry  and  economy  accumu- 
lated a  competency  and  owned  four  hundred 
acres  of  land  in  Ellery.  He  married  Elizabeth 
Russell,  by  whom  he  had  four  children  :  Lewis, 
a  farmer  residing  in  Ellery  ;  James  B.;  Rhoda, 
married  Alvah  Smiley,  who  is  a  successful 
farmer  living  at  Bemus  Point,  near  her  early 
home ;  and  one  dead.  Politically  JMr.  Rush 
was  a  democrat  and  a  conscientious.  God-fearing, 
church-going  man.  He  died  at  Ellery  in  the 
fear  of  the  Lord,  June  4,  1889. 

John  B.  Rush  secured  his  education  in  the 
common  schools  of  EUery,  and  commenced  life 
as  a  farmer  at  the  scene  of  his  birth.  This 
life  he  continued  until  1886,  when  he  moved 
into  the  city,  but  still  owns  his  farm,  containing 
one  hundred  and  thirty-one  acres  of  the  old 
homestead. 


OF  CHAUTAUQUA   COUNTY. 


649 


He  married  Mary  A.  Brownell,  a  daughter 
of  Peter  11.  Brownell,  a  late  resident  of  C'iiau- 
tauqua  county,  l)ut  now  living  in  the  eity  of 
Jamestown.  To  this  marriage  have  been  born 
two  children  .  ^lary,  who  is  the  wife  of  Clayton 
Price,  son  of  Anson  A.  Price  (see  his  sketch), 
has  one  child,  Carrie;  Mr.  Price  is  engaged  in 
tiie  mercantile  business;  and  Carrie  T.,  wife  of 
Linden  Peterson,  a  butcher  living  in  James- 
town ;  they  have  one  child,  Mabel.  His 
younger  daughter  prepared  herself  for  an  active 
business  life  by  a  thorough  course  in  the  busi- 
ness department  of  the  High  school. 

Politically  Mr.  Rush  is  a  democrat  and  as 
sucli  is  of  recognized  influence. 


JOHN  A.  SKINXER,  cashier  of  the  Nation- 
^  al  bank  of  Westfield,  was  born  in  the 
town  of  Lancaster,  Erie  county.  New  York, 
October  14,  1848,  and  is  a  son  of  Rev.  Levi  A. 
and  Laura  (Patterson)  Skinner.  John  A.  Skin- 
ner is  of  English  and  Scotch-Irish  lineage.  His 
paternal  grandfather,  Levi  Skinner,  was  a  far- 
mer and  Presbyterian  of  Connecticut,  who  re- 
moved to  Oneida  county,  this  State,  where  he 
died  in  1850.  (For  additional  history  of  him 
and  his  family,  see  sketch  of  Edward  A.  Skin- 
ner.) Rev.  Levi  A.  Skinner,  the  father  of  the 
subject  of  this  sketch,  was  born  in  1811  and 
died  at  his  residence  at  Westfield,  in  1876. 
He  entered  the  ministry  of  the  Presbyterian 
church  and  preached  in  Erie  and  Chautauqua 
counties  until  loss  of  voice  compelled  him  to  re- 
linquish ministerial  labors  in  1854.  From 
1854  to  1870,  he  was  connected  with  the  West- 
field  bank  and  its  successor,  the  First  National 
bank  of  Westfield,  as  cashier  and  stock-holder 
of  the  former  and  as  director,  cashier  and  presi- 
dent of  the  latter.  He  married  Laura,  daugh- 
ter of  John  Patterson  and  reared  a  family  of 
several  children.  As  a  minister  he  was  earnest 
and  successful,  as  a  bank  officer  prompt  and  re- 
liable and  as  a  financier  was  prudent  and  safe. 
John  A.  Skinner,  at   five  years   of  age,  was 


'  brought  by  his  parents  to  Westfield  where  he 
received  his  early  education  in  the  public 
schools   of  that  place.     In    1865   he  attended 

'  school  at  Clinton,  Oneida  county,  this  State  and 
in  the  fall  of  18(i7  entered  Jvimball  Union 
academy  of  Meriden,  New  Hampshire,  from 
which  institution  of  learning  he  was  graduated 
in  1869.  In  the  fall  of  the  last  named  year 
he  entered  Hamilton  college  at  Clinton,  this 
State,  but  was  compelled  to  leave  when  well 
advanced  in  his  sophomore  year  on  account  of 
ill  health.  In  February,  1871,  he  went  to 
Ottawa,  Kansas,  where  he  became  a  clerk  and 
book-keeper  of  the  First  National  bank  of  that 
place,  in  which  his  eldest  brother,  Edward  A. 
Skinner  (now  president  of  the  Westfield  bank), 
was  then  a  stock-holder.  He  held  that  posi- 
tion until  April,  1872,  when  he  returned  to 
Westfield  and  entered  the  First  National  bank 
of  that  place  as  teller.  That  position  he  held 
until  1876,  when  he  withdrew  to  embark  in 
the  fire  insurance  business  in  which  he  was  en- 
gaged until  1884.  In  April  of  that  year,  at 
the  organization  of  the  National  bank  of  West- 
field,  he  was  elected  cashier  and  has  served  as 
such  until  the  present  time.  Mr.  Skinner  was 
clerk  of  the  board  of  village  trustees  for  eight 
years  and  treasurer  of  the  village  for  nine  years. 
He  has  been  treasurer  of  the  Westfield  Union 
school  for  several  years  and  is  a  trustee  and 
deacon  of  the  Westfield  Presbyterian  church  of 
which  he  has  been  a  member  for  many  years. 
He  is  one  of  the  charter  members  of  the  Royal 
Arcanum,  which  was  organized  in  1878,  has 
been  a  director  for  several  years  in  the  National 
bank  of  Westfield  and  is  a  republican  in  poli- 
tics. He  understands  banking  in  all  of  its 
many  intricate  details  as  well  as  the  general 
principles  upon  which  it  is  based.  Mr.  Skin- 
ner is  pleasant  and  courteous  and  to  all  whom 
he  meets,  brings  to  the  discharge  of  his  duties 
years  of  valuable  experience  and  always  strives 
to  afford  every  po.ssible  accommodation  to  the 
business  public. 


650 


BIOGRAPHY  AND  HISTORY 


In  October,  1873,  he  united  in  marriage  with 
Jennie  A.  York,  of  Westfield.  To  their  union 
have  been  born  three  children,  two  sons  and  one 
daughter:  George  York,  Edward  Levi  and 
Grace  R. 


nEV.  C'HAKLES  SI3IPSOX,  who  has  been 
the  popular  pastor  of  the  First  Presbyte- 
rian church  in  Sherman  since  1877,  was  born 
in  Ithaca,  Tomkins  county.  New  York,  Jan- 
uary 26,  1839,  and  is  a  son  of  Alexander  and 
Elizabeth  (Denmau)  Simpson.  His  maternal 
graiulfather,  Jacob  Simpson,  was  a  native  of 
New  Jersey,  but  emigrated  to  Tomkins  county, 
this  State,  where  he  spent  the  remainder  of  his 
life,  being  by  occupation  a  farmer.  In  religion 
he  was  a  member  of  the  Presbyterian  church. 
He  married  a  Miss  Townlev  and  had  eight  chil- 
dren.  The  paternal  grandparents  were  of  Scotch- 
Irish  descent,  who  lived  in  Steuben  county,  this 
State,  for  a  time  and  then  removed  to  Wash- 
ington county.  Alexander  Simpson  (father)  was 
born  in  Salem,  Washington  county,  this  State, 
and  spent  most  of  his  life  in  Ithaca,  by  occupa- 
tion a  farmer.  In  polities  he  was  first  a  democrat, 
and  in  his  latter  years  an  active  republican.  He 
served  as  a  soldier  in  the  war  of  1812,  being 
promoted  to  major.  Alexander  Simpson  mar- 
ried Hannah  Smith  and  had  seven  children — four 
sons  and  three  daughters.  The  mother  dj-ing, 
he  married  Elizabeth  Uenman,  by  whom  he  had 
five  children — two  sons  and  three  daughters. 
Eugene,  brother  of  Charles,  entered  the  army 
during  the  late  war  at  the  age  of  nineteen,  and 
was  killed  at  the  battle  of  Antietam,  in  Mary- 
land, September  17, 1862.  The  mother  is  now 
living  in  Ithaca,  at  the  age  of  eighty-one  years. 
Charles  Simpson  was  educated  at  the  academy 
in  llliaca,  this  State,  and  then  entered  Hamilton 
college,  tliis  State,  where  he  graduated  in  1806. 
He  taught  one  year  at  the  military  school  at 
Peekskili  on  (he  Hudson  river,  and  then  en- 
tered the  Union  seminary  in  New  York,  and 
graduated  in  May,  1870,  entering  upon  his  min- 


istry at  Addison,  Steuben  county,  from  which 
place  he  was  called  to  Pike,  in  AVyoming  county, 
and  then  supplied  a  church  at  Lansing,  Michi- 
gan, for  a  year,  and  then  came  to  Sherman.  The 
church  of  which  he  is  now  pastor  was  organ- 
ized as  a  Congregational  church  June  23d,  1827, 
most  of  the  original  members  being  from  Farm- 
ingtou,  Connecticut.  The  church  united  with 
the  presbytery  at  Buifalo,  and  its  first  min- 
ister, Justin  Marsh,  from  Connecticut,  was  in- 
stalled in  October,  1828.  The  church  edifice 
was  built  on  Presbyterian  Hill,  near  Euler's 
Corners,  and  dedicated  March  7,  1833.  This 
house  was  taken  down  and  moved  to  Sherman 
village  in  1845,  and  eleven  years  later  it  was 
enlarged  and  repaired.  In  the  spring  of  1871 
the  church  adopted  the  Presbyterian  form  of 
government,  and  was  connected  with  Presby- 
tery. In  politics  Rev.  Charles  Simpson  is  of 
i-epublican  proclivities,  but  rather  inclined  to  be 
independent  in  his  vote.  He  is  a  member  of 
the  Phi  Beta  Kappa  fraternity.  During  the 
war  he  was  appointed  a  member  of  the  Chris- 
tian Sanitary  Commission. 

Rev.  Charles  Simpson  was  married  to  Mary 
E.  Sherrill,  a  daughter  of  Abram  E.  Sherrill, 
and  has  two  children — a  son  and  daughter : 
Clarence  E.  and  Eleanor  A. 


JOHN  T.  (SPEAR  was  born  in  Boston,  Mas- 
^  sachusetts,  July  29,  1855,  and  is  the  son 
of  Thomas  Spear  (see  sketch  of  Thomas  Spear 
in  another  part  of  the  book).  His  ancestors 
were  of  Irish  birth  and  lineage,  he  himself 
being  removed  from  the  land  of  his  father, 
Ireland,  by  one  generation.  When  his  parents 
removed  to  Chautauqua  county,  he  Mas  but  nine 
years  of  age.  He  attended  sciiool  and  remained 
in  Chautauqua  county  until  he  was  eighteen 
years  of  age,  when  he  returned  to  lioston  and 
remained  three  years.  When  about  twenty- 
four  years  of  age  he  crossed  the  continent  to 
the  Pacific  coast,  and  after  traversing  a  part 
of  the   coast,  remained   three  montiis    in    San 


OF  CHAUTAUQUA   COUNTY. 


651 


Fraucisco.  At  the  expiration  of  this  time, 
he  again  returned  to  the  east,  came  to  Chau- 
tauqua county  and  engaged  in  the  hardware 
business  at  Sinclairville,  first  indei)endently, 
and  then  subsequent  to  1880,  in  ])artnersiiij) 
with  his  brother.  In  addition  to  his  mercan- 
tile business,  he  lias  also  been  a  dealer  in  real 
estate  and  at  the  beginning  of  President  Harri- 
son's administration  received  the  appointment 
of  postmaster  at  Sinclairville.  lie  is  a  thirty- 
second  degree  JSIason ;  a  stalwart  republican, 
politically,  and  although  a  religious  man  by 
nature  and  in  life,  he  is  not  connected  with  any 
particular  denomination.  He  is  a  good  busi- 
ness man,  is  an  efficient  and  accommodating 
postmaster  and  is  altogether  regarded  as  a  sub- 
stantial, enterprising  citizen. 

John  T.  Spear,  on  April  28,  1880,  was 
united  in  marriage  to  Florence  A.,  daughter  of 
Nelson  Osborne  of  Chautauqua  county,  New 
York. 


"T^HOMAS  SPEAR  is  an  American  citizen 
-*-  only  by  adojjtion.  His  native  country  is 
that  of  Ireland,  where  in  the  year  1818,  in  the 
county  of  Tyrone  he  was  born,  a  son  of  Robert 
Spear.  His  father  was  by  occupation  a  tenant 
farmer,  a  member  of  the  Episcopal  church,  and 
in  1847  left  his  native  land  and  emigrated  to 
America. 

Thomas  Spear  was  a  puddler  by  occupation 
and  followed  that  trade  in  connection  with  the 
foundry  business  for  a  mimber  of  years,  after 
which  he  purchased  a  general  store,  which  he 
operated  for  ten  years,  finally  purchasing  a  farm 
in  Charlotte  Centre,  upon  which  he  resided  for 
four  years,  thence  removing  to  the  place  upon 
which  he  now  lives.  Besides  carrying  on  the 
regular  work  of  the  farm,  he  has  made  cattle- 
raising  a  special  adjunct  business.  He  takes  a 
lively  interest  in  everything  that  pertains  to 
agriculture  and  stock-raising  and  was  one  of  the 
charter  members  of  the  Grange  of  his  county. 
In  politics  he  votes  with  the  Republican  party, 
35 


under  which  he  was  elected  to  the  office  of  excise 
commissioner.  He  and  his  family  are  attendant 
members  of  the  Episcopal  church. 

On  May  24,  1844,  Mr.  Spear  married  Mrs. 
Eliza  Jones  (/tee  Harper)  and  has  four  children  : 
John  T.,  Samuel,  William  Nelson  and  Fred. 

Thomas  Spear  is  still  living,  at  the  age  of 
seventy-four  years,  but  is  practically  retired 
from  business.  His  wife  is  also  living,  at  the 
age  of  sixty-three.  Thomas  Spear  has  always 
been  regarded  as  a  model  farmer  and  a  good 
citizen. 


"P  P.  STEAKNS,  a  leading  farmer  and 
^~^  •  dairyman  of  Gerry,  New  York,  is  a  sou 
of  Phineas  and  Louisa  M.  (Ficher)  Stearns  and 
was  born  in  Gerry,  Chautauqua  county.  New 
York,  June  23,  1849.  His  lather  was  a  native 
of  Vermont,  while  his  mother  , was  a  native  of 
New  Y'ork,  the  former  dying  on  May  10,  1870. 
Grandfather  Daniel  Stearns  was  a  Vermont 
farmer  and  came  into  Chautauqua  county  about 
1820.  He  was  of  Scotch  lineage,  an  old-line 
whig  in  his  political  bent  and  a  typical  Ver- 
mont mountaineer.  His  death  occurred  at  the 
age  of  eighty. 

E.  P.  Stearns  was  educated  in  the  Gerry 
common  schools,  in  which  he  received  anything 
but  an  extensive  education,  and  at  the  age  of 
twenty  learned  the  blacksmith  trade  in  con- 
nection with  carriage-building,  which  he  has 
followed  to  within  five  years  ago,  when  he 
built  a  creamery  and  equipped  it  with  the  best 
and  most  improved  apparatus.  His  creamery 
is  now  capable  of  manufacturing  sixty  thousand 
pounds  annually ;  the  product  is  known  as 
"  Gerry  Creamery,"  most  of  which  is  shipped 
to  Providence,  Rhode  Island.  In  politics  Mr. 
Stearns  is  a  steadfast  republican  and  has  been 
honored  by  his  party  with  the  offices  of  col- 
lector, inspector  and  justice  of  the  peace.  He 
is  also  a  member  in  good  standing  of  the  A. 
O.  U.  W.  and  the  Royal  Templars  of  Temper- 
ance.    He  is  a  man  who  has  put  great  energy 


652 


BIOGRAPHY  AND  HISTORY 


into  everj'  enterprise  whicii  lie  iias  undertaken 
and  this  together  with  his  manner  of  dealing 
with  his  fellow-men,  has  crowned  his  efforts  with 
what  the  world  is  pleased  to  call  success. 

On  August  18,  1859,  Mr.  Stearns  was 
joined  in  marriage  to  Eliza  Ketcham,  daughter 
of  the  late  James  Ketcham  of  Troopsburg, 
Steuben  county,  New  York.  Their  marriage 
has  been  blessed  by  the  birth  of  two  children  ; 
Inez  G.  and  Hallie  Z. 


H IRIAN   SEARS  was  a  native  of  Sullivan  i 
county,    New   York,   born,   March    9th, 
ISll,  and    is   a    son    of  William    and    Thirsa 
(Sears)  Sears.     His  father  was  a  native  of  the  ' 
southeastern     part  of  Connecticut,   where     he 
owned  a  farm,  commanded  a  company  of  militia  ' 
and   voted   the    Republican  ticket.     His   death 
occurred  after  his  emigration  to  Sullivan  county,  1 
after  he  had  passed  the  eighty-fifth  year  of  his 
life. 

Hirian  Sears,  the  subject,  passed  the  first  six- 
teen years  of  his  life  in   Madison    county,  New 
York,  where  he  attended   school  in   the  winter  ; 
time  and  performed  the  duties  of  a  farmer  boy  j 
in  summer  time.     At  the  age  of  twenty-one,  he 
engaged  in  school  teaching,  which  he  used  as  a 
stepping-stone  to  further  his  purposes  and  assist 
him  in  getting  a  fair  start  upon  his  life's  career. 
In  18.33  he  came  to  the  town  of  Gerry,  farmed  \ 
in  the  summer  and  taught  school    in  the  winter 
and    thus    continued   to  alternate   farming  and 
teaching  for  a  period  of  ten  years,  finally  ])ur- 
chasing  the  farm  which  is  now  occupied  by  him- 
self and  family.     His  business  now  is  that  of 
tanning   and    dairying,    which    latter    business 
claims  most  of  his  attention.     He  has  a  herd  of 
twenty-two  Jersey  cows  and   makes  about  five  ! 
thousand  pounds  of  creamery  butter  per  annum.  ; 
Mr.  Sears  takes  quite  an  active  interest  in  poli- 
tics, in  which   he  is  a   republican,  has   held  the 
office  of  school  superintendent,  assessor,   road 
(rommissioner  and  also  belongs   to  the  Grange. 
Religiously    he  is  a  member  of  the  Congrega- 


tional church  and  is  regarded  as  conservatively 
oi'thodox. 

On  January  3rd,  1840,  Mr.  Sears  married 
Lourilla  Shepardson,  daughter  of  Reuben  Shep- 
ardson  of  the  town  of  Gerry.  He  married  a 
second  time,  in  December,  1850,  to  Lucretia 
Bush  of  Busti.  Upon  the  death  of  his  second 
wife,  he  married  a  third  time,  March  25th,  1852, 
to  Mary  A.  Gates,  daughter  of  Ezra  Gates  of 
Lebanon,  Madison  county,  New  York.  He  is 
the  father  of  one  child,  a  daughter — Ophelia 
L.,  now  living  in  Norfolk,  Virginia. 


y^AYID   SMITH,  JR.,  was  a   man   of  fine 

^"^  and  commanding  appearance  and  with  a 
disposition  which  attracted  friends.  He  was  a 
son  of  David  and  Pliebe  Smith,  and  was  born 
in  Otsego  county.  New  York,  Mai'ch  9,  1815. 
David  Smith,  Sr.  (father),  came  to  Chautauqua 
county  where  the  virgin  forests  stood  where  fer- 
tile fields  now  bear  cereals,  succulents  and  grasses 
that  furnish  food  for  countless  sheep  and  cattle. 
He  was  a  minister  of  the  Congregational  church 
and  was  a  son  of  an  old  Revolutionary  officer 
and  had  a  brother,  also  a  minister,  but  of  the 
Universalist  faith.  Mr.  Smith  married  and  had 
five  children.  He  was  an  active  Mason  and  the 
first  person  to  be  buried  with  Masonic  honors  in 
this  county. 

David  Smith,  Jr.,  was  possessed  of  good 
natund  ability  and  was  well  educated,  although 
the  common  schools  were  the  fountain  source  of 
his  knowledge.  He  lived  in  Chautau(|ua  town 
and  owned  a  large  farni  of  two  luiudred  and 
fifty  acres  in  Hartfield  besides  a  tract  of  timber 
lying  between  Mayville  and  Westficld,  all  of 
which  he  disposed  of  and  removed  to  James- 
town about  the  year  1870,  where  he  engaged  in 
the  dry  goods  business  conducting  it  mitil  1881. 

He  married  Julia  Wingert,  a  daughter  of 
John  and  Catherine  (Frank)  Wingert,  the  former 
a  native  of  Somerset  county,  I'a.,  who  removed 
to  Cumberland  county,  Md.,  and  engaged  in 
milling  and  wool  carding  and  at  one  time  owned 


OF  CHAUTAUQUA    COUNTY. 


653 


three  hundred  acres  of  land.  He  had  six  chil- 
dren at  the  time  of  his  death,  which  occurred  in 
Maryland.  Mr.  and  Mrs,  Sniitii  were  the  parents 
of  six  children:  Andrew  J.,  married  Savina  Wood 
and  lives  in  Westfield,  this  county,  following 
the  business  of  a  traveling  salesman  ;  Julia  is 
the  wife  of  P.  E.  Slocum,  a  merchant  of  Lan- 
caster county,  Ohio;  David,  a  traveling  man 
for  the  North  American  Photograph  Co.,  mar- 
ried Rose  Smith  and  at  present  resides  with  his 
mother;  Moses  (dead);  Arthur  E.,  a  Jamestown 
dentist,  married  a  Miss  Fairbanks  ;  and  Nettie, 
who  lives  in  Brooklyn,  N.  Y.,  where  her  hus- 
band, Daniel  Taturn,  is  a  cotton  goods  broker. 
He  was  a  republican,  and  actively  engaged  in 
political  matters,  and  died  July  23,  1883.  Mrs. 
Smith  now  resides  at  her  beautiful  home  in 
Jamestown. 


♦^OCTOK  ALLEN  A.  STEVEKS,  a  prom- 

^^  inent  practitioner  of  Sinclairville,  a 
gentleman  of  commanding  appearance,  fine 
address  and  comprehensive  intellect,  is  a  son 
of  Allen  A.  and  Eliza  (Luke)  Stevens,  and  was 
born  in  the  town  of  Charlotte,  Chautauqua 
county,  February  21,  1848.  Allen  A.  Stevens, 
Sr.,  was  a  native  of  Wayne,  Schuyler  county. 
His  wife,  whose  maiden  name  was  Eliza  Luke, 
was  born  at  Sinclairville.  Her  father,  Nathan 
Luke,  came  to  this  county  from  the  "Green 
Mountain  State,"  and  settled  at  Charlotte  Cen- 
tre; with  five  brothers  he  founded  the  settlement 
now  known  as  the  Luke  settlement.  They 
were  all  farmers,  and  a  prosperous,  contented 
family.  Allen  A.  Stevens,  Sr.,  is  still  living, 
aged  seventy-three  years,  and  has  been  honored 
by  election  to  some  of  the  important  town 
offices. 

Allen  A.  Stevens  was  reared  on  his  father's 
farm,  and  educated  at  the  Union  academy,  Fre- 
donia,  and  the  Jamestown  Union  schools  and 
Collegiate  institute.  In  1870  he  began  to  read 
medicine  with  Doctors  Harrison  and  Hall  of 
Sinclairville,  and  graduated  from  the  Buffalo  , 


Medical  college  in  February,  1875.  Since  1873 
he  has  been  practicing,  and  now  hsis  a  large 
office  and  surgical  practice.  He  is  a  member 
of  the  Chautauqua  County  Mediciil  society, 
and  takes  an  active  interest  in  its  welfiire. 
!  In  1876,  he  marrieil  Mary  E.  White,  of 
Norwalk,  Ohio,  and  they  have  been  blessed 
with  five  children — three  of  whom  survive: 
Allen  White,  Clarence  Luke,  and  Catherine 
Price. 

Doctor  Stevens  keeps  well  informed  upon 
current  matters,  and  is  deeply  read  in  many 
branches  of  literature.  Professionally,  he  stands 
high  with  his  fellow-practitioners;  socially,  he 
is  a  favorite,  and  is  fine  looking  and  entertain- 
ing. In  stature  he  is  over  six  feet  tiUl  and 
admirably  proportioned. 


TONATHAN  H.  SLOCUM  is  one  of  seven 

^  children  born  to  James  B.  and  Maria 
(Hall)  Slocum,  and  first  saw  the  light  in  what 
was  then  Carroll,  now  Kiantone  town,  Chau- 
tauqua county,  New  York,  on  August  16, 1840. 
His  grandfather,  Jonathan  Slocum,  was  a  native 
of  the  Mohawk  Valley,  this  State,  but  moved 
to,  lived  and  was  married  in  Vermont,  to 
Esther  F.  Bowen,  a  daughter  of  that  State, 
by  whom  he  had  one  son  and  three  daughters. 
He  gained  a  livelihood  by  farming,  and  died  at 
his  home.  His  maternal  grandfather,  Azariah 
Hall,  was  also  a  native  of  Vermont,  but  went 
to  Kiantone  where  he  married  Maria  Orr, 
followed  farming  and  reared  a  family  of  one 
son  and  two  daughters.  James  B.  Slocum 
(father)  was  an  only  son,  and  in  1829  he  left 
his  Vermont  home,  and  striking  into  the  almost 
unknown  forests,  forced  his  way  through  them 
and  settled  at  Kiantone.  Of  a  pushing  dispo- 
sition, he  soon  established  in  business,  owning 
and  operating  a  stage  line  from  Dunkirk,  this 
State,  through  to  Warren,  Pa.,  following  very 
closely  the  present  line  of  the  Allegheny  Valley 
&  Pittsburg  R.  R.  This  line  required  a  great 
many  horses  w  ith  which   to  run  it.     Later  he 


654 


BIOGRAPHY  AND  HISTORY 


owned  and  conducted  a  hotel  at  what  was  then  | 
Carroll  village,  this  State,  and  in  addition  to 
this  he  had  a  farm  which  he  personally  managed, 
and  continuing  to  branch  out  engaged  in  the 
cattle,  lumber  and  general  merchandise  business 
during  the  high  tide  of  Ohio  river  rafting.  He 
married  Maria  Hall,  whose  father  came  from 
Vermont,  and  they  became  the  parents  of  seven 
children,  three  sons  and  four  daughters.  He 
died  at  Kiantone. 

Jonathan  H.  Slocum  was  reared  at  Kiantone, 
and  inherited  a  great  deal  of  energy  from  his 
father.  When  still  a  young  man  the  mantle  of 
his  fiither  fell  upon  him  which  he  tried  to  sus- 
tain, but  when  the  bells  of  war  were  ringing 
he  relinquished  the  chase  for  the  American 
dollar,  and  joining  the  7th  regiment  of  N.  Y. 
sharpshooters,  on  August  9,  1862,  he  went 
with  them  to  the  front  and  served  gallantly  in 
the  battles  of  Deserted  Farm,  Wilderness,  was 
at  the  siege  of  Suffolk,  and  in  several  skirmishes 
until  he  found  himself  in  the  hospital.  Remain- 
ing there  for  some  time  with  poor  prospects  of 
an  early  recovery,  he  received  his  discharge  on 
February  17,  18(54.  After  returning  home  and 
recovering  his  health,  he  again  took  up  his  busi- 
ness, that  of  stock -dealing  and  lumbering,  which 
he  followed  until  18G8,  when  he  disposed  of  his 
active  business  and  bought  a  farm  in  Kiantone. 
Later  he  kept  a  hotel  at  Frewsburg  for  a  year, 
and  then  entered  the  mercantile  business  in 
which  he  continued  until  1876.  On  March  2, 
1889,  he  removed  with  his  family  to  Jamestown, 
where  they  now  reside  on  Warren  street.  Mr. 
Slocum  has  had  a  busy  life,  and  has  made  many 
friends.  Politically,  he  favors  the  Republican 
party.  Ijiit  he  thinks  more  of  his  family  and  a 
quiet  life  now  tiian  he  does  of  the  world. 

He  united  in  marriage  with  Eliza  I.  Phillips, 
a  ilaiighter  of  Aaron  J.  I'hillips,  who  resided  at 
Jjusti,  tiiis  county.  He  was  a  native  of  West- 
moreland, Vermont,  but  came  to  Chautauqua 
county  and  married  Aureiia  Carey,  by  whom 
he  had  two  daugiitcrs:    Eli/a  J.  (Slocum),  and 


one  whose  name  is  not  given.  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Slocum  have  had  six  children,  of  whom  but 
four  are  living,  three  still  at  home :  James  M.; 
Aureiia,  wife  of  George  Hopkins,  a  farmer, 
residing  in  the  town  of  Ellicott ;  George;  Ger- 
trude and  Richard  (both  dead) ;  and  J.  Mamie. 


^HAKLES  J.  SHULTS  was  born  in  Elli- 
^^  cottsville,  Cattaraugus  county,  New  York, 
February  23,  1865,  and  is  a  sou  of  J.  C.  and 
Angie  (Burlingham)  Shults.  William  Shults 
(paternal  grandfather)  was  born  in  the  year 
1802  and  died  in  South  Dayton,  New  York, 
March,  1890,  at  the  age  of  eighty-eight  years. 
He  was  a  wool  carder  by  occupation  and  was 
united  in  marriage  to  Betsey  Johnson  (who  still 
survives),  who  bore  him  four  sons  and  five 
daughters.  J.  C.  Shults,  father  of  Cliarles  J., 
is  by  occupation  an  architect,  contractor  and 
builder,  which  business  he  now  pursues.  He 
is  the  father  of  two  sons :  Charles  J.  (subject) 
and  Edward  W.,  born  April  14,  1867,  at 
present  a  spirit  medium 

Charles  J.  Shults  was  educated  at  the  Union 
schools  at  Eliicottsville,  having  been  left  mother- 
less at  the  age  of  six  years.  He  learned  the 
printer's  trade  with  R.  H.  Shankland,  a  friend 
and  co-worker  of  Horace  Greeley,  in  the  ofBce  of 
the  Cattaraugus  Union,  published  at  Eliicotts- 
ville. After  the  comijletiou  of  his  trade  he  en- 
tered a  law  office  and  pursued  the  study  of  the  law 
for  eighteen  months  and  also  took  up  the  study 
of  medicine,  which  he  pursued  si.x  months. 
His  first  newspaper  venture  was  the  purchase  of 
the  Pine  Valley  News,  at  Pine  Valley,  Cattarau- 
gus county,  which  he  conducted  for  tiirce  years. 
]  le  afterwards  bought  the  Cherri/  Greek  Monitor, 
consolidated  both  papers  and  evolved  a  new 
paper,  which  he  called  the  Cherry  Creek  News. 
Since  obtaining  control  of  the  News,  Mr.  Shults 
has  made  it  one  of  the  best  and  most  reliable 
papers  of  its  character  in  the  State.  It  is  at 
present  the  oflieial  paper  of  Cliautauqua  county. 
,  In   April,    1890,   he    purchased  the    Gowanda 


OF  CHAUTAUQUA   COUNTY. 


(S55 


Herald,  and  at  the  present  time  is  tiie  proprietor 
of  two  vigorous  and  well-edited  journals.  He 
is  an  ardent  republican  in  politics,  conducts  his 
papers  in  the  interests  of  that  party,  and  in 
1887  and  1888  served  as  clerk  of  his  town. 
He  is  a  member  of  the  Methodist  church  and  a 
man  prominent  in  secret  orders,  belonging  to 
the  Free  and  Accepted  Masons,  Cherry  Creek 
Lodge,  No.  384,  and  a  number  of  other  secret 
societies.  On  May  4,  1887,  Mr.  Rhults  was 
united  in  marriage  to  Eva  M.  Morian,  daugh- 
ter of  William  and  Marilla  Morian,  of  Cherry 
Creek.     They  have  one  son — Harry  IT.,  born 

April  8,  1888. 

^ 

TliriCHAEL,  W.  SWEENEY  decends  from 
\  Edmundand  ^largaret  (Sullivan)  Sweeney, 
and  was  born  in  Cork,  Ireland,  in  1835.  The 
ancestors  of  Mr.  Svveeney  were  Irish  and  the 
family  antedates  the  feudal  times.  His  grand- 
fathers and  father  were  farmers  on  the  Green 
Isle  and  their  bones  rest  with  those  of  their 
fathers.  Edmund  Sweeney,  (father)  married 
Margaret  Sullivan,  who  also  came  from  one  of 
the  oldest  families  of  the  country,  and  together 
were  the  parents  of  six  children,  two  sons  and 
four  daughters,  all  of  whom  came  to  America. 
Miles  is  living  at  Iloruellsville,  New  York, 
Avhere  he  settled  and  for  many  years  followed 
the  railroad  as  a  means  of  livelihood,  but 
becoming  an  old  man  and  his  condition  no 
longer  requiring  that  he  should  labor,  a  few 
years  ago,  quit  it,  and  is  now  living  comfortably 
and  quietly  ;  iNIary,  married  James  Buckley 
and  is  dead  ;  Ellen,  Ann  and  Johanna. 

Michael  W.  Sweeney  lived  with  his  parents 
until  thirteen  years  of  age  and  in  1848  came  to 
seek  his  fortune  in  the  new  world.  Landing 
at  New  York  he  first  settled  at  Walton,  N.  Y., 
and  fi'ora  there  went  to  Elmira,  in  the  same 
State.  He  remained  at  Elmira  a  number  of 
years  and  in  1861  came  to  Jamestown  where  he 
has  lived  ever  since.  He  is  a  moulder  by  trade 
and  followed  it  through  his  earlier  life. 


M.  W.  Sweeney  led  Kate  Maloney  to  tiie 
altar  and  they  were  united  in  marriage.  Three 
children  have  i>lest  this  marriage :  Katie,  Agues 
and  Mary. 

Like  other  people  of  thrift  and  economy  he 
is  now  the  possessor  of  considerable  projterty, 
the  fine,  large  throe-story  lirick  building, 
27x60  feet  in  dimensions  located  near  the  boat 
landing  belonging  to  him,  and  in  it  he  conducts 
a  fii'st-class  grocery  store. 

In  politics  Mr.  Sweeney  is  independent,  feel- 
ing bound  to  no  political  party  but  is  a  member 
of  the  Jame.stown  Catholic  church,  which  he 
regularly  attends.  Like  many  other  of  our 
American  citizens  of  Irish  birth,  who  early  emi- 
gi-ated  to  this,  from  the  mother  country,  Mr. 
Sweeney  has  made  a  success  of  life. 


:  T.-VJ>IES  H.  SWEET,  who  has  been  a  resi-- 
^^  dent  of  Jamestown  for  the  last  ([uarter  of 
a  century,  is  a  son  of  James  and  Sallie  (Clark) 
Sweet,  and  was  born  on  the  site  of  Jamestown, 
Chautauqua   county,    New   York,   March    13, 

{  1813.  His  paterual  grandparents  were  life- 
long residents  of  Rensselaer  county,  while  his 

j  maternal  grandparents  were  among  the  early 
settlers  of  C'hautanqua  county.  James  Sweet 
was  born  in  Rensselaer  county,  and  came  to  the 

I  town  of  Busti,  where  he  settled  at  what  is  now 
Lakewood.  He  was  drafted  in  the  war  of  1812, 
but  could  not  leave  his  family  exposed  to  the 
wolves  and  bears  then  .so  abundant  in  his  wil- 
derness home.  He  was  one  of  the  organizers 
of  the  first  Methodist  church  in   his  town,  in 

I  1814,  while  his  house  and  barn  were  used  for 
preaching  places  for  several  years.  He  was  a 
whig  in  politics,  a  peaceable  citizen  and  a  pious, 
honest  and  hard-working  man.«  He  brought 
his  wife  and  five  children  in  an  ox-team  to 
Buffalo,  and  thence  through  the  wilderness  to 
where  he  had  purchased  his  farm  of  two  hun- 
dred at-res,  of  which  he  cleared  out  a  part  dur- 
ing his  life-time.  He  and  his  wife  spent 
seventy-five  years  of  wedded  life  together,  died 


65(3 


BIOGRAPHY  AND  HISTORY 


upon  the  same  day  and  their  remains  were  bur- 
ied in  the  same  grave.  They  reared  a  family 
of  six  sons  and  five  daughters :  James  (dead); 
Sallie,  wife  of  Judge  Abner  Lewis;  Clark,  who 
died  at  Panama  in  1889;  William  and  Ange- 
line,  now  in  Wisconsin ;  James  H. ;  Maxon  of 
Poland;  Ann,  Amy,  Finley  and  Mary. 

James  H.  Sweet  possessed  but  few  advantages 
to  obtain  an  education  during  his  boyhood 
days,  and  spent  a  few  months  in  winter  sub- 
scription schools,  which  he  often  attended 
through  severe  snow  storms.  After  working- on 
his  father's  farm  until  he  was  of  age,  and  then 
for  a  short  time  as  a  farm  hand  in  his  immedi- 
ate neighborhood,  he  went  down  the  jNIississippi 
river  to  Louisiana,  which  he  soon  left  for  the 
western  states  and  territories,  in  which  he  re- 
mained for  a  few  years.  At  the  end  of  that 
time  be  returned  to  Chautauqua  county,  where 
he  erected  a  saw  and  grist-mill  on  French 
creek,  which  three  years  later  he  exchanged  for 
a  farm  of  one  hundred  and  seventy-four  acres 
of  land  in  the  town  of  Busti,  where  he  followed 
farming  for  twenty  years.  In  1866  he  sold  his 
farm  and  came  to  Jamestown,  where  he  jjur- 
chased  some  valuable  lots  and  erected  his  present 
convenient  and  comfortable  residence. 

Tie  married  Lois  Moore,  who  died  and  left 
two  children:  Franklin  M.,  of  Jamestown,  who 
mai-ried  Eliza  Gray;  and  Adaline,  wife  of  N. 
W.  Hall,  a  tobacco  dealer  of  Corry,  Pa.  He 
married  Lois  Hart,  and  his  children  by  this  sec- 
ond union  are :  Albert  Ij.,  of  Jamestown,  who 
married  Augusta  Davis;  Reuben  E.  married 
Angie  Stirdevant,  has  one  child,  Editii,  and 
resides  in  Buifalo  ;  and  Emma  M.,  wife  of  D. 
S.  Horton. 

James  H.  Sweet  is  a  republican  in  politics, 
liaving  been  formerly  a  whig,  and  has  been  a 
member  for  over  sixty  years  of  the  Methodist 
cliinch,  of  which  his  wife  has  been  a  member 
for  many  years. 


"CLIAL  W.  SKINKER.  One  of  the  best 
'—^  known  and  most  successful  of  Portland 
town's  grape  growers  is  Elial  W.  Skinner,  who 
is  a  son  of  David  and  Mary  (Williams)  Skin- 
ner, and  was  bt)rn  on  the  farm  where  he  now  re- 
sides, September  30,  1838.  David  Skinner  is 
a  native  of  Chenango  county,  New  York,  and 
came  from  there  to  Chautauqua  county  in  1820, 
when  he  located  in  what  is  now  Portland  town 
and  has  ever  since  resided  there.  Although 
now  (1891)  in  his  eighty-ninth  year,  he  is  ac- 
tive and  vigorous  and  enjoying  much  better 
health  than  would  be  expected  of  one  of  his  age. 
He  has  alwa\'s  been  engaged  in  agricultural 
pursuits  on  an  extensive  scale ;  atone  time  he 
was  the  largest  individual  I'eal  estate  owner  iu 
that  town,  and  kept  great  numbers  of  live  stock. 
Mr.  Skinner  is  a  democrat  and  is  a  great  work- 
er. His  staying  powers  iii  any  kind  of  work 
were  at  one  time  a  matter  of  renown.  He  is  of 
Irish  descent,  while  Mary  Williams,  his  wife, 
was  Scotch.  She  is  still  living,  aged  eighty- 
seven  years,  and  is  quite  an  active  old  lady. 

Elial  W.  Skinner  has  spent  his  entire  life  on 
the  farm.  He  received  his  education  at  the 
common  schools  and  academy.  He  owns  forty 
acres  of  his  father's  homestead  and  has  a  very 
fine  vineyard  and  is  one  of  the  leading  farmers. 

In  1870  he  married  Bessie,  daughter  of  Luke 
Haight  of  Brocton  and  they  have  two  children, 
one  sou  and  one  daughter:  William  and  Lil- 
lian. 

Elial  W.  Skinner  is  a  member  of  the  Meth- 
odist Episcopal  church  and  the  Equitable  Aid 
Union.  In  1862  he  enlisted  in  Co.  E,  154th 
regiment,  New  York  Volunteers  and  served 
three  years  as  a  private,  participating  iu  the 
battles  of  Cliancellorsvillo,  I'^redcricksburg  and 
Gettysburg.  At  the  laller  j)lacc  on  July  1, 
1863,  he  was  taken  prisoner  and  held  for  eight- 
een months.  Ten  months  of  the  time  were 
spent  in  the  vile  and  notorious  Andersonville, 
where  so  many  perisluyd  from  want  of  the  neces- 
saries   of   life.     June    25,   1865,   he    was   dis- 


OF  CHAUTAUQUA   COUNTY. 


G57 


charged  at  Elmira,  New  York,  and  returned  to 
his  home.  Mr.  Skinner  i.s  a  companionable 
gentleman  and  has  a  pleasant  home,  in  which 
hi.s  friends  are  royally  entertained.  He  is  in- 
telligent and  well  informed  and  has  the  courage 
of  asserting  his  convictions. 


On  August  28,  1841,  Mr.  Tefft  became  uni- 
ted in  marriage  to  Elizabeth  C,  daughter  of 
Nathaniel  jNIiller  of  Forbes,  Onondaga  county. 
New  York.  They  have  had  one  daughter: 
Alice,  who  died  in  1861. 


n  SA  TKFFT  was  born  in  the  town  of  Leb- 
**■  anon,  Madison  county.  New  York,  Feb- 
ruary 1,  181!),  and  is  a  son  of  John  and  Eliza- 
beth (Dye)  Tefft.  Both  parents  were  natives 
of  the  State  of  Rhode  Island,  whei'e  his  father 
was  engaged  in  farming.  At  that  time  he  be-  i 
longed  to  the  predominant  political  party — the 
Whig;  while  religiously  he  never  allied  him- 
self with  any  special  sect  or  denomination.  ! 
When  past  the  middle  of  life,  he  migrated  into 
the  State  of  New  York  and  died  in  Lebanon  at 
the  age  of  fifly-one  years.  His  wife  was  by  de- 
scent a  Quaker.  Grandfather  Tefft  came  to 
Madison  county,  New  York,  from  Rhode 
Island  about  ninety  years  ago,  where  he  en- 
gaged in  farming  and  passed  the  remaining 
years  of  his  life. 

Asa  TeiFt  lived   in   Madison   county  until  he 
was  fifteen  years  of  age,  where  he  received  a  \ 
common  school  education  and   began    his  career 
in  life.     Upon   coming  to  Chautauqua  county 
he  engaged  in  farming  in   the   town   of  Ellery 
and  in  1851  purchased  the  farm  in  the  town  of 
Stockton  upon  which  he   now   resides.     He  is 
still  living  at  the  age  of  seventy-two  years,  en- 
joys good  health  and   is  as  actively  engaged  in 
farm  duties  as  when  in  the  prime  of  life.     Two  ^ 
years  ago  he  became  a  member  of  the  order  of  i 
Patrons  of  Husbandry;  religiously  he  is  a  spir- 
itualist, while  politically  he  has   always  given 
the  Republican  party  his  warm  support,  at  the 
hands  of  which  party  he  has  been  a  member  of  ! 
the  excise  committee  on  various  occasions.    Be-  > 
sides  farming,  he  takes  a    special    interest    iu 
breeding  fine  stock,  notably  Durham   and   Jer- 
sey cattle  and  is  also  the  owner  of  a  large  and 
well-eipiipped  dairy. 


T  .  EWIS  B.  THOMPSOX,  a  rising  young 
-'■^  business  man  of  Kennedy,  who,  by  his 
industry  and  intelligence,  has  reached  an  emi- 
nence in  the  business  community  of  his  town 
second  to  none,  is  a  son  of  M'illiam  and  Rox- 
aua  (Bates)  Thompson,  and  was  born  in  Buf- 
falo, Erie  county,  New  York,  July  7,  18(i0. 
His  grandfather  Tiiompson  was  a  native  of 
Canada,  but  came  across  the  lake  and  settled 
in  the  Empire  State,  where  he  followed  shoe- 
making  until  he  died.  Joseph  Bates  (maternal 
grandfather)  was  a  native  of  Ellington,  and 
was  a  miller  by  trade.  He  married  and  reared 
a  family  of  eight  children, — three  sons  and  five 
daughters.     He  was  a  devout  church  member. 

William  Thompson  was  born  in  Toronto, 
Canada,  in  the  month  of  September,  1830,  and 
coming  to  the  town  of  Silver  Ci'eek,  followed 
shoemaking.  From  Silver  Creek  he  went  to 
Meadville,  Pa.,  where  he  still  resides.  In  1854 
he  married  Roxana  Bates,  a  daughter  of  Jo- 
seph Bates,  of  Ellington,  and  they  were  blessed 
with  one  child,  Lewis  B.  William  Thompson 
spent  nearly  thirty  years  iu  various  capacities 
on  the  railroad.  He  was  conductor  on  the 
Erie,  aud  held  the  same  position  on  the  old 
N.  Y.,  P.  aud  O.,  which  is  now  a  division  of 
the  Erie  railroad. 

Lewis  B.  Thompson  is  the  only  child  of  his 
parents.  He  came  to  Forestville  with  his 
parents,  where  he  spent  his  childhood  and 
youth  until  ten  years  of  age,  attending  the 
common  schools.  His  folks  then  went  to  El- 
lington, then  to  Poland,  and  finally  down  into 
the  Keystone  State.  He  spent  three  years  at 
the  latter  place,  aud  then  began  life  braking  on 
the  railroad, — an  employment  that  kills  uo  less 
thau  three  young  men,  the  flowers  of  the  conn- 


658 


BIOGRAPHY  Ay  I)  HISTORY 


try,  for  every  working  day  in  the  year,  and 
maims  more  than  five  times  the  number.  Find- 
ing tliat  there  were  much  easier  employments 
with  superior  remuneration  and  less  risk,  he 
left  the  railroad  and  its  excitements,  and  learned 
the  secrets  of  making  confectionery.  In  1886 
he  beffan  the  manufacture  of  baskets  at  Green- 
field,  Pa.,  and  stayed  there  three  years,  but  in 
1889  came  to  Kennedy,  where  he  is  now  lo- 
cated. The  factory  is  one  of  the  leading  indus- 
tries of  the  2^1ace,  and  employs  from  thirty  to 
fifty  men,  making  about  three  thousand  to 
eight  thousand  baskets  per  day,  or  a  total  of 
over  a  million  per  year. 

On  November  7,  1883,  he  was  united  in 
marriage  with  Lola  M.  Luce,  a  daughter  of 
Timothy  J.  Luce,  of  Kennedy,  and  they  have 
two  children :  Harry  L.,  born  August  24, 
1884,  and  Ford  C,  born  July  14,  1886. 

L.  B.  Thompson  is  a  republican,  and  is  a 
member  of  the  Independent  Order  of  Odd  Fel- 
lows, to  which  he  has  been  attached  for  a  num- 
ber of  years. 


fTTLBIOX  ]y.  TAYLOR,  A.M.,  principal  of 
"'^*-  the  Westfield  academy  and  Union  schools, 
is  a  sou  of  Gurdon  M.  and  Catherine  (Mosher) 
Taylor,  and  was  born  in  the  town  of  Portland, 
Chautaufjua  county,  New  York,  November  1, 
1855.  The  Taylors  are  of  English  origin  and 
the  grandfather  of  Prof.  Ahnon  N.  Taylor  was 
Erastus  Taylor,  one  of  the  early  settlers  of  Port- 
land. He  was  a  farmer  and  served  in  the  war 
of  1812,  in  which  he  was  woundecL  His  son, 
Gurdon  M.  Taylor  (father),  was  born  in  1821, 
in  Portland,  where  he  died  in  1863.  He  was 
a  prosperous  farmer  and  respected  citizen  of  his 
town  which  he  served  as  supervisor  for  several 
terms.  He  was  a  democrat  in  political  matters, 
and  had  been  a  member  of  the  First  Consfrei^a- 
tional  ciiurcli  of  the  town  of  Portland  for  many 
years  prior  to  iiis  death.  He  married  Catherine 
Mosher,  who  is  a  member  of  the  M.  E.  cliurcli. 
Alnion  N.  Taylor,  after  attending  tiie  .^^chudls 


of  his  native  town,  entered  the  University  at 
Ann  Arbor,  Michigan,  from  which  well-known 
educational  institution  he  was  graduated  in  1882. 
During  the  same  year,  after  graduation,  he  be- 
came a  law  student  in  the  office  of  Clinton  & 
Clark,  of  Buifalo,  with  whom  he  read  for  eigh- 
teen months.  At  the  end  of  that  time  he  ac- 
cepted the  position  of  baggage-master  on  the 
W.  N.  Y.  &  P.  R.  R.,  which  he  held  for  one 
year.  He  then  turned  his  attention  to  teaching 
and  was  elected  annuall}'  for  five  years  as  prin- 
cipal of  Sherman.  In  1889  he  left  Sherman  to 
accept  of  the  principalship  of  the  Westfield 
academy  and  Union  .schools.  Prof.  Taylor  was 
re-elected  in  1890  and  again  in  1891,  and  has 
labored  faithfully  and  efficiently  in  the  advance- 
ment of  the  academy  and  these  schools.  He 
has  taken  great  interest  in  the  culture  of  grapes 
in  the  town  of  Portland,  where  he  has  a  flour- 
ishing vineyard  of  forty-seven  acres.  He  is  a 
democrat  in  politics  and  a  member  of  the  First 
Presbyterian  church  of  Westfield.  In  Masonry 
he  passed  through  lodge  and  chapter  and  is  now 
a  member  of  Dunkirk  Commandery,  No.  40, 
Knights  Templar. 

In  1882  he  united  in  marriage  with  Adelaide 
L.  Vincent,  daughter  of  James  Vincent,  of 
Sherman,  and  a  graduate  of  Syracuse  university. 
They  have  two  children :  Almon  V.  and  Cathe- 
rine M. 


JOHN  TALLMAX  is  the  son  of  Abner  and 
^  Thankful  (Sparks)  Tallman,  and  was  born 
in  Broome  county,  New  York,  September  8, 
1823.  His  maternal  grandfather,  John  Sparks, 
took  passage  on  the  first  continental  ship  tiiat 
sailed  from  an  American  port,  and  he  fought 
all  througii  the  Revolutionary  war  on  laud  and 
sea.  The  Tallmans  are  of  Scotch  descent. 
Abner  Tallman  (father)  was  a  native  of  Es.sex 
county,  this  State',  and  caiii"  to  this  county  in 
1834  and  located  in  l)unkiik.  lie  was  a  car- 
]K'nt('r  and  joiner  by  tratie,and  died  at  Arkwright 
this  (•(luiity,   in   October,    1849.       He   married 


OF  CHAUTAUQUA    COUNTY. 


659 


Thankful  Sparks,  a  native  of  Washington 
county,  this  State,  who  was  a  member  of  the 
Free-Wiil  Baptist  ciuireh,  and  died  in  Dunkirk 
in  1837,  at  the  early  age  of  forty-six  years. 

John  Tallraan  was  reared  in  Chautauqua 
county,  received  a  common  school  education, 
and  learned  the  carpenter's  and  joiner's  trade 
with  his  father,  in  which  business  he  continued 
until  September,  18G4,  M'lien  he  entered  the 
Union  service,  enlisting  in  Co.  A,  188tli  regi- 
ment, N.  Y.  Vol.  Infantry,  and  served  till  tiie 
close  of  the  war,  being  honorably  discharged  at 
Washington,  D.  C,  May  30,  1865.  While  in 
the  army  he  contracted  chronic  rheumatism  and 
has  never  seen  a  well  day  since,  being  very 
badly  drawn  out  of  shape.  He  has  been  granted 
a  pension  to  I'elieve  his  mind  from  anxietv  as  to 
provision  for  his  comfort,  and  owns  a  large  brick 
house  and  a  lot  of  land  in  Forestville,  where 
he  resides.  In  1844  he  moved  to  Great  A'^alley, 
Cattaraugus  county,  this  State,  where  he  served 
five  years  as  constable,  and  where  he  resided — 
excepting  the  time  he  was  in  the  army — until 
the  spring  of  1890,  when  he  came  to  Foi'est- 
ville.  In  politics  Mr.  Tallman  is  an  uncom- 
promising republican. 

John  Tallman  was  married  in  1844  to  Elmira, 
daughter  of  Jarvis  Bennett,  of  Villanova,  this 
county. 


X^DGAB  B.   TOLLES  belongs  to  the  class 

-'■^ "  of  thrifty  and  intelligent  farmers  of  the  i 
town  of  Slierldan,  Chautauipia  county.  His 
paternal  grandfather,  Cliester  Tolles,  was  of 
Puritan  lineage,  a  native  of  Connecticut,  and 
came  to  the  shores  of  the  placid  Skaneateles 
while  the  forests  and  lands  were  still  free  from 
the  mai'ks  and  innovations  of  Anglican  pro- 
gress. His  companions  were  pioneer  farmers 
and  foresters,  but  he  was  a  blacksmith  and 
farmer,  and  instead  of  conducting  a  crusade  of 
destruction  against  primeval  forests  and  virgin 
soil,  he  set  up  a  forge  and  smithy,  whicii,  to 
the   aboriginal    natives,    was    quite   as  curious 


and  awe  inspiring  as  was  the  forge  of  Vulcau 
to  tlic  niytiiical  iidiabitants  of  the  orient.  His 
career,  iiowever,  as  j)ioncer  adventurer  was 
short-lived  ;  while  crcssing  the  lake  in  a  canoe, 
it  was  suddenly  capsized  and  he  was  drowned. 
At  tiiis  time  his  .son  Buel  (father  of  subject) 
was  four  years  old.  Subsequently  his  widow 
married  Natiian  Tiio!nj)son,  a  soldier  and  officer 
in  the  Revolutionary  war.  Captain  Thomp.son 
came  to  Ciiautaucjua  county  in  tlie  year  1828, 
bought  a  tract  of  hmd  from  tiie  old  Holland 
Land  company,  settled  on  and  improved  it  and 
there  lived  out  iiis  days.  He  was  a  member  of 
the  Baptist  church.  Grandfather  Zerubabel 
Curtis  was  born  in  the  State  of  Vermont,  but 
later  became  a  resident  of  Malone,  St.  Law- 
rence county.  New  York,  where  he  died.  He 
was  a  farmer,  contractor  and  lumberman  and 
through  his  business  tact,  his  foresight  and 
careful  judgment  in  the  transaction  and  control 
of  his  various  interests,  accumulated  quite  a 
good  deal  of  property,  both  real  and  personal. 
In  his  gifts  to  cliaritable,  educational  and  re- 
ligious causes  he  was  uniformly  liberal.  He 
was  a  member  of  the  Baptist  church,  a  Revolu- 
tionary sailor  of  valor  and  captain  in  the  Xew 
York  State  militia.  He  married  Esther 
Thompson,  and  had  a  family  of  thirteen  chil- 
dren, twelve  girls  and  one  boy.  Buel  Tolles 
(subject's  father)  came  to  Chautauqua  county, 
town  of  Sheridan,  about  1830,  having  been 
born  in  Skaneateles,  Onondaga  county.  New 
York,  November  29,  1810.  He  was  a  cabinet- 
maker by  occupation,  and  worked  at  that  busi- 
ness for  a  considerable  length  of  time  after 
coming  to  Chautauqua  county.  Farming  also 
came  in  for  a  minor  share  of  his  attention.  He 
was  a  democrat  in  politics  and  was  elected  by 
his  party  to  the  office  of  supervisor  for  eight 
successive  years.  As  illustrative  of  the  entire 
confidence  in  which  he  was  held  by  his  fellow 
citizens,  it  is  sufficient  to  say  that  he  has,  witli- 
out  solicitation  on  his  part,  been  elected  to  every 
political  office  within  the  gift  of  his  town.    He 


660 


BIOGRAPHY  AND  HISTORY 


married  Sarah  S.  Curtis  (born  March  3,  1816, 
and  died  April  24,  1889),  who  bore  him  the 
following  named  children  :  Alaiira  D.,  died  in 
18(i3;  Eupliemia  A.  lives  at  home;  Eliza, 
married  to  Alfred  Hall,  of  the  town  of  Sheri- 
dan ;  and  Edgar  B.  (subject).  Buel  Tolles  was 
a  member  of  I.  O.  O.  F.,  and  died  in  1877. 

Edgar  B.  Tolles  was  born  April  30,  1846, 
in  the  town  of  Sheridan,  Chautauqua  county, 
New  York.  In  his  childhood  and  youth  he 
was  surrounded  with  pastoral  scenes,  reared  as 
a  farm  lad  and  educated  in  the  common  schools. 
He  is  and  has  always  been  a  farmer  throwing 
into  it  a  rare  business  tact  and  penetration. 

On  November  12,  1873,  he  married  Mary 
Beutley,  a  daughter  of  David  and  Ruth  Keech 
Bentley,  of  the  town  of  Hanover.  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Tolles  have  no  childreu. 


^EBEDEK    TRUESDELL.      One     of    the 

•^^  most  aged  and  venerable  of  Jamestown's 
citizens  is  Zebedee  Truesdell,  who  was  born  to 
Jacob  and  Alice  (Gates)  Truesdell,  at  Calwell,  ' 
Warren  county,  New  York,  July  14,  1806.  ; 
With  him  was  born  a  twin  sister,  who  many 
years  ago  married  Henry  Dixon.  She  is  still 
living,  and  with  Zebedee,  probably  makes  the 
oldest  pair  of  twins  in  the  State  of  New  York, 
if  not  in  America.  Richard  Truesdell  (paternal 
grandfather)  was  born  near  New  York  city, 
and  was  the  descendant  of  English  ancestors, 
and  gained  a  livelihood  from  his  farm,  supple- 
menting it  by  shoemaking.  He  lived  to  the  un- 
usual age  of  one  hundred  and  live  years.  Jacob 
Truesdell  was  born  at  the  same  place,  but 
removed  to  Calwell,  where  he  resided  until 
nearly  seventy-five  years  of  age,  when,  in  1833, 
he  removed  to  Harmony,  this  county,  where  he 
died  in  18o0.  Mr.  Truesdell's  lifelong  o<'cu- 
pation  was  farming.  Politically  he  alfdiatcd 
with  the  rcpuljlicans,  and  was  a  member  of  the 
Baptist  cjiurf  li.  His  wife,  Alice  Gates,  became 
the  mother  of  six  scjns  and  two  daughters,  of 
whom  one  of  each  are  livinir. 


Zebedee  Truesdell  spent  his  early  life  helping 
his  father,  getting  such  schooling  as  he  could, 
and  learning  a  trade — he  chose  to  be  a  carpen- 
ter, paying  particular  attention  to  ship-carpen- 
try, and  many  of  the  boats  that  run  on  the 
Erie  canal  contained  many  results  of  his  labor. 
Later,  about  1842,  he  bought  a  farm  in  Har- 
mony, upon  which  he  lived  for  twenty  years. 
In  1881  he  removed  into  Jamestown  and  since 
has  lived  a  quiet  and  retired  life. 

He  married  Ellen  Campbell,  a  daughter  of 
William  and  Elizabeth  (Dobbins)  Campbell. 
William  Campbell  was  a  native  of  Ireland,  but 
coming  to  America,  he  located  at  first  in  Phila- 
delphia and  afterwards  in  Westchester  county, 
this  State,  where  he  died.  He  was  a  painter  by 
trade,  and  had  a  family  of  twelve  children.  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Truesdell  have  two  children:  Almira 
J., wife  of  William  Peckham,  a  carpenter  and 
house-builder,  living  in  Jamestown — they  have 
one  child,  Clayton  J. ;  and  William  H.,  en- 
gaged in  the  grocery  business  at  Jamestown, 
married  Alice  Peckham,  a  daughter  of  George 
Peckham,  who  came  from  Rhode  Island  and 
now  resides  at  Harmony. 

Politically  a  republican,  Mr.  Truesdell  is 
also  a  meuiber  of  the  Methodist  church,  where 
he  usually  officiates  as  class  leader. 


"PRASTUS  H.  TAYLOR,  an  enterjirising 
■*"^  farmer  of  Scotch  descent,  was  born  in 
Portland  town,  Chautauqua  county.  New  York, 
February  1,  1850,  and  is  a  son  of  Gurdon  and 
Catherine  (Masher)  Taylor.  His  paternal  grand-  • 
father,  Erastus  Taylor,  was  a  native  of  Connect- 
icut and  after  serving  in  the  American  army 
through  the  second  war  with  England,  he  came 
to  tliis  county  and  settled  in  Portland  in  1816, 
where  he  followed  fanning  until  he  died, 
(iurdon  Taylor  was  born  in  Portiniul  town  in 
1821  and  died  Marcii  4,  1863,  aged  forty-two 
years.  He  was  a  pushing,  industrious  man 
with  a  disposition  that  made  many  friends  and 
no  enemies.     His  labor  was  rewarded  with  [)ros- 


OF  CHAUTAUQUA   COUNTY. 


fiOl 


perity  and  wlicn  he  died  his  I'aiiiily  was  in  com- 
fortable circumstances.  He  married  Catherine 
Masher.  Mr.  Taylor  was  a  member  of  the 
Conijregational  cliurcli  and  the  Masonic  fra- 
ternity. In  politics  he  voted  with  the  democrats 
and  seryed  one  term  as  supervisor  of  the  town. 
She  was  born  in  1828  and  is  still  living,  aged 
sixty-tliree  years. 

Erastus  H.  Taylor  was  reared  on  his  father's 
farm  in  Portland  town.  He  got  his  education 
at  the  Dunkirk  schools  and  when  arrived  at 
man's  estate  began  farming  on  his  own  account 
which  he  has  ever  since  followed.  A  fine  tract 
of  seventy-six  acres  of  land,  lying  on  the  main 
road,  four  miles  east  of  Westfield,is  his  property 
and  upon  it  are  forty  acres  of  well  kept  vineyard 
and  a  young  orchard  of  great  promise  contain- 
ing one-tenth  that  area. 

In  1875  Mr.  Taylor  married  Ada  Munson,  a 
daughter  of  Milton  J.  Munson,  a  sterl ins;  farmer 
living  near  by,  and  by  her  has  had  one  child, 
Lottie  M. 

E.  H.  Taylor  is  a  democrat,  an  enterprising 
farmer  and  a  courteous  gentleman. 


mlLOAM  ITSBORNE  is  a  SOU  of  Wil- 
liam H.  and  Fanny  F.  (Brooks)  Us- 
borne,  and  was  born  in  Westfield,  Chautauqua 
county,  New  York,  February  28,  1854.  His 
father  and  mother  were  natives  of  England  and 
came  to  the  United  States  the  year  previous  to 
his  birth,  locating  in  Westfield.  His  father  was 
a  skillful  tool  dresser  and  driller,  did  a  great 
deal  of  work  in  the  oil  country  and  worked  for 
several  years  in  the  machine  shop  in  Westfield. 
In  religion  he  was  a  member  of  the  iMethodist 
Episcopal  church,  a  republican  in  politics  and 
held  the  office  of  road  commissioner  in  the  town 
of  Westfield  for  four  years.  He  was  killed  in 
the  terrible  Prospect  disaster  in  1872,  being 
forty-seven  years  of  age  at  the  time  of  his 
death.  He  married  Fannie  F.  Brooks,  who 
was  for  some  years  a  member  of  the  Metho- 
dist Episcaj)al  church  but  is  now  a  2)resbyt;rian 


and    resides  in   Westfield,  in    iier  sixty -seventh 
year. 

William  Usborne  was  reared  in  Westfield  and 
received  the  best  education  the  schools  of  his 
native  town  afforded.  After  leavina:  school,  in 
1868,  he   went  to   work   in  the   York    machine 

;  shop,  owned  and  oj)erated  by  George  P.  York, 
where  he    learned  the  trade  of  a  machinist  and 

j  worked  in  that  sliop  until  1889,  when  the  death 
of  Mr.  York  necessitated  tlie  closing  of  his 
place  of  business.  In  the  same  year  Mr.  Us- 
borne formed  a  partnershij)  with  William  H. 
Wilson,  under  the  firm  name  of  Wilson  &  Us- 
borne and  erected  the  buildings,  on  North  Port- 

:  age  street,  they  now  occupy,  where  all  kinds  of 
machinery  repairing  and  steam  and  water  fitting 
is  done.  They  are  also  the  general  agents  for 
the  Adriance,  Piatt  &  Co.  mowing  machines, 
reapers  and  binders,  have  the  best  harvesting 
machinery  in  the  market  and  have  charge  of  the 
extra  parts  for  the  celebrated  Buckeye   mowing 

[  machine,  both  old  wood  frame  and  new  model, 
formerly  manufactured  by  George  P.  York. 
They  have  a  large  and  constantly  growing  bus- 
iness. Mr.  Usborne  is  a  democrat,  has  held 
the  offices  of  trustee  and  assessor  of  the  town  of 
Westfield,  is  a  member  of  the  Independent  Or- 
der of  Odd  Fellows,  of  the  Equitable  Aid 
Urfion  and  is  a  very  stirring  and  energetic  man. 
William  Usborne  married  in  1875  Martha 
E.  Van  Ness,  daughter  of  Philo  Van  Ness,  of 
Westfield.  To  their  marriao-e  have  been  born 
two  children  :  Thomas  W.  and  William  H. 


▼pHKOPHILUS    J.     VANI>ERGKIFT,    a 

-^       well-known   citizen   of   Jamestown,   is  a 
I  son  of  William  and  Sophia  (Sarver)  Vander- 
grift,  and  was  born   in  the  city  of  Pittsburgh, 
Penn.,  November  25,  1846. 

The  paternal  grandfather,  Jacob  Vandergrift, 
was  a  native  of  the  city  of  Brotherly  Love, 
although  his  ancestors  came  from  Holland  ;  he 
emigrated  to  Pittsburgh  about  1815  and  fol- 
lowed  boat  building  for  many  years.     William 


002 


BIOGRAPHY  AND  HISTORY 


Vandergrift  was  born  in  Philadelphia  about 
1806  and  died  in  Pittsburgh  in  1876.  He,  too, 
■was  a  boat  builder  and  followed  that  occupation 
through  life.  He  married  Sophia  Sarver,  who 
is  still  living,  aged  eighty-seven  years.  William 
Vandergrift  was  a  whig  in  early  life  and  after 
its  assimilation  by  the  Republican  party,  he 
cast  his  fortunes  with  the  latter.  By  his  mar- 
riage he  became  the  father  of  ten  children,  five  \ 
sons  and  five  daughters 


^H.4JiLES  H.  WICKS,  though  a  resident  of 
^^  Panama,  Chautauqua  county,  New  York, 
is  one  of  the  active,  progressive  and  enterprising 
real  estate  dealers  in  the  beautiful  and  well-known 
summering  place  of  Lakewood  in  the  same 
countv.  He  was  born  October  15,  1849,  in  the 
town  of  Ellery,  Chautauqua  county,  New  York, 
and  is  a  sou  of  James  H.  and  Sophia  (Ward) 
Wicks.  Paternal  grandfather,  John  Wicks, 
was  of  English  extraction,  born  in  Saratoga 
county,  New  York,  and  immigrated  to  Chautau- 
qua county  in  1818,  settling  in  the  town  of 
Ellery.  While  here  he  pursued  the  occupation 
of  farming,  until  he  was  borne  to  his  last  rest- 
ing place  at  a  green  old  age.  Grandfather 
Andrew  W^ard  was  a  native  of  the  widely- 
known  Mohawk  Valley,  but,  like  many  of  his 
l^redecessors,  followed  the  star  of  empire  on  its 
western  course.  He  located  in  the  town  of 
Ellicott,  where  he  took  up,  cleared  and  im- 
proved a  large  tract  of  laud,  on  which  he  con- 
tinued to  reside  the  remainder  of  his  life.  Con- 
siderable of  his  life  was  spent  in  active  military 
service,  wliicli  ho  regarded  not  only  a  duty  but 
as  an  extreme  pleasure.  He  married  Angelina 
Trueax,  who  lived  to  be  over  one  hundred  years 
of  age,  and  bore  him  seven  children,  five  boys 
and  two  girls.  James  H.  Wicks  (father)  was 
born  in  Saratoga  county,  New  York,  on  August 
2,  1817,  removed  to  the  town  of  Ellery  where 
he  lived  for  a  time,  then  removing  to  the  town 
of  Gerry  where  he  died  March  1891.  He 
was  accounted  a  good    farmer  and  an    upright 


citizen.  He  held  the  office  of  justice  of  the 
peace  for  sixteen  years  continuously,  at  the 
hands  of  the  Republican  party,  and  was  also 
an  active  member  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
ciuirch.  His  first  wife,  Sophia  W'ard,  bore  him 
five  children  :  Jane  married  to  W^alter  Strong, 
a  farmer  of  the  town  of  Gerry ;  Lavina,  mar- 
ried to  L.  F.  Hadley,'  farmer  and  stock-dealer, 
now  living  in  Jeffrey  county,  Missouri  ;  Andrew 
W.,  married  to  Minnie  Scofield,  lives  at  Panama, 
Chautauqua  county,  but  is  engaged  in  the  real 
estate  business  -at  Lakewood ;  he  was  assistant 
librarian  of  the  New  York  Assembly  in  1890 
and  is  active  in  the  politics  of  his  party ;  and 
John  W.,  (adopted  son)  graduated  from  Cornell 
University  and  is  at  present  superintendent 
of  city  schools  of  Dunkirk,  New  York.  By 
his  second  wife,  Asenith  Corl,  he  had  two 
children :  Mary,  married  to  Francis  Rose,  a 
farmer  living  in  the  town  of  Gerry ;  and  Etta, 
unmarried.  James  H.  Wicks  was  nu^rried  a 
third  time  to  Eliza  Pickard. 

After  passing  through  the  common  schools  of 
his  native  county,  Charles  H.  Wicks,  our  sub- 
ject, supplemented  his  education  in  the  James- 
town High  school.  He  first  took  up  the  profes- 
sion of  teaching,  became  principal  of  the 
Clymer  and  Panama  Union  schools  successively, 
and  held  the  same  for  ten  years.  In  1878  he 
was  elected  school  commissioner  for  the  first 
district  of  Chautauqua  county  and  held  that 
office  until  1891,  the  longest  continuous  service 
of  any  commissioner  in  tlie  State.  At  the  ex- 
piration of  his  term,  he  eiubarkcd  in  tiie  real 
estate  business  at  Lakewood  in  conjunction 
with  liis  brother  Andrew,  wiiich  business  tiay 
have  puslied  with  vigor  and  advantage  ever 
since.  The  business  outlook  for  this  energetic 
firm  was  never  brighter  than  at  present,  and 
they  are  looking  forward  to  a  still  more  pros- 
])erousaud  |)rofital)le  era.  Both  members  of  the 
firm  belong  to  the  I.  O.  O.  F.  at  Panama. 

Charles  H.  Wicks  married  Florence  i\.  Kub- 
bins,  a  daughter  of  ].ievi  II.  lvol)l)ins  of  Clymer 


OF  CHAUTAUQUA   COUNTY. 


603 


New  York,  and  has  two  children :  Carrie  Jane, 
born  March  12,  1883;  and  Mary  E.,  born 
November  4,  1889. 


mILLIAM  H.  WILSOX,  tiie  inventor 
of  some  very  practical  labor-saving 
uiacliiuery,  and  a  member  ot"  the  firm  of  Wilson 
&  Usborne,  is  a  son  of  John  and  Elizabeth 
(Borne)  Wilson,  and  was  born  at  Westfield, 
Chantauijna  county,  New  York,  August  7,  1834. 
John  Wilson  was  a  native  of  England,  whore 
he  learned  the  ti'ade  of  carpenter,  and  spent 
seven  years  of  his  apprenticeship  in  working  on 
Canterbury  cathedral.  In  1831  he  came  to 
Westfield,  where  he  made  his  home  from  that 
year  until  his  death  in  1857.  He  was  a  member 
of  the  Protestant  Episcopal  church  and  always 
supported  the  Democratic  ticket  after  becoming 
a  citizen  of  the  State  of  New  York.  His  widow, 
Elizabeth  (Borne)  Wilson,  who  was  a  native  of 
Kent  county,  England,  and  a  member  of  the 
Methodist  Episcopal  church,  survived  him  until 
January,  1884,  when  she  passed  away. 

William  H.  Wil.son  was  reared  at  Westfield, 
where  he  attended  the  public  schools  until  he 
was  fifteen  years  of  age,  when  he  went  to  learn 
the  trade  of  painter,  at  which  he  worked  for  three 
years.  He  then  run  a  stationary  engine  for  three 
years,  and  at  the  end  of  that  time  learned  the 
trade  of  engine  finishing.  After  completing 
that  trade  he  became  foreman  of  the  Chautauqua 
agricultural  works,  which  position  he  iield  until 
1861,  in  which  year  he  formed  a  partnership 
with  George  P.  York  and  Abel  Patchen,  under 
the  firm  name  of  Patchen  &  Co.  They  embarked 
in  the  manufacture  of  engines  and  made  the  first 
oil  tools  that  were  used  in  the  oil  region.  In 
1863  Mr.  York  purchased  the  interests  of  Mr. 
Patchen  and  Wilson,  and  the  latter  served  as 
foreman  of  the  works  until  Mr.  York's  death, 
August  19,  1888.  In  1889  Mr.  Wilson  formed 
a  partnership  with  Mr.  Usborne  (see  his  sketch) 
and  they  erected  their  present  machine  shops  on 
North  Portage  street,  where  they  make  a  specialty 


of  repairing  mowers  and  reapers,  and  have  for 
sale  repairs  for,  and  parts  of,  the  Buckeye  mow- 
ers and  reapers. 

On  March  9,  185S,  he  married  Emma  A. 
Sweet,  daughter  of  Ralj)!!  Sweet,  of  Westfield. 
They  have  three  children :  Clarence  E.,  Mary 
C,  and  Ilalph  W. 

William  H.  Wilson  is  a  liberal  democrat  and 
a  vestryman  of  the  Protestant  E])i.scopal  church, 
and  has  served  his  village  as  trustee  for  two 
terms.  He  has  not  only  studied  carefully  the 
construction  of  machinery  for  the  purpose  of  its 
construction  and  repair,  but  has  given  much 
thought  and  time  to  its  improvenieut,  and  the 
invention  of  new  machines.  In  1873  he  took 
out  a  patent  on  a  machine  whicli  he  had  iuventeil 
for  grinding  mowing  knives,  and  on  February 
20, 1877,  he  received  a  patent  for  another  of  his 
inventions  in  the  shape  of  a  base-burning  and 
self-feeding  boiler,  whicli  he  improved  in  1884, 
and  received  a  patent  on  the  improvement.  He 
secured  a  patent  for  his  "  Wilson's  A'^ertical 
Tube  Boiler."  In  1888  he  took  out  jiatents  on 
his  inventions  of  a  saw  gauge  and  a  double  tube 
radiator.  Mr.  Wilson's  five  inventions  are  prac- 
tical and  useful,  and  have  given  satisfaction 
wherever  they  have  been  used. 


TpL3IEK  H.  WIGGINS,  the  present  respon- 
■'~^  sible  and  efficient  postmaster  at  Forest- 
ville,  and  a  successful  and  highly  respected  busi- 
ness man  of  German  extraction,  is  the  son  of 
Jacob  and  Catherine  (Case)  Wiggins,  and  was 
born  in  Hannibal,  Oswego  county.  New  York, 
January  22,  1853.  His  father,  Jacob  Wiggins, 
was  born  in  1825,  and  for  a  number  of  years 
was  engaged  in  the  hotel  business  in  the  counties 
of  Oswego,  Cattaraugus  and  Chautauqua,  but 
has  now  retired  from  active  business,  and  re-^ides 
with  his  son  in  Forestville.  He  is  a  republican 
in  politics,  married  Catherine  Case,  who  was 
born  in  Geneva,  Ontario  county,  this  State,  in 
1835,  and  died  in  1889,  at  the  age  of  sixty- 
four  years. 


664 


BIOGRAPHY  AND  HISTORY 


Elmer  H.  Wiggins  was  reared  in  Newark, 
Wayne  county,  this  State,  receiving  a  common 
school  education.  After  leaving  school  he  was 
enofagred  in  clerkino-,  and  continued  in  that  avo- 
cation  until  1879,  in  Newark  and  Forestville, 
when  he  opened  a  hardware  store  in  Forestville 
and  has  continued  in  that  business  until  the 
present  time.  He  enjoys  a  large  and  constantly 
increasing  business,  built  up  by  his  own  unaided 
efforts  and  square  and  honorable  dealing,  and  on 
September  1,  1889,  was  appointed  postmaster  of 
Forestville,  and  still  holds  that  office.  He  is  a 
republican  in  politics,  and  has  held  several 
village  offices.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Free 
and  Accepted  Masons,  Ancient  Order  United 
Workmen,  and  also  the  Chicago  and  North- 
western Masonic  association.  He  is  one  of 
Forestville's  substantial  merchants,  and  an 
affable,  genial  gentleman. 

In  1873  Elmer  H.  Wiggins  united  in  marriage 
with  Josephine  Barnum,  of  Newark. 


SAMUEL  WOOD  came  to  Jamestown  with 
his  father  in  1839.  He  was  born  at 
Chesterfield,  Massachusetts,  on  March  28, 
1826,  and  is  a  son  of  Tabor  and  Eliza  (Fuller) 
Wood.  His  grandfather,  Gideon  Wood,  came 
from  English  parents  but  was  born  in  Mass- 
achusetts, and  died  at  New  Bedford,  same 
State,  in  1837.  His  life  employment  was  cloth 
manufacturing,  the  mysteries  of  which'  were 
also  learned  by  his  son.  He  married  Thankful 
Tabor,  a  representative  daughter  of  a  promi- 
nent New  Bedford  family  of  Quaker  proclivi- 
ties, who  are  still  the  leading  people  of 
their  town.  She  became  the  mother  of  chil- 
dren. His  grandfather,  Samuel  FuUtT,  was  a 
farmer  in  western  Massacluisetts,  where  he 
died.  His  wife  was  a  Miss  Haskell.  Tabor 
Wood  (fatiier),  was  born  in  New  Bedford, 
March  4,  1800,  and  came  to  Jamestown  with 
his  family  in  ]H.'!9,  having  been  married  to 
Eliza  Fuller,  who  bore  him  seven  children. 
One  son,  Edwin  A.  Wood,  was  a  soldier  in  tiie 


struggle  between  the  states,  entering  the  service 
in  the  108th  Ohio  regiment.  After  his  arrival 
here  he  formed  a  partnership  with  Daniel 
Hazeltine,  and  engaged  in  the  manufacture  of 
woolen  goods.  The  mill  they  operated  is  the 
same  one  now  occupied  by  the  Jamestown 
Woolen  Mills.  They  were  in  partnership  about 
six  years  when  Mr.  Wood  sold  his  interest  and 
went  to  Buffalo,  where  he  remained  a  short 
time  engaged  in  the  same  business,  after  which 
he  removed  to  Alerio,  Ohio,  and  began  to  farm 
which  he  followed  continuously  until  1887, 
since  which  time  he  has  been  quietly  enjoying 
the  pleasures  of  the  accumulations  of  a  well 
spent  life.  While  in  Ohio,  Mr.  Wood  was  an 
active  politician  belonging  to  the  Republican 
party,  and  was  elected  to  the  office  of  county 
commissioner  in  Shelby  county.  He  was  also 
interested  in  educational  matters  and  assisted  in 
the  organization  of  the  Union  schools  of 
Loramie's.  A  practical  supporter  of  the  church 
he  was  rightly  known  as  a  Christian  gentleman. 

Samuel  Wood  secured  his  early  education  in 
the  common  schools  and  at  the  Jamestown 
academy,  and  began  life  as  a  book-keeper  and 
clerk  for  a  railroad  contractor,  in  which  capacity 
he  was  employed  for  about  ten  years.  At  one 
time  he  engaged  in  the  furnishing  goods  busi- 
ness, but  soon  returned  to  book-keeping  which 
has  mainly  been  his  life  employment,  but  for 
the  five  years  preceding  this  writing  he  has 
been  manager  for  the  Acme  Oil  company  at 
Jamestown,  a  branch  of  the  Standard  Oil 
Trust. 

Mr.  Wood  united  in  marriage  witii  Sarah 
Harrington. 

Samuel  Wood  is  an  unassuming  rej)ul)lican 
and  a  member  of  Mt.  Moriah  Lodge,  No.  145, 
F.  and  A.  M.,  with  additional  membership  in 
Encampment,  No.  61,  Knights  Templar  of 
Jamestown. 


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OF  CHAUTAUQUA   COUNTY. 


667 


T^MOKY'   AV.   LIVliKI^IOKJ:,    a    successful 

-*■"*■  grape  culturist,  of  Silver  Creek,  was  born 
in  Vermont  in  1824.  In  early  life  he  came  to 
Chautauqua  county,  where  he  has  resided  ever 
since.  He  has  an  exceedingly  fine  grape  farm 
of  thirty  acres  at  Silver  Creek,  and  is  a  suc- 
cessful farmer. 

In  187."5  he  united  in  marriage  with  Miss  R. 
S.  Bailey,  and  they  have  one  child,  a  son,  Carl- 
ton B.,  who  was  born  in  1874.  Mrs.  Liver- 
more  is  a  daughter  of  the  late  William  Bailey, 
who  died  at  her  residence  at  Silver  Creek  on 
February  8,  1883,  aged  eighty-nine  years  and 
eleven  months. 

William  Bailey  was  born  at  Shoreham,  Ver- 
mont, March  1 1, 1793.  He  learned  the  trade  of 
mill-wright,  was  a  volunteer  in  the  war  of  1812, 
but  did  not  reach  his  regiment  until  fighting 
bad  ceased,  and  at  twenty-two  years  of  age,  on 
December  29,  1814,  married  Juliette  Rawson, 
of  Townsend,  who  died  in  1873,  at  Nashville,  | 
this  county.  In  1815  he  removed  to  the  site  of  ' 
the  village  of  Morley,  in  St.  Lawrence  county, 
which  he  left  in  1830  to  settle  in  Onondaga 
county,  where  he  resided  for  half  a  century, 
during  which  time  he  was  postmaster  of  Brewer- 
ton.  From  Manlius,  in  that  county,  he  came 
to  Nashville  in  1880,  and  two  years  later  pas.sed 
away  at  Silver  Creek,  where  he  resided  with 
his  youngest  daughter,  Mrs.  E.  W.  Livermore, 
who  supplied  everything  that  could  make  his 
declining  years  happy  and  free  from  care.  He 
was  a  strictly  temperate  man,  and  in  early  life 
became  an  intimate  friend  of  Silas  AVright,  to 
whom  he  suergested  the  idea  of  our  free  schools. 
At  twenty-one  years  of  age  he  was  initiated  into 
a  Masonic  Lodge  in  Vermont,  and  in  1868  di- 
mitted  from  Military  Lodge  No.  93.  Accord- 
ing to  his  expressed  wish  his  remains  were 
interred  in  Nashville  cemetery,  with  Masonic 
honors  by  Silver  Creek  Lodge,  No.  757. 

His  youngest  daughter,  Mrs.  E.  W.  Liver- 
more,  is  a  lineal  descendant  through  her  moth- 
er,   of    Sir    Edward    Rawson,    who    came    to 


America  nearly  three  centuries  ago.  She  is  a 
woman  of  good  taste  and  judgment,  and  was 
the  architect  of  her  present  neat  and  tasteful 
home  at  Silver  Creek,  which  contains  eight 
rooms  in  the  first  and  seven  in  the  second  story, 
all  of  which  are  well  furnished.  Mrs.  Liver- 
more  has  been  actively  interested  for  many 
years  in  temperance.  She  is  a  member  of  the 
Free  Air  society  which  seeks  to  obtain  temjjo- 
rary  country  homes  for  city  children,  and  the 
Women's  Educational  and  Industrial  Union,  of 
Dunkirk,  whose  object  is  mutucl  co-oj)eration 
and  sympathy  among  women,  and  to  secure 
their  educational,  industrial  and  social  advance- 
ment. 

& 

JOHN  M.  ZAHN,  of  the  hardware  firm  of 
^  Case  &  Zahn,  is  of  German  parentage  and 
a  man  who,  though  very  modest  concerning 
himself,  has,  by  his  own  energy  and  industry, 
gained  the  reputation  of  being  a  successful  busi- 
ness man.  His  father,  Joseph  Zahn,  was  born 
in  Germany  in  1827,  but  his  parents  emigrated 
from  the  Vaterland  to  America  before  he  had 
attained  his  first  birthday  anniversary  and  set- 
tled in  Collins,  Erie  county.  New  York,  where 
Jo.seph  was  educated  in  the  public  schools.  He 
went  to  Buifalo  when  he  was  sixteen  years  of 
age  and  learned  the  blacksmith's  trade  with 
Chamberlain  Brothers.  He  served  a  three 
years'  apprenticeship  with  them  as  a  carriage 
blacksmith  and  a  journeyman  until  1862,  in 
which  year  he  came  to  Fredonia  and  went  to 
work  for  Taylor  and  Day,  carriage  manufac- 
turers, with  whom  he  remained  two  years.  He 
then  engaged  with  Obed  Bissell,  who  was  in  the 
same  business,  and  continued  in  his  employ 
until  his  death,  which  occurred  in  1870.  The 
succeeding  firm  was  Mullet,  Green  &  Bissell 
and  Mr.  Zahn  was  employed  by  them  for  six 
years,  when  they  sold  out.  He  then  moved  to 
Silver  Creek  and  entered  the  employ  of  August 
Heine,  who  owned  a  third  interest  in  the  Ex- 
celsior Machine  works,  which  manufacture  the 


668 


BIOGRAPHY  AND  HISTORY 


excelsior  disintegrating  middlings  purifier. 
Their  machines  are  sold  all  over  the  United 
States,  England,  Ireland  and  Scotland,  Canada 
and  the  Soutli  American  States.  He  is  still  in 
their  employ  and  enjoys  the  reputation  of  being 
one  of  the  best  blacksmiths  in  America.  He  is 
a  member  of  the  German  Catholic  church  in 
Silver  Creek.  He  was  married  to  Mary 
Schefley,  a  most  estimable  lady,  in  1850,  and 
there  have  been  born  to  them  four  sons  and 
four  daughters,  of  whom  John  M.  is  the  first- 
born. Following  were  Samuel  S.,  a  butcher  in 
Fredouia;  Louisa,  married  to  Albert  Scheller, 
a  baker  in  Syracuse,  Onondaga  county,  New 
York  ;  Stephen,  in  a  hotel  in  Dunkirk,  this 
county,  who  married  Carrie  Long ;  Amelia, 
married  to  Herman  Morganstein,  a  machinist  at 
Westfield  ;  Albert,  a  mechanic,  married  to  Lida 
Quigley ;  and  Carrie,  who  married  Michael 
Zahu,  a  brewer  in  Syracuse,  Onondaga  county, 
New  York. 

John  M.  Zahn,  son  of  Joseph  and  Maiy 
(Schefley)  Zahn,  was  born  in  Buffalo,  Erie 
county,  New  Y'ork,  April  23,  1853,  and  was 
educated  at  the  district  scliool  in  Fredonia, 
which  he  attended  until  he  was  fifteen  years  old, 
when  he  went  to  learn  the  trade  of  a  tinsmith 


with  Allenbrand  &  Groff,  at  Dunkirk,  this 
county,  with  whom  he  served  a  three  years' 
apprenticeship.  He  then  went  to  Silver  Creek 
and  worked  one  year  in  the  Excelsior  Machine 
works,  and  in  1872  came  to  Fredonia  and  en- 
tered the  employ  of  W.  W.  Scott  &  Co.,  re- 
maining with  them  two  years,  after  which,  he 
was  employed  by  D.  L.  Shephard,  in  the  store 
where  he  is  now  partner,  with  whom  he  re- 
mained seven  years,  at  the  expiration  of  which 
time,  he  engaged  in  the  hardware  business,  as- 
sociating with  F.  W.  Case,  under  the  firm  name 
of  Case  &  Zahn. 

He  started  in  the  battle  of  life  with 
nothing  but  untiring  energy  and  indomit- 
able pluck  and  has  acquired  considerable 
projjerty,  and  no  citizen  is  more  highly  and 
generally  respected  than  he.  For  three  years 
he  was  chief  of  the  Fredonia  Fire  department. 
He  married  Florence  Knight,  a  daughter  of 
Henry  Knight,  a  blacksmith  of  Silver  Creek, 
April  6,  1873,  and  has  one  child,  a  bright  and 
promising  son,  Sylvester  J.,  born  March  28, 
1874,  and  who  is  now  in  school.  The  mother 
died  a  day  or  two  after  the  birth  of  the  son,  and 
November  25,  1877  Mr.  Zahn  married  Mary 
Zinck,  of  Fredonia,  who  is  still  living. 


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CHAUTAUQUA 


COUNTY   COURT-HOUSE. 


By  the  act  of  1808  creating  the  counties  of 
Chautauqua  and  Cattaraugus,  the  Governor  of 
the  State  was  required  to  appoint  three  cominis- 
sioTiers  to  fix  on  sites  in  these  counties  for  the 
erection  of  court-houses,  and  to  make  report  of 
such  to  the  Clerk  of  Niagara  county,  New 
York.  The  commissioners  appointed  to  locate 
the  county  sites  were  Isaac  Southerland,  Jonas 
Williams  and  Asa  Eansom.  The  act  also  re- 
quired the  supervisors  of  each  county  to  raise 
the  sum  of  one  thousand  five  hundred  dollars 
for  the  erection  and  completion  of  county 
buildings.  A  contract  was  accordingly  made 
with  Winsor  Brigham  to  build  a  court-house 
and  jail  of  wood  ;  and  the  house  of  John  Scott, 
in  the  village  of  Mayville,  was  designated  as 
the  place  for  holding  courts  until  the  court- 
house should  be  completed. 

The  first  court-house  in  the  county  was  the 
two-story  frame  building  built  between  1811 
and  1818,  the  war  of  1812  having  retarded  its 
completion.  The  June  term  of  the  court  in 
1814  was  held  in  the  unfinished  building,  but 
not  the  fall  and  winter  terms.  In  1815  the 
building  was  fiuished  and  occupied,  the  lower 
story  containing  three  prison  cells, — two  for 
criminals,  and  one  for  debtors.  In  front  of 
these,  and  divifled  from  them  by  a  narrow 
hall,  was  the  dwelling  part  of  the  jailor  and 
his  family.  The  upper  story  was  for  court  and 
jury  rooms  and  the  accessory  use  of  the  judi- 
ciary. 

In  1832,  the   prison   rooms  being  too  con- 
tracted,   and    having    become   dilapidated    and 
30 


unsafe  for  the  detention  of  prisoners,  the  Legis- 
lature required  the  supervisors  to  provide  for 
the  erection  of  a  new  jail.  They  had  been 
authorized  the  preceding  year  to  do  .so  ;  but, 
notwithstanding  the  fact  that  in  their  present- 
ment they  had  adjudged  the  old  jail  to  be  inse- 
cure and  unsafe,  yet  they  refused  to  provide 
for  the  buildiug  of  another.  The  recommend- 
ation, however,  was  finally  made,  and  three 
thousand  five  hundred  dollars  in  three  annual 
installments  was  appropriated  for  the  erection 
of  a  new  jail,  which  was  completed  in  1833. 

In  1834,  on  the  petition  of  many  citizens,  an 
act  was  passed  directing  the  building  of  a  new 
court-house.  It  is  not  strange  that  county 
buildings  costuig  but  one  thousand  five  hun- 
dred dollars  were,  after  the  lapse  of  more  than 
twenty  years,  insufficient  for  the  various  county 
purposes.  The  commissioners  appointed  by  the 
act  to  contract  for  and  superintend  the  erection 
of  the  court-house  were  Thomas  B.  Campbell, 
William  Peacock  and  Martin  Prendergast.  The 
supervisors  were  required  to  assess  and  collect, 
therefor,  five  thousand  dollars  in  five  annual 
installments,  commencing  in  1837.  This  time 
was  fixed  in  time  to  allow  the  jail  instalments 
to  be  fully  paid  before  additional  taxes  were 
imjiosed.  The  money  for  building  was  loaned 
to  the  county  by  the  State  at  six  per  cent,  in- 
terest, the  first  installment  to  be  paid  March  1 , 
1838. 

The  commissioners  contracted  with  Benja- 
min Rathbun,  of  Buffalo,  for  erecting  the  exte- 
rior of  the  l)uilding.     The  work  was  done  the 

671 


672 


CHAUTAUQUA   COUNTY  COURT-HOUSE. 


same  summer,  and  was  accepted  by  the  cora- 
raissioners.  The  plan  was  submitted  to  the 
Board  of  Supervisors  in  1834,  apd  a  committee 
was  appointed  with  instructions  to  report  to  the 
board  at  the  next  meeting.  At  an  adjourned 
session  held  the  next  month  (December,  1 834), 
the  committee  reported  resolutions  declaring 
that  all  the  money  borrowed  had  been  expended 
on  the  exterior  of  the  building,  disapproving 
the  acts  of  the  commissioners  as  tending  to 
burden  the  county  with  a  heavy  expense  for  a 
larger  and  more  costly  building  than  was 
needed,  with  the  purpose  of  advancing  the  in- 
terests of  Mayville  at  the  expense  of  the 
county,  and  asking  the  Legislature  to  remove 
William  Peacock  and  Martin  Prendergast,  and 
appoint  Elial  T.  Foote  and  Leverett  Barker  as 
commissioners  in  their  stead.  Tlie  re])ort  was 
accepted. 


The  action  of  the  next  Legislature  upon  the 
subject  was  the  passage  of  a  law  requiring  the 
additional  sum  of  four  thousand  dollars  to  be 
raised  to  complete  the  building,  and  author- 
izing the  coc-.ptroller  of  the  treasury  to  loan  it 
as  before;  and  instead  of  removing  the  two 
commissioners,  Elial  T.  Foote,  of  Ellicott,  and 
Leverett  Barker,  of  Pom  fret,  were  appointed 
additional  commissioners.  With  this  appropri- 
ation the  building  was  completed,  the  five  com- 
missioners discharged,  and  the  court-house 
which  is  in  use  to-day  as  the  seat  of  Ciiautau- 
qua  county's  judiciaiy  was  formally  accepted 
by  the  people.  The  first  president  judge  to 
occupy  the  new  court-house  was  Zattu  Gush- 
ing, wiio  was  assisted  by  Matthew  Prendergast, 
Pliiio  Orton,  Jonathan  Thompson  and  William 
Alexander,  associate  judges.  The  present  county 
judge  is  the  Hon.  Almon  A.  Van  Dusen. 


SKETCH  OF  THE  EARLY  HISTORY 


OF 


CHAUTAUQUA  COUNTY, 


BY 


HON.    OBED    EDSON. 


Boundaries. — Chautauqua  county  lies  in 
the  extreme  western  part  of  tlie  State  of  New 
York.  It  is  bounded  on  the  east,  for  a  distance 
of  twenty-five  miles,  by  the  county  of  Cattarau- 
gus. On  the  south,  twenty-four  miles,  and  on 
the  west,  eighteen  miles,  it  is  l)ouuded  by  the 
State  of  Pennsylvania.  On  the  north-west  by 
Lake  Erie,  which  extends  along  that  border  of 
the  county  about  forty  miles.  A  distance  of 
about  four  miles  on  the  north-east,  it  is  bounded 
by  the  county  of  Erie,  from  which  it  is  sepa- 
rated by  the  Cattaraugus  creek.  The  county 
contains  1099  square  miles.  It  is  nearly  as 
large  as  the  State  of  Rliode  Island,  more  than 
one-half  as  large  as  the  State  of  Delaware,  and 
has  a  territory  greater  in  extent  than  many  of 
the  smaller  German  states. 

Toi^OGUAPHY. — A  belt  of  grass  covered  hills 
extends  through  the  central  portion  of  Chautau- 
qua county,  from  its  eastern  boundary  south- 
westerly to  the  State  of  Pennsylvania,  forming 
a  water-shed  that  divides  the  waters  that  flow 
into  Lake  Erie,  from  tiiose  that  flow  into  the 
tributaries  of  the  Mississippi.  The  more  pre- 
cipitous face  of  this  water-shed  is  presented  to- 
wards Ijake  Erie,  where  steeply  rise  irregular 
bills,  to  a  considerable  height  above  the  low 
lands  that  border  the  lake.     The  northern   side 


I  of  the  water-shed  extends  in  an  irregular  line 
substantially  parallel  to  tlie  shore  of  Lake  Erie, 
and  at  a  distance  varying  from  three  to  six 
miles.  From  the  foot  of  these  hills  north- 
ward IS  an  undulating  region  gradually  de- 
scending as  it  extends  toward  the  lake  where 
it  terminates  in  a  bluff,  of  the  average  height  of 
twenty  feet  above  its  waters. 

As  Lake  Erie  is  573  feet  above  the  sea  level, 
no  part  of  the  county  is  less  than  that  height 
above  the  ocean,  while  the  hills  that  extend 
along  the  northern  border  of  the  water-shed, 
known  as  the  ridge,  rise  to  an  altitude  of  1000 
to  1200  feet  above  the  lake,  equivalent  to  1600 
or  1800  feet  above  the  ocean.  From  the  sum- 
mit of  these  hills,  a  fine  and  extended  view  of 
the  surrounding  regions  may  be  had.  To  the 
north  lie  cultivated  fields  that  extend  from  the 
foot  of  the  hills  to  the  shore  along  the  northern 
border  of  the  county.  Beyond  is  Lake  Erie,  so 
distant  that  the  waves  and  surf  fade  from  thesiarht. 

o 

In  the  summer  time  the  lake  is  as  blue  as  if  it 
had  been  painted  upon  canvas,  with  nothing  to 
relieve  the  monotony  of  color,  but  the  long  black 
lines  of  smoke  from  the  propellers  and  the 
white  sails  of  the  lake  craft,  which  thicklv 
speck  the  surface — distance  rendering  tiiem 
motionless,  apparently  as  "  Painted  ships  upon 

673 


674 


SKETCH  OF  THE  EARLY  HISTORY 


a  painted  sea."  Over  beyond  the  lake,  and 
fortv  miles  away,  the  distant  shores  and  hills  of 
Canada  are  visible  from  Fort  Erie  to  Long 
Point,  while  southward  at  some  jioints,  the  hills 
of  Pennsylvania  can  plainly  be  seen. 

The  water-shed  of  the  county  is  deeply  fur- 
rowed into  a  series  of  wide  valleys  that  extend 
in  nearly  parallel  lines  across  it,  at  right-angles 
with  the  shore  of  Lake  Erie.  Between  the  val- 
levs,  extending  iu  a  like  direction,  are  high 
rido'es  which  the  waters  have  seamed  and  scored 
into  chains  of  hills.  These  hills  as  they  extend 
to  the  south-east  slightly  decrease  in  altitude, 
and  finally  (juite  abruptly  terminate  in  the 
south-eastern  part  of  the  county.  There  these 
long  and  wide  depressions  between  the  ranges 
of  hills  merge  together,  forming  the  broad  val- 
ley of  the  Conewango. 

The  valleys  that  cross  this  liighland  region 
have  all  the  same  level  with  scarcely  any 
descent,  as  they  extend  to  the  south-west  into 
the  larger  valley  of  the  Conewango,  each  being 
a  little  more  than  700  feet  above  Lake  Erie. 
In  each,  near  its  northern  terminus,  are  one  or 
more  lakes  and  ponds.  In  these  little  lakes  all 
of  the  principal  streams  of  tlie  county  that  flow 
southward  into  tributaries  that  feed  the  Mississ- 
ippi, have  their  origin.  These  lakes  all  lie  very 
near  the  northern  face  of  the  ridge,  so  near  that 
a  few  rods  of  low  land  only  intervene  and  but 
a  little  labor  would  be  required  to  turn  their 
waters  northward  to  lie  disciiarged  into  Lake 
Erie.  In  the  wide  valley  that  extends  along 
the  eastern  part  of  the  county,  flows  the  Cone- 
wango, the  principal  stream  in  Chautauqua 
county.  It  empties  into  the  Allegheny  near 
Warren,  Pennsylvania.  It  has  its  source  in 
two  of  tiiese  lakes  that  lie  near  the  northern 
verge  of  the  ridge,  known  as  JMud  lake  and 
Ea.st  Mud  lake. 

In  the  deei>  and  wide  valley  that  extends 
thnjugh  the  centi'al  part  of  the  county,  flows  the 
Cassadaga,  a  large  and  crooked  stream,  empty- 
ing into  the  Conewango  a   little   nortli   of  the 


Pennsylvania  line.  The  Cassadaga  has  its 
source  in  a  cluster  of  little  lakes,  five  or  more, 
that  sparkle  near  the  northern  declivity  of  the 
highlands,  the  largest  one  so  near  that  many 
years  ago  its  waters  were,  by  the  labor  of  a  few 
men,  iu  a  short  time,  almost  turned  northward 
into  tributaries  of  Lake  Erie  through  a  ditch 
surreptitiously  cut  for  that  purpose.  The  law 
;  was  invoked  in  season  to  prevent  tiie  change. 
Bear  creek  flows  through  another  of  the  valleys 
into  the  Cassadaga.  It  has  its  source  iu  Bear 
lake  which  also  lies  very  near  the  northern 
verge  of  the  ridge. 

In  the  valley,  next  west  of  the  Bear  and 
Cassadaga  valleys,  and  extending,  like  the  others 
in  the  same  direction  to  the  northern  face  of  the 
ridge,  is  that  in  which  lies  Chautauqua  lake, 
the  largest  in  the  county  and  one  of  the  finest 
in  the  State.  There,  in  this  notch  cut  so  deep- 
ly across  the  hills,  gleams  its  bright  waters — a 
paradox  among  lakes.  Tiiough  poised  in  the 
crest  of  the  highlands  where  the  sky  only  is  re- 
flected iu  its  crystal  depths,  so  near  to  Lake 
Erie  that  we  look  to  see  its  waters  pour  down 
the  steep  declivity  to  join  it,  and  finally  meet 
tiie  sea  upon  the  cold  and  barren  coast  of  Lab- 
rador, we  find  them  running  southward, 
and  after  a  long  and  siiuious  journey  of  over 
2500  miles,  flowing  consecutively  tiirougli  its 
outlet,  the  Cassadaga,  and  tlie  Conewango, 
Allegheny,  Ohio  and  Mississippi  rivers,  ming- 
ling at  last  with  the  waters  of  the  Gulf  of  Mex- 
ico. The  Mississippi  seems  to  put  forth  an  arm 
beyond  its  own  great  valley,  far  into  the  nortli- 
east  to  receive  the  pure  waters  of  this  highland 
lake.  Tl)e  cool  dews  of  the  elevated  region  iu 
wiiicli  i(  lies,  the  pure  air  and  gentle  winds 
bearing  iieaith  and  strengtli  upon  tlieir  healing 
wings,  eitinbine  witii  tlie  great  beauty  of  the 
lake  to  bring  aiuiuaiiy  thousiuulK  to  its  shore.s 
in  search  of  rest  and  pleasure. 

Tiic  hills  that  rise  to  the  westward  of  the 
valley  in  which  lies  Chautauqua  lake,  divide 
the  waters  which  flow  into    it   from    tliose  that 


OF  CHAUTAUQUA   COUNTY. 


675 


flow  into  the  Broken  Straw  and  J''rench  creeks, 
important  tributaries  of  the  Allegheny.  Find- 
ley's  lake,  the  second  in  size  in  the  county,  lies 
somewhat  farther  from  tlie  northern  face  of  the 
ridgo  tlian  the  other  lakes  of  the  county,  and 
discharges  its  waters  into  a  tributary  of  French 
creek. 

The  streams  in  the  northern  part  of  the 
county  are  generally  siiorter  and  have  less 
volume  than  those  in  the  southern  jiart.  They 
rise  among  the  hills  that  form  the  ridge  and 
run  northerly  and  empty  into  I^ake  Erie.  Each 
of  these  great  valleys  that  bisect  the  ridge  has  a 
corresponding  stream  that  flows  northerly  in 
nearly  the  same  course  as  extends  tiic  valley. 
These  are  the  largest  streams  uorth  of  tlie  ridw, 
and  eaf^h  one  has  usually  two  forks  or  branches, 
flowing  from  opposite  sides  of  the  valley  it 
rei)resents.  Twenty  Mile  creek  has  its  source 
in  the  valley  iu  wliich  lies  Findley's  lake.  The 
Chautauqua  and  the  Little  Chautauqua  flow 
from  opposite  sides  of  the  valley  in  which  lies 
Chautauqua  lake,  unite  a  little  above  Westfield, 
and  flow  northward  in  the  course  of  the  valley 
of  Bear  lake.  The  east  aud  west  branches  of 
the  Cassadaga  flow  from  opposite  sides  of  the 
Cassadaga  valley  and  unite  above  Laona.  The 
Waluut  and  Silver  creeks  have  their  sources  in 
o])posite  sides  of  the  Conewango  valley  and 
unite  at  Silver  creek.  The  Cattaraugus  creek, 
which  flows  along  the  northern  border  of  the 
county,  is  much  the  largest  of  the  streams  that 
empty  into  Lake  Erie.  It  is  also  the  longest 
water-course  of  the  county,  being  over  ^fty 
miles  in  length.  No  other  stream  of  the  county 
flows  into  Lake  Erie  from  beyond  the  highlands 
that  divide  the  waters  that  run  into  the  tribu- 
taries of  the  Mississippi,  from  those  that  flow 
into  Lake  Erie.  The  Cattaraugus  rises  in  the 
county  of  Cattaraugus  and  follows  a  deep  de- 
pression among  the  hills.  It  passes  beyond  the 
ridge  into  Lake  Erie.  At  Gowanda  in  Catta- 
raugus county,  thirteen  miles  from  Lake  Erie, 
it  is  but  four  miles  east  of  the  head  waters  of  the 


Conewango,  wliicii  Hows  .southerly  and  yet 
I  according  to  the  railroad  survey  its  waters  are 
six  iiundred  feet  below  the  head-waters  of  the 
Conewango,  and  but  two  hundred  feet  above 
Lake  Erie. 

GEOLfMiV. — The  topographical  features  of 
tile  county,  whicli  we  have  described,  are  the 
result  of  causes  aufl  forces  operating  far  back 
in  the  past.  We  must  look  to  geology  for  an 
explanation  of  their  existence.  A.U  geologists 
!  at  present  agree  that  the  first  dry  land  that  ap- 
peared above  the  shallow  ocean  that  anciently 
'  covered  this  continent,  was  a  long  narrow  area, 
composed  print^ipally  of  granite  and  other  crys- 
talline rocks,  extending  from  the  coiist  of  Labra- 
dor, in  a  southwesterly  direction,  north  fif,  and 
parallel  to,  what  are  now  the  St.  Ijawrence  and 
the  two  lower  of  tiie  great  lakes.  At  this 
])oint,  abruptly  turning,  this  belt  of  a  continent, 
thence  extended  in  a  nortiiwesterly  dii'ectiou  to 
the  Arctic  Ocean.  It  included  within  its  area, 
nearly  all  of  what  is  now  the  Province  of  Can- 
ada, and  was  called  the  Laurentian  continent. 
Scattered  here  and  there,  in  this  ancient  ocean, 
were  a  few  rocky  islands.  In  Minnesota  was 
an  isolated  and  limited  area  of  dry  land.  The 
Iron  mountains  of  ^lissouri,  the  Black  Hills  of 
Dakota,  the  I^aramie  range  in  Nebraska,  and 
the  Ozark  mountains  in  Missouri, "had  emerged 
from  the  ocean,  forming  islands.  The  Adiron- 
dack region,  iu  the  State  of  New  York,  formed 
cither  an  island  or  a  peninsular  appendage  of 
this  Canadian  continent.  All  the  rest  of  North 
America,  including  the  county  of  Chautau(iua, 
and  the  outlaying  Allegheny  mountains,  and 
the  loftiest  peaks  of  the  Rockies,  was  then  cov- 
ei-ed  by  a  vast  sea. 

Fossils,  representing  the  lowest  aud  earliest 
forms  of  life,  faintly  ajtpear  in  the  metamor- 
phic  rocks  of  this  early  continent.  Slowly, 
during  ages  of  time,  its  boundaries  continued 
to  extend  further  and  fiu-ther  westward  aud 
southward,  until  the  whole  area,  as  it  now  ap- 
pears, had   emerged  from  the  ocean.     Indeed, 


676 


SKETCH  OF  THE  EARLY  HISTORY 


the  process  is  still  going  on.  The  first  addition 
to  this  incipient  continent  by  the  rising  of  the 
land  and  the  recession  of  the  sea,  was  a  narrow 
strij)  of  territory,  extending  in  an  easterly  and 
westerly  direction  along  the  south  and  western 
border  of  the  azoic  rocks  of  the  Adirondacks. 
The  rocks  that  compose  this  region  are  the 
Potsdam  sandstone,  and  belong  to  the  Pri- 
moidal,  or  Cambrian  period,  and  contain  fossils 
of  extremely  low  forms  of  life.  South  of  the 
Potsdam  sandstone,  and  extending  in  nearly  an 
easterly  and  westerly  direction,  over  the  length 
of  the  northern  half  of  the  State  of  New  York, 
in  long  and  narrow  strips  in  regular  order,  lie 
rocks  of  the  succeeding  periods,  which  make  up 
that  long  era  of  time  known  in  geological  his- 
tory as  the  Silurian  age,  or  the  age  of  Mollusks, 
in  which,  with  the  exception  of  the  trilobite 
and  a  few  other  articulates,  but  little  animal 
life  existed  higher  than  .shell  fish.  The 
periods  represented  by  these  rocks  in  the  State 
of  New  York,  are  successively  known  as  the 
Trenton,  Niagara,  Salina,  Lower  Helderburg, 
and  Oriskany  periods.  These  rocks  were  suc- 
cessively formed  in  the  bottom  of  the  sea,  dur- 
ing long  periods  of  tirae,  by  rivers  and  otiier 
agencies,  and  as  the  deposits  were  elevated 
above  the  water,  the  rocks  came  to  constitute 
the  surface  in  a  regular  order,  as  they  were 
formed  beneath  the  sea.  In  like  manner  were 
formed  the  rocks  of  the  succeeding  age,  or  grand 
division  of  geological  time,  known  as  the  De- 
vonian age,  or  age  of  fishes,  which  commenced 
with  the  corniferous  period,  that  extends  from 
the  Hudson  to  tiie  vicinity  of  Buffalo.  South 
of  the  corniferous  rocks,  lie  in  a  long  and  nar- 
row strip,  the  rocks  of  the  Hamilton  [)eriod. 
And  next  succeeded  the  rocks  of  the  Chemung 
])('rio(l,  which  extend  in  a  wide  band  over  the 
wIkjIc  soutliern  portion  of  the  State  of  New 
York. 

As  tiie  rocks  that  underlie  ( 'h;ui(ani|iia  coun- 
ty belong  10  tlie  Chemtnig  lonnation,  a  l)rief 
ac(;ount  should   be  jrivcn   of  th<'ii'  origin    and 


growth,  the  character  of  the  shells  and  fossil 
sea- weeds  found  in  (hem,  the  mud  cracks  that 
appear  to  have  been  made  by  a  fiery  sun  shi- 
ning upon  clay  shores,  and  upon  the  bottom  of 
shallow  seas  at  ebb-tide,  the  oblique  and  irreg- 
ular lamination  of  these  rocks,  the  ripple  marks, 
made  in  what  was  then  the  shifting  sands,  of 
what  is  now  the  enduring  rocks,  relate  to  the 
circumstances  of  their  creation.  They  inform 
us  that  the  area  included  within  the  county  of 
Chautauqua  duriug  tiie  Chemung  period,  was 
usually  covered  by  a  shallow  sea  of  muddy 
waters,  spread  over  great  sandy  flats  and  .salt 
meadows,  which  were  swept  by  the  waves  and 
tidal  currents.  The  character  of  some  of  the 
rocks  of  this  period  indicate  that  at  times  the  sub- 
mergence was  greater,  and  that  they  were  formed 
in  deeper  seas.  The  great  thickness  of  the 
rocks  of  this  formation  in  Chautauqua  couuty, 
teach  us  that  during  the  progress  of  their 
growth  there  was  a  great  subsidence  of  the 
land. 

The  Chemung  period  is  made  up  of  two 
epochs:  the  Portage  and  the  Chemung.  The 
rocks  of  the  Portage  are  the  oldest,  and  lie  be- 
neath those  of  the  Chemung.  In  the  northern 
part  of  the  county  these  rocks  extend  south 
from  the  shore  of  Lake  Erie  to  the  ridge,  or 
water  shed,  that  divides  the  waters  that  are  dis- 
charged into  Lake  Erie  from  those  that  flow 
into  the  Allegheny  river,  and  up  the  northern 
face  of  the  ridge  to  an  altitude  of  about  eight 
hundred  and  forty  feet  above  Lake  Erie,  or 
fourteen  liundred  feet  above  tide.  In  this  part 
of  the  county  these  rocks  lie  just  beneatli  the 
drift,  or  the  loose  gravel  and  sand,  that  every- 
where ill  western  New  York  covers  the  surface 
of  the  earth,  and  of  which  we  shall  speak  more 
fully  a  little  later.  These  rocks  are  best  ex- 
posed to  view  along  Lake  Il^rie,  where  they 
compose  the  high  perpendicular  bluffs  that 
frown  along  its  shores,  rising  in  some  places  to 
a  lioight  of  one  hundred  feet.  Along  the  beds 
and  .sides  of  tiie  channel   worn  by  the  Canada- 


OF  CHAUTAUQUA  COUNTY. 


677 


way  creek,  through  tlie  hills  of  Arkwright,  and 
from  that  point  to  Lake  Erie,  the  Portage 
rocks  may  be  seen  to  great  advantage,  partieu- 
larly  at  the  fiill.s  of  the  Canadaway,  and  of  its 
west  hraneli.  Along  the  hanks  and  beds  of 
the  Silvan  and  Walnut  creeks  the  rocks  are 
well  displayed,  and  also  along  the  Cattaraugus, 
Chautauqua,  and  Little  Chautauqua  and  Twen- 
ty Mile  creeks,  and  at  various  places  in  the 
norihern  part  of  the  county,  where  smaller 
streams  have  removed  the  drift  from  the  sur- 
face and  exposed  the  underlying  rocks.  At 
Wheelers  gulf,  in  the  town  of  Pomfret,  where, 
in  the  construction  of  the  Dunkirk,  Warren 
and  Pittsl)urgh  Railroad,  excavations  iiave  been 
made  in  the  upper  strata  of  these  rooks,  the 
line  can  be  seen  where  they  gradually  merge 
into  the  overlying  rocks  of  the  Chemung 
group.  The  Portage  formation  in  Chautauqua 
county  has  a  thickness  of  perhaps  fourteen  hun- 
dred feet.  But  few  fossils  are  there  found, 
with  the  exception  of  fucoids,  or  sea  weeds.  It 
contains,  however,  some  crinoids,  brachiopods, 
lamelli  branches,  bellerophous  and  gonitates. 
The  crinoids — the  poteniocrinus,  occurs  in  great  ; 
numbers,  but  bi'oken  into  fragments  at  a  place 
in  the  town  of  Portland,  on  the  shore  of  Lake 
Erie. 

Above  the  Portage  formation  lie  the  rocks  of 
the  Chemung  epoch,  which  extend  from  the 
uortheru  face  of  the  ridge,  south  through  the 
whole  of  the  south  part  of  the  county,  with 
generally  nothing  but  drift  covering  them.  The 
waters  that  run  northward  into  the  gulf  of  St. 
Lawrence  seem  to  be  divided  in  Chautauqua 
county,  from  the  waters  that  run  southward  into 
the  gulf  of  Mexico,  by  the  same  line  that  di- 
vides the  rocks  of  the  Portage  from  those  of  the 
Chemung  epoch.  They  are  exposed  to  view 
alono;  the  banks  of  the  streams  and  in  the  ra- 
vines  of  the  south  part  of  the  county,  and  arc 
best  seen  along  the  upper  waters  of  the  Chau- 
tauqua and  Little  Chautauqua  creeks,  the  outlet 
of   Chautauqua  lake  at  Dexterville,  a  part  of 


the  Twenty  Mile  creek,  and  at  points  along  the 
Canadaga  and  Conewango  creeks,  and  along  the 
banks  of  the  smaller  streams  flowing  into  tiiem. 
They  are  less  than  1500  feet  in  thickness  in 
Chautauqua  county,  and  are  composed  of  sand- 
stones and  coarse  shales,  with  ripple-marks, 
obli(pie  lamination  and  shrinkage  cracks,  denot- 
ing the  deposits  to  have  been  made  in  shallow 
waters.  There  are  many  fossils  in  the  rocks  of 
the  Chemung  epoch — aviculic,  brachiopods  in 
great  numbers,  including  the  broad-winged  spir- 
ifers,  and  some  producti ;  a  huge  gonitate,  four 
or  five  inches  in  diameter,  and  sometimes  a  tri- 
lobite,  and  rarely  a  tooth  of  a  fish. 

A  conglomerate,  sometimes  called  the  Panama 
and  Salamanca  conglomerate,  composes  the  upper 
strata  of  the  Chemung  grou]),  and  is  the  last 
formed  of  the  stratified  rocks  of  Chautauqua 
county. 

Thus  we  have  seen  that  the  fouDdati(Mi  rocks 
of  the  county  were  formed  in  the  Chemung 
period.  During  the  great  stretch  of  time  that 
followed,  the  continent  continued  to  rise  above 
the  sea  and  gradually  extend  its  limits  west  and 
south,  until  its  boundaries  became  those  of  the 
present  time.  The  Catskill  period  came  after 
the  Chemung,  and  closed  the  Devonian  age. 
Then  followed  amazing  sweeps  of  time,  known 
as  the  Carboniferous  age,  and  the  age  of  Reptiles, 
and  of  Mammals,  usually  called  Mesozoic  and 
Cenozoic  time,  during  which  Chautauqua  county 
remained  substantially  above  the  sea,  although 
it  may  have  been  at  times  temporarily  submerged. 
What  vegetable  growths  and  living  creatiu'es 
existed  upon  its  surface  during  the  millions  of 
years  included  in  these  vast  eras  of  time,  down 
to  the  recent  period,  known  as  the  Glacial  period, 
we  have  no  evidence.  They  have  all  been  swept 
away  by  water  and  ice.  During  this  era  of  the 
world's  history  Lake  Erie  was  excavated  by  ice 
during  recurring  periods  of  intense  cold.  Thei'e 
is  little  doubt  that  during  this  time  the  region 
that  included  Chautauqua  county  underwent 
important  and  extensive  changes. 


678 


SKETCH  OF  THE  EARLY  HISTORY 


Geology  informs  us  that  the  Tertiary  age 
closed  with  a  long  period  of  intense  cold  ;  that 
at  its  close,  which  was  the  beginning  of  that 
comparatively  recent  period  in  the  world's  his- 
tory known  as  the  Glacial  or  Ice  period,  a  vast 
field  of  ice  of  great  thickness  spread  over  the 
northern  part  of  the  United  States,  including 
the  county  of  Chautauqua — the  evidence  of 
which  exists  in  the  vast  accumulations  of  gravel, 
earth  and  sand,  called  drift,  that  lie  in  great 
heaps  and  beds  everywhere  over  the  foundation 
rocks  of  the  county.  The  moraines  left  by  the 
retiring  glaciers  at  the  close  of  the  Ice  period 
had  tiie  effect  to  dam  the  waters  of  the  county, 
and  cause  an  extensive  and  irregular  lake  to  ex- 
tend like  the  fingers  of  a  man's  hand  up  the 
valleys  of  the  Conewango,  the  Casadaga  and 
Bear  creeks,  the  evidence  of  which  remains  in  \ 
the  fine  assorted  material,  peculiar  fresh-water 
deposits,  stratified  drift  and  beds  of  marl,  a  pro- 
duct of  fresh-water  life. 

The  semi-tropical  era  that  followed  the  Glacial 
period,  known  as  the  Champlain,  fitted  this  re- 
gion for  the  growth  of  semi-trojjical  vegetation, 
the  relics  of  which  may  be  traced  even  now 
north  of  the  ridge — the  milder  part  of  the 
county,  where  there  is,  in  a  measure,  an  absence 
of  evergreens  and  some  growth  of  more  south- 
ern Kj)ecies,  among  which  are  magnoliads,  repre- 
sented by  the  cucumber  and  the  white-wood. 
Tropical  animals  also  existed  here  during  the 
Champlain  period.  Among  them  was  the  mas-  i 
todon  and  North  American  elephant,  which  fre- 
(piented  tlie  marshes  that  bordered  tiiese  waters. 
Their  teeth  and  other  bones  have  been  found  in  1 
tli(!  Casadaga  valley.  Tlie  skeleton  of  a  large 
mastodon,  with  tusks  ten  feet  in  length,  tlie 
twigs  of  the  ancient  conifers,  upon  which  he  fed, 
preserved  with  his  remains,  were  found  near 
Jamestown,  and  are  now  preserved  in  the  mu- 
.seum  of  the  city  school. 

We  have  now  given  some  account  of  the  won-  | 
dcrful  dianges  that  occurred  in  pre-historic  time 
— a  theme  of  unfailing  interest.     If  .space  and  , 


time  would  admit,  and  the  subject  were  more 
appropriate  to  this  paper,  a  history  could  be 
given  of  the  strange  life  that  once  existed  within 
the  limits  of  this  county,  the  record  of  which  is 
preserved  by  the  fossils  in  its  foundation  rocks. 
The  details  of  the  physical  changes  and  pro- 
cesses by  which  nature  has  prepared  our  county 
for  its  present  existence  would  be  a  story  of  ex- 
ceeding interest. 

Prehistoric  People.  —  When  man  first 
made  his  appearance  upon  this  continent;  when 
he  first  became  an  occupant  of  this  county ;  must 
ever  be  a  subject  of  conjecture.  The  pioneers 
found  our  county  an  unbroken  wilderness.  Yet 
often  when  exploring  its  silent  depths,  where 
forest  shadows  hung  deepest,  they  were  startled 
at  the  discovery  of  unmistakable  evidences  of 
its  having  been  anciently  inhabited  by  a  numer- 
ous people.  Crowning  the  brows  of  hills  that 
were  flanked  by  dark  ravines,  along  the  shores 
of  its  lakes  and  streams,  in  its  valleys  at  numer- 
ous points,  were  the  plain  traces  of  their  indus- 
try. Earthworks  or  fortifications,  mostly  cir- 
cular, pits  bearing  marks  of  use  by  fire,  ancient 
highways,  and  mounds  in  which  lay  buried 
mouldering  skeletons ;  and  later,  where  forests 
had  given  place  to  cultivated  fields,  the  spade 
and  plow  in  the  spring-time  made  strange  reve- 
lations of  rude  implements  of  war  and  peace, 
and  oftentimes  the  crumbling  relics  of  an  ancient 
burial  place. 

Beyond  the  limits  of  the  county  these  evi- 
dences were  thickly  strewn.  Commencing  near 
the  centre  of  the  State,  they  extended  westwardly. 
In  the  valleys  of  the  Ohio  and  Mississippi  these 
ancient' remains  were  still  more  numerously 
found,  and  of  larger  dimensions,  and  it  is  evi- 
dent were  of  much  greater  antiquity.  There, 
for  a  long  period  of  time,  must  have  dwelt  a 
numerous  and  industrious  people. 

When  the  pioneers  first  visited  western  New 
York  and  the  Ohio  and  Mississippi  valleys,  these 
remains  were  more  distinct  than  now.  Kev. 
Samuel  Kirklantl,  the  principal  founder  of  the 


OF  OJIAUTAUQUA   COUNTY. 


(■,7'J 


academy  tliat.  .siibscMjiuuilly  became  Haiiiilldii 
college,  a  celebrated  and  early  missionary  among 
tlic  Oneida  Indians,  whose  influenco  dnrinji;  the 
Revolutionary  war  induced  them  to  remain  neu- 
tral, or  to  join  tiie  American  clause,  visited  several 
of  these  ancient  remains  west  of  the  Genesee 
river  as  early  as  1788.  The  description  that  he 
has  given  of  those  visited  by  him  near  the 
present  village  of  Batavia  is  valuable  because 
of  his  intelligence  as  an  observer,  and  tiie  excel- 
lent opportunity  that  he  had  to  examine  tliem 
at  that  early  day,  before  they  \vere  disturbed  by 
the  plow  or  harrow.  He  came  to  a  place  in 
Genesee  county,  on  tlie  river  Tonawanda,  where 
now  is  the  village  of  Batavia,  called  by  tiie 
Indians  "Joaki,"  which  means  in  tiie  Indian 

tongue  "  Racoon."     Thence  he  walked  out  six 

.  .  .  .N 

or  seven  miles  with  a  Seneca  chief  to  view  the 

ancient  fortifications  to  be  seen  there,  which  he 
describes  as  follows  : 

"  This  place  is  called  by  the  Senecas  Tegatain- 
asghque,  which  imports  a  double  fortified  town, 
or  a  town  with  a  fort  at  each  end.  Here  arc 
the  vestiges  of  two  forts ;  the  one  contains  about 
four  acres  of  ground ;  the  other,  distant  from 
this  about  two  miles,  and  situated  at  the  other 
extremity  of  the  ancient  town,  encloses  twice 
that  quantity.  The  ditch  around  the  former 
(which  I  particularly  examined)  is  about  five  or 
six  feet  deep.  A  small  stream  of  living  water, 
with  a  high  bank,  circumscribed  nearly  one- 
third  of  the  enclosed  ground.  There  were  traces 
of  six  gates  or  avenues  around  the  ditch,  and  a 
dug-way  near  the  works  to  the  water.  The 
ground  on  the  opposite  side  of  the  water  was, 
in  some  places,  nearly  as  high  as  that  on  which 
they  built  the  fort,  which  migiit  make  it  neces- 
sary for  this  covered  way  to  the  water.  A  con- 
siderable number  of  large,  tlirifty  oaks  had 
grown  up  within  the  enclosed  grounds,  both  in 
and  upon  the  ditch;  some  of  them,  at  least, 
appeared  to  be  two  hundred  years  old  or  more. 
The  ground  is  of  a  hard,  gravelly  kind,  inter- 
mixed with  loam,  and  more  plentifully  at  the 


i)row  of  the  liili.  In  some  places  al  th(-'  hott(jm 
of  liic  ditch  I  cfiuid  run  my  cane  a  foot  or  more 
into  the  gi'ound,  so  tiiat  proljably  tlu^  ditch  was 
much  deeper  in  its  original  state  tiian  it  ap[)ears 
to  be  now.  Near  tiie  northern  fortification, 
wiiich  is  situated  on  high  ground,  arc  tlie  remains 
of  a  funeral  pile.  Tiiu  earth  is  raised  about  six 
feet  above  tiie  common  surface,  and  betwixt 
twenty  and  thirty  feet  in  diameter.  From  the 
best  information  I  can  get  of  the  Indian  histori- 
ans, these  forts  were  made  previous  to  the  Seneeas 

'  being  admitted  into  tiie  confederacy  of  the 
Mohawks,  Onondagas,  Oneidas  and  Cayugas, 
and  when  the  former  were  at  war  with  the  Mis- 
sissangas  and  other  Indians  around   the  great 

'  lakes.  This  must  have  been  near  three  iiundrt'd 
years  ago,  if  not  more,  by  many  concurring 
accounts  which  I  have  obtained  from  different 
Indians    of    several    diflferent    tril)es.       Indian 

i  tradition  says  also,  that  these  works  were  raised 
and  a  famous  battle  fought  here,  in  the  pure 
Indian  style,  with  Indian  weapons,  long  before 
their  knowledge  and  use  of  fire-arms,  or  any 
knowledge  of  the  Europeans.     These  nations, 

i  at  that  time,  used  in  fighting  bows  and  arrows, 
the  sjiear  or  javelin,  pointed  witii  bone,  and  the 
war-club  or  death-mall.  When  the  former  were 
expended,  they  came  into  close  engagement  in 
using  the  latter.  Their  warrior's  dress  or  coat 
of  mail  for  this  method  of  figiiting,  was  a  stout 

;  jacket   made  of  willow  sticks,  or  moon  wood, 

j  and  laced  tight  around  the  body ;  the  head 
covered  with  a  cap  of  the  same  kind,  but  com- 
monly worn  double  for  the   better  security  of 

1  that  part  against  a  stroke  from  the  war-club. 

'  In  the  great  battle  fought  at  this  place  between  the 
Senecas  and  western  Indians,  some  affirm  their 
ancestors  have  told  them  there  were  eight  hun- 
dred of  their  enemies  slain  ;  others  include  the 
killed  on  both  sides  to  make  that  number.  All 
their  historians  agree  in  this,  that  the  battle  was 
fought  here,  where  ■  the  heaps  of  the  slain  are 
buried,   before  the  arrival   of   the  Europeans. 

,  Some  say  three,  some  say  four,  others  five  ages 


680 


SKETCH  OF  THE  EARLY  HISTORY 


ago.  They  reckou  an  age  one  hundred  winters 
or  colds.  I  would  further  remark  upon  this 
subject  that  there  are  vestiges  of  ancient  fortified 
towns  in  various  parts  throughout  the  extensive 
territory  of  the  Six  Nations.  I  find,  by  constant 
inquiry,  that  a  tradition  prevails  among  the 
Indians  in  general,  tiiat  all  Indians  came  from 
the  west.  I  liave  wished  for  opportunity  to 
pursue  this  inquiry  into  the  more  remote  tribes 
of  Indians,  to  satisfy  myself,  at  least,  if  it  be 
their  universal  opinion. 

"  On  the  south  side  of  Lake  Erie,  are  a  series 
of  old  fortifications  from  Cattaraugus  creek  to 
the  Pennsylvania  line,  a  distance  of  fifty  miles. 
Some  are  from  two  to  four  miles  apart,  others 
half  a  mile  only.  Some  contain  five  acres. 
The  walls  or  breast-works  are  of  earth,  and  are 
generally  on  grounds  where  there  are  appear- 
ances of  creeks  having  flowed  into  the  lake,  or 
where  there  was  a  bay.  Further  south  there  is 
said  to  be  another  chain  parallel  with  the  first 
about  equi-distant  from  the  lake. 

"  These  remains  of  art,  may  be  viewed  as 
connecting  links  of  a  a;reat  chain  which  extends 
beyond  the  confines  of  our  State,  and  becomes 
more  magnificent  and  curious  as  we  recede  from 
the  northern  lakes,  pass  through  the  Ohio  into 
the  great  valley  of  the  Mississippi,  thence  to  the 
Gulf  of  Mexico,  through  Texas  into  New 
Mexico  and  South  America.  In  this  vast  range 
of  more  than  three  thousand  miles,  these  monu- 
ments of  ancient  skill  gradually  become  more 
remarkable  for  their  number,  magnitude  and 
intercsling  variety,  until  we  arc  lost  in  admira- 
tion and  astonishment,  to  find,  as  Baron  Hum- 
bolt  informs  us,  '  in  a  world  which  we  call  new, 
ancient  institutions,  religious  ideas,  and  forms 
of  edifices,  similar  to  those  of  Asia,  wliidi 
there  seem  to  go  back  to  the  dawn  of  civiliza- 
tion.' 

"Over  the  great  secondary  i-cgiou  of  Ohio, 
are  the  ruins  of  wiiat  once  were  forts,  cemeteries, 
temples,  altars,  cani|is,  towns,  villages,  race 
grounds  and  otlier   places  of  amusement,  habi- 


tations of  ciiieftains,  videttes,  watch-towers  and 
monuments." 

Some  of  the  inferences  and  conclusions  of 
Dr.  Kirkland  have  been  proved  by  the  re- 
searches of  later  antiquarians  not  to  be  well 
founded.  Yet  his  observations  respecting  these 
ancient  relics,  made  at  such  an  early  date,  ai'e 
very  interesting,  and  instructive. 

On  either  side  of  the  valley  of  the  Cassadaga, 
from  its  source  to  its  mouth,  along  the  valley  of 
the  Conewango,  until  it  enters  the  State  of 
Pennsylvania,  around  Chautauqua  lake,  in  the 
western  and  in  the  lake  towns  of  the  county, 
they  were  thickly  strewn.  A  brief  description 
of  a  few  of  these  ancient  monuments,  will  serve 
for  a  description  of  all  the  I'est. 

Around  the  lakes  at  Cassadaga,  occur  quite 
extensive  remains.  From  the  end  of  a  point 
which  extends  from  the  south-western  side  into 
the  lower  of  these  lakes,  is  a  conspicuous  mound. 
Its  length  is  about  seven  rods,  its  width  five. 
Its  top  is  about  twelve  feet  above  the  lake,  and 
eight  feet  above  the  low  strip  of  land  in  its 
rear,  that  connects  it  with  the  shore,  whether  it 
is  an  artificial  or  natural  mound  is  not  clear,  it 
was  however  once  occupied,  Indian  relics  have 
been  found  here  in  abundance.  Across  this 
cape  for  a  distance  of  twenty  rods,  along  the 
edge  of  the  higher  land  in  its  rear,  was  a  breast- 
\vork.  Further  in  the  rear,  was  another  earth- 
work. Near  here  large  quantities  of  pottery 
and  stone  utensils  have  been  found.  Not  far 
from  the  north  shore  of  the  lake,  was  formerly 
a  large  high  mound,  said  to  have  been  twelve 
feet  high.  Notwithstanding  repeated  plowing,  it 
is  still  distinct  and  plain.  About  the  year  1822, 
it  was  opcrrcd  and  a  large  number  of  skeletons 
taken  fnini  it.  At  many  other  jioints  around 
Cassadaga,  have  relics  of  a  former  occupation 
been  found,  as  ])ipes,  pottery,  extensive  fire 
beds,  and  human  bones. 

Extensive  remains  exist  where  now  is  situa- 
ted Sinclairville.  A  mile  south  of  tliat  vil- 
lage   wiien  that    region  was   first   settled,    was 


OF  CHAUTAUQUA   COUNTY. 


G81 


i 


an  old  earthwork,  circiilai-  in  f'oini,  enclosing 
several  acres.  After  tlie  forest  trees  were  re- 
moved, many  Indian  relics  in  flint  and  stone 
were  found,  and  so  many  skeletons  as  to  excite 
the  superstition  of  tiie  people  iiviiifj;  tiiere. 
Some  fifty  years  or  more  ago,  one  oi'  more 
burial  pits  were  discovered,  in  which  it  was  said 
were  found  tiie  bones  of  fifty  human  beings, 
mingled  together  without  order.  Twenty  years  i 
later,  and  near  this  eartliwork,  twenty-five 
human  skeletons  were  disinterred;  they  .were 
buried  in  two  ranks,  and  in  a  sitting  position. 
The  greater  ]xirt  of  their  intreuchment  was  ob-  ' 
literated  by  tiie  plow.  About  one  hundred  feet 
of  its  eastern  wall  still  remains.  Two  hundred 
feet  away,  wiiere  a  grove  of  maple  trees  until 
lately  grew,  a  low  mound  about  twelve  feet  in 
diameter  was  discovered  in  the  spring  of  1888, 
which  mound  njjon  being  opened,  disclosed  the 
presence  of  skeletons  wiiich  by  actual  count  ! 
exceeded  fifty  in  number.  Above  them,  was  a 
thin  covering  of  earth.  They  were  mingled 
together  in  all  positions,  evidencing  the  con- 
fusion in  which  they  were  gathered  to  their 
final  rest.  No  arrows,  pottery,  or  other  i-elics 
were  found  with  tiiera,  save  the  tooth  of  some 
large  animal.  Ridiard  Reed,  Dr.  G.  F.Smith, 
of  Siuelairville,  and  otiiers,  were  present  on  tiie 
last,  and  the  writer  on  the  two  last  occasions 
mentioned. 

The  condition  of  these  bones  do  not  indicate 
that  many  centuries  have  passed  since  they  were 
buried.     Other  relics,  found  at  various  points  i 
within    the  county,  seem    to  indicate   a    much  { 
greater  antiquity.      Some   of  the  arrows,  .stone  } 
a.xes  and  otiier  articles,  have  a  ruder  finish,  and 
seem  to  be  the  implements  of  an  older  people. 
It  does  not  follow  that  they  are  the  works  of  a  \ 
contem])oraneous  people.     It  is  not  impossible 
that  man  was  here,  when  the  great  glacier  that 
once  overspread  this  region  was  retiring  before 
the  warmth  that  followed  the  Ice  Pernod,  and  it 
is  not  wholly  improbable  tiiat  he  may  at  some 
future  time  be  proved  to  have  existed  in  our 


county  at  the  close  of  the  Glacial  and  during 
tilt!  Champlain  periods,  cotemporaneous  with 
tiie  mastodon  and  eh-')ihant,  wiiose  bones  liave 
occasionally  been  foinid  within  (he  limits  of  tlie 
county  ;  that  the  rude  implements  that  lie 
used  at  that  early  period,  may  be  found  at  some 
future  time  imbedded  in  the  Great  Terminal 
Morain,  that  bounded  the  lower  limits  of  the 
Great  Glacier,  which  it  has  been  a.scertained  ex- 
tended into  the  soulhern  border  of  our  county. 
There  can  be  but  little  doubt,  that  relics  found 
here  are  not  the  works  of  one  people,  but  of  suc- 
ceeding races  who  have  inhabited  the  county. 
Who  were  the  authors  of  the  more  recent  of 
these  remains,  we  are  able  to  determine  to  a 
reasonable  certainty,  by  the  light  of  the  records 
that  have  been  preserved  by  the  Jesuits  who 
two  hundred  and  fifty  years  ago,  traversed  the 
wilds  bordering  on  the  great  lakes,  and  by  the 
help  of  knowledge  obtained  from  other  source.s, 
that  we  have  of  the  tribes  of  Indians  that 
inhabited  this  county  since  then. 

When  the  interior  of  this  continent  first  be- 
came known  to  Europeans,  the  Huron- Iroquois 
family  who  lived  here,  were  composed  of  the 
most  warlike  tribes  tiiat  inhabited  Xorth  Amer- 
ica. They  possessed  all  of  Upper  Canada, 
Northern  Ohio,  nearly  all  of  New  York,  in- 
cluding Western  New  York,  the  greatest  jiart 
of  Pennsylvania,  and  a  portion  of  Lower  Can- 
ada, a  compact  region  of  which  Chautauqua 
county  formed  a  part.  They  spoke  in  the  same 
generic  tongue,  called  the  M'yandot.  The  affin- 
ity between  their  languages,  their  traditions,  and 
the  light  which  history  has  thrown  upon  the 
subject,  prove  their  ancestors  to  have  been  the 
samepeojjle;  that  later,  as  their  numbers  in- 
creased, dissensions  arose  among  them,  the  hive 
swarmed,  and  in  process  of  time  independent 
nations  were  the  result,  between  whom,  as  often 
happens  among  kinsmen,  bitter  feuds  existed, 
and  savage  wars  were  \^aged.  The  Huron-Iro- 
quois were  greatly  superior  in  intellect,  courage 
and  military  skill,  to  all  the  other  Indians  o 


SKETCH  OF  THE  EARLY  HISTORY 


North  America.  They  dwelt  in  permanent  vil- 
lages, situated  in  defensible  positions,  rudely 
fortified  with  a  ditch,  and  rows  of  palisades. 
They  practiced  agriculture  to  a  limited  extent, 
frequently  by  a  long  and  laborious  process  of 
burning  and  hacking  with  axes  of  stone,  cleared 
extensive  tracts  of  land,  which  they  rudely  cul-  \ 
tivated  with  hoes  of  wood  and  bone.  They  i 
raised  corn,  beans,  gourds,  pumpkins,  sunflow- 
ers, hemp  and  tobacco.  By  reason  of  their  rel- 
ative superiority,  and  their  having  fixed  places 
of  abode,  tliey  became  more  advanced  in  the 
arts  of  life  than  tlie  other  wandering  tribes  of 
North  America. 

Entirely  surrounding  this  family  of  warlike 
nations,  but  always  shrinking  before  their  fierce 
valor,  was  a  greater  number  of  independent 
tribes,  speaking  in  languages  bearing  a  close 
affinity  to  each  other,  but  radically  different  from 
the  Wyandot.  The  affinity  between  their 
languages,  and  the  general  resemblance  that  has 
been  found  to  exist  in  their  practices  and  cus- 
toms, has  caused  them  to  be  classed  under  the 
general  name  Algonquin.  They  were  usually 
nomadic  in  their  habits,  subsisted  more  by  hunt- 
ing and  fisliing,  and  less  by  cultivating  the  soil, 
than  the  Huron-Iroquois  people.  To  this  race 
belonged  the  Pequots,  Narragansetts  and  Mo- 
hicans of  the  New  England  States,  the  Del- 
asvares  of  Pennsylvania,  the  INIiamis,  Illinois, 
and  the  Chi]5pewas  of  the  West,  and  a  great 
number  of  other  tribes  that  dwelt  in  the  United 
States  and  Canada.  The  Shawnees  are  an  ex- 
treme type  of  this  race,  representing  their 
wandering  propensities  in  a  marked  degree. 
Beyond  the  territory  of  the  Algoiiquins,  in  the 
southern  and  western  portions  of  the  United 
States,  were  still  other  tribes  and  races  speaking 
in  languages  radically  dilTercnt  from  eitlier  that 
of  tlie  Algoiiquins  or  the  Wyandot. 

The  Huron-Iroquois  family  of  tribes  were 
sub-divided  into  several  formidable  nations;  of 
these  tlie  Hurous  cUvelt  in  many  villages  upon 
tlie  small   peninsula  lying  Ijctween  the  Georg- 


ian bay  of  Lake  Huron,  and  Lake  Simcoe  in 
Upper  Canada.  Near  to,  and  south  of  the 
Hurons,  among  the  Blue  mountains  of  Canada, 
dwelt  the  Tobacco  nation,  Soutli  of  the  Huron 
and  Tobacco  nation,  was  the  country  of  the 
Neutral  nation  or  Kahkwas,  as  called  by  the 
Senecas.  Their  territory  extended  one  hun- 
dred and  twenty  miles  along  the  northern  shore 
of  Lake  Erie,  and  across  the  Niagara  river  into 
the  state  of  New  York,  as  far  east  as  the  west- 
ern limits  of  the  Iroquois.  They  dwelt  in 
forty  villages  ;  three  or  four  of  which  were  east 
of  the  Niagara  river  and  Lake  Erie.  One  of 
their  villages  was  located,  it  is  believed,  on  a 
branch  of  the  Eighteen  Mile  creek,  near  White 
Corners,  in  Erie  county,  in  this  State.  The 
Andastees  dwelt  upon  the  lower  Susquehanna. 
The  most  famous  of  the  Huron-Iroquois  were 
the  Iroquois  who  dwelt  in  New  York. 

The  remaining  member  of  the  family  was  the 
Eries,  or  the  Nation  of  the  Cat.  The  Eries 
dwelt  south  and  east  of  Lake  Erie.  They  oc- 
cupied northern  Ohio,  northwestern  Pennsyl- 
vania and  southwestern  New  York  as  far  east 
as  the  Genesee  river,  the  frontier  of  the  Senecas. 
They  were  the  first  occupants  of  the  soil  of 
Chautauqua  county,  of  which  we  have  an  ac- 
count. Bagueneau,  the  Jesuit,  say  they  were 
there  in  1G48.  The  Jesuits  never  had  a  mis- 
sion among  them.  Etienue  Brule,  Champlaiu's 
enterprising  interpreter,  is  said  to  have  visited 
them  in  the  summer  of  1615,  over  two  hundred 
and  seventy-five  years  ago.  If  so,  he  was  the 
first  white  man,  of  whom  we  have  any  account, 
that  ever  penetrated  the  region  in  which  lies 
Chantaucpia  county.  Flint,  a  Ereiichrium,  is 
said  to  have  visited  this  region  as  early  as  IG'JIJ. 
i  The  Jesuits,  Le  Mercier  and  Bagueneau,  fre- 
([iiently  refer  to  tliis  nation.  The  latter  informs 
us  that  its  name  is  derived  from  the  multiliide 
of  wild  cats  found  within  their  territory.  'I'he 
Eries  were  noted  warriors,  and  fought  with 
poisoned  arrows,  and  were  long  a  terror  to  the 
:  Iroquois.     They  were  finally,  totally  destroyed 


OF  CHAUTAUQUA   COUNTY. 


683 


in  a  great  war  with  tlie  Iroquoi.s,  an  account  ol'  , 
wliich  will  be  given  hereafter.  After  the  de- 
struction of  the  Eries,  no  Indians  inhabited 
Chautauqua  county,  except  small  bands  of  Sen- 
ecas,  who  at  a  few  points,  on  the  shore  of  Chau- 
tauqua lake,  and  in  the  valley  of  the  Cone-  I 
wango  near  the  Pennsylvania  line,  cultivated 
small  tracts  of  laud.  It  is  consequently  quite 
probable  that  the  burial  places  that  we  have  de-  ] 
scribed,  the  earthworks  last  constructed,  and 
the  more  distinct  remains  scattered  over  the 
country,  were  the  works  of  the  Eries.  But  as 
the  remains  exist  in  that  part  of  the  Eries'  do- 
mains that  were  nearest  to  the  territory  of  the 
Neutral  nation,  and  also  near  to  the  Andastees, 
who  inhabited  east  of  the  Allegheny  river  in 
the  State  of  Pennsylvania,  there  remains  a  little 
doubt  that  they  may  not  have  been  their  work. 
An  abundance  of  proof  exists,  which  the  writer 
of  this  paper  has  gathered  from  various  sources, 
relating  to  the  customs  and  ceremonies  of  the 
Wyandot  speaking  nations,  to  sliow  that  the  j 
later  remains  found  in  our  county  were  their 
work. 

Brabeuf,  an  early  Jesuit  who  resided  for  many 
years  among  the  Hurons,  of  whom  the  Eries 
were  probably  an  off-shoot,  has  given  a  full 
account  of  their  burial  ceremonies  and  the 
maimer  in  whic^h  they  interred  their  dead.  He 
informs  us  that  the  Hurous  tirst  laid  the  bodies 
of  their  dead  upon  a  scatfold,  and  sometimes 
buried  them  in  the  earth,  but  that  was  only  a 
temporary  disposition.  That  at  intervals  of  ten 
or  twelve  years  the  Huron  tribes  gathered  their 
dead,  removed  what  flesh  remained  upon  their  ' 
bones,  and  buried  them  with  great  ceremonies, 
which  were  participated  in  by  all  the  nation. 
He  witnessed  one  of  these  great  funerals  at  the 
principal  Huron  town,  Ossossane,  on  the  Notta- 
wassaga  bay,  in  1G36,  over  two  hundred  and 
fifty  years  ago.  They  gathered  the  bones  and 
corpses  of  the  dead,  and  arranged  them  in  order 
in  the  largest  houses  of  the  different  villages  of 
the  nation,  amid  weeping  and  howling  mourn-  . 


ers,  who  believed  the  souls  of  the  dead  resided 
with  their  bones  until  this  general  burial.  Bra- 
beuf described  the  funeral  feast  that  followed  : 
The  march  of  the  Indians  from  the  different 
villages  through  the  dark  and  tangled  forest  to 
the  place  of  burial  at  O.ssossane,  bearing  the 
bones  of  their  kinsmen  in  bundles  on  their 
shoulders,  and  the  corpses  of  iheir  recent  dead 
upon  litters,  chanting  wild  dirges  as  they  slowly 
filed  along  the  forest  trails.  He  described  the 
great  concourse  that  assembled  from  the  different 
villages  at  this  principal  town  to  participate  in 
the  funeral  games,  according  to  their  custom  ; 
filling  the  houses  full  to  overflowing,  or  gather- 
ing around  the  countless  camp-fires  that  illumi- 
nated the  surrounding  woods.  Brabeuf  informs 
us  that  the  place  of  burial  was  in  the  midst  of 
a  large  field  near  Ossossane,  in  which  was  dug 
a  large  pit.  He  described  the  weird  scene  that 
occurred  when  the  funeral  gifts  and  the  bones  of 
the  departed  were  being  suspended  from  the 
cross-poles  which  extended  over  the  grave  ;  the 
frightful  scenes  that  followed  when  a  bundle  'of 
bones  happened  to  fall  before  its  time  into  the 
pit,  hastening  the  ceremonies  to  a  close;  the  wild 
outcry  as  the  actors  frantically  discharged  the 
bones  of  their  ancestors  and  kinsmen  into  the 
common  grave,  falling  in  a  hideous  shower 
around  the  men  who  were  hastily  arranging 
them  in  their  final  resting-place  with  poles; 
and,  finally,  the  covering  of  the  bones  with 
earth  and  stones  and  logs.  These  rites  have 
also  been  described  by  Charlevoix  and  other 
Jesuits.  The  description  by  Lafitan  is  illustrated 
with  engravings.  Sixteen  bone-pits  have  been 
examined  in  the  Huron  country,  that  contained 
from  six  hundred  to  twelve  hundred  skeletons 
of  both  sexes  and  all  ages,  all  mixed  together 
promiscuously. 

There  is  no  doubt  that  the  Eries  buried  their 
dead  in  like  manner,  and  the  collection  of  hones 
that  are  found  at  various  points  within  the 
county,  were  not  those  of  warriors  killed  in 
battle,  but  the  usual  burial  places  of  the  race, 


684 


SKETCH  OF  THE  EARLY  HISTORY 


where  the  burials  have  been  made  iu  accordance 
M'ith  the  ciistoQi  above  mentioned. 

Indian  Wars. — The  Huron-Iroquois  family 
of  nations  were  the  most  jjowerfid  of  any 
dwelling  on  this  continent  at  its  discovery.  Of 
these,  the  most  formidable  were  the  Iroc[uois. 
They  excelled  all  others  for  their  courage  and 
sagacity.  They  were  the  most  intelligent  and  ad- 
vanced, and  also  the  most  terrible  and  ferocious. 
Such  was  their  eloquence  and  energy  of  character, 
and  the  extent  of  their  conquest,  that  A'^olney,  tiie 
French  historian,  called  them  "  The  Romans  of 
the  West."  Parkham  says  :  "  The  Iroquois 
were  the  Indians  of  Indians — a  thorough  sav- 
age, yet  a  finished  and  developed  savage.  He 
is  perhaps  an  example  of  the  highest  elevation 
which  man  can  reach  without  emerging  from 
his  primitive  condition  of  the  hunter."  The 
Iroquois  were  often  called  the  Five  Nations, 
and  after  they  were  joined  by  the  Tuscaroras  in 
1812,  the  Six  Nations.  They  called  themselves 
Ho-de-no-sau-uee,  or  People  of  the  Long 
House.  Their  original  home  was  wholly  in 
New  York.  Their  territory  extended  tln'ough 
the  State  from  East  to  West  in  the  following 
order :  Mohawk,  Oneida,  Onondaga,  Cayuga  | 
and  Seneca.  The  fiercest  and  most  numerous 
of  these  tribes  was  the  Seneca,  who  occupied  as 
far  west  as  the  Genesee  river. 

The  Iroquois  were  bound  together  by  a  re- 
markable league,  which  was  the  secret  of  their 
power  and  success.  They  constitued  a  confed- 
eracy, iu  some  respects  like  our  Federal  Union, 
in  which  the  nations  represented  States,  to 
which  were  reserved  general  ])owers  of  control, 
that  the  several  nations  exercised  witli  great 
independence  of  each  other  while  certain  other 
powers  were  yielded  to  the  confederacy  as  a  \ 
whole,  for  tiie  general  good,  and  which  were 
faithfully  respected  and  preserved  by  all.  Their 
Grand  Councils  were  held  in  the  liouij  House, 
in  the  country  of  the  Onondagas,  by  a  congress, 
consisting  of  fifty  sachems,  of  which  the 
Mohawks  were  entitled  to  nine   r('i)resentatives, 


the  Oneidas  nine,  the  Onondagas  fourteen,  the 
Cayugas  ten,  and  the  Senecas  eight.  They  had 
some  very  curious  customs  r&specting  their 
methods  of  life,  and  regulations  in  the  admin- 
istration of  their  affairs,  showing  great  wis- 
dom, and  which  contributed  in  a  remarkable 
degree  to  perpetuate  their  union,  and  make 
them  powerful  and  formidable. 

"  In  each  nation  there  were  eight  tribes, 
which  were  arranged  in  two  divisions,  and 
named  as  follows  : 

Wolf,        Bear,        Beaver,        Turtle, 
Deer,        Snipe,       Heron,        Hawk. 

"  The  division  of  the  people  of  each  nation 
into  eight  tribes,  whether  pre-e.xisting,  or  per- 
fected at  the  establishment  of  the  Confederacy, 
did  not  terminate  in  its  object  with  the  nation 
itself  It  became  the  means  of  effecting  the 
most  perfect  union  of  separate  nations  '  ever 
devised  by  the  wit  of  man.'  In  effect,  the 
Wolf  tribe  was  divided  into  five  parts,  and  one- 
fifth  of  it  placed  in  each  of  the  five  nations. 
The  remaining  tribes  wei'e  subjected  to  the  same 
division  and  distribution  ;  thus  giving  to  each 
nation  the  eight  tribes,  and  making  in  their 
separate  state,  forty  tribes  in  the  confederacy. 
Between  those  of  the  same  name — or  in  other 
words,  between  the  separate  parts  of  each  tribe 
— there  existed  a  tie  of  brotherhood  which 
linked  the  nations  together  with  indissoluble 
bonds.  The  Mohawk  of  the  Beaver  tribe  rec- 
ognized the  Seneca  of  the  Beaver  tribe  as  his 
brother,  and  they  were  bound  to  each  other  by 
the  ties  of  consanguinity.  In  like  manner  the 
Oneida  of  the  Turtle  or  other  tribe,  received  the 
Cayuaga,  or  the  Onontlaga  of  the  same  tribe,  as 
a  brother;  and  with  a  fraternal  welcome.  This 
cross-relationship  between  the  tribes  of  the 
same  name,  and  which  was  stronger,  if  possible, 
than  the  chain  of  brotherhood  between  the  sev- 
eral tribes  of  the  same  nation,  is  still  preserved 
in  all  its  original  strength.  It  doubtless  fur- 
nishes the  chief  reason  of  the  tenacity  with 
which  the  fragments  of  the  old  confederacy  still 


OF  CIIAUTAUQVA    COlJyTV. 


G85 


cling  together.  If  either  ij^  the  Five  Nations 
had  wished  to  cast  off  the  alliance,  it  must  also 
have  broken  the  bond  of  brotherhood.  Had 
the  nations  fallen  into  collision,  it  would  have 
turned  Hawk  tribe  against  Hawk  tribe,  Heron 
against  Heron,  in  a  word,  brother  against 
brother.  The  history  of  tiie  Hodenosatniee  ex- 
hibits the  wisdom  of  these  organic  provisions  ; 
for  they  never  fell  into  anarchy  during  the  long 
period  which  the  league  subsisted  ;  uoreven  ap- 
proximated to  a  dissolution  of  the  Confederacy 
from  internal  disorders. 

"  The  confederacy  was  in  effect  a  league  of 
tribes.  With  the  ties  of  kindred  as  its  prin- 
cipal union,  the  whole  race  was  interwoven  into 
one  great  family,  composed  of  tribes  in  its  first 
std)-division  (for  the  nations  were  counterparts 
of  each  other) ;  and  the  tribes  themselves,  in 
their  sub-divisions,  composed  parts  of  many 
households.  Without  those  close  inter-relations, 
resting  as  many  of  them  do,  upon  the  strong 
impulses  of  nature,  a  mere  alliance  between  the 
Irofpiois  nations  would  have  been  feeble  and 
transitory. 

"  In  this  manner  was  constructed  the  Tribal 
League  of  the  Hodenosaunee  ;  in  itself,  an  ex- 
traordinary specimen  of  Indian  legislation. 
Simjile  in  its  foundation  upon  the  family  rela- 
tionship ;  effective  in  the  lasting  vigor  inherent 
in  the  ties  of  kindred  ;  and  perfect  in  its  suc- 
cess in  achieving  a  lasting  and  harmonious  union 
of  the  nations  ;  it  forms  an  enduring  monu- 
ment to  that  proud  and  progressive  race,  who 
reared  under  its  protection,  a  w' ide-spread  Indian 
sovereignty. 

"  All  the  institutions  of  the  Iroquois  have 
regard  to  the  division  of  the  people  into  tribes. 
Originally,  with  reference  to  marriage,  the 
Wolf,  Bear,  Beaver  aud  Turtle  tribes  were 
brothers  to  each  other,  and  cousins  to  the  remain- 
ing four.  They  were  not  allowed  to  intermarry. 
The  opposite  four  tribes  were  also  brothers  to 
each  other,  and  cousins  to  the  first  four,  and 
were  also  prohibited  from  intermarrying.    Either 


of  tiie  first  lour  Iriljes,  however,  could  inter- 
marry with  either  of  the  last  four;  thus  Hawk 
could  intermarry  with  Bear  or  Beaver,  Heron 
with  Turtle,  but  not  Beaver  and  Turtle,  nor  Deer 
and  Deer.  Whoever  violated  these  laws  of 
marriage  incurred  the  deepest  detestation  and 
disgrace.  In  process  of  time,  however,  the  rigor 
of  the  system  was  relaxed,  until,  finally,  tiie 
prohibition  was  confined  to  the  tribe  of  the 
individual,  which  among  the  residue  of  the 
Iroquois  is  still  religiously  observed.  They  can 
now  marry  into  any  tribe  but  their  own.  Under 
the  original  as  well  as  modern  regulation,  the 
husband  and  wife  were  of  different  tribes.  The 
children  always  followed  the  tribe  of  the 
mother." 

The  wisdom  of  this  social  and  political  organi- 
zation of  the  Iroquois  made  them  the  strongest 
of  Indian  nations,  and  the  greatest  conquerors. 
Schoolcraft  says  : — "  At  one  period  we  hear  the 
sound  of  their  war  cry  along  the  Straits  of  St. 
Mary's,  aud  at  the  foot  of  Lake  Superior.  At 
another,  under  the  walls  of  Quebec,  where  they 
finally  defeated  the  Hurons,  under  the  eyes  of 
the  French.  They  put  out  the  fires  of  the  Gah- 
Kwas  and  Eries.  They  eradicated  the  Susque- 
hannocks.  They  placed  the  Lenapes,  the  Nan- 
ticokes  and  the  Minesees  under  the  yoke  of 
subjection.  They  put  the  Metoacks  and  Man- 
hattans under  tribute.  They  spread  the  terror 
of  their  arms  over  all  New  England.  They 
traversed  the  whole  length  of  the  Apalachiau 
chain,  and  descended  like  the  enraged  yagisho 
and  megalonyx  on  the  Cherokees  aud  Catawbas. 
Smith  encountered  their  warriors  in  the  settle- 
ment of  Virginia,  and  La  Salle  on  the  discovery 
of  Illinois."  Such  was  the  prowess  of  the 
Iroquois. 

When  the  first  mission  was  established  among 
the  Hurons  by  the  Jesuits,  they  found  them  aud 
the  Iroquois  implacable  foes.  The  wars  between 
them  continued  during  the  residence  of  the 
Jesuits  among  them,  until  1648,  when  they  were 
overthrown,  aud  the  missionaries  residing  among 


•686 


SKETCH  OF  THE  EARLY  HISTORY 


them  and  many  of  their  people  massacred.    The  ' 
Hurous  were  driven  from   their  villages,  and 
ceased  to  exist  as  a  nation.     The  Wyandots,  of 
Ohio,  are  the  last  remnant  of  this  race. 

Although  the  neutrals  maintained  a  strict  ! 
neutrality  between  the  Hurons  and  Iroquois 
durino-  these  wars,  it  did  not  save  them.  In 
1650  the  latter  commenced  a  savage  war  upon  ] 
them.  The  destruction  of  the  neutrals  was  so 
great  as  to  wholly  wipe  them  out  as  a  nation. 
The  scene  of  their  final  overthrow  is  believed 
to  have  been  near  the  city  of  Buffalo. 

The  Iroquois  now  turned  their  attention  to 
the  Eries,  who  then  occupied  the  soil  of  our 
county.  The  accounts  of  this  war  are  given  in 
the  relations  of  the  Jesuits  Le  Moyne,  Le 
Mercier,  Du  Quen,  Chaumonot  and  Dablon. 
Its  cause,  as  related  by  these  Jesuits,  was  as 
follows : — The  Eries  had  sent  a  deputation  of  ! 
thirty  of  their  principal  men  to  the  Senecas,  to 
confirm  a  treaty  of  peace.  A  Seneca  happened 
to  be  killed  in  a  casual  quarrel  with  one  of  the 
Eries,  whereupon  the  Senecas  rose  up  and  mur- 
dered the  thirty  ambassadors.  A  war  ensued; 
A  famous  Onondaga  chief  was  captured  by  the 
Eries,  who  resolved  to  give  him  to  the  sister  of  | 
one  of  the  murdered  ambassadors.  The  sister, 
by  the  Indian  law,  had  it  in  her  choice  to  receive 
him  as  her  brother  or  to  cause  him  to  be  put  to  ; 
death.  She  choose  the  latter,  against  the  remon- 
strances of  her  people,  who  feared  the  con- 
sequences. The  chief  was  bound  to  the  stake 
and  burned.  The  whole  Iroquois  confederacv 
prepared  themselves  for  revenge.  In  1656  froni 
1200  to  181)0  Iroquois  warriors  moved  into  the 
territory  of  the  Eries,  who  withdrew  at  their 
approach,  with  their  women  and  children.  The 
whole  of  this  fierce  horde  of  Iroquois  embarked 
in  canoes  u])on  Lake  Eric,  and  coasted  along  the 
shore  of  Cliautaui|ua.  A  more  wild  and  savage 
scene  cannot  well  be  imagined  than  this  ferocious 
gathering  of  iiarbarians,  as  they  proceeded  on  j 
this  bloody  expedition  of  revenge.  They  found 
the  Eries  gathereil  in  a  position,  the  location  of 


which  is  now  unknown.  The  Iroquois  were 
first  repelled  by  the  poisoned  arrows  of  the  Eries. 
They  renewed  the  assault  with  such  savage  fury 
as  to  enable  them  to  carry  the  fort,  and  a  slaugh- 
ter so  terrible  ensued  as  to  wholly  destroy  the 
Eries,  and  now  no  trace  remains  of  this  warlike 
and  powerful  tribe,  that  once  possessed  the  terri- 
tory of  this  county,  but  their  name.  This  fierce 
battle  occurred  somewhere  in  Northern  Ohio, 
Northwestern  Pennsylvania  or  Western  New 
York.  It  may  have  occurred  within  the  limits 
of  Chautauqua  county. 

La  Salle. — Robert  Cavalier  de  la  Salle, 
was  the  pioneer  navigator  of  our  great  lakes  ; 
one  of  the  boldest  and  most  remarkable  explor- 
ers that  ever  visited  this  continent.  To  follow 
La  Salle  in  his  journeyings  through  the  wilds 
of  North  America,  during  the  twenty  years  fol- 
lowing 1667,  would  be  regarded  at  this  day, 
with  all  the  modern  facilities  for  travel  that 
e.xist  along  the  route  of  his  wanderings,  as  no 
small  achievement. 

The  Jesuits  and  other  missionaries  who  came 
from  France  were  most  excellent  men.  In  their 
zeal  to  Christianize  the  Indian,  they  became  tlie 
pioneers  of  the  Northwest.  One  of  their  num- 
ber, Allouez,  in  1665,  explored  the  country 
about  Lake  Superior,  and  taught  the  Indians 
there.  He  first  discovered  the  Pictured  Rocks, 
and  learned  of  the  copper  mines.  La  Salle, 
inspired  by  the  discoveries  and  adventures  of 
these  early  pioneers,  resolved  to  exploi'e  these 
regions  and  the  vast  prairies  of  the  West,  and 
to  reach  the  Ohio  and  Mississippi,  of  which  the 
Indians  had  informed  him.  July  6,  1669,  he 
left  La  Chine  in  Canada,  ascended  the  St.  Law- 
rence, coasted  along  the  southern  shore  of  Lake 
Ontario  to  the  Iroiulequoit  Bay,  and  thence 
penetrated  into  the  State  of  New  York  to  the 
Indian  villages  of  the  Senecas,  near  the  (Icncsce 
river,  with  a  view  of  traveling  furtiier  in  that 
direction,  until  he  should  reach  the  headwaters 
of  the  Allegheny  and  Ohio.  After  remaining 
here  awhile  he  abandoned  this  design,  and  with 


OF  CIIAUTAUqUA    COUNTY. 


087 


his  conipauions  from  thence  traveled  west, 
crossed  the  Niagara  river  into  Upper  Canada, 
and  passed  the  winter  of  1669  and  1G70  on 
Grand  river,  near  to  the  shore  of  Lake  Erie. 
In  the  spring  following  he  coasted  along  the 
northern  shore  of  the  lake,  west,  to  the  east 
side  of  Long  Point;  and  thence  he  returned  to 
Montreal  by  the  circuitous  route  of  Sault  de  St. 
Marie  and  the  Ontario  river,  where  he  arrived 
June  18,  1G70. 

La  Salle  first  conceived  the  desijin  of  unitini; 
the  French  possessions  in  Canada  with  tiio  val- 
ley of  the  Mississippi,  by  a  line  of  military 
posts,  to  secure  its  commerce  to  his  country,  and 
at  the  same  time  completely  encircle  the  British 
Colonies  of  North  America.  Having  obtained 
the  sanction  of  Louis  XIV.  to  his  projects,  in 
the  fall  of  the  year  1()78,  he,  with  a  party  of 
Frenchmen,  in  a  large  canoe  entered  the  Niagara 
river  and  established  at  its  mouth,  ou  its  eastern 
bank,  a  trading  post,  whicli  he  inclosed  with 
palisades.  This  constituted  the  first  occupation 
of  Western  New  York  by  civilized  men,  and 
the  founding  of  Fort  Niagara — a  fortress  which, 
for  nearly  a  century  and  a  half,  filled  an  im- 
portant jjlace  in  the  history  of  Canada,  the 
uortiiern  portion  of  the  United  States,  and  of 
the  Indian  tribes  dwelling  in  that  region. 

In  January,  1679,  La  Salle  commenced  build- 
ing a  vessel  at  the  mouth  of  the  Cayuga  creek, 
a  stream  that  empties  into  the  Niagara  river,  at 
the  village  of  La  Salle,  Niagara  county,  in  the 
State  of  New  York.  He  named  it  the  "  Griffin." 
It  was  the  first  vessel  that  ever  spread  its  sails 
to  the  breezes  of  Lake  Erie.  Accompanying 
La  Salle  was  the  Missionary  Father  Hennepiu. 
The  foiiowino-  is  from  his  account  of  the  buildiutj 
and  launching  of  the  "  Griffin,"  and  the  first 
voyage  over  Lake  Erie  : 

"On  the  14tli  day  of  January,  1670,  we  ar- 
rived at  our  cabin  at  Niagara,  to  refresh  our- 
selves from  the  fatigues  of  the  voyage.  We 
had  nothing  to  eat  but  Indian  corn.  Fortu- 
nately the  white  fish,  of  which  I  have  heretofore 
37 


•spoken,  were  just  then  in  season.  This  delight- 
ful fish  served  to  relish  our  corn.  We  used  the 
water  in  which  the  fish  were  boiled  in  place  of 
soup.  When  it  grows  cold  in  the  pot  it  congeals 
like  veal  sou]). 

"  On  the  20tli  I  heard,  from  the  banks  wiicre 
we  were,  the  voice  of  the  Sieur  de  La  Salle, 
who  had  arrived  from  Fort  Frontenac  in  a  large 
vessel.  He  brought  provisions  and  rigging 
necessary  for  tlie  vessel  we  intended  building 
above  the  great  fall  of  Niagara,  near  the  en- 
trance into  Lake  Erie,  but  by  a  strange  mis- 
fortune that  vessel  was  lost  through  fault  of  the 
two  pilots  who  disagreed  as  to  the  course. 

"The  vessel  was  wrecked  on  the  South  Shore 
of  Lake  Ontario,  ten  leagues  from  Niagara. 
The  sailors  have  named  the  place  La  Cap  En- 
ruxjc  (Mad  Cap).  Tiie  anchors  and  cables  were 
saved,  but  the  goods  and  bark  canoes  were  lost. 
Such  adversities  would  have  caused  the  enter- 
prise to  be  abandoned  by  any  but  those  who 
had  formed  the  noble  design  of  a  new  discovery. 

"  The  Sieur  de  La  Salle  informed  us  that  he 
had  been  among  the  Iroquois  Senecas,  before 
the  loss  of  his  vessel,  that  he  had  succeeded  so 
well  in  conciliating  them,  that  they  mentioned 
with  pleasure  our  embassy,  which  I  shall  de- 
scribe in  another  place,  and  even  consented  to 
the  prosecution  of  our  undertaking.  This  agree- 
ment was  of  short  duration,  for  certain  persons 
op[)o.sed  our  designs,  in  every  possible  way,  and 
instilled  jealousies  into  the  minds  of  the  Iro- 
quois. The  fort,  nevertheless,  which  we  were 
building  at  Niagara,  continued  to  advance.  But 
finally,  the  secret  influences  against  us  were  so 
great,  that  the  fort  became  an  object  of  suspicion 
to  the  savages,  and  we  were  compelled  to  aban- 
don its  construction  for  a  time,  and  content  our- 
selves with  building  a  habitation  surrounded 
with  palisades. 

"  On  the  22d  we  went  two  leagues  above  the 
great  falls  of  Niagara  and  built  some  stocks,  on 
which  to  erect  the  vessel  needed  for  our  voyage. 
We  could  not  have  built  it  in  a  more  convenient 


688 


SKETCH  OF  THE  EARLY  HISTORY 


place,  being  near  a  river  which  empties  into  the 
strait,  which  is  between  Lalie  Erie  and  the  great 
falls.  In  all  my  travels  back  and  forlh,  I  al- 
ways carried  my  portable  chapel  upon  my 
shoulders. 

"On  the  26th,  the  keel  of  the  vessel  and 
other  pieces  being  ready  the  Sieur  de  La  Salle 
sent  the  master  carpenter  named  Moyse,  to  re- 
quest me  to  drive  the  first  bolt.  But  the  mod- 
esty appropriate  to  my  religious  profession  in- 
duced me  to  decline  the  honor.  He  then  prom- 
ised ten  Louis  d'or  for  that  first  bolt,  to  stimu- 
late the  master  carpenter  to  advance  the  work. 

"  During  the  whole  winter,  which  is  not  half 
as  severe  in  this  country  as  Canada,  we  em- 
ployed in  building  bark  huts  of  one  of  the  two 
savages  of  the  Wolf  tribe,  whom  we  had  en- 
gaged for  hunting  deer.  I  had  one  hut  espe- 
cially designed  for  observing  prayers  on  holidays 
and  Sundays.  Many  of  our  people  knew  the 
Gregorian  chant,  and  the  rest  had  some  parts  of 
it  by  note. 

"  The  Sieur  de  La  Salle  left  in  command  of 
our  ship-yard  one  Tonti,  an  Italian  by  birth, 
who  had  come  to  France  after  the  revolution  in 
Naples,  in  which  his  father  was  engaged. 
Pressing  business  compelled  the  former  to  re- 
turn to  Fort  Frontenac,  and  I  conducted  him 
to  the  borders  of  Lake  Ontario,  at  the  mouth 
of  the  river  Niagara.  While  there  he  pre- 
tended to  mark  out  a  house  for  the  black- 
smith, which  had  been  promised  for  tlie  con- 
venience of  tiie  Iroquois.  I  cannot  blame  the 
Iroquois  for  not  believing  all  that  had  been 
promised  them  at  the  embarking  of  the  Sieur 
de  La  Motte. 

"  Finally  the  Sieur  de  La  Salle  undertook 
his  ex])edition  on  foot  over  snow,  and  thus  ac- 
com])lished  more  than  eighty  leagues.  He  had 
no  food  except  a  small  bag  of  roasted  coru  and 
even  that  had  failed  him  two  days'  journey 
from  the  fort.  Nevertheless  he  arrived  safely 
with  two  men  and  a  d<ig  which  drew  Iiis  bag- 
gage on  the  ice. 


[  "  Returning  to  our  ship-yard,  we  learned 
that  the  most  of  the  Iroquois  had  gone  to  war 
beyond  Lake  Erie,  while  our  vessel  was  being 
built.  Although  those  that  remained  were  less 
violent,  by  reason  of  their  diminished  numbers, 
still  they  did  not  cease  from  coming  often  to  our 
ship-vard,  and  testifying  their  dissatisfaction  at 
our  doings.  Sometime  after,  one  of  tiiein, 
pretending  to  be  drunk,  attempted  to  kill  our 
blacksmitii,  But  the  resistance  which  lie  met 
with  from  the  smith,  who  was  named  La  Forge, 
and  who  wielded  a  red  hot  bar  of  iron,  repulsed 
him,  and  together  with  a  reprimand  which  I 
gave  the  villain,  compelled  him  to  desist.  Some 
days  after,  a  squaw  advised  us  that  the  Senecas 
were  about  to  set  fire  to  our  vessel  on  the 
stocks,  and  they  would,  without  doubt  have  ef- 
fected their  object  had  not  a  very  strict  watch 
been  kept. 

''  These  frequent  alarms,  the  fear  of  the  failure 
of  provisions,  on  account  of  the  large  vessel 
from  Fort  Frontenac,  and  the  refusal  of  the 
Senecas  to  sell  us  corn,  discouraged  our  carpen- 
ters. They  were  moreover  enticed  by  a  worth- 
less fellow,  who  often  attempted  to  desert  to 
New  York,  (Nouvelle  Jorck)  a  place  which  is 
inhabited  by  the  Dutch,  who  have  succeeded  the 
Swedes.  This  dishonest  fellow  would  have  un- 
doubtedly been  successful  with  our  workmen, 
had  I  not  encouraged  them  by  exhortations  on 
holidays  and  Sundays  after  divine  service.  I 
told  them  tiiat  our  enterprise  had  sole  reference 
to  the  promotion  of  the  glory  of  God,  and  the 
welfare  of  our  Christian  colonies.  Thus  I 
stimulated  tlicni  to  work  more  diligently  in 
order  to  deliver  us  from  all  those  apprehen- 
sions. 

''  In  the  meantime  the  two  savages  of  tlie 
Wolf  trii)e,  whom  we  had  engaged  in  our  .ser- 
vice, followed  the  chase,  and  furnished  us  with 
roe-buck,  and  other  kinds  of  deer,  for  our  sus- 
tenance, by  reason  of  which  our  workmen 
took  coni'age  and  applied  themselves  to  their 
business  witli  more  a^siduitw     Our  vessel  was 


OF  CHAUTAUQUA   COUNTY. 


689 


consequently  soon  in  a  condition  tu  bu  lainiclicd, 
which  was  done,  after  having  been  blessed  ac- 
cording toour  church  of  Rome.  We  were  in  haste 
to  get  it  afloat,  altliongh  not  finisiied,  that  we 
mightguavd  it  more  securely  from  tiie  threatened 
fire.  This  vessel  was  named  tiie  Griffin,  (La 
Griffin)  in  allusion  to  the  arms  of  the  (Jount  de 
Frontenac,  which  liav(>  two  griffins  for  their 
supports,  for  the  Sietir  de  La  Salle  had  often 
said  of  this  vessel,  that  he  would  maUe  the 
Griffin  fly  above  the  crows.  We  fired  three 
guns,  then  sung  the  Te  Deura,  which  was  fol- 
lowed by  many  cries  of  joy. 

"  The  Iroquois  who  happened  to  be  [)resent 
partook  of  our  joy  and  witnessed  our  rejoicings. 
We  gave  them  some  brandy  to  drink,  as  well  as 
to  all  our  men,  who  slung  their  hammocks 
under  the  deck  of  the  vessel,  to  sleep  in 
greater  security.  We  then  left  our  bark  huts, 
to  lodge  where  we  were  protected  from  the 
insults  of  the  savages. 

"  We  set  sail  on  the  7th  of  August,  1679, 
steering  west-.south-west.  After  having  chanted 
the  Te  Deum,  we  fired  all  the  cannons  and 
arquebuses  in  pre.sence  of  many  Iroquois  war-  I 
riors,  who  had  brought  captives  from  Tintonha, 
that  is  to  say  from  the  people  of  the  prairies, 
who  live  more  than  400  leagues  from  their 
cantons.  We  heard  these  savages  exclaim, 
ganorou,  in  testimony  of  their  wonder. 

"  Some  of  those  who  saw  us  did  not  fail  to 
report  the  size  of  our  vessel  to  the  Dutch  at 
New  York,  (Nouvello  Jdrck),  with  whom  the 
Iroquois  carry  on  a  great  traffic  in  skins  and 
furs,  which  they  exchange  for  nre  arm.s,  and 
blankets,  to  shelter  them  from  the  cold. 

"  The  enemies  of  our  great  discovery,  to 
defeat  our  enterprises,  had  reported  that  Lake 
Erie  was  full  of  shoals  and  banks  of  sand, 
which  rendered  navigation  irapos.sible.  We 
therefore  did  not  omit  sounding,  from  time  to 
time,  for  more  than  twenty  leagues,  during  the 
darkness  of  the  night. 

'■  On  the  8th,  a  favorable  wind  enabled  us  to 


make  aljout  forty-five  league's,  and  we  .saw 
almost  all  the  way,  the  two  distant  shores,  fif- 
teen or  sixteen  leagues  apart.  The  finest  navi- 
gation in  the  world,  is  along  tlie  northern  shores 
of  this  lake.  There  are  three  capes  or  points 
of  land  which  project  into  the  lake.  We 
doubled  the  first  which  we  called  St.  Francis. 

"  On  the  9th,  we  doubled  the  two  other 
capes,  or  points  of  land,  giving  them  a  wide 
berth.  We  saw  no  islands  or  shoals  on  the 
north  side  of  the  lake,  and  one  large  island, 
towards  the  southwest,  about  seven  or  eight 
leagues  from  the  northern  shore,  opposite  the 
strait  which  comes  from  Lake  Huron. 

"On  the  10th,  early  in  the  morning,  we 
pa.ssed  between  the  large  island,  wliich  is 
towards  the  southwest,  and  seven  or  eight  small 
islands,  and  an  islet  of  sand,  situated  towards 
the  west.  We  landed  at  the  north  of  the  strait, 
through  which  Lake  Huron  is  di-scharged  into 
Lake  Erie." 

"Aug.  11th.  We  sailed  up  the  strait  and 
passed  between  two  small  islands  of  very 
charming  appearance.  This  sti-ait  is  more 
beautiful  than  that  of  Niagara.  It  is  thirty 
leagues  long,  and  is  about  a  league  broad, 
except  about  half  way,  where  it  is  enlarged, 
forming  a  small  lake  which  we  call  Saint 
Claire,  the  navigation  of  which  is  .safe  along 
both  shores,  which  are  low  and  even." 

This  .strait  is  bordered  by  a  fine  country  and 
fertile  soil.  Its  course  is  southerly.  On  its 
batiks  are  va.st  meadows,  terminated  by  vines, 
fruit  trees,  groves  and  lofty  forests,  so  arranged 
that  we  could  scarcely  believe  but  there  were 
country  seats  scattered  through  their  beautiful 
plains.  There  is  an  abundance  of  stags,  deer, 
roebucks  and  bears,  quite  tame  and  good  to  eat, 
more  delicious  than  the  fresh  pork  of  Europe. 
We  also  found  wild  turkeys  and  swans  in 
abundance.  The  higli  beams  of  our  ves.sel 
I  were  garnished  with  multitudes  of  deer,  which 
our  people  killed  in  the  chase. 

"Along    the    remainder   of  this    strait,    the 


690 


SKETCH  OF  THE  EARLY  HISTORY 


forests  are  composed  of  walnut,  chestnut,  plum 
and  pear  trees.  Wild  grapes  also  abound  from 
which  we  made  a  little  wine.  There  were  all 
kinds  of  wood  for  building  purposes.  Those 
who  will  have  the  good  fortune  some  day  to 
possess  the  beautiful  and  fertile  lauds  along 
this  strait,  will  be  under  many  obligations  to 
us,  who  have  cleared  the  way,  and  traversed 
Lake  Erie  for  a  hundred  leagues  of  a  naviga- 
tion before  unknown." 

La  Salle  and  his  compauions  in  this  expedi- 
tion, were  the  first  Europeans  of  whom  we 
have  any  account,  that  beheld  the  rugged  and 
forest  covered  hills  of  Chautauqua.  La  Salle, 
continued  his  voyage,  until  the  Griffin  cast 
anchor  in  Green  Bay,  on  the  northwestern  coast 
of  Lake  Michigan.  She  was  loaded  with  a 
cargo  of  furs,  and  sent  upon  her  return  voyage, 
but  was  never  heard  of  more.  After  the  de- 
parture of  the  Griffin,  La  Salle  for  a  while 
awaited  her  return,  with  a  portion  of  his  party, 
at  the  mouth  of  the  St.  Joseph's  river.  Cruelly  } 
disappointed,  but  undismayed,  he  pushed  on  [ 
into  the  State  of  Illinois,  where  he  built  a  fort  ! 
which  he  called  Creve  Coeur,  in  token  of  his 
grief.  He  sent  Hennepin,  with  two  compan- 
ions, to  the  Mississippi,  whicii  tiiey  ascended  to 
the  Falls  of  St.  Anthony. 

In  1681  or  1682  it  is  believed  that  he  jour- 
neyed westward  from  Onondaga,  with  the 
design  that  he  had  formed  wheu  he  penetrated 
western  New  York,  in  1669,  to  reach  the  heail- 
quarters  of  the  Oiiio.  After  fifteen  days  of 
travel,  says  his  ancient  biographer,  he  came  to 
"  a  little  lake,  six  or  .seven  miles  in  extent,  south 
of  Lake  Erie,  tlie  month  of  which  opened  to 
the  soutii-eastward."  Tlicre  is  but  little  doubt 
that  tiiis  was  Chautauqua  lake,  and  this  i'amous 
explorer  and  iiis  companions  were  pr()l)al)ly 
the  first  Europeans  wlio  visited  it. 

La  Salle  afterwards  descended  the  Missis.sippi 
to  the  Gulf  of  Mexico,  and  again  journeyed 
back  to  Canada  and  crossed  tiie  sea  to  France, 
wlicrc  his  government  furnished  him  four  ves- 


sels, with  wliich  he  again  crossed  the  ocean  and 
landed  at  the  bay  of  Matagorda,  in  the  State  of 
Texas.  With  a  few  companions  he  traversed 
Texas,  and  penetrated  as  far  as  New  Mexico, 
where  he  spent  much  of  the  year  168(i,  with 
twenty  others.  While  on  his  way  from  New 
Mexico  to  Canada,  he  was  assassinated  by  a 
treacherous  companion.  Thus  perished  this 
bold  pioneer,  who  will  long  be  remembered  as 
one  of  the  most  remarkable  explorers  that  ever 
visited  the  American  continent. 

HoUTON. — Baron  La  Houton,  a  French  offi- 
cer, who  in  1687  was  stationed  in  Canada,  had 
coasted  aloncr  the  noi'thern  shore  of  Lake  Erie, 
and  had  visited  its  southern  shore  in  Ohio,   in 
his  letters  and  memoirs  gave  a  very  interesting 
description  of  that  lake  and  the  country  border- 
ing upon  it.     His  description  will  aj)ply  to  that 
part  of  Chautauqua  county   that  lies  between 
the  iiighlands  and  the  lake.     Yet  the  country  ex- 
tending along  the  southern  shore  of  Lake  Erie 
was   but  little   known  to   Europeans,  until  as 
late  as  1750.    La  Houton  writes:   "Lake  Erie  is 
justly  dignified  with  the  illustrious  namcof  Conti, 
for  assuredly  it  is  the  finest  upon  earth.    You  may 
judge  of  the  goodness  of  the  climate  from  the  lat- 
itude of  the  countries  which  surround  it.     Its  cir- 
cu  mference  extends  two  hundred  and  fifty  leagues, 
but  it  affords  every  where  a  charming  pro.spect,  and 
its  shores  are  decked  with  oak  trees,  elms,  chest- 
nuts,   walnut,     apple,    plutn     trees,    and    vines 
which  bear  their  clusters  up  to  tiie  very  tops  of 
the  trees,  upon  a  sort  of  ground  whicii  lies  as 
smooth  as  one's  hand.    Such  ornaments  as  tliese 
are  sufficient  to  give  rise  to  the  most  agreeable 
idea  of  landscape  in   the  world.     I  cannot  ex- 
press what  quantities  of  deers  and  turkeys  are 
to   be   found   in   these  woods,   and   in   the  vast 
meads  tliat   lie  upon   tiie  south  side  of  the  lake. 
At  the  bottom  of  tiie  lake  we  find  wild  beeves 
(buffaloes),     on     the    banks    of    two    pica.sant 
streams  that  di.sembogue   into  it,  without  Ciitar- 
acts  or  rapid  currents.     It  abounds  witii  stur- 
geon and  wliite  fish,   but  trout  are  very  scarce 


OF  CHAUTAUQUA    COUNTY. 


691 


in  it,  as  well  as  other  fish  that  we  take  in  tlie 
lalces  Hurons  (Huron)  and  Illinese  (Micliigan). 
It  is  clear  of  siielves,  rocics  and  banl<s  of  sand, 
and  lias  fourteen  or  fifteen  fathoms  of  water.  Tlie 
savages  assure  us  tliat  it  is  never  disturbed  by 
higii  winds  except  in  tiio  rnontiis  of  December, 
January  and  February,  and  even  then  but  sel- 
dom, wliich  I  am  very  apt  to  believe,  for  wc 
bad  very  few  storms  when  I  wintered  in  my 
boat,  in  1688,  though  tlie  boat  lay  open  to  the 
Lake  of  Hurons." 

Celoron. — In  1749  the  two  rival  counti'ies,  I 
England  and  France,  proceeded  directly  to 
assert  their  rights  to  tbe  territories  lying  west  of 
the  Alleghenies.  The  French  in  that  year  sent 
from  La  Chine  in  Canada,  Captain  Bienville  de 
Celoron,  with  two  hundred  and  fourteen  soldiers 
and  Canadians,  and  fifty-five  Iroquois  and 
Abenakies  Indians  to  the  Ohio  country,  to  take 
posession  of  those  disputed  regions  in  the  name 
of  the  King  of  France.  In  June,  1749,  this 
party  ascended  the  St.  Lawrence,  coasted  along 
the  eastern  and  southern  shore  of  Lake  Onta- 
rio, passed  up  the  river  Niagara  and  along  the 
southern  shore  of  Lake  Erie  as  far  west  as  the 
mouth  of  the  Chautauqua  creek,  arriving  there 
July  16.  A  journal  was  kept  by  the  expedi- 
tion, and  we  will  quote  from  a  portion  of  it  that 
relates  to  Chautauqua  county,  believing  that  , 
the  original  will  be  more  interesting  to  the 
reader  tiian  any  account  substituted  in  place 
of  it. 

The  journal  describes  the  lake  at  the  month  of 
the  Chautauqua  creek  to  be  "  extremely  shallow, 
with  no  shelter  from  the  force  of  the  winds,  in- 
volving great  risk  of  shipwreck  in  landing, 
which  is  increased  by  large  rocks,  extending 
more  than  three-fourths  of  a  mile  from  the 
shore."  The  journal  further  says  of  the  posi- 
tion here:  "  I  found  it  ill-adapted  for  such  a 
purpose  (as  a  military  post)  as  well  from  its  po- 
sition as  from  its  relation  to  the  navigation  of 
the  lake.  The  water  is  so  shallow  that  barks 
standing    in  cannot    approach   within  a  league 


of  the  portage.  There  being  no  island  or 
harbor  to  wliicii  they  could  resort  for  siielter, 
they  would  be  under  the  necessity  of  riding 
at  anchor,  and  discharging  their  loading  by 
batteaux.  The  frerjucncy  of  squalls  would 
render  it  a  jilace  of  danger,  besides  there  are 
no  Indian  villages  in  the  vicinity — in  fact 
tiiey  are  quite  distant,  none  being  nearer  than 
Ganongou  and  Faille  Coupc'e  (Broken  Straw). 
In  the  evening  Mm.  de  Villiers  and  le  Borgue 
returned  to  lodge  at  the  camp,  having  cleared 
the  way  for  about  three-quarters  of  a  league." 
The  journal  continues:  "On  the  J 7th,  at 
break  of  day,  we  began  the  jjortage,  the  ])ro- 
secution  of  which  was  visrorouslv  maintained. 
All  the  canoes,  provisions,  munitions  of  war 
and  merchandise  intended  as  presents  to  the 
Indians  bordering  on  the  Ohio,  were  cari'ied 
over  the  three-quarters  of  a  league,  which  had 
been  rendered  passable  the  day  ])revious.  The 
route  was  exceedingly  difficult,  owing  to  the 
numerous  hills  and  mountains  which  we  en- 
countered. All  my  men  were  very  much  fa- 
tigued. We  established  a  strong  guard,  which 
was  continued  during  the  entire  campaign, 
not  only  for  the  purpose  of  security,  but  for 
teaching  the  Canadians  a  discipline  which  they 
greatly  needed.  We  continued  our  advance 
on  the  14th,  but  bad  weather  prevented  our 
making  much  progress,  as  on  the  preceding 
day.  I  consoled  myself  for  the  delay,  as  it 
was  caused  by  a  rain  which  I  greatly  desired, 
as  it  would  raise  the  water  in  the  river  suf- 
ficient to  float  our  loaded  canoes.  On  the 
19th,  the  rain  having  ceased,  we  accomplished 
half  a  league.  On  the  20th  and  21st  we  con- 
tinued our  route  with  great  diligence,  and  ar- 
rived at  the  end  of  the  jrortage  on  the  banks 
of  Lake  Chatacoin,  on  the  22d.  The  whole 
distance  may  be  estimated  at  four  leagues. 
Here  I  repaired  my  canoes  and  recruited  my 
men."  On  the  24th  the  vovajie  was  contin- 
ued  over  the  lake  and  througli  the  dark  and 
windino;  outlet  to  the  hig-hlands  at  Jamestown. 


692 


SKETCH  OF  THE  EARLY  HISTORY 


Here  Celoron  and  liis  party  encamped  for 
the  night.  The  jourual,  in  describing  the  voy- 
age over  the  rapids  from  Jamestown,  says : 
"  We  proceeded  about  a  league  with  great 
difficulty.  In  many  places  I  was  obliged  to  as- 
sign forty  men  to  each  canoe  to  facilitate  their 
passage.  On  the  2Gth  and  27th  we  continued 
our  voyage,  not  without  many  obstacles  ;  not- 
withstanding all  our  precautions  to  guard  our 
canoes,  they  often  sustained  great  injury  by 
reason  of  the  shallow  water.  On  the  29th,  at 
noon,  I  entered  the  La  Belle  Eiviere.  I  buried 
a  plate  of  lead  at  the  foot  of  a  red  oak,  on  the 
south  bank  of  the  river  Oyo  (Ohio)  and  of  the 
Chauougon,  not  far  from  the  village  of  Kan- 
aouagon,  in  latitude  42°  5'  23".  Chauougon  is 
now  called  the  Conewango,  and  the  Indian 
village  Kanaouagou  stood  upon  the  site  of  the 
present  village  of  Warren,  Pa.  The  latitude  of 
the  place,  as  given  in  the  journal,  is  about  fif- 
teen miles  too  far  to  the  north.  Celoron  con- 
tinued his  journey  down  the  river  Ohio  as  far 
as  the  moutii  of  the  Great  Miami.  He  then 
ascended  tliat  river  and  returned  to  Canada. 
He  buried  a  leaden  plate  at  each  of  tlie  follow- 
ing places:  The  famous  rock  below  Franklin, 
known  as  the  Indian  God ;  at  the  mouth  of 
Wheeling  Creek,  in  West  Virginia ;  at  the 
moutli  of  the  Muskingum,  which  jjlate  was 
found  by  some  boys  in  1798  ;  at  the  mouth  of 
the  Great  Kanawha,  found  in  184G  ;  and  lastly 
at  the  mouth  of  the  Great  Miami. 

The  first  leaden  plate  prepared  for  l)nrial  by 
Celoron  on  his  voyage,  above  described,  con- 
tains the  earliest  record  of  the  name  of  Cliau- 
tauqua  Lake  and  its  outlet.  It  is  there  written 
"  Tchadakoin."  This  leaden  plate  ^vas  obtained 
by  some  artifice  of  the  Iroquois  from  the 
French,  and  delivered  to  Sir  William  Johnson 
at  his  scat  on  the  Mohawk.  Wiien  Scan-agii- 
tra-dey-a,  the  Cayuga  .saciiem,  delivered  the 
plate,  he  accompanied  it  with  the  following 
speech  : 

"  Brotiier   Corlcar  and    War-ragii-i-ya-glicy, 


I  am  sent  here  by  the  five  Nations  to  you  (with 
a  piece  of  writing  which  the  Senecas,  our  breth- 
ren, got  by  some  artifice  from  Jeancour)  earnest- 
ly beseeching  you  will  let  us  know  what  it 
means,  and,  as  we  put  all  confidence  in  you, 
our  brother,  hope  you  will  explain  it  ingenu- 
ously to  us."  Here  he  delivered  the  leaden 
plate. 

"Brother,  I  am  ordered  further  to  acquaint 
you  that  Jeancour,  the  French  interpreter,  when 
on  his  journey  (this  summer)  to  the  Ohio  river, 
spoke  thus  to  the  Five  Nations,  and  others  in 
our  alliance : 

"  '  Children,  your  father  (meaning  the  French 
Gurnon)  having,  out  of  a  tender  regard  for  you, 
considering  the  great  difficulties  you  labor 
under,  by  carrying  your  goods,  canoes,  etc., 
over  the  great  carrying-place  of  Niagara,  has 
desired  me  to  acquaint  you  that  in  order  to  ease 
all  of  so  much  trouble  for  the  future,  he  is  re- 
solved to  build  a  house  at  the  other  end  of  said 
carrying-place  which  he  will  furnish  with  all 
necessaries  requisite  for  your  use.' 

"  Brotiier,  Jeancour  also  told  us  that  he  was 
now  on  his  way  to  Ohio  River,  where  he  in- 
tended to  stay  three  years,  and  desired  some  of 
us  to  accompany  him  thither,  which  we  refused, 
whereupon  he  answered  he  was  much  surprised 
at  our  not  consenting  to  go  with  him,  inasmuch 
as  it  was  for  our  interest  and  ease  he  was  sent 
thither  to  build  a  house  there  also,  at  the  carry- 
ing-place between  said  River  Ohio  and  Lake 
Erie,  where  all  the  western  Indians  should 
be  supplied  with  whatever  goods  they  may  have 
occasion  for,  and  not  be  at  the  trouble  and  loss 
of  time  going  so  far  to  market  as  usual  (mean- 
ing Oswego);  after  tiiis  he  desired  to  know  our 
opinion  of  the  atlair,  and  begged  our  consent  to 
build  in  said  places  ;  he  gave  us  a  large  belt  of 
wampum  therewith,  desiring  our  answer,  which 
wc  told  him  wc  woukl  take  some  time  to  con- 
sider of." 

To  which  Sir  W'iliiain  .loimson  i'ei)lied  as 
follows : 


0/''  CHAUTAUQUA   COUNTY. 


G93 


"Brethren  (iftin:  Five  Nations,  I  am  always 
glad  to  see  you  at  my  liouse,  but  never  more  so 
than  at  this  juncture,  as  it  puts  it  in  my  power 
now  to  be  of  the  greatest  service  to  you,  and  of 
convincing  you  that  the  confidence  you  have  al- 
ways reposed  in  me  was  justly  grounded,  and 
will  ever  prove  the  greatest  advantage  to  you. 
While  you  continue  to  behave  as  you  should, 
and  follow  your  brother,  the  governor's,  advice, 
and  not  suffer  yourselves  to  be  wheedled  or 
misled  by  the  fine  speeches  of  your  greatest 
enemy,  the  French,  who  have  not,  nor  never 
had,  your  welfare  at  heart,  as  you  are  sensible 
of,  from  tiieir  many  former  cruelties  and  ill- 
treatment  to  your  people.  But  their  scheme 
now  laid  against  you,  and  yours  (at  a  time  when 
they  are  feeding  you  up  with  fine  promises  of 
.serving  you  in  several  siiapes)  is  worse  than  all 
the  rest,  as  will  appear  by  their  own  writing 
here  on  this  plate."  Here  Sir  William  John- 
son gave  a  large  belt  of  wampum  to  confirm 
what  he  said,  which  belt  is  to  be  sent  through 
all  the  nations  as  far  as  the  Oiiio  river,  con- 
tinuing he  said  further  : 

"  Brethren,  this  is  an  affair  of  the  greatest  im- 
portance to  you,  as  nothing  less  than  all  your 
lands  and  best  hunting-places  are  aimed  at,  with 
a  view  of  secluding  you  entirely  from  us,  and 
the  rest  of  your  brethren,  viz. :  the  Philadei- 
phiaus,  Virgiuiaus,  etc.,  who  can  always  sup- 
ply you  with  the  necessaries  of  life  at  a  Qiiicii 
lower  rate  than  the  French  ever  did,  or  could, 
and  under  whose  protection  you  are,  and  ever 
will  be  safer  and  better  served  in  every  respect, 
than  under  the  French.  These  and  a  hundred 
other  substantial  reasons  I  could  give  you,  to 
convince  you  that  the  French  are  your  implaca- 
ble enemies.  But  as  I  told  you  before,  the  very 
instrument  you  now  have  brought  to  me  of  their 
own  writing,  is  sufficient  of  itself  to  convince 
the  world  of  their  villainous  designs,  therefore 
I  need  not  be  attiie  trouble,  so  shall  only  desire 
that  you  and  all  other  nations  in  alliance  with 
you,  seriously  consider  your  own   interest,  and 


by  no  means  submit  to  the  impending  danger 
which  now  threatens  you  ;  the  only  way  to  pre- 
vent which,  is  to  turn  Jeancour  away  imme- 
diately from  Ohio,  and  tell  him  that  the  French 
shall  neither  build  there,  or  at  tiie  Carrying  place 
of  Niagara,  nor  have  a  foot  of  land  more  from 
yon." 

"  Brethren,  what  I  now  say,  I  expect  and  in- 
sist upon  it  be  taken  notice  of,  and  send  to  the 
Indians  at  Ohio,  that  they  may  immediately 
know  the  vile  designs  of  the  French." 

To  which  the  Cayuga  Sachem  replied  as  fol- 
lows : 

"  Brothers  Corlear  and  Narraghigagee,  I  have 
with  great  attention  and  surprise,  heard  you  re- 
peat the  substance  of  that  devilish  writing, 
which  I  brought  you,  and  also  with  pleasure 
noticed  your  just  remarks  tiiereon,  which  really 
agree  with  my  own  sentiments  on  it.  I  return 
you  my  most  hearty  thanks  in  the  name  of  all 
the  nations  of  your  brotherly  love,  and  cordial 
advice  which  I  promise  you  sincerely  by  this 
belt  of  wampum,  shall  be  communicated  im- 
mediately, and  verbatim  to  the  Six  Nations  by 
myself,  and  moreover  shall  be  forwarded  from 
the  Seneca  Castle,  with  belts  from  each  of  our 
own  nation,  to  the  Indians  at  Ohio,  to  strengthen 
your  desire  as  I  am  thoroughly  satisfied  that 
you  have  our  interest  at  heart." 

The  following  is  the  oi'iginal  inscription  on 
the  leaden  plate  : 

"  L'an  1749  du  regne  de  Louis  XV  Eov  de 
France,  Nous  Celoron,  commandant  d'vre  de- 
tachment en  voie  pav  Monsieur  le  Mis.  de  la 
Galissouiere,  Commandant  General  de  la  Nou- 
velle  France,  pour  retablir  la  tranquillite  dans 
quelquessauvages  de  ces  cantons,  a  vous  enterre 
cette  plaqua,  au  confluent  De  L'Ohio  et  de 
Tchadakoiu  ce  29  Juillet,  pres  de  la  riviere  Oyo 
autrement  belle  riviere,  pour  monument  du  reu 
on  vellement  de  possession  que  nous  avous  pris 
de  la  ditte  riviere  Oyo,  et  de  toutes  celles  quiv 
tombent,  et  de  toutes  les  terres  de  deux  cotes 
jusque  aux  sources  desdittes  rivieres  ainsi  qu'en 


694 


SKETCa  OF  THE  EARLY  HISTORY 


out  jovi  ou  An  jovir  les  precedents  rois  de 
France,  et  qu'ils  s'y  soiit  mainteuvs  par  les  arras 
et  par  les  traittes,  specialement  pav  ceox  de 
Keswick  a  Utredlit  et  d'Aux  la  Chapelle." 

The  following  is  a  translation  of  the  writing 
upon  the  plate : 

"In  the  year  1749,  of  the  reign  of  Louis  the 
loth,  King  of  France,  we  Celoron,  commander 
of  a  detachment  sent  by  Monsieur  the  Marquis 
de  la  Galeissoniere,  Governor  General  of  New 
France,to  re-establish  tranquillity  insome  Indian 
villages  of  these  cantons,  have  buried  this  plate 
of  lead  at  the  confluence  of  the  Ohio  and  the 
Chautauqua,  this  29th  of  July,  near  the  river 
Ohio,  otherwise  Belle  Riviere,  as  a  monument 
of  the  renewal  of  the  possession  we  liave  taken 
of  the  said  river  Ohio,  and  all  those  which 
empty  into  it,  and  of  all  the  lands  on  both  sides 
as  far  as  the  sources  of  the  said  rivers  as  en- 
joyed or  ought  to  have  been  enjoyed  by  the 
kings  of  France  preceding,  and  as  they  have 
then  maintained  tJiemselves  by  arms  and  by 
treaties,  especially  those  of  Reswick,  Utrecht  and 
Aix  la  Chapelle." 

The  inscription  on  the  leaden  plate,  the  speech 
of  the  Indian  Sachem,  and  that  of  Sir  William 
Johnson,  serve  to  show  the  jealous  attitude  the 
English  and  French  bore  towards  each  other, 
and  also  the  relations  they  held  with  the 
Indians,  better  than  any  extended  account. 
They  also  serve  to  show  the  arts  used  by  each 
of  these  nations,  to  establish  an  alliance  with 
them.  The  Indians  however,  notwithstanding 
the  efforts  of  the  French  and  English,  by  their 
sagacity  and  firmness,  preserved  their  freedom 
of  action,  maintained  absolute  independence, 
and  held  the  |)ossession  of  their  hunting  grounds 
for  more  than  a  century. 

The  word  "  Tchadakoin "  written  upon  the 
leaden  plate,  is  tiie  first  record  we  have  of  the 
name    Chautauqua.*     In   tiie  journal   kept  of 

*The  identity  of  the  iiaino  "Cli!mta\i(ni;i"  with  thu  ivonl 
"Tchadakoin,"  and  llie  various  inodilications  it  lias  under- 
gone in  pronunciation  and  orlhoi.'ra|)liy  since  it  was  writ- 


Celoron's  expedition,  it  is  spelled  "Chatakouin" 
and  "Chatacoin."  Upon  the  map  of  Father 
Bonnecamps  who  accompanied  Celoron  it  is 
spelled  "  Tjadakoin."  In  the  letters  of  Du 
Quesne  to  the  French  Government,  in  1753, 
it  is  spelled  "  Chatacoint."  In  the  "  History 
of  the  French  and  English  Wars  in  North 
America,"  written  by  Captain  Ponchob  in 
French,  and  on  the  map  accompanying  it,  it 
is  spelled  "  Thatacoin."  In  the  affidavit  of 
Stephen  Coffin,  an  English  soldier  made  pris- 
oner by  the  French,  who  accompanied  the  expe- 
dition that  constructed  the  wagon-road  from 
Lake  Erie  to  Chautauqua  Lake,  it  is  spelled 
"  Chadakoin."  Mitchell  in  1755,  writes  it 
"  Chadocoin,"  and  on  Crevecoeur's  map  of 
1758,  it  is  written  "Chatacouin."  These  are 
obviously  different  spellings  of  the  same  Indian 
word.  The  lake  and  its  outlet  were  located 
wholly  within  the  territories  of  the  Iroquois. 
The  nearest  Indian  villages  were  those  of  that 
people.  They  fished  in  its  watej's  and  hunted 
along  its  shores,  and  their  trails  threaded  the 
dark  forests  where  it  lay.  Its  name  would 
naturally  be  a  word  in  the  Iroquois  tongue,  one 
which  the  French  would  be  most  likely  to 
adopt  and  engrave  upon  the  leaden  plate.  It 
will  be  observed  that  these  words  pronounced 
according  to  the  rules  of  French  orthography, 
are  not  very  unlike  the  word  "Chautauqua" 
as  now  pronounced.  It  is  not  remarkable  that 
when  tiie  Englisii  succeeded  to  the  domain  of 
the  lakes,  that  this  name  should  acqinrea  some- 
what different  ])ronunciation,  and  that  in  time 
it  should  be  still  furtiier  changed.  On  Lewis 
Evans'  maji,  1758,  and  Pownall's  map  of  177(), 
it  is  written  "Jadaxqua;"  by  Sir  William 
Johnson  in  17GG,  "  Jadaghtjue ;"  by  General 
William    Irvin   wiio   visited   the   lake   previous 

ten  upon  llie  leaden  plate,  wa.s  discovered  by  the  writer  of 
this  sketch.  Attention  was  afterwards  called  to  it  liy  him, 
in  the  "]Iistory  of  t'hautatiqua  anterior  to  it.s  I'ioneer 
Settlement,"  eontrihnted  by  the  writer  to  "  Young's  His- 
tory of  Chautauqua  County."     See  pages  35,  3(i  and  37. 


OF  CHAUTAUQUA   COUNTY. 


095 


to  1788,  "  I;ul:i(jiia;"  ami  (Jdi'iiplanter,  accord- 
ing to  Alflen,  in-oiiDiinced  it  "  Cliaud-dauk-wa." 
On  tl)e  map  made  by  tiio  Holland  Tvand  com- 
pany in  1804,  it  is  spelled  "  Cliatauf^hque." 
After  the  settlement  of  the  county,  until  1859, 
it  was  spelled  "  Chantanrjue,"  when  it  was 
changed  by  a  resolution  of  the  Board  of  Super- 
visors of  that  county  to  "Chautaucjua."  These 
small  changes  are  due  to  the  various  touirues, 
white  and  Indian,  in  which  it  has  l)cen  succes- 
sively rendered.  Even  in  the  various  dialects 
of  the  Ii'oquois  language,  it  was  uttered  differ- 
ently. The  Senecas  called  it  "  Chii-da-cpieh  ;" 
the  Cayugas,  "Cha-ditqua;"  the  Onondagas, 
"  Cha-da-quii ;"  the  Tuscaroras,  "  Cha-ta-qua  ;" 
and  the  Mohawks,  "  Ja-d;t-qu:l." 

The  French  and  Indian  War. — The 
Frencli  having  declared  their  intention  to 
claim  all  the  territory  lying  in  the  valley  of  the 
Mississippi,  through  the  formal  act  of  Celoron 
in  the  burial  of  the  leaden  plates,  now  prepared 
to  establish  dominion  there,  more  effectually, 
by  erecting  a  line  of  forts  extending  from  their 
possessions  in  Canada  to  their  settlements  in 
Louisiana,  and  thus  carry  out  the  plan  con- 
ceived by  La  Salle  three  quarters  of  a  century 
before.  In  1753,  four  years  after  Celoron  vis- 
ited Chautauqua  lake,  the  Marquis  Du  Quesne, 
being  governor-general  of  Canada,  dispatched 
a  force  which  opened  a  portage  road  from  Erie 
to  Le  B(jeuf  on  Fi-ench  Creek,  and  built  ibrts 
there.  This  force  the  same  season,  also  opened 
another  road  from  the  mouth  of  the  Chautau- 
qua Creek  near  Barcelona,  to  the  head  of  Chau- 
tauqua Lake  at  Mayville.  Thus  was  commun- 
ication established  by  the  French  between  Lake 
Erie  and  the  headwaters  of  the  Ohio. 

These  acts  are  memorable  for  the  reason,  that 
they  constituted  the  immediate  causes,  that 
led  to  one  of  the  most  famous  wars  of  modern 
times.  It  was  known  in  this  country  as  the 
French  and  Indian  war ;  a  contest  that  extend- 
ed over  Continental  Euroj)e,  and  even  to  Asia 
and  Africa.     These  events  should   be   recorded 


in  tills  iiistory,  being  so  intinialcly  coniicrtcd 
with  Chautauqua  Lake  and  county.  The  de- 
tails of  these  events  cannot  fail  to  be  entertain- 
ing to  one  interested  in  the  history  of  this 
region. 

Du  Quesne,  in  the  fall  of  1752,  rendered  an 
account  of  the  arrangements  that  he  had  made 
to  carry  out  the  designs  of  the  French,  in  a 
letter  to  the  French  Minister  of  the  Marine  and 
Colonics,  in  Paris,  in  which  lie  stated,  that  he 
would  begin  his  posts  at  a  point  near  Barcelona 
in  this  county,  and  at  the  mouth  of  the  Chau- 
tauqua Creek,  which  he  called  Chat-a-co-nit. 
It  is  evident  from  this  letter,  that  Du  (Quesne 
fully  believed,  from  the  information  that  he 
had,  that  the  carrying  place  between  this  point, 
and  the  head  of  Chautauqua  Lake  was  the 
shortest  and  most  practicable  that  could  be 
found  between  the  waters  of  the  lakes  and  the 
Ohio.  The  carrying  place  between  Erie  and 
Le  Bceuf,  was  discovered  afterwards.  The  im- 
portance that  Du  Quesne  attached  to  the  selec- 
tions of  the  best  carrying  place  between  these 
waters,  is  evident  from  the  language  used  by 
him,  in  his  communications  to  the  French  gov- 
ernment. 

Du  Quesne,  during  the  winter,  completed  his 
preparations,  which  were  hastened  by  false 
reports  received  by  Joucaire,  that  the  English 
had  actually  settled  upon  French  Creek,  and  at 
the  junction  of  the  Conewango  with  the  Alle- 
gheny, where  Warren  is  now  situated  ;  which 
the  French  and  Indians  then  called  Chinengue. 
He,  in  early  spring,  dispatched  from  Montreal, 
an  advanced  force  of  two  hundred  and  fifty 
men,  under  ^lonsieur  Barbeer,  for  Chautauqua, 
with  orders  to  fell  and  prepare  timber  for  the 
building  of  a  fort  thei-e.  We  will  give  some 
extracts  from  his  letter  to  the  French  Minister 
of  Marine,  bearing  date  August  20,  1753,  to 
explain  the  reasons  which  had  led  him  to 
change  his  mind,  and  adopt  the  route  between 
Presque  Isle  and  Le  Bceuf  as  the  carrying 
place,  instead   of  that  between   Barcelona   and 


696 


SKETCH  OF  THE  EARLY  HISTORY 


Chautauqua  Lake,  and  also  to  show  the  diffi- 
culties that  attended  the  prosecution  of  the 
undertaking : 

'■  My  Lord  : — I  have  the  honor  to  inform 
you,  that  I  have  been  obliged  to  alter  the  ar- 
rangement I  had  made,  whereof  I  rendered  you 
an  account  last  fall. 

"  You  will  see,  my  lord,  by  the  extract  of 
the  journal  hereto  annexed,  the  reasons  which 
compelled  me  to  reduce  almost  to  one-half  the 
vanguard  that  I  informed  you  consisted  of  four 
hundred  men,  and  those  that  determined  me  to 
prefer  lauding  the  troops  at  the  harbor  of 
Presque  Isle  on  Lake  Erie,  which  I  very  fortu- 
nately discovered  instead  of  Chataconit,  where  I 
informed  you  I  would  begin  my  posts. 

"  This  discovery  is  so  much  more  propitious, 
as  it  is  a  harbor,  which  the  largest  barks  can 
enter  loaded,  and  be  iu  perfect  safety.  I  am 
informed  that  the  beach,  the  soil,  and  the  re- 
soui'ces  of  all  sorts,  were  the  same  as  represented 
to  me. 

"  The  plan  I  send  you  of  this  place,  is  only 
a  roush  sketch  until  it  is  corrected.  I  have 
given  orders  that  this  be  proceeded  with. 

"  The  letter  I  received  on  the  12th  of  Janu- 
ary last  from  M.  de  Joucaire,  has  obliged  me 
by  force,  to  obtain  provisions  from  the  farmers, 
to  enable  me  to  oppose  the  projects  of  the 
English,  who,  he  advised  me,  had  sent  Smiths 
to  Chinengue  and  the  now  Aux  Boeuf,  where 
they  were  even  settled  ;  and  that  there  was  a 
terrible  excitement  among  the  Indians,  who 
looked  upon  it  as  certain,  that  the  English 
would  be  firmly  .settled  there  in  the  course  of 
this  year,  not  imagining  that  my  forces  were 
capableof  (ip|)osing  them.  This  fear  whicli  made  ' 
me  attempt  the  impossible,  has  had  hitherto, 
the  most  complete  success.  All  flio  provisions 
have  arrived  from  without,  after  a  delay  of 
fifteen  days,  and  I  iiad  tiiem  transported  with 
all  imaginable  diligence,  into  a  country  so  full 
of  difficulties,  in  con.sequcMU'c  of  tiie  gi-eat 
number    of    voyagcurs    wiiich     I    required    to  [ 


ascend  the  rapids,  the  race  of  which  is  getting 
scarce. 

"  I  was  not  long  in  perceiving  that  this  move- 
ment made  a  considerable  impression  on  the 
Indians  ;  and  what  has  thrown  more  consterna- 
tion among  them  is,  that  I  had  no  recourse  to 
them  ;  for  I  contented  myself  with  telling  our 
domiciliated  tribes,  that  if  there  were  eight  or 
ten  from  each  village  who  had  the  curiosity  to 
witness  my  operations,  I  would  permit  them  to 
follow,  Sieur  Marin,  the  commander  of  the 
detachment,  whom  they  were  well  aquainted 
with,  and  in  whom  they  had  confidence.  Of 
200  whom  I  proposed  to  send  forward  only 
70  are  sufficient  for  scouts  and  hunters. 

"  All  the  natives  that  came  down  to  see  me 
from  the  upper  county,  and  who  met  the  multi- 
tude of  batteaux  and  canoes  which  were  convey- 
ing the  men  and  effects  belonging  to  the 
detachment,  presented  themselves,  all  trembling 
before  me,  and  told  me  that  they  were  aware  of 
my  power,  by  the  swarm  of  men  they  had 
passed,  and  begged  me  to  have  pity  on  them, 
their  wives  and  their  children.  I  took  advan- 
tage of  their  terror,  to  speak  to  them  in  a  firm 
tone,  and  menacing  the  first  that  would  falter  ; 
and  instead  of  a  month  or  five  weeks,  tiiat  tlicy 
were  accustomed  to  remain  here,  consuming  the 
king's  provisions,  I  got  rid  of  them  on  the 
fourth  day. 

"  It  appears  up  to  this  time,  that  the  execu- 
tion of  the  plan  of  my  enterprise,  makes  so 
strong  an  impression  on  the  nations,  tiiat  all  tiie 
vagabonds  who  had  taken  refuge  on  tiie  IJeauti- 
ful  river,  have  returned  to  their  village.  .  .  . 
Sieur  Marin  writes  me  on  the  3d  instant,  tiiat 
the  fort  at  Presque  Isle  is  entirely  fin isiied  ;  that 
tiie  Portage  road,  which  is  six  leagues  in  length, 
is  also  ready  for  carriages;  that  the  store  which 
was  necessary  to  be  built  half  way  across 
tiie  Portage,  is  in  a  condition  to  re(«ive  tiie 
siipi)lies,  and  the  second  fort  wiiicli  is  located  at 
the  mouth  of  tiie  river  Aux  B(eiif  will  soon  be 
completed. 


OF  CHAUTAUQUA   COUNTY. 


097 


"'J'liis  ooniiiiaiuhuit  informs  me,  moreover, 
tliat  lie  is  having  some  pirogues  constructed  ; 
whilst  men  are  actually  employed  in  transport- 
ing his  stores;  and  he  tells  me  that  all  the 
Delawares,  Chanonauous,  (Sliawnees)  and 
Seuecas  on  the  Beautiful  river  had  come  to 
meet  him,  and  that  he  had  so  well  received 
them,  that  they  were  zealously  assistiug  with 
their  horses  that  tlicy  have  brought  with  them, 
in  making  the  portage. 

"  There  has  uot  beeu,  up  to  the  present  time, 
the  least  impediment  to  the  considerable  move- 
ments I  have  caused  to  be  made ;  everything 
arrived  at  its  destination  with  greater  celerity 
than  I  anticipated  ;  and  among  the  prodigious 
number  of  batteaux  or  canoes,  that  have  passed 
the  rapids,  only  one  has  upset,  drowning  seven 
nieu. 

"  As  it  is  impossible  in  a  movement  as  vast 
as  it  is  precipitous  for  this  country,  that  some  of 
the  provisions  should  be  spoiled  in  open  craft, 
despite  all  the  precautions  that  could  be  taken, 
I  have  sent  on  as  much  as  was  necessary  to 
repair  the  loss. 

"  Everything  announces,  my  lord,  the  suc- 
cessful execution  of  my  project,  unless  some 
unforeseen  accident  has  occurred  ;  and  the  only 
anxiety  I  feel  is  that  the  River  Aux  13auif  por- 
tage will  delay  the  entrance  of  our  troops  into 
the  Beautiful  River,  as  it  is  long,  and  there  is 
considerable  to  carry,  and  the  horses  I  have 
sent  thither  have  arrived  there  exhausted  with 
fatigue.  But  I  hope  this  will  be  obviated  by 
those  the  Indians  have  brought  thither,  and  that 
the  mildness  of  the  climate  will  admit  of  the 
completion  of  the  posts.  The  extreme  boldness 
with  which  I  have  executed  a  project  of  so  much 
importance,  has  caused  me  the  liveliest  in- 
quietude; the  famine  which  met  me  on  my 
arrival  at  Quebeck  having  reduced  me,  for- 
warding only  900  barrels  of  flour  as  the  whole 
supply. 

"  From  the  knowledge  I  have  acquired  this 
winter,  I  would   have  comiwsed   my  vanguard 


of  700  men,  had  1  had  the  entrepot  of  provi- 
sions at  Niagara,  because  the  body  of  men 
would  have  assuredly  advanced  to  the  portage, 
which  I  was  desirous  of  occupying;  having  to 
fear  some  opposili()n  on  the  part  of  the  Indians 
of  the  Beautiful  River  at  the  instigation  of  the 
English,  my  plan  having  been  discovered,  and 
bruited  abroad  since  M.  de  la  Jouquire's  death, 
in  consequence  of  the  explorations  that  I  caused 
to  be  made  by  some  bark  canoes,  notwithstand- 
ing the  color  I  wished  to  give  these  move- 
ments. 

"  I  leave  you  to  judge,  uiy  lord,  the  trouble 
of  mind  I  felt  at  the  reduction  of  this  van- 
guard to  250  men,  which  I  was  obliged  to  send 
like,  what  is  called  in  the  army  a  forlorn  hope, 
when  dispatched  to  explore  a  work.  On  the 
other  hand,  I  should  proceed  at  a  snail's  j)ace 
could  I  continue  my  operations  only  with  tiie 
assistance  derived  from  the  sea,  the  inconveni- 
ences of  which  I  understood.  In  fine,  my 
lord,  if  there  be  any  merit  in  doing  anything 
contrary  to  the  prudence  of  a  person  of  my  age, 
who  has  not  the  reputation  of  being  devoid  of 
that  virtue,  the  enterprise  in  question  would  be 
entitled  to  very  great  credit ;  but  necessity 
having  constrained  me  to  it,  I  do  not  adopt  it, 
and  attribute  its  success  to  singular  good  for- 
tune which  I  would  not  for  all  the  world  at- 
tempt again. 

"  The  discovery  I  have  made  of  the  harbor 
of  Presque  Isle,  which  is  regarded  as  the  finest 
spot  in  nature,  has  determined  me  to  send  a 
I'oyal  assistant  pilot  to  search  around  the  Niag- 
ara rapids  for  some  place  where  a  bark  could 
remain  to  take  in  its  load.  Nothing  would  be 
of  greater  advantage  in  the  saving  of  transport, 
and  the  security  of  the  property  of  the  new 
posts  and  of  Detroit ;  but  it  is  necessary  to  find 
a  good  bottom,  so  that  the  anchors  may  hold  ; 
for  it  could  safely  winter  at  Presque  Isle,  where 
it  would  be  as  it  were  in  a  box.  I  impatiently 
await  the  return  of  this  pilot,  and  I  would  be 
much  flattered  could  I   be  able  to  announce  to 


698 


SKETCH  OF  THE  EARLY  HISTORY 


you  in  my  latest  tlispatelies,  that  I  have  ordered 
the  construction  of  tliis  vessel. 

"  I  must  not  leave  you  ignorant,  my  lord, 
how  much  I  am  pleased  with  Sieur  Marin,  the 
commander  of  the  detachment,  and  Major  Pean. 
The  former,  who  has  an  experienced  capacity, 
manages  the  Indians  as  he  pleases  ;  and  he  has, 
at  his  age,  the  same  zeal  and  activity  as  any 
young  officer  that  may  enter  the  service.  The 
second  is  endowed  with  all  the  talent  imagin- 
able for  detail  and  resources,  and  knows  no 
other  occupation  than  that  of  accomplishing  the 
object  he  is  intrusted  with.  He  alone  had 
charge  of  dispatching  all  the  canoes  and  bat- 
teaux,  and  acquitted  himself  of  that  duty,  with 
great  order.  Chevalier  Le  Mercier,  to  whom  I 
assigned  the  duties  of  engineer,  and  who  is  also 
intrusted  with  the  distribution  of  the  provisions, 
is  an  oiEcer  possessing  the  rarest  talent.  Sieur  : 
Marin  expresses  himself  to  me  in  the  highest 
terms  of  all  those  who  are  under  his  orders,  and 
who  vie  with  each  other  in  diligence. 

"  I  am,  with  the  most  profound  respect,  my 
lord,  your  most  humble  and  most  obedient 
servant,  "  Du  Qdesne." 

In  addition  to  the  account  given  of  the 
doings  of  the  French  in  this  quarter  that  is  con- 
tained in  these  letters  from  Du  Quesne,  we 
have  a  very  full  and  apparently  authentic  nar- 
rative of  their  operations  in  Chautauqua  county, 
and  in  Pennsylvania  in  the  year  1753,  in  an 
affidavit  made  by  Stephen  Coffin,  before  Sir 
William  Johnson,  January  10, 17o4.  Stephen 
Coffin  was  taken  prisoner  by  the  French  and 
Indians  in  1747,  and  detained  in  Lower  Canada- 
until  January,  1752,  when  he  was  allowed  to 
join  the  command  of  Barbeen  in  this  expedition 
to  the  Ohio  river.  On  tiie  return  of  the  Frcncii 
forces  in  the  fall  of  that  year,  the  troops  became 
fatigued  frf)m  rowing  all  night  n|)on  Lake  On- 
tario, and  were  ordered  to  put  ashore  witiiin  a 
mile  of  the  mouth  of  the  Oswego  river  Wir 
breakfast,  wiien  Coflin  anil  a  Frenchman  es- 
caped to  tiie  I'^nglish  fort  of  Oswego,  and  after- 


wards made  his  affidavit  before  Sir  William 
Johnson,  of  which  the  following  is  a  full  copy  : 
"  Stephen  Coffin  of  full  age,  being  duly 
sworn,  deposeth  and  saith,  that  he  was  taken 
prisoner  by  the  French  and  Indians  of  Canada 
at  Meuis,  in  the  year  1747,  under  the  command 
of  Major  Noble,  from  whence  he  was  brought 
to  an  Indian  village  called  Octagouche,  about 
fifteen  leagues  to  the  westward  of  Chebucto, 
where  he  was  kept  three  weeks  prisoner,  from 
thence  was  carried  to  a  French  settlement  called 
Beau-basin,  where  the  French  had  a  wooden  fort, 
and  garrisoned  with  twenty-five  men,  remained 
there  two  months  ;  from  thence  they  took  him 
to  Gaspey,  a  considerable  fishing  place  in  the 
Gulf  of  St.  Lawrence  near  to  the  entrance  of 
tiie  river  ;  there  are  about  .300  families  settled 
there,  they  kept  him  there  working  near  four 
years,  then  he  was  brought  to  a  place  called 
Ramonski,  inhabited  by  about  twenty-five 
French  families,  from  which  place  he  sailed 
two  years  to,  and  from  Quebec,  in  a  sloop  car- 
rying beaver  and  furs,  salmon,  etc.,  to 
Quebec,  and  in  return,  brought  back  brandy, 
dry  goods,  etc.  During  the  time  of  deponent's 
residing  at  Quebec,  he  says  it  was  commonly 
talked  or  reported,  that  they,  the  French,  in- 
tended to  settle  as  many  families  as  they  could 
to  the  westward,  to  make  u]>  the  loss  of  two 
of  their  towns  suidv  in  the  West  Indias  by  an 
earthquake.  The  deponent  further  .saith,  that 
the  navigation  up  the  river  St.  Lawrence,  is 
very  dangerous,  particularly  so  at  the  Isle  au.K 
Coudres,  and  tiie  Isle  of  Orleans,  the  North 
side  of  the  former  is  the  best  for  navigation, 
th3  south  side  being  very  rapid  and  rocky,  and 
tlie  channel  not  above  two  hundred  yards  wide, 
alwut  six  fatiionis  water;  whereas  in  the  north 
ciianuel  tiiere  is  fifteen  fathoms,  at  the  north- 
cast  end  of  the  latter  begins  sand  banks,  wiiieh 
extend  a  league  down  said  river;  tiic  cliiinncl  is 
l)etwecn  liotii  liaiiks,  and  jiretty  near  tiie  middle 
of  tlie  river,  fi'om  tlienee  to  tlie  town  of 
Ciucbecgood  navigation,  being  fifteen  fatliom  all 


OF  CHAUTAUQUA   COUNTY. 


C99 


tl)e  way.  Tlie  dcpoueiit  says,  there  is  no  pos- 
sibility of  going  up  said  river,  witiiout  the  tide 
serves,  or  a  strong  nortiioast  wind,  especially  at 
the  two  forementioned  islands.  In  September 
1752,  the  deponent  was  in  Quebec,  and  en- 
deavoring to  agree  with  some  Indians,  to  con- 
vey him  to  ills  own  country,  New  England, 
which  the  Indians  acquainted  the  governor  ofj 
who  immediately  ordered  him  to  jail  where  he 
lay  three  months  ;  at  the  time  of  his  releasement 
the  French  were  preparing  for  a  march  to  Belle 
Riviere  or  Ohio,  where  he  offered  his  service, 
but  was  rejected  by  the  Governor  (jieneral  Du 
Quesne ;  he  the  said  General  setting  out  lor 
Montreal  about  the  3d  of  January,  1753,  to 
view  and  forward  the  forces,  the  deponent  ap- 
plied to  Major  Ramsay,  for  liberty  to  go  with 
the  army  to  Ohio,  who  told  him  he  would  ask 
the  Lieutenant  Du  Roy,  who  agreed  to  it,  upon 
which  he  was  equi[)ped  as  a  soldier,  and  sent 
with  a  detachment  of  three  hundred  men  to 
Montreal,  undercommand  of  Monsieur  Barbeen, 
who  set  off  immediately  with  said  command,  by 
land  and  ice,  for  Lake  Erie ;  they  on  their 
way  stopped  a  couple  of  days  to  refresh  them- 
selves at  Cadaraghquie  fort ;  also  at  Toronto, 
on  the  north  side  of  Lake  Ontario ;  then  at 
Niagara  fort  for  fifteen  days  ;  from  thence  set 
off  by  water,  being  April,  and  arrived  at 
Chadakoin  (now  Barcelona,  Chautauqua  county. 
New  York)  on  Lake  Erie,  where  they  were 
ordered  to  fell  timber,  and  prepare  for  building 
a  fort  there,  according  to  the  governor's  instruc- 
tion ;  but  Monsieur  Morang  coming  uj)  with 
five  hundred  men  and  twenty  Indians,  put  a 
stop  to  the  erecting  of  a  fort  at  that  place,  by 
reason  of  his  not  liking  the  situation,  and  the 
river  of  Chadakoin  being  too  shallow  to  carry 
any  craft  with  provisions  to  Belle  River.  The 
deponent  says,  there  arose  a  warm  debate 
between  Messrs.  Barbeen  and  Morang  thereon, 
the  first  insisting  on  building  a  fort  there, 
agreeable  to  his  instructions,  otherwise  on 
Morang  giving  him  an  instrument  in  writing 


I  to  satisfy  the  governor  on  that  point,  which 
Morang  did,  and  then  ordered  Monsieur  Mercie 
who  was  both  commissary  and  engineer  to  go  along 
said  lake  and  look  for  a  good  situation;  which 
he  found,  and  returned  in  three  days,  it  being 
fifteen  leajjues  to  the  southwest  of  Chadokoin  ; 
they  were  then  all  ordered  to  repair  hither; 
when    they  arrived,  there    were   about   twenty 

j  Indians  fishing  in  the  lake,  who  immediately 
(piit  it  on  swmig  the  French  ;  they  fell  to  work 
and  built  a  square  fort,  of  chestnut  logs,  squared 
and  lapped  over  each  other,  to  the  length  of 
fifteen  feet ;  it  is  about  one  hundred  and  twenty 

[  feet  square,  a  log  house  in  each  square,  a  gate 
at  the  southward  and  another  to  the  northward, 
not  one  port  hole  cut  in  any  part  of  it ;  when 
finished  they  called  it  Fort  La  Presque  Isle. 

The  Indians  who  came  from  Canada  with 
them  returned  very  much  out  of  temjier,  owing, 
as  it  is  said  among  the  army,  to  Morang's 
dogged  behavior  and  ill  usage  of  them  ;  but 
they,  the  Indians,  said  at  Oswego  it  was  owing 
to  the  French's  misleading  of  them  by  telling 
them  falsehoods,  which,  they  said,  they  had- 
now  found  out,  and  left  them.  As  soon  as  the 
fort  was  finished,  they  marched  southward,  cut- 
ting a  wagon  road  through  a  fine  level  country, 
twenty-one  miles  to  the  River  Le  Bceuf  (leav- 
ing Captain  Depotiney  with  a  hundred  men  to 
garrison  the  fort  at  La  Presque  Isle);  they  fell 
to  work  cutting  timber  boards,  etc.,  for  another 
fort,  while  Mons.  Morang  ordered  Mons.  Bite, 
with  fifty  men,  to  go  to  a  place  called  by  the 
Indians  Ganagaralehare,  on  the  banks  of  Belle 
river,  where  the  river  Le  Bceuf  empties  into 
it.  In  the  mean  time  Morano-  had  got  large 
boats  or  batteaux  made  to  carry  down  the  bag- 
gage and  provisions  to  said  place.  Mons.  Bite, 
on  coming  to  said  Indian  place,  was  asked 
what  he  wanted  or  intended  ;  he,  upon  answer- 
ing it  was  their  father,  the  governor  of  Can- 
atla's  intention  to  build  a  trading-house  for 
them  and  all  their  brethren's  conveniency,  was 
told  by  the  Indians  that  the  lands  were  theirs, 


700 


SKETCH  OF  THE  EARLY  HISTORY 


and  they  would  not  have  them  bniid  ii])on  it. 
He  said  Mr.  Bite,  returning,  met  two  Englisii- 
men,  traders,  witii  their  horses  and  goods, 
whom  they  bound  and  brought  prisoners  to 
Morang,  who  ordered  them  to  Canada  in  irons. 
He  said  Bite  reported  to  Morang  tlie  situation 
was  good,  but  the  water  in  the  river  La  Boeuf 
too  low  at  that  time  to  carry  down  any  craft 
with  provisions,  etc.  A  few  days  after,  the 
deponent  says  that  about  one  hundred  Indians 
called  by  the  Fi-ench  Loos  came  to  the  fort  at 
the  river  Le  Boeuf  to  see  what  the  French  were  \ 
doing;  that  Mons.  Morang  treated  them  very 
kindly,  and  then  asked  them  to  carry  down 
some  stores  to  the  Belle  river  on  horseback  for 
payment,  which  he  immediately  advanced  them 
on  their  undertaking  to  do  it.  They  set  off 
with  full  loads,  but  never  delivered  them  to  the 
French,  which  incensed  them  very  much,  being 
not  only  a  loss,  but  a  great  disappointment. 

Morang,  a  man  of  very  peevish,  choleric 
disposition,  meeting  with  these  and  other  crosses, 
and  finding  the  season  of  the  year  too  far  ad- 
vanced to  build  the  third  fort,  called  all  his  , 
officers  together,  and  told  them  that  as  he  had  ' 
engaged  and  firmly  promised  the  governor  to 
finish  the  three  forts  that  season,  and  not  being 
able  to  fulfil  the  same,  was  both  afraid  and 
ashamed  to  return  to  Canada,  being  sensible  he 
had  now  forfeited  the  governor's  favor  forever; 
wherefore,  rather  than  to  live  in  disgrace,  he 
begged  they  would  take  him  (as  he  then  sat  in 
a  carriage  made  for  him,  being  very  sick  some 
time),  and  seat  him  in  the  middle  of  the  fort, 
and  then  set  fire  to  it,  and  let  him  perish  in 
the  flames,  which  was  rejected  by  tiie  officers, 
who,  the  deponent  says,  had  not  the  least  re- 
gard for  him,  as  he  had  behaved  very  ill  to 
them  all  in  general.  The  deponent  further 
saith  that  about  eight  days  before  he  left  fort 
Presque  Isle,  Chev.  l>e  Crake  arrived  express 
from  Canada  in  a  binh  canoe,  worked  by  ten 
men,  with  orders  (as  depiment  afterwards  heard) 
from  (Jovernor  l)u  Ciuesne  to  Morang  to  make 


all  the  preparations  possible  again  the  spring 
of  the  year' to  build  two  forts  at  Chadakoin, — 
one  of  them  by  Lake  Erie,  and  the  other  at  the 
end  of  the  carrying-place  at  Lake  Chadakoin, 
which  carrying-place  is  fifteen  miles  from  one 
lake  to  the  other.  He  said  chevalier  brought 
for  Mons.  Morang  a  cross  of  St.  Louis,  which 
the  rest  of  the  officers  would  not  allow  him  to 
take  until  the  governor  was  acquainted  with 
his  conduct  and  behavior.  The  chevalier  re- 
turned immediately  to  Canada,  after  which  the 
deponent  saith,  when  the  fort  of  River  Le 
Bceuf  was  finished  (which  is  built  of  wood 
stockaded  triangular-wise,  and  has  two  log- 
houses  inside),  Monsieur  Morang  ordered  the 
party  to  return  to  Canada  for  the  winter 
season,  except  three  hundred  men,  which  he 
kept  to  garrison  both  forts  and  prepare  ma- 
terials against  the  spring  for  the  building 
of  other  forts.  He  also  sent  Jean  Cceur, 
an  officer  and  interpreter,  to  stay  the  winter 
among  the  Indians  at  Ohio,  in  order  to  pre- 
vail with  them  not  to  allow  the  building  of 
forts  on  their  lands,  but  also  persuade  thenj,  if 
possible,  to  join  the  French  interest  against  the 
English. 

The  deponent  further  saith,  that  on  the  28th 
of  October  last,  he  set  off  for  Canada,  under 
the  command  of  Captain  Deman,  who  had 
command  of  twenty-two  batteauxs,  with 
twenty  men  in  each  batteaux ;  the  remainder 
being  seven  hundred  and  sixty  men,  followed  in 
a  few  days,  dinnng  which  time  jMons.  Peon  with 
two  hundred  men,  cut  a  wagon  road  over  the 
carrying  place  from  Lake  Erie  to  Lake  Chada- 
koin (Chautauqua)  being  fifteen  miles,  viewed 
the  situation  which  proved  to  their  liking,  so 
set  off  November  3d  for  Niagara,  where  we 
arrived,  the  6th,  it  is  a  very  poor  rotten  old 
wooden  fort,  with  twenty-five  men  in  it,  they 
talked  of  rebuilding  it  next  summer.  AVe  left 
fifty  men  here  to  build  batteaux  for  the  army 
again  this  spring,  also  a  store  house  for  the 
provisions  stores,  &c.,  and  staid  here  two  days, 


OF  CHAUTAUQUA   COUNTY. 


701 


then  set  off  for  Caiuula  ;  all  liaiuls  being  f'a- 
tigned  with  rowing  all  night  ordered  to  pnt 
ashore  to  breakfast,  within  a  mile  of  Oswego 
garrison,  at  whieh  time  the  deponent  saitli,  that 
he  with  a  Frenehman  slipped  off,  and  got  to  the 
fort,  where  they  both  were  coneealed,  nntil  the 
army  passed  ;  from  thence  lie  came  here.  The 
deponent  further  saith,  that  besides  the  three 
hundred  men  with  which  he  went  up  first, 
under  the  command  of  Monsieur  Barbeen,  and 
the  five  hundred  men  Morang  brought  up 
afterwards,  there  came  at  different  times  with 
stores,  &c.,  seven  hundred  more,  which  made 
in  all  one  thousand  five  luiudred  men  ;  three 
hundred  of  which  remained  to  garrison  the 
two  forts,  fifty  at  Niagara,  the  rest  all  returned 
to  Canada,  and  talked  of  going  up  again  this 
winter,  so,  as  to  be  there  the  beginning  of 
April ;  they  had  two  six  pounders  and  seven 
four  pounders,  which  they  intended  to  have 
planted  in  the  fort  at  Ganagarah,  which  was  to 
have  been  called  the  Governor's  Fort,  but  as 
that  was  not  built,  they  left  the  guns  in  the 
Fort  Le  Bteuff,  where  ]\Iorang  commands. 
Further  deponent  saith  not." 

"Sworn  before  me  this  10th  day  of  January, 
1754.     Wm.  Johnson." 

his 
"Stephen    X     Coffin 
mark." 

This  Portage  road  was  cut  by  the  French 
from  Lake  Erie  to  Chautauqua  lake,  more  than 
twenty  years  before  the  battle  of  Lexington, 
and  was  the  first  work  performed  by  civilized 
hands  within  the  limits  of  Chautauqua  county, 
of  which  we  are  informed.  It  was  known  by 
the  early  settlers  of  the  county,  as  the  old  Port- 
age or  French  road,  and  was  one  of  the  first 
highways  of  the  county  over  which,  in  early 
days,inuch  merchandise,  including  large  amounts 
of  salt  from  Ouondago  county,  were  aniitially 
transported  to  Pittsburgh,  and  places  on  the 
river  below. 

The  Portage   road,  commenced  on    the    west 


bank  of  the  (_'liaiilanc|iia  creek,  a  little  distance 
from  its  mouth,  in  the  town  of  Westfield. 
Thence  it  passed  up,  on  the  west  side  of  the 
creek,  crossing  the  present  Erie  road  at  the  old 
McHenry  tavern,  where  the  historical  monu- 
ment stands,  to  a  point  above  the  woolen  factory, 
about  a  mile  from  Westfield,  here  the  road 
crossed  the  creek  ;  still  further  on  it  crossed  the 
present  road  leading  from  Mayville  to  West- 
field,  and  continued  most  of  the  distance  for  the 
remainder  of  the  way,  on  the  east  side  of  the 
present  road,  and  terminated  at  the  foot  of  Main 
streetin  Mayville.  Theoriginal  track  and  remains 
of  the  old  log  bridges  were  plainly  to  be  seen  as 
late  as  the  year  1817,  and  even  traces  of  this  road 
remain  to  this  day.  He  Informed  the  writer 
of  this  sketch,  that  he  passed  over  this  Port- 
age road  as  early  as  July,  1800,  that  he  followed 
it  from  the  mouth  of  Chautauqua  creek,  three 
miles  up  its  west  bank,  and  thence  over  the  hills 
to  Chautauqua  Lake.  That  the  road  then  had 
the  appearance  of  having  been  used  in  former 
times.  That  the  under  brush  had  been  cut  out; 
and  where  this  road  crossed  the  Chautauqua 
creek,  about  three  miles  from  its  mouth,  the 
banks  upon  each  side  had  been  dug  away,  to 
admit  a  passage  across  the  stream.  Towards 
Mayville,  and  near  the  summit  of  the  hills,  at 
a  low  wet  place,  a  causeway  had  been  constructed 
of  logs.  Over  this  point  the  present  highway 
from  Mayville  to  Westfield  now  passes.  At 
the  foot  of  Main  street  in  Mayville,  where  the 
Portage  road  terminated,  was  a  circular  piece  of 
mason  work  of  stone,  laid  in  sand  and  mortar, 
three  or  four  feet  high,  and  throe  or  four  feet 
in  diameter.  It  was  constructed  as  Judge  Pea- 
cock conjectured,  for  the  purpose  of  cooking 
food.  A  piece  of  mason  work,  precisely  like  this 
in  every  respect,  he  saw  standing  at  the  other 
end  of  the  Portage,  at  the  mouth  of  the  Chau- 
tauqua creek,  opposite  Barcelona.  The  mason 
work  was  seen  as  late  as  1802  by  William  Bell, 
who,  for  over  seventy  years  resided  in  Westfield. 
Sir   William  Johnson,  in  1861,  journeyed   to 


702 


SKETCH  OF  THE  EARLY  HISTORY 


Detroit  by  the  command  of  Gen.  Amherst,  to 
establish  a  treaty  with  the  Ottawa  Coufederacy, 
to  regulate  the  trade  at  the  several  posts  in  the 
Indian  country.  On  his  return,  he  coasted 
along  the  south  shore  of  Lake  Erie.  In  his 
journal  of  this  journey  is  the  followiog  refer- 
ence to  this  Portage,  with  other  interesting  par- 
ticulars : 

"Wednesday,  October  1st,  (1761),  embarked  j 
(at  Presque  Isle)  at  7  o'clock,  with  the  wind 
strong  ahead^continued  so  all  day,  notwith- 
standing it  improved  all  day,  and  got  to  Jad- 
aghue  creek  and  Carrying  place,  which  is  a  fine 
harbor  and  encampment.  It  is  very  dangerous 
from  Presque  Isle  here,  being  a  prodigious  steep, 
rocky  bank  all  tlie  way,  except  two  or  three  \ 
creeks  and  small  beaches,  where  are  very  beau- 
tiful streams  of  water  or  springs  which  tumble 
down  the  rocks.  We  came  about  forty  miles 
this  day.  The  fire  was  burning  where  Ca})tain 
Cochran  (the  officer  who  commanded  at  Presque 
Isle)  I  suppose  encamped  last  night.  Here  the 
French  had  a  baldng  place,  and  here  they  had 
meetings,  and  assembled  the  Indians  when  first 
going  to  Ohio,  and  bought  this  j)lace  of  them. 
Toonadawanusky,  the  river  we  stopped  yester- 
day as  is  so  called. 

"Friday  2d.  A  very  stormy  morning,  wind 
not  fair ;  however  sent  off  my  two  baggage 
boats,  and  ordered  them  to  stop  about  thirty 
miles  off  in  a  river  (probably  Cattaraugus  creek). 
The  Seneca  Indian  tells  me  we  may  get  this  day 
to  the  end  of  the  lake.  I  embarked  at  eigiit 
o'clock  with  all  the  rest  and  got  about  thirty 
miles,  when  a  very  great  storm  of  wind  and 
rain  Tarose,  and  obliged  us  to  put  into  a  little 
creek  (probably  Eighteen  Mile  creek)  between 
the  higii  rocky  banks.  The  wind  turued  north- 
west, and  it  rained  very  hard.  We  passed  tlie 
Mohawks  in  a  bay  about  four  miles  from  here. 
Some  of  our  boats  are  put  into  otiicr  places  as 
well  as  they  can.  .My  bedding  is  on  board  tiie 
bircli  canoe  of  mine,  with  tlie  Indian  somewiierc 
ahead.     The    laki!    turns  very    greatly    to    the 


north-east,  and  looks  like  a  low  land.  From 
Presque  Isle  here  it  is  all  high  land,  except  a 
very  few  spots  where  boats  may  land.  In  the 
evening  sent  Oneida  to  the  Mohawk  encamp- 
ment, to  learu  what  news  here." 

When  information  reached  Governor  Din- 
widdle, of  Virginia,  of  these  proceedings  by 
the  French,  he  determined  to  ascertain  their 
purpose,  and  to  induce  them  to  abandon  their 
claim  upon  the  valley  of  the  Ohio.  He  accord- 
ingly dispatched  George  Washington,  tiien  but 
twenty-two  years  of  age,  who  set  out  from 
Williamsburgh,  in  Virginia,  on  the  30ih  day 
of  October,  1753,  and  arrived  at  the  place  where 
Pittsburgh  now  stands,  about  three  weeks 
afterwards.  He  then  proceeded  to  Venango, 
where  he  arrived  on  the  4th  of  December,  and 
had  an  interview  with  the  celebrated  Capt. 
Joucaire,  but  obtained  no  satisfaction.  From 
Venango  he  pushed  on  up  the  Frencii  Creek, 
to  the  post  the  French  had  established  at  Le 
Boeuf,  now  Waterford,  where  he  arrived  on  the 
11th  of  December,  1753.  The  fort  he  found 
situated  on  the  west  fork  of  French  Creek.  It 
consisted  of  four  houses,  forming  a  square,  de- 
fended by  bastions  made  of  palisades  twelve 
feet  high,  pierced  by  cannon  and  small  arms. 
Within  the  bastions  wei'e  a  guard  house  and 
other  buildings.  Outside  were  stables,  a  smith 
forge,  and  a  log  house  for  soldiers.  The  Indian 
name  for  the  place  was  Casawago.  Washington 
found  that  the  French  were  preparing  at  this 
place  many  pine  boats  and  bark  canoes  to  be 
ready  in  the  spring,  to  descend  and  destroy  the 
English  posts  ou  the  Ohio  river.  Here  Wash- 
ington, over  one  hundred  and  twenty  years  ago, 
spent  five  anxious  days,  within  but  fourteen 
miles  from  the  town  of  French  Creek,  in  Ciiau- 
tauqua  county,  negotiating  with  the  Frencli 
commandant,  St.  Pierre.  Having  finisiied  his 
business  with  the  Frencii,  Washington  set  out 
on  the  IGlii  of  Decemlx'r  t(i  return.  His  long 
journey  througli  the  wihlcrness  was  Ijeset  by 
many  dillicuities  and  dangers.  French  Creek  and 


OF  CHAUTAUQUA   COUNTY. 


703 


the  Allegheny  river  were  swollen  and  full  of 
floating  ice;  the  snows  were  deep,  and  the  cold 
intense.  He  arrived  at  Willianisbnrgh,  Janu- 
ary IG,  1754,  having  performed  a  toilsome  and 
perilous  journey  of  eight  hundred  miles,  in  two 
and  one-half  months. 

The  same  year  occurred  th<'  first  bloodshed  of 
the  war.  Washington,  in  command  of  a  few 
colonists,  defeated  the  French  under  Monsieur 
Jummonvill  in  a  small  battle  in  the  forests  of 
Pennsylvania,  and  was  himself  defeated  a  little 
later  at  Fort  Necessity.  The  next  year,  in  July, 
occurred  the  memorable  defeat  of  the  well- 
disciplined  English  army  under  Braddock  by 
the  Indians  and  little  band  of  gallant  French- 
men. The  French  forces  engaged  in  this  affair 
passed  over  Lake  Erie  along  the  shore  of  Chau- 
tauqua county,  on  their  march  from  Canada  to 
Fort  Duquesue  (now  Pittsburgh).  The  train  of 
artillery  taken  from  Braildock  was  transported 
back  along  this  route,  and  used  in  August  of 
the  succeeding  year  by  Montcalm  in  the  siege  of 
Oswego.  D'Aubrey,  in  1759,  also  conducted 
from  the  posts  of  Venango  and  Presque  Isle  a 
large  force  of  French  soldiers  to  relieve  Fort 
Niagara,  then  besieged  by  the  English  under 
Sir  William  Johnson,  Prideaux,  the  general  in 
command,  having  been  killed  early  in  the  siege. 
A  little  later  the  French,  under  D'Aubrey,  and 
the  Indians  Mdio  joined  him,  were  defeated  in 
Niagara  county.  New  York,  and  five  hundred 
of  their  number  slain.  Charles  Lee,  who  after- 
wards became  a  jMominent  American  general, 
was  at  the  siege  of  Niagara,  and  after  the  siege 
passe<l  along  the  shores  of  Chautauijua  on  a 
military  ex-rand  down  the  Allegheny  to  Fort  Du 
Quesne. 

The  first  military  expedition  of  the  English 
over  Lake  Erie  was  made  immediately  after  the 
surrender  by  the  French  of  their  ])ossessions  in 
America.  It  was  dispatched  to  take  possession 
of  Detroit,  INIichillimackinack,  and  other  French 
posts  that  had  been  surrendered.  Major  Rogers, 
long  celebrated  for  his  skill  in  border  war,  led 
38 


the  expedition.  He  embarked  in  November, 
1760,  at  the  foot  of  Lake  Erie,  with  two  hun- 
dred rangers  in  fifteen  whale  boats,  and  coasted 
alonof  the  southern  shore  of  the  lake.  On 
arriving  at  Erie,  Rogers  set  out  for  Pittsburgh. 
He  descended  French  creek  and  the  Allegheny 
river  in  a  canoe.  Having  obtain(!d  reinforce- 
ments, he  ^iioeeeded  on  his  way  to  Detroit, 
which  was  surrendered  to  him  immediately  on 
his  arrival. 

PoNTiAc's  Wau. — At  the  close  of  the  French 
and  Indian  war,  as  soon  as  the  English  had 
possessed  themselves  of  the  forts  and  posts  that 
had  been  built  and  established  by  the  French, 
a  conspiracy  was  formed  by  the  Indian  tribes 
of  the  West  to  seize  these  outposts  and  dispos- 
sess the  English.  The  moving  spirit  of  this 
confederation  of  Indian  tribes  was  Pontiac,  an 
Ottawa  chief  of  great  abilities.  The  Delawares, 
Shawnces,  Wyandots,  Ojibways  and  other  tribes 
of  the  West  joined  the  League.  It  taxed  the 
great  influence  of  Sir  William  Johnson  to  the 
utmost  to  prevent  the  Six  Nations  from  also 
joining  in  the  conspiracy.  The  English  posts 
were  all  to  be  attacked  on  the  same  day,  their 
garrisons  to  be  massacred,  and  also  all  the 
people  of  the  border  settlements.  So  well 
planned  was  the  attack,  tiiat  nine  posts  in  the 
west  were  surprised  and  captured  in  a  single 
da}',  and  the  most  of  the  garrisons  tomahawked 
and  scalped. 

It  may  be  interesting  to  know  that  this 
contest  between  the  Indians  and  white  men 
brought  scenes  of  savage  warfare  close  to  the 
borders  of  this  county.  At  Prescpie  Isle  (now 
Erie,  Pa.)  in  tlie  shadows  of  the  forest,  and  less 
than  twenty  miles  away  from  the  limits  of  this 
county,  occurred  one  of  those  desperate  strug- 
gles between  Indians  and  white  men,  which  so 
frequently  occurred  in  the  pioneer  history  of  this 
country.  In  June,  1  703,  Ensign  Christie  was 
the  commanding  officer  at  Presque  Isle.  On 
the  third  day  of  that  month.  Lieutenant  Cuyler, 
of  the   Queen's  company  of  Rangers,  arrived 


704 


SKETCH  OF  THE  EARLY  HISTORY 


there  on  his  way  to  Fort  Niagara,  with  the 
remnant  of  his  force,  wiiieh  had  been  surprised 
and  defeated  l^y  the  Indians  while  coasting 
along  the  north  shore  of  Lake  Erie  on  their 
wav  with  provisions  and  ammunition  for  the 
English  garrison  at  Detroit.  Ensign  Christie 
kept  six  of  Cuyler's  men  to  astist  in  defending 
an  anticipated  attack  by  the  Indians  upon  his 
post,  which  increased  his  garrison  to  twenty- 
seven  men.  Fort  Presque  Isle  stood  on  the 
shore  of  Lake  Erie,  where  is  now  the  site  of 
the  present  city  of  Erie.  A  strong  block  house 
built  of  large  logs  stood  in  the  angle  of  the  fort. 

Earlv  in  the  mornincr  of  the  15th  of  .June 
two  hundred  Indians  from  those  assembled  at 
Detroit  appeared  and  commenced  the  assault. 
The  garrison,  when  the  attack  commenced,  with- 
drew into  the  block  house.  The  Indians,  from 
under  cover  of  the  bank  of  the  lake  and  a  ridge 
that  extended  along  a  small  stream  that  ran  into 
the  lake  near  the  fort,  continued  the  attack  all 
day,  firing  into  every  loop-hole  of  tlic  bastion, 
and  endeavoring  to  set  it  on  fire  by  shooting 
burning;  arrows  against  its  roof  and  sides,  which 
the  garrison  would  extinguish  with  water  kept 
in  barrels  within  the  works.  Some  of  the  In- 
dians managed  to  get  into  the  fort,  which  en- 
abled them  to  carry  on  a  more  effectual  fire 
against  the  block  house,  while  others  attempted 
to  undermine  it.  The  garrison  made  a  stubborn 
defence,  either  killing  or  wounding  such  of 
the  Indians  as  exposed  themselves.  The  water 
in  the  bastion  being  nearly  exhausted,  the 
soldiers  commenced  to  dig  a  passage  under- 
ground to  the  well,  which  stood  in  an  exposed 
place.  Darkness  came  at  last,  but  the  Indians 
kept  n]i  a  fire  all  night  from  intrenchments 
which  they  had  constructed. 

The  next  day  the  Indians  .set  fire  to  the  com- 
manding officer's  house,  which  stood  near  the 
block  house.  The  flames  soon  reached  the  bas- 
tion of  the  block  house,  which  at  last  took  fire. 
Tiie  garrison,  however,  succeeded  in  extinguish- 
ing it  with  water  fi-oni  the  well,  which  they  had 


reached  by  means  of  the  undergi'ound  passage. 
The  firing  continued  until  midnight  of  the 
second  day,  when  the  garrison  was  warned  that 
preparations  had  been  completed  to  set  the 
block  house  on  fire  from  above  and  below  and 
their  surrender  was  demanded,  and  it  was 
promised  that  if  they  yielded  their  lives  would 
be  spared.  Christie  being  satisfied  that  he  and 
his  men  could  not  prevent  the  burning  of  the 
block  house,  surrendered  wiih  the  understand- 
ing that  the  lives  of  the  garrison  should  be 
spared,  and  tiiat  tiiey  might  retire  unmolested  to 
the  nearest  post.  The  Indians  kept  them  for 
awhile  near  Presque  Isle  and  adopted  some  of 
their  prisonei's  into  their  tribe,  shaving  off  their 
hair,  painting  and  bedecking  them  as  Indian 
warriors.  They  finally  carried  their  prisoners 
to  Detroit.  Christie,  however,  succeeded  in 
making  his  escape.  One  soldier,  Benjamin 
Gray,  also  made  his  escape  at  the  time  of  the 
surrender,  and  made  his  way  to  Fort  Pitt  and 
first  told  the  story  of  the  siege  of  Fort  Presque 
Lsle.  It  is  said  that  another  soldier  also  made 
his  escape. 

The  Indians,  late  in  the  morning  of  the  18tii 
of  JiHie,  next  appeared  before  the  post  at  Le 
B«nf  (now  Waterford,  Pa.),  distant  fourteen 
miles  west  of  the  town  of  French  Creek,  in 
Chautauqua  county.  Its  garrison  consisted  of 
eleven  privates,  two  corporals  and  its  com- 
mander. Ensign  Price,  a  gallant  young  officer. 
The  Indians  at  first  endeavored  to  gain  admit- 
tance by  artifice,  but  failed.  Late  in  the  day 
they  commenced  the  attack,  shooting  burning 
arrows  against  the  sides  and  roof  of  the  block- 
house. The  men  several  times  succeeded  in  ex- 
tinguishing the  fire.  At  length  the  flames  so 
spread  that  they  could  not  master  them.  They 
all  got  out  through  a  narrow  window  in  the 
rear  of  the  block-house,  unobserved  by  the  In- 
dians ;  covered  by  the  darkness  of  the  night, 
they  managed  to  escape  into  the  forest,  where 
they  wandered  several  days  lial  [-starved.  Finally 
all  but  (wo  rca(!hed  Fort  Pilt.    These  two  prob- 


OF  CHAUTAUQUA   COUNTY. 


705. 


ably  perished  in  the  woods.  On  ihcir  way  Price 
and  his  men  passed  Venango  (now  Franklin), 
wliere  tliey  fonnd  only  smoking  fires,  in  wiiicii 
lay  (he  half-lmrned  liodics  of  its  inin-tiered  gar- 
rison. The  Indians,  wiio  in  fiiis  case  were  Scn- 
eeas,  iiad  succeeded  in  gaining  admittance  into 
tlie  fort  at  Venango,  when  tiiey  hnrned  it  to 
tiic  ground  and  massacred  all  its  garrison,  leav- 
ing none  to  tell  the  story  of  its  fall.  Tlie  few 
facts  known  resj)eeting  the  destruction  of  this 
post  were  afterwards  gatliered  from  an  Indian 
wlio  was  present  at  its  capture,  and  narrated 
them  to  Sir  William  Johnson.  Lieutenant 
Gordon,  its  commanding  oflieer,  was  tortured 
over  a  slow  fire  for  several  nights,  until  he 
died. 

While  the  Indians  were  prosecuting  their 
campaign  along  this  frontier,  they  murdered 
many  scattered  settlers  of  western  Pennsylvania, 
and  other  settlers  only  saved  themselves  by  flee- 
ing to  the  nearest  forts.  Meantime  Pontiac  was 
prosecuting  with  great  energy  the  siege  of  De- 
troit. For  more  than  a  year  was  it  besieged, 
during  which  time  tiie  garrison  suffered  greatly. 
On  the  10th  day  of  August,  17G4,  General 
Bradstreet,  at  the  head  of  three  thousand  men, 
set  out  in  boats  from  the  foot  of  Lake  Erie,  on 
their  way  to  relieve  Detroit.  Their  route  was 
along  the  southern  shore  of  Lake  Erie.  On  the 
10th  and  11th  of  August,  1764,  they  rowed 
along  the  cOast  of  Chautauqua  county.  Israel 
Putnam  accompanied  the  expedition  as  a  colonel 
of  a  regiment  of  Coimecticut  troops.  Arriving 
at  Detroit,  Bradstreet  raised  the  siege,  and  on 
the  10th  of  October  set  out  on  his  return.    Flight 

I 

or  ten  miles  west  of  Cleveland  a  portion  of  the 
boats  were  wrecked,  and  about  one  hundred  and 
fifty  of  his  force,  provincials  and  Indians,  were 
compelled  to  make  their  way  to  Fort  Niagara, 
along  the  southern  shore  of  Lake  Erie,  on  foot. 
Their  route  led  through  the  lake  towns  of  the 
county  of  Chautauqua.  After  many  days  of 
hardship,  fording  creeks  and  rivere,  suffering 
from  cold  and  hunger,  they  reached  the  end  of 


their  journey.  Many  of  the  |)roviiicials  yrv- 
ishcd  in  the  woods. 

Pontiac's  war  was  the  la.st  great  attempt  made 
by  th(!  Indians  to  redi'ciii  (his  count ry  from  tlie 
dominion  of  tiie  white  man,  and  at  its  <;los(! 
comparative  peace  for  many  years  prevailed,  and 
no  event  of  importance  oeciu'reil  in  tliese  regions 
until  the  Ilevolution. 

Revolutionary  War. — No  event  occurred 
during  the  early  years  of  the  war  of  the  Revo- 
lution relating  to  Chau{an(]ua  county  of  suffi- 
cient importance  whicii  would  entitle  it  (o  be  re- 
corded. The  scene  of  (he  contest  during  tho.se 
years  was  far  distant  from  the  (hen  remote  re- 
gions in  which  tliiscoun(y  is  situated.  In  1779, 
however,  the  11th  of  August,  Colonel  Daniel 
Broadhead  set  out  from  I'ittsburgh  at  the  head 
of  six  hundred  and  five  militia  and  volunteers, 
and  advanced  up  the  Allegheny  river  to  destroy 
the  Seneca  towns  situated  upon  its  upper  waters, 
and  to  act  in  conjunction  with  General  Sullivan, 
who  was  marching  from  the  cast  against  the 
Indian  towns  on  the  Genesee.  About  five  miles 
below  the  mouth  of  the  Broken  Straw,  an  ad- 
vance party  of  his  command,  consisting  of  fif- 
teen white  men  and  eight  Delaware  Indians, 
under  the  command  of  Lieut.  Harding,  fell  in 
with  thirty  or  forty  Indian  warriors  coming 
down  the  river  in  seven  canoes.  The  Indians 
landed  and  stripped  off  their  shirts;  a  sharp 
contest  ensued;  the  Indians  were  defeated,  and 
five  of  their  number  were  killed,  and  several 
wounded  ;  and  all  their  canoes  and  contents  fell 
into  (he  hands  of  Col.  Broadhead.  Lieut.  Hard- 
ing had  three  men  wounded,  including  one  of 
the  Delaware  Indians.  Colonel  Broadhead's 
command  continued  to  march  up  the  river  as 
far  as  the  Indian  village  of  Buck-a-loons,  on 
the  flats  near  Irvineton,  at  the  mouth  of  the 
Broken  Straw,  in  Warren  county.  The  Indians 
were  driven  from  their  village,  and  retreated  to 
the  hills  in  the  rear.  The  town  was  destroyed, 
and  a  breastwork  of  trees  thrown  up.  A  gar- 
rison of  forty  men  was  left  to  guard  the  provi- 


706 


SKETCH  OF  THE  EARLY  HISTORY 


sions,  and  the  reiuainder  of"  the  force  proceeded 
to  tlie  Indian  town  of  Conewago,  which  was 
fonnd  to  liave  been  deserted  eigliteen  months 
before.  Conewago  was  burnt,  and  tlie  troops 
marched  still  further  up  the  river,  past  Kinjua 
to  Gohroouwago,  a  place  about  four  miles  below 
the  southern  boundary  of  the  State  of  New 
York.  Here  they  found  a  painted  image  or 
war-post,  clotiied  in  dog-skin.  The  troops  re- 
mained there  three  days,  burning  tiiis  and  other 
towns  in  the  vicinity,  destroying  the  extensive 
cornfields  they  found  there.  Col.  Broadhead 
l>elieved,  from  the  great  quantity  of  corn  found, 
and  from  the  number  of  new  houses  which  were 
built,  and  being  built  by  square  and  round 
logs,  and  of  framed  timbers,  that  the  whole 
Seneca  and  Munsey  nations  intended  to  collect 
there.  Gohroouwago  M-as  situated  where,  some 
years  afterwards,  Cornplanter  made  his  resi- 
dence, and  where  an  Indian  village  grew  up, 
called  De-o-no-sa-da-ga,  meaning  in  English 
burnt  houses. 

Colonel  Broadhead  makes  no  mention  of 
having  advanced  beyond  these  Indian  towns. 
Mrs.  Mary  Jam mison,  who  is  usually  accurate, 
states,  in  her  narrative,  that  he  ascended  to 
Olean  Point,  destroying  all  the  Indian  villages 
on  the  Allegheny  river.  In  Cattaraugus  coun- 
ty there  was  at  this  time,  at  the  mouth  of  Cold 
Spring  creek,  the  village  of  Che-na-shun-ga- 
tau  ;  at  the  month  of  Little  Valley  creek,  the 
village  of  Buck-tooth  ;  at  the  mouth  of  Great 
Valley  creek,  Killbuckstowii  ;  and  in  the  town 
of  Carrollton,  Tu-ne-nu-gwan,  all  of  whicii 
were  destroyed,  if  any  detachment  of  Colonel 
Broadiiea<rs  command  reached  Olean  Point. 
The  latter  place  is  situated  upon  the  Allcgheuy 
river,  in  the  southeast  part  of  Cattaraugus 
county.  New  York,  and  is  distant  less  than 
tiiirty  miles  from  Canada,  an  Indian  town  of 
the  Genesee  river,  and  less  tiian  si.xty  miles 
from  the  larger  Indian  towns  destroyed  by 
General  Sidlivan.  Colonel  Broadhead  arrived 
at  Fort  PitI,  on  liis  return,  Septcnibt  r  14,  1771I, 


having  burned  ten  Indian  villages,  containing 
one  hundred  and  sixty-five  iiouses,  having  de- 
.stroyed  more  than  five  hundred  acres  of  Indian 
corn  and  taken  three  thousand  dollars  worth  of 
furs  and  other  plunder,  and  having  himself  lost 
neither  man  nor  beast. 

The  last  hostile  expedition  of  the   Revolu- 
tion in  the  north  was   planned   to  revenge  the 
injuries  inflicted   by  Broadhead   and   Sidlivan. 
j  A  large  force  of  British  and   Indians  left  Nia- 
1  agara  in    1782,  to  attack  Pittsburgh,  and   pro- 
ceeded as  far  as  Chautauqua  Lake,  upon  which 
they  embarked  in  canoes.     The  expedition  was 
abandoned   on   account  of  the  reputed   repairs 
j  and  strength  of  Fort  Pitt.     A    portion  of  this 
!  force,  led,  it  is  believed,  by  the  Chief  Kyasret- 
I  tea,  in  Jidy  of  that  year  besieged  Hannastown, 
once  a  famous  but    now  almost  forgotten  place 
in    western    Pennsylvania.      They    killed   and 
carried  many  of  its   inhabitants  into  captivity, 
and  burned   the  jjlace  to  the  ground,  and  now 
i  not  a  stone  or  mound  of  earth  marks  the  spot 
where  it  stood.     There  occurred  many  thrilling 
I  incidents,  and  almost  the  last  blood  shed  of  the 
war  of  the  lievolution.      In  1822  the  remains 
of  a  row  of  piles  were  discovered,  extending 
across  the  bed  of  the  outlet  of  Chautauqua  Lake, 
placed  there,  it  is  believed,  by  this  war  party  to 
raise  the  water  of  the  lake  sufficiently  to  create 
a   flood,  to  waft   their   boats   down  the  river 
against  Pittsburgh,  or  by  some  previous  expe- 
dition of  the  French  in  the  year  before. 

Washington's  Chautauqua  Lake  Coi!- 
UE-SPONDKNCK. — This  last,  as  well  as  other  im- 
portant events,  connected  with  the  history  of 
the  county,  of  which  we  have  given  some  ac- 
count in  the  preceding  pages  of  this  sketch,  are 
referred  to  in  a  very  interesting  correspondence 
carried  on  after  the  close  of  the  war,  between 
General  Washington  and  General  William  Ir- 
vine, who  was  then  in  command  of  Pittsburgh. 
Many  interesting  j)articulars  are  therein  con- 
tained. No  synopsis  or  abstracts  from  their  cor- 
ic'spondeiice  could  be  as  interesting  and  instruct- 


OF  CirAJJTAJjqXTA    COUNTY. 


707 


in<r  as  tlie  letters  tlienisclves  ;  we  will  tlurclore 
give  a  copy  of"  the  letters  in  full.  Comiimiiica- 
tion  between  the  waters  of  Lake  Erie  and  the 
Ohio  river,  had  Ixcn  a  snhject  of  inquiry  with 
certain  distinjiuished  gentlemen,  and  Gen. 
AVashington,  for  information  upon  that  suhjeet, 
addressed  a  letter  to  Gen.  Irvine,  dated  Janu- 
ary 10,  1788,  inquiring  of  him  : — 1.  As  to  the 
face  of  the  country  between  the  source  of  canoe 
navigation  of  the  Cuyahoga,  which  empties 
itself  into  Lake  E)rie,  and  the  ]5ig  ]5eaver,  and 
between  the  Cuyahoga  and  the  Muskingum. 
2.  As  to  the  distance  between  the  waters  of 
the  Cuyahoga  and  each  of  the  two  rivers  above 
mentioned.  3.  Whether  it  would  be  practica- 
ble, and  not  expensive,  to  cut  a  canal  between 
the  Cuyahoga  and  either  of  the  above  rivers,  so 
as  to  open  a  communication  between  the  waters 
of  Lake  Erie  and  the  Ohio.  4.  Whether  there 
is  any  more  direct,  practicable  and  easy  com- 
munication than  these,  between  the  waters  of 
Lake  Erie  and  the  Ohio,  by  which  the  fur  and 
peltry  of  the  upper  country  can  be  transferred. 
In  answer  to  this  letter.  Gen.  Irvine  replied  as 
follows  : 

New  YoiiK,  Jan.  27,  1788. 

"  Sir  : — I  have  been  honored  by  your  letter 
of  the  11  tb  instant.  I  need  not  tell  you  how 
much  pleasure  it  would  give  me  to  answer  your 
queries  to  your  satisfaction  ;  but  I  am  persuaded 
that  no  observation  short  of  an  actual  survey, 
will  enable  you  to  gratify  your  correspondents 
abroad,  (particularly  in  relation  to  your  third 
party,)  with  such  accuracy  as  to  state  anything 
positively.  I  will,  however,  i-elate  to  you  such 
facts  as  have  come  within  my  own  knowledge, 
as  well  as  accounts  of  persons  whom  I  think 
are  to  be  confided  in.  ; 

"From  a  place  called  Mahoning,  on  the  Big 
Beaver,  to  the  head  of  the  Falls  of  Cuyahoga,  : 
it  is  about  thirty  miles.  Although  the  county 
is  hilly,  it  is  not  mountainous.  The  jirincipal 
elevation  is  called  Beach  Ridge,  which  is  not 
high,    though    exten.sive,    being    several    miles  1 


over,  with  a  flat  and  moi.st  country  on  the  sum- 
mit, and  in  soin(^  |)laees  inclining  to  be  marshy. 
The  <lifficulty  of  traveling  is  much  increased  by 
the  beech  roots  with  which  the  tiinl)er  is  heavily 
incumbered.  The  Cuyahoga  about  the  (ireat 
Falls  is  rapid  and  rocky,  and  is  interrupted  by 
several  lesser  falls,  on  the  branch  which  heads 
toward  the  Big  Beaver,  called  the  Mahoning. 
This  information  I  had  from  an  intelligent  per- 
son then  loading  a  sloop  at  the  mouth  of  the 
Cuyahoga  fur  Detroit.  He  added  that  an  ohl 
Indian  assured  him  that  it  was  only  fifteen 
miles  across  from  the  Mahoning,  to  a  navigable 
creek  a  few  miles  east  of  the  Cuyahoga ;  that 
he  had  employed  the  Indian  to  clear  a  road,  and 
when  that  was  done  he  intended  to  explore  the 
country  himself.  I  presume  this  service  was  no 
performed,  as  this  gentleman  and  his  horses, 
were  all  destroyed  and  his  store-house  burned 
by  the  Indians.  Captain  Brady,  a  partisan 
officer,  informed  ine  that  the  sources  of  the  Big 
Beaver,  Muskingum,  and  a  large  deep  ereek 
which  empties  into  Lake  Erie,  fifteen  or  twenty 
miles  above  Cuyaiioga,  are  within  a  few  miles 
of  each  other  (perhajis  four  or  five),  and  tiie 
country  level.  Several  other  persons  of  credi- 
bility and  information  have  assured  me  that 
the  portage  between  Muskingum  and  the  waters 
falling  into  the  lake  in  wet  seasons,  does  not 
exceed  fifteen  miles;  some  say  two,  but  I  be- 
lieve the  first  distance  is  the  safest  to  credit. 

"  At  Mahoning,  and  for  many  miles  above  and 
below,  I  found  the  course  of  the  Big  Beaver  to 
be  east  and  west,  from  which  T  concluded  this 
stream  to  be  nearest  to  the  main  branch  of  the 
Cuyahoga ;  and  on  comparing  the  several 
accounts,  I  am  led  to  think  that  the  shortest 
communication  between  the  waters  of  Beaver, 
Muskingum  and  Lake  Erie,  will  be  east  and 
west  of  Cuyahoga. 

"  I  have  also  been  informed  by  a  gentleman, 
that  the  sources  of  (irand  river  and  a  branch 
of  the  Beaver,  called  Shenango,  are  not  twelve 
miles  apart;    the  country  hilly.     I   know  the 


708 


SKETCH  OF  THE  EARLY  HISTORY 


Shenaugo  to  be  a  boatable  stream  at  its  confluence 
with  the  Beaver  twenty  miles  from  the  Ohio. 

"  I  (h-oijpeil  down  tlie  Beaver  from  Maho- 
ning to  the  Great  Falls  (about  seven  miles  from 
the  Ohio)  in  a  canoe,  on  the  first  day  of  July, 
1784,  without  tiie  least  difficulty.  At  this 
season  all  the  western  waters  are  remarkably 
low ;  and  although  some  ripples  appear,  there 
is  nothing  to  cause  any  material  obstruction. 
The  falls  at  first  view  appear  impracticable  at 
low  water,  indeed,  too  difficult  at  any  season  ; 
nevertheless,  they  have  been  passed  at  all  sea- 
sons. I  met  two  men  in  a  flat-bottomed  boat 
a  few  miles  above  the  falls,  who  had  carried 
their  cargo  half  a  mile  ou  shore,  and  then 
worked  up  their  empty  boat.  They  set  with 
poles  the  rest  of  the  way  to  Mahoning.  The 
boat  carried  one  and  a  half  tons  ;  but  in  some 
seasons  there  will  be  water  enough  for  loads  of 
five  tons.  Canoes,  it  is  said,  have  ascended 
twenty-five  miles  above  the  Mahoning,  which 
certainly  must  be  near  one  branch  of  the 
Muskingum,  as  it  continues  in  a  westerly 
course;  and  the  most  easterly  branch  of  that 
river,  it  is  agreed  by  all  who  have  been  in  that 
quarter,  approaches  very  near  to  the  waters 
falling  into  the  lake ;  all  agree,  likewise,  that 
the  rivers  north  of  the  dividing  ridge  are  deej) 
and  smooth,  the  country  being  level. 

"  Following  the  Indian  path,  which  generally 
keeps  in  the  low  ground  along  the  river,  the 
distance  from  the  mouth  of  the  Big  Beaver  to 
Mahoning,  is  about  fifty  miles;  which,  from 
the  computed  distance  to  Cuyahoga,  gives 
eighty  miles  in  all.  But  I  am  certain  a  much 
better  road  will  be  found  by  keeping  along  the 
ground  which  divides  the  waters  of  the  Big  and 
Little  I?ravcrs. 

"But  this  digression  I  must- i)i(l  your  pai'dou 
for.  To  your  furliicr  (piery,  I  think  I  shall  be 
able  to  iiH'ortl  you  more  satisfaction,  as  I  can 
point  out  a  more  ])ractical)le  and  easy  commu- 
nication l)y  which  the  articles  of  trade  you 
mention,  can    l)(,'   trauspoitccl    (Vntu    Lake    I'^iic 


than  by  any  other  hitherto  mentioned  route ; 
at  least  until  canals  are  cut.  This  is  l)y  a 
branch  of  the  Allegheny  which  is  navigable 
bv  boats  of  considerable  burden  to  wTthin  eight 
miles  of  Lake  Eiie.  I  examined  a  greater  part 
of  the  communication  myself,  and  such  parts  as 
I  did  not,  was  doue  by  persons  before  and  subse- 
quent to  my  being  there,  whose  accounts  can 
scarce  be  doubted. 

"From  Fort  Pitt  to  Venango  by  land,  on  the 
Lidian  and  French  path,  is  computed  to  be 
uinety  miles;  by  water  it  is  said  to  be  one-third 
more.  But  as  you  know  the  country  so  far,  I 
will  forbear  giving  a  more  particular  account 
of  it,  but  proceed  to  inform  you,  that  I  sot  out 
and  traveled  by  land  from  Venango,  though 
frequently  on  the  beach  or  within  high  water 
mark,  (the  country  being  in  many  places  impas- 
sable for  a  horse,)  to  a  confluence  of  a  branch  of 
the  river  called  Coniwango,  which  is  about 
sixty-five  miles  from  French  Creek.  The 
general  course  of  the  Allegheny  between  these 
two  creeks  is  northeast.  The  coiirsfe  of  the 
Coniwango  is  very  near  due  north ;  it  is  about 

yards  wide.     It  is  upwards  of 

yards,  thirty  miles  from  its  confluence  with  the 
Allegheny  at  a  fork.  It  is  deep  and  not  very 
rapid.  To  the  Coniwango  fork  of  the  Allegheny 
the  navigation  is  rather  better  than  from  Ven- 
ango to  Fort  Pitt.  I  traveled  about  twenty- 
five  miles  a  day.  Two  Indians  pushing  a 
loaded  canoe,  and  encamped  with  me  every 
night.  As  tiie  Coniwango  is  crooked,  I  think 
it  must  be  forty  miles  from  the  Allegany  to  its 
fork  by  water.  One  of  the  forks  continues  in  a 
northern  direction  about  seven  miles  to  a  beiiu- 
tiful  lake.  The  lake  is  noticed  on  Hiitchin's 
maji  by  the  name  of  Jadagnc.  The  map  is 
badly  executed.  It  extends,  from  the  best 
information  I  could  obtain,  to  within  nine 
mik^s  of  Lake  Eric;  it  is  from  one  to  two  niileS 
broad,  and  dcc|>  enough  for  navigation.  I  was 
taken  sick,  which  [)revent€d  my  jouriiey  over 
to  Lake  Lric. 


OF  CHAUTAUQUA   COUNTY. 


709 


"The  following  account  I  had  from  a  chief  of 
the  Seneca  tribe,  as  well  as  from  a  wliite  man 
named  Matthews,  a  Virginian,  who  says  he  was 
taken  prisoner  by  the  Indians  at  Kanawha,  in 
1777.  He  has  lived  with  the  Indians  since 
that  time.  As  far  as  J  coidil  judge  he  appeared 
to  be  well  acquainted  with  their  part  of  the 
county.  I  employed  him  as  inter[)reter.  He 
states  that  from  the  upper  end  of  Jadaqua 
lake,  it  is  not  more  than  nine  miles  along  the 
path  or  road  to  Lake  Erie,  and  that  there  was 
formerly  a  wagon  road  between  the  two  lakes. 

"The  Indian  related  that  he  was  about  four- 
teen years  old  when  the  French  went  first  to 
establish  a  post  at  Fort  Pitt;  that  he  accompan- 
ied an  uncle,  who  was  a  chief  warrior,  on 
that  occasion,  who  attended  the  French  ;  that 
the  head  oi  Lake  Jadaqua  was  the  spot  where 
the  detachment  embarked  ;  that  they  fell  down 
to  Fort  Duquesne  without  any  obstruction,  in 
large  canoes,  with  all  the  artillery,  stores,  pro- 
visions, etc.  He  added  that  French  creek  was 
made  the  medium  of  communication  afterwards; 
why,  he  could  not  tell,  but  always  wondered  at 
it,  as  he  expressed  himself,  knowing  the  other 
to  be  so  much  better.  The  Seneca  related  many 
thinsrs  to  corroborate  and  convince  me  of  its 
truth.  He  states  that  he  was  constantly  em- 
ploj'cd  by  the  British  during  the  late  war,  and 
had  the  rank  of  captain;  and  that  lie  comman- 
ded the  party  that  was  defeated  on  the  Allegheny 
by  Colonel  Broad  head ;  that  in  the  year  1782, 
a  detachment  composed  of  30O  British  and  500 
Indians  was  formed,  and  actually  embarked  in 
canoes  on  Lake  Jada(jua,  with  twelve  pieces  of 
artillery,  with  an  avowed  intention  of  attacking 
Fort  Pitt.  This  expedition,  he  says,  was  laid 
aside,  in  consequence  of  the  reported  repairs 
and  strength  of  Fort  Pitt,  carried  by  a  spy 
from  the  neighborhood  of  the  fort.  They  then 
contented  themselves  with  the  usual  mode  of 
warfare,  by  sending  small  parties  to  the  frontier, 
one  of  which  burned  Hannastowu.  I  remem- 
ber very  well,  in  August,   1782,  we  picked  up 


at  Fort  Pitt  a  number  of  canoes  which  had 
drifted  down  the  river;  and  I  received  rc^peated 
accounts  in  June  and  July,  from  a  Canadian 
who  deserted  to  me,  as  well  as  from  some 
f'rienilly  Indians,  of  this  armament;  l)ut  1 
never  knew  ijcfore  then  where  they  iiad  assem- 
bled. 

"Both  Matthews  and  the  Seneca  desiretl  to 
conduct  me,  as  a  further  proof  of  their  veracity, 
to  tlie  spot  on  the  shore  of  Lake  Jadaqua, 
where  lies  one  of  the  four-pounders  left  by  the 
French.  Major  Finley,  who  has  been  in  that 
country  since  I  wa.s,  informed  me  that  he  had 
seen  the  gun.  Matthews  was  very  desirous  that 
I  should  exj)lore  the  East  fork  of  the  Coni- 
wango ;  but  my  sickne.ss  prevented  me.  His 
account  is  it  that  is  navigable  about  thirty  miles 
u|)  from  the  junction  of  the  north  anil  west 
branch,  to  a  swamp  which  is  about  half  a  mile 
wide ;  that  on  the  north  side  of  this  swamp  a 
large  creek  has  its  source  called  'Cattarauge' 
(Cattaraugus),  which  falls  into  Lake  Erie,  forty 
miles  from  the  foot  of  this  lake ;  that  he  has 
several  times  been  of  parties  who  cros.sed  over, 
carrying  the  canoes  across  the  swamps.  He 
added  tiiat  the  Cattarauge  watered  much  the 
finest  country  between  Buffalo  and  Presque  Isle. 

"A  letter  has  been  published  lately  in  a 
Philadelphia  newspaper,  written  by  one  of  the 
gentlemen  employed  in  running  the  boundary 
line  between  New  York  and  Pennsylvania, 
which  fully  supports  these  accounts.  As  well  as 
I  can  remember,  his  words  are:  'We  pushed  up 
a  large  branch  of  the  Allegheny  called  Chata- 
ghque  (so  he  spells  the  name),  which  is  from 
one-half  mile  to  two  or  three  wide,  and  near 
twenty  long.  The  country  is  level  and  land 
good,  to  a  great  extent  on  both  sides.  We  as- 
cended the  dividing  ridge  between  the  two  lakes. 
From  this  place  a  most  delightful  prospect  was 
open  before  ns.'  He  then  dwells  on  the  scene 
before  him  and  future  prospects,  not  to  the 
present  purpose;  but  concludes  by  .saying  that 
the  waters  of  Lake  Erie  cannot   be  brought  to 


(10 


SKETCH  OF  THE  EARLY  HISTORY 


the  Ohio,  as  the  summit  of  the  dividing  ridge 
is  700  feet  higiier  tli;iii  Lake  Erie.  '  We  trav- 
eled,' he  coutinued,  'along  tiie  Indian  path  to  the 
lake,  which  is  only  nine  miles  though  very 
crooked.  A  good  wagon  road  may  be  made, 
which  will  not  exceed  seven  miles  as  tiie  hill  is 
not  steep.' 

"I  regret  tiiat  this  detail  has  been  extended 
to  so  great  a  length,  for  I  fear  that  it  will  rather 
weary  than  afford  you  satisfaction.  Being 
obliged  to  blend  information  of  others  with  that 
which  came  within  my  own  observation  in  some 
degree  renders  it  unavoidable. 

"  I  have  tiie  Jionor  to  be  witii  great  res|)ect, 
"  Your  most  obedient  .servant, 

"  William  Irvine." 

This  letter  was  copied  by  Dr.  William   A. 
Irvine,  from  the  original  lent  to  his  father,  Cal- 
lender  Irvine,   by  Judge  Washington  ;   and  it 
contains  perhaps  the  first    written   description  i 
extant  of  Chautauqua  Lake  and  outlet. 

General  AYashington  answered  this  letter  from 
General  Irvine,  as  f(jlIows  : 

"  Mount  Vernon,  18  February,  1788. 

"Sir: — I  have  to  acknowledge  the  receipt  of 
vour  favor  of  the  27th  ult.,  and  to  thank  you 
for  the  information  contained  in  it.  A.S'a  com- 
munication between  the  waters  of  Lake  Erie 
and  those  of  Oliio  is  a  matter  which  promises 
great  utility,  and  as  every  step  towards  the  in- 
vestigation of  it  may  be  considered  as  promoting 
the  general  interest  of  our  country,  I  need  make 
no  a])ology  to  you  for  any  trouble  that  I  have 
given  upon  the  subject. 

"I  am  fully  .sensible  thai  no  account  can  be 
sufficiently  accurate  to  hazard  any  o[)crations 
upon,  without  an  actual  survey.  My  object  in 
wishing  a  solution  of  the  (pieries  proposed  to 
you,  was  that  I  might  be  enabled  to  return 
answers,  in  some  degree  .satisfactory,  to  several 
gentlemen  of  distinction  in  foreign  countries, 
who  have  appealed  to  me  for  information  on  the 
subject,  in  behalf  of  others  who  wish  to  cngnge 


in  the  fur  trade,  and  at  the  same  time  gratify 
my  own  curiosity,  and  assist  nie  in  forming  a 
judgment  of  the  practicability  of  opening  com- 
munication sh(i\d(I  it  even  be  .seriously  in  con- 
templation. 

"  1.  Could  a  channel  once  be  opened  to  con- 
vey the  fur  and  peltry  from  tiie  lakes  into  tiie 
eastern  country,  its  advantages  would  be  so 
obvious  as  to  induce  an  opinion,  that' it  would 
in  a  short  tinje  become  the  channel  of  convey- 
ance for  much  the  greatest  part  of  the  commo- 


dities brought  from  thence. 


"  2.  The  trade  which  has  been  carried  on 
between  New  York  and  that  quarter,  is  subject 
to  great  inconvenience,  from  the  lengtii  of  the 
communication,  number  of  portages,  and,  at 
seasons,  from  ice  ;  yet  it  has,  notwithstanding, 
been  prosecuted  with  success. 

"I  shall  feel  myself  much  obliged  by  any 
further  information  that  you  may  find  time 
aud  inclination  to  communicate  to  me  on  this 
iiead.  I  am,  sir,  with  great  esteem,  your  most 
obedient,  &c.         "George  Washington." 

General  Irvine  afterwards  wrote  to  General 
Washington  as  follows  : — 

"  New  York,  October  5,  1788. 

"Sir:  I  do  my.se! f  the  honor  to  enclose  a 
sketch  of  the  waters  of  the  Allegheny,  which 
approach  near  to  Lake  Erie.  It  is  taken  from 
an  actual  survey  made  by  the  persons  who  ran 
the  line  between  the  states  of  New  York  aud 
Pennsylvania.  These  gentlemen  say,  that  the 
remaining  branch  of  the  Allegheny  falls  in 
Pennsylvania,  and  that  there  is  only  .seven  or 
eight  miles  of  land  carriage  between  it  and  the 
head  branch  of  Susquehanna,  called  Tioga, 
which  is  navigable  for  large  boats  at  most  .sea- 
sons. The  navigation  of  the  Caniwago,  I 
know,  is  much  preferable  to  French  creek. 

"I  have  the  honor  to  be  with  the  highest 
respect,  sir,  your  excellency's  most  obedient  and 
humble  servant." 

"  \A'ii,i,i.\M  1  livrNi;." 


OF  ClfAUTAUQUA   COUNTY. 


711 


This  letter,  the  writer  of  this  sketch  fur  the 
first  time  caused  to  be  piihlished.  It  is  found 
bi)und  in  a  volume  of  llie  Washinj^ton  papers, 
and  is  enlered  in  an  index  of  those  papers 
nuKJe  by  Rev.  Jared  Si)arlvs.  It  was  probably 
written  to  Gen.  AVasliington  by  the  direction  of 
Gen.  Irvine.  AccoiHj)anyin<;  tiiis  letter  was  an 
accurate  map  of  "  Chyntaugh "  LaUe  and 
"  Conewaugo  "  river  ;  also  the  Chautauqua 
creek  portage,  from  Lake  Erie  to  Chautaucpia 
Lake,  and  also  the  portage  to  Le  Bumf,  and 
other  localities.  Washington  replied  to  Gen. 
Irvine,  as  follows : 

"  Mount  Vernon,  October  31,  1788. 

"  Dear  Sir  :  The  letter  with  which  you 
favored  me,  dated  tlie  (Jtli  iust.,  enclosing  a 
sketch  of  waters  near  the  line  which  separates 
your  state  from  New  York,  came  duly  to  hand, 
for  which  I  oifer  you  my  acknowledgments 
and  thanks. 

"  The  extensive  inland  navigation  with  which 
this  country  abounds,  and  the  easy  communica- 
tion which  many  of  the  rivers  afford,  with  the 
amazing  territory  to  the  westward  of  us,  will 
certainly  be  productive  of  infinite  advantage  to 
the  Atlantic  states,  if  the  legislatures  of  those 
through  which  they  pass,  have  liberality  and 
public  spirit  enough  to  improve  them.  For  my 
part,  I  wish  sincerely  that  every  door  to  the 
country  may  be  set  wide  open,  that  the  com- 
mercial intercourse  with  it  may  be  rendered  as 
free  and  easy  as  possible.  This,  in  my  judg- 
ment, is  the  best,  if  not  the  only  cement  that 
can  bind  those  people  to  us  for  any  length  of 
time,  and  we  shall,  I  think,  be  deficient  in 
foresight  and  wisdom  if  we  neglect  the  means 
to  effect  it.  Our  interest  is  so  much  in  unison 
with  the  policy  of  the  measure,  that  nothing 
but  that  ill-timed  and  misapplied  parsimony, 
and  contracted  way  of  thinking,  which  inter- 
mingles so  much  in  all  our  public  councils,  can 
counteract  it. 

"If  the  Chautauqua  Lake,  at  the  head  of  the 


Connewango  river,  approximates  Lake  Erie  as 
nearly  as  it  is  laid  down  in  the  draft  you  sent 
me,  it  presents  a  very  shdit  portage  indeed 
lietween  the  two,  and  access  to  all  those  above 
the  latter.     I  am,  &c. 

"  George  Washington."  . 

Holland  Pi JRCUASE. — Tlies(jutlierri  bound- 
ary of  the  State  of  New  York,  the  western  jior- 
tion  of  whicii  constitutes  the  southern  boundary 
of  C'hantauqua  county,  was  run  by  David 
Rittenhouse  and  Andrew  Ellicott  and  others, 
commissioners,  in  1785,  1786  and  1787.  The 
western  boundary  of  the  state,  which  forms  also 
the  western  boundary  of  the  county,  was  run  in 
1788  and  1789,  by  Andrew  Ellicott,  the  sur- 
veyor-general of  the  United  States.  Ati  initial 
monument  was  erected  by  him  near  the  shore 
of  Lake  Erie,  August  3,  1790.  The  variation 
of  the  needle  was  marked  upon  this  monument 
as  having  then  been  25'  west.  The  declination 
of  the  needle  at  the  same  point  in  1890  is  3° 
55'  west — a  change  in  its  declination  of  just 
3°30'  in  just  a  century.  This  line  is  the  me- 
ridian of  the  west  end  of  Ijake  Ontario. 

Immediately  prior  to  1788  the  State  of  Mas- 
sachusetts held  and  owned  the  pre-emption  right 
or  fee  of  the  land,  subject  to  the  title  of  the 
Indians,  of  all  that  part  of  the  State  of  New 
York  lying  west  of  a  line  beginning  on  the 
northern  boundary  line  of  Pennsylvania,  eighty- 
two  miles  west  of  the  northeast  corner  of  the 
last-mejitioned  State,  and  running  thence  due 
north  through  Seneca  lake  to  Lake  Ontario, 
excepting  a  mile  in  breadth  along  the  east  bank 
of  the  Niagara  river.  There  was  about  six 
millions  of  acres  of  the  lands  owned  by  Massa- 
chusetts. All  of  the  territory  included  in  the 
county  of  Chautauqua  was  consequently  a  part 
of  the  lands  there  owned  by  that  State.  In  that 
year  the  State  of  Massachusetts  sold  to  Oliver 
Phelps  and  Nathaniel  Gorham  about  two  mil- 
lions six  hundred  thousand  acres  of  the  eastern 
part  of  this  land.     In  1791  the  State  of  Massa- 


712 


SKETCH  OF  THE  EARLY  HISTORY 


chusetts  conveyed  all  the  lands  now  included 
within  the  limits  of  Chautauqua  county,  and 
other  lands,  to  Robert  Morris.  In  1792  Robert 
Morris  conveyed  the  lands  now  embraced  within 
the  limits  of  Chautauqua  county,  and  other  lands, 
to  certain  persons  who  were  in  fact  trustees.  These 
lands  were  purchased  with  the  funds  of  certain 
gentlemen  in  Holland,  and  held  by  the  grantees 
for  their  benefit.  Being  aliens,  they  could  not 
by.  the  laws  of  the  State  purchase  and  hold  real 
estate  in  their  own  names.  Finally  these  lands 
were  conveyed  by  the  trustees  to  the  Holland 
Company,  or  rather  to  individuals  in  their  own 
names,  comprising  the  Company.  The  lands 
purchased  by  the  Holland  Company  comprised 
all  of  the  western  counties  of  the  State  of  New 
York,  and  arc  known  as  the  "  Holland  Pur- 
chase." 

The  Indian  title  to  these  lands  having  been 
extinguished  by  a  treaty,  made  with  them  in 
September,  1797,  at  Genesee,  on  the  Genesee 
river,  the  Holland  Company  prepared  to  sur- 
vey them,  and  otfer  them  for  sale  and  settle- 
ment. Joseph  Ellicott  was  employed  to  per- 
form this  service.  The  survey  was  commenced 
in  1798,  by  running  the  eastern  boundary  of  the 
"  Purchase,"  which  extended  from  the  north 
line  of  the  State  of  Pennsylvania  to  Lake 
Ontario.  By  reason  of  the  variation  and  un- 
certainty of  the  magnetic  needle,  this  line  was 
run  by  an  instrument  with  a  telescope,  and 
without  a  needle,  but  constructed  so  as  to  afford 
an  accurate  manner  of  reversing,  made  for  the 
purpose  by  Benjamin  Ellicott,  (the  brother  of 
Joseph  Ellicott)  which  possessed  the  peculiari- 
ties and  i)roj)erties  of  what  was  then  known  as 
the  "transit"  instrument,  (used  to  observe  the 
transit  of  the  heavenly  bodies).  This  instru- 
ment .so  ennstructed  by  Ellicott,  is  believed  to  be 
the  progenitor  of  the  modciii  transits;  an 
American  instrument  much  used  in  American 
surveys,  and  more  practical  and  expeditious  in 
most  (surveys  than  the  theodolite. 

The  line  tl'iis  run,  known  as  the  Transit  line, 


constitutes  the  eastern  boundary  of  the  Holland 
purchase.  It  was  a  true  meridian  line,  extentl- 
ing  north  from  the  corner  monument,  estab- 
lished by  the  transit  instrument,  and  astronom- 
ical observations  to  Lake  Ontario.  The  lands 
of  the  Holland  purchase  were  surveyed  from 
this  base  line  into  townships  and  were  situated 
in  ranges,  ruuning  from  south  to  north.  The 
townships  in  each  range  of  townships,  begin- 
ning at  number  one  at  the  south,  rising  regular- 
ly in  number  to  the  north.  The  ranges  in  like 
manner,  were  numbered  from  the  east,  com- 
mencing at  number  one  and  ending  with  the 
fifteenth  range.  The  county  of  Chautauqua 
comprises  all  of  the  townships  of  the  10th, 
11th,  12th,  13th,  14th  and  15tb  ranges.  The 
townships  were  subdivided  generally  into  six- 
ty-four lots,  each  of  about  three-fourths  of  a 
mile  square,  and  consequently  each  lot  contained 
about  three  hundred  and  sixty  acres.  The  lots 
and  the  townshipis  practically  coidd  not  be  laid 
off  exactly  uniform  in  shape  and  area. 

During  the  years  1799  and  1800,  the  sur- 
veyors and  their  assistants  in  different  jiarties, 
under  the  direction  of  Joseph  Ellicott,  camped 
in  the  dense  forests  that  covered  all  of  western 
New  York,  and  prosecuted  the  survey  of  lands 
into  townships  until  it  was  finished.  The 
townships  were  afterwards  surveyed  by  differ- 
ent parties  into  lots.  The  lands  comprising  the 
county  of  Chautauqua  were  among  the  later 
ones  surveyed. 

As  soon  as  the  surveys  were  completed  set- 
tlers began  to  apjiear  at  different  points  upon 
the  Purchase,  and  to  tidve  up  lands  for  settle- 
ment. Before  proceeding  to  give  a  history  in 
detail,  of  the  settlement  of  Chautauqua  county 
by  the  .settler.s  who  purchased  lands  of  the  Hol- 
land company,  it  will  be  necessary  to  give  some 
account  of  such  attempts  at  settlement,  as  were 
made  immediatly  previous  to  such  purchase. 

PiDNEEU  Sk'iti.kmknt. — As  a  result  of 
Sullivan  and  Broadhead's  expeditions  against 
the    Indians    in    177!*,   aiul   llic  dcstrm^tion  <jf 


OF  CnMJTAVqVA   COUNTY. 


m 


their  towns,  and  of  tlic  products  of  their  fields 
wiiich  was  accoiiiplislicd  as  tiieir  harvests  were 
ripening,  th(!  Indians  of  tiie  Genesee  and  Alle- 
gheny rivers  were  witliout  siielter  and  witiiont 
food.  Tiie  winter  of  1779  and  17<S(),  was  one 
of  uuexampied  severity.  Sueii  deep  snows, 
and  sn(;ii  ice,  iiad  not  been  Icnown  in  tiie  mem- 
ory ot'  the  oldest  natives.  Deer  and  tnrkies 
died  in  tiie  woods  for  want  of  foo<l  by  hun- 
dreds. Great  numbers  of  Indians  perished 
during  the  winter  of  cold  and  starvation.  To 
escape  general  destruction,  the  Indians  fled  to 
Fort  Niagara  for  shelter  and  relief  There,  to 
add  to  their  desolation  a  fatal  disease  induced 
by  unusual  exposure  swept  them  off  in  great 
numbers.  As  the  Indians  had  freely  shed  their 
blood  during  the  war,  and  now  had  suffered 
almost  annihilation  for  their  faithful  adherence 
to  the  cause  of  the  king,  the  British  authorities 
could  not  without  gross  ingratitude  omit  to  pro- 
vide for  their  relief.  Large  numbers  of  Indians 
had  gathered  around  the  fort,  and  along  the 
river  Niagara,  and  during  the  winter  had  fed 
from  the  British  stores.  To  relieve  themselves 
from  this  burden,  the  British  Government  en- 
couraged the  Indians  to  establish  themselves  at 
convenient  places,  and  obtain  support  by  culti- 
vating the  land. 

In  May  or  June,  1780,  they  first  permanently 
located  themselves  upon  Buffalo  creek,  near 
Buffalo,  and  in  1780  and  1781,  while  the  Revo- 
lution was  still  ill  progress,  a  portion  of  them 
made  the  first  settlement  upon  the  Cattaraugus 
creek.  When  the  Indian  title  to  the  lands  of 
the  Holland  Land  Company  was  extinguished 
in  1797,  by  the  treaty  made  at  Genesee,  a 
reservation  was  made  to  the  Indians  of  425 
square  miles  in  extent,  lying  on  both  sides  of  \ 
the  Cattaraugus  creek,  near  its  mouth,  embracing  i 
substantially  the  territory  so  settled  by  them. 
That  part  of  the  reservation  that  is  situated  in 
the  county  of  Chautauqua,  is  included  in  the 
town  of  Hanover.  The  establishment  of  these 
Indians  along  the  border  of  the  county  was  an 


approach  towards  settleincnt.  They  were 
further  advanced  in  (Mvilization  than  has  been 
generally  understood.  liefbre  they  were  ex- 
pelled by  the  Americans  from  the  Genesee  and 
Upper  Allegany,  they  lived  by  tlie  cultivation 
of  the  soil,  as  well  as,  by  the  chase.  They  dwelt 
in  permanent  villages,  composed  of  comfortable 
houses,  some  of  which  were  framed  and  painted, 
and  even  well  furnishe<l.  They  had  extensive 
fields  of  corn,  gardens  and  orchards  of  apples, 
pears  and  even  poaches  ;  one  of  which  destroyed 
by  (Jeneral  Sullivan,  contained  one  thousand 
five  hundred  trees.  Having  been  reduced  to 
want  by  the  destruction  of  their  villages  and 
crops,  by  the  forces  of  Sullivan  and  Jiroadliead, 
they  were  compelled  to  dispense  with  many  of 
the  comforts  and  conveniences  that  they  had 
formerly  enjoyed,  when  they  had  established 
themselves  in  their  new  homes  along  the  Catta- 
raugus and  Allegheny,  yet,  they  built  log  houses 
and  began  to  make  a  few  clearings  for  their 
crops. 

Deacon  Hiudes  Chamberlain,  an  early  pioneer 
of  Genesee  county,  visited  one  of  their  villages 
on  the  Cattaraugus  creek  in  1792,  and  passed 
through  Chautauqua  county  to  Erie,  Pennsyl- 
vania. As  his  narrative  contains  interesting 
facts  concerning  Buffalo  and  Erie,  and  particu- 
larly relating  to  the  then  unfrequented,  solitary 
region  now  known  as  Chautauqua  county,  we 
will  insert  it  here  : — 

"In  1792  I  started  from  Scottsville  with 
Jesse  Beach  and  Reuben  Heath ;  went  up 
Allen's  creek,  striking  the  Indian  trail  from 
Canawagiis,  where  Le  Roy  now  is.  There  was 
a  beautiful  Indian  camping  ground — tame  grass 
had  got  in  ;  we  staid  all  night.  Pursuing  the 
trail  the  next  morning,  we  passed  the  Great 
Bend  of  the  Tonawanda,  and  encamped  at  night 
at  Dunham's  Grove,  and  the  next  night  near 
Buffalo.  We  saw  one  white  man,  Poudery,  at 
Tonawanda  village.  We  arrived  at  the  mouth 
of  Buffalo  creek  the  next  morning.  There  was 
but  one  white  man  there,  I  think  ;   his  name 


n4 


SKETCH  OF  THE  EAELY  HISTORY 


was  Ninue,  an  Indian  trader.  Hit;  building 
stood  first  as  you  descond  from  the  high  ground. 
He  had  rum,  whiskey,  Indian  knives,  trinkets, 
etc.  His  house  was  full  of  Indians;  they 
looked  at  ns  with  a  great  deal  of  curiosity,  j 
We  had  but  a  poor  night's  rest ;  the  Indians 
were  in  and  out  all  night  getting  liquor.  j 

"  Next  day  we  went  up  the  beach  of  the  lake  i 
to  the  mouth  of  the  Cattaraugus  creek,  where 
we  encamped  ;    a   wolf   came   down    near   our 
camp.     We  had  seen   many  deer  on  our  route 
during  the  dav.    The  next  morning  we  went  up 
to  the  Indian  village,  found  Black  Joe's  house,  [ 
but  he  was  absent ;  he  had,  liowever,  seen  our 
track  upon  the  beach  of  tiie  lake,  and  hurried 
home  to  see  white  people  who  were  traversing  the  1 
wilderness.    The  Indians  stared  at  us  ;  Joe  gave 
us  room  where  we  should  not  be  annoyed  by 
Indian  curiosity,  and  we  staid  with  him  over  \ 
night.     All  he  had  to  spare  us  in  the  way  of  ; 
food  was  some  dried  venison.     He  had  liquor,  • 
Indian  goods  and  bought  furs.     Joe  treated  us 
with  so  much  civility  that  we  staid  with  liim  till  i 
near   noon.      There   was  at   least  an    hundred 
Indians  and  squaws  gathered  to  see  us.    Among 
the  rest,  tliere  was  sitting  in  Joe's  house  an  old 
squaw  and  a  young,  delicate  looking  white  girl 
with  her,  dressed   like  a  squaw.     I  endeavored 
to  find  out  something  about  her   history,   but 
could  not.     I  think  slie  had  lost  the  use  of  our 
language.       She    seemed    not    inclined    to    be 
noticed. 

"  With  an  Indian   guide  that  Joe  selected  for  ; 
us,  we  started  upon  the  Indian  trail  for  Presque 
Isle  (Eric).     Wayne  was  then   fighting  the  In- 
dians.    Our  Indian  guide  often  pointed  to  the  ' 
west,  saying,  bad  Indians  there. 

"  Between  Cattaraugus  and  Erie,  I  shdt  a 
black  snake,  a  racer,  witii  a  white  ring  around 
his  neck.  He  was  in  a  tree  twelve  feet  frotr. 
the  ground,  his  body  wound  around  the  tree. 
He  measured  seven'  feet  and  three  inches. 

"  At  Presque  Isle,  we  found  neither  whites 
nor  Indians;    all    was   solit^u'y.       There    were 


some  old  French  brick  buildings,  wells,  block- 
houses, etc.,  going  to  decay  ;  eight  or  ten  acres 
cleared  laud.  On  the  peninsula,  there  was  an 
old  brick-house,  forty  or  fifty  feet  square;  the 
peninsula  was  covered  with  cranberries. 

"  After  staying  there  one  night  we  went  over 
to  Le  Boeuf,  about  sixteen  miles  distant,  pursu- 
ing an  old  French  road.  Trees  had  grown  up 
in  it,  but  the  track  was  distinct.  Near  Le 
Ba^uf  we  came  upon  a  company  of  men  who 
were  cutting  out  the  road  to  Presque  Isle ;  a 
part  of  them  were  soldiers  and  a  part  Pennsyl- 
vanians.  At  Le  Boeuf  there  was  a  garrison  of 
soldiers — about  one  hundred,  there  were  several 
white  families  there  and  a  store  of  goods. 

"  Myself  and  companions  were  in  pursuit  of 
land.  By  a  law  of  Pennsylvania,  such  as  built 
a  log-house,  and  cleared  a  few  acres  of  land  ac- 
quired a  pre-emptive  right ;  the  right  to  pur- 
chase at  £5  per  one  hundred  acres.  We  each 
of  us  made  a  location  near  Presque  Isle. 

"On  our  return  to  Presque  Isle,  from  Le 
Bceuf,  we  found  there  Col.  Seth  Reed  and  his 
family.  They  had  just  arrived.  We  stopped 
and  helped  him  build  some  huts  ;  set  up  crotches; 
laid  poles  across  and  covered  with  bark  of  the 
cucumber  tree.  At  first  the  Colonel  had  no 
floors  ;  afterwards  he  indulged  in  the  luxury  of 
flooi-s  made  by  laying  down  strips  of  bark. 
James  Baggs  and  Giles  Sission  came  on  with 
Col.  Reed.  I  remained  for  a  considerable  of 
time  in  his  employ.  It  was  not  long  before 
eisrht  or  ten  other  families  came  in. 

"  On  our  return  we  staid  at  Buffalo  over 
nisiht  with  \\^iine.  There  was  at  the  time  a 
great  gathering  of  hunting  parties  of  Indians 
there.  Waine  took  from  them  all  their  knives 
and  tomahawks,  and  then  selling  them  liquors, 
they  had  a  great  carousal." 

During  the  French  and  Indian  wars,  and  the 
war  of  the  Revolution,  white  men,  and  occa- 
sionally a  white  woman,  were  made  prisoners 
by  the  Indians,  and  were  almost  invariably  well 
treated  by  them  if  they  adopted  them  info  their 


OF  CHAUTAUQUA   COUNTY. 


715 


tribew,  notable  instances  of  wliicli  were  the  cap- 
tives, Horatio  Jones,  Jasper  Parish  and  Mary 
Jenimison.  The  white  girl  that  Deacon  Cham- 
berlin  saw  at  tlie  mouth  of  tiie  Cattarangns  un- 
doubtedly iiad  a  similar  history.  The  jjrisonors 
so  taken  sometimes  intermarried  witii  tiie  In- 
dians; consequently,  of  those  who  settled  along 
the  Cattaraugus,  many  had  white  blood  in  their 
veins.  Often  traders  and  other  white  men,  to 
whom  the  unrestrained  and  careless  life  of  the 
In<lians  was  attractive,  voluntarily  took  up  their 
residence  among  them,  and  adopted  their  modes 
of  life.  Of  the  persons  of  this  character  was 
Amos  Sottle,  or  Sawtel.  Henvas  born  in  Ver- 
mont. In  his  early  life  he  moved  to  Chenango 
county,  New  York,  and  afterwards  for  a  time,  it 
Ls  quite  probable,  lived  with  the  Indians.  It  is 
believed  that  in  1797,  wiicn  he  was  about 
twenty-three  years  of  age,  he  located  within  the 
limits  of  Chautauqua,  then  Ontario  county,  on 
the  rich  bottom  lands  near  the  Cattaraugus  creek, 
about  one  and  one-half  miles  from  its  mouth, 
upon  lauds  subsequently  laid  out  by  the  Hol- 
laud  Land  Company,  and  numbered  as  lot  Gl 
of  Cattaraugus  village,  and  not  far  from  the 
Indian  settlements  along  the  creek.  It  is  said 
that  he  had  a  shanty  or  cabin  there  in  1797,  in 
which  he  lived  alone,  whether  with  the  inten- 
tion of  becoming  a  regular  settler  there  is  not 
certainly  known.  It  is  probable  that  he  made 
but  little  if  any  improvements,  for  the  year  fol- 
lowing we  find  him  in  the  employment  of  the 
Holland  Land  Company.  He  continued  in  its 
employ  during  the  years  1798  and  1799.  He 
was  an  axman  under  Amzi  Atwater,  a  principal 
surveyor.  While  surveying  as  such  he  assisted 
in  running  what  is  now  the  line  between  Chau- 
tauqua and  Cattaraugus  counties.  In  the  fall 
of  the  year  1799  Sottle  went  to  Ohio,  then  a 
part  of  the  northwestern  territory,  where  he 
served  for  a  while  in  a  similar  capacity  in  the 
surveys  of  that  region.  During  the  year  1800 
it  is  probable  tliat  no  white  man  was  domiciled 
within  the  limits  of  the  county.    Sottle  remained 


away  from  Chautaucjua  perhaps  not  later  tlian 
1801  or  1802,  and  then  returned  to  the  Catta- 
raugus bottom,  accompanied  l)y  William  (i. 
Sidney,  who  built  a  small  log  house  for  the 
entertainment  of  travelers,  and  ferried  emigrants 
across  the  creek.  No  piu'chase  of  lands,  how- 
evci-,  was  made  by  either  of  them. 

About  this  time  an  elfectual  settlement  of  the 
comity  was  being  made  thirty  miles  away,  in  its 
northwestern  part.  In  the  year  1801  John 
McMahan  made  a  contract  with  the  Holland 
Land  Comi)any  for  the  purcha.se  of  22,000 
acres  of  land  in  the  town  of  Westfield,  for 
which  he  agreed  to  pay  $55,000,  or  §2.50  per 
acre.  The  site  upon  which  is  built  the  village 
of  Westfield  was  included  in  tiiis  purcha.se 
The  same  year  Colonel  James  McMahan,  his 
brother,  purchased  within  the  limits  of  this 
tract  a  lot  a  short  distance  west  of  the  village  of 
Westfield,  at  the  Old  Cross  Roads,  so-called 
from  the  fact  of  its  having  been  the  point  where 
the  rude  road  or  trail  between  Buffalo  and  Erie 
was  crossed  by  the  old  Portage  road  iliat  had 
been  cut  out  by  the  Frcncli  more  than  half  a 
century  before.  He  also  purchased  a  little  more 
than  4000  acres  in  the  town  of  Ripley. 

Colonel  James  McMahan  was  born  in  Nor- 
thumberland county,  in  Pennsylvania,  in  March, 
1768.  His  fiither  was  born  in  Ireland.  Pre- 
vious to  1795,  he  had  surveyed  in  the  region 
near  Lake  Erie.  For  six  months  each  year 
that  he  surveyed  there,  he  would  see  no  white 
persons,  except  his  assistants.  He  was  survey- 
ing there  in  1794,  when  Wayne  defeated  the 
Indians  in  the  decisive  battle  on  the  Maumee 
river.  During  this  war  the  frontiers  of  Penn- 
sylvania suffered  from  the  incui-sions  of  the 
Indians,  their  hostile  visits  extending  to  the 
country  along  the  borders  of  Chautauqua 
county.  One  of  Mc]\[ahan's  chain-bearers  was 
shot  and  scalped  by  the  Indians  as  he  and  his 
men  were  returning  to  their  camp,  near  the 
mouth  of  the  Broken  Straw.  Col.  McMahan, 
having   in    1795,  explored  some  parts  of  the 


716 


SKETCH  OF  THE  EARLY  HISTORY 


county,  with  a  view  to  a  residence,  came  again 
in  1801,  to  finally  select  lands  for  a  residence. 
Besides  the  land  above  mentioned,  purchased 
by  him  at  the  Old  Cross  Roads,  he  purchased 
4000  acres  in  what  is  now  the  town  of  Ripley. 

Colonel  McMahan  was  accompanied  iu  hjs 
journey  in  1801,  by  Andrew  Straub,  a  Penn- 
sylvania German.  In  that  year  Straub  built  a 
log  house  a  little  east  of  the  village  of  ^yest- 
field,  on  what  was  known  as  Straub's  creek. 
He  made  clearings  and  resided  there  for  many 
years.  Stones  from  his  fire-place,  and  other 
relics  of  his  house,  have  been  found  in  later 
years.  Straub  had  no  family  and  did  not  at 
that  time  obtain  any  title  to  bis  lands. 

Settlement  continued.  1802.  Previous 
to  the  year  1802,  the  region  that  is  now  Chau- 
tauqua county,  was  the  town  of  Northumber- 
land, Ontario  county.  Ontario  county  then  in- 
cluded all  of  western  New  York.  On  the  30th 
of  March,  1802,  by  an  act  of  the  legislature, 
the  county  of  Genesee  was  erected  from  Onta- 
rio. It  embraced  substantially  all  of  the  State 
lying  west  of  the  Genesee  river,  and  the  county 
of  Steuben.  What  is  now  Chautauqua  county, 
was  made  by  this  act  to  be  included  in  the  town 
of  Batavia,  in  the  county  of  Genesee. 

In  the  spring  of  1802,  Col.  James  McMahan 
cleared,  planted  and  sowed  ten  acres  of  land, 
and  l)uilt  a  log  house.  A  little  later  in  1802, 
Edward  McIIenry,  of  Northumberland  county, 
Pennsylvania,  at  the  solicitation  of  James  Mc- 
Mahan, came  with  his  family  and  settled  at 
the  Old  Cross  Roads,  upon  an  adjoining  tract, 
and  commenced  .soon  after  to  keep  a  house  of 
entertainment  for  emigrants  travelling  west- 
ward. A  wagon  road  was  opened  this  year 
from  Buffalo  as  far  west  .as  tiie  Chautauipia 
creek  by  General  Paine,  who  was  in  the  cm- 
j)loy  of  the  Slate  of  Connecticut,  to  enable  emi- 
grants tj)  reach  the  "  Western  Reserve "  in 
Oiiio,  the  land  there  being  owned  by  the  State 
of  ('onnccticut. 

A    few    months   after    ^^(•i  Iciiry's   arrival   at 


I  the  Old  Cross  road,  on  the  28th  of  August, 
1802,  his  son  John  McHenry  was  born.  This 
is  an  event  of  interest,  as  he  was  the  first  white 
child  born  within  the  limits  of  the  county.  In 
the  fall  of  the  same  year,  and  after  the  arrival 
of  McHenry,  McMahan  removed  his  family  in- 
to the  log  house  above  mentioned,  that  he  had 
previously  built.  Still  later,  the  same  year, 
David  Ivincaid  settled  north  of  McHenry  on 
lot  14. 

Thus  was  commenced  the  settlement  of  West- 
field.  The  first  substantial  improvement  made 
in  the  county  was  made  by  McMahan.  His, 
was  the  first  improvement  of  any  description, 
made  by  a  person  having  a  legal  right  to  the 
soil  upon  which  it  was  made,  although  Sottle, 
Sidney,  Straub,  and  McHenry  were  perhaps  all 
domiciled  in  the  county,  prior  to  the  arrival  of 
the  family  of  McMahan  in  the  fall  of  1802. 

The  silence  of  the  forests  that  everywhere 
covered  Chautauqua  county  from  time  im- 
memorial, for  the  first  time  was  now  broken, 
and  the  long  and  savage  reign  of  wild  beast  and 
Indian  came  to  an  end,  and  a  permanent  settle- 
ment effected.  Yet  this  settlement  was  at  this 
time  isolated  by  a  long  stretch  of  forest  from 
its  nearest  neighbors.  The  openings  in  the 
woods  that  at  that  time  had  been  made  by  the 
ax  of  the  settler,  were  mere  specks  in  the  great 
wilderness  that  covered  this  western  region. 
The  nearest  habitations  of  white  men  east  of  the 
Old  Cross  Roads,  with  the  exception  of  the 
cabin  of  Sottle  and  Avery  at  Cattaraugus 
creek,  was  the  little  collection  of  houses  at  New 
Amsterdam,  now  the  city  of  Buffalo,  over  sixty 
miles  away,  while  to  the  west,  the  nearest 
settlements  were  in  the  county  of  Erie,  in  the 
state  of  PeiuLsylvania.  The  nearest  .settlers  to 
the  south,  were  a  few  scattering  families  at  War- 
ren, in  the  .state  of  Pennsylvania. 

180;j.  In  1803,  the  settlers  came  in  rapidly 
at,  and  near  the  Old  Cross  Roads.  Artiiur 
Bell  in  January,  Christopher  Dull  in  June, 
James  Montgomery    in    July,   and    Wm.  (Jul- 


OF  CHAUTAUQUA   COUNTY. 


I 
i 


i 


bertson,  George  and  .loliii  Degeer,  ami  .lereiniali 
George, 

An  event  of  importance  occurred  tlii.s  year, 
a  sad  accident,  by  wliidi  tlie  little  coniniiinity 
at  the  Gross  lloads  was  deprived  of  one  of  its 
earliest  founders.  Mr.  McIIenry  ami  two' 
others,  departed  from  the  mouth  of  ( ,'liautaufpia 
creek,  (now  Barcelona)  upon  Lake  Erie,  in  a 
small  boat  in  a  voyage  to  the  settlement  at 
Erie,  to  obtain  a  supply  of  provisions  for  his 
tavern,  at  the  Cross  lloads.  Upon  their  way, 
a  storm  arose  which  upset  the  boat  and 
McHeury  was  drowned.  His  two  companions 
saved  themselves  by  clinging  to  the  bottom  of 
the  boat.  The  body  of  McIIenry  was  never  re- 
covered. This  was  the  first  death  of  a  white 
person  residing  in  the  county.  .loseph  Badger 
who  was  attending  a  meeting  of  the  Erie 
Presbytery,  at  Colt's  Station  in  Pennsylvania, 
came  to  the  Cross  Roads  and  took  charge  of  the 
funei'al  services,  and  preached  (he  first  funeral 
sermon  in  the  county.  The  widow  McHeury, 
continued  to  keep  the  tavern  at  the  Cross  Roads 
after  the  death  of  her  husband. 

Charles  Avery,  it  is  quite  probable,  lived  at 
"Cattaraugus  Village,"  as  the  Cattaraugus 
Bottoms  were  called,  during  this  year,  and  per- 
haps at  an  earlier  date.  Others  also  are  believed 
to  have  lived  there  before  Avery  came.  There  is, 
however,  no  record  of  any  purchase  of  land  by 
any  one  prior  to  the  close  of  1803,  and  no  clear 
account  has  been  preserved  of  the  residence  of 
persons  there  before  the  close  of  that  year,  un- 
less it  was  those  of  Sottle  and  Sidney,  so  that, 
up  to  the  end  of  the  year  ISO.'J,  no  other  settle- 
ments had  been  made  in  the  county  of  Chau- 
tauqua, except  that  at  the  Old  Cross  Roads, 
which  has  since  grown  into  the  large  and 
wealthy  village  of  Westfield,  now  one  of  the 
most  beautiful  in  western  New  York,  and  that 
at  Cattaraugus,  which  had  been  surveyed  into 
village  lots  by  the  Holland  company,  with  the 
belief,  in  view  of  its  situation  upon  the  Cattar- 
augus  creek,  that    it   might   be   made  a  great 


manufacturing  [)la<-c,  and  be<'i)tne  of  much  im- 
portance as  the  county  dcvel()])cd.  No  other 
places  were  regarded  of  such  consequence  by 
the  coin|iany,  as  to  entitle  them  to  be  surveye«l 
into  village  lots,  except  Barcelona  and  May- 
ville.  Cattaraugus  is  now  represented  by  the 
village  of  Irving.  Upj)er  Irving  was  formerly 
known  as  La  Grange. 

To  the  towns  of  Westfield  and  Hanover  be- 
longs the  distinction  of  being  the  first  settled  in 
the  county.  Of  the  other  villages  of  Hanover, 
Silver  Creek  was  settled  in  1804  or  1805. 
David  Dickinson,  Al)el  Cleveland  and  John 
E.  Howard  were  the  earliest  settlers.  Captain 
Jehiel  Moore  built  a  saw-mill  in  1808  at  For- 
estville,  and  afterwards  a  grist-mill,  in  1809 
he  moved  his  family  there.  This  constituted 
I  the  first  settlement  of  that  village.  Barcelona, 
j  in  the  town  of  Westfield,  was  first  settled  by 
John  McMahan,  the  brother  of  James  Mc- 
Mahan,  near  the  mouth  of  the  Ciiautaucpia 
creek,  upon  a  tract  selected  by  John.  liarce- 
lona,  in  early  years,  was  a  place  of  some  im- 
portance. It  was  made  a  port  of  entry,  a  light 
house  was  erected,  and  a  steamboat  built  for 
the  transportation  of  freight  and  jjassengers, 
and  for  awhile  it  was  a  place  of  considerable 
trade. 

1804:. — -Although  at  the  beginning  of  the 
year  1804  there  were  no  settlements  made  in 
the  county,  other  than  those  made  at  the  Old 
Cross  Roads  and  at  Cattaraugus  village,  before 
its  close  settlements  had  been  commenced  in 
nearly  every  town  lying  north  of  the  Ridge. 
A  few  more  settlers  came  that  year  to  the  Old 
Cross  Roads.  John  McMahan  built  the  first 
grist-mill  erected  in  the  county  ;  it  was  built 
one-fourth  of  a  mile  above  the  mouth  of  the 
Chautauqua  creek.  At  that  time  the  nearest 
mills  at  which  the  people  could  oI)tain  grinding 
were  at  Erie,  Pennsylvania,  and  Black  Rock, 
on  the  Niagara  river.  Mr.  Dickinson  .soon 
erected  a  saw-mill  at  Silver  Creek.  To  its  .saw- 
gate  was  attached  a  pestle,  by  which  corn  was 


718 


SKETCH  OF  THE  EARLY  HISTORY 


pounded  for  food  in  a  mortar,  made  by  digging 
and  burning  out  the  end  of  a  log.  John  Mc- 
Mahan  also,  a  little  later  than  the  building  of 
the  grist-mill,  and  in  1804,  built  the  first  saw- 
mill erected  in  the  county. 

This  year  Charles  Avery  and  William  Sid- 
ney purchased  lands  at  Cattaraugus  village. 
Sidney  kept  the  ferry  at  the  creek,  and  Avery 
kept  a  small  assortment  of  goods  for  trade  with 
the  Indians.  This  year  Caroline,  daughter  of 
William  Sidney,  was  born.  She  was  the  first 
white  child  born  at  Cattaraugus  village,  and 
her  father  was  the  first  person  to  die  there. 

The  settlement  at  the  Old  Cross  Eoads  and 
at  Cattaraugus  creek  were  soon  followed  by  that 
at  Fredonia,  which  at  first  was  called  Canada- 
way,  deriving  its  name  from  the  stream  which 
has  its  source  among.the  hills  of  fJharlotte  and 
Arkwright,  and  that  brawls  through  dark 
chasms  past  the  pleasant  village  of  Fredonia  to 
Lake  Erie. 

The  Indians  who  resorted  there  during  the 
hunting  season  (the  remains  of  their  bark-cov- 
ered cabins  were  to  be  seen  along  the  flats 
around  Fredonia  by  the  first  comers)  gave  it  the 
beautiful  name  Ga-na-da-wa-o,  which  means,  in 
the  Seneca  tongue,  "  running  through  the  hem- 
locks," in  nllusion  to  the  sombre  evergreens  that 
border  its  Ininks,  casting  their  deep  shade 
over  its  wild  and  rocky  passage.  The  early 
settlers  used  the  less  musical  pronunciation, 
Canadaway.  At  Ganadawao,  or  Cauadaway,  as 
the  white  men  called  it,  the  settlement  of  the 
town  of  Pomfret  was  made  about  1804. 

Tiiomas  McClintock  was  born  in  Northum- 
berland county,  Pennsylv.ania,  in  1768.  He 
emigrated  to  Erie  county,  Pennssylvania,  in 
1798  or  1799.  In  1804  he  built  a  cabin  at 
Cauadaway,  upon  land  that  he  had  located  in 
December  of  the  year  before. 

Daviil  Kasoii  was  also  l)orn  in  Northuml)cr- 
land  county  in  1771.  He  became  the  first 
sheriff  of  tlic  (•(ninty  in  1811,  and  in  1823  or 
1824  a   member  of   the  State  Senate.     He  also 


built  a  log  cabin  at  Canadaway,  about  the  same 
time  that  McClintock  came.  He  was  then  un- 
married. These  were  the  only  persons  residing 
in  Pomfret  in  the  year  1804.  Fredonia  grew 
up  where  this  settlement  was  made,  and  soon 
became  the  largest  village  in  the  county.  It 
held  its  importance  for  many  years.  It  was 
early  the  leading  educational  village.  In  1817 
the  Chautauqua  Gazrttc,  the  first  newspaper  of 
the  county,  was  published  here.  Here,  in  1824, 
the  Fredonia  Academy,  the  first  institution  of 
learning  in  the  county,  higher  than  the  com- 
mon school,  was  established.  The  Fredonia 
Academy  was  for  many  years  one  of  the  best 
known  and  most  important  schools  in  western 
New  York.  Many  citizens  remember  with 
gratitude  the  stimulus  for  the  acquisition  of 
knowledge  that  they  received  at  this  institution 
of  learning,  and  .some  eminent  and  distinguished 
men  and  women  laid  the  foundations  of  their 
knowledge  here.  The  first  term  of  this  school 
commenced  October  1,  1826.  The  venerable 
Austin  Smith,  now  of  Westfield,  long  a  leading 
lawyer  and  respected  citizen  of  the  county,  was 
its  first  principal.  In  1868  the  Fredonia 
Academy  was  merged  in  the  well-known  Nor- 
mal and  Training  school. 

Sheridan  was  settled  this  year  by  Francis 
Webber  and  t)thers. 

The  town  of  Ripley  was  first  .settled  this 
year  by  Alexander  Cochran,  a  native  of  Ire- 
land. He  took  up  his  residence  about  a  mile 
west  of  Quiucy. 

The  town  of  Chautauqua,  which  lies  at  the 
head  of  Chautauqua  Lake,  and  joins  the  North- 
ern with  the  Southern  towns  of  the  county,  was 
also  first  settled  in  1804  by  Dr.  Alexander  Mc- 
Intyrc.  He  erected  a  log  hut  near  the  .steam- 
boat landing,  at  Mayville.  He,  in  early  life, 
was  captured  by  the  Indians,  who  cut  off  the 
veins  of  his  ears.  He  resided  with  tlicm 
many  years,  and  acquired  their  habits,  and 
claimed  to  have  derived  his  skill  in  (lie  healing 
art    Crom    his    intercourse    with   tlicni.     Judge 


% 


OF  CHAUTAUQUA   COUNTY. 


719 


"Wm.  Peacock  settled  at  Mayville  in  1810,  as 
the  iirst  agent  of  tlie  Holland  Laud  Company, 
for  the  sale  of  its  lands  in  Chautauqua  coun- 
ty and  a  part  of  Cattaraugus.  Chautauqua  was 
organized  as  a  county  in  1811,  and  Mayville 
was  designated  as  its  county-seat  by  Isaac 
Sutherland,  Jonas  AVillianis  and  Asa  Ransom, 
commissioners  appointed  for  that  purpose,  and 
since  then  has  been  the  capital  of  the  county. 
The  house  of  John  Scott,  in  Mayville,  was 
designated  as  the  place  for  holding  the  first 
courts,  until  the  court  house  should  be  built. 
In  1815  a  court  house  and  jail  was  com- 
pleted. It  was  a  two-story  frame  building  ; 
the  lower  story  contained  two  cells  for  crim- 
inals, and  one  for  debtors.  It  cost  the  county 
about  $1500.  The  present  court  house  and 
jail  were  erected  about  the  year  1835.  The 
village  of  Chautauqua,  the  seat  of  the  Chau- 
tauqua Assembly,  and  of  the  Famous  Semin- 
ary school,  and  Point  Chautauqua,  the  cele- 
brated summer  resort,  are  situated  in  this 
town. 

On  the  11th  of  April,  1804,  by  an  act  of  the 
Legislature,  the  town  of  Batavia,  which  included 
within  its  limits  all  of  the  present  county  of 
Chautauqua,  was  divided  into  four  towns,  viz. : 
Batavia,  Erie,  Willink  and  Chautauqua.  Pre- 
vious to  this  date  the  voters  residing  within  the 
present  limits  of  the  county  of  Chautauqua,  de- 
siring to  vote  at  a  general  election  or  at  town- 
meetings,  were  obliged  to  go  to  Batavia,  a  dis- 
tance of  nearly  one  hundred  miles,  b^-  forest 
paths.  How  many,  if  any,  availed  themselves 
of  this  privilege,  we  are  not  informed.  The 
act  provided  that  the  first  town-meeting  should 
be  held  at  the  house  of  the  widow  McHcnry. 
The  town  of  Erie,  by  the  provisions  of  this  law, 
included,  with  other  territory,  the  following 
towns  of  Chautauqua  county,  to  wit :  Carroll, 
Poland,  Ellington,  Cherry  Creek,  Villanova 
and  a  part  of  Hanover.  The  remaining  towns 
constituted  the  town  of  Chautauqua. 

1805. — The  year  1805  brought  many  set- 
39 


tiers  to  the  town  of  Pomfret.  In  February  of 
that  year  came  Zattu  Cushing  with  his  family. 
He  was  born  at  Plymouth,  Mass.,  in  1770. 
He  was  a  ship-builder,  and  ha<l  been  employed 
in  17!J8  or  1709  to  superintend  the  building  of 
the  ship  "  Good  Intent "  at  Presque  Isle,  near 
Erie.  On  his  return  to  the  East,  he  passed 
along  the  shore  of  Chautauqua  Lake,  through 
the  forests  of  Chautauqua  county.  He  was 
pleased  with  the  country,  and  selected  for  pur- 
chase the  land  at  Canadaway,  which  is  now  the 
site  of  the  village  of  Fredonia.  Upon  his  ar- 
rival there,  he  found  the  land  that  he  had 
chosen  was  occupied  by  Thomas  McClintock, 
the  first  settler.  He  afterwards  purchased  this 
land  of  McClintock,  who  removed  to  tlie  town 
of  Westfield.  Mr.  Cushing  was  a  respected 
and  leading  man  of  tiie  county.  He  was  ap- 
pointed its  first  judge,  and  served  as  such  for 
thirteen  years.  He  was  the  grandfather  of  the 
intrepid  Alonzo  H.  Cushing,  who  fell  at  Get- 
tysburg, and  William  B.  Cushing,  the  hero  of 
many  exploits,  chief  of  which  was  the  destruc- 
tion of  the  "  Albemarle,"  and  which  have 
placed  his  name  beside  the  names  of  Paul 
Jones  and  Perry  in  the  roll  of  honor. 

Later  in  the  same  year  that  Judge  Cushing 
became  a  settler  of  the  county,  there  came  to 
what  is  now  Pomfret,  Eliphalet  and  Augustus 
Burnham,  Samuel  Davis,  Samuel  Perry,  Sam- 
uel Green,  Benjamin  Barrett  and  Benjamin 
Barnes,  and  settled  along  the  Canadaway. 

The  town  of  Dunkirk  was  first  settled  this 
year  by  Seth  Cole,  of  Oneida  county,  at  the 
mouth  of  the  Canadaway  creek.  Cole  came 
with  his  family,  accompanying  Judge  Cushing 
from  the  East. 

The  town  of  Ponland  was  also  first  settled 
in  1805  by  Ca])tain  James  Dean,  from  near 
Meadville,  Pa.  He  built  his  shanty  near  the 
Lake  Shoi'c  and  Michigan  Southei'u  railroad, 
near  the  village  of  Centerville. 

This  year,  for  the  fii-st  time,  settlement  was 
made  in  the  region   lying  south  of  the  ridge. 


720 


SKETCH   OF  THE  EARLY  HISTORY 


Until  the  year  1805  that  part  of  the  county 
lying  south  of  the  ridge  had  remained  an  un- 
broken wilderness.  No  white  man  had  taken 
up  his  residence  there,  and  it  was  little  ex- 
plored, except  by  the  surveyors  who  had  run 
the  township  lines.  The  nearest  approach  of 
settlement  to  this  region  was  that  made  by  a 
few  scattered  families  at  Warren,  in  the  State 
of  Pennsylvania,  and  that  made  by  Dr.  Mcln- 
tyre  at  the  head  of  the  lake.  A  rude  woods- 
road  had  been  cut  about  the  year  1804  from 
the  Pennsylvania  line  to  the  shore  of  Chautau- 
qua Lake,  near  the  mouth  of  Goose  Creek  in 
Harmony,  which  was  called  the  Miles  road. 
The  pine  and  other  valuable  timber  that 
covered  a  large  portion  of  the  lands  in  the 
southern  part  of  the  county,  was  brought  to 
the  notice  of  the  more  hardy  pioneers  and 
enterprising  men  of  the  more  settled  regions 
of  the  east,  by  the  surveyors  and  explorers  that 
traversed  it.  The  Allegheny  and  Conewango, 
and  their  tributaries,  aiforded  the  facilities  of 
transporting  the  lumber  to  Pittsburgh  and  still 
more  southern  markets,  and  invited  a  settlement 
of  this  region. 

Dr.  Thomas  R.  Kennedy,  of  Meadville,  Pa., 
who  had  married  a  niece  of  Joseph  Eliicott, 
with  a  view  to  engaging  in  the  business  of  manu- 
facturing and  transporting  lumber  for  sale,  pur- 
chased of  the  Holland  Land  Company  3000 
acres  of  unsurveyed  lands,  which  included  what 
is  now  the  village  of  Kennedy,  in  the  town  of 
Poland,  commenced  the  erection  of  a  saw-mill, 
the  material  for  the  erection  of  which,  and  pro- 
visions for  the  hands,  were  brought  in  boats  up 
the  Allegheny  and  Conewango  rivers.  The  mill 
was  raised  in  October,  1805,  by  men  from 
Warreu,  Pennsylvania.  Tiiis  was  the  first  be- 
ginning of  a  settlement  south  of  the  Ridge,  and 
the  first  coinmeneoment  of  the  lumber  business 
that  was  so  extensively  carried  on  lor  three- 
quarters  of  a  century  in  this  county. 

I«<m;. — The  year  IHOfj  witnessed  the  settle- 
ment of  the  county  at  many  new  points  south 


of  the  Ridge.  William  Wilson  that  year  built 
a  log-house  upon  the  outlet  of  Chautauqua  Lake, 
and  James  Culbertson  settled  the  same  year,  it 
is  said,  at  the  confluence  of  the  outlet  of  Ciiau- 
tauqua  Lake  with  the  Cassadaga  Creek.  These 
were  the  first  settlements  made  iu  the  town  of 
Eliicott. 

This  year  William  Prendergast  settled  on  the 
west  side  of  Chautauqua  Lake,  in  the  town  of 
Chautauqua.  Of  his  thirteen  sons  and  daugh- 
ters nearly  all  of  them  became  residents  of  the 
county.  The  sons  who  came,  without  exception 
were  prominent  and  influential  citizens,  holding 
during  many  years  important  official  positions. 
Considering  the  wealth,  number  and  respecta- 
bility of  this  family,  and  of  its  descendants,  it 
was  perhaps  tiie  most  important  and  influential 
in  the  county  during  the  early  years  of  its  his- 
tory. The  circumstances  attending  the  coming 
of  the  Prendergasts  to  the  county  are  quite  in- 
teresting. He  emigrated  from  Van  Rensselaer 
county  iu  the  spring  of  1805,  with  the  intention 
of  locating  in  the  State  of  Tennessee.  Mr. 
Prendergast  and  his  four  sons  and  five  daugh- 
ters, his  sons-in-law  and  grandchildren  and 
slave  Tom,  in  all  twenty-nine  persons,  in  four 
canvas-covered  wagons,  some  drawn  by  four 
horses,  set  out  on  their  journey,  and  traveled  in 
this  way  through  Pennsylvania  as  far  as  Wheel- 
ing, when  they  embarked  on  a  flat-boat  and  de- 
scended the  river  to  Louisville ;  they  traveled 
thence  to  a  point  near  Nashville,  the  place  of 
their  intended  location,  but  were  dissatisfied 
with  the  country  and  the  people,  and  at  once 
turned  back  and  traveled  in  their  wagons 
through  Kentucky,  Ohio  and  Penn.sylvania,  to 
Erie,  where  they  arrived  in  the  fall  of  1805. 
Here  they  resolved  to  settle  around  Chautauqua 
Lake,  which  some  of  their  number  had  visited 
a  few  years  before.  The  fatiier  and  the  most  of 
the  party  passed  the  winter  in  Canada,  but  re- 
turned during  the  year  1806  and  settled  near 
Chautauqua,  on  the  west  side  of  the  lake,  not 
far  from  tlie  Cliautauqua  Assembly  Grounds. 


OF  CHAUTAUQUA   COUNTY. 


rS\. 


Several  of  the  family  took  sopaiate  tracts  of 
land  near  each  other,  wliicli  in  tiie  aggregate 
amounted  to  over  3000  acres. 

William  Bemiis,  who  was  born  at  Bemus 
Heights,  Saratoga  county,  New  York  ;  a  son- 
in-law  of  William  Prendergast,  was  one  of  his 
companions  in  the  journey  of  the  family  to 
Tennessee.  He  this  year,  (1806)  settled  in  the 
town  of  Ellery,  on  the  east  side  of  Chautauqua 
Lake  at  Bemus  Point.  He,  and  Jeremiah 
Griffith,  who  located  further  down  the  lake, 
were  the  first  settlers  of  the  town  of  Ellery. 

This  year,  Thomas  Bemus,  the  son  of  Wil- 
liam Bemus  above  mentioned,  became  the  first 
settler  of  the  town  of  Harmony.  He  settled 
at  the  Narrows,  on  lot  54,  opposite  his  father's 
possessions  at  Bemus  Point.  He  built  a  cabin 
and  commenced  clearing.  Jonathan  Cheney 
settled  in  the  northeast  part  of  the  town,  the 
next  year.  The  town  of  Harmony,  which  is 
the  largest  in  the  county,  was  before  this  event 
a  dense  wilderness,  scarcely  visited  by  white 
men.  Aside  from  the  settlers  above  mentioned, 
no  others  came  in,  until  several  years  later. 

North  of  the  Ridge,  during  the  year  1806, 
settlement  proceeded  rapidly.  That  year  Cap- 
tain John  Mack  came  to  Cattaraugus  village, 
and  purchased  the  Sidney  claim,  including  the 
primitive  tavern,  and  ferry,  of  the  widow 
Sidney;  the  husband  having  died  a  short  time 
before.  Mack  was  an  enterprising  man,  with  | 
some  pecuniary  means.  He  constructed  a 
larger,  and  safer  conveyance  for  the  transporta- 
tion of  teams  across  th^kttaraugus  creek,  and 
provided  better  conveniences  for  the  accommo- 
dation of  travelers.  He  kept  the  property  for  j 
many  years,  and  was  well-known  to  the  early 
settlers.  A  large  portion  of  the  pioneers  of 
the  county  had  been  conducted  into  it  over  his 
ferry,  and  had  been  first  entertained  within  its 
limits,  at  his  house.  He  may  be  said  to  have 
been  for  many  years  the  gate  keeper  of  the 
county. 

The  close  of  1806  witnessed  a  large  increase 


in  the  jxiptiiution  of  tlie  county.  A  post  route 
was  estaljlished  between  Buffalo  Creek  and 
Presque  Isle,  and  a  post-office  at  the  Cross 
Roads,  with  James  McMahan  ius  jxistmaster, 
and  another  near  the  present  town  of  Sheridan, 
with  Orsaraus  Holmes  as  postmaster.  In  1806, 
for  the  first  time,  mails  were  carried  over  the 
route  once  in  two  weeks,  by  John  Metcalf,  on 
foot — at  first,  it  is  said,  in  a  pocket  handker- 
chief, and  afterwards  in  a  hand-bag.  John  Me- 
Mahan  this  year  represented  the  town  of  Chau- 
tau(|ua,  which  then  comprised  the  whole  county, 
as  its  supervisor  at  the  meeting  of  the  Board  of 
Supervisors  for  Genesee  county,  at  Batavia. 

1807. — In  1807  a  settlement  was  made  in 
the  northeast  part  of  the  town  of  Arkwright, 
by  Abiram  Orton,  afterwards  for  several  years 
associate  justice  of  the  county,  and  also  bv  Ben- 
jamin Perry  and  Augustus  Burnham. 

Settlement  was  also  made  of  the  town  of 
Kiantone,  by  Joseph  Akin,  on  the  Stillwater 
Creek. 

This  year  Elijah  Risley,  Sr.,  settled  at  Can- 
adaway.  He  was  a  soldier  of  the  Revolution. 
He  has  many  descendants  residing  in  the  county ; 
among  them  have  been  many  of  the  most  hon- 
orable and  influential  of  its  citizens. 

This  year  a  general  election  was  for  the  first 
time  held  in  the  county,  at  which  sixty-nine 
votes  were  polled  for  governor,  of  which  Daniel 
D.  Tompkins  received  forty-one  and  Morgan 
Lewis  received  twenty-eight  votes. 

John  McMahan  this  year  represented  the 
town  of  Chautauqua  at  Batavia,  on  the  Board 
of  Supervisors  of  the  county  of  Genesee. 

1808.— In  1808  the  Legislature  divided  the 
county  of  Genesee  into  the  counties  of  Genesee, 
Niagara,  Cattaraugus  and  Chautauqua,  giving 
to  the  county  of  Chautauqua  its  present  bound- 
aries. It  was,  however,  provided  by  this  act 
that  Chautauqua  should  remain  a  part  of  Niag- 
ara for  judicial  and  municipal  purposes  until  it 
should  contain  five  hundred  taxable  inhabitants, 
qualified  to  vote  for  members  of  Assembly,  to 


722 


SKETCH  OF  THE  EARLY  HISTORY 


be  determined  by  the  Board  of  Supervisors  of 
Niagara,  from  the  assessment  roll  for  Chautau- 
qua. The  Legislature  at  the  same  time  created 
the  new  town  of  Pomfret,  which  comprised  the 
present  towns  of  Hanover,  Villanova,  Cherry  i 
Creek,  Ellington,  Poland,  Carroll,  Kiantone,  ! 
Gerry,  Charlotte,  Arkwright,  Sheridan,  Pomfret, 
Dunkirk  and  a  part  of  Busti,  and  also  the  cities 
of  Dunkirk  and  Jamestown.  The  remaining 
towns  of  the  county  constituted  the  town  of 
Chautauqua.  A  town-meeting  was  held  this 
year,  at  the  house  of  Elisha  Mann,  which  was 
opened  by  prayer  by  the  Rev.  John  Spencer, 
the  early  missionary.  Philo  Orton  was  elected 
supervisor  of  the  new  town  of  Pomfret ;  John 
S.  Bellows,  town  clerk ;  Richard  Williams, 
Justin  Hinman  and  John  E.  Howard,  assessors  ; 
Samuel  Berry,  Abiram  Orton  and  John  INIack,  i 
commissioners  of  highways;  Zattu  Cushing 
and  Orsamus  Holmes,  overseers  of  the  poor, 
and  George  W.  Pierce,  constable  and  collector. 

Two  supervisors  from  Chautauqua  this  year 
met  with  the  board  of  supervisors  of  Niagara 
county,  at  the  village  of  Buffalo. 

Philo  Orton,  the  first  supervisor  of  the  town 
of  Pomfret,  was  born  in  the  town  of  Tyringham, 
Massachusetts,  September  9,  1778.  He  settled 
at  Canada  way  in  1806.  He  was  a  practical 
surveyor.  He  was  supervisor  of  Pomfret  eleven 
years,  served  as  county  judge  many  years,  and 
was  once  chosen  presidential  elector. 

Arthur  Bell,  the  supervisor  of  the  town  of 
Chautauqua,  was  born  at  Paxton,  Dauphin 
county,  Pa.  He  served  three  years  in  the  war 
of  the  Revolution. 

In  1808  a  store  was  opened  at  Canadaway 
by  Elijah  Risley,  Jr.,  and  another  at  Cattaraugus 
village. 

180J).— In  1809  Joel  Tyler  .settled  in  Carroll, 
and  probably  Isaac  Walton  and  Charles  Boyles 
also.  This  year,  or  the  following,  George  W. 
Fenton  became  a  resident  of  the  town.  His 
son,  Reuben  E.  Fenton,  was  twice  elected  gov- 
ernor of  the  State  of  New  York,  and  afterwards 


chosen  United  States  senator  from  that  State. 
Governor  Fenton  was  born  in  the  town  of  Car- 
roll, July  4,  1819. 

Charlotte  was  .settled  in  the  spring  of  1809 
by  John  and  Daniel  Pickett,  and  Arva  O.  Aus- 
tin, in  the  northwestern  part,  and  a  little  later 
in  the  year  by  Robert  W.  Seaven,  at  Charlotte 
Center.  Major  Samuel  Sinclair,  cousin  of  Jona- 
than Cilley,  a  member  of  Congress  from  Maine, 
killed  in  a  celebrated  duel  at  Bladensburg  by 
Graves,  and  nephew  of  Gen.  Joseph  Cilley,  of 
revolutionary  fame,  in  1809  erected  the  body  of 
a  log  house  at  Sinclairville,  and  the  next  year 
founded  that  village.  From  him  it  derives  its 
name.  Madison  Burnell,  a  distinguished  lawyer 
of  western  New  York,  was  born  in  this  town. 

Stockton  was  probably  settled  in  1809,  but 
we  have  not  the  record  sufficiently  accurate  to 
certainly  designate  the  names  of  its  settlers  of 
that  year. 

In  1809  Thomas  Prendergasfc,  a  son  of  Wil- 
liam Prendergast,  represented  the  town  of 
Chautauqua,  and  Philo  Orton  represented  the 
town  of  Pomfret  on  the  Niagara  Ijoard  of  super- 
visors. 

1810. — The  town  of  Busti  was  settled  by 
John  L.  Frank,  on  lot  61,  and  Uriah  Bently  in 
the  north  part  of  the  town.  Many  others  came 
the  succeeding  year.  George  Stoneman,  a  dis- 
tinguished general  in  the  war  of  the  Rebellion, 
and  afterwards  governor  of  California,  was  born 
in  this  town. 

This  year  the  town  of  Gerry  was  .settled  by 
Stephen  Jones  and  Amos  Atkins.  They  .settled 
in  the  northern  part  of  the  town,  nair  Sinclair- 
ville. William  Alversou,  Hezekiah  Myers, 
Hezekiah  Catlin  and  Porter  Phelps,  in  1815, 
made  the  first  settlement  near  the  village  of 
Gerry.  Major  General  John  M.  Scofield,  the 
commanding  officer  of  the  armies  of  the  United 
States,  was  born  in  this  town,  near  tlie  village 
of  Sinclairville. 

Villanova  was  settled  in  1810,  by  David 
Whipple,  John  Kent  and  Eli  Arnold. 


OF  CHAUTAUQUA   COUNTY. 


723 


These  two  cities,  Dunkiri<  and  Jaiiuistcnvn, 
were  also  settled  during  this  year. 

The  City  of  Dunkirk. — The  town  of  1  )iiii- 
kirk  was  settled  at  the  mouth  of  the  Canadaway 
creek,  by  Seth  Cole,  iu  1805,  and  Timothy 
Goulding  came  a  few  years  later  and  settled 
about  a  mile  west  of  Duukirk  Harbor.  But 
few  settlers  came  to  this  town  for  the  first 
twenty  years,  and  no  one  settled  upon  the  present 
site  of  the  city  of  Dunkirk  until  about  four  or 
five  years  after  Cole  came  there. 

The  first  settlement  made  in  the  city  of  Dun- 
kirk, it  is  believed,  was  in  the  year  1810,  by 
Solomon  Chadwick.  He  came  to  Dunkirk 
Harbor  with  his  family,  from  Madison  county, 
New  York,  in  February  of  that  year.  He  was 
born  in  Weston,  Massachusetts,  about  the  year 
1778,  and  died  at  Perrysburgh,  Cattaraugus 
county,  Nevr  York,  aged  about  eighty-seven 
years.  Luther  Goulding,  Daniel  Pier  and  Wil- 
liam Gaylord  came  soon  after  Chadwick.  In 
1810  the  first  vessel  was  brought  into  the  harbor 
by  Samuel  Perry.  No  town,  however,  grew  up 
until  many  years  later.  It  was  known  as  Chad- 
wick bay. 

In  1816  and  1817  a  company  composed  of 
Isaiah  and  John  Townsend,  De  Witt  Clinton 
and  William  Thorn,  bought  a  large  tract  of 
land  now  included  in  the  present  site  of  the 
city,  and  in  1818,  at  an  expense  of  about  |20,- 
000,  built  a  wharf  and  ware-house  at  the  foot  of 
Center  street,  and  erected  a  hotel  and  other 
buildings.  It  was  now  given  the  name  Dun- 
kirk, at  the  suggestion  of  Elisha  Jenkins,  who 
was  interested  in  this  company,  and  who  had 
previously  been  the  Secretary  of  State  of  the 
State  of  New  York.  It  was  so  called  from  a 
liarbor  of  that  name  on  the  coast  of  France, 
which  it  was  supposed  to  resemble,  where  Wil- 
liam Jenkins  had  once  resided. 

In  1825  this  company  sold  out  one  half  of 
its  interest  to  Walter  Smith,  one  of  the  most  en- 
terprising and  energetic  citizens  that  has  ever 
lived  in  tlie  county,  and  the  most  efficient  pro- 


j  moter  of  the  interests  of  Dunkirk  in  its  early 
years.  The  village  of  Dunkirk  th(,'n  liad  only 
aljout  fifty  inliabitants.  In  1827,  the  first  ex- 
penditure of  public  money  was  made  by  way 
of  facilitating  navigation  and  improvement  of 
the  harbor.  The  sum  of  §4,000  was  appropri- 
ated by  Congress  for  the  construction  of  a  light- 
house,   and     |3,000     the  next     year     for     the 

,  construction  of  a  breakwater.  Dunkirk  now 
rapidly  increased  in  population,  and  is  supposed 
to  have  had  one  thousand  inhabitants  in  1830. 
In  1833,  Mr.  Smith  sold  out  his  half  interest 
to  men  in  the  city  of  New  York,  and  bought 
the  other  half  interest  of  the  company.  I'liis 
year,  the  New  York  and  Erie  Railroad 
company  was  organized.  In  1834  it  was  sur- 
veyed and  Dunkirk  was  fixed  as  the  termina- 
tion of  the  road  upon  Lake  Erie.  Many  years 
of  doubt  and  despondency  pas-sed  before  the 
road  was  completed.  In  the  meantime,  Dun- 
kirk made  slow  progress  in  the  increase  of  its 
population  and  material  prosperity.  Yet  in 
1827,  it  was  incorporated  as  a  village,  and  the 
.same  year  the  Dunkirk  academy  was  incorpo- 
rated. Calamities  befell  Dunkirk,  which  even 
grew  out  of  the  bright  prospects  that  seemed  to 
lie  before  it.  Tiie  effect  of  the  land  speculations, 
rife  throughout  the  country,  upon  Dunkirk,  is 
thus  described  in  the  often  quoted  comments  of 
Judge  E.  F.  Warren,  in  his  Historical  Sketches 
of  Chautauqua  county  : —    . 

''The  speculations  iu  real  estate,  which  were 
at  their  height  during  this  period,  and  which 
have  resulted  in  such  incalculable  injury  to  the 
interests  of  the  whole  people,  affected  the  village 
of  Dunkirk  more  seriously  than  any  other  point 
in  the  county.  The  termination  of  the  New 
York  and  Erie  railroad  at  this  place,  pointed  it 
out  to  those  most  deeply  affected  with  the  con- 
tagion, as  a  spot  on  which  operations  of  the 
kind  might  be  carried  on,  for  a  while  at  least, 
with  success.  The  rage  for  corner  lots  and 
eligible  sites,  was  rife,  and  ran  to  so  high  a  pitch, 

t  that  men    of  all    pursuits,  farmers,  mechanics, 


724 


SKETCH  OF  THE  EARLY  HISTORY 


merchants,  lawyers,  and  even  ministers  of  the 
gospel,  embarked  upon  the  wild  sea,  without 
rudder  or  ballast,  with  nothing  to  propel  them 
but  a  whirlwind,  that  soon  scattered  them  in 
broken  fragments  upon  a  lee  shore. 

"The  general  result  has  been  a  stagnation  of 
trade,  depreciation  in  the  prices  of  all  kinds  of 
property,  the  ruin  and  entire  prostration  of 
many  families  who  had  been  in  prosperous  cir- 
cumstances, and  on  the  high  road  to  competence 
and  even  independence,  and  the  hopeless  bank- 
ruptcy of  thousands  of  others.  Though  affected 
to  a  greater  degree,  this  village  was  not  alone 
in  its  madness.  Most  of  the  other  villages  were  j 
more  or  less  influenced  by  the  mania  that 
swept  over  the  land,  and  suffered  in  proportion 
to  the  extent  of  their  operations."  | 

About  fourteen  miles  of  the  New  York  and 
Erie  Railroad  had  been  graded  eastward  from 
Dunkirk,  and  about  eight  miles  of  rails  had 
been  laid,  when  the  work  was  abandoned. 
Years  of  depression  followed,  in  which  Dun- 
kirk neither  increased  in  wealth,  nor  in  popu- 
lation. Even  many  of  its  buildings  went  par- 
tially into  decay.  Work  was  at  last  resumed, 
and  the  great  undertaking  finally  consummated 
by  the  opening  of  the  road  to  Dunkirk,  May 
14,  1851.  This,  at  the  time,  was  the  greatest 
railroad  enterprise  that  had  ever  been  under- 
taken. 445^  miles  of  railroad  had  been  built, 
then  the  longest  in  the  world. 

The  completion  of  the  railroad  was  a  subject 
of  general  rejoicing  by  all  the  people  of  the 
county,  as  well  as  by  the  citizens  of  Dunkirk. 
Its  completion  was  celebrated  at  Dunkirk  by 
15,000  people,  a  great  lunuber  to  assemble  in 
that,  then  sparsely  settled  region.  It  was  an 
event  of  national  im|)ortancc,  and  many  of  tlie 
most  distingui-^hcd  nun  of  the  country,  lionorcd 
(he  occasion  svith  their  presence,  among  whom 
were  Millard  Fillniore,  then  President  of  the 
United  States;  Daniel  \Vcbster,  Secretary  of 
State;  William  A.  Graham,  Secretary  of  Navy  ; 
NatliMM    K.    Hall,    I'o.stmaster-Gencial  ;    .lolm 


J.  Crittenden,  Attorney-general ;  Washington 
Hunt,  Governor  of  the  State  of  New  York  ; 
Ex-Go  v.  Wm.  L.  Marcy,  Senators  W.  H.  Sew- 
ard and  Hamilton  Fish,  also  Stephen  A.  Doug- 
las, Daniel  S.  Dickenson,  Christopher  Morgan, 
Lieut.-Gov.  G.  W.  Patterson,  and  many  other 
eminent  citizens  of  the  country. 

The  future  prosperity  of  Dunkirk  was  now 
assured.  Since  then  it  has  suffered  many  sei'- 
ious  mishaps.  For  a  period  of  time  it  trans- 
acted much  lake  business,  but  the  withdrawal 
of  the  Erie  line  of  steamers  many  years  ago, 
and  the  discontinuance  of  the  freiu-ht  transfer 
business  of  the  road,  diminished  its  importance 
as  a  lake  port,  and  the  many  fires  that  occurred, 
in  former  years,  materially  injured  its  pros- 
pects. It  has,  however,  survived  this  series  of 
disasters,  and  has  steadily,  although  at"  times 
slowly,  increased  in  wealth  and  population. 
The  completion  of  the  Buffalo  and  State  Line 
railroad  in  1852,  the  Dunkirk,  Warren  and 
Pittsburgh  road  in  1871,  and  the  later  lines  of 
roads  through  the  city,  has  made  it  the  princi- 
pal railroad  town  of  the  county.  It  also  sup- 
ports many  thriving  and  important  manufac- 
turing establishments.  Its  vitality  is  evidenced 
by  the  energy  with  which,  in  the  past,  it  has 
overcome  the  many  misfortunes  that  have  be- 
fallen it. 

It  is  the  first  city  to  be  incorporated  in  the 
county.  It  now  has  water  works,  electric 
lights,  and  is  soon  to  be  connected  with  the 
neighboring  village  of  Fredonia  by  electric 
cars.  Its  population  by  the  census  of  1890  was 
9416. 

The  City  ok  Jamestown. — The  city  of 
Jamestown  is  three  miles  square,  and  contains 
nine  square  miles  of  territory.  It  is  situated 
on  both  sides  of  the  outlet  to  Chautauqua  Ijake. 
It  is  built  upon  drift-hills  and  in  the  vallies 
between  them.  The  drift-hills  are  composed 
of  masses  of  debris,  piled  up  by  glaciers,  which 
once  moved  from  the  north  in  a  southerly 
ilircclion    pushing    beneath     them     the    eai'thy 


OF  CHAUTAUQUA   COUNTY. 


725 


matter,  loosened  and  gathered  mainly  from  the 
hill.s  to  tlie  northward.  As  the  'glacier  moved 
southward  it  filled  up  the  eiiannel  of  the  old 
outlet  to  Chautauqua  I^ake,  extending  on  a 
line  nortii  of  tlie  cemetery  and  nearly  along  the 
course  of  Moon's  ereek  towards  Falconers.  As 
the  glacier  moved  on  soutiiward  of  this  old 
channel,  it  bore  with  it  the  mass  of  sand,' 
gravel  and  stones  that  compose  the  hills  that 
form  the  site  of  the  town,  and  gradually 
crowded  the  outlet  southward  until  at  the 
close  of  the  ice  period  its  course  was  where  we 
find  it  now.  Its  channel  bent  somewhat  in  the 
form  of  a  loop,  indicates  that  it  has  been  taken 
out  of  its  original  course  by  the  glacier.  The 
outlet  running  in  this  new  channel  through 
long  epochs  of  time,  lias  steadily  worn  a  passage 
through  the  drift  down  to  the  natural  rock 
beneatii  it,  lowering  the  waters  of  the  lake  as  it 
deej)ened,  until  now,  it  occupies  its  compara- 
tively narrow  limits. 

If  James  Prendergast,  the  founder  of  James- 
town, liad  been  seeking  a  fine  prospect  for  a 
residence  or  a  pleasing  situation  for  a  city  solely, 
he  certainly  would  not  have  chosen  this  site 
when  he  first  visited  it.  An  irregular  group 
of  rough  unsymmetrical  hills,  covered  with  som- 
bre and  ragged  pines,  a  dark  and  gloomy  mo. 
rass  extending  between  it  and  the  lake,  where 
the  voice  of  the  frog,  and  the  owl,  and  of  the 
prowling  wolf  were  nightly  to  be  heard,  were 
neither  inviting  to  the  eye  or  pleasing  to  the 
ear.  These  apparent  defects  have  become  in 
fact,  however,  circumstances  of  real  utility.  The 
irregularity  of  surface  offers  facilities  for  drain- 
age and  contributes  to  the  health  of  the  city,  and 
renders  the  situation  airy  and  cool  in  summer 
time  without  increasing  its  winter  exposure. 
In  process  of  time  the  improving  hand  of  man 
will  turn  these  heights  and  depressions  into 
account,  and  secure  artistic  effects.  The  ragged 
ridges  will  become  sightly  prospects.  The 
seeming  deformities,  objects  of  beauty,  and 
Jamestown  v.'ill  become  an  unique  and  pictur- 


esque town  far  more  beautiful  and  interesting 
than  a  city  on  a  plain. 

It  is  possible  that  La  Salle  visited  the  site  of 
Jamestown  in  1081  or  1G82.  His  ancient 
biographer,  describes  him  as  going  westward 
from  Onondaga  in  the  Spring  of  one  or  the 
other  of  those  years,  and  finding  abnut  fifteen 
days  afterwards  "a  little  lake  six  or  seven  miles 
(liens)  south  of  Lake  Erie,  the  mouth  of  which 
opened  to  the  southeastward." 

De  Celoron  and  his  companions,  we  learn 
from  his  journal,  on  the  24th  of  July,  1749, 
entered  the  outlet  from  the  lake ;  the  water  be- 
ing low,  in  order  to  lighten  his  canoes,  he  was 
obliged  to  send  the  greater  part  of  their  loading 
three-fourths  of  a  French  league  by  land,  so 
that  the  distance  accomjilished  that  day  by 
water,  did  not  exceed  a  half  a  French  league. 
He  encamped  for  the  night,  undoubtedly  with- 
in the  northwestern  limits  of  the  site  of  the 
city.  On  the  morning  of  the  next  day,  a  coun- 
cil was  held  to  decide  what  should  be  done,  in 
view  of  the  evident  signs  of  Indians  in  the  vi- 
cinity. Lieut.  Joucaire  was  sent  with  some 
friendly  Indians,  bearing  belts  of  wampum  to 
conciliate  the  enemy  and  De  Celoron  resumed 
his  difficult  voyage  over  the  rapids  of  the  out- 
let. 

Other  evidences  exist  of  the  presence  of  civi- 
lized men  in  the  region  around  Jamestown,  be- 
fore the  advent  of  the  pioneers  of  the  Holland 
j  purchase.  In  1822,  William  Bemus,  in  at- 
tempting to  deepen  the  channel  of  the  outlet, 
discovered  a  row  of  piles,  averaging  four  inches 
in  diameter,  and  from  two  and  one-half  to 
three  and  one-half  feet  in  length,  driven  firmly 
in  the  earth  across  the  bed  of  the  stream.  Ax 
marks  were  plainlj'  visible  on  each  of  the  four 
sides  of  these  piles,  the  wood  of  which  was 
sound.  The  tops  of  these  piles  were  worn 
smooth  and  did  not  appear,  when  discovered,  to 
reach  above  the  bed  of  the  stream. 

James  Prendergast  was  the  firet  person  to  oc- 
cujjy  the  present  site  of  Jamestown,  after  the 


726 


SKETCH  OF  THE  EARLY  HISTORY 


county  was  ojjen  to  settlement.  He  was  the 
son  of  William  Prendergast,  of  whom  we  have 
before  given  some  account,  and  who  settled  on 
the  west  side  of  Chautauqua  lake,  in  the  town 
of  Chautauqua.  Late  in  the  summer  of  ISOG, 
while  exploring  the  forest  in  search  of  some 
horses  that  had  strayed  from  his  father's  prem- 
ises, he  visited  the  site  of  Jamestown.  He  re- 
mained there  one  or  two  days  examining  the 
locality,  encamping  at  night  within  the  present 
limits  of  the  city.  He  was  much  pleased  with 
the  situation,  and  the  advantages  offered  by  the 
rapid  outlet  for  the  feeding  of  mills,  and  he  re- 
solved to  purchase  the  land  there  and  found  a 
settlement.  It  was  not  until  several  years 
later  that  he  was  able  to  consummate  his  pur- 
pose. He  caused,  however,  a  thousand  acres  of 
land  to  be  purchased,  for  which  was  paid  at  the 
time  $2000  in  cash.  The  purchase  included 
land  on  each  side  of  the  outlet ;  the  steamboat 
landing  at  Jamestown  being  near  the  center  of 
the  tract. 

In  the  fall  of  1810,  he  caused  John  Blowers 
who  was  in  his  employ,  to  build  a  log  house  to 
be  occupied  by  Blowers  and  his  family.  The 
house  was  completed,  and  Blowers  moved  into 
it  before  Christmas  of  that  year.  This  was  the 
first  building  erected  in  Jamestown,  and  Blow- 
ers became  its  first  inhabitant,  late  in  1810. 

In  the  spring  of  1811,  a  large  one  and  one- 
half-story  log  house  was  erected  upon  the  out- 
let, within  the  city  limits  for  Mr.  Prendergast 
and  his  family.  That  year  a  dam  was  built  by 
William  Prendergast,  across  the  outlet,  a  grist- 
mill was  commenced,  and  a  saw-mill  comjileted, 
but  it  did  not  commence  sawing  until  about  the 
first  of  February,  1812. 

At  the  court  of  sessions  held  in  June,  1812, 
an  indictment  was  found  against  Mr.  Prender- 
gast for  overflowing  lands  adjacent  to  Chautau- 
qua lake  by  the  erection  of  his  dam ;  the 
i Millet iiicnt  was  pressed  to  trial,  and  i)e  was  fined 
fifteen  dollars,  notwitiistanding  he  had  removed 
his  dau).     Besides  l)riiig  (obliged   to  remove  his 


dam  and  pay  damages  occasioned  by  the  over- 
flowing of  lands,  and  the  expense  occasioned  by 
the  rebuilding  of  the  dam  and  mills,  he  lost  hi& 
house  and  the  most  of  its  valuable  contents  by 
fire.  He,  however,  after  the  fire,  and  in  1812, 
erected  another  house,  into  which  he  and  Cap- 
tain Forbes  moved  their  families  in  December, 
1812.  These  families,  and  that  of  the  Blowers 
were  the  only  residents,  and  the  house  last  men- 
tioned, and  that  built  by  Blovvers  in  1810,  were 
the  only  houses  at  the  close  of  the  year  1812  in 
Jamestown. 

In  1813  Blowers  opened  the  first  tavern  in 
Jamestown,  which  he  kept  in  his  log  house,  and 
Mr.  Prendergast  purchased  about  550  acres  more 
of  land  in  Jamestown,  and  completed  a  saw- 
mill, consisting  of  two  single  saws  and  a  gang 
of  sixteen  saws.  The  first  bridge  over  the 
Outlet  was  commenced  in  1813,  and  completed 
in  1814.  During  the  last  war  with  England 
but  little  improvement  was  made  at  the  Rapids, 
as  it  was  then  called,  but  in  1814  several  fami- 
lies besides  those  above  mentioned  were  residing 
in  Jamestown,  and  a  considerable  number  of 
new  buildings  erected,  and  the  grist-mill  finished 
this  year.  Mr.  Prendergast,  however,  was  the 
owner  of  all  the  real  estate  at  the  Rapids,  which 
the  assessors  valued  at  §2976.  His  tax  for  that 
year  was  $38.98. 

In  18]  5  Judge  Prendergast  erected  an  acade- 
mic building  of  two  stories  on  the  west  side  of 
Main  street,  near  Fifth  street.  That  year  a 
large  tavern  was  also  erected  in  Jamestown,  at 
the  southeast  corner  of  Main  and  Third  streets, 
which  was  afterwards  owned  and  kept  for  many 
i  years  by  Elisha  Allen,  the  father  of  Colonel 
A.  F.  Allen;  other  buildings  were  erected  that 
year,  and  some  new  residents  came  in,  among 
them  Dr.  Laban  Hazeltine  and  Dr.  Elial  G. 
Foote,  both  afterwards  pi'oniinont  |ihysicians  and 
distinguished  citizens  of  Jamestown,  and  .Vhner 
Hazeltine,  who  was  an  eminent  lawyer  and 
much-respected  citi/en  of  the  county.  Tiie 
.  Cliautauqua  manufacturing  company  was  incor- 


OF  CHAUTAUQUA   COUNTY. 


porated  this  year  with  Judge  Preiulcrgast  as  its 
agent  and  executive  officer.  Tiie  village  now 
began  to  be  called  Jamestown  in  honor  of  its 
founder,  Judge  James  Prendergast,  although 
the  titles  of  "Ellicotts"  and  "The  Kapids"  . 
were  sometimes  used. 

We  have  now  s;iven  something  of  an  account 
of  the  early  settlement  of  Jamestown,  briefly 
tracing  its  history  to  the  period,  at  which  it 
became    entitled    to   be    considered    a   village,  ! 
and  receive  a  name.     It  is  the  design   of  this 
book  to  give  only  the  history  of  the  early  set- 
tlement of  the   county,  and  of  tlie    towns  and 
cities  that  compose  it,  leaving  the  reader  to  gain 
the  knowledge  of  its  subsequent  history,  from 
the  preceding  biographical  sketches  of  its  enter- 
prising and  influential  citizens,  who   have  spent 
their  lives  in  it,  and  have  themselves  contributed 
to  make  its  history  ;  a  novel  method,  which   in 
certain  respects  has  an  advantage  over  a  general 
historical   narrative.      Moreover,    the  develop- 
ment of  Jamestown  from  an  energetic  little  vil- 
lage, located  in  the  midst  of  pine   forests   and 
lumber  enterprises,  into  an  active  and  progress- 
ive city,  having  great  promise  for  the  future,  in- 
volves more  than  an  ordinary  amount  of  detail, 
and  a  narrative  of  events  of  such  importance,  as 
not  to   be  compressed   into   the  limits  allotted 
to  this  writing.     The  names  of  the  many  lead- 
ing and  influential   men,  that   have  been    con- 
cerned in  promoting  the  progress  and  prosperity 
of  Jamestown  ;  many  of  whom  are  living,  and 
many  more  have  passed  away,  could  be  scarcely 
crowded  into  a  sketch  like  this,  much  less,  could 
a  just  history  of  the  interesting  events  and  cir- 
cumstances   of  its  rise    from  a    village  of  saw- 
mills, and    sturdy    lumbermen,  to    a  fine   city, 
equipped  with  the  latest  modern  improvements. 
The  facts  regarding  Jamestown,  however,  should 
be  patiently  gathered  before  it  is  too  late,  care- 
fully arranged,  and  faithfully  and  fully  written. 
The  progress  of  Jamestown  is  not  due  to  the 
enterprise  of  its  citizens  alone.     Its  growth  has 
been  a  natural  one,  the  logical  result  of  the  ad- 


vantages of  its  situation.    Judge  James  Prender- 
gast,  Col.  James    McMahan,  and    Judge   Zattu 
Gushing,  three  leading  pioneers  in  different  and 
distinct    parts   of    the   county,  besides    having 
broader  and  morecotiiprehensive  views,  as  to  the 
direction    in    which    the   development    of    the 
county  woidd  tend,  were  possessed  also,  of  more 
means  than  most  of  the  early  .settlers,  and  could 
therefore   proceed  with  more  deliberation   and 
care  in  choosing  the  spot  at  which  to  stake  their 
fortunes.     Col.  McMahan,  was  a  surveyor  quite 
familiar  with  this  western  wilderness.     He  had 
traversed  the  county  from  its  .southern  limits  to 
Lake  Erie,  as  early  as    1795,  with  a  view  to  a 
location  and  finally  chose  the  beautiful   farm- 
ing lands   adjacent  to  Westfield,  as  presenting 
the    most    favorable    prospect.       Undoubtedly 
visions  of  commerce  upon  the  great  Lake,  not 
far  from  the   scene   of  his   venture,  influenced 
him  in  his  choice.     Judge  Cushing,  also  passed 
through  the   county  in   1798    or  1799,  on    his 
way  to  Presque  Isle  to  superintend  the  building 
of  the  ship  "Good  Intent,"  and  again  on  his  re- 
turn East.     He  selected  his  home  on  the  Caua- 
daway,  in  the  fine  lands  around  Fredonia,  as  of- 
fering the  greatest  promise,  to   one  who  would 
choose  a  home   on  the    frontier.     He  was   no 
doubt  influenced  in  his  choice,  by  similar  con- 
siderations to  those  that  governed  Col.  McMahan. 
Judge  Prendergast,  who  as  early  as   1794   or 
1795,  traveled    extensively  in    the  southwest, 
having  visited  the  Spanish  country  of  northern 
Louisiana,  and  again  in  1805  journeyed  through 
Pennsylvania  to  Tennessee,  with  a   view  to  set- 
tlement in  that  Stiite,  and  had  last  explored  the 
region  around  Chautauqua  Lake,  and  along  the 
Couewango,  saw  in  the  magnificent  forests  of 
southern  Chautauqua,  a  source  of  M'ealth.     He 
saw  also,  a  prospect  of  its  immediate  realization, 
in  the  Allegheny  and  its  tributaries,  which   of- 
fered the  facilities  for  the  transportation  of  the 
1  lumber  manufactured  at  their  sources,  to  the 
great  market,  which  he  perceived  was  destined 
to  grow  up  in  the  valley  of  the  Mississippi. 


728 


SKETCH  OF  THE  EARLY  HISTORY 


He  undoubtedly  was  also  influenced  iu  his 
choice  of  a  location  by  the  facilities  for  manu- 
facturing offered  by  the  excellent  water-power 
at  the  foot  of  the  lake,  which  seemed  then  even 
better  than  now.  For  the  forests  which  then 
covered  all  the  region  that  supplied  the  lake 
with  water,  shielded  the  surface  from  evapora- 
tion, rendering  the  discharge  more  copious  and 
constant  than  iu  late  years.  The  result  of  his 
venture  seems  to  have  justified  his  choice. 
Lumbering  was  in  early  years  the  leading 
industry  of  Jamestown,  as  it  was  of  all  the 
southeastern  part  of  the  county.  Although 
the  jirices  obtained  were  exceedingly  small  for 
the  excellent  quality  of  pine  which  rafted  from 
this  region  down  the  rivers,  for  much  of  it, 
"  not  more  than  it  cost  to  cut  the  logs,  manu- 
facture the  lumber,  and  run  it  to  market,"  yet 
it  brought  all  the  cash  that  came  to  the  settlers. 
The  only  resource  of  most  of  the  pioneers  in 
other  parts  of  the  county  for  many  years,  was 
from  the  sale  of  black  salts,  made  from 
ashes  gathered  in  the  fallow  where  the  timber 
was  burned.  It  was  the  only  product  in  many 
of  the  towns,  that  could  be  sold  for  cash  or 
even  exchanged  for  goods  and  groceries.  Lum- 
bering then,  as  grape  culture  now,  was  what 
brought  money  to  the  county.  It  early  called 
attention  to  Jamestown  and  established  the 
foundations  for  its  prosperity.  As  the  develop- 
ment of  its  other  manufacturing  industries 
which  have  been  the  chief  cause  of  the  later 
growth  and  present  importance  of  Jamestown, 
came  after  the  pine  forests  had  been  swept 
away,  its  history  does  not  belong  to  tlie  pioneer 
period,  but  to  that  of  later  years.  No  attempt 
therefore  will  be  made  in  the  limited  space 
allotted  to  this  sketch  to  trace  the  progress  of 
these  industries  from  the  time  the  first  tannery 
was  started,  and  the  little  wool  carding  machine 
wa.s  erected  in  1815,  dowii  to  the  extensive 
Alpaca  mills  of  the  present  time. 

Tlie  effect  of  tiie  extensive  mamifacturing 
interests  to  promote  tlie  growth  of  Jamestown 


may  be  briefly  shown  by  a  few  comprehensive 
statistics.     March  6,  1827,  Jamestown  was  in- 
corporated as  a  village,  being  the  first  village 
incorporated  in  the  comity.     The  steamer  Chau- 
j  tauqua  was   built   at  Jamestown   and   was  the 
I  first  steamboat  launched   upon  the  lake.     She 
I  made  her  trial  trip  July  4,  1 828.     This  was  the 
beginning  of  a  substantial  navigation  of  the  lake. 
The  population  of  Jamestown  by  the  census 
of  1840  was   1212;  thirty  years  later,  1870,  it 
had  increased  to  5337,  in  1880  it  was  9357,  and 
in   1890,  16,038,  maintaining  about  the  same 
j  rate  of  increase  during  the   last  ten  years  as  in 
the  previous  decade.     It  was  incorporated  as  a 
city  in  1886.     It   has   now  electric  street  cars, 
and  lights ;  gas  and  water-works,  and  all  things 
belonging  to  a  modern  city. 
1      Organization  of  the  County. — Matthew 
I  Prendergast,  a  sou  of  William,  afterwards  a 
judge  of  the   county,  represented  the  town  of 
Chautauqua,  and  Philo  Orton   represented  the 
town  of  Pomfret  upon  the  Board  of  Supervisors 
for  the  year  1810,  the  last  year  that  the  county 
I  was  represented  in  Niagara  county,  for  at  the 
meeting  of  the  Board  of  Supervisors  there  it 
was  ascertained  from  the  assessment  rolls  that 
Chautauqua    county    contained     five    hundred 
voters  for  members  of  Assembly,  which  entitled 
I  the  county  to  be  fully  organized,  which  was  ac- 
complished   by    the    appointment    of    county 
officers  on  the  9th  davof  Februarv,  1811.    The 
following  officers  were  duly  appointed,  viz.: 

First  Judge. —  Zattu  Cushing.  Associate 
Judges — ^Matthew  Prendergast,  Philo  Orton, 
Jonathan  Thompson,  William  Alexander. 

Assigtant  i  Justices. — Henry  Abell,  William 
Gould,  John  Dexter,  Abiram  Orton. 

Justices  of  the  Peace. — Jeremiah  Potter, 
John  Silsbee,  Abijah  Bennett,  Asa  Spear,  Jus- 
tus Hinsman,  Benjamin  Barrett,  Daniel  Pratt, 
Selah  Pickett. 

Cleric— So\m  E.  Marshall.  Sheriff— DavkX 
Easou.  Surrogate — Squire  White.  Coroners — 
Daniel  G.  Gould,  Philo  Hopson. 


OF  CHAUTAUQUA   COUNTY. 


729 


Up  to  this  time  Chautauqua  had  no  separate 
existence  as  a  county.  Tlie  settlers  tliat  had 
established  tiieir  homes  there  were  scattered 
nearly  over  its  whole  extent.  Only  narrow 
clearings  had  been  made  at  wide  intervals  in 
the  dense  wilderness  that  everywhere  covered 
the  county.  No  thoroughfares  of  travel  by 
land  or  water  extended  into  it,  and  its  people 
seemed  to  be  shut  out  from  communication  with 
the  populated  jjarts  of  the  county,  and  had  no 
voice  in  the  general  government  of  the  State ; 
as  a  consequence  a  sense  of  solitude  up  to  this 
time  had  oppressed  them,  which  was  in  a  measure 
removed  by  being  permitted  to  have  a  voice  in 
public  affairs.  The  evidence  of  future  pros- 
perity began  to  appear  in  the  industry  and 
energy  of  the  settlers,  in  the  widening  of  their 
clearings  and  in  the  increase  of  their  improve- 
ments. By  the  United  States  census  taken  in 
the  year  1810  the  population  of  the  county  was 
2381.  Eight  years  before  there  was  scarcely 
an  inhabitant  in  the  county. 

Towns  Subsequently  Settled. — The  only 
remaining  towns  of  the  county  in  which  settle- 
ment had  not  been  commenced  ^vere  six.  Of 
these  French  Creek  was  first  settled  in  1812, 
Ellington  about  1814,  Cherry  Creek  and  Mina 
about  1815,  Clymer  in  1820  and  Siierraan  in 
1823,  and  was  the  last  settled  town  in  the 
county. 

Conclusion. — ^Ye  have  now  completed  the 
account  of  the  princi])al  events  relating  to  Chau- 
tauqua county  prior  to  its  occupation  by  the 
pioneers  of  the  Holland  purchase,  and  have 
also  given  a  history  of  its  early  .settlement, 
bringing  it  down  to  the  complete  orgs  nizatiou  of 
the  county  in  1811,  and  this  is  all  that  was 
intended  by  this  historical  sketch.  Although 
Chautauqua  county  was  completely  Organized  in 
1811,  and  settlements  substantially  effected,  its 
pioneer  history  did  not  end,  however,  until  the 
completion  of  the  Erie  canal. 

Emigration  from  the  east,  during  the  first 
years  of  the  history  of  the  county,  first  pressed 


towards  tlie  western  reserve,  passing  by  the 
Hollantl  purcha.se,  the  lands  of  which  had  not 
yet  been  put  into  market.  When  these  lands 
wore  offered  for  sale  (as  the  Holland  Land  com- 

:  pany  sold  theirs  for  §2.50  and  $o.50  per  acre  on 
a  credit,  while  western  lands  were  sold  at  a  less 
price  for  cash),  those  who  possessed  the  ready 
means  and  were  able  to  pay  at  once  for  their 
farms,  sought  more  attractive  homes  in  the  fertile 

I  prairies  and  flowery  openings  of  Ohio  and  the 
west,  consequently  the  first  .settlers  of  the  Holland 

.  purchase,  and   those  particularly  of  the  county 

[  of  Chautauqua,  were  the  poorest  class  of  people 
— men  who  often  expended  their  last  dollar  to 
procure  the  article  for  their  land.  Chautauqua 
county  then  was  densely  covered  with  a  majestic 
fore-st  of  the  largest  growth,  which  cast  its  dark 
shadows  everywhere,  over  hills  and  valleys,  and 
along  the  streams  and  borders  of  the  lakes.  No- 
where in  northern  latitudes  could  be  found  trees 
so  tall  and  large,  and  none  could  behold  without 
awe  and  pleasure,  the  grandeur  and  grace  of 
these  mighty  woods,  yet  a  home  here,  to  cope 
with  and  subdue  them,  promised  a  lifetime  of  toil 
and  privation ;  and  no  one  felt  invited  hither 

[  but  strong  and  hardy  pioneers,  men  of  the  frontier 
who  were  accustomed  to  wield  the  axe  and 
handle  the  rifle ;  who  could  grapple  with  the 
forest  and  rough  it  in  the  wilderness,  and  think 
it  ease ;  who  could  reap  the  thin  harvest  and 
live  upon  the  coarse  and  often  scanty  fare  of 
the  woods  and  call  it  plenty  ;  consequently  the 
first  settlers  of  this  county  were  mostly  from 
the  back-woods  region,  at  the  western  verge  of 
settlement.  They  brought  with  them  strong 
arm.s,  stout  hearts  and  a  thorough  knowledge 
of  the  expedients  of  life  in  the  woods.  They 
were  a  body  of  picked  young  men,  possessing 
vigorous  bodies  and  practical  minds.  Among 
their  number  were  often  men  of  marked  ability, 
whose  talents  would  honor  any  station.  Al- 
though the  most  of  them  possessed  but  little  of 
the  learning  of  books  and  schools,  not  a  iew 
were    cultivated    and    accomplished    men    and 


730 


SKETCH  OF  THE  EARLY  HISTORY 


women  of  refinement  and  education,  whose  at- 
tainments  were  such    as    to   jjrepare    tbem  to 
adorn  any  society.     The  most  of  the  early  set- 
tlers were,  however,  educated  in  a  true  sense ; 
they  possessed   that  learning,  which,  in  the  sit-  ! 
nations  in  which  it  was  their  fortune  to  be  ^ast,  | 
best  fitted  them  for  a  life  of  usefulness,  and  en- 
abled them  to  contribute  their  full  share  in  the 
great  works  of  progress  and  improvement  allot- 
ted to  them.     They  were  skillful  adepts  in  their  , 
calling  ;    accomplished   masters    in   wood-craft, 
and  in  all  that  pertained  to  the  formidable  task 
of  preparing  the  way  for  the   westward  expan-  j 
sion  of  civilization  and  population. 

A  further  history  of  the  pioneer  jiei'iod  of 
the  county,  as  well  as  of  the  important  events  [ 
that  have  transpired  since  then,  down  to  the 
present  time,  it  is  not  our  purpose  here  to  re-  ' 
late,  after  the  manner  of  the  general  historian, 
and  we  shall  be  obliged  at  this  time  to  omit  the 
names,  even,  of  leading  pioneers  and  honored 
citizens  who  have  acted  a  prominent  part  in  the 
history  of  the  county.  Able  works  have  been  i 
written,  and  valuable  contributions  made,  to- 
wards the  History  of  the  County  of  Chautau- 
qua, among  them  the  concise  and  excellent  little 
pioneer  work  of  the  Hon.  E.  G.  Warren,  and 
chiefly  the  valuable  and  fully  prepared  History 
by  Andrew  Young,  in  which  he  received  the 
invaluable  assistance  of  Dr.  E.  T.  Foote,  to  whom 
the  county  owes  a  great  debt  of  gratitude  for 
preserving  its  history  ;  the  local  contribution 
of  Dr.  H.  C.  Taylor,  in  his  complete  and  excel- 
lent History  of  Portland ;  the  History  of 
Jamestown,  by  the  able  pen  of  Dr.  G.  W.  Hazel- 
tine,  and  also  the  valuable  contributions  of  J. 
L.  Bugbce  and  Samuel  A.  Brown. 

It  is  the  purpose  of  this  work,  in  place  of  a 
general  history  of  Chautauqua  county,  subse- 
(juont  to  its  organization,  which   has  in  a  great 


measure  been  written  by  others,  to  substitute 
sketches  of  its  citizens,  many  of  them  represen- 
tative men  of  the  county,  who  have  partici- 
pated in  its  leading  events,  some,  it  may  be,  not 
distinguished  beyond  the  ordinary  walks  of 
life,  but  all,  it  is  believed,  are  worthy  citizens, 
from  the  records  of  whose  lives  in  their  various 
spheres,  a  better  knowledge  of  the  real  condi- 
tion and  history  of  the  county,  can  be  ob- 
tained than  from  an  ordinary  historical  nar- 
rative. 

Biography  often  most  vividly  presents  his- 
torical facts.  It  has  been  well  said  that :  ''  Bi- 
ography is  history  by  induction."  As  history 
is  the  synthesis  of  Biography,  so  Biography  is 
the  analysis  of  History.  The  old  idea  that  the 
history  of  a  country  is  contained  in  the  record 
of  its  kings  and  its  conquests,  is  being  sup- 
planted. The  real  histoiy  of  a  country  is  the 
history  of  its  people — their  fortunes,  conditions 
and  customs,  the  common  people  of  a  nation, 
their  mental  and  moral  status — are  what  give 
i  it  character  and  mould  its  destinies.  Its  rulers, 
the  leaders  of  its  armies,  and  its  wars,  are  really 
trivial  circumstances.  Even  forms  of  govern- 
ment are  but  a  reflex  of  the  character  of  the 
common  people.  History  therefore  is  made  up 
of  the  biographies  of  the  masses,  and  is  best  ex- 
pressed in  the  life-records  of  its  energetic  and 
enterprising  citizens. 

The  facts  contained  iu  these  biogi'aphical 
sketches,  it  is  believed,  will  have  their  value 
hereafter,  in  permanently  preserving  the  records 
of  leading  citizens,  and  in  aiding  the  future 
historian  of  the  county  to  complete  an  orderly 
and  authentic  record  of  events  transpiring  sub- 
sequent to  the  organization  of  the  county,  and 
furnish  valuable  data  for  all  parts  of  sucli  his- 
tory, and  it  would  be  the  desire  of  the  writer  of 
this  sketch  to  aid  in  such  a  work. 


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